Ukususa Isembozo Somngcele Wokugcina Wase-Alaska
SEKUYIZINSUKU ezimbili manje, sobane sibuthene ekamelweni elincane edolobheni elinothe ngegolide iNome, e-Alaska. Ngo-1898 abavukuzi abangaphezu kuka-40 000 bathutheleka lapha bezofuna into eyodwa nje kuphela—igolide! Ngakolunye uhlangothi, thina sifuna ingcebo ehlukile.
Isithakazelo sethu, okwamanje, ‘sikokunxanelekayo’ okungenzeka kuhlala emizini engayodwa yaseGambell naseSavoonga esiQhingini saseSt. Lawrence, engamakhilomitha angu-300 ukuya entshonalanga yeBering Strait. (Hagayi 2:7) Lapho ama-Inuit aqunga isibindi emanzini ase-Arctic abanda njengeqhwa futhi azingele imikhomo emakhilomitheni ambalwa nje ukusuka kulokho okwake kwaba yiSoviet Union. Kodwa iqhwa eliphelezelwa umoya nenkungu ekhasa phansi kusivalele. Indiza yethu iphansi.
Njengoba sisalindile, ngicabanga ngezenzakalo zeminyaka embalwa edlule futhi ngibonga uJehova uNkulunkulu ngesibusiso sakhe ekufakazeni ezindaweni ezinemizi egqagqene. E-Alaska—abanye abayibiza ngokuthi umngcele wokugcina wezwe—kunabomdabu abangaphezu kuka-60 000 abahlala emiphakathini eqhelelene engaphezu kuka-150, esakazeke ehlane elingamakhilomitha-skwele acishe abe ngu-1 600 000 engaxhunyiwe ngemigwaqo yanoma yiluphi uhlobo. Sisebenzisa indiza ye-Watch Tower Society, sesiye sakwazi kakade ukufinyelela ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu yalemizi engayodwa, siyilethela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 24:14.
Ukuze kufinyelelwe lezizindawo ezikude, ngokuvamile kudingeka ukuba indiza yehle idlule phakathi kwamafu nenkungu okungenzeka kumboze izwe izinsuku eziningi. Lapho isiphansi, kusenenye inkungu okumelwe kuthutshelezwe kuyo. Njengesembozo, imboza izingqondo nezinhliziyo zalababantu abanomusa nokuthula.—Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Korinte 3:15, 16.
Ushintsho Olubuhlungu
Kulemizi egqagqene yase-Alaska kuhlala ama-Inuit, ama-Aleut, namaNdiya. Ngasinye salezizizwe sinemikhuba yaso siqu nezici ezikhethekile ezikuzuze njengefa. Ukuze zisinde ebusikeni base-Arctic, ziye zafunda ukuphila ngemicebo yezwe ngokuzingela, ukudoba, nokubamba imikhomo.
Ithonya lakwamanye amazwe lafika kuzo maphakathi nawo-1700. Abahwebi baseRussia abahweba ngoboya bezilwane bathola abantu bembatha izikhumba zezilwane futhi benuka amafutha emvu yamanzi, ababengahlali ezindlini ezenziwe ngeqhwa, kodwa ezindlini zamasoyi ezingxenye yazo ingaphansi komhlaba ezifulelwe ngotshani neminyango engaphansi komhlaba. Labahwebi balethela labantu abanomoya ophansi, abamnene, nokho abanobungqabavu izinkinga eziningi ezingathi sína, kuhlanganise namasiko amasha nezifo ezintsha, okuye kwanciphisa inani labantu kwezinye izizwe ngengxenye. Ngokushesha utshwala buye baba isiqalekiso kubantu. Isimiso esisha sezomnotho siye saphoqelela ushintsho kusuka endleleni yokuphila yokuzilimela kuya ekusebenziseni imali. Kuze kube namuhla, abanye banomuzwa wokuthi lolu kuye kwaba ushintsho olubuhlungu.
