Ndakawana Gutsikano Mukubatira Mwari

YAKATAURWA NAJOSHUA THONGOANA

Shure muna 1942, ndakavhiringidzika zvikuru. Ndakanga ndichifunda mabhuku aibudiswa navaSeventh-Day Adventist namabhuku aibudiswa neWatch Tower Society. Kufanana navaIsraeri vekare, ndakanga ndi“chifunga mifungo miviri.”—1 Madzimambo 18:21.

VASEVENTH-DAY Adventist vakanga vachinditumira hurukuro dzakatsikirirwa dzainzi “Voice of Prophecy.” Ndaifarikanya kupindura mibvunzo yavo, uye ivo vakavimbisa kundipa rugwaro rwakaisvonaka kana ndikapasa mibvunzo yavo yose. Asi ndakacherechedza kuti zvose zviri zviviri “Voice of Prophecy” uye zvinyorwa zveWatch Tower Society zvaipositwa zvichibva kuguta reSouth Africa reCape Town. Ndakashamisika: ‘Ko aya masangano anozivana here? Ko dzidziso dzawo dzinobvumirana here? Kana dzisati, ndiani akarurama?’

Kupedza nhau yacho, ndakatumira tsamba dzakafanana kusangano rimwe nerimwe. Somuenzaniso, ndakanyorera kuWatch Tower Society, kuti: “Munoziva here vanhu vakabatanidzwa ne‘Voice of Prophecy,’ uye kana muchiziva, chii chamunotaura pamusoro pedzidziso dzavo?” Pashure penguva yakati, ndakagamuchira mhinduro dzakabva kumapoka ose ari maviri. Tsamba yakabva kuWatch Tower Society yakataura kuti vaiziva nezve“Voice of Prophecy” asi yakatsanangura kuti dzidziso dzayo, zvakadai soUtatu uye kudzoka kwaKristu kupasi munyama, hadzisi dzapaMagwaro. Tsamba yavo yakabatanidza magwaro kubvumikisa idzi dzidziso kuva dzenhema.—Johane 14:19, 28.

Mhinduro yakabva ku“Voice of Prophecy” yakangotaura zvayo kuti vaiziva “vanhu veWatch Tower,” asi vaisabvumirana nedzidziso dzavo. Hapana zvikonzero zvakapiwa. Naizvozvo ndakasarudza kuda Watch Tower Society, iro riri sangano rapamutemo rinoshandiswa neZvapupu zvaJehovha. Nhasi, pashure pamakore 50 esonganirano neZvapupu, ndinofara sei kuti ndakaita chisarudzo ichocho chakarurama!

Mugariro Wekare Worudzidziso

Ndakaberekwa muna 1912 munharaunda yoruwa inonzi Makanye, kumabvazuva kwetaundi reSouth Africa rePietersburg. Makanye panguva iyeyo yakanga iri muudzori hworudzidziso hweAnglican Church, naizvozvo ndakava mutezo wechechi iyoyo. Apo ndaiva namakore gumi, mhuri yedu yakaenda kunzvimbo yaidzorwa neLutheran Berlin Mission Church, uye vabereki vangu vakakumbanira chechi iyoyo. Ndakakurumidza kukwanirisa kupinda Komuniyoni nokudya chingwa newaini, asi hakuna kugutsa zvinodikanwa zvangu zvomudzimu.

Pashure pokupedza makore masere okuenda kuchikoro, ndakatumirwa nababa vangu kuKilnerton Training Institution, uye muna 1935, ndakagamuchira Third Year Teacher’s Certificate. Mumwe wavadzidzisi ndakashanda naye akanga ari mukadzi muduku, Caroline. Takaroorana, uye gare gare Caroline akabereka mwanasikana watakatumidza kuti Damaris. Makore mashomanene gare gare, ndakava mudzidzisi mukuru paChikoro cheSehlale mumusha womuruwa weMamatsha. Sezvo chikoro chacho chaitarisirwa neDutch Reformed Church, takakumbanira chechi iyoyo, tichipinda minamato yayo nguva dzose. Takaita ikoku nemhaka yokuti chakanga chiri chinhu chine mufungo kuita, asi hakuna kundiunzira gutsikano.

