Abangane BakaNkulunkulu “EziQhingini Ezinobungane”
Ngo-1932 umkhumbi othile waletha imbewu eyigugu eTonga. Ukaputeni walowo mkhumbi wanika uCharles Vete incwajana ethi “Where Are the Dead?” UCharles wayeqiniseka ukuthi uthole iqiniso. Ngemva kwesikhashana, indlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova yasamukela isicelo sikaCharles sokuhumushela leyo ncwajana olimini lwakhe. Lapho eseqede lowo msebenzi, wathunyelelwa izincwajana ezinyathelisiwe ezingu-1 000 futhi waqala ukuzisakaza. Yaqala kanjalo imbewu yoMbuso kaJehova ukusakazeka endaweni yaseTonga.
EBALAZWENI laseSouth Pacific, iTonga ungayithola nje ngasentshonalanga kwalapho i-international date line, ihlangana khona neNjiko Yempunzi (Tropic of Capricorn). Isiqhingi sakhona esikhulu kunazo zonke, iTongatapu, sisemakhilomitheni angaba ngu-2 000 enyakatho-mpumalanga ye-Auckland, eNew Zealand. ITonga yakhiwa iziqhingi ezingu-171, ezingu-45 zazo zinabantu abahlala kuzo. Umhloli wamazwe odumile waseBrithani wangekhulu le-18, uJames Cook waqamba lezi ziqhingana ezingazodwa ngokuthi iziQhingi Ezinobungane.
Njengoba inabantu abacishe babe ngu-106 000, iTonga ineziqhingana ezakha amaqoqo amathathu—amaqoqo amakhulu alezi ziqhingana iTongatapu, iHa’apai, neVava’u. Emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova amahlanu endawo, amathathu aseqoqweni iTongatapu elinabantu abaningi, elinye liseHa’apai, kanti elinye liseVava’u. Ukuze basize abantu babe abangane bakaNkulunkulu, oFakazi BakaJehova banekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi lokuhumusha eduze kwaseNuku’alofa eyinhloko-dolobha.—Isaya 41:8.
Kusukela ngawo-1930, uCharles Vete wayaziwa kabanzi njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, nakuba aze abhapathizwa ngo-1964. Abanye bahlanganyela kanye naye emsebenzini wokushumayela, futhi ngo-1966 kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elihlalisa abantu abangu-30. Ngo-1970 kwamiswa ibandla labamemezeli boMbuso abangu-20 eNuku’alofa.
Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kubonakala ngokucacile ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi omprofethi u-Isaya eziqhingini zaseTonga: “Mabanike uJehova inkazimulo, mabazise udumo lwakhe naseziqhingini.” (Isaya 42:12) Umsebenzi woMbuso uye waqhubeka uchuma njengoba kusizwa abaningi ukuba babe nobuhlobo noJehova. Emhlanganweni wesigodi eNuku’alofa ngo-2003, kwaba nenani eliphakeme labangu-407, kwabhapathizwa abangu-5. Ngo-2004, kwaba khona abantu abangu-621 eSikhumbuzweni, okuyinkomba yokuthi kusazoba nokwanda.
Baphila Ukuphila Okulula
Nokho, kude nenhloko-dolobha, kusenesidingo esibonakalayo sabamemezeli boMbuso. Ngokwesibonelo, abantu abangu-8 500 abahlala eziqhingini ezingu-16 zeqoqo laseHa’apai badinga ukuzwa okwengeziwe ngeqiniso leBhayibheli. Ingxenye enkulu yeHa’apai ineziqhingana eziphansi ezinezihlahla zesundu nodedangendlale wamabhishi anesihlabathi esimhlophe. Amanzi olwandle acwengeke ngokuphawulekayo, ngokuvamile ungakwazi ukubona into ephansi emamitheni angaphezu kwangu-30. Kuyisenzakalo esijabulisayo ukubhukuda phakathi kwezixhobo zama-coral nezinhlobonhlobo zezinhlanzi ezimibalabala ezingaphezu kwekhulu. Imizana yakhona ivame ukuba mincane. Izindlu, nakuba zingezinhle kangako, zakhiwe ngendlela yokuthi zikwazi ukumelana nezikhwishikhwishi zasezindaweni ezishisayo.
Izihlahla ze-breadfruit nezikamango zenza imithunzi futhi zibuye zibe nezithelo zokudliwa. Ingxenye enkulu yosuku isetshenziselwa ukuyofuna ukudla futhi kuphekwe. Ngaphandle kwenyama yengulube, abantu bakulezi ziqhingi bajabulela inala yokudla abakudoba olwandle. Izingadi zemikhaya zikhiqiza izilimo eziyizimpande ezidliwayo kanye nemifino. Endle kunezihlahla zezithelo; izihlahla zikakhukhunathi nezikabhanana zixhaphakile. Zonke izizukulwane zifundiswa ulwazi lwendawo lwamakhambi, amaqabunga, amagxolo, nezimpande.
Yiqiniso, okuhle kakhulu ngeHa’apai abantu bakhona abanobungane abavele bafane nesimo sendawo esinokuthula. Kuphilwa ukuphila okulula lapha. Abesifazane abaningi benza imisebenzi yezandla—benza obhasikidi, indwangu eyenziwe ngamagxolo agxotshiwe kanye namacansi. Lapho besebenza, abesifazane baseTonga bahlala phansi, baxoxe, bacule, futhi bahleke ndawonye ngaphansi komthunzi wesihlahla, ngokuvamile izingane nezinsana zabo zidlala noma zilele budebuduze. Futhi lapho ulwandle lusabohlile, ngokuvamile abesifazane bayahamba bayofuna izimbaza emadwaleni bafune nezinye izilwanyana zasolwandle ezidliwayo, kanye nolele lwasolwandle oluhlafazelayo olwehla esiphundu lapho selwenziwe isaladi.
Amadoda amaningi asebenzisa isikhathi sawo etshala, edoba, ebaza, akha izikebhe, futhi elungisa amanethi okudoba. Amadoda, abesifazane nezingane bahamba kulezi ziqhingi ngezikebhe zokudoba ezinompheme beyovakashela izihlobo, beyothola usizo lokwelashwa noma beyothengisa imikhiqizo.
Izindaba Ezinhle Zifinyelela Nakude
Ngo-2002, phakathi nenkathi yeSikhumbuzo, kwafika izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili nezikhonzi ezimbili ezingamaphayona kule ndawo enhle. Abantu baseHa’apai base beke bashunyayezwa ngaphambili futhi banikwa izincwadi ezinyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova, futhi oFakazi baze batadisha nabo iBhayibheli.
Abafundisi beBhayibheli abane ababevakashe kule ndawo babenemigomo emithathu: ukuhambisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli, ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya, nokumema abanesithakazelo ukuba beze eSidlweni SeNkosi Sakusihlwa. Yafezeka yomithathu imigomo yabo. Abantu abangu-97 basamukela isimemo sokuba khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaJesu. Abanye babo bahamba ngezikebhe ezingenamipheme naphezu kwemvula eyayiyidliva nemimoya enamandla. Ngenxa yesimo sezulu esibi, abaningi balala khona eSikhumbuzweni, babuyela ngakusasa emakhaya.
Kwakunzima nasesikhulumini seSikhumbuzo. Isithunywa sevangeli esasibeka inkulumo siyakhumbula: “Akudingeki ngisho ukuthi kuthusa kanjani ukubeka izinkulumo zeSikhumbuzo ezimbili ngolimi okungelona olwakho ngobusuku obubodwa. Ungacabanga ukuthi ngangikhathazeke kanjani. Yeka indlela owasiza ngayo umthandazo! Ngakhumbula amagama nemisho engangingazi nokuthi ngiyayazi.”
Ngenxa yokuhlakulela kwabashumayeli isithakazelo esase sikhona kakade eziqhinganeni zaseHa’apai, kwabhapathizwa imibhangqwana eshadile emibili kuleyo ndawo. Komunye wale mibhangqwana, indoda yakhona yaba nesithakazelo ezincwadini zoFakazi lapho iqeqeshelwa ukuba umfundisi esontweni lendawo.
Naphezu kokudla imbuya ngothi, lapho kunenkonzo yesonto yenkongozelo eyenziwa minyaka yonke, indoda ethile nomkayo babevame ukunikela ngemali eningi lapho kubizwa amagama abo. UFakazi owayevakashile ngaphambili wayecele le ndoda ukuba ivule iBhayibheli layo bese ifunda eyoku-1 Thimothewu 5:8. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Uma umuntu engabondli abakubo, ikakhulukazi labo abangamalungu endlu yakhe, uluphikile ukholo futhi mubi kakhulu kunomuntu ongenalo ukholo.” Lesi simiso seBhayibheli sayithinta inhliziyo le ndoda. Yabona ukuthi ngokuvuma ukukhokha imali eningi efunwa isonto, yayingazinakekeli izidingo eziyisisekelo zomkhaya wayo. Enkonzweni eyalandela yenkongozelo eyenziwa minyaka yonke, le ndoda ayikwazanga ukuziba incwadi yoku-1 Thimothewu 5:8 nakuba yayinayo imali ephaketheni. Lapho kubizwa igama layo, ngesibindi yatshela umpristi ukuthi izidingo zomkhaya wayo ziza kuqala. Ngenxa yalokho, abefundisi besonto bawugxeka lo mbhangqwana futhi bawusola phambi kwabantu.
Ngemva kokutadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova, le ndoda nomkayo baba abamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle. Indoda ithi: “Iqiniso leBhayibheli lingishintshile. Angisenalo unya nokhahlo emkhayeni wami. Angisaphuzi ngeqise. Abantu endaweni bayalubona ushintsho olwenziwe iqiniso ekuphileni kwami. Ngethemba ukuthi nabo bayogcina belithande njengami iqiniso.”
I-Quest Eyasetshenziselwa Ukufuna Abantu
Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ngemva kweSikhumbuzo sango-2002, omunye umkhumbi weza nomthwalo oyigugu eHa’apai ecezile. Umkhumbi i-Quest ongamamitha angu-18 owawusuka eNew Zealand wathubeleza phakathi kweziqhingana zaseTonga. Kuwo kwakunoGary noHetty, behamba nendodakazi yabo uKatie. Baphelezelwa abazalwane nodade baseTonga abangu-9 nezithunywa zevangeli ezimbili ohambweni olubili. OFakazi bendawo basiza ekuwuhambiseni ngekhono umkhumbi, ngezinye izikhathi bewuhambisa emadwaleni angaveziwe ebalazweni. Kwakungelona uhambo lokungcebeleka lolu. Ababesemkhumbini babezele ukuzofundisa iqiniso leBhayibheli. Bahamba indawo enkulu yolwandle bevakashela iziqhingi ezingu-14. Kwezinye zalezo ziqhingana zazingakaze zishunyayelwe izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.
Babesabela kanjani abantu? Ngokuvamile, abashumayeli abahamba ngomkhumbi babamukelwa ngemizwa eyingxube; babamukelwa ngokusolwa, ngemfudumalo nangomoya wokungenisa izihambi ovamile kule ndawo. Lapho nje abantu basesiqhingini sebazi ukuthi bavakashe nganjongoni laba bantu, babebonisa ukwazisa okujulile. Kwakusobala koFakazi ababevakashile ukuthi abantu bakulezi ziqhingi bayalihlonipha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nokuthi bayasiqaphela isidingo sabo esingokomoya.—Mathewu 5:3.
Kaningi, izivakashi zazihlala ngaphansi kwezihlahla zizungezwe abantu abanemibuzo eminingi ephathelene nemiBhalo. Lapho sekuhwalele, lezi zingxoxo zeBhayibheli zaziqhutshwa emakhaya. Lapho oFakazi sebehamba, abantu bakwesinye isiqhingana bathi: “Ningahambi! Ubani ozosiphendulela imibuzo yethu uma nina nihamba?” Omunye uFakazi waphawula: “Kwakunzima njalo ukuhamba sishiye abantu abaningi kangaka abanjengezimvu abalambele iqiniso. Kutshalwe imbewu yeqiniso eningi.” Lapho i-Quest ifika kwesinye isiqhingana, oFakazi bathola wonke umuntu egqoke inzila. Kwakusanda kushona inkosikazi yenduna. Le nduna yababonga ngokwayo abafowethu ngokuletha umyalezo weBhayibheli oduduzayo.
Kwakungelula ukufika kwezinye iziqhingana. UHetty uyachaza: “Esinye isiqhingana sasingenalo ugu olukahle lokumisa, kwakunamawa nje kuphela aqala lapho kuphela khona ulwandle. Sasingafika kulezi ziqhingana kuphela ngesikejana esigwedlwayo esenziwe ngenjoloba. Okokuqala, kwakudingeka siphonse imithwalo yethu ogwini lapho kwakumi khona abantu abaningi ababefuna ukusisiza. Kwakuthi lapho isikejana sikhuphuka siba maqondana newa, sigxume siphume ngaphambi kokuba sehle kanye nolwandle.”
Nokho, akubona bonke ababesemkhunjini ababenesibindi. Ngemva kokuhamba olwandle amasonto amabili, ukaputeni wabhala ngokuqondene nohambo lokubuyela esiqhingini esikhulu iTongatapu: “Sisasalelwe amahora angu-18. Asikwazi ukuhamba singami ndawo ngoba sihamba nabantu abaguliswa ulwandle. Siyajabula ngokuthi sesibuyela ekhaya kodwa futhi sidumele kakhulu ngokuthi sishiya abantu abaningi kangaka asebezwe isigijimi soMbuso. Sibashiya esandleni sikaJehova, besizwa umoya wakhe ongcwele nezingelosi ukuba bakhule ngokomoya.”
Iziqhingi Ezithembisayo
Cishe ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha i-Quest ihambile, uStephen noMalaki, amaphayona akhethekile amabili, babelwa ukuyoshumayela eqoqweni leziqhingana zaseHa’apai. Bekanye naleya mibhangqwana emibili eyayisanda kubhapathizwa, bafika bahlanganyela ekufundiseni iBhayibheli. Kuba nezingxoxo ezithakazelisayo eziphathelene nezimfundiso, futhi abamemezeli balisebenzisa kahle iBhayibheli.
Ngo-December 1, 2003, kwamiswa ibandla eHaʹapai, okungelesihlanu eTonga. Kulabo ababa khona, kuba khona izingane eziningi. Ziye zafunda ukulalelisisa. Zihlala zithule futhi ziyathanda ukuhlanganyela ezingxenyeni lapho kuphendula khona izilaleli. Umbonisi wesifunda waphawula ukuthi “ulwazi lwazo lwencwadi ethi Incwadi Yami Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli lubonisa ukuthi abazali bawuthatha ngokungathí sina umthwalo wabo wemfanelo wokugxilisa iqiniso leBhayibheli ezinganeni zabo.” Ngokusobala, lezi ziqhingi ziyethembisa impela ukuthi kuzoba nabangane bakaJehova abengeziwe.
Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-70 edlule, lapho uCharles Vete ehumushela incwajana ethi Where Are the Dead? olimini lwakhe isiTonga, wayengazi ukuthi imbewu yoMbuso yayiyoba nezimpande kangakanani ezinhliziyweni zabantu bakubo. Kusukela kuleso siqalo esiphansi, uJehova uye waqhubeka ebusisa ukumenyezelwa okwandayo kwezindaba ezinhle kuleyo ngxenye yomhlaba. Namuhla, kungashiwo ngempela ukuthi iTonga iphakathi kweziqhingi zasolwandle ezikude eziphendukela kuJehova. (IHubo 97:1; Isaya 51:5) Manje kunabangane bakaJehova abaningi ‘eziQhingini Ezinobungane.’
[Isithombe ekhasini 8]
UCharles Vete, ngo-1983
[Izithombe ekhasini 9]
Ukwenza indwangu yamagxolo agxotshiwe
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Umkhumbi i-“Quest” wasetshenziselwa ukusakaza izindaba ezinhle eTonga
[Isithombe ekhasini 11]
Iqembu labahumushi, eNukuʹalofa
[Imithombo Yezithombe ekhasini 9]
Making tapa cloth: © Jack Fields/CORBIS; background of pages 8 and 9, and fishing: © Fred J. Eckert