Ukwenza Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele Umsebenzi Wasikhathi Sonke

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA UMAX LARSON

NGO-1910 umama, obazali bakhe bobabili base beshonile, washiya iDenmark wathatha umkhumbi oya eUnited States. Wayeneminyaka eyi-18 kuphela, engakwazi ukukhuluma isiNgisi, futhi engazi noyedwa kulelozwe.

Lapho efika eDolobheni laseNew York, wagibela isitimela esasiya eNingizimu Dakota, uhambo lwamakhilomitha angaphezu kwezi-2 400. ENingizimu Dakota, lapho kwakukhona indawana eyayihlala amaDashi, wahlangana nendoda eyayizoba ubaba. Bashada ngoSeptember 20, 1911.

Ekuqaleni kuka-1913 uBaba wasukeleka nje yedwa ehamba ngekalishi elivalekile waya eMontana ukuze athole indawana yokwakha. Lapho wakha indlu eyakhiwe ngezingodo enekamelo elilodwa. Lapho lendlu iqedwa ehlobo, umama wafika ngesitimela ukuba azohlala naye, kanye nomfowethu, uNorman, owayenezinyangana nje ubudala.

Eminyakeni emibili kamuva wayekhulelwe umntwana wesibili. Njengoba ngiye ngasho ngitekula, “ngasiza” uMama ekufuleleni indlu, njengoba ayenza lokho engxenyeni exhunyiwe yendlu ngosuku lwangaphambi kokuba ngizalwe. Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngoApril 29, 1915, lapho uBaba engena evela emasimini ezodla ukudla kwasemini, uMama wathi: “Ngicabanga ukuthi ngizobeletha.” Ngaleyontambama ngazalwa. Kodwa kusihlwa, lapho uBaba efika ekhaya futhi, uMama wayesevukile futhi esemlungiselele ukudla kwakusihlwa!

Eminyakeni emithathu kamuva udadewethu uJean wazalwa endaweni efanayo. Ngonyaka olandelayo umkhaya wakithi wathuthela eMontana engasenyakatho, lapho uBaba aqasha khona ipulazi. Ngo-1921 udadewethu wesibili, uLaverna, wazalwa, futhi thina bantwana sobane sakhulela emathafeni angaminyene aseMontana.

Ukulolongeka Kokuphila Kwami

Abazali bami babengamaLuthela, futhi njalo ngeSonto sonke sosithupha sasiya esontweni. Kodwa ngokushesha umakhelwane, uMfundi WeBhayibheli Wezizwe Zonke, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi, waqala ukuvakashela uMama futhi atadishe iBhayibheli naye. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, uMama wawamukela amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayewafunda, futhi ngo-1925 wabhapathizwa ethangini lamanzi okuphuza amahhashi. UBaba nathi thina bantwana asizange silwamukele ukholo lwakhe olusha ayelutholile, kodwa sonke sakujabulela ukupheza ukuya eSontweni lamaLuthela. UMama ngaso sonke isikhathi wayesitshela: “Anifuni ukukhonza uJehova, kodwa ningalokothi neqe imithetho yakhe.” Leseluleko sasisiza ukuba singangeni enkingeni.

Umkhaya wakithi wabayisithupha wawulima insimu engamahektare angama-320 ngamahhashi ayi-14 nangogandaganda owodwa. Sasingenawo ugesi noma amapayipi angaphakathi, futhi wonke amanzi ethu kwakumelwe adonswe emthonjeni owawuqhele ngamakhilomitha ama-4. Njengoba kwakunesomiso ekuqaleni kwawo-1930 nokungakwazi ukuvuna isivuno iminyaka emine, sanquma ukuthuthela eZweni laseWashington. Lapho silungiselela lokho kuthutha, kwadingeka ukuba sithuthe ezinye izinto zepulazi nezendlu sizisusa eMontana siziyisa eWashington. Ngakho isabelo sami sasiwukuhamba nemoto ehamba kujantshi nokuqikelela ukuthi amahhashi akithi ayondliwa futhi ephuziswa namanzi endleleni. Ngemva kwezinsuku eziyisithupha, ekugcineni ngafika ogwini olusentshonalanga lwaseWashington.

Lapho ngasiza uBaba ukuba akhe futhi asebenze epulazini lobisi. Ngemva cishe konyaka, lapho ngineminyaka engama-20, ngakwazi ukuba ngizimele, ngishayela amaloli athwala izigxobo ezintabeni futhi ngihlale izinyanga eziyisithupha eAlaska njengonjiniyela wemikhumbi. Ngo-1938 mina nodadewethu uJean sathola imisebenzi eSeattle futhi sasihlala esikebheni esiyindlu eChibini iUnion. Ngalelohlobo, uMama, owayehlala endaweni eqhele cishe ngamakhilomitha angama-80, waya kulowomhlangano waminyaka yonke woFakazi BakaJehova eSeattle. Njengoba indawo yomhlangano kwakufinyelelwa kuyo ngezinyawo ukusuka esikebheni sethu esiyindlu, sammema ukuba ahlale nathi. Wenza kanjalo, futhi savuma ukuya kulowomhlangano.

Ukunquma Ngomsebenzi Wami Wasikhathi Sonke

NgoMgqibelo kusihlwa, uJoseph F. Rutherford, ngalesosikhathi owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society, wakhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Abathandi Bokulunga.” Inkulumo yakhe yayiphathalene nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, noma inkonzo yamaphayona. Ngemva kwalokho uBill Griffith, owayehlezi eduze nami, wathi: “Max, nakho-ke. Masiphayone!”

“Kulungile,” ngiphendula. “Asiphayone.”

“Uyantela, akunjalo?” kubuza uBill.

“Cha,” ngiphendula. “Ngemva kokuzwa leyankulumo, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi kuyinto elungile yokwenziwa.”

“Kodwa awuyena ngisho nommemezeli. Awubhapathiziwe.”

“Yiqiniso, kodwa basanda kwenza isaziso sokuthi kuzoba nobhapathizo kusasa. Ngizobhapathizwa ngalesosikhathi.”

Ngakho, ngenjabulo, saya eMnyango Wenkonzo Yasensimini ukuze sithole amafomu ethu ezicelo zobuphayona. Lapho sahlangana noMzalwan’ uVan Amburgh, unobhala ongumphathi-zimali weNhlangano. Lapho simtshela lokho esasikwenza, wasidonsela eceleni futhi wakhuluma nathi njengobaba. “Manje ningakwenzi lokhu njengokungathi kuwukuhlola noma uhambo lokuzijabulisa,” esho. “Nenza into elungile, kodwa ngenani kulokhu njengokungathi kuwumsebenzi wenu wokuphila konke.” Futhi lesoseluleko ngaso sonke isikhathi siye sangisiza kakhulu. Ngakho safaka izicelo zethu, futhi ngosuku olulandelayo, ngoJune 5, 1938, ngabhapathizwa.

Isabelo Sokuqala Sokuphayona

Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngoMsombuluko, ngatshela umqashi wami ukuthi ngangiwuyeka umsebenzi wami ukuze ngibe isikhonzi. Ngasebenzisa lelosonto lokuqala ngitadisha ngokunakekela incwadi yeNhlangano yamuva, eyayinesihloko esithi Enemies, futhi ngaya kuyo yonke imihlangano. Ngesonto lesibili, ngatadisha enye incwadi eyayisanda kuphuma ethi, Riches. Futhi ngesonto lesithathu, ngathola isabelo sami sobuphayona, esasingesaseRaymond, eWashington.

Lapho, mina noBill sathola iqembu labangama-27 libamba imihlangano ekhaya lomunye uFakazi. Esasikuyaliwe kwakuwukuba siqhube yonke imihlangano futhi sisize abamemezeli futhi sibaqeqeshele ukuba baqhube izifundo zeBhayibheli, okwakuwumsebenzi omusha ngalesosikhathi.

EMhlanganweni Wenkonzo wokuqala, ngoLwesine, ngacela inceku yebandla, njengoba umbonisi owengamele ayebizwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi, ukuba ahambe nami ngosuku olulandelayo kusihlwa ukuze ngizame ukuqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli. Wathi umatasa. Ngakho mina noBill saphuma sodwa. Lapho sibuya, samiswa lapho kuhlangana khona izindlela ukuze sidedele umbukiso weButho laseMelika ukuba udlule. Okwasimangaza ukuthi, umholi walowombukiso kwakuyinceku yebandla.

Ngalo lolosuku lwangeSonto lokuqala, ngaqalisa isifundo sami sokuqala seBhayibheli sasekhaya nendoda ethile. Ngemva kwalokho, ngaqhuba iSifundo sebandla seWatchtower okokuqala. Phezu kwakho konke, sasikumagazini kaJune 1, 1938, owaqalisa ukwenganyelwa kwamabandla okungokwasezulwini. Kwabangama-27 ababehlanganyela, aba-3 nje kuphela abamukela ilungiselelo elisha elingokwasezulwini.

Umkhaya Wamaphayona

Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ngiqale ukuphayona, odadewethu nomfowethu, uNorman, nabo bathatha inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. UNorman nomkakhe bathengisa ipulazi labo, bathenga inqola engumahamba-nendlwana engamamitha angu-3,7 edonswa imoto, futhi bahamba bayoshumayela nendodakazi yabo eneminyaka emithathu ubudala, uJoan. Ngokungalindelekile, lapho besebenza eRaymond ngo-1941, uNorman wangibhalela engitshela ukuthi abangama-24 ababephikise ilungiselelo laphezulu babeyishiyile inhlangano futhi bajoyina iqembu lezihlubuki. Nokho, lowomuntu engangifunde naye iBhayibheli okokuqala ngalesosikhathi wayeseyinceku yebandla!

Indodakazi kaNorman uJoan nomyeni wayo, uMaurice O’Callaghan, manje sebeneminyaka engama-24 behambela amabandla emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Udadewethu omncane uLaverna, wayesekilasini le-12 lesikole sezithunywa zevangeli saseGileyadi ngo-1949 futhi wabelwa eItaly. Ukuphumelela kokuqala komsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli lapho kwaphumela ekudingiselweni kwakhe eSwitzerland, lapho esahlala khona nomyeni wakhe.

Isifiso Senkonzo Eyandisiwe

Ngemva kokukhonza njengephayona elivamile izinyanga ezimbili, ngabelwa emsebenzini wobuphayona obukhethekile. Mina noBill ngalesosikhathi sajoyinwa uWarren Henschel, umnewabo kaMilton Henschel. UMilton manje useyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova.

Kwakusenyangeni yokuqala yokuba iphayona elikhethekile lapho ngolunye usuku kusihlwa ngivakashela uAlbert Hoffman. Wayengumbonisi wesifunda, noma umbonisi ojikelezayo, futhi wayehlala nomkakhe, uZola, enqoleni engumahamba-nendlwana edonswa imoto, ngaphesheya komgwaqo ovela eHholo LoMbuso. Phakathi naleyominyaka Yokwehla Komnotho, ngokuvamile sasihweba ngezincwadi ukuze sithole ukudla. Ngalolosuku ngangihwebe ngobhasikidi omkhulu wamagonandoda, ngakho ngaya kuMzalwan’ uHoffman ngase ngimbuza ukuthi angethande yini ukuba acaphune amanye. Wajabula kakhulu futhi wathi angingene endlini.

Kwakucishe kube ihora lesishiyagalombili lapho eqala ukungitshela ngeBible House (manje ebizwa ngokuthi iBethel), indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ekugcineni, umkakhe wathi: “Niyazi ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sini? Ngu–4:30.” Sasixoxe ubusuku bonke! Ngaphambi kokuba ngiye kolala endlini engaphansi kweHholo LoMbuso, ngabhala incwadi ngacela ifomu lesicelo saseBethel, futhi ngahamba ngokushesha ngayoposa isicelo sami.

Nsuku zonke ngabeka lendaba phambi kukaJehova ngomthandazo, futhi ezinyangeni ezintathu kamuva ngajabula lapho ngithola incwadi yami yokumenyelwa eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Ekulungiseleleni loluhambo, imoto yami ngayinika udadewethu uJean, lowo ngalesosikhathi naye owayeseyiphayona elikhethekile. Izinsuku eziyisithupha nobusuku obuyisithupha, ngangigibele ebhasini ngidlula ezintabeni ezimbili zeqhwa eMontana naseDakotas futhi ekugcineni ngafika eDolobheni laseNew York, ngoJanuary 14, 1939.

Inkonzo YaseBethel

Ngabhaliswa inceku yaseBethel, uGrant Suiter, ngase ngithunyelwa efekthri ukuba ngibonane noNathan Knorr, inceku yasefekthri. Isabelo sami sokuqala sasiwukubopha amakhadibhodi ezincwadi eMnyango Wokuthunyelwa Kwezincwadi. Ngesonto lesibili, ngabelwa esitezi esasinomshini wokunyathelisa. UMzalwan’ uKnorr wathi: “Uma ungafunda ukusebenzisa lomshini wokunyathelisa ezinyangeni eziyisithupha, ungaba umsebenzisi wawo, njengoba ongumqondisi wawo manje ezoyiswa emshinini wokunyathelisa omusha.” Ngakufunda futhi ngakujabulela ngokuphelele ukusebenzisa umshini wokunyathelisa.

Ngemva konyaka nengxenye ngisebenza egumbini elinomshini wokunyathelisa, uMzalwan’ uKnorr ngolunye usuku wafika ngasemshinini wokunyathelisa futhi wathi: “Max, ungakuthanda kangakanani ukusebenza ehhovisi?”

“Oh, Mzalwan’ uKnorr, lowo umsebenzi wokugcina engingawukhetha. Kodwa uma uyisabelo sami, ngiyowenza ube isithakazelo sami sokuqala.”

“Ubonane nami ehhovisi ngoMsombuluko ekuseni,” ephendula.

Selokhu ngaba lapho kusukela ngalesosikhathi. Okokuqala, ngasebenza njengesekela likaMzalwan’ uKnorr, kwase kuthi lapho uMzalwan’ uRutherford efa ngoJanuary 8, 1942, uMzalwan’ uKnorr waba umongameli, futhi ngamiswa njengombonisi wefektri. Ngangineminyaka engama-26 ubudala futhi nginolwazi lokusebenza eBethel iminyaka emithathu nje kuphela. Ngakho ngazizwa nginomthwalo wemfanelo onzima.

Nokho, ababonisi abagcotshiwe beminyango ehlukahlukene yasefektri babengisiza ngothando. Isimo sabo sokuthobeka, nesokusiza salujulisa kakhulu uthando lwami nokwazisa ngabanjalo. Umthombo oyinhloko wosizo nokuqeqeshwa kwami kwakuwuMzalwan’ uKnorr. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwama-35, kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1977, ngibe nelungelo lokusebenza naye emicikilishweni yezebhizinisi yomsebenzi weNhlangano wokunyathelisa nokwakha. Wayenekhono lokuqondisa eliphawulekayo, futhi wangisiza kakhulu ekufezeni isabelo sami.

Phambi Kweziphathimandla Zikahulumeni

Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, kwakunokuntuleka okukhulu kwezinto esasizidinga ukuze siqhubeke nomsebenzi wethu wokunyathelisa. Ngakho-ke, kaningana ngangithatha uhambo unyaka ngamunye oluya eWashington, D.C., ukuze ngihlangane namaBhodi Okukhiqizwa Kwezinto Zempi namakomiti eSigele. Ngawacela amaphepha nokunye, futhi uJehova wayibusisa kakhulu lemizamo.

Ngesinye isikhathi ngethula indaba yami ngokuveza amakhasi ahlukahlukene avela emaphephandabeni avelele ayekhangisa ngezinto ezingadingekile. Ngikhomba okunye ukukhangisa okwakugcwele lonke ikhasi kwejazi loboya ephepheni eliyinhloko laseNew York, ngathi: “Ubungako bephepha elisetshenziselwe lokhu kukhangisa ephephandabeni elilodwa langeSonto bulingana nengqikithi yamathani engeziwe esiwacelela unyaka wonke.”

“Uliveze kahle iphuzu lakho,” kuphendula elinye ilungu lesigele. Ngenxa yesibusiso sikaJehova kuloluhambo, akuzange kudingeke ukuba siyimise imishini yethu yokunyathelisa phakathi nempi ngenxa yokuphelelwa iphepha noma okunye. Kodwa, ngokusobala, sasingadingi iphepha eliningi njengoba silidinga namuhla.

Izakhiwo Zefektri Ezandisiwe

Eminyakeni eyishumi nambili ngaphambi kokuba ngize eBethel, iNhlangano yakha ifektri yayo yokuqala enezitezi eziyisishiyagalombili ku-117 Adams Street, eyayihlanganisa ingxenye eyodwa yezakhiwo ezikulelodolobha. Kodwa ngo-1949 kwadingeka ukuba kwakhiwe ifekthri enezitezi eziyisishiyagalolunye nesakhiwo samahhovisi engxenyeni esele yalezozakhiwo ezisedolobheni. Lokho kwagcwalisa isitaladi ngefekthri eyodwa enkulu engamamitha-skwele angaba izi-15 000.

Kwakungalesosikhathi lapho ngabelwa ukuba ngiqondise umsebenzi wokwakha weNhlangano lapha endlunkulu. Ngalesosikhathi eBrooklyn sasinesakhiwo esisodwa sakho kokubili imisebenzi yehhovisi nefektri kanye nesakhiwo esisodwa sokuhlala. Kodwa manje, eminyakeni engama-40 kamuva, sinezakhiwo ezingaphezu kwe-10 zemisebenzi yasefektri nehhovisi kanye nezakhiwo ezingama-20 zokuhlala lapha eBrooklyn iyodwa!

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1950, sazama ukuthola isakhiwo esingaphesheya nje komgwaqo ukuya ngasenyakatho yesakhiwo sethu ku-117 Adams Street, kodwa umnikazi waso wayengafuni ukwamukela imali esasifuna ukumnika yona. Eqinisweni, akazange afune ukuba kuboniswane naye, njengoba acabanga ukuthi iNhlangano yayingayikhokha imali yakhe ephakeme. Ngakho-ke saphendulela ukunakekela kwethu ezakhiweni ezisesitaladini esisempumalanga yefektri yethu ekuAdams Street, ngaphesheya nje kukaPearl Street. Lena kwakuyindawo ehlukaniswe kasishiyagalombili. Kwakudingeka ukuba kuboniswane nomnikazi ngamunye ngokuhlukile, kodwa uJehova wavula indlela yokuba sithole zonke lezozindawo eziyisishiyagalombili esikhathini esingangonyaka owodwa ngesilinganiso semali engu-$97 (R270) imitha-skwele ngalinye!

Kulendawo iNhlangano yakha isakhiwo sayo sefektri esinezitezi eziyi-13 ku-77 Sands Street ngo-1955 nango-1956. Lena kwakuyifektri yethu yesibili, futhi yaphinda indawo yethu cishe kabili yaba amamitha-skwele ayizi-33 000. Nokho, njengoba iNhlangano yayanda ngokushesha, kwaqashelwa ukuthi ngokushesha sasizodinga indawo eyengeziwe. Ngakho ngo-1958 sathenga ifektri ekhona manje lapho kuhlangana khona imigwaqo uProspect noPearl futhi saqala ukuyisebenzisela ukugcinwa kwezincwadi.

Manje okuwukuphela kwendawo eyayisele esasingayixhuma nezinye izakhiwo ngamabhuloho ahamba phezu komgwaqo kwakuyileyo engasenyakatho esasike sazama ukuyithenga ngaphambili. Saqaphela ukuthi ngokunokwenzeka umnikazi wayesazozama ukuthola imali yakhe ephakeme ngokweqile uma iWatchtower Society yayizama ukuyithenga. Ngakho sacela othile osebhizinisini lokuthengiswa kwezindawo nezakhiwo ukuba azame ukuyithenga. Wabiza imali eyayiphansi kakhulu kunalokho esasikusikisele. Akudingekile ukusho ukuthi, umnikazi wathukuthela ngempela lapho ethola ukuthi itayitela kamuva ladluliselwa kuyiWatchtower Society.

Ngo-1966 nango-1967, sakha kulendawo ifektri enezitezi eziyishumi enobubanzi obungamamitha-skwele ayizi-21 000. Manje sase sinezakhiwo zefektri ezine—zonke zixhunywe ngamabhuloho ahamba phezu komgwaqo. Kamuva, ngo-1983 nango-1986, sathenga izakhiwo zefektri ezimbili ngaphesheya kwemigwaqo engaseningizimu, esakwazi ukwakha ngaphezu kwayo ibhuloho elingamamitha angama-49 ubude elixhuma lezakhiwo nezinye izakhiwo zethu zefektri ezine. Lamafetri ayisithupha axhunywe ngamabhuloho angamamitha-skwele ayizi-95 000, noma amahektare ayi-9. Ngo-1983 sathenga futhi isakhiwo esikhulu esingamamitha-skwele ayizi-93 000 esikuFurman Street, endaweni engasemanzini eqhele ngezakhiwo ezimbalwa, lapho kukhona manje izakhiwo zethu zokuthumela izincwadi.

Ukuthola Isakhiwo Samahhovisi

Okunye okuhlangenwe nakho okuthakazelisayo ekusebenzelaneni kwami nabezokuthengwa kwezindawo nezakhiwo kwakuyisakhiwo iSquibb Pharmaceuticals esinezakhiwo eziyishumi ezixhunyiwe. Ngemva kokusithenga, kwabhidlizwa ezine, futhi isakhiwo esisha sahlanganiswa nesasikhona ukuze zenze i-25 Columbia Heights, indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ekhona amanje yeWatch Tower Society. Kwenzeka kanjena-ke ukuthengwa kwalesakhiwo.

Ngo-1969 sasifuna ukuzandisa ngokwengeziwe izakhiwo zethu zokunyathelisa. Kodwa isimo somnotho sezebhizinisi sasikahle, ngakho, njengoba ngangivakashela bonke abanikazi bezakhiwo kuleyondawo, akekho noyedwa owayenesithakazelo ekuthengiseni.

Phakathi nalesikhathi, ngathatha uhambo oluya eNyakatho Carolina, lapho kukhona imboni yokugaya iphepha esithola kuyo iphepha lethu lokunyathelisa iBhayibheli. Lapho kwenzeka ukuba ngikhulume nomunye wamadoda asebenza kulemboni ngokufuna kwethu indawo eBrooklyn. Ngelungiselelo laphezulu umfowabo walendoda wayengumngane omkhulu womunye wabanikazi bezakhiwo iSquibb. Wenza ukuxhumana okudingekile wayesengitshela ukuthi lapho ngibuyela eBrooklyn, ngibonane naleyondoda.

Lapho ngibonana nayo, lendoda yangiqinisekisa ukuthi abaseSquibb babecabangela ukuthengisa izakhiwo zabo eBrooklyn ngesikhathi esifanele, futhi bathuthele ngaphandle kwedolobha. Wathi lapho bekulungele, wayeyosithinta, futhi sivumelane ngokuthi sikhokhe malini. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa kwafika ucingo, futhi ngatshelwa ukuthi babekulungele ukuba basithengisele nokuthi sifike ehhovisi labo ngosuku olulandelayo.

Mina noMzalwan’ uKnorr sahlangana futhi sanquma ukuthi sicabanga ukuthi imalini esasingayikhokha. Lapho sihlangana ngosuku olulandelayo, satshelwa ukuthi intengo yayingenakwehliswa. “Sifuna amadollar ayizigidi ezintathu [R8,3 million] esandleni,” besho. Sazama ukuba singabonakali simangele, njengoba leyomali yayiphansi kakhulu kunaleyo esasizimisele ukuyikhokha. Nakuba kungadingekile ukusho, ukuthengwa kwalesosakhiwo kwenziwa ngokushesha. Ngalesosikhathi, sasisanda kuqeda ukwakha ifekthri yethu entsha eyadla amarandi ayizigidi eziyi-11, kodwa lapho abantu beNkosi bezwa ngezidingo zethu eziqhubekayo zezimali, izimali zatholakala ngokushesha.

Izakhiwo Zokuhlala Ezengeziwe

Phakathi nawo-1950, sathola indawo ngaphesheya komgwaqo osuka ku-124 Columbia Heights futhi ngo-1959 nango-1960 sakha isakhiwo sokuhlala esisha esikhulu. Kodwa kusukela ngo-1965 bekulokhu kunzima ngokwengeziwe ukwakha izindawo ezintsha zokuhlala. Ngalowonyaka uhulumeni wamisa indawo lapho iBethel ikhona njengendawo engokomlando ewuphawu. Lokhu kuye kwaphumela ekubekweni kwemingcele eminingi ekwakhiweni kwezakhiwo nasekuzivuseleleni. Nokho, ngosizo lukaJehova siye sakwazi ngaso sonke isikhathi ukunakekela izidingo zethu.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1967 safaka isicelo sesakhiwo sokuhlala esinezitezi eziyisithupha esiku-119 Columbia Heights. Ngenxa yokubusa kwemingcele yendawo, sasizinciphisile kakade izitezi zethu okwakuhloswe ukuba zibe yi-12 zaba yisi-6. Nokho, iziphathimandla zendawo manje zase zizama ukusenza sinciphise okungenani esinye isitezi.

NgoJune, ngathintana nomongameli kamaspala waseBrooklyn, owathi uma singakwazi ukwakha izisekelo ngaphambi kokuba kube nomhlangano wangoSeptember weBhodi Yokulinganisela, okuyibhodi ephambili kahulumeni walelidolobha, wayeyozama ukwenza isakhiwo sethu sihlale sinezitezi eziyisithupha. Ukuhlela kwethu ukwakha kwashesha kakhulu, futhi sakwazi ukuthela ukhonkolo wezisekelo ngoSeptember.

Umongameli kamaspala wangibiza ngosuku olungaphambi kokuba indaba yethu izwiwe obala. Wasicela ukuba sibe seHholo leDolobha amahora amabili ngaphambi kokuba iBhodi Yokulinganisela ivule umhlangano wayo nomphakathi futhi sihlangane naye ngasese. Ngakho mina, uMzalwan’ uKnorr noMzalwan’ uSuiter, umphathi-zimali wethu ongunobhala, safika eHholo leDolobha ekuseni kakhulu ngosuku olulandelayo. Lapho sisaxoxa ngendlela eyoba ngcono kakhulu yokwethula indaba yethu phambi kweBhodi Yokulinganisela, kwaphakama inkinga eyayihilela uMkhandlu Wokuhlelwa Kwedolobha. Kwenziwa isicelo sokucacisa lendaba. Ngokushesha, inxusa lokuhlelwa kwedolobha lathi laliyozifikela mathupha ukuze lisingathe lesimo ngokwalo. “Njengoba kuzoba nokwenqaba okukhulu kweningi endabeni yenu,” esho, “ngizoyimelela ngokuzithandela iWatchtower Society phambi kweBhodi.”

Ngokufanelekile sasijabule ngalokhu kuzimisela kwakhe ukusisiza. Manje, inqubo yeBhodi Yokulinganisela iwukuthi iqeda zonke izindaba ezisekhalendeni yalo zosuku, futhi uma kunokuphikisa okumelwe kuzwiwe, khona-ke leyondaba idingidwa kuze kube yintambama. Uma kungekho kuphikisa, ikhipha isinqumo saleyondaba zisuka nje. Indaba yethu yadingidwa ekuseni kakhulu, futhi inxusa lokuhlelwa kwedolobha lasukuma lase lithi kumphathi-dolobha: “Ngithanda ukukhuluma ngimelele iWatch Tower Society.”

“Uyazi ukuthi akuyona inqubo yethu ukuba sivume ukuba sixoxe lapho indaba idingidwa okokuqala [ngokuvamile indaba ibekelwa intambama],” kuphendula umphathi-dolobha. “Nokho, ngiyazi ukuthi umatasa kakhulu, Nxusa, ngakho nakuba ngingavamile ukukwenza lokhu ngizosivuma isicelo sakho.” Inxusa laqhubeka lethula indaba yethu, futhi iBhodi Yokulinganisela yavota ivumela isicelo sethu. Njengoba sasiphuma endaweni okwakudingidwa kuyo lezindaba, ummeli walabo abaphikisayo weza egijima ehholo ememeza: “Nginenkulumo ezothatha ihora emelene nalendaba.” Kodwa kwakwephuze kakhulu! Samane sadlula, sibonga uJehova ngalokho kunqoba.

Kumelwe ngisho ukuthi bekulokhu kuyilungelo elinomvuzo eminyakeni eminingi ukumelela iNhlangano kulezindaba zebhizinisi. Futhi kube yinjabulo enkulu ukubona ukwanda okukhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela womhlaba wonke owenza ukuthengwa kwazo zonke lezakhiwo kube okudingekile. Usizo olukhulu ekunakekeleni lezindaba zebhizinisi kwakungukumiswa kwami njengesekela likamongameli weWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., ngoJanuary 1, 1977.

Ukujabula Enkonzweni YaseBethel

Kusukela ngifika okokuqala eBethel ngo-1939, umkhaya waseBethel usuye wanda usuka emalungwini avamile acishe abe i-185 waya kwangaphezu kwezi-2 800 eBrooklyn nangaphezu kwama-900 kumaWatchtower Farm! Ngokuvamile ngiye ngabuzwa: “Yini eyakusiza ukuba uhlale eBethel leminyaka engama-50?” Impendulo yami ngaso sonke isikhathi ibiyile: “Angikaze ngicabange nganoma yini ngaphandle kwenkonzo yaseBethel.”

Futhi, ifomu lesicelo senkonzo yaseBethel engaligcwalisa ngalisayina lalibuza: “Ingabe uyavuma ukuhlala eBethel kuze kube yilapho uthathwa iNkosi?” Ayikangithathi, ngakho ngiselapha ngijabulela inkonzo eya kuJehova. Kusukela ngosuku lokuzinikezela kwami, bengilokhu ngizimisele ukwenza inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele umsebenzi wokuphila kwami konke.

Phakathi neminyaka yami yokuqala eBethel, amalungiselelo ayengamvumeli umuntu ukuba ashade, ngakho, njengabanye abaningi, nganeliswa ukungashadi nenkonzo yaseBethel. Nokho, lapho isimiso somkhaya waseBethel sishintsha, sivumela ukushada, ngashada noHelen Lapshanski ngoApril 7, 1956. Wayefike eBethel ngo-1951. Siye sabazisa kakhulu ubungane obuwusizo esiye sanikezana bona.

Ekuqaleni komshado wethu, uHelen wangenwa isifo esithinta ubuchopho (multiple sclerosis), futhi eminyakeni yamuva lesifo siye sadlondlobala. Kodwa ngosizo lwento yokuzimelela nenqodlana ehamba ngamabhetri, uyakwazi ukuhambahamba kahle. Uye waqhubeka elondoloza umoya omuhle, wokujabula futhi uyahlanganyela emsebenzini eBethel usuku ngalunye, ekhonza ehhovisi leKhaya laseBethel.

Eminyakeni yethu yokuqala, yokukhula, mina nodadewethu uJean sasisondelene kakhulu futhi senza izinto ndawonye. Ngenxa yalokho, wayezimisele ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuba angilandele, futhi ngo-1943 wamenyelwa eBethel. Ngo-1952 yena noRussell Mock bashada, futhi bobabili bakhonza lapha bebambisene nathi njengamalungu omkhaya waseBethel.

Ngikholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi iBethel iyindawo engcono kakhulu emhlabeni sisengapha kwePharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo. Angikaze ngizisole nakancane ngokwenza inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele umsebenzi wokuphila kwami konke. Yeka ukuthi kube injabulo enjani ukufakaza nokuhlanganyela ekwandeni okukhulu kwenhlangano kaJehova yasemhlabeni! Ngizimisele, ngosizo lukaJehova, ukuqhubeka ngenza iBethel ikhaya lami futhi ngizikhandle ngomphefumulo wonke ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 30]

“Ngikholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi iBethel iyindawo engcono kakhulu emhlabeni sisengapha kwePharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo”

[Izithombe ekhasini 24, 25]

Ngenhla: Isakhiwo esiku-360 Furman Street, esathengwa ngo-1983

Ngezansi: Isakhiwo esiseColumbia Heights esasithenga kwabaseSquibb Pharmaceuticals ngo-1969

Kwesobunxele: Umthombo oyinhloko wosizo nokuqeqeshwa kwami kwakunguMzalwan’ uKnorr

Ngezansi: Ngo-1986 sase sinezakhiwo zefektri eziyisithupha ezixhunywe ngamabhuloho ahamba phezu komgwaqo

[Isithombe ekhasini 27]

Ifektri ngemva kokuba yandisiwe ngo-1949

[Isithombe ekhasini 30]

Usuku lomshado wethu