Izindaba Ezinhle Zepharadesi ETahiti
TAHITI! Leli gama libonakala linokukhanga okuthile okungavamile. Izingcweti nabalobi abanjengoPaul Gauguin, uRobert Louis Stevenson, noHerman Melville zalenza laduma, indlela ezabuchaza futhi zabuveza ngayo ubuhle nokucwatha kweSouth Sea Island eshisayo iyathakazelisa kwabaningi.
ITahiti inkulu kunazo zonke iziqhingi ezingaphezu kuka-120 ezikuyiFrench Polynesia, eSouth Pacific. Nakuba lesi siqhingi saseSouth Sea emiqondweni yabantu abaningi sicishe sifane nepharadesi, abantu baseTahiti basadinga ukuzwa ngelinye ipharadesi elizofika ngokushesha. (Luka 23:43) OFakazi BakaJehova abangu-1918 eTahiti namuhla, bamatasa batshela abantu abangu-220 000 izindaba ezinhle zokuthi ngokushesha uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzoletha izimo ezingokoqobo zepharadesi, hhayi eTahiti kuphela kodwa nasemhlabeni wonke.—Mathewu 24:14; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
Eminyakeni eminingi umsebenzi wokushumayela eTahiti wawuqondiswa yihhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society laseFiji, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-3 500. Ibanga elide elihilelekile lalenza izinto zibe nzima, futhi intuthuko yayihamba kancane. Ngakho, ngo-April 1, 1975, kwamiswa ihhovisi legatsha eTahiti, futhi lokho kwasho ushintsho emsebenzini wamaKristu eqiniso kulensimu. Yini eyaholela kulolu shintsho, futhi waqala kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela eTahiti?
Isiqalo Esincane
Izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zazwiwa ngokokuqala eTahiti eminyakeni yawo-1930, futhi abantu abaningi basesiqhingini, abalihlonipha ngokujulile iBhayibheli, babonisa isithakazelo esikhulu. Nokho, ngenxa yokuvinjelwa uhulumeni nokunye ukwenqatshelwa, ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yawo-1950 babengakabibikho oFakazi kulesi siqhingi. Ngaleso sikhathi, u-Agnès Schenck, odabuka eTahiti owayehlala e-United States, wanquma ukubuyela eTahiti nomyeni wakhe nendodana yakhe. Uyachaza ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani.
“Emhlanganweni wesigodi ka-1957 eLos Angeles, uMfoweth’uKnorr [owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi] wachaza ukuthi kwakunesidingo esikhulu sabamemezeli boMbuso eTahiti. Ngaleso sikhathi ngase nginonyaka ngibhapathiziwe, futhi ngamemeza, ‘Ngakho masiye eTahiti!’ Imikhaya emibili, owakwaNeill nowakwaCarano, engabangane bethu abahle, yangizwa. Yasitshela ukuthi ingathanda ukuhamba nathi, kodwa sasingenayo imali eningi. Umyeni wami wayekade egula isikhathi eside, futhi indodana yami yayisencane kakhulu. Ngakho kwakunzima ukuba sihambe. Abafowethu emabandleni angomakhelwane bezwa ngomgomo wethu, futhi basithumelela imali nezinto zasendlini. Khona-ke ngo-May 1958 sahamba ngomkhumbi silibhekise eTahiti, phakathi kwezinto esasiziphethe, kwakunamashidi angu-36!
“Lapho sifika eTahiti, ngazizwa njengesihambi ngokuphelele ngoba kwase kuphele iminyaka engu-20 ngahamba kulesi siqhingi. Saqala ukushumayela, kodwa kwakumelwe siqaphele ngoba umsebenzi wethu wobuKristu wawuvinjelwe. Kwakudingeka sibafihle omagazini, futhi sasisebenzisa iBhayibheli kuphela. Ekuqaleni sasifakaza kuphela kubantu abase benaso kakade isikhokhelo se-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!
“UClyde Neill noDavid Carano, kanye nemikhaya yabo, basilandela ngemva komhlangano wezizwe eNew York City ngo-1958. Sasishumayela ndawonye futhi simema abantu ukuba bazolalela izinkulumo ezazinikezwa emakhaya abafowethu. Kancane kancane izinto zaqala ukuhleleka, futhi saqala isifundo seBhayibheli seqembu nabantu abangu-15. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu abakwaNeill nabakwaCarano kwadingeka bahambe ngoba ama-visa abo ayesephelelwe isikhathi. Ngakho abafowethu banquma ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, babezobhapathiza bonke abathakazelayo ababefaneleka. Ngaba nelungelo lokuba umhumushi wenkulumo yokuqala yobhapathizo. Kulesi senzakalo abomdabu abangu-8 bakulesi siqhingi babonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwabo kuJehova ngobhapathizo. Khona-ke, abakwaNeill nabakwaCarano babuyela e-United States.
“Umsebenzi wokushumayela waqhubeka. Sazihlela saba amaqembu amancane futhi siya kubantu ngezikhathi zakusihlwa. Ngokuvamile izingxoxo zethu nabathakazelayo zazidonsa kuze kube sezinzulwini zobusuku. Ngezinye izikhathi ngisho nabefundisi bamaProthestani babehlanganyela ezingxoxweni. Ngo-1959 kwamiswa ibandla lokuqala. Khona-ke, okwasijabulisa kakhulu ukuthi ngo-1960 uhulumeni wayiqaphela ngokomthetho inhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova. Leyo minyaka yokuqala yayigcwele injabulo nezinto ezivelele ezingokomoya. UJehova wasibusisa ngempela isinqumo sethu sokuthuthela lapho kwakunendingeko enkulu khona.” Manje uDade Schenck useneminyaka engu-87 ubudala, futhi usakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka ebandleni lakubo.
Umsebenzi Waqhubekela Phambili
Ngo-1969, oFakazi ababili ababesuka eFrance, uJacques noPaulette Inaudi, babelwa eTahiti njengamaphayona akhethekile. UJacques uyakhumbula: “Lapho sifika eTahiti, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-124 kuphela, kunebandla elilodwa ePapeete, namaphayona akhethekile amabili eVairao, enhlonhlweni yesiqhingi.” Inhlonhlo yesiqhingi neTahiti kuhlanganiswe umdweshu wezwe. UMhlangano Wezizwe “Wokuthula Emhlabeni” wawususondele. “Ngokokuqala ngqá, kwadingeka ngihlele umhlangano,” kuqhubeka uJacques. “Kwadingeka sihlelele izivakashi isimiso sesiNgisi, silungiselele i-orchestra eyayizodlala izingoma zoMbuso, futhi siprakthize amadrama amabili. Wonke lomsebenzi wafezwa abamemezeli abangu-126 kuphela. Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova wenza ingxenye enkulu kakhulu yalokhu.” Inani lababakhona labangu-488 labajabulisa kakhulu abafowethu basesiqhingini. Abaningi, babeqala ngqá ukuhlangana noFakazi abakanye nabo bakwamanye amazwe.
Ngokushesha kamuva, uJacques Inaudi wabelwa njengombonisi ojikelezayo. Njengoba ayevakashela iziqhingi ezihlukahlukene, wabona ukuthi isithakazelo sasisikhulu kodwa bembalwa abamemezeli boMbuso bokusihlakulela. “Kungakho ngakhuthaza imikhaya eminingi ukuba ithuthele kulezi ziqhingi iyokhonza lapho indingeko inkulu khona,” kuchaza uJacques. “Ngakho kancane kancane, izindaba ezinhle zasakazwa kulelo dlanzana leziqhingi.” UMfoweth’u-Inaudi wakhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo kusukela ngo-1969 kuya ku-1974, futhi namuhla ungumdala kwelinye lamabandla aseTahiti.
Phakathi kwalabo abasabela esikhuthazweni sikaMfoweth’u-Inaudi kwakungu-Auguste Temanaha, owayengomunye wabantu abangu-8 ababhapathizwa ngo-1958. Ulandisa okwenzeka. “Ngo-1972 umbonisi wesifunda, uJacques Inaudi, wasikhuthaza ukuba sicabangele ukuthutha siyokhonza eHuahine, engesinye seziqhingi zaseLeeward Islands esiseqoqweni leziqhingi okuthiwa yi-Society. Nganginokungabaza ngoba ebandleni ngangisanikeze inkulumo yokufundwa kweBhayibheli kuphela futhi nginomuzwa wokuthi angikakakufanelekeli ukuphathiswa imithwalo enjalo. Noma kunjalo, uMfoweth’u-Inaudi wayelokhu ethi kimi, ‘Ungakhathazeki, ungakwenza!’ Ngemva kwesikhathi sanquma ukuya. Ngakho, ngo-1973 sadayisa yonke into futhi sathuthela eHuahine nabantwana bethu abathathu abancane.
“Lapho sifika, ngathola ukuthi kwakufanele ngiqale phansi yonke into—iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda, ISikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini, njalonjalo. Kwakungelula, kodwa sezwa isivikelo nosizo lukaJehova. Ezikhathini eziningi wasisiza ukuba sithole indawo yokuhlala. Khona-ke, lapho iqembu labaphikisi lizama ukuxosha oFakazi esiqhingini, savikelwa isazi sezombangazwe sendawo. Ngempela, uJehova wayesibhekile kuso sonke leso sikhathi.” Manje, sekunamabandla amabili eHuahine—ibandla lesiFulentshi elinabamemezeli abangu-23 nelesiTahiti elinabamemezeli abangu-55.
Ngo-1969, uHélène Mapu wabelwa ukuyosebenza enhlonhlweni njengephayona elikhethekile. “Isithakazelo sasisikhulu enhlonhlweni, futhi ngesikhathi esifushane ngaqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi,” kusho uHélène. Ngokushesha kwamiswa ibandla elincane eVairao, kodwa kwakusenendingeko yabadala. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uColson Deane, wayekwazi ukunikeza usizo ePapara eyayiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-35. “Kwakudingeka sihleleke kahle ukuze sikhonze eVairo,” kulandisa uMfoweth’uDeane. “Ngangisebenza eFaaa, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-70 eVairao ngakolunye uhlangothi lwesiqhingi. Ngemva komsebenzi, kwakudingeka ngiphuthume ekhaya, ngithathe umkhaya wami, bese ngiya eVairao. Kamuva kwadingeka sithuthele eFaaa ngenxa yomsebenzi wami. Ingabe sasisayokwazi ukusekela iBandla LaseVairao? Ngempela sasisafuna ukusiza abafowethu khona, ngakho sanquma ukuqhubeka. Kusihlwa ngezinsuku zemihlangano sasiqabukela sifike ekhaya ngaphambi kwamabili ngoba kwakumelwe sithuthe siphindelela siyisa emakhaya labo ababengenazo izimoto. Lokhu sakwenza iminyaka emihlanu. Manje kuyinjabulo enkulu ukubona amabandla amane kulengxenye yesiqhingi, futhi sinezinkumbulo ezijabulisayo zalezo zinsuku.”
ITahiti Iba Igatsha
Ngo-1974 inani labamemezeli boMbuso eTahiti lase landé laba ngu-199. Ngonyaka owalandela lapho uN. H. Knorr owayengumongameli noF. W. Franz owayeyisekela likamongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, bevakashela iFrench Polynesia, babona ukuthi kwakuzoba lula ngokwengeziwe ukuba umsebenzi wokushumayela eFrench Polynesia, ungaqondiswa yiFiji eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-3 500 kodwa ube ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweTahiti. Ngakho, ngo-April 1, 1975, igatsha laseTahiti lamiswa, futhi umbonisi wesifunda, u-Alain Jamet, wamiswa njengombonisi wegatsha.
Eminyakeni embalwa edlule, uMfoweth’uJamet wakwazi ukulandisa izibusiso zikaJehova ezimangalisayo. “Kusukela ngo-1975 kuye kwenziwa umzamo omkhulu wokuyisa izindaba ezinhle kuzo zonke iziqhingi nedlanzana leziqhingi ensimini yethu, ehlanganisa indawo enkulu engangeNtshonalanga Yurophu. Imiphumela iyajabulisa. Ngo-1983 inani labamemezeli lase landé laba ngu-538. Ngalowo nyaka kwakhiwa isakhiwo sehhovisi legatsha neKhaya LaseBethel ePaea. Manje, cishe kunabamemezeli abangu-1 900 abasakazeké emabandleni angu-30 eSociety Islands, ibandla elilodwa neqembu elingalodwa e-Austral Islands, ibandla elilodwa namaqembu angawodwa amabili eMarquesas, namaqembu angawodwa amaningana eTuamotu naseGambier Islands. Kwakhiwa amaHholo OMbuso amasha amaningi—amathathu eMarquesas nayisikhombisa eTahiti—ukuze kunakekelwe inani elandayo labantu abasha abeza emihlanganweni. Kuleminyaka engu-20 edlule, uJehova uye wayibusisa ngempela imizamo yethu yokulima insimu yaseTahiti.”
Kusekuningi Okumele Kwenziwe
Amathuba okwanda eFrench Polynesia mahle kakhulu. Ngo-March 23, 1997, abantu abangu-5376 babuthana noFakazi BakaJehova kulo lonke elaseFrench Polynesia ngeSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu Kristu. Ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezidingo ezingokomoya zalaba bantu abathakazelayo, izincwadi zethu zokutadisha iBhayibheli ziye zatholakala ngezilimi eziningana zendawo. Ngaphandle kwesiTahiti, kuye kwalungiselelwa izincwadi ngesiPaumotu, esikhulunywa eTuamotu Archipelago naseNyakatho kanye naseNingizimu yeMarquesas.
Ukwanda okuqhubekayo nokuhlangenwe nakho okuhle kuye kwasiza abamemezeli boMbuso eTahiti ukuba balwazise ngokugcwele uthando nokubekezela kukaJehova, “ontando yakhe iwukuba zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso,” ngisho naseziqhingini ezikude zaseSouth Sea. (1 Thimothewu 2:4) OFakazi BakaJehova eTahiti nakwezinye iziqhingi zaseFrench Polynesia basikholelwa ngokugcwele isithembiso sikaJehova: “Iziqhingi ziyangihlalela, zilindela umkhono wami.”—Isaya 51:5.
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 26]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
Igatsha laseTahiti linakekela izidingo zaseFrench Polynesia
AUSTRALIA
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Ukusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: u-Alain Jamet, uMary-Ann Jamet, u-Agnès Schenck, uPaulette Inaudi noJacques Inaudi
[Isithombe ekhasini 27]
Ihhovisi legatsha laseTahiti