UJehova Wanelisa Zonke Izidingo Zami

Njengoba ilandiswa uJohn E. (Ted) Sewell

NJENGOBA sasithatha isinyathelo ngasinye phakathi kwalelohlathi elisabekayo elinesisi laseThailand, ngacabanga, ‘Kumelwe kube nezindlela ezilula zokusuka eBangkok ukuya eBurma!’ Izinyawo zibuhlungu futhi sijuluke simanzi té, engangikhathazeka ngakho ngokuyinhloko kwakuwukuthi sasizohlangana nenye yezingwe, amabhere amnyama, noma izindlovu okwakwaziwa ukuthi ziyazulazula kulamahlathi asabekayo—kungasaphathwa okwezinyoka ezinesihlungu. Kungani mina noFrank Dewar sasithatha loluhambo oluyingozi?

Sobabili sasiyizithunywa zevangeli eThailand, futhi sasisanda kuzwa ukuthi kwakuzoba nomhlangano wezinsuku ezintathu eRangoon eBurma, ngoNovember 26-28, 1938. Ukuswela kwethu ngokwezimali kwasiphoqelela ukuba sisuke eBangkok siye eRangoon ngendlela eshibhe kakhulu ngangokunokwenzeka, futhi ingxenye yalolohambo yayidinga uhambo olunzima lwamakhilomitha angama-80 ehlathini elisabekayo.

NgoNovember 16, sasuka eBangkok ngesitimela, sashintshelwa ebhasini elincane, sagwedliswa siwela uMfula Wing ngesikebhe esikhulu esenziwe ngokhuni, sase siqalisa uhambo lwethu olude ehlathini elisabekayo. UFrank wayefunde amabalazwe futhi ekugcineni wakhetha indlela eyabonakala ilandeleka. Yayingekho imigwaqo esasingayilandela—kuphela indledlana eyingcingo, eyayenziwe izihambi ezazilandela ngokuyisisekelo izigxobo zikathelefoni.

Sabonga ngokuthi, okuwukuphela kwezilwane esazibona kwakuyizinkawu eziningi ezihlahleni. Izimbali zasendle ezinhle ezinephunga elimnandi ezazilenga zaziyinjabulo esasingayilindele. Njengoba lase liya ngomutsha wendoda, saqala ukukhathazeka ngokuthi kwakuyoba okulondeke kangakanani ukulala kulelohlathi elisabekayo. Lalihluke kakhulu emahlathini aseAustralia lapho ngangivame ukulala khona obala ebusuku. Futhi sasixwayisiwe ngezigebengu ezazaziwa ngokuphanga ngisho nokulimaza izihambi.

Safikelwa ukwesaba okukhulu lapho sihlangana ubuso nobuso neqembu lamadoda asabekayo, ngayinye inocelemba ulenga okhalweni lwayo. Asimisa asibuza ukuthi sasiphikelelephi. Lapho sichaza ukuthi sasiphikelele emhlanganweni wobuKristu eRangoon, asibheka ngokungasethembi kodwa aqhubekela phambili ngaphandle kokusilimaza.

Ngokushesha, sahlangana nezinsizwa ezimbili ezazibonakala zinomusa. Ngolwazi lwethu oluncane lolimi lwesiThai, saziqasha ukuba zisihole ukuya eBurma. Njengoba kuhwalala, safika emthini omkhulu onezitebhisi ezinyukela endaweni endlalekile eyenziwe ngamapulangwe phakathi kwamagatsha. Salala lapho sobane.

Ngokuhlwa kosuku olulandelayo, safinyelela esigodini esincane lapho sakwazi ukulala khona kuvulanda wendlu endala. Ngosuku lwesithathu, safika esigodini saseMae Sot emngceleni weBurma. Lapha savalelisa kwababesihola futhi sabakhokhela ngenjabulo ngomsebenzi wabo omuhle.

Ngemva kokuwela umfula sibheke eBurma, sagibela ibhasi elincane sadlula emgwaqweni osezintabeni futhi sase silindela isikebhe esiya eMoulmein. Ingxenye yokugcina yohambo lwethu lokuya eRangoon yayingesitimela, eyabonakala ilula kakhulu ngemva kohambo lwethu olunzima ngezinyawo. Uhambo lonke lwaluthathe isonto, kodwa lwaluwufanele umzamo ukuze sijabulele ukuhlangana okungokomoya nabazalwane bethu. Kwakuwubufakazi obubodwa nje kobuningi bokuthi uJehova uye wazanelisa zonke izidingo zami. Kodwa ake nginitshele ukuthi ngeza kanjani eThailand.

Ukuqaphela Izidingo Ezingokomoya

Lapho ngizalwa eNtshonalanga Australia ngo-1910 ukuphila nemikhuba kwakushintsha. Impi Yezwe I eyaqala ngo-1914 yabonakala ilusheshisa ushintsho. Nakuba ngangineminyaka eyisikhombisa kuphela, ngikhumbula kahle uMama ebhalela uBaba owayesempini eYurophu. Ngesinye isikhathi uMama wathi kimi: “Uyazi, iBhayibheli lithi kuyoba khona izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi.” Akazange achaze ngokwengeziwe, kepha nganginogqozi lokwazi.

Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, ngoDecember 1934, lapho ngangibuyela emuva epulazini engangisebenza kulo ngigibele injomane, ngahlangana nomngane wami omdala esasifunda naye owangitshela ukuthi muva nje oFakazi BakaJehova abathile babefikile bevela ePerth. Umkhaya wakubo wathenga izincwadi zabo kodwa wawunqume ukungazifundi. Nginogqozi lokwazi ngathola kuye incwadi ethi Life.

Njengoba ngangigibele ngihamba emoyeni opholile wasebusuku, inyanga yayikhanya bha kangangokuthi ngangingafunda isihloko ngasinye sesahluko esibhalwe ngokugqamile. Lapho ngifika epulazini, ngaqhubeka ngifunda ngokukhanya kwesiketekete. Lapho, ngokokuqala, ngafunda ukuthi uNkulunkulu unegama lakhe siqu—uJehova. Ngijabula ukuthola ukuthi uNkulunkulu unenjongo emangalisayo ngomhlaba wethu, yebo, ukuthi umhlaba uyokuba ipharadesi eliyojatshulelwa isintu esilalelayo. Phela, kulencwadi kwakuphendulwa yonke imibuzo yami!

Abantu bokuqala engafuna ukubatshela kwakungabazali bami, ababehlala epulazini elincane elaliqhele ngamakhilomitha ayi-138. Lokhu kwakusho uhambo losuku nengxenye ngenjomane. Lapho ngitshela uMama lokho engangikufundile, wangimangaza ngokusho ukuthi naye wayefunda futhi ejabulela incwadi efanayo yeBhayibheli! Ohambweni olude lokubuyela ekhaya ngemva kwesonto, kwakumelwe ngicabange kakhulu, ngoba ukufunda kwami kwakungibonise ukuthi uNkulunkulu akafuni ulwazi nokholo kuphela. Manje ngase ngazi ukuthi umKristu weqiniso kumelwe alandele uJesu Kristu futhi yena siqu akhonze uJehova ngokushumayela kwabanye. Ngakho kusukela lapho ngazimisela ukuzama ukukwenza lokhu impelasonto ngayinye.

Kuvuleka Amathuba Ajabulisayo

Ukuze ngifakaze esigodini sakithi esigqagqene samapulazi, ngathenga iModel-T Ford eyayiguqulwe yaba yiloli lokuthutha izimpahla. Ngangivakashela abalimi yonke intambama yangoMgqibelo, ngilayishe izinto zokulala nezinye izidingo ezimbalwa, ngangilala elolini, futhi ekuseni ngeSonto ngiqhubeke ngifakaza ipulazi ngepulazi. Ntambama ngangibuyela ekhaya.

NgoApril 1936 ngabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwami ngobhapathizo emhlanganweni omncane owawusePerth. Enye yezinkulumo yayigcizelela inkonzo yobuphayona yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngangazi ukuthi ngangingenazibopho ezingokomBhalo ezingivimbela ekuhlanganyeleni kulomsebenzi obalulekile, ngakho ngoDecember 1936, ngaqalisa ukuphayona.

Ngayo leyonyanga, amaphayona amabili ayimiqemane, uArthur Willis noBill Newlands, afika ePerth ngeloli. Ezinyangeni eziyisishiyagalolunye ngaphambili babeshiye iSydney ogwini lolwandle olungasempumalanga futhi bathatha uhambo lokufakaza olunqamula iAustralia. Ungacabanga ngenjabulo engaba nayo lapho ngabelwa iNhlangano ukuhamba nabo ohambweni lokubuyela emuva. Banginikeza ukuqeqesha okuwusizo engingazange neze ngikukhohlwe.

Ukunqamula Ithafa LaseNullarbor

Igama elithi Nullarbor lisho ukuthi “akunazihlahla.” Liyincazelo efanelekayo yethafa eliwugwadule, elingenazihlahla maphakathi neAustralia. Phakathi nawo-1930 indlela esahamba ngayo lapho yayingamakhilomitha ayi-1 600 emgwaqweni ongamagebhugebhu axakayo.

Ubusuku ngabunye sasilala phezu kwamatshe, ngokuvamile ngaphandle izulu licwathile. Kuleyongxenye yezwe kunemvula encane kakhulu futhi cishe awekho amazolo. Njengoba ubusuku ngabunye sasiphumula ngaphansi kompheme wezinkanyezi, ezikhazimulayo emoyeni omuhle, ongangcolile, ngokuvamile ngangikhumbula amazwi okuqala eHubo le-19: “Amazulu ayalanda ngenkazimulo kaJehova, nomkhathi ushumayela umsebenzi wezandla zakhe.”

Ujantshi onqamula eNullarbor kuthiwa mude kunayo yonke imizila kaloliwe eqondile emhlabeni wonke. Ugijima amakhilomitha angama-480 ungajiki ngisho nakancane. Sakujabulela ukufakaza emizaneni emincane eduze nendlela kaloliwe, nakubantu abahlala emapulazini ezimvu. Kuleyongxenye yeAustralia izindawo zabantu zazingodedangendlale. Ngikhumbula ipulazi elalingamakhilomithaskwele angaphezu kwezi-4 000 nendlu yepulazi ingamakhilomitha angama-80 ukusuka esangweni elingaphambili.

Ekugcineni, safika eKatoomba kuyiBlue Mountains ngasentshonalanga nje yeSydney ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo ngoMarch 26, 1937. Isabelo sethu sokuhamba izindawo ngezindawo sasibe ngesijabulisayo futhi sivuza ngokomoya, kodwa kwakuwushintsho olujabulisayo ukuhlala okwesikhashana nebandla labantu bakaNkulunkulu.

Ngihlanganyele Ezifanekiselweni Noma Cha?

Ngesikhathi saleSikhumbuzo sika-1937, kwakusekhona ukudideka maqondana “nezinye izimvu.” (Johane 10:16) Abanye babenomuzwa wokuthi isilinganiso sokholo nentshiseko yobuKristu okwakuboniswa umuntu kwakuyobonisa noma wayamukele ukubizwa kwasezulwini noma cha. Ngakho, njengabaningi ababesezimweni ezifanayo, ngahlanganyela ezifanekiselweni. Ngonyaka olandelayo iningi lethu thina maphayona lalikhathazekile futhi maqondana nokuhlanganyela.

Ngaphakathi sasibheke phambili ekuphileni emhlabeni oyipharadesi, kodwa abaningi babenomuzwa wokuthi intshiseko yethu nenkonzo yobuphayona kwakunikeza ubufakazi bokugcotshwa kwethu ngomoya. Ngesikhathi esifanele uJehova wasinikeza impendulo ngenhlangano yakhe yasemhlabeni. Ngayo kanye intambama yeSikhumbuzo, kwafika umagazini INqabayokulinda kaMarch 15, 1938. Isihloko sawo esifundwayo esasithi, “Umhlambi Wakhe,” sasiwukufundwa okuningiliziwe kukaJohane 10:14-16. Yeka ukuthi sajabula kanjani ngencazelo ecacile eyayiphendula imibuzo yethu!

Isihloko sanikeza izibonelo zendlela umoya kaNkulunkulu owasebenza ngayo ngamandla ezincekwini zakhe ezikhathini zasendulo futhi wazibangela ukuba zenze imisebenzi yamandla kudala ngaphambi kokuba kuvuleke amathuba obizo lwasezulwini. Ngokufanayo, uNkulunkulu ufaka umoya wakhe ezincekwini zakhe ezizinikezele emhlabeni namuhla lezo azinikeze ithemba lasemhlabeni. Kanjalo sakwazisa ukuqonda umehluko ophakathi kokuba ngozelwe ngomoya kaNkulunkulu nokuba ngonikwe amandla ngumoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba wenze intando yakhe.

Isimemo ‘Sokufinyelela’ Amalungelo Engeziwe

Ezinye izenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi zango-1938 kwakuwukuvakasha kukamongameli weWatch Tower Society, uMzalwan’ uRutherford, nomhlangano owawuseSydney Sports Ground. Kulomhlangano kwakhishwa ubizo lwamaphayona anesifiso sokukhonza eBurma, eMalaya, eSiam (manje okuthiwa iThailand), naseJava (manje okuthiwa i-Indonesia). Mina, noHector Oates, noFred Paton, sakujabulela ukwamukela izabelo zokuya eBurma.

Ngangingakaze ngishiye ugu lwaseAustralia ngaphambili. Nokho, kungakapheli izinyanga ezimbili, ngangisemkhunjini namanye amaphayona sibheke ezabelweni zethu. Sehla eSingapore ngoJune 22, 1938, futhi sahlangatshezwa nguBill Hunter esikhumulweni semikhumbi, owayesephayona lapho kakade. Yeka ukuthi konke kwakubonakala kuxaka futhi kuthakazelisa kanjani njengoba sibona ukugqoka nemikhuba yabantu bendawo futhi sizwa nezilimi esasingenakuziqonda.

Umzalwane uHunter wanginika ucingo olwaluvela eAustralia olwashintshela isabelo sami saseBurma eMalaya. UFred Paton noHector Oates babezoqhubeka nokuya eBurma ngaphandle kwami. Ngajabulela ukwazi ukuthi ngangizosebenza nezithunywa zevangeli ezimbili ezinokuhlangenwe nakho, uKurt Gruber noWilli Unglaube. BabengabaseJalimane ngendabuko kodwa base benesikhathi bekhonza eMalaya.

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu eMalaya, ngabelwa eThailand. Sasizohamba noWilli Unglaube, kanye noFrank Dewar, ngaphambili owayenze umsebenzi wobuthunywa bevangeli lapho. Safika ngesitimela ngoSeptember 1938, sazitholela indawo yokuhlala okwesikhashana, futhi saqalisa emsebenzini wokufakaza. Sathola abantu baseThailand benomusa nesineke njengoba sasilwa nolimi lwabo olukhuluma lucacise.

Umhlangano WaseRangoon Ovusa Amadlingozi

Sasisuka eBangkok, eThailand, lapho senza khona uhambo olushaqisayo lokuya eRangoon, eBurma, oluchazwe ngaphambili. Kwakungokokuqala umhlangano useBurma, futhi iHholo leDolobha elihle laligcwele lichichima abantu abangaphezu kwenkulungwane enkulumweni yeningi. Kwakudingeka kuvalwe iminyango njengoba kwakungenandawo yabengeziwe. KwakunoFakazi abambalwa kuphela eBurma nasemazweni angomakhelwane, ngakho iningi lalabo ababezolalela inkulumo kwakungabantu ababesabele ezinkulungwaneni zezimemo ezilotshiwe ezasakazwa ngaphambi komhlangano.

Ngathi esasivela ezabelweni zezithunywa zevangeli ezingazodwa, ngempela kwakuwukuqiniswa ngokomoya. Kodwa lapho umhlangano usuphelile, saphindela ekhaya eThailand—nokho, manje ngendlela elula eyayingadingi ukuba sihambe ehlathini elisabekayo.

Impi Nokuhlasela KweJapane

Manje izivunguvungu zempi zaziqhubeka ngokwesabekayo zibheke eningizimu-mpumalanga Asia. Njengoba amabutho empi aseJapane engena eThailand, wavinjelwa umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. Bonke abantu baseBrithani, abaseMelika, nabaseHolland bavalelwa ekamu phakathi nesikhathi sempi. UGeorge Powell, iphayona elalifike livela eSingapore lizohlanganyela nathi eBangkok, waboshwa nami. Sahlala iminyaka emithathu nezinyanga eziyisishiyagalombili ndawonye ekamu.

Phakathi nesikhathi sokuboshwa kwethu, sasingakwazi ukwamukela noma iyiphi incwadi entsha noma izwi elivela eNhlanganweni. Kodwa sasibona isithembiso somhubi: “UJehova uyaphasa bonke abawayo, abavuse bonke abathotshisiweyo.”—IHubo 145:14.

Ukuphindela EAustralia

Lapho impi iphela ngo-1945, ngaphindela eAustralia. Nginokudla okuhle nezimo zokuphila ezingcono, ngavuseleleka empilweni yami enhle futhi ngakwazi ukuphinda ngiqalise ukuphayona. Khona-ke, ngo-1952, ngabelwa umsebenzi wokujikeleza njengombonisi wesifunda, futhi ngajabulela lelilungelo iminyaka engama-22 eyalandela. Ngo-1957, ngashada noIsabell, owayeyiphayona iminyaka eyi-11, futhi saqhubeka emsebenzini wesifunda njengendoda nomfazi.

Izinkinga zempilo zaqala ukwenza ukuhamba njalo kube nzima, ngakho ngo-1974 sazinza ukuze siphayone eMelbourne. Ngisakhonza njengombonisi wesifunda obambele ngezinye izikhathi, futhi muva nje ngibe nelungelo lokuhlanganyela njengomfundisi kwesinye isikole senkonzo samaphayona. Kuwo wonke lomsebenzi, umkami uye waba ngumsekeli wami wasikhathi sonke nojabulayo. Manje eminyakeni engama-78 yobudala, nginomuzwa wokubonga ngokujulile kuJehova njengoba eqhubeka nokwanelisa zonke izidingo.

Lapho ngibheka emuva eminyakeni edlule, ngokuvamile ngikhumbula indlela uJehova aye wasiqeqesha, wasisiza emaphutheni ethu, futhi wasiyala ngayo ukuze asihlunge njengezinceku zakhe. Ngikhumbula izikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu eye wanginikeza izindlela zokuphumelela ekuvivinyweni okwakungaphezu kwamandla omuntu okubekezela. Lezinkumbulo zingumthombo wamandla nesikhumbuzo esihlala njalo sokuthi ngempela uJehova uye wazanelisa zonke izidingo zami.

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Isithombe sami samuva nje nginomkami, uIsabel!

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

Ukufakaza eNullarbor