Ukuphishekelwa Kwenkululeko ESenegal
BUQAMAMA nje nogu lolwandle ukusuka eDakar, inhloko-dolobha yesimanje yaseSenegal, kunesiQhingi esincane saseGorée. Kuso kukhona isikhumbuzo esibuhlungu sengxenye yomlando odabukisayo—indlu yezigqila eyakhiwa ngo-1776.
Ingenye yezindlu eziningi ezinjalo okwakuboshwa kuzo izigqila ezisukela kwezingu-150 kuya kwezingu-200 ngaphansi kwezimo zobunuku izinyanga ezifinyelela kwezintathu ngaphambi kokuba zithuthwe ngomkhumbi ziyiswe ezindaweni ezikude. Imikhaya yayihlukaniswa, amalungu ayo angaphinde abonane; ubaba wayengase athunyelwe eLouisiana eNyakatho Melika, umama athunyelwe eBrazil noma eCuba, futhi abantwana bathunyelwe eHaiti, eGuyana, noma eMartinique. Yeka ukunganakwa kwenkululeko yomuntu! Lokhu futhi kuyisikhumbuzo esinamandla sokuthi inkululeko iyilungelo eliyigugu okungabanga yinto yabo bonke abantu.
Ngafunda ngalokhu encwajaneni yezihambi ezibuka izwe engangiyifunda ngisendizeni eyayiya eSenegal, izwe elisentshonalanga impela engxenyeni yezwe eyiqhubu elikhulu eNtshonalanga Afrika. Isifundazwe esiyinkangala saseSenegal siphakathi kwamahlane ngasenyakatho nasempumalanga namahlathi aminyene ngaseningizimu. Lapha ungathola isihlahla esikhulu nosekukudala sikhona ibaobab, nesithelo saso esingavamile esithiwa isinkwa semfene, okwenziwa ngaso icream of tartar. Leli futhi yizwe lezimfene nezinyoni ezinemibala emihle nelamadolobhana angavamile akhiwe phakathi kwamasimu kamango.
Ngahlala ngakhululeka futhi ngacabanga ngohambo lwami okwase kukade ngilulindile oluya kulendawo yokungena eNtshonalanga Afrika. Namuhla, iSenegal, kanye nezakhamuzi zayo eziyizigidi eziyisikhombisa ezivela ezizindeni ezihlukene zobuzwe, ijabulela inkululeko ephelele. Kodwa kungaba yini ukuthi umuntu ukhululekile emzimbeni, kodwa ebe eyisigqila semikhuba ethile nokukholelwa ezeni okumncisha inkululeko yeqiniso? Ngabheka phambili ngokulangazela ekuhlanganeni nabafowethu abangokomoya futhi ngizizwele ngokwami ngentuthuko yeqiniso elikhulula abantu, eyenzeka kuleyongxenye yomhlaba.—Johane 8:32.
‘UJehova Ufuna Ukuba Lesisakhiwo Sibe Ngesenu’
Ngangihlele ukuba ngiqale ngokuhambela ihhovisi legatsha leWatch Tower nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eDakar. Njengoba sasifika esakhiweni esibonakala singesesimanje emaphethelweni edolobha anokuthula, ngabona uJ omkhulu ngaphambili. Umbuzo wami wokuqala kuloluhambo lokubuka ihhovisi legatsha waba ukuthi loluhlamvu oluthi J lwalumeleleni.
“Kuthakazelisa kakhulu,” kuchaza owayengibonisa indawo. “Lapho sifuna indawo yokwakha igatsha enkudlwana ngo-1985, seza kulesisakhiwo, esasisakhiwa. Kodwa saba nomuzwa wokuthi sasisikhulu kakhulu kunezidingo zethu. Lapho umniniso ezwa ukuthi singoFakazi BakaJehova, wafuna ukusiqashisela lesisakhiwo, njengoba ayazi ngokwethembeka kwethu. Wathi: ‘Ngiyaqiniseka ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wenu, uJehova, ufuna ukuba lesisakhiwo sibe ngesenu. Bhekani nje! Kukhona ngisho noJ omkhulu ngaphambili! Ngenkathi ngibeka loluhlamvu lapho, ngacabanga ukuthi lwaluzomelela igama lami elithi John, kodwa manje ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi lumelela igama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova!’ Siye sakujabulela ukuba kulesisakhiwo esihle eminyakeni emihlanu edlule.”
Ngokulandelayo ngafuna ukwazi ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela waqala kanjani eSenegal.
“Amanzi akhululayo eqiniso alethwa eSenegal eminyakeni yokuqala yawo-1950 ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova owayeze ngesivumelwano somsebenzi evela eFrance. Ngo-1965 kwavulwa ihhovisi legatsha eDakar ukuze linakekele umsebenzi emazweni abantu abakhuluma isiFulentshi aseSenegal, eMali, naseMauritania, kanye nasezweni laseGambia labantu abakhuluma isiNgisi. Kusukela ngo-1986 siye sanakekela umsebenzi naseGuinea-Bissau, lapho kukhulunywa khona isiPutukezi.”
Njengoba ngiqaphela ukuthi amaphesenti angaphezu kwangu-90 ezakhamuzi zalapha awawona amaKristu, ngabuza ukuthi iyiphi intuthuko eye yaba khona. “Kuyiqiniso ukuthi abantu abaningi kulamazwe abajwayelene neBhayibheli,” kusho lona ongibonisa indawo, “kodwa umsebenzi uyaqhubeka kancane kancane. NgoJanuary 1991 sajabulela ukuba nabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-596. Lokho kubonisa ukuthi abazalwane bakulendawo nezithunywa zevangeli baye basebenza kanzima kakhulu.”
“Ngizwe ukuthi kunezithunywa eziningi zevangeli ezikhonza lapha,” ngiphawula.
“Yebo, sinezicishe zibe ngu-60 ezabelwe emasimini ahlukahlukene esiwanakekelayo, futhi zivela emazweni angu-13. Zisebenza kanzima futhi ziye zaba nengxenye enkulu ekwenzeni umsebenzi ube nesisekelo esiqinile. Lomoya ubonakaliswa abazalwane bakulendawo ngokulithanda kwabo nokulishisekela iqiniso. Naphezu kokubhekana nezinkinga ezinjengokungabikho komsebenzi nokuba nezinto ezibonakalayo ezilinganiselwe kakhulu, abazalwane abaningi basebenza amahora angu-15 nangaphezulu enkonzweni yasensimini nyanga zonke. Sethemba ukuthi uzozibona ezinye zalezisebenzi ezishisekayo ekuhambeleni kwakho.”
Ngabheka phambili ekwenzeni lokho.
Ngisensimini Nezithunywa Zevangeli
UMargaret (owaba senkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-20 ngaphambi kokuba afe muva nje) wavuma ngokuzithandela ukuhamba nami ensimini ayeshumayela kuyo esenkabeni yedolobha. Sagibela icar rapide (imoto esheshayo) ukuze sinambithe ukuphila kwakulendawo. Eqinisweni, yayiyibhasi elincane elalima njalo. Lalithwele abantu abangu-25, futhi ukuba bonke babenemizimba emincane, ngabona ukuthi loluhambo lwaluyocishe lube luhle. Izintokazi ezimbili ezazihlezi nami ebhentshini zazingenayo neze imizimba emincane, kodwa ngasemukela lesisimo ngenjabulo.
“Ensimini engishumayela kuyo esezansi nedolobha, ungabona izinto eziningi ezithakazelisayo,” kuchaza uMargaret ngenkathi sifika lapho esasiya khona. “Uyazibona leziya zimbadada ezimibalabala?” wabuza, ekhomba ematafuleni athile ngasonqenqemeni lomgwaqo. “Zenziwa ngezikhumba zezimvu nezezimbuzi ezishintshwe umbala.” Saya kubantu abenza lezimbadada, futhi uMargaret waqalisa intshumayelo yakhe kubo ngolimi lwabo, isiWolof. Balalelisisa futhi bahlatshwa umxhwele imifanekiso ka-Adamu noEva encwajaneni enemibala emihle.
Ngokushesha abathengisi basemgwaqweni beza kithi, lapha abaziwa ngokuthi amadoda angamabana-bana, abathengisa izinhlobonhlobo zezinto. Abanye babephethe imishanelo; abanye bethengisa izingubo zokugqoka, izingidi, imithi, izikhwama zemali, amawolintshi, ngisho nezinyoni eziphilayo. Omunye wayefuna ukungithengisela ikora, ugubhu lomculo olunezintambo olwenziwe ngengxenye yeselwa, olunenduku entanyeni; idlalwa ngezandla zombili. Ngaphawula ukuthi ngemuva kwayo kwakunomfanekiso omncane wesembozo owenziwe ngesikhumba, uphondo lwembuzi, namagobolondo amancane “enhlanhla.” Sachaza ukuthi sasingenakuthenga noma yini ehlotshiswe ngezimpawu okungenzeka zihlobene nobuthakathi noma imikhuba engeyona eyobuKristu. Okwasimangalisa ukuthi, lendoda eyibana-bana yavuma, ibonisa ukuthi nayo ngokwayo yayingumMuslim. Yafihla lekora esambathweni sayo eside esintazayo, noma iboubou, futhi yalalelisisa njengoba uMargaret eyihambisela incwajana engangomagazini, eyayibhalwe ngesiArabhu. Yajabula kakhulu kangangokuthi yayithatha lencwajana futhi yaqala ukuyifunda khona lapho. Ngemva kokusibonga kakhulu, yahamba nalencwajana kanye nekora ingathengiwe. Sazizwa siqiniseka ngokuthi yayizoyifunda lencwajana uma ifika ekhaya.
Kamuva, ngakhuluma noJohn, naye oseye waba isithunywa sevangeli iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-20.
UJohn wathi kimi: “Abantu balapha banobungane kakhulu, futhi ungakhuluma cishe nabo bonke abantu ohlangana nabo. Indlela yokubingelela ethandwayo ethi ‘assalam alaikum’ isho ukuthi ‘ukuthula makube nani,’ futhi abantu abaningi banokuthula. Leli yizwe leteranga, noma umoya wokungenisa izihambi, futhi iboniswa ngomusa, ngozwela lobuntu, nangenjabulo.” Kwakuya kuba lula ngami ukubona isizathu esenza oFakazi abaningi kangaka abasebasha abangebona abakulendawo ukuba bashiye imikhaya yakubo nabangane ukuze bazokhonza kulensimu yezithunywa zevangeli.
Ukukhululelwa Ukuphishekela Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele
Umoya wezithunywa zevangeli unethonya elikhulu koFakazi bendawo. Lokhu kuyabonakala ikakhulukazi ngoba ukungabikho komsebenzi okusakazekile kwenza ukungenela inkonzo yamaphayona yesikhathi esigcwele kube inselele yangempela. UMarcel noLucien, abakhululwa emikhubeni eminingi elimazayo ngokufunda iqiniso, bachaza:
“Sasifuna ukubonisa ukwazisa kwethu ngokungenela inkonzo yamaphayona. Kodwa kwakunzima ukuthola amatoho. Sazama ukusebenza engadini, kodwa akuzange kuphumelele. Ukuziphilisa ngokuhlanza izingubo zokugqoka kwakusidlela isikhathi sethu esiningi kakhulu. Manje siqhuba ibhizinisi lokubhaka, izitolo ezithile zingamakhasimende ethu asikhathi sonke, futhi lokhu kuyaphumelela impela.” Ngokusobala kwadinga kubo ukholo olukhulu nobuhlakani, kanye nomzamo oqotho, kodwa lokhu kubonisa ukuthi kungenzeka ukungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngisho nalapho izimo zomnotho zinzima.
Lapho oFakazi BakaJehova beqala ukufunda iBhayibheli noMichel, wayefunda eyunivesithi eDakar. “Ngangicindezelekile ngenxa yomoya wokuziphatha okubi abafundi abaningi kangaka ababenawo, futhi ngangihlushwa imibuzo edidayo,” elandisa. “Kungani umuntu ayeyisigqila semikhuba nezimo ezinjalo ezilimazayo? IBhayibheli langiphendulela lemibuzo. Kwakunjengokungathi ngangethulwe umthwalo osindayo emahlombe. Nakuba abazali bami baphikelela ngokuthi ngiqhubeke nezifundo zami, ngangenela inkonzo yamaphayona asizayo ngase-ke ngikhonza njengephayona elivamile ingxenye yesikhathi eyayisasele okwakudingeka ngiyihlale eyunivesithi. Ngithola ukuthi ukuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabanye njengephayona, hhayi ukufuna umsebenzi esimisweni esizophela ngokushesha, kungilethela injabulo enkulu.” UMichel manje ukhonza njengephayona elikhethekile eMbour.
Ukuthatha Isithembu Kuphikisana Nokushada Nomfazi Oyedwa KobuKristu
Amasiko endawo awavumelani ngaso sonke isikhathi nezimiso zobuKristu, futhi lokhu kungabeka izinselele ezingavamile. UAlioune, umbonisi owengamele kwelinye lamabandla ayisithupha oFakazi BakaJehova eDakar nasezindaweni eziyizungezile, walandisa: “Lapho ngiqala ukuzwa iqiniso elikhululayo, nganginesithembu. NjengomMuslim okhuthele, ngangivunyelwa yinkolo yami ukuba ngibe nabanye abengeziwe. Ubaba wayenabafazi abane, futhi iningi labangane bami lalinabaningi. Kuyindlela eyamukelekayo lapha eAfrika.” Kodwa waba yini umphumela walendlela yokuphila?
“Ukuba nabafazi abangaphezu koyedwa kungabangela izinkinga eziningi,” kuchaza uAlioune, “ikakhulukazi ngokuqondene nabantwana. Kumkami wokuqala nginabantwana abayishumi futhi kowesibili babili. Emikhayeni enjalo, ubaba ngokuvamile uba yisivakashi kubantwana bakhe, ngakho abazuzi osizweni lwakhe nasekuyaleni. Angisho futhi ukuthi, ukuthatha isithembu akuzange kungivikele ngisho nasekuphingeni. Kunalokho, ukuzithiba, isithelo somoya kaNkulunkulu, okuye kwenza lokho.” Ngakho, wenzani uAlioune?
“Ngamphindisela kubo umkami wesibili,” eqhubeka, “futhi ngobuhlakani ngabachazela ukuthi kwakungekhona ukuthi kukhona okuthile okungasangithokozisi engikuthole kuye, kodwa kwakungenxa yokufuna ukwenza ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. Ngenza amalungiselelo akhethekile okunakekela bonke abantwana bami ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo nangokomoya, futhi ngiyajabula ngokuthi nabo namuhla bakhonza uJehova. Kwabayisishiyagalolunye abangabamemezeli, abahlanu babhapathiziwe, ababili bakhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile, futhi abanye abathathu njengamaphayona avamile nasizayo. Iqiniso liye langikhulula ngempela ezinkingeni eziningi ezihlobene nokukhulisa abantwana.”
Ukukhulekela Izithixo Kuphikisana Nokukhulekela Kweqiniso
Okulandelayo ohlelweni lwezindawo engangizozihambela kwakuyisifundazwe saseCasamance esiseningizimu. Yangihlaba umxhwele indlela zonke izinto ezazibonakala ngayo zincwaba futhi ziluhlaza. Ngenxa yokuthi imanziswa ngokwanele amanzi oMfula omkhulu iCasamance ibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-300, lendawo ikhiqiza inala yerayisi, umbila namantongomane. Ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni kusabalele amaqhugwane ayindilinga, anezitezi ezimbili, anophahla olufulelwe ngotshani olwakhiwe lwafana nesetho ukuze luqongelele amanzi emvula azosetshenziswa enkathini yonyaka okungenamvula ngayo. Inhloko-dolobha, iZiguinchor, imbozwe yizihlahla eziningi zesundu. Ngakujabulela ukuhlangana nebandla elishisekayo labantu bakaJehova lapha.
UDominic, isithunywa sevangeli esisebenza eZiguinchor nasezindaweni eziyizungezile, wangitshela ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela kulendawo uqhubeka kahle kakhulu. Wathi: “Eminyakeni eyishumi nje edlule, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-18 eBandleni laseZiguinchor. Manje kunabangu-80. Ukuze sinakekele lokhu kwanda okukhulu, siye sakha iHholo LoMbuso elihle elisha, sisebenzisa ubumba olubomvu olwatholakala kuyo kanye indawo ihholo elakhiwa kuyo. Lomsebenzi waba ubufakazi obukhulu emphakathini. Amazwi okuncoma ayevela kulabo ababona abantu bezizwe eziningi ezihlukene kangaka besebenza ndawonye ngokuthula. Emhlanganweni wesifunda wamuva, inani eliphakeme lababekhona lalingu-206, kwabhapathizwa abantu abane.”
Abantu abaningi kulengxenye yeSenegal basalandela izinkolelo zokhokho babo zokukholelwa emimoyeni, bekhulekela izithixo ngisho nakuba bezisholo ukuthi bangamaKristu noma amaMuslim. Ngayilalelisisa indaba eyayilandiswa uVictor, umdala oseBandleni laseZiguinchor.
“Ngazalelwa emkhayeni omkhulu okhulekela izithixo eGuinea. Ngenkathi ngizalwa, ubaba wanginikezela emoyeni othile, noma idemoni. Ukuze ngiwenze ungithande, njalo ngangithatha ipotimende elimnyama elalingaphansi kombhede, ngenze ialtare elincane, bese nginikela imihlatshelo yegazi ophondweni olwalumelela umvikeli wami oyidemoni. Ngisho nangemva kokuba ngumKatolika, ngangisazizwa ngiseyisigqila. Ngemva kokuthuthela eSenegal, oFakazi BakaJehova baqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli kanye nami. Mina nomkami sathola ukuthi asinakuqhubeka ‘sidla etafuleni likaJehova nasetafuleni lamademoni.’ (1 Korinte 10:21) Kodwa lapho ngiyeka ukunikela imihlatshelo, amademoni aqala ukusihlasela. Ngangesaba ukulahla ipotimende elimnyama kanye nazo zonke izinto zalo zobudemoni ngoba ngangazi ngomuntu owahlanya ngokuphelele lapho enza lokho.” Yeka isimo esinzima uVictor ayekuso!
“Ekugcineni amazwi akweyabaseRoma 8:31, 38, 39 asinika amandla esasiwadinga ukuze silahle yonke into ehlobene nokukhulekelwa kwezithixo. Njengoba sesibeke ithemba lethu kuJehova, siye sakhululwa ngempela. Bonke abendlu yami banethemba elihle lokuphila okuphakade epharadesi lasemhlabeni, lapho sonke isintu siyokhululeka khona ethonyeni lamademoni amabi.”
Ekugcineni, safika isikhathi sokuba ngihambe. Njengoba ngangipakisha imithwalo yami, ngangicabanga ngaloluhambo lwami lwaseSenegal engingasoze ngilukhohlwe. Yeka indlela okuye kwaba okuqinisa ukholo ngayo kimi ukuhlangana nokukhuluma nabantu abaningi kangaka abaye bakhululwa ebugqilini bokusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa, ukuziphatha okubi, nokukholelwa ezeni futhi manje abajabulela inkululeko yeqiniso. Naphezu kwezimo ezinzima zezomnotho, bathola injabulo nokwaneliseka ekukhonzeni uJehova, obalethele ithemba eliqinisekile lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Yeka indlela esimbonga ngayo owenze kwaba nokwenzeka ukuba izindaba ezinhle ezinjalo zingamenyezelwa eSenegal kuphela kodwa futhi nasemhlabeni wonke phakathi ‘nonyaka womusa kaJehova’! (Isaya 61:1, 2)—Inikelwe.
[Amabalazwe ekhasini 8]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
SENEGAL
St. Louis
Louga
Thiès
Dakar
Kaolack
GAMBIA
Banjul
[Izithombe ekhasini 9]
Amanzi akhululayo eqiniso ahlanganyelwa ngenkululeko emadolobhaneni
Ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eDakar, eSenegal
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Nangasogwini lolwandle, abantu baseSenegal bezwa isigijimi sobuKristu