Ake Ngikwethule Kubantu BaseMpumalanga Timor
NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! E-AUSTRALIA
IMPUMALANGA TIMOR, noma iTimor-Leste, iyizwe elincane elisengxenyeni engasempumalanga yesiqhingi saseTimor. Igama lesiMalay okususelwa kulo igama elithi “Timor” nelesiPutukezi elithi Leste asho “impumalanga.” Abantu bavame ukubiza leli zwe ngokuthi iMpumalanga Timor. Leli gama liyafaneleka, ngoba lesi siqhingi sisekugcineni engxenyeni engasempumalanga yeqoqo leziqhingi zase-Indonesia.
IMpumalanga Timor iyindawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angaba ngu-14 800, okuyenza ibe nkudlwana kunesifundazwe saseConnecticut, e-U.S.A., noma ibe ngaphansana kwesigamu sezwe laseNetherlands. Nakuba lesi siqhingi sisincane, sinenhlanganisela yezinto ezingokwemvelo ezitholakala emazweni asiphahlile ase-Asia nase-Australia. Kunesinindolo samahlathi asezindaweni ezishisayo nezihlahla ezomile zikagamthilini kanye namathafa omile agcwele utshani. Izilwane zalapha nazo ziyingxube yezilwane zase-Australia nase-Asia. Ngokwesibonelo, ama-marsupial nezinyoni zase-Australia ziphila ndawonye nezinkawu nezingwenya zase-Asia ezihlala emanzini anosawoti asezindaweni ezishisayo. Kodwa-ke kuthiwani ngabantu baseMpumalanga Timor? Ungathanda ukubazi?
Izinkumbulo Zenkathi Edlule Yamakoloni
Kungenzeka ukuthi amatilosi angamaPutukezi afika kuqala eMpumalanga Timor cishe ngo-1514. Ngaleso sikhathi, odedangendlale bamahlathi ezihlahla ze-sandalwood babemboze yonke imimango yakulesi siqhingi. Lezi zihlahla zazibiza imali eshisiwe, futhi zona nje zizodwa zabangela ukuba amaPutukezi avule isikhungo sezohwebo. ISonto LamaKatolika nalo laba nesithakazelo kule ndawo futhi lalifuna ukuthumela izithunywa zevangeli ukuze zizoguqula abantu bomdabu. Eqhutshwa yilezi zisusa ezimbili, amaPutukezi aqala ukwenza lesi siqhingi ukuba sibe ikoloni lawo ngo-1556.
Nokho, iMpumalanga Timor yasala iyikoloni elikude futhi elishiywe dengwane. Lapho amaDashi eqala ukubusa ingxenye engasentshonalanga yalesi siqhingi ngo-1656, amaPutukezi ahoxa ayeseyobusa ingxenye engasempumalanga. Ekugcineni, ngemva kweminyaka engu-400 yokubusa kwawo leli koloni, amaPutukezi ahoxa ngokuphelele ngo-1975.
Ngawo lowo nyaka, kwagqashuka impi yombango. Phakathi neminyaka engu-24 eyalandela, kulinganiselwa ukuthi kwabulawa abantu abangaba ngu-200 000 kuleyo mpi—cishe ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu yezakhamuzi zakuleyo ndawo. Ngo-1999, igagasi lobudlova laqothula izwe, labhubhisa amaphesenti angu-85 ezindlu nezinto eziningi eziyingqalasizinda. Amakhulu ezinkulungwane zabantu abalekela ezintabeni. Ekugcineni iZizwe Ezihlangene zangenela ukuze zizolamula futhi zisimamise izwe.
Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, abantu bakulesi siqhingi bebesebenzela ekuvuseleleni ukuphila kwabo okuyincithakalo. Ngo-May 2002, iMpumalanga Timor, noma iDemocratic Republic of Timor-Leste, yaqashelwa ngokomthetho njengezwe elisha.
Ingxubevange Yamasiko
Amakhulu eminyaka okuhweba, ukufudukela kwabantu emazweni ase-Asia nase-Australasia kanye nokufika kwabantu baseYurophu bezokwakha amakoloni kuye kwaveza ingxubevange ethakazelisayo yamasiko nezilimi kulo lonke elaseMpumalanga Timor. Nakuba isiPutukezi sisewulimi olusetshenziswa kwezamabhizinisi nakuhulumeni, amaphesenti angu-80 abantu akhuluma isifanakalo esingokomthetho okuthiwa isiTetum, naso ngokwaso esithonywe kakhulu isiPutukezi. Amaqembu ezizwe ezithé gqwagqwa kuso sonke lesi siqhingi akhuluma ezinye izilimi ezingaba ngu-22.
Ezindaweni zasemaphandleni amakhosi ohlanga asaqhubeka enendima ebalulekile ekuphileni kwezakhamuzi zakhona. Aqondisa imikhosi ethile, abe izindawo, anakekele nezinye izindaba ezingokwesiko, kuyilapho izinduna ezikhethiwe ziqondisa izindaba zokuphathwa komphakathi.
Inkolo iyinhlanganisela yamasiko omdabu yokukholelwa emimoyeni nobuKatolika obeza nezifiki. Ukukhulekela okhokho, ubuthakathi nokusebenzisa imimoya kubusa zonke izici zokuphila. Abantu abathanda isonto bavame ukuya kuma-matan do’ok, noma izangoma zendawo, beyohlahla ngekusasa labo, beyolashwa, noma beyoqiniswa ukuze bazivikele emimoyeni emibi.
Abantu Abalangazelela Ukwazi Nabamukela Izihambi
Ngokwemvelo, abantu baseMpumalanga Timor bangabantu abajabule, abalangazelela ukwazi nabamukela izihambi. UMongameli uKay Rala Xanana Gusmão uthi: “Sinesifiso esijulile sokufunda, sokukhuluma nesokuba nobudlelwano nabantu, ngisho nabantu esingabazi.”
Izivakashi ezimenyelwa esidlweni umkhaya walapha cishe ziyodla nobaba oyinhloko yekhaya. Umkakhe nezingane balungisa ukudla bese bedla kamuva sekuhlwile. Kuwukubonisa inhlonipho ukuqale uphake kancane. Khona-ke, isivakashi singabe sesibonisa ukwazisa kumuntu ophekile ngokucela ukuphinda.
Ukudla okuningi kwabantu balapha kuhlanganisa irayisi, ummbila, noma umdumbula, kanye nemifino. Okunye kokudla okukhethekile, okuthiwa i-saboko, okuyinhlanganisela emnandi yosadinsi, usoso we-tamarind nezinongo, konke lokhu kusongwa ngeqabunga lesihlahla sesundu. Nokho, inyama isabiza kakhulu.
Ukuchwaza Kwezingane
IMpumalanga Timor iyisizwe sabantu abasebasha. Cishe isigamu somphakathi yizingane, futhi imikhaya eminingi inezingane eziyishumi kuya kweziyishumi nambili.
Uma ziya esikoleni, zivame ukubambana ngezandla—abafana bebambene nabafana namantombazane ebambene namantombazane—zihamba zihleka futhi zicula. Imfundo yazo ayigcini nje ngezifundo zasesikoleni kodwa ihlanganisa nokuqeqeshwa ngezimiso zokuphila nokuziphatha okuhle.
Ingane yalapha ayilokothi idlale yodwa noma buthule—zonke izingane zomphakathi zihlanganyela kule njabulo! Umdlalo othandwayo i-dudu karreta, noma ukuphusha amasondo. Isondo lebhayisikili liba imoto ezingqondweni zezingane. Njengoba zigijima futhi zihleka, zigingqa leli sondo zehle njalo ngomgwaqo, zilokhu ziliqondisa ngenduku.
Kodwa lezi zingane aziphileli ukudlala nje kuphela. Ngokwesibonelo, zingase zabelwe ukuba ziyogaya ummbila ngomshini wokugaya impuphu. Nakuba kunjalo, zimomotheka ngenjabulo njengoba zisebenza, zibonakala zingazi nakwazi nje ukuthi zizalelwe kwelinye lamazwe ayishumi ampofu kunawo wonke emhlabeni.
Imihelo Yokuzalwa Kwalesi Sizwe Esisha
Ububha buphumela ekuphileni okuntengantengayo kwabantu bakulesi siqhingi saseTimor. Abantu abangamaphesenti angu-40 bahola imali engaphansi kuka-$1,50 (R10,50) ngosuku—okuyisilinganiso esiphansi semali edingekayo yokuhlangabezana nezidingo eziyisisekelo zokudla nezinto ezidingekayo endlini. Isimo sengqalasizinda siphansi kakhulu. Omunye umbiko kahulumeni uthi: “Ezweni kabanzi, abantu abathathu kwabane baphila ngaphandle kukagesi, abathathu kwabahlanu baphila ngaphandle kwesimiso esiphephile sokukhuculula indle kanti isigamu sabantu siphila ngaphandle kwamanzi aphephile okuphuza.”
Ngaphansi kwalezi zimo, ziba ziningi kakhulu izinkinga zempilo. Ukungondleki kahle, umalaleveva, isifo sofuba nezinye zibangela ukuba isilinganiso sobude bokuphila kwabantu sibe iminyaka engu-50. Cishe ingane eyodwa kweziyishumi ishona ingakayihlanganisi iminyaka emihlanu. Phakathi no-2004, odokotela abangaphansi kuka-50 babenakekela abantu abangaba ngu-800 000.
Ohulumeni abaningi bakwamanye amazwe babambisene neZizwe Ezihlangene ukuze basize abantu baseMpumalanga Timor ukuba bavuselele izwe labo elonakalisiwe. Okunye okunikeza ithemba lokuthuthukisa isimo esiphansi sezomnotho, uwoyela negesi eningi etholakala oLwandle LwaseTimor. Kodwa ingcebo enkulu etholakala kulesi siqhingi ngabantu bakhona abakwazi ukuzivumelanisa kalula nezimo ezinzima futhi abathobekile. Owesifazane othile kule ndawo watshela i-Phaphama!: “Simpofu, kodwa asilusizi!”
“Izindaba Ezinhle Zokuthile Okungcono”
Eminyakeni yamuva nje oFakazi BakaJehova baye balethela abantu balapha “izindaba ezinhle zokuthile okungcono.” (Isaya 52:7; Roma 10:14, 15) Ngo-2005 ibandla okuwukuphela kwalo lapha lasebenza amahora acishe abe ngu-30 000 litshela abanye ngesithembiso seBhayibheli esimangalisayo sepharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo.—IHubo 37:10, 11; 2 Petru 3:13.
Ukufunda amaqiniso eBhayibheli kuye kwakhulula ezinye zezakhamuzi ejokeni elicindezelayo lokusebenzisa imimoya. Ngokwesibonelo, uJacob, inhloko yomuzi enezingane ezinhlanu, wayengene shi emikhubeni engokwesiko yokusebenzisa imimoya. Wayeyihlabela njalo le mimoya yabafileyo. Lo mkhuba wabeka umthwalo wezomnotho osindayo kulo mkhaya. Inkukhu yomhlatshelo yayibiza cishe iholo losuku, kuyilapho imbuzi noma ingulube yomhlatshelo okhethekile yayibiza umholo wamasonto amaningi.
Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, umkaJacob, uFransiska, waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Wabe esebonisa uJacob imiBhalo eyayinikeza ubufakazi bokuthi abafileyo abezwa lutho futhi abanakubalimaza abaphilayo. (UmShumayeli 9:5, 10; Hezekeli 18:4) Njengoba babekwamukela okushiwo iBhayibheli, bobabili banquma ukuyeka ukuhlabela imimoya yabafileyo. Ngenxa yalokho, izihlobo zabo zathukuthela zabalahla futhi zathi imimoya yabafileyo izoziphindeselela ngokubabulala ngokushesha. Noma kunjalo, uJacob noFransiska bama beqinile, bethi: “UJehova uzosivikela.”
Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uJacob waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli nokuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu nomkhaya wakhe. Lokhu kwaphumela ekubeni enze ezinye izinguquko ezinhle kakhulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Nakuba kwase kuphele iminyaka ebhema iphakethe likagwayi ngosuku, wakuyeka ngokuphelele. Wabuye wafunda ukubhala nokufunda. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi uFransiska wayeka ukuhlafuna i-betel nut. Ekugcineni, ngo-2005, uJacob noFransiska babhapathizwa njengoFakazi BakaJehova. Namuhla, basebenzisa imali yabo ngokuhlakanipha ekufundiseni izingane zabo nasekuhlangabezaneni nezindleko zokwelashwa ezidingekile.
Ngempela, njengoba nje uJesu abikezela, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zishunyayelwa “ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba,” ngisho nasezakhamuzini ezilangazelela ukwazi, ezamukela izihambi futhi ezinesandla esivulekile zakulesi siqhingi esincane saseMpumalanga Timor.—IzEnzo 1:8; Mathewu 24:14.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 17]
“Ukufika Kukakotini Nesondo Lawo”
Isisho sabantu baseMpumalanga Timor esithi “ukufika kukakotini nesondo lawo” sasisetshenziswa ngaphambili lapho kumenyezelwa ukuzalwa kwengane eyintombazane. Sichaza indima engokwesiko yabesifazane balapha yokwenza i-tais, okuyindwangu yokuhlobisa. I-tais isetshenziselwa ukwenza izingubo ezihlotshisiwe zemikhosi ekhethekile, izingubo zokulala nezinto eziyigugu eziyifa lomkhaya. Ogogo bafundisa abesifazane abasebasha ukutshala, ukuvuna, ukuphotha, ukudaya nokwenza amaphethini amahle anemibala ehlukahlukene ngokotini. Kuye ngokuthi umsebenzi wokwaluka uyinkimbinkimbi kangakanani, i-tais eyodwa ingathatha unyaka noma ngaphezulu ukuba iqedwe. Njengoba isigodi ngasinye sinephethini yaso engokwesiko, ingcweti ingakutshela ngokushesha nje ukuthi le tais yenziwe kuphi.
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 14]
INDONESIA
EAST TIMOR
AUSTRALIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Iqhugwana
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
I-“dudu karreta”—umdlalo wezingane othandwayo
[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]
UJacob nomkhaya wakhe