ILatvia

KUBRĪVĪBAS Street (noma, uMgwaqo Wenkululeko) enkabeni yeRiga, inhloko-dolobha yaseLatvia, kuneSikhumbuzo Senkululeko esiphakeme ngamamitha angu-42. Savulwa ngo-1935 futhi siwuphawu lwenkululeko yezombusazwe. Nokho, kusukela ngawo-1920 abantu baseLatvia bebenikwa ithuba lokuthola olunye uhlobo lwenkululeko—inkululeko etholakala ngokwazi iqiniso leBhayibheli. Maqondana nale nkululeko engokomoya, umbiko othile wathi: “Abantu abavamile, . . . kokubili abesilisa nabesifazane, bamukela isigijimi ngezinyembezi zenjabulo.” Kwadlula amashumi eminyaka izitha zizama ukusicindezela lesi sigijimi esiyigugu, futhi zaphumelela ngezinga elithile. Kodwa njengoba lokhu kulandisa kuzobonisa, awekho amandla emhlabeni anganqanda isandla soMninimandla onke noma seNdodana yakhe, abakubusa kwabo akuthiywa imingcele yezombusazwe.—IsAm. 11:15.

Kusukela ezinsukwini zombutho wezempi nezenkolo wamaTeutonic Knight, owasungula idolobha laseRiga ngo-1201 kuya enkathini yobuKhomanisi bamaSoviet, iLatvia iye yanqotshwa futhi yabuswa ohulumeni bezombusazwe abaningana, abahlanganisa iJalimane, iPoland, iRussia neSweden. Ngo-1918, yayiqala ukuthola inkululeko. Nokho, ngo-1940 leli zwe laba ngaphansi kwamaSoviet. Ngo-1991 labuye lathola inkululeko futhi, labizwa ngokuthi iRiphabhuliki YaseLatvia.

Nokho, inkululeko yezombusazwe ayisho inkululeko yangempela. NguJehova kuphela ongasikhulula ngokuphelele isintu, futhi isithembiso senkululeko siyingxenye enhle kakhulu yezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 4:18; Heb. 2:15) Lezi zindaba ezinhle zafika kanjani eLatvia? Indaba yethu iqala ngomthandazo wetilosi u-Ans Insberg.

U-Ans wabhala: “Ngobunye ubusuku obucwathile ngisolwandle, ngathulula inhliziyo yami eNkosini ngayicela ukuba ingiholele kubantu abayikhulekela ngomoya nangeqiniso. (Joh. 4:24) Ngase ngikhathele ubuzenzisi babantu abasontayo kwelakithi eLatvia futhi ngangingafuni ukuba ingxenye yabo. Kwathi ngo-1914 ngiseCleveland, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., ngabona i-‘Photo-Drama of Creation,’ ukulandisa okusekelwe eBhayibhelini okwenziwa yi-International Bible Students, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Umthandazo wami waphendulwa; ngase ngilitholile iqiniso! Ngabhapathizwa ngo-January 9, 1916 futhi ngaqala ukushumayela, ngibuye ngiyosebenza olwandle uma imali isingiphelela.”

Ngokushesha ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, u-Ans wasisakaza kabanzi isigijimi soMbuso eLatvia. Ngemali yakhe, wafaka izaziso ezimemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu emaphephandabeni aseLatvia. Uthisha wakwaKrastin̗š owayesethathe umhlalaphansi, wathola iqiniso kulezo zaziso futhi kungenzeka ukuthi waba ngumFundi WeBhayibheli wokuqala ohlala eLatvia owanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova. Ngo-1922, u-Ans waqala ukukhonza endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yabaFundi BeBhayibheli eBrooklyn, eNew York. Elapho, wayevame ukuya emtateni—“ipulpiti lami elimangalisayo,” njengoba ayewuchaza kanjalo—ukuze ahlanganyele iqiniso leBhayibheli namanye amatilosi. Waqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngo-November 30, 1962.

Ngo-1925, kwavulwa iHhovisi LaseNyakatho Yurophu eCopenhagen, eDenmark. Lalengamele umsebenzi kumaBaltic State amathathu—i-Estonia, iLatvia neLithuania—kanye naseDenmark, eFinland, eNorway naseSweden. Ngo-July 1926, uRees Taylor, waseBrithani, wabelwa ukuba engamele umsebenzi eLatvia. Wamisa ihhovisi eRiga, wahlela nokuba kube nomhlangano omncane. Kwabangu-20 abafika, abangu-14 bahlanganyela emkhankasweni wokuqala wenkonzo yasensimini kuleli zwe. Abafowethu base bethola imvume yamaphoyisa yokuba nemihlangano yeningi, futhi abantu abangu-975 bezwa izinkulumo zeBhayibheli eRiga, eLiepaja naseJelgava. Izinkulumo zazibekwa ngesiJalimane, okuwulimi iningi labaseLatvia elilwaziyo. Abaningana bacela ukuba kube khona neminye imihlangano.

“INKULULEKO KUBANTU”

Ngo-September 1927, izivakashi ezingu-650 ezivela e-Estonia, eLatvia, naseScandinavia zahlangana eCopenhagen zizolalela uJoseph F. Rutherford owayevela endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ebeka inkulumo ethi “Inkululeko Kubantu.” Ngonyaka olandelayo incwajana enalesi sihloko yahunyushelwa olimini lwaseLatvia, futhi ama-colporteur, noma amaphayona, ahola ekuyisakazeni.

Lawo maphayona okuqala ayehlanganisa abafowethu okungenani abayishumi baseJalimane abeza eLatvia bezosiza ngomsebenzi. Omunye wabo kwakunguJohannes Berger owayeneminyaka engu-22. Wabhala: “Ukunikeza izinkulumo zeningi kwakuyinto yokuqala amaphayona ayeyenza uma efika edolobheni abelwe kulo. Umphumela waba ukuthi sanikeza izinkulumo cishe kuwo wonke amadolobha eLatvia. Edolobheni laseSloka, saqasha indawo yebhayisikobho futhi njalo ngoMsombuluko ebusika, ngangibeka inkulumo. Kwakufika abantu bevela kude begibele amahhashi abo amancane.” Ekhumbula lezo zinsuku, uyanezela: “Nganginamalungelo enkonzo amaningi kakhulu nakuba ngangingafundile kangako.”

Abamemezeli boMbuso abangaba ngu-40 bahlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela ngo-1928, abangu-15 kubo babebhapathiziwe. Ngo-1929, unyaka okwathuthwa ngawo ihhovisi laya kuŠarlotes Street, eRiga, kwabhapathizwa abanye abangu-9 kwahanjiswa nezincwadi nezincwajana ezingaphezu kuka-90 000 ensimini.

Ngaphambili, ngo-1927, kwakubhapathizwe insizwa egama layo linguFerdinand Fruck kanye nonina, u-Emilie. Ngemva kweminyaka emine, uFerdinand wahlangana nayezophayona naye ngenkathi eshumayela ebhikawozi edolobheni lakubo, eLiepaja. Umbhaki waphuma egijima eya endaweni yomfowabo yokugunda izinwele eseduze. Wathi: “Heinrich! Phuthuma! Kunendoda ekhuluma izimanga esitolo sami.” Umgundi, uHeinrich Zech, wawakholwa amaqiniso eBhayibheli futhi ngokushesha wabhapathizwa. Wajoyina uFerdinand, futhi bobabili baya emadolobheni amaningi ngamabhayisekili besakaza isigijimi soMbuso.

KUQUBUKA UKUPHIKISWA

Nakuba abafowethu babembalwa, ukushiseka kwabo kwabacasula abefundisi. Empeleni, umfundisi owaziwayo eRiga wasongela ngokuxosha esontweni noma ubani owayeya emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli. ELiepaja, abefundisi bakhipha amapheshana asola abafowethu ngokuthi bakholelwa kuJesu Kristu futhi etshela abantu ukuba bangazithathi izincwadi zabo. Basebenzisa nephephandaba elithandwayo lesonto ukuze badicilele phansi abaFundi BeBhayibheli.

Ngo-1929, ngenxa yokucindezelwa isonto, uhulumeni wawaxosha ama-colporteur aseJalimane eLatvia. Ngo-1931 iningi lezinsiza-kufunda iBhayibheli lase livaliwe. Ingabe lokhu kuhlaselwa kwabayekisa abafowethu? Ihhovisi laseLatvia labhala: “Ukuphikiswa nguDeveli kusenza sifune ukwethembeka ngisho nakakhulu. Kuyajabulisa ngempela ukuhlanganyela emsebenzini lapha . . . , futhi sizimisele ukuqhubekela phambili.”

Ngo-1931 abafowethu abaningana baseBrithani basabela obizweni lokuba amaphayona athuthele emazweni aseBaltic. Abanye balaba bafowethu basiza ekuletheni ukudla okungokomoya eLatvia kuvela emazweni angomakhelwane i-Estonia neLithuania. U-Edwin Ridgewell, owayeneminyaka engu-18 ngaleso sikhathi, wabelwa eLithuania. Manje njengoba eseneminyaka eyevile ku-90, uMfoweth’ uRidgewell uyakhumbula: “Mina kanye nababili engangiphayona nabo, u-Andrew Jack noJohn Sempey, sathola isabelo esikhethekile—ukuyisa izincwadi eLatvia. Sasihamba ngesitimela sasebusuku esiya eRiga, izincwadi sizifihle emabhokisini ayakhelwe ukuba angene ezikhaleni ezingaphansi kwezihlalo okwakugcinwa kuwo izinto zokulala. Uma sesizokwehla, sasifaka izincwadi kanye nezingubo ezimbalwa emapotimendeni akhethekile anwebekayo. Ngemva kokuzidiliva ngokwesaba, sasihalalisa. UPercy Dunham, owayeqondisa umsebenzi, wayesiyisa esitolo sokudlela eRiga.”

UFerdinand Fruck wayeye ahlangane nabafowethu emngceleni weLithuania. Babemnika izincwadi, yena azifihle ngaphansi kotshani obomisiwe phezulu engotsheni yakhe. Iziphathimandla zakubona ayekwenza futhi ngemva kwalokho amaphoyisa ayefika njalo ezosesha izincwadi kwakhe. Ngelinye ilanga kuzoseshwa, iphoyisa lalingafuni ukugibela liye phezulu engotsheni, ngakho lathumela uFerdinand! Ukuze alivale amehlo, uFerdinand wabuya nomagazini be-Nqabayokulinda abambalwa abadala walinika bona. Lagculiseka, lahamba.

INTUTHUKO NAPHEZU KOKUPHIKISWA

UPercy Dunham, ongowomdabu waseScotland, okukhulunywe ngaye ngenhla, wabelwa ukuba engamele umsebenzi ensimini yaseLatvia ngo-1931. Njengoba aba umFundi WeBhayibheli ngaphambi kuka-1914, uPercy wayenolwazi olubalulekile. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1931, ihhovisi labhala: “Abampofu ngokwezinto zezwe kodwa abacebile okholweni kuNkulunkulu baqhubeka nomsebenzi ngaphansi kobunzima. . . . Siyakhula isithakazelo esigijimini sethu. . . . Masonto onke abantu beza ehhovisi, bacele izincwadi futhi bafune ukwazi ukuthi ziyotholakala nini ezinye.” Ngokuphathelene nesenzakalo esibaluleke kakhulu ngokomoya, lo mbiko waqhubeka wathi: “Emhlanganweni wamuva eRiga, samukela izwi lesinqumo ngazwi linye, samukela ngenjabulo igama elisha [oFakazi BakaJehova] iNkosi elinikeze abantu bayo.”

Ngo-1932 ihhovisi lathuthela kuCēsu Street, eRiga. Ngawo lowo nyaka, uMargaret (Madge) Brown, waseScotland owayephayona e-Ireland futhi ebhapathizwe ngo-1923, wathuthela eLatvia wafike washada noPercy Dunham. Ngaso leso sikhathi, ukuphikiswa komsebenzi kwaqina. UMadge uyabhala: “Ngo-February 9, 1933, iphephandaba laseRiga lathi singamaKhomanisi. Ngakusasa ekuseni uma ngithi ngivula umnyango, kwagulukudela amaphoyisa aphethe izibhamu ememeza, ‘Izandla phezulu!’ Kwaphela amahora angu-7 efuna izincwadi zethu ezenqatshelwe. Emini ngawapha itiye, aliphuza.

“Izincwadi eziningi zabafowethu zazifihlwe egunjini eliphezulu ophahleni. Ngaphambili, lapho iphoyisa eliphethe lisesha amaphakethe omyeni wami, lathola izihluthulelo. ‘Ezani?’ libuza. ‘Ezegumbi elisophahleni,’ kusho uPercy. Kodwa iphoyisa alizange liye khona. Empeleni, ngaphambi kokuba lihambe, labuyisela izihluthulelo kuPercy! Nakuba athi ukuhlolahlola ezinye izincwadi, athi awasitholi isizathu sokuzithatha.

“Noma kunjalo, azithatha lezo zincwadi kanye nezinye, athatha nemali, umshini wokwenza amakhophi kanye nomshini wokubhala. Amaphoyisa asesha neminye imizi eyisithupha yemikhaya yoFakazi baseLatvia kodwa awazange abuthole ubufakazi bokwephulwa komthetho, ngakho awafakanga cala.”

Ngaleso sikhathi babengafiki naku-50 abamemezeli boMbuso kulo lonke leli. Noma kunjalo, ukuze baqashelwe ngokomthetho, abafowethu bafaka isicelo sokuba babhaliswe. Cabanga ukuthi bajabula kanjani lapho, ngo-March 14, 1933, i-International Bible Students Association ibhaliswa ngokomthetho! Nakuba bengazange bayithole imvume yokuthola izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezivela ngaphandle, abafowethu basebenzisa ukuqashelwa kwabo ngokomthetho ukuze banyathelise izincwajana. Ukuhumushela olimini lwesiLatvia kwakwenziwa umlobi nomhleli odumile wephephandaba i-Rīts, u-Aleksandrs Grīns.

UKUBHALISWA KUBA OKWESIKHASHANA

Ukuketulwa kombuso ngo-May 1934 kwaholela ekubeni izwe libuswe amasosha. Zisizakala ngokuntengantenga kwezombusazwe, izitha zeqiniso zasola abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngokuba amaKhomanisi. Ngo-June 30, ungqongqoshe wezangaphakathi wavala ihhovisi le-International Bible Students Association wathatha nezincwadi nezincwajana ezingaphezu kuka-40 000 kanye nemali encane. Abefundisi kwathiwa abanqume ukuthi zizosetshenziswa kanjani lezi zinto! Izicelo zokubhaliswa kabusha zenqatshwa.

Ngo-1939, kwagqashuka iMpi Yezwe II, kwathi ngo-June 1940, ibutho laseRussia langena eLatvia. Ngo-August, iLatvia yaba izwe le-15 ukuba ngaphansi kwe-USSR futhi yaqanjwa ngokuthi iLatvian Soviet Socialist Republic. Ngo-October 27, abakwaDunham kwadingeka balishiye elaseLatvia nabazalwane nodadewethu abathandekayo bakhona. Babelwa egatsheni lase-Australia, lapho uPercy aphetha khona inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngo-1951, uMadge yena ngo-1998.

Ukuvalwa kwehhovisi, ukuxoshwa kwabazalwane abaholayo, ubunzima bempi, kanye namashumi eminyaka okubusa okunonya kwamaKhomanisi kwawukhinyabeza kakhulu umsebenzi. Kwaze kwaba ngawo-1990 lapho amaketango angaphambili endluzula nokungabekezelelani agcina enqanyulwe khona.

UJEHOVA UYAZIDUDUZA IZINCEKU ZAKHE EZIQOTHO

Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, iqembu elincane loFakazi eLatvia lalingakwazi ukuxhumana nendlunkulu. Noma kunjalo, lagcina ithemba lalo liphila “ngenduduzo evela emiBhalweni.” (Roma 15:4) Ngemva kwempi, ngasekupheleni kwawo-1940, igatsha laseJalimane lagcina likwazile ukuthumela iposi kubafowethu abambalwa eJelgava, eKuldīga, eRiga naseVentspils.

EKuldīga, idolobha eliqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-160 entshonalanga yeRiga, u-Ernests Grundmanis, owayesehlanganyele iminyaka engu-20, wathola izincwadi eziningana zivela eJalimane, ezazinokudla okungokomoya okwakufike ngesikhathi esifanele ngempela. Enye incwadi yayithi: “Kuzo zonke izinto, thembela kuJehova uNkulunkulu, uBaba wethu omuhle. Uyokusekela futhi akuqinise ngesikhathi esifanele.” Yabe isicaphuna eyesi-2 IziKronike 16:9: “Ngoba, ngokuqondene noJehova, amehlo akhe aqalaza kuwo wonke umhlaba ukuze abonise amandla akhe ngenxa yalabo abanhliziyo yabo iphelele kuye.” Yeka ukuthi zazifike ngesikhathi futhi ziqinisa kangakanani lezo zincwadi!

Abafowethu babesebenzisa noma yiliphi ithuba ukuze bafakaze ngokwethukela. Ngokwesibonelo, uMarta Baldone, obhucungayo esikhungweni sezempilo eVentspils, wayeshumayeza amakhasimende akhe, elinye lawo okwakungu-Alexandra Preklonskaya (manje owakwaRezevskis). U-Alexandra uyakhumbula: “UMarta wangifundisa ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu uJehova, futhi ngalithanda kakhulu lelo gama.”

Ubaba ka-Alexandra, uPeter, owayezalwe ngo-1880 naye wagcina elazi iqiniso leBhayibheli. Indodakazi yakhe iyabhala: “Ubaba wajoyina iqembu lamaKhomanisi ngaphambi kokuvukela kwango-1917 futhi wayehlala eSt. Petersburg [eyayibizwa ngokuthi iPetrograd kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ku-1924 nangokuthi iLeningrad kusukela ngo-1924 kuya ku-1991]. Nokho, umphumela wokuvukela awuzange ube yilokho ubaba ayekuthembile, ngakho wabuyisa ikhadi lobulungu beqembu futhi waxoshwa edolobheni. Weza eLatvia, lapho ngamethula khona kuMarta. Njengendoda ethembekile, enomusa, ubaba walamukela kalula iqiniso. Ngo-1951 wabuyela eRussia, kodwa kulokhu eseyisiboshwa ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Washonela eSiberia ngo-1953.”

UKUDINGISELWA ESIBERIA

ELatvia, njengakwamanye amazwe ayephethwe iSoviet, uhulumeni omusha waqala ukwenza zonke izinhlangano zamasiko nezombusazwe ukuba zihambisane nenqubo yamaSoviet. AmaKhomanisi abuye athatha amapulazi abantu awenza aba awoMbuso. Kanye nalo mkhankaso, kwaba neziqubu zokudingiswa, ezafinyelela umvuthwandaba ngo-1949, lapho izakhamuzi zaseLatvia ezingu-100 000 zidingiselwa enyakatho Russia, kuhlanganise naseSiberia. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, amaKhomanisi aba noFakazi BakaJehova shaqa, adingisa izinkulungwane zabo, kuhlanganise nabamemezeli okungenani abangu-20 kwabangu-30 ababeseseLatvia.

Nakuba ayengakabhapathizwa, uValija Lange waseVentspils, wayengomunye owaboshwa i-KGB (iKomiti Yokuphepha Yezwe LaseSoviet) ngenkathi isesha ngo-September 1950. Lapho ephonswa imibuzo ngobunye ubusuku eRiga, wabuzwa: “Kungani wena umelana noMbuso ube uyisakhamuzi saseSoviet Union?” Ngendlela ezolile nenenhlonipho, uValija waphendula, “Engizimisele ngakho mina ukukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu, ukuqonda izimfundiso zakhe nokuzixoxela abanye.”

Kanye namagama abanye oFakazi abangu-19, igama likaValija lalisencwadini yomhla ka-October 31, 1950. Bonke ababebhalwe lapho bagwetshwa iminyaka eyishumi befukuza eSiberia futhi nezindawo zabo zadliwa. Abanye bavunyelwa ukuba babuyele emakhaya kodwa babuye baboshwa. Ngokwesibonelo, uPaulīne Serova wabuyiselwa eSiberia eminye iminyaka emine ngemva kokuba iziphathimandla zithole ukuthi uthola izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngeposi.

Emakamu, abafowethu baqhubeka beshumayela futhi benza abafundi, omunye wabo kwakunguJānis Garškis. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1956 futhi manje uhlala eVentspils, uthi, “Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokungivumela ukuba ngiyiswe ekamu lokufukuza ngoba ngangingeke ngilithole iqiniso.” Yeka isimo esihle sengqondo!

UTekla Onckule, ongowomdabu waseLatvia, wasolwa ngokususa uthuthuva lwezombusazwe wayeseyiswa eSiberia. Edolobheni lase-Omsk elikude lé, wezwa iqiniso koFakazi abadingisiwe. “Angisoze ngakukhohlwa ukubhapathizwa kwami,” kusho uTekla. “Kwakusebusuku, emfuleni obanda qá. Ngangiqhaqhazela umzimba wonke ngenxa yamakhaza, kodwa ngangijabule kakhulu.” Ngo-1954, uTekla washada no-Aleksei Tkach, owayebhapathizwe ngo-1948 eMoldavia (manje iMoldova) futhi kamuva wadingiselwa eSiberia. Ngo-1969, lo mbhangqwana kanye nedlanzana labanye oFakazi babuyela eLatvia. Ngokudabukisayo, iningi lababedingisiwe livela eLatvia laphelela emakamu.

ABASELE EKHAYA BABALEKELA I-KGB

Inani elincane loFakazi alizange libanjwe. U-Alexandra Rezevskis uyabhala: “Ngagwema ukudingiswa ngokungahlali ndawonye, ngangisebenza emapulazini ahlukahlukene, ngibalekela i-KGB. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngangiqhubeka ngishumayeza bonke engangihlangana nabo. Abantu babelalela, futhi abanye bangena eqinisweni.” Amaphoyisa e-KGB ayephansi phezulu efunana noFakazi abambalwa abasakazekile ababesele eLatvia, ebasola ngokuthi bamelene namaSoviet. Uhulumeni waze wasakaza incwajana eyayiqamba amanga ithi oFakazi bayizinhloli zaseMelika. Njengoba izimpimpi zamaKhomanisi zazibagadile, abafowethu kwadingeka bashumayele ngokuqapha futhi baqhube imihlangano yabo ngasese ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene.

Ngemva kokushada noKārlis Rezevskis, u-Alexandra nomyeni wakhe bathuthela endlini encane yabazali bakaKārlis. Njengoba yayifihlwe yihlathi eduze nedolobha laseTukums, eliqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-68 eRiga, le ndlu yayiyindawo enhle yokuqhubela imihlangano ebusika. UDita Grasberga, owayengowakwa-Andrišaka ngaleso sikhathi, uyakhumbula: “Ngangiyingane ngenkathi umkhaya wakithi uya esifundweni kwaRezevskis. Kwakuba mnandi kakhulu ukuhamba ngebhasi siye eTukums bese sihamba ngezinyawo eqhweni ehlathini. Ekugcineni lapho sifika kule ndlu, sasivame ukudonswa iphunga elimnandi lesobho eziko.”

UKārlis wayezifihla ehlathini izincwadi. Ngelinye ilanga wagqiba izikhwama ezimbili ezigcwele izincwadi wayesebekisa ngokuthile. Kodwa ngalobo busuku lana imvula enkulu yayikhukhula into ayebekise ngayo. Wazama ukuzifuna izikhwama kodwa lutho. Zisagqibeke kulelo hlathi nanamuhla.

Ehlobo, abafowethu babeba nemihlangano emahlathini, ngasemachibini, noma ogwini lolwandle. Njengakwamanye amazwe eSoviet, babesebenzisa izikhathi zemishado nemingcwabo banikeze izinkulumo ezingokomBhalo. Phakathi nawo-1960 nawo-1970, abafowethu base-Estonia, kuhlanganise noViljard Kaarna, uSilver Silliksaar noLembit Toom, babevamile ukuza eLatvia bezonikeza izinkulumo, balethe izincwadi, bathathe nemibiko kubamemezeli ababhapathiziwe abangaba ngu-25. Abafowethu bendawo bakujabulela ngokukhethekile ukuthola INqabayokulinda ngesiRashiya, okwakuthi uPauls Bergmanis noValija Lange bayihumushele olimini lwaseLatvia, beyibhala ngesandla ebhukwini lesikole. Kamuva uPauls noValija bashada futhi baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo obalulekile.

“SASINE-NQABAYOKULINDA EYODWA NJE”

Phakathi nawo-1970 nawo-1980, abafowethu e-Estonia babethola INqabayokulinda esefilimini eRussia bese beyishushumbisela eLatvia. Ngenxa yokuthi ukuthwebula izithombe kwakuyinto ethandwayo ngaleso sikhathi, abafowethu babekwazi ukuzigezela amafilimu, benze amakhophi ezithombe, bese beyawasakaza. Ngezinye izikhathi, ezinye izincwadi zazingena ezweni ngale ndlela, ikakhulukazi zivela eLithuania nase-Ukraine.

“Sasine-Nqabayokulinda eyodwa nje,” kukhumbula uVida Sakalauskiene, owayeneminyaka engaba yishumi ngaleso sikhathi. “Kwake kwaba nesikhathi lapho umagazini wawuthwetshulwa, kugezwe izithombe, bese imikhaya inikezana isithombe esesigeziwe sikamagazini ukuze sonke siwufunde futhi sibhale amaphuzu. Akekho owayengagcina umagazini amahora angaphezu kuka-24. Esifundweni, umqhubi wayephatha umagazini, bese siphendula imibuzo yesifundo ngekhanda noma ngamaphuzu esizibhalele wona.” Leli lungiselelo elingokomoya lasiza uVida ukuba alimelele ngokuqinile iqiniso ngesikhathi esesesikoleni. Lasiza nomfowabo, uRomualdas, walondoloza ubuqotho ngesikhathi eboshelwe ukungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu.

ZONKE IZINHLOBO ZABANTU ZAMUKELA IQINISO

UVera Petrova wayeyisishoshovu seqembu lamaKhomanisi iminyaka engu-27. Uthi: “Omunye wemisebenzi yami kwakuwukuya esontweni ngiyohlola ukuthi kunamalungu amangaki eqembu lamaKhomanisi bese ngiyobikela unobhala wendawo weqembu. Omunye wodadewethu ababili wangena eqinisweni futhi waqala ukungishumayeza. Senginesithakazelo, ngacela iBhayibheli kumpristi wobu-Orthodox baseRussia.

“‘Ulifunelani iBhayibheli?’ ebuza.

“‘Ngifuna ukubona ukuthi enikufundisayo kuyavumelana yini nalo,’ ngiphendula. Akazange anginikeze, ngakho ngazitholela lona kwenye indawo futhi ngaqala ukulifunda. Ngasheshe ngabona ukuthi izimfundiso zesonto azisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngaqhubeka ngithuthuka ngokomoya futhi ngalishiya iqembu lamaKhomanisi. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1985.”

Ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe II, uTeofīlija Kalvīte, ongumhlengikazi, washada nomphathi-dolobha waseDaugavpils. Ngokudabukisayo, ngasekuqaleni kwempi kwathiwa udukile empini. UTeofīlija naye wabhekana nobunzima obukhulu futhi wabona ukuhlupheka okukhulu nabantu abaningi abafa. Ngemva kwempi, waba umongameli weNhlangano Yesiphambano Esibomvu YaseLatvia futhi wathola imiklomelo yoMbuso okungenani engu-20 phakathi neminyaka engu-61 esemkhakheni wezempilo. Lapho uTeofīlija eneminyaka engaba ngu-65, wahlangana noPaulīne Serova onguFakazi, owamchazela ngeBhayibheli ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu evumela ububi. UTeofīlija walamukela iqiniso futhi ngemva kwalokho wajabulela ilungelo lokusiza abantu bathole impilo engokomoya. Wathembeka kwaze kwaba sekupheleni, washona ngo-1982.

“OH, YISICHAZAMAZWI”

Ngo-1981, uYurii Kaptola oneminyaka engu-18 waboshwa iminyaka emithathu ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu. Uthi: “Ngachitha iminyaka emibili yesigwebo sami eSiberia, lapho sasihlala khona ematendeni sisebenza emahlathini, ngisho nalapho izinga lokubanda lingu-30°C ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa!a UJehova wayehlale enginakekela ngokomoya. Ngokwesibonelo, ngelinye ilanga umama wangithumela ikhophi yemiBhalo YesiGreki emphakweni wami. Lapho unogada ehlola umphako, wabona iBhayibheli.

“‘Yini le?’ ebuza.

“Ngingakaphenduli, waqhubeka, ‘Oh, isichazamazwi,’ futhi wangivumela ukuba ngiligcine.

“Ngakhululwa ngo-1984. Esikhundleni sokuhlala e-Ukraine, lapho ngidabuka khona, ngaya eRiga, ngafike ngahlanganyela khona iminyaka engaba mibili neqembu elincane loFakazi. Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi iLatvia yayiseyingxenye yeSoviet Union, ngaphinde ngabizelwa ukuqeqeshelwa impi. Umphumela? Ngo-August 26, 1986, ngabuye ngagwetshwa iminyaka emine ngifukuza kanzima eLatvia. Ngemva kokudonsa isigwebo eRiga, ngayiswa ekamu eliseduze nedolobha laseValmiera. Lapho kuthethwa icala lami ngo-1990, umahluleli wathi: ‘Yurii, isinqumo sokukubopha eminyakeni emine edlule sasingekho emthethweni. Kwakungafanele bakugwebe.’ Ngase ngikhululekile, kalula kanjalo!”

Ngo-1991, uYurii waba ilungu lebandla okuwukuphela kwalo eLatvia futhi wakhonza njengomunye wabadala ababili lapho. Uyabhala: “Ngempela, amasimu ayemhlophe elungele ukuvunwa.”

Lapho uYurii efika okokuqala eLatvia, wakhuluma nowesifazane owayelungisa ithuna. Uyakhumbula: “Lapho ngimbuza ukuthi kungani ukuphila kubonakala kukufushane kangaka, wasondela ngamagxathu ambalwa kimi, saxoxa. Kwadlula imizuzu embalwa, igatsha elikhulu laphuka esihlahleni, lawela khona kanye lapho ayesebenzela khona. Ukube wayeselapho, ngabe walimala kabi. Wanginikeza ikheli lakhe futhi ngahlela ukuba udade othile amhambele. Ngo-1987, lona wesifazane, indodana yakhe, nomakoti wakwakhe babhapathizwa.”

BATHANDA ABANTU, HHAYI UKUNETHEZEKA

Enye intsha eningi evela ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zeSoviet Union yathuthela eLatvia ukuze isize ngomsebenzi. Ukuphila kwayo kwakungelula, kodwa yayizimisele ukuzidela. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Anna Batnya, manje okhonza njengephayona elikhethekile, wathola umsebenzi embonini yokuthunga futhi wahlala ehostela. Uyalandisa: “Izimo zazingezinhle neze. Sasifakaza ngokwethukela ezitimeleni, eziteshini, emapaki, emathuneni nangasemasontweni.

“Ezitimeleni, ezazihlale zigcwele nswí, sasishumayela ngababili, sisuka kwenye inqola siya kwenye. Oyedwa wayeshumayela; omunye abe eqaphile. Abantu abaseduze babevame ukuhlanganyela endabeni. Ngenxa yalokho, ngezinye izikhathi sasizithola sesifayelwa ngemibuzo. Lapho isitimela sima, sasidlulela kwenye inqola uma kunesidingo. Kwakuyinjabulo enkulu ukubona uJehova eyibusisa inkonzo yethu.”

U-Angelina Tsvetkova waqala ukuzwa iqiniso ngemva kokuba ethandazile esontweni. Uyalandisa: “Ngo-1984, u-Aldona Dron̗uka, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, weza kimi wangibuza ukuthi ngake ngalifunda yini iBhayibheli. ‘Lapha nalaphaya,’ ngiphendula. ‘Kodwa angiliqondi futhi nginemibuzo eminingi.’ Sanikezana amakheli futhi saxoxa ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, u-Aldona wangimemela emshadweni eLithuania, ngaya. Kwakunabantu abangaba ngu-300. Edilini lomshado, salalela izinkulumo zeBhayibheli ezilandelanayo, okwathi ukungidida kancane.

“Kwahlaluka ngaleso sikhathi ukuthi ngangifunda noFakazi BakaJehova nokuthi umshado lo empeleni kwakungumhlangano! Naphezu kwalokho, inhliziyo yami yathintwa uthando nobunye balaba bantu abathobekile. Ngo-1985 ngabhapathizwa, kwathi ngo-1994 ngaqala ukuphayona. Manje izingane zami eziyisihlanu kweziyisithupha zibhapathiziwe, kanti umagcino ungummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe.”

INKULULEKO YOKUYA EMIHLANGANWENI EMIKHULU

Maphakathi nawo-1980, izimo emazweni amaningi amaKhomanisi zathi ukuba ngcono, futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bakwazi ukuhlangana obala ngenkululeko eyengeziwe. Ngo-1989 izihambeli ezingaba ngu-50 zaseLatvia zaya eMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wokuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu’ ePoland. “Ukuba ndawonye nabazalwane nodadewethu kwaba ingqophamlando ekukhuleni kwami ngokomoya,” kusho uMarija Andrišaka, manje okhonza njengephayona elikhethekile.

Ngo-1990 izihambeli ezingaphezu kuka-50 ezivela eLatvia zahambela uMhlangano ‘Wolimi Oluhlanzekile,’ nawo owawusePoland. Esinye sezihambeli, uAnna Mančinska, senza konke okusemandleni ukuze sibe khona. Uyakhumbula: “Ngisendleleni eya esiteshini sesitimela, ngathola ukuthi ngangikhohlwe amaphepha engangizowadinga ukuze ngiwele umngcele. Ngagibela itekisi ngabuyela ekhaya, ngathatha amaphepha, kodwa uma ngibuyela esiteshini, isitimela sase sisukile. Yimi lowaya ngiphuthuma esiteshini esilandelayo, nakhona ngafika sesidlulile. Ngagcina ngihambe ngetekisi ngaya eLithuania lapho ngasifica khona, okuyindawo eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-250 eRiga. Ukuhamba ngetekisi kwakubiza, kodwa angikhaleli ngisho nesenti leli!” U-Anna manje ukhonza njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel yaseLatvia.

Ekugcineni, ngo-1991, abafowethu base bekwazi ukuqhuba imihlangano emikhulu ngokukhululekile emazweni ayengaphansi kweSoviet. Amabhasi amaningana agcwele izihambeli ezivela eLatvia alibangisa eTallinn, e-Estonia, eya eMhlanganweni ‘Wabathandi Benkululeko Yokwesaba UNkulunkulu.’ Yeka ukuthi sasifaneleka kanjani leso sihloko!

URuta Barakauska waseVain̗ode wenza umyeni wakhe ongeyena uFakazi, u-Ādolfs, wavuma ukuba ahambe naye baye eTallinn. “Ngangingazimisele ukuya emhlanganweni,” kusho u-Ādolfs. “Ngangihlele ukuthenga izinsimbi zemoto yami. Kodwa ngemva kokuba ngiye esimisweni sokuqala, ngezwa izinkulumo, ngabona ubungane boFakazi BakaJehova, ngezwa inkulumo yabo ehlanzekile, ngabona nothando abalubonisanayo, ngagcina ngiwethamele wonke umhlangano. Sengisekhaya, ngaqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli futhi ngasebenza kanzima ukuze ngikwazi ukulawula ulaka lwami. Ngo-1992, ngaba uFakazi kaJehova obhapathiziwe njengomkami.”

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1990, kwakungelula ukuqasha izindawo ezifanelekayo zokuqhubela imihlangano yesigodi eLatvia, ngakho abafowethu babeya e-Estonia naseLithuania. Umhlangano wesigodi wokuqala eLatvia kwakuwuMhlangano ‘Wendlela KaNkulunkulu Yokuphila’ ngo-1998, owawusehholo elikhulu lemidlalo eRiga. Ihholo lalihlukaniswe ngezilimi, laba izingxenye ezintathu: IsiLatvia, isiRashiya, noLimi Lwezandla LwaseLatvia. Ngemva komthandazo wokuphetha, kwaduma ihlombe, futhi abaningi bakhala izinyembezi zenjabulo, bebonga uJehova ngalesi senzakalo esiyingqophamlando.

INKATHI YOKUKHULA OKUSHESHAYO

Ngemva kwenkathi yamaKhomanisi, umsebenzi eLatvia waqhubekela phambili ngesikhulu isivinini. Nokho, ngaphambi kuka-1995, INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yayingatholakali ngesiLatvia, ngakho ngezinye izikhathi izintshumayelo zabafowethu ensimini zazingacwecwekile kahle. Kodwa intshiseko yabo yasivala leso sikhala. UDace Šk̗ipsna uchaza indlela alithola ngayo iqiniso: “Ngo-1991, ngathenga incwadi eyayikhuluma ngesihogo nokuphila ngemva kokufa esitodlwaneni esingasemgwaqweni. Ngemva kokuhamba ibangana ngezwa izwi emva kwami lithi, ‘Uthenge ushevu!’

“Lawo mazwi angenza ngema khona lapho. OFakazi BakaJehova ababili—indoda nomkayo—bazethula kimi sabe sesixoxa ngeBhayibheli. Empeleni, cishe saxoxa ngayo yonke into: IHayidesi, iGehena, uKhisimusi, isiphambano, nezinsuku zokugcina! Kumelwe ngivume ukuthi kwakuduma upotiyane, kodwa ngakuthanda engakuzwa. Sanikezana izinombolo zocingo futhi emasontweni alandelayo, lo mbhangqwana ongoFakazi waphendula imibuzo yami eminingi yeBhayibheli.”

“NGIYAJABULA NGOKUTHI ANGIZANGE NGIDIKIBALE”

UJānis Folkmanis wayeyingqwele yase-USSR yosozinyama, futhi emincintiswaneni yakhe yokugcina ngo-March 1993, waba ingqwele yaseLatvia. UJānis uyalandisa: “Ngo-1992, uJānis Cielavs, engangisebenza naye, wangimemela esifundweni sakhe seBhayibheli. Lokhu kwakushintsha ukuphila kwami. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu ngibe yingqwele yosozinyama eLatvia, ngaba ummemezeli woMbuso. Ngo-August 1993, ngabhapathizwa. Lapho ngishumayela endaweni yokuzivocavoca, umqeqeshi wami wazwakalisa ukungajabuli. Kodwa ngiyajabula ngokuthi angizange ngidikibale. Abangane bami u-Eduards Eihenbaums no-Edgars Brancis bayachaza ukuthi kungani.”

U-Eduards: “UJānis Folkmanis wacela ukungiqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli samahhala. ‘Uma singesamahhala ngempela, singaqala kwamanje,’ ngiphendula. Saqala nangempela! Engangikufunda kwakunengqondo, ikakhulukazi imfundiso yovuko, eyayinengqondo ngaphezu kwemfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi. Nomkami waqala ukufundelwa, sabhapathizwa ngo-1995.”

U-Edgars: “UJānis wayeshumayela ngentshiseko endaweni yokuzivocavoca. Wacela izikhathi ezine ukungifundela iBhayibheli, isikhathi ngasinye ngangenqaba. Kodwa ngabemukela omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! kanye nencwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni. Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ngangilokhu ngizibuza, ‘Yini engenza umdlali odume kangaka athande iBhayibheli?’ Ekugcineni ngafuna ukwazi, ngabe sengiqala ukufunda. Umphumela? Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1995 futhi manje ngiyiphayona elikhethekile.”

Abanye kuye kwadingeka banqobe imikhuba emibi ukuze bajabulise uNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Aivars Jackevičs wayenenkinga yokudakwa. Uthi: “Ukuphuza kakhulu ngempelasonto kwakuqala ngobhiya ekuseni ulandelwe ibhodlela likagologo. Ngelinye ilanga kusihlwa ngo-January 1992, ngangisekhaya, ingalo yami ikhonkiwe, ngicindezelekile futhi ngicabanga ukuzibulala. Ngangibanjwe inkunzi ngidakiwe. Ngezwa kungqongqoza umuntu emnyango. Kwakungumakhelwane wami—yena lo owayexoxe nami ngeBhayibheli izikhashana eziningana ngaphambili. Saxoxa, wayesethi ucela ukungiqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli, ngavuma.

“Ngezinsuku esasifunda ngazo, ngangingaphuzi, okwangisiza ngathuthuka. Ngemva kokufunda ngesimo sangempela sabafileyo nokuthi ngeke ngishe esihogweni—okwakuyinto engangiyesaba—ngaqala ukufunda kathathu ngesonto. Ezinyangeni ezingaphansi kwezine, ngaba ummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe. Nokho, iBhayibheli liyasixwayisa, ‘Lowo ocabanga ukuthi umile makaqaphele angawi.’ Ngobuwula, ngachitha obunye ubusuku nabantu abangalungile, ngadakwa, ngabuye ngacabanga ukuzibulala. Kodwa uJehova unomusa futhi uyabekezela, abanye abazalwane abanothando bangisiza. Yeka ukuthi lokho kwaba isifundo kangakanani! Ngo-1992 ngabhapathizwa futhi namuhla ngiyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel eLatvia.”—1 Kor. 10:12; IHu. 130:3, 4.

UMāris Krūmin̗š, naye okhonza eBethel, kwadingeka enze izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwakhe ukuze akhonze uJehova. “Ngemva kokuba sempini,” kuchaza uMāris, “ngangingasenandaba nokuphila. Kamuva, ngaxoshwa eyunivesithi ngoba ngingayi emakilasini. Ngingenanjongo, ngaba isigebengu futhi ngobunye ubusuku ngidakiwe, ngaboshwa. Ngihleli esitokisini, ngacabanga ngemithetho engangiyephulile, ngaphetha ngokuthi eminingi yayo empeleni ithathelwe emithethweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngokokuqala ekuphileni kwami, ngathandaza kuye ukuba angithethelele futhi ngafunga ukuthi ngizomfuna.

“Sengidedeliwe ejele, ngaya emasontweni ahlukahlukene kodwa isikhathi ngasinye ngangidumazeka. Ngakho ngaqala ukufunda iBhayibheli nezinye izincwadi zenkolo. Ngo-1990 ngisesitimeleni, ngahlangana nomunye esasifunda naye esikoleni futhi ngathola ukuthi wayengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Phakathi nalolo hambo olufushane, uJehova wavula inhliziyo yami njengoba ngangilalele umngane wami wakudala echaza injongo kaNkulunkulu ngesintu nezizathu zokuhlupheka emhlabeni. Ngaqala ukufundelwa futhi ngaba ummemezeli ngo-1991. Ngo-1992, ngabhapathizwa. Ngemva konyaka, ngaba ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel eLatvia, ngo-1995, ngashada noSimona, iphayona laseFinland.”

U-Edgars Endzelis wayefundela ukuba ummeli. U-Edgars uthi: “Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1990 kwakuvunguza umoya wezinguquko kwezombusazwe. Ngangisesikoleni sabameli eRiga futhi abafundi abaningi babekhuluma ngenjongo yokuphila. Ngafunda izincwadi zefilosofi nezezinkolo zaseMpumalanga. Ngangiziqeqeshela nohlobo lokulwa ngezandla olubizwa ngokuthi i-aikido. Umkami, u-Elita wahlangana noFakazi BakaJehova.

“Emhlanganweni wethu wokuqala, samukelwa ngezandla ezifudumele abafowethu abakhuluma isiLatvia nesiRashiya ngokufanayo. Lolu thando oluqotho lwasihlaba umxhwele kakhulu. Cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngashaqeka lapho umqeqeshi wami we-aikido engitshela ukuthi yilabo abasenkolweni yobuBhuddha beZen kuphela abangaba ompetha be-aikido. Kwabe ngigcinile ukwenza i-aikido! Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, ngagunda izinwele zami ezinde, futhi ngo-March 1993, mina no-Elita sabhapathizwa. Kusukela lapho, ngibe nelungelo lokusebenzisa ulwazi lwami lomthetho ‘ekuvikeleni nasekumiseni ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle’ eLatvia.”—Fil. 1:7.

UKHOLO LOBUKRISTU LUYAVIVINYWA

Ngo-1993, abafundi abane abafundela umculo eJelgava bavivinywa ukholo lapho ikwaya yabo yabelwa ukucula emcimbini woSuku Lwenkululeko. Nakuba ayemasha eqinisweni, la mantombazane ayezimisele ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, abhalela umphathi wekwaya, ngenhlonipho acela ukuba angayi kulo mcimbi ngenxa kanembeza wawo wobuKristu. Umphathi wasabela kanjani? Wanqumela abazali bawo ugwayi katiki, ethi uma engaculi, azoxoshwa esikoleni. NjengamaHebheru amathathu, la mantombazane alalela uJehova.—Dan. 3:14, 15, 17; IzE. 5:29.

UDace Puncule wayengomunye walawo mantombazane. Uyakhumbula: “Ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu nokusekela kwabafowethu kwasisiza sahlala sithembekile. Saxoshwa, kodwa angikaze ngizisole ngokulimelela ngokuqinile iqiniso. Ngempela, uJehova unginakekele kahle kakhulu. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa nje, ngaqashwa ehhovisi lommeli futhi ulwazi engaluthola lapho lwangisiza kamuva lapho sengiseBethel, lapho bengilokhu ngikhonza khona kusukela ngo-2001.”

Indaba yegazi nayo iye yabuvivinya ubuqotho babanye. Ngo-September 6, 1996, uYelena Godlevskaya, intombazane eneminyaka engu-17, washayiswa imoto waphuka amathambo enqulu. Njengoba ayevuthiwe ngokomoya, wayenqumile enhliziyweni yakhe ukudeda egazini. (IzE. 15:29) Ngaleso sikhathi, odokotela abaningi eLatvia babengakujwayele ukwelapha ngaphandle kwegazi, ngakho odokotela ababemelapha benqaba ukumhlinza. Kwabe sekuthi ngemva cishe kwesonto, odokotela ababili benza isihluku bammpompela igazi ngenkani, washona.

UMarina, unina kaYelena, wayengakabi uFakazi. UMarina uthi: “Kwangimangaza ukubona ukholo oluqinile lwendodakazi yami kuJehova nasezithembisweni zakhe. Ayizange iyekethise.” Manje njengoba esebhapathiziwe, uMarina nomkhaya wakhe babheke phambili ekwangeni uYelena ovukweni.—IzE. 24:15.

AMADODA AVUTHIWE NGOKOMOYA AGCWALISA ISIDINGO ESIBALULEKILE

Ukwanda okukhulu enanini labamemezeli kudale isidingo samadoda avuthiwe ngokomoya ukuba ahole. Ngo-1992, abazalwane nodade abahlanu abakhuluma isiLatvia abakhulele e-United States banikezwa ithuba lokuyokhonza eLatvia njengezithunywa zevangeli. KwakunguValdis Purin̗š nomkakhe, uLinda, no-Alfreds Elksnis nomkakhe, uDoris. Owesihlanu kwakungu-Ivars Elksnis, umfowabo ka-Alfreds. Bobahlanu bafika eRiga ngo-July 1992. Indlu yabo enamakamelo amane yaba ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli, idepho yezincwadi nehhovisi labahumushi.

Ukukwazi ukuzihleka kuyasiza lapho ufunda ulimi olusha. UDoris Elksnis uyalandisa: “Ngenkathi ngiqhubela abesifazane ababili isifundo, ngazama ukuchaza ukuthi uSathane wakhuluma no-Eva ngenyoka. Kodwa ngasebenzisa igama lesiLatvia elicishe lifane nelisho ‘inyoka.’ Umphumela? Ngathi uDeveli wakhuluma ngengulube!”

Ngo-1994, kwafika uPeter noJean Luters bevela e-Australia. UPeter, owabhapathizwa ngo-1954, wazalelwa eLatvia kodwa wakhulela e-Australia. Ngokudabukisayo, uJean oluthando lwakhe nomusa wakhe kwakumenze wathandwa abaningi, washona ngo-1999. UPeter wanquma ukuhlala eLatvia futhi manje useKomitini Yegatsha. “Lapho sifika,” kusho uPeter, “sathola abafowethu baseLatvia bengabashumayeli abashisekayo. Kodwa amabandla ayengakabelwa insimu eqondile, nezingxenye ezithile zaseRiga kwakungashunyayelwa kuzo. Ayeyidlanzana namabandla ayeba nezinkulumo zeningi njalo. Zombili lezi zinto zalungiswa ngokushesha.”

ABAPHOTHULE EGILEYADI BAFAKA UMFUTHO

Izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezaqeqeshwa eGileyadi zafika ngasekuqaleni kuka-1993. Imibhangqwana emibili yaseSweden, u-Anders no-Agneta Berglund, uTorgny noLena Fridlund, yabelwa eJelgava, idolobha elalinabantu abangaphezu kuka-60 000 nabamemezeli abangu-28. U-Anders, manje oyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha, uthi: “Lapho sifika, sasebenza nabafowethu enkonzweni yasensimini futhi basigcina simatasa! Ngezinye izinsuku, sasigijima sisuka kwesinye isifundo siya kwesinye amahora angu-7 noma angu-8 ngaphandle kwekhefu! Intshiseko yabo yayisikhuthaza. Abaningi balabo ababefundelwa kwabona sebesenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.”

UTorgny Fridlund uyakhumbula: “Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu sifunda ulimi, sase sizizwa sikulungele ukukhuluma nabanye sisodwa. Sakhetha ukusebenza insimu eyayigcine ukusetshenzwa ngeMpi Yezwe II kodwa ukusabela kwakungekuhle. Ingabe inkinga yayisendleleni esasenza ngayo? Ngemva kokuxoxa ngakho, sazama enye indlela—ukufunda umBhalo endlini ngayinye. Ngemva kwalokho saqala izifundo eziningana.”

Ngo-April 1995 kwafika nabanye abaningana abaphothule eGileyadi. Babehlanganisa uBasse noHeidi Bergman baseFinland, manje abajikeleza esifundeni sesiRashiya. UBasse uthi: “Ngacela abafowethu bendawo ukuba bangilungise uma ngisho okuyiphutha enkonzweni. Bathi babonwa yini, bangagcina ngokungilungisa ensimini kuphela kodwa ngisho nalapho kuqhubeka imihlangano! Manje, kuyangijabulisa ukuzwa abafowethu bethi, ‘UBasse usengomunye wethu.’”

UCarsten noJannie Ejstrup baseDenmark bakhonza ndawonye eLatvia kwaze kwaba yilapho uJannie, eseseminyakeni yawo-30, ebulawa umdlavuza. “Indlela engcono kakhulu engingakhazimulisa ngayo uJehova,” kusho uCarsten, “ukuqhubeka ngokwethembeka esabelweni sami sokuba isithunywa sevangeli.” Yeka indlela abayisibonelo ngayo laba bafowethu!

ABAPHOTHULE ESIKOLENI SOKUQEQESHELA INKONZO BAYATHELEKA

Kusukela ngo-1994, abaphothule eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo abangaphezu kuka-20 babelwa eLatvia besuka eBrithani, eJalimane nasePoland. Abafika kuqala kwakunguMichael Udsen noJess Kjaer Nielsen baseDenmark. Babelwa edolobheni elinezimboni laseDaugavpils, okuyidolobha lesibili ngobukhulu eLatvia.

UJess uthi: “Sasuka silibangise eDaugavpils, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-240 eningizimu-mpumalanga yeRiga, kubanda ntambama ngo-January. Empeleni, lalikhithika eRiga lapho sigibela emotweni—iveni endala eyayigcwele izincwadi. Umzalwane owayeshayela wayengasazi isiNgisi, nathi singasazi isiLatvia noma isiRashiya. Yayithi ingahamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 ime, athi ukuthintathinta injini. Engiqiniseka ngakho ukuthi wayengalungisi i-heater yemoto; ngaphakathi kwakubanda sengathi ungaphandle! Imoto yayisikhahlameza yonke indlela le, sagcina sifike phakathi kwamabili eDaugavpils. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-16 kuleli dolobha. Ekupheleni konyaka olandelayo, lelo nani lase licishe liphindeke kabili.”

UKUHUMUSHELA OLIMINI LWASELATVIA

Ngaphambi kuka-1992, izincwadi eziningi zazitholakala ngesiRashiya, okuwulimi abaningi baseLatvia abalukhulumayo. Abaningi nokho babencamela ulimi lwabo. Umbiko wathi: “Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi phakathi kwabamemezeli abasha abangamakhulu ambalwa kwakunabathile ababenekhono lokuhumusha, futhi sawubona umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu uqondisa umsebenzi walaba bazalwane nodade abasebasha abanomoya wokuzinikela.”

Ngenxa yokusebenza kanzima kwabahumushi, INqabayokulinda yesiLatvia yaqala ukuphuma kanye ngenyanga ngo-January 1995, yatholakala kabili ngenyanga kusukela ngo-January 1996. Kutholakala izincwadi ezinkulu nezincane eziningana ngesiLatvia kanye ne-Phaphama!

Ekuqaleni kuka-1993 iqembu labahumushi lasuka endaweni eminyene ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eRiga laya esakhiweni esikuBrīvības Street. Kwathi ngo-August 1994, bathuthela emahhovisi alungiswe kabusha ku-40 Miera Street. Abafowethu bayithola kanjani le ndawo entsha?

ISIPHO ESIKHULU

UGeorge Hakmanis nomkakhe, uSigrid, bahamba eLatvia njengababaleki ngeMpi Yezwe II. Bathola iqiniso eLondon, eNgilandi, futhi babhapathizwa ngo-1951. Ngonyaka olandelayo bathuthela e-United States, kwathi ngo-1992 babuyela eLatvia iminyaka emihlanu.

Ngemva kokuphuma kweLatvia kuyiSoviet Union ngo-1991, abantu base bengabuyiselwa izindawo zabo ezazithathwe uMbuso. USigrid nodadewabo, naye onguFakazi, babewagcine iminyaka engaphezu kuka-50 amatayitela omkhaya wakubo, ngakho bakwazi ukuthola isakhiwo esiku-40 Miera Street. Sebesitholile, basinikela enhlanganweni kaJehova ngomusa. Abafowethu babe sebesishintsha saba indawo yokuhumusha enezitezi ezinhlanu ekwazi ukuhlalisa abantu abangamashumi amabili.

UMilton G. Henschel weNdikimba Ebusayo wayekhona ekunikezelweni kwayo ngo-August 20, 1994. Elapho, wacebisa abafowethu ukuba bathenge indawo engumakhelwane eku-42 Miera Street, eyayinesakhiwo esinezitezi eziyisithupha. Umnikazi, owayehlala e-United States, wavuma ukuyithengisa. Lesi sakhiwo naso salungiswa kabusha futhi umkhaya waseBethel wakhula waba ngu-35. Kusukela lapho, ukwandiswa okwengeziwe kwenze kwaba namahhovisi namakamelo ezikhonzi zaseBethel ezingu-55.

UKUQASHELWA NGOKOMTHETHO

Ukubhaliswa ngokomthetho komsebenzi eLatvia kusalokhu kuyinselele. Ngo-1996, izikhulu zasebenzisa imibiko yabezindaba engemihle ngoYelena Godlevskaya njengebhaxa lokusenqabela ukubhaliswa. Ilungu lephalamende laze lasikisela nokuthi umsebenzi wethu ungase uvalwe! Noma kunjalo, abafowethu baqhubeka behlangana nezikhulu futhi bezichazela umsebenzi wethu. Ekugcineni, ngo-October 12, 1998, umqondisi weHhovisi Likazwelonke Lamalungelo Abantu wamemezela ukuthi amabandla amabili—elaseRiga Center naseRiga Torn̗akalns—azobhaliswa ngokomthetho unyaka owodwa njengesivivinyo. Ngemva kwenyanga, ibandla laseJelgava nalo labhaliswa ngendlela efanayo.

Umthetho waseLatvia ufuna ukuba amabandla amasha abhalise kabusha njalo ngonyaka. Ukuze abhaliswe unomphela, kudingeka kube namabandla okungenani ayishumi asebhalise iminyaka eyishumi. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, lawo asalindele ukubhaliswa ayakwazi ukuhlangana ngaphandle kokugxambukela kukahulumeni.

UKUTHOLA IZINDAWO ZOKUHLANGANA

Ukwanda okusheshayo phakathi nawo-1990 kwaphakamisa isidingo sezindawo ezinkudlwana zokuqhubela imihlangano. Ngo-1997 kwakuthengiswa indawo efanelekayo eDaugavpils, abafowethu bayithenga. Yaqala ukulungiswa ngo-December 1998, futhi ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-8, abamemezeli abangu-140 kulelo dolobha bakujabulela kakhulu ukuhlanganyela eHholo LoMbuso elithi bona.

IHholo LoMbuso lokuqala elakhiwa lisuswa phansi laqedwa ngo-1997 eJūrmala. Enye indoda yendawo eyayifundelwa iBhayibheli yahlatshwa umxhwele izinga eliphakeme lomsebenzi kangangokuba yacela ukuba oFakazi bayakhele indlu! Abafowethu benqaba, bachaza ukuthi umsebenzi wethu ugxile ezintweni ezingokomoya. Ngesikhathi esifanayo abafowethu endaweni yaseTorn̗akalns eRiga bathola isakhiwo sokudlala amabhayisikobho esishile ngemali ephansi. Ngo-August 1998 lesi sakhiwo esasishile sase sishintshwe saba amaHholo OMbuso amabili!

USIZO OLUVELA EFINLAND

Abafowethu eFinland baye benza okuningi ukuze bathuthukise umsebenzi eLatvia, baze bengamela umsebenzi wakhona kusukela ngo-1992 kuya ku-2004. IFinland ibuye inyathelise bonke omagazini baseLatvia futhi eminyakeni edlule iye yaletha abazalwane abafanelekayo bezonikeza isiqondiso. Bahlanganisa uJuha Huttunen nomkakhe uTaina, abafika eLatvia ngo-1995. UJuha manje ukhonza eKomitini Yegatsha. URuben no-Ulla Lindh, asebechithe iminyaka engaphezu kuka-80 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, nabo baba neqhaza elikhulu emsebenzini. UMfoweth’ uLindh wakhonza eKomitini Yezwe YaseLatvia iminyaka emine ngaphambi kokubuyela eFinland.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, abafowethu abangaphezu kuka-150 baseFinland baye basiza ezakhiweni ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yayo yonke le misebenzi yothando kanye nesibusiso sikaJehova esicebile enkonzweni eyenziwa abamemezeli, amaphayona nezithunywa zevangeli eLatvia, leli zwe libe negatsha lalo ngo-September 1, 2004.

IMIKHANKASO EKHETHEKILE YOKUSHUMAYELA

Abamemezeli abaningi eLatvia bahlala emadolobheni amakhulu noma ezindaweni eziwazungezile. Ekuqaleni kuka-2001, amabandla athola izincwadi ezimema abamemezeli ukuba basebenzise isikhathi sabo samaholide behlanganyela emkhankasweni okhethekile wokushumayela ezindaweni ezingazodwa. Abamemezeli abangu-93 abavolontiya bahlukaniswa baba amaqembu angu-9 babelwa ezindaweni eziningana ezisemaphandleni.

UVjačeslavs Zaicevs, oyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel, wahlanganyela kulo mkhankaso ngesikhathi sakhe sokuphumula. Uthi: “Kwaba yithuba elihle kakhulu lokujwayela abazalwane nodade. Ngemva kokushumayela, sasidla ndawonye, sixoxe okuhlangenwe nakho futhi sihlele usuku olulandelayo. Sasibe sesidlala ibhola sibhukude nasechibini. Sasinambitha iPharadesi.”

Abafowethu báchitha amahora angaphezu kuka-4 200 enkonzweni—isilinganiso samahora angaphezu kuka-41 ummemezeli ngamunye—bahambisa izincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-9 800, benza izimpindelo ezingu-1 625 futhi baqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-227. Kusukela ngalowo nyaka, kuye kwahlelwa imikhankaso efanayo minyaka yonke.

ABANINGI BATHOLA INDLELA EYA ENKULULEKWENI YANGEMPELA

Indaba yethu iqale ngo-Ans Insberg, umfo waseLatvia owathulula inhliziyo yakhe kuNkulunkulu ngobunye ubusuku obucwathile olwandle. U-Ans wayefuna ukuthola abantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Joh. 4:24) UJehova wasizwa leso sicelo esiqotho. Kusukela lapho, nabanye abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho abangaphezu kuka-2 400 eLatvia baye balazi iqiniso elingokomoya, futhi abacishe babe ngako ngobuningi batadisha iBhayibheli. Yebo, usemningi umsebenzi!—Math. 9:37, 38.

OFakazi BakaJehova eLatvia bazimisele ukusiza bonke abalangazelela inkululeko yangempela, hhayi ngokubayisa kulokho okumelelwa yiSikhumbuzo Senkululeko esikuBrīvības Street, kodwa ngokubaqondisa eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngokushesha labo abalangazelela lowo Mbuso futhi abakhonza uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso” bayokhululwa kuzo zonke izinhlobo zobuhlungu nokuhlupheka. Yebo, bayonambitha inkululeko ephelele—‘inkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’—Roma 8:21.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 190]

“Angisoze ngakukhohlwa ukubhapathizwa kwami. Kwakusebusuku, emfuleni obanda qá. Ngangiqhaqhazela umzimba wonke ngenxa yokubanda, kodwa ngangijabule kakhulu.”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 203]

“Ngezwa izwi emva kwami lithi, ‘Uthenge ushevu!’”

[Ibhokisi/Amabalazwe ekhasini 184, 185]

AKE SITHI QAPHU QAPHU NgeLatvia

Izwe

ILatvia ingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-450 ukusuka empumalanga kuya entshonalanga, abe ngu-210 ukusuka enyakatho kuya eningizimu. Amahlathi athatha indawo yaleli zwe engaba amaphesenti angu-45. Izilwane zihlanganisa ama-beaver, izinyamazane, amaphiva (elk), ama-lynx, imithini, izimvu zamanzi, izingulube zehlathi nezimpisi. Izinhlobonhlobo zezinyoni zihlanganisa onogolantethe, izindwandwe, ama-nightingale neziqophamithi.

Abantu

Abangaphezu kwengxenye eyodwa kwezintathu kubantu abayizigidi ezingu-2,3 bahlala eRiga, inhloko-dolobha. Amasonto amakhulu elaseLuthela, iRoma Katolika nelobu-Orthodox baseRussia. Nokho, iningi labantu baseLatvia lizibheka njengelingakholwa.

Izilimi

Izilimi eziyinhloko isiLatvia esikhulunywa abantu abangamaphesenti angaba ngu-60, nesiRashiya esikhulunywa abantu abangamaphesenti angaphezu kuka-30. Abaningi bakhuluma ulimi olungaphezu kolulodwa.

Indlela yokuziphilisa

Abantu abacela emaphesentini angu-60 basebenza ezindaweni zokusiza umphakathi kanti abanye basebenza ezimbonini nakwezolimo.

Ukudla

Kulinywa amazambane, ibhali, imifino efana no-beetroot, izinhlobonhlobo zemifino nokusanhlamvu. Kufuywe izinkomo, izimbuzi, izingulube nezimvu. Izinkukhu nazo zifuywa kakhulu.

Isimo sezulu

Kunomswakama omningi futhi livame ukuguqubala. Ehlobo kuyaphola kanti ebusika akubandi kangako.

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

ESTONIA

RUSSIA

LATVIA

Valmiera

RIGA

Jūrmala

Sloka

Tukums

Ventspils

Kuldīga

Liepaja

Vain̗ode

Jelgava

Daugavpils

LITHUANIA

BALTIC SEA

Gulf of Riga

[Isithombe]

ERiga

[Ibhokisi/Ibalazwe ekhasini 186]

Izifunda Ezine ZaseLatvia

ILatvia ihlukaniswe yaba izifunda ezine ngokuma kwezwe nangamasiko endawo, ngasinye sihlukile kwezinye futhi sihle ngendlela yaso. IVidzeme, isifunda esikhulu kunazo zonke, igudle iGulf of Riga, futhi khona uthola iSigulda neCēsis, amadolobha ayizigodlo avelele kwezomlando kanye nenhloko-dolobha yaseLatvia, iRiga. Empumalanga kunamathafa namachibi aluhlaza aseLatgale kanye nedolobha lesibili ngobukhulu kuleli, iDaugavpils. IZemgale, ekhiqiza ukudla okuningi eLatvia, iseningizimu yoMfula iNtshonalanga Daugava, osuka eBelarus ugeleze udlule eLatvia uze uyofika eGulf of Riga. Lapha kunezigodlo ezimbili ezinhle kakhulu ezaklanywa umdwebi wamapulani wase-Italy uRastrelli, owaklama neWinter Palace eSt. Petersburg, eRussia. IKurzeme, isifunda sesine esisho ngamapulazi, amahlathi namabhishi, sinoGu LwaseBaltic, amadolobha iVentspils neLiepaja kanye nezindawo eziningi zokudoba.

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

1 VIDZEME

2 LATGALE

3 ZEMGALE

4 KURZEME

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 192, 193]

Ukushumayeza Umfundisi Kwashintsha Ukuphila Kwakhe Nokwami

U-ANNA BATNYