IPhilippines

Izihlahla zikakhukhunathi, izimfunda eziluhlaza zasemazweni ashisayo, amabhishi anesihlabathi esimhlophe, izilwandle ezinhle—konke lokhu kugcwele ePhilippines. Leli qoqo leziqhingi ezingaba ngu-7 100 liye labizwa ngokuthi iGugu Lezilwandle ZaseMpumalanga. Okwenza lithandeke nakakhulu ukuthi linabantu abajabulayo, abanothando nabathanda umdanso nomculo. Uma kwenzeka uvakashela leli zwe leziqhingi, cishe ngeke uwukhohlwe umoya wokungenisa izihambi ongavamile wabantu balapha abanobungane nabahle.

Kodwa uma kukhulunywa ngePhilippines abaningi bafikelwa isithombe esihlukile engqondweni—izinhlekelele. Ungase ukhumbule ukuqhuma kwentaba ebizwa ngokuthi iMount Pinatubo, okwalandelwa ukugeleza kodaka nemfucumfucu eyakhukhula amadolobha; noma mhlawumbe ukhumbula inhlekelele yasolwandle embi kunazo zonke emhlabeni eyenzeka ngesikhathi izwe lithulile, okwafa kuyo izinkulungwane zabantu ngenkathi isikebhe i-Doña Paz sishayisana nomkhumbi kawoyela. Eqinisweni, i-Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters yaseBelgium yathi iPhilippines iyizwe elithandwa izinhlekelele kunawo wonke emhlabeni. Izishingishane, izikhukhula, ukuzamazama komhlaba, nokuqhuma kwezintaba-mlilo kuyazenzela nje kule ndawo. Uma uhlanganisa nokuthi abantu bakhona abaningi abamile kahle kangako kwezomnotho, uyabona ukuthi leli zwe elihle nalo linazo izinkinga.

Kulo lonke elasePhilippines, oFakazi BakaJehova bamatasa basakaza iqiniso leBhayibheli kubantu abangu-78 000 000 abahlala kuleli zwe. Akulula. Ngaphandle kokusongelwa izinhlekelele zemvelo, kuyinselele ukufika eziqhingini eziningi ezincane nasezintabeni nasemahlathini akude. Noma kunjalo, umsebenzi uyenziwa. Abantu bakaJehova bakwazile ukuqhubeka naphezu kwezimo ezihlukahlukene abahlangabezana nazo. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova uye wababusisa kulo msebenzi wokwenza abafundi.

OFakazi basePhilippines bathi abafane nama-Israyeli asendulo ayenesifiso sokubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema. Amazwi kaNehemiya awakhuthaza: “Injabulo kaJehova iyisiphephelo senu.” (Neh. 8:10) Naphezu kwezinselele ezazikhona, ama-Israyeli aphokophela phambili ngenjabulo emsebenzini wokuthuthukisa ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Njengama-Israyeli esikhathi sikaNehemiya, oFakazi BakaJehova kulo lonke elasePhilippines bafundiswa iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Nabo benza injabulo kaJehova ibe isiphephelo sabo.

Ukukhanya Kweqiniso Kuqala Ukukhanya

IPhilippines ihlukile ngoba iwukuphela kwezwe okudlange kulo inkolo yamaRoma Katolika e-Asia. Ekuqaleni amaFilipino ayenezinkolo zawo zendabuko, kodwa ukubuswa iSpain iminyaka engaphezu kuka-300 kwenza abantu baba amaKatolika. Nakuba ukubuswa i-United States iminyaka engu-50 kwenza abantu bazi ezinye izinkolo, inkolo ekhonyayo kusengeyamaKatolika. Bangamaphesenti angaba ngu-80 abathi basonta kuleli sonto.

Ngo-1912, uCharles T. Russell, umFundi WeBhayibheli oqavile—njengoba babaziwa kanjalo oFakazi BakaJehova—wadlula eManila ngesikhathi ezungeza umhlaba efundisa. Ngo-January 14, wabeka inkulumo enesihloko esithi “Bakuphi Abafileyo?” eGrand Opera House yaseManila. Ababekhona banikwa izincwadi.

Enye imbewu yeqiniso leBhayibheli yahlwanyelwa ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1920 ngesikhathi kufika uMfoweth’ uWilliam Tinney waseCanada owaba ngummeleli olandelayo wabaFundi BeBhayibheli. Wavula ikilasi lokutadisha iBhayibheli. Ngenxa yokugula, kwadingeka abuyele eCanada, kodwa amaFilipino ayenesithakazelo aqhubeka nekilasi lokutadisha iBhayibheli. Izincwadi ababethunyelelwa zona ngeposi abantu zabasiza zenza iqiniso lahlala ezinhliziyweni zabo. Kwaqhubeka kanje kwaze kwaba sekuqaleni kwawo-1930. Ngo-1933 isigijimi seqiniso sase sisakazwa ePhilippines esiteshini somsakazo i-KZRM.

Ngawo lowo nyaka, uJoseph dos Santos waqala uhambo lokushumayela azungeze umhlaba esuka eHawaii. Waqala washumayela ePhilippines, kodwa akabange esadlulela phambili. UMfoweth’ udos Santos kwathiwa akahole emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso futhi avule ihhovisi legatsha. Leli hhovisi laqala ukusebenza ngo-June 1, 1934. UMfoweth’ udos Santos kanye nabantu abambalwa bendawo ababefuna ukukhonza uJehova babhukula bashumayela basakaza nezincwadi. Yize babephikiswa, ngo-1938 kwase kunabamemezeli abangu-121 kuleli zwe, abangu-47 bengamaphayona.

Nakuba abaseMelika babefundisa abantu isiNgisi, abazalwane babona ukuthi abantu balifunda kahle iBhayibheli ngolimi abaluncele ebeleni. Kwakuyinselele lokhu ngoba zibalelwa ku-90 izilimi ezikhulunywa ePhilippines. Kodwa kwazanywa ukuba izincwadi zihunyushelwe kwezinye zezilimi eziyinhloko. Ngo-1939 ihhovisi legatsha labika: “Manje sesiqopha [izinkulumo zeBhayibheli] ngesiTagalog, futhi njengoba sesinazo sithemba ukuthi sizoyisebenzisa kakhulu imishini yokukhulisa izwi namagilamafomu kube inkazimulo eNkosini.” Labika nokuthi liphezu kokuhumushela incwadi ethi Riches olimini lwesiTagalog. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, kwaqedwa ukuhumushela izincwajana ezilimini ezinkulu ezine zasePhilippines futhi lokho kwenza ukuba abantu abaningi kuleli zwe bezwe isigijimi soMbuso.

Phakathi kwabamukela isigijimi seqiniso kuleyo minyaka kwakunoFlorentino Quintos, owayenguthisha. Waqala ukuzwa ngomsebenzi wabantu bakaJehova ngesikhathi exoxa nendoda eyayikade ikhona enkulumweni kaMfoweth’ uRussell eManila ngo-1912. Ngo-1936, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova wahambisela uFlorentino izincwadi ezingu-16 ezinemibala egqamile ezazikhuluma ngeBhayibheli. Kodwa uFlorentino wayematasa njengoba ayenguthisha ngakho akazifundanga lezi zincwadi ezinemibala egqamile, zaduva. Kwabe sekuqubuka impi, amaJapane ahlasela, imisebenzi eminingi evamile yama nse. Manje uFlorentino wayesenesikhathi sokufunda, ngakho wazifunda. Ngesikhashana nje waqeda ukufunda incwadi ethi Riches, Enemies, nethi Salvation. Waphazanyiswa ukuthi kwadingeka abalekele amaJapane, kodwa imbewu yeqiniso yayisitshalekile enhliziyweni yakhe.

Ukwanda Okusheshayo Naphezu Kwempi Yezwe

IMpi Yezwe II yazilethela izinselele ezintsha izinceku zikaJehova kulezi ziqhingi. Lapho iqala impi, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-373 ePhilippines. Yize babembalwa, babeshiseka kakhulu futhi bezivumelanisa nezimo lapho bezama ukuthuthukisa ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile.

Abanye abazalwane baseManila balishiya idolobha elikhulu bathuthela emadolobheni amancane, baqhubeka nomsebenzi wokushumayela lapho. Ngenxa yempi ababange besakwazi ukuthunyelelwa izincwadi zeBhayibheli, kodwa bahambisa izincwadi ezazibekwe emakhaya ngaphambi kokuqala kwempi. Lapho ziphela lezo zincwadi, baboleka abantu ezabo.

USalvador Liwag, uthisha owayeka umsebenzi wakhe ukuze abe ummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle wesikhathi esigcwele, wayeseMindanao ngenkathi kuqala impi. Yena nabanye abazalwane babalekela emahlathini nasezintabeni. Baqhubeka nemisebenzi yabo engokwasezulwini belapho. Kwakudingeka baqaphe kakhulu ukuze bangabuthwa amaJapane bayosebenza emakamu awo. Kanti abashokobezi abalwa namaJapane babevame ukusola ukuthi laba bazalwane bayizimpimpi zamaJapane.

Kuyamangalisa ukuthi babekwazi ukuba nemihlangano emincane ngesikhathi bevinjezelwe amaJapane. Kwaba nomhlangano wesifunda eManila; baningi ababekhona. Omunye waba seLingayen. Izakhamuzi zamangala lapho zibona abantu ezingabazi befika ngamaloli; kodwa azizange ziphazamise, nomhlangano waqhubeka kahle.

UJehova wakubusisa konke lokhu, nenani loFakazi landa. Abadumisi bakaJehova ababengu-373 ngesikhathi kuqala impi banda baba ngaphezu kuka-2 000 ngemva nje kweminyaka emine.

Khumbula ukuthi uMfoweth’ udos Santos wayekade abelwe ukuba ahole ekuhleleni umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso ePhilippines. Ngo-January 1942 wavalelwa ekamu eliyijele lamaJapane eManila. Naphezu kwalokho, naye wayesalokhu eshiseka. Wathi: “Izindaba ezinhle ngangizixoxela abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ekamu.” Kwakunzima ekamu, abaningi babulawa indlala. Ngesikhathi uMfoweth’ udos Santos evalelwa ekamu wayenesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-61, kodwa lapho ededelwa wayesenesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-36 kuphela.

AbaseMelika bazidedela iziboshwa ngo-1945 babe sebecela ukumbuyisela eHawaii uMfoweth’ udos Santos, kodwa wala. Walelani? Umsebenzi woMbuso wawumjabulisa, ngakho wayefuna ukwenza noma yini esemandleni akhe ukuze abone ukuthi uyaqhubeka ePhilippines. Ngaphandle kwalokho, wayengakafiki umuntu ozothatha indawo yakhe. UMfoweth’ udos Santos wathi: “Ngangingeke ngihambe engakafiki!” Lapho ekhuluma ngoJoseph dos Santos, uHilarion Amores wathi: “Wayekhuthele ngempela futhi ezikhathalela izidingo ezingokomoya zabazalwane.”

Kufika Izithunywa Zevangeli

Abazalwane basePhilippines benza konke okwakusemandleni abo ngaphambi kwempi naphakathi nayo nakuba babengazange baqeqeshwe ngokukhethekile. Kodwa yathi iphela nje impi bathola usizo. Abafundi ababephothule eGileyadi u-Earl Stewart, uVictor White, noLorenzo Alpiche bafika ngo-June 14, 1947. Waze wafika ekugcineni umuntu owayezothatha indawo kaMfoweth’ udos Santos. Ngo-1949 waphindela eHawaii nomkakhe nezingane.

UMfoweth’ uStewart wamiswa njengenceku yegatsha. Eziningi zezithunywa zevangeli ezafika ngaleyo minyaka zabelwa ensimini. Mayelana nomphumela wokuba nezithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi, uVictor Amores, owathunyelwa eGileyadi esuka ePhilippines uthi: “Zaziwusizo olukhulu ekuhleleni umsebenzi. Abazalwane bafunda kulaba bafundi abaphothule eGileyadi. Kwaba khona intuthuko. Ngaphambi kuka-1975, sase sicishe sifike kubamemezeli abangu-77 000, kanti ngo-1946 sasingu-2 600 kuphela.” Ngemva kwalaba bazalwane bokuqala abathathu, kwalandela ezinye izithunywa zevangeli eziningana, kuhlanganise abakwaBrown nabakwaWillett, ababekhonza eCebu, nabakwa-Anderson, ababeshumayela eDavao. Kwakukhona nabakwaSteele, abakwaSmith noMfoweth’ uHachtel noBruun. UNeal Callaway wafika ngo-1951. Kamuva washada nodade wakhona lapha, uNenita, base bekhonza cishe kuzo zonke izindawo lapha ePhilippines waze washona uNeal ngo-1985. UDenton Hopkinson noRaymond Leach baseBrithani bafika ngo-1954 futhi basaqhubeka bebamba iqhaza emsebenzini lapha ePhilippines ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwengu-48.

Abafundi bakwamanye amazwe abaphothule eGileyadi akubona bodwa ababa nesandla ekuhlelweni nasekwandeni komsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso ePhilippines. Ngawo-1950, abazalwane basePhilippines nabo bamenywa eSikoleni SaseGileyadi futhi cishe bonke babuya bazokhonza ezweni lakubo. Abokuqala abathathu kwakunguSalvador Liwag, u-Adolfo Dionisio noMacario Baswel. Ukuqeqeshwa ayekutholile uVictor Amores, okukhulunywe ngaye ngaphambili, wakusebenzisa emsebenzini wokujikeleza naseBethel. Kamuva waba nomkhaya kodwa wabuye waphindela enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Waba umbonisi ojikelezayo kanye nomkakhe uLolita, wabuye waba iphayona elikhethekile eSifundazweni SaseLaguna, waze wacela eminyakeni engu-80 ubudala.

Okwenzeka Ngawo-1970

Njengoba umsebenzi wawuqhubeka ngokushesha, inani labamemezeli lalilokhu landa, ngo-1975 laliphezulu kakhulu lingu-77 000. Izinceku zikaJehova zizonke zagcina ingokomoya lazo liphila futhi zaqhubeka zikhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka. Nokho, baningi abayeka ukukhonza uJehova lapho bebona ukuthi asipheli lesi simiso sezinto samanje ngo-1975. Ngo-1979 inani labamemezeli lase lehlile laba ngaphansi kuka-59 000. UCornelio Cañete owayengumbonisi wesifunda phakathi nawo-1970 wathi: “Abanye babhapathizelwa u-1975 base behlala iminyakana. Ngemva kuka-1975 balishiya phansi iqiniso.”

Nokho, iningi lalimane nje lidinga isikhuthazo ukuze liqhubeke linombono ofanele ngenkonzo yobuKristu. Ngakho ihhovisi legatsha lahlela izinkulumo ezikhethekile. Ngenxa yalokho, akukhuthazekanga nje kuphela labo ababeqhubeka behlanganyela kodwa nabathile kwabase bepholile basizwa ukuba baphinde babe abadumisi bakaJehova abakhuthele. Abazalwane baqonda ukuthi kufanele bakhonze uNkulunkulu kuze kube phakade, hhayi kuze kufike usuku oluthile. Kusukela kulokho kwehla kwesikhashana, inani labamemezeli boMbuso liye landa ngendlela emangalisayo. Labo abangakuvumelanga ukudumazeka kubenze balibale ubuhle bukaJehova baye babusiswa ngempela!

Bahlahla Indlela Kude Le—Ezintabeni

Izinkulungwane zeziqhingi zasePhilippines zisakazekele endaweni engaba ngamakhilomitha angu-1 850 olwandle ukusuka enyakatho kuya eningizimu nengamakhilomitha angu-1 100 ukusuka empumalanga uya entshonalanga. Ezinye iziqhingi azinabantu, futhi eziningi zinezintaba ezimangelengele. Kuyinselele ukufika kubantu abasezindaweni ezikude kangako.

Enye yalezi zindawo iKalinga-Apayao. Ezintabeni ezimangelengele eziseCordillera Central enyakatho yeLuzon, abantu bahlukene ngezizwe nangezigodi, ngasinye sinolimi lwaso namasiko aso. Nakuba ukuzingelwa kwamakhanda abantu kwayekwa ekhulwini lama-20, izigodi zisazondana, umphumela ube imibango nokubulalana. UGeronimo Lastima wathi: “Eminyakeni edlule kwakunzima ukuthumela amaphayona akhethekile kulawo masimu. Abantu balapha babebasukela abazalwane befuna ukubabulala.”

Ukuze kuxazululwe le nkinga kwathunyelwa odade. UGeronimo wachaza: “Babengabasukeli abesifazane. Isiko lithi abesifazane akufanele balinyazwe.” Odade baphumelela ukufundisa abantu bendawo iqiniso. Nabo babe sebebhapathizwa futhi baba amaphayona. Babelazi leli siko labantu bakubo futhi bekwazi ukushumayela ngendlela ephumelelayo. Ngenxa yalokho, “abazingeli” sebegcwele kuzo zonke lezi zintaba—abazingeli babantu abafuna iqiniso. Ngawo-1970, kwakunedlanzana nje loFakazi eKalinga-Apayao; manje sekunezifunda ezimbili.

Esifundazweni esingumakhelwane sase-Ifugao esinezintaba, nakhona kwakungekho ngisho noyedwa uFakazi ekuqaleni kwawo-1950. Kwabelwa amaphayona avamile amathathu ukuba ayoshumayeza abantu abahlala emasimini elayisi asenamakhulu eminyaka. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abantu bendawo baqala ukulamukela iqiniso. Namuhla, kunamabandla angu-18 anabamemezeli abangu-315 kuleyo ndawo.

Ezintabeni zase-Abra ezikude le enyakatho, inkinga indlela yokufika ezigodini ezingakabi noFakazi. Umbonisi wesifunda owayelangazelela ukuyisa izindaba ezinhle ezindaweni eziqhele kakhulu wamema abanye abangu-34 ukuba bayoshumayela naye endaweni eseduze neTineg. (IzE. 1:8) Njengoba zingekho izinto zokuthutha umphakathi, leli qembu laqombola izintaba izinsuku ezingu-7 ukuze lifike ezigodini eziyishumi ezinemizi engaba ngu-250.

Umbonisi wesifunda uyalandisa: “Kwakuyinselele ngempela ukuhamba ezintabeni sibe sithwele imithwalo. Ezinsukwini ezine kweziyisithupha salala endle noma eduze komfula.” Kwase kuyiminyaka ezinye izigodi zagcina ukuthola ubufakazi. Kwenye indawo, bahlangana nendoda eyathi: “Eminyakeni engu-27 edlule oFakazi BakaJehova bashumayeza ubaba. Wasitshela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova baneqiniso.” Lilonke leli qembu lahambisa izincwadi ezingu-60, omagazini abangu-186, izincwajana ezingu-50 namapheshana angu-287 futhi labonisa abantu abaningi ukuthi izifundo zeBhayibheli ziqhutshwa kanjani.

Bashumayela Nakwezinye Izindawo Ezikude

IPalawan iyisiqhingi esikhulu ePhilippines. Yinde kanti ayibanzi, ithatha indawo engamakhilomitha angu-434. Njengoba iqhelile eziqhingini ezihlala ziphithizela, iPalawan inamahlathi futhi kuhlala izizwe ezihlukahlukene kanti kukhona nezindawo eziningi ezingazodwa ezihlala abantu kuhlanganise nezingasahlali muntu. Njengoba ayezimisele ukwamukela noma isiphi isabelo, uRaymond Leach owayeyisithunywa sevangeli wathunyelwa lapho wayoba umbonisi wesifunda. Babembalwa oFakazi kodwa kwakudingeka ahambe amabanga amade. Uyakhumbula: “Kusukela ngo-1955 kuya ku-1958 ngangabelwe lapho, futhi kwakunabamemezeli abangu-14 kuphela ePalawan. Kwakungithatha amasonto amahlanu ukuya kubo.”

Inkulu intuthuko eyenzekile kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kodwa namanje iseyindawo enezinselele. UFebe Lota, osanda kweva eminyakeni engu-40 ubudala, waba iphayona elikhethekile ePalawan ngo-1984. Usixoxela okwenzeka ngenkathi ekhonza eDumaran: “Safika emzini esasicabanga ukuthi owokugcina. Sasingacabangi ukuthi ukhona omunye, kodwa wawukhona!” Ngemva kwalo muzi phakathi kwezihlahla zikakhukhunathi kwakuhlala umbhangqwana oshadile owawulima amasimu kakhukhunathi. Okukhulu nakakhulu ukuthi wawulithanda iBhayibheli!

UFebe uthi: “Ukube kwakungengenxa yokukhonza uJehova, ngangingeke ngibuyele kuleya ndawo.” Uma beya khona, uFebe nozakwabo babehamba usuku lonke emasimini kakhukhunathi, behamba indawo ende ogwini olunesihlabathi namatshe. Uma amanzi ephakeme, babehamba emanzini afika emadolweni. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakukude, banquma ukuya kanye ngenyanga bafike bahlale izinsukwana. Lokho kwakusho ukuthi kumelwe bathwale ukudla, izincwadi, omagazini, nezingubo ezengeziwe. “Kwakuwukuzidela ngempela ukuba sivume ukushiswa ilanga nokuntinyelwa izinambuzane ziphinde zisilume. Sasifika sijuluke simanzi te.” Nokho, imizamo yabo yavuzwa lapho bebona lo mbhangqwana onesithakazelo uthuthuka ngokushesha okukhulu esifundweni sawo seBhayibheli.

Lo mbhangqwana waxoshwa ekulimeni amasimu kakhukhunathi lapho imenenja, eyayingumBaptist, ithola ukuthi wawutadisha noFakazi. UFebe wamangala kodwa wajabula lapho ephinde ebona le nkosikazi. Akukona nje kuphela ukuthi yayisibhapathiziwe, kodwa njengoba uFebe esho, “yayihleli nathi emhlanganweni wamaphayona owawusemhlanganweni wesigodi.” Akuve kumnandi ukubona izithelo ezinhle zokuzikhandla komuntu!

Esiqhingini esikhulu saseMindanao esiseningizimu yePhilippines, ziningi izindawo okunzima ukufika kuzo. UNathan Ceballos uye wakhonza lapha njengombonisi ojikelezayo, ehamba nomkakhe. Emasontweni ababesuke bengahambeli ngawo amabandla, babenza imizamo yokushumayela emasimini angawodwa. Babemema abanye abazalwane nodade ukuba bahambe nabo. Leli qembu lake lahamba ngezithuthuthu ezingu-19 liya ezigodini eziningi. Imigwaqo imagebhugebhu kanti inodaka, futhi oFakazi kwakudingeka bawele imifula nemifudlana, eminingi yayo engenamabhuloho. Nakuba abantu bakulezi zindawo bengenayo imali, babenikela ngemishanelo ethambile eyenziwe ngesandla bebonga izincwadi ezazifike nabazalwane. Kubone nje lokhu ngeso lengqondo, abazalwane sebegoduka, imishanelo ikhuza phezulu ezithuthuthwini zabo! UNathan uthi: “Sonke sasibuyela ekhaya sikhathele siyingcuba futhi singcolile kodwa sichichima injabulo, ngoba sazi ukuthi esasikwenzile kwakuyintando kaJehova.”

Bashumayela Izindaba Ezinhle Ngazo Zonke Izindlela

Eminyakeni yamuva, inhlangano kaJehova ikhuthaze abashumayeli boMbuso ukuba babambe wonke amathuba okufakaza. Lokhu kuye kwafaneleka nakakhulu ezindaweni ezinabantu abaningi kuleli zwe. Amadolobha amakhulu, njengeDavao, iCebu, neMetro Manila, ayafana nje namanye amadolobha amakhulu emhlabeni, kunezitolo eziningi, amahhovisi, amafulethi nezindlu okungangeneki kalula kuzo. Yini eye yenziwa ukuze kufinyelelwe abantu abakulezi zindawo?

IMakati isesifundeni ebesikhonzwa uMarlon Navarro. UMarlon, insizwa ephothule eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela INkonzo, wasebenza kanzima ehlela umsebenzi wokushumayela enkabeni yeMakati, okuyinsimu yamabandla amathathu. Kwakhethwa futhi kwaqeqeshwa abazalwane nodade, iningi labo elalingamaphayona, ukuba bayisebenze kahle le nsimu. Kuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli ezitolo ezinkulu nasemapaki akule ngxenye yedolobha; abanye abantu abafundelwa iBhayibheli bayeza ezifundweni.

UCory Santos nendodana yakhe uJeffrey, bangamaphayona. Bavame ukuhambisa umagazini emgwaqweni ekuseni, ngezinye izikhathi baqala ngo-6:00. Ngaleso sikhathi bahlangana nabantu abasebenza ebusuku abasuke sebeya emakhaya. Baye baqala ngisho nezifundo zeBhayibheli ngenkathi behambisa umagazini. Abanye abatholakala ngale ndlela baye bathuthuka baze babhapathizwa.

Nasezindaweni ezingekho emadolobheni, abamemezeli baye bakuphaphamela ukuthola amathuba okushumayeza abanye. UNorma Balmaceda, oneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-28 eyiphayona elikhethekile, waxoxa nenkosikazi eyayilinde into yokuhamba. Wayibuza: “Uyaphi?”

“ESifundazweni SaseQuirino,” kuphendula le nkosikazi.

“Udabuka lapho yini?”

“Cha, ukuthi nje umyeni wami ufuna sithuthele khona ngoba kuyahlushekwa la e-Ifugao.”

UNorma wabe esethola ithuba lokuxoxa ngezindaba ezinhle zikahulumeni woMbuso oyoxazulula izinkinga zabantu. Ngemva kwalokho yilowo nalowo wabamba eyakhe. Kwadlula iminyaka, kwabe sekuthi emhlanganweni wesifunda, nkosikazi yimbe yeza kuNorma yamtshela ukuthi iyileya nkosikazi ayekhulume nayo. Yayisibhapathiziwe futhi amadodakazi ayo amabili nomyeni wayo babefundelwa iBhayibheli.

Ehhovisi legatsha eDolobheni LaseQuezon, abazalwane bakuphaphamele ukushumayela ngawo wonke amathuba. Ngokwesibonelo, uFelix Salango waziwa kahle ngokushisekela kwakhe ukushumayeza abanye. Uvamile ukuthatha ubuphayona obusizayo njengoba ekhonza eBethel. Ngonyaka ka-2000, ngesikhathi kwenezelwa esinye isakhiwo sokuhlala, uFelix wabona izisebenzi ezaziqashelwe ukwakha udonga lwangaphandle lwesakhiwo. Waya kunjiniyela omkhulu wacela imvume yokuxoxa nezisebenzi. UFelix uthi: “Lapho sebedlile ngaya kubo ngathola unjiniyela eseqoqe izisebenzi ezingaphezu kwekhulu. Ngachaza umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova ngabe sengichaza nokuthi kudingeka ulwazi ukuze umuntu asinde osizini olukhulu. Ngangiphethe ibhokisi lezincwajana nebhokisi lezincwadi Ulwazi. Ngazichazela izisebenzi ukuthi uma zithanda ukutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu zingazithathela incwadi eyodwa.” UFelix wachaza nokuthi umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova usekelwa kanjani emhlabeni wonke futhi wabeka izincwadi kanye nemvilophi eduze kwesihlahla sikakhukhunathi. Izisebenzi eziningi zathatha incwadi noma incwajana, futhi iningi lazo lafaka umnikelo emvilophini.

Bakhona ababethanda ukufundelwa, kubona kukhona nonjiniyela omkhulu. UFelix wahlela ukuba bafunde incwajana ethi Yini UNkulunkulu Ayifunayo Kithi? njalo ngoMsombuluko, ngoLwesithathu, nangoLwesihlanu ngesikhathi sekhefu lasemini. Lo njiniyela wathi kuFelix: “Izinto engizifunda lapha ngizichazela umkami nabangane bami.” Nabanye onjiniyela ababili ababesebenza lapha babefuna ukufundelwa, kuhlanganise nonogada nomabhalane abambalwa. Ngempela, ukushumayela ngawo wonke amathuba kuletha isibusiso sikaJehova.

Kufika Izithunywa Zevangeli

Eminyakeni edlule zingu-69 izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshiwe zakwamanye amazwe ezifike ePhilippines zizosiza emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Zikwenze ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene lokhu. UDenton Hopkinson noRaymond Leach, okukhulunywe ngabo ngaphambili, baqale babelwa ensimini, okokuqala njengezithunywa zevangeli, kamuva njengababonisi abajikelezayo. Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile babelwa ehhovisi legatsha.

Ngawo-1970 kwafika abafundi abaningana ababephothule eGileyadi bezosiza emsebenzini wokunyathelisa owawusanda kuqalwa. Phakathi kwabo kwakunoRobert Pevy nomkakhe uPatricia, ababeke bakhonza eNgilandi nase-Ireland. URobert wasiza ekuvuleni umnyango wokubhala ehhovisi legatsha lasePhilippines. Bonke abantu badabuka lapho sebehamba ngo-1981 beyokhonza endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn, eNew York, e-U.S.A.

UDean noKaren Jacek bafika ngo-1980 bevela e-United States, kwathi ngemva kwesikhashana befunda isiTagalog eLaguna babelwa egatsheni. Lapho sebebuye baqeqeshwa ngo-1983, basiza abazalwane—bakulesi siqhingi nabaseziqhingini eziseduze—babafundisa ukusebenzisa uhlelo lwe-computer olusungulwe oFakazi BakaJehova oluye lwaba usizo ekunyathelisweni kwezincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi zendawo.

UHubertus (Bert) noJeanine Hoefnagels baseNetherlands bafika ngo-1988. Igatsha lase lizoqala ukwakha isakhiwo esikhulu. Njengoba lo mbhangqwana wawuke wasebenza ezakhiweni zegatsha futhi uBert ekwazi ukushayela ogandaganda abakhulu, babelwa ukuba basize esakhiweni. UBert wayeshayela lab’ ogandaganda futhi efundisa nabanye ukubashayela. Uthi: “Kusukela ekuqaleni, ngafundisa abazalwane bendawo ukushayela amaloli, ugandaganda ombayo, ogugulayo, isixaxa, nogandaganda ofukula izinto. Sagcina sesineqembu labantu abangaba ngu-20 kuya ku-25 ababeshayela ogandaganda abakhulu.”

Ngemva kwesikhathi kwafika abanye abane ababephothule eGileyadi—uPeter noBeate Vehlen baseJalimane noGary noTeresa Jeane Melton base-United States. AbakwaVehlen nabo babeke bawakha amagatsha, kanti abakwaMelton base beneminyaka emihlanu bekhonza eBethel yase-United States. Bonke baba nesandla ekwakhiweni kwegatsha.

Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, ngo-1963, ikhaya lokugcina lezithunywa zevangeli lavalwa ngoba amaphayona asePhilippines aqeqeshiwe ayengawunakekela umsebenzi ensimini. Noma kunjalo, ngo-1991 iNdikimba Ebusayo yahlela ukuba kuthunyelwe izithunywa zevangeli eziyisithupha ensimini. Nakuba zaziwazi umsebenzi wasegatsheni, lezi zithunywa zevangeli zazinolwazi olwalungaba usizo ensimini. Ngokwesibonelo, uJeanine Hoefnagels waqala ukuba iphayona elikhethekile eneminyaka engu-18. Manje lolo lwazi lwakhe nokuthanda kwakhe abantu wayesengakusebenzisela ukukhuthaza abazalwane nabantu abasanda kuhlanganyela. Umyeni wakhe uBert wakhuluma nangezinye izinzuzo. Wathi: “Ukuba khona kwezithunywa zevangeli lapha kusiza abantu babone ukuthi umsebenzi wethu wenziwa emhlabeni wonke.” Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli zona ziye zaqhubeka zenza imisebenzi yasehhovisi neminye egatsheni.

Akugcinanga nje ngokuba kufike izithunywa zevangeli ePhilippines kodwa kuye kwathunyelwa nezisuka khona.

Izithunywa Zevangeli Zalapha Ziya Kwamanye Amazwe

Njengoba izithunywa zevangeli zazisafika, izwe lasePhilippines laqala ukuthumela amaphayona kwamanye amazwe ukuba ayoba izithunywa zevangeli. Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi amaphayona endawo ayengaqeqeshelwe ukuhlela umsebenzi njengabafundi baseGileyadi, ayemaningi kakhulu amaphayona endawo anamakhono amahle. Kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II, umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi wawuye wanda ngesivinini esikhulu ePhilippines kunasemazweni aseduze. Ngakho kusukela ngo-1964, amaphayona asePhilippines afanelekayo aye amenywa ukuba angenele inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli kulo lonke elase-Asia naseziqhingini zePacific. Ikhona imibhangqwana eshadile ethunyelwe kwamanye amazwe, kodwa kuthunyelwe ikakhulukazi amaphayona angashadile aseneminyaka eyishumi noma ngaphezulu esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Maphakathi no-2002, angu-149 ayesethunyelwe emazweni angu-19. Angu-74 ayaqhubeka ezabelweni zawo. Kuye kuthi lapho zisalindele ukulungiswa kwezimvume zazo, izithunywa zevangeli zihlale egatsheni ziqeqeshwe zithole nolwazi olusuke luzozisiza ezabelweni zazo. Lezi zithunywa zevangeli ziye zaba naliphi igalelo emsebenzini wokushumayela eminyakeni edlule, futhi iziphi izinto eziye zaba izinselele futhi zazijabulisa?

Kwaqale kwahamba uRose Cagungao (manje osengowakwa-Engler) noClara dela Cruz (manje osengowakwa-Elauria). Bababelwe eThailand. Cishe ngemva konyaka, u-Angelita Gavino wabalandela. Yebo, njengezinye izithunywa zevangeli, ukufunda ulimi olusha kwakuwumqansa. U-Angelita usixoxela ngokufunda kwakhe isiThai: “Emasontweni ambalwa okuqala, kwavele kwaduma upotiyane njengoba konke okwakubhalwe phansi wawungathi ‘amakokoloshe,’ kanti nasesifundweni sasingaxoxi namuntu ngoba sasingalwazi ulimi.” Obani bona, bagcina belufundile futhi bayaqhubeka besiza abanye ngalolu limi abalufundile.

Ngemva kwalawo ambalwa okuqala, kwabe sekuthunyelwa amaphayona amaningi emazweni amaningi. UPorferio no-Evangeline Jumuad bacelwa ukuba baye eKorea ngo-1972. Balufunda kahle ulimi, kwathi ngemva kweminyaka emibili nesigamu besensimini njengezithunywa zevangeli, abakwaJumuad bacelwa ukuba bajikeleze.

Ngo-1970, uSalvacion Regala (manje ongowakwa-Aye) ungomunye wodade basePhilippines abangu-9 abaya eHong Kong beyoba izithunywa zevangeli. Inselele yokuqala abhekana nayo kwakuwukufunda isiCanton. Kunezindlela ezingu-9 zokubiza amagama ngesiCanton. Wayishintsha nje indlela obiza ngayo igama, iyashintsha nencazelo yalo. USalvacion ukhumbula ukuthi ngesikhathi engakakwazi ukubiza amagama watshela umuntu ayemfundela iBhayibheli ukuthi base bethuthile lapho babehlala khona “ngoba kunesipoki,” kanti uqonde ukuthi “ngoba intela imba eqolo.” Wagcina elufundile lolu limi. Bangaphezu kuka-20 abantu asebasizile bafunda iqiniso leBhayibheli. Manje uthola abantu abaningi base-Indonesia abasebenza ezindlini eHong Kong, yingakho esezama ukufunda isi-Indonesia.

URodolfo Asong, umzalwane okhuthele kodwa onobungane, wazithola esezimweni ezihluke kakhulu yena ngesikhathi abelwa ePapua New Guinea ngo-1979. Wafunda ulimi ngokuzimisela okukhulu futhi walufunda kahle kangangokuba kungakabiphi nje efikile kuleli zwe, wabelwa ukuba abe umbonisi ojikelezayo. Kodwa ukuhambela amabandla asePapua New Guinea kwakungafani neze nokuhambela awasePhilippines. Uthi: “Ngafunda ukusigwedla ngimile njengabantu balapha isikebhe sezingodo esincane esithwala umuntu oyedwa.”

Ngokuqondene nemihlangano emikhulu, uRodolfo uthi: “Ngenxa yokuqhelelana kwezindawo nokungabi khona kwezinto zokuhamba ezishibhile, sahlela ukuba kube nemihlangano emincane eminingi. Umhlangano owawusesigodini saseLarimea wawumncane kunayo yonke engake ngaya kuyo. Bayishumi ababekhona.” Wake wabelwa ukuba abe umbonisi womhlangano wesigodi owawusesigodini sase-Agi. Uthi: “Ngabelwa nokuba ngibe usihlalo womhlangano, nginakekele umnyango we-Sound nowoKudla, ngiqondise idrama, futhi ngidlale indawo yeNkosi uDavide.” Wazikhandla ngempela kuleso sabelo, kamuva wajabulela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli eSolomon Islands.

Ngo-1982, u-Arturo Villasin, umzalwane waseLuzon okwazi ukuzivumelanisa nezimo wathunyelwa eSolomon Islands. Waba umbonisi ojikelezayo khona futhi wathola ukuthi izimo zihluke kakhulu kwezasePhilippines. Kuhanjwa ngendiza encane uma uya kweziningi zalezi ziqhingi. Wathi: “Ngesinye isikhathi indiza esasiyigibele yaphahlazeka kodwa sasinda. Sake sacishe sashayisa intaba ngenxa yokuthi kwakungabonakali kahle.” Ngokuqondene nokuhambela amabandla athile, wathi: “Sidabula emahlathini, siqwale amagquma ashibilikayo uma siya emabandleni asemaphandleni anabantu abakhulekela okhokho.” U-Arturo wafa ngokukhulu ukuzuma ebulawa izinkinga zempilo ngo-2001, kodwa uyohlale ekhunjulwa njengesithunywa sevangeli esithembekile.

Ziningi izindaba ezifuze lezi zabazalwane nodade basePhilippines abathunyelwa ensimini njengezithunywa zevangeli e-Asia nasePacific. Naphezu kwezinselele, lezi zinceku zikaJehova ezizinikele nezizidelile zibe negalelo elikhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela kula mazwe.

Injabulo Yokusiza Abanye Benze UJehova Abe Inqaba Yabo

Isibusiso sikaJehova siyajabulisa. (IzAga 10:22) U-Adelieda Caletena, owathunyelwa eTaiwan ngo-1974, uthi: “Ngijabula ngempela futhi ngiyambonga uJehova ngokuthi uyawubusisa umsebenzi wethu lapha nokuthi ungivulele ithuba lokuba ngiwenze.”

UPaul noMarina Tabunigao, manje abakhonza eMarshall Islands, bathi: “Sebengu-72 abantu esibasizile bakhonza uJehova. Kuyasijabulisa ukuthi abaningi babo sebengabadala, izinceku ezikhonzayo, amaphayona akhethekile, avamile nabamemezeli bebandla abakhuthele.”

ULydia Pamplona, owaqala ukukhonza ePapua New Guinea kusukela ngo-1980, usesize abantu abangu-84 bazinikezela futhi babhapathizwa. Usanda kubika ukuthi uqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-16, iningi lazo liyeza emihlanganweni. Akungabazeki ukuthi lokho akushoyo kuyifingqa kahle indlela izithunywa zevangeli eziningi ezizizwa ngayo: “Ngiyambonga uJehova ngenkonzo angiphathise yona. Kwangathi angaqhubeka ebusisa inkonzo yethu, kube inkazimulo kuye.”

Amagatsha okwathunyelwa kuwo izithunywa zevangeli ezivela ePhilippines aye abonga ngokuba khona kwazo ensimini yawo. Igatsha laseThailand labhala: “Izithunywa zevangeli zasePhilippines zenza umsebenzi omuhle. Kule minyaka eminingi ziseThailand bezilokhu ziyisibonelo sokwethembeka. Ziyaqhubeka nomsebenzi nakuba sezikhulile. Ziyalithanda izwe laseThailand nabantu bakhona; sekusekhaya lapha. Sibonga siyanconcoza ngokusithumelela lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezikahle kangaka.”

ISikole Senkonzo SoMbuso Siyasiza Sihlomise Abadala

Ngesikhathi kuqala ukuthunyelwa kwamaphayona kwamanye amazwe esuka ePhilippines, inhlangano kaJehova yahlela ukuba kuqeqeshwe abazalwane abafanelekayo ababelokhu banda ababenemithwalo yemfanelo emabandleni endawo. ISikole Senkonzo SoMbuso sasingenye yezindlela eziyinhloko yokubaqeqesha.

Amakilasi okuqala aqala ngo-1961 athatha inyanga yonke. UJack Redford, owayekade efundisa eGileyadi futhi kamuva owayezoba isithunywa sevangeli eVietnam wabelwa ukuba ayofundisa kula makilasi ePhilippines. Amakilasi okuqala aba segatsheni futhi aqhutshwa ngesiNgisi.

Nakuba abanye besizwa isiNgisi, ngaso sonke isikhathi kudingeka kucatshangwe nangezinye izilimi ezivamile ePhilippines. Abadala abaningi bangazuza kakhulu uma la makilasi eqhutshwa ngolimi abaluncele ebeleni. Ngakho kusukela maphakathi nawo-1960 la makilasi aqhutshwa ngezilimi eziningana. UCornelio Cañete ukhumbula abelwa ukufundisa kuyo yonke iVisayan Islands naseMindanao. Uvele angakholwa lapho ethi: “Ngangifundisa ngezilimi ezintathu: isiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, nesiSamar-Leyte.”

Kule minyaka edlule, ziye zashintshwa izinto ezifundwayo nesikhathi okusithathayo. Muva nje la makilasi aqhutshwa ngempelasonto—abadala bafunda usuku olulodwa nengxenye, izinceku ezikhonzayo zafunda usuku olulodwa. Kodwa kusenenselele yokuqhuba lesi sikole ngezilimi ezingaba ngu-8. Abadala abazi lezi zilimi basuka egatsheni bayoqeqesha ababonisi abajikelezayo. Bona babe sebeqhuba isikole sabadala bamabandla nezinceku ezikhonzayo. Kwesokugcina, bangu-13 000 abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo ezingu-8 000 abazuza kulesi sikole.

Usizo Lwamaphayona

Ngemva kwesikhathi amaphayona nawo aqala ukuqeqeshwa ngokwengeziwe. Ngo-1978 kwaqhutshwa amakilasi okuqala eSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona. Bonke ababengamaphayona ngaleso sikhathi bangena kula makilasi, kuhlanganise namaphayona akhethekile. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi abelokhu eqhutshwa minyaka yonke la makilasi, ngaphandle kwango-1979 nango-1981.

Amaphayona azuze kakhulu kulesi sikole, kodwa aye abhekana nezingqinamba ukuze akwazi ukuya kuso. Amanye kuye kwadingeka adele izimali zawo ukuze akwazi ukuya kuso. Amanye aye abekezelela izinkinga zezinto zokuhamba.

Labo abaya esikoleni esasisedolobheni laseSantiago behlelwa yinto ababengayilindele. URodolfo de Vera, umbonisi wesifunda, wathi: “Ngo-October 19, 1989, e-Isabela, iSantiago yazunywa isishingishane esinamandla esasihamba ngesivinini esingamakhilomitha angu-205 ngehora. Ngesikhathi siqala ukufunda ekuseni eHholo LoMbuso, kwakunamathe ezimpukane nje nomoyana ongatheni, ngakho saqhubeka nesikole samaphayona. Kodwa umoya waya ngokuqina, nesakhiwo saqala ukunyakaza. Kwathi kusenjalo kwaphephuka uphahla. Sasifuna ukugoduka, kodwa sabona ukuthi kwakuyingozi kakhulu ngoba ziningi izinto ezaziphephuka ngaphandle.” Nakuba isakhiwo saqala ukudilika, bonke baphuma bengenamyocu. Bathi basinda ngenxa kaJehova nokusikisela kwe-Phaphama! okuthi ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo asocasha ngaphansi kwetafula noma kwedeski. UMfoweth’ ude Vera wathi: “Sacasha ngaphansi kwamatafula. Lapho sesidlulile isishingishane, sasimbozwe amagatsha awile nothayela, kodwa bonke abangaphumanga ababecashe ngaphansi kwamatafula abalimalanga.”

Unyaka ngamunye izikole ziqhutshwa ngezilimi ezingu-7. Kuze kube unyaka wenkonzo ka-2002, angu-2 787 amakilasi aseqhutshiwe, kwaba khona amaphayona angu-46 650. Yeka ukuthi leli kube ilungiselelo elihle kanjani lokusiza amaphayona acije amakhono awo futhi athembele ngokugcwele kuJehova njengoba eqhubeka ‘ekhanya njengezinkanyiso ezweni’!—Fil. 2:15.

Imizamo Yokuqala Yokunyathelisa Nge-offset

Imisebenzi yasensimini nasemabandleni ibiyoba nzima nakakhulu ukube besingenazo izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezinhle kangaka. Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi izincwadi zasePhilippines zinyatheliswa eBrooklyn. Kodwa ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1970 kwakhiwa ifektri khona kanye emagcekeni egatsha eDolobheni LaseQuezon. Kwafakwa imishini yokunyathelisa nge-letterpress eyayifana neyaseBrooklyn. Lokhu kwenza ukuba igatsha likwazi ukuzinyathelisela bonke omagazini.

Lingakapheli ishumi leminyaka, kwacaca ukuthi imboni yokunyathelisa isiyayiqeda imishini yokunyathelisa nge-letterpress esebenzisa umthofu, isinyathelisa nge-offset. Isiqondiso sendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke sabonisa ukuthi nathi sasiyogcina sesishintshile.

Ngo-1980 igatsha lathenga umshini wokuklama okubhaliwe. Igatsha laseNingizimu Afrika lalithenge umshini ofanayo labe selicobelela iPhilippines ngolwazi lwalo. Lesi simiso sokuklama nge-computer okubhaliwe sasisebenza kanye nomshini omncane ofakwa amaphepha oyi-offset owathengwa cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo.

Ngezinga elincane, lo mshini wenza abazalwane bakwazi ukufunda izindlela zokunyathelisa nge-offset. UDavid Namoca owayengumakadebona ekunyatheliseni nge-letterpress ngomshini i-Linotype, wafunda ukusebenzisa umshini wokuklama okubhaliwe. Abanye abazalwane bafunda ukwenza izingcwecwe zokunyathelisa nge-offset nokunyathelisa ngomshini owawusanda kuthengwa. Ngakho kwathi kuqambe kuphela u-1980 leli gatsha labe seliyinyathelisa nge-offset INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso nomagazini bezilimi ezidinga amakhophi ambalwa.

Lolu shintsho lokunyathelisa nge-offset olwaluzokwenzeka lwenza ukuba kusetshenziswe ama-computer ukuze kusizwe abazalwane abahumushayo nabenza umsebenzi wangaphambi kokunyathelisa. Abazalwane bagcina sebewazi kahle lo msebenzi. Ekugcineni bakwazi ukuthuthukisa izinga lokunyathelisa nenani lezincwadi besebenzisa lezi zindlela. Eqinisweni, ngo-1982 abazalwane babemagange kangangokuthi banyathelisa i-Kingdom News No. 31 ngemibala emine egqamile besebenzisa umshini we-offset onyathelisa ngombala owodwa. Iphepha lalifakwa izikhathi eziyisithupha emshinini—izikhathi ezine ukuze lithole imibala emine egqamile nezikhathi ezimbili ukuze lithole umbala omnyama nomhlophe. Wawumkhulu umsebenzi kanti le-Kingdom News yayingeyinhle kahle-hle; kodwa sonke sajabula lapho siyibona inemibala emine egqamile inyatheliswe ngomshini wethu.

Lokho kwakuseyisiqalo nje, kodwa kwakuzonyatheliswa kanjani ngomshini wokuklama okubhaliwe osebenza nge-computer nowe-offset? Inhlangano kaJehova yayihlongoza okuthile futhi igatsha lasePhilippines lase lizosizakala.

Inhlangano KaJehova Yenza I-MEPS

INdikimba Ebusayo yagunyaza ukwakhiwa kwesimiso se-computer esasizohlangabezana nezidingo ezingavamile zokusakaza izindaba ezinhle ngezilimi eziningi. I-Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS) yasungulwa eBrooklyn. Nakuba imishini eyayisetshenziswa igatsha okwesikhashana yayenze ukuba kuqalwe kusetshenziswe ama-computer nemishini ye-offset ngezinga elingelikhulu kangako, i-MEPS yayizolithuthukisa igatsha lasePhilippines kulo mkhakha, kanye namanye amagatsha emhlabeni kabanzi.

Kwabizwa imibhangqwana emibili ePhilippines ukuba iye eWallkill, eNew York. Laba bazalwane baqeqeshelwa ukulungisa ama-computer asebenzisa lesi simiso se-MEPS nokusebenzisa izinhlelo ze-MEPS emsebenzini wangaphambi kokunyathelisa. Omunye umbhangqwana, uFlorizel Nuico nomkakhe, wawuseBrooklyn lapho uMfoweth’ uNuico afunda khona ukusebenzisa imishini yokunyathelisa ye-offset yohlobo lwe-M.A.N. Yilokhu kanye igatsha lasePhilippines elalikudinga ukuze likwazi ukuwenza kahle nge-computer umsebenzi wangaphambi kokunyathelisa futhi linyathelise nge-offset.

Ngo-1983 umshini we-offset wohlobo lwe-M.A.N. wafika ePhilippines. ULionel Dingle owayevela egatsheni lase-Australia wasiza ngesikhathi uxhunywa. UMfoweth’ uNuico waqala ukuqeqesha abazalwane bakuleli gatsha ngalokho ayekufunde eBrooklyn. Wathi ephela u-1983, omagazini bokuqala base benyatheliswa kulo mshini. Nokho, le ndlela yayingakasebenzi ngokugcwele, ngakho okwesikhashana omagazini banyatheliswa ngezindlela ezimbili, esebenzisa umthofu kanye nomshini we-offset.

Kodwa kwase kuseduze ukuba lesi simiso sisetshenziswe ngokugcwele. I-computer yokuqala ye-MEPS yafika ekupheleni kuka-1983, futhi abazalwane ababili ababeqeqeshwe eWallkill baqala ukufundisa abanye indlela yokusebenzisa nokulungisa i-computer ye-MEPS. Kungakabiphi ayesesebenza la ma-computer. Izikhonzi eziningi zaseBethel zaqeqeshwa kahle ekusebenziseni lesi simiso lapho zihumusha, zibhala okuhunyushiwe, zihlela amagama, ziklama okubhaliwe nalapho zilungisa ama-computer. Okwenza kube nzima ukuqeqesha abantu ePhilippines ukuthi ziningi izilimi ezikhulunywayo. INqabayokulinda iyodwa iphuma ngezilimi ezingu-7, uma singasibali isiNgisi. I-MEPS yayizowenza kahle lo msebenzi.

Labonakala izinga lentuthuko yezincwadi ezinyatheliswayo. Ekhuluma ngalabo abanyathelisayo, uCesar Castellano, osebenza efektri, uthi: “Iningi labafowethu lingabalimi. Abanye babo abafundele msebenzi. Kuhlaba umxhwele ukubona indlela uJehova abasebenzisa ngayo abafowethu ngomoya wakhe ukuba bafeze izinto eziningi, kuhlanganise nomsebenzi wokunyathelisa.” Laba bafowethu bawufunda lo msebenzi futhi abamemezeli ensimini bathola izincwadi ezaziya ziba zinhle kakhulu. Kodwa ngenxa yalokhu kuthuthuka kwezindlela zokunyathelisa kwaba khona inzuzo engokomoya ebaluleke kakhulu.

Ukudla Okungokomoya Kuphuma Kanyekanye

Ngesikhathi omagazini basePhilippines benyatheliswa eBrooklyn, kwakuthatha izinyanga eziyisithupha noma ngaphezulu ukuba umagazini ophume ngesiNgisi unyatheliswe ngezilimi zasePhilippines. Yize omagazini babehunyushwa ePhilippines, ukuthumela umsebenzi ohunyushiwe uyonyatheliswa bese ubuya usuwumagazini onyathelisiwe kwakudla isikhathi. Ngesikhathi umagazini usunyatheliswa ePhilippines ngawo-1970 songeka isikhathi, kodwa omagazini bezilimi zalapha babesasala ngezinyanga eziyisithupha kwabesiNgisi. Abazalwane abaningi basePhilippines bacabanga, ‘Ngeke yini kube kuhle uma omagazini bezilimi zethu bengaphuma kanyekanye nabesiNgisi?’ Kwase kuyiminyaka kuyiphupho lokho.

Kodwa ngokufika kwe-MEPS nezinguquko endleleni umsebenzi owawenziwa ngayo, lelo phupho laba yinto engokoqobo. INdikimba Ebusayo yaqaphela ukuthi ukufunda ukwaziswa okufanayo kanyekanye kwakuzoba nethonya elinamandla lobunye kubo bonke abantu bakaJehova. Lo mgomo walandelelwa, kwathi ngo-January 1986 INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi yaphuma kanyekanye neyezilimi ezine zakule ndawo: IsiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, isi-Iloko nesiTagalog. Kwabe sekulandela ezinye izilimi ngokushesha. Kwaba isimanga lapho incwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze! iphuma ngezilimi zendawo ezintathu kanyekanye neyesiNgisi emihlanganweni yango-1988! Abazalwane bajabula—bengajabuleli nje ukuba nezincwadi ezisezingeni eliphezulu ababezozihambisela abathakazelayo kodwa nokuthi babezokondliwa ngokomoya ngesikhathi esifanayo nabafowabo abaningi emhlabeni.

Le ntuthuko ekunyathelisweni kwezincwadi zethu yenzeka ngesikhathi kuneziyaluyalu ezindaweni ezithile kuleli zwe. Lezi zincwadi zazigcizelela isidingo sokuba bonke abantu benze uJehova abe yinqaba yabo ngaso sonke isikhathi.

Amasosha Atholana Phezulu Namavukelambuso

Phakathi nawo-1980 amaqembu amavukelambuso ayevutha bhe ezindaweni eziningi. Amanye ayecheme nenhlangano yamaKhomanisi. Kwase kuvamile ukuba amasosha kahulumeni atholane phezulu namavukelambuso. Lezi zingxabano zaziye zivivinye ukuthembela kwabazalwane kuJehova.

Kwenye indawo eyayinebandla elinabamemezeli abangu-62, abazalwane bavuka ngelinye ilanga bathola ukuthi amavukelambuso ayaviva ngapha namasosha ayaviva ngapha. Imizi yabazalwane yayiphakathi nendawo. Omunye umdala waya kumavukelambuso, omunye waya emasosheni kahulumeni. Bawacela ukuba angalweli lapho ngoba kwakuzolimala izakhamuzi eziningi. Isicelo sabo asinakwanga. Njengoba babengakwazi ukubaleka, abazalwane baqoqanela eHholo LoMbuso. Umdala wathandaza isikhathi eside futhi ememeza ukuze kuzwe amasosha kahulumeni ayengaphandle. Lapho abazalwane bevula amehlo, bathola ukuthi womabili la maqembu ayeseshaye utshani; awazange alwe. Laba bazalwane babeqiniseka ukuthi nguJehova obavikele.

UDionisio Carpentero useneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-16 engumbonisi ojikelezayo kanye nomkakhe. Usakukhumbula lokho okwenzeka ngonyaka aqala ngawo ukujikeleza, esifundazweni saseNegros Oriental, eningizimu emaphakathi yePhilippines. Uyaxoxa: “Sasihambele iBandla LaseLinantuyan. Sajabula ngoba ngoLwesithathu saphuma nabamemezeli abangu-40 saya enkonzweni yasensimini. Kodwa sasingazi ukuthi amavukelambuso asigadile. Ayecashe eduze kweHholo LoMbuso. Amane afika lapho sasihlala khona ngo-4:00 ntambama ezobuza ukuthi singobani. Umdala owayekhona wachaza ukuthi ngingumbonisi wesifunda nokuthi ngihambela ibandla labo njalo ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha.”

Kubonakala sengathi la madoda awamkholwanga. Kunalokho asola sengathi uDionisio uyisosha futhi athi lo mdala akamkhiphe ukuze ambulale. Lo mdala wathi awabulale yena kuqala. Abe eseyahamba.

UDionisio uyaqhubeka: “Izinja zakhonkotha ubusuku bonke, okwakuwuphawu lokuthi ayesekhona amavukelambuso. Sathandaza izikhathi ezine ngalobo busuku, sicela uJehova ukuba asiqondise. Ngemva kwalokho lana nakuba lalomisile. Amadoda ayefuna ukusibulala ahamba.”

Ngemva kwesifundo ngeSonto, uDionisio watshela abadala ukuthi yena nomkakhe sebezohamba baye ebandleni elilandelayo. Kodwa indlela ababezohamba ngayo yayidlula lapho kwakucashe khona amavukelambuso. UDionisio uthi: “Elinye lawo lalilunguze ngefasitela. Saze salitshela nokuthi sesiyahamba. Noma kunjalo ngo-8:00 kusihlwa amavukelambuso aya eHholo LoMbuso eyosibheka. Umdala wawatshela ukuthi sesihambile nokuthi sidlule lapho ayecashe khona. Isimanga siwukuthi ayengazange asibone. Lesi sigigaba sasifundisa ukuthemba uJehova nokuba nesibindi lapho sibhekene nobunzima.” UDionisio nomkakhe basaqhubeka bejabulela inkonzo.

Izimpi ezinjalo ngezinye izikhathi zenza kube nzima ukushumayela. Uma ukulezo zindawo ngesikhathi esingafanele ungase ulimale. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi elinye iqembu liye libatshele abazalwane ukuthi lizotholana phezulu nelinye. Uma betsheliwe, abazalwane bakhetha ukufakaza endaweni ethulathulile kuze kudlule lolo dweshu. Naphezu kwakho konke lokhu umsebenzi wokufakaza ngoMbuso uyaqhubeka, futhi abazalwane baye bafunda ukuncika kuJehova.

Ukuvivinywa Kokungathathi Hlangothi

Ngokuphathelene nabalandeli bakhe, uJesu wathi: ‘Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.’ (Joh. 17:14) Njengakwamanye amazwe, oFakazi BakaJehova ePhilippines abazange bazigaxe ezindabeni zezwe zezombusazwe nasezimpini. Abazange ‘bayiphathe inkemba’; kunalokho bazibeke phansi izikhali baphishekela izindlela zokuthula ezifundiswa uJehova. (Math. 26:52; Isaya 2:4) Lokhu kuma kwabo kokungathathi hlangothi kwaziwa kahle kulo lonke elasePhilippines futhi wonke amaqembu ayazi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abayona ingozi kuwo. Noma kunjalo, zibe khona izikhathi okuye kwadingeka ngazo ukuba izinceku zikaJehova zicacise ukuthi zimiphi. Ukwenza kanjalo kuye kwazivikela.

Njengombonisi ojikelezayo, uWilfredo Arellano usekhonze isikhathi eside emasimini ahlukahlukene, amanye anokuthula amanye anezinxushunxushu. Ngo-1988 wahambela ibandla eliseningizimu emaphakathi nePhilippines. Kuleyo ndawo amavukelambuso ayecindezela abazalwane ukuba bahlanganyele nawo ekuvukeleni uhulumeni. Abazalwane bala baphetha.

UWilfredo usixoxela okwenzeka: “Ngesikhathi ngilapho amasosha kahulumeni ayehla enyuka ensimini yaleli bandla. Ayefuna ukubutha izakhamuzi zakhe iqembu elalizolwa namavukelambuso. Ngesikhathi benomhlangano nezithunywa zikahulumeni, abazalwane banikezwa ithuba lokuba bachaze ukuthi kungani bengeke bajoyine amavukelambuso noma amasosha kahulumeni. Nakuba izakhamuzi ezithile zingasithandanga isinqumo sethu, izithunywa zikahulumeni zasihlonipha.”

UWilfredo uxoxa okwenzeka ngemva kwalokho: “Lapho ebuyela epulazini lakhe ngemva komhlangano, omunye umzalwane wazithela eqenjini lamadoda ayehlome eyizingovolo kukhona neziboshwa ezimbili ezazivalwe amehlo. Ambuza ukuthi wayeyile yini emhlanganweni owawuqhutshwa izithunywa zikahulumeni, wakhuluma iqiniso wathi wayeyile. La madoda ayefuna ukwazi ukuthi uwajoyinile yini amasosha kahulumeni, wachaza ukuthi akawajoyinanga ngoba yena akathathi hlangothi. Ngakho amyeka wagoduka. Ngemva kwemizuzwana nje, wezwa kuqhuma isibhamu kabili futhi wabona ukuthi iziboshwa ezazivalwe amehlo zase zibulewe.”

Ngawo-1970 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1980 umthetho wasePhilippines wawuphoqa zonke izakhamuzi ukuba zivote. Ababengavoti babeboshwa. Abantu bakaJehova bathola ithuba lokubonisa ubuqotho babo kuNkulunkulu. Njengabafowabo abangamaKristu emhlabeni wonke, izinceku zikaJehova ePhilippines azizange zithathe hlangothi kwezombusazwe, zilokhu ‘zingeyona ingxenye yezwe.’—Joh. 17:16.

Ngemva kokushintsha kukahulumeni ngo-1986, kwabukezwa umthetho-sisekelo wezwe, waqedwa umthetho wokuvota. Izinto sezilula kubazalwane. Kodwa abanye baye babhekana nolunye uvivinyo, ikakhulukazi labo abasesikoleni.

‘Abasayifundi Impi’

U-Irene Garcia wakhulela maphakathi nesifundazwe saseLuzon iPampanga. Wabhekana nenkinga esazivivinya namanje izingane eziningi. Esikoleni esiphakeme kudingeka ziqeqeshelwe impi. Kodwa izingane ezingoFakazi BakaJehova ziye zazinqumela ukuthi ngeke zisenze isifundo esifundisa izindlela zokulwa. Okokuqala, u-Irene wathandaza kuJehova wacela usizo. Ekhumbula amaHebheru amathathu asemasha athembekile esikhathi somprofethi uDaniyeli, wabe eseziyela mathupha kumqeqeshi wacela ukuba angafakwa kwabaqeqeshwayo. (Dan., isahl. 3) Nakuba umqeqeshi engakuqondanga kahle lokho ayekusho u-Irene, wayibonga incazelo yakhe. Kodwa wamxwayisa ngokuthi uzothola amamaki aphansi uma engasithathi lesi sifundo. U-Irene waphendula: “Kulungile. Ngizozama ukuqinisa kwezinye izifundo zami.” Kwathiwa akenze omunye umsebenzi esikhundleni sokuqeqeshelwa ukulwa. Wathi: “Ezinye izingane ezingoFakazi azibange zisaba nenkinga yokucela ukungafakwa kwabazoqeqeshelwa impi futhi ngaba phakathi kwabayishumi abaphasa ngamalengiso.”

Akubona bonke abaqeqeshi abaye bavuma ukuba izingane zingaqeqeshelwa impi. Abanye baye bazifeyilisa izingane. Noma kunjalo, ukunamathela ezimisweni zikaJehova kuye kwafundisa izinkulungwane zentsha isifundo esibalulekile: Ukuma uqine ngasohlangothini loMbuso kaJehova nokungathathi hlangothi ezindabeni zaleli zwe kwenza uJehova akuvikele futhi akubusise.—IzAga 29:25.

Imihlangano Iyanda

Manje ake sixoxe ngemibuthano engokomoya yabantu bakaJehova. Njalo nje kuba mnandi ukuba kuyo. Njengoba oFakazi babembalwa kuleli zwe ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe II, imibuthano emikhulu yaze yaba khona ngemva kwempi. Noma kunjalo, yenziwa imizamo yokwakha abazalwane ngemibuthano. Eqinisweni, INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1941 (yesiNgisi) yabika ngomhlangano owawuseManila ngo-March 1940.

Uzokhumbula ukuthi uJoseph dos Santos wayeboshwe amaJapane. Wagcina ededelwe amasosha aseMelika ekuqaleni kuka-1945. Wayeyikhathalela ngokujulile inhlalakahle engokomoya yabazalwane, abaningi babo ababebasha enhlanganweni. Kwahlelwa ukuba basizwe bafundiswe indlela yokufundisa abanye amaqiniso emiBhalo ngendlela ephumelelayo ngezifundo zeBhayibheli zasemakhaya. Ukuze kwenziwe lokhu kwaba khona umhlangano wesigodi eLingayen, ePangasinan ekupheleni kuka-1945. Babecela ku-4 000 ababa khona, okwakuyinkomba yesithakazelo esikhulu esasikhona ngaleso sikhathi. Wawungeve umnandi lowo mhlangano, kwazise nempi yayisiphelile!

Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, inani lababa khona emihlanganweni emikhulu belilokhu landa njengoba nenani labamemezeli landa. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-17, labo bantu abangu-4 000 banda baba ngu-39 652. Imihlangano emikhulu ayibange isaqhutshelwa endaweni eyodwa kodwa kwezingu-7. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-15 (ngo-1977), ababa khona emhlanganweni wesigodi badlula ku-100 000. Ngaleso sikhathi kwase kuqhutshwa imihlangano engu-20 ezweni lonke. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-8, bangaphezu kuka-200 000 ababa khona, kwathi ngo-1997 baba ngaphezu kuka-300 000 ababekhona emihlanganweni yesigodi. Ngo-2002 kwahlelwa imihlangano engu-63, eminingi kunayo yonke eyake yaba khona. Ukuhamba amabanga amade eziqhingini kungaba yinselele futhi ngezinye izikhathi kumbe eqolo. Uma imihlangano isezindaweni eziningi iba seduze kwabazalwane bese kuba lula ukuya kuyo. Ngenxa yalokho, kuzuza abaningi kula madili angokomoya.

UJehova Ubusisa Imizamo Yokuya Emihlanganweni

Bekulokhu kungelula ukuya emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu. Ngo-1947, enyakatho yezwe, abazalwane babehamba ngezihlenga ezimbili eMfuleni i-Abra beya emhlanganweni wesifunda owawungasogwini, eVigan. Esizalweni somfula baziqaqa izihlenga badayisa izingodo ukuze bathenge amathikithi ebhasi ababezobuyela ngalo emakhaya asezintabeni ngemva komhlangano. Bafika namasaka amakhulu elayisi, izinyanda zezinkuni, amacansi, izingane eziningi, futhi bafika bejabule, injabulo yabo yayanda njengoba nomhlangano uqhubeka. Njengoba babenelayisi, izinkuni, izimbawula namacansi bakwazi ukuzinakekela zonke izidingo zabo ezingokwenyama.

Ngo-1983 iqembu elalivela eBandleni LaseCaburan esifundazweni saseDavao del Sur esiseningizimu yePhilippines lahamba izinsuku ezintathu ezintabeni liya esikhumulweni sezikebhe. Laphinde lahamba ngesikebhe olunye usuku selilibangise edolobheni lomhlangano. Laba nomuzwa wokuthi azilutho izindleko nokuzikhandla uma kuqhathaniswa nenjabulo elaba nayo ngokuhlangana nabanye eMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wobunye BoMbuso.’

Ngo-1989 umkhaya othile onezingane ezimbili, enye ineminyaka emibili enye inemine, wahamba ngezinyawo ibanga elingaba amakhilomitha angu-70 usuka edolobheni lase-El Nido ePalawan uya emhlanganweni wesifunda. Wahamba izinsuku ezimbili ehlathini elinezindlela ezimbalwa ezivuthiwe. Njengoba behamba kwakudingeka basuse iminyundu eyayibanamathele emizimbeni. Okwenza izinto zaba zimbi nakakhulu ukuthi lana umvimbi zombili izinsuku. Yayiminingi imifula emincane nemikhulu okwakudingeka bayiwele, kodwa ayengekho amabhuloho. Naphezu kwalobu bunzima, lo mkhaya wafika uphephile. Awuve wakujabulela ukuhlangana nabazalwane!

Kwezinye izindawo kunzima ukuba imikhaya ithole imali eyanele yokuya emihlanganweni. URamon Rodriguez wayenaleyo nkinga ngo-1984. Uhlala nomkhaya wakhe esiQhingini SasePolillo, ngasogwini olusempumalanga yeLuzon. URamon ungumdobi. Kwase kusele isonto elilodwa vó kufike umhlangano, kodwa umkhaya wakhe wabantu abangu-7 wawunemali eyayanele ukuba kuhambe umuntu oyedwa kuphela. Bathandaza kuJehova ngalokhu, ngemva kwalokho uRamon nendodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-12 ubudala baphuma bayodoba. Bangena olwandle ngesikebhe baphonsa amanetha abo kodwa bangathola lutho. Ngemva kwesikhathi umfana wabelesela ngokuthi abaphindele eduze kwasekhaya bayozama khona. Bafika lapho baphinde bazama. URamon uthi: “Sasingalindele kuthola lutho, kodwa lapho sidonsa amanetha kwakungezinhlanzi, zaze zagcwala isikebhe.” Babebambe izinhlanzi ezingamakhilogremu angaphezu kuka-500! Lapho bezidayisa bathola imali yokuba wonke umkhaya wakwaRodriguez uye emhlanganweni, yaze yasala.

Ngakusasa ebusuku nabanye abazalwane ababefuna ukuya emhlanganweni baphonsa amanetha abo kuleyo ndawo babamba izinhlanzi ezingamakhilogremu ayikhulu. URamon uyanezela: “Abadobi abangebona oFakazi abahamba bayophonsa amanetha abo ngaso leso sikhathi bamangala ngoba ababambanga neyodwa inhlanzi. Bathi: ‘UNkulunkulu wabo ubabusisile ngoba baya emhlanganweni.’” Imikhaya yoFakazi basePhilippines ikufunde kaningi ukuthi ukubeka izinto ezingokomoya kuqala ekuphileni nokwenza ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yayo kuyajabulisa futhi kwenza uJehova ayibusise.

Imihlangano Evelele

Abantu bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke bayajabula uma bekhumbula imihlangano edlule. Abazalwane basePhilippines nabo bayajabula. Nakuba yonke imihlangano ibhekwa njengebalulekile, eminye ikhetheka kakhulu futhi ihlale ikhumbuleka kuneminye. Ngezinye izikhathi kusuke kuyimihlangano yezizwe noma mhlawumbe kuyimihlangano yesigodi okukhona kuyo izithunywa zevangeli ezisuke zibuyele emazweni azo endabuko, bese zixoxela labo abakhona okuhlangenwe nakho kwazo.

Njengoba kushiwo ngaphambili, baningana abazalwane nodade basePhilippines abayizithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe ase-Asia naseziqhingini zolwandle. Sekuyiziqubu eziningana oFakazi emhlabeni wonke benikela ngezimali zokusiza izithunywa zevangeli zikwazi ukuya emihlanganweni emazweni azo endabuko. Izithunywa zevangeli zasePhilippines nazo zasizakala ngenxa yaleli lungiselelo lothando. Ngo-1983, 1988, 1993, nango-1998, eziningi zathola usizo lokubuyela ePhilippines ziyothamela imihlangano nemikhaya yazo nabangane. Imibiko yango-1988 ibonisa ukuthi kwabuya izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-54 ezikhonza emazweni angu-12 zeza emihlanganweni ePhilippines. Ngaleso sikhathi, lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezingu-54 zazinesilinganiso seminyaka engu-24 zisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Bonke ababekhona emihlanganweni bajabula kakhulu lapho zilandisa okuhlangenwe nakho kwazo.

Abanye bakhumbula imihlangano ethile ngenxa yezenzakalo ezenzeka kuyo nokuzimisela kwabazalwane ukuba ibe khona naphezu kwezingqinamba. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphambi nje koMhlangano Wesigodi ‘Wokuthula Kwaphezulu’ wango-1986 eSurigao, eMindanao, isishingishane esasihamba ngesivinini esingamakhilomitha angu-150 ngehora sashaya leli dolobha. Uphahla lwenkundla lwabhidlika. Ugesi wahamba kulo lonke leli dolobha waze wabuya umhlangano usuphelile. Indawo okwadingeka kukhiwe kuyo amanzi yayiqhele ngamakhilomitha ayisithupha. Lokho akuzange kubavimbe oFakazi ukuba bahlangane ndawonye. Abazalwane baciciyela ngalokho okwakusele benza isiteji endaweni yokuzivocavoca eyayiseduze kwale nkundla. Baqasha i-generator ukuze izibani eziningi, umshini wokukhulisa izwi nesiqandisi sokufaka izinto ezazizothengiswa kukwazi ukusebenza. Nakuba kwakulindelwe abangu-5 000, kwaba khona abangu-9 932 kulo mhlangano! Lawa kwakungewona neze amaKristu abheka ukuthi izimo zinjani.

Imihlangano yezizwe yona ikhumbuleka ngokukhethekile. INdikimba Ebusayo yahlela ukuba imihlangano yezizwe ibe seManila ngo-1991 nango-1993. Leli dolobha alisoze lazilibala izihambeli zomhlangano. Yeka ukuthi yaba isikhuthazo esihle kanjani kubazalwane nodade basePhilippines, iningi labo elingenayo imali yokuvakashela kwamanye amazwe! (Roma 1:12) Umoya wobungane nowokupha owaboniswa abazalwane basePhilippines wazihlaba umxhwele izihambeli zakwamanye amazwe. Omunye umbhangqwana wase-United States wabhala: “Sibonga siyanconcoza ngokusamukela ngezandla ezifudumele. Nasamukela ngemfudumalo nangothando olukhulu!”

Ngo-1993 kwasetshenziswa izinkundla ezintathu eManila futhi kwakuthi lapho ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo libeka inkulumo, zontathu lezi zindawo zixhunywe ngocingo. Azive zajabula izihambeli zomhlangano ngenkathi kukhululwa INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiTagalog! Omunye udade osemusha wathi: “Ngajabula ngafa. Ngangilokhu ngifisa ukuba sibe ne-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha ngesiTagalog. Angiwuvalanga umlomo mhla siyithola!”

Ngo-1998 isondo lajika. Kwakuqala ngqá ukuba kuthiwe iPhilippines ayithumele izihambeli zomhlangano kwamanye amazwe, selokhu kwagcina ngo-1958. Ngakho abangu-107 baya emhlanganweni oGwini oluseNtshonalanga ye-United States. Ngo-September abanye abangu-35 bathola ilungelo lokuya emhlanganweni wezizwe eKorea. Imihlangano enjalo iye yafeza indima ebalulekile ngempela ekufundiseni abantu bakaJehova nasekubenzeni babe nobunye, futhi ibasizile benza uJehova waba inqaba yabo.

Manje ake sixoxe ngomsebenzi wasensimini. Wenziwe kanjani ezweni elinezilimi eziningi kangaka?

Ukushumayela Izindaba Ezinhle Ngezilimi Eziningi

Njengoba kushiwo ngaphambili, kuye kube lula ngabantu ukufunda iqiniso ngolimi abaluncele ebeleni. Kuyinselele-ke lokhu ePhilippines ngoba kukhulunywa izilimi eziningi. Noma kunjalo, oFakazi BakaJehova baye bazama ukwanelisa izidingo zabantu ngokufakaza kubo ngolimi lwabo nangokwenza izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene.

Ngokuvamile abantu abakhuluma ulimi oluthile bangafakaza kubantu abakhuluma lolo limi. Uma bembalwa oFakazi abazi ulimi oluthile, abamemezeli namaphayona ashisekayo baye bazame ukulufunda. Ngokwenza kanjalo balingisa umphostoli uPawulu, owaba “yizinto zonke kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo.”—1 Kor. 9:22.

Nakuba iPhilippines iyizwe lesine emhlabeni elilulimi lwalo olusemthethweni yisiNgisi futhi elinabantu abaningi, isiNgisi asilona ulimi lwendabuko lwabantu abaningi bakhona. Abaningi abasifundi kahle isiNgisi, ngakho kudingeka izincwadi zezilimi eziningana zasePhilippines. Eminyakeni edlule, oFakazi BakaJehova baye bahumusha izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi zalapha okungenani ezingu-17. Ezinye izilimi zinencwajana eyodwa noma ezimbili—njengesiTausug, ulimi lwamaSulumane ahlala eningizimu, noma isi-Ibanag, esikhulunywa idlanzana labantu bendabuko abahlala enhla naleli zwe. Abantu abaningi bayalwazi ulimi olulodwa kulezi ezingu-7 eziyinhloko. INqabayokulinda iyahunyushwa futhi inyatheliswe ngazo. Ngakho, ngokuyinhloko isifundo siqhutshwa ngazo emaHholo OMbuso noma kusetshenziswe zona emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu.

Eminyakeni yamuva, uhulumeni ugqugquzele ukuba kusetshenziswe isiPilipino, esithi asifane nesiTagalog. Njengoba isikhathi sihamba, uya ubonakala umphumela walokhu. Baye banda kakhulu abantu abakhuluma isiPilipino nezincwadi ezibhalwe ngaso, kuyilapho lungazange lube khona ushintsho kwezinye izilimi noma baye bancipha abantu abazisebenzisayo. Lokhu kuyabonakala emananini e-Nqabayokulinda enyatheliswayo. Ngo-1980, kwakunyatheliswa omagazini abangu-29 667 ngesiTagalog kumagazini ngamunye ophumayo. Ngonyaka ka-2000 leli nani lase liphindeke kane, laba omagazini abangu-125 100 kumagazini ngamunye ophumayo. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi abashintshanga kangako abesiNgisi kanti bakhuphuka kancane abezinye izilimi zasePhilippines.

Umkhaya WaseBethel Usekela Umsebenzi Ensimini

Kunezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezingaba ngu-380 ezikhonza ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eDolobheni LaseQuezon, eliyingxenye yeMetro Manila, idolobha elikhulu elakhiwe amadolobha amaningi. Ezingu-69 ziyahumusha zihlole nomsebenzi osuhunyushwe ngezilimi zendawo. Ezinye kulezi zisanda kuqeda ukuhumusha imiBhalo YesiHebheru ye-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha ngezilimi ezintathu: IsiCebuano, isi-Iloko nesiTagalog. Selokhu kwakhululwa imiBhalo yesiGreki yaleli Bhayibheli ngo-1993, abazalwane bebekubheke ngabomvu ukuba ne-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha ephelele. Abeve bajabula lapho kukhululwa inguqulo yesiTagalog emhlanganweni wesigodi ekupheleni kuka-2000! Inguqulo yesiCebuano neyesi-Iloko zalandela ngokushesha. Abantu abaningi ensimini manje sebengazuza kule nguqulo yemiBhalo Engcwele ecacile, enembile nengaguquguquki.

Amalungu omkhaya waseBethel ePhilippines anezizinda ezihlukahlukene futhi akhuluma izilimi ezinkulu nezincane ezingu-28. Ngenxa yalokho, amaningi ayakufanelekela ukuhumusha izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Kodwa-ke ukuhumusha akukuphela komsebenzi owenziwa eBethel.

Izisebenzi zokuzithandela zaseBethel zenza imisebenzi eminingi esekela umsebenzi obaluleke kunayo yonke, wokushumayela ensimini. Abanye abazalwane banyathelisa omagazini nezinye izincwadi. Abanye bazidiliva ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene eLuzon. Abaningi benza eminye imisebenzi edingekayo eKhaya LaseBethel njengokulungisa izinto zokusebenza, ukupheka nokucoca. Abanye basebenza eMnyango Wenkonzo othola izincwadi futhi uziphendule ngezilimi eziningi ukuze usize amabandla, ababonisi abajikelezayo nezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ensimini. Cabanga nje ukuthi zingakanani izincwadi ezifikayo nezithunyelwa emabandleni angaba ngu-3 500 akuzo zonke lezi ziqhingi!

Kusukela leli hhovisi legatsha lamiswa ngo-1934 kwaze kwaba maphakathi nawo-1970, imisebenzi eyenziwa kuleli gatsha yayenganyelwe inceku noma umbonisi wegatsha. Ngemva kokuba uJoseph dos Santos esephindele eHawaii, u-Earl Stewart, isithunywa sevangeli saseCanada, nguye owasala wenza lo msebenzi iminyaka engaba ngu-13. Ngemva kwakhe kunabazalwane ababili abenza lowo msebenzi isikhashana. Kwase kuthi ngo-1966 kwamiswa uDenton Hopkinson, owayefike ngo-1954, waba umbonisi wegatsha. Wakhonza ngenkuthalo iminyaka engaba yishumi kwaze kwaba yilapho inhlangano kaJehova ibona kufaneleka ukuba kusebenze ilungiselelo elisha lokwenganyelwa kwamagatsha emhlabeni wonke.

Ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso esasinikezwe amagatsha emhlabeni wonke, ngo-February 1976 akubange kusengamela umuntu oyedwa kodwa kwengamela iKomiti Yegatsha. Leli qembu lamadoda afanelekayo aqondiswa iNdikimba Ebusayo lalizokwenza izinqumo ezithinta umsebenzi ensimini nasehhovisi legatsha. Ekuqaleni, iKomiti Yegatsha ePhilippines yayinamalungu amahlanu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwabonakala kuwukuhlakanipha ukwandisa inani labazalwane basePhilippines ekomitini ngoba iningi labazalwane ababesekomitini kwakuyizithunywa zevangeli zakwamanye amazwe. Ngakho okwesikhathi esithile amalungu ekomiti ake aba ngu-7.

Zasheshe zabonakala izinzuzo zaleli lungiselelo leKomiti Yegatsha. UDenton Hopkinson, osengumqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha, uthi: “Uma ubheka emuva uyabona ukuthi leso kwakuyisinyathelo esihlakaniphile nesifike ngesikhathi kangakanani. Uma ucabangela ubuningi bomsebenzi nobukhulu benhlangano, umuntu wayengenakuwuthwala yedwa wonke umsebenzi. Sekuyabanjiswana ngomsebenzi manje.”

IzAga 15:22 zithi: “Ngobuningi babeluleki kuba khona okufezwayo.” Uma abantu bebonisana kuba khona ukuhlakanipha. IKomiti Yegatsha yasePhilippines iyasisebenzisa lesi simiso. Kusukela uMfoweth’ uHopkinson amiswa waba umbonisi wegatsha, izisebenzi zaseBethel kanye nomsebenzi sekwande kakhulu. IKomiti Yegatsha yakhiwa izinceku zikaJehova eziyisihlanu ezingomakadebona. Ngokwesilinganiso, zineminyaka engaphezu kuka-50 zisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ulwazi lwazo zizonke lube usizo ngempela njengoba kuzo zonke iziqhingi umsebenzi uye waqhubekela phambili ngomfutho ngaphansi kwesiqondiso sikaJehova. IKomiti Yegatsha nawo wonke umkhaya waseBethel ukubheka njengelungelo elikhulu ukusekela lo msebenzi.

Iqiniso Liyiswa Kuzo “Zonke Izinhlobo Zabantu”

Ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela kuvumelana ngempela nentando kaNkulunkulu ewukuthi “zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.” (1 Thim. 2:4) Yiziphi “izinhlobo” zabantu ezisizwe abashumayeli abashisekayo ePhilippines?

UMarlon wayengumuntu owayehlale engena enkingeni. Endaweni yakubo wayaziwa ngemikhuba yakhe emibi eminingi: ukubhema, ukudakwa, ukudla izidakamizwa nokuhamba nezigangi. Lapho kufika oFakazi, unina waba nesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso. Amaphayona ayehamba emigwaqweni yobhuqu negcwele udaka eyomqhubela isifundo. Ekuqaleni uMarlon wayengenkamunkamu ekufundeni kodwa wayeye adlule nje ngezinye izikhathi lapho kwakufundwa khona. Kodwa abazalwane ababefundela unina bambonisa ukuthi bayamthanda. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, waqala ukufundelwa futhi wagunda nezinwele zakhe ezinde ezazifika okhalweni ukuze aqale ukuya esifundweni eHholo LoMbuso. Wathuthuka ngokushesha nabantu bamangala ngendlela ayesekushintshe kakhulu ngayo ukuphila kwakhe. Manje uMarlon uyisikhonzi esiyiphayona lesikhathi esigcwele, uyisa iqiniso kwabanye. Yini eyamenza wamukela iqiniso? Wathi ukuphikelela kwamaphayona elokhu ezofundela unina yikona okwamqinisekisa ukuthi ayeneqiniso.

Kungase kubonakale sengathi abanye abalona uhlobo olungamukela iqiniso. Noma kunjalo, abamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle ababahluleli abantu kodwa bayabanikeza ithuba lokuzwa. Esiqhingini esincane saseMarinduque, iphayona elikhethekile lashumayela komunye umuzi. Lapho liqeda labuza ukuthi bakhona yini abanye abahlala kulowo muzi. Umninikhaya waphendula wathi ukhona umuntu ohlala esitezi sesibili kodwa wayesethi: “Ungazihluphi ngokuya khona; uyindlavini futhi unesififane.” Kodwa leli phayona labona ukuthi kufanele lo muntu anikezwe ithuba lokuzwa isigijimi soMbuso. Lapho lifika emnyango kwaba sengathi lo muntu ubelilindele. Lamamatheka labe selimtshela ngesifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya samahhala. Lamangala ngokuthi lo muntu, uCarlos, wayijabulela indaba yesifundo. Yena nomkakhe baqala ukufundelwa iBhayibheli.

Lapho selibuya okwesibili iphayona, uCarlos wachaza ukuthi yena nomkakhe babenezinkinga ezinkulu futhi base beke bazama nokuzibulala. Ngesikhathi iphayona likhuluma nomninikhaya ngezansi, uCarlos wayelalele futhi wayemzwile lo mninikhaya ethi iphayona alingakhuphukeli phezulu. Wathi angakuzwa lokho, wathandazela ukuba iphayona lingakunaki okwakushiwo umninikhaya kodwa likhuphukele kubo ngoba mhlawumbe ukufika kwalo kwakuyimpendulo yesicelo sabo sokuba nokuthula kwengqondo. Ukutadisha kwabo iBhayibheli kwabanikeza ukuthula kwengqondo. Babhapathizwa ngosuku olulodwa futhi manje umkaCarlos uyisikhonzi esiyiphayona elivamile.

Indoda yimbe okuthiwa uVictor yayifundiswe izimfundiso zobuBuddha nezobuKatolika. Yaqala ukuzibuza ukuthi kungani kunezinkolo eziningi kangaka emhlabeni. Yabe isizifunela mathupha iqiniso. Ngemva kokuhlola ubuSulumane, ubuHindu, ubuShinto, ubuConfucian, inkolelo yokuziphendukela kwemvelo namanye amafilosofi yathola ukuthi akukho neyodwa kulezi zinkolo eyanelisayo. Njengoba yayifuna iqiniso, yathola ukuthi yiBhayibheli lodwa elineziprofetho ezinembile. Yabe isigxila ekufundeni iBhayibheli. Lapho ihlola imiBhalo, yona nentombi yayo uMaribel, baziphethela bona bebodwa ngokuthi uZiqu-zintathu, isihogo somlilo nesihlanzo kuyizimfundiso zamanga. Noma kunjalo, kukhona okwakusantuleka.

Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile eshadile noMaribel, uVictor waxoxa noFakazi othile wathola ukuthi kudingeka asebenzise igama likaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokuhlola lokhu eBhayibhelini lakhe, ngokushesha uVictor waqala ukusebenzisa igama likaJehova lapho ethandaza. Kungakabiphi wayeseya ezifundweni eHholo LoMbuso futhi wathuthuka masinyane ngokomoya. Yena noMaribel babhapathizwa ngo-May 1989, futhi manje uVictor ungumbonisi ojikelezayo, uqinisa amabandla.

Amaphayona asize abantu abasezimweni ezihlukahlukene. UPrimitiva Lacasandile, oyiphayona elikhethekile eningizimu yeLuzon, waqala isifundo seBhayibheli nombhangqwana wakuleyo ndawo. Wawunezingane ezimbili. Wawumpofu. Ngelinye ilanga lapho uPrimitiva ezofunda nabo iBhayibheli, washaqeka lapho ethola ingane endala ifakwe esakeni elalilenga endlini, ikhala. UPrimitiva uthi: “Unina wayephethe ummese esezoyibulala ingane. Ngamnqanda ngabe sengimbuza ukuthi ufuna ukuyibulalelani ingane. Unina wachaza ukuthi yingoba babecindezelekile ngokwezimali.” UPrimitiva wabanikeza iseluleko seBhayibheli esiphathelene nenkinga yabo, okwaphumela ekusindeni kwengane. Baqhubeka befunda iBhayibheli futhi baqala ukuya esifundweni, yize kwakudingeka bahambe amakhilomitha angu-8. Lo mbhangqwana wathuthuka waze wabhapathizwa, futhi manje indoda ingumdala ebandleni. UPrimitiva uthi: “Le ngane eyacishe yafa isiyiphayona elivamile. Ngempela, umsebenzi uJehova awunika izinceku zakhe usindisa ukuphila manje futhi uyokusindisa nasesikhathini esizayo.”

Ukukhonza Lapho Indingeko Inkulu Khona

Ziseziningi izindawo ezinabamemezeli boMbuso abambalwa. Amaphayona nabamemezeli baye baya kulezi zindawo ngokuzithandela. UPascual noMaria Tatoy babengamaphayona avamile. Bathi bazohamba no-Angelito Balboa, oyiphayona elikhethekile, bayosebenza insimu yasesiQhingini SaseCoron, esisentshonalanga yePhilippines. Ukuze bathole imali yokuzisekela, uPascual wayehamba ayodoba nomunye umzalwane, uMaria yena wayethengisa izinto ezimnandi ezenziwe ngelayisi.

Kwafika umbonisi wesifunda wathi kunesidingo esiqhingini saseCulion. Kwakunekamu labantu abanochoko kule ndawo, kunabamemezeli abane kuphela. Wathi abakwaTatoy abaye lapho. UPascual noMaria bavuma futhi uJehova uyibusisile imizamo yabo. Abamemezeli abane baseCulion sebengamabandla amabili manje.

Maphakathi nawo-1970 uquqaba lwabantu lwabaleka ngezikebhe lubalekela impi eVietnam. Iningi labo laya ePhilippines. Kwaphela iminyaka engaba ngu-20 amakamu ababaleki egcwele ababaleki. EsiQhingini SasePalawan kwakunekamu elikhulu. Abazalwane abathile basePhilippines bazicelela ukuyisa iqiniso kulaba bantu. Kwafika umzalwane okhuluma isiVietnam evela e-United States ezosiza. Bakhona abalamukela iqiniso ekamu. Abanye bathola nokwazi igama likaJehova noFakazi bakhe bengakathutheli kwenye indawo.

Amaphayona akhethekile akhonza ezindaweni eziningi ezicezile ePhilippines. Aye ahambe nabanye abamemezeli namaphayona lapho eyosebenza ezindaweni ezikude. UNorma Balmaceda usixoxela ngokusebenza esifundazweni esinezintaba sase-Ifugao. Uthi: “Sivame ukuhamba ngoMsombuluko siphethe izikhwama zethu ezigcwele izincwadi, izingubo nokudla—okusiqhuba kuze kube uMgqibelo ekuseni. Siye sigoduke ntambama ukuze siye esifundweni ngakusasa.”

Amanye amabandla ahlela uhambo lokuyoshumayela, ikakhulukazi uma isimo sezulu sisihle. Kungase kuwathathe izinsuku eziningi noma isonto eya emasimini asemaqaqasini. UNicanor Evangelista, manje osekhonza eBethel, uyakhumbula ethatha lolo hambo. Uthi: “Ezindaweni zasemaphandleni, kuyisiko lasePhilippines ukuba kuthi lapho abantu benesithakazelo bathi: ‘Ningalala lapha ekhaya. Ningapheka.’ Ngezinye izikhathi amaphayona ayefunda iBhayibheli nabantu abathakazelayo kuze kube kwesikabhadakazi ngoba ayesuke ezolala khona lapho.”

Ama-Aeta Afunda Iqiniso

Emizamweni yazo yokufakaza kuzo zonke izinhlobo zabantu, izinceku zikaJehova ziye zaxoxa nama-Aeta, noma amaNegrito, njengoba ebizwa nakanjalo. Kuthiwa ama-Aeta iyona minsinsi yokuzimilela ePhilippines. Awamaningi neze futhi akulula ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuwathola. Isizathu siwukuthi iningi lawo lingamanxiwa angamili mbuya, lizingela izinyamazane noma lihambe lifuna izithelo noma imifino yasendle. Athi awafane nabaThwa, angaphansi kwamasentimitha angu-150 ubude, amnyama futhi anezinwele ezisontene. Amanye asephila ukuphila okuvamile kwasemadolobheni, kanti amanye asenemizi ezindaweni ezinabantu abaningi. Amaningi ayehlala ezintabeni eziseduze kweMount Pinatubo kodwa ahlakazeka ngesikhathi kuqhuma le ntaba.

Amanye ama-Aeta ahlala esiQhingini SasePanay, maphakathi nePhilippines. ULodibico Eno nomkhaya wakhe bangama-Aeta alapho. Ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli kwamenza washintsha kakhulu uLodibico. Uthi: “Ngangenza imikhuba eminingi emibi ngaphambili: ngihlafuna i-betel nut, ngibhema, ngiphuza, ngigembula. Nganginobudlova kakhulu futhi. Kwakumuncu ekhaya. Ukube angiyiyekanga leyo mikhuba, ngabe sengifile. Manje umzimba wami usuhlanzekile. Amazinyo ami asemhlophe kanti ayebomvana. Ngingumdala ebandleni. Zonke lezi zibusiso ngizinikezwe uJehova uNkulunkulu.” Njengalo mkhaya wama-Aeta, ngisho nabantu bezizwe ezincane bayitholile inkululeko elethwa ukulandela indlela kaJehova.—Joh. 8:32.

Bayisa Inkululeko Kwabangakhululekile

Olunye uhlobo lwabantu oluye lwasizwa, yilabo abasejele. Kusukela ngawo-1950 oFakazi BakaJehova baye benza umzamo okhethekile wokuvakashela ababoshiwe. Baningi abasiziwe bamukela indlela yeqiniso.

Ngesikhathi eseyinsizwa, uSofronio Haincadto wayeseqenjini lamavukelambuso. Waboshwa wagwetshwa iminyaka eyisithupha ejele. Ngenkathi eseJele LaseNew Bilibid eLuzon waphawula ukuthi kunesiboshwa esingayi ezinkonzweni zenkolo okwakuya kuzo ezinye iziboshwa. Wezwa ukuthi sase singomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Babe sebexoxa ngeBhayibheli cishe nsuku zonke. USofronio uthi: “Ngagculiseka ukuthi into engangikade ngiyilwela yayingeke iwushintshe ngempela umphakathi iwenze ube ngcono.” Wafunda ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ongaletha izinguquko ayezifisa. Esizwa abazalwane bebandla eliseduze, uSofronio wathuthuka ngokomoya futhi wabhapathizwa emthonjeni wasejele okuchelelwa ngawo izitshalo.

Ngemva kokudonsa isigwebo sakhe, uSofronio waba iphayona elivamile ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waba elikhethekile. Phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yesikhathi esigcwele, wakwazi ukusiza abantu abangaba ngu-15 bamukela indlela yeqiniso. Lapho eseshadile waba nezingane eziyisithupha. Ezintathu zisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, enye yazo ingumbonisi wesifunda. Ngo-1995, amadodana akhe amabili aya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo. Iqiniso lamkhulula ngempela uSofronio, umkhaya wakhe nabanye abasiza.

Amaphayona akhethekile abelokhu eshumayeza iziboshwa ezizojeziswa ekamu lase-Iwahig ePalawan, futhi eqinisweni avunyelwa ukwakha iHholo LoMbuso elincane khona kanye emagcekeni ejele. Isiboshwa esasiboshelwe ukucekela phansi izinto, ukweba nokubulala abantu abaningi saqala ukufundelwa. Yeka ushintsho esalwenza ekuphileni kwaso lapho sisizwa ukuba sisebenzise esasikufunda encwadini ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni!

Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwengu-23 iboshiwe, le ndoda yatshelwa ukuthi isizodedelwa. Yathi isijahe ukubona abantu bakubo ekade yabagcina. Kodwa abakubo babenamahloni futhi beyesaba kangangokuthi bayibhalela incwadi bathi: “Ungabe usabuya.” Babengazi ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu lase likushintshe kangaka ukuphila kwayo. Abawuvalanga umlomo lapho lo mKristu onesizotha nonokuthula ebuyela kubo!

Ijele labesifazane elikhulu kunawo wonke kuleli zwe liseMandaluyong, eMetro Manila. Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi oFakazi BakaJehova bebekelwe imibandela yokungena kule ndawo. Kodwa kwashintsha lokhu ngenkathi owesifazane owayesevele efunda iBhayibheli elethwa kuleli jele. Abaphathi bejele bathi kufanele asonte kunoma yiliphi iqembu elikhona kodwa washaya phansi ngonyawo, wathi yena ufuna ukukhonza noFakazi BakaJehova kuphela. Abaphathi bavuma, base bebavumela oFakazi ukuba beze kuleli jele masonto onke. Baningana abesifazane asebebhapathiziwe, futhi ibandla eliseduze liqhuba iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda njalo neminye imihlangano ukuze kusizakale iziboshwa zesifazane ezithakazelayo.

Isigijimi seqiniso sizilethele inkululeko engavamile ezinye iziboshwa. Nazo ziyigugu kuJehova futhi abantu bakhe bayakujabulela ukuzisiza.

Izinceku Esezimnkantsh ’ubomvu Zisayibambile

Isaga seBhayibheli sithi: “Ubumpunga bungumqhele wobuhle lapho butholakala endleleni yokulunga.” (IzAga 16:31) Yebo, akuve kumnandi ukubona labo asebeneminyaka eminingi benza injabulo kaJehova ibe inqaba yabo!

Ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe II, babembalwa abantu ababesenhlanganweni ePhilippines. Bancane kakhulu abaqala inkonzo yabo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngenxa yalokho, kuyakhuthaza impela ukubona uLeodegario Barlaan. Kusukela ngo-1938 ulokhu esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngesikhathi kuliwa yena nabangane bakhe bahlukunyezwa amaJapane, kodwa baqhubeka beshumayela. Ngemva kwempi waqhubeka esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele nomkakhe uNatividad, futhi bagcina sebejikeleza. Kamuva baba amaphayona akhethekile anempilo ebuthaka esifundazweni sasePangasinan. UNatividad washona ngo-2000, kodwa uLeodegario yena usayibambile. Ukuzimisela kwakhe ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela abelokhu ewenza kuyabakhuthaza bonke abantu.

Umsebenzi wokushumayela wanda ngokushesha ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II. Abaningi abafunda iqiniso ngaleso sikhathi basayibambile namanje. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi kuliwa, uPacifico Pantas wafunda izincwadi zeBhayibheli zomakhelwane bakhe ababengoFakazi. Uthi: “Ngaqala ukuya esifundweni. Ngabe sengifaka isicelo senkonzo yamaphayona avamile, kodwa ngangingakabhapathizwa. Kwathiwa angibhapathizwe, ngabhapathizwa-ke.” Kwenzeka ngo-1946 lokho. Njengoba uPacifico ayephayona waya ezindaweni eziningana kuleli zwe. Wajabulela namanye amalungelo. Uthi: “Ngamenyelwa ekilasini le-16 laseGileyadi futhi ngakwazi ukuba semhlanganweni wezizwe wango-1950 eNew York City. Ngemva kokuphothula ngaba umbonisi wesifunda esifundazweni saseMinnesota nesaseNorth Dakota, e-U.S.A., ngabe sengibuyela ePhilippines ngazoba umbonisi wesigodi esiseningizimu yoMfula iPasig, kusukela eManila kuze kuyoshaya eMindanao.”

Eminyakeni eyalandela, uMfoweth’ uPantas wenza imisebenzi ehlukahlukene eBethel wabuye waba umbonisi ojikelezayo. Kwathi ngo-1963, uPacifico washada. Yena nomkakhe bathola abantwana kwase kudingeka bazinze endaweni eyodwa babakhulise. Baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova njengomkhaya futhi zontathu izingane zikhule zingabadumisi bakaJehova. Zontathu zingabadala futhi enye iphothulile eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo. Enye ikhonza eBethel. Nakuba esekhulile, uMfoweth’ uPantas usalokhu eyisibonelo esihle ebandleni.

AmaHholo Afanelekayo Okukhulekela UJehova

Abantu bakaJehova ePhilippines basanda kuba namaHholo OMbuso abahlanganyela kuwo. Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi iningi labo lihlanganyela emizini yabazalwane. Ngisho nangekhulu lokuqala amaKristu ayehlanganyela emizini yabanye. (Roma 16:5) Kodwa njengoba amabandla abelokhu anda, abantu baba nesifiso sokuba nendawo eyayingathatha abantu abaningi bahlale banethezeke.

UDavid Ledbetter wathi: “Kwakunzima kakhulu kwabaningi ngoba babengenayo imali. Ngisho nasedolobheni elikhulu iMetro Manila sasineHholo LoMbuso elilodwa vo elalakhiwe endaweni eyayithengwe ibandla. Kwezinye izindawo okwakwakhiwe kuzo iHholo LoMbuso, isakhiwo kwakungesebandla kodwa indawo kwakungeyona eyalo.” Abazalwane babehola ubala ngakho amabandla ayehluleka ukuthenga indawo.

Ngenxa yalokho abazalwane kwadingeka baciciyele ngababenakho. Izakhiwo ezazikhona babezisebenzisa bonke. Ngokwesibonelo, uDenton Hopkinson ukhumbula uSantos Capistrano, umzalwane waseManila owanikela ngegumbi eliphezulu lendlu yakhe ukuba lisetshenziswe njengeHholo LoMbuso iminyaka ecela ku-40. UMfoweth’ uHopkinson uthi: “Ngemva kokushona kwenkosikazi kaMfoweth’ uCapistrano izingane zakhe zabe sezilala egunjini elingezansi. IHholo LoMbuso laliphezulu yena enekamelo elincanyana nekhishi. Indawo enkulu phezulu yayiyiHholo LoMbuso. Wena ungacabanga ukuthi wayempintshekile kodwa kwakumjabulisa lokho. Babenalowo moya abazalwane.”

Bagcina sebekwazi ukwakha amaHholo OMbuso ezindaweni ezazithengwe amabandla. I-peso yasimama kwathi ngawo-1980 imiholo yathi xaxa base beyakwazi ukuboleka imali. Amabandla ambalwa abe eseyakwazi ukuthola imali ebolekiswayo.

Ilungiselelo lothando elasungulwa iNdikimba Ebusayo lafeza okukhulu. E-United States naseCanada kwenziwa isaziso mayelana neSikhwama SamaHholo OMbuso, kwathi kungakapholi maseko iPhilippines yahlomula emalini eyayinikelelwe ukwakha amaHholo OMbuso. Leli lungiselelo elisekelwe esimisweni sokuba “kube khona ukulingana” lenza abazalwane bakwazi ukuboleka imali. (2 Kor. 8:14, 15) Laqala kancane kancane, kodwa ukuzwa ukuthi lalisebenza kwezinye izindawo kwakhuthaza abazalwane abaningi ukuba nabo bazame ukuba neHholo LoMbuso.

Yeka usizo elibe yilo leli lungiselelo! Mayelana nokubolekwa kwemali yamaHholo OMbuso, ihhovisi legatsha liyabika: “Sekwakhiwe amaHholo OMbuso angaphezu kuka-1 200. Kube nomphumela omuhle ngempela ezweni lonke.” Nakuba ekuqaleni imali eningi yayivela kwamanye amazwe, abazalwane basePhilippines bagcina sebekwazi ukwakha ngeyabo imali. Mayelana nalokhu, ihhovisi legatsha lithi: “Sekuyiminyaka eminingana manje imali yokwakha amaHholo OMbuso ivela ezimalini ezazibolekiwe zase ziyabuyiswa naseminikelweni yabazalwane basePhilippines. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi ngisho nasezindaweni ezicindezelekile ngokomnotho, kungafezwa lukhulu uma kuhlanganiswa imali.”

Maningi amabandla asenamaHholo OMbuso manje. Kunamabandla angaba ngu-3 500 kuleli zwe futhi kukhona asadinga izindawo zokuhlanganyela. Kodwa amabandla angaba ngu-500 anabamemezeli abangaphansi kuka-15 futhi ngeke akwazi ukuboleka imali yokwakha iHholo LoMbuso. Ngakho muva nje kuye kwakhuthazwa ukuba amabandla ahlangane ukuze akwazi ukuba namaHholo OMbuso.

Ukulungiswa Kwemibono Mayelana Nesimiso Semihlangano

Amanye amabandla asezindaweni ezikude, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi analo yini iHholo LoMbuso noma awanalo. Abazalwane kudingeka bahambe amahora amabili, amane noma ngaphezulu ezindaweni ezimagebhugebhu beya esifundweni. Ngenxa yalokho, kwezinye izindawo akunakwenzeka ukuya esifundweni izikhathi ezingaphezu kwesisodwa ngesonto. Lokho kwakwenza ukuba amaningi ala mabandla ayiqhube yonke imihlangano yawo ngosuku olulodwa ngaphandle kweSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla. Abazalwane babefika bezilungiselele ukuhlanganyela emihlanganweni emine. Babephatha imiphako. Ngokwenza kanjalo, uhambo olude oluya esifundweni babeluhamba kanye kuphela ngesonto, bese kuthi ezinye izinto, njengenkonzo yasensimini, zenziwe lapho behlala khona ngezinye izinsuku.

Ngawo-1980 lo mkhuba waqala ukusakazekela nasemabandleni angekho ezindaweni ezikude, ngisho nakulawo asemadolobheni. Mhlawumbe izinkinga zomnotho zazenza abanye bacabange izindlela zokonga imali. Ukunciphisa izinsuku zokuya esifundweni kwakunciphisa uhambo nezindleko. Abanye abazalwane baqala ukubheka izinzuzo zalokhu, mhlawumbe ngalezi ezinye izinsuku bazenzele izinto zabo, njengemfundo noma umsebenzi wokuziphilisa.

Amabandla amaningi aqala ukuqhuba imihlangano yawo emine ngosuku olulodwa kanti amanye ayeze ayiqhube yomihlanu! Kodwa lokhu kwasho ukuthi amabandla asePhilippines ayeya eqhela kakhulu endleleni izinto ezenziwa ngayo iningi labantu bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke, lona eliqhuba imihlangano ngezinsuku ezintathu ngesonto. Abazalwane ngandlela-thile base beqisa kulokhu. Ngesikhathi kufike umbonisi wamagatsha ngo-1991 watshelwa ngale ndaba. Yena watshela iNdikimba Ebusayo. Yaphendula yathi: “Sicabanga ukuthi akuwona umkhuba omuhle lo ngaphandle kwalapho izimo ziphoqa ngempela.” Impendulo yayo yadluliselwa kubazalwane, kwaqalwa ngabasemadolobheni kwase kulandela abasemaphandleni.

Kwavezwa ukuthi ngaphandle nje kokuhambisana nendlela imihlangano eqhutshwa ngayo emhlabeni wonke, amabandla ayozuza kakhulu ngokomoya uma eyihlukanisa imihlangano kunokuba azame ukuyimpintsha yonke emahoreni amathathu nesigamu kuya kwamane. Izingane ezincane nabantu ababesanda kuhlanganyela babedonsa kanzima. Abadala babengalungiselela izinkulumo ezisezingeni eliphezulu uma belungiselela umhlangano owodwa noma emibili kunalapho belungiselela eminingi.

Asabela kanjani amabandla kulesi seluleko? Amaningi asabela kahle, avele ashintsha aba nemihlangano phakathi nesonto. Manje amabandla amaningi ajabulela isimiso esingokomoya esingacinene masonto onke, ngaphandle kwalawo asezindaweni ezikude kakhulu.

AmaHholo OMhlangano

Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi izifunda ziqhubela imihlangano yazo emikhulu ezinkundleni zesikole ezinemipheme, ezindaweni zokuzivocavoca, ezinkundleni zemijaho noma kwezinye izakhiwo zomphakathi. Naphezu kwezinkinga, abazalwane babewazisa la mathuba ajabulisayo okuhlangana ndawonye.

Njengasendabeni yamaHholo OMbuso, kwakungelula ukwakha amaHholo OMhlangano. Nalapha futhi inkinga kwakuyimali. Noma kunjalo, izifunda eziningi zazizimisele ukuba nezindawo ezizoqhubela kuzo imihlangano emikhulu. Ngenxa yalokho, sekwakhiwe amaHholo OMhlangano amaningana afanelekayo. Aye asetshenziswe isifunda esisodwa noma ezimbili hhayi eziningi njengakwamanye amazwe. Ezimweni eziningi, kwakunikelwa ngendawo noma ithengwe ngemali ephansi, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Abazalwane babebe sebehlanganisa iminikelo yabo bakhe isakhiwo esingadle ngabukhulu—ngokuvamile esiyihholo elivulekile emaceleni elinophahla nje lokuvikela, elikhonkiwe phansi, elinesiteji namabhentshi.

EMetro Manila babengakwazi ngisho nokwakha ihholo elinjalo ngoba izindawo zazimba eqolo kanti kwakubiza nokwakha isakhiwo esifanelekayo edolobheni. Amabandla alapha anikelela leyo njongo kodwa imali eyatholakala ayenelanga ngisho nokuthenga indawo. Ngawo-1970, ngawo-1980 nangengxenye enkulu yeminyaka yawo-1990 imihlangano emikhulu eMetro Manila yayisalokhu iqhutshelwa ezikoleni, ezinkundleni zemidlalo nasezindaweni ezifuze lezo.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi inani lamabandla nelezifunda laqhubeka landa eMetro Manila okwenza ladingeka nakakhulu iHholo LoMhlangano. Kwaqalwa kwafunwa indawo ekahle. Kwabhalelwa amabandla atshelwa ngelungelo lokuba asekele lo msebenzi ngezimali. Ngo-1992 kwatholakala indawo engamahektare ayisithupha eduze kwesifunda saseLagro enyakatho yeMetro Manila.

Amabandla aseMetro Manila asekela lo msebenzi ngokuthumela iminikelo nezisebenzi zokuzithandela. Kwafika izisebenzi ezivela emazweni amaningana zizosiza ekwakheni. Esinye sazo, uRoss Pratt waseNew Zealand, uthi: “Ngo-March 1997 sathola imvume evela eBrooklyn yokuba siqale. Kwakuhileleke umsebenzi omkhulu wokumba, kwambiwa inhlabathi engama-cubic meter angu-29 000 ukuze kuvulwe isiza. Kwakunezisebenzi ezingu-50 kuya kwezingu-60 ezaziza njalo. Leli Hholo LoMhlangano laphela ngo-November 1998.” Labe selinikezelwa. Njengoba laliklanyelwe ukuhlalisa abantu ababalelwa ku-12 000, nemihlangano yesigodi ingaqhutshelwa kulo. Njengoba leli Hholo livulekile emaceleni, kushaya umoya lapho izilaleli zilalele isimiso ngaphakathi. Zingu-16 izifunda eziseMetro Manila naseduze kwakhona ezijabulela isimiso esingokomoya njalo kuleli hholo.

Izakhiwo Zegatsha Ezengeziwe

Njengoba inani lamabandla nelezifunda ensimini lalanda, nomsebenzi egatsheni wanda. Ngo-1980 kwakunabamemezeli abangaba ngu-60 000. Ingakapheli iminyaka eyishumi, iPhilippines yaba phakathi kwamazwe anabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-100 000. Phakathi naleso sikhathi umkhaya waseBethel wanda wasuka kubantu abangu-102 waya kwabangu-150. Kodwa ngisho nangasekuqaleni kwawo-1980 indawo yayisincane kuleli gatsha. Kwadingeka indawo ethé xaxa.

INdikimba Ebusayo yathi akufunwe enye indawo. UFelix Fajardo ulandisa ngokwenzeka: “Sasingena indlu ngendlu sibuza ukuthi ikhona yini indawo edayisayo eduze kweBethel. Abanikazi bezindawo abangamaFilipino nabangamaShayina bathi babengazidayisi izindawo zabo. Omunye umnikazi wendawo washaya phansi ngonyawo wathi: ‘AmaShayina awadayisi. Siyathenga thina. Asilokothi sidayise.’” Ngaleso sikhathi-ke kwabonakala sengathi ayikho indawo ezotholakala eduze kwegatsha.

Kwafunwa indawo nakwezinye izindawo. Uma kudingeka, ihhovisi legatsha lalizoba ngaphandle kwedolobha. Kwatholakala izindawo eziningana ezifundazweni eziseduze. INdikimba Ebusayo yathanda kakhulu indawo enkulu eyayiseduze kweSan Pedro, eLaguna, eyayidayiswa umzalwane othile ngemali ephansi. Kwakhishwa imvume yokuba ithengwe le ndawo. Kwadwetshwa ipulani yokwakha amahhovisi, iKhaya LaseBethel nefektri kuleyo ndawo. Kodwa njengoba isikhathi sasiqhubeka, kwabonakala sengathi ukuthuthela lapho kwakungeyona intando kaJehova. Zazingekho izingcingo, umgwaqo wawumubi, kukhona nobugebengu kuleyo ndawo. Kwaba sobala ukuthi lena akuyona indawo enhle okungakhiwa kuyo igatsha. Yenziwa ipulazi ukuze umkhaya waseBethel uthole ukudla. Kodwa lokho akuyixazululanga inkinga yokuthola enye indawo yokwakha ihhovisi legatsha.

Kwenzeka into engalindelekile eyabonakala iyisiqondiso sikaJehova. UFelix uyaqhubeka: “Umakhelwane wethu wavele wathi: ‘Siyayidayisa indawo yethu engamamitha-skwele ayinkulungwane. Singathanda ukuyidayisela nina.’ Ngakho iNdikimba Ebusayo yathi asiyithenge. Sasicabanga ukuthi seyanele, kodwa lapho sihambisa amapulani ethu okwakha endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke, yathi: ‘Mhlawumbe ningafuna enye futhi indawo. Nidinga indawo enkudlwana.’

“Yathi iqeda nje ukusho lokho kwafika udokotela nommeli bathi: ‘Singathanda ukunidayisela indawo yethu.’ Nayo yayingamamitha-skwele ayinkulungwane. Kwalandela inkosikazi engumakhelwane nayo yathi idayisa indawo eyihektare elilodwa. Yayidayisa ngemali ephansi impela. Sasicabanga ukuthi seyanele-ke manje. Kodwa indlunkulu yathi: ‘Funani enye futhi.’”

Sabe sesithola usizo esasingalulindele. Udokotela nommeli ababesidayisele indawo yabo bahamba baya komakhelwane babancenga ukuba badayise indawo yabo. Omakhelwane babe sebesidayisela. Lapho sesithenge cishe zonke izindawo eziseduze, saphinde satshela indlunkulu. Yaphinda yathi: “Nidinga enye indawo futhi.” Abazalwane bacabanga: ‘Sesizoyaphi-ke manje? Sesiziqedile zonke eziseduzane.’

Kwathi kusenjalo sathola ucingo olumayelana nendawo yalo somabhizinisi owayethe, “AmaShayina awadayisi.” Yayisidayisa-ke manje! UFelix uyachaza: “Mina noMfoweth’ uLeach sathola ukuthi akekho umuntu owayeyifuna. Ngakho sayithola ngemali ephansi kakhulu. Kubonakala sengathi uJehova wayekusekela lokhu.” Kwatholakala enye indawo eyihektare elilodwa, indlunkulu yabe isithi: “Seningaqala-ke manje ukudweba amapulani okwakha.”

Njengoba isikhathi sasiqhubeka nezimo zishintsha, kwacaca ukuthi lalingasadingeki ipulazi laseSan Pedro. Ukudla komkhaya waseBethel kwakungathengwa kube kuningi ngemali ephansi kuneyokukukhiqiza epulazini. Ngakho kwanqunywa ukuba lidayiswe ipulazi. Ngo-1991 lase lithengwe omunye umuntu. Imali elalithengiswe ngayo yasiza ekukhokheleni izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha.

Kwakhiwa Izakhiwo Ezintsha Zegatsha

Indawo yegatsha manje yayisinkulu ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezintathu kunaleyo eyayiyihektare elilodwa eyayithengwe ngo-1947. Ngosizo lweHhovisi Lesifunda Lokudweba Amapulani legatsha laseJapane loFakazi BakaJehova kwadwetshwa amapulani, nomsebenzi wokuvula isiza waqala maphakathi no-1988. Ezinye zezakhiwo ezindala zamapulangwe kwadingeka zidilizwe. Izakhiwo ezintsha zazizoba nendawo yokuhlala eyizitezi ezingu-11 nobhazabhaza wefektri eyizitezi ezimbili. Kwakuzokwakhiwa neHholo LoMbuso khona lapho.

Ngaphandle kwabaphothule eGileyadi okwathiwa abazosiza, kwafika abazalwane nodade ababalelwa ku-300 bevela emazweni amahlanu beyizisebenzi zokwakha zesikhathi esigcwele nezesikhashana bezosiza. Omakhelwane abawuvalanga umlomo lapho bebona abantu bakwamanye amazwe bezosiza. Abazange bakholwe lapho bezwa ukuthi iningi lalaba bantu lalizizele ngezindleko zalo! Lapho sekukhona nabazalwane nodade bendawo kwaba yizisebenzi ezinobunye zazo zonke izizwe.

Njengasendabeni yokufuna indawo, sabonakala isiqondiso sikaJehova njengoba isakhiwo siqhubeka. Ngokwesibonelo, ePhilippines kwakunenkampani eyodwa vo eyayakha izinto zokufulela ezazidingeka kulesi sakhiwo. Kodwa i-oda legatsha lalingunombolo 301 ohlwini lwama-oda enkampani! Abazalwane bahlela ukuzikhulumela mathupha nephini lomphathi wale nkampani base belichazela ukuthi umsebenzi wethu wenziwa izisebenzi zokuzithandela. Abaphathi benkampani bahlanganisa amakhanda, basamukela isicelo sabazalwane, babenza baba ngabokuqala kubantu ababefake ama-oda. Zathi zingadilivwa nje izimpahla, izisebenzi zale nkampani zateleka.

Abazalwane abaningi ababesebenza esakhiweni segatsha babonisa umoya omuhle. Isonto ngalinye kwakutheleka izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezibalelwa ku-600 zivela emabandleni aseduze zizosiza. Eqinisweni, umsebenzi ongaba amaphesenti angu-30 wawenziwa yilezi zisebenzi.

Umsebenzi wawusezingeni eliphezulu. Njengoba iziqhingi zasePhilippines zisendaweni ethandwa ukuzamazama komhlaba, abazalwane ababeqondisa umsebenzi wokwakha baqikelela ukuthi isakhiwo esinezitezi ezingu-11 ngeke sithi nyaka uma kuzamazama umhlaba. Lezi zakhiwo ezisezingeni eliphezulu zazingeve zihlukile kwezindala, esinye sazo esasakhiwe ngawo-1920! Ezindala zadilizwa ukuze kuvuleke isikhala sezintsha.

Kwabe sekuthi ngo-April 13, 1991, lanikezelwa igatsha. UJohn Barr oyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo wabeka inkulumo yokulinikezela kunabantu abangu-1 718. Kwamenywa abazalwane nodade abase beneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-40 bekhonza uJehova kanye nezivakashi ezivela emazweni ayishumi. Ngakusasa abangu-78 501 bazuza esimisweni esakhayo ngokomoya esasixhunywe ngocingo ezindaweni eziyisithupha kulezi ziqhingi.

Abazalwane BasePhilippines Bayokwakha Kwamanye Amazwe

Ngesikhathi kwakhiwa igatsha, izisebenzi zokwakha zakwamanye amazwe zafundisa abazalwane basePhilippines amakhono ezazinawo. UHubertus Hoefnagels, owayeqeqesha abanye, uthi: “Abazalwane abaningi balapha bakhuthele impela, futhi babekwazi ukukusebenzisa ababekufundile.” Ngenxa yalokho, lapho igatsha lasePhilippines liphela, abanye balaba bazalwane ababeqeqeshiwe bakwazi ukuya kwamanye amazwe bayosiza ekwakheni amagatsha, ikakhulukazi eNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia.

Omunye wabo kwakunguJoel Moral waseSifundazweni SaseQuezon. Lapho efika esakhiweni segatsha eManila wayethi uzosebenza isonto elilodwa. Kodwa usizo lwakhe lwaludingeka, ngakho wacelwa ukuba ahlale. Nakuba ayengenalwazi olutheni ngokwakha, ukusebenza esakhiweni segatsha kwamenza wafunda amakhono ngokushesha ezisebenzini ezazivela kwamanye amazwe.

Singakapheli nakuphela isakhiwo sasePhilippines, kwadingeka usizo egatsheni elisha laseThailand. UJoel uthi: “Ngingalindele ngacelwa ukuba ngiye eThailand. Ulwazi engaluthola esakhiweni sasePhilippines lwangisiza kakhulu lwangihlomisela ukusebenza kwamanye amazwe.” Wahlala isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka esiza esakhiweni saseThailand.

UJoshua noSara Espiritu bajwayelana lapho besebenza esakhiweni segatsha lasePhilippines. Bashada lapho igatsha liqeda ukunikezelwa base bezibekela umgomo wokuba izisebenzi ezakha kwamanye amazwe. Kusaphele izinyanga ezimbalwa nje, bacelwa ukuba bayokwakha kwamanye amazwe. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, sebekhonze emazweni amahlanu: amathathu e-Asia namabili e-Afrika. Mayelana nokwenzeka ngenkathi esesePhilippines, uJoshua uthi: “Ngesikhathi sisebenza nabazalwane bakwamanye amazwe safunda amakhono. Manje sase sinolwazi esasingalucobelela abanye.” Lapho sebethunyelwe kwamanye amazwe, babeye bathi kubazalwane bendawo: “Sizohamba thina. Yinina enizoqhubeka nomsebenzi.” Ekhuluma ngomgomo wakhe lapho eya kwamanye amazwe, uthi: “Sisuke singayele ukusebenza nje kuphela, kodwa siye sizame ngempela ukufundisa abazalwane.”

Ukuya kwamanye amazwe kudinga ukwazi ukuzivumelanisa nezimo. UJerry Ayura wathunyelwa emazweni amaningi, kuhlanganise neThailand, iWestern Samoa neZimbabwe. Uyachaza: “Ngafunda ukuthi uJehova usebenzisa abantu abanezizinda ezihlukahlukene. Siyabathanda ngoba noJehova uyabathanda.” Abeve bejabula laba bazalwane basePhilippines ngokuthi banengxenye emsebenzini kaJehova emazweni ahlukahlukene!

Udlame Aluwumisi Umsebenzi

Ukwenza injabulo kaJehova ibe inqaba yakho kuhlanganisa nokuqhubeka uthembekile kuye ngisho nangezikhathi ezinzima. Aye aba maningi amathuba okuba izinceku zikaJehova ePhilippines zibonise lokhu.

Nakuba ibutho lezempi layeka ukubusa izwe ngo-January 17, 1981, udlame lwaqhubeka kwaze kwaphela iminyaka yawo-1980. Ngo-February 1986 kwangena uhulumeni omusha. Kodwa lolu shintsho alubanga nazixakaxaka, ngisho namabandla ayesesidlekeni senhlangano yamavukelambuso i-“People’s Power” aqhubeka eya ezifundweni nasensimini ngaphandle kwezithikamezo. Ngesikhathi abamemezeli bedlula ezixukwini ze-“People’s Power” babona abefundisi nezindelakazi bewumshungu nazo bezihlohla.

Uhulumeni omusha washeshe wenza izinguquko. Kodwa udlame aluphelanga. Eminyakeni yokuqala emithathu uhulumeni omusha uphethe, kwazanywa kaningi ukuwugumbuqela kwachitheka negazi. Ngesikhathi kwakhiwa igatsha, abakhi bakwamanye amazwe nabendawo bamangala lapho beqalaza edolobheni bebona amasosha angamambuka ehlakaza ikamu lawo ngebhomu. Izigigaba ezinjena azithathanga sikhathi, kodwa zenza kwadingeka ukuba kukhuthazwe amabandla athile ukuba ayohlanganyela emaHholo OMbuso asezindaweni ezithe ukuphepha.

Sekuyiminyaka eminingi kunodlame phakathi kwamasosha kahulumeni namaqembu aphikisayo ezindaweni ezithile eMindanao. Abazalwane balapho kuye kwadingeka baqaphe lapho benza inkonzo yabo futhi bathembele kuJehova. URenato Dungog, ophothule eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo nosengumbonisi wesifunda, wayekhonza endaweni eyayigcwele izinxushunxushu. Kwathi ngesinye isikhathi uRenato elinde isikebhe, isosha lambuza: “Uyaphi?”

URenato wachaza: “Ngiyisikhonzi esijikelezayo soFakazi BakaJehova. Ngivakashela abazalwane kabili ngonyaka ngibaqinise futhi ngihambe ngiyoshumayela nabo.”

Isosha lathi: “Kumelwe ukuba uNkulunkulu unawe ngoba ngabe usubulewe.” Ngakho abazalwane bayaqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo naphezu kweziyaluyalu, bathembela kuJehova futhi bayahlonishwa ngenxa yalokho.

Baphindela Ezinkantolo Ngodaba Lokushayela Ifulege Indesheni

Ukuthembeka kwentsha kuNkulunkulu kuye kwavivinywa. Ngo-June 11, 1955, uMongameli uRamon Magsaysay wagunyaza umthetho obizwa ngokuthi iRepublic Act No. 1265 owawuthi zonke izingane ezisezikoleni zikahulumeni nakwezinye mazishayele ifulege lasePhilippines indesheni. Izingane ezingoFakazi BakaJehova zalalela onembeza bazo, njengenye intsha engoFakazi emhlabeni wonke. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Nakuba ziluhlonipha uphawu lwezwe lakubo, ngenxa kanembeza ngeke zenze izinto ezizibheka njengeziwukuzinikela entweni ethile. Ngenkathi izingane zakwaGerona eMasbate zixoshwa esikoleni ngoba zingalishayeli ifulege indesheni, kwavulwa icala elayiswa eNkantolo Ephakeme yasePhilippines ngo-1959. Kodwa le nkantolo ayikugqizanga qakala ukuma okungokwenkolo koFakazi BakaJehova. Yama kwelokuthi ifulege “alisona isithombe” nokuthi “alihlobene neze nenkolo.” Ngakho kwabe sekuba inkantolo enqumayo ukuthi yini ehlobene nenkolo nengahlobene nayo.

Kodwa-ke lokhu akuzishintshanga izinkolelo ezingokwenkolo zoFakazi. Abazalwane bazisekela ngokuqinile izimiso ezisemiBhalweni. Isinqumo senkantolo senza kwaba nzima nakuba kungabanga kubi ngendlela eyayilindelekile.

Ukushayela ifulege indesheni akuphindanga kwaba inkinga kwaze kwaba yilapho isinqumo senkantolo sifakwa eMthethweni KaHulumeni wango-1987. Ngemva kwalokho, ngo-1990 izingane eziningi ezingoFakazi BakaJehova zaxoshwa esikoleni eCebu. Unsumpa wezikole wayefuna ulalelwe ngenkani lo mthetho. Izingane zaxoshwa nakwezinye izindawo.

Ukuxoshwa kwezingane kwaphuma ezindabeni. Kwabe sekuthi ikomiti yamalungelo abantu yafuna ukwazi ngalezi zingane ezazincishwa imfundo. Kwabonakala sengathi isimo sasingasafani nesango-1959. Ingabe kwase kuyisikhathi sikaJehova sokuba le ndaba iphinde idingidwe obala? U-Ernesto Morales, owayengumdala eCebu ngaleso sikhathi, wathi: “Abahleli bamaphephandaba, othisha nabanye bonke basigqugquzela ukuba siluyise enkantolo lolu daba.” Kwathintwa iMinyango Yezomthetho egatsheni nasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke. Kwenziwa isinqumo sokuba kufakwe icala.

Kodwa iNkantolo Yamacala Yesifunda kanye neNkantolo Yokudlulisa Amacala yabalahla ngecala. Zazingafuni ukuphikisana nesinqumo seNkantolo Ephakeme sango-1959 ecaleni lakwaGerona. Okuwukuphela kwendlela okwakungaxazululwa ngayo le nkinga ukuphindisela icala eNkantolo Ephakeme. Yayizovuma yini ukuqula leli cala? Yebo yavuma! UFelino Ganal, ummeli onguFakazi, uyena owayephambili ekwethuleni lolu daba ezithebeni zenkantolo. Ngemva kwezinsukwana, iNkantolo Ephakeme yathi zonke izingane ezixoshiwe mazibuyiselwe ezikoleni, kuze kuphume isinqumo secala.

Abamangali nabamangalelwa bethula amaphuzu abo. Ngemva kokuluphenduphendula lolu daba, iNkantolo Ephakeme yasihoxisa isinqumo sango-1959, yasekela ilungelo lezingane zoFakazi BakaJehova lokungalishayeli ifulege indesheni, lokungasisho isifungo sokuzinikela ezweni nelokungaliculi iculo lesizwe. Inkantolo yachaza lesi sinqumo esiyingqopha-mlando: “Ukuthi umuntu angase aphoqwe ukuba ashayele ifulege indesheni, . . . ngoba kuthiwa . . . uzoxoshwa esikoleni akuhambisani nonembeza wabantu basePhilippines abawazi kahle uMqulu Wamalungelo obaqinisekisa ngokuthi banenkululeko yokukhuluma neyokuqhuba inkolo nokukhulekela.” Inkantolo yanquma nokuthi ukuxoshwa koFakazi BakaJehova ezikoleni ‘kuphula ilungelo labo . . . , elikuMthetho-sisekelo ka-1987, lokufunda ngenkululeko.” I-Manila Chronicle yathi: “INkantolo Ephakeme ilungisa ukungalungi osekuneminyaka engu-35 kwenziwa koFakazi BakaJehova.”

Abamangali bafaka isicelo sokuba kubuyekezwe isinqumo, kodwa ngo-December 29, 1995, iNkantolo Ephakeme yasichitha leso sicelo. Ngakho isinqumo sisalokhu sinjalo. Yeka ukunqoba kwabantu bakaJehova!

Umsebenzi Uyaqhubeka Naphezu Kwezinhlekelele

Njengoba kuphawuliwe ekuqaleni kwalo mbiko, iPhilippines ihlushwa izinhlekelele. Ake sizwe ngezinye zezinhlekelele eziye zehlela abafowethu.

Ukuzamazama komhlaba: Njengoba lezi ziqhingi zilapho kuhlangana khona izingqimba zomhlaba ezinkulu ezimbili, leli zwe lithandwa ukuzamazama komhlaba. Enye incwadi ithi umhlaba uzamazama okungenani kahlanu ngosuku, undindizela kaningi abantu bengawuzwa. Kaningi lapho uzamazama akulimali muntu, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi kudaleka umonakalo omkhulu.

Ngo-4:26 ntambama ngo-July 16, 1990 kwaba nokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okwalandelwa ukundindizela okunamandla eduze naseCabanatuan, idolobha elimaphakathi neLuzon. Kwaba nomonakalo omkhulu naseSifundazweni SaseBenguet. Kwabhidlika izikole namahhotela amaningi kwafa abantu.

Ngaleso sikhathi, uJulio Tabios owayengumbonisi wesigodi kuleyo ndawo wayehamba nomkakhe beya emhlanganweni wesifunda endaweni yaseBenguet enezintaba. Bahamba ngeloli lomzalwane owayeyodayisa imifino eBaguio. Ngemva kokugwingciza ezintabeni bafika lapho umgwaqo umncane khona, kwadingeka badedele imoto eyayiza nganeno. Kwathi kusenjalo amatshe aqala ukudilika esuka entabeni. Babona ukuthi ukuzamazama kwakunamandla. UJulio uthi: “Lo mzalwane wakwazi ukuhlehlisela iloli lakhe endaweni ebanzi, kwathi ngemva kwalokho inguzunga yetshe yawela lapho sasikade simi khona. Sajabula ngokuthi sasisindile. Akuphelanga sikhathi waphinde wazamazama umhlaba, sabona inguzunga yetshe eduze kwethu inyakaza sengathi iyadansa.” Izintaba zadilika emaceleni.

Izinto ezazidilikile zazivale umgwaqo. Okuwukuphela kwendlela ababengafika ngayo emhlanganweni, eqinisweni nakwezinye izindawo, kwakuwukuqwala izintaba. Ebusuku bangenisa emzini womuntu onobuntu. Ngakusasa baqombola intaba ephakeme baze bayofika lapho beya khona. Endleleni babona abazalwane abaningi besizana ukuze bakwazi ukubhekana nezinkinga ezazidalwe ukuzamazama komhlaba. Ngemva kokuhamba ezindleleni eziyingozi ezisezintabeni, bagcina befikile eNaguey, lapho kwakuzoba nomhlangano khona. UJulio uthi: “Angikaze ngizibone izinyembezi ezingaka kubazalwane, phela base behlanze ngedela! Nakuba sasikhathele siyingcuba, saqabuleka lapho sibona abafowethu nodadewethu abajabule bezosihlangabeza.” Naphezu kokuzamazama komhlaba, abaningi babenze umzamo wokuba khona, bebonisa ukuthi bazazisa kakhulu izinto ezingokomoya.

Uzokhumbula ukuthi kwakusakhiwa izakhiwo ezintsha egatsheni ngalesi sikhathi. Nakuba isakhiwo sokuhlala sasingakapheli, ukuzamazama kwango-1990 kwakuyinto yokuqala eyavivinya ukuqina kwalesi sakhiwo. Ezinye izikhonzi zaseBethel zashaywa uvalo lapho isakhiwo sinyakaza kodwa isakhiwo senza lokho esasiklanyelwe ukukwenza, sasinda ekuzamazameni okukhulu.

Izikhukhula: Ngenxa yokuthi kunomswakama futhi kuyashisa, izindawo eziningi zezwe zithola imvula eningi. Izindawo ezithile zithandwa yizikhukhula. ULeonardo Gameng, oseneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-46 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, uyakhumbula: “Kwakudingeka sigxavuze amakhilomitha amathathu odakeni olufika emadolweni.” UJuliana Angelo usekhonze njengephayona elikhethekile ezindaweni ezisesifundazweni sasePampanga ezithandwa yizikhukhula. Uthi: “Ukuze siyise isigijimi soMbuso kubantu abathakazelayo sasihamba ngezikebhe ezincane ezishovwayo. Umzalwane oshovayo kudingeka abe namehlo abukhali ukuze agweme izihlahla ezinezinyoka ezicuthele ukuthanqazeka esikebheni.” UCorazon Gallardo, owaqala ukuba yiphayona elikhethekile ngo-1960, washumayela iminyaka eminingi ezindaweni zasePampanga. Ngezinye izikhathi sasiye singabi khona isikebhe futhi ukhumbula ukuthi kwakudingeka ahambe emanzini acishe afike emahlombe. Naphezu kwezinkinga ezinjalo, usenesimo esihle sengqondo. Uye wafunda ukuvumelana nezimo nokuncika kuJehova, uyazi ukuthi akasoze abashiya abaqotho bakhe.

Selokhu udaka olwalubangelwe ukuqhuma kwentaba iMount Pinatubo lwagcwalisa izindawo eziningi eziyizigodi, izikhukhula ePampanga sezizimbi kakhulu manje ngoba amanzi asegelezela nakwezinye izindawo. UGeneroso Canlas, ongumbonisi wesifunda kuleyo ndawo, uthi ngenxa yamanzi kuye kudingeke bagqoke amabhuzu noma bashaye ngoCetshwayo ensimini. Noma kunjalo, abazalwane bayaqhubeka.

Ezindaweni izikhukhula ezisuke zizimbi kakhulu kuzo nabantu bese beyahlupheka, oFakazi BakaJehova bayasizana bese besiza nabantu abangebona oFakazi. Ngesikhathi lokhu kwenzeka eDavao del Norte, eningizimu yePhilippines, abaphathi bedolobha balujabulela kakhulu lolo sizo baze badlulisa nezwi lokubonga.

Izintaba-mlilo: Ziningi izintaba-mlilo ePhilippines, kodwa eyaba undabuzekwayo eyokuqhuma kweMount Pinatubo. Ngo-June 1991 le ntaba yaqhuma kwaba nefu eliyisimanga. Kwahlwa emini. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi kwase kuqala i-Armagedoni. Umlotha waphephuka waze wafika entshonalanga eCambodia. Ngesikhashana nje iMount Pinatubo yakhafula udaka olungama-cubic meter ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-6,65. Udaka oluwumlotha lwabhidliza uphahla ngisho nezakhiwo ngokwazo. Izinto eziningi ezakhafulwa intaba-mlilo zaba udaka olugelezayo olwakhukhula ezinye izindlu, lwazigqiba ezinye. Umlotha nodaka kwabhidliza amaHholo OMbuso nemizi yabazalwane. UJulius Aguilar, owayeyiphayona elivamile eTarlac ngaleso sikhathi, uthi: “Indlu yonke yagqitshwa umlotha.” Kwadingeka bahambe.

UPedro Oandasan wayengumbonisi wesifunda kule ndawo. Uyalandisa: “Abazalwane abazange bakuyeke ukukhulekela kwabo uJehova nenkonzo yabo. Kwakuhlale kunabantu abangaphezu kwamaphesenti ayikhulu. Futhi lolu daka alulunciphisanga uthando lwabazalwane lomsebenzi wokushumayela. Saqhubeka sishumayeza abantu abatakuliwe ngisho nababesezindaweni ezicekeleke phansi.”

Izinhlekelele ezinjalo zivula amathuba okubonisa uthando lobuKristu. Ngesikhathi kuqhuma iMount Pinatubo nangemva kwako, abazalwane basizana batakulana. Masinyane ihhovisi legatsha lathumela iloli elaligcwele ilayisi, kodwa lapho selethuliwe lasetshenziselwa ukuthutha abazalwane emadolobheni ayethintekile. Bathi bangezwa ngalokhu abazalwane baseManila bathumela imali nezingubo zokugqoka. EBetis, eSifundazweni SasePampanga, abazalwane abaseyizinsizwa bakha iqembu lokuyosiza ababehlelwe yilo mshophi. Phakathi kwababasiza kwakunowesifazane othakazelayo omyeni wakhe wayephikisa. Basiza ekwakheni indlu yalo mbhangqwana, umyeni wajabula kangangokuthi sikhuluma nje unguFakazi!

Izivunguvungu: Kuzo zonke izinhlekelele ezibangelwa isimo sezulu kuleli zwe, ayikho edlula izivunguvungu, noma iziphepho. Ngokwesilinganiso, zingaba ngu-20 izivunguvungu ezihlasela lezi ziqhingi njalo ngonyaka. Lezo zivunguvungu ziyahlukahluka ngegalelo lazo, kodwa zonke zinomoya ophephulayo nezimvula ezinamandla. Ngokuvamile zisuke zinamandla okudiliza izakhiwo. Zibuye zivithize nezitshalo, bahlupheke abalimi.

Kaningi, ziye zabhidliza imizi yoFakazi zavithiza nezitshalo zabo. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi abazalwane baye bavuke bazithathe. Kwezinye izindawo, izivunguvungu ziyinsakavukela kangangokuba azisabethusi. Kuyancomeka ukuthi abazalwane abasakhathazeki kangako, sebeyakwazi ukubhekana nezinkinga lapho zifika. (Math. 6:34) Noma kunjalo, uma abazalwane abangomakhelwane bezwa ukuthi kukhona abaswele, bavele bathumele ukudla noma imali ukuze basizakale. Ngezinye izikhathi uma kube neziphepho ezinamandla kakhulu ababonisi abajikelezayo bathinta ihhovisi legatsha, eliye likujabulele ukuhlela ukuba kuthunyelwe izimpahla zosizo.

Ukudiliva Izincwadi ZeBhayibheli

Ngenxa yokuthi kuneziqhingi eziningi ePhilippines, bekulokhu kuyinselele ukuthumela izincwadi emabandleni ngesikhathi futhi zifike zisesimweni esihle. Sekuyiminyaka zithunyelwa ngeposi. Kodwa ngokuvamile INqabayokulinda ne-Nkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yayifika sekuyisikhathi sokuba ifundwe esifundweni.

UJehu Amolo, osebenza eMnyango Wokuthumela izincwadi kuleli gatsha, uyakhumbula ukuthi yini eyabangela ushintsho. Uyachaza: “Ngaphandle nje kokuthi izincwadi zazephuza ukufika, ngo-1997 izindleko zeposi zakhuphuka kakhulu.” Uma ucabanga ukuthi bangu-360 000 omagazini ababethunyelwa njalo ngemva kwamasonto amabili, kwakukhokhwa imali eshisiwe.

Kwasikiselwa eNdikimbeni Ebusayo ukuthi abazalwane basegatsheni basidilivele izincwadi. Yaluphenduphendula lolu daba, yabe isivuma. ELuzon, kudiliva amaloli asuka ngokuqondile egatsheni. Kodwa njengoba ezinye izindawo zihlukaniswe amanzi, igatsha lisebenzisa inkampani yokuthutha ethenjwayo ukuze lithumele omagazini nezincwadi ngesikebhe ezindaweni ezithile kuzo zonke iziqhingi. Abashayeli balanda lezi zincwadi kula madepho baziyise emabandleni. Uma abashayeli bekude nasemakhaya, abazalwane bayakujabulela ukubalalisa emizini yabo ukuze baphumule ngaphambi kokuba badlulele phambili.

Ngaphandle nje kokuthi kuyonga, abazalwane bayakujabulela ukuthola izincwadi abazidingayo ngesikhathi futhi zisesimweni esikahle. Enye inzuzo ukuthi bazizwa besondelene nenhlangano ngenxa yokuthi bababona njalo abazalwane basegatsheni. Abaningi bakhuthazwa nje ukubona iloli elibhalwe ukuthi Watch Tower lidlula.

Leli lungiselelo liye lanikeza ubufakazi nangezinye izindlela. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi kwakunezikhukhula eBicol, eningizimu yeLuzon, ngesikhathi iloli liyodiliva. Izimoto zama ngoba kwakunezikhukhula emgwaqweni. Kanti iloli lezincwadi lizoma phambi komuzi womzalwane. Lapho umkhaya ulibona, wathi kubashayeli: “Ngenani nizodla nihlale nathi amanzi aze abohle.”

Abashayeli abangebona oFakazi babengazi ukuthi bazodlaphi noma bazolalaphi. Lapho bebona lokhu, babuza abashayeli baseBethel: “Nibazelaphi laba bantu?”

“Abafowethu abangokomoya laba,” kuphendula abazalwane.

Laba abanye abashayeli bathi: “Hawu, oFakazi kanti banjani! Nithi niqala nje ukubonana nivele nethembane.”

Beqa Imingcele

Manje ake sibhekabheke ngaphandle kwaleli zwe sibone ukuthi kwenzekani kubantu basePhilippines abahlala kwamanye amazwe. Ngesikhathi uMbuso WaseBrithani usadlondlobele, abantu babethi “ilanga alishoni” ezindaweni ezingaphansi kwawo. Manje abanye sebethi: “Ilanga alishoni lapho kukhona khona abantu basePhilippines.” Nakuba iPhilippines iyizwe elincane, abantu bakhona bagcwele wonke umhlaba. Ngenxa yomsebenzi noma okunye, izinkulungwane zabantu basePhilippines zithuthele kwamanye amazwe. Lokhu kubenze kanjani abanye bafunda iqiniso leBhayibheli? Labo abase bevele bengoFakazi, babasize kanjani abanye?

URicardo Malicsi wayesebenza esikhumulweni sezindiza. Njengoba umsebenzi wakhe wawumyisa emazweni amaningi, yena nomkakhe basebenzisa leli thuba ukuze basakaze izindaba ezinhle emazweni ayenabamemezeli abambalwa kakhulu. Empeleni, kwamanye ala mazwe umsebenzi wokushumayela wawubekelwe imingcele. Ngesikhathi besemazweni anjengeBangladesh, i-Iran, iTanzania ne-Uganda bakujabulela ukusiza abaningi bazi uJehova. Kwezinye izindawo baba nesandla ekumiseni amabandla. Amanye amazwe abasebenza nabashumayela kuwo yiLaos, iMyanmar neSomalia. Bakwenza iminyaka engu-28 lokhu kwaze kwaba yilapho uRicardo ethatha umhlalaphansi. Abeve bejabula ngokuthi baye babamba iqhaza elikhulu ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle emasimini akude!

Abanye babengebona oFakazi ngesikhathi behamba ePhilippines beyosebenza kwezinye izindawo kodwa balithola kulezo zindawo iqiniso. URowena ongumKatolika waqale wayosebenza eMpumalanga Ephakathi. Ngesikhathi elapho waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli. Kamuva wathola umsebenzi eHong Kong, lapho izinkulungwane zabantu basePhilippines zisebenza khona ezindlini. Uthi: “Njalo ebusuku ngangithandaza kuNkulunkulu ukuba angisize angithumelele abantu okuyibona abayongiyisa eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu.” Lowo mthandazo waphendulwa lapho izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili, uJohn noCarlina Porter, ziya kuRowena ziyomsiza ukuba atadishe iBhayibheli. URowena wabhalela igatsha lasePhilippines walandisa indaba yakhe wayesecela nokuba othile aye kumyeni wakhe owayesahlala ePhilippines, ayomchazela okuqukethwe iBhayibheli.

Abantu basePhilippines bafike bakhe imiphakathi emikhulu emazweni amaningi abathuthele kuwo. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1900 kwakudingeka izisebenzi zasemapulazini eHawaii. Abantu abaningi basePhilippines baya khona. Phakathi kwabokuqala abathola iqiniso eHawaii kwakungabantu abavela ePhilippines. Namuhla kunamabandla ayishumi abantu abakhuluma isi-Iloko nelilodwa labakhuluma isiTagalog eHawaii.

Abantu abaningi basePhilippines bahlala e-United States. Kukhona oFakazi abaningi phakathi kwabo. Ibandla lokuqala labantu basePhilippines lapha lamiswa eStockton, eCalifornia, ngo-1976. Igatsha lase-United States liyabika: “Insimu yabantu basePhilippines yayithela kakhulu, kwathi ngo-September 3, 1996 kwamiswa isifunda sokuqala sabantu basePhilippines.” Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002 kwakunamabandla angu-37 abantu basePhilippines anabamemezeli abangaba ngu-2 500 ayeqondiswa igatsha lase-United States. Kukhona namabandla noma amaqembu esiTagalog e-Alaska, e-Australia, e-Austria, eCanada, eGuam, e-Italy, eJalimane naseSaipan.

Nakuba laba bantu basePhilippines bekwamanye amazwe, ukuthola kwabo ukudla okungokomoya kusaxhomeke kubazalwane abasePhilippines, ngoba zonke izincwadi zezilimi zasePhilippines zihunyushwa egatsheni eManila. Ngaphezu kwalokho, emazweni athile anjengeGuam, iHawaii ne-United States kuba nemihlangano yesigodi eqhutshwa ngesi-Iloko noma ngesiTagalog. Zonke izinkulumo ezihunyushiwe zale mihlangano, kuhlanganise namadrama aqoshiwe, zivela ePhilippines.

Ukushumayeza Abantu Abakhuluma Ezinye Izilimi

Abantu abaningi abakhuluma ulimi lwendabuko kuzo zonke lezi ziqhingi sebeshunyayeziwe. Kodwa eminyakeni yamuva kwenziwe umzamo wokufika kulabo abebengakashunyayezwa kahle.—Roma 15:20, 21.

Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi kunamabandla ambalwa abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi ePhilippines. Nakuba abantu abaningi basePhilippines besazi isiNgisi, iningi alisikhulumi kahle. Noma kunjalo, kwezinye izindawo kwakudingeka ukuba imihlangano iqhutshwe ngesiNgisi. Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1960, abazalwane bayiqaphela le nkinga eduze kweSikhumulo Sezindiza Zempi SaseClark ePampanga. Odade ababeshade namasosha ase-United States ayehlala lapho, babengakwazi ukukhuluma ulimi lwendawo. Abazalwane basiza ekuhleleni imihlangano yesiNgisi futhi kwaze kwaphela iminyaka eminingi iwusizo olukhulu kulabo ababehlala lapho.

Kwaphakama inkinga efanayo naseMetro Manila. Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1980 kukhona udade waseMelika owayehlala lapho. UPacifico Pantas, ongumdala ebandleni lesiTagalog ayehlanganyela kulo lo dade, uthi: “Ngangimdabukela ngoba wayeza njalo esifundweni kodwa angazuzi kangako.” Akuphelanga sikhathi bafika nabanye abantu baseMelika kuleli bandla. Kwasikiselwa ukuba inkulumo yeningi neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda kuqhutshwe ngesiNgisi. Kwaba njalo ngempela, uMfoweth’ uPantas kunguye okuqhubayo. Kwagcina sekunezelwe neminye imihlangano, kwacelwa nabanye ukuba bazosiza. UDavid noJosie Ledbetter ababekhonza egatsheni bavuma. Izinto ziye zahamba kahle kusukela ngaleso sikhathi futhi lelo qenjana selikhule laba amabandla esiNgisi amabili.

Baningi abantu abasizakele ngokuba khona kwamabandla esiNgisi. UMonica waseCalifornia ungomunye wabo. Waqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova esekhaya. Abazali bakhe—ababengamaKatolika aqotho—babengafuni kuzwa lutho. Banquma ukuthumela uMonica endaweni enamaKatolika amaningi ePhilippines. Unina wamphelezela wamyisa eManila wafike wamshiya kugogo wakhe ongumKatolika, engenancwadi yokungena kwelinye izwe. Ngisho noma uMonica ayengalithola ibandla wayengeke aqhubeke nokufundelwa ngoba wayengasazi isiTagalog, wayekhulele e-United States. Kodwa udade owayemfundela eCalifornia washayela uJosie Ledbetter ucingo ukuze aqiniseke ukuthi ukhona owayezoya kuMonica. UJosie washo ukuthi selikhona ibandla lesiNgisi. Yilokho kanye uMonica ayekudinga! UJosie uthi: “UMonica wabhapathizwa phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha ‘ayedingiselwe’ ngazo ePhilippines. Ngemva kwamasonto amabili ebhapathiziwe, unina wathi: ‘Nansi incwadi yakho yokungena kwelinye izwe. Buya.’ UMonica wayesenguFakazi.” Wayengeve ejabula ngokuthi kwakukhona ibandla lesiNgisi!

Ibe khona nenye inzuzo. Abazalwane sebeshumayela ezindaweni ezithile ezazingakaze zithintwe. EMetro Manila kunezindawo ezihlala izinkinsela futhi eziningi zikhuluma isiNgisi. Ngakho ulimi lwesiNgisi lusizile lwenza abazalwane bakwazi ukusebenza kula masimu.

Kwenziwe nemizamo yokusebenza insimu yamaShayina. Maphakathi nawo-1970 kwamiswa iqembu lesifundo sencwadi lesiShayina. Lesi sifundo sencwadi sasiqhutshelwa esitolo sezicathulo sikaCristina Go. Kodwa leli qembu lalilincane kakhulu futhi lidinga usizo.

U-Elizabeth Leach, owafika ePhilippines ngoba eshade nesithunywa sevangeli uRaymond Leach, wayekade ekhonze eHong Kong iminyaka engu-16. Ulwazi luka-Elizabeth lwesiCanton nolokusiza amaShayina afunde iqiniso lwaba usizo olukhulu. Ngaso leso sikhathi, u-Esther Atanacio (manje osengu-Esther So) wayengomunye wamaphayona akhethekile amabili ayabelwe kuleyo nsimu. U-Esther uyakhumbula: “Ngenkathi siqala ukusebenza kuleyo ndawo, abantu babengabazi oFakazi BakaJehova.” Noma kunjalo, umphakathi wamaShayina eManila waqala kancane kancane ukwazi igama likaJehova nabantu baKhe.

Nakuba la maphayona ayesazi isiCanton, kwadingeka afunde olunye uhlobo lwaso ngoba eManila kusetshenziswa isiShayina esibizwa ngokuthi isiFujian. UChing Cheung Chua, insizwa eyayiyintsha eqinisweni, waqala ukuhlanganyela naleli qembu. Ngenxa yokuthi wayesazi isiFujian, uyena owayehumusha emihlanganweni lapho lisaqala leli qembu.

Leli qembu lakhula kancane kancane. Ngo-August 1984 kwamiswa ibandla elincane. Ziseziningi izinselele kodwa labo abalisizayo bayakujabulela ukushumayela kule nsimu okungakaze kushunyayelwe kahle kuyo.

Ngisho Nabangezwa “Bayezwa”

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwabonakala kuyintando kaJehova ukuba kushunyayelwe ensimini yolunye ulimi—insimu yezithulu. Ngisho nangasekuqaleni kwawo-1990, ePhilippines ayengekho nhlobo amalungiselelo okusiza izithulu zifunde ngoJehova. Nakuba zazimbalwa kakhulu izithulu ezazihlanganyela, kukhona ezazinezimo eziyinqaba. Ngokwesibonelo, uManuel Runio, unina owayenguFakazi, wafundiswa iqiniso leBhayibheli ngudade owayenesineke sokubhala phansi ephepheni. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1976. Esiqhingini saseCebu, uLorna noLuz, abangamawele ayizithulu, bafundiswa isigijimi seBhayibheli ngumalume wabo oyimpumputhe. Iphayona eliyimpumputhe lalibafundisa kanjani abantu abayizithulu? Lalisebenzisa imifanekiso lisizwa umzala walo. Lo mzala walo wayebuye akuchaze ngezandla lokho elalikusho ukuze amawele akuqonde, kwazise ayengakaze alufunde ulimi lwezandla. Womabili abhapathizwa ngo-1985. Kodwa kwakuqabukela kutholakale abantu abanjalo.

Ziningi izinto ezenza kusetshenzwe le nsimu. Ngesikhathi izithunywa zevangeli uDean noKaren Jacek ziseBethel yaseBrooklyn ziyoqeqeshelwa okuthile phakathi no-1993, abazalwane abasebenza eMnyango Wezinkonzo Zokuhumusha babuza ukuthi yini eyenziwayo ukuze kusizwe izithulu ePhilippines. Udade osemusha ePhilippines wayefunde ulimi lwezandla ngenjongo yokuba akwazi ukukhuluma nomngane wakhe oyisithulu onguFakazi. ULiza Presnillo nalabo ayephayona nabo eNavotas eMetro Manila babehlangana nezithulu ensimini kodwa bengakwazi ukukhuluma nazo. La maphayona ayecabanga ukufunda ulimi lwezandla ukuze akwazi ukuxoxa nezithulu ngesigijimi soMbuso.

Igatsha lathola ukuthi u-Ana Liza Acebedo, oyiphayona elivamile eManila, wayesebenza esikoleni sezithulu futhi engomunye woFakazi abambalwa ePhilippines ababegogodile olimini lwezandla. Wabuzwa: “Ungathanda yini ukufundisa izikhonzi zaseBethel ulimi lwezandla?”

Wavuma! Wayehlale ezibuza ukuthi zaziyoshunyayezwa kanjani zonke izithulu. Kwavulwa ikilasi elalinezikhonzi zaseBethel namaphayona avamile asendaweni. Odade baseNavotas base beqalile ukufunda ulimi lwezandla, baqhubeka.

Ngemva kwalokho izinto zaba lula kakhulu. Kwathi kuphela izinyanga eziyisithupha ulimi lwezandla lwabe selusetshenziswa emabandleni amathathu eMetro Manila. Ngo-1994 kwahlelwa ukuba kusetshenziswe ulimi lwezandla ngokokuqala ngqa emihlanganweni yesifunda neyesigodi. Omunye wemigomo eyayiphambili kwakuwukusiza izingane zoFakazi eziyizithulu. Eziningi zaba phakathi kwezithulu zokuqala ezabhapathizwa. UManuel Runio okwase kuyiminyaka eya ngokwethembeka emihlanganweni kodwa lungekho ulimi lwezandla, wajabula ngokuthi useyazuza ngenxa yaleli lungiselelo elisha.

Ngokushesha nezinye izindawo zakuleli zwe zacela usizo. ULiza Presnillo nelinye iphayona bathunyelwa e-Olongapo ukuba bayoba amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana ensimini yezithulu. Baningi abasizwa. Maphakathi no-2002 amaqembu olimi lwezandla ayesemiswe ezindaweni ezingu-20 ezingaphandle kweManila. Ingqopha-mlando kwaba ukumiswa kweBandla LaseMetro Manila Labakhuluma Ngezandla ngo-April 1999, okungelokuqala ngqa kuleli zwe. UJoel Acebes, omunye wezikhonzi zaseBethel ezazisekilasini lokuqala lolimi lwezandla nosengumdala kulelo bandla, uthi: “Siyajabula ngokuthi uJehova uye wasisebenzisa kulo msebenzi obaluleke kangaka.” Yebo, ngisho nezithulu “ziyasizwa” isigijimi soMbuso. Kuyajabulisa ngempela ukubona intuthuko kule nsimu eyayingasetshenzwa ngaphambili.

Kudingeka Izakhiwo Ezinkudlwana

Njengoba sekushunyayelwa emasimini amasha phakathi nawo-1990 futhi kuphindelelwa nakwamadala, liye laqhubeka landa inani labamemezeli nelabantu abasanda kuhlanganyela. Kuye kwadingeka omagazini abengeziwe, futhi ziningi izincwadi nezincwajana ezihunyushelwe ezilimini zasePhilippines kunanoma yinini ngaphambili. Lokhu kuye kwabangela ukwanda okukhulu kwezisebenzi zasegatsheni—ezizonyathelisa, zihumushe futhi zihlole osekuhunyushiwe, zenzele abazalwane namabandla eminye imisebenzi. Kungakapheli sikhathi esitheni isakhiwo sokuhlala esisha siqediwe ngo-1991, sase sigcwele. Sasiklanyelwe ukuhlala abantu abangu-250. Ngo-1999 umkhaya waseBethel wawusunabantu abangu-350.

Yayisekhona indawo yokuba kwakhiwe egatsheni, ngakho iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kwakhiwe esinye isakhiwo sokuhlala, esifana nesaqedwa ngo-1991. Umsebenzi waqala ngo-1999 waphela ekupheleni kuka-2001. Lesi sakhiwo sicishe sisiphinde kabili lesi esikhona. Kunamahhovisi engeziwe ayedingeka kakhulu ukuze kufezwe umsebenzi owandayo ensimini. Kwenezelwa nelondolo enkudlwana, ikilasi leSikole Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo nomtapo wezincwadi osuthuthukisiwe. Izisebenzi zendawo ezinamakhono nezakwamanye amazwe zathi ukuhlalahlala eBethel zizokwenza lo msebenzi. Lapho seziqedile ukwakha isakhiwo esisha, zahlala zalungisa isakhiwo sango-1991. Kunomsebenzi omningi ohilelekile ekwakheni izakhiwo ezinjalo kodwa iyodwa injongo yawo—ukuba kube khona izakhiwo ezizosekela ukusakazwa kwamaqiniso eBhayibheli anikeza ukuphila.

ISikole Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo Siyasiza

Ngenkathi iSikole Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo sivulwa e-United States ngo-1987, abazalwane abaningi ePhilippines bacabanga, ‘Kazi thina siyoke sikuthole yini loko kuqeqeshwa!’ Baphenduleka ngo-1993. Kwamenyezelwa ukuthi lesi sikole sasizoqala ngonyaka olandelayo ePhilippines. Sasizobaqeqesha ngokwengeziwe abazalwane abafanelekayo asebenesikhashana bengabadala noma izinceku ezikhonzayo. Baningi abazalwane abafaka izicelo.

Ababonisi ababili abajikelezayo nesithunywa sevangeli baqeqeshelwa ukuba bafundise. Ikilasi lokuqala laqala ngo-January 1994. Abazalwane asebeqeqeshiwe sebekufanelekela nakakhulu ukukhonza abafowabo emabandleni. Elinye ibandla labhala lokhu okulandelayo ngomfundi ophothule kulesi sikole ohlanganyela nalo: “Indlela abeka ngayo izinkulumo zakhe ingcono kakhulu manje kunangesikhathi engakayi esikoleni.”

Abafundi abaningi badela okuthile ukuze bathole lokhu kuqeqeshwa okungokomoya. URonald Moleño wayengunjiniyela wamakhemikhali. Wamenywa ukuba aye kulesi sikole kodwa ngaleso sikhathi wathola umsebenzi enkampanini ethile owawuzomholela itshe lemali, athole nendlu, umshwalense nokunye. URonald wacabanga ngala mathuba amabili, wayesekhetha ukuya esikoleni. Wathweswa iziqu ekilasini le-18 wayeseqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe njengephayona. URonald usanda kucelwa ukuba ayoba isithunywa sevangeli ePapua New Guinea.

UWilson Tepait kwadingeka enze isinqumo ngemva kokuya ekilasini lokuqala. Wayesebenza kahle enguthisha, kodwa manje wayesemenywa ukuba ayoba iphayona elikhethekile lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Uthi: “Ngangikuthanda ukuba uthisha kodwa futhi ngangazi ukuthi izithakazelo zoMbuso kumelwe zize kuqala ekuphileni.” Walamukela ilungelo lokuba iphayona elikhethekile futhi wabona ukuthi uJehova uyayibusisa inkonzo yakhe. UWilson manje usengumbonisi wesigodi eningizimu yePhilippines.

Abafundi abaningi kulesi sikole abasePhilippines. Kodwa iNdikimba Ebusayo yenza ilungiselelo lokuba nabafundi basemazweni ase-Asia babe khona. Amazwe athumele abafundi ahlanganisa lawa: iCambodia, iHong Kong, i-Indonesia, iMalaysia, iNepal, iSri Lanka neThailand. Abanye abafundi bavela emazweni lapho umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova ubekelwe khona imingcele. Ukufundiswa kwabo ndawonye kubazuzisile kakhulu abafundi. Uthisha u-Anibal Zamora uthi: “Abafundi abavela emazweni lapho umsebenzi wethu ubekelwe khona imingcele baye baxoxe ngokuthi bathembela kanjani kuJehova kuzo zonke izimo. Lokhu kuyabaqinisa abafundi basePhilippines.” Abafundi abavela kwamanye amazwe nabo babe sebethola ukuthi abazalwane basePhilippines abahluphekayo bamkhonza kanjani uJehova ngaphansi kwezimo ezinzima.

UNidhu David, umfundi waseSri Lanka, wathi: “Angisoze ngasikhohlwa leso sikhathi. Sahlala izinyanga ezimbili siqeqeshwa uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngingathi ngifunani enye!”

Amakilasi alesi sikole angaphakathi egatsheni. Abafundi abagcini nje ngokuzuza ezifundweni ezilungiselelwe kodwa nangokuzibonela mathupha indlela umsebenzi ohlelwa ngayo egatsheni. Ukuhlala nabazalwane nodade abathanda izinto ezingokomoya eBethel kubanikeza izibonelo ezinhle zokholo zokuba bazilingise. Kanti nabazalwane abavela emazweni anabamemezeli abambalwa noma awubekele imingcele umsebenzi wethu bayakwazi ukubona ukuthi inhlangano inkulu.

Kuze kube manje bangu-922 asebethweswe iziqu emakilasini angu-35. Kubafundi basePhilippines asebephothulile, abangu-75 bangababonisi abajikelezayo kanti abanye abaningi babambela ababonisi bezifunda ezifundeni ezingu-193 kuzo zonke lezi ziqhingi. Abayisithupha babelwe eBethel kanti abayishumi bayizithunywa zevangeli ePapua New Guinea naseMicronesia. Abaningi bangamaphayona avamile emasimini akubo noma lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Ngemva nje kweminyaka engu-8 isikole sivuliwe, sekubhapathizwe abangaphezu kuka-65 000 kuleli zwe. Abazalwane banomoya wokuphayona futhi ngokuvamile amabandla ayakhula. Kuyabonakala ngempela ukuthi laba bazalwane bakusebenzisile abakufunde esikoleni, kwaba nenqubekela-phambili.

Baqhubekela Phambili

Uyamangalisa umsebenzi ofezwayo kulezi ziqhingi. Abazalwane abashisekayo basemabandleni angaba ngu-3 500 bamatasa bamemezela izindaba ezinhle zikahulumeni omuhle kakhulu ongase uwucabange, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Imibiko yamuva ikhuthaza kakhulu. Ezinyangeni zokugcina ezingu-7 zonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002, kwakuba nenani elisha labamemezeli njalo ngenyanga. Ngo-August kwase kunabangu-142 124 abazisa abanye isigijimi soMbuso. Eziqhingini eziningi abantu bafundiswa igama likaJehova nenjongo yakhe. Izinceku zikaJehova lapho, zenza into efana nebikezelwe ku-Isaya 24:15: ‘Zikhazimulisa igama likaJehova eziqhingini zolwandle.’

Kulaba bashumayeli abashisekayo kunezinkulungwane zamaphayona avamile. Ngo-1950 kwakunamaphayona angu-307 kuphela kodwa kwathi kuphela u-April 2002 abe esengu-21 793. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakunamaphayona akhethekile angu-386 namaphayona asizayo angu-15 458 ngaleyo nyanga, okwenza ukuba inani lamaphayona esewonke libe ngu-37 637 noma amaphesenti angu-27 abo bonke abamemezeli. Nabanye abaningi babonisile ukuthi bayafuna ukungenela inkonzo yezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zesikhathi esigcwele. Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002 kwamiswa amaphayona avamile angu-5 638.

Umphumela wako konke lokhu muhle kakhulu. Izinkulungwane zabantu zilokhu zisabela. Ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni sango-March 2002 babengu-430 010. Inyanga ngayinye kuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli ezicela ku-100 000. Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002 kwabhapathizwa abafundi abasha abangu-6 892. Ngo-1948, uFakazi oyedwa kwakufanele ashumayeze abantu abangu-5 359 kuleli zwe. Manje sekufanele ashumayeze abangu-549. Njengoba uJehova esalivulile ithuba, likhulu ithemba lokuthi izinkulungwane zabanye zingase zizihlanganise nabadumisi bakaJehova abakulezi ziqhingi zolwandle.

Bazimisele Ukuqhubeka

Ngenkathi uC. T. Russell elapha ngo-1912, kwahlwanyelwa imbewu encane yeqiniso emhlabathini wasePhilippines. Kancane kancane le mbewu yaqhuma futhi yakhula. Yathela izithelo ezinhle njengoba abanye babemela iqiniso ‘ngenkathi evumayo nangenkathi enzima.’ (2 Thim. 4:2) Abamemezeli banda ngesivinini esikhulu ikakhulukazi kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II kuze kube namuhla njengoba amashumi ezinkulungwane engabadumisi bakaJehova abakhuthele. Njengoba bekhuthele basebenza ngentokozo bedumisa igama likaNkulunkulu kanye nabanye abangaba yizigidi eziyisithupha abakha ibandla labantu bakaJehova emhlabeni jikelele.

Njengoba sibonile, umsebenzi bewungelula ngaso sonke isikhathi. Nakuba leli zwe lilihle, ukufika lapho kuhlala khona izakhamuzi zalezi ziqhingi eziningi kuye kwabavivinya abamemezeli boMbuso. Abanye baqunga isibindi bahambe olwandle oluneziphepho ukuze bafike ezindaweni eziqhelile zaleli zwe. Abaningi baqwala izintaba ezinodukathole bamahlathi ukuze bathole abanjengezimvu. Yize iziqhingi zasePhilippines ziye zaba nezinhlekelele eziningi kakhulu kunezinye izindawo—ukuzamazama komhlaba, izikhukhula, izivunguvungu nezintaba-mlilo—kodwa aziwumisanga umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile.

Bafana nama-Israyeli ayesezweni elibuyiselwe ngenjongo yokuvuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kwakusinda kwehlela, kodwa injabulo kaJehova yayiyisiphephelo sawo. Nanamuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova babonise ngokucacile ukuthi baqinile futhi bathembele kuNkulunkulu. Bayazi ukuthi uJehova unabo futhi bayakukholelwa lokho okushiwo iHubo 121:7: “UJehova uyokuqapha kuyo yonke inhlekelele. Uyoqapha umphefumulo wakho.” Babheke phambili ekusizeni abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ngaphambi kokuba lesi simiso siphele, besekelwa uJehova. Ngemva kwalokho, balindele ukufundisa izigidi zabantu abavusiwe emhlabeni wonke, kuhlanganise nakulezi ziqhingi ezingu-7 100. Ngaleso sikhathi-ke ubuhle baleli zwe eliyobe seliyipharadesi buyoqhakaza, kube udumo kuMdali.

Okwamanje, oFakazi BakaJehova bazimisele ukuqhubekela phambili bemethemba ngokugcwele uJehova ukuthi uzowubusisa umsebenzi wabo. Bazama ukuvumelanisa ukuphila kwabo nala mazwi omprofethi kaNkulunkulu: “Mabanike uJehova inkazimulo, mabazise udumo lwakhe naseziqhingini.”—Isaya 42:12.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 232]

“Kumelwe ukuba uNkulunkulu unawe ngoba ngabe usubulewe”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 153]

Kuhlwanyelwa Imbewu Yokuqala Yeqiniso

UCharles T. Russell neqembu lakhe bavakashela ePhilippines ngo-1912. Nakuba babengabantu bokuqala ababegunyazwe indlunkulu eBrooklyn ukuba baye khona, imibiko ibonisa ukuthi kakade kwase kunabaFundi BeBhayibheli ababili abase besePhilippines ababesiza abanye ukufunda iqiniso leBhayibheli. ULouise Bell, wase-United States, wabhala:

“Mina nomyeni wami saya ePhilippines ngo-1908 futhi sasingothisha. Kwakuyithina sodwa abantu baseMelika edolobheni elincane laseSibalom. Sa-oda inqwaba yamapheshana eBhayibheli eBrooklyn. Athunyelwa ngomkhumbi eSan Francisco esuka eNew York, ayesewela iPacific afika eManila, ayesethuthwa ngezikebhe alethwa eSibalom.

“Uma sithola isikhathi nethuba sasihambisa lawo mapheshana futhi sikhulume nabantu bendawo. Sasingawabali amahora esiwasebenzile namapheshana esiwahambisile. Yize abantu babengamaKatolika, abaningi babekujabulela ukusilalela. Sasingothisha futhi sifundele nokwelapha, kodwa ngokuyinhloko sasiyizithunywa zezindaba ezinhle.

“Sasihamba ngezinyawo noma sigibele amahhashi emigwaqweni emibi. Ngezinye izikhathi sasilala phansi oqalweni oluphiciwe futhi sidle inhlanzi nelayisi endishini eyodwa.

“Lapho uPastor Russell evakashela eManila ngo-1912, samthumelela incwadi yocingo.”

UDade Bell wayekhona enkulumweni kaMfoweth’ uRussell eyayinesihloko esithi “Bakuphi Abafileyo?” eGrand Opera House eManila.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 156]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu NgePhilippines

Izwe: Iziqhingi ezingaba ngu-7 100 zithatha indawo ethi ayibe amakhilomitha-skwele angu-300 000. Lezi ziqhingi zihlanganisa indawo engaba ngamakhilomitha angu-1 850 ukusuka enyakatho kuye eningizimu nengaba amakhilomitha angu-1 125 ukusuka empumalanga kuye entshonalanga. Ziyashiyana ngobukhulu—esikhulu kunazo zonke singaphezudlwana kwePortugal kanti esincane kunazo zonke sivele simbozeke lapho kuphakama amanzi.

Abantu: Abaningi badabuka eMalaysia, yize abanye bedabuka eChina, eSpain noma eMelika.

Ulimi: Ezilimini eziningi ezikhulunywa ePhilippines, ezikhulunywa kakhulu yisiBicol, isiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, isi-Iloko, isiPangasinan, isiSamar-Leyte, nesiTagalog. IsiNgisi nesiPilipino yizona zilimi ezisemthethweni. IsiPilipino sivela olimini lwesiTagalog.

Indlela yokuphila: Abantu benza imisebenzi ehlukahlukene emadolobheni amakhulu, kodwa emaphandleni abaningi bangabalimi noma abadobi. Kutshalwa ukudla okunjengelayisi, umoba, ubhanana, ukhukhunathi nophayinaphu.

Ukudla: Ilayisi alisali ekudleni. Itholakala kalula inhlanzi nokunye ukudla kwasolwandle, kanye nemifino nezithelo ezimila ezindaweni ezishisayo.

Isimo sezulu: Kuyashisa kuleli zwe, kuzo zonke iziqhingi izinga lokushisa licishe lifane. Livamile nokuna lapha.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 161, 162]

Ingxoxo NoHilarion Amores

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1920

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1943

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Wathola iqiniso ngesikhathi amaJapane evimbezele leli zwe ngeMpi Yezwe II. Ngaleso sikhathi oFakazi babembalwa kuleli zwe.

Ngabhapathizwa ngesikhathi impi ibambene kodwa abafowethu besakwazi ukushumayela endlini ngendlu. Kodwa kwakufanele sivule amehlo ngoba abantu babesola ukuthi kukhona okushaya amanzi kulo msebenzi. Ekugcineni kwadingeka sibalekele emaphandleni kodwa ngo-1945 sabuyela eManila.

Ngaleso sikhathi, ngathola ilungelo lokuhumusha INqabayokulinda ngesiTagalog. Kwakudingeka ngisebenze kuze kube ihora lesibili ekuseni. Kwakwenziwa amakhophi amaningi athunyelwe emaqenjini oFakazi. Kwakudingeka sizidele, kodwa sasijabula kakhulu ngoba abafowethu babenakekelwa ngokomoya.

Kuyo yonke iminyaka ngiseqinisweni, ngiye ngabona ukuthi uJehova unesihe. Uyabanakekela ngempela abantu bakhe, ngokomoya nangokwenyama. Ngikhumbula kuthunyelwa izinto zosizo ePhilippines ngemva kwempi. Hheyi, abeve bebaningi abasizwa ngamabhulukwe, izicathulo nezinye izimpahla zokugqoka! Amaphayona amaningi ayesizakele abonisa ukubonga okukhulu ngokuzikhandla nakakhulu enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. UJehova uyabanakekela ngempela abantu bakhe, ubanikeza noma yini edingekayo.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 173, 174]

Isithunywa Sevangeli Esithandwayo

UNeal Callaway

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1926

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1941

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Wazalelwa emkhayeni ongoFakazi, waqala inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele lapho eqeda esikoleni esiphakeme. Wamenyelwa ekilasini le-12 leSikole SaseGileyadi; wabelwa ePhilippines lapho akhonza khona njengombonisi ojikelezayo.

UNeal Callaway wayeyisithunywa sevangeli esishisekayo, engaconsi phansi kubafowethu. Wayewenza ngokwethembeka umsebenzi woMbuso ngesikhathi esifanayo engumuntu ojabulayo, wakhonza kuzo zonke izingxenye zezwe. Uxoxa ngesabelo sakhe ngesikhathi ejikeleza.

“Ngezinye izikhathi sasikhuphuka amagquma kuze kuphele amahora amabili singakafiki ensimini, sasihambe sihlabelela izingoma zoMbuso. Njengoba kwakuba nabantu abangu-15 kuya kwabangu-20 eqenjini, bonke beshaye ujenga becula, kwakungithokozisa ngempela ukuthi ngangisamukele isabelo sokuyokhonza kwelinye izwe.

“Ukuhambisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu emizini ephansi yasemaphandleni, ukubabona laba bantu behlezi phansi belalele konke esikushoyo, bese ngibuye ngibabona eHholo LoMbuso ngokuhambela okulandelayo—kwakungenza ngifune ukuzikhandla nakakhulu ngitshele abanye ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.”

UNeal washada noNenita, udade waseMindoro, futhi bakhonza ndawonye ngokwethembeka waze washona uNeal ngo-1985. Akakasuki namanje olimini lwabazalwane basePhilippines. Omunye wathi: “UMfoweth’ uCallaway wayeyindoda ekahle eyayizwana nabazalwane. Wayekwazi ukuzivumelanisa nezimo.”a

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 177]

Ingxoxo No-Inelda Salvador

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1931

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1949

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Wathunyelwa ukuba ayoba isithunywa sevangeli eThailand ngo-March 1967.

Ngangingazi ukuthi ngizizwa kanjani lapho ngizwa ukuthi ngizothunyelwa eThailand ngiyoba isithunywa sevangeli. Ngajabula, ngaba nexhala, kwafika nemibuzo eminingi engqondweni.

Ngafika lapha ngo-March 30, 1967. Ngangiluzwa luxakile ulimi lwalapha. Incazelo yamagama alolu limi iya ngokuthi aphinyiselwe kanjani. Kwakulukhuni ukufunda lolu limi, kodwa abafowethu bendawo nabokufika bangisiza ngesineke.

Kusukela ngo-1967 kuya ku-1987 ngangiseSukhumwit. Ngabe sengicelwa ukuba ngiye ebandleni elisha. Kwakunzima lokho ngoba kwakudingeka ngishiye abafowethu nodadewethu engase ngisebenze nabo iminyaka engu-20. Yileyo ndlela engazizwa ngayo ngesikhathi ngiya eThon Buri. Kodwa kuya ngesimo sakho sengqondo. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-12 ngiseThon Buri, ngaphindela eSukhumwit ngo-1999. Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli zathi ungathi ngibuyela ekhaya. Kodwa kimina noma iliphi ibandla engabelwa kulo lingaba ikhaya.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 178]

Esikukhumbulayo Ngokufunda Ulimi

UBenito No-Elizabeth Gundayao

Umlando wabo omfushane: UBenito wayengumbonisi wesifunda ePhilippines, ehamba nomkakhe u-Elizabeth. Ngo-1980 bathunyelwa eHong Kong bayoba izithunywa zevangeli. Bangu-53 abantu ababasizile bafunda iqiniso.

Ukufunda isiCanton kwakuwumqansa kithi esasingazi noluncane ngolimi lwesiShayina. Kuyadingeka ngempela ukuzikhandla, ukubekezela nokuthobeka.

Ngesinye isikhathi ngangifuna ukuthi, “Ngiya emakethe.” Kodwa ngathi, “Ngiya esitibhilini.” Ngesikhathi esenkonzweni yasensimini, umkami wayeqonde ukusho ngenjabulo athi, “Ngiyamazi lowo,” esho udade lo mninikhaya ayejwayelene naye. Kodwa umkami wathi, “Ngiyamudla lowo.” Akeve ashaqeka lo mninikhaya! Ziyigugu kithi izinto esabhekana nazo ensimini yesiShayina.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 181, 182]

Ingxoxo NoLydia Pamplona

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1944

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1954

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Ngemva kokuba esenesikhathi eyiphayona elikhethekile ePhilippines, wamenywa ukuba ayokhonza ePapua New Guinea ngo-1980. Usesize abantu abangaphezu kuka-84 ukuba bafunde iqiniso.

Ngajabula kakhulu lapho ngithola isabelo sami ngoba kwase kukade ngifisa ukuyokhonza lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Kodwa futhi nganginexhala ngoba ngangizobe ngiqala ukuhamba ekhaya. Ngangingazi lutho olutheni ngePapua New Guinea, nalokho okuncane engangikuzwile kwakungishayisa ngovalo. Umama wangikhuthaza wathi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu uyosinakekela noma ngabe siyenza kuphi intando yakhe.” Ngabhala incwadi yokwamukela leso sabelo.

Ngathola ukuthi abafowethu banomusa kakhulu kanti nabantu banobungane. Njalo ngenyanga ngangihambisa izincwadi nomagazini abaningi abedlula engangibahambisa ePhilippines. Kodwa ulimi namasiko alapha ayengafani neze nawakithi. Ngacabanga: ‘Hhayi-ke, ngizomane ngikhonze iminyakana embalwa nje lapha bese ngiziphindelela ekhaya ngiyophayona nomama.’

Kodwa ngemva kokufunda izilimi ezimbili eziyinhloko namanye amasiko endawo, ngabe sengibazi kangcono abantu. Kule minyaka engaphezu kwengu-20 ngilapha, ngibé nelungelo lokufundisa abantu abaningi iqiniso, kanti abanye ngibafundise ukufunda nokubhala ukuze bakwazi ukutadisha kahle benze iqiniso libe elabo. Konke lokhu kanye nezinye izibusiso kungenza ngizizwe ngisekhaya lapha ePapua New Guinea. Uma kuyintando kaJehova, ngiyakujabulela ukusetshenziswa enkonzweni yakhe aze athi umsebenzi usuphelile noma ngize ngihambe lapha.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 191, 192]

Ingxoxo NoFilemon Damaso

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1932

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1951

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngo-1953. Kamuva washada wayeseba umbonisi wesifunda. Lapho izingane sezikhulile, waqhubeka nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele waba iphayona elikhethekile nomkakhe. Uye wathola izabelo ezihlukahlukene eVisayan Islands naseMindanao kuze kube manje.

Izinkinga ezinzima zenza kwaba lukhuni ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ngawo-1960. Ikati lalilala eziko ngoba amagundane ayewushaye awuvala ummbila nelayisi. Sasingasayi ukuyoshumayela emadolobheni ngoba izingubo nezicathulo zethu zase zigugile.

Ngakho sasiye siye emasimini, ezintabeni, nasemadolobheni akude—ngokuvamile sishaya ngoCetshwayo. Ngacishe ngangayibeka inkulumo emhlanganweni wesifunda ngoba ngangingenazo izingubo ezifanele. Kodwa umbonisi wethu wesigodi, uMfoweth’ uBernardino, wangiboleka ihembe lakhe, ngakwazi-ke ukuyibeka inkulumo. Nokho-ke sasingcono thina kunabanye abaningi. Ngenxa yokuthi sasizimisele ukubekezela, uJehova wasibusisa.

Ngo-1982 savivinywa ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi. EMindanao abantu abaningi babebhikishela uhulumeni. Ngenxa yokuthi ngangifunda iBhayibheli nezishoshovu zamavukelambuso, amasosha kahulumeni angibiza ngokuthi “ngiwuthisha” wamavukelambuso. Kodwa isikhulu esithile sikahulumeni sachaza ukuthi konke esikufundisayo kuvela eBhayibhelini, akuhlangene nezombusazwe.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, amavukelambuso ayengangifuni ngoba lapho ngiyoshumayela, ngangiqale ngifakaze kumphathi-dolobha nakumkhuzi wamabutho. Kodwa awazange asithinte ngoba isikhulu sawo engangisifundela sasilwela.

UJehova wasisiza iminyaka eminingi sakwazi ukunqoba izinkinga novivinyo. Siyambonga uJehova ngesihe nesivikelo sakhe!—IzAga 18:10; 29:25.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 217, 218]

Ingxoxo NoPacifico Pantas

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1926

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1946

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Waphothula ekilasini le-16 laseGileyadi ngo-1951. Ungumdala eDolobheni LaseQuezon.

Ngesikhathi sempi yezwe yesibili, sasinomakhelwane abangoFakazi BakaJehova esifundazweni saseLaguna. Bathi ngingafunda noma iyiphi incwadi engiyithandayo emtatsheni wabo wezincwadi. Kwakuyizincwadi ezikahle: Ethi Creation, Vindication, Reconciliation, Religion, Enemies, Children, nezinye eziningi. Lapho amaJapane eshisa idolobha lakithi, sahlukana nalab’ oFakazi kodwa saphinde satholana ngemva konyaka eManila. Ngaqala ukuya emihlanganweni, kwathi lapho sengibhapathiziwe ngajoyina iqembu lamaphayona. Sasabelwe kuso sonke isifundazwe saseTayabas, kamuva esabizwa ngokuthi iQuezon. Sasisuka kwelinye idolobha siye kwelinye sishumayela, silala emabhasini angasasebenzi, emizini yabantu abathakazelayo nakwezinye izindawo ezifuze lezo.

Lapho sifika eMauban, iqembu labashokobezi lahlasela leli dolobha. Sasilele esitezi sesibili sehholo ledolobha. Savuswa ukuxokozela. Sezwa sengathi kukhona ababevimbezele amaphoyisa ayengezansi kwethu. Sawezwa ewisa izibhamu zawo.

Laba bashokobezi babe sebephonseka ngendlovuyangena esitezi sesibili. Omunye wabo wasihlaba ngethoshi wathi: “Ningobani nina?” Sazilalisa. Waphinde wasibuza, wabe esethi: “Anizona nje izimpimpi zamaphoyisa asePhilippines?”

Saphendula: “Cha, mnumzane.”

Wathi: “Kodwa nigqoke okhakhi.”

Samchazela ukuthi izingubo esasizigqokile sasiziphiwe nokuthi izicathulo zethu zaziyizimpahla zosizo esasizithunyelelwe abafowethu baseMelika.

Umkhuzi wabo wathi: “Kulungile-ke, ngizozithatha izicathulo.” Ngazikhumula-ke izicathulo zami. Lalifuna nebhulukwe lami. Sonke sagcina sesisele ngezingubo zangaphansi. Kwaba ngcono ukuthi sasinazo ezinye izingubo esasizibeke eduzane. Empeleni kwasijabulisa ukuthi basiphuca izimpahla zethu. Ukube abasiphucanga, idolobha lonke lalizocabanga ukuthi siyizimpimpi zabashokobezi!

Sathenga izicathulo ezinesithende sokhuni, saphindela eManila, sabe sesiqhubeka siyoshumayela eVisayan Islands.

UMfoweth’ uPantas wayesenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele futhi eyinceku yabazalwane (manje ebizwa ngokuthi umbonisi wesifunda) ngaphambi kokuba aye eSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Lapho ephindela ePhilippines waba umbonisi wesigodi, wakhonza nasehhovisi legatsha ngaphambi kokuba abe nomkhaya.

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 168, 169]

ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO EPHILIPPINES

1908: AbaFundi BeBhayibheli ababili ababevela e-United States baqala ukufakaza edolobheni elincane laseSibalom.

1910

1912: UCharles T. Russell unikeza inkulumo eGrand Opera House eManila.

1934: Kumiswa ihhovisi legatsha. Kukhishwa incwajana ethi Escape to the Kingdom ngesiTagalog.

1940

1947: Kufika abantu bokuqala abaphothule eGileyadi.

1961: Kuqala amakilasi eSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso.

1964: Amaphayona ase-Philippines amenywa okokuqala ukuba ayoba izithunywa zevangeli emazweni angomakhelwane.

1970

1978: Kuqala amakilasi eSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona.

1991: Izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha ziyaphela futhi ziyanikezelwa. Kuqhuma iMount Pinatubo.

1993: Kukhululwa INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiTagalog.

2000

2000: Kukhululwa INguqulo Yezwe Elisha ephelele ngesiTagalog.

2002: Bangu-142 124 abamemezeli abashumayela njalo ePhilippines.

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

150 000

100 000

50 000

1940 1970 2000

[Ishadi ekhasini 199]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ishadi Elibonisa Ukwanda Kwababekhona Emihlanganweni (1948-99)

350 000

300 000

250 000

200 000

150 000

100 000

50 000

0

1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 1999

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 157]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

PHILIPPINES

LUZON

Vigan

Baguio

Lingayen

Cabanatuan

Mt. Pinatubo

Olongapo

Quezon City

MANILA

MINDORO

VISAYAN ISLANDS

Masbate

CEBU

MINDANAO

Surigao

Davao

PALAWAN

El Nido

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 150]

[Isithombe ekhasini 154]

UCharles T. Russell noWilliam Hall ngesikhathi bevakashele ePhilippines ngo-1912

[Isithombe ekhasini 159]

UJoseph dos Santos, oboniswe lapha nomkakhe uRosario ngo-1948, wayelokhu engummemezeli woMbuso oshisekayo naphezu kweminyaka emithathu eboshiwe ephethwe ngesihluku phakathi neMpi Yezwe II

[Isithombe ekhasini 163]

Abazalwane bokuqala abathunyelwa eSikoleni SaseGileyadi besuka ePhilippines: u-Adolfo Dionisio, uSalvador Liwag, noMacario Baswel

[Isithombe ekhasini 164]

Baqwala izintaba bayoshumayela

[Isithombe ekhasini 183]

Maningi amaphayona azuzile eSikoleni Senkonzo Samaphayona

[Isithombe ekhasini 186]

Ukuklama okubhaliwe nge-computer kwaqala ngo-1980

[Isithombe ekhasini 189]

Izindaba ezinhle zenziwa zitholakale ngezilimi eziningi zasePhilippines

[Isithombe ekhasini 199]

UMhlangano Wezizwe ‘Wokufundisa Kwaphezulu’ ngo-1993

[Isithombe ekhasini 199]

Ubhapathizo eMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wabadumisi Abajabulayo’ ngo-1995

[Isithombe ekhasini 200]

Izithunywa zevangeli zasePhilippines ezazivakashe ngesikhathi somhlangano

[Isithombe ekhasini 202]

“INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki” ngesiTagalog yakhululwa emihlanganweni yango-1993

[Isithombe ekhasini 204]

Kuhunyushwa iBhayibheli ngosizo lwama-computer

[Isithombe ekhasini 205]

Iphayona elithokozile lithola “INguqulo Yezwe Elisha” ephelele ngolimi lwalo

[Isithombe ekhasini 207]

IKomiti Yegatsha, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: (abahlezi) uDenton Hopkinson, uFelix Salango; (abamile) uFelix Fajardo, uDavid Ledbetter noRaymond Leach

[Isithombe ekhasini 211]

Ababaleki abaningi baseVietnam bafunda iqiniso ngesikhathi besePhilippines

[Isithombe ekhasini 215]

UNatividad noLeodegario Barlaan, ngamunye wabo waba senkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60

[Izithombe ekhasini 222, 223]

AmaHholo OMbuso asanda kwakhiwa

[Izithombe ekhasini 224]

IHholo LoMhlangano laseMetro Manila (ngenhla) namanye amaHholo OMhlangano angaphandle kwaseManila

[Isithombe ekhasini 228]

Kwesobunxele: UJohn Barr ubeka inkulumo mhla kunikezelwa igatsha ngo-1991

[Isithombe ekhasini 228]

Ngezansi: Izakhiwo zegatsha ngo-1991

[Isithombe ekhasini 235]

Ukunqoba koFakazi BakaJehova kwaphuma emaphepheni

[Izithombe ekhasini 236]

Ukuzamazama komhlaba, izintaba-mlilo nezikhukhula kudala izinkinga, kodwa abameme-zeli abashisekayo bayaqhubeka beshumayela

[Isithombe ekhasini 246]

Amaphayona ashisekayo afunde ulimi lwezandla ukuze asize izithulu zizuze emihlanganweni

[Isithombe ekhasini 246]

Abafundi nothisha ekilasini lokuqala leSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona solimi lwezandla kuleli zwe, ekuqaleni kuka-2002

[Isithombe ekhasini 251]

Ikilasi lama-27 leSikole Sokuqeqeshelwa Inkonzo ePhilippines