Impi Ayizange Isiyekise Ukushumayela

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGULEODEGARIO BARLAAN

Ngo-1942, phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, amazwe aseJapane nase-United States ayebambene ngezihluthu ebanga izwe lakithi, iPhilippines. Ngangisedolobhaneni iTabonan elisentabeni, lapho abashokobezi ababelwa namaJapane babengivalele khona. Ngashaywa kuthiwa ngiyinhloli, futhi ngasongelwa ngokubulawa. Ake ngichaze ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ngizithole sengikulesi simo nokuthi ngasinda kanjani.

NGAZALWA ngo-January 24, 1914, edolobheni laseSan Carlos, ePangasinan. Ngawo-1930, ubaba wangithumela esikoleni sokufundela ezolimo. NgamaSonto ngangiya eMiseni, futhi umpristi wayekhuluma ngamaVangeli—uMathewu, uMarku, uLuka noJohane. Ngenxa yalokho, ngafuna ukuwafunda.

Ngolunye usuku ngaya esigodlweni sezindelakazi ngiyothenga ikhophi yamaVangeli ngemali engangiyithole ngokuthengisa imifino. Kunalokho, banginika incwajana ethi The Way to Heaven, eyayingenawo amaVangeli. Ngadumala. Kamuva, ngisenesifiso sokuthola amaVangeli, ngaya eManila. Umalume ohlala lapho, owayengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, wanginika iBhayibheli eliphelele.

EManila, ngahlangana noFakazi abaningana futhi ngahlatshwa umxhwele yikhono labo lokucaphuna imibhalo. Baphendula imibuzo yami eminingi ngendlela eyanelisayo. Ekugcineni, umalume uRicardo Uson, wahamba nami saya emhlanganweni owawusehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova. Lapho sesisondela, ngokhela ugwayi. Umalume wathi: “Lahla lowo gwayi. OFakazi BakaJehova ababhemi.” Ngawulahla lowo gwayi futhi angiphindanga ngabhema. Ngahlangana noJoseph Dos Santos, umbonisi wegatsha, kanye nabanye oFakazi. Namuhla, ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka, ngisabakhumbula labo bafowethu abakahle abangamaKristu.

Isifiso Sokukhonza UNkulunkulu

Ngo-October 1937, ngesikhathi ngisengumfundi eLos Baños Agricultural College, ngangingasayi eMiseni. Kunalokho ngangifunda iBhayibheli kanye nezincwadi umalume ayenginike zona. Iqembu loFakazi BakaJehova lavakashela kuleli kolishi, futhi ngenxa yokuxoxa nomunye wabo, u-Elvira Alinsod, isifiso sami sokukhonza uJehova saqina.

Lapho ngitshela othisha bami ukuthi ngifuna ukuyeka esikoleni, bangibuza: “Uzokondliwa ngubani?” Ngabachazela ukuthi ngangiqiniseka ukuthi uma ngikhonza uNkulunkulu, wayezongisekela. Ngemva kokuyeka esikoleni, ngaya ehhovisi le-Watch Tower Society futhi ngacela umsebenzi wokuzithandela, ngichaza: “Sengiyifundile incwadi ethi Loyalty, Riches nethi Where Are the Dead? Manje ngifuna ukukhonza uJehova isikhathi esigcwele.” Kwathiwa mangiye eSifundazweni saseCebu ngiyojoyina amaphayona amathathu, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zoFakazi BakaJehova zibizwa kanjalo.

Ukuqala Ukushumayela

Ngo-July 15, 1938, uSalvador Liwag wangihlangabeza esikhumulweni semikhumbi lapho ngifika esiqhingini saseCebu. Ngakusasa ngaqala enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Akukho muntu owangiqeqesha. Ngangivele ngibonise umninikhaya ikhadi lobufakazi elalichaza umsebenzi wethu. Eqinisweni, ngangazi amagama amabili kuphela ngesiCebuano, ulimi lwendawo. Lwaqala kanjalo-ke usuku lwami lokuqala enkonzweni.

Lapho siqala ukufakaza edolobheni elisha, kwakuwumkhuba wethu ukuya kwamasipala kuqala. UMfoweth’ uLiwag wayefakaza kumphathi-dolobha; uPablo Bautista afakaze kumphathi wamaphoyisa; bese kuthi uConrado Daclan afakaze ejajini. Mina ngangixoxa nomphathi weposi. Sasibe sesiya ezitobhini zamabhasi, ezindlini zamaphoyisa, ezitolo nasezikoleni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sasiya emizini yabantu. Sasibanika insiza-kufundisa yeBhayibheli ethi Enemies. Njengoba ngangilingisa indlela abangane bami ababenikeza ngayo ubufakazi, kancane kancane ngafunda ukukhuluma isiCebuano, futhi ngaqala ukuhambisa izincwadi. Ngezinyanga ezintathu sasishaya sasivala isifundazwe saseCebu—esinamadolobha angu-54. Ngabe sengibuza uMfoweth’ uLiwag: “Sengingabhapathizwa yini manje?”

Waphendula: “Cha, mfowethu.” Ngakho saya kwesinye isiqhingi, iBohol, sashumayela lapho inyanga nesigamu, sahlanganisa amanye amadolobha angu-36. Ngaphinda ngacela ukubhapathizwa. Kwathiwa, “Cha, Mfoweth’ uBarlaan.” Ngakho lapho sesiqede iBohol neCamiguin Island, saya esiqhingini esikhulu saseMindanao futhi sashumayela eCagayan de Oro City.

Ngalesi sikhathi uVirginio Cruz wajoyina iqembu lethu. Wayekade enguthisha esikoleni esiphakeme futhi eseyekile ukuze abe yiphayona. Sadlulela nakwamanye amadolobha futhi ekugcineni safika eLake Lanao. Ngesikhathi silapho ngaphinde ngabuza ukuthi ngingabhapathizwa yini. Ekugcineni, ngo-December 28, 1938, ngemva kokuphayona izinyanga ezingaba yisithupha, uMfoweth’ uCruz wangibhapathiza emanzini eLake Lanao edolobheni laseLumbatan.

Ukuvuzwa Ngenxa Yokwethembela KuNkulunkulu

Kamuva ngajoyina amaphayona amathathu eNegros Occidental. KwakunguFulgencio de Jesus, u-Esperanza de Jesus noNatividad Santos, esasimbiza ngokuthi uNaty. Sashumayela ndawonye emadolobheni amaningi kuleso sifundazwe. Ngempela kwakudingeka sithembele ngokugcwele kuJehova, njengoba ngezinye izikhathi sasiba nemali encane. Ngesinye isikhathi sasifuna inhlanzi esizoyidla nelayisi. Ngahlangana nendoda ogwini futhi ngabuza ukuthi ngingayithola kuphi inhlanzi, kodwa zonke eyayinazo zase zihanjiswe emakethe. Kodwa yanginika eyodwa eyayizigcinele yona. Ngabuza ukuthi yimalini. Yathi: “Ungakhathazeki. Yithathe.”

Ngayibonga. Kodwa lapho sengihamba, ngabona ukuthi inhlanzi eyodwa yayingeke ibenele abantu abane. Lapho ngidlula emfudlaneni ngamangala ukubona inhlanzi iphezu kwetshe, isemanzi. Ngacabanga, ‘Mhlawumbe ifile.’ Ngahamba ngayoyicosha futhi ngamangala ukuthola ukuthi yayisaphila. Ngayithatha, ngayibamba ngayiqinisa, ngokushesha ngakhumbula isithembiso sikaJesu: “Khona-ke, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe, futhi zonke lezi ezinye izinto ziyonezelwa kini.”—Mathewu 6:33.

Ukushumayela Phakathi Nempi

Lapho iqembu lethu lamaphayona landa futhi siba ngu-9, kwakhiwa amaqembu amabili. Elethu labelwa eCebu. Manje kwase kungu-December 1941, futhi iMpi Yezwe II yayiqhubeka ePhilippines. Ngesikhathi sisedolobheni laseTuburan, usigaxa-mabhande wasePhilippines weza ekamelweni lethu ebusuku. Wathi: “Madoda, vukani. Amasosha ayanifuna.” Sasisolwa ngokuthi siyizinhloli zamaJapane ngakho sahlonywa imibuzo ubusuku bonke.

Ngemva kwalokho sayiswa ejele likamasipala. Amabutho ahlomile ase-United States eCebu City afuna ukuba siwanike amakhophi encwadi ngayinye ukuze azihlole abone ukuthi asizona yini izinhloli zamaJapane. Abantu abaningi bendawo basivakashela ejele, befuna ukubona ukuthi banjani laba bantu okuthiwa bayizinhloli zamaJapane. Abanye babesibuza imibuzo, futhi safakaza kubo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Ngemva kokuchitha izinsuku ezinhlanu ejele, umphathi wamaphoyisa wathola incwadi yocingo evela endlunkulu yeButho Lase-United States eyayithi makakhulule oFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa wasiyala ukuba singaphinde sishumayele ngoba kwakuyisikhathi sempi. Sachaza ukuthi sasingeke siyeke ukushumayela ngoba sasithunywe uNkulunkulu ukuba senze lo msebenzi. (IzEnzo 5:28, 29) Umphathi wathukuthela wayesethi: “Uma niqhubeka nishumayela, ngizothuma abantu banibulale.”

Ezinsukwini ezalandela, umphathi wamaphoyisa wayefuna ukuba siphinde siboshwe. Ekugcineni, iqembu lamasosha eButho Lase-United States lasimisa, futhi usigaxa-mabhande uSoriano wabuza uDade Santos: “Nizoyeka ukushumayela?”

“Cha,” ephendula.

“Noma singanibeka phambi kweqembu lamasosha azonidubula?” ebuza.

Udade wachaza: “Lokho ngeke kusishintshe isinqumo sethu.”

Lapho bezwa lokho, basifaka sonke elolini elithwala izimpahla sayiswa eCebu City, lapho savela khona phambi koMphathi u-Edmund. Usigaxa-mabhande uSonario wasethula kuye ngokuthi: “Laba oFakazi BakaJehova. Bayizinhloli zaseJapane!”

“OFakazi BakaJehova?” kubuza umphathi. “Ngibazi kahle oFakazi BakaJehova eMelika. Abazona izinhloli! Abathathi hlangothi.” Wabe esephendukela kithi wathi: “Ngenxa yokuthi anithathi hlangothi, ngeke nikhululwe.” Kamuva ngemva kokugcinwa endlini yezimpahla isikhathi esithile, uMphathi u-Edmund waphinde wakhuluma nathi futhi wasibuza: “Ingabe namanje anikathathi hlangothi?”

Saphendula: “Yebo kunjalo Mnumzane.”

Wathi: “Khona-ke ngeke nikhululwe, ngoba uma sinikhulula, nizoqhubeka nishumayela, futhi labo enizobaguqula nabo ngeke bathathe hlangothi. Futhi uma wonke umuntu eguquka, akukho muntu ozokulwa.”

Ukukhululeka Ukuba Siphinde Sishumayele

Kamuva, sayiswa ejele laseCebu City. Ngo-April 10, 1942, abaseJapane bahlasela leli dolobha. Amabhomu ayeqhuma yonke indawo, futhi kwaqubuka umlilo omkhulu! Umlindi wabona uDade Santos, isitokisi sakhe esasingaphambili ejele. “Hawu nkosi yami! OFakazi BakaJehova basengaphakathi!” ememeza. “Bavuleleni baphume!” Sambonga uJehova ngesivikelo saKhe.

Ngokushesha salibangisa ezintabeni siyofuna abanye oFakazi. Sathola oyedwa edolobheni laseCompostela. Ngaphambili wayekade ehola emsebenzini wokushumayela, kodwa manje wanquma ukuyeka ukushumayela waya eCebu City ukuyovula ibhizinisi lokudayisa izinto ezihlukahlukene. Kodwa isinqumo sethu kwakuwukuqhubeka sishumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kumnyama kubomvu.

Sasinamakhophi amaningi encwajana ethi Comfort All That Mourn, futhi sazikhandla ukuba siwahambisele abantu. Kodwa abaningi bazama ukusesabisa ngokuthi uma amaJapane esibona, azosinquma amakhanda. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, kwahlelwa iqembu labashokobezi elilwa namaJapane, futhi lo owayeyeke ukushumayela wayoqhuba ibhizinisi eCebu City waboshwa. Sadabuka ukuzwa ukuthi wabekwa icala lokuba yinhloli yamaJapane futhi wabulawa.

Ukumangalelwa Ngokuthi Siyizinhloli

Ngaleso sikhathi saqhubeka sishumayela ezintabeni. Ngolunye usuku sezwa ukuthi kukhona owesifazane onesithakazelo, kodwa ukuze sifike kuye, kwakudingeka sidlule ezindaweni eziningana okwakugade kuzo abashokobezi. Safika edolobhaneni laseMangabon, lapho lona wesifazane ayehlala khona, kodwa iqembu lamasosha lasithola lapho lase limemeza: “Nizokwenzani lapha?”

Ngaphendula: “SingoFakazi BakaJehova. Ningathanda ukuzwa isigijimi esisiphethe ngegilamafoni?” Lapho bevuma, ngadlala irekhodi elithi The Value of Knowledge. Ngemva kwalokho, saseshwa futhi sahlonywa imibuzo sabe sesiyiswa endlunkulu yabashokobezi edolobhaneni laseTabonan. Sathandazela isivikelo sikaJehova ngoba kwakuvame ukubikwa ukuthi cishe bonke ababeyiswa khona babebulawa.

Sagadwa futhi saphathwa kabi. Kulapho-ke lapho kwenzeka khona isenzakalo engisichaze ekuqaleni, lapho ngashaywa khona futhi usigaxa-mabhande wangikhomba wathi: “Uyinhloli!” Ukuphathwa kabi kwaqhubeka isikhashana, kodwa esikhundleni sokubulawa, sagwetshelwa ukusebenza kanzima.

Umfowethu uBernabe wayengomunye wamaphayona ayeboshwe eTabonan. Njalo ekuseni thina ziboshwa kwakufanele sihlabelele ingoma ethi “Nkosi Sikelela IMelika [God Bless America]” nethi “Nkosi Sikelela IPhilippines [God Bless the Philippines].” Kunalokho, oFakazi bahlabelela ethi “Ubani Ongasohlangothini LweNkosi?” Ngesinye isikhathi, isikhulu esasigadile samemeza: “Noma ubani ongahlabeleli ingoma ethi ‘Nkosi Sikelela IMelika’ uzophanyekwa kulesiya sihlahla somunga!” Kodwa naphezu kosongo olunjalo, akekho kithi owabulawa. Ekugcineni, sathunyelwa kwamanye amakamu. Ekugcineni kwafika amaphepha athi mangikhululwe ngo-July 1943. Ngaleso sikhathi ngase nginezinyanga ezingu-8 nezinsuku eziyishumi ngiboshiwe.

Ukushumayela Ukuphila Konke

Isifiso sethu sokubona abantu abathakazelayo esasikade sishumayele kubo sasishukumisela ukuba sihambe ibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-60 siye edolobheni laseToledo. Kwakuqhutshwa imihlangano njalo lapho, futhi abantu abaningi bagcina sebebhapathiziwe. Ekugcineni, impi yaphela ngo-1945. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, cishe kwase kuyiminyaka engu-9 ngibhapathiziwe, ngaya emhlanganweni wesigodi ngokokuqala ngqá, owawuseSanta Ana Racetrack eManila. Kwakuhlangene ababalelwa ku-4 200 bezolalela inkulumo yeningi eyayinesihloko esithi “Injabulo Yabo Bonke Abantu.”

Ngaphambi kokuqala kwempi, sasinoFakazi abangaba ngu-380 ePhilippines, kodwa ngo-1947, kwakunababalelwa ku-2 700! Kusukela lapho ngiye ngaqhubeka ngijabulela amalungelo amaningi enkonzweni kaJehova. Kusukela ngo-1948 kuya ku-1950, ngakhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo esifundeni saseSurigao. Ngo-1951, ngashada noNatividad Santos, owayeshumayele ngesibindi neqembu lethu phakathi nempi. Ngemva kokushada saba senkonzweni yokujikeleza eMindanao kusukela ngo-1954 kuya ku-1972.

Ukuze sibe seduze nabazali bethu asebekhulile futhi sibasize, saba amaphayona akhethekile ngo-1972. Ngisho nakuba sobabili sesevile eminyakeni engu-80, sisaphayona, njengoba ingqikithi yeminyaka esesiyichithe enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele sobabili ingaphezu kuka-120. Yeka indlela esiye sajabula ngayo ukubona inani lalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ePhilippines likhula liba ngaphezu kuka-130 000! Kuyisifiso sethu ukusiza abanye abaningi ukuba bazi ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uwukuphela kwethemba lokujabulela ukuthula kweqiniso nenjabulo emhlabeni.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 22]

Sasisolwa ngokuthi siyizinhloli zamaJapane ngakho sahlonywa imibuzo ubusuku bonke

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Ngo-1963, sinabangane bethu esiQhingini saseBohol. Mina nomkami singowesine nowesihlanu ukusuka ngakwesokudla

[Isithombe ekhasini 24]

Nginomkami namuhla

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Background photo: U.S. Signal Corps photo