Ukuvumelana Nezindlela ZikaJehova

Njengoba ilandiswa uArthur Worsley

KWAPHELA izinsuku ezintathu liguqubele; sahlaselwa umoya nolwandle. Sasisendleleni ephuma eCape Hatteras edumile eseNyakatho Carolina siya esabelweni sethu sokushumayela eBahamas. KwakunguNovember 1948. Sobane, mina nezithunywa zevangeli ezintathu ezineziqu zaseSikoleni seBhayibheli saseGileyadi seWatchtower, saqala ukuzibuza ukuthi sasiyoke sifike yini lapho.

Ngangiwumshayeli womkhumbi kaseyili weWatch Tower Society owawungamamitha ayi-18, othiwa iSibia. Ohlangothini lomkhumbi olungakwesokunene kwakulokhu kuzwakala umsindo owawunjengokuphuma kwesitimu njengoba sasikhukhulwa amagagasi amakhulu, futhi sicwila njengoba ayeseqa. Izindophi zazifakwe ezimbotsheni zebhande elalisokhalweni lwami futhi ziboshelwe emabhawodini ayesemkhunjini. Lapho sihamba ngokuvumelana nomoya, izindophi nezinye izinto ezazibambe oseyili zazenza umsindo owesabekayo, nalapho sesiphambana nomoya, zazingqangqazela ngamandla.

Ekamelweni elikhulu elingaphansi emkhunjini kwakunoStanley Carter noRon Parkin. ababegula kakhulu ngenxa yokushukuma kolwandle. NoGust Maki owayeneminyaka engama-50, engangisanda kumphumuza ekushayeleni, wayekhathele kakhulu. Ngaphambi kokuba ngishayele, ngenza isiphuzo seqanda elixutshwe nogologo futhi ngatshela uGust indawo ayezosithola kuyo. Kwaba ukugcina kwami ukumbona kwaze kwadlula cishe amahora ayishumi.

Angisoze ngisikhohlwe isizungu sangalobobusuku, ngilalele umoya ovunguzayo, ngilwa nesondo lokushayela “elikhahlelayo,” futhi nginethemba lokuthi izindophi ezazingilondile zaziyobamba. Ngangena kanjani kulesimo?

Ukuphila Kwangaphambili ENgilandi NaseCanada

Ubaba wayesebenza emikhunjini yamaNgisi, futhi ngangihlala ngiseduze nezikhulu zemikhumbi yempi namanye amadoda empi. Lapho umama efa ngokuzuma, ngathunyelwa ukuyoqeqeshelwa umsebenzi olwandle. Ngo-1923, sengineminyaka eyi-16, ngathatha uhambo lokuzungeza umhlaba ngomkhumbi wokuqeqesha.

Lapho ngiseSingapore, umfowethu wangitshela ukuthi uBaba wayesephinde washada nokuthi manje umkhaya wawususeAlberta, eCanada. Ngakho, ngo-1924, ngahamba ngayohlala nomkhaya wakithi epulazini elalingamahektare ayi-130 ukusuka eduze neLethbridge. Umkhandlu wezohwebo wawulibiza ngokuthi “iningizimu Alberta efudumele, izwe lesivuno esihle sokusanhlamvu,” okwakuyiqiniso.

Ukuhambela Okwashintsha Ukuphila Kwami

Into eyodwa okubonakala sengathi abomkhandlu wezentengiselwano bakhohlwa ukuyisho kwakuwubusika obubandayo. Ngezinye izikhathi izinga lokushisa lalehla libe, noma lize lidlule, ama-34° Celsius ngaphansi kuka-0°. Ngolunye usuku olwalubanda ngaleyondlela ebusika buka-1926-27, kwatheleka iModel Ford T yakudala egcekeni lethu yaze yema eduze kakhulu nendlu. Ngemva kokuba sesimngenisile samnikeza ikhofi elishisayo namakhekhe, umshayeli wasichazela ukuthi umgwaqo wawuvinjwe yiqhwa elalikhithika, futhi wayengaqiniseki ngendawo aye kuyo. Nokho, lokho kwalungiswa ngokushesha, futhi wayeseqala ukukhuluma nathi ngeBhayibheli. Ngamkhokhela idollar ngencwadi iDeliverance nezinye izincwajana eziyisikhombisa.

Abazali bami babeyothenga edolobheni, ngakho mina nomfowethu sathi ukuziphenyaphenya okwesikhashana izincwadi. Zabe sezifakwa zonke esikhwameni sezincwadi futhi zakhohlakala njengoba kwakufanele sinakekele imfuyo. Nokho, ezinye zezinto engangizifundile zazilokhu zibuya engqondweni. Ngangize ngivuke ngisho nasebusuku ngicabanga ngazo. Ekugcineni, nganquma ukuhlola ukuthi lezinto zazikhuluma ngani.

Ngaphandle kokucabanga, ngahosha incwajana ethi Our Lord’s Return. Lapho sengilinde baze balala bonke, ngayifunda incwajana futhi ngahlola yonke imibhalo eBhayibhelini lomkhaya wakithi. Ngimangele futhi ngijatshuliswe izincazelo, ngaqala “ukufakaza” emkhayeni wakithi ngosuku olulandelayo ngesikhathi sokudla kwasekuseni. Nakuba kungabathintanga nakancane; kodwa lokho akuzange kuyinciphise intshiseko yami.

Imizamo Yokushumayela

Ngabhalela iWatch Tower Society, ngithumela amagama namakheli abalimi ababengomakhelwane, futhi ngicela ukuba bathunyelelwe izincwajana ezithi Our Lord’s Return. Kamuva, lapho ngiyobabuza ukuthi bayithanda yini incwajana, ngamangazwa yizimpendulo ezinonya, ezinjengokuthi, ‘Uyazi, umuntu omusha njengawe akumelwe azixakekise ngalezozinto’ noma, ‘UbuRussell lobo. Labo bantu babagquma ejele eUnited States.’

Nakuba ngadumazeka, angizange ngiyeke. Nga-oda zonke izincwadi ezazikhishwa yiWatch Tower Society, kuhlanganise nezengeziwe engangingaziboleka abanye. Ngangifunda ngawo wonke amathuba, ngicabanga ngezindlela engangingase ngihlanganyele ngazo nabanye engangikufundile. iNhlangano yangazisa ukuthi ibandla elaliseduze laliseCalgary eyayiqhele cishe ingamakhilomitha ayi-160, elalikude kakhulu ukuba ngingahlanganyela kulo.

Ngo-1928 ngasuka ekhaya ukuba ngiyozisebenzela, ngagcina sengisebenza esiqeshaneni sendawo esasingamahektare angama-65, engavumelana nabanikazi ngaso ukubanikeza ingxenye eyodwa kwezine yomkhiqizo unyaka ngamunye. NgoDecember 1929 ngathola iholide, ngakho ngahamba ngayohlala nobaba nosingamama, abase bethuthele evancouver, eBritish Columbia. Izinsuku ezimbalwa ngemva kokufika kwami, kweza owesifazane owayehambisa izincwadi ezazikhishwa yiWatch Tower Society. Ngezwa ngaye ukuthi abaFundi beBhayibheli (manje ababizwa ngokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova) babehlanganyela kuphi, futhi ukuze ngibe khona ngeSonto elilandelayo ngahamba amakhilomitha ayi-8 emvuleni enkulu enesiphepho.

Kwakuyinjabulo ukuhlanganyela umhlangano nabantu abanezithakazelo ezifana nezami eBhayibhelini. Ngesonto elilandelayo, kwase kuba masonto onke kamuva, ngahlanganyela naleliqembu emsebenzini wokushumayela endlini ngendlu. Ngemva kwalokho INqabayokulinda kaJanuary 15, 1930, yafika nesimemo sokuyosiza ngomsebenzi endlunkulu yeWatch Tower Bible eBrooklyn, ebizwa ngokuthi iBethel. Ngazenza ngatholakala futhi ngamangaliswa ukubizwa kwami. Kwangithatha isikhathi ukuhlela izimo zami, ngabhapathizwa phakathi nalesosikhathi. Ekugcineni ngafika eBethel ngoJune 13, 1930.

Ukukhonza EBethel

Njengoba ngangabelwe ukusebenza endaweni yokuhlanganisa izincwadi, ngagcina sengisebenzisa umshini wokuhlanganisa amakhasi ezincwadi, owawufaka izinsinjana zokuhlanganisa amakhasi ezincwajana. Yeka ukuthi kwakuvusa amadlingozi kanjani ukusebenza ngencwajana ethi Our Lord’s Return, yona kanye eyayisebenze njengethuluzi lokuguqula ukuphila kwami! Ngokushesha ngase ngihlanganisa incwajana entsha eyayithi The Kingdom, the Hope of the World.

Umhlangano engaya kuwo okokuqala owawuseColumbus, eOhio, ngoJuly 1931, wawukhumbuleka ngempela. Angisoze ngikukhohlwe ukushaywa kwehlombe okukhulu lapho kumenyezelwa ukuthi kusukela ngalesosikhathi sase sizokwaziwa ngegama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho, kwakhululwa incwajana ethi The Kingdom, the Hope of the World. Yona yayichaza isizathu sokwamukelwa kwaleligama. Kamuva sayihambisela zonke izikhulu zezempi, zezombangazwe, zezamabhizinisi, nezenkolo. ngangabelwe ukwenza lokhu ezindaweni ezaziseduze neBethel eBrooklyn Heights nasesiQhingini saseGovernor.

Isikhumulo semikhumbi saseNew York siseduze kakhulu neBethel, futhi njengoba ngangejwayelene nemikhumbi, izindawo zangakhona zaba yindawo yami yokushumayela. Ngolunye usuku umphathi womkhumbi othwala izimpahla wangenqabela ethi: “Manje, ungazami ukungithengisela lezo zincwadi. Nginenye incwadi elibeka ngokusobala iqiniso leBhayibheli.”

Ngathi, “Ngicela ungibonise leyo onayo.”

Wakhipha incwadi eyayisigugile ethi Government, echaza: “Ngayenyula emfuleni futhi ngayomisa. Yincwadi ezedlula zonke engake ngazifunda.”

Ngemva kokumbonisa ekhasini labanyathelisi ukuthi izincwadi engangizihambisa zazivela kubanyathelisi abafanayo, okulandelayo kwazihambela kalula. Saba nesikhathi esihle ndawonye!

Babeyingcosana kakhulu ababeshumayela ngalezozinsuku, ngakho sazama zonke izindlela ukuba sidlulisele izindaba ezinhle kubantu ngaphambi kweArmagedoni. IDolobha laseNew York lalinebandla elilodwa kuphela. Manje sekunamabandla angaphezu kwama-300 nabamemezeli abayizi-30 000 kulelodolobha, futhi amasimu amaningi asetshenzwa zonke izinyanga!

URutherford−Isisebenzi Esingakhathali

UJoseph F. Rutherford owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society phakathi neminyaka yami yokuqala eyi-11 eBethel, wayevame ukungimangalisa ngesilinganiso esikhulu somsebenzi ayewufeza. Wayengabhali kuphela eziningi zezincwadi zethu zeBhayibheli, afundise kabanzi, futhi amelane nokumangalelwa ezinkantolo, kodwa futhi wayenesithazelo somuntu siqu ezindabeni zomkhaya wase-Bethel owawulinganiselwa kwabangama-200 ngalesosikhathi.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1932 wanquma ukuthi kwakumelwe sizikhiqizele ukudla kwethu, ikakhulukazi inyama. Ngakho walungiselela ukuba kwakhiwe izindlu zezinkukhu epulazini leNhlangano elalingamahektare ayi-6 elalisesiQhingini saseStaten. Wezwa ngandlela-thile ukuthi ngangazi okuthile ngokufuywa kwezinkukhu. Lokhu kwaphumela ekubeni ngisebenze naye izimpelasonto siklama izindlu zezinkukhu futhi silinganisa indawo ukuze sizakhe.

Phakathi nokunye kwalokhu kuhambela, uMzalwane uRutherford wabonakala ekhathazeke kakhulu. Ngemva kwesikhashana ngaba nesibindi sokumbuza ukuthi kwakukhona yini okwakungalungile nokuthi yini engangingasiza ngayo. Waphawula ukuthi ngangingeke ngikwazi ukusiza. Kodwa njengoba sasiqhubeka siya ngasengadini, wathi: “Nokho angikehluleki. Ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho ngiphezu kodaba olubalulekile, kuvame ukuphakama inkinga, futhi njengamanje ngiphezu kwesinye sezihloko ezibaluleke kakhulu kwengake ngazenza eminyakeni edlule.” Ngamangala ngempela ngokuthi waze wangitshela sona, ngisemusha kangaka eBethel.

Emasontweni ambalwa kamuva, abantu bakaJehova bathola omagazini beNqabayokulinda baka-August 15 noSeptember 1, 1932, ababenesihloko esasiyizingxenye ezimbili esasithi “iNhlangano KaJehova.” Lezihloko zadalula isimiso sabadala abavotelwayo njengesingesona esingokombhalo. Zavusa isiphithiphithi esikhulu, kodwa zazingesinye isinyathelo esasiya ekwengameleni okuphelele okungokwasezulwini.

Ngalezozinsuku uMzalwane uRutherford wabhekana nokuphikiswa okukhulu okwakuvela kulabo ababezama ukumxosha ezindaweni zokusakaza. Kodwa wayelwa futhi akazange ahlulwe abaphikisi bakhe benkolo.

Ukucindezeleka Kuyanda, URutherford Uyafa

Ukushushiswa kwanda phakathi nawo-1930. EJalimane lobuNazi abaningi babethunyelwa emakamu okuhlushwa futhi bebulawa ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Ngisho naseUnited States abanye abazalwane babethelwa ngetiyela futhi bafakwe izimpaphe; abanye babephoqelelwa ukuba baphuze icastor oil. Impahla yayicekelwa phansi, nezingane zazixoshwa esikoleni.

Phakathi no-1941 uMzalwane uRutherford waqala ukuba buthakathaka empilweni, kodwa wayesalokhu enentshiseko enkulu nobuholi obungehluleki. Kithina esasimazi kahle, impilo yakhe eyayiwohloka yayisobala ngokudabukisayo. Wayesezacile esexegwa nayizingubo zakhe. Nakuba umzimba wakhe wawufa, ingqondo yakhe yayiphapheme nentshiseko yakhe ngeqiniso nokumemezela igama likaJehova akuzange kunciphe.

Ngolunye usuku ngemva kokudla kwasekuseni ekupheleni kwekwindla ka-1941, watshela umkhaya ukuthi wayezobhekana nokuhlinzwa okungathi sina. Wakhuluma ngokukhuthazayo nomkhaya isikhashana, waphetha ngokuthi: “Ngakho uma uNkulunkulu ethanda, ngiyobuye nginibone. Uma kungenjalo, ngiyazi ukuthi nina zinsizwa niyoqhubeka nempi.” Akukho noyedwa ongazange akhale emkhayeni, futhi asizange siphinde simbone. Wasuka ngalolosuku waya eCalifornia lapho afela khona ngoJanuary 8, 1942.

Phakathi naleyominyaka, uMzalwane uRutherford wabekwa amacala amaningi angamanga, kodwa amacala anjalo ayewubala kithi esake sasebenza naye futhi esasimuzwa cishe zonke izinsuku enikeza imfundo engokomoya phakathi nokukhulekela kwasekuseni. Sasimazi ngalokho ayeyikho ngempela—omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Yini enye eyayingashiwo?

Izabelo Ezintsha

Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba uNathan H. Knorr esewumongameli, wabizela abambalwa bethu ehhovisi lakhe, wasichazela izindlela zokuvuselela ukuhambela kwabameleli beNhlangano emabandleni, futhi wasibuza ukuba sasingathanda yini ukuhlanganyela. Ngavuma futhi ngaqalisa umsebenzi wokujikeleza ngo-1942. Sasibizwa ngegama elithi “inceku yabazalwane,” kamuva elashintshelwa kwelithi “inceku yesifunda.”

NgoMay 1948, emhlanganweni wesigodi eHouston, eTexas, uMzalwane uKnorr wangibizela ehhovisi lakhe. Ngemva kwemibuzo embalwa engasho lutho ngokuqondene nomsebenzi wakuleyondawo nempilo yami, wabuza: “Ingabe uyakucabangela ukushada?”

Nokho, ngangingenakugomela ngokuthi cha, futhi ngokufanayo ngangingenakusho ukuthi yebo. Ngakho ngaphendula: “Mfowethu, bengilokhu ngicabanga ngakho kusukela ngineminyaka emihlanu.” Lokhu nakho kwangishiya ngingabaza. UMzalwane uKnorr wayesengichazela ukuthi iNhlangano yayithenge umkhumbi kaseyili, futhi wabuza ukuthi ngangingenakukujabulela yini ukungenela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli ngisebenzisa isikebhe.

Yilokho okwangenza ngashayela iSibia ngoNovember 1948, ngalobo busuku obabuneziphepho ezinkulu esasiphuma ngabo eCape Hatteras.

Ukufakaza EziQhingini

Ngezinsuku ezimbalwa safika eBahamas lapho sathola khona abantu ababenomusa omkhulu futhi ababelambele iqiniso leBhayibheli. Sashumayela kuzo zonke iziqhingi ezinkulu, sivakashela ezinye zazo izikhathi eziningana phakathi nezinyanga eziyisikhombisa zokuhlala kwethu lapho. Khona-ke salibangisa eziQhingini zaseVirgin, sishumayela kubo bonke abantu bakulesosiqhingi.

Ngobunye ubusuku siseSt. Martin, umphathi walesosiqhingi, weza kimi futhi wathi: “Ngaphambi kwamasonto amabili edlule, njengoba ngangihambahamba edolobheni, wawungezwa kukhulunywa ngokulwa kwamaqhude nangabesifazane kuphela. Manje kuyo yonke indawo engihamba kuyo ngibezwa bekhuluma ngoJehova neBhayibheli. Nina bafana bakaJehova niye nenza umsebenzi omuhle, futhi ngiyanibonga ngawo.”

Ngaba nelungelo lokunikeza inkulumo yokuqala ngqá yeSikhumbuzo eSt. Vincent. Kamuva owesifazane othile waphawula: “UMnu. Brown ubengakujabulela ukuyizwa lenkulumo, kodwa uhlala kude kakhulu.” Ngayalelwa indlela eya khona, futhi ekuseni kakhulu ngosuku olulandelayo, ngahamba ngayofuna lelodolobhana.

Kwakungenamigwaqo, kunemizila kuphela. Ngahamba amahora amaningi, ngihamba ngibuza indlela. Lapho sengikhathele ngokuphelele, cishe ngehora lesibili ntambama ngaqhamukela endaweni eyayinezindlwana ezimbalwa ezigqagqene. Nganquma ukuya kwenye yazo ngiyophumula. Njengoba ngangisondela, ngabona umbhalo ngaphezu komnyango owawuthi, “IHholo LoMbuso LoFakazi BakaJehova.” Ukukhathala kwami kwaphela nya.

Ngokushesha kwaqhamuka indoda futhi yangibuza ukuthi yayingangisiza yini. Ngabuza: “Ngingathintana kanjani nabantu abakha lelihholo.”

Yathi: “Ngingomunye wabo.”

Ngayitshela ukuthi ngangisuka kuSibia, kodwa lokho kwabonakala kungasho lutho kuyo. Ngakho ngathi: “Awusazi? Isikebhe sikaJehova.” Khona-ke ayibange isakwazi ukuma, yajabula kakhulu. Masinyane, ngezwa ngendlela ihholo elakhiwa ngayo.

Yachaza: “Ngesikhathi ngiya eTrinidad bangitshela ngeqiniso. Futhi ngibuya ngitshele nabanye abantu.” Yabuza ukuthi ngangingathanda yini ukunikeza inkulumo.

Ngathi. “Ngingakujabulela.” Ngakho yavuthela uphondo, futhi ngokushesha ihholo elincane lagcwala futhi abantu babemi ezikhaleni zamafasitela. Ngayinikela inkulumo, kwase kuba nesifundo seNqabayokulinda, esaqhutshwa kahle kakhulu! Ngemva kwakho konke lokhu, umzalwane wangimemela ukudla ekhaya lakhe. Ilanga lase liyoshona, futhi ngabatshela ukuthi kwakufanele ngihambe. Bangiphelezela ngendlela enqamulelayo. Ngemva kokuba bangishiyile, ngangisasalelwe amakhilomitha ambalwa ukuba ngifike esikebheni, kodwa kwakuwubusuku obuhle.

Ukubuyela EBethel

Umhlangano wokuqala omkhulu owawuseYankee Stadium wawungo-1950. Thina esasisebenzisa iSibia samenywa ukuba sibe khona. Lapho ngiseNew York, ngabelwa futhi emsebenzini wokujikeleza eUnited States. Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa, ngagula ngase ngibizwa futhi eBethel ngo-1956. Impilo yami yaba ngcono kancane kancane, kodwa ngaqhubeka ngihlala eBethel.

Ngesinye isikhathi lapho uMzalwane uKnorr ekhuluma ngesidingo sezithunywa zevangeli ezengeziwe eAfrika, ngasikisela ukuba angithumele khona. Nokho, wangikhumbuza ngeminyaka yami nangezikhathi engase ngibe sesibhedlela ngazo, futhi wangitshela ukuthi kungcono ukuba ngihlale endaweni engingathola kuyo ukunakekelwa lapho ngikudinga.

Manje sengineminyaka engama-79, cishe neminyaka engama-56 yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele engingabheka emuva kuyo, kuyinjabulo ukwazi ukuthi ngangenela inkonzo enjalo ebusheni bami. Njalo, uma ngibuya emihlanganweni noma emsebenzini, ngihlala ekamelweni lami elithokomele eBethel futhi ngicabange emuva ngezenzakalo zeminyaka engama-60 edlule. Ngokuqinisekile, ngiye ngabusiswa ngenxa yokuvumelana kwami nezindlela zikaJehova.

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Ngesikhathi ngishumayela eAlabama ngo-1934 ngangishintshanisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezinkukhu