Abantu BaseVenezuela Bafunda Ukuthembela KuJehova

“IMINYAKA yeNala”—leyo indlela abantu baseVenezuela abakhumbula ngayo inkathi eyalandela u-1976. Ngalowonyaka, uhulumeni wathatha zonke izinkampane zangaphandle zikawoyela, futhi ezomnotho zezwe zachuma. Njengobufakazi bokwanda okusha kwezimpahla, izimiso zokwakha eziningi zavumbuka kuso sonke isizwe. Izakhiwo ezinde kunazo zonke ezweni, iParque Central Towers, zakhiwa eCaracas, inhloko-dolobha. Abantu babonakala benazo zonke izizathu zokubeka ithemba labo ekuchumeni okuqhubekayo.

Nokho, namuhla umbono ubonakala ungasathembisi kakhulu. Nakuba ibisalokhu iyizwe elichumile, iVenezuela ibe nengxenye yayo ezinkingeni zezomnotho. Bonke abalapha bayalukhumbula ‘uLwesihlanu Olumnyama,’ njengoba uFebruary 28, 1983, ngokuvamile ebizwa kanjalo, mhla kuncishiswa imali eyisisekelo, ibolivar. Ngenxa yalokho, imali yalahlekelwa amandla, nezikweletu zangaphandle zaqala ukwanda. Kungazelelwe, “Iminyaka yeNala” yaphenduka “Iminyaka Yezomnotho Ezimbi Kakhulu.” Abaningi baye badumazeka kabuhlungu ngethemba labo elibekwe endaweni engafanele. Ngokuphambene, oFakazi BakaJehova eVenezuela bafundé ukubeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Baye bajabulela ukukhula nokwanda okuqhubekayo phakathi neminyaka edlule.

Ukukhula Kwezimbewu ZoMbuso Zokuqala

Kwakungo-1936 lapho izimbewu zezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zilethwa okokuqala eVenezuela amaphayona amabili, noma izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele, zaseTexas, eU.S.A. (Mathewu 24:14) Eminyakeni eyishumi kamuva, izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili—abathweswe iziqu bekilasi lesihlanu leWatchtower Bible School of Gilead—zafika. Futhi ngoSeptember walowonyaka, ihhovisi legatsha leWatch Tower Society lavulwa eVenezuela. Umbiko walowonyaka wabonisa ingqikithi yabamemezeli boMbuso abayi-19 eVenezuela.

NgoNovember 1953, uN. H. Knorr, umongameli wangalesosikhathi weNhlangano, nonobhala wakhe, uM. G. Henschel, bamisa eVenezuela ohambweni lwabo oluya eNingizimu Melika. Amakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye namashumi amane nambili eza emhlanganweni owawuseCaracas. Ngo-1977 inani labamemezeli boMbuso eVenezuela lase lifinyelele inani eliphakeme elingaphezu kwezi-13 800. Lokho kwenza kwadingeka ukuba kwakhiwe ihhovisi legatsha elisha eLa Victoria, engamakhilomitha angama-85 ngaphandle kwenhloko-dolobha. Ingxenye entsha yenezelwa futhi yanikezelwa ngo-1985. Namuhla, kunabamemezeli abangaphezu kwezi-42 900 emabandleni nasemaqenjini angama-500 eVenezuela. Futhi abantu abaningi abengeziwe eVenezuela bafunda ukubeka ithemba labo kuJehova, njengoba kuboniswa inani elihle lababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu sango-1988.

Insimu Ehlukahlukene Kodwa Evundile

IVenezuela iyizwe elihlukahlukene, futhi lokhu kubonakala kulabo asebefunde ukuthembela kuJehova. Okokuqala, lelizwe liphawuleka ngokuba kwalo nabantu abaningi abavela emazweni angaphandle. Ngakho, ngisho naphakathi koFakazi BakaJehova, kunabaningi abavela eItaly, ePortugal, eJalimane, eSpain, eFrance, eHaiti, eTrinidad, eCuba, eDominican Republic, e-Ecuador, nakwezinye izindawo. Kodwa bamunye nabaseVenezuela abakanye nabo ekuthembeleni nasekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova.

Kukhona futhi nokwehlukahluka kwezindawo. Umdobi waseMpumalanga ohlala ezindaweni ezisempumalanga uhluke ngokuphawulekayo kumllanero ofuye izinkomo wasemathafeni aseningizimu. UmCaraqueño onyakaza ngokushesha ohlala enhloko-dolobha, noma isisebenzi sasenkampanini kawoyela esinomusa saseMaracaibo, idolobha lesizwe lesibili ngobukhulu, bahluke kakhulu kumlimi ongumAndino othatha kancane ohlala eningizimu ntshonalanga, lapho iziNtaba iAndes ziqala khona. Ngamunye unamasiko akhe siqu nendlela yakhe yokuphimisela amazwi. Ngakho, uma sekuhlangene nezici zangaphandle ezidluliselwa abantu abavela kwamanye amazwe, kukhona ukwehlukahluka okuhle phakathi kwabantu.

Naphezu kwezizinda ezihlukahlukene kanjalo, abantu abavela kuzo zonke izindlela zokuphila baye bafunda ngoJehova. UMaría Luisa wayengomunye wabo. Kusukela eneminyaka eyisikhombisa, wayehileleke ekusebenziseni imimoya. Njengoba ekhula, waba ngumlutha wotshwala nezidakamizwa, ephila ukuphila kokuziphatha okubi, futhi wayecwile ekukhulekeleni unkulunkulukazi wabantu baseVenezuela uMaría Lionza.a Lapho indlela yakhe yokuphila isimnyanyisa, wathola umsebenzi emishani yamaKatolika phakathi kwamaNdiya ayehlala ezingxenyeni ezisentshonalanga yezwe. Ngokushesha waphetha ngokuthi umsebenzi wakhe wawungelona usizo emaNdiyeni nakuye uqobo. Khona-ke waqala ukuhlola ngesimo sokwakheka kwezinto nangokuphindukuzalwa kodwa kwaba yize. Kuleliqophelo, uMaría Luisa wavakashelwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ulwazi lweBhayibheli aluzuza lwamnikeza amandla ayewadinga ukuze alwisane nemimoya emibi. Manje usebeka ithemba lakhe kuJehova futhi usengummemezeli okhuthele wezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.

Ngisho nabantu abakhubazekile bafunda ukubeka ithemba labo kuJehova, njengoba kunjalo ngoJuan noCarlos, abayizelamani. Lapho eneminyaka eyisishiyagalolunye ubudala, uCarlos waba nesifo sokusha kolwelwesi olusebuchosheni futhi waba impumputhe. Kamuva, nakuba ayehileleke enhlanganweni yamaKatolika ephulukisa ngomoya, waqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1982, futhi kusukela ngoDecember 1983 waba yisikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Njengephayona eliyimpumputhe, uyisebenza yonke insimu yakhe, eyedwa uma kudingekile. Nokho, umfowabo uJuan indaba yakhe ihlukile.

UJuan ungamamitha angaphezu kwangu-1,8 ubude futhi wayengumuntu onochuku emgwaqweni. Ngolunye usuku wadutshulwa kabili emhlane. Nakuba asinda, wakhubazeka ukusuka esifubeni kwehle futhi waba isishosha sasembhedeni ngokuphelele. Lapho oFakazi bezomvakashela, wasemukela emanqikanqika isicelo sabo sokufunda naye iBhayibheli. Izifundo zakuvuselela ukulihlonipha kwakhe iBhayibheli. Ithemba lokuphila okuphelele ePharadesi lamthinta. Ngemva kokuyeka ukubhema, ukuphuza, nokusebenzisa ulimi olungcolile, bonke abangane bakhe bakuqala bamshiya ngoba, njengoba bakubeka, uJuan wayesephenduke ‘usanta.’ Noma kunjalo, waqhubeka ethembela kuJehova, futhi ekugcineni wabhapathizwa.

“Ukungakwazi kwami ukuphuma embhedeni akuzange kungiyekise ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu,” kusho uJuan, “ngoba okungenani izandla zami nobuchopho bami kusasebenza kahle.” Umkhonza kanjani uJehova ekulesisimo? “Ngisebenzisa isiqopha-mazwi sami ukuze ngihlangabezane nemithwalo yami yemfanelo, njengokubeka izinkulumo eSikoleni SeNkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini, izingxenye eMhlanganweni Wenkonzo, nokufunda eSifundweni seNqabayokulinda samasonto onke. Nginelungelo lokuqhuba esinye seZifundo Zencwadi Zebandla endaweni yakithi, esiqhutshelwa kwami. Ngiye ngakwazi futhi nokukhonza njengephayona elivamile.” Uzizwa kanjani ngakho konke lokhu? “Ngizibonga kakhulu izihlobo zami nabafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya, abawusizo olungaka kimi. Ngiyethemba futhi ngithandazela ukuthi sonke sibekezele ekubekeni ithemba lethu kuJehova ukuze sonke silubone usuku lapho ‘unyonga luyotshekula njengendluzele.’”—Isaya 35:6.

Imihlangano Iletha Udumo KuJehova

Ukuze baqhubekisele phambili umsebenzi osiza abantu abaningi kangaka ukuba babeke ithemba labo kuJehova, oFakazi baseVenezuela muva nje baye bakha amaHholo oMhlangano amabili. Elinye lawo liseCampo Elias, eYaracuy State, engxenyeni emaphakathi nentshonalanga yezwe. Elinye, elisendaweni ecishe ibe amakhilomitha angama-60 eningizimu yeCaracas, linazo zonke izinto ezidingekayo njengedamu lokubhapathizela, izinto ezingenisa umoya, ikhishi, nezindawo zezindlu zokudlela.

Lamahholo aye abahlaba umxhwele kakhulu abantu bangaphandle nabantu abathakazelayo abaye beza ukuzowabona. Omunye umshayeli webhasi wayeqashwe iqembu loFakazi ukuba aliyise emhlanganweni wesifunda. Lapho efika futhi ebona izindawo zokupaka ezinkulu namagceke amahle, lomshayeli wacabanga ukuthi kumelwe angene ngaphakathi ayibone lendawo. Kamuva wathi: “Engakubona ngaphakathi kwaleloHholo LoMhlangano kwakungelinye izwe, omunye umkhakha.” Wahlabeka umxhwele ngokuhleleka nangobunye kangangokuthi wasilalelisisa ngokucophelela sonke isimiso. Kamuva wacela isifundo seBhayibheli futhi manje usengumzalwane obhapathiziwe.

Ngesinye isikhathi umhlangano wesifunda kwakufanele ube se-El Tigre, idolobha elisengxenyeni yezwe eseningizimu mpumalanga. Njengoba iHholo loMhlangano lalingekho kuleyondawo, kwaqashwa isiza kuleyondawo. Nokho, abazalwane babengazi ukuthi kwakukhona umkhosi owawuzogujwa kulelodolobha ngezinsuku ezifanayo nezomhlangano. Lapho iziphathi-mandla zendawo ziza zizomisa isiteji eduze impela kwalesiza somhlangano, oFakazi bancenga abahleli balomkhosi ukuba babeke lesisiteji kwenye indawo kodwa kwanhlanga zimuka nomoya. Njengento yokugcina ababengayenza, uFakazi watshela omunye wabaphethe: “Siza wazi ukuthi uzixabanisa noJehova.” Lapho izwa lokhu, lendoda ephethe yaphendula: “Cha, angifuni ukuzixabanisa noJehova!” Lokhu kugujwa komkhosi kwathuthela esizeni esikude nalapho umhlangano wesifunda owawuzoba khona.

Komunye umhlangano, umyeni womunye udade, indoda esebenza kwezombangazwe weza ukuzobona ukuthi udade wayengathandani namuntu yini lapho. Wamangazwa izinga lezinkulumo ezazinikezwa. “Uma ngingakwazi ukukhuluma njengaleyandoda, ngempela ngingathuthuka emsebenzini wami wezombangazwe,” watshela umkakhe. Ngemva kwesimiso, wakhuluma nomunye wabadala wacela ukuba aboniswe ukuthi angakuthuthukisa kanjani ukukhuluma kwakhe kwasobala—futhi lokho kuphela. “Ungalindeli ukuba ngiye endlini ngendlu ngiphethe isikhwama,” waxwayisa. Kwaqaliswa isifundo seBhayibheli naye, futhi ngokushesha lendoda yaguqula umqondo wayo—yafuna ukuya endlini ngendlu nesikhwama futhi ishumayele izindaba ezinhle! Yasula emsebenzini wayo wezombangazwe yabhapathizwa, futhi manje yona nomkhaya wayo sebebeka ithemba labo kuJehova.

Ukucaba Indlela Eya Ekwandeni Okwengeziwe

Phakathi nokuvakashela kukaL. A. Swingle, ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova, isixuku sabantu abayizi- 63 580 sabuthana enkundleni yomdlalo wokulwa nenkunzi yenkomo yasePlaza Monumental eValencia. Abaningi babo babehambe ngebhasi ubusuku bonke. Bonke ababekhona bakhuthazeka kakhulu lapho bezwa uMzalwan’ uSwingle ebatshela ukuthi: “Aniselona igatsha elincane. Manje seniyigatsha eliphakathi naphakathi. Futhi ngokubonakala kwezinto, ngokushesha ngolunye usuku nizoba ‘seqenjini labamemezeli abayizi-100 000’!”

Kuhlelwa ukuba kwandiswe ihhovisi legatsha eLa Victoria ukuze linakekele ukukhula okumangalisayo. Yebo, ngezinkulungwane, abantu eVenezuela bafunda ukuthembela kuJehova.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amabalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 21]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

CARIBBEAN SEA

VENEZUELA

Maracaibo

ANDES MOUNTAINS

Campo Elias

Valencia

La Victoria

Caracas

El Tigre

COLOMBIA

BRAZIL

GUYANA

600 Km

400 mi

[Izithombe ekhasini 24]

Imifanekiso yangaphandle neyangaphakathi yeHholo loMhlangano laseCúa