Lapho izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa zifika, abomdabu base-Alaska baphoqelelwa ukuba benze olunye ushintsho. Nakuba abanye bayilahla ngokungabaza imikhuba yabo yenkolo eyisiko—ukukhulekela imimoya yesivunguvungu, iqhwa, ibhele, ukhozi, nokunye—abanye baxubanisa imiqondo, okwaphumela ekuhlanganisweni kwemikhuba engokwenkolo, noma ekudidekeni, kwezinkolo. Ngokuvamile konke lokhu kwakuphumela ekusolweni nasekubeni zingathenjwa izihambi. Isivakashi asamukelwa ngaso sonke isikhathi emizini ethile.
Ngakho-ke, inselele ephambi kwethu iwukuthi, Siyobafinyelela kanjani bonke abomdabu abasakazeke kuwo wonke lomngcele omkhulu? Singakuqeda kanjani ukusola kwabo? Yini esingayenza ukuze sisuse lesembozo?
Imizamo Yokuqala Yokufakaza
Ekuqaleni kwawo-1960, oFakazi abaningi base-Alaska abanobungqabavu baqunga isibindi esimweni sezulu esibi kakhulu—imimoya enamandla, amazinga okubanda angaphansi kwezinga-qhwa, isimo sezulu esikhithikayo—futhi bandiza ngezindiza zabo ezinenjini eyodwa ohambweni lokuyoshumayela phakathi kwemizi esakazekele ngasenyakatho. Uma kubhekwa esikhathini esidlule, ngempela labazalwane abanesibindi babezichaya engozini enkulu kakhulu. Ukufa kwenjini ngokuqinisekile kwakuyoholela enhlekeleleni. Ngisho nakuba babengehlela phansi ngokuphepha, babeyobe bekude nosizo ngamakhilomitha amaningi kakhulu emazingeni okubanda angaphansi kwezinga-qhwa futhi bengenakho okokuhamba. Ukusinda kwakuyoxhomeka ekutholeni ukudla nendawo yokukhosela, okwakungenakutholakala kalula. Ngenhlanhla, azizange zibe khona izehlakalo ezingathi sína, kodwa izingozi ezinjalo zazingeke zinganakwa. Ngakho ihhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society lase-Alaska alizange likukhuthaze ukushumayela kwaloluhlobo.
Ukuze baqhubeke nomsebenzi, abazalwane abathembekile eBandleni laseFairbanks nelaseNorth Pole bagxilisa imizamo yabo emizini emikhulu, njengeNome, iBarrow, neKotzebue, ekhonzwa yizinkampane zezindiza ezithwala impahla nabantu. Babesebenzisa izimali zabo siqu ukuze baye kulezizindawo, ezingamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-720 kuya enyakatho nasentshonalanga. Abanye basala eNome izinyanga eziningana ukuze baqhube izifundo zeBhayibheli nabantu abathakazelayo. Kwaqashwa ifulethi eBarrow ukuze libe yindawo yokucashela izinga lokubanda elingama-degree Celsius angu-45 ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa. Phakathi neminyaka eminingana, labo abalalela umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba bachitha imali engaphezu kuka-R50 000.—Marku 13:10.
Usizo Olungalindelwe Luyafika
Ukufunwa kwendlela yokufinyelela imiphakathi ekude kakhulu kwaqhubeka, futhi uJehova wayivula indlela. Sathola indiza enezinjini ezimbili—yona kanye into esasiyidinga ukuze sikwazi ukunqamula uKhahlamba lwase-Alaska olumazombezombe. Kunezintaba eziningi ezinde ezingaphezu kwamamitha angu-4 200 e-Alaska, futhi isiqongo seNtaba iMcKinley (iDenali) edumile singamamitha angu-6 193 ngaphezu kogu lolwandle.
Ekugcineni, indiza yafika. Cabanga ngokudumazeka esaba nakho lapho indizamshini egugile, engenamandla, enemibala eminingi ima. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi iyakufanelekela ukuba semoyeni? Singethemba yini ukuthi ukuphila kwabazalwane bethu kulondekile kuyo? Nalapha, isandla sikaJehova sasingesifushane. Beqondiswa omakhenikha abaqeqeshiwe, abazalwane abangaphezu kuka-200 banikela ngokuzithandela ngezinkonzo zabo, bechitha izinkulungwane eziningana zamahora ukuze bavuselele kabusha yonke lendiza.
Yeka injabulo okwaba yiyo ukukubona! Ukundizela esibhakabhakeni sase-Alaska kwendiza ebenyezelayo, efana nentsha inezinombolo ezithi 710WT ezazibonakala emsileni! Njengoba kokubili isikhombisa neshumi kusetshenziswa eBhayibhelini ukuze kumelele ukuphelela, u-710 angaqondwa njengogcizelela ukusekela inhlangano kaJehova eye yakunikeza ukuze kususwe lesembozo ezinhliziyweni ezimbozwe ubumnyama.
Phansi Eziqhingini Zase-Aleutian
Kusukela sathola lendiza, sesihlanganise amakhilomitha angu-80 000 ehlane, silethela imizi engaphezu kuka-54 izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Lokhu kulingana nokunqamula i-United States eyizwekazi izikhathi ezingu-19!
Izikhathi ezintathu siye safinyelela phansi eziQhingini zase-Aleutian ezingamakhilomitha angu-1 600, ezihlukanisa iPacific Ocean noLwandle iBering. Leziziqhingi ezicishe zingabi nasihlahla ezingaphezu kuka-200 eziwuhide aziwona amakhaya abomdabu abangama-Aleut kuphela kodwa nawezinkulungwane zezinyoni zasolwandle, izinkozi, namahansi, anamakhanda amhlophe okweqhwa nezinsiba ezihlukanisayo ezimise okwezimbambo ezinombala omnyama nomhlophe.
Nokho, ubuhle obukhohlisayo balesifunda bunezingozi zabo. Njengoba sasindiza ngaphezu kolwandle, sasibona amagagasi angamamitha amathathu kuya kwamahlanu emanzini ayiqhwa anegwebu, abanda kangangokuthi ngisho nasehlobo umuntu angaphila imizuzu engu-10 kuya ku-15 kuphela kuwo. Uma ephoqeleka ukuba ehle, ukuphela kwezinto umshayeli wendiza angazenza, ukwehlela esiqhingini esibi, esizungezwe amatshe noma olwandle olubandayo, olubulalayo. Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngabazalwane bethu abanekhono, omakhenikha be-A & E (Aircraft and Engines) abanezitifiketi, abazinikela ngokuzithandela ukuba bagcine lendiza iphilile!
Kolunye uhambo, sasiqonde eDutch Harbor nasemzini wokudoba i-Unalaska. Lesifunda saziwa ngemimoya yaso enesivinini samakhilomitha angu-130 kuya ku-190 ngehora. Ngokujabulisayo, kwakuzothe kakhudlwana ngalolosuku kodwa kwakusayaluza ngokwanele ukuba singabaze izikhathi eziningana. Yeka indlela esamangala ngayo lapho sibona indawo esehlela kuyo—indawana nje ethile esikwe entabeni! Ohlangothini olulodwa lwaleyondawo kwakunewa elikhulu letshe, ngakolunye, kunamanzi ayiqhwa oLwandle iBering! Lapho sehla, sasehlela esikhumulweni esimanzi. Lina izinsuku ezingaphezu kuka-200 ngonyaka lapho.
Yeka injabulo okwakuyiyo ukuxoxa nezakhamuzi zendawo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu nenjongo yakhe! Abantu abaningana asebekhulile bazwakalisa ukwazisa ngethemba lezwe elingenayo impi. Babesakukhumbula kahle ukuqhunyiswa kwebhomu eDutch Harbor ngamaJapane phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Izinkumbulo zethu zohambo olunjalo lokuyofakaza nazo azinakulibaleka.
Ukuthambekela Ekufudumaleni Kancane Kancane
Uma siphinda sihlola isimo sezulu, siphawula ukwenyuka okuncane ezingeni lokushisa. Lokhu kungenza ngicabange ngomsebenzi wethu wokufakaza ezindaweni ezinemizi egqagqene. Kancane kancane kodwa ngokuqiniseka siye sabona ukuthambekela kwemfudumalo ezinhliziyweni zabantu.
Kuye kwathatha isikhathi ukususa isembozo sokusola nokungathembi izivakashi kwalababantu. Emizamweni yethu yokuqala, kwakuvamile ukuba abaholi bamasonto omuzi bahlangabeze indiza, babuze injongo yokuvakasha kwethu, futhi ngokushesha basicele ukuba sihambe. Yebo, ukwamukelwa okunjalo kwakudumaza. Kodwa sasikhumbula iseluleko sikaJesu esitholakala kuMathewu 10:16: “Hlakaniphani njengezinyoka, nibe-mnene njengamajuba.” Ngakho saphindela khona ngendiza ithwele uletisi, utamatisi, ama-cantaloupe, nezinye izinto ezisanda kuvunwa ezingatholakali kalula kuleyondawo. Izakhamuzi ezinonya manje zase zikujabulela ukubona impahla esasize nayo.
Lapho omunye umzalwane enakekela “isitolo,” emukela iminikelo yemifino, abanye abaningana babeya endlini ngendlu bazise abaninikhaya ngokufika kwemifino. Lapho beseminyango, babebuye babuze: “Oh, konje, ungumfundi weBhayibheli? Ngiyazi ukuthi uzoyijabulela lensiza-kufundisa yeBhayibheli ebonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu usithembise ipharadesi.” Ubani owayengasenqaba isipho esinjalo esikhangayo? Wonke umuntu wayekwazisa ukudla okungokwenyama nokungokomoya. Ukwamukelwa kwakujabulisa, kwahanjiswa izincwadi eziningi, futhi izinhliziyo ezimbalwa zafudunyezwa.
Ukuwelela Ngalé Komngcele
Ngaphesheya kweYukon Territory, iBandla laseWhitehorse ladlulisela kithi isimemo ‘saseMakedoniya’ ‘sokuwelela’ eCanada ukuze sivakashele ezinye zezindawo ezikude eNorthwest Territories. (IzEnzo 16:9) Thina sobahlanu sasisendizeni siqonde eTuktoyaktuk, umuzi owawuseduze neMackenzie Bay oLwandle iBeaufort, enyakatho ye-Arctic Circle.
‘Nilibiza kanjani leligama elinzima kangaka?’ sasibuza njengoba sifika.
“Tuk,” kuphendula enye insizwa ngokumomotheka okukhulu.
“Kungani singazange sikucabange lokho?” simangala.
Samangaliswa ukuthola ukuthi abantu baseTuktoyaktuk babejwayelene nemiBhalo. Ngenxa yalokho, saba nezingxoxo eziningi zobungane, futhi kwahanjiswa izincwadi eziningi. Elinye lamaphayona ethu asemasha laba nengxoxo eletha ukukhanya kumninikhaya.
“NgingumSheshi!” kusho umninikhaya.
“Uyazi yini ukuthi iSonto LaseSheshi liyabuvumela ubungqingili?” kubuza iphayona lethu.
“Liyabuvumela?” kungabaza lendoda. “Khona-ke, angiseyena umSheshi.” Siyethemba ukuthi omunye umuntu wayevula inhliziyo yakhe ukuba yamukele izindaba ezinhle zeBhayibheli.—Efesu 1:18.
Umuntu othile osekhulile wahlabeka umxhwele ngokuzimisela kwethu ukufinyelela wonke amakhaya kulendawo. Ngokuvamile, kwakudingeka siwenze wonke umsebenzi wethu sihamba ngezinyawo. Kaningi sasihamba ibanga eliyikhilomitha noma ngaphezulu ukusuka endaweni indiza ema kuyo kuya emzini. Khona-ke, ukuze sifinyelele ikhaya ngalinye, kwakudingeka sihambe endleleni enamatshe noma udaka. Lendoda yasiboleka iloli layo elincane, futhi yeka isibusiso lokho okwaba yiso! Ukuwela umngcele nokusiza ensimini yaseCanada kwakuyilungelo elihle.
Ingabe Kuyifanele Imizamo?
Lapho isimo sezulu sisibi futhi sikhungatheka noma sibambezeleka ngokuqhubekayo, njengoba kunjalo manje, noma lapho usuku lonke lokufakaza lubonakala lungasilethelanga lutho ngaphandle kokungabi nasithakazelo noma ngisho nenzondo, khona-ke siqala ukuzibuza ukuthi sonke lesikhathi, amandla, nemali kuyifanele yini imizamo. Singase sicabange ngabantu ababonakala bebonisa isithakazelo futhi bathembise ukutadisha ngeposi kodwa bahluleke ukwenza kanjalo. Khona-ke sikhumbula ukuthi akuwona umkhuba wabantu abaningi bomdabu ukubhala izincwadi, futhi ubungane bungaqondwa kabi njengobusho isithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli. Ngezinye izikhathi kubonakala kunzima ukubona impumelelo.
Lemicabango ephambene iyanyamalala ngokushesha lapho sikhumbula okuhlangenwe nakho okuhle kwabanye abamemezeli boMbuso. Ngokwesibonelo, uFakazi waseFairbanks washumayela emzini waseBarrow enyakatho ekude. Lapho wahlangana nosemusha owayeseholidini evela ekolishi laseCalifornia. Lodade wathuthukisa isithakazelo ngeposi futhi waqhubeka ekhuthaza lentombazane ngisho nangemva kokuba iphindele ekolishi. Namuhla, lentokazi iyisikhonzi sikaJehova esijabulayo, esibhapathiziwe.
Ukungqongqoza emnyango kungisusa kulomcabango futhi kunikeza esinye isiqinisekiso sokuthi kuyifanele imizamo. Lapha emnyango kumi u-Elmer, kuze kube manje owukuphela kukaFakazi ongum-Inuit ozinikezele, wabhapathizwa eNome.
“Uma uzophuma, ngingahamba nawe?” ebuza. Nakuba ehlala endaweni engayodwa futhi engamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-800 ukusuka ebandleni eliseduze, ufuna ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni nabazalwane bakhe esenethuba.
Imisebe yelanga iqala ukudabula phakathi kwamafu, futhi siyazi ukuthi ngokushesha sizogunyazwa ukuba sihambe. Njengoba u-Elmer egibela indiza, sijatshuliswa ubuso bakhe obujabulayo, obumomothekayo. Lolu usuku olukhethekile ku-Elmer. Uhamba nathi ukuya emzini wakithi ukuze ayoshumayela kubantu bakubo abangama-Inuit, ehlanganyela nathi emzamweni wethu wokususa isembozo ezinhliziyweni zalabo abahlala emngceleni wokugcina wezwe.—Inikelwe.
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 23]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
1. Gambell
2. Savoonga
3. Nome
4. Kotzebue
5. Barrow
6. Tuktoyaktuk
7. Fairbanks
8. Anchorage
9. Unalaska
10. Dutch Harbor
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
Ukuze kufinyelelwe imiphakathi engayodwa, ngokuvamile kudingeka kunqanyulwe kolunye lwezinkahlamba eziningi zase-Alaska
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
UBetty Haws, Sophie Mezak, noCarrie Teeples banengqikithi ehlangene yeminyaka engaphezu kuka-30 besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele