Ukuphayona Ndawonye Isikhathi Sonke

Endlini ehlanzekile nengahlotshisiwe kakhulu ngefenisha eCardiff, eWales, kusanda kuphela iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla. Umqhubi wesifundo ubonga odade ababili abangamaphayona, uMaud Clark noMary Grant, manje abaseminyakeni yama-90 ubudala, ngokuphatha kahle kwabo izihambi futhi ubakhuthaza ukuba baxoxe ngezinto ezidlule abasazikhumbula . . .

UMaud: Sekuyiminyaka engama-65 kusukela mina noMary sahlangana futhi saqala ukuphayona ndawonye.

UMary: Yebo, kwakungo-1923, ngobusuku obubandayo nobukhithika iqhwa bukaJanuary! Uyakhumbula, Maud? Ngakulanda esiteshini sikaloliwe iMuch Wenlock ngakusa ngokuqondile endlini yami. Sathi ukudlayidla sase sitadisha iTabernacle Shadows ndawonye. Ngosuku olulandelayo ekuseni sagibela amabhayisikili ethu sayoshumayela kubalimi baseShropshire.

Ukuhlangana Kokuqala

UMaud: Yiqiniso, sasikulungele lokhu. Uyabona, sobabili sasiye saphayona isikhathi esithile. Ngisho nalapho ngiseyintombazanyana, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lalingithakazelisa ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ingane, ngikhumbula ngiwasho ngekhanda amaHubo ayisikhombisa esontweni ukuze ngiphiwe iBhayibheli! Kwakungo-1908, lapho ngineminyaka eyi-11 ubudala, lapho udadewethu omdala efunda incwadi iThe Divine Plan of the Ages futhi eshiya isonto esasisonta kulo, eba umFundi WeBhayibheli. Amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayeba isihloko sezingxoxo zethu ekhaya. Kodwa lapho ubaba eshona, ngaqala ukuzibuza: ‘Bakuphi abafileyo?’

Yeka injabulo okwaba yiyo ukuthola impendulo lapho ngiyobona iThe Photo-Drama of Creation, eyaboniswa edolobheni lakithi laseSheffield! Kulezozithombe ezinyakazayo, ezazihambisana namarekhodi egilamafoni, ngabona kufanekiswe isithombe sokuvuka kwendodana yowesifazane waseShunemi. Yebo, ngezwa ukuthi abafileyo abezwa lutho kuze kube yilapho bevuswa.—2 AmaKhosi 4:32-37.

Ngokushesha ngasula eSontweni LaseSheshi futhi ngaqalisa lokho esasikubiza ngokuthi umsebenzi wobufundisi, ngihambisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli khona kanye endaweni engangaziwa kuyo ngokusakaza omagazini besonto. Ngabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwami kuJehova ngoAugust 1918 emhlanganweni owawusedolobheni eliseduze laseLeeds.

Ngemva kokusebenzisa izikhathi zamaholide ezijabulisayo nodade ababili abangamacolporteur eDerbyshire, nganquma ukuba ngenze inkonzo yobuphayona ibe umsebenzi wokuphila kwami konke. NgoAugust 1922, ngaqalisa isabelo sami sokuqala: EBiggleswade eseBedfordshire.

Omunye wamacolporteur wathi kimi: “Uma ungabambelela ezinyangeni zokuqala eziyisithupha, uzophumelela.” Lezozinyanga zokuqala zazinzima. Ngavelelwa ingozi yebhayisikili. Kwase kuthi owokuqala engangiphayona naye waphindela kubo. Kodwa ngangizimisele ukuqhubeka, ngakho ngabhalela iNhlangano ngicela engingaphayona naye. Futhi uJehova wanginika uMary!

Mary, wamelela iqiniso kuqala kunami, akunjalo?

UMary: Yebo, Maud. Ngesikhathi sihlala eCardiff, eNingizimu yeWales. Lapho ngineminyaka eyi-16 ubudala, ugogo wangicela ukuba ngifunde incwadi iThe Divine Plan of the Ages, ayeyithole emhlanganweni weningi owawuhlelwe abaFundi BeBhayibheli. Ngaso sonke isikhathi ngangilokhu ngifuna ukuqonda iBhayibheli futhi ngibe umvangeli lapho sengikhulile. Njengoba ngifunda lomqulu, ngazi ukuthi ngase ngilitholile iqiniso.

Ngaqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli, naphezu kokungavumi okukhulu kukamama. Uyabona, abazali bami babemi kahle, futhi njengoba babengangivumeli ukuba ngiyosebenza, ngathola izimo zingezivimbela kakhulu ekhaya. Noma kunjalo, ngakwazi ukuthola ingxenye esele yesethi yezincwadi zokusiza ekufundeni iBhayibheli. Lapho umama ekuthola lokho, ngokuthukuthela washisa izincwadi futhi wangitshela ukuthi ngisemncane kakhulu ukuba ngazi ngezinto ezinjalo. Ukuze ngizibuyisele kwafanela ukuba ngingenise izincwadi ekhaya ngomshoshaphansi ngayinye ngayinye, ngemva kokuvakasha kwasekuseni kakhulu ekhaya lomunye wabaFundi BeBhayibheli elaliqhele ngamakhilomitha amathathu. Ngangivame ukuzifunda ngokulangazela okukhulu ngaphambi kokuba umkhaya wonke uvuke, ngizifihla endaweni yokugcina izinto zasengadini emini.

Ngo-1913, lapho ngineminyaka eyi-17 ubudala, ngaya eLondon ukuze ngibe seholidini lokubona indawo. Ngokujabulisayo, lokhu kwahlangana nokuvakashela kukaMzalwan’ uRussell emhlanganweni owawuqhutshelwa eKingsway Hall. Lapho ngazwakalisa isifiso sami sokubhapathizwa. Udade oyiphayona owayesebenza eCardiff waya kuMzalwan’ uRussell ukuyombuza noma wayecabanga ukuthi ngisemncane kakhulu yini. Wangibuza iminyaka yobudala futhi wangibuza imibuzo ukuze abone ukuthi ngiyizwisisile yini imiBhalo nokubona ukuthi ngase ngikunikezele yini ukuphila kwami kuJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, ngagqoka ingubo ende emnyama futhi ngahlanganyela nabanye ababezocwiliswa eLondon Tabernacle. Ngiwakhumbula kahle amazwi esawacula lapho siphuma emanzini:

“Ngimbelwe noKristu

ngavuswa kanye naye futhi,

Yini esasele okumelwe ngiyenze?

Kuphela ukuyeka

ukuzabalaza nezimpikiswano,

Kuphela ukuhamba ebusheni bokuphila.”

Ngemva kwalokho, omunye umzalwane weza kimi wayesethi: “Kumelwe ukuba ungowokugcina wabayizi-144 000 ukuba ungene; unesikhathi esincane kakhulu sokuba wenze ukubizwa nokukhetha kwakho kuqiniseke.” Babecabanga kanjalo abaningi ababebheka unyaka owawusondela, u-1914, ngokulangazela okukhulu. Nokho, kimina, lokhu kwabonakala kuyisikhathi sokuvivinywa njengoba ngangibekezelela ukuphikiswa okukhulu ekhaya. Ngangiba khona emihlanganweni ngezikhathi zonke lapho kunokwenzeka. Ngo-1916, ngajabulela ilungelo lokukhonza njengomlindikazi lapho kuboniswa iThe Photo-Drama of Creation eCardiff. Ngemva kokuphothula izifundo zami zokuqeqeshelwa ubuhlengikazi eManchester, ngaqala inkonzo yobuphayona besikhathi esigcwele ngo-1922.

Ukufakaza Emaphandleni

UMaud: Kwakudingeka ngempela ukuba sithathe isinyathelo emuva ngalesosikhathi. Satshela wonke umuntu ukuthi sihileleke emsebenzini wobuKristu. Abantu ngalezozinsuku babengabafundi. Sahambisa incwadi ethi The Harp of God nochungechunge lwezincwadi zeStudies in the Scriptures. Yebo, sasidinga ipotimende elikhulu lokufaka zonke lezincwadi. Elami lalilikhulu kangangokuba ngolunye usuku lapho ngifika epulazini elingalodwa, inkosikazi yomlimi yacabanga ukuthi ngangiyisihlobo esivela eCanada sizovakasha. Yeka ukuthi sahleka kanjani!

Njengoba ukuphayona kwakuwukuphila kwethu, sathola injabulo yethu emsebenzini wokusakaza izincwadi ezaziqukethe isigijimi soMbuso. Sasebenzisa imali yethu ngokucophelela, futhi saphila ngokucongobezela, senana ibhotela nezinye izinto ezikhiqizwa epulazini ngezincwadi futhi sicosha amazambane, utheniphu, neklabishi okwakuwa ezinqodlaneni zasemapulazini emigwaqweni enezikhisi, newubhuqu. Saba ngompetha ekuphesheni amathayi aphantshile amabhayisikili ethu, futhi saba abathungi abahle kakhulu, sizithungela izingubo zethu.

Njengoba abazalwane ababekhonza njengezikhulumi ezijikelezayo benikeza izinkulumo zeBhayibheli emadolobheni, mina noMary sasilandela ngemva kwabo ukuze silandelele isithakazelo esasokhelwe ukushumayela kwabo. Amaqembu amancane abathakazelayo avela eShrewsbury nakwamanye amadolobha. Futhi yeka ukuthi sasiyilindela ngokulangazela kanjani imihlangano! Ngicabanga ukuthi umhlangano waseLondon ngo-1926 wawungovelele. Lapho sajabulela ilungelo elenezelwe lokusakaza incwajana iThe Standard for the People emigwaqweni yenhlokodolobha. Khona-ke injabulo yethu yakhula njengoba sasifunda okuqukethwe incwadi evela eNhlanganweni. Kwakuwukushintsha kwethu isabelo: eNyakatho Ireland.

Ukuphayona Emasimini Amasha

Safika eCounty Antrim, eNyakatho Ireland, ukuze siphayone phakathi kwabantu ababehlukene ngokwenkolo. Okokuqala sahlala eGreenisland. Kwakuswakeme futhi kubanda, futhi amasonto amaningi sasingenawo umlilo ngenxa yokutelekelwa kwamalahle eNgilandi. Manje ngiyawubona umfanekiso wethu, sihleli sigqoke amajazi ethu namagilavu ntambama, sizama ukutadisha lapho siqhaqhazela ngenxa yamakhaza. Khona-ke ihlobo lafika, futhi yeka ukuthi sambonga kanjani uJehova ngelungelo lokusebenza emaphandleni amahle ezigodi zase-Antrim ezithe qekelele. Abantu basilalela kahle isigijimi soMbuso. Oh, yebo, ngokuvamile babephikisa, kodwa babenomusa. “Ha- ngenani,” babesho, futhi babebeka igedlela phezu kwegreesha (amalahle abomvu tebhu) ukuze libile, futhi ingxoxo yethu yayiqhubeka.

UMary: Njengoba manje sase singamantombazane amane aphayona ndawonye esabelweni sethu, sanamathela esimisweni esigcwele esingokwasezulwini semihlangano. Njalo ekuseni sasixoxa ngetekisi lemiBhalo futhi sifunde i“My Morning Resolve,” ngokwengxenye, eyayithi, ‘Nsuku zonke ngiyokhumbula eSihlalweni Sobukhosi Sasezulwini Somusa izithakazelo ezivamile zomsebenzi wokuvuna, ikakhulukazi ingxenye mina ngokwami enginelungelo lokuyijabulela kulowomsebenzi, nengisebenza kanye nabo abathandekayo abaseBethel nakuzo zonke izindawo.’ NgoLwesithathu ebusuku sasiba noMhlangano wethu woMthandazo, Ukudumisa, Nokufakaza. Ngezinsuku zangeSonto sasifunda iThe Watchtower ndawonye, futhi sasibuthana sizungeze u-organ oluncane ngokuvamile lwalutholakala emakhaya abantu ukuze sicule izingoma ezisencwadini iHymns of the Millennial Dawn, njengethi:

“Ungacabangi ukuthi ukunqoba kuzuziwe,

Noma ngokukhululeka uhlale phansi

Umsebenzi wakho owumshikashika awuyikwenziwa

Kuze kube yilapho usuzuze umqhele wakho.”

UMaud: Yeka ushintsho okwaba yilo lapho sabelwa umsebenzi okhethekile owavuleka—saba “amaphayona asezindlini zosomabhizinisi.” Sasingafakaza kanjani kosomabhizinisi, izimenenja zamabhange, nabanye abafana nabo? Lezo zakhiwo ezinkulu eBelfast zabonakala zisabeka. Kodwa sakhumbula abaseFilipi 4:13: “Nginamandla ukwenza konke ngaye ongiqinisayo.” Futhi asicabanganga ngokwenqaba isabelo sethu. Yeka okuhlangenwe nakho okuhle esaba nakho lapho sikhuluma nalawomadoda futhi siwahambisela izincwadi eziningi! Ngo-1931 sase siziqedile izindlu zosomabhizinisi futhi sase sisebenze iminyaka emihlanu eNyakatho Ireland. Sazibuza ukuthi sasiyoba kuphi isabelo sethu esilandelayo. Okwasimangalisa kwakuyisabelo sezindlu zosomabhizinisi zaseDublin.

Siye ETharishishi Noma ENinive?

Kumelwe sivume ukuthi, ekuqaleni, sazizwa njengoJona, owayeyabelwe ukuba ayoshumayela eNinive kodwa esikhundleni salokho waya eTharishishi. Sasingathanda ukuya esabelweni esihlukile. Sayiqaphela ngokushesha indlela okwakumelwe sincike ngayo kuJehova. Nokho, yeka ukuthi kwakusabisa kanjani ukuma ngaseNsikeni KaNelson eDublin futhi sibone imigwaqo egcwele abapristi nezindelakazi, amadoda ethula izigqoko zawo futhi abesifazane bekhothama ngokuhlonipha ‘iNcasakazi ebusisiwe.’ Ngalesosikhathi kwakunabaFundi BeBhayibheli abane kuphela eDublin.

Saphumelela ukuthola izindlu zokuhlala nomkhaya owawungamaRoma Katolika. Yebo, kwakudingeka ukuba izincwadi zethu sizifihle ngaphansi kombhede, ngoba umpristi wayelihambela njalo lelikhaya. Ngolunye usuku usomabhizinisi waseDublin weza lapho sihlala khona, ethi: ‘Nishiye izincwadi ebhange lami.’ Zazimhlabe umxhwele kakhulu kangangokuba waya kuzo zonke izitolo eyobheka ukuthi ingabe ziyazidayisa yini izincwadi zikaMahluleli uRutherford. Khona-ke wayesebhalela eNew York futhi wanikezwa ikheli lethu. Wenzela bonke abangane bakhe idili ukuze abatshele ngalokho ayekufundile.

Kamuva ngalowonyaka, saba khona emhlanganweni eLiverpool, eNgilandi, lapho sezwa khona ngegama lethu elisha, oFakazi BakaJehova. Lapho sibuyela eDublin, sahlanganyela emkhankasweni wokusakaza incwajana iThe Kingdom, the Hope of the World, eyayiqukethe izwi lesinqumo lasemhlanganweni. Sahambela ezindaweni zezindela, zezindelakazi, nezindlu zosomabhizinisi, siyisa amakhophi amahhala alencwajana. Emukelwa wonke!

UMary: Ngolunye usuku sabona isikebhe sintanta sehlisa umfula iLiffey, futhi lokhu kwasinika umqondo wokufakaza kumatilosi ezikebhe esikhumulweni semikhumbi. Lapho sizama ukungena esikhumulweni semikhumbi, savinjwa iphoyisa elabuza ukuthi senzani. Lapho silibonisa izincwadi lathi, “Qhubekelani phambili.” Sathola okaputeni bemikhumbi abaningi abavela kwamanye amazwe ababebazi oFakazi. Uma sikhumbula lokho okuhlangenwe nakho, siyamangala ngendlela uJehova asinakekela ngayo njengoba ngamunye wethu egibela emkhunjini yedwa.

Ukufakaza Phakathi Nempi Yasemoyeni

UMaud: Ngo-1939 lapho impi igqashuka, sabuyela eLiverpool futhi sahlangana namanye amaphayona angama-20 ayehlala ekhaya lamaphayona. Manje sasiphila esikhathini sezimpi zasemoyeni nokujikijelwa kwamabhomu futhi sasifakaza nomaphi lapho abantu belalela khona. Ngokuvamile sasizithola sifaka amarekhodi kumagilamafoni ethu, sixoxa ngesigijimi soMbuso, bese sigijima sibuyela ekhaya lamaphayona, noma sigijima sisuka kwenye indawo yesiphephelo ukuya kwenye. Kuyo yonke lenkathi, sasingesabi, ngoba sasenza umsebenzi weNkosi.

Ezikhathini eziningi njengoba sasehla ngemigwaqo, abantu babesithuka ngenxa yokuma kokungathathi-hlangothi okwathathwa oFakazi phakathi nalenkathi yesiphithiphithi. Ngiyakhumbula ukuthi kwenye indlu insizwa ethile yalalela amarekhodi futhi yamukela isifundo seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke. Kwaphakama ubunzima. Yayisanda kuzinikela ukuba ihlanganyele eMpini YamaNgisi Yasolwandle. Yabhalela iziphathimandla incwadi ichaza isimo sayo sokungathathi-hlangothi futhi yathola incwadi eyayiyikhulula ngokuphelele emsebenzini wezempi. Kamuva yahlanganyela nathi enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

UMary: Angisoze ngizikhohlwe lezozinsuku zempi, Maud. Usakhumbula ukuthi kwenzekani lapho sithuthela eKnutsford eCheshire ngo-1942? Owesifazane othile wasimemeza, ‘Yini eniyenzela umzamo wempi?’ Ngaphambi kokuba siphendule, omunye owayedlula ngendlela waphendula, ‘Wenza umsebenzi esingenaso isibindi sokuwenza.’ Enye indoda endala yangenela, ‘Benza umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu.’

UMaud: Ngempela, umsebenzi wesifundo seBhayibheli wawuyinto enkulu. Ngaba nokuhlangenwe nakho okuhle lapho ngihambele elinye ipulazi futhi ngahlangana nowesifazane owangitshela ukuthi umfanyana wakhe ufe engozini yemoto. Ngamnikeza incwajana ethi Hope for the Dead futhi ngaqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli. Ngemva kokufunda izikhathi eziyisikhombisa, lowesifazane waqala ukuhlanganyela nami emsebenzini wokufakaza. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva umyeni wakhe wamukela iqiniso, futhi phakathi neminyaka emibili lombhangqwana wathengisa ipulazi lawo futhi waqala ukuphayona. Kamuva indodakazi yabo yahlanganyela nabo emsebenzini wesikhathi esigcwele, futhi manje yona nomyeni wayo bakhonza eBethel yaseLondon.

Emhlanganweni waseLeicester ngo-1941, uMzalwan’ uSchroeder wamemezela ukuthi amaphayona akhethekile ayeyokwamukela usizo oluncane olungokwezimali ukuze luwasize ngezidingo zokuphila. Cishe iminyaka engama-20, uJehova wayewubusisile umsebenzi wethu wokusakaza izincwadi futhi wasilungiselela izinto esizidingayo. UJehova akazange nanini asidumaze. Siye sabona ukuthi ngempela “akuwanga izwi elilodwa lakho konke ukukhuluma kwakhe okuhle akusho.”—1 AmaKhosi 8:56.

Ukuthola “Izimvu” EWales

Ngo-1954 sazithola siseMilford Haven, eWales. Naphezu kokuphikisa kwabefundisi, sashumayela futhi sathola abanjengezimvu abasabela. Laba sabahlela baba iqembu futhi sababonisa indlela yokuqhuba imihlangano nokunikeza izimpendulo ezimfushane nezinengqondo. Yeka isikhathi esijabulisayo okwaba yiso ukubona abayisikhombisa bebhapathizwa ediphini lezimvu elaligcwaliswe ngamanzi afudumele ayethelwa kulo ngamabhakede obisi!

Edolobheni elisesigodini saseWelsh i-Abercynon, umzila kamagazini waveza imiphumela emihle. Nakuba owesifazane owayemukela omagazini njalo athi, “Angikukholelwa lokho eningitshela khona,” wavuma ukufunda omagazini. Kamuva lapho siphindela kuye, sathola umyeni wakhe ematasa ehlobisa indlu. Ngemva kwengxoxo yobungane, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli ngesonto elilandelayo. Sakha ubungane namadodana abo amathathu afika ukuzohlanganyela nathi esifundweni. Ekugcineni, umama namadodana akhe amathathu banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova futhi babhapathizwa. Namuhla, amalungu angama-35 alowomkhaya aye amukela iqiniso, amanye akhonza njengamaphayona asizayo, avamile, noma akhethekile, namanye njengabadala.

Nakhu manje lapha sikhona eCardiff, sibukeza izinto ezidlule zokuphila kwethu. Asizisoli. UJehova uye wanakekela zonke izidingo zethu ngendlela ebonakalayo. Siye saba nokuphila okumangalisayo sikhonza ndawonye njengamaphayona, futhi sisabheka inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengomcebo wethu omkhulu kunayo yonke ekuphileni kwethu.

Manje izinhliziyo zethu zihlatshwa umxhwele ukubona amanani andayo amaphayona. Nayo yonke leyontsha ethatha lenkonzo eyigugu—yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani! Mina noMary siye saphayona ndawonye iminyaka engama-65. Ukuphila kwethu bekulula kodwa kumatasa, kunzima, kodwa kunomvuzo. Ngempela siyayitusa inkonzo yobuphayona besikhathi sonke sokuphila komuntu.

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

UMaud (ngakwesobunxele) noMary basathola umcebo wabo omkhulu kunayo yonke enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kuJehova