Ithemba Laso Sonke Isikhathi Sokuphila Kwami—Ukungafi
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUHECTOR R. PRIEST
“Lomdlavuza awelapheki,” kusho udokotela. “Ayisekho into esingakwenzela yona.” Leso siphetho sokuhlolwa safinyelelwa eminyakeni engaphezu kweyishumi edlule. Nokho ngisenethemba elisekelwe eBhayibhelini lokuphila phakade emhlabeni ngingazange ngife.—Johane 11:26.
ABAZALI bami babengamalungu eSonto laseWeseli aqotho ayeya njalo esontweni edolobheni elincane lezwe, elaliseduze nepulazi lomkhaya wakithi. Ngazalelwa endaweni enhle eyipulazi yaseWairarapa, ecishe ibe ngamakhilomitha angu-130 ukuya enyakatho-mpumalanga yeWellington, eNew Zealand. Kuleyo ndawo sasijabulela ukubona izintaba ezimbozwe yiqhwa, imifula ecwebile yasezintabeni, amagquma amazombezombe, namathafa avundile.
ESontweni LaseWeseli, sasifundiswa ukuthi bonke abantu abalungile baya ezulwini kodwa ababi baya esihogweni, endaweni yokuhlushwa ngomlilo. Ngangingaqondi ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu engazange ababeke ezulwini kwasekuqaleni abantu uma ayefuna bahlale lapho. Ngangilokhu ngikwesaba ukufa futhi ngangivame ukuzibuza ukuthi kungani kudingeka sife. Ngo-1927, lapho ngineminyaka engu-16 ubudala, umkhaya wakithi wabhekana nenhlekelele. Yilokho okwangenza ngafuna izimpendulo zemibuzo yami.
Kungani UReg Afa?
Lapho umfowethu uReg eneminyaka engu-11 ubudala, wagula wabangwa nezibi. Udokotela wayengaboni ukuthi kwakonakelephi futhi wayengakwazi ukumsiza. Umama wabiza umfundisi waseWeseli. Wathandazela uReg, kodwa lokhu akuzange kumduduze umama. Eqinisweni watshela lomfundisi ukuthi imithandazo yakhe yayiyize.
Lapho uReg efa, umama wayekhuluma nanoma ubani nanawo wonke umuntu ukuze azame ukwanelisa ukunxanela kwakhe izimpendulo eziyiqiniso ngokuqondene nesizathu sokuba kudingeke indodana yakhe ife. Lapho ekhuluma nosomabhizinisi othile edolobheni, wambuza ukuthi kukhona yini ayekwazi ngesimo sabafile. Wayengazi lutho, kodwa wathi: “Kunencwadi eshiywe othile lapha ongayithatha.”
Umama waya nalencwadi ekhaya wabe eseqala ukuyifunda. Akakwazanga ukuyibeka phansi. Kancane kancane wonke umbono wakhe washintsha. Watshela umkhaya, “Nakho-ke; nali iqiniso.” Lencwadi kwakuyi-Divine Plan of the Ages, umqulu wokuqala we-Studies in the Scriptures. Ngaqale ngangabaza futhi ngazama ukuphikisa indlela lencwadi eyayikhulumela ngayo injongo yoMdali. Ekugcineni ukuphikisa kwami kwaphela.
Ukwamukela Iqiniso LeBhayibheli
Ngakhuluma ngenhliziyo, ‘Cabanga sesiphila phakade, kungasadingeki ukuba sife!’ Umuntu angalindela ithemba elinjalo kuNkulunkulu onothando. Umhlaba oyipharadesi! Yebo, lelo themba lalingifanele.
Ngemva kokufunda lamaqiniso amangalisayo, umama nodade abathathu abangamaKristu baseWellington—uDade Thompson, uBarton, noJones—babehamba izinsuku eziningi isikhathi ngasinye, besakaza imbewu yoMbuso kuzo zonke izindawo zasemaphandleni. Nakuba ubaba ayengenawo umoya womvangeli onjengokamama, wayemsekela emsebenzini wakhe.
Ngangigculisekile ngeqiniso, kodwa angenzanga lutho ngezinkolelo zami isikhathi esithile. Ngo-1935, ngashada noRowena Corlett, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sabusiswa ngendodakazi, u-Enid, nendodana, uBarry. Ngangisebenza njengomthengi wemfuyo, ngithenga imfuyo ebalelwa ezinkulungwaneni kubalimi abaseduze. Lapho laba balimi bexoxa ngezombangazwe, ngangikujabulela ukubatshela: “Akukho nowodwa walemizamo yabantu oyophumelela. UMbuso kaNkulunkulu uwukuphela kukahulumeni oyosebenza.”
Ngokudabukisayo, ngaba umlutha kagwayi; ngangihlale nginesigazu emlonyeni. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi isimo sempilo yami saba sibi kakhulu, futhi ngalaliswa esibhedlela nginezinhlungu esiswini. Ngatshelwa ukuthi ngangine-gastroenteritis embi kakhulu, eyayibangelwa ukubhema kwami. Nakuba ngawuyeka lomkhuba, ngangivame ukuphupha ngibhema isigazu noma ugwayi ongafuni ukuphela. Yeka ukuthi ugwayi ungalutha kabi kanjani!
Ngemva kokuyeka ugwayi, ngenza ezinye izinguquko ezibalulekile. Ngo-1939, lapho ngineminyaka engu-28, ngabhapathizwa eMfuleni iMangatai owawuseduze nasekhaya kulelozwe. URobert Lazenby, kamuva owengamela umsebenzi wokushumayela eNew Zealand, wahamba ibanga elide esuka eWellington ezonikeza inkulumo ekhaya futhi angibhapathize. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, ngaba uFakazi kaJehova onesibindi.
Ukuhlela Umsebenzi Wokushumayela
Ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwami ngamiswa ukuba ngibe umbonisi weBandla Lase-Eketahuna. Umkami, uRowena, wayengakalamukeli iqiniso leBhayibheli. Nokho, ngamtshela ukuthi ngangizomema u-Alf Bryant ukuba eze evela ePahiatua azongibonisa indlela efanele yokufakaza endlini ngendlu. Ngangifuna ukuhlela umsebenzi wokushumayela nokuhlanganisa insimu yethu ngendlela ehlelekile.
URowena wathi: “Hector, uma uhamba uyofakaza endlini ngendlu, ngeke usangithola lapho ubuya. Ngizokushiya. Umthwalo wakho wemfanelo ulapha—kulomuzi unomkhaya wakho.”
Ngangingazi ukuthi kufanele ngenzeni. Ngimanqikanqika, ngagqoka. ‘Kumelwe ngikwenze,’ ngicabanga ngedwa. ‘Ukuphila kwami kuxhomeke kukho, ngokufanayo nokuphila komkhaya wami.’ Ngakho ngaqinisekisa uRowena ukuthi ngangingafuni ukumlimaza nganoma iyiphi indlela. Ngamtshela ukuthi ngimthanda kakhulu, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi igama nobukhosi bukaJehova, kanye nokuphila kwethu, kwakuhilelekile, kwakumelwe ngishumayele ngalendlela.
Mina no-Alf saya endlini yokuqala, futhi wahola ekukhulumeni. Kodwa ngazithola sengithatha izintambo engxoxweni, ngitshela umninikhaya ukuthi okwenzeka osukwini lukaNowa kuyafana nalokho okwenzeka osukwini lwethu nokuthi kufanele senze okuthile ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi siyasinda. (Mathewu 24:37-39) Ngashiya izincwajana ezithile lapho.
Lapho sesihamba, u-Alf wathi: “Uluthathephi lonke lolo lwazi? Awungidingi. Hamba wedwa, futhi sizohlanganisa insimu ephindwe kabili kunalena.” Ngakho senza kanjalo.
Endleleni sesiphindela ekhaya, ngangingazi ukuthi yini eyayisilindele. Ngamangala futhi ngajabula lapho ngithola uRowena esilungisele itiye. Emasontweni amabili kamuva umkami wahlanganyela nami enkonzweni yasobala futhi waba isibonelo esihle sentshiseko yobuKristu.
Phakathi kwabokuqala ababa oFakazi BakaJehova endaweni yakithi eyipulazi kwakunoMaud Manser, indodana yakhe uWilliam, nendodakazi yakhe uRuby. Umyeni kaMaud wayeyindoda enochuku futhi wayebukeka kanjalo. Ngolunye usuku mina noRowena safika epulazini labo sizolanda uMaud siye enkonzweni. UWilliam osemusha wayehlele ukuba sisebenzise imoto yakhe, kodwa uyise wayenombono ohlukile.
Isimo sasishubile. Ngacela uRowena ukuba abambe indodakazi yethu encane, u-Enid. Ngangena emotweni kaWilliam ngase ngikhipha imoto ngesivinini lapho uMnu. Manser ephuthuma ezama ukuzovala umnyango wegalaji ngaphambi kokuba siphume. Kodwa wahluleka. Ngemva kokuba sesiphumile egalaji sama, ngase ngiphuma ukuze ngibhekane noMnu. Manser owayegane unwabu. Ngamtshela: “Siya enkonzweni yasensimini, futhi uNkk. Manser uhamba nathi.” Ngamncenga, futhi intukuthelo yakhe yabohla kancane. Uma sengicabanga, cishe kwakufanele ngisisingathe ngendlela ehlukile lesi simo, kodwa kamuva waba nesimo esihle ngakoFakazi BakaJehova, nakuba engazange abe uFakazi.
Babembalwa abantu bakaJehova ngaleyo minyaka, futhi sasikujabulela ngempela futhi sizuza ekuhambeleni kwezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezazihlala nathi epulazini lethu. Lezi zivakashi zazihlanganisa u-Adrian Thompson nodadewabo uMolly, bobabili ababesemakilasini okuqala e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead yezithunywa zevangeli futhi abakhonza ezabelweni zakwamanye amazwe eJapane nasePakistan.
Okuhlangenwe Nakho Kwangesikhathi Sempi
Ngo-September 1939, kwaqala iMpi Yezwe II, kwathi ngo-October 1940, uhulumeni waseNew Zealand wavimbela umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. Abafowethu abaningi abangamaKristu baphoqelelwa ukuba bavele phambi kwezinkantolo zezwe. Abanye bafakwa emakamu omsebenzi futhi bahlukaniswa nomkabo nabantwana babo. Njengoba impi yayilokhu idlangile, nakuba sasinepulazi lobisi, ngazibuza ukuthi ngangingeke ngibizwe yini ukuba ngizongenela inkonzo yezempi. Ngemva kwalokho kwakhishwa isaziso sokuthi abanikazi bamapulazi babengeke besalandwa emapulazi abo ukuze bangenele inkonzo yezempi.
Mina noRowena saqhubeka nenkonzo yethu yobuKristu, ngamunye wethu enikela amahora angaphezu kwangu-60 ngenyanga emsebenzini wokushumayela. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ngaba nelungelo lokusiza oFakazi abasebasha ababelondoloza ukungathathi-hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu. Ngavela phambi kwezinkantolo zaseWellington, ePalmerston North, ePahiatua, naseMasterton ngenxa yabo. Ngokuvamile kwakuba nomfundisi eqenjini elalibutha abazoya empini, futhi ngangikujabulela ukudalula ukusekela kwabo impi okungekhona okobuKristu.—1 Johane 3:10-12.
Ngobunye ubusuku lapho mina noRowena sitadisha INqabayokulinda, sangenelwa abaseshi. Lapho bephequlula bathola izincwadi zeBhayibheli emzini wethu. “Ningaya ejele ngenxa yalokhu,” sitshelwa. Lapho laba baseshi bengena emotweni yabo sebehamba, bathola ukuthi amabhuleki ayebambekile futhi imoto yayingavumi ukuhamba. UWilliam Manser wabasiza ngokubalungisela lemoto, futhi abaphindanga babuya.
Phakathi nokuvinjelwa, sasifihla izincwadi zeBhayibheli esakhiweni esasisekhosombeni epulazini lethu. Kwelamabili, ngangihambela ihhovisi legatsha laseNew Zealand futhi ngilayishe izincwadi emotweni yami. Ngangibe sengiza nazo ekhaya futhi ngizibeke ekhosombeni lethu. Ngobunye ubusuku lapho ngifika egatsheni ngizolanda izincwadi zomshoshaphansi, kwavele kwakhanya bhá kuyo yonke leyo ndawo! Amaphoyisa amemeza: “Sikubambile!” Nokho, okwangimangalisa ukuthi angidedela ngaphandle kokungibangela inkinga enkulu.
Ngo-1949, mina noRowena sathengisa ipulazi futhi sanquma ukuphayona kuze kuphele imali yethu. Sathuthela emzini owawuseMasterton futhi saphayona eBandleni LaseMasterton. Phakathi neminyaka emibili kwamiswa iBandla LaseFeatherston elalinabamemezeli abakhuthele abangu-24, futhi ngakhonza kulo njengombonisi owengamele. Kwathi ngo-1953, ngajabulela ilungelo lokuya e-United States ukuze ngibe khona emhlanganweni wezizwe woFakazi BakaJehova wezinsuku ezingu-8 eYankee Stadium eNew York City. URowena akakwazanga ukuhamba nami ngoba kwakudingeka anakekele indodakazi yethu, u-Enid, eyayinokukhubazeka ebuchosheni.
