Indaba Yokuphila

Ngafunda Ukuthembela KuJehova Ngokuphelele

ILANDISWA U-AUBREY BAXTER

Ngolunye usuku, ngo-1940 kunguMgqibelo kusihlwa ngahlaselwa amadoda amabili, angishaya angilahla phansi. Budebuduze kwakumi amaphoyisa amabili, kodwa esikhundleni sokungisiza angithuka futhi azincoma lezi zidlamlilo. Izenzakalo ezaholela kule mpatho enonya zaziqale cishe eminyakeni emihlanu ngaphambili ngesikhathi ngisebenza emayini yamalahle. Wozani nendlebe mina ngize nendaba.

NGAZALWA ngo-1913 eSwansea, idolobha elingasogwini eNew South Wales, e-Australia, ngingowesithathu kubafana abane. Lapho ngineminyaka emihlanu ubudala, sonke ekhaya saphathwa umkhuhlane waseSpain omubi kakhulu owabulala izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke. Okujabulisayo ukuthi sonke salulama. Nokho, ngo-1933, sehlelwa usizi lapho umama eshona eneminyaka engu-47 ubudala. Njengoba ayengowesifazane owesaba uNkulunkulu, wayezitholele imiqulu emibili yencwadi ethi Light, izinsiza-kutadisha iBhayibheli ezazisakazwa oFakazi BakaJehova.

Ngaleso sikhathi, mina ngangisebenza emayini yamalahle. Ngenxa yokuthi sasiba matasa kakhulu emsebenzini ngezinye izikhathi, ngezinye umsebenzi ungabi mningi, ngangithatha lezo zincwadi ngiye nazo emsebenzini ngizifunde ngisizwa isibani se-carbide esasinamathiselwe kumakalabha wami. Kungakabiphi ngaqaphela ukuthi ngangithole iqiniso. Ngaqala nokulalela izinkulumo zeBhayibheli ezazisakazwa emoyeni esiteshini soFakazi. Ngajabula nakakhulu lapho ubaba nabafowethu beqala ukuba nesithakazelo eqinisweni leBhayibheli.

Ngo-1935, sabuye sambozwa elinye ifu elimnyama ngesikhathi umfowethu omncane, uBilly ephathwa inyumoniya futhi eshona. Wayeneminyaka engu-16 kuphela. Nokho, kulokhu saduduzwa ithemba lovuko. (IzEnzo 24:15) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ubaba nabafowethu abadala, uVerner noHarold nomkabo banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuNkulunkulu. Yimi ngedwa engisaphila kwabasekhaya. Nokho, inkosikazi yesibili kaVerner, uMarjorie, nenkosikazi kaHarold, u-Elizabeth, basashiseka enkonzweni kaJehova.

Ukufunda Ukuthembela KuJehova

Ngaze ngahlangana noFakazi BakaJehova okokuqala ngo-1935 ngesikhathi kufika owesifazane wase-Ukraine ekhaya ehamba ngebhayisikili. NgeSonto elilandelayo, ngaya emhlanganweni wobuKristu wokuqala, futhi ngemva kwesonto ngahamba neqembu elaliya enkonzweni yasensimini. UFakazi owayeqhuba lowo mhlangano wenkonzo yasensimini wanginikeza izincwajana ezithile futhi ngamangala kabi lapho engihambisa ngedwa! Emzini wokuqala ngangithuke ngiphelile kangangokuthi ngangifisa umhlaba uvuleke ungigwinye! Kodwa umninikhaya wayenomusa waze wathatha nezincwadi.

ImiBhalo enjengomShumayeli 12:1 noMathewu 28:19, 20 yangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu futhi ngafuna ukuba iphayona, noma isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Ubaba wasisekela leso sinqumo sami. Nakuba ngangingakabhapathizwa, ngabeka u-July 15, 1936, njengosuku engangizoqala ngalo ukuphayona. Ngalolo suku, ngaya ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eSydney, futhi ngacelwa ukuba ngisebenze neqembu lamaphayona angu-12 eDulwich Hill, idolobha elalisemaphethelweni eSydney. Langifundisa indlela yokusebenzisa isigayo sesandla sikakolweni amaphayona ngaleso sikhathi ayesisebenzisela ukwenza ufulawa ukuze anciphise izindleko.

Ukuphayona Emaphandleni

Ngabhapathizwa ngasekupheleni kwalowo nyaka, ngemva kwalokho ngabelwa eQueensland namanye amaphayona amabili—u-Aubrey Wills noClive Shade. Izinto esasinazo kwakuyiveni ka-Aubrey, amabhayisikili, igilamafoni ephathwayo yokudlala izinkulumo zeBhayibheli, itende elaba ikhaya lethu iminyaka emithathu eyalandela, imibhede emithathu, itafula nebhodwe lokupheka. Kusihlwa ngolunye usuku kuyimi ophekayo, nganquma ukupheka isidlo “esikhethekile” semifino nokolweni. Kodwa akekho kithi owakwazi ukusidla. Kwakunehhashi budebuduze, ngakho ngasipha lona. Lasinuka, lanikina ikhanda lavele lazihambela! Ngagcina lapho ukuzama ukupheka izinto engingazazi.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, sanquma ukuyihlanganisa ngokushesha insimu yethu ngokuyihlukanisa kathathu bese ngamunye esebenza ingxenye yakhe. Usuku lwaluphela ngikude kakhulu nalapho sasikanise khona ukuba ngingaphindela emuva ngebhayisikili, futhi ngezinye izikhathi ngangilala kubantu bakulawo maphandle abanomusa. Ngolunye usuku ngalala embhedeni ontofontofo ekamelweni lezivakashi epulazini lezinkomo, ngosuku olulandelayo ngalala phansi eqhugwaneni elingagandayiwe lomzingeli wama-kangaroo ngizungezwe izikhumba ezinukayo zezilwane. Ngokuvamile ngangilala ehlathini. Ngolunye usuku, ngazungezwa izinja zasendle kodwa zangasondela kimi, kuzwakala umsindo wazo owethusayo kuleso sigayegaye sobusuku. Ngemva kokungabuthi quthu, ngathola ukuthi empeleni zazingafuni mina, kodwa zazifuna umswani wenyamazane owawulahlwe buqamama.

Ukushumayela Ngemoto Enombhobho

Sayisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo imoto eyayinombhobho ukuze simemezele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Edolobheni laseTownsville elisenyakatho yeQueensland, amaphoyisa asivumela ukuba simise le moto yethu maphakathi nedolobha. Nokho, inkulumo eyayidlala yathukuthelisa amanye amalungu abeMpi Yosindiso abe esesitshela ukuthi sihambe. Lapho senqaba, amahlanu adlikizisa imoto yethu kanzima. Ngaleso sikhathi ngangingaphakathi, kuyimi engikhalisa igilamafoni! Kwabonakala kungekhona ukuhlakanipha ukulokhu sibatshela ukuthi sinelungelo lokuba lapho, ngakho lapho beyiyeka, sasuka.

Omunye umuntu othakazelayo eBundaberg wasiboleka isikebhe ukuze sidlale izinkulumo eziqoshiwe siseMfuleni iBurnett, odabula edolobheni. U-Aubrey noClive bahamba ngalesi sikebhe bephethe amagilamafoni nemibhobho, mina ngasala ehholo esasiliqashile. Ngalobo busuku, izwi elinamandla likaJoseph F. Rutherford owayeqoshwe esendlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova, lezwakala eBundaberg, limemezela isigijimi esinamandla seBhayibheli. Ngokuqinisekile, lezo kwakuyizikhathi ezivusa amadlingozi ezazidinga ukuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu babe nesibindi nokholo.

Impi Iletha Izinselele Ezengeziwe

Ngemva nje kokuqala kweMpi Yezwe II ngo-September 1939, INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-November 1 yakhuluma ngokungathathi hlangothi kwamaKristu kwezombusazwe nasempini. Kamuva, ngajabula ngokuthi ngangizifundile lezo zihloko ezazifike ngesikhathi. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu sindawonye, mina, u-Aubrey noClive sathola izabelo ezasihlukanisa. Ngamiswa njengombonisi ojikelezayo enyakatho yeQueensland, isabelo esasiyokuvivinya kaningi ukuthembela kwami kuJehova.

Ngo-August 1940, ngakhonza ibandla eliseTownsville, elalinamaphayona amane—uPercy no-Ilma Iszlauba nezelamani uNorman noBeatrice Bellotti. Ngemva kweminyaka eyisithupha, uBeatrice waba umkami. Ngomunye uMgqibelo kusihlwa ngemva kokuba siqede ukufakaza emgwaqweni ngengeqembu, ngahlaselwa njengoba kuchazwe ekuqaleni. Nokho, lokho kuphathwa ngendlela engenabulungisa kwamane kwangifaka ugqozi enkonzweni kaJehova.

Izelamani ezimbili ezingamaphayona, u-Una noMerle Kilpatrick, zazenza umsebenzi omuhle enyakatho. Ngaba nosuku olujabulisayo nazo enkonzweni, zabe sezingicela ukuba ngiziwelise umfula ngesikebhe ukuze zivakashele umkhaya othile owawunesithakazelo. Lokho kwakusho ukubhukuda ngiyolanda isikebhe esasiboshelwe ngaphesheya komfula, ngibuye naso, bese ngithatha lab’ odade ngibawelise. Nokho, lapho ngifika esikebheni ayengekho amaphini okugwedla! Kamuva sathola ukuthi ayefihlwe umuntu othile owayesiphikisa. Kodwa icebo lakhe alizange lisivimbe. Ngangingumtakuli wababhukudi iminyaka eminingana futhi ngangiseyinhlambi enamandla. Ngakho ngabophela intambo yesikebhe okhalweni, ngadonsa isikebhe sawelela kulab’ odade ababili, ngaphinde ngasidonsa sengibaweza. UJehova wayibusisa imizamo yethu, ngoba ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lo mkhaya othakazelayo waba oFakazi.

Ngaphansi Kwesandla SikaJehova Esivikelayo

Ngenxa yezizathu zokuphepha, amasosha avimba umgwaqo ngezansana nje kwedolobha lase-Innisfail. Njengoba ngangiyisakhamuzi, ngangikwazi ukuthola izincwadi zokungena, okwakusiza kakhulu lapho kufika abameleli behhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova. Ukuze ngibadlulise lapho kwakuvinjwe khona umgwaqo, ngangibafihla endaweni ecashile ngemva kwesihlalo semoto yami.

Ngaleso sikhathi uphethiloli wawutholakala ngesilinganiso, futhi izimoto eziningi zazifakelwe umshini wokuphehla igesi. Lo mshini wawudonsa igesi emalahleni avuthayo eyayinamandla okudumisa injini yemoto. Ebusuku ngangihamba namasaka amalahle ayepakishwe ngaphezu kwale ndawo umzalwane ayecashe kuyo. Kwakuthi lapho ngima lapho umgwaqo wawuvinjwe khona, ngiyidumise kakhulu injini ngiqinisekise ukuthi indawo okubaselwa kuyo amalahle iba mhlophe ukushisa ngenzela ukuba onogada bangabi nesithakazelo sokusondela. Ngobunye ubusuku obunjalo, ngatshela onogada ngimemeza: “Uma ngingayicima injini, ngizophazamisa ukuhamba komoya negesi, futhi kuyoba nzima ukuyidumisa.” Benqeniswa ukushisa, umsindo nentuthu, onogada bayibheka besheshisa imoto bangidedela.

Phakathi nalezo zinsuku, ngabelwa ukuba ngihlele umhlangano wesigodi woFakazi bendawo eTownsville. Ukudla kwakutholakala ngesilinganiso, futhi kwakudingeka imvume yemantshi ukuze sithole lokho esasikudinga. Ngaleso sikhathi, abafowethu abangamaKristu babeboshwa ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi kwabo. Ngakho, lapho ngicela ukuhlangana nemantshi, ngacabanga, ‘Ingabe lokhu engikwenzayo kuwukuhlakanipha, noma ngihlokoloza inyoka isemgodini?’ Noma kunjalo, ngaqhubeka njengoba ngangiyaliwe.

Imantshi yayihlezi edeskini elikhulu nelithusayo, yangicela ukuba ngihlale phansi. Lapho ngiyitshela ngenjongo yokuza kwami, yabuyisa izinhlonze yabe isingigqolozela isikhathi eside. Kamuva ubuso bayo bancibilika yayisithi, “Ufuna ukudla okungakanani?” Ngayinikeza uhlu olwalunezilinganiso eziphansi kakhulu zazo zonke izinto engangizidinga. Yaluhlola yabe isithi: “Kubonakala kukuncane kakhulu. Kungcono sikuphinde kabili.” Ngaphuma ehhovisi layo ngimbonga kakhulu uJehova, owangifundisa esinye futhi isifundo sokumethemba.

Ngo-January 1941 umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wavinjelwa e-Australia. Abantu abaningi baqala ukungasethembi futhi besibeka ngisho necala lokuba izinhloli zabaseJapane! Ngesinye isikhathi, kwatheleka izimoto ezimbili zigcwele amaphoyisa namasosha eKingdom Farm, isiqephu sezwe esise-Atherton Plateau esasisithengele ukutshala ukudla. Ayefuna ithoshi ayecabanga ukuthi silisebenzisela ukuxhumana nesitha. Sabekwa necala lokuthi okusanhlamvu kwethu sasikutshale ngemigqa eyayinomyalezo owawungafundwa umuntu osendizeni! Yebo, zonke lezi zinsolo kwahlaluka ukuthi zazingamanga.

Ngenxa yokuvinjelwa, kwakudingeka siqaphe—futhi sibe namasu—lapho sidiliva izincwadi. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho kukhululwa incwadi ethi Children, ngathola ibhokisi lazo eBrisbane, ngaya enyakatho ngesitimela, futhi ngashiya ezinye zalezo zincwadi eziteshini lapho kwakunamabandla khona. Ukuze amaphoyisa nabahloli abangamasosha bangalivuli ibhokisi, ngangiphatha usiko lwesaha lomshini bese ngilibophela ebhokisini ngaphambi kokuba ngehle esitimeleni. Nakuba kwakuyisu elilula leli kodwa laliphumelela njalo. Bajabula kakhulu abantu bakaJehova lapho ukuvinjelwa—okwachazwa umahluleli wasenkantolo ngokuthi “kwakwenzelela, kungenasisekelo, futhi kucindezela”—kuphela ngo-June 1943.

Ukubizelwa Empini

Phakathi nonyaka owandulele, mina, u-Aubrey Wills noNorman Bellotti sabizelwa empini. U-Aubrey noNorman babizwa kuqala futhi bagwetshwa izinyanga eziyisithupha bedonsa ejele. Ngemva kwesonto bebiziwe nami ngabizwa. Ngaleso sikhathi, ihhovisi leposi lalibathatha omagazini INqabayokulinda ababethunyelwe koFakazi abaziwayo, kodwa lingabathathi ababeya kwabanye abantu ababenezikhokhelo. Isabelo sethu sasiwukuthola omunye walaba bantu, senze amanye amakhophi omagazini bese siwanika abanye oFakazi. Ngale ndlela, sasikuthola njalo ukudla okungokomoya.

Lapho kufika esami isigwebo sezinyanga eziyisithupha, ngalidlulisa ngokushesha icala, njengoba ngangiyalwe ihhovisi legatsha eSydney. Umgomo wethu kwakuwukuqhuba isikhathi kuze kube yilapho sekumiswe othile ukuba anakekele umsebenzi. Ngayisebenzisa kahle inkululeko yami ekuvakasheleni abanye boFakazi abangu-21 ababeboshwe enyakatho yeQueensland. Iningi labo laliboshwe ejele elilodwa, futhi umphathi walelo jele wayesizonda. Lapho ngimkhumbuza ukuthi abefundisi bamanye amasonto bayabavakashela abantu babo, wavele wagan’ unwabu. Wamemeza: “Ukube bekuya ngami, bonke oFakazi BakaJehova bebeyomiswa benze umugqa bese beyadutshulwa!” Onogada bangikhipha ngokushesha.

Lapho sifika isikhathi sokuba kuzwiwe isikhalo sami, nganikezwa ummeli kahulumeni njengoba kugunyaza umthetho. Nokho, empeleni ngazimela ecaleni lami, okwakusho ukuthembela ngokugcwele kuJehova. Futhi akazange angidumaze. (Luka 12:11, 12; Filipi 4:6, 7) Okumangalisayo ukuthi isikhalo sami saphumelela ngoba kwatholakala amaphutha kanobhala encwadini yecala lami!

Ngo-1944, ngabelwa ukuba ngiyokhonza isifunda esikhulu esihlanganisa iNingizimu Australia, inyakatho yeVictoria neNew South Wales eyidolobha laseSydney. Ngonyaka olandelayo, kwasungulwa umkhankaso womhlaba wonke wokunikeza izinkulumo zeningi, futhi isikhulumi ngasinye kwakumelwe silungiselele inkulumo yaso, siyisekele ohlakeni olwaluvela enhlanganweni oluyikhasi elilodwa. Ukunikeza inkulumo ethatha ihora elilodwa kwakuyinselele entsha, kodwa saqhubekela phambili simethemba ngokugcwele uJehova, futhi wayibusisa imizamo yethu.

Umshado Nemithwalo Yemfanelo Emisha

Ngo-July 1946, ngashada noBeatrice Bellotti, futhi sakhonza ndawonye njengamaphayona. Sasihlala kumahamba-nendlwana wamapulangwe. Ngo-December 1950 indodakazi yethu okuwukuphela komntwana esinaye, uJannyce (uJann), yazalwa. Sakhonza njengamaphayona ezindaweni eziningana kuhlanganise nedolobha laseKempsey, eNew South Wales, lapho kwakuyithi kuphela oFakazi. ISonto ngalinye sasiya ehholo lomphakathi futhi ngangihlale ngikulungele ukunikeza inkulumo yeningi esasiyimemezela ngamapheshana. Izinyanga ezimbalwa kwakuba uBeatrice nomntwana uJann kuphela ababeba izilaleli. Nokho, kungakabiphi, abanye baqala ukuza kancane kancane. Namuhla kunamabandla amabili achumayo eKempsey.

Lapho uJann eneminyaka emibili ubudala, sahlala eBrisbane. Kwathi lapho eqeda isikole, sakhonza njengamaphayona njengomkhaya iminyaka emine edolobhaneni laseNew South Wales, iCessnock ngaphambi kokuba sibuyele eBrisbane siyosiza umkhwekazi wami owayegula. Manje, ngikhonza njengomdala eBandleni LaseChermside.

Mina noBeatrice siyambonga uJehova ngezibusiso zakhe eziningi kakhulu, kuhlanganise nelungelo lokusiza abantu abangu-32 ukuba bamazi. Mina, ngibonga uJehova ngomkami engimthandayo, owalilwela ngesibindi iqiniso leBhayibheli nakuba engumuntu ozolile nomnene. Uthando lwakhe ngoNkulunkulu, ukuthembela kwakhe kuye ‘neso lakhe elihle’ kuye kwamenza waba umfazi nomama onekhono ngempela. (Mathewu 6:22, 23; IzAga 12:4) Ngikanye naye, ngingathi ngenhliziyo yami yonke: “Ibusisiwe indoda enamandla ebeka ithemba layo kuJehova.”—Jeremiya 17:7.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Sasisebenzisa le moto enombhobho enyakatho yeQueensland

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Ngisiza izelamani zakwaKilpatrick ukuba zikhiphe imoto yazo odakeni phakathi nenkathi yezimvula enyakatho yeQueensland

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Ngosuku lwethu lomshado