Ukusebenzela Ukuba “Isisebenzi Okungekho Lutho Esingaba Namahloni Nngakho”

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA U-ANDRÉ SOPPA

IMpi Yezwe II yayibhidlangile, ibhubhisa abantu abaningi futhi ibangela ukuphela kwethemba ngendlela engenakuchazeka. Njengoba ngangiwumkhiphi wesixwayiso weButho Lasemanzini LaseJalimane elaliseduze neNarvik, eNorway, ngangikwazi ukuzibonela mathupha unya lomuntu komunye umuntu. Ebusuku, lapho ngikhosele emngeneleni wolwandle ophahlwe amawa, ubuhle bokukhanya kwasenyakatho esibhakabhakeni (i-aurora borealis) bangenza ngacabanga ngokujulile ngokuphila. Ngangiqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu owadala izinto ezinjengalezi kwakungeyena obangela le mpi eyayibhidlangile.

NNGAZALWA ngo-1923 edolobhaneni laseLassoth (manje eliyiPoland), eliseduze nomngcele waseCzechoslovakia, futhi ngakhulela emkhayeni ompofu owawungabalimi. Abazali bami babengamaKatolika, futhi inkolo yayinengxenye ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwethu. Nokho, ngaqala ngisemncane ukuyingabaza inkolo yami. Edolobhaneni esasihlala kulo, kwakunemikhaya emithathu eyayingamaProthestani, futhi umphakathi wamaKatolika wawuyibandlulula. Ngangingaqondi ukuthi kungani kwakufanele kube njalo. Esikoleni sasifundiswa ikhathekizimu. Kodwa ngolunye usuku lapho ngicela umpristi ukuba angichazele uZiqu-zintathu, wangiphendula ngokungishaya imivimbo eyishumi ngenduku. Nokho, okwaluqeda dú uthando lwami lwesonto kwaba okuthile okwenzeka lapho ngineminyaka engu-17 ubudala. Abazali bakamama bashona belandelana, beshiyana ngenyanga eyodwa, futhi umama wayengenayo imali eyanele yokukhokhela izinkonzo ezimbili zomngcwabo zasesontweni. Ngakho wabuza umpristi ukuthi angamkhokhela yini kamuva. “Abazali bakho bebenempahla, akunjalo?” ephendula. “Yithengise, imali yayo uyisebenzisele umngcwabo.”

Eminyakeni embalwa ngaphambi kwalokho, ngemva kokuba uHitler eqale ukubusa ngo-1933, sasingasavunyelwe ukuba sikhulume isiPolishi; kwadingeka sikhulume isiJalimane. Labo ababenqaba, noma ababengakwazi ukufunda isiJalimane baya ngokuya benyamalala—kamuva satshelwa ukuthi babethunyelwa emakamu okuhlushwa. Ngisho negama ledolobhana esasihlala kulo lashintshwa lethiwa igama lesiJalimane, elithi Grünfliess. Ngayeka isikole ngineminyaka engu-14 ubudala, futhi ngenxa yokuthi ngangingelona ilungu lenhlangano i-Hitler Youth, kwaba nzima ukuba ngithole umsebenzi. Nokho, ekugcineni ngaqashwa lapho ngangizoqeqeshelwa khona ukuba umkhandi wensimbi. Lapho kuqala impi, esontweni kwakuthandazelwa uHitler namabutho aseJalimane. Ngangizibuza ukuthi abangakolunye uhlangothi abenzi yini imithandazo efanayo.

Ukusebenza EButhweni Lasemanzini LaseJalimane

Ngo-December 1941, ngabhalisela ukuya eButhweni Lasemanzini LaseJalimane, futhi ekuqaleni kuka-1942, ngathunyelwa ogwini lwaseNorway ukuyokhonza emkhunjini wezinhloli. Sabelwa umsebenzi wokuhamba nemikhumbi ehamba phakathi kweTrondheim ne-Oslo, siphelekezela imikhumbi ethwele amabutho empi, izikhali noma izimpahla. Kwakungesikhathi ngisolwandle lapho ngezwa khona amatilosi amabili ekhuluma ngokuphela kwezwe okubikezelwe eBhayibhelini. Nakuba ayesaba ukukhuluma ngokukhululekile, angitshela ukuthi abazali bawo babehlanganyela noFakazi BakaJehova kodwa wona ayengazange alandele isibonelo sabo. Ngangiqala ngqá ukuzwa ngoFakazi BakaJehova.

Ekupheleni kwempi, saboshwa abaseBrithani basinikela kwabaseMelika ukuze basibuyisele eJalimane. Thina esasinamakhaya ayewele engxenyeni eyiSoviet sathunyelwa ekamu leziboshwa eLiévin, enyakatho yeFrance, ukuyosebenza ezimayini zamalahle. Kwakungu-August 1945. Ngiyakhumbula ngibuza omunye wonogada bami baseFrance ukuthi wayengowayiphi inkolo. “NgingumKatolika,” ephendula. Njengoba nami ngangingumKatolika, ngambuza ukuthi sasonane ngani. “Akusizi ukuzama ukuqonda. Kunjalo nje,” ephendula. Kimina kwakungenangqondo ukuba abantu benkolo efanayo balwe bodwa futhi babulalane.

Umsebe Wokukhanya Emayini Yamalahle

Ngosuku lokuqala ngisemayini nezisebenzi zendawo zasemayini, esinye isisebenzi okuthiwa u-Evans Emiot sadla nami amasemeshi aso. Sasidabuka e-Ohio, e-United States, futhi sase sihlale iminyaka eminingana eFrance. Sakhuluma nami ngezwe okungeke kusaba khona izimpi kulo. Isimo saso somusa sangimangaza. Sasingenanzondo nakuba ngangingumJalimane futhi sona singumMelika. Asibange sisabonana kwaze kwaba sekuqaleni kuka-1948 lapho sanginika khona incwajana enesihloko esithi “The Prince of Peace.” Lapho, ekugcineni ngafunda ngoNkulunkulu wokuhle oyizondayo impi—uhlobo lukaNkulunkulu engangicabanga ngalo lapho ngibuka ukukhanya kwasenyakatho. Ngazimisela ukuthola inkolo efundisa lokhu. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi u-Evans wayesebenza kwenye ingxenye yemayini, ngangingakwazi ukuxhumana naye. Ngaya kuwo wonke amaqembu ezinkolo ekamu leziboshwa, ngibuza ukuthi kwakukhona yini okuthile abakwaziyo ngale ncwajana, kodwa angitholanga lutho.

Ekugcineni, ngo-April 1948, ngakhululwa ekamu leziboshwa futhi ngaba isisebenzi esikhululekile. NgeSonto elilandelayo, ngamangala lapho ngizwa kukhala insimbi encane emgwaqweni. Yeka indlela engajabula ngayo lapho ngibona u-Evans! Wayeneqembu loFakazi BakaJehova elalifake izingqwembe ezazimemezela isihloko senkulumo yeningi. UFakazi owayeshaya insimbi kwakunguMarceau Leroy, manje oyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha eFrance. Ngethulwa kuJoseph Kulczak wasePoland owayekhuluma isiJalimane, owahlupheka ngenxa yokholo lwakhe emakamu okuhlushwa. Wangimemela emhlanganweni ngalobo busuku. Ngangingakuqondi okuningi kwalokho okwakushiwo, kodwa lapho bonke ababekhona bephakamisa izandla, ngabuza lowo owayeseduze kwami ukuthi kungani babenza kanjalo. Wathi: “Yilabo abangaya eDunkerque bayoshumayela ngesonto elizayo.” Ngabuza: “Ngingeza nami?” Impendulo yaba ukuthi “Ngokuqinisekile, ungeza!” Ngakho ngeSonto elilandelayo ngabe sengishumayela endlini ngendlu. Nakuba kwakungewona wonke umuntu esasihlangana naye owayekahle, ngakujabulela futhi ngokushesha ngabe sengishumayela njalo.

Ukufunda Ukulawula Intukuthelo

Ngemva nje kwalokho, oFakazi baqala ukushumayela emakamu eziboshwa zaseJalimane ezase zikhululiwe. Kwakungelula ngami, ngoba lapho ngangaziwa kakhulu ngokuthukuthela kakhulu. Lapho othile engafuni ukunaka lokho engikushoyo, ngangimsongela, ngithi: “Uma ungaqaphile, uzongena engozini.” Ngesinye isikhathi ngisebenza emayini, ngaze ngashaya othile ngesibhakela owayeklolodela uJehova.

Nokho, ngosizo lukaJehova, ngakwazi ukushintsha ubuntu bami. Ngolunye usuku, sishumayela kula makamu, iqembu lamadoda elaliphuze ngokweqile utshwala lalihlupha abanye boFakazi. Azi ukuthi ngangishesha ukuthukuthela, umzalwane engangihamba naye wazama ukungivimba ekubeni ngingenele, kodwa enye yalawo madoda yaqonda ngqó kimi ingasadle nkobe zamuntu futhi yaqala ukukhumula ibhantshi layo. Ngehla ebhayisekilini lami, ngambambisa lona futhi ngafaka izandla emaphaketheni. Wamangala kangangokuthi walalela lokho engangikusho. Ngamtshela ukuba aye ekhaya ayolala abese eza enkulumweni yeningi. Ngempela, ngo–3:00 ntambama wafika! Ekugcineni, cishe abangu-20 ababeyiziboshwa bamukela isigijimi. Kanti mina ngabhapathizwa ngo-September 1948.

Isimiso Esasingigcina Ngimatasa Kodwa Esinomvuzo

Nganikwa umthwalo wemfanelo wokunakekela izindawo esasizoshumayela kuzo nokuthola izindawo esasizoba nezinkulumo zeningi kuzo. Ukuze ngifeze lokhu, ngezinye izikhathi ngangihamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 ngesithuthuthu sami esincane, ngaphambi kokuba ngiye emsebenzini wasebusuku emayini. Kwakube sekuthi ngezimpelasonto, siye ensimini ngebhasi elalihambe lehlisa abamemezeli ababili noma abane kanye nesikhulumi. Emadolobheni amakhulu, lapho sithola indawo efanelekayo, sasinqwabelanisa amapotimende ethu ukuze abe indawo yokuma yesikhulumi. Ngokuvamile, sasifaka izingqwembe ezazimemezela isihloko senkulumo yeningi esasimemela abantu kuyo.

Kwakungo-1951 lapho ngihlangana noJeannette Chauffour, uFakazi waseReims. Sathandana siqabukana nje, futhi ngemva konyaka, ngo-May 17, 1952, sashada. Sathuthela ePecquencourt, edolobheni elinemayini eliseduze neDouai. Nokho, ngokushesha ngaqala ukuba nezinkinga zempilo. Kwatholakala ukuthi ngangine-silicosis, isifo somgudu wokuphefumula esasibangelwa ukusebenza ezimayini, kodwa ngangingakwazi ukuthola omunye umsebenzi. Ngakho, lapho ngo-1955, emhlanganweni wezizwe eNuremberg, eJalimane, sicelwa ukuba siyosiza ibandla elincane eKehl, okuyindawo encane yezimboni ngakuyiRhine, sasikhululekile ukuba sithuthele lapho. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-45 kuphela kulelo bandla. Eminyakeni engu-7 eyalandela sisebenza naleli bandla, inani labamemezeli landa laba ngu-95.

Amalungelo Engeziwe Enkonzo

Lapho sesibona ukuthi lelo bandla lase lisimeme, sacela ukuba iNhlangano isabele eFrance njengamaphayona akhethekile. Samangala kakhulu lapho sabelwa eParis. Izinyanga ezingu-8 esasebenza ngazo lapho zazigcwele injabulo enkulu. Sobabili, mina noJeannette saba nelungelo lokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-42. Abahlanu balaba esasifunda nabo babhapathizwa sisekhona lapho kanti kamuva kwaba nabanye abangu-11 abalamukela iqiniso.

Njengoba sasihlala eLatin Quarter, sasivame ukuhlangana nawoprofesa baseSorbonne. Uprofesa wefilosofi owayesethathe umhlala-phansi owayephulukisa ngomthandazo wafunda iBhayibheli futhi ekugcineni waba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngolunye usuku ngaqala ingxoxo yeBhayibheli nonjiniyela wemisebenzi yokwakha owayejwayelene kakhulu nabantu abafundisa ubuJesuit. Wafika lapho sihlala khona ngehora lesithathu ntambama waze wahamba ngehora leshumi ngalobo busuku. Samangala lapho ebuya ngemva kwehora nengxenye. Wayesekhulume nomJesuit owayehlulekile ukuphendula imibuzo yakhe ephathelene nesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Wabuyela ekhaya ngehora lokuqala ekuseni, kodwa waphinde wabuya ngehora lesikhombisa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, naye waba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ukomela iqiniso okungako kwaba isikhuthazo esikhulu kimi nakumkami.

Ngemva kokukhonza eParis, ngacelwa ukuba ngikhonze njengombonisi ojikelezayo empumalanga yeFrance. Sakujabulela ngempela ukuhambela amabandla akhuluma isiFulentshi nesiJalimane, siqinisa abafowethu. Lapho sihambele ibandla laseRombas, eLorraine, ngahlangana noStanislas Ambroszczak. Kwakungumuntu wasePoland owayekhonze kumkhumbi-ngwenya Wamazwe Asizanayo phakathi nempi futhi wayeke walwela olwandle lwaseNorway. Sasisezinhlangothini eziphikisanayo lapho sihamba kuleyo ngxenye yolwandle. Manje sase singabazalwane abasebenza ndawonye ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu wethu, uJehova. Ngesinye isikhathi sisemhlanganweni eParis, ngabona othile engangimazi. Kwakungukhomanda wasekamu engangiboshwe kulo enyakatho yeFrance. Yeka indlela esasijabule ngayo ukusebenza ndawonye phakathi nalowo mhlangano! Lawo amandla eZwi likaNkulunkulu aguqula izitha zangesikhathi esidlule zibe abazalwane nabangane abasondelene!

Ngokudabukisayo, ngemva kweminyaka engu-14 ngisemsebenzini wokujikeleza, kwadingeka ngiyeke ngenxa yokuwohloka kwempilo yami. Nokho, mina nomkami sasizimisele ukuqhubeka sikhonza uJehova ngokusemandleni ethu. Ngakho sathola indawo yokuhlala nomsebenzi edolobheni laseMulhouse, empumalanga yeFrance, futhi saba amaphayona (abashumayeli bevangeli besikhathi esigcwele).

Enye injabulo enkulu engibe nayo eminyakeni edlule kuye kwaba eyokuba nengxenye ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMbuso. Ngo-1985, ngacelwa ukuba ngihlele iqembu lokwakha empumalanga yeFrance. Ngokusebenzisa abantu abanamakhono omsebenzi nokuqeqesha izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezizimisele, sakwazi ukwakha iqembu elahlanganyela ekwakheni nasekulungiseni kabusha amahholo angaphezu kuka-80, liwenza alungele ukukhulekela uJehova. Ngo-1993, yeka indlela engakujabulela ngayo ukusebenza ekwakhiweni kweHholo Lomhlangano namaHholo OMbuso amahlanu eFrench Guiana, eNingizimu Melika!

Ukuphokophela Phambili Naphezu Kokulingwa

Ngingasho ngokuqinisekile ukuthi eminyakeni engu-50 edlule yomsebenzi ongokwasezulwini, ukuphila kwami kuye kwagcwala injabulo enkulu namalungelo enkonzo. Ngokudabukisayo, ngo-December 1995 umkami othandekayo, engase ngiphile naye iminyaka engu-43, washona. Nakuba lesi kwakuyisikhathi sosizi olukhulu—futhi ngisadabukile nanamuhla—uJehova unginika amandla, futhi abafowethu nawodadewethu abangokomoya baye bangibonisa uthando futhi bangisekela ngendlela edambisa ubuhlungu ngandlela-thile ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.

Ngisawakhumbula ngokucacile amazwi omfowethu ogcotshiwe emhlanganweni waseMunich, eJalimane, ngo-1963. Wathi: “André ungabheki ngakwesobunxele noma ngakwesokudla. Abafowethu ababesemakamu okuhlushwa babhekana nokulingwa. Manje sekukithina ukuba siqhubeke. Akumelwe nanini sizidabukele. Ngakho qhubeka!” Ngiye ngakukhumbula njalo lokhu. Manje njengoba ngingasenakwenza okungako ngenxa yokugula nokukhula, amazwi akumaHeberu 6:10 awumthombo wenduduzo njalo kimi, athi: “UNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wenu nothando enalubonisa kulo igama lakhe.” Yebo, ukusebenza enkonzweni kaJehova kuyilungelo elikhulu kunawo wonke umuntu angaba nawo. Phakathi neminyaka engu-50 edlule, ngisho namanje, umgomo wami uwukuba “isisebenzi okungekho lutho esingaba namahloni ngakho.”—2 Thimothewu 2:15.

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Uhlobo lomkhumbi engangisebenza kuwo emngeneleni wolwandle eNorway

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Ukushumayela ngamabhayisekili enyakatho yeFrance

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Amapotimende anqwatshelanisiwe ayeba indawo yokuma yesikhulumi enkulumweni yeningi

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Nginomkami, uJeannette, emshadweni wethu ngo-1952