ITahiti

Uma uzibuka ule phezulu, iziqhingi zaseFrench Polynesia, njengeTahiti, iMooréa neBora Bora, ungathi ubucwebecwebe obubekwe kuyiPacific Ocean enkulukazi ethi ayibe luhlazana. Amachweba akhona abenyezelayo, ahlobe ngamakhorali nagcwele izinhlanzi eziyimibalabala, azungezwe amabhishi anombala ophuzi okwegolide noma omnyamanyana. Izihlahla zesundu eziyikizela ukhukhunathi zipheshulwa umoya ohelezayo. Kuthi maphakathi, izintaba ezimagqumagquma ezimbozwe uhlaza neziqongo zazo ezigutshuzelwe amafu zakhe isithombe esihlaba umxhwele.

Abadwebi nabalobi baye bazichaza kufanele lezi ziqhingi ngokuthi ipharadesi lasemhlabeni. Kumelwe ukuba zaziyipharadesi impela ematilosini akudala okuyiwona azibona kuqala lezi ziqhingi abe esehlala kuzo, eminyakeni cishe eyinkulungwane noma ngaphezulu edlule. La mavulandlela amangalisayo cishe ayedabuka eNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia, engabanye bokhokho babantu asebaziwa manje ngokuthi amaPolynesia. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka edlule, baye baphuma kulezi ziqhingi okwase kungezabo basabalala, bahamba ngemikhumbi bangena bajula kuyiPacific, okwenza kwaba ezabo iziqhingi zakhona eziningi.

Lokho namuhla okubizwa ngokuthi iPolynesia, igama elisho “Iziqhingi Eziningi,” kuzungezwe unxantathu ongabonakali osuka enyakatho eHawaii uye esiqhingini esibizwa ngokuthi i-Easter Island kude ngaseningizimu-mpumalanga bese unqamula uye eNew Zealand kude le eningizimu-ntshonalanga. Le ndaba igxila engxenyeni eyodwa yePolynesia—iFrench Polynesia—leyo iTahiti eyisiqhingi sayo esiyinhloko.a IFrench Polynesia yakhiwa amaqoqwana eziqhingi ayisihlanu: iziQhingi ZaseTubuaï (i-Austral), iziQhingi ZaseGambier, iziQhingi ZaseMarquesas, iSociety Islands, namaQoqwana Eziqhingi ZaseTuamotu. Kwaze kwaba ngekhulu le-16 lapho abahloli bamazwe baseYurophu bathuka bezithela kule ndawo yasePacific.

Kufika AbeLungu

U-Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira waseSpain wathola ezinye zeziQhingi ZaseMarquesas ngo-1595. UPedro Fernandes de Queirós, owayekade ephethwe uMendaña de Neira, wathola ingxenye yamaQoqwana Eziqhingi ZaseTuamotu ngo-1606. Umhloli wamazwe ongumDashi uJacob Roggeveen wathola iBora Bora, iMakatéa neMaupiti ngo-1722. Ngo-1767, uKaputeni Samuel Wallis, wagibela umkhumbi wempi waseBrithani, i-Dolphin, wayokwehla eTahiti, isiqhingi esikhulu kunazo zonke eFrench Polynesia. Ngonyaka olandelayo uKaputeni Louis-Antoine de Bougainville owayeyitilosi laseFrance naye wenza okufanayo.

Ekhexiswe ubuhle balesi siqhingi futhi emangazwe nawukuthanda kwabantu bakhona ubulili, uBougainville waqamba iTahiti ngokuthi “iNouvelle Cythère, igama alithathela esiQhingini SaseKithira, ePeloponnesia, eduze kwalapho u-Aphrodite [unkulunkulukazi wothando nobuhle] kuthiwa wavumbuka khona olwandle,” kusho incwadi ethi Cook & Omai—The Cult of the South Seas. Umhloli wamazwe waseBrithani, uJames Cook, wavakasha eTahiti izikhathi ezine, kusuka ngo-1769 kuya ku-1777. Nguye owaqamba iSociety Islands, iqoqwana leziqhingi okukhona neTahiti kulo.

Ngemva kwabahloli bamazwe kwafika abavangeli. Abaphumelela kakhulu kwakuyilabo ababethunywe iLondon Missionary Society, inhlangano eyayixhaswa amaProthestani. Ababili babavangeli bayo, uHenry Nott noJohn Davies, baqeda umsebenzi omkhulukazi wokwenza uhlelo lokubhalwa kolimi lwesiTahiti nokuhumushela iBhayibheli kulolo limi. Kuze kube namuhla, iBhayibheli lesiTahiti lisasetshenziswa kabanzi eFrench Polynesia, ikakhulukazi eziqhingini eziningi lapho iSonto LobuProthestani lingubhongoza khona. Abavangeli bama-Adventist, amaKatolika namaMormon nabo baphumelela ngokwezinga elithile. Ngokwesibonelo, iSonto LamaKatolika lingumakhonya eMarquesas, eGambier nasempumalanga yeTuamotu.

Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba la maqoqo amahlanu eziqhingi abe ngaphansi kweFrance? Kusuka ngo-1880, iFrance yayilokhu izidlela nje lezi ziqhingi, yakha ikoloni elisha laseFrance. IPapeete, eseTahiti, yenziwa inhloko-dolobha, kwathi abantu bakhona benziwa izakhamuzi zaseFrance. Ngo-1946, iFrance yabheka lezi ziqhingi njengendawo yayo ephesheya kwezilwandle, kwathi ngo-1957 zaqanjwa ngokuthi iFrench Polynesia.

Kufika Isigijimi SoMbuso

UFakazi wokuqala owavakashela eTahiti kwakunguSydney Shepherd, owafika ngo-1931. USydney wahamba ngomkhumbi iminyaka emibili eshumayeza abantu eziqhingini eziningi zasePacific. Walandelwa uFrank Dewar waseNew Zealand. Yize laba bazalwane bengakwazanga ukuhlala isikhathi eside, ziningi izincwadi abazihambisa. Empeleni, emashumini athi awabe mabili eminyaka kamuva, umbonisi wesifunda uLeonard (uLen) Helberg wase-Australia, wabika: “Ngangihamba nenceku yebandla ngemoto sinqamula iPapeete ngenkathi ima igibelisa indoda eyayiyazela ezintabeni—ikhehla laseMelika. Lapho le ndoda ithola ukuthi nginguFakazi, yathi: ‘Oh, ngiyakhumbula omunye wenu efika la kudala, engishiyela inqwaba yezincwadi zikaJudge Rutherford.’ Lena enye yezindlela okwakubonakala ngazo umsebenzi wamaphayona ayesandulele. Iphayona eyayikhuluma ngalo le ndoda cishe kwakunguSydney Shepherd noma uFrank Dewar.”

Kubamemezeli boMbuso bokuqala abashumayela isikhathi eside eFrench Polynesia kwakunoJean-Marie noJeanne Félix, umbhangqwana oshadile owawufunde iqiniso e-Algeria, eyayiyikoloni laseFrance ngaleso sikhathi. Babebhapathizwe ngo-1953. Ngo-1955 kwaba nobizo olwalumemela abamemezeli boMbuso ekukhonzeni lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona, okwakuhlanganisa neFrench Polynesia. Besabela kuleso simemo, abakwaFélix nendodana yabo encane, uJean-Marc, bathuthela eTahiti ngo-1956. Kodwa uJean-Marie, owayengunjiniyela, akakwazanga ukuthola umsebenzi. Base behamba amakhilomitha angu-230 beya enyakatho-mpumalanga yeTahiti esiqhingini saseMakatéa, eTuamotu, lapho uJean-Marie athola khona umsebenzi enkampanini ye-phosphate.

Kungakabiphi base beqalile ukushumayela komakhelwane nakulabo uJean-Marie ayesebenza nabo. UJeanne uyabhala: “Abantu basesiqhingini babelihlonipha kakhulu iBhayibheli, besinakisisa isigijimi soMbuso futhi bekhuthele ekutadisheni kwabo iBhayibheli. Kwakusikhuthaza lokho. Kodwa abefundisi bendawo basenza sazizwa silahliwe. Baze baxwayisa nemihlambi yabo ‘ngabaprofethi bamanga’ abaphakathi kwayo, bethi abantu kufanele bangasikhulumisi noma bangadluli nakudlula ngasemzini wethu!”

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi nokho, abaningi bawushintsha umbono wabo ngalo mbhangqwana ongamaKristu. Abaningi baze baqala nokuwuhlonipha imbala ngenxa yokungababukeli phansi abantu basePolynesia, njengoba kwakwenze abanye abeLungu eMakatéa.

Yize kunjalo, kwakusadinga isibindi ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi, njengoba umqondisi wenkampani ye-phosphate ayengasixosha noma nini isisebenzi. Kanti okunye, amaphoyisa amabili akulesi siqhingi ayehlala ahlale afike kulo mkhaya ezobuza ngomsebenzi wawo. Kancane kancane, la maphoyisa aseFrance abona ukuthi uJean-Marie noJeanne abayona ingozi. Aze aba nanobungane imbala.

Isifundo sokuqala seBhayibheli esathuthuka kahle ngokomoya kwakunguMaui Piirai, owayesebenza noJean-Marie futhi engumPolynesia. Njengoba iqiniso lalifinyelela inhliziyo yakhe, wenza izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wayeka ukubhema nokuphuza kakhulu, washada nentokazi ayesehlale nayo iminyaka engu-15. Njengoba abhapathizwa ngo-October 1958, uMaui waba umPolynesia wokuqala kuleyo ndawo ukuba anikezele ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova. Naye wabe esezitshela abanye izindaba ezinhle, okwabacasula abefundisi. Omunye umfundisi waze wenza iqhinga lokuba uMaui axoshwe emsebenzini. Kodwa lelo cebo lafekela ngoba uMaui wayeyisisebenzi esihle esinomlando oncomekayo.

Umuntu wesibili owamukela iZwi likaNkulunkulu eMakatéa nguGermaine Amaru, ithishelakazi elathola iqiniso ngomunye wabafundi balo, indodana yabakwaFélix, uJean-Marc. Yize ayeneminyaka engu-7, uJean-Marc wammangaza kakhulu uthisha wakhe ngolwazi lweBhayibheli kangangokuthi waze washayela abazali bakhe ucingo. Bona babe sebeqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye. Kodwa akuphelelanga lapho, uGermaine naye wabe esesiza omunye uthisha, ogama lakhe nguMonique Sage, nomyeni wakhe uRoger, ukuba bazi uJehova.

AbakwaFélix kanye noMaui Piirai bafundela noManuari Tefaatau futhi, igosa eliselincane lesonto lamaProtestani eMakatéa, nomngane wakhe u-Arai Terii. Ekuqaleni bobabili baqhubeka beya esontweni labo bebe betshela abanye ababesonta nabo ngeqiniso lemiBhalo ngoZiqu-zintathu, isihogo somlilo, ukungafi komphefumulo, nokunye. Njengoba ungacabanga, lokhu kwasusa esikhulu isidumo kumaProthestani. Kodwa, njengabaseBhereya lasendulo, abaningi abaqotho bawahlolisisa amaBhayibheli abo ukuze babone ukuthi izinto ababezizwa zaziyiqiniso yini.—IzE. 17:10-12.

Akubuzwa, umfundisi wesonto akakuthandanga lokho. Waze wasonga ngokuxosha noma ubani owayeqhubeka elalela oFakazi. Abanye bayeka ngempela, kodwa abanye bathuthuka ngokomoya, balishiya isonto. Kulabo abalishiya kwakunoManuari no-Arai kanye nomkaMaui Piirai, uMoea, noTaina Rataro, okuzobuye kukhulunywe ngaye kule ndaba.

Ekuqaleni, iqembu elikhulayo labamemezeli nabafundelwayo lalihlangana kwaFélix, lapho uJean-Marie ayebeka khona izinkulumo ngesiFulentshi kuthi uMaui azihumushele olimini lwesiTahiti. Lapho abakwaFélix behamba eMakatéa ngo-1959, iqembu lathuthela kwaMaui, owayesengumzalwane obhapathiziwe. UJean-Marie noJeanne babezizwa kanjani ngenkonzo yabo eziqhingini? UJeanne, manje ongumfelokazi ohlala e-Italy, ukhulumela nomyeni wakhe ongasekho, uthi: “Asizange sizisole nakancane. Empeleni, inkonzo yethu eMakatéa yasenza saba nezinkumbulo ezinhle kakhulu zokuphila kwethu sisobabili.”

Izindaba Ezinhle Zifika ETahiti

Ngo-1955, ngaphambi nje kokuya kwabakwaFélix eMakatéa, uLen Helberg wabelwa yigatsha lase-Australia ukuba aqale umsebenzi wesifunda eNingizimu YePacific. Isabelo sakhe sasihlanganisa izigidi zamakhilomitha-skwele, kusuka eNew Caledonia kuya eFrench Polynesia. Kodwa babengaphansi kuka-90 abamemezeli ababehlala kule ndawo enkulukazi, futhi abekho ababeseTahiti. ULen wayenemigomo emithathu eyisisekelo: ukuhambela ibandla ngalinye neqembu ngalinye njalo ezinyangeni eziyisithupha; ukuthintana nanoma imuphi ummemezeli nomuntu othakazelayo ongayedwa; kuthi nalapho kungenzeka khona avule amasimu amasha esebenzisa ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action.

Ngo-December 1956, uLen wafika eTahiti okokuqala ngqa, wahlala khona izinyanga ezimbili. IsiFulentshi wayesifundile esikoleni kodwa wayesesikhohliwe. Ngakho waqala ngokusebenza insimu yamabhizinisi enethemba lokuthola abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi. Lapho, wahlangana nendoda eyayiyinjinga yezinjinga eTahiti. Le ndoda yamlalela ngesikhulu isithakazelo lesi futhi yamcela ukuba abuye. NgoMgqibelo olandelayo, ngemva kokudla ukudla kwasemini noLen, le ndoda yammemela kwayo, yamthatha ngemoto yayo eshayelwa isisebenzi. ULen uyabhala: “Kwabe sekuthi emini yantambama, ngingazelele, le ndoda yathatha uphondo yalushaya. Ngathola ukuthi lokhu kwakuwuphawu lokuba bonke osaziwayo bendawo bahlangane ehholo elakhelene nomuzi wale ndoda.

“Kwafika cishe abantu abangu-12, kuhlanganise nomphathi-dolobha, umphathi wamaphoyisa, namagosa amaningana esonto lamaProthestani. Ngemva kokungethula njengommeleli woFakazi BakaJehova, ‘inkolo entsha eziqhingini,’ le ndoda yathi ‘uMnumzane Helberg manje uzophendula noma imiphi imibuzo yeBhayibheli eningase nibe nayo.’ Ngakwazi ukuyiphendula yonke imibuzo eyaphakama.” Kwaphindaphindwa lokhu yonke iMigqibelo yezinyanga ezimbili ezalandela. Yize le ndoda ecebile ingalamukelanga iqiniso, yahlela ukuba uLen abukise ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action esibhedlela sabanochoko. Kwafika abangaphezu kuka-120.

Ingabe ukhona owamukela isigijimi soMbuso? UMfoweth’ uHelberg uyakhumbula, “NgoKhisimusi ka-1956, ngenkathi sisebenza indlu ngendlu esifundeni sase-Arue, ngafika emkhayeni wakwaMicheli owasamukela ngomdlandla isigijimi.” AbakwaMicheli babejwayelene ne-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! ngenxa yesihlobo esihlala e-United States esasibenzele izikhokhelo. Kamuva indodakazi yabo, u-Irene, nomyeni wayo bangena eqinisweni. ULen wakwazi futhi ukuqala isifundo seBhayibheli noMnumzane Garnier, okwaholela ekutheni nabanye emkhayeni wakhe bamukele iqiniso. Lapho kubunjwa iBandla LasePapeete ngo-1959, abakwaMicheli nabakwaGarnier babephakathi kwamalungu alo okuqala.

Ngo-1957 ngesikhathi uMfoweth’ uHelberg eya eGileyadi, igatsha lase-Australia lacela umbonisi wesifunda uPaul Evans nomkakhe, uFrances, ukuba bahambele iTahiti. Ngesikhashana abasihlala kuleso siqhingi bahambisa amaBhayibheli nezincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-70, bathola nenqwaba yezikhokhelo ze-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! UMfoweth’ u-Evans wabhala: “Abantu abaningana eTahiti sebenolwazi olwanele lweBhayibheli futhi banesithakazelo esikhulu kangangokuthi bakufuna kabi ukuqala ukushumayela beqondiswa inhlangano.” Ingabe laba abasha babezokuthola ukusekelwa nesiqondiso ababesidinga?

Udade OngumTahiti Ubuyela Kwelakubo

U-Agnès, itshitshi elingumTahiti, washiya iTahiti waya e-United States ngo-1936 eyoshada no-Earl Schenck waseMelika. Lo mbhangqwana wahlangana noFakazi BakaJehova, wamukela iqiniso, wabhapathizwa eSan Diego, eCalifornia, ngo-1954. Ngo-1957 bona nabangane babo oClyde no-Ann Neill babehleli ndawonye emhlanganweni wesigodi eLos Angeles ngenkathi uNathan Knorr, wasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke, ememezela izindawo eziningana ezazinendingeko enkulu. ITahiti yayingenye yazo.

“U-Agnès wagxuma esihlalweni sakhe ukujabula futhi wachiphiza,” kusho uMfoweth’ uNeill. “Ngabe sengiphendukela kuye no-Earl ngathi ngizokwenza noma yini engingayenza ukuze ngibasize bona nendodana yabo, eyayineminyaka engu-11 ubudala, ukuba baye eTahiti. Kulokho, u-Earl, owayekhubazekile, naye waqala ukuchiphiza. Wayehlale eNingizimu YePacific iminyaka engu-17, esebenza njengomdwebi nomlobi, futhi wayekulangazelela ukubuyela khona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Agnès, umkakhe, wayeseseyisakhamuzi saseFrance.”

UClyde uyaqhubeka: “Ngemva kokuthandaza kaningi, mina no-Ann sanquma ukuya eTahiti namadodana ethu amathathu ayeneminyaka engu-12, 8 no-3 ubudala. Abangane bethu oDavid noLynne Carano nendodana yabo uDavid, Jr., banquma ukusijoyina. Ngakho ngemva kokuya emhlanganweni wezizwe ngo-1958 eNew York City, sahamba ngomkhumbi saya eTahiti.

“Igatsha lase-United States lalisinike amagama abanye babantu ababethakazela, ngakho lapho sesifikile, saya kubo. U-Agnès, njengoba ayefike ngaphambi kwethu, wayesezikhandla kakade enkonzweni. Ngenxa yokuthi mina no-Ann sasingakwazi ukukhuluma isiFulentshi noma isiTahiti, sasithatha u-Agnès siyoshumayela naye noma nini uma kungenzeka. Uma sisebenza sodwa, sasihamba nencwadi yesiNgisi neyesiFulentshi ethi ‘UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso,’ okuyincwadi yokutadisha esasiyisebenzisa ngalezo zinsuku.”

Ngenxa yaleyo mizamo kanye nesisekelo esabekwa uMfoweth’ uHelberg noMfowethu benoDade Evans, emasontweni ambalwa nje, abantu abangu-17 baqala ukutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu. UClyde uyakhumbula: “Omunye umfundi okhumbulekayo kwakunguTeratua Vaitape, owayekade engumfundisi wamaProtestani. Wayephelelwe umsebenzi ngenxa yemibuzo yakhe eminingi mayelana nezimfundiso zesonto. Wayehlala nomkhaya wakhe endlini encane enekamelo elilodwa eyayingenawo amanzi nogesi. Wangitshela ukuthi kuningi ayesekufundile ngeBhayibheli emasontweni ambalwa nje etadisha nathi kunalokho ayekufunde eminyakeni emine esikoleni sabefundisi naseminyakeni engu-7 engumfundisi.”

UClyde uyaqhubeka: “Ngemva kwamasonto amaningana sikuleso siqhingi, abantu baqala ukuzwa ngathi kwazise indaba ayihlali phansi. Sasizakala ngalokho ngoba abantu baseTahiti banobungane kanti bayalithanda neBhayibheli.”

Ekuqaleni iqembu elincane labamemezeli laliqhuba imihlangano yalo kwaSchenck. Kwakuba khona abantu ababili nje ababethakazela. “Kodwa kungakabiphi,” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ uNeill, “cishe abangu-15 basijoyina njalo. Enye intokazi esayifundela yayike yasiza uLen Helberg ngenkathi ephukelwa ibhayisikili phambi komuzi wayo eminyakeni emibili noma emithathu ngaphambili. ULen wayeyihambisele izincwadi, ngakho yajabula kakhulu lapho ithola ukuthi sasingabenkolo efanayo. Umuzi wayo wawukude kakhulu nowethu, ngakho lapho siye kuyo, yayisipha ukudla—ngokuvamile okwakuba inhlanzi ephuma emanzini eyehla esiphundu ephekwe emphongolweni wensimbi.”

Ngaphambi kokuhamba kwabakwaNeill nabakwaCarano ngo-December 1958, uClyde wabeka inkulumo yobhapathizo okwakungeyesibili eFrench Polynesia, eyokuqala yayibekwe eMakatéa ngo-October, ngesikhathi uMaui Piirai ebhapathizwa. Kwakunabantu abangu-60, kwabhapathizwa abangu-8. Phakathi kwabo kwakukhona nendodana kaNeill, uSteven, kanye no-Auguste Temanaha, umTahiti owayezosiza kamuva ekumiseni ibandla esiqhingini saseHuahine.

Inkathi Yokuqinisa

Ngokwesicelo segatsha laseFiji, uJohn Hubler nomkakhe u-Ellen, owayevela e-Australia, bathuthela eTahiti ngo-1959 beyosiza iBandla LasePapeete elalisafufusa. UJohn wakhonza njengenceku yebandla izinyanga ezingu-7 yena no-Ellen abakwazi ukuzihlala eTahiti. Njengoba ayedabuka eSwitzerland, uJohn wayesikhipha ngamakhala isiFulentshi. U-Ellen naye wayesikhuluma njengoba ayekhonze nomyeni wakhe iminyaka eminingana eNew Caledonia. AbakwaHubler banika abamemezeli abasha ukuqeqeshwa ababekudinga kakhulu enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu, ngoba iningi labo lalishumayela ngokwethukela kuphela.

Ngo-1960, uJohn no-Ellen baqala umsebenzi wesifunda. Insimu yabo kwakuyiFrench Polynesia, okwabenza bakwazi ukuqhubeka besiza abamemezeli bendawo. “Kwathi ngo-1961,” kusho uJohn, “ngamenyelwa eSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Ngemva kokuphothula, ngabelwa njengombonisi wesifunda kuzo zonke iziqhingi zasePacific okukhulunywa kuzo isiFulentshi.”

IHholo LoMbuso Lokuqala

UMfoweth’ uHubler uthi: “Ngohambo lwethu lwesibili eTahiti, ngaba nelungelo lokuqala isifundo seBhayibheli noMarcelle Anahoa, owayekade enguthisha. Ngaleso sikhathi sasiphans’ phezulu sifuna indawo yokwakha iHholo LoMbuso. Kodwa kwakunezingqinamba ezimbili. Eyokuqala, kwakubonakala kungekho muntu onendawo ayengayidayisa; eyesibili, izimali zebandla zazingamile kahle. Noma kunjalo saqhubeka sifuna, sithemba ukuthi uJehova uzoziqondisa izinto.

“Lapho ngiqhubela uMarcelle isifundo, ngamtshela ngesimo. ‘Kukhona into engifuna ukukubonisa yona,’ esho. Wangiyisa ngaphandle, wakhomba, wathi: ‘Uyayibona le ndawo? Eyami. Bengithi ngizokwakha amakamelo, kodwa manje njengoba ngifunda iqiniso, sengishintshe umqondo. Ngizonikela ngengxenye yayo ukuze kwakhiwe iHholo LoMbuso.’ Ngathi ngingezwa lokho, ngokushesha ngathandaza buthule ngokusuka enhliziyweni ngibonga uJehova.”

Lapho nje izindaba ezingokomthetho sezisingathiwe, iBandla LasePapeete lakha iHholo LoMbuso lalo lokuqala, elaliqeda ngo-1962. Laliwumklamo olula wasesiqhingini, livulekile emaceleni, lifulelwe ngamahlamvu esundu. Ngeshwa, izinkukhu zakwamakhelwane zathi zibonwa yini, zazalela ezihlalweni, zaqhwakela nasemishayweni. Kwakuthi lapho abazalwane befika beze emihlanganweni, bathole amaqanda nezinye izinto ezinyanyekayo phansi nasezihlalweni ezibonisa ukuthi kukhona okunezimpaphe obekuqube khona. Noma kunjalo, ihholo labasiza kwaze kwaba yilapho abazalwane bakha elikhudlwana, isakhiwo esasizothi ukuhlala isikhathi eside.

Ukungaqiniseki Mayelana Nezomthetho Kuyaxazululwa

Ezinsukwini zokuqala, abazalwane babengaqiniseki ngesimo esingokomthetho soFakazi BakaJehova eFrench Polynesia. Umagazini INqabayokulinda wawulokhu uvinjelwe eFrance kusukela ngo-1952, kodwa umsebenzi wona ngokwawo wawungavinjelwe. Ingabe kwakunjalo nakule ndawo engaphansi kweFrance? Ngaleso sikhathi, inani labamemezeli laliqhubeka landa, okwadonsela oFakazi BakaJehova amehlo abantu. Phela ngelinye ilanga ngasekupheleni kuka-1959, kwangena amaphoyisa emhlanganweni ezobheka ukuthi kwenzekani.

Ngenxa yalokho, abazalwane belulekwa ukuba basungule inhlangano engokomthetho. Ukubhaliswa ngokomthetho kwakuzoyixazulula yonke le nto, kubenze bangasoleki. Bajabula kabi abazalwane lapho ngo-April 2, 1960 bethola isiqinisekiso sokuthi sebebhaliswe ngokomthetho njengeNhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova!

Kodwa INqabayokulinda yona yahlala ivinjelwe eFrance. Bekholelwa ukuthi naseFrench Polynesia ayivunyelwe, abazalwane bathola izihloko ze-Nqabayokulinda kumagazini okuthiwa i-Sentinelle (iSentinel), owawuvela eSwitzerland. Langa limbe amaphoyisa atshela uMichel Gelas, ngaleso sikhathi owayengumongameli wenhlangano engokomthetho, ukuthi ayazi kahle ukuthi i-Sentinelle yayithathe indawo ye-Nqabayokulinda. Kodwa-ke awakuvimbelanga ukuthunyelwa kwalo magazini. Isizathu salokho abazalwane babezosithola lapho ukuvinjelwa kwe-Nqabayokulinda kuqedwa eFrance ngo-1975.

Lapho INqabayokulinda ingasavinjelwe, abazalwane eTahiti bafuna imvume yokuba nabo bayithole. Kwavela lapho-ke ukuthi ukuvinjelwa lokhu kwakungakaze kunyatheliswe kuyi-Official Journal of French Polynesia. Okusho ukuthi INqabayokulinda yayingakaze ivinjelwe eFrench Polynesia, okwabamangaza abaningi.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iziphathimandla zakhona zazingathi nsi ekukhipheni ama-visa noma ekweluleni isikhathi sawo. Ngakho, labo ababengezona izakhamuzi zaseFrance, njengoClyde no-Ann Neill, okukhulunywe ngabo ngasekuqaleni, babevame ukuhlala izinyangana nje ezimbalwa. AbakwaHubler nabo babekulolo luhlu. Kodwa ngenxa yokuba yilungu lenhlangano engokomthetho, uJohn wayekwazi ukuthola ama-visa kalula, njengoba umthetho waseFrance wawuvuma ukuba umuntu oyedwa wakwelinye izwe abe ilungu lale nhlangano.

Kwamsiza uJohn lokho esabelweni sakhe sesifunda. Empeleni, ukhomishane wamaphoyisa wabizela uJohn ehhovisi lakhe ngelinye ilanga, efuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani ayevakashela iziqhingi kaningi kangaka. UJohn wamchazela ukuthi njengelungu lenhlangano, kwakumelwe abe semihlanganweni yesigungu. Yamenelisa ukhomishane leyo ncazelo. Kodwa leso akusona ukuphela kwesikhathi uJohn okwadingeka avele ngaso phambi kukakhomishane.

Kusukela ngo-1963, abantu abaningi basePolynesia, kanye nomfundisi okungenani oyedwa ovelele, kwabacasula ukuhlolelwa kwezikhali zenuzi ePacific. Esinye isihlubuki sasizakala ngalokho, saya kokhononda emaphoyiseni ngokuthi uMfoweth’ uHubler ungomunye wabaphehli bodweshu, okwakungelona neze iqiniso. Noma kunjalo, uJohn waphinde wabizwa ukhomishane. Kunokusola ummangali, uJohn wachaza ngomusa ukungathathi hlangothi kwethu okusekelwe eBhayibhelini nokuhlonipha kwethu iziphathimandla zikahulumeni. (Roma 13:1) Waze wanika lo khomishane ezinye zezincwadi zethu. Ekugcineni, lesi sikhulu saphetha kufanele ngokuthi othile wayemane nje ezama ukufaka oFakazi enkingeni.

Nokho, abakwaHubler bagcina bengasakwazi ukuthola ama-visa. Ngakho babuyela e-Australia lapho baqhubeka khona nomsebenzi wokujikeleza kwaze kwaba ngo-1993, lapho impilo engeyinhle ibayekisa.

Ngesikhathi beseseziqhingini, abakwaHubler babona abantu abaningana benza izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwabo ukuze bajabulise uJehova. Omunye wabo kwakungugogo oneminyaka engu-74 ubudala onezingane ezingu-14, zonke zizalelwe ngaphandle komshado. “Sasivame ukumbiza ngoMam’ uRoro,” kusho uJohn. “Lapho uMam’ uRoro ethola iqiniso, washada nendoda ayekipite nayo, wabhalisa nezingane zakhe ngokufanelekile, yize oyise babehlukene. Ukuze kwenziwe uhlu lwazo zonke izingane, umphathi-dolobha wakhona kwadingeka ahlanganise amafomu amabili ukuze enze elilodwa elide. UMam’ uRoro wama kwelokuba izinto zenziwe ngendlela kaJehova.” Ngemva kokubhapathizwa, lo dade othembekile waqala ukuphayona futhi wabonakala ephumelela kakhulu ekuhambiseni omagazini. Ekanye nabanye abamemezeli, wayeze ayoshumayela naseziqhingini ezikude.

IBhayibheli LesiTahiti—Isibusiso

Ngawo-1960, kwakungeyona into engavamile ukuthola abantu abakhuluma isiTahiti kuphela. Kodwa ngenxa yabahumushi uNott noDavies, iBhayibheli latholakala ngalolo limi ngemva kuka-1835.b Esinye sezici zalo ezimangalisayo ukusetshenziswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Iehova ngesiTahiti, kulo lonke, kuhlanganise nemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki.

Njengoba ligcwele kuzo zonke iziqhingi, iBhayibheli lesiTahiti lisize abaningi bathola ulwazi olunembile lweqiniso. Omunye wabo nguTaina Rataro. Wazalwa ngo-1927 futhi waba ngomunye weqembu lokuqala labafundi beBhayibheli eMakatéa. Kodwa ekuqaleni wayengakwazi ukufunda noma ukubhala isiTahiti, ulimi aluncela. Kodwa wazikhandla, wathuthuka. Waze wabhalisa ngisho naseSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini, kamuva wamiswa njengenceku ekhonzayo.

U-Elisabeth Avae, oneminyaka engu-78 ubudala, wazalelwa esiqhingini saseRimatara esisemajukujukwini eZiqhingini ZaseTubuaï, eziqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-600 eTahiti. Emuva ngawo-1960, wayengasizwa nhlobo isiFulentshi, kodwa wayekwazi ukufunda nokubhala isiTahiti. Ngemva kokushada, bathuthela ePapeete nomyeni wakhe. Elapho, wezwa iqiniso leBhayibheli ngendodakazi yakhe endala, uMarguerite, eyayisiqale ukuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu. U-Elisabeth naye waqala ukuya kule mihlangano, kanye nezinye izingane zakhe ezingu-9. Wayeya naphezu kokuphikiswa kabi umyeni wakhe, owayevele athathe zonke izingubo zika-Elisabeth azilahle ngaphandle ngesikhathi esemihlanganweni.

Ngaleso sikhathi, imihlangano yayiqhutshwa ngesiFulentshi, kuthi ngezinye izikhathi ezinye izinkulumo zihunyushwe ngesiTahiti. U-Elisabeth wayethola ukondleka ngokomoya esimisweni ngokufunda eBhayibhelini lakhe lesiTahiti lapho kufundwa imiBhalo. Udade owayemfundela wayesebenzisa incwajana ethi “Lezi Zindaba Ezinhle ZoMbuso,” eyihumusha ngomlomo eyisusa olimini lwesiFulentshi ayiyise kolwesiTahiti kuyilapho u-Elisabeth yena ezifundela imiBhalo eBhayibhelini lakhe. Ngenxa yalokho, wathuthuka kahle futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1965. Naye-ke wafundela abanye ababekhuluma isiTahiti kuphela. Wafundisa nezingane zakhe, okwathi eziyisithupha zazo zanikezela ukuphila kwazo kuJehova, kanye nabanye babazukulu bakhe, abaningana babo azikhulisela bona.

Omunye umzukulu, uDiana Tautu, usekhonze egatsheni laseTahiti njengomhumushi iminyaka engu-12. Uthi: “Ngiyambonga uGogo ngokungisiza ngibe nolwazi oluhle lwesiTahiti. Manje nginelungelo lokuba nengxenye encane ekusizeni abanye bakuthole ngolimi lwabo ukudla okungokomoya okusindisa ukuphila.”

AmaShayina Athola Ulwazi NgoJehova

Ngawo-1960, cishe amaphesenti ayishumi abantu baseTahiti ayengamaShayina. UmShayina wokuqala owamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli kwakunguClarisse Lygan, owayeseyitshitshana ngaleso sikhathi. Babempofu kubo. Ukuze asize ngokwezimali, wayesebenza njalo ngoLwezithathu, uma kungafundwa. Wayeqashwe umkhaya woFakazi. Walithola ngaleyo ndlela iqiniso, kwathi ngo-1962 wabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-18 ubudala, naphezu kokuphikisa okunzima kwabazali bakhe.

U-Alexandre no-Arlette Ly Kwai noKy Sing Lygan nabo babephakathi kwamaShayina okuqala akhonza uJehova eTahiti. Langa limbe u-Alexandre, owayengumshayeli wetekisi, wahlangana noJim noCharmian Walker, umbhangqwana ongoFakazi owawufike ngo-1961 usuka eNew Zealand uzosiza ngomsebenzi. U-Alexandre wabatshela ngesifiso sakhe sokufunda isiNgisi. UCharmian uthi: “Ngaleso sikhathi ngangiphayona. Ngakho uJim watshela u-Alexandre ukuthi ngingamfundisa. Wavuma. Sasifunda isiNgisi imizuzu engu-30 bese kuba eminye engu-30 yokutadisha iBhayibheli, sisebenzisa incwadi ethi “Ukusuka EPharadesi Elilahlekile Ukuya EPharadesi Elizuziwe.”

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, umfowabo ka-Alexandre, uKy Sing, naye wathola iqiniso. Ngaleso sikhathi nokho, womabili la madoda ayesanda kuphendukela ebuKatolikeni futhi ayengena amakilasi ezifundo zaleyo nkolo. Wavele kwacaca nje kuwo umehluko phakathi kwemfundiso yeBhayibheli neyesonto. Ekupheleni kwesifundo, umpristi wabuza ikilasi, elalinabafundi abacela ekhulwini, ukuthi babenayo yini imibuzo. U-Alexandre waphakamisa isandla, wacela ubufakazi obungokomBhalo bokuthi umphefumulo awufi. “Ngiyazi ukuthi uvelaphi lo mbuzo,” kuphendula umpristi. “Uxoxa noFakazi BakaJehova, angithi?” Wabe eseyenza inhlekisa le nsizwa phambi kwekilasi.

Leso senzo savele sabaqinisekisa o-Alexandre noKy Sing ukuthi iSonto LamaKatolika alinalo iqiniso. Ekugcineni bona nomkabo banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova, kwathi kamuva, laba bazalwane bobabili bamiswa njengabadala ebandleni. U-Alexandre wakhonza ngisho naseKomitini Yegatsha YaseTahiti isikhathi esithile. Ngemva kwalokho, yena nomkakhe bathuthela eRaïatéa, esinye seziqhingi zaseSociety Islands, ukuze bayosekela umsebenzi woMbuso, base beya eBora Bora, lapho u-Alexandre akhonza khona ngokwethembeka kwaze kwaba sekushoneni kwakhe.

Ukuphila Okwashintsha Olwandle

U-Antonio Lanza wayenguchwepheshe embonini yama-TV eMilan, e-Italy. Ngo-1966 inkampani yacela ivolontiya elalizoya eTahiti liyophatha umsebenzi wokukhanda ama-TV. U-Antonio wawuthatha lowo msebenzi, owawuzothatha iminyaka emithathu. Kodwa wayehlela ukumshiya umkakhe u-Anna, namadodana abo amabili ayesemancane. Kwaphela amasonto u-Anna ekhala ezama ukwenza umyeni wakhe ashintshe umqondo, kodwa akusizanga.

Ukunqamula esuka eMarseilles, eFrance, eya ePapeete kwamthatha izinsuku ezingu-30. U-Antonio wayengumuntu onomusa owayekuthanda ukukhuluma, kodwa iningi labantu ababesemkhunjini babekhuluma isiFulentshi, ayengasiqondi. Nokho, ngosuku lwesibili besendleleni, wahlangana nezindela ezimbili ezingamaKatolika, ezazingamaNtaliyane. Kodwa zazinemicikilisho yazo yansuku zonke, zingenaso isikhathi esiningi sokuxoxa. Zatshela u-Antonio ngowesifazane ongumFulentshi owayesemkhunjini owayekhuluma isiNtaliyane. Lowo wesifazane kwakunguLilian Selam, uFakazi. ULilian nezingane zakhe babesendleleni belibangise eTahiti beyojoyina umyeni wakhe owayethole umsebenzi khona.

U-Antonio wamthola uLilian, wakujabulela ukuxoxa naye. ULilian yena wamnika incwadi yesiNtaliyane esekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ziningana izingxoxo ezingokomoya ababa nazo ngemva kwalokho. Kwenye yazo, uLilian wakhumbuza u-Antonio ngesimo sokuziphatha esiyingozi ayezifaka kuso ngokushiya umkakhe nezingane iminyaka emithathu esebenza eTahiti. Wambonisa nombono kaNkulunkulu ngobungcwele bomshado, exoxa naye ngezindima zeBhayibheli ezinjengeyabase-Efesu 5:28, 29 noMarku 10:7-9.

Ngemva kokuzindla ngalezi zinto, u-Antonio waqala ukuzisola ngesinqumo sakhe. Empeleni, ngesikhathi esePanama, wabhalela umkakhe, emtshela ukuthi lapho nje esenemali, wayezomndizisa nezingane zabo ezimbili beze eTahiti. Waphinde wabhala futhi, kodwa manje ecela u-Anna ukuba athole iBhayibheli kumpristi, eze nalo. Wathini umpristi ngalokho? Watshela u-Anna ukuthi kumelwe ukuba azithathi kahle kumyeni wakhe, ukuba afune ukufunda incwadi elukhuni kanje.

Ezinyangeni eziyisithupha ngemva kokuba u-Antonio ebeke unyawo eTahiti, umkhaya wakhe wamjoyina. Ngemva kosuku efikile, u-Anna, owayengumame othanda inkolo, wacela u-Antonio ukuba abayise esontweni ukuze babonge uNkulunkulu ngokuphinde babe ndawonye futhi. “Kulungile,” kusho u-Antonio, “sizokuya esontweni.” Kodwa kunokubayisa esontweni lamaKatolika, wabayisa eHholo LoMbuso! Akubuzwa, u-Anna wamangala ngempela. Noma kunjalo wasijabulela isimiso, waze wavuma nokuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli. Ubani owamfundela? Kwakungaba ubani omunye ngaphandle kukaLilian Selam, udade owayefakaze ku-Antonio emkhunjini.

Iminyaka emithathu u-Antonio ayezoyichitha yedwa eTahiti iphenduke iminyaka engu-35 enomkhaya wakhe wonke. Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Antonio, u-Anna namadodana abo amane manje, bonke bandawonye ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, kanti u-Antonio ukhonza njengomdala webandla.

Imikhaya Ikhonza Lapho Indingeko Inkulu Khona

Eminyakeni edlule, abazalwane nodade abaningi baye bathuthela eziqhingini ezingazodwa ukuze bayosiza lapho indingeko yabamemezeli boMbuso inkulu khona. Laba bahlanganisa nomkhaya wakwaMara, owakwaHaamarurai nowakwaTerii, kanye no-Ato Lacour, omkhaya wakhe wawungekho eqinisweni. Umkhaya wakwaMara—uVaieretiai, uMarie-Medeleine, nezingane ezinhlanu—basuka eTahiti bathuthela eRaïatéa. Umbhangqwana wamaphayona akhethekile owawukade ukhonza lapho wabelwa kwenye indawo. Kwasala odade ababili nje nabanye abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe.

UVaieretiai wayengumbazi wokhuni, kwathi kamuva waba umqophi wamakhorali, okwakumenza akwazi ukuthutha ngaphandle kokushintsha umsebenzi. Njengoba ayewukuphela komdala, wanakekela iqembu elincane eRaïatéa iminyaka emihlanu kwaze kwaba yilapho kufika omunye umzalwane ofanelekayo. AbakwaMara babe sebethuthela eTahaa, lapho bahlala khona iminyaka emine.

Ngokuqondene nezinto ezibonakalayo, ukuphila kulezi ziqhingi kwakungelula kwabakwaMara. “Kwakudingeka ngiye eTahiti ngiyothengisa khona izinto engizibazile,” kusho uVaieretiai. “Ngezinye izikhathi ngangingabi nemali yokukhokhela indiza. Ngalezo zikhathi, ngangicela umphathi wenkampane yezindiza encane ukuba angikweletisele ithikithi, ngimthembise ukumkhokhela yonke imali lapho ngibuya. Yebo, ngezinye izikhathi kwakusinda kwehlela, kodwa sasingakaze sikuswele ukudla.” Isibonelo sikaVaieretiai noMarie-Medeleine sokuzidela saba nethonya elihle endodakazini yabo uJeanne, manje oseneminyaka engu-26 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele futhi oyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel yaseTahiti.

Ngo-1969, u-Ato Lacour nomkhaya wakhe bathuthela esiqhingini saseRurutu, eZiqhingini ZaseTubuaï, njengoba ayecele ukushintshelwa khona emsebenzini. Eneminyaka emithathu nje ebhapathiziwe, kwakunguye kuphela owayeseqinisweni emkhayeni wakhe nokuphela kommemezeli kulezo ziqhingi. Ngemva kosuku efikile, waya koshumayela. Wabhala encwadini yakhe yezenzakalo zosuku: “Ngiye ngaqala ukushumayela—ngedwa. Kunzima. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu lizimelele lapha.”

Kungakapheli sikhathi esingakanani nokho, abathakazelayo baqala ukusabela ezindabeni ezinhle, futhi kwasungulwa iqembu. Ekuqaleni babehlanganyela endlini yokuphumula kwaLacour. U-Ato uthi: “Njengoba sasingamalungu enkolo entsha esiqhingini, iqembu lethu lethiwa ngokuthi ‘inkolo kaLacour.’ Kodwa uJehova ‘waqhubeka ekhulisa,’ futhi iqembu lethu laba ibandla ngo-1976.” (1 Kor. 3:6) Ngaphambi kokushona kukaMfoweth’ uLacour ngonyaka ka-2000, amalungu amaningana omkhaya wakhe, kanye nomkakhe uPerena, bamjoyina ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.

URudolphe noNarcisse Haamarurai bathuthela eBora Bora. URudolphe wasula emsebenzini njengomphathi enkampanini kagesi yesifunda eTahiti, wathola umsebenzi wokukha ukhukhunathi nokwenza umqwayiba ngokhukhunathi eBora Bora. Kwaphela iminyaka emibili engawutholi omunye umsebenzi. Kodwa yeka indlela uJehova ambusisa ngayo nomkakhe, ngoba ngokuhamba kwesikhathi babona kuma ibandla kuleso siqhingi! Lelo bandla lahlanganyela kwaHaamarurai iminyaka engu-25. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-2000, lathuthela eHholo LoMbuso elisha sha, elithi lona, eliseduze nje kwechweba elikhangayo laseBora Bora.

UTaaroa noCatherine Terii, ababesanakekela izingane ezingu-7 kwezingu-15 abanazo, bathuthela esiqhingini esincanyana saseMaupiti, naso esiseSociety Islands. Ngenkathi abakwaTerii befika ngo-1977, babewukuphela kwabamemezeli eMaupiti. Bahlala kwesinye isiqhingana esigcwele uhlaza emaphethelweni echweba. Ukudla kwabo ngokuyinhloko kwakuba inhlanzi nokhukhunathi ogayiwe. Babebutha nezimbaza ezidliwayo, ababezithengisa. Lapho abakwaTerii beyoshumayela, babewela ichweba baye esiqhingini esikhulu, becophelela ukuba banganyatheli nanoma iyiphi inhlanzi enameva anobuthi.

Ngo-1980, uTaaroa noCatherine babelwa eBora Bora, manje njengamaphayona akhethekile. Ngemva kokukhonza kulowo mkhakha iminyaka emihlanu, baba amaphayona avamile iminyaka engu-15. Njengoba sizobona, phakathi kwezifundo zabo zeBhayibheli zokuqala kwakukhona nombhangqwana oshadile owakhuthazelela ukuphikiswa okukhulu ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle.

Izingane Ezingokomoya Ziyavivinywa

Abantu bokuqala abafundelwa abakwaTerii bamukela iqiniso eBora Bora kwakungo-Edmond (u-Apo) noVahinerii Rai. Babehlala endlini kamama ka-Edmond. Ngemva kokuba lo mbhangqwana usufunde cishe izinyanga eziyisithupha, umama ka-Edmond, ehlohlwe umfundisi wakhe, wabaxosha endlini yakhe. U-Edmond, uVahinerii nomfana wabo oneminyaka emibili ubudala baphoqeleka ukuba bayohlala eqhugwaneni ehlathini. Umfundisi wanxenxa nomqashi ka-Edmond ukuba amxoshe—empeleni umfundisi waze watshela ngisho nalabo ababengase baqashe u-Edmond ukuba bangamqashi! Kwaphela izinyanga ezingu-8 lo mkhaya uphila ngokudoba.

Kwabe sekuthi ngelinye ilanga owesifazane owayefuna ukwakha indlu wathintana nowayengumqashi ka-Edmond. Wayewazisa kakhulu amakhono ka-Edmond futhi efuna ukuba abe nesandla ekwakhiweni kwaleyo ndlu. Lapho ethola ukuthi u-Edmond wayexoshiwe ngenxa yokuzihlanganisa kwakhe noFakazi BakaJehova, watshela umnikazi wenkontilaki ukuthi wayezomnika lo msebenzi uma nje u-Edmond emsebenzela. Ngenxa yalokho, u-Edmond wabuyela emsebenzini wakhe. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, isimo sengqondo kanina sashintsha, wabacela ukuba babuyele endlini yakhe. Namuhla, u-Edmond ukhonza njengomdala eBandleni LaseBora Bora.

Izindaba Ezinhle Ziyachuma EHuahine

Omunye owayekulelo qembu lokuqala labafundi beBhayibheli ababhapathizwa eTahiti ngo-1958 kwakungu-Auguste Temanaha. Esebhapathiziwe, u-Auguste wathuthela e-United States, kwathi ekupheleni kwawo-1960 yena nomkakhe, uStella, nezingane zabo ezintathu babuyela eTahiti. Wafike wavula ibhizinisi elamvuma. Ngo-1971, ngemva kokukhuthazwa umbonisi wesifunda nangenxa yesibonelo somkhaya wakwaMara okukhulunywe ngawo ngaphambili, abakwaTemanaha badayisa ibhizinisi labo, bathuthela esiqhingini saseHuahine, esiqhele eTahiti ngamakhilomitha angaphezudlwana kuka-160.

Ngaleso sikhathi, kuleso siqhingi kwakunodade oyedwa nabantu abathile ababethakazela. Babexhumana nenhlangano kaJehova kuphela uma kufike amaphayona noma umbonisi wesifunda. Ngakho bajabula bafa uma kufika abakwaTemanaha. Ngaphandle kokuchitha isikhathi, u-Auguste wahlela imihlangano, eyiqhubela ekhishini lakwakhe. Kwakuba khona abangaba ngu-20.

U-Auguste waqale wangawuthola umsebenzi. No-ma kunjalo, yena nomkhaya wakhe bazigcina bematasa enkonzweni, bethemba ukuthi uJehova uzolenza isu. Walenza nangempela. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho abakwaTemanaha beyoshumayela, u-Auguste wayevame ukupaka imoto ensimini ababeyisebenza. Uma bebuyela emotweni, babeyifica igcwele ukudla. Ukuthi ubani owayekuletha, nabo abazi. Bacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe kwakulethwa abantu abanenhliziyo enhle ensimini ababesazi isimo sabo. Kwaqhubeka lokhu amasonto amaningana kwaze kwaba yilapho isimo sabo sezimali siba ngcono.

Ngenxa yentshiseko nokukhuthazela kwabakwaTemanaha nabanye abanjengabo, kanye nomusa wabantu bakulesi siqhingi, akumangazi ukuthi namuhla kunebandla elichumayo eHuahine. Eqinisweni, kulesi siqhingi ummemezeli oyedwa kumelwe ashumayeze abantu abangu-53. Futhi kule minyaka yamuva, kubantu abangu-12, oyedwa useke waba khona eSikhumbuzweni!

Neminye imikhaya eminingi yoFakazi iye yabonisa umoya wokuzidela ofanayo. Ngokwesibonelo, kusukela ngo-1988, uJean-Paul noChristiane Lassalle bakhonza iminyaka emibili eziQhingini zaseMarquesas. UJean-Paul wayekade eyilungu lesigungu sabaphathi be-Social Security Administration (uMnyango Wokulondeka Komphakathi) eTahiti kodwa wawushiya lo msebenzi wakhe ophambili ngenjongo yokwandisa inkonzo yakhe. Ngo-1994 abakwaLassalle baphinde bathutha, manje sebelibangise eRangiroa eseziqhingini zaseTuamotu, bafike bahlala iminyaka emithathu. Kumanje nje uJean-Paul ungumbonisi owengamele eBandleni LasePapeete futhi ukhonza njengombambeli wombonisi wesifunda.

Muva nje, uColson Deane, owayeyiphini lomphathi wejele eTahiti, uthe lapho ethatha umhlalaphansi, wathuthela eziqhingini zaseTubuaï nomkakhe uLina. Bobabili bayaphayona futhi bawusizo olukhulu ebandleni elincane lakuleso siqhingi esisendaweni esabadinga kakhulu abadala.

Imikhaya Isuka EFrance Izolekelela

Eminye imikhaya yasuka le kude eFrance izolekelela emsebenzini. Cabanga ngomkhaya wakwaSicari—uFrancis, uJeannette namadodakazi abo amabili, enye yayineminyaka eyisithupha enye ineyisishiyagalolunye. “Sasilindele ithuba lokwandisa inkonzo yethu,” kusho uFrancis. “Sabe sesifunda e-Ncwadini Yonyaka Ka-1971 (yesiNgisi) ukuthi kudingeka abamemezeli abazokhonza eNingizimu yePacific.” Yize abanye abangane babo nezihlobo bazama ukubathena amandla, abakwaSicari bayamukela inselele bafika ePapeete ngo-April 1972.

Ngenxa yokuthi uFrancis wayengumdala, ukuba khona kwakhe kwaholela ekwakhiweni kwebandla lesibili eTahiti, elokishini lasePunaauia. UFrancis noJean-Pierre Francine, owayengumbonisi owengamele waleli elinye ibandla, baba nelungelo lokukhonza eKomitini Yegatsha yokuqala eTahiti ngenkathi kuqala leli lungiselelo ngo-1976. Wakhonza kuleyo komiti iminyaka engu-12.

Babekhathazeke kufanele yini abangane nezihlobo zabakwaSicari? “Ngokuphambene nalokho abanye ababekusho, ukuthutha kwethu kwaba nomphumela omuhle emadodakazini ethu,” kusho uFrancis. “Eqinisweni sobane sesineminyaka engu-105 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele futhi sithole izibusiso eziningi, njengoba nje uJehova athembisa.—Mal. 3:10.”

Kuyi-Nkonzo Yethu YoMbuso ka-1981, igatsha laseFrance lamemezela ukuthi kunesidingo sabadala esiqhingini saseMooréa, eqhele ePapeete ngesigamu sehora uma uhamba ngesikebhe. Abafowethu ababili nomkabo basamukela lesi simemo, omunye umbhangqwana kwakungu-Alain no-Eileen Raffaelli. Basiza ekumiseni ibandla eMooréa, lapho bakhonza khona iminyaka engu-8. U-Alain wakhonza naseKomitini Yegatsha kusukela ngo-1987 kuya ku-1994.

Ngo-1997 igatsha laseFrance lamema abafowethu asebethathe umhlalaphansi ukuba bathuthele eziqhingini ezikude iminyaka emibili noma ngaphezulu ukuze basize lapho kunesidingo esiphuthumayo khona sabadala. UGérard Balza, umqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha yaseTahiti, uthi: “Sasilindele ukuba kusabele imibhangqwana emibili noma emithathu. Samangala kakhulu lapho kuvolontiya engu-11! Imibhangqwana emibili yaze yakhetha nokuzinza khona. Ngenxa yokuvuthwa kwabo ngokomoya nolwazi lwabo, laba bafowethu nodade baye baba usizo olukhulu kubamemezeli balapha. Futhi yize bengezona izithunywa zevangeli, bakunambithile ukuphila kwazo nezinselele zokuhlala esiqhingini esikude.”

Kumiswa Igatsha

Njengoba umsebenzi ePacific wawuqhubekela phambili, kwaba nentuthuko endleleni okwakwenziwa ngayo izinto. I-Australia yayiqondisa umsebenzi eFrench Polynesia kwaze kwaba u-1958 lapho kuba iFiji ewuqondisayo ngoba yona isondele. Olunye ushintsho lwaba ngo-1975 lapho uNathan Knorr noFrederick W. Franz basendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke bevakashela eTahiti. Babekela abantu abangaphezu kuka-700 izinkulumo ezikhuthazayo futhi uMfoweth’ uKnorr wanikeza abantu abangaba ngu-500 inkulumo yama-slide kwelinye lamaHholo OMbuso.

Ngemva kwesimiso, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wahlangana nabadala wahlongoza ukuba kuvulwe igatsha eTahiti. Wabajabulisa abafowethu lo mbono. U-Alain Jamet, umbonisi wesifunda owayekhuluma isiNgisi, wamiswa njengombonisi wegatsha. Kusukela ngo-April 1 walowo nyaka, kwacaca ukuthi leli lungiselelo elisha laliyisinyathelo esihle. Yiqiniso, iFiji yayiseduze kune-Australia, kodwa kwakusenenkinga yolimi. Kodwa manje abafowethu eFrench Polynesia base bengaxhumana ngokuqondile negatsha labo.

Njengoba babengaphansi kuka-300 abamemezeli kulo lonke izwe, ihhovisi legatsha lalilincane. Empeleni laliyigumbi elilodwa vo elalincikene neHholo LoMbuso lasePapeete. Ngapha kwakunedeski, ngale kunenqwaba yezincwadi. Ekuqaleni umbonisi wegatsha wayengasebenzi isikhathi esigcwele egatsheni, ngakho u-Alain nomkakhe uMary-Ann baqhubeka nokujikeleza nokushumayela eziqhingini ezikude ezazingenabamemezeli.

Ukushumayela Eziqhingini ZaseTuamotu NezaseGambier

Ngenxa yokuthi kwase kumiswe igatsha eTahiti, kwagxilwa kakhulu ekufinyeleleni iziqhingi ezikude nezindaba ezinhle. Ngezinye izikhathi abafowethu babezihlela ngamaqembu baye kulezi ziqhingi. U-Axel Chang, owakhonza isikhashana eKomitini Yegatsha, ukhumbula mhla iqembu labafowethu nodadewethu abangu-20 liqasha indiza liya eRangiroa, isiqhingi esikhulu kunazo zonke eTuamotu. Uthi: “Ngemva kokushumayeza bonke abantu kulesi siqhingi, sahlela ukuba kube nenkulumo yeningi. Umphathi-dolobha wasinika indawo eyayinompheme. Kwaqale kwabonakala sengathi yithina sodwa esizoba yizilaleli! Sacabanga, ‘Mhlawumbe abantu besaba abefundisi babo.’ Kodwa lapho inkulumo isiqalile, abantu baqala ukufika kancane, kwagcina sekugcwele.”

UMfoweth’ uChang uyaqhubeka: “Njengoba inkulumo iqhubeka sabona umpristi wamaKatolika ehamba ngebhayisekili, entininiza eqonde endaweni esasikuyo. Kwathi lapho esondela, walehlisa ijubane, wafifiyela efuna ukubona ukuthi obani ezimvwini zakhe ababekhona. Weza kaningana ezobacinga, okwasibulala ngensini.”

U-Alain Raffaelli wahlela uhambo lokuyoshumayela eziQhingini ZaseGambier ngo-1988. Leli qoqo leziqhingi eliqhele eTahiti ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-1 600, liyisidleke sobuKatolika, lingelincane futhi likude kunawo wonke eFrench Polynesia. Lezi ziqhingi zazigcine ukuthola ubufakazi ngo-1979 ngenkathi u-Alain Jamet echithe izinsuku ezintathu khona.

Abafowethu baqale baya kumphathi-dolobha beyochaza umsebenzi wabo bacele nendawo ababengaqhubela kuyo uMhlangano Weningi. Wabanikeza ihholo lemishado wabe esexolisa ngokuthi wayengezukukwazi ukubaphelezela lapho bemema abantu, ngoba wayematasa ekhankasela ukhetho. Abafowethu bavumela phezulu. Bangu-30 ababa khona enkulumweni, kuhlanganise naye umphathi-dolobha nephoyisa.

Phakathi nale nkulumo yeningi eyayikhuluma ngesimo sabafileyo, u-Alain wathi isihogo esishiwo iBhayibheli sisho nje ithuna, wathi futhi noKristu waya khona. “Yayingeke yenzeke into enjalo kuJesu!” kumemeza omunye ezilalelini. U-Alain wabe esecaphuna iSivumo Sokholo Sabaphostoli esithi uKristu “wehlela eSihogweni.” Le mpendulo yazimangaza izilaleli ngoba kwavele kwasa kuzo ukuthi sezineminyaka ziphindaphinda la mazwi kodwa zingacabangi ngempela ngawo. Omunye umkhaya owawukhona kulowo mhlangano manje ususeqinisweni.

Ababonisi abajikelezayo babeye basebenzise amasonto abangakhonzi ngawo amabandla bayophayona ezindaweni ezazingenabo abamemezeli. Wenzenjalo uMauri noMélanie Mercier, umbhangqwana waseTahiti. Yibona abaqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle eziqhingini eziningana zaseTuamotu, i-Ahe, i-Anaa, iHao, iManihi, iTakapoto neTakaroa. Uma kwenzeka, uMauri wayenikeza nenkulumo yeningi noma adlale ama-slide. Uyakhumbula: “Iningi labantu bakulezi ziqhingi lalinobungane ngaphandle kwabase-Anaa, isidleke sobuKatolika. Phakathi nama-slide, abanye baqala ukumemeza, abanye bafuna ukusishaya. Kwathi gidi nokho lapho sesikwazile ukubehlisa umoya.

Kufika Izithunywa Zevangeli Eziqhingini

Kusukela ngo-1978, iFrance yathumela izithunywa zevangeli eziningi eziqhingini ezazikude kakhulu. UMichel noBabette Muller bafika ngo-August 1978, babelwa ukuba baye eNuku Hiva, isiqhingi esikhulu nesinabantu abaningi kunazo zonke eMarquesas. Abafowethu babeke balivakashela leli qoqo leziqhingi elinamaKatolika amaningi, kodwa akekho owayeke wakwazi ukuhlala isikhathi eside. Ngenxa yokuthi yayingekho imigwaqo, uMichel noBabette babehamba ngezinyawo noma ngamahhashi. Abantu bendawo babeye babanikeze indawo yokulala. Ngobunye ubusuku babendlalela phezu kwemidumba yekhofi eyayomiswa!

AbakwaMuller bahlala eMarquesas izinyanga ezingu-18 ngaphambi kokuqala umsebenzi wokujikeleza. Abaningi babekwazisa ukufika kwabo futhi bezithatha izincwadi. Empeleni, ngonyaka owodwa uMichel noBabette bahambisa amakhophi ayinkulungwane e-Ncwadi Yami Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli! Ngenxa yemizamo yezithunywa zevangeli ezinjalo kanye namaphayona nabamemezeli bebonke, umsebenzi wathuthuka kahle kakhulu, hhayi nje kuphela eMarquesas kodwa nakuyo yonke insimu yegatsha. Empeleni, amarekhodi embula ukuthi kwaba namanani aphakeme abamemezeli izikhathi ezingu-69 zilandelana!

Yebo, bonke laba bantu abasha babedinga ukuqeqeshwa. Kodwa babengatholakali ngaso sonke isikhathi abafowethu abanolwazi ababengasiza umuntu ngamunye. AbakwaMuller bona baxazulula le nkinga ngokuthi ngamunye wabo asebenze nabamemezeli abasha ababili ngesikhathi. Oyedwa wayengena endlini noMichel noma noBabette, omunye alindele ithuba lakhe emgwaqweni. Manje abakwaMuller bayizithunywa zevangeli eBenin, e-Afrika.

‘Ukufakaza Kwavivinya Ulwazi Lwethu LwemiBhalo’

Izithunywa zevangeli uChristian noJuliette Belotti bafika ngo-February 1982 eFrench Polynesia. Baqale bajikeleza, kwase kuthi iminyaka emihlanu baphayona esiqhingini saseRaïatéa, esasinezingxenye ezithile ezazifinyeleleka kuphela ngesikebhe esinogongolo oluvundlile olusiphasile. Kodwa ukufakaza khona kwakungavivinyi nje kuphela ikhono lomuntu lokugwedla isikebhe; “kwakuvivinya nolwazi lwethu lweBhayibheli,” kusho uChristian. “Kwakujwayelekile ukuba sibuzwe imibuzo enjengokuthi: Abagcotshiwe bazi kanjani ukuthi bazoya ezulwini? noma Zifanekiselani izilo zesAmbulo?”

Njengasemiphakathini eminingi emincane, abantu baseRaïatéa babazana bonke. “Ngakho uma ummemezeli esepholile,” kusho uChristian, “kwakuvamile ukuba umninikhaya athi: ‘Senginethutshana ngamgcina uSbanibani. Akasasonti yini nani?’ Noma ‘uSbanibani kufanele asizwe. Kukhona okungasalungile okholweni lwakhe!’” Bathi beqambe behamba eRaïatéa abakwaBelotti, cishe kuwo wonke ama-fare (igama lesiTahiti elisho “umuzi”) kwase kukhona owayeseke wafundelwa oFakazi BakaJehova.

Besuka lapho babezinze khona eRaïatéa, abakwaBelotti baya nasesiqhingini saseMaupiti. Bake bahlela ukuba izincwadi zithunyelwe ngqo kulesi siqhingi, kodwa zangafika ngesikhathi. Akubanga yisithiyo lokhu kuChristian noJuliette, bamane batshengisa abantu amakhophi abo ezincwadi ababehlose ukuzihambisa. Cishe ingu-30 imikhaya eyacela izincwadi, inethemba lokuthi zizofika. Umuntu othakazelayo wenza umusa wazihambisela abantu lezi zincwadi lapho zifika ekugcineni.

Isabelo esilandelayo sabakwaBelotti kwakuseRangiroa eTuamotu, lapho kwakuyibona bodwa oFakazi. Kamuva babelwa eFrench Guiana, bagcina sebabelwe eDemocratic Republic of Congo, lapho uMfoweth’ uBelotti ekhonza khona eKomitini Yegatsha.

“UJehova Uzokuqeqesha”

UFrédéric no-Urminda Lucas bafika ngo-April 1985 bevela eFrance futhi babelwa ukuba baye esiqhingini saseTahaa, lapho kwakukhona khona abamemezeli abathathu kuphela. Lo mbhangqwana osemncane wadonsa kanzima emasontweni amabili okuqala. Imihlangano wawuyiqhubela egunjini lawo lokuphumula futhi kukhona wona wodwa. Wawucu-la izingoma zoMbuso, ubuye ukhale; kodwa awuzange udikibale.

Kwakungekho gesi nazingcingo kulesi siqhingi. Nokho, uFrédéric no-Urminda babenawo u-ova ababethintana ngawo nezithunywa zevangeli ezaziseRaïatéa eseduzane—kodwa-ke kuphela uma u-ova usebenza! Babenanesiqandisi esincane esasixhunywe kuyi-generator kamakhelwane. “Ngokuvamile,” kusho uFrédéric, “yayibaswa kusukela ngo-6:00 ntambama kuya ku-10:00 kusihlwa. Ngelinye ilanga safika ekhaya sathola utamatisi wethu uqine njengetshe. Umakhelwane wayethande ukuzibukelela umdlalo kuyithelevishini, washeshe wayivula i-generator.”

AbakwaLucas kwadingeka bafunde nesiTahiti. Hhayi-ke, njengoba noma ubani oke wafunda olunye ulimi azi, izimfundamakhwela ziyaye ziphoxeke kabi. Ngokwesibonelo, uFrédéric ukhumbula eshumayela endlini ngendlu ecabanga ukuthi uthi “umoya ongcwele”—varua mo’a. Kodwa wayengalibizi kahle igama elilukhuni elithi mo’a, ngakho wayelokhu ethi “umoya wezinkukhu.”

Ngenkathi lo mbhangqwana ufika eTahaa, uFrédéric wayeneminyaka engu-23 ubudala futhi eyinceku ekhonzayo. Watshela u-Alain Jamet, umqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha ngaleso sikhathi, ukuthi wayezizwa engakufanelekele ukuthwala imithwalo yemfanelo ayinikiwe. “Ungakhathazeki wena,” kusho u-Alain, “uJehova uzokuqeqesha!” Nebala wamqeqesha. Ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu lapho abakwaLucas sebeya esabelweni sabo esilandelayo eBurkina Faso, iqembu elincane eTahaa lase liyibandla labamemezeli abangu-14 abanelabo iHholo LoMbuso futhi uFrédéric ekhonza njengomdala.

Yeka intokozo onayo lo mbhangqwana ngokuthi awuzange udikibale ekuqaleni! Usanda kuthi: “Sayijabulela kakhulu leyo minyaka yobusha bethu. Safunda ukuba nesineke nokuthembela ngokugcwele kuJehova kunasemandleni ethu. Lapho sidangele, umthandazo wawusinika amandla. Senza uJehova waba inqaba yethu futhi akazange asenzele phansi. Wasiqeqesha impela.”

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ezingashadile Zithatha Izabelo Ezinzima

Izithunywa zevangeli ezingashadile zaseFrance nazo zaya eFrench Polynesia ziyolekelela. Abafika kuqala kwakunguGeorges Bourgeonnier noMarc Montet. Bobabili babekhonza egatsheni baphinde bajikeleze. Isifunda sikaMarc sasihlanganisa iTubuaï, iGambier, iMarquesas, neziqhingi zaseTuamotu. Eziqhingini eziningi wayeshumayela yedwa; kanti kwezinye wayesebenza namaphayona akhethekile akhona. Uma kwenzeka, wayenikeza izinkulumo zeningi, futhi kwezinye iziqhingi kwakufika cishe bonke abantu bendawo. Ngemva kokushada, uMarc wathi ukuqhubaqhubeka nomsebenzi wokujikeleza. Manje yena nomkakhe uJessica baseBandleni LaseBora Bora, lapho uMarc ekhonza khona njengomdala nephayona.

Ngo-February 1986, kwafika uPhilippe Couzinet noPatrick Lemassif bevela eFrance. Babelwa eMarquesas. Ngokungefani nezinye iziqhingi eFrench Polynesia, iMarquesas ayivikelwe undi lwama-coral. Amawa akulezi ziqhingi ashona phansi le ePacific eluhlaza, ukhangwe amagagasi ayo anamandla eshayeka kuwo. Phakathi kwezintaba ezimangelengele kunezigodi eziyimisweswana ezivundile ezinemifudlana nezimpophoma—ikhaya elihle lezimbuzi, amahhashi nezinkomo zasendle eziningi ezicanasa kulezi ziqhingi.

Eminyakeni edlule, amaphayona nabamemezeli babeyivakashela ngankathi iMarquesas. AbakwaMuller, ngokwesibonelo, bahlala izinyanga ezingu-18 eNuku Hiva ngo-1978/79. Kodwa kwakungashunyayelwanga ngokwanele kulo lonke lelo qoqo leziqhingi. Isimo sashintsha nxa kufika uPhilippe noPatrick. Yiqiniso, kwakunjengokungathi bagida ndawonye ngoba ubuKatolika babunezimpande lapha futhi abantu abaningi bebasaba abapristi. Eqinisweni, abapristi babengobhongoza ezinsongweni ezithile ezatholwa yilaba bafowethu ababili. Kanti futhi ngalesi sikhathi kwakukhula iqembu lamaKatolika anomoya, libasela umoya wobuhlanya futhi lichwensa.

UPatrick noPhilippe baqale basebenza ndawonye babuye bahlukana lapho sebeyijwayele insimu. Babeshintshana ngokuhlala ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eHiva Oa, osele aqhube imihlangano, omunye ahambe ngesikebhe amasonto amaningi avakashele ezinye iziqhingi. Ekugcineni babona kuwukuhlakanipha futhi kusiza ukuba bavele bahlukane—uPatrick wasebenza eziqhingini ezisenyakatho, uPhilippe eziseningizimu.

Ukuze igatsha lisize lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezimbili, lathumela amaphayona akhethekile aseTahiti ukuba ayosebenza nazo. Elinye kwakunguPascal Pater, manje okhonza njengomdala webandla; elinye kunguMichel Bustamante, osengumbonisi wesifunda manje. Lezi zinsizwa ezishisekayo zazikujabulela ukunikeza uJehova amandla obusha bazo. (IzAga 20:29) Futhi-ke ayedingeka ngempela amandla ngoba ukushumayela eMarquesas kwakungekona okwabatetemayo noma amagwala. Yayingekho imigwaqo, kunezindledlana nje ezinamatshe nodaka ngokuvamile ezigwincizayo zinqamule ezigodini ezishonayo neziyimisweswana zize ziyofika emizini nasemiphakathini ecezile. Indlela engconywana yokufika kwezinye zalezi zindawo kwakuwukuhamba ngesithuthuthu esincane.

UPhilippe ukhumbula mhlazane ehamba ngesithuthuthu endleleni encane ngesikhathi esukelwa umhlambi wezinkomo zasendle ezazithuswe enye imoto. Njengoba kwakunesiwa ngapha nentaba eyayiyidwala elikhulu ngapha, kwahlwa emini kuPhilippe. Wavele wenza into eyodwa—wamisa isithuthuthu sakhe wasincikisa né kule ndawo eyidwala. Izinkomo zadlula zigulukudela, zamshiya eqhaqhazela kodwa engenamyocu.

“Kwakumnandi kulesi sabelo sami,” kusho uMichel Bustamante. “Kodwa zaziba khona izikhathi ezisabisayo, ikakhulukazi uma sisodwa kwezinye iziqhingi. Ngake ngahamba emini ngayoshumayela endaweni ekude kakhulu nendlwana engangihlala kuyo, eyayisesigodini esiphansi impela, esenganywe amathunzi. Ngazama ukuthola indawo yokulala eduzane kodwa lutho, kwabe sekudingeka ngihambe ngezinyawo ngiye ekhaya. Ngaleso sikhathi kwase kuhwalele, amathunzi amawa nobumnyama bobusuku kwangihaqa. Ngaqala ukucabanga ngemimoya eyayisetshenziswa kulesi siqhingi namademoni okumelwe ukuba ayecuthile endleleni. Ngashaywa uvalo kwabanda kwamancane. Ngabe sengiqala ukuthandaza nokucula izingoma zoMbuso ezithinta igama likaJehova kaningi. Ekugcineni lapho ngingena endlwaneni yami, ngavala umnyango, ngavula iBhayibheli, ngafunda. Kwaya kwaya lwathi damu uvalo.”

Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu besebenza kanzima, laba bafowethu bathokoza kakhulu lapho bebona umuntu wokuqala abamfundela eMarquesas engena eqinisweni—insizwa okuthiwa uJean-Louis Peterano. UJean-Louis wake wavakashelwa umpristi owayefuna ukuba “abuyele emhlanjini.” Ezama “ukophula” le nsizwa, lo mpristi wagomela ngokuthi igama elithi Jehova livele noFakazi BakaJehova. UJean-Louis wabe esecaphuna iHubo 83:18 kuyi-Crampon Bible (1905) yamaKatolika yesiFulentshi esebenzisa igama laphezulu. Inkukhu yanqunywa umlomo kumpristi, wajokola. Cishe kwakuqala ukuba umuntu walapha asebenzise iBhayibheli lamaKatolika aphikise umpristi ngezimfundiso zenkolo. Ngemva kwesikhathi, ngisho nonobhala wombhishobhi wamaKatolika walishiya isonto wangena eqinisweni.

EHiva Oa izithunywa zevangeli zatholana nombhangqwana ongabeLungu, uJean noNadine Oberlin. Njengomdwebi odumile waseFrance uPaul Gauguin, nabo babeze eMarquesas ngenjongo yokuba badede ezixukwini zabantu. Babehlala endaweni okwakunzima ukufika kuyo, beziphilela impilo elula. Ngemva kokufunda iminyaka emithathu futhi benza izinguquko eziningi ekuphileni kwabo, uJean noNadine babhapathizwa. Sikhuluma nje uJean uyinceku ekhonzayo.

Ngesikhathi uPhilippe Couzinet noPatrick Lemassif befika eMarquesas ngo-1986, kwakunommemezeli oyedwa kulo lonke leli qoqo leziqhingi. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-8, ngenkathi uPhilippe—owaba owokugcina ukuhamba—eseshintshelwe eCameroon, kwase kunabamemezeli abangu-36—ummemezeli oyedwa kubantu abangu-210. Futhi kwakunamabandla amathathu, lilinye esiqhingini ngasinye kwezinkulu—eHiva Oa, eNuku Hiva, nase-Ua Pou.

Kufika Izithunywa Zevangeli Zokugcina

Izithunywa zevangeli zokugcina ezafika zivela eFrance kwakunguSerge noMarie-Louise Gollin, abafika ngo-November 1990. Nabo babelwa eMarquesas, lapho bafike khona benza lukhulu ekuqiniseni amabandla. AbakwaGollin bafunde ulimi lwalapha, futhi isimanga ukuthi sebehambele yonke imikhaya ekulezi ziqhingi eziyisithupha ezihlala abantu!

Bayaye basuke endaweni abazinze kuyo eHiva Oa, lapho uSerge kunguyena yedwa umdala, baye eziqhingini eziningana, ezihlanganisa nezimbili ezingenabamemezeli. Mhla beqala ukuya eFatu Hiva, uSerge wamangazwa umoya omuhle owaboniswa yigosa lakhona lamaKatolika nelamaProthestani. Ekupheleni kwezinkonzo zabo zesonto, bobabili laba balisa benza izimemezelo bemema abantu ukuba baye enkulumweni yeningi eyisigamu sehora eyayizobekwa uSerge esikoleni sendawo. Akugcinanga lapho, igosa elingumProthestani lafika futhi lahumushela inkulumo kaSerge olimini lwaseMarquesas, elalilukhuluma kangcono kunoSerge ngaleso sikhathi.

Ukuze asize izilaleli zithole imiBhalo ehlukahlukene emaBhayibhelini azo, uSerge wayeyibhala ebhodini. Wayethandaza, bonke benanele ngo-“Amen” ozwakalayo. Ngakusasa, abakwaGollin bahambisela yonke imikhaya yaseFatu Hiva izincwadi. Kusukela lapho, basalokhu bamukelwa ngezandla ezifudumele nxashane behambele lesi siqhingi esinabantu abangaphansana kuka-600.

Iqiniso LeBhayibheli Lingena Emajele

Njengasemazweni amaningi, baningi abantu eFrench Polynesia abathole ulwazi lweqiniso leBhayibheli ejele. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngo-Alexandre Tetiarahi, owaba ihlongandlebe esemncane futhi wabhadla iminyaka engu-7 ejele. Weqa izikhathi okungenani eziyisithupha okwamenza wabizwa ngokuthi uButterfly, okuyigama lomlingiswa oqavile kwenye incwadi ekhuluma ngesiboshwa eseqayo.

Esendaweni ayecashe kuyo eRaïatéa, u-Alexandre wathola iBhayibheli nencwadi ethi “Izinto UNkulunkulu Angeqambe Amanga Ngazo.” Walifunda waliqeda iBhayibheli nale ncwadi iziqubu eziningana. Egculisekile ukuthi uthole iqiniso, waqala ukuhlushwa unembeza. Wenzani?

Nakuba ayengakaze abonane ubuso nobuso noFakazi BakaJehova, abangabanyathelisi bale ncwadi, u-Alexandre waziyisa emaphoyiseni, wona ambuyisela ejele eTahiti. Kulelo jele kwakusebenza uColson Deane engujele. Kuthe kungakabi nayisikhathi eside u-Alexandre efikile, wezwa uColson eshumayeza umuntu ayesebenza naye futhi wavele wazikhumbula lezi zimfundiso. Ngakho waya kuColson ngasese wacela ukuba aqhubeke nokufunda.

UMfoweth’ uDeane wathola imvume kumphathi wejele yokuba afunde no-Alexandre esitokisini sakhe. Akuphelanga sikhathi nezinye iziboshwa eziningi zafuna ukufunda. Umphathi wamvumela uColson ukuba azifundele nalezi ziboshwa ngesikhathi sakhe sekhefu lasemini. Kamuva kwanqunywa ukuthi kuzoba ngcono uma abanye abadala ababili bezifundela iziboshwa. Iziboshwa ezingu-30 kuya ku-50 zaqhubeka iminyaka eminingi zithola inkulumo yeBhayibheli masonto onke ilandelwa isifundo esasiqhutshelwa labo ababesifuna.

Njengoba isikhathi sihamba, u-Alexandre wathuthuka ngokushesha futhi izikhulu zejele zakuphawula lokho. Ngenxa yalokho, lo phunyuka bemphethe wanikezwa imvume ekhethekile yokuya emhlanganweni wesigodi okokuqala, egadwe uMfoweth’ uDeane. U-Alexandre wabhapathizwa lapho. Sewadedelwa futhi uyaqhubeka ekhonza uJehova.

Imihlangano Yezizwe eTahiti

Ngo-1969, kwaba nomhlangano wezizwe wokuqala eTahiti. Ngaleso sikhathi babengu-124 kuphela abamemezeli eziqhingini. Ungacabanga-ke ukuthi kwabajabulisa kanjani ukwamukela izihambeli ezingu-210 zivela emazweni angu-16, kukhona noFrederick W. Franz—ongowokuqala kumalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ukuvakashela eTahiti. Inani eliphakeme lababekhona kulo mhlangano lalingu-610, futhi wabafaka umfutho ngempela abafowethu, waba nomthelela ekwandeni kwabamemezeli ngamaphesenti angu-15 ngonyaka owalandela. Kwathi ngo-1978, kwaba khona uMhlangano Wezizwe ‘Wokholo Olunqobayo’ eTahiti. Kulona kwaba khona abangu-985!

Bahumushela Olimini LesiTahiti

Ngokwanda kwabamemezeli, kwanda nomsebenzi egatsheni, ikakhulu umsebenzi wokuhumushela izincwadi zeBhayibheli olimini lwesiTahiti, ulimi oluyinhloko ePolynesia. Nangaphambi kokuba kumiswe igatsha, kunedlanzana labamemezeli asebekhulile ababesazi kahle isiTahiti elase lizihumusha izincwadi ezithile ngezinye izikhathi, lizisusela esiFulentshini ngokuvamile. Ngokwesibonelo, kusukela ngo-1963 lahumusha INkonzo YoMbuso. Kwathi ngo-1971 laphothula incwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade.

Ukuvulwa kwegatsha laseTahiti ngo-1975 kwawuqhubekisela phambili ngamandla umsebenzi wokuhumusha. Abahumushi abaningi abasha babesazi isiNgisi ngoba siyafundwa esikoleni. Ngakho manje base bengahumusha besusela ngokuqondile esiNgisini kunasezincwadini ezihunyushwe ngesiFulentshi. Kusukela ngo-1976, igatsha lahumusha INqabayokulinda ngesiTahiti yaphuma kabili ngenyanga, futhi kwake kwahunyushwa ne-Phaphama! Kwahunyushwa nencwadi ethi “Yonke ImiBhalo Iphefumlelwe UNkulunkulu Futhi Inenzuzo,” Ukubonisana NgemiBhalo, neculo. Empeleni, alikho elinye iqembu labanyathelisi eliye lakhipha izincwadi eziningi zesiTahiti njengoFakazi BakaJehova!

Nokho, eminyakeni engu-30 edlule, isiFulentshi siye sadlondlobala ngaphezu kwesiTahiti nezinye izilimi zasePolynesia. Esinye isizathu salokhu ukuthi njengoba isiFulentshi sikhulunywa abantu abaningi futhi sinothile ngamagama, sisetshenziswa abezindaba nayizikole kuze kuyofika eyunivesithi.

Noma kunjalo, abantu abaningi basePolynesia babheka isiTahiti njengengxenye yendabuko yabo, ngakho abafowethu bavame ukushumayela ngaso. Futhi emabandleni angu-26 asensimini yegatsha, angu-5 awesiTahiti, amelela amaphesenti angaba ngu-20 abamemezeli. Ngakho sisesikhulu isidingo sezincwadi zalolo limi.

Umshikashika Wokwakha Uyaqala

Igumbi elincane elincikene neHholo LoMbuso ePapeete laba ihhovisi legatsha kusukela ngo-1975 kwaze kwaba ngo-1983, ngenkathi kwakhiwa igatsha elisha elokishini lasePaea, eliqhele ePapeete ngamakhilomitha angu-25. Lesi sakhiwo esisha seBethel sakhiwa abafowethu bakule ndawo bodwa, sasinamakamelo amane amalungu omkhaya waseBethel, amahhovisi amathathu, indawo yokugcina izincwadi, neHholo LoMbuso. Ngo-April 15, 1983, uLloyd Barry weNdikimba Ebusayo wanikezela lezi zakhiwo ezintsha phambi kwezethameli ezingu-700.

Kodwa kungakabiphi, ngisho nalelo gatsha laba lincane. Ngakho iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kwakhiwe isakhiwo esikhulu, esihlanganisa neHholo LoMhlangano eToahotu, idolobha elithi alibe semaphandleni eduze nomdweshu wezwe oxhuma lezi zingxenye zombili zesiqhingi. Lo msebenzi waphothulwa iqembu labafowethu base-Australia, eCanada, eFrance, eNew Zealand, nase-United States. Abamemezeli bendawo nabo basekela kakhulu. Ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo uMilton G. Henschel wanikezela lesi sakhiwo esisha ngo-December 11, 1993.

Cishe ngaso leso sikhathi, kwaqala umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha amaHholo OMbuso. Beqondiswa iKomiti Yokwakha Yesifunda yalapha, abafowethu bakha amahholo amasha angu-16 ngeminyaka engaphansi kuka-10. Ngakho-ke, amabandla amaningi manje asenamaHholo OMbuso awo.

Izinguquko Egatsheni Nokuqeqeshwa Okuqhubekayo

Ngo-1995, u-Alain Jamet wayeseneminyaka cishe engu-20 engumqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha, kodwa ngenxa yemithwalo yomkhaya, wayengasakwazi ukuqhubeka nalesi sabelo. Kodwa wakwazi ukuqhubeka eseKomitini Yegatsha abuye abe umbonisi wesigodi ngezikhathi ezithile. Ngakho ngo-September walowo nyaka, iNdikimba Ebusayo yabela uGérard noDominique Balza eTahiti, bevela emkhayeni waseBethel eFrance. UGérard wamiswa njengomqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha.

Ilungu lesithathu leKomiti Yegatsha uLuc Granger. Yena nomkakhe uRébecca bathuthela lapha eTahiti ngo-1991 bezokhonza lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Ngemva kwesikhashana bengamaphayona akhethekile, baba ababonisi besifunda nabesigodi iminyaka emine ngaphambi kokuba babelwe egatsheni ngo-1995.

Ngo-May 1997 igatsha laseTahiti lakwazi ukuqhuba ikilasi lokuqala leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo. Abafundi abaningi kwabangu-20 ababekhona bathola amalungelo akhethekile enkonzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uFélix Temarii, manje ungomunye wababonisi besifunda ababili kulezi ziqhingi. UGérard Balza uthi: “Sithandazela ukuba abafowethu abaningi bazenze bafaneleke futhi batholakale ukuze kube nekilasi lesibili. Sisesikhulu ngempela isidingo eziqhingini eziningi, ezinye kwamanje azinabo abamemezeli. Kwezinye iziqhingi kudingeka abazalwane abafanelekayo ukuba bathwale imithwalo yebandla. Futhi abantu abahlala eziqhingini ezingu-58, abamelela amaphesenti angaba ngu-7 abantu, bayaqabukela bezwe izindaba ezinhle. Kwezinye izindawo, isidingo singagcwaliswa imibhangqwana evuthiwe ngokomoya esithathe umhlalaphansi eyizakhamuzi zaseFrance. Uma bekhona abanjalo abangathanda ukusisiza—ngisho noma kungaba iminyaka emibili—igatsha liyojabula uma belibhalela.”

Izinselele Zomphakathi Oshintsha Ngokushesha

Umnotho waseTahiti uyakhula futhi abantu baya bethanda izinto zomhlaba nokuhlala emadolobheni. Lokhu kube nesandla ekuthutheleni kwabantu eTahiti besuka kwezinye iziqhingi. Ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, ukuvikela amalungelo abathengi, nokuphishekela injabulo kube umphumela wokuchuma komnotho.

Kuyadabukisa ukuthi abantu bakaJehova abaningi baye banqotshwa yilezi zingcindezi ezingabonakali kalula. Intsha ikakhulukazi ikuthola kuyinselele ukugcina izinto ezingokomoya ziza kuqala nokuhlala imsulwa. Noma kunjalo, sisaqhubeka sibonakala isibusiso sikaJehova, ngoba kule nsimu ummemezeli oyedwa kumelwe ashumayeze abantu abangu-141.

Lokhu kuyinkomba yokuthi abantu abaningi eFrench Polynesia sebazisa ipharadesi elihle nakakhulu—elingokomoya, eliyindawo yabantu bakaNkulunkulu kuphela. (Joh. 6:44; IzE. 5:14) Ngaphezu kwalokho, leli pharadesi liyisandulela sepharadesi elingokoqobo elizokwemboza umhlaba maduze nje, okungeke kube khona ubuhlungu kulo, ukudabuka ngisho nokufa—izinto eziye zahlupha zonke izizukulwane zabantu noma ngabe bahlalaphi.—Jobe 14:1; IsAm. 21:3, 4.

Abantu bokuqala basePolynesia batshengisa isibindi, ikhono lokuhamba ngemikhumbi nokholo olukhulu lokuthi ngalé komkhathizwe kunezwe—mhlawumbe elingcono nokuba ngcono. Abazange badumazeke. Abakhulekeli bakaJehova nabo namuhla, njengalabo okulandiswe ngabo kule ndaba, bayaqhubeka bezama ukuthola umklomelo omkhulu kakhulu uJehova ababekele wona. Nabo ngeke badumazeke. Yebo, uJehova uyobahola bonke abathembela kuye, abahole kangcono kunanoma iyiphi inkanyezi esesibhakabhakeni, aze abafikise emhlabeni oyiPharadesi osulá eduzane.—IHu. 73:23, 24; Luka 23:43.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 72]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu NgeFrench Polynesia

Izwe: Njengoba zisakazeke phezu kwendawo engamakhilomitha-skwele ayizigidi ezingu-5 zolwandle, lezi ziqhingi ezingu-130 zinendawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-4 000. Zakha amaqoqo eziqhingi ayisihlanu: iTubuaï (Austral), iGambier, iMarquesas, iSociety, neTuamotu. KumaSociety Island angu-14 kuhlala amaphesenti angu-85 engqikithi yabo bonke abantu.

Abantu: Iningi labantu lingelokuzalwa ePolynesia no-ma lixubile. Abanye—imithonseyana nje—amaShayina, abaseYurophu, nabaseMelika.

Ulimi: IsiFulentshi nesiTahiti izilimi eziyinhloko, bese kuthi isiFulentshi kube ulimi olusetshenziswa uhulumeni nabezohwebo.

Indlela Yokuziphilisa: Umnotho ngokuyinhloko usekelwe emisebenzini yasemahhovisi kanye nasezimbonini ezenza izinkonzo ezithile kuhlanganise nezokuvakasha. Ezolimo, izimboni, amapulazi akhiqiza amapharele, aqasha ingxenye esele yabantu abasebenzayo. Amapharele enza amaphesenti angu-80 omkhiqizo othunyelwa kwamanye amazwe.

Ukudla: Lezi ziqhingi zithembele kakhulu ekudleni okuvela kwamanye amazwe. Izilimo zendawo zihlanganisa ubhanana, umdumbula, ukhukhunathi, ulethisi, upopo, uphayinaphu, imfino i-taros, utamatisi namakhabe. Inyama yabo ihlanganisa inhlanzi, imbaza, imfazi, inyama yenkomo, yembuzi, neyengulube.

Isimo Sezulu: Isimo sezulu siyashisa futhi sinomswakama kodwa siyahlukahluka kancane kuye ngeqoqo leziqhingi okulo. Inkathi yemvula (ihlobo) iqala ngo-November iphele ngo-April. Njalo ngonyaka, eTahiti ephakathi kuna imvula engamamitha angu-9.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 74]

Iziqhingi Eziphakeme, Iziqhingi Eziphansi Nama-motu

Iziqhingi zaseFrench Polynesia zakhiwa ukuqhuma kwezintaba-mlilo futhi zihlukaniseka zibe izinhlobo ezimbili eziyinhloko—iziqhingi eziphakeme neziqhingi eziphansi. Iziqhingi eziphakeme zimagebhugebhu futhi zintabantaba, ezinye ziyiziqongo eziyizinkulungwane zamamitha ngaphezu kolwandle. ITahiti iyisibonelo esihle sesiqhingi esiphakeme.

Zonke iziqhingi eziphakeme, ngaphandle kwezaseMarquesas, zivikelwe izixhobo zama-coral azizungezile. Kweziningi zalezi zixhobo, njengaleso esitholakala eBora Bora, uyothola iziqhingana ezincane ezinohlaza ezibizwa ngokuthi ama-motu. Lezi izindawo ezidla ubhedu kwabavakashayo.

Iziqhingi eziphansi ziyiziqhingi ezincane eziphakeme nje ngamamitha ambalwa ngaphezu kolwandle. Ngokuvamile, izixhobo zenza okusasiyingi bese kubangela ukuba kube nechweba elicwebile. Iziqhingi zeQoqo Leziqhingi zaseTuamotu zinjalo. Amanye amachweba makhulu. Lelo eliseRangiroa, ngokwesibonelo, lingamakhilomitha angu-70 ubude namakhilomitha angu-20 lapho libanzi khona kakhulu.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 77]

Ngangiyigosa Lesonto Manje Ngingummemezeli WoMbuso

UManuari Tefaatau

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1913

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1959

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Njengegosa eSontweni LamaProthestani, wafunda iqiniso kwabanye babafundi beBhayibheli bokuqala esiqhingini saseMakatéa.

Ngemva kokufika koFakazi eMakatéa ngo-1956, oJean-Marie noJeanne Félix, , izifundo zeBhayibheli zabo zokuqala, uMaui Piirai noGermaine Amaru, bafakaza kimi. Kungakapheli sikhathi, ngaqala ngahlanganyela iqiniso leBhayibheli nengangisonta nabo, okwasusa esinamathambo esontweni. Empeleni umfundisi wangitshela ukuba ngiyeke ukukhuluma noFakazi BakaJehova.

Ngaphandle kokungabaza, ngasula esontweni ngaqala ukuya emihlanganweni, eyayiba kwaFélix. Abanye abambalwa engangisonta nabo baqala ukufunda nokuba khona emihlanganweni. Ngikubheka njengelungelo ukuba phakathi kwalelo qembu lokuqala labafundi beBhayibheli kulo lonke elaseFrench Polynesia.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 83, 84]

UJehova Wasivala Isikhala

ULeonard (Len) Helberg

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1930

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1951

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Njengombonisi wesifunda ongashadile, esabelweni sakhe sokuqala, waqala umsebenzi eTahiti. Yena nomkakhe, uRita, manje bahlala e-Australia.

Ngo-1955, lapho igatsha lase-Australia lingabela ukuba ngiqale umsebenzi wokujikeleza eSouth Pacific, le nsimu engudedangendlale yayinamabandla amabili nje kuphela,—elilodwa eFiji nelinye eSomoa,—namaqembu angawodwa ayisithupha. Babengekho abamemezeli eTahiti.

Ngahlela ukuvakashela lesi siqhingi okokuqala ngo-December 1956, futhi ngafika khona ngemva kohambo lwezinsuku eziyisithupha ngomkhumbi i-Southern Cross, ngisuka eFiji. Ngathola indawo yokuhlala emzini oqashisayo owawubhekene netheku elihle lasePapeete. Ngakusasa ekuseni, lapho ngigqokela ukuya ensimini, ngabona i-Southern Cross idlula bude buduze nefasitela lami. Ngangingedwa ezweni elisha, ngiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-3 000 kubafowethu, nginabantu abakhuluma ulimi engingalwazi—isiFulentshi. Ukuphela kwento enganginayo kwakuyikheli lomuntu owayenesikhokhelo se-Phaphama!

Kungazelelwe ngadliwa umzwangedwa ngaphelelwa amandla, ngakhala zehla. Njengoba kwakungavumi ngithule, ngazitshela, ‘Hhayi ke lolu suku selonakele—angimane ngibuyele embhedeni. Ngizoqala kahle kusasa.’ Ngemva kokuthandaza ngokujulile ngalobo busuku, ngavuka ngakusasa igazi lithé tsha. Ngaleyo ntambama ngamthola owayenesikhokhelo se-Phaphama!—owesifazane wase-Algeria. NjengoLidiya okukhulunywa ngaye encwadini yezEnzo, yena nendodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-34 bangamukela ngezandla ezifudumele, bephikelela ukuba ngihlale nabo. (IzE. 16:15) Kungazelelwe, isizungu saphela! Ngambonga uJehova, ngokuqinisekile owakuzwa ukunxusa kwami ngezinyembezi isikhathi eside.

Uma ngibheka emuva, ngibona ngempela ukuthi uJehova unguBaba onothando kangakanani! Yebo, lapho sizenza sitholakale, ngokuqinisekile uyosivala isikhala sanoma yini esiyintulayo.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 87, 88]

Amaphayona Okuqala

U-Alexis Tinorua wayekhona emhlanganweni owawuhlelwe uLen Helberg ngasekupheleni kwawo-1950. U-Alexis wathi: “Ngangilalele ingxoxo yeBhayibheli uMfoweth’ uHelberg ayenayo nedlanzana lamagosa angamaProthestani. Khona lapho, ngalibona iqiniso ezimfundisweni zoFakazi BakaJehova futhi ngaqala ukufunda nabo. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1960. Ngabe sengijabulela inkonzo yobuphayona iminyaka engu-9. Ngo-1965, ngaba nelungelo lokuba owokuqala ukushumayela esiqhingini saseHuahine, eSociety Island. Ngimkweleta kakhulu uJehova ngokunginika ilungelo lokusiza abangu-80 ukuba babe nolwazi olunembile ngeqiniso leBhayibheli.” U-Alexis wakhonza uJehova kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-May 2002.

UHélène Mapu waqala ukuphayona ngo-1963 eTahiti, ngokushesha nje ngemva kokufunda iqiniso. Umyeni wakhe, nakuba engeyena uFakazi, wayemsekela kakhulu. Umsebenzi wakhe wawuhilela ukuhamba ngesikebhe phakathi kweTahiti neRaïatéa. Ngakho akabanga nanxa lapho uHélène amukela isimemo sokuba iphayona elikhethekile eRaïatéa, waba owokuqala ukushumayela khona izindaba ezinhle. UHélène wabuyela eTahiti, kodwa manje waya enhlonhlweni (ingxenye encane yesiqhingi, ebizwa nangokuthi iTahiti Iti) lapho yena nomunye udade, uMereani Tefaaroa, kwakuyibo kuphela oFakazi. UHélène uthi: “Kwakunesithakazelo esikhulu enhlonhlweni, futhi ngesikhathi esincane, saqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi.”

Isibusiso sikaJehova kulab’ odade abathembekile sabonakala, ngoba kamuva kwamiswa ibandla kuleyo nsimu, elokishini laseVairao.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 101]

“Khetha Phakathi Kwami NoJehova”

UYvette Gillot

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1932

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1968

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Uye waba iphayona elivamile isikhathi eside ukwedlula wonke amanye amaphayona eFrench Polynesia.

Lapho ngitshela umyeni wami ukuthi ngifuna ukuba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, wanginqumela ugwayi katiki: “Khetha phakathi kwami noJehova.” Ngazama ukubonisana naye, kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya. Wangishiya nabantwana bethu abathathu. Nokho, wabuya ngemva kweminyaka ethile.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, ngakwazi ukondla umkhaya wami futhi ngaqhubeka ngiphayona. Ngangenza umsebenzi wami wokuziphilisa ekuseni ngovivi, bese ngiqhuba imihlangano yenkonzo yasensimini. Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1960, kwakunabamemezeli abangaba yikhulu kuphela eziqhingini, ngakho abazalwane babengatholakali njalo.

Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokunginika ilungelo lokusiza abacishe babe ngu-50 ukuba banikezele ukuphila kwabo kuye, kuhlanganise noRichard Wong Foo, obelokhu eyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel eTahiti kusukela ngo-1991. Ngiyajabula ukusho ukuthi amadodana ami amabili akhonza njengabadala bebandla.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 105]

Umngcwabo Wenkosazana Yokugcina

UMichel Gelas, umdala ePapeete, waba nokuhlangenwe nakho okungajwayelekile okwakuhilela ilungu lokugcina lasebukhosini baseTahiti, iNkosazana Takau Pomare, eyafa ngo-1976 ineminyaka engu-89. Le nkosazana yayingowozalo oluqondile lohlanga lwasebukhosini bakwaPomare, olwabusa iTahiti neziqhingana ezimbalwa eziseduze isikhathi esithile. Indodakazi yakhe yokutholwa, engomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, yacela uMichel ukuba anikeze inkulumo yomngcwabo, nakuba inkosazana yayingeyena uFakazi.

UMichel wavuma ukunikeza inkulumo, enomuzwa wokuthi kwakuzoba ithuba elihle lokuchaza ithemba lovuko kubantu abaningi, kuhlanganise nezicukuthwane zezombangazwe nezenkolo namalunga ophiko lwezindaba. Ngakusasa, iphephandaba lendawo lanyathelisa isithombe sikaMfoweth’ uGelas enikeza inkulumo, ibhokisi libekwe phambi kwakhe. Phakathi kwababekhona kwakunombusi, umongameli wasePolynesia, ezinye izikhulu, nombhishobhi omkhulu wamaKatolika evunule ephelele.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 109, 110]

Omunye Umfundisi Wasiboleka Isikuta Sakhe; Omunye Washisa Izincwadi Zethu

UJacques Inaudi

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1944

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1965

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Enomkakhe, uPaulette, bakho-nza njengamaphayona akhethe-kile eFrance nasemsebenzini wokujikeleza ePacific.

Ngo-1969, mina noPaulette savalelisa emakhaya nakubangane bethu eFrance sase sibhekisa amabombo eTahiti, esabelweni sethu esisha. Nakho phela sekokheleka umlilo emkhunjini wethu siphakathi nePacific, sazithola sintanta nje olwandle izinsuku ezine! Ekufikeni kwethu eTahiti, ngabelwa ukukhonza njengombonisi wesifunda.

Isifunda sethu sasihlanganisa iNew Caledonia, iVanuatu, neFrench Polynesia. Ngaleso sikhathi iFrench Polynesia yayinebandla elilodwa namaqembu amabili angawodwa. Ngo-1971 isifunda sethu sancishiswa saba iFrench Polynesia kuphela, okwasinikeza isikhathi esengeziwe sokuvakashela iziqhingi eziningana ezicezile. Kwezinye zalezo ziqhingi, isigijimi soMbuso sasingakaze simenyezelwe ngaphambili. Mina noPaulette sabuye sachitha izinyanga ezingu-9 eHuahine nesikhathi esifushane esiqhingini esincane saseMaupiti. Ngenkathi siseHuahine, saba nelungelo lokuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-44.

Ukuze sidle, ngangidoba izinhlanzi—isikhathi esiningi ngangisebenzisa umcibisholo wokuciba izinhlanzi. Sasiphila ngokuciciyela kodwa sasingalambi; izidingo zethu ezingokwenyama zazihlale zinakekelwa. Lapho sifakaza esiqhingini saseTubuaï, samangala lapho umfundisi othile esiboleka isikuta sakhe. Mhlawumbe wayesidabukela ngoba sasingenayo into yokuhamba.

Ngo-1974 savakashela iziqhingi ezine zaseMarquesas: iHiva Oa, iNuku Hiva, i-Ua Huka ne-Ua Pou. Igatsha lasicela ukuba sivakashele uKalina Tom Sing Vien, udade osendaweni engayodwa owayeye e-Ua Pou njengomhlengikazi ngo-1973. Wahlala lapho izinyanga ezingu-13, waba ummemezeli woMbuso wokuqala ukufaka umbiko wasensimini eMarquesas.

Ngokungafani nomfundisi onomusa waseTubuaï, umpristi e-Ua Pou waphikisana nomsebenzi wethu. Empeleni, wayesilandela isinyenyela ensimini, efuna ukuphuca abantu besonto lakhe izincwadi esasibashiyele zona. Wabe esezishisa zonke phambi komuzi kaKalina—isenzo esingathusanga thina kuphela kodwa namaKatolika amaningi imbala!

Naphezu kokuphikiswa okunjalo, umsebenzi eMarquesas waqhubeka, futhi sikubheka njengelungelo ukuthi saba nengxenye encane kuwo. Ngenxa yempilo kaPaulette, kwadingeka siyiyeke inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Noma kunjalo, sizimisele ukuqhubeka sinikeza uJehova okungcono kakhulu.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 113]

Ukuhambela Isiqhingi Okokuqala

Zicabange ufika esiqhingini esicezile okokuqala. Uhlele ukuhlala isonto noma amabili ushumayela kubantu lapho. Nokho, uwukuphela kukaFakazi kulesi siqhingi futhi azikho izindawo zokuhlala eziqashisayo nezinto zokuhamba. Ungenze njani? Ungahlala kuphi? UMarc Montet noJacques Inaudi, abaye bakhonza njengamaphayona nababonisi besifunda, baye babhekana nale nkiyankiya izikhathi eziningana.

UMarc uthi: “Ngangiye ngiqale ukufakaza ngokushesha nje lapho ngehla endizeni noma esikebheni, futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo ngibe ngibuza ngezindawo zokulala. Kwakungelula ngaso sonke isikhathi ngensizwa engayodwa ukuba ithole indawo yokuhlala, kodwa ngokuvamile othile wayenginikeza indawo yokulala nokudla. Lapho ngifika ngokulandelayo, ukuthola indawo yokuhlala kwakuba lula ngoba abantu base bengazi. Kwaba lula futhi nalapho sengishadile. Abantu babekhululeka kakhudlwana kubantu abashadile.”

UJacques uchaza indlela ayesingatha ngayo isimo, ethi: “Ngokujwayelekile ngangivakashela umphathi-dolobha bese ngimbuza ukuthi ukhona yini amaziyo ongase angihlalise isikhathi esithile. Ngokuvamile wayengiyalela kahle. Eziqhingini eziningi, abantu bayamhlonipha umuntu abacabanga ukuthi umuntu kaNkulunkulu futhi benza abangakwenza ukuze bamsize. Ngakho ngokuvamile ngangiyithola indawo yokuhlala mahhala.”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 117, 118]

Intokozo Yethu Enkulu Yinkonzo Yasensimini

U-Alain Jamet

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1946

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1969

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Enomkakhe, uMary-Ann, bahlanganyela ezicini ezihlukahlukene zenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele eFrance naseFrench Polynesia.

Lapho ngineminyaka engu-13, umkhaya wakithi wathuthela eTahiti usuka eFrance. Ngemva kokuqeda esikoleni, ngabuyela eFrance ukuze ngifundele ubudokotela. Lapho, ngahlangana noMary-Ann, umfundi wesayensi yezinto eziphilayo owayevela eTahiti, futhi sashada. Ngo-1968, savakashelwa oFakazi BakaJehova, salamukela iqiniso.

Njengokulindelekile, sahlanganyela ithemba lethu elisha esasesilitholile nabazali bethu, kodwa kwafana nokuthela amanzi emhlane wedada. Sabhalela namasonto esasingamalunga awo eTahiti, sibacela ukuba basesule ezinhlwini zabo. Abesonto likaMary-Ann ePapeete basampula bamnquma esontweni phambi kwabantu. Umfundisi waze wamema nabazali bakhe ukuba babe khona.

Sabhapathizwa ngo-1969 futhi sathatha inkonzo yobuphayona. SiseMarseilles, eFrance, ngabizelwa inkonzo yasempini futhi ngachitha izinyanga ezimbili ejele ngenxa yokuma kwami kokungathathi hlangothi. Ngemva kokukhululwa kwami, mina noMary-Ann sabelwa ukukhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile eMarseilles naseBordeaux. Ngokwesicelo sabazali bethu abase beguga, sabuyela eTahiti ngo-1973 sasebenza isikhathi esigcwele unyaka owodwa njengothisha esikoleni sabaqalayo.

Ihhovisi legatsha laseFiji labe selisibuza ukuthi umgomo wethu wawuwukubuyela enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele yini, njengoba kwakunesidingo sombonisi wesifunda eFrench Polynesia naseNew Caledonia. Njengoba isimo sabazali bethu sasesingcono, sasamukela isimemo saqala umsebenzi wokujikeleza ngo-August 1974. Ngo-1975, phakathi nokuhambela kuka-N.H. Knorr, ngamenywa ukuba ngikhonze njengombonisi wegatsha wokuqala eTahiti.

Indodana yethu, uRauma, yazalwa ngo-1986, futhi umkami wayiyeka inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngokujabulisayo, namuhla uRauma ungumfowethu ongokomoya. Uma sibheka emuva, siwazisa ngokujulile amalungelo enkonzo amaningi esibe nawo. Kodwa intokozo yethu enkulu kusalokhu kuyinkonzo yasensimini.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 123-125]

UJehova Uyazinakekela Izimvu Zakhe

UMichel Bustamante

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1966

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1987

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Enomkakhe, uSandra, ukhonza isifunda esisodwa kwezimbili eFrench Polynesia.

Isifunda sethu sihlanganisa wonke amaqoqo eziqhingi aseFrench Polynesia futhi silingana neYurophu. Ezinye zeziqhingi ezicezile zingase zibe nommemezeli oyedwa noma ababili. Nokho, naphezu kokuceza kwabo siyabavakashela. URosita ngokwesibonelo, uhlala eTakapoto, eseTuamotus. Lo dade othembekile uyilungiselela yonke imihlangano isonto ngalinye, futhi umyeni wakhe, ongekho eqinisweni, uvame ukuhlanganyela naye. Njalo ngeSonto, ngisho noma abantu abaningi beyobhukuda noma beyodoba echwebeni, uRosita ugqoka izingubo zasesifundweni bese etadisha isifundo se-Nqabayokulinda salelo sonto. Uthembekile futhi ekubikeni umsebenzi wakhe wenkonzo yasensimini. Empeleni, umbiko wakhe awuthumela ehhovisi legatsha ngocingo, ngokuvamile uba owokuqala ukufika! Okwenza lokhu kuncomeke nakakhulu ukuthi ucingo oluseduze luqhele ngebanga eliyimizuzu engu-45 uma uhamba ngesikebhe usuka esiqhingini sakhe.

Ukufika kwendiza kuhlale kuwundabuzekwayo. Ngakho lapho sifika sizovakashela udadewethu, cishe bonke abantu abahlala kuleyo ndawo bathi mbo bezobona ukuthi obani abehlayo. Ngelinye ilanga, owesifazane wathi kuRosita: “Uzokwamukela bani?” Waphendula: “Umfowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya. Beze kimi ngokukhethekile, bazongikhuthaza.” Sichitha izinsuku ezintathu noRosita, sisebenza naye ensimini futhi simkhuthaza ngokomoya. Ngenxa yesifiso sakhe sobudlelwane obungokomoya, siye silale phakathi kwamabili.

Kwesinye isiqhingi, umAdventist wasibona sivakashela umakhelwane wakhe onguFakazi. Kamuva wavuma kumfowethu: “Sengihlale lapha iminyaka engu-7, nokho akekho ovela esontweni lami oye wafika ukuze angikhuthaze.” Le ndoda ikhonza njengomfundisi weqembu elincane lama-Adventist ongabekiwe ngokusemthethweni kulesi siqhingi.

UDaniel noDoris ukuphela kwabamemezeli eRaevavae eziQhingini zaseTubuaï. Lapho sibathola ekugcineni—bahlala endaweni ecashe ngempela—sabuza ukuthi singayihlela yini imihlangano ngaleyo ntambama emzini wabo. Bakujabulela kakhulu lokho futhi sonke sahamba sayomema abantu. Lapho sifika emhlanganweni, kwakunezisebenzi ezingu-7 zasemasimini ezazisanda kushayisa emsebenzini zilinde ngaphandle emgwaqweni. Ezinye zazigaxe amasaka emfino ebizwa ngokuthi i-taro emahlombe.

Sabatshela: “Ningakhathazeki ngokuthi nibukeka kanjani. Wozani.” Bangena, kodwa bahlala phansi, nakuba zazikhona izihlalo esasibalungiselele zona. Bayijabulela imihlangano futhi basibuza imibuzo eminingi ngemva kwayo. Njengokulindelekile, lokhu kwamkhuthaza kakhulu umfowethu nodadewethu, kwafeza injongo eyinhloko yokuvakasha kwethu.

Kwezinye izikhathi kunzima ukuvakashela abamemezeli abacezile ngenxa yokuthi izikhumulo zezindiza azikho eziqhingini zabo. Kwenye indawo, ngemva kokuthi cababa, sahamba ngesikebhe amahora amabili sesiya lapho kwakuhlala khona abamemezeli ababili. Isikebhe esasihamba ngaso kwakuwuhlobo lwesikebhe esinenjini esivulekile ngaphezulu, futhi sasicishe sibe ngamamitha amane ubude. Sabuza itilosi ukuthi sikulungele yini ukuba solwandle sithwele abantu nokuthi yayikhona yini injini eyisipele. Angenzi ihaba uma ngithi ukuba phakathi ne-Pacific Ocean akumnandi neze!

Ngenkathi sifika lapho sasilibangise khona, sasesimanzi té amanzi olwandle, futhi imihlane yethu yayibuhlungu ngenxa yamagagasi ayeshaya isikebhe. Uhambo olubuyayo lwaluzifanela. USandra uthi: “Lapho sibuya esiqhingini esikhulu ngaleyo ntambama, ngagibela ibhayisekili lami ukuze ngiyoshumayela. Nokho, indlela umzimba wami owawuntenga futhi uqhaqhazela ngayo ngenxa yokuhamba ngesikebhe, angikwazanga ngisho nokuqondisa ibhayisekili emgwaqweni wobhuqu, ngathanqazeka phansi!”

Njengoba sengilandisile, ungabona ukuthi kungani njalo lapho sivakashela abafowethu nodade abangabodwa, sicabanga ngothando olujulile uJehova nenhlangano yakhe abanalo ngabo. Ngokuqinisekile siyingxenye yomkhaya okhetheke kakhulu ongokomoya.—Joh. 13:35.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni]

“Beze kimi ngokukhethekile, bazongikhuthaza”

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 80, 81]

IFRENCH POLYNESIA—ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO

1835: Kuyaphela ukuhunyushwa kweBhayibheli lesiTahiti.

Ngawo-1930: USydney Shepherd noFrank Dewar bavakashela iTahiti cishe nezinye iziqhingi.

1940

1956: Umsebenzi wokushumayela uqala ngomfutho eMakatéa naseTahiti.

1958: Kubhapathizwa abantu ezindaweni ezimbili ezihlukene, okokuqala eFrench Polynesia.

1959: Kumiswa ibandla lasePapeete, elokuqala eFrench Polynesia.

1960

1960: Kubhaliswa INhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova.

1962: Kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala kulezi ziqhingi, ePapeete.

1969: Kuba nomhlangano wezizwe okokuqala ngqa eTahiti.

1975: Kumiswa ihhovisi legatsha eTahiti.

1976: Ukuhunyushwa kwe-Nqabayokulinda ngesiTahiti kuyaqala.

1980

1983: Kunikezelwa ikhaya lokuqala laseBethel.

1989: Kufinyelelwa inani eliphakeme labamemezeli abayinkulungwane.

1993: Kunikezelwa ikhaya elisha laseBethel neHholo LoMhlangano elincikene nalo.

1997: Kuba neSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo sokuqala.

2000

2004: Bangu-1 746 abamemezeli ababikayo eFrench Polynesia.

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

2 000

1 000

1940 1960 1980 2000

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 73]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

FRENCH POLYNESIA

FRENCH POLYNESIA

MARQUESAS ISLANDS

Nuku Hiva

Ua Pou

Ua Huka

Hiva Oa

Fatu Hiva

TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO

Manihi

Ahe

Rangiroa

Takaroa

Takapoto

Makatéa

Anaa

Hao

SOCIETY ISLANDS

Maupiti

Tahaa

Raïatéa

Bora Bora

Huahine

Mooréa

Tahiti

TUBUAÏ (AUSTRAL) ISLANDS

Rurutu

Rimatara

Tubuaï

Raevavae

GAMBIER ISLANDS

MOORÉA

TAHITI

PAPEETE

Punaauia

Paea

Toahotu

Vairao

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 66]

[Isithombe ekhasini 70]

UJeanne noJean-Marie Félix babephakathi kwabokuqala abafakaza isikhathi eside eFrench Polynesia

[Izithombe ekhasini 71]

UMaui Piirai, umuntu wokuqala wasePolynesia owanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova, wabhapathizwa uJean-Marie Félix ngo-1958

[Izithombe ekhasini 79]

UClyde no-Ann Neill (ngezansi) bajoyina u-Agnès Schenck (kwesokudla) eTahiti ukuze basize ngomsebenzi wokushumayela

[Isithombe ekhasini 85]

UJohn no-Ellen Hubler baqala umsebenzi wesifunda ngo-1960

[Isithombe ekhasini 86]

Ngo-1962 iBandla LasePapeete lakha iHholo LoMbuso lalo lokuqala—isakhiwo esilula esivulekile emaceleni, safulelwa ngamahlamvu esundu

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

Umagazini ‘iSentinelle,’ ka-April 15, 1965, owawunezihloko ‘zeNqabayokulinda’

[Isithombe ekhasini 92]

Ukuze athuthuke ngokomoya, uTaina Rataro wafunda ukuzifundela nokubhala isiTahiti

[Isithombe ekhasini 92]

U-Elisabeth Avae (ohlezi phansi) nomzukulu wakhe uDiana Tautu

[Isithombe ekhasini 95]

U-Anna no-Antonio Lanza

[Isithombe ekhasini 96]

UVaieretiai noMarie-Medeleine Mara

[Isithombe ekhasini 97]

U-Ato Lacour

[Isithombe ekhasini 98]

URudolphe Haamarurai

[Isithombe ekhasini 99]

UVahinerii no-Edmond Rai (kwesobunxele) kanye noTaaroa noCatherine Terii (kwesokudla)

[Isithombe ekhasini 100]

U-Auguste noStella Temanaha

[Izithombe ekhasini 102]

UChristiane noJean-Paul Lassalle (kwesobunxele) noLina noColson Deane (kwesokudla)

[Isithombe ekhasini 103]

URoger Sage (kwesobunxele) ehumushela inkulumo kaFrancis Sicari olimini lwesiTahiti emhlanganweni wesigodi ngawo-1970

[Isithombe ekhasini 107]

U-Eileen no-Alain Raffaelli

[Isithombe ekhasini 108]

UMauri noMélanie Mercier

[Isithombe ekhasini 120]

UMarie-Louise noSerge Gollin bakhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli eMarquesas

[Isithombe ekhasini 122]

U-Alexandre Tetiarahi nomkakhe u-Elma namadodakazi amabili okugcina, uRava (kwesobunxele) noRiva

[Isithombe ekhasini 126]

Abahumushi besiTahiti

[Isithombe ekhasini 127]

UMhlangano Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ Ka-1969 kwakuwumhlangano wezizwe wokuqala owaba seTahiti

[Isithombe ekhasini 128]

Leli Hholo LoMbuso esiqhingini saseBora Bora yilona elisanda kwakhiwa eFrench Polynesia

[Isithombe ekhasini 130]

UChristine noFélix Temarii

[Isithombe ekhasini 131]

IKomiti Yegatsha, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: U-Alain Jamet, uGérard Balza, noLuc Granger

[Izithombe ekhasini 132, 133]

(1) Izakhiwo zegatsha laseTahiti

(2) UGérard Balza ukhulula incwadi ethi “Sondela KuJehova” ngesiTahiti ngo-July 2002

(3) Umkhaya waseBethel yaseTahiti