Ukunamathela Enhlanganweni KaJehova

Njengoba ilandiswa uJohn Barr

NGASE ngisengxenyeni yokugcina yohambo lokuvakashela kwami ekhaya ngoJune wonyaka odlule, ngihamba ngendiza ngisuka eGlasgow ngiya eAberdeen. Njengoba indiza esasigibele kuyo yayehla ibheke phansi ezweni lasemaphandleni eliluhlaza lase Scotland nomfula ogeleza kancane iClyde, imicabango yami yahlehlela emuva onyakeni ka-1906 nakulelodolobha laseBishopton, elisendaweni ethile ngaseningizimu yalowomfula.

Uyabona, kungalowonyaka nakuleyondawo lapho ugogo wami, uEmily Jewell, aqala ngawo ukufunda incwadi kaCharles T. Russell iThe Divine Plan of the Ages. Ngokushesha amehlo akhe avuleka abona iqiniso lokuthi iBhayibheli alifundisi imfundiso yesihogo somlilo. Kamuva amadodakazi akhe ayesekhulile uBessie noEmily, (uEmily waba umama wami) nawo aqala ukubona ukukhanya kweqiniso okwakukhanya enkungwini yemfundiso yamanga eyayifundiswa yiSonto laseScotland iUnited Free. Ngo-1908 ugogo wabhapathizwa ebonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, futhi amadodakazi akhe abhapathizwa ngokushesha kamuva.

Ubaba wayengunobhala womkhandlu kulo iSonto laseBishopton iUnited Free. Ngaso sonke isikhathi wayekuthola kunzima ukwamukela imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu, ngakho ngelinye iSonto umfundisi wesonto wahlela ukuba ashumayele intshumayelo ekhethekile eyayizomzuzisa. Yilokho okwakudingeka! Lapho ezwa incazelo eyayingacacile, ubaba manje waqiniseka ukuthi imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu yayingamanga. Walishiya isonto futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1912 ebonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho abazali bami bathuthela ngasenyakatho eAberdeen nabantwana babo ababili, uLouie noJames, futhi ngazalelwa lapho ngo-1913.

Imicabango yami ngaleyominyaka yokuqala nangemizamo yabazali bami yokusikhulisa siyizingane ezintathu “ngokuyala nangokuqondisa kweNkosi” yagxila njengoba indiza yayiqala ukwehlela emagqumeni, emifuleni, nasemathafeni engangikwazi ngisengumntwana. (Efesu 6:4) Ngalesosikhathi sasekuseni esihle nesibalele, yeka ukuthi ngazi zwa ngimbonga kangakanani uJehova ngalokho kuqeqesha kobuzali! Ngangazi ukuthi kwakube nengxenye ekunamatheleni kwami njalo enhlanganweni kaJehova.

Inzuzo Yokuqeqesha Kusukela Ebuntwaneni

Umkhaya wakithi wawuhlala unenjabulo nobunye. Uma kwenzeka uBaba noMama beba nemibono engqubuzanayo, babezama ukungakubonakalisi lokhu phambi kwethu zingane. Lokhu akuzange nje kuphela kwakhe kithi inhlonipho ngabazali bethu kodwa futhi nesimo sokuthula kwangempela nokulondeka emkhayeni wakithi.

Ezinye zezinkumbulo zami ezijabulisa kakhulu zigxila ezikhathini zakusihlwa zokuzijabulisa ndawonye komkhaya wakithi. Sasizenzela into yethu siqu yokuzijabulisa, senza izinto ezinjengokuhlabelela nomculo esizakhele wona kanye nokudlala ndawonye imidlalo yamabhodi enjengeMonopoly. Futhi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uBaba wayematasa kangakanani, akakaze ahluleke ukusebenzisa isikhathi esithile enathi ngokoqobo usuku ngalunye, esifundela ngokuzwakalayo iBhayibheli nezincwadi zeWatch Tower, nezinye izincwadi ezingenamsebenzi nezingathi sína kakhulu. Zonke lezizinto zasiza ekugcineni umkhaya wakithi unobunye njengoba sikhula.

Kwakungowakithi kuphela umkhaya ‘owawuseqinisweni’ kuleyongxenye yasenyakatho ye Scotland ngaleyominyaka yokuqala. Ngenxa yalokho, umkhaya wakithi waziwa kakhulu abameleli abaningi abajikelezayo (amapilgrim, njengoba babebizwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi) beWatch Tower Society, njengoAlbert Lloyd, Herbert Senior, noFred Scott. Abanye babevela ngisho nasendlunkulu yeNhlangano eseBrooklyn, eNew York, kuhlanganise noW. E. Van Amburgh noA. H. Macmillan. Lokhu kuhambela kwakuyisici esibalulekile eminyakeni yami yokuqala.

Kuze kube namuhla ngizizwa ngibonga ngenxa yomoya oqotho wokwamukela izihambi abazali bami abawubonisa. Lokhu kwacebisa ukuphila komkhaya wakithi, futhi nakuba ngangimncane ngaqala ukwandisa ukwazisa kwami ngayo yonke inhlangano yabazalwane. Oh, yeka ukuthi kungakanani abazali abangakwenza ekuhlakuleleni isibopho sothando olufudumele phakathi kwabantwana babo nenhlangano yomhlaba wonke yabazalwane babo!

Ukubhekana Nenkinga Yomuntu Siqu

Njengoba ngangeva eshumini elinambili, ngaba umfana on amahloni ngokuqhubekayo futhi ongunkom’ idla yodwa. Njengoba ngangiqhubeka ngikhula, ngangikuthola kuba nzima ngokwengeziwe ukuhlangana nabantu futhi ngixoxe nabo. Lamahloni aba yisithiyo esikhulu ngezindlela eziningi kodwa ikakhulukazi lapho kuziwa ekubonakaliseni ukholo lwami ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.

Ngokushesha ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, ugogo nomama wami baba oFakazi bokuqala eAberdeen abahlanganyela enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Thina zingane sahlanganyela ekusakazeni amapheshana, kodwa manje ngami ukuxoxa ngokuqondile nabantu emakhaya abo—phela, kwakungokuthile okwehlukile! Lena kwakuyinselele yangempela. Kodwa ekugcineni ngayinqoba. Angisoze ngalukhohlwa lolosuku lwangeSonto ntambama ngoNovember 1927 lapho ngitshela ubaba ukuthi ngangizohamba naye enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Ngangiqala ngqá ukubona izinyembezi zehla ezihlathini zikababa—kulesisimo kwakuyizinyembezi zenjabulo!

Usizi Lwasekhaya Lwangithinta

Ukuthokomala kokuthula kokuphila komkhaya wakithi kwaphela ebusuku bangoJune 25, 1929, lapho ngineminyaka eyi-16. Ngemva kokuba senkonzweni usuku lonke, umama nodadewethu babephuthuma ekhaya beyolungiselela uBaba ukudla kwakusihlwa. Ngokungazelele, isithuthuthu esigijima ngesivinini esikhulu sashayisa uMama, samhudula emgwaqweni cishe amamitha angama-37. Izingozi zakhe zasekhanda zazizimbi kangangokuba kwakungalindelekile ukuba aphile. Kodwa ngenxa yokunakekela kothando okwathatha izinyanga eziningi kukadadewethu uLouie, wasinda. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uMama wakwazi ukuphila ukuphila okuhle ngokusesilinganisweni kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1952.

Lesosehlakalo esidabukisayo senza okuthile okubaluleké kakhulu kimi—senza ukuba ngikuhlolisise ngokungathi sína ukuphila kwami nalokho engikwenzayo ngakho. Ngalelohlobo ngaqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngokujule ngokwengeziwe kunangaphambili—iqiniso ngalenza laba ngelami. Lena kwakuyinguquko enkulu kimi, futhi nganikezela ukuphila kwami enkonzweni kaJehova. Nokho, kwaze kwaba seminyakeni ethile kamuva lapho ngaba nethuba lokubonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwami ngobhapathizo lwamanzi.