Lapho sengibuyele eNew Zealand, kwadingeka ngenze umsebenzi wokuziphilisa. Saphindela eBandleni LaseMasterton, lapho ngamiswa khona njengombonisi owengamele. Cishe ngaso lesi sikhathi uWilliam Manser wathenga iLittle Theater eMasterton, futhi yaba iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala eWairarapa. Phakathi nawo-1950, ibandla lethu lajabulela ukukhula okuhle ngokomoya nangenani. Ngakho-ke, lapho umbonisi wesifunda esihambele, wayevame ukukhuthaza abavuthiwe ukuba bathuthele kwezinye izingxenye zezwe ukuze basize ngomsebenzi wokushumayela lapho, futhi abaningana benza kanjalo.
Umkhaya wethu wahlala eMasterton, futhi emashumini eminyaka alandela, angizange ngibe namalungelo amaningi ebandleni nje kuphela kodwa ngajabulela izabelo kokubili emihlanganweni yezwe neyezizwe. URowena wayehlanganyela ngentshiseko enkonzweni yasensimini, ngaso sonke isikhathi esiza nabanye ukuba benze okufanayo.
Ukukhuthazelela Ukuvivinywa Kokholo
Njengoba ngishilo ekuqaleni, ngo-1985, kwatholakala ukuthi nginomdlavuza ongelapheki. Yeka indlela mina, nomkami othembekile, uRowena, kanye nabantwana bethu, esasifuna ngayo ukuba phakathi kwezigidi eziphilayo manje ezingasoze zafa! Kodwa odokotela bangiphindisela ekhaya ngiyolindela ukufa. Nokho, okokuqala, bangibuza ukuthi ngangisibheka kanjani isifo sami.
“Ngizogcina inhliziyo yami izolile futhi ngibe nombono oqondile,” ngiphendula. Ngempela isaga seBhayibheli sangiqinisa: “Inhliziyo ezolileyo ingukuphila kwenyama.”—IzAga 14:30.
Odokotela bomdlavuza basincoma leso seluleko seBhayibheli. “Leso simo sengqondo sakha amaphesenti angu-90 ekhambi labantu abanomdlavuza,” besho. Futhi basikisela ukuba ngelashwe ngemisebe amasonto angu-7. Ngokujabulisayo, ekugcineni ngaphumelela ekunqobeni umdlavuza.
Ngaso kanye lesi sikhathi esasinzima kakhulu, ngavelelwa umshophi. Umkami omuhle oqotho, wopha ebuchosheni futhi washona. Ngathola induduzo ezibonelweni zabantu abakholekile ezilotshwe emiBhalweni nasendleleni uJehova axazulula ngayo izinkinga zabo njengoba babegcina ubuqotho babo. Ngakho, ithemba lami ezweni elisha lahlala ligqamile.—Roma 15:4.
Nakuba kunjalo, ngacindezeleka futhi ngafuna ukuyeka ukukhonza njengomdala. Abazalwane basebandleni bangikhuthaza kwaze kwaba yilapho ngiphinda ngiba namandla okuqhubeka. Ngenxa yalokhu, ngiye ngakwazi ukuqhubeka ngikhonza njengomdala ongumKristu nombonisi iminyaka engu-57 edlule.
Ukubhekana Nekusasa Ngethemba
Ukukhonza uJehova yonke leminyaka kuye kwaba ilungelo elingenakulinganiswa. Azive ziziningi izibusiso engiye ngazithola! Sengathi bekuyizolo nje, lapho ngiseneminyaka engu-16 ubudala, ngizwa umama ememeza: “Nakho-ke; nali iqiniso!” Umama ubelokhu enguFakazi othembekile, oshisekayo kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1979, lapho eneminyaka engaphezu kweyikhulu ubudala. Indodakazi yakhe namadodana ayisithupha nabo baba oFakazi abaqotho.
Isifiso sami esijulile ukuba ngiphile ukuze ngibone lapho sonke isihlamba sisuswa egameni likaJehova. Ingabe ithemba laso sonke isikhathi sokuphila kwami lokungafi liyofezeka? Yiqiniso, lokho kuzobonakala. Nokho, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi abaningi, yebo, izigidi ekugcineni ziyosithola leso sibusiso. Ngakho uma nje ngisaphila, ngiyolilondoloza ithemba lokubalwa phakathi kwalabo abangasoze bafe.—Johane 11:26.
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Umama
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