IFrench Guiana
Yonke indawo iyihlathi elinjengokhaphethi omkhulu, oluhlaza, osuka eziNtabeni zaseTumuc-Humac eningizimu uye kuyi-Atlantic Ocean enyakatho. Imifula iMaroni ne-Oyapock inqamula kulo dukathole wehlathi lemvula isuka eningizimu iya enyakatho ngaphambi kokuba ingenele olwandle. Izwe eliphakathi kwale mifula yiFrench Guiana.
Izimvula ezina isikhathi esingaphezu kwengxenye yonyaka, zenza indawo yene. Kodwa ababaningi abantu abahlala phakathi emaphandleni. Uma ususukile ogwini, imbalwa imigwaqo emihle, futhi imisinga yenza kube nzima ukuhamba emfuleni. Amagama ale misinga abonisa ingozi enayo—Saut Fracas (Umsinga Obulalayo), Gros Saut (Umsinga Omkhulu), Saut Tambour (Umsinga Ohlokomayo), Saut Laissé Dédé (Umsinga Okushiya Ufile), A Dieu Vat’ (Kuphelile Ngawe).
Leli hlathi linezinhlobo ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane zezihlahla, ama-orchid akhangayo, nezinye izitshalo ezithanda indawo enomswakama neshisayo. Kukhona izinhlobo ezingaphezu kuka-170 zezilwane ezincelisayo, izinhlobo ezingu-720 zezinyoni, nezinhlobo eziningi zezinambuzane. Kunofeleba bezinhlwathi, izilwane ezifana nezingwenya, izingwe nezilwane ezidla izintuthwane, kodwa azibonakali njalo ngoba zibaleka isinyenyela uma zisola ukuthi kunabantu. Izimvemvane ezinombala oluhlaza ziyazindizela nje emaqeleni nasemifuleni, kanti izinyoni ezinemibala egqamile ziyaqhashaqhasha zisuka kulo muthi ziye komunye.
Kunezinhlobo eziningi zabantu namasiko athakazelisa njengezitshalo nezilwane zasendle. Amadolobhana amancane amaNdiya aseMelika agudla ugu lolwandle nemifula. Abantu balapha bahlanganisa amaGalibi, ama-Arawak, amaPalicur, amaWayana, ama-Emerillon nama-Oyampi.
Iningi labantu bakuleli zwe elincane laseNingizimu Melika lingasogwini nasenhloko-dolobha, iCayenne. Emngceleni weSuriname kunemiphakathi ehlala ngasemifuleni ebizwa ngokuthi amaBush Negro, inzalo yezigqila ezabaleka ezazilandwe e-Afrika ziyosebenza emasimini. Zikhuluma ulimi oluxubile okuthiwa isiSranantongo. Eminyakeni ecishe ibe ikhulu edlule, kwafika abantu base-Asia bevela eSingapore, eVietnam naseChina. Ngo-1977 kwaqala ukufika amaHmong evela eLaos engababaleki bezombusazwe. Kubantu balapha abevile ku-150 000, abangaphezu kwengxenye bahlanganisa abase-Asia, izifiki zaseMartinique, eGuadeloupe, eHaiti, eBrazil, eSuriname, eDominican Republic, eSaint Lucia, eLebanon, ePeru naseFrance enabantu bezizinda ezihlukahlukene.
Ukuphila Okunzima
AbeLungu bokuqala bafika lapha cishe ngonyaka ka-1500, kodwa imizamo yabo yokuqala yokuzinza kuleli zwe ayiphumelelanga. Kwakungelula ukuphila kule ndawo. Kodwa, le ndawo eyiFrench Guiana manje yaba ikoloni laseFrance ngekhulu le-17. Kamuva, iziboshwa ezazizobhadla isikhathi eside ejele zasuswa eFrance zathunyelwa emakamu okusetshenzwa kanzima kuwo ezindaweni ezinjengeCayenne, iKourou neSaint-Laurent. Iziboshwa zezombusazwe zaziyiswa eDevil’s Island, lapho kwasinda khona idlanzana. Kudala avalwa lawo makamu angamajele. Manje iKourou iyisikhungo se-satellite yaseYurophu. Yize iFrench Guiana iqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-7 100 eYurophu, ibuswa iFrance, futhi ngaleyo ndlela iyingxenye ye-European Union.
Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-300 uSir Walter Raleigh exoxe inganekwane yedolobha legolide elikuleli zwe, igolide lagcina litholakele. Naphezu kwezingozi, ngawo-1920, amadoda angaba ngu-10 000, efuqwa isasasa lokuthola igolide, ayesengene ajula ehlathini lemvula enethemba lokuceba ngokushesha.
Kwabe sekufika nabanye abantu ababenesibindi esasidingeka ukuze babhekane nobunzima bokuphila eFrench Guiana. Kodwa la mavulandlela ayezele ukuzopha, hhayi ukuzothatha.
Kuhlwanyelwa Imbewu Yeqiniso LeBhayibheli
La mavulandlela anesibindi afika nezindaba ezinhle zeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Atshela abantu ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqeda ukugula nokufa, yokusiza abantu bazo zonke izizwe ukuba bahlale njengabafowabo bomunye nomunye, nokwenza umhlaba ube ipharadesi. (Isaya 2:3, 4; 25:8; 33:24; IsAm. 7:9, 10) Babenza umsebenzi owabikezelwa uJesu Kristu lapho ethi lezi zindaba ezinhle zoMbuso KaNkulunkulu ziyoshunyayelwa “emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke” andukuba kufike isiphelo. (Math. 24:14) Lo msebenzi obalulekile wokushumayela wafika eFrench Guiana ngo-1946. OFakazi BakaJehova abaningi bokuqala abeza eFrench Guiana babevela emazweni abuswa iFrance njengeGuadeloupe, iMartinique kanye neDutch Guiana (manje eyiSuriname), esentshonalanga.
Imbewu yokuqala yeqiniso yahlwanyelwa uMfoweth’ u-Olga Laaland, isikhonzi esishisekayo saseGuadeloupe. Ngo-December 1945 waya kovakashela unina nabafowabo, ababehlala eduze noMfula iMana emaphandleni aseFrench Guiana. Ukuze afike edolobhaneni lakubo kwakudingeka ahambe ngesikebhe izinsuku eziningana. Endleleni, wayezisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo izikhathi zokuphumula—emadlangaleni amancane ayefulelwe ngamahlamvu esundu—eshumayela futhi ehambisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Lapho efika edolobheni lakubo, iHaut Souvenir, ngenjabulo waxoxela abakubo izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Wamangala futhi wajabha lapho bembiza ngedemoni. Ngaphansi kwalesi simo esingajabulisi, ngo-1946 wagubha iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu izilaleli kungabafowabo abamelamayo kuphela. Ngokushesha unina, ehlohlwe umpristi wendawo, wamxosha, ememeza: “Anginakuhlala namademoni emzini wami!” Ukusabela kwakhe okungekuhle akuyidambisanga intshiseko yalo mzalwane.
Esebuya, wayeshumayela lapho kusamiwe ezimayini zegolide nakuma-degrad, noma izindawo zokuhweba. Ngobunye ubusuku yena nomunye umgibeli babelele eqhugwaneni elisosebeni lomfula. Imvula ewumvimbi yawisa umuthi omkhulukazi wathi vú phansi. Ngenxa yokwethuka, u-Olga waziphonsa emfuleni, engazi ukuthi amanzi ayegcwele ama-piranha (izinhlanzi ezihlasela futhi zilimaze abantu). Njengoba engalimalanga, amadoda ayelapho ama kwelokuthi kumelwe ukuba unamandla anjengakankulunkulu, ngakho amhlonipha ngokujulile. Umphumela waba ukuthi asilalela isigijimi ayesiphethe.
Ekugcineni uMfoweth’ uLaaland wafika eMana, idolobhana elise-Atlantic Coast elalinabantu abangu-800. Ezinyangeni zokuqala eziyisithupha azihlala lapha, wahlela ukuba kube nemihlangano futhi njalo nje afundise abantu abayishumi amaqiniso eBhayibheli anikeza inkululeko yeqiniso. (Joh. 8:32) Abantu bametha isidlaliso esithi Père Paletot (uFata Bhantshi) ngoba wayegqoka ibhantshi njalo, ngokungafani nompristi walapha, ababembiza ngokuthi uFata Ngubo. Nakuba zazimphelela izincwadi uMfoweth’ uLaaland, wayenikeza izinkulumo zeningi futhi abashumayeze ngentshiseko bonke ababelalela. Waba nedumela lokuthi uyisikhulumi esinomdlandla, engakwenqeni ukuxoxa nabefundisi bendawo.
Ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe mibili avakashela unina, uMfoweth’ uLaaland waphindela eGuadeloupe. Akukho muntu owabhapathizwa ngenxa yokushumayela kwakhe, kodwa wayehlwanyele imbewu eningi. Izithelo zazizovela kamuva.
Izisebenzi Zasemazweni Ahlukahlukene
Ngo-1956 i-Watch Tower Society yacela uWim van Seijl wegatsha laseSuriname ukuba aye eFrench Guiana. Uyaxoxa: “Sasuka ngendiza encane eSaint-Laurent saya eCayenne sahlala amasonto amathathu ehhotela elincanyana. Ingxenye enkulu yeCayenne sayisebenza ngencwadi ethi La Vie Eternelle [Ukuphila Okuphakade], sahambisa amakhophi amaningi. Sasikhona ngempela isithakazelo, kodwa ngenxa yokungasazi kwethu isiFulentshi, kwakunzima ukuqala izifundo. Isethulo sethu endlini ngendlu sasithi: ‘Sifike ngendiza izolo lapha eCayenne sizoshumayela izindaba ezinhle.’ Ngemva kwamasonto amabili sasisaqala ingxoxo ngokuthi ‘Sifike ngendiza izolo lapha eCayenne,’ ngoba yileso sethulo kuphela esasisazi ngesiFulentshi! Esakhiweni semidlalo yeshashalazi esasingasasetshenziswa sabukisa ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action. Okulandiswayo kwahunyushwa umlisa othile wakuyisa olimini oluxube isiFulentshi nolimi lwendabuko, kwabe sekuhunyushwa owesifazane wakuyisa esiFulentshini.” Sasisikhulu isithakazelo, kodwa sasizohlakulelwa kanjani?
Kwafika oFakazi abengeziwe bevela eSuriname bezosiza. Phakathi kwabo kwakunoPaul Naarendorp noCecyl noNel Pinas. Abaningana kulaba babekwazi ukukhuluma isiFulentshi.
Usizo lwavela nalapho kwakungalindelekile khona. EDunkerque, eFrance, umkhaya othile wawufundelwa iBhayibheli. Yindodana eneminyaka engu-16, uChristian Bonecaze, kuphela eyaqhubeka ibonisa isithakazelo. Lapho lo mkhaya uthuthela eCayenne, uChristian waxoxela izingane ayefunda nazo esikoleni izinto ayezifunde eBhayibhelini. Enye yaba nesithakazelo kanye nodadewabo abathathu. UChristian wabe esebhalela iNhlangano ecela usizo.
Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, uXavier noSara Noll base bebuyele eMartinique ngemva kokwethweswa iziqu eSikoleni SaseGileyadi ngo-1958. INhlangano yacela uMfoweth’ uNoll ukuba aye eFrench Guiana ayosiza iqembu elincane lalapho. Uhambo lwathatha izinsuku eziyishumi ngesikebhe esincane, kulolo hambo uXavier kwadingeka alale endaweni engaphezulu emkhunjini.
Lapho efika eCayenne, abantu abathakazelayo bamamukela ngezandla ezimhlophe uMfoweth’ uNoll. Ngesikhathi elapha babemmemela ukudla, futhi bahlela ukuba athole igumbi elihle ehhotela elaliphethwe umuntu owayeyisiboshwa. Zonke izinsuku uMfoweth’ uNoll wayeqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli futhi abe nezingxoxo ezingokomoya noChristian nomkhaya owawunomoya omuhle wokungenisa izihambi. Ulwazi lwabo ngeqiniso leBhayibheli lwajula. Ngamasonto ambalwa nje uChristian wathi ufisa ukubhapathizwa; washo njalo nomngane wakhe nodadewabo ababili. Yize imvula ewumvimbi yavimbela uMfoweth’ uNoll ukuba anikeze inkulumo yobhapathizo ebhishi njengoba kwakuhleliwe, wayinikezela emotweni yabo encane. Babe sebeyocwiliswa, ukucwilisa kokuqala okwenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova eFrench Guiana.
Ngesikhathi ekuleli zwe, uMfoweth’ uNoll wasisebenzisa kahle isikhathi ayesensimini ngaso. Ngesonto nje wayesezihambise cishe zonke izincwadi zakhe. Wasala nomagazini owodwa nje ukuze awutshengise abantu lapho ekhulumela isikhokhelo. Ngamasonto amathathu nje wathola izikhokhelo ezingu-70, kanye nezingu-12 zesiShayina. Wayeluchaza kanjani udaba lwakhe ngesiShayina? Wayeveza isithombe sekilasi ayekulo eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, akhombe abafundi abangamaShayina kuleli kilasi abese echaza nangezandla. “Kwasebenza kahle kakhulu,” esho. Phakathi kwalabo abashumayeza kwakunoMichel Valard, omfowabo wayengumpristi kodwa yena wayezifunela igolide emaphandleni akuleli zwe. Esehambile uMfoweth’ uNoll, nguChristian Bonecaze owahola emsebenzini waleli qembu elincane eCayenne.
Ngemva nje kwalokhu, ngo-1960, igatsha laseGuadeloupe kwathiwa alengamele umsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle eFrench Guiana. Akuve kwabazuzisa ukuthola usizo zikhathi zonke! Isisekelo sase sibekiwe, manje kwase kuzoqhutshekwa nokwakha. Ukuze kwenzeke lokho, ngo-1960, u-Octave Thélise wathunyelwa lapha ezokhonza njengephayona elikhethekile evela eMartinique. Wahambela ababenezikhokhelo zomagazini bethu nalabo ababenezincwadi ze-Watch Tower. Ngawo lowo nyaka, uThéophanie Victor, naye ongowaseMartinique, waya kokhonza eFrench Guiana, ngokushesha wabe esemiswa njengephayona elikhethekile.
Ngaphambi kwalokho, ngo-1954, uMnu. van Pardo, umDashi, nomkakhe waseMartinique babethuthele eParamaribo, eSuriname, lapho umkakhe atholana khona noFakazi. Ngonyaka olandelayo, bathuthela eSaint-Laurent, ngaphesheya nje koMfula iMaroni ohlukanisa iSuriname neFrench Guiana. OFakazi ababili baseSuriname, aBafoweth’ uPinas noLibreto, babewela lo mfula ngesikebhe njalo ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu iminyaka emihlanu beyosiza lo mbhangqwana ukuba ukhule olwazini lukaJehova nezimfuneko zakhe. Ngo-December 1960, emhlanganweni wesigodi owawuseParamaribo, eSuriname, ngesikhathi kuhambele uMilton Henschel evela endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ye-Watch Tower Society, abakwaVan Pardo kanye nabanye ababili baseFrench Guiana babhapathizwa.
Ngo-May 1961, uNicolas Brisart, umbonisi wegatsha laseGuadeloupe, wahambela iqembu labamemezeli abangu-16 eCayenne eyoqhuba umhlangano wokuqala wesifunda lapho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wabukisa izilaleli ezingu-250 ifilimu ethi The Happiness of the New World Society. Ukusabela okuhle kwamenza wabukisa nenye ifilimu—ethi The New World Society in Action. Abantu basabela kahle ngendlela efanayo lapho la mafilimu ebukiswa eSaint-Laurent. Isekela lomphathi-dolobha waseSaint-Laurent lahlabeka umxhwele kangangokuba lathi: “Bengiqala ukubona into enje selokhu ngazalwa.” Ngesikhathi lixhawulana nabazalwane, labuza: “Niyicelile yini kumphathi-dolobha imvume yokusebenzisa ihholo ledolobha ukuze nibukise le filimu? Ngizokhuluma naye kusasa.” Banikezwa imvume yokubonisa ifilimu kanye neyokubeka inkulumo yeningi yeBhayibheli njalo ebusuku. Bangu-500 sebebonke abantu ababuka amafilimu eNhlangano futhi balalela izinkulumo zeBhayibheli kulokho kuhambela okungasoze kwalitshalwa. Isekela lomphathi-dolobha lathi: “Sidinga abantu abanjengani, nina boFakazi BakaJehova.” Ngemva kweminyaka cishe emibili, ngo-March 1963, kwamiswa ibandla loFakazi BakaJehova lokuqala eCayenne. Imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa emzini omncane emaphethelweni edolobha endaweni ebizwa ngokuthi iPetit Monaco.
Indlela Abalithola Ngayo Iqiniso
Kulabo ababekulelo bandla lokuqala kwakunoMfowethu noDade Sylvestre, bobabili babedabuka eMartinique. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba babe oFakazi BakaJehova? Langa limbe ngo-1952 lapho uNkk. Sylvestre eya esitolo, wabonwa umuntu owayekade eyisiboshwa eDevil’s Island, futhi lo muntu wamcela ukuba anikeze umyeni wakhe izincwadi ezithile. UNkk. Sylvestre wayengazi ukuthi lo muntu uzithathephi lezi zincwadi, kodwa kwakungeze-Watch Tower. Wayazi ukuthi umyeni wakhe wayethanda ukuzifunda, ngakho wazithatha wahamba nazo. Uyakhumbula: “Lapho ngizibeka etafuleni, ngabona isihloko esithi ‘UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso.’ Ngavele ngayithanda le ncwadi ekhuluma ngoNkulunkulu. Lapho umyeni wami ebuya, ngamxoxela ngengangikufundile ngegama likaNkulunkulu, ukukhulekela izithombe nokuthi siyini ngempela isithelo esasenqatshelwe. Ngangiziqabuka lezi zinto. Ngagculiseka ngaso leso sikhathi ukuthi kwakuyiqiniso leli. Ngayeka khona manjalo ukuya esontweni. Yize ngangingakaze ngibonane noFakazi, ngaqala ukuxoxela abangane bami ngengangikufunda kule ncwadi, futhi ngakhuthaza bonke engisondelene nabo ukuba bayifunde. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-9, kwafika intokazi ethile kwami, uThéophanie Victor, yanginikeza o-Phaphama! ababili. Lapho isihamba, ngayibuza ukuthi isonta kuliphi isonto. ‘ENhlanganweni yoFakazi BakaJehova,’ iphendula. Ngathi: ‘Uma kunjalo, sekuyiminyaka engu-9 nginilindele! Singaphinde sibonane?’” Ngemva kwesikhathi, yena nomyeni wakhe bakumelela ngokuqinile ukukhulekela kukaJehova.
UMichel Valard, owayetholwe emsebenzini nguXavier Noll, naye uphakathi kwalabo abamukela iqiniso ngesikhathi besembalwa oFakazi kuleli zwe. Lapho eqala ukuya emihlanganweni yoFakazi, waya eqaphela ukuthi wayethola izimpendulo ezigculisayo zemibuzo yakhe. UDade Victor wacela ukumfundela iBhayibheli, futhi wavumela phezulu, kodwa umkakhe uJeanne wathukuthela wathelwa ngamanzi. Ngenxa yalokho, kwadingeka bafundele ngaphandle. Kodwa wayeqiniseka ukuthi ufunda iqiniso, futhi wayefuna ukutshela uJeanne ngalo. Ngakho komagazini wakhetha izihloko ayazi ukuthi zizomkhanga umkakhe wabe esezibeka lapho azi khona ukuthi uzozibona nakanjani. Ekugcineni, naye wavuma ukuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli, kwathi ngo-1963 bobabili babhapathizwa. Izingane zabo nazo zalamukela iqiniso, futhi enye yazo, uJean-Daniel Michotte (indodana kaJeanne ayithola engakashadi noMichel Valard), iyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha.
UPaul Chong Wing, uthisha osemusha waseFrench Guiana, watholana noFakazi ngesikhathi efunda eFrance. Wayekhungathekiswe isimo sezwe nesimo sengqondo sabantu. Wangena enhlanganweni ebizwa ngokuthi i-Freemason, kodwa ayizange iyiphendule imibuzo eyayimdida. Wayeye azitshele ukuthi kumelwe ukuba likhona iqiniso ndawana-thile, futhi wanquma ukulifuna. Ukutholana kwakhe noFakazi BakaJehova kwamqinisekisa ukuthi wayeselitholile. Lapho ephindela eFrench Guiana, wathintana noMichel Valard, futhi okwamjabulisa kakhulu ukuzwa ukuthi kuneHholo LoMbuso eduze nje nakwakhe. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1964, umkakhe yena ngonyaka olandelayo. Wathuthuka ngokushesha. Isidingo samadoda anamakhono nazimisele ebandleni sasisikhulu kangangokuba wamiswa njengenceku yebandla ngemva nje konyaka. Wasiza ekumiseni amabandla amaningi. Manje uyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha.
Ukusekela Abamemezeli Abangabodwa
Ibandla laseCayenne lalikhula, kodwa abamemezeli balapha babengagcini nje ngokushumayela ensimini yabo kuphela. Ngezimpelasonto ezithile abazalwane baseCayenne babehambela amaqembu amancane abamemezeli abangabodwa eSaint-Laurent, eMana nase-Iracoubo. Kulolu hambo isimiso sabo sasigcwala. Babeqale basuke ngemoto eCayenne bagudle ugu baye eSaint-Laurent, emngceleni weSuriname. NgoMgqibelo ngo-6:00 ntambama, kwakuba nenkulumo yeningi neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Ngakusasa, babehamba ngemoto baye enyakatho eMana ukuze baqale umhlangano khona ngo-8:00 ekuseni. Ngemva kokudla ukudla kwasemini endleleni sebebuyela eCayenne, babema e-Iracoubo ukuze baqhube isimiso esifanayo ngo-3:00 ntambama. Babebe sebeqhubeka nohambo lwabo bephindela ekhaya eCayenne.
Babeba matasa ngalezi zimpelasonto, kodwa labo ababenengxenye kuzo banezinkumbulo abangeke bazilibale. Lolu hambo lwaluhilela ukuhamba amakhilomitha angu-250 ukuya kuphela. Imigwaqo yayinesibomvu futhi igcwele imigodi. Ngezimvula zasehlobo, imigwaqo yayimbozwa amanzi futhi ngezinye izikhathi amanzi abe imitha ukujula. Kwakudingeka abazalwane balinde amahora ambalwa amanzi aze abohle andukuba baqhubeke. Kwakudingeka ukuba uhide lwezimoto ezinhlanu noma eziyisithupha zihambisane ngoba imigodi emigwaqweni yayishona kangangokuba izimoto zazivame ukubhajwa. Uma zibhajwa, kwakudingeka abazalwane bagawule izihlahla ezincane ehlathini bavundlise iziqu zazo phezu kwemigodi. Bonke babezidudula izimoto ziwelele ngale. Imoto ewela kuqala emgodini omkhulu yayisiza idonse ezinye. Babebambezeleka nalapho belinde izikebhe eKourou naseMana. Ngesikhathi besalindile, abazalwane babencinzwa omiyane, kodwa lesi sikhathi babesisebenzisela ukuhambisela abantu omagazini.
Lolu hambo lwaluwaqinisa kakhulu amaqembu abamemezeli abangabodwa, futhi amazwi abo okubonga ayezidlula kude izinkinga abazalwane ababehlangabezana nazo endleleni. Kwakungazuzi laba bamemezeli bodwa. Abazalwane baseCayenne nabo bakhuthazwa kakhulu umoya wokungenisa izihambi nentshiseko eyayiboniswa uMfowethu noDade van Pardo, uDade Fantan, uDade Barthebin noDade Defreitas. Kamuva kwahlelwa ukuba uMfowethu noDade Fléreau baseGuadeloupe bakhonze njengamaphayona akhethekile lapha, futhi benza umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu behlakulela isithakazelo. Befeza ukuthunywa abakunikezwa uJesu kokuba ‘benze abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi,’ oFakazi BakaJehova abazange babashaye indiva labo abaseFrench Guiana.—Math. 28:19.
Intuthuko—Ihamba Kancane Kodwa Ikhona
Ngo-1970 kwakunabamemezeli abangu-129 eBandleni LaseCayenne, futhi amaqembu angawodwa ayesebenza ngenkuthalo eSaint-Laurent naseKourou. Amanani abo ayemancane, kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova babeya baziwa kuleli zwe. Kodwa intuthuko yayihamba kancane. Kwadlula eminye iminyaka eyishumi ngaphambi kokuba inani labamemezeli boMbuso liphindeke kabili lapha.
Intuthuko engokomoya yayibanjezelwa ubunzima babanye bokwamukela iseluleko seBhayibheli sokususa ekuhlanganyeleni nokuphenduka. Abamemezeli bahlukana phakathi. Abanye babesekela izinqumo zezindikimba zabadala; abanye bengazisekeli. Kwafika ababonisi abajikelezayo baseGuadeloupe bezobukeza nabazalwane iziqondiso zeNdikimba Ebusayo kule ndaba. Kwabahambela kahle labo abasamukela isiqondiso somzila kaJehova.
Esinye isici esathonya umoya wabamemezeli kwakuyisimo sengqondo sabantu ngomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela eCayenne. ISonto LamaKatolika lalinethonya elikhulu. Abefundisi babengabafuni oFakazi futhi babaqhatha nemihlambi yabo. Akuzange kubadikibalise abazalwane lokhu. Empeleni, intshiseko yabo yasusa isidumo emphakathini. Uma abantu bengayivuli iminyango, oFakazi babejikela ngemuva kwezindlu beyofuna abantu okungenzeka bacashile. Abanye abazalwane babehileleka ezimpikiswaneni ezishisayo ezimayelana neSabatha nabantu besonto lamaSabatha nangesihogo somlilo nokungafi komphefumulo nama-Evangelist. Lezo zingxoxo zazingaqala ekuseni lize liyoshona!
UDavid Moreau, owasuka eMartinique ezokhonza njengombonisi wesifunda, ukhumbula enye yalezo zimpikiswano. “Sasixoxa nenye insizwa ngesikhathi kufika umfundisi weSonto LamaSabatha futhi wangenela endabeni. Wayefuna kuxoxwe ngeSabatha nje kuphela. UVirgo, umzalwane, wathi yena wayezele ukuzoxoxa ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kodwa kwagcinwa sekuxoxwa ngeSabatha vele. Umfundisi wathi: ‘ISabatha livela kuNkulunkulu. Ngisho nasePharadesi elizayo siyobe sisaligcina iSabatha!’ Wacaphuna u-Isaya 66:23: ‘Kusukela ekwethwaseni kwenyanga kuye kwenye, kusukela kwelinye isabatha kuye kwelinye yonke inyama iyakufika ukukhuleka phambi kwami, usho uJehova.’ UMfoweth’ uVirgo wabe esebuza lo mfundisi: ‘Ngokwaleli vesi-ke, kwenzekani ngoLwesithathu oludlule?’ Umfundisi, owayesebitoza, wazama izimpendulo eziningi kodwa wehluleka ukuhlobanisa leli vesi noLwesithathu olwandulele. ‘Kwakwethwasa inyanga! Uyabona-ke! Wena ugcina iSabatha, kodwa uyakukhohlwa ukwethwasa kwenyanga! Ususa okungaphezu kwe-iota (uhlamvu lwegama) eBhayibhelini.’” Kamuva uVirgo watshela uDavid: “Angilokothi ngiye ensimini ngingazange ngibheke ikhalenda ukuze ngibone ukuthi inyanga yethwasa nini, ukuze ngingahlupheki uma ngihlangana nomSabatha.”
Nakuba abazalwane base bekwazi ukulwela izinkolelo zabo, abanye babegxila kakhulu ekunqobeni izimpikiswano kunasekufuneni abanjengezimvu. Kwakudingeka baqeqeshwe ukuze bafakaze kubantu ngempumelelo, futhi uJehova walunikeza lolo lusizo.
Izithunywa Zevangeli Ziyafika
Ekupheleni kwawo-1970 izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eSikoleni SaseGileyadi kanye namaphayona aseFrance ayabelwe enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli aqala ukufika eFrench Guiana. Kwaqala umsebenzi obalulekile wokuqeqesha nokuqinisa amabandla. Abazalwane bafundiswa indlela yokufakaza ngendlela engacunuli nangokuphumelelayo. Izithunywa zevangeli zahola nasekushumayeleni kubantu abakhuluma izilimi ezihlukahlukene kuleli zwe. Ngokushesha abazalwane bendawo bazilingisa futhi baqala ukufunda isiNgisi, isiPutukezi, isiSranantongo nesiGalibi, esiwulimi lwesiNdiya saseMelika. Okwamanje, ihhovisi legatsha laseFrench Guiana likhiqiza izincwadi ezihanjiswa ngezilimi ezingu-18.
Ngo-April 1991, uJonadab Laaland nomkakhe, bobabili abathweswa iziqu eSikoleni SaseGileyadi futhi ababekhonza eNew Caledonia, babelwa eKourou ukuze bayoqinisa ibandla lalapho. Ekuqaleni, uyise kaJonadab, u-Olga Laaland, wayehlwanyele imbewu yeqiniso leBhayibheli eFrench Guiana. Sikhuluma nje bangu-280 abamemezeli abadumisa uJehova eKourou.
Izithunywa zevangeli zahola nasekuvuleni amasimu amasha, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni ezisemaqaqasini okungafikeki kalula kuzo. Alizange libavimbele iqiniso lokuthi lokhu kwakuhilela ukuchayeka ezifweni ezitholakala ezindaweni ezishisayo njengomalaleveva, ukunqwamana nezinyoka, ukubekezelela uswebezane lwezinambuzane, ukuhamba emifuleni ehlokomayo nenemisinga eyingozi ukuze bafike emadolobhaneni amancane angawodwa, nokuqunga isibindi sokubhekana nezimvula ezihambisana nezikhukhula nodaka.
U-Elie noLucette Régalade benza umsebenzi omkhulu omuhle eCayenne naseSaint-Laurent. Basebenza nasezindaweni ezazingakaze zisetshenzwe enhla noMfula iMaroni emngceleni wezwe osentshonalanga. Bathatha uhambo lwamasonto amathathu kanye neqembu elincane labazalwane beyoshumayela emadolobhaneni agudle umfula kusuka eSaint-Laurent kuya eMaripasoula. Lolu hambo lwaphazamiseka ngoba othile eqenjini kwadingeka ayokwelashelwa umalaleveva eSaint-Laurent. Kodwa imikhankaso yokushumayela emaqaqasini yaqhubeka ukuze abantu balapho bezwe izindaba ezinhle.
Ukuya eSaint-Élie, idolobhana elincane elatholwa abahloli bamazwe befuna igolide ngekhulu le-19, kuwuhambo lwamahora angu-7 ngesikebhe uma usuka ogwini loMfula iSinnamary uya maphakathi nezwe. Emva kwalokho ube usuhamba amakhilomitha angu-30 izinsuku ezimbili unqamula ihlathi, ubelethe isikhwama esisindayo. Noma obani abashumayela lapha kudingeka baphathe ukudla okwanele izinsuku ezintathu nezincwadi eziningi impela. Ebusuku kudingeka ubase umlilo ukuze uxoshe izilwane, cishe noseyili wokwenza umbhede wokulala. Kodwa izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili ezasuka eFrance, u-Eric Couzinet noMichel Bouquet, azive zakujabulela ukuthatha lolo hambo futhi zifakaze ngokungashwampuluzi kubantu balapha abangu-150. Bangu-20 abantu ababa khona enkulumweni yama-slide eyanikezwa ngaleso sikhathi.
Abazalwane bamthola kulaba bantu uFanélie, owayezama ukwanelisa isidingo sakhe esingokomoya. Wayekade engumRoma Katolika. Wayesanda kujoyina amaSabatha. Akukho muntu esontweni lakhe owayeke wamvakashela eSaint-Élie. Izifundo zakhe zeBhayibheli wayezithumela ngeposi, kodwa wayengakaze athole mpendulo. Lapho etholana noFakazi, waqaphela ukuthi yibona kuphela abenza imizamo yokuhambela abantu ezindaweni eziqhele njengeSaint-Élie. Abazalwane bamfundela zonke izinsuku uFanélie kwaze kwaphela isonto. Ngemva nje kwalokho, wathuthela edolobheni elikhudlwana izinyanga eziyisithupha. Phakathi naleso sikhathi wayefundelwa kathathu ngesonto. Lapho esephindela edolobhaneni lakubo elincane, wayesengummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe. Wayenakekela umyeni wakhe ongeyena uFakazi nezingane zabo ezinhlanu, kodwa intshiseko yakhe ngeqiniso yamenza ukuba asebenze amahora angu-40 ngenyanga efakaza kwabanye. Wasiza nasekuhleleleni abathakazelayo imihlangano. Lapho ehlela ukuba kube neSikhumbuzo, kwaba khona abangu-40. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, uFanélie uye wathuthela ogwini, kodwa uyaqhubeka ekhuthele enkonzweni. Uyajabula ngokuthi enye yamadodakazi akhe isibhapathiziwe, nomyeni wakhe uyafundelwa.
IKaw, i-Ouanary neFavar, engxenyeni esempumalanga yezwe, ingeminye imiphakathi eyashunyayezwa izithunywa zevangeli kuqala. UMfoweth’ uCouzinet ulukhumbula kahle uhambo lwakhe lokuqala lokuyoshumayela kulezi zindawo ngo-1987 ehamba nabanye oFakazi bendawo. Bahamba ngesikebhe base behamba ngemoto amakhilomitha angu-40 emgwaqweni onesibomvu andukuba bafike exhaphozini elithile. Lapho bemisa imoto, bezwa ukubhavumula okwethusayo. Wacabanga ukuthi izingwe esezilindele ukuhlasela. Kodwa abazalwane ababehamba noMfoweth’ uCouzinet bamqinisekisa ngokuthi kwakumane nje kuyizinkawu ezaziphazanyiswe ukufika kwabo. Bathola umbhangqwana owawufuna iqiniso. Lo mbhangqwana wathuthela eCayenne, wathuthukela obhapathizweni, futhi manje ukhonza ensimini yesiPutukezi eFrench Guiana.
Kancane kancane, kwahanjelwa amasimu amaningi angawodwa. IGrand Santi, iPapaïchton neSaül zingezinye zezindawo ezazuza ekuhambeleni kwezithunywa zevangeli kokuqala. Abamemezeli boMbuso bazisebenza njalo manje izindawo eziningi ebezingakasetshenzwa.
Bashumayela EMaripasoula
Isigijimi soMbuso safika ngo-1963 eMaripasoula, idolobhana elibaluleke kakhulu enhla noMfula iMaroni. U-Adrien Jean-Marie, owayefundelwa iBhayibheli ngaleso sikhathi, kwakudingeka eze lapha kathathu ngonyaka ngenxa yomsebenzi. Wayelishisekela kakhulu iqiniso, ngakho wayesebenzisa leli thuba ukuze anikeze ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi futhi njalo nje wayeshiya izincwadi zeBhayibheli.
Nakuba nabanye babeshumayela eMaripasoula, kwakunzima ukukhuluma nabantu balapha abakhuluma isiSranantongo. Njengoba lapha saziwa ngokuthi isiTaki-Taki, isiSranantongo sakhiwa isiNgisi namanye amagama esiDashi, isiFulentshi, isiPutukezi nezinye izilimi eziningi zase-Afrika naseNdiya. Igatsha laseSuriname lathumela amaphayona akhethekile akhuluma isiSranantongo eMaripasoula izinyanga ezintathu kuya kweziyisithupha, kodwa abantu abawamukelanga. Ekugcineni, laba bazalwane baxoshwa kuleli dolobhana ngebhaxa lokuthi bayizifiki ezivela eSuriname. Empeleni kwakungenxa yokuthi babengoFakazi BakaJehova.
UCornélis noHélène Linguet bathunyelwa lapha njengamaphayona akhethekile ngo-1992. Ulwazi lwabo lwesiSranantongo lwaba usizo olukhulu ekushumayeleni kwabo, futhi ngenxa yokuthi babengamaFulentshi, abantu babamukela kalula. Kathathu ngesonto, babeshumayela eMaripasoula, bese kuthi ngezinye izinsuku ezintathu bashumayele ePapaïchton, idolobhana eliqhele ngehora elilodwa eMaripasoula uma uhamba ngesikebhe. Ekuqaleni, babeqhuba imihlangano emzini wabo eMaripasoula. Ngemva kokusebenza iminyaka emibili, abantu abangu-8 baba khona eSikhumbuzweni. Lo mbhangqwana wakhuthazela kule nsimu engayodwa. Uthando lwabo ngabantu lwabasiza ukuba bakhuthazele lapho bebhekene nezinkinga eziningi. Ekugcineni, isineke sabo savuzwa, futhi kwakheka amabandla amabili.
Omunye owamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli u-Antoine Tafanier, owayebhekwa njengelungu eliqavile emphakathini wakubo ngoba uyisihlobo segazi se-Gran Man, umuntu onegunya eliphakeme kulo mphakathi okholelwa emvelweni. UTafanier wayenezancinza ezimbili, okuyinto evamile kule ndawo egudle umfula. Ngakho lapho kudingeka uTafanier amelele iqiniso, kwadingeka enze ushintsho ekuphileni kwakhe, ukushada oyedwa kulaba ababili noma ukuhlala engashadile. Kwasuka esinamathambo phakathi kwalaba besifazane ababili ababengahlali ndawonye njengoba base bazi ukuthi uTafanier uzokhetha phakathi kwabo. Namuhla, u-Antoine Tafanier unguFakazi obhapathiziwe nojabulayo, okhonza uJehova nomkakhe oyedwa. Kuthiwani ngenye inkosikazi? Ngemva kwesikhathi, nayo yaqala ukufundelwa iBhayibheli futhi manje iyinceku kaJehova ebhapathiziwe.
Abantu baya bebathanda oFakazi BakaJehova kule ndawo. Inhlangano ethile yalapha yabanikeza indawo ababengaqhubela kuyo izifundo mahhala iminyaka emithathu. Lapho kufika isikhathi sokwakha iHholo LoMbuso, ingxenye kathayela yanikelwa yilaba bantu ababenozwela. Isiteshi sethelevishini esiphethwe enye inhlangano yalapha sadlala amakhasethi e-video amahlanu e-Watch Tower Society ayekhona ngaleso sikhathi. Izakhamuzi zayithanda ngokukhethekile i-video ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name.
OFakazi base bamukelwa kule ndawo eyayikade ibazonda. Ngo-1993 kwase kunamaHholo OMbuso eMaripasoula nasePapaïchton, futhi abantu bakule ndawo egudle uMfula iMaroni babewathola njalo amathuba okuzwa isigijimi soMbuso.
NgaseMfuleni I-Oyapock
Kwakwenzekani ngasemngceleni osempumalanga wezwe, lapho uMfula i-Oyapock ugeleza khona phakathi kweFrench Guiana neBrazil? Ngo-1973, u-Adrien Jean-Marie wanikeza ubufakazi obuhle edolobheni laseSaint Georges. Uhambo lwakhe lokuqala lwathatha izinsuku ezintathu. Ngawo lowo nyaka wabuya kabili futhi wakwazi ukuhlela ukuba kube nomhlangano wasobala, kwaba khona abangu-20. Kwaqalwa izifundo zeBhayibheli ezimbalwa ngeposi, kodwa akusebenzanga kahle lokhu ngoba ababefundelwa babengakujwayele ukubhala izincwadi. ETampac, idolobhana lamaBush Negro elikuwo lo mfula, uMfoweth’ uJean-Marie wabathola abanesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso.
Ngemva kweminyaka eyishumi, ngo-1983, u-Etiennise Mandé noJacqueline Lafiteau bathunywa ukuba bayofakaza ngokwengeziwe futhi basize abathakazelayo kule ndawo engayodwa. Uma kwenzeka, abazalwane baseCayenne babehamba ngendiza baye eSaint Georges ngempelasonto beyosiza ngokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini nalab’ odade nangokunikeza izinkulumo zeningi. Nokho, kwakudingeka isineke esikhulu andukuba kubonakale izithelo. UDade Mandé uyakhumbula: “Ngaqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningana. Kodwa kungakabiphi, umfundisi wendawo waqala ukuphikisa umsebenzi wethu. Abanye babethi: ‘Umfundisi usitshele ukuba singabanaki oFakazi futhi singaningenisi emizini yethu ngoba niyizithunywa zikaDeveli.’ Abaningana babantu engangibafundela bayeka ukufunda.” Ngokuphikelela, yaba khona imiphumela.
UMichel Bouquet noRichard Rose, amaphayona akhethekile, nabo bahlanganyela ekwakheni isithakazelo eqinisweni kule ndawo. Kwase kushunyayelwe kakhulu eSaint Georges, kodwa kusukela ngo-1989, babelwa ukuba bagxile ensimini engaphandle kwale ndawo. UMfoweth’ uRose nomkakhe basanda kuthola ilungelo lokuba amaphayona okuqala aseFrench Guiana aye eSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Sikhuluma nje bakhonza eHaiti.
Kwathi kungabekwa isisekelo osebeni loMfula i-Oyapock eFrench Guiana, kwahlelwa ukuba kusetshenzwe insimu encane ngaphesheya komfula eBrazil. Idolobha lase-Oiapoque linabantu abangu-10 000, futhi liqhele ngemizuzu engu-20 eSaint Georges uma uhamba ngesikebhe. Ngokushesha abazalwane bathola ukuthi kwakunesithakazelo esikhulu lapha kunaseSaint Georges, ngakho bagxila kule nsimu. UMfoweth’ uMoreau uyakhumbula: “Sasilala ngemuva kwesitolo. Kwakungelula ngaphansi kwalezo zimo, yize owesifazane othile onenhliziyo enhle owayezibiza ‘ngodadewethu’ asinikeza indawo yokulala nomgqomo wamanzi ukuze sigeze. Amaphayona asemasha alapha ahleka ngesikhathi umkami uMarylène ekhononda ngokuthi amanzi ayanuka. Sonke sasigezela ebumnyameni bese siyolala. Ngakusasa, sathola ukuthi kwakufele igundane elikhulu kulo mgqomo futhi lase lintanta ngaphezulu.” Kodwa lokho akuzange kukudlule okuhlangenwe nakho okuhle ababekuthola enkonzweni.
Edolobheni lase-Oiapoque, uMfoweth’ uBouquet wathatha isinyathelo sokuthenga isiqinti sendawo. Yena noMfoweth’ uRose namanye amaphayona nabazalwane baseCayenne, bakha iHholo LoMbuso elihlala abantu abangu-80 elinefulethi.
Ngawo-1990 e-Oiapoque kwafika abakwaDa Costa, umbhangqwana ongamaphayona akhethekile, bezosiza. Baqikelela ukuthi bahambela zonke izikole behambisela othishanhloko incwadi ewusizo ethi Intsha Iyabuza—Izimpendulo Ezisebenzayo. Bacela nemvume yokuhambisela zonke izingane le ncwadi. Bavunyelwa. Ngemva kokuzwa okuqukethwe yile ncwadi, bonke abafundi nothisha bacela amakhophi. Bahambisa izincwadi ezingu-250.
UMfoweth’ uda Costa uyabika: “Saxoxa kamnandi nomphathi wekamu lezempi lalapha, futhi samhambisela incwadi ethi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade. Wayithatha futhi wacela usizo lokuxazulula inkinga yokudakwa nokuziphatha okubi kwabantu ayebaphethe. Sasikisela ukuba sinikeze la madoda inkulumo. Wakuthanda lokho, wayesethembisa ukuthi ngesonto elilandelayo kwakuzoba khona iqembu elincane. Uma sifika sizonikeza inkulumo, sathola amasosha angu-140 esilindele. Bonke bakulalelisisa okwakushiwo. Sahambisa omagazini abangu-70; sasingasenabo abanye ngoba sasingalindele ukubona abaningi kangaka emhlanganweni wethu. Leli lungiselelo laqhubeka amasonto amaningi. Ngenxa yokuthi la masosha awahlali isikhathi eside endaweni eyodwa, salahlekelana namaningi awo.” Kodwa amaningi alwamukela usizo anikwa lona.
Intokazi enguRosa yayisilifundile iBhayibheli noFakazi eBrazil, kodwa yayingakazamukeli ngokugcwele izindaba ezinhle. Lapho izwa ngokuthi ingathola itshe lemali ngokusebenza emayini yegolide eFrench Guiana, yashiya phansi umuzi wayo nesifundo sayo seBhayibheli, yaya e-Oiapoque ngenjongo yokungena eFrench Guiana ngokungemthetho. Kwakuzoba okungaphephile ngempela ngowesifazane ukuba ahlale namadoda emayini yegolide ephakathi ehlathini. Ngaphambi kokuba le ntokazi iye ezimayini, udade owayekhathazekile e-Oiapoque wayisiza ukuba iyibheke ngelinye iso le ndaba. Sayithinta ngokujulile iseluleko seBhayibheli esikuMathewu 6:25-34, futhi yashintsha umqondo. URosa wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova wabe esephindela ekhaya. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi behlala ngokwehlukana nomyeni wakhe, babuyelana.
Sikhuluma nje kunebandla labamemezeli abangu-25 e-Oiapoque. Imizamo yabamemezeli abahlanu eSaint Georges nayo iveza izithelo. Isakhamuzi sokuqala saseSaint Georges esemukela iqiniso kwakunguJean René Mathurin. Namuhla uyinceku ekhonzayo, umkakhe uyiphayona elivamile.
Imihlangano Emikhulu Ejabulisayo
Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, abakhulekeli bakaJehova bayalwa ukuba babuthane njalo bayokhulekela. (Dut. 16:1-17) Ngokufanayo, imihlangano yesifunda neyesigodi ibilokhu iyisici esivelele kubakhulekeli bakaJehova eFrench Guiana. Ngisho nalapho abamemezeli besembalwa, abazalwane abazange bakwenqene ukuhlela imihlangano yesifunda. Umzalwane othile uyalandisa: “Ngawo-1960, imihlangano yethu yesigodi yayithatha izinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili. Kwakunamadrama eBhayibheli amane. Abadlali bawo kwakufanele bakubambe ngekhanda ababezokusho, futhi laba bamemezeli abambalwa kwakudingeka basebenze kanzima. Ngenhlanhla, abazalwane abaningi baseMartinique naseGuadeloupe babefika bezosiza ngemihlangano.” Abazalwane babekwazisa kakhulu ukuba khona kwabo. Abaningi basazikhumbula ngenjabulo izinsuku abazalwane bendawo ababeya ngazo esikhumulweni sezindiza beyohlangabeza izihambeli ezivela eMartinique naseGuadeloupe.
Le mibuthano yayiyizikhathi zokujabula ngempela. Umhlangano ngamunye wawuyidili elingokomoya, futhi abazalwane babezizwa njengama-Israyeli uJehova athi kuwo: “Nethabe phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.”—Lev. 23:40.
Abazalwane abanolwazi kakhudlwana babematasa kakhulu. Babenakekela ukuhlelwa komhlangano wesigodi, banikeze izinkulumo, futhi badlale namadrama amaningana. Kwakuvamile ukuba umzalwane oyedwa adlale amadrama amathathu futhi anikeze nezinkulumo ezinhlanu noma eziyisithupha.
Ukuphekwa nokuphakwa kokudla okuqinile okuzodliwa emini kwakwenezela emsebenzini. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuphekwa ingulube, izigcikilisha, izilwane ezinjengamagundwane, izimfudu nama-armadillo (izilwane ezinesikhumba esiqinile ezingangonogwaja ezimba imigodi). Ngezinye izikhathi, khona emhlanganweni, abazalwane kwakudingeka bayozingela noma bayodoba ukudla okwakuzophekwa.
Ukuthola izindawo okuzohlanganelwa kuzo bekulokhu kuyinkinga. Ekuqaleni, kwakusetshenziswa umuzi wakwaValard. Abazalwane bakha umjondolo egcekeni, futhi njalo ngonyaka wawandiswa ukuze ukwazi ukuthatha izilaleli ezengeziwe. Kodwa lapho izilaleli sezingaphezu kuka-200, kwadingeka kufunwe indawo enkudlwana. Ekuqaleni, izindawo ababengaziqasha kwakuyizinkundla ze-handball nezebhola lomnqakiswano. Abazalwane babakha isiteji bese becela izihambeli zomhlangano ukuba zifike nezihlalo zazo. Kwakungelula, kodwa abazalwane abazange bakhononde. Izingane azizange zinqikaze ukuhlalisa asebekhulile ezihlalweni zazo, ngisho noma lokho kwakusho ukuma usuku lonke.
Iminyaka eminingi kwakuqashwa amahholo omdanso ukuze kuqhutshelwe kuwo imihlangano yesifunda. Lapho kuphela isimiso sangoMgqibelo, abazalwane kwakudingeka bakhiphe konke okwakusehholo ngoba kwakufika abaculi bezolungiselela umdanso owawuzothatha ubusuku bonke. Ekuseni ngovivi ngakusasa abazalwane babeya kohlanza ihholo, lilungele isimiso sasekuseni ngeSonto. Yebo, abantu babengayibheki indawo enjena njengefanele umhlangano wenkolo. Abantu bakule nsimu babebahleka abazalwane uma behlangana emahholo omdanso anjengeGuyana Palace, i-Au Soleil Levant ne-Au Canari. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, nalezi zindawo azibange zisakwazi ukuthatha inani elandayo labantu abeza emihlanganweni yesifunda.
Ekugcineni, abazalwane banquma ukuzakhela iHholo LoMhlangano elithi bona, belandela isibonelo samaHholo OMhlangano aseMartinique naseGuadeloupe. Uhlaka kwakungolwensimbi, lufulelwe ngothayela. Lalilikhulu likwazi ukuthatha abantu abayinkulungwane, kodwa liqaqeke kalula. Isinyathelo esilandelayo kwakuwukufuna isiza okwakuzokwakhiwa kuso iHholo LoMhlangano. UJean-Daniel Michotte wanikela ngengxenye ethile yendawo yakhe. Leli lungiselelo lasebenza iminyaka eminingana.
Umsebenzi Wokwakha Oyisimanga
Njengoba sasikhula isithakazelo eqinisweni, kwadingeka iHholo LoMhlangano elikhudlwana. Abazalwane baqala ukufuna indawo enkulu ngokwanele ukuba kwakhiwe kuyo iHholo LoMhlangano labantu abangu-2 000. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi befuna, bathola indawo enhle engamahektare amathathu ibiza kahle. Njengoba abazalwane balapha babengenalo ulwazi lobunjiniyela nelokwakha, kwacelwa igatsha laseFrance ukuba lisize. Umsebenzi owahlelwa wawuyisimanga ngempela. Waqalwa ngo-1993. Kwakhiwa iHholo LoMhlangano elingamamitha-skwele angu-2 000, amaHholo OMbuso amahlanu, amafulethi amathathu amaphayona akhethekile namakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli amathathu, futhi konke lokhu kwakhiwa ngamasonto angu-8 nje kuphela!
Izinto eziningi zokwakha zafika ngomkhumbi zivela eFrance ngamabhokisi amakhulu ensimbi angu-32. Kule mithwalo kwakukhona ogandaganda, amaloli, amabhasi, ama-block, uthayela nezinye izinto zokwakha, kanye nokudla okuningi. AmaKomiti Esifunda Okwakha aseFrance ayehileleke kulo msebenzi asebenza kanzima kakhulu.
Phakathi nalo msebenzi, abazalwane nodade baseFrance abangaba ngu-800 bafika ngezindleko zabo bezosebenza nabazalwane nodade bendawo abangu-500 ezakhiweni ezine ezihlukahlukene. Isakhiwo esisentshonalanga sasiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-250 kwesisempumalanga, ngakho kwakudingeka ukuxhumana okuhle. Abazalwane baseFrance babesebenza amashifu kulezi zinyanga ezimbili, kodwa kwake kwaba nabazalwane abangu-500 baseFrance besebenza noFakazi bendawo abangu-422. Kwakuyinselele ukulungiselela zonke lezi zisebenzi indawo yokulala. Imikhaya eminingi yalapha yathatha izisebenzi zaseFrance ezimbili noma ezintathu; asikho esahlala ehhotela. Kwakudingeka izinto zokuhamba zezisebenzi. Omunye umzalwane uthi: “Uma ngiya emsebenzini, ngangiqale ngihambise ezinye izisebenzi esakhiweni, bese ngiyazilanda uma sengishayisile. Senza konke esasingakwenza ukuze senze lezi zisebenzi zizizwe zisekhaya.”
Ngesikhathi iqembu elikhulu liseMatoury esakhiweni seHholo LoMhlangano (elaklanywa laba neHholo LoMbuso), abanye babeseSinnamary beyokwakha iHholo LoMbuso nomuzi omncane wezithunywa zevangeli. EMana kwakwakhiwa elinye iHholo LoMbuso nomuzi omncane wezithunywa zevangeli. ESranantongo, ingxenye yeMana, kwakwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elinefulethi lamaphayona akhethekile. ESaint-Laurent, kwakwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elithatha abantu abangu-330 nomuzi wezithunywa zevangeli wabantu abayisithupha. Kuhlanganyela amabandla amabili kulo. Leli Hholo LoMbuso elikhulu lisetshenziselwa imihlangano yesigodi yaseSranantongo, evame ukuhanjelwa abantu abangu-600.
Ngemva kwalo msebenzi omkhulukazi, abanye abazalwane baseFrance banquma ukuhlala eFrench Guiana. Ngaphandle kokusiza ngamakhono abo okwakha, babusise amabandla ngokukhonza njengabadala, izinceku ezikhonzayo namalungu amakomiti okwakha. Kamuva, abanye bahlanganyela ekwakheni izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha.
Isidingo Sehhovisi Legatsha
Ihhovisi legatsha laseFrench Guiana laqala ukusebenza ngo-1990 emzini owawuqashiwe eMontjoly, idolobha eliseduze nenhloko-dolobha. UDavid Moreau wamiswa ukuba abe umqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha. Lapho ekhonza eMartinique ngemva kokuphothula eSikoleni SaseGileyadi ngo-1981, wayevamile ukuba nezabelo eFrench Guiana. EKomitini Yegatsha wayekanye noJean-Daniel Michotte, uPaul Chong Wing no-Eric Couzinet. Ngemva kwesikhathi, uChristian Belotti wabelwa ukuba akhonze kanye nabo. Amabandla ayekwazisa kakhulu ukuthola isiqondiso esivela kubazalwane abavuthiwe abazazi kahle izidingo zawo.
Ngesikhathi kumiswa igatsha, ummemezeli woMbuso oyedwa kwakumelwe ashumayeze abantu abangu-173 kuleli zwe. Abamemezeli abangu-660 babehlanganisa nezithunywa zevangeli ezingu-14 ezabelwe ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zezwe. Ukwanda kwabamemezeli okuqhubekayo—ngeminye iminyaka okufinyelela kumaphesenti angu-18—kwaphakamisa isidingo sokufuna izakhiwo ezingcono zamahhovisi. Ngo-1992 ihhovisi legatsha lathuthelwa eMatoury, engaqhelile kakhulu eCayenne. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-1995 iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kwakhiwe isakhiwo esihlangabezana kangcono nezidingo zethu. Kwadingeka kusetshenzwe iminyaka emibili andukuba isakhiwo esisha siphele. Asive sabajabulisa abazalwane, futhi asive sanikeza ubufakazi obuhle!
Izinselele Zenkonzo
Ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuleli zwe kuhilela umsebenzi onzima, ukuzidela nothando. Abantu abafundelwa iBhayibheli abazimisele bayakubona lokhu. Omunye wabo watshela uFakazi owayemfundela ukuthi: “Ngiyalubona ngempela uthando nokuzinikela ongibonisa kona. Sekuyizinyanga eziningi uza njalo uzongifundisa ulwazi lwezindaba ezinhle, ngisho noma lina. Ngakho, njalo ngamaSonto, ngizoza ezifundweni.” Wenza kanjalo ngempela, wafika ngisho nanabangane bakhe.
Ngezinye izikhathi, ukuze abamemezeli bafike lapho beqhuba khona isifundo, kudingeka bahambe phezu kogodo olusuke lusemseleni. Kuba inselele nakakhulu uma lolu godo lusemseleni onamanzi. UDavid Moreau, owayephakamise izandla ukuze azimelele, wayehamba phambi kukadade oyiphayona lapho ezwa kuthí gxumbu ngemva kwakhe. Ngesibindi, udade waphinde wagibela ogodweni, wafike wageza lapho babeya khona, wabe eseqhuba isifundo sakhe seBhayibheli njengokungathi akwenzekanga lutho.
Kwenye indawo, uMfoweth’ uBouquet wafika ngesikebhe edolobheni elincane ngesikhathi amanzi engemaningi ogwini futhi ugu lomfula lugcwele udaka. Lapho esehamba ngezinyawo ephikelele edolobhaneni elincane, washona odakeni olwaze lwafika emadolweni. Ngemva kokuba esehambe amamitha angu-25, kwaba yima efika emhlabathini owomile. Abantu balapha abanomusa bamnika amanzi okugeza imilenze; wabe eseqala inkonzo yakhe.
Akukona nje ukuthi la madolobhana angawodwa nokuthi ulimi luhlukile okwenza kube nzima ukufinyelela amaNdiya aseMelika. Ngenxa yokuthi uzama ukuvikela izindawo zawo ezingozini ezidalwa impucuko, uhulumeni akafuni ukuba kungenwe noma kanjani. Akuvunyelwe ukushumayela ngendlela ehleliwe emadolobhaneni awo. Kodwa lapho la maNdiya eyothenga emadolobheni, oFakazi BakaJehova bazama ukuxoxa nawo ngethemba elimangalisayo lomhlaba ongenazo izifo, kuhlanganise nomalaleveva, ohlupha abantu abaningi lapha.
Ukugcina isikhathi sokubonana nothile nokuya esifundweni ngesikhathi esithile kudinga ushintsho olukhulu endleleni yawo yokucabanga. Eminyakeni engu-30 edlule abantu balapha babengawafaki amawashi, futhi abantu babengajahi. Ukufika ngesikhathi esifundweni kwakuyinto entsha. Omunye udade wajabula lapho efika sekuthandazwa, kanti uzothola ukuthi lo mthandazo owokuphetha! Isithunywa sevangeli esasishumayela eSaint Georges sabuza omunye umlisa ukuthi idolobhana laseRégina likude yini. Lo mlisa wathi: “Alikude.” “Pho liqhele kangakanani?” sibuza. “Uhamba nje izinsuku ezingu-9 bese uyafika.” Lo mbono wawo ngesikhathi ubonisa ukuthi kungani amanye, nakuba elithanda iqiniso, ekuhlehlisa ukwenza isinqumo sokukhonza uNkulunkulu.
Amanye kuye kwadingeka akhethe phakathi kwemithetho yesizwe nezimiso zeBhayibheli mayelana nokuphila komkhaya. Ngezinye izikhathi, isinqumo sawo sokuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova senze inkosi yalapho yavutha ngolaka. Kwelinye idolobhana, iphayona elikhethekile nomkalo, ababekhonza lapha, bagwetshelwa ukufa yinkosi. Ukuze babalekele ukubulawa, babaleka kuleli dolobhana futhi babelwa kwesinye isabelo esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-300.
Naphezu kwalezi zihibe, abantu bazo zonke izizinda nezindlela zokuphila bamukela lesi simemo: “Nanoma ubani othandayo makathathe amanzi okuphila mahhala.” (IsAm. 22:17) Kulo nyaka odlule, abantu abangu-1 500 bahlanganyela ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle eFrench Guiana. Kwaqhutshwa isilinganiso sezifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-2 228 nabantu abathakazelayo. Ngo-April 19, bangu-5 293 abafika eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. Sithandaza ngobuqotho ukuba abengeziwe benze iqiniso libe elabo, ngaleyo ndlela babe abafundi beqiniso bakaJesu Kristu.
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 224]
[Isithombe ekhasini 228]
U-Olga Laaland
[Isithombe ekhasini 230]
Kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: UChristian Bonecaze noXavier Noll
[Izithombe ekhasini 234]
UMichel noJeanne Valard
[Isithombe ekhasini 237]
UConstance no-Edmogène Fléreau
[Izithombe ekhasini 238]
(1) Indlela eyakhiwe ngamapulangwe enqamula ehlathini lemvula, (2) U-Eric Couzinet noMichel Bouquet nezimpahla, (3) Isigodi samaNdiya aseMelika
[Isithombe ekhasini 241]
U-Elie noLucette Régalade
[Izithombe ekhasini 251]
Umsebenzi wokwakha owathatha amasonto angu-8 okwakukhona kuwo nezisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe: (1) IHholo LoMhlangano eMatoury; amaHholo OMbuso amabili nezinye izindawo zokuhlala (2,3) eMana, (4) eSaint-Laurent (5) naseSinnamary. (6) OFakazi baseFrench Guiana, kanye nabaningi baseFrance, bahlanganyela emsebenzini
[Izithombe ekhasini 252, 253]
Ihhovisi legatsha neKhaya LaseBethel eFrench Guiana, neKomiti Yegatsha (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla): UPaul Chong Wing, uDavid Moreau, uJean-Daniel Michotte no-Eric Couzinet