Ukudingiselwa ESiberia!
Njengoba Ilandiswa Uvasily Kalin
Uma ubona indoda izolile ifunda iBhayibheli kube kuqhuma ombayimbayi ngapha nangapha, ngeke yini uthande ukwazi ukuthi kungani izithele ngabandayo nje? Ubaba wabona isenzakalo esinjalo eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-56 edlule.
KWAKUNGO-JULY 1942, lapho iMpi Yezwe II yayibambene ngezihluthu. Njengoba isifuba sempi yamaJalimane sasidlula edolobhaneni lakubo kababa iVilshanitsa, e-Ukraine, ubaba wangena emzini wabanye abantu asebekhulile. Ombayimbayi babeqhuma nxazonke, kodwa le ndoda yayizihlalele eduze kwesitofu ipheke ummbila izifundela iBhayibheli.
Ngazalwa eminyakeni emihlanu kamuva, endaweni engekude kakhulu nedolobha elihle elisentshonalanga ne-Ukraine, i-Ivano-Frankivs’k, ngaleso sikhathi elaliyingxenye yeSoviet Union. Kamuva ubaba wangixoxela ngokuhlangana kwakhe naleyo ndoda, eyayingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, angasoze akukhohlwa nangesikhathi esihlasimulisa umzimba seminyaka yempi. Abantu sasibakhathaza futhi sibakhungathekisa lesi simo, futhi abaningi babezibuza, ‘Kungani bungekho kangaka ubulungisa? Kungani izinkulungwane zabantu abangenacala zifa? Kungani uNkulunkulu ekuvumela? Kungani? Kungani? Kungani?’
Ubaba waxoxa nale ndoda endala isikhathi eside futhi bexoxa ngokungagunci ngemibuzo enjalo. Ivula iBhayibheli layo, imibhalo ilandelana, le ndoda yabonisa ubaba izimpendulo zemibuzo okwase kuyisikhathi eside imkhungathekisa. Yachaza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlose ukuqeda zonke izimpi ngesikhathi sakhe esimisiwe nokuthi umhlaba uyoba ipharadesi elihle.—IHubo 46:9; Isaya 2:4; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
Ubaba wagijimela ekhaya wafike wamemeza: “Ungakholwa uma ngikutshela ukuthi ngemva kwengxoxo eyodwa noFakazi BakaJehova, amehlo ami avulekile? Sengilitholile iqiniso!” Ubaba wathi nakuba ayeya njalo eSontweni LamaKatolika, abapristi babengakaze bakwazi ukuphendula imibuzo yakhe. Ngakho-ke ubaba waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli, nomama wahlanganyela naye. Baqala nokufundisa izingane zabo ezintathu—udadewethu owayeneminyaka emibili kuphela, nabafowethu omunye wayeneminyaka engu-7 omunye enengu-11 ubudala. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, umuzi wabo wacekelwa phansi ngebhomu, kwasala ikamelo elilodwa kuphela abahlala kulo.
Umama wayezalwa emkhayeni omkhulu enodadewabo abayisithupha nomfowabo oyedwa. Ubaba wakhe wayengomunye wamadoda ayekhomba ngophakathi endaweni, futhi wayelazisa igunya lakhe nesikhundla. Ngakho-ke, ekuqaleni izihlobo zaphikisana nenkolo entsha yomkhaya wakithi. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abaningi kulaba ababephikisa, bayiyeka imikhuba yenkolo engasekelwe emiBhalweni, njengokusebenzisa izithombe, bahlanganyela nabazali bami ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.
Abapristi babagqugquzela obala abantu ukuba bamelane noFakazi. Ngenxa yalokho, izakhamuzi zendawo zaziphula amafasitela abo futhi zibasongele. Naphezu kwalokhu, abazali bami baqhubeka befunda iBhayibheli. Ngenxa yalokho, ngesikhathi ngizalwa ngo-1947, umkhaya wakithi wawukhulekela uJehova ngomoya nangeqiniso.—Johane 4:24.
Ukudingiswa
Ngisawakhumbula kahle amahora asentathakusa ngo-April 8, 1951, ngisho nakuba ngangineminyaka emine kuphela ubudala ngaleso sikhathi. Amasosha ayehamba nezinja angena ekhaya. Asinikeza incwadi eyayisitshela ukuthi siyadingiswa abe eseqala ukusesha. Amasosha ayephethe izibhamu ehamba nezinja ama phambi komnyango, futhi amadoda ayegqoke umfaniswano wempi ahlala etafuleni, esilindile njengoba sasitatazela silungela ukuhamba emahoreni amabili esasinikwe wona. Ngangingazi ukuthi kwenzekani, ngakho ngakhala.
Abazali bami bayalwa ukuba basayine incwadi ethi abasebona oFakazi BakaJehova futhi akukho lutho olwaluzobuye lubahlanganise nabo. Uma beyisayina babezoyekwa bahlale emzini wabo nasezweni lakubo. Kodwa ubaba washo ngesibindi: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi noma ningasiyisa kuphi, uNkulunkulu wethu, uJehova, uzoba nathi.”
“Cabanga ngomkhaya wakho, ngezingane zakho,” isikhulu simncenga. “Phela, aniyiswa endaweni yokungcebeleka. Niyiswa enyakatho ekude, lapho lihlala likhithika khona nalapho amabhere echanasa khona emigwaqweni.”
Ngaleso sikhathi igama elithi “Siberia” kwakuyigama elisabisayo nelingaziwa muntu. Nokho, ukholo nothando olujulile ngoJehova lwaqina ngaphezu kokwesaba okungaziwa. Izimpahla zethu zafakwa enqoleni, thina sathathwa sayiswa edolobheni sagitsheliswa ezitimeleni zemithwalo, neminye imikhaya engu-20 kuya kwengu-30. Sabe sesiqala uhambo lwethu ehlathini elikhulu noma ehlane laseSiberia.
Eziteshini zikajantshi esasihamba kuwo, sahlangana nezinye izitimela zithwele labo ababedingiswa, futhi sabona izimpawu ezazichonywe ezitimeleni ezazithi: “Sithwele OFakazi BakaJehova.” Lokho kwakuwubufakazi bohlobo oluthile ngokwako, ngoba ngale ndlela abaningi bazi ukuthi izinkulungwane zoFakazi nemikhaya yabo ziyiswa ezindaweni ezihlukene zasenyakatho nasempumalanga ekude.
Lokhu kuqoqwa nokudingiswa koFakazi BakaJehova ngo-April 1951 kufakazelwa kahle. Isazi-mlando uWalter Kolarz wabhala ngako encwadini yakhe ethi Religion in the Soviet Union: “Loku kwakungasho ukuphela ‘koFakazi’ eRussia, kodwa kwakumane nje kuwukuqala kwesahluko esisha emsebenzini wabo wokuguqulela abantu kwenye inkolo. Bazama ukusakaza ukholo lwabo ngisho nalapho bema eziteshini ngesikhathi beya ekudingisweni. Ngokubadingisa uHulumeni waseSoviet wamane nje wenza ukuba kusakazeke inkolo yabo. Sebebodwa ngaphandle kwedolobhana, ‘oFakazi’ balethwa ezweni elibanzi, nakuba leli kwakuyizwe elesabekayo lokuhlushwa nokusebenza njengezigqila emakamu.”
Umkhaya wakithi waba nenhlanhla ngoba savunyelwa ukuphatha ukudla—ufulawa, ummbila nobhontshisi. Umkhulu wavunyelwa ngisho nokuhlaba ingulube, esayidla nabanye oFakazi. Endleleni kwakuzwakala izingoma ezithinta inhliziyo ezitimeleni. UJehova wasinikeza amandla okukhuthazela.—IzAga 18:10.
Sanqamula eRussia okwasithatha cishe amasonto amathathu futhi ekugcineni safika eSiberia ebandayo, enesizungu nekude. Sehliswa esiteshini iToreya esigodini saseChunsk esifundeni sase-Irkutsk. Ukusuka lapho, sathathwa sayiswa phambili ehlathini edolobhaneni elincane, kulokho izincwadi zethu ezazikuchaza ngokuthi ‘indawo esiyoze sifele kuyo.’ Izimpahla zemikhaya engu-15 zanela kalula esihlibhini, futhi inqola yasidonsa odakeni lwasentwasahlobo. Cishe ingu-20 imikhaya eyayihlala ekamu, elalinezakhiwo eziyimihubhe ezingenamakamelo. Abaphathi baxwayisa izakhamuzi kusengaphambili ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bangabantu abangezwani nabantu. Ngakho-ke, abantu baqale basesaba futhi abangazama nokusijwayela.
Umsebenzi Ekudingisweni
OFakazi BakaJehova babegawula izihlahla ngaphansi kwezimo ezinzima kakhulu. Wonke umsebenzi wawenziwa ngezandla—ukusaha izingodo, ukuzicanda, ukuzilayisha ezinqoleni ezidonswa amahhashi futhi ngemva kwalokho zilayishwe ezitimeleni. Isimo sasiba sibi nakakhulu ngenxa yefu lezinsensane okwakungelula ukuzicashela. Ubaba wagula wabangwa nezibi. Umzimba wakhe wawuvuvukele wonke, futhi wathandaza ngokujulile kuJehova ukuba amsize akhuthazele. Kodwa naphezu kwabo bonke ubunzima, ukholo lwenqwaba yoFakazi BakaJehova aluzange luzamazame.
Ngokushesha sayiswa edolobheni lase-Irkutsk, lapho umkhaya wakithi wahlala khona ekamu elaliyijele futhi wasebenza efektri yezitini. Izitini zazethulwa ngezandla zisuka kohhavini abashisayo abakhulu, futhi izabelo zomsebenzi zazihlale zinezelwa, kangangokuthi nezingane kwakudingeka zisize abazali ukuze bakwazi ukuzifeza. Sakhunjuzwa ngokusebenza kwama-Israyeli lapho eyizigqila eGibithe lasendulo.—Eksodusi 5:9-16.
Kwacaca ukuthi oFakazi babengabantu abazikhandlayo nabathembekile, hhayi “izitha zabantu,” njengoba kwakushiwo. Kwaphawulwa ukuthi akekho noyedwa uFakazi owadelela izikhulu, futhi oFakazi abazange baphikisane nezinqumo zeziphathimandla. Ngisho nenkolo yabo yajika yathandwa abantu abaningi.
Ukuphila Kwethu Okungokomoya
Nakuba oFakazi baseshwa ngokuphindaphindiwe—ngaphambi kokuba bayiswe ekudingisweni, ngesikhathi besendleleni, nalapho sebesezindaweni ababedingiselwe kuzo—abaningi bakwazi ukufihla omagazini be-Nqabayokulinda ngisho namaBhayibheli. Kamuva, labo magazini baphinde babhalwa ngesandla nangezinye izindlela. Imihlangano yobuKristu yayiqhutshwa njalo emakamu. Lapho umphathi wamakamu engena ethola iqembu lethu licula ingoma, wayesitshela ukuba sithule. Sasithula. Kodwa lapho eseya ekamu elilandelayo, sasiqala futhi sicule. Kwakungenakwenzeka ukusithulisa.
Nomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela awuzange ume. OFakazi babekhuluma nawo wonke umuntu kuyo yonke indawo. Abafowethu abadala nabazali bami babevame ukungitshela ukuthi bakwazi kanjani ukuhlanganyela amaqiniso eBhayibheli nabanye abantu. Ngenxa yalokhu, iqiniso leBhayibheli laqala ukungena kancane kancane ezinhliziyweni zabantu abaqotho. Ngakho-ke, ekuqaleni kwawo-1950 uMbuso kaJehova wenziwa waziwa e-Irkutsk nasezindaweni ezizungezile.
Ekuqaleni oFakazi babebhekwa njengezitha zezombangazwe, kodwa kamuva kwaqashelwa ngokomthetho ukuthi inhlangano yethu yayingeyenkolo kuphela. Noma kunjalo, izikhulu zazama ukuvimbela umsebenzi wethu. Ngakho-ke, sasihlangana sifunde iBhayibheli ngamaqembu amancane emikhaya emibili noma emithathu ukuze sigweme ukubanjwa. Kwaseshisiswa ngolunye usuku ekuseni ngo-February 1952. Ngemva kwalokho, kwaboshwa oFakazi abayishumi, sonke thina abanye sayiswa ezindaweni ezihlukene. Umkhaya wakithi wayiswa edolobhaneni lase-Iskra, elalinabantu abacishe babe yikhulu futhi liqhele ngebanga elingamakhilomitha angu-30 edolobheni lase-Irkutsk.
Ukukhuthazela Njengoba Izimo Zishintsha
Abaphathi baleli dolobhana babonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi esasingawulindele. Babengabantu abavamile nabanobungane—abanye baze baphuma ngisho nasemizini yabo bazosisiza. Umkhaya wakithi waba ngowesithathu ukungena ekamelweni okwakungené kulo abanye elincane cishe elingamamitha-skwele angu-17. Sasikhanyisa isibani sikaphalafini kuphela.
Ngakusasa ekuseni kwakunokhetho. Abazali bami bathi kakade base bevotele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, okuyinto abantu abangazange bayiqonde. Ngakho-ke, amalungu omkhaya wakithi amadala aboshwa usuku lonke. Ngemva kwalokho, abantu abaningi bawabuza ngezinkolelo zawo, futhi lokhu kwavula ithuba elihle lokuba umkhaya wakithi ukhulume ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu.
Phakathi neminyaka emine esayihlala kuleli dolobhana lase-Iskra, babengekho abanye oFakazi abaseduze esasingahlanganyela nabo. Ukuze siphumele ngaphandle kwaleli dolobhana kwakudingeka sithole imvume ekhethekile kumphathi walo, futhi ayemancane amathuba okuthi asinike, njengoba isizathu esiyinhloko sokudingiswa kwethu kwakuwukusehlukanisa nabanye abantu. Nokho, oFakazi babehlala bezama ukuxhumana ukuze bahlanganyele noma ikuphi ukudla okusha okungokomoya ababekutholile.
Ngemva kokufa kukaStalin ngo-1953, bonke oFakazi ababeboshiwe behliselwa izigwebo zisuka eminyakeni engu-25 ziya kwengu-10. Kwakungasadingeki ukuba labo abaseSiberia babe nencwadi ekhethekile yokuhamba. Nokho, ngokushesha izikhulu zaqala ukusesha nokubopha oFakazi ezazithola ukuthi baneBhayibheli noma izincwadi zeBhayibheli. OFakazi bakhelwa amakamu ngokukhethekile, futhi abafowethu abangu-400 nodadewethu abangu-200 bafakwa kuwo ezindaweni ezizungeze i-Irkutsk.
Izindaba zokushushiswa kwethu eSoviet Union zafinyelela koFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Ngakho-ke, kusukela phakathi no-1956 kuya ku-February ka-1957, kwenziwa isikhalo egameni lethu emihlanganweni yesigodi engu-199 eyayikuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. Inani labangu-462 936 ababekhona, lavumelana nokwenziwa kwesikhalo esayiswa kowayengundunankulu waseSoviet ngaleso sikhathi uNikolay A. Bulganin. Phakathi kokunye, lesi sikhalo sacela ukuba sikhululwe nokuba “sivunyelwe ukuthola futhi sinyathelise umagazini INqabayokulinda ngesiRashiya, ngolimi lwase-Ukraine nangezinye izilimi ezinjalo kuye ngokwesidingo, sithole nezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezisetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke.”
Ngaleso sikhathi, umkhaya wakithi wase uthuthelwe edolobhaneni elikude laseKhudyakovo, cishe okungamakhilomitha angu-20 ukusuka e-Irkutsk. Sahlala lapho iminyaka engu-7. Ngo-1960 umfowethu uFyodor wahamba waya e-Irkutsk, kwathi ngonyaka olandelayo umfowethu omdala washada, udadewethu naye wathutha. Kwathi ngo-1962, uFyodor wabanjwa waboshwa ngenxa yokushumayela.
Ukukhula Kwami Ngokomoya
Cishe sasihamba ibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-20 ngezinyawo noma ngebhayisikili ukusuka edolobhaneni lakithi eKhudyakovo, siyohlangana nabanye ukuze sifunde iBhayibheli. Ngakho-ke sazama ukuthuthela e-Irkutsk ukuze sibe seduze nabanye oFakazi. Nokho, umphathi wendawo esasihlala kuyo wayengafuni sithuthe, wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze asivimbele. Nokho, ngemva kwesikhathi esithile, le ndoda yaqala ukuba nomusa kithi, futhi sakwazi ukuthuthela edolobheni lasePivovarikha, cishe elalingamakhilomitha ayishumi ukusuka e-Irkutsk. Kwakukhona ibandla loFakazi BakaJehova lapho, futhi ngaqala ukuphila okusha. EPivovarikha kwakunamaqembu ahleliwe eSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla kanye nabazalwane ababengamela imisebenzi engokomoya. Yeka indlela engajabula ngayo!
Manje ngase ngilithanda kakhulu iqiniso leBhayibheli, futhi ngifuna ukubhapathizwa. Ngo-August 1965 isifiso sami sagcwaliseka lapho ngibhapathizwa eMfudlaneni i-Olkhe, lapho oFakazi abasha abaningi babebhapathizwa khona ngaleso sikhathi. Kubantu abangenandaba ababebukele, kwakubonakala sengathi sasikupikiniki sibhukuda emfuleni. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho ngathola isabelo sami sokuqala njengombonisi weSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. Kwathi ngo-November 1965, sajabula nakakhulu lapho uFyodor ebuya ejele.
Indlela Umsebenzi Owachuma Ngayo
Ngo-1965 bahlangana bonke ababedingisiwe, kwamenyezelwa ukuthi sase sinelungelo lokuthuthela noma kuphi lapho sasithanda khona, ngaleyo ndlela, yaphela ‘indawo esasiyoze sifele kuyo.’ Ungacabanga ukuthi sajabula kanjani? Nakuba abanye bethu bahamba ngaleso sikhathi baya kwezinye izingxenye zezwe, abanye banquma ukusala lapho uJehova ayesibusise futhi wasisekela khona ekukhuleni nasemsebenzini wethu ongokomoya. Abaningi babo babekhulise izingane, abazukulu nezingane zabazukulu eSiberia, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi eyagcina ingasesabeki.
Ngo-1967, ngahlangana noMaria, intombazane emkhaya wakubo nawo wawudingiselwe eSiberia usuka e-Ukraine. Lapho sisebancane sobabili sasihlala edolobhaneni lase-Ukraine eVilshanitsa. Sashada ngo-1968, futhi ekugcineni sabusiswa ngendodana, uYaroslav, kwalandela indodakazi, u-Oksana.
Saqhubeka sisebenzisa imingcwabo nemishado ukuba sihlangane sibe baningi ukuze sibe nobudlelwano obungokomoya. Sasisebenzisa lezi zenzakalo ukuba sichazele izihlobo ezingebona oFakazi nabangane ababeba khona amaqiniso eBhayibheli. Onogada babevame ukuza kule mibuthano, lapho sasishumayela khona obala ngalokho okushiwo iBhayibheli ngethemba lovuko noma ngelungiselelo likaJehova lomshado nezibusiso zesikhathi esizayo ezweni lakhe elisha.
Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho ngiqeda ukubeka inkulumo emngcwabeni, kwangena imoto, iminyango yavuleka indiza, kwaphuma enye yamadoda ayephakathi yathi mangingene emotweni. Ngangingesabi. Phela, sasingezona izigebengu, sasimane nje sikholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Nokho, ekhukhwini lami kwakunemibiko yenkonzo yalabo ababesebandleni lethu. Ngangingaboshwa ngenxa yalokho. Ngakho-ke ngacela ukunika umkami imali ngaphambi kokuba ngihambe nabo. Ngenxa yalokho, ngokungatatazeli nganika umkami isikhwama semali kanye nemibiko yebandla phambi kwabo.
Kusukela ngo-1974, mina noMaria saqala ukwenza izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngomshoshaphansi emzini wethu. Njengoba sasinendodana encane, sasikwenza ebusuku loku ukuze ingazi ngako. Nokho, inelukuluku lokwazi, yayenza sengathi ilele bese ilunguza ukuze ibone ukuthi senzani. Kamuva yathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ubani owenza omagazini abakhuluma ngoNkulunkulu.” Sathuka kancane, kodwa sasihlale sicela uJehova ukuba avikele umkhaya wethu kulo msebenzi obalulekile.
Ekugcineni izikhulu zaba nomusa kakhulu koFakazi BakaJehova, sabe sesenza amacebo okuba nomhlangano omkhulu endaweni yombukiso nokungcebeleka eMir edolobheni lase-Usol’ye-Sibirskoye. Saqinisekisa abaphathi bedolobha ukuthi imihlangano yethu eyokufunda iBhayibheli kuphela nobudlelwano bobuKristu. Bangaphezu kuka-700 abahlangana ngo-January 1990, ihholo lakhuza phezulu futhi lokho kwadonsa amehlo abantu.
Ngemva komhlangano intatheli yabuza, “Niziqeqeshe nini izingane zenu?” Yona kanye nezinye izivakashi bamangazwa ukuthi izingane zahlala zalalela amahora amane alo mhlangano wasobala wokuqala ngqá. Kamuva iphephandaba lendawo lakhipha isihloko esihle ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Lathi: “Umuntu angafunda okuthile ngempela [koFakazi BakaJehova].”
Ukujabula Ngokwanda Okukhulu
Ngo-1991 saba nemihlangano eyisikhombisa eSoviet Union, okwaba khona kuyo abangu-74 252. Kamuva, ngemva kokuba izindawo ezazingama-republic aseSoviet Union sezizimele, ngathola isabelo esivela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova sokuba ngiye eMoscow. Ngabe sengibuzwa ukuthi ngingakwazi yini ukwandisa ingxenye yami emsebenzini woMbuso. Ngaleso sikhathi uYaroslav wayeseshadile esenengane kanti u-Oksana wayesanda kweva eshumini nambili. Ngakho ngo-1993, mina noMaria saqala inkonzo yethu yesikhathi esigcwele eMoscow. Ngawo lowo nyaka, ngamiswa njengomqondisi weSikhungo Sokuqondisa Senhlangano Yenkolo YoFakazi BakaJehova eRussia.
Manje, mina noMaria sihlala ezakhiweni zegatsha ezintsha ngaphandle kweSt. Petersburg futhi sisebenza khona. Ngikubheka njengelungelo ukukwazi ukuhlanganyela nabanye abazalwane abathembekile ekunakekeleni inani elanda ngokushesha labamemezeli boMbuso eRussia. Namuhla bangaphezulu kakhulu kuka-260 000 oFakazi ezindaweni ezazingama-republic aseSoviet Union, bangaphezu kuka-100 000 eRussia iyodwa!
Ngokuvamile mina noMaria sicabanga ngezihlobo zethu ezithandekayo nabangane abaqhubeka bethembekile enkonzweni yoMbuso eSiberia, indawo eyayisiyikhaya lethu elithandekayo. Namuhla, imihlangano emikhulu ivame ukwenzelwa lapho, futhi oFakazi ababalelwa ku-2 000 bayashiseka e-Irkutsk nasezindaweni ezizungezile. Ngempela, isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 60:22 naso siyagcwaliseka kuleyo ngxenye yezwe: “Omncane uyakuba yinkulungwane, ophansi abe yisizwe esinamandla.”
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Nginobaba, umkhaya wakithi nabanye ababedingisiwe e-Irkutsk ngo-1959
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Izingane ekudingisweni e-Iskra
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Ngonyaka esashada ngawo
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NginoMaria namuhla