Ngabusiswa Ngokubeka UNkulunkulu Kuqala

Njengoba ilandiswa nguPierre Worou

Selokhu kwathi nhlo uma ngibingelela ngesiFulentshi ngithi, “Bonjour!”. Kodwa ngo-November 1975 ngaboshelwa khona kanye lokho. Ake ngikuxoxele ukuthi yini eyaholela kulokho nokuthi kwenzekani kusukela ngaleso sikhathi.

NGAZALWA ngo-January 1, 1944, eMalété, edolobhaneni laseSavé elisenkabeni yeBenin.a Abazali bami bangetha igama lesiYoruba elithi Abiola. Ngesikhathi ngisemncane ngalishintsha leli gama laba nguPierre, ngoba ngangicabanga ukuthi lingconywana futhi liyaziwa.

Zonke izingane esasilingana nazo zazinamagama okuteketiswa. Mina babengibiza ngoMfundisi ngoba ngesikhathi ngizalwa nganginenswebu yomfundisi wasendaweni. Nokho, ngangilithanda kakhulu ibhola kunokuya emakilasini ekhathekizimu.

Ngo-1959, ngaya eSakété, edolobheni eliseningizimu yezwe ukuze ngiyoqhubeka nezifundo zami. Ngahlala nomzala wami uSimon, owayenguthisha futhi esanda kuqala ukufundelwa iBhayibheli oFakazi BakaJehova ababili. Ekuqaleni ngangingafuni ukuhlanganyela esifundweni sabo. Kamuva ngabuza uMichel omunye umzala wami ukuthi angathanda yini sihlanganyele esifundweni. Wavuma, ngaqala ukulizwa ngaleso sikhathi igama likaNkulunkulu elithi Jehova.

Ngelinye iSonto, mina noSimon noMichel sanquma ukungayi esontweni kodwa saya emhlanganweni woFakazi. Yeka indlela esadumazeka ngayo lapho siba bahlanu kuphela esifundweni—kwakunoFakazi ababili kanye nathi sobathathu. Kodwa sayibona inhlansana yeqiniso ngakho saqhubeka nokufunda. UMichel waba ngowokuqala ukubhapathizwa ebonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova. Namuhla uyiphayona, njengoba zibizwa kanjalo izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezingoFakazi BakaJehova.

USimon waya enyakatho yedolobha laseKokoro, nami ngahamba naye. Kwakuhlelwe umhlangano woFakazi owawuzoba se-Ouansougon. USimon wahamba ngetekisi, mina ngashova ibhayisikili amakhilomitha angu-220 ukuze ngibe khona. Sobabili sabhapathizwa kulowo mhlangano ngo-September 15, 1961.

Izinselele Enkonzweni Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Ngangiziphilisa ngokupenda, ukuthengisa izithombe kanye nokulima insimu eyayikhiqiza isivuno esihle. Ngesikhathi uPhilippe Zannou umbonisi wesifunda, evakashele ibandla lethu, wangibuza ukuthi ngake ngayicabangela yini inkonzo yamaphayona yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngemva kokuxoxa ngale ndaba, mina nomngane wami u-Emmanuel savumelana ngokuqala ngo-February 1966. Kamuva ngaqala ukukhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo ngivakashela amabandla akhuluma isiFon, isiYoruba nesiFulentshi.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngahlangana noJulienne, udade osemusha ongumKristu, owayekhanga futhi ethanda ukuphila okulula njengami. Waba umkami ngo-August 12, 1971, wabe esehlanganyela nami ekuvakasheleni amabandla. Indodana yethu uBola yazalwa ngo-August 18, 1972. Uma ngisuka kwelinye ibandla ngiya kwelinye ngangihamba ngebhayisikili, ngemuva kuhlezi uJulienne ebelethe uBola. UFakazi wendawo wayevame ukusithwalela izimpahla zethu ngebhayisikili lakhe. Sahambela amabandla iminyaka emine sisebenzisa le ndlela.

Ngolunye usuku umkami wahlatshwa ukugula okubi futhi kwaze kwasa ezwa izinhlungu. Ngakusasa ekuseni, ngaphuma ngehla ngomgwaqo ngiyofuna usizo. Ngingalindele kwaqhamuka itekisi, okwakuyinto eyivelakancane kuleyo ndawo. Ngale nje kwalokho yayingenamuntu—nakho okwakungajwayelekile! Ngachazela umshayeli isimo engibhekene naso futhi ngamcela ukuthi asiyise enhloko-dolobha ePorto Novo, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-25. Wavuma. Lapho sifika, wamomotheka wabe esethi: “Yisipho esivela kimi lesi. Ningakhokhi lutho.”

UJulienne walala emzini womzalwane amasonto amabili. Ngomusa udokotela wayefika nsuku zonke azombona. Wayephinde amphathele nemithi ayeyidinga. Lapho esezomhlola okokugcina, ngacela ukwazi ukuthi kuzoba yimalini. Kwaphela nasozwaneni lapho ethi, “Akukho mali ozoyikhokha.”

Izinguquko Ezinkulu

Ngo-1975, iDahomey yamukela indlela yokubusa kaMarx. Igama lezwe lashintshwa laba iPeople’s Republic of Benin. Nokuphila kwansuku zonke kwashintsha. Kwamiswa indlela entsha yokubingelelana ethi: “Pour la révolution?” (Ingabe ululungele uguquko?) Abantu kwakulindeleke ukuba baphendule ngokuthi: “Prêt!” (Ngilulungele!) Onembeza bethu abaqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli abasivumelanga ukuba siphindaphinde leso siqubulo sezombangazwe. Lokhu kwaholela ekubeni siphathwe ngonya olukhulu.

Ngolunye usuku kuyiSonto ekuseni ngasekupheleni kuka-1975, ngangishumayela endlini ngendlu eduze kwase-St. Michel ngesikhathi ngiboshwa. Njengoba kubonisiwe ekuqaleni, ngayiphendula ngokuthi “Bonjour!” indoda eyayingibingelela ngokuthi “Pour la révolution?” Ngayiswa esiteshini samaphoyisa, lapho ngafike ngashaywa khona. Kamuva ngalo lolo suku oFakazi bendawo bakwazi ukungitholela indlela yokuba ngidedelwe.

NgangiwuFakazi KaJehova wokuqala ukuboshwa. Ngokushesha nabanye kulo lonke izwe baboshwa. Uhulumeni wathatha amaHholo OMbuso waxosha nezithunywa zevangeli ezweni. Ihhovisi legatsha lavalwa, oFakazi abaningi kwadingeka babaleke ezweni, balibhekisa entshonalanga yeTogo noma empumalanga yeNigeria.

Umkhaya Wethu Uyanda ENigeria

Indodana yethu yesibili uKola, yazalwa ngo-April 25, 1976. Ezinsukwini ezimbili kamuva, isinqumo sikahulumeni No. 111 savimbela umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. Saya eNigeria lapho safikela eHholo LoMbuso elaligcwele phama ababaleki. Ngosuku olulandelayo kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba siyiswe emabandleni aseduze. Kwakuthi nje lapho lonke iqembu lababaleki selihanjisiwe, kutheleke elinye futhi. Kwakunamaloli ayethutha abasanda kufika abayise kwamanye amabandla.

Ihhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova laseNigeria langicela ukuba ngivakashele oFakazi ababevela eBenin. Ngabe sengimiswa njengombonisi ojikelezayo ohambela amaqembu akhuluma isiYoruba emabandleni aseNigeria, kamuva kwanezelwa nakhuluma isiGun. Sasihamba ngesithuthuthu. UBola wayehlala ngaphambili bese uKola engena phakathi kwami noJulienne.

Ngo-1979 saqaphela ukuthi indodakazi yethu uJemima yayisendleleni, okwenza kwafaneleka ukuba siwuyeke umsebenzi wokujikeleza. Udadewabo omncane kaJulienne, uPépé, wasuka eBenin wazohlala nathi. Umkhaya wethu waqhubeka wanda. Kwazalwa abafana ababili uCaleb ngo-1983 no Silas ngo-1987. Ngakho saba umkhaya wabantu abangu-8. Sinomkami sasifuna ukuba abazali abakahle, kodwa futhi sasifuna nokuhlala enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele uma kunokwenzeka. Sasizokwenza kanjani? Saqasha insimu futhi salima umdumbula, umbila ne-cocoyam. Sabe sesizakhela indlwana edolobhaneni lase-Ilogbo-Eremi.

Uma izingane seziye esikoleni, sasishumayela ekuseni sinoJulienne. Njalo nje sasisuke sesifikile ekhaya ngesikhathi sokudla ukuze sidle ndawonye njengomkhaya. Ngemva kokucambalala, sasiya ensimini siyosebenza. Umkami noPépé babebuye bayodayisa isivuno emakethe. Sonke sasisebenza ngokuzikhandla. Siyajabula ngokuthi sasingavamile nokugula ngalezo zinsuku.

Izibusiso Ngaphandle Kwemfundo Ephakeme

Asizange sizikhuthaze izingane zethu ukuba ziphishekele imfundo ephakeme. Sasazi ukuthi ukubeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala, ukuthuthukisa izimfanelo zobuKristu nokusebenza kanzima kwakuyizihluthulelo zempumelelo ekuphileni. Sazama ukugxilisa leyo micabango ezinhliziyweni zezingane zethu. Ngangifunda nabo, futhi yeka injabulo engaba nayo lapho ngibabona beqala ukuthanda uJehova, benikezela ukuphila kwabo ukuze bamkhonze futhi bebhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwabo!

UPépé wayemdala kunezingane zethu ngakho nguye owahamba kuqala ekhaya. Ekuqaleni, ngesikhathi ezohlala nathi ngamfundisa ukufunda. Nakuba ayengafundile kangako kodwa wagxila esifundweni seBhayibheli nakwezinye izinto ezingokomoya. Ngemva kokuba esephayone isikhathi esithile washada noMonday Akinra, umbonisi ojikelezayo, wahamba naye emsebenzini wakhe wokujikeleza. Manje banendodana, uTimothy. UPépé noMonday baye baqhubeka besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, uMonday ujabulela amalungelo amaningi emihlanganweni.

UBola waqashwa yinkampani enkulu yamqeqesha ukuba abe umpheki. Kungakabiphi omunye wabaphathi waphawula imikhuba yakhe emihle yokusebenza, ukwethembeka nezinye izimfanelo ezinhle zobuKristu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wakhushulelwa esikhundleni sokuphatha enkampanini. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, ungumyeni okahle womkakhe othandekayo uJane, nobaba wezingane ezintathu, nomdala onokwethenjelwa ebandleni loFakazi BakaJehova eLagos, eNigeria.

UKola waqeqeshelwa ukuthunga waphinde wangenela nenkonzo yobuphayona. Ngenxa yokuthi wafunda isiNgisi ngesikhathi eseNigeria, ngo-1995 wamenyelwa ukuba ayokhonza eMnyangweni Wokuhumusha ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eBenin. Usekhonze lapho iminyaka engu-13.

Inkonzo Yethu Emuva EBenin

Sajabula ngesikhathi sizwa ukuthi isinqumo esisha sikahulumeni waseBenin sango-January 3, 1990, samemezela ukuthi esidala sokuvimbela umsebenzi wethu sasesihoxisiwe. Ababaleki abaningi baphindela emuva. Ngokufanayo nezithunywa zevangeli ezintsha zafika eBenin, kwaphinde kwavulwa nehhovisi legatsha. Ngo-1994 saphindela emuva eBenin, kodwa uPépé noBola kanye nemikhaya yabo basala eNigeria.

Ngakwazi ukuthola itoho. Ngemadlana esasiyithola ngendlu yethu esasiyiqashisile eNigeria nangosizo lomusa lukaBola, sakwazi ukuzakhela indlu yethu sobahlanu engaqhelile kangako ehhovisi legatsha. UJemima wakhonza njengephayona iminyaka engaphezu kweyisithupha, ezisekela ngokuthunga izingubo. Wabe eseshada noKokou Ahoumenou, manje basebenza eduze kwegatsha. UCaleb noSilas baqedela isikole. Ngosizo lukaJehova nokubambisana komkhaya wethu, mina noJulienne sesibe senkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele iminyaka engaphezu kuka-40.

UNkulunkulu uye wawubusisa ngokucebile umsebenzi wokushumayela eBenin. Ngesikhathi ngibhapathizwa ngo-1961, kwakunoFakazi BakaJehova abangu-871 ababeshumayela isigijimi kuleli zwe. Ngonyaka engaboshwa ngawo, inani lase lande laba ngu-2 381. Ngesikhathi siphindela eBenin ngo-1994, lase likhuphukele ku-3 858 naphezu kweminyaka engu-14 yokuvinjelwa. Namuhla seliphindaphindekile selingaphezu kuka-9 000 futhi ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu ngo-2008 babengu-35 752.

Ngesinye isikhathi ngike ngiye kuleya ndawo engaboshelwa kuyo eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-30 edlule, ngicabange ngakho konke okwenzeka. Ngimbonga ngokukhethekile uJehova ngokuthi uye wawubusisa umkhaya wami. Asizange siswele lutho. Namanje wonke umuntu ngisambingelela ngokuthi “Bonjour!”

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 13]

Wamomotheka wabe esethi: “Yisipho esivela kimi lesi. Ningakhokhi lutho”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 14]

Asizange sizikhuthaze izingane zethu ukuba ziphishekele imfundo ephakeme

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Ngangikhonza njengombonisi wesifunda ngo-1970

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Sinamadodana ethu amabili okuqala uBola noKola ngo-1976

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Namuhla, ngizungezwe umkhaya wami—umkami, abantwana bami abahlanu, abazukulu abathathu nomkhaya kaPépé