Nguva Yechinjo Huru

Rimwe Svondo muna 1942, takanga tichirovedza nziyo pachechi apo murume muchena muduku akaoneka pasuo ane mabhuku matatu akabudiswa neWatch Tower Society—Creation, Vindication, uye Preparation. Ndakafunga kuti mabhuku acho aizotarisika zvakanaka pasherefu yangu yeraibhurari, naizvozvo ndakaagamuchira nokuda kwamashereni matatu. Gare gare ndakaziva kuti murume wacho, Tienie Bezuidenhout, akanga ari mumwe weZvapupu zvaJehovha, iye bedzi munharaunda yacho. Pashanyo yakatevera yaTienie, akaunza giramufomu ndokuridza hurukuro dzakakurukurwa naJudge Rutherford. Ndakafarikanya chose imwe inozivikanwa so“Musungo Nemanomano,” asi Caroline nehanzvadzi yangu Priscilla, iyo yakanga ichigara nesu, havana. Pashanyo yechitatu yaTienie, iye akandipa giramufomu kuti ndigogona kuridzira shamwari marekodhi.

Rimwe zuva ndakasanonzvera mapeji ebhuku raCreation ndokuwana ganhuro inoti “Vakafa vari Kupi?” Ndakatanga kurava ndine tariro dzokudzidza pamusoro pemifaro inowanwa nemweya yakaenda iri mudenga. Asi mukupesana nekariro dzangu, bhuku racho rakataura kuti vakafa vari mumakuva avo uye kuti havazivi chinhu chipi nechipi. Ndima dzomuBhaibheri, zvakadai saMuparidzi 9:5, 10, dzakanokorwa mashoko mukutsigira. Imwe ganhuro yaiva nomusoro unoti “Kumutsa Vakafa,” uye Johane 5:28, 29 yakanokorwa mashoko sechibvumikiso chokuti vakafa havana chavanoziva uye vakamirira rumuko. Ikoku kwaiva nomufungo. Kwakanga kuchigutsa.

Pakanga pari panguva iyoyo, muna 1942, pandakadambura ukama hwangu ne“Voice of Prophecy” uye ndakavamba kuudza vamwe pamusoro pezvinhu zvandakanga ndichidzidza muzvinyorwa zveWatch Tower Society. Mumwe wokutanga kugamuchira yakanga iri shamwari, Judah Letsoalo, uyo akanga ave ari mumwe wovomukirasi biyangu paKilnerton Training Institution.

Judah neni takachovha makiromita 51 kundopinda gungano reZvapupu zveAfrica muPietersburg. Pashure pacho, shamwari dzePietersburg dzaiwanzouya kuMamatsha kuzondibetsera kupa shoko roUmambo kuvavakidzani vangu. Pakupedzisira, parimwe gungano muPietersburg, muna December 1944, ndakabhapatidzwa muchiratidzo chetsauriro yangu kuna Jehovha.

Mhuri Yangu Navamwe Vanogamuchira

Caroline, Priscilla, uye mwanasikana wangu Damaris, vakapfuurira kuenda kuDutch Reformed Church. Ipapo ngwavaira yakarova. Caroline akabereka mwana wedu wechipiri—mwana womukomana airatidzika kuva akasimba watakatumidza kuti Samuel. Asi kamwe kamwe akarwara ndokufa. Shamwari dzokuchechi dzaCaroline hadzina kupa nyaradzo, dzichitaura kuti Mwari aida mwanakomana wedu kuti ave naye mudenga. Munhamo, Caroline akaramba achibvunza, kuti: “Neiko Mwari aizotora mwanakomana wedu?”

Apo shoko rengwavaira yedu rakasvika Zvapupu muPietersburg, izvo zvakauya ndokutipa nyaradzo yechokwadi yakavakirwa paShoko raMwari. Caroline gare gare akati: “Izvo Bhaibheri rakataura pamusoro pechisakiso chorufu, pamusoro pomugariro wavakafa, uye pamusoro petariro yorumuko zvaiva nomufungo, uye ndakanyaradzwa zvikuru. Ndakada kuva munyika itsva ndokugamuchira mwanakomana wangu achidzoka achibva muguva.”

Caroline akarega kuenda kuchechi, uye muna 1946 iye, Priscilla, uye Judah vakabhapatidzwa. Nokukurumidza pashure porubhapatidzo rwake, Judah akaenda kundotanga basa rokuparidzira munharaunda yomuruwa inonzi Mamahlola, uye kutozosvikira zuva rino iye anobatira somushumiri piona wenguva yakazara.

Apo Judah akaenda, ndini ndaiva munhurume bedzi akasara kutarisira ungano yedu, iyo yainzi Boyne. Ipapo Gracely Mahlatji akatamira mundima yedu, uye pakupedzisira akaroora Priscilla. Vhiki rimwe nerimwe, Gracely neni taiita majana kupa hurukuro dzavose muSepedi, mutauro womunzvimbomo weAfrica. Kuita kuti mabhuku eBhaibheri awanike nokuda kwavanhu, Sosaiti yakandikumbira kushandura mabhuku muchiSepedi. Kwakandiunzira gutsikano huru kuona vanhu vachibetserwa naaya mabhuku.

Kusimudzira nhimbe yedu yomusangano wavose, takatenga giramufomu ine gudzanzwi guru kuti tiridze hurukuro dzeBhaibheri mundima yedu yose. Takakwereta chikochikari chinodhonzwa nembongoro kuti titakure ichi chinhu chinorema panzvimbo nenzvimbo. Somuuyo, vavakidzani vedu vakatitumidza zita romusere rokuti “Vanhu veChechi Yembongoro.”

Munguvayo ungano yedu duku yakapfuurira kukura. Pakupedzisira, hanzvadzi dzangu mbiri huru navarume vadzo vakava Zvapupu uye vose vakaramba vakatendeka kutozosvikira parufu rwavo. Uyewo, vakawanda vakabva muungano yeBoyne (zvino inonzi Mphogodiba) vakatora basa rokuparidzira evhangeri renguva yakazara, uye chiverengero chakati chichiri mubasa irori. Zvino, mune ungano mbiri muiyi nharaunda huru yemisha yomuruwa yakapararira, uye hwerengedzo yavaparidzi vanopfuura 70 vanoshingaira mubasa rokuparidzira.

Basa Idzva

Muna 1949, ndakarega kudzidzisa pachikoro ndokuva mushumiri piona wenguva dzose. Mugove wangu wokutanga wakanga uri wokushanyira vashandi vatema vomumapurazi avo vaigara pamapurazi avachena muVaalwater muTransvaal. Vamwe varidzi vepurazi vakatsigira muitiro wakanga uchangobva kugamuchirwa wesaruraganda uye vakanga vakatsunga kuti vatema vanofanira kubvuma kuderera kwavo kwaifungidzirwa kuvachena uye vanofanira kubatira vatenzi vavo vachena. Naizvozvo apo ndaiparidzira kuvashandi vatema, vamwe vachena vakandirangarira zvisina kururama kuti ndiri muparidziri wokusazviisa pasi. Vamwe vakatondipomera mhaka yokuva muKomonisiti ndokutyisidzira kundipfura.

Ndakashuma mugariro wacho kuhofisi yebazu yeWatch Tower Society, uye ndakakurumidza kuchinjirwa kumumwe mugove munharaunda yomuruwa inonzi Duiwelskloof. Panenge panguva ino mudzimai wangu akaregawo basa rake rokudzidzisa ndokundikumbanira mubasa roupiona. Mamwe masikati muna 1950, takadzokera tichibva mubasa romumunda ndokuwana emvuropu hombe yakabva kuSosaiti. Kukushamiswa kwedu yaiva nekokero yokuti ini ndigamuchire rovedzo somutariri anofambira. Kwamakore matatu takashanyira ungano muSouth Africa, uye ipapo muna 1953 takagoverwa kuLesotho, nyika yakapfigirwa mukati pakati peSouth Africa.

Ushumiri muLesotho neBotswana

Apo takavamba kubatira muLesotho, makanga mune runyerekupe rwakawanda rwokuti vaenzi vaiwanzova chipfuro chokuponda kwomuitiro. Tose tiri vaviri mudzimai wangu neni takaitira hanya, asi rudo rwehama dzeSotho nomutsa wadzo zvakakurumidza kutibetsera kukanganwa rutyo rwakadaro.

Kuti ndibatire ungano dzomuMakomo eMaluti eLesotho, ndaiwanzofamba nendege, ndichisiya mudzimai wangu ari munzvimbo dzakaderera umo iye aipfuurira ari mubasa roupiona kutozosvikira pakudzokera kwangu. Shamwari dzaindiperekedza nomutsa kubva paungano imwe kuenda kuimwe kundibetsera kudzivisa kurasika mumakomo.

Pane imwe nguva ndakaudzwa kuti kuti tisvike ungano inotevera, taizofanira kuyambuka Rwizi rwaOrange takatasva bhiza. Ndakavimbiswa kuti bhiza rangu rakanga riri nyoro asi ndakanyeverwa kuti apo mvura inova yakasimba zvikuru, mabhiza kazhinji kazhinji anoedza kuzvibvisira mitwaro yawo. Ndakanetseka nemhaka yokuti ndakanga ndisiri mutasvi akanaka kana kuti zvimwe mushambiri akanaka. Nokukurumidza takanga tapinda mumvura, uye mvura yakakwira kusvika pamaseduro. Ndakatyiswa kwazvo zvokuti ndakarega matomu ndokubatirira kuzenze rebhiza. Inyaradzo yakadini apo takasvika zvakakotsekana pamhenderekedzo yapamhiri!

Usiku ihwohwo handina kutongogona kurara nemhaka yokuti muviri wangu wakanga uchirwadza kwazvo nemhaka yokutasva bhiza. Asi kwakanga kwakafanira kunetseka kwose nemhaka yokuti shamwari dzakaratidza kuonga kukuru nokuda kweshanyo yacho. Apo ndakatanga basa redunhu muLesotho, makanga mune chiverengero chapamusoro chavaparidzi 113. Nhasi, chiverengero ichocho chakura kusvika ku 1 649.

Muna 1956 mugove wedu wokuparidzira wakachinjirwa kuBechuanaland Protectorate, zvino inonzi Botswana. Botswana inyika yakakura zvikuru, uye madaro akareba zvikuru aifanira kufukidzwa kuti tisvike vaparidzi vose. Taifamba nechitima kana kuti zvimwe mumarori. Makanga musina zvigaro, naizvozvo taifanira kugara pauriri nemikwende yedu. Kazhinji kazhinji taisvika kwataienda tine guruva uye taneta. Hama dzedu dzechiKristu nguva dzose dzaitigamuchira, uye zviso zvadzo zvinofara zvaitizorodza.

Panguva yacho, zvinyorwa zveSosaiti zvairambidzwa muBotswana, naizvozvo kuparidzira kwedu paimba neimba kwaiitwa nokungwarira, pasina kushandisa mabhuku eSosaiti. Pane imwe nguva takabatwa tichishanda pedyo nomusha weMaphashalala uye takasungwa. Mukuzvidzivirira kwedu takarava muBhaibheri, tichinongedzera kubasa redu serakanyorwa pana Mateo 28:19, 20. Kunyange zvazvo vamwe vamakurukota vakaororwa, mambo akaraira kuti Zvapupu zvomunzvimbomo zvibhurwe. Ipapo, kukushamiswa kwedu, mufundisi akateterera mambo kuti ave nomutsa ndokutiregerera. Mambo akabvuma, uye takasunungurwa.

Pasinei zvapo nechitambudzo nechirambidzo pamabhuku edu, basa roUmambo rakapfuurira kufambira mberi. Apo ndakasvika muBotswana, makanga mune chiverengero chapamusoro chavaparidzi 154. Makore matatu gare gare apo chirambidzo chakabviswa, chiverengero ichocho chakanga chakura kusvika ku 192. Nhasi, mune Zvapupu zvaJehovha 777 zvinoparidzira munyika iyoyo.

Kudzidzisa Nokushandura

Pashure penguva yakati, ndakashandiswa somuraidzi muChikoro Choushumiri hwoUmambo chavakuru vechiKristu. Gare gare ndakafarikanya ropafadzo yokuva muraidzi muChikoro cheBasa roUpiona. Mudzimai wangu neni takabatirawo panhambo nenhambo mubazu reSouth Africa. Panhambo dzakadaro ndaibetsera kushandura, uye Caroline aishanda mukicheni.

Rimwe zuva muna 1969, mutariri webazu, Frans Muller, akandisvika ndokuti: “Hama Thongoana, ndingada kukuonai nomudzimai wenyu muhofisi mangu.” Imomo iye akatsanangura kuti takanga tava pakati paavo vakasarudzwa senhume ku 1969 “Rugare Pasi pano” Kokorodzano muLondon. Takafarikanya mutsa worudo wehama dzedu muEngland neScotland, uye kwakawedzera zvikuru kuonga kwedu huhama hwenyika yose.

Kwamakumi mana amakore apfuura, Caroline ave ari shamwari yakavimbika mubasa redu savaparidzi veevhangeri venguva yakazara. Takagoverana mifaro yakawanda norusuruvaro pamwe chete. Kunyange zvazvo takarasikirwa navaviri vavana vedu murufu, mwanasikana wedu, Damaris, akakura kuva Chapupu chakaisvonaka uye akagoveranawo mubasa rokushandura pabazu reSouth Africa.

Utano hwedu hahusati huchatibvumira kugoverana mubasa rokufambira, naizvozvo kwamakore mashomanene apfuura, tave tiri mapiona chaiwo muungano muSeshego, taundishipi yaVatema pedyo nePietersburg. Ndinobatira somutariri anotungamirira. Bhaibheri rinotaura kuti “kufara kusvikira pagutsikano kune chiso” chaJehovha, uye zvamazvirokwazvo ndakawana mufaro negutsikano ndichibatira Mwari muAfrica yokumaodzanyemba.—Pisarema 16:11.

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 26]

Kupupurira mutaundishipi yeSeshego, South Africa