Ukukhonza UJehova Iminyaka Ecishe Ibe Ngu-70 ECuba

Ngiyakhumbula ukuthi ukuphila kwethu kuleya ndawo yasemaphandleni encane kwakunokuthula. Sasihlala eduze nezinye zezihlobo zethu, ezihlanganisa o-anti, obabomncane, obabomkhulu, nogogo nomkhulu. Sasinokudla okwanele futhi sijabule.

Lapho sengizohlanganisa iminyaka emihlanu, abazali bami baqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli noWalton Jones. Wayengumvangeli oshisekayo, owayehamba amahora acishe abe ngu-10 ngezinyawo ukuze nje afike emaphandleni esasihlala kuwo. Njalo lapho efika, abasekhaya nabanye abaningi emndenini wakithi sasihlangana kwagogo nomkhulu, sixoxe naye ngeBhayibheli amahora amaningi. Abazali bami nobabomncan’ uPedro no-anti u-Ela babekuthanda ababekufunda futhi ngokushesha babhapathizwa baba oFakazi BakaJehova. U-Ela uneminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-100 futhi uyaqhubeka ekhonza njengephayona eCuba.

Ngaleso sikhathi, oFakazi BakaJehova babekwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngokukhululekile eCuba. Sasaziwa ngokushumayela endlini ngendlu, siphatha izikhwama ezigcwele izincwadi ezibalulekile ezikhuluma ngeBhayibheli. Sasihamba kakhulu! Nginezinkumbulo ezimnandi zangesikhathi ngikhonza uJehova phakathi ‘nenkathi evumayo’ lapho ngisemusha. Kodwa ‘kwakunezikhathi ezinzima’ ezaziseza.—2 Thim. 4:2.

UKUFIKA KWEZIKHATHI EZINZIMA

Lapho sengizohlanganisa iminyaka emihlanu, ubaba nobabomncane bahamba baya kwenye ingxenye yesiqhingi ukuze baye emhlanganweni wesigodi. Ngokudabukisayo, phakathi nalolo hambo baphathwa yisifo esibizwa ngokuthi i-typhoid fever ngenxa yokuphuza amanzi angcolile. Ngiyakhumbula ukuthi lapho sebebuyile, ubabomncane waqothuka izinwele, kodwa wasinda. Kodwa ubaba washona. Wayeneminyaka engu-32 nje kuphela.

Ngemva kokushona kukababa, umama wanquma ukuba umndeni wakithi uhambe uyohlala nomfowabo owayehlala emaphandleni aseLombillo. Lokho kwakusho ukushiya izihlobo zethu, okuhlanganisa ugogo nomkhulu esasibathanda kakhulu. Kodwa saqhubeka sikhonza uJehova njengomndeni.

Ngo-Agasti 26, 1957, ngabhapathizelwa edamini eliseduze neLombillo. Ngangineminyaka eyishumi. Ngangingazi ukuthi esikhathini esingaphansi kweminyaka emibili ukuphila koFakazi BakaJehova kwakuzoshintsha kakhulu eCuba. Ngo-1959 uhulumeni waketulwa, kwabusa umbuso wamakhomanisi.

Sazithola sesiphethwe uhulumeni owawufuna ukuba nebutho elinamandla namasosha amaningi. Lokho kwabathinta kakhulu abantu bakaJehova ababengathathi-hlangothi kwezepolitiki nakwezempi kuyo yonke indawo. Ngenxa yalokho, kancane kancane salahlekelwa inkululeko yokukhonza uJehova okwase kuyisikhathi eside siyijabulela. Ekugcineni, uhulumeni wavimba imisebenzi yethu yobuKristu futhi amakhulu abafowethu nodadewethu abathembekile baboshwa. Abanye babeshaywa bencishwa nokudla. Ngezinye izikhathi, babenikwa ukudla okunegazi, okuyinto iBhayibheli eliyinqabelayo.

Naphezu kwezinselele, saqhubeka sihlangana ndawonye ukuze sikhonze uJehova. (Heb. 10:25) Sasiba nanemihlangano yesigodi emapulazini noma kwezinye izindawo ezweni. Ngikhumbula ngesinye isikhathi omunye umzalwane esivumela ukuba sisebenzise isibaya sakhe sezimvu esikhulu ukuze sibe nomhlangano wesigodi. Asikwazanga ukuhlanza isibaya kusenesikhathi noma ukukhipha izimvu. Noma kunjalo, saba nawo umhlangano, kulowo mhlangano kunezimvu ezingokoqobo nezingokomfanekiso!—Mika 2:12.

Sababonga kakhulu abafowethu ababesebenza kanzima ngalezo zinsuku ukuze basisize sithole ukudla okungokomoya. Ngokwesibonelo, izinkulumo zomhlangano zazirekhodwa kumakhasethi bese zithunyelwa kubo bonke oFakazi baseCuba. Ngezinye izikhathi, abazalwane ababili nje kuphela bababelwa ukuba balungiselele zonke izinkulumo zomhlangano, bazinikeze futhi bazirekhode zonke. Ngenxa yokuthi abazalwane baberekhodela ezindaweni ezicashile, ngezinye izikhathi sasizwa umsindo wamaqhude nowezinye izinto ezihlekisayo. Uma indawo yomhlangano ingenawo ugesi, umzalwane wayeshova ibhayisikili elimile elaliphehla ugesi odingekayo. Ngaleyo ndlela sasithola ugesi esiwudingayo ukuze umshini odlala amakhasethi ukwazi ukusebenza futhi sikwazi ukulalela izinkulumo. Nakuba kwakwenzeka sibhekane nezimo ezingezinhle noma singabi nazo izincwadi ezinyathelisiwe amanye amaKristu ayenazo kwezinye izindawo, sasihlale sinakho esikudingayo ukuze sihlale sisondelene noJehova. Sasikujabulela ngempela ukukhonza uJehova ndawonye.—Neh. 8:10.

UKUBA AMAPHOYONA NABAZALI

Lapho ngiba neminyaka engu-18, ngaqala ukuba yiphayona elivamile edolobheni laseFlorida. Esikhathini esingangonyaka kamuva, ngamiswa njengephayona elikhethekile edolobheni laseCamagüey, eliyinhloko-dolobha yesifundazwe. Yilapho engahlangana khona no-Emilia, udade omuhle onguFakazi waseSantiago de Cuba. Saqala ukuthandana, ungakapheli unyaka sashada.

Ngaqala ukusebenza isikhathi esigcwele kwenye yezinkampani eziningi zikahulumeni ezikhiqiza ushukela. Mina no-Emilia sasingasakwazi ukukhonza njengamaphayona; kodwa sasisafuna ukusebenzisa isikhathi sethu esiningi ezintweni ezingokomoya. Ngahlela ukusebenza ngo–3:00 ezintathakusa kuya ku–11:00 ekuseni. Ngangingakuthandi ukuvuka ngovivi, kodwa uhlelo lwami lwalungivumela ukuba ngishumayele njalo futhi ngiye kuyo yonke imihlangano yebandla no-Emilia.

Ngo-1969, kwazalwa indodana yethu yokuqala uGustavo. Abazalwane bangicela ukuba ngiqhubeke nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakuyinto evamile eCuba ukuba ube umbonisi ojikelezayo ube unakelela nomndeni wakho. Lokho kwakuwukuqala kokuphila kwethu okujabulisa kakhulu kodwa okumatasa kakhulu. Mina no-Emilia sakubheka njengelungelo ukuthola ithuba lokukhonza abafowethu nodadewethu ngale ndlela. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, njengoba sasenza umsebenzi wokujikeleza, kwazalwa indodana yethu u-Obed, kwabe sekuzalwa u-Abner, ngemva kweminyaka ethile kwazalwa indodakazi yethu uMahely.

Lapho ngicabanga ngeminyaka esiyichithe sijikeleza, kuyangijabulisa ukubona indlela uJehova ababusise ngayo abantu bakhe eCuba. Uyibusise ngempela nemizamo yethu njengabazali yokusiza izingane zethu ukuba zimthande. Ake nginichazele ukuthi ukuphila kwami no-Emilia kwakunjani ngalezo zinsuku ngesikhathi senza umsebenzi wokujikeleza.

UKUJIKELEZA NGESIKHATHI UMSEBENZI WETHU UVINJELWE

Ngawo-1960 nangawo-1970, saqala ukuyizwa ngempela imiphumela yokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wethu. AmaHholo OMbuso avalwa. Izithunywa zethu zevangeli zaxoshwa ezweni. Abafowethu abaningi abasebasha baboshwa futhi bathunyelwa ejele. Ihhovisi legatsha eHavana lavalwa.

Ngenxa yokuvinjelwa, sasikwazi ukuvakashela amabandla ngezimpela-sonto kuphela. Ngakho ibandla ngalinye sasilivakashela izimpela-sonto ezimbili. Sasingaziphathi izimpahla eziningi futhi sasivame ukusebenzisa ibhayisikili, njengoba kwakuyiyona ndlela ehlakaniphile, ukuze singazidonseli amehlo. Kwakungamenyezelwa ukuthi siyeza. Kwakumele senze kubonakale sengathi sivakashela izihlobo. Kwakulula ukukwenza kanjalo. Ngezinye izikhathi sasicishe sikhohlwe ukuthi sihambele ibandla ngoba sasizwa sengathi sivakashele umndeni ngempela. (Marku 10:​29, 30) Noma kunjalo, kwakudingeka siqaphe. Izikhathi eziningi, sasivame ukulandelwa amaphoyisa asiphenye ngemibuzo. Abafowethu ababesamukela emizini yabo babezibeka engcupheni yokuboshwa uma singabanjwa.—Roma 16:4.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, sahlangana nabafowethu nodadewethu abaningi ababebonisa umoya wokupha ngisho noma benokuncane. Kwezinye izindawo babebaningi omiyane, kodwa abafowethu babesibonisa umusa basinike amanethi abo okuvimba omiyane ukuze sikwazi ukulala sithokomale ebusuku. Abanye babesivumela ukuba sihlale nabo ngisho noma benokudla okuncane kakhulu. Empeleni, ngezinye izikhathi sasiphatha ukudla kwethu ukuze sidle nabo.

Sasingeke sikwazi ukuhamba nazo zonke izingane zethu lapho sivakashela amabandla. Ngakho sasihamba nengane eyodwa kuphela, kuyilapho umama nodadewethu benakekela ezinye ekhaya. Empeleni, ukuhamba nengane kwakuyisivikelo. Ngezinye izikhathi, sasiseshwa amaphoyisa, kodwa izincwadi sasizifihla esikhwameni samanabukeni angcolile—okuyindawo amaphoyisa ayengabheki kuyo.

Ngiyambonga kakhulu u-Emilia ngakho konke akwenzile ukuze anakekele izingane kuyilapho engisekela phakathi nayo yonke iminyaka sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Mina ngangikwazi ukusebenza enkampanini kashukela ngiphinde ngibe umbonisi wesigodi ngesikhathi esifanayo. Kanjani? Ngezinye izikhathi, ngangisebenza amahora engeziwe kanye noma kabili ngeviki ukuze ngingasebenzi ngezimpela-sonto. Nokho, kamuva umsebenzi wami washintsha. Ngaqala ukuqondisa ithimba engisebenza nalo futhi kwakudingeka ngisebenze izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngeviki. Ngangingakwazi ukuyenqaba le ndlela entsha yokusebenza. Kodwa ngathola ukuthi uma abantu engisebenza nabo ngibanika umsebenzi owanele abangawenza ngempela-sonto babengeke batshele muntu ukuthi angikho ngiyokhonza ibandla. Ngokwazi kwami, abaqashi bami abakaze babone ukuthi ngangingekho emsebenzini ngezimpela-sonto!

UKUHLALE SIJABULE PHAKATHI NEZIKHATHI ZOSHINTSHO

Ngolunye usuku ngo-1994, abazalwane abaholayo eCuba bahlanganisa bonke ababonisi abajikelezayo—sasingu-80—emhlanganweni okhethekile eHavana. Kwakujabulisa ngempela ukuhlangana nabanye ngemva kwayo yonke leyo minyaka! Kulowo mhlangano, saqale saxoxa ngoshintsho olwaluzokwenzeka enhlanganweni. Kwabe sekulandela isaziso esithusayo. Abafowethu basitshela ukuthi babehlele ukudalula amagama ethu kuziphathimandla! Babengakwenzelani nje lokho?

Bachaza ukuthi bebelokhu behlangana neziphathimandla zikahulumeni ngenjongo yokuthuthukisa ubudlelwane phakathi kukahulumeni noFakazi BakaJehova. Iziphathimandla zazicele amagama abo bonke ababonisi besigodi. Sonke savuma ukuba amagama ethu adalulwe. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, izingxoxo neziphathimandla zikahulumi zaba nemiphumela emihle.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, sakwazi ukuhlangana nokushumayela obala ngokukhululekile nakuba sasingakabhaliswa ngokomthetho njengenkolo. Kamuva, sathola ukuthi iziphathimandla zase ziwazi kakade amanye amagama ababonisi abajikelezayo, kodwa zazifuna thina siziqinisekise.

NgoSepthemba 1994, sanikezwa imvume yokuphinde sivule ihhovisi legatsha. Ngenxa yalokho, sakwazi ukusebenzisa isakhiwo esase sivalwe iminyaka engu-20.

Kwathi ngo-1996, mina no-Emilia sathola ucingo olwalusimema ukuba sizokhonza eBethel. Saqale sathuka uma sizwa lokho, kodwa ngemva kwalokho ngakhumbuza abazalwane ukuthi sasisanezingane ezimbili ekhaya okusadingeka sizinakekele. Abazalwane basicabangela ngomusa isimo sethu futhi kamuva basiqinisekisa ukuthi basafuna sizokhonza eBethel. Sasamukela isimemo sabe sesiqala ukwenza izinhlelo zokuthutha njengomndeni siye eHavana.

Uma ngikhuluma iqiniso, ekuqaleni ngangingayijabuleli inkonzo yaseBethel. Ngase ngichithe iminyaka eminingi ngisemsebenzini wokujikeleza kangangokuba ingqondo yami nenhliziyo yami kwakusesensimini. Kwakunzima kimi ukwenza umsebenzi wasehhovisi. Kodwa enganginabo eBethel, ikakhulukazi umkami u-Emilia, bangisiza ngalungisa indlela engangicabanga ngayo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngaphinde ngajabula futhi manje ngiyakujabulela ukukhonza eBethel.

Mina no-Emilia sesikhulile. Kodwa, sikujabulela kakhulu ukucabanga ngabo bonke abafowethu nodadewethu esibe nelungelo lokubazi nokukhonza kanye nabo kuyo yonke le minyaka. Kusijabulisa nakakhulu ukubona izingane zethu nabazukulu bekhonza uJehova. Sizizwa njengomphostoli uJohane owayesekhululile, owathi: “Ayikho into engijabulisa kakhulu kunale: ukuba ngizwe ukuthi abantwana bami bayaqhubeka behamba eqinisweni.”—3 Joh. 4.

Manje, ngemva kokukhonza eBethel iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-30, mina no-Emilia senza okusemandleni ethu ukufeza izabelo zethu naphezu kobunzima esibhekana nabo usuku nosuku obubangelwa yikhensa nokukhula ngeminyaka. Phakathi neminyaka esesikhonze ngayo uJehova, sibe nazo izinkinga, kodwa sijabula kakhulu ngokuthi sikwazile ukukhonza ‘uNkulunkulu ojabulayo’ iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-70 lapha esiqhingini saseCuba!—1 Thim. 1:11; IHu. 97:1.