Ukungenela Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Lapho ngiqeda isikole ngo-1932, ngagxila ezifundweni zokuqeqeshelwa ukuba unjiniyela wezokukhanda nakwezogesi. EBrithani ngalezozinsuku, sasingekho isikhuthazo esinjengaleso esikhona namhlanje sokuba intsha ingenele umsebenzi wokushumayela wesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona. Nokho, njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka, ngazi ukuthi kukuphi lapho kumelwe ngisebenzise khona amandla ami—enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

Ngikhumbula kahle okuthile esakufunda ekuqaleni kuka-1938 okwagcizelela kimi izinzuzo zokunamathela enhlanganweni kaJehova nokusebenzisa izimfundiso zayo ngokomuntu siqu. Kwakungomagazini beNqabayokulinda ngokuphathelene noJona ababechaza okuhlangenwe nakho abhekana nakho ngokubalekela isabelo sakhe se nkonzo. Nami lesifundo ngasithatha ngokungathi sína, ngenza isinqumo sokuthi akumelwe ngilokothe nginqabe noma yisiphi isabelo esasiza kimi ngenhlangano kaJehova. Ngalesosikhathi angizange ngiqaphele ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izabelo ezingokwasezulwini ezazingaphambili zokuvivinya isinqumo sami.

Ngathandazela isiqondiso, futhi impendulo yeza ngencwadi emangalisayo eyayivela endlunkulu yeNhlangano eLondon, ingicela ukuba ngicabangele ukuba yilungu lomkhaya waseBethel. Lelithuba lokuba ngingene ngalowo mnyango omkhulu oholela emalungelweni amaningi enkonzo ngalibamba ngentshiseko. Ngakho-ke, ngoApril 1939 ngazithola ngisebenza noHarold King, kamuva owakhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli eChina, futhi ngenxa yomsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela, wachitha iminyaka eminingi esetilongweni lamakhomanisi. Sasebenza ekuhlanganiseni imishini yokurekhoda namagilamafoni ayesetshenziselwa ukudlala izintshumayelo ezirekhodiwe emakhaya abantu.

Mina noHarold sa sicabanga ngezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zabantu kamuva ababeyolalela isigijimi soMbuso ngalomshini esasiwenza. Ngalendlela asizange silahlekelwe umbono womphumela wokugcina womsebenzi wethu. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi, kuzo zonke izabelo ezihlukahlukene engiye ngazithola eBethel, ngiye ngazama ukulondoloza lombono. Lokhu kuye kwenza umsebenzi wami wajabulisa ngempela futhi wahlala unenjongo ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso.

Amalungelo Enkonzo

Ngokushesha ngemva kokufika eBethel yaseLondon, ngamiswa njengenceku yebandla (manje ebizwa ngokuthi umbonisi owengamele) elinabamemezeli abangaphezu kwama-200. Ngaphambili, ngangibe umbonisi webandla elinabamemezeli abayishumi kuphela! Khona-ke ngo-1941 ngaphathiswa uMnyango Wesound emhlanganweni owawumangalisa kulo lonke idolobha owawuseLeicester. Ngalesosikhathi, nganginokuhlangenwe nakho okulinganiselwe kakhulu ngesound.

Kamuva ngabelwa umsebenzi wokujikeleza njengenceku yabazalwane, manje ebizwa ngokuthi umbonisi wesifunda. Kwakunezinceku ezinjalo eziyisithupha nje kuphela eBrithani lapho lomsebenzi uqaliswa ngoJanuary 1943. Isabelo sami sasizothatha inyanga eyodwa kuphela, kodwa ngagcina sengivakashela amabandla iminyaka engaphezu kwemithathu. Phakathi naleyominyaka enzima yeMpi Yezwe II, ngaba umqondisi wemihlangano emikhulu emithathu—okuthile engangingakaze ngikwenze ngaphambili.

Ngalezozikhathi umsebenzi wokujikeleza wawuhluke ngempela kulokho oyikho namuhla. Umthwalo wawuhlala usobhokweni, futhi ukujikeleza lonke elaseBrithani phakathi naleyominyaka yempi ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba nzima kakhulu. Ezikhathini eziningana, kwakudingeka ukuba ngisebenzise ibhayisekili engxenyeni yohambo lokuhambela amabandla. Esikhundleni sokuhambela ibandla elilodwa ngesonto, njengoba kwenza ababonisi abajikelezayo namuhla, uma amabandla emancane, sasihambela amabandla angaba yisithupha ngesonto!

Nasi isibonelo sesimiso sosuku: Sasivuka ligamenxe ihora lesihlanu; ngemva kokudla kwasekuseni, siye ebandleni elilandelayo ukuze siqale ukuhlola imibiko yebandla ngehora lesishiyagalombili ekhanda. Ngokuvamile isikhathi santambama sasisetshenziselwa inkonzo yasensimini, kusihlwa kulandele umhlangano nezinceku zebandla othatha ihora elilodwa bese kuba nenkulumo ebandleni. Ngangingavamile ukulala ngaphambi kuka-11 ebusuku noma ngisho sekwephuzile kunalokho uma ngalobobusuku ngangibhala umbiko wosuku webandla. UMsombuluko ngamunye wawubekelwa eceleni usetshenziselwa ukuqedela imibiko yesonto, isifundo somuntu siqu, nanoma imuphi omunye umsebenzi wokulungiselela isonto elilandelayo.

Ingabe uthi, ‘Kwakuyisimiso esimatasa sesonto?’ Yebo, kunjalo, kodwa, oh, yeka ukuthi kwakuzuzisa kanjani ukuba nomuzwa wokuthi sa siqinisa abazalwane phakathi naleyominyaka yempi lapho kwakungelula njalo ukuba nokuxhumana okuseduze nenhlangano! Ngomqondo ongokoqobo, sasinokwaneliseka kokuba nomuzwa wokuthi sasisiza amabandla ukuba ‘aqiniswe ekukholweni.’—IzEnzo 16:5.

Ukuphindela Enkonzweni YaseBethel

NgoApril 1946 ngacelwa ukuba ngiphindele enkonzweni yaseBethel. Ngakujabulela ukwenza kanjalo, kodwa ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila kwami kwakucetshisiwe ngokomoya ngenxa yaleyominyaka emithathu nengxenye ngisemsebenzini wokujikeleza. Inhlangano manje yaba nokubaluleka okwengeziwe kimi, futhi ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi ngangenza lokho okuchazwe kumaHubo 48:12, 13: “Zungezani iSiyoni, nilikake, nibale imibhoshongo yalo. . . . nidabule izindlu zalo zobukhosi.” Ukujikeleza kwami kaningi phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakuye kwabangela ukuba uthando lwami ngayo “yonke inhlangano yabazalwane” lukhule.—1 Petru 2:17, NW.

Ngemva kokuphindela kwami eBethel, ngaba nelungelo lokunakekela umsebenzi omningi wokunyathelisa owawenziwa esakhiweni sokunyathelisa eLondon futhi kamuva ngahileleka emsebenzini wokwenziwa kwamapuleti omshini. Khona-ke, ngoSeptember 1977 nganike zwa ilungelo eliyingqayizivele lokuba yilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova, eseBrooklyn, eNew York, U.S.A.

Kumelwe ngivume ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi ngangiba nomuzwa ‘wokubalekela’ ezinye zezabelo ezinzima kakhulu enganginikezwa zona. Kodwa ngaso leso sikhathi ngangikhumbula uJona nephutha alenza, khona-ke ngangizikhumbuza lesosithembiso esimangalisayo esitholakala kumaHubo 55:22: “Phonsa phezu kukaJehova umthwalo wakho, uzakukuphasa; akayikuvuma naphakade ukuba olungileyo azanyazanyiswe.” Yeka ukuthi ngiye ngawathola eyiqiniso kanjani lamazwi!

UJehova akalokothi acele noma ubani kithi ukuba enze okuthile aziyo ukuthi akanakukwazi ukukusingatha. Nokho, amandla akhe kuphela asenza sikwazi ukwenza lokho akucelayo. Futhi enye into—uma ubathanda ngempela abazalwane bakho osebenza nabo, bayokusekela futhi bakuxhase, basebenze nawe “nganhliziyonye” ukuze bakusize uthwale umthwalo womsebenzi wakho owabelwe.—Zefaniya 3:9.

Ubuhlobo Obuyigugu

Yebo, ngokuvamile kuba nabazalwane abangamaKristu oba nomuzwa wokusondelana nabo kakhulu. Omunye wabo kwakunguAIfred Pryce Hughes, owafa ngo-1978. Indaba yokuphila kwakhe yaphuma kuNqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-April 1, 1963. Iminyaka eminingi wakhonza njengenceku yegatsha, kamuva njengelungu leKomiti YeGatsha. Abazalwane ensimini yaseBrithani babemthanda kakhulu ngenxa yenhlonipho yakhe enkulu enhlanganweni kaJehova nokwethembeka kwakhe kuyo nangothando lwakhe ngabo bonke abazalwane. Enye into kwakuwuthando lwakhe ngenkonzo yasensimini. Lokhu akakaze akudebeselele kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo okwakumelwe awuthwale. Ukusebenzelana eduze nabazalwane abathembekile abanjengoPryce kuye kwasho okukhulu kimi, kwaqinisa ukuzimisela kwami ukunamathela enhlanganweni kaJehova nokuhlala ngishiseka enkonzweni.

Ngo-October 29, 1960, ngangenela ubuhlobo obuyigugu ngo kukhethekile nephayona elishisekayo lesikhathi eside nesithunywa sevangeli sekilasi le-11 laseGileyadi, ngalesosikhathi elalikhonza eIreland. Ngalolosuku mina noMildred Willett sashada, futhi kusukela ngalesosikhathi uye waba umsekeli wami othembekile enkonzweni yaseBethel.

Ngaphambi kokuba umama kaMildred afe ngo-1965, weluleka indodakazi yakhe ukuba ingalokothi “ibe nesikhwele ngoJehova.” UMildred uye wawakhumbula njalo amazwi kanina, futhi lokhu kuye kwamsiza ekumvikeleni ukuba angakhonondi lapho ngokuvamile kumelwe ngisebenze isikhathi eseqile. Lokhu kuye kwangisiza kakhulu ukuba nginakekele ngenjabulo noma yiziphi izabelo zomsebenzi ezenezelwe engiye nganikezwa zona. Thina sobabili siye sakujabulela ngokukhethekile ukuhlanganyela okuhlangenwe nakho okuningi okuzuzisayo enkonzweni.

Ngokwesibonelo, omunye umbhangqwana osemusha esafunda nawo iBhayibheli wathuthuka ngokushesha kwaze kwaba sephuzwini lokuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa kanye nokuhlanganyela njalo enkonzweni. Sajabula kakhulu! Khona-ke, ngokushesha, ngaphandle kwesizathu, wayeka ukuhlanganyela. Mina noMildred sadumazeka kakhulu, futhi sasilokhu sizibuza ukuthi siphaphalaze kuphi ekubaqeqesheni kwethu. Sathandaza ngokuphikelelayo kuJehova ukuba aphinde avule izinhliziyo zabo babonakalise uthando lwabo ngeqiniso. Ungacabanga ngenjabulo yethu lapho sithola incwadi evela kulombhangqwana eminyakeni eyishumi kamuva usitshela ukuthi usuphinde wahlanganyela ngentshiseko nokuthi ikhaya lawo manje lase liyindawo yeSifundo Sencwadi?

Indoda egama layo lingu Will yabhala: “Ngifisa ukunibonga ngalo lonke usizo nokucabangela kothando eniye nasinikeza khona . . . Ukuwa kwami kwakuyiphutha lami, ukwazisa kwenhliziyo yami kwakungaqondile . . . Siye sathola injabulo enkulu ngokuphindela enhlanganweni kaJehova. . . . Namuhla kusihlwa nginibhalela nginezinkumbulo ezijabulisayo, kwangathi uJehova angaqhubeka enibusisa nobabili enkonzweni yenu kuye.”

Kwenye incwadi, omunye umama wasibhalela ngokuphathelene nomfana wakhe uMike: “Ngijabula kakhulu ngokuthi izingelosi zamhlalisa eduze kwenu.” Wayesho ukuthini? Phela, uMike wayeze emhlanganweni nonina nomfowabo omncane, kodwa wayengenaso neze isithakazelo eqinisweni. UMildred wambona lomfana ehleli yedwa wayesexoxa naye. Khona-ke sobabili sammema nomfowabo ukuba beze eBethel yaseLondon futhi babone umsebenzi esasiwenza.

Kamuva, uMike weza, futhi lokho akubona kwavusa isithakazelo sakhe ngokwanele ukuba aqhubeke abe nesifundo seBhayibheli. Waba yini umphumela? Manje ungumdala ebandleni, futhi umkakhe nabafana ababili bonke bayashiseka enkonzweni. Esikhathini esithile esidlule umkaMike wabhala: “[UMike] usitshela njalo ngokuhlangana kwakhe nani nobabili . . . Yeka indlela ahlabeka ngayo umxhwele ngomusa nangesithakazelo senu kuye.”

Lapho mina nomkami samukela amazwi okwazisa avela kothile onjengo Will noma uMike esiye saba nelungelo lokumsiza, izinhliziyo zethu zimane zichichime ngokubonga uJehova! Yeka umvuzo ongenakulinganiswa ‘lezozincwadi zokusincoma eziphilayo’ eziyiwo—konke kuyingxenye yenjabulo etholakala ngokunamathela enhlanganweni kaJehova.—2 Korinte 3:1-3.

Ukukhonza Endlunkulu Yomhlaba Wonke

“Isizwe esizimele.” Leyo indlela umhleli wephephandaba laseBrooklyn Heights achaza ngayo umkhaya omkhulu woFakazi abangaphezu kwezi-3 500 ohlala endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn, New York, nasemaPulazini eWatchtower, aqhele ngamakhilomitha ayi-160 eNew York. Ngempela, abagcotshiweyo bakaJehova bayisizwe esingokomoya emehlweni kaJehova! Namuhla, izixuku ezivela ezizweni eziningi zomhlaba ziyeza futhi zithi kulabo balesisizwe: “Siyakuhamba nani, ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.”—Zakariya 8:23; 1 Petru 2:9.

Khona-ke, ungaqaphela yini ukuthi kwakujabulisa kangakanani lapho mina nomkami siba yingxenye yalomkhaya omkhulu waseBethel? Ngingasho ngokunganqikazi ukuthi iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili edlule yokuphila kwami iye yaba ngevelele kakhulu kukho konke okuhlangenwe nakho kwami okungokwasezulwini. Lapha uzwa umfutho wenhlangano ebonakalayo kaJehova; lapha ukudla okungokomoya kuyalungiselelwa bese kuthunyelwa kuwo wonke amagumbi amane omhlaba; lapha ubona umoya kaJehova usebenza uqondisa izinqumo ezisheshayo okumelwe zenziwe; futhi lapha ngaphezu kwanoma yikuphi kwenye indawo ubona ubufakazi obukhulayo besibusiso sikaJehova emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi. Konke lokhu okuhlangenwe nakho kwamuva nemizwa kuye kwanginikeza umfutho owengeziwe wokunamathela njalo kubantu bakaJehova.

Ngiye ngalandisa okumbalwa kakhulu kokuhlangenwe nakho kokuphila kwami. Nokho, kunganisiza ukuba niqonde ukuthi kungani, njengoba indiza engangigibele kuyo ekugcineni yehlela eSikhumulweni saseAberdeen ngalolosuku olubalele ekuseni ngoJune, ngaba nomuzwa wokubonga kuJehova ukuthi ngangiseyingxenye yenhlangano yomhlaba wonke yabazalwane abanothando. Ngangichithe sonke isikhathi ngisendizeni ngizindla ngeminyaka yami ngiseqinisweni, futhi lokhu kwaphinde kwangikhumbuza indlela okuzuzisa ngayo ngathi ukuba njalo sizindle ngezibusiso eziningi esizithola kuJehova.—IHubo 40:5.

Udadewethu, uLouie, wayekhona lapho ezongihlangabeza—usathembekile, uyashiseka, futhi uqotho ngemva kweminyaka engama-60 yenkonzo yokuzinikezela kuJehova. Ngibonga uJehova ngalesosibusiso esenezelwe, ngoba akashongo yini umphostoli uPawulu ukuthi ukwethembeka yilokho uJehova akubhekayo kubo bonke ‘abaphathi’ bakhe? (1 Korinte 4:2) Yeka isikhuthazo esikhulu ilungu ngalinye lomkhaya elingasinikeza kwelinye ngokuhlala lithembekile!

UMose wake wathandaza: “Sifundise, Nkosi, ukubala izinsuku zethu, sizuze inhliziyo enokuhlakanipha.” (IHubo 90:12) Njengoba mina noMildred siguga, siyasiqaphela isidingo sokuncika njalo ekuhlakanipheni kukaJehova ukuze sisebenzise ukuphila kwethu ngendlela ebonakalisa uthando lwethu ngaye nangabafowethu. Ngothando uJehova usibonisa leyondlela uma sinamathela enhlanganweni yakhe.

[Isithombe ekhasini 28]

UJohn Barr (phambili ngakwesobunxele) cishe ngonyaka ka-1930 enodadewabo, umfowabo, nabazali

[Isithombe ekhasini 31]

UJohn Barr namuhla, nomkakhe uMildred