ICuraçao

Iziqhingi zase-Aruba, eBonaire naseCuraçao zaziwa ngokuthi iziqhingi zase-ABC. Njengoba zikude nogu laseVenezuela, zinhle ngendlela yazo. Azivundile njengezinye iziqhingi ezinhle zaseCaribbean, kodwa ziwugwadule oluhle, kunamathunzi akhexisayo ebusuku, kanye nemibala ehlukahlukene emini.

Ngenxa yokuthi imvula ayini kakhulu, imidolofiya emikhulu—ene-kadushi evelele kuyo—iyachuma, yikubo kwayo kule ndawo. Isihlahla i-divi-divi esihlukile ngenxa yesihloko esitshekele eceleni ngokuyinqaba, naso siyachuma. Njengabalindi abathule, izindlu zamakoloni zenganyelwe yisibhakabhaka esicwathile, ziyizikhumbuzo zokuthi le ndawo yayiyikoloni. Izimbuzi ziyazulazula futhi zeqe imigwaqo.

I-Aruba neBonaire zinemboni yezokuvakasha echumayo, kuyilapho iCuraçao ithembele emalini etholakala ngokuhluza uwoyela nokwenza ibhizinisi namanye amazwe. Isiqhingi ngasinye sinesikhungo sokukhipha usawoti emanzini, esihlanza amanzi olwandle, ukuze kutholakale amanzi okuphuza nesitimu sikagesi.

Lezi ziqhingi, manje ezinenani labantu abangaphansana nje kuka-250 000, zatholwa abaseSpain ngekhulu le-15. Kamuva, amaDashi azithatha lezi ziqhingi, futhi nakuba zazisezandleni zamaFulentshi namaNgisi izikhashana ezimbalwa, zabuyela kumaDashi ngo-1815. Kusukela ngo-1954, uhulumeni wobumbano waseNetherlands Antilles, ekuqaleni owawuhlanganisa iziqhingi zase-ABC kanye nezintathu zeziQhingi ZaseLeeward, uye wazimela ekuphatheni izindaba zangaphakathi. Kodwa ngo-1986, i-Aruba yanikezwa i-status aparte, noma umbuso ozimele geqé.

Isiko Nolimi

Ngaphansi kukahulumeni wamaDashi, lezi ziqhingi zijabulela isimo senkululeko yenkolo. Izakhamuzi eziningi zingamaRoma Katolika, nakuba kunamaqembu amakhulu amaProthestani. Kukhona nomphakathi omkhulu wamaJuda eCuraçao. Abantu abavela ezizweni ezingu-40 kuya kwezingu-50 emhlabeni bahlala ndawonye, ngokuthula emphakathini onezinhlanga ezihlukene. Nakuba laba bantu benolimi olufanayo, isiqhingi ngasinye sihlukile. Iqiniso leBhayibheli latshaleka kuwo-ke lo mphakathi ohlukahlukene futhi liye laqhubeka lichuma.

Laba bantu bakhuluma izilimi eziningi futhi cishe baze bakhohlwe nokukhohlwa ukuthi yiluphi ulimi abalukhulumayo, ngoba ukushintsha izilimi kuyinto evamile. Nakuba isiDashi siwulimi olungokomthetho, futhi isiNgisi neSpanishi sisetshenziswa kakhulu kwezamabhizinisi, isiPapiamento siwulimi lomdabu. Kunenkolelo-mbono ethi isiPapiamento saqala eziQhingini ZaseCape Verde eNtshonalanga Afrika ngaphambi kwekhulu le-17. AmaPutukezi ayesebenzisa lezo ziqhingi ukuze angene e-Afrika eyokwenza okuthile, futhi ukuze abaNsundu namaPutukezi bakwazi ukuxhumana, kwaba khona ulimi oluxubile—oluyinhlanganisela yezilimi zabaNsundu namaPutukezi. Ulimi olunjalo olwenza abantu bezilimi ezihlukahlukene bakwazi ukuxhumana kuthiwa isifanakalo. Kamuva, izigqila ezalethwa kulezi ziqhingi zafika nalolo limi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lolu limi lwathonywa isiDashi, iSpanishi, isiNgisi nesiFulentshi. Kwabe sekuvela isiPapiamento esiyingxube yazo zonke lezi zilimi.

Isifanakalo esasungulwa yizigqila futhi salethwa kulezi ziqhingi, empeleni sasiyindlela yokuvala igebe lokuxhumana futhi sabahlanganisa. Kodwa, kwaba khona olunye ulimi. Yilolu okukhulunywa ngalo kuZefaniya 3:9, (NW), othi: “Ngaleso sikhathi ngiyokwenza izizwe ukuba zishintshele olimini oluhlanzekile, ukuze zonke zibize igama likaJehova, ukuze zimkhonze zilinganisene ihlombe nehlombe.” Yilolu ‘limi oluhlanzekile’ olungahlanganisanga nje kuphela abathile abahlala kulezi ziqhingi—lwabavumela ukuba banqobe ukwehlukana ngokwenhlalo, ngokohlanga futhi ngezinye izikhathi ngokobuzwe—kodwa futhi olwabahlanganisa nenhlangano yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho nakuba kunamabandla ahlukene esiPapiamento, esiNgisi, eSpanishi nesiDashi, ulimi oluyingxube lweqiniso leBhayibheli ludonsela abafowethu esibophweni esiqinile sothando.

Inhlansi Yeqiniso

Akwaziwa kahle ukuthi imbewu yokuqala yeqiniso yatshalwa nini kulezi ziqhingi. Cishe ukukhanya kweqiniso kwaya kusa kancane kancane, kwasusa ubumnyama obabugubuzele lezi ziqhingi, okwase kuyisikhathi eside zibuswa ubuRoma Katolika. Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1920 nawo-1930, baningana abantu ababeshumayela lapha. Futhi, umthengisi owayethengisa izincwadi zenkolo watshala imbewu yeqiniso engaqondile, ngoba phakathi kwezincwadi zakhe kwakukhona izincwadi ezikhiqizwa yinhlangano kaNkulunkulu. Amadodakazi amabili alo mthengisi, uPearl noRuby, ayesebenza naye futhi aba oFakazi BakaJehova eminyakeni eminingi kamuva. Womabili asathembekile kuze kube namuhla.

Ngo-1940, uMfoweth’ uBrown, waseTrinidad, owayesebenza lapho kuhluzwa khona uwoyela, wabhapathiza abantu okokuqala ngqá eCuraçao—abantu abahlanu ayekade efunda nabo. Phakathi kwalaba kwakukhona uMartin noWilhelmina Naarendorp no-Eduard van Marl, bonke ababedabuka eSuriname.

U-Anita Libretto, indodakazi yakwaNaarendorp, uyakhumbula: “Ngo-1940 ngangineminyaka eyisithupha ubudala. Ngiyakhumbula ukuthi abazali bami babefundelwa umzalwane okhuluma isiNgisi. Bona babekhuluma isiDashi kuphela futhi bengasazi isiNgisi, kodwa bazikhandla futhi ezinyangeni eziyisithupha babhapathizwa. Imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa ekhaya, kodwa yayingahlelekile kahle njenganamuhla. Kwakuze kube phakathi kwamabili isifundo singakapheli, njengoba kwakunzima kubazali bami ukuqonda izincwadi ezibhalwe ngesiNgisi.” Kwakushunyayelwa ikakhulu ngesiNgisi, ngoba leli qembu elincane lalingasazi kahle isiPapiamento futhi zingekho izincwadi ngalolo limi.

Ngokuvamile, abantu bendawo babengajwayele ukufunda iBhayibheli ngoba iSonto LamaKatolika lalikwenqabele. Kwakuvamile ukuba abapristi bathathe noma yimaphi amaBhayibheli ababewathola. Ekuqaleni, omunye wabo wayelandela abafowethu, egxoba ngonyawo phansi futhi ememeza, ethi: “Hlukanani nezimvu zami!”

Imbewu Itshalwa E-Aruba NaseBonaire

Ngo-1943, uJohn Hypolite, owayekade engumSabatha, noMartin Naarendorp bavakashela e-Aruba futhi bachitha iholidi labo besakaza izindaba ezinhle. Ngokwalokho okutholakalayo, babengabokuqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle lapho. Lapho sebebuyele eCuraçao, uMfoweth’ uHypolite wabhalela endlunkulu eBrooklyn wacela ukuba kusizwe le nsimu. Izithunywa zevangeli zathunyelwa eminyakeni emithathu kamuva, kodwa ngokudabukisayo wafa zingakafiki. Nokho, abafowethu baseCuraçao abanesibindi, njengoJohn Hypolite, babelandelé isiyalo esikumShumayeli 11:6 futhi bahlwanyela imbewu ngesandla esivulekile, kamuva eyaba nezimpande futhi yahluma.

Ngo-1944, e-Aruba kwafika u-Edmund Cummings waseGrenada noWoodworth Mills waseTrinidad. Basebenza lapho kuhluzwa khona uwoyela eSan Nicolas. Njengoba lingasempumalanga yalesi siqhingi, idolobha laseSan Nicolas laligcwele izifiki ezisuka kuzo zonke izingxenye zeWest Indies zizosebenza lapho kuhluzwa khona uwoyela. UMfoweth’ uMills, owayeyisikhulumi sasobala esinentshiseko, wakuthuthukisa kakhulu ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle. Ngo-March 8, 1946, uMfoweth’ uMills noCummings baqala ibandla lokuqala lesiNgisi eSan Nicolas. Leli bandla lalinabamemezeli abangu-11, futhi uMfoweth’ uMills wayeyinceku yebandla.

Abokuqala ababhapathizwa lapho, babhapathizwa ngo-June 9, 1946. Phakathi kwabane ababhapathizwa kwakukhona uTimothy J. Campbell noWilfred Rogers, futhi ekupheleni kuka-1946, inani labamemezeli lase liphindeke kabili. Kamuva, oFakazi ababeyizifiki—abakwaBuitenman, abakwaDe Freitas, abakwaCampbell, abakwaScott, abakwaPotter, abakwaMyer, abakwaTitre, abakwaFaustin, nabanye—bahlanganyela nebandla.

UMfoweth’ uMills wayephumelela kakhulu ekufakazeni ngokwethukela, futhi omunye wozakwabo, owayebhala ngomshini, u-Oris, wasabela kahle. Wabhapathizwa ngo-January 1947. UMfoweth’ uMills akazuzanga udade nje kuphela kodwa wathola nomakoti, ngoba yena no-Oris kamuva bashada. Ngo-1956 bamenyelwa ekilasini lama-27 laseGileyadi babe sebabelwa eNigeria.

Kuze kube u-1950, e-Aruba kwakushunyayelwa kakhulu eSan Nicolas, ngoba abantu lapho babekhuluma kakhulu isiNgisi futhi abafowethu babengakwazi kahle ukukhuluma isiPapiamento. Kuze kube ngaleso sikhathi, akekho umuntu wase-Aruba owayesamukele iqiniso. Ushushiso olungapheli lweSonto LamaKatolika lwenza ukuba abantu base-Aruba ababenobungane bamelane noFakazi futhi lwanciphisa intuthuko. Kudala, kwakuvame kakhulu ukuba uFakazi axoshwe umninikhaya othukuthele ophethe ucelemba. Ngezinye izikhathi abafowethu babethelwa ngamanzi ashisayo noma basasazelwe ngezinja. Ngezinye izikhathi umninikhaya wayebangenisa endlini abazalwane abese eyaphuma abashiye behlezi. Kulezi ziqhingi, kuwukwedelela ukushiya izivakashi.

U-Edwina Stroop, iphayona lase-Aruba, uyakhumbula: “Abapristi babesabisa abantu ngokubatshela ukuthi bazobaqalekisa uma beshiya isonto.” Noma kunjalo, lokhu akuzange kuyidambise intshiseko yabafowethu, ababeshukunyiswa ukuthanda uJehova nomakhelwane ukuba bakhuthazele.

Imbewu yezinye izitshalo zasogwadule ihlala amashumi eminyaka kuze kube yilapho imvula ina ngokwanele ukuba ihlume futhi ekugcineni iqhakaze izimbali ezinhle. Kwakunjalo nasendabeni kaJacobo Reina, owayesebenzela ihhovisi lentela eBonaire. Wathola incwadi ethi Creation ngo-1928. Nakuba ayezalelwe emkhayeni wamaRoma Katolika, wayehlolé izinkolo zobuProthestani kodwa akanganeliseka. Lapho efunda incwadi ethi Creation, wayibona inhlansi yeqiniso. Le ncwadi yabala izihloko zezinye izincwadi ezinyatheliswa izinceku zikaJehova, kodwa uJacobo akakwazanga ukuzithola. Kwaze kwathi eminyakeni engu-19 kamuva, lapho evakashele udadewabo eCuraçao ngo-1947, wahlangana nesithunywa sevangeli esasifundela udadewabo. Wasibuza ukuthi sasinazo yini izincwadi ezisohlwini ayelugcine esikhwameni sakhe semali yonke leyo minyaka. Wazithatha zonke lezo zincwadi esikhwameni saso, cishe izincwadi ezingu-7 ezinoqwembe oluqinile nezincwajana ezingu-13, futhi wenza isikhokhelo somagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Ukulangazelela kwakhe ukudla okungokomoya okwakuvuswe esikhathini eside ngaphambili kwase kuzokwaneliswa ekugcineni. Yebo, imbewu yeqiniso eyayihlale yangaqhuma iminyaka eminingi kangaka manje yayisizoniselwa ngamanzi adingekayo ukuze ikhule.

Kufika Izithunywa Zevangeli Zokuqala ECuraçao

Ngo-May 16, 1946, uThomas Russell Yeatts nomkakhe, uHazel, abathola iziqu ekilasini lesithupha laseGileyadi, bafika eCuraçao, okwakuyinsimu eyayingakaze ithintwe. UMfoweth’ uYeatts wayezoba negalelo elikhulu emsebenzini wakulezi ziqhingi, wahlala esabelweni sakhe iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1999. Ngaphandle kokuthi wake waphazamiseka kancane nje, wengamela igatsha kusukela ngo-1950 kwaze kwaba ngu-1994. Njengoba ayeyindoda eyayihlala inesimo senjabulo, inethemba lokuhle nokholo olungenakuzanyazanyiswa, waba nelungelo lokubona umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso ukhula kakhulu.

UHazel, owayemsekela ngobuqotho umyeni wakhe, uye wahlala ngokwethembeka esabelweni sakhe kuze kube namuhla futhi ungumthombo wesikhuthazo kubo bonke. Ukhumbula befika esikhumulweni sezindiza futhi behlangatshezwa ngemfudumalo uMfoweth’ uNaarendorp noMfoweth’ uVan Marl kanye noClement Fleming, umuntu owayethakazela.

Phela, uClement wayethole incwadi ethi Children, wayifunda, futhi wakholiseka ukuthi uselitholile iqiniso. Lapho esemncane, washiya iSonto LamaRoma Katolika ngoba wayengavumelani neziningi zezimfundiso zalo. Kamuva waqala ukuzihlanganisa noFakazi, ngakho wayekhona ezohlangabeza izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala. Ngo-July 1946, isithunywa sevangeli esisha uRussell Yeatts, sambhapathiza. UMfoweth’ uFleming namanje usengummemezeli woMbuso futhi uthi: “Nakuba sengineminyaka engu-93 ubudala, angikalilahli ithemba lokuba phakathi kwalabo abayosinda e-Armagedoni bangene esimisweni esisha bengazange bafe.” Yeka isibonelo esihle sokholo nokukhuthazela!

UDade Yeatts uthi: “Sathathwa esikhumulweni sezindiza sayiswa endlini enamakamelo amabili engaphezu kwesitolo esithengisa imisila yezingulube nenhlanzi eyomisiwe. Le ndlu yayingenafenisha futhi ingenandawo yokugezela, ngakho kwakudingeka sehle siye ezansi siyogezela khona izinyanga eziyisithupha kwaze kwaba yilapho sithola indawo yokuhlala engcono.” Nakuba uHazel ayevame ukuphathwa isifo sohudo kaningi, yena noRussell abazange badumazeke. Eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, uMfoweth’ uYeatts wabhala: “Okwenza ukuphila kuthakazelise, ikakhulukazi ezikhonzini zikaJehova, akuzona izimo, akuyona indawo, akulona ngisho nolimi, kodwa abantu. Futhi bakhona kunoma yisiphi isabelo.”

Lapho zifunda ulimi lwendawo, isiPapiamento, lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezinesibindi kwakudingeka zifundise abantu baseCuraçao ulimi oluhlanzekile, ulimi oluyinhloko lweqiniso. Omunye walaba kwakunguCamilio Girigoria, owokuqala kubantu bomdabu owabhapathizwa ngo-1950. Njengoba ayesebenza lapho kuhluzwa khona uwoyela, wayethole iqiniso ngokuxoxa nabafowethu abahlukahlukene, kuhlanganise noHenricus Hassell, ummemezeli oshisekayo wezindaba ezinhle. UCamilio, manje oneminyaka engu-78 ubudala, ungumdala futhi usesizé abantu abangu-24 baze bazinikezela. Ngo-1946 izithunywa zevangeli zahlela ibandla lokuqala lesiNgisi eCuraçao, kodwa ibandla lokuqala lesiPapiamento laze lavulwa ngo-1954.

I-Aruba Iyaqhubeka Ibona Ukukhanya Kweqiniso

Ngo-July 1949, uHenry no-Alice Tweed baseCanada, abafunda ekilasini le-12 laseGileyadi, baya e-Aruba, lapho babezofeza khona indima ebalulekile ekufundiseni ulimi oluhlanzekile. UHenry wayelishiyile igabade, ethe klwí, futhi wayaziwa ngokuba nomusa nobumnene; u-Alice wayaziwa ngokuhlekisa nokuba nentshiseko engapheli enkonzweni. Babewukuphela kwezithunywa zevangeli ezahlala futhi zasebenza kuzo zontathu lezi ziqhingi futhi bakhunjulwa ngothando emashumini eminyaka kamuva ngomoya wabo wokuzidela nentshiseko.

Ngo-1950, uWilliam Yeatts (umzala kaRussell) nomkakhe, uMary, bathweswa iziqu ekilasini le-14 laseGileyadi futhi babelwa eCuraçao. Ngo-1953 baya e-Aruba. Cishe eminyakeni engu-50 kamuva, basekuleso sabelo—bayizibonelo ezinhle zokholo nokukhuthazela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uMary wavelela ngentshiseko enkulu enkonzweni. Wayehlala ephambili emsebenzini wokushumayela, kuyilapho uBill ayegxile ekuhumusheni izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ngaphambi kokuba kufike uBill noMary, amabandla amabili esiNgisi ayengabathonyanga kangako abantu bendawo. Ngesineke nangesu, uBill noMary baqala ukutshala imbewu yeqiniso kubantu base-Aruba abakhuluma isiPapiamento. Kancane kancane imizamo yabo yavuzwa. UBill uyakhumbula: “Saqala ukuqhubela iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda ngaphansi kwesihlahla esikhulu se-kwihi ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba khona abantu abayikhulu. Sasihlala emabhentshini ayelahlwe isonto lamaKatolika.” Ngo-1954 kwagujwa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu, futhi ngemva kwalokho kwahlelwa iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla ngesiPapiamento.

UmAruba Wokuqala Ufunda Iqiniso LeBhayibheli

Eseyinsizwa, uGabriel Henriquez ngezinye izikhathi wayephuza kakhulu ngezimpelasonto kangangokuthi njalo ngoMsombuluko ekuseni wayephutha emsebenzini lapho kuhluzwa khona uwoyela. Umqashi wakhe wayefuna athuthukise indlela yakhe yokuphila, futhi nakuba umqashi ngokwakhe ayengakholelwa kuNkulunkulu, wenzela uGabriel isipho sesikhokhelo se-Phaphama!, eqiniseka ukuthi lokhu kuzomsiza. Kamuva uGabriel wahlangana nabakwaTweed, ababefunda iBhayibheli nomukhwe wakhe. Njengoba incwadi ababeyifunda yayingeSpanishi, uGabriel wayemhumushela. Ngokushesha, isithakazelo sikaGabriel sakhula, ngakho ngo-1953, uBill noMary Yeatts baqala ukutadisha naye. UGabriel uthi: “Ngaze ngazithola izimpendulo zayo yonke imibuzo yami.” Ngo-1954 wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova futhi waba umAruba wokuqala owabhapathizwa.

Ibandla lokuqala lesiPapiamento, elinabamemezeli abangu-16, lahlelwa ngo-1956, futhi ekupheleni konyaka wenkonzo ka-1957, kwase kubika abamemezeli abangu-26. Lapho amehlo abantu base-Aruba esevulekile babona izimfundiso zamanga “zeBabiloni Elikhulu” futhi bayeka ukwesaba umuntu, baba abathandi beqiniso nabamemezeli abashisekayo bezindaba ezinhle. (IsAm. 17:5) Omunye umuntu onjalo kwakunguDaniel Webb. Yena nomkakhe, uNinita, ekuqaleni owayephikisa, balamukela iqiniso, futhi bobabili baba abamemezeli boMbuso abakhuthele. Ingabe abanye babezosilandela isibonelo sabo?

NjengoDaniel, abanye abaningi bafunda iqiniso futhi balivumela ukuba lilolonge ukuphila kwabo nokwemikhaya yabo. Omunye umuntu onjalo owaqala ukuqhutshelwa isifundo kwakunguPedro Rasmijn. Lapho efika ekhaya ngelinye ilanga, uPedro wathola ukuthi unina, uMaria, owayengumKatolika ozinikele, wayezilahle zonke izincwadi zakhe zokutadisha. Njengoba ayengakabugqoki ubuntu obusha, waphindisela ngokwephula izithombe zikanina. Ecasulwe yilokho okwenziwe uPedro, uMaria wakhononda kumpristi, nokho umpristi yena wathi uPedro uqinisile ngokucabanga ukuthi izithombe azinanzuzo! Ethukuthele egan’ unwabu, waxosha umpristi futhi wanquma ukuhlola iBhayibheli. Ngenxa yalokho, uMaria nomyeni wakhe, uGenaro, banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova. Bona nezingane zabo ezingu-11, abazukulu abangu-26, nomntwana oyedwa womzukulu—abantu abangu-40 sebebonke—bonke bakhonza uJehova!

UDaniel van der Linde, umkhwenyana wakwaMaria, wabhapathizwa naphezu kokuba elahlwe abazali bakhe. Nakuba axoshwa ekhaya futhi washaywa umpristi ongumKatolika, uDaniel waphikelela, eqiniseka ukuthi uselitholile iqiniso. Naphezu kwaloku kuphikiswa, uDaniel uzibheka njengobusisiwe, ngoba uye wasetshenziswa uJehova ekusizeni abaningi bafunde iqiniso leBhayibheli. Indodakazi yakhe uPrisquela nomyeni wakhe, uManuel, bakhonza eBethel eMnyangweni Wokuhumusha ehhovisi legatsha laseCuraçao nakuba behlala ngaphandle. Omunye futhi umkhwenyana, uTony, naye wabonisa ukholo olukhulu kuJehova nasezithembisweni zaKhe zokuthi uyosisekela, ngoba wagula futhi kwadingeka ahlinzwe izikhathi ezinhlanu. UTony uthi: “Odokotela sebelahle ithemba ngami, kodwa ngiyaqhubeka ngithandazela amandla kuJehova. Abafowethu engizalwa nabo, engingathi sebengilahlile, bayabona ukuthi nginezinkulungwane zabafowethu abangokomoya emhlabeni wonke.”—Marku 10:29, 30.

Intuthuko Kulezi Ziqhingi

Ngo-1965, u-Albert Suhr, owathola iziqu ekilasini lama-20 eGileyadi, kwadingeka ahambe eCuraçao ngenxa yokugula, kodwa washiya “izincwadi zokutusa.” (2 Kor. 3:1, 2) Enye yazo, u-Olive Rogers, yaba yiphayona elivamile ngo-September 1951. U-Olive wayeseneminyaka engu-17 ehlala nendoda ayengashadile nayo. Kodwa, lapho efunda ngezindinganiso zikaJehova eziphakeme, wayishiya leyo ndoda, eyabuye yacela ukushada naye sekwephuzile. Wenqaba, wabhapathizwa, futhi wangena ezinhlwini zamaphayona, waqhubeka cishe iminyaka engu-40 kwaze kwaba yilapho esegula. UDade Rogers wayebonakala yonke indawo njengoba ayesebenza ngenjabulo ensimini. Namuhla, abantu baxoxa izindaba ezimnandi ngalo dade. Umoya wakhe ongenakudanjiswa nokuphikelela kwamenza wakwazi ukusiza abantu abaningi, kuhlanganise nemikhaya emikhulu, ukuba inikezele ukuphila kwayo kuJehova.

Namuhla miningi imikhaya ezikhandlayo ekhonza uJehova e-Antilles nase-Aruba. Imikhaya emikhulu njengowakwaMartha, owakwaCroes, owakwaDijkhoff, owakwaRasmijn, owakwaLiket, owakwaFaustin, owakwa-Ostiana, nowakwaRoemer, yakha isisekelo samabandla futhi inengxenye enkulu ekuwenzeni ukuba azinze.

U-Eugene Richardson onobungane waqala ukufundiswa nguJehova eneminyaka engu-15 ubudala. Nakuba ayengenaso isifundo seBhayibheli esihleliwe, wathuthuka kancane kancane ngokuba khona kuyo yonke imihlangano futhi wabhapathizwa lapho eneminyaka engu-17 ubudala. Ngo-1956 wamiswa njengephayona elivamile futhi wahlangabezana nalokho ayekubheka njengenkinga enkulu—ukungabi bikho kwezinto zokuhamba. Uthi: “Insimu engangabelwe kuyo yayiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-20 ukusuka ekhaya, ngakho ukuze ngixazulule inkinga yokuntuleka kwezinto zokuhamba, ngahweba ngopiyano lwami ngathola ibhayisikili. Umkhaya wakithi washaqeka ngalokhu, futhi basakhuluma ngakho nakuba sekwadlula iminyaka engu-40. Kodwa mina kwangisiza kakhulu. Ikakhulukazi ngoba ezinyangeni ezine ngemva kwalokho ngamiswa ukuba ngikhonze njengephayona elikhethekile ensimini engabelwe eBanda Abao.”

Ukuvula Insimu Entsha

Indawo esemaphandleni eBanda Abao, eyaziwa ngokuthi i-kunuku, isentshonalanga yeCuraçao futhi ihlanganisa cishe isigamu salesi siqhingi. Inendawo eyehlelayo futhi ngandlela-thile iluhlaza kunayo yonke indawo kulesi siqhingi. Imizi ithe gqwa, ngakho kudingeka ube nesikhathi impela uma usebenza le nsimu. UClinton Williams, elinye iphayona eliselisha elishisekayo, lajoyina u-Eugene, futhi ndawonye baqala le nsimu entsha. U-Eugene uyakhumbula: “Lena kwakungeyona insimu elula, uma iqhathaniswa naso sonke isiqhingi. Abantu babenobungane futhi kumnandi ngempela ukuxoxa nabo, kodwa ngokuvamile kwakuphelela lapho. Nokho, sasebenza lapho iminyaka emibili futhi sathola imiphumela emihle kakhulu. Enyangeni yokuqala, ngahlangana nendoda eyathi uma singayinika ubufakazi bokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wamiswa ngo-1914, yayizoba uFakazi. Nangempela yaba uFakazi, kanye nomkayo nezingane. Kamuva, ngaxoxa nowesifazane owathi indodana kadadewabo yayinesithakazelo kakhulu eBhayibhelini. Ngabo lobo busuku ngabuyela ngayoyishumayeza. Igama layo kwakunguCiro Heide.”

UCiro, ongumuntu oxoxayo, usilandisa olwakhe uhlangothi: “NgangiwumKatolika ozinikele kakhulu futhi ngiyazi kahle ikhathekhizimu kangangokuthi ngangingayifundisa esikoleni. Kodwa kunokuthile okwakuhlale kungixaka. Ngangingaqondi ukuthi kungani kuthi uma uphuthe esontweni, ube necala lesono sokufa futhi kube ukuthi uzoya esihogweni uma ungasivumi ngokushesha. Ngelinye ilanga insizwa ethile yeza kithi futhi yaxoxa nomamkhulu ngeBhayibheli. Njengoba ayazi ukuthi nginesithakazelo eBhayibhelini, wathi ayibuye uma sengikhona. Ngangilangazelela ukuyibona, ngoba nganginomuzwa wokuthi ngazi okungaphezu kwalokho yona ekwaziyo ngenkolo. Ngabo lobo busuku, u-Eugene wafika kithi. Ngabamba ongezansi lapho ephawula ukuthi iSivumo Sokholo Sabaphostoli, engangisisho nsuku zonke, sithi uJesu waya esihogweni. Ngenxa yokuthi ngangimane nje ngisisho ngekhanda ngaphandle kokucabanga ngaso, ngangingayiqondi incazelo yaso. Okwangimangaza ngaphezu kwakho konke ukuthi u-Eugene wasebenzisa iBhayibheli ekuchazeni yonke into, kuyilapho mina ngangingakwazi ukuvula ngisho nombhalo owodwa vó. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, ukuphila kwami kwashintsha kakhulu, ngoba ngaqala ukufundelwa ngokushesha.” Kamuva uCiro wabhapathizwa nakuba umkakhe ayemphikisa. Ekugcineni, ngenxa yesibonelo sakhe esihle, umkakhe naye wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova. Sekuyiminyaka engu-30 bekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka, futhi uCiro useneminyaka engu-25 engumdala.

U-Eugene waya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi ngo-1958 futhi wabelwa eBanda Abao, lapho kwakusenenkinga yezinto zokuhamba. Uyalandisa: “Lapho sisenkonzweni yasensimini, ngezinye izikhathi sasiba neqembu labazalwane abangu-13 nemoto eyodwa kuphela—eyami. Lokhu kwakusho ukuluphinda kabili uhambo lwebanga elingamakhilomitha angu-30 ukuya kuphela. Ngangehlisa iqembu lokuqala ensimini bese ngiphuthuma ngiyolanda elinye. Ntambama, ngangenza okufanayo njengasekuseni ukuze ngibabuyisele ekhaya abafowethu. Kodwa sasisebenza usuku lonke ensimini. Kwakukhathaza kodwa sasingeve sijabula!” U-Eugene waba nanelungelo lokujikeleza iminyaka ethile.

Ushintsho E-kunuku

Ngo-1959, uClinton Williams, ngaleso sikhathi owayesethole iziqu eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, waqhubeka esebenza e-kunuku. Kamuva washada no-Eugenie, iphayona elishisekayo elinomusa owalenza lathandwa abaningi. Ngo-1970 kwamiswa ibandla labamemezeli abangu-17 edolobhaneni laseZorgvliet bij Jan Kok, futhi imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa kwaPieters Kwiers. Amaphayona akhethekile uJuana Pieters Kwiers nendodakazi yakhe, u-Esther, kanye nomkhaya wakwaMinguel nowakwaKoeiman bazikhandla ukuze basize leli bandla. Ngo-1985 leli bandla lase likhulé laba nabamemezeli abangu-76 futhi emhlanganweni kwakuba khona abangu-125. Ngawo lowo nyaka, uthando lwashukumisela abafowethu base-United States ukuba bazinikele ngokuzithandela ukuyokwakha iHholo LoMbuso ePannekoek, futhi iHholo LoMbuso elidala lashintshwa lenziwa ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Eminyakeni emibili inani labamemezeli lenyuka laba ngu-142, ngakho ngo-1987 kwamiswa iBandla LaseTera Corá.

Ukuthola indawo yokuhlala yamaphayona kwakuhlale kuyinkinga, futhi u-Eugene ukhumbula ngesikhathi kudingeka alungise indlu engasetshenziswa eyayihlala izimbuzi. Wachitha amasonto ezama ukuqeda “amakha” azo. Inyama yembuzi iyisibiliboco kule ndawo. Iminyaka eminingi ngesikhathi kusaphekwa emihlanganweni, imbuzi yayiwukudla okuvamile, futhi abafowethu babekujabulela ukudla kwasemini bedla inyama yembuzi enongwe kahle. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi, inyama yayonakala yenze abanye bagqigqe endlini encane.

URussell Yeatts wayethanda ukuxoxa indaba yembuzi okwakuthiwa uMimi. Yake yadla amaBhayibheli amathathu, amaculo ambalwa nezinye izincwadi kanye nedlanzana lomagazini. Umnikazi wayo, uRita Matthews, wathi: “Yadla izincwadi zethu eziningi kangangokuthi sayibiza ngokuthi imbuzi engcwele.” UMimi wadayiswa.

Imihlangano Ithuthukisa Umoya Wothando Nobunye

Sekuyiminyaka eminingi kuyinkinga ukuthola izindawo zemihlangano ezifanelekayo—ikakhulukazi imihlangano yesifunda. UMax Garey, wekilasi lesihlanu laseGileyadi, wahlela ukwakhiwa kweHholo LoMbuso lokuqala okwakuzoba ngelabafowethu baseBuena Vista, eCuraçao. Abafowethu basebenza ngentshiseko ekwakhiweni kwaleli hholo futhi bajabula lapho seliphelile. Ngo-1961 kwamiswa ibandla lesibili lesiPapiamento eCuraçao futhi lahlanganyela kuleli hholo elisha elihle, uVictor Manuel, manje oseneminyaka ebalelwa kwengu-50 engummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle, wakhonza njengenceku yebandla. UNathan H. Knorr, waseBethel yaseBrooklyn, wanikezela leli hholo ngo-March 28, 1962.

Ngawo-1970, indawo eseduze nehholo laseBuena Vista yahlelenjwa, kwathelwa ukhonkolo, futhi kwamiswa ipulatifomu. Yasetshenziselwa imihlangano yesifunda neyesigodi iminyaka eminingi, futhi njengoba kuqabukela linile eCuraçao, imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa phandle kungabi nazinkinga. Nokho, abafowethu ngezikhathi ezithile babemangala lapho imvula ivele ine bese imanzisa izingubo zabo nezincwadi, kodwa yayingabadangalisi. Babemane bavule izambulela zabo baqhubeke balalelisise isimiso. Esikhathini esidlule, le mibuthano yayiqhutshwa ngezilimi ezimbili, ezinye izinkulumo zinikezwa ngesiNgisi bese zihunyushwa futhi ezinye zifushaniswa ngesiPapiamento. Imihlangano yesigodi yayiqhutshwa ngokushintshana e-Aruba naseCuraçao, futhi ezinye izihambeli zazigibela indiza eqashiwe zize esiqhingini somhlangano, kuyilapho ezinye zazihamba ngesikebhe. Ngesinye isikhathi, iqembu elikhulu lababeze emhlanganweni ngesikebhe i-Niagara laba nesicanucanu ngenxa yokuba solwandle. Naphezu kwalokhu kuphazamiseka, intshiseko yabo ngedili elingokomoya elaliza ayizange inciphe.

U-Ingrid Selassa, owayeneminyaka engu-16 ubudala ngaleso sikhathi, ukhumbula ukuthi ugogo wakhe wadayisa ingulube ukuze akwazi ukukhokhela uhambo. Izihambeli zomhlangano zahlala emizini yabafowethu futhi zaze zalala ngisho naphansi. Kwakheka ubungane obuhlala njalo, kwachuma umoya ojabulisayo wothando nobunye. Ngo-1959 kwaqhutshwa umhlangano wokuqala wesiPapiamento ekoloni laseSanta Cruz eBanda Abao. U-Ingrid uyakhumbula: “Salayisha ukudla, imibhede egoqwayo nezimpahla emabhasini sahamba saya emhlanganweni. Isimiso sasiyidili elingokomoya, futhi ebusuku sasidlala imidlalo yeBhayibheli sicula nezingoma zoMbuso ngaphandle ebusuku. Ngeke ngizikhohlwe izinsuku ezintathu esazihlala lapho, sazizwa siyingxenye yobuzalwane ngempela.” Imihlangano yezizwe eqinisa ukholo, njengoMhlangano Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ ngo-1969, yathuthukisa umoya wothando nobunye kubafowethu.

AmaHholo OMhlangano Amasha

Njengoba iminyaka yayihamba, indawo eBuena Vista yaba ncane kakhulu, kodwa ngokunikela kwamabandla ngesandla esivulekile, abafowethu bakwazi ukuthenga isakhiwo endaweni yokuhluza uwoyela. Lesi sakhiwo esisesifundeni saseSchelpwijk salungiswa kahle futhi kwaqhutshelwa kuso imihlangano yesifunda neyesigodi iminyaka eminingi. Muva nje, ihhovisi legatsha lithole imvume yokubhidliza lesi sakhiwo futhi lakhe iHholo LoMbuso elinezingxenye ezimbili elingasebenza nanjengeHholo LoMhlangano elingahlalisa abantu abangu-720—ilungiselelo elijabulisa abafowethu.

Ngaphambi kuka-1968, imihlangano yesifunda e-Aruba yayiqhutshelwa emahholo aqashiwe, kodwa njengoba abantu babanda, kwadingeka iHholo LoMhlangano. Ngenxa yalokho, kwanqunywa ukuba kwakhiwe iHholo LoMbuso elikhulu ngokwanele ukuba lisetshenziselwe imihlangano yesifunda. Ngo-1968, ngokuzikhandla nangokuzidela, abafowethu bendawo bakha ihholo elihle ababezodumisela kulo uJehova. Ngesikhathi kwakhiwa leli hholo, isiqephu sezihlahla zomdolofiya ezinde sasisithe isakhiwo kwabadlulayo. Esontweni elingaphambi komhlangano wokuqala, uhulumeni wayala ukuba zigawulwe lezi zihlahla zomdolofiya. Bheka, sekuvele kwaba khona ihholo ngokuphazima kweso—noma kwakubonakala kanjalo! Abantu bendawo bakubheka njengesimangaliso, abaningi becabanga ukuthi ngempela ihholo lakhiwe ngobusuku obubodwa. Kodwa leso senzakalo sasizoba khona kamuva ngamahholo akhiwe ngendlela esheshayo.

Umsebenzi Uyazinza EBonaire

Ngo-1949, uJoshua Steelman, ummeleli okhethekile ovela endlunkulu eBrooklyn wavakashela iBonaire, lapho ngaleso sikhathi uJacobo Reina noMatthijs Bernabela, owayengumlimi, babeshumayela khona ngentshiseko. Akekho kubo owayebhapathiziwe. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo enkulumo yeningi yokuqala ngqá eBonaire. Kwafika abantu abangaba yikhulu, kodwa bangu-30 kuphela abangena ehholo. Abanye abangu-70 babethunywe abapristi bendawo bamaKatolika ukuzophazamisa umhlangano. URussell Yeatts wake wakhumbula: “Amatshe ayeshaya ophahleni lukathayela njengesichotho saseGibithe. Kwaqhunyiswa iziklwebhisi futhi abantu bashaya amabhakede.” Lo mzamo awuzange uphumelele ngoba imbewu yeqiniso yatshaleka futhi yahluma. Ngonyaka olandelayo, uJacobo noMatthijs, oFakazi bokuqala eBonaire, babhapathizwa eCuraçao.

Ngo-1951, uRussell noBill Yeatts bahlela imihlangano emzini kaMfoweth’ uBernabela, futhi ngo-1952, uClinton Williams wabelwa eBonaire ukuba ayomisa ibandla elisha ehholo eliqashiswayo eKralendijk. Lapho enza lokhu wazizwela ngokwakhe ulaka lompristi wamaKatolika, owazama ukuba adingiswe. Umpristi wazama ukushoshozela omunye wesifazane owayetadisha iBhayibheli noMfoweth’ uWilliams ukuba ammangalele ngokuthi uyameshela, kodwa wenqaba. Ephoxekile, wabiza uMfoweth’ uWilliams ngokuthi i-wara-wara, inyoni edla ezinye izilwane etholakala kulezi ziqhingi, emmangalela ngokuhlwitha izimvu zakhe. Kodwa ngomoya kaJehova, uMfoweth’ uWilliams waqhubeka eqinisa ibandla elisha kwaze kwaba yilapho eshintshwa abelwa eCuraçao. Ngo-1954, kwaba khona umhlangano wesifunda wokuqala, futhi kusukela lapho kuye phambili imihlangano yesifunda neyesigodi iye yafeza indima ebalulekile ekuphileni okungokomoya kwabafowethu eBonaire. Abantu nabo babethutheleka bezobona amafilimu enziwa oFakazi BakaJehova, okwavusa isithakazelo, kodwa yayincane intuthuko kwaze kwaba yilapho kuthunyelwa amaphayona amabili akhethekile, uPetra Selassa nendodakazi yakhe u-Ingrid ngo-1969.

Lapho uPetra no-Ingrid befika, babengenayo imoto; kodwa bahlanganisa cishe sonke isiqhingi belubhada ngonyawo. Kamuva abaningi ababebafundela babhapathizwa. Lab’ odade ababili babeqhuba yonke imihlangano behleli phansi bethwele emakhanda. Kanye ngenyanga kwakuza umzalwane ngendiza esuka eCuraçao azosebenza nabo futhi anikeze inkulumo yeningi. Kamuva, lapho uPetra sekudingeka ahambe, elinye iphayona elikhethekile, uClaudette Tezoida, lajoyina u-Ingrid, futhi baqhubeka besiza abantu ukuba bafunde iqiniso leBhayibheli.

Unkosikazi Wesazi Sezombangazwe Uthola Uhulumeni Ophelele

Phakathi kwalabo abafunda ulimi oluhlanzekile kwakunenkosikazi yesazi sezombangazwe esivelele. UCaridad Abraham, bonke abamteketisa ngokuthi uDa, wayeyinkosikazi kangqongqoshe kahulumeni waseBonaire. Amadodana akhe amabili nomkhwenyana wakwakhe nabo babehileleke kakhulu kwezombangazwe. UDa naye wayemkhankasela ngentshiseko umyeni wakhe kanti edumile futhi ehlonishwa. Umfundisi wamaProthestani owayemele enye yezingane zakhe lapho ibhapathizwa wamtshela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abakholelwa kuJesu Kristu. Njengoba le ndoda yayingumngane wakhe futhi ingumfundisi, wawakholelwa la manga.

Ngemva kokushona komyeni wakhe, uDa wathuthela eNetherlands, futhi lapho washaqeka ukubona kuthelevishini abefundisi ababili abangamaProthestani bevuma ngokukhululekile ukuthi bangongqingili. Edumazekile ngenkolo, wayeka ukuya esontweni. Kamuva wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli, waba uFakazi, wayesebuyela eBonaire. UDa wathi: “Iqiniso lalimangalisa kangangokuthi kwakumelwe ngiphindele emuva ngiyolihlanganyela nabantu bakithi.” Manje, esikhundleni sokusekela uhulumeni wabantu njengekhambi lezinkinga zaseBonaire, waqala ukushumayela ngekhambi langempela nelihlala njalo—uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ezandleni zikaJesu Kristu. Becabanga ukuthi uzele ukuzokhankasela indodana yakhe, abantu bamamukela futhi bakhexa uma sebezwa isigijimi sakhe. Noma kunjalo, ngenxa yokuthi uDa wayedumile, abaningi ababengeke babalalele abanye oFakazi baqala ukuqaphela isigijimi soMbuso.

Izincwadi Zitholakala Ngolimi Lwendawo

Iqiniso lifinyelela inhliziyo ngokushesha uma abantu befunda izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngolimi lwabo. Kodwa lapho kufika izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala, zazingekho izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngesiPapiamento. Imihlangano yayiqhutshwa ngengxube yesiNgisi nesiPapiamento, kusetshenziswa izincwadi zesiNgisi, iSpanishi nesiDashi, ngakho abafowethu babekuthola kunzima ukuqonda iqiniso. Ngakho, kwakunesidingo ngempela sezincwadi ezihunyushiwe. Nokho, uhlelo lwamagama esiPapiamento lwalulinganiselwe, kwakungekho sichazamazwi, futhi kuphikiswana kakhulu ngokuthi isiPapiamento kufanele sibhalwe kanjani. Eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, uBill Yeatts, umhumushi ongumakad’ ebona, wabhala: “Ekusakazeni isigijimi soMbuso, kwakudingeka sisho futhi sibhale izinto ezazingakaze zishiwo noma zibhalwe ngesiPapiamento ngaphambili. Kwakuyinselele ukusungula izindinganiso ezizolandelwa.” Kwakungewona neze umsebenzi olula! Ngo-1948 abafowethu bahumusha incwajana yokuqala ethi Injabulo Yabantu Bonke. Ngo-1959 kwaqedwa ukuhunyushwa kwencwadi ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso.” Kwalandela ukuhunyushwa kwezinye izincwadi ezinoqwembe kanye nokuhunyushwa kwanyanga zonke kwe-Toren di Vigilancia, njengoba INqabayokulinda ibizwa kanjalo ngesiPapiamento, ne-Spierta, noma i-Phaphama! Kancane kancane, ukuxhakathisa abantu kwesonto kwaqala ukuxega njengoba babeqala ukufunda futhi baqonde iqiniso leZwi likaNkulunkulu ngolimi lwabo.

Ukuhumusha kwathinta nokucula emihlanganweni. Uma abase-Antilles becula, bacula ngentshiseko nangamaphimbo aphezulu. Kodwa ekuqaleni yayingekho le ntshiseko ngenxa yokuthi amaculo ayengolimi lweSpanishi. Kodwa ngo-1986 lapho abafowethu bethola amaculo ngesiPapiamento, amahholo ayeqhuma phezulu amazwi acula ngokuzwakalayo. Ekugcineni, base bekwazi ukuveza imizwa yabo ngokugcwele ngomculo kuNkulunkulu wabo omkhulu, uJehova. UMaria Britten wathi: “Engakuthanda kakhulu lapho ngivakasha okokuqala eHholo LoMbuso kwakuwumculo. Wawumnandi kangangokuthi ngahlengezela izinyembezi.”—Isaya 42:10.

Njengoba umsebenzi wawanda, kwakudingeka abahumushi abengeziwe, futhi amaphayona amabili ashisekayo asemasha—uRaymond Pietersz noJanine Conception—baqala umsebenzi wokuhumusha. Namuhla iqembu labangu-9 lakha uMnyango Wokuhumusha. Ngo-1989, kwafika ama-computer nohlelo lwe-MEPS, ithuluzi eliyigugu ekusizeni abahumushi, futhi ekugcineni bakwazi ukunyathelisa INqabayokulinda ngesiPapiamento kabili ngenyanga njengezinye izilimi—isibusiso ngempela emsebenzini wokushumayela.

Usizo Olwengeziwe Lwezithunywa Zevangeli

Ngo-1962, uJohn Fry, wekilasi lama-37 laseGileyadi, wamiswa njengombonisi wegatsha esikhundleni sikaRussell Yeatts, okwakudingeka aye ezifundweni zokuzivuselela eSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-18, lapho uDade Fry ekhulelwa, abakwaFry baphindela eNgilandi, futhi uMfoweth’ uYeatts waphinde wathatha umsebenzi wegatsha. Ngo-December 31, 1964, u-Age van Dalfsen waseNetherlands wafika kulezi ziqhingi ngemva kokuthweswa iziqu ekilasini lama-39 laseGileyadi. Lapho efika eCuraçao wahlangatshezwa imililo yeziqhumane zokudlala nomsindo weziklwebhisi ovala izindlebe. Cha, akubona abantu basesiqhingini ababemamukela. Kunalokho, kwakuyisiko labantu bendawo laminyaka yonke, indlela yabo yokuxosha imimoya emibi namabhadi onyaka omdala futhi bamukele unyaka omusha. Njengoba ayesemusha futhi eyingqabavu, uMfoweth’ uVan Dalfsen wakhonza njengombonisi wesifunda, futhi ekugcineni njengombonisi wesigodi. Njengezithunywa zevangeli eziningi, walithanda ikhaya lakhe elisha futhi uthi: “Abantu banobungane nomoya wokungenisa izihambi futhi baqotho. Kuyintokozo futhi kuyilungelo ukwabelwa lapha.”

Ngo-1974, u-Age washada noJulie, udade waseTrinidad, futhi wahlanganyela naye ekujikelezeni. UJulie uyakhumbula: “Ngahlatshwa umxhwele ukuba nobungane nokubekezelela ezinye izinkolo kwabantu balapha. Ngangingakwazi ukukhuluma isiPapiamento, kodwa ukushumayela ngangikujabulela ngenxa yokuthi babewusizo. Kwakulula ukubuza ukuthi ‘Con ta bai?’ (Unjani?) nokubuza ngawo wonke amalungu omkhaya okuyisiko lalapha. Ukuhambisa izincwadi kwakulula nakho. Okwakunzima kwakuwukuphatha isikhwama esisindayo sezincwadi ngezilimi ezine nokuhamba ezintulini nasemoyeni! Kodwa mina ngangikujabulela ngempela.” Ngo-1980, u-Age noJulie baya eNetherlands beyonakekela uyise ka-Age, owayephethwe isifo i-Alzheimer, kodwa babuyela eCuraçao ngo-1992.

URobertus Berkers nomkakhe, uGail, bekilasi lama-67 laseGileyadi, baqhubeka nokukhonza isifunda lapho bengekho abakwaVan Dalfsen futhi bashukumisela abaningi enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngo-1986, u-Otto Kloosterman nomkakhe, uYvonne, beza eCuraçao bevela eGileyadi, futhi uMfoweth’ uKloosterman wamiswa waba umxhumanisi wegatsha ngo-1994. Baphindela eNetherlands ngo-2000. Ngo-March 2000, uMfoweth’ uVan Dalfsen wamiswa njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha, futhi yena nomkakhe bamenyelwa eBethel lapho bekhonza khona manje. Ngo-1997, uGregory Duhon, waseMnyangweni We-Graphics eBrooklyn, nomkakhe, uSharon, babelwa eCuraçao njengeZikhonzi ZaseBethel Zakwamanye Amazwe. USharon, ongumhlengikazi oqeqeshiwe, kanye nabanye babewusizo kakhulu ekunakekeleni uMfoweth’ uRussell Yeatts, owayenomdlavuza obulalayo. Ngo-March 2000, uMfoweth’ uDuhon wamiswa waba umxhumanisi wegatsha, futhi bonke bayawazisa kakhulu umusa wakhe nokungeneka. Njengamanje, uGregory Duhon, uClinton Williams no-Age van Dalfsen bakhonza eKomitini Yegatsha.

Ukuphayona Kuletha Imivuzo Ecebile

Lapho uMargaret Pieters eqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli, wayenelisiwe kakhulu yinkolo yakhe. Uyakhumbula: “Ekuqaleni ngangingahlosile ukushintsha inkolo yami. Ngangiyilungu elishisekayo leSonto LamaKatolika, iButho LikaMariya nekwaya yesonto. Kodwa ngemva kokutadisha iBhayibheli, ngabona ukuthi lokho engangikufundisiwe kwakuyiphutha. Angizange ngilinde ukuba ngimenyelwe ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini; ngazicelela ukuya. Ngangifuna ukuba abanye baphume enkolweni yamanga futhi bamelele iqiniso.” Njengoba abhapathizwa ngo-1974, useneminyaka engu-25 eyiphayona elivamile.

UJehova uye wambusisa uMargaret, njengoba kubonakala kokunye kokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe okuningi. Intombazanyana okuthiwa uMelva Coombs yathunyelwa kuye, futhi uMargaret wasikisela ukuba icele kuyise imvume yokufunda. UMnumzane Coombs, ehlatshwe umxhwele inhlonipho kaMargaret ngaye, wathi akuyona nje indodakazi yakhe kuphela ezofunda kodwa wonke umkhaya wakhe—bonke abangu-7! UMargaret wajabula lapho ebabona bonke bebhapathizwa, futhi omunye wamadodana kamuva waba umdala.

Elinye iphayona eliye lanambitha ubuhle bukaJehova uBlanche van Heydoorn. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1961, umyeni wakhe uHans, wabhapathizwa ngo-1965. Useneminyaka engu-35 ephayona. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uBlanche wakhulisa izingane eziyisithupha, ezimbili zazo manje zingamaphayona avamile. Lokhu kwakungeke kwenzeke ngaphandle kokusekelwa uHans ngokomzimba nangokomzwelo. Bobabili baye basiza abantu abangu-65 ukuba banikezele ukuphila kwabo kuJehova.

Okunye kokuhlangenwe nakho kukaBlanche okuningi kuthinta umakhelwane wakhe, uSerafina. UBlanche wayeqale isifundo noSerafina, kodwa umyeni wakhe, uTheo, wayemelene kakhulu nalokhu. Washisa izincwadi zikaSerafina futhi wavimbela uBlanche ukuba angangeni emzini wabo, watshela bonke abantu ukuthi umlolela ucelemba. UHans wathola ukuthi kungani uTheo ayephikisa kangaka. Kwatholakala ukuthi kunowesifazane oyinkosikazi yomngane wakhe owayeqale ukutadisha nomfundisi wezinye zezinkolo zendawo. Kamuva weqa nalowo mfundisi. Ngakho uTheo wayesaba ukuthi umkakhe angase enze okufanayo. Esebenzisa amaHeberu 13:4, uHans wachaza umbono wethu ngomshado. Wakhululeka uTheo, wavuma ukuba umkakhe aqhubeke nokufunda. USerafina wabhapathizwa, futhi ngemva kwesikhathi noTheo naye wabhapathizwa. Bobabili manje bakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka.

UBlanche usixoxela ukuthi wake waqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli ngo-11 ekuseni, waya ekhaya wayodla ukudla kwasemini, emahoreni amabili kamuva wabeletha wathola indodana uLucien! Uyaqhubeka elazisa ilungelo lakhe lokuphayona. UBlanche uthi: “Ukuphayona kukwenza ulungiselele futhi utadishe njalo futhi kukunikeza ukwaneliseka ongeke ukuthole kwenye indawo.”

Amandla Angaphezu Kwavamile

UMarion Kleefstra naye uye wathola ukwaneliseka okukhulu ekukhonzeni uJehova isikhathi esigcwele. Lapho esemusha, waba nesithakazelo eqinisweni lapho efundela ugogo wakhe ongaboni omagazini. Wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova ngo-1955, futhi ngo-1970 waba yiphayona elivamile. Indodana yakhe u-Albert yalandela ezinyathelweni zakhe futhi sekuyiminyaka engu-18 iphayona.

UMarion wafunda noJohanna Martina, owayengunina wezingane ezingu-9. Umyeni kaJohanna, u-Antonio, wayephikisa kakhulu, futhi uMarion wayengakwazi ukufunda noJohanna uma ekhona umyeni wakhe. UJohanna wayebophela indwangu esangweni uma ekhona umyeni wakhe, ngakho lapho uMarion eyibona wayehamba abuye kamuva. Ngokubekezela kukaMarion nokuphikelela kukaJohanna, bobabili uJohanna no-Antonio bamukela iqiniso futhi babhapathizwa kanyekanye. Basiza ezingu-8 zezingane zabo ezingu-9 ukuba zinikezele ukuphila kwazo kuJehova.

Ngokudabukisayo, kamuva u-Antonio washona engozini yemoto. Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, ezimbili zezingane zikaJohanna zashona ngendlela efanayo, futhi eyesithathu yashona kwezinye izimo ezishaqisayo. Kodwa kukho konke lokhu, uJohanna uye wama eqinile, ethembela kuJehova ‘ngamandla angaphezu kwavamile.’ (2 Kor. 4:7) Ukholo oluqinile luye lwamsekela hhayi nje ukuze akhuthazelele izikhathi zosizi olungabekezeleleki kuphela kodwa futhi ukuze aqhubeke nenkonzo yakhe yokuphayona kule minyaka engu-25 edlule. UJohanna uneminyaka engu-81 ubudala manje futhi uthi: “UJehova mkhulu, futhi nguye ongisekelayo. Ngimnxusa njalo, futhi akakaze angidumaze.”

Lezi yizibonelo ezimbalwa zamaphayona athembekile nazikhandlayo awumgogodla wamabandla amaningi nawenza athuthuke. Lapho kwehliswa inani lamahora adingekayo kumaphayona ngo-1998, kwavuleka ithuba kwabaningi lokuba bangenele lo mkhakha wenkonzo. Amaphayona aye azwakalisa ukwazisa okujulile ngeSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona, esiye saba usizo kakhulu ekuwaqeqesheni ukuba abe yizikhonzi ezingcono. Abamemezeli abashisekayo nabo banezela udumo kuJehova, futhi abanye babo bayaphumelela kakhulu ekufakazeni ngokwethukela, njengoba kungase kubonakale kule ndaba elandelayo.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1950, u-Albert Heath, udokotela osemusha waseGuyana, wayefundisa eyunivesithi eDjakarta, e-Indonesia. Lapho, waqala ukufunda ngendlela ehlukile yokwelapha. Njengoba ayengudokotela wamehlo, wayewuqonda “umuthi wamehlo” uJesu akhuluma ngawo kwabaseLawodikeya, njengoba kulotshwe kusAmbulo 3:18. U-Albert wanquma ukuthi kwakuyilo “muthi wamehlo” ayefuna ukuwunika iziguli zakhe. Ngo-1964 yena nomkhaya wakhe bathuthela eCuraçao, futhi waqhubeka efunda ngohlelo lokuphulukiswa ngokomoya uJesu aluphathisa isigaba sakhe sesigqila emhlabeni. (Math. 24:45) Ngo-1969, u-Albert nendodana yakhe babhapathizwa emhlanganweni owodwa. Emtholampilo wakhe wafakaza kakhulu ezigulini nasezisebenzini. U-Albert waqondisa abaningi emanzini eqiniso, abanye babo abangabadala namuhla.

Ukuphazamiseka Okungalindelekile

Ukuphila eCuraçao bekulokhu kuhamba kahle. Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi kungenzeki lutho oluphazamisa ukuthula. Kodwa kwakuza izenzakalo ezazizokushintsha kakhulu lokhu. Ekuqaleni kuka-May 1969, umbonisi wamagatsha, uRobert Tracy, waxwayisa ngokuyekelela nengozi yokushushuzelwa umuzwa wokulondeka ongamanga ngoba kubonakala sengathi kunokuthula kulesi siqhingi. Lokho kuthula kwase kuzophela. Phakathi namasonto ambalwa, ngo-May 30, ingxabano yomsebenzi yashuba. Kwaphangwa futhi kwashiswa impahla, le ndawo eyayinokuthula yaphenduka isiyaluyalu sezombangazwe. UClinton Williams uyakhumbula: “Enye indoda eqimbile yeza ngodlame ngasemotweni yami, amehlo ayo egcwele ulaka. Ngokungazelelwe, omunye engangifunda naye iBhayibheli wangisindisa, ememeza: ‘Myeke lowo! Ungumuntu olungile.’ Le ndoda yasondela, yajikijela amathini okudla eyayisanda kuwaphanga esitolo esihlalweni semoto yami, yahamba. Ngadonsa umoya futhi ngabonga uJehova ngesivikelo sakhe.”

Phakathi nesiyaluyalu nokungaqiniseki kwalezo zikhathi ezinzima, abantu bakaJehova bahlala bezothile, belondekile ngokwazi ukuthi maduzane, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzoletha uhulumeni ophelele kubo bonke abantu. Ngaleso sikhathi uJehova uyokwanelisa ukufisa “kwakho konke okuphilayo.” (IHu. 145:16) Namuhla abantu babheka u-May 30, 1969 njengesikhathi senguquko emlandweni walesi siqhingi.

Amahhovisi Egatsha Amasha

UNathan H. Knorr, owayeyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1977, njalo wayebonisa isithakazelo esijulile ezithunyweni zevangeli futhi evame ukuhambela amanye amazwe eyoqinisa abafowethu. Ngo-1956, ababonisi bamagatsha nabo baqala ukuvakashela abafowethu embulungeni yonke, futhi lezi ‘zipho ezingabantu’ ziye zaba “usizo oluqinisayo,” zifaka umfutho emsebenzini eziqhingini zase-ABC. (Efe. 4:8; Kol. 4:11) Ngo-1950, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wavakasha okokuqala kulezi ziqhingi futhi lapho eseCuraçao wahlela ihhovisi legatsha elisha, uRussell Yeatts waba yinceku yegatsha. Ekhuluma ngenkulumo kaMfoweth’ uKnorr ethi “Ukukhululwa Kwabathunjiwe,” uMfoweth’ uYeatts wabhala: “Kwakusengathi wayebize umuntu ngamunye ukuba eze phambili azomeluleka.” Ngo-1955, uMfoweth’ uKnorr waphinde wavakasha futhi wanikeza inkulumo eHholo LoMbuso elalingakapheli e-Oranjestad, e-Aruba. Wabe eseya eCuraçao emhlanganweni wesifunda, ephelezelwa iqembu labazalwane. Ekuvakasheni kwakhe kokugcina okuhleliwe ngo-1962, wanikezela iHholo LoMbuso eBuena Vista, eCuraçao, futhi wabakhuthaza kakhulu abafowethu ngezinkulumo zakhe ezazifike ngesikhathi. Wagunyaza nokwakhiwa kwehhovisi legatsha elisha, ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli neHholo LoMbuso endaweni eyodwa, e-Oosterbeekstraat, ngaphandle kwaseWillemstad.

Ubaba womklami wezakhiwo owaqashwa ukuba aklame lesi sakhiwo wayengumJuda owayekade enoFakazi BakaJehova ekamu lokuhlushwa lamaNazi. Watshela uHazel Yeatts: “Yinye kuphela inkolo yeqiniso—oFakazi BakaJehova.” Leli hhovisi legatsha lanikezelwa ngo-1964 futhi lanwetshwa ngo-1978, ngokutusa kuka-Albert D. Schroeder, umbonisi wamagatsha. Ngo-1990, kwaba sobala ukuthi kwakudingeka izakhiwo ezinkudlwana, futhi kwenziwa imizamo yokuthola indawo entsha okwakuzokwakhiwa kuyo, kodwa ayangatholakala.

Ngo-November 1998, kwenziwa isinqumo sokuthenga isakhiwo bese siguqulwa senziwe izakhiwo zegatsha. Abazalwane bakhetha isakhiwo esikhulu esiseduze komgwaqo obizwa ngokuthi uSeroe Loraweg, ngaphandle kwaseWillemstad. Ngo-December 4 sathengwa. Indlela yonke into eyashesha neyaba lula ngayo yaqinisekisa abazalwane ukuthi uJehova wayeyibusisa le mizamo, ngokuvumelana neHubo 127:1. Lezi zakhiwo ezilungisiwe zinhle kanti zinethezekile futhi ziletha udumo nenkazimulo egameni likaJehova.

Ngo-November 20, 1999, ukunikezelwa kwegatsha elisha kwenzelwa emagcekeni egatsha, kukhona abangu-273. UGerrit Lösch weNdikimba Ebusayo wacaphuna umprofethi u-Isaya ukuze abonise ukuthi izakhiwo ezintsha zaziyosetshenziselwa kanjani ukukhonza injongo kaJehova ephakeme. Ngosuku olulandelayo, bangu-2 588 ababa khona esimisweni esikhethekile enkundleni yezemidlalo, futhi kwabaningi lokhu kwakuyisenzakalo esivelele sonyaka wenkonzo ka-2000.

Ukubika Komsakazo Ngendaba Yegazi

OFakazi BakaJehova bayakwazisa ukuphila futhi bakubheka njengesipho esivela kuNkulunkulu. Ngokuvumelana nezEnzo 15:29, bayadeda egazini. Odokotela neziphathimandla ezinezinhloso ezinhle ziye zakuqonda kabi ukwenqaba kwabo ukumpontshelwa igazi okusekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngo-1983 umahluleli waseCuraçao wenqaba ukuqaphela igunya lobuzali lika-Esmond noVivian Gibbs ababelinikwe uNkulunkulu futhi wayala ukuba umntanabo ampontshelwe igazi. Le ndaba yasakazwa kabanzi ezindabeni futhi kwalandela izinkulumo ezimbi emphakathini. Isiteshi somsakazo senza uhlelo ukuze sicacise indaba, futhi iqembu labangu-7—kuhlanganise uHubert Margarita nomkakhe, uLena, kanye noRobertus Berkers, umbonisi wesifunda—laxoxa amahora amathathu ngale ndaba. Laba bafowethu bawuchaza kahle umthetho weBhayibheli ngegazi, futhi lolu hlelo lwaphumelela ekuqedeni ukukhathazeka nasekusizeni abantu baqonde izindinganiso zikaJehova.

Kukhona nodokotela abalihloniphayo ilungelo lesiguli lokukhetha ukungampontshelwa igazi. Ngokwesibonelo, uGerda Verbist, uthisha, waba sengozini embi yemoto futhi kwadingeka ahlinzwe ngokushesha. Wopha kakhulu kangangokuthi umthamo wegazi lakhe wehla wafika ku-2. Udokotela ohlinzayo wanquma ukumhlinza izikhawu ezimbili ukuze uGerda angophi kakhulu. Ukuhlinza kwaphumelela. OFakazi BakaJehova bayabazisa odokotela abanjalo abanekhono nabazinikele, ngezinye izikhathi okudingeka balwe nonembeza babo kodwa babe nesibindi nobuqotho bokuhlonipha ilungelo leziguli zabo lokukhetha ukungampontshelwa igazi.

UGuillermo Rama, usihlalo weKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela eCuraçao, uthi: “Sihlale sicelwa ukuba sizosiza ezimweni ezibucayi. Ngaphandle kwale komiti bekuyoba nezinkinga eziningi.” U-Alfredo Muller, ongusihlalo e-Aruba, uyavuma. Uphawula ukuthi nakuba ekuqaleni kwakunezinkinga e-Aruba, odokotela abaningi manje sebeyabambisana noFakazi BakaJehova.

Inkonzo Yothando Yababonisi Bezifunda

Nakuba ukwanda kulezi ziqhingi ezintathu kwakuhamba kancane ekuqaleni, yayikhona intuthuko engatheni, futhi izincwadi zazihamba kalula. Ngo-1964 kwakunamabandla amane anabamemezeli abangu-379, futhi ngo-1980 amabandla anda aba ngu-16 nabamemezeli abangu-1 077. Phakathi no-1981 no-2000, abamemezeli benyuka baba ngu-2 154, futhi lapho kwenezelwa amabandla amabili esiDashi namabili eSpanishi, inani lamabandla lenyuka laba ngu-29, kanti ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni baba ngu-6 176.

Ukuze bakhonze amaqembu ezilimi ezihlukene, kwakudingeka ababonisi bezifunda abakwazi ukukhuluma okungenani izilimi ezintathu, kanti-ke abazalwane abanjalo akulula ngaso sonke isikhathi ukubathola. Kodwa iziqhingi zase-ABC zibusiswe ngabazalwane abakujabulela kakhulu ukudlulisela imiphefumulo yabo njengoPawulu. (1 Thes. 2:8) Ababenza lo msebenzi kwakunguHumphrey noLudmila Hermanus, manje abayizithunywa zevangeli eSuriname, no-Edsel noClaudette Margarita, amaphayona endawo. Amaphayona ase-Aruba uFrankie noMaria Herms nawo ayekhonza esifundeni kwaze kwaba yilapho ebizwa eBethel, lapho manje ekhonza khona njengengxenye yeqembu labahumushi.

Ngo-1997, uMarc no-Edith Millen, ababekade besesifundeni eBelgium, bahamba indlela ende besuka ekhaya bezoqinisa abazalwane. Njengazo zonke izithunywa zevangeli ezisaqala, abakwaMillen kwakudingeka bafunde ulimi, inselele ngezinye izikhathi enemiphumela ehlekisayo. UMfoweth’ uMillen ukhumbula ukuthi wayezama ukuthi umKristu akufanele abe njengesosha elicasha emseleni (buracu) kodwa kunalokho, wathi akufanele abe njengesosha elicasha embongolweni (buricu)! Naphezu kwezinselele, uMarc no-Edith baphikelela. Njengoba sebelwazi kahle ulimi, manje bakhonza amabandla akhuluma isiDashi nesiPapiamento ngenjabulo. Ngo-2000, uPaul noMarsha Johnson baba umbhangqwana wokuqala owahlanganyela elungiselelweni elisha lokuba umbonisi wesifunda ovela ePuerto Rico akhonze amabandla endawo akhuluma isiNgisi neSpanishi.

AmaHholo OMbuso Akhiwe Ngendlela Esheshayo

Ngo-1985, besuka ezindaweni ezikude njenge-Alaska, abafowethu abangu-294 base-United States beza bazokwakha iHholo LoMbuso ePannekoek, eCuraçao. Njengoba laphela ngezinsuku ezingu-9, leli hholo elisha laba undab’ uzekwayo emphakathini futhi laba ubufakazi obuhle nokubonakaliswa kothando nobunye. Abantu babemangele ukubona abesilisa, abesifazane nezingane besiza ngentshiseko izisebenzi zokuzithandela zase-United States. URamiro Muller uthi: “Njengokujwayelekile, kwakunezinkinga zobuchwepheshe; kodwa sazinqoba futhi umoya kaJehova wasebenza kakhulu ekwakhiweni kwaleli hholo. NgeSonto kusihlwa abafowethu bakwazi ukukhulekela uJehova ehholo elisha céke, bakhexa abagxeki ababethi ngeke lize liphele.”

Kwabonakala sengathi lo msebenzi wamangalisa nabefundisi bendawo, ngoba ngolunye usuku ekuseni ngemva kombiko wethelevishini, kwama imoto phambi kwehholo. Kwaphum’ obani emotweni? Umbhishobhi waseCuraçao ephelezelwa abapristi abathathu, imijiva yabo emhlophe ivushazela, benikina amakhanda bemangele futhi bengakholwa.

Kungaze kushone ilanga uma silandisa zonke izenzo zokuzidela zabafowethu: ezezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala njengabakwaVan Eyk, abakwaHoornveld, abakwaPhelps noCor Teunissen, abashiya imizi yabo bazokhonza abafowethu lapha; uPedro Girigorie, owayengakwazi ukufunda nokubhala kodwa owaqondisa abaningi eqinisweni; uTheodore “Tall Boy” Richardson, owayegxala ehla enyuka emigwaqweni yaseCher Asile eya ezimpindelweni eziningi; amaphayona ashisekayo oMaria Selassa, Edna Arvasio, Isenia “Chena” Manuel noVeronica Wall; oSeferita Dolorita ohlala ejabule, oyimpumputhe futhi ophethwe yi-multiple sclerosis kodwa osaphikelela ekushumayeleni futhi ojika akhuthaze labo abasuke bezokhuthaza yena. Imifanekiso yalaba abathembekile kanye nabanye abazinikela ngokuzithandela, iqoshwe ngokugxilile ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni zabafowethu baseziqhingini zase-ABC.

Ugwadule Luyaqhakaza

Ngawo-1980, i-Aruba yaqala ukuchuma kwezomnotho. Amahhotela esimanje asabalele ogwini olunesihlabathi esimhlophe, futhi izindawo zokugembula ezikhanya ngokugqamile ziheha amaqembu acebile ezokuzijabulisa emhlabeni. Ngokungenakuvinjelwa, lokhu kuye kwasithonya isimo sengqondo sabantu, njengoba uthando lwezinto ezibonakalayo luye lwaqubuka lwathonya abaningi—ngisho nabanye emabandleni. Kodwa kunempumelelo enkulu ngokomoya, ikakhulukazi ensimini yabakhuluma iSpanishi, kanye nesidingo esiphuthumayo sabazalwane abafanelekayo ukuze bahole.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi iCuraçao idonsa kanzima kwezomnotho, futhi abantu abaningi bathuthela eNetherlands. Lokhu kufuduka kwabazalwane kuye kwawathinta amabandla, futhi eCuraçao naseBonaire iye yaba ncane intuthuko eminyakeni embalwa edlule.

Kodwa njengoba siqhubekela phambili nekhulu lama-21, kunesizathu sokuba siphakamise amakhanda ethu ngenjabulo. UMbuso kaNkulunkulu okhazimulayo usemnyango, futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayaqhubeka bebafundisa iqiniso bonke ‘abathambekele ngokufanele.’ (IzE. 13:48) Le ndawo eyake yaba ugwadule ngokomoya iye yaniselwa ngamanzi eqiniso.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 72]

Onondwebu Nezimbongolo

EBonaire ethule engonakalisiwe, ukukhipha usawoti olwandle kuyimboni ebalulekile engenisa imali kubantu bakulesi siqhingi. Onondwebu badla ukudla okunosawoti omningi. Lokhu kudla kutholakala ngobuningi emadanyini kasawoti alesi siqhingi, okwenza iBonaire ibe ngenye yezindawo ezimbalwa emhlabeni ezifanelekayo ukufuya lezi zinyoni ezimibalabala. Izimbongolo osekungezasendle, ekuqaleni ezazithunyelwe ukuba ziyosebenza emadanyini kasawoti, zayekwa ukuba zizibonele lapho zithathelwa indawo yimishini. Manje sezizulazula endle. Ukuze zilondolozwe, kuye kwahlelwa indawo yokuzivikela kanye nohlelo i-Foster-a-Donkey kulesi siqhingi.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 87]

Izindlu ZaseCuraçao Ezinophahla Olungunxantathu Nebhuloho Lezikebhe

IWillemstad, inhloko-dolobha yaseCuraçao, iyidolobha elidala elihle. Izakhiwo ezinophahla olungunxantathu zisikhumbuza i-Amsterdam kodwa zipendwe ngemibala egqamile. ISt. Anna Bay inqamula phakathi kwedolobha. IQueen Emma Pontoon Bridge ixhumanisa izingxenye ezimbili zedolobha futhi ingavulwa ngesikhashana nje ukuze ingenise imikhumbi emikhulu ethekwini elijulile. Ekuqaleni, umuntu kwakudingeka akhokhe imali ukuze awele ibhuloho ngaphandle kwalapho eshaya ngoCetshwayo, okwakuwuphawu lobumpofu. Umphumela waba ukuthi abampofu babeboleka izicathulo ukuze bangabhekwa njengabampofu kanti abacebile babezifihla ezabo ukuze bangakhokhi!

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 93]

Bingelela Umpristi Kuqala?

“Isikhundla sompristi siphakeme kakhulu kangangokuthi uma sihlangana nompristi nengelosi emgwaqweni, singabingelela umpristi kuqala.”—Kuhunyushwe kususelwa kuyi-Union yamaKatolika yamasonto onke, ka-August 10, 1951, enyatheliswa eCuraçao.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 95]

Ukubaluleka Kwedumela Elihle

Ngo-September 1986, uRussell Yeatts walanda iphasela elivela eJamaica, elibhalwe ikheli le-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Lapho elivula phambi kwabaseshi baseposini, wamangala ukuthola ukuthi ngaphansi komagazini kunephasela elinensangu engamakhilogremu amane! Amaphoyisa ambamba ngokushesha. Kodwa umphathi-jikelele weposi waseCuraçao wamtusa, wathi akunakwenzeka ukuba uMfoweth’ uYeatts aphathe izidakamizwa ezingekho emthethweni. Ukube lesi sikhulu asizange simfakazele ngokucace kangaka, uMfoweth’ uYeatts wayezoboshwa. Kodwa-ke, bamdedela ngokushesha. Lokhu kwaba ngundabuzekwayo emaphephandabeni endawo, elinye lawo elabiza uMfoweth’ uYeatts ngokuthi “indoda ehloniphekile nethembekile” futhi “ezithandela ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kubo bonke.” Le ndaba igcizelela ukubaluleka kwedumela elihle.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 96]

Isici Esingavamile Somsebenzi WoMbuso

Minyaka yonke kuhanjiswa izincwadi eziningi zethi Ukuhlola ImiBhalo Nsuku Zonke. Ngeminye iminyaka, amaphayona aye ahambisa amakhulu azo. UGiselle Heide wayelaliswe esibhedlela, ngakho wasebenzisa leli thuba ukuze afakaze ngokwethukela kwezinye iziguli. Esinye sazo, uNinoska, samlalela futhi sabuza uGiselle ukuthi unayo yini “incwadi encane.” Ekuqaleni uGiselle wayengazi ukuthi sisho yiphi incwadi kodwa ekugcineni waqonda ukuthi sisho ethi Ukuhlola ImiBhalo Nsuku Zonke. Kusukela lapho kuqhubeke, babexoxa ngetekisi njalo ekuseni. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okutadisha iBhayibheli ngemva kokuba bobabili sebephumile esibhedlela. Kungakapheli nonyaka, uNinoska wabhapathizwa. Manje, umyeni wakhe nezingane batadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi.

[Isithombe]

“Ukuhlola ImiBhalo Nsuku Zonke” ngesiDashi, isiNgisi nesiPapiamento

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 104]

‘Intshiseko NgoNkulunkulu; Kodwa Hhayi Ngokolwazi Olunembile’

Ngolunye usuku ekuseni lapho besenkonzweni yasensimini, uHubert Margarita noMorena van Heydoorn bahlangana noMorella, intombazane yesikole. Indlela uMorella asabela ngayo yanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi ‘unentshiseko ngoNkulunkulu; kodwa hhayi ngokolwazi olunembile.’ (Roma 10:2) Wachaza ukuthi wayefundiswa nsuku zonke ngenkolo yamaRoma Katolika futhi wayeqiniseka ukuthi leyo yiyona ndlela yokukhulekela uNkulunkulu. UHubert noMorena bahlela ukutadisha naye iBhayibheli. Ayemi kanje amalungiselelo: Wayezoya kumfundisi wakhe, umpristi, ahlole ukuthi kuyiqiniso yini lokho ayekufunda. Uma umpristi engavumelani nemfundiso, wayezomcela ukuba amnike izizathu ezingokomBhalo zokuthi kungani engavumi. Uma uMorella enomuzwa wokuthi lokho oFakazi abamfundisa khona kuphambene neBhayibheli, wayezoyeka. UMorella washeshe wathola ukuthi izimfundiso zeSonto LamaKatolika zazingasekelwe emiBhalweni. Lapho ebona ukuthi umpristi akasayithandi imibuzo yakhe, wayeka ngokuphelele ukuya emakilasini akhe. UMorella waqhubeka etadisha iqiniso, wabhapathizwa, futhi manje ukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 107]

Isihlabathi Nedwala Lase-Aruba

Amadwala amakhulu aseCasibari nase-Ajo ayisici esithakazelisayo sendawo yase-Aruba. Imigede enemidwebo esemadwaleni, okukholelwa ukuthi yenziwa amaNdiya aseDabajuro, nayo iyaphawuleka. Ilanga elihlale libalele, namabhishi ahlanganise ibanga elide anesihlabathi esimhlophe aheha izinkulungwane zezivakashi ezibuya unyaka nonyaka zizé kulesi siqhingi.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 110]

“Emilonyeni Yezingane”

UJesu wathi: “Emilonyeni yezingane nabasancela ulungiselele indumiso.” (Math. 21:16) Lokhu kuyiqiniso nangezingane zaseziqhingini zase-ABC. UMaurice oneminyaka engu-15 ubudala uhlala e-Aruba. Lapho uMaurice eneminyaka engu-7 ubudala, wadukela unina emhlanganweni wesigodi. Ekhathazekile, unina wamfuna futhi ekugcineni wamthola emuva egumbini okwakuqhutshelwa kulo umhlangano wabafuna ukuyokhonza eBethel. UMaurice wayefuna ukufaka isicelo sokuyokhonza eBethel. Usihlalo womhlangano, engafuni ukumdumaza, wayemvumele ukuba ahlale. Isifiso sikaMaurice esivuthayo sokukhonza uJehova eBethel asikapheli. Wabhapathizwa lapho eneminyaka engu-13 ubudala futhi uyazikhandla ebandleni, uzilungiselela kahle zonke izabelo zakhe. Uzimisele kunanini ngaphambili ukukhonza eBethel.

EBonaire, uRenzo oneminyaka eyisithupha ubudala wamenyelwa eHholo LoMbuso futhi wakujabulela kakhulu. Kwaqalwa naye isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi kusukela lapho kuqhubeke wenqaba ukuya esontweni lamaKatolika. Wabuza abazali bakhe ukuthi kungani bengafundiswa ngePharadesi esontweni, futhi lokhu kwabenza bafuna ukwazi. Baqala ukufunda noFakazi BakaJehova. Kamuva uyise nonina kaRenzo kanye nomunye uRenzo ayefunda naye iBhayibheli, babhapathizwa. URenzo, manje oneminyaka engu-8 ubudala, wabhapathizwa emhlanganweni wesifunda eBonaire.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 115]

Ukhona Ofuna Isitshulu Sikaxamu?

Oxamu (ama-iguana), njengalo oboniswe esithombeni ngezansi, bagcwele eziqhingini zase-ABC. Lezi zilwane ezihuquzelayo ziyaziswa kodwa hhayi njengezilwane ezifuyiwe. Lo xamu uyisithako esiyinhloko okwenziwa ngaso isobho nesitshulu. “Unambitheka njengenkukhu,” kusho umpheki wendawo. “Inyama yawo ithambile.”

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 71]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

HAITI

CARIBBEAN SEA

VENEZUELA

ARUBA

ORANJESTAD

San Nicolas

CURAÇAO

WILLEMSTAD

Santa Cruz

Buena Vista

BONAIRE

Kralendijk

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 66]

[Isithombe ekhasini 68]

Abantu bezinhlanga eziningi babambisana ngokuthula eBandleni LaseHooiberg, e-Aruba

[Isithombe ekhasini 70]

UPearl Marlin wayedayisa izincwadi zenkolo kanye noyise. Kamuva waba uFakazi

[Isithombe ekhasini 73]

Ibandla lokuqala lesiNgisi eSan Nicolas, e-Aruba

[Izithombe ekhasini 74]

Abanye abathuthela e-Aruba: (1) uMartha Faustin namuhla, (2) umyeni wakhe, uHamilton, osashona, (3) kanye noRobert noFaustina Titre

[Isithombe ekhasini 75]

UWoodworth no-Oris Mills ngosuku lwabo lomshado

[Isithombe ekhasini 76]

U-Edwina Stroop, oyiphayona e-Aruba

[Isithombe ekhasini 77]

UJacobo Reina wathola incwadi ethi “Creation” ngo-1928 futhi wayibona inhlansi yeqiniso

[Isithombe ekhasini 78]

Ukusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: URussell noHazel Yeatts abathweswa iziqu ekilasini lesithupha laseGileyadi kanye noMary noWilliam Yeatts, bekilasi le-14

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

UHenricus Hassell, ekugcineni ngakwesobunxele, wayengummemezeli oshisekayo wezindaba ezinhle

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

UCamilio Girigoria wayengowokuqala owabhapathizwa kubantu bomdabu, ngo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 80]

U-Alice noHenry Tweed bakhunjulwa ngothando ngenxa yomoya wabo wokuzidela nentshiseko

[Isithombe ekhasini 81]

UGabriel Henriquez wenzelwa isipho sesikhokhelo se-“Phaphama!” UngumAruba wokuqala owabhapathizwa

[Izithombe ekhasini 82]

UNinita Webb ekuqaleni wayemelene neqiniso. Yena nomyeni wakhe, uDaniel, baba abamemezeli abashisekayo boMbuso

[Isithombe ekhasini 82]

UMaria Rasmijn wayengumKatolika oshisekayo kwaze kwaba yilapho umpristi wakhe emtshela ukuthi izithombe zenkolo azisho lutho

[Isithombe ekhasini 83]

U-Albert Suhr washiya “izincwadi zokutusa” ezinhle kakhulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 84]

U-Olive Rogers wasiza abaningi ukuba banikezele ukuphila kwabo kuJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 85]

Phezulu: U-Eugene Richardson, owabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-17, wayekhonza njengephayona elishisekayo

[Isithombe ekhasini 85]

Phansi: UClinton Williams osemusha wasebenza naye ekuvuleni insimu yase-“kunuku”

[Isithombe ekhasini 86]

Ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli e-Aruba, cishe ngo-1956

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

Ngenhla: Ngo-1962, uNathan H. Knorr owayevela eBethel yaseBrooklyn wanikezela leli Hholo LoMbuso, elingelokuqala abazalwane baseCuraçao ababa nalo

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

Kwesokudla: UVictor Manuel, ummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle cishe iminyaka engu-50, wayekhonza ebandleni lesibili lesiPapiamento

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

Ngenhla: UMhlangano Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ ngo-1969, e-Atlanta, eGeorgia, e-U.S.A.

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

Kwesokudla: Indawo yomhlangano waseCuraçao wesimiso esifanayo

[Isithombe ekhasini 94]

UPetra Selassa (kwesokudla) nendodakazi yakhe, u-Ingrid, amaphayona akhethekile athunyelwa ukuyosiza eBonaire ngo-1969

[Isithombe ekhasini 97]

“INqabayokulinda” yesiPapiamento

[Isithombe ekhasini 98]

Phezulu: UPauline noJohn Fry

[Isithombe ekhasini 98]

Phansi: U-Age van Dalfsen wafika ngo-1964 ngemva kokuthweswa iziqu ekilasini lama-39 laseGileyadi

[Izithombe ekhasini 99]

Ngenhla: UJanine Conception noRaymond Pietersz bayingxenye yeqembu labahumushi elinamalungu angu-9

[Isithombe ekhasini 99]

Kwesokudla: U-Estrelita Liket usebenza nge-computer enohlelo lwe-MEPS, amathuluzi abalulekile ekusizeni abahumushi

[Isithombe ekhasini 100]

URobertus noGail Berkers, (kwesobunxele), abakhonza esifundeni, bayivuselela kakhulu intshiseko yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele

[Isithombe ekhasini 100]

UJulie no-Age van Dalfsen (ngezansi), babuyela eCuraçao ngo-1992 futhi bamenyelwa eBethel ngo-2000

[Isithombe ekhasini 100]

U-Age van Dalfsen, uClinton Williams noGregory Duhon bakhonza eKomitini Yegatsha

[Isithombe ekhasini 102]

UBlanche noHans van Heydoorn baye basiza abantu abangu-65 baze banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 108]

(1) Ihhovisi legatsha elanikezelwa ngo-1964

[Izithombe ekhasini 108]

(2, 3) Igatsha elikhona manje, elanikezelwa ngo-November 20, 1999

[Izithombe ekhasini 112]

Iziqhingi zase-ABC ziye zabusiswa ngemibhangqwana ejikelezayo, njengalo (ongenhla) uLudmila noHumphrey Hermanus (ukusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla) uPaul noMarsha Johnson no-Edith noMarc Millen

[Izithombe ekhasini 114]

Izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala: (1) abakwaVan Eyk, (2) abakwaHoornveld, kanye (3) noCor Teunissen bashiya imizi yabo ukuze bazokhonza abafowethu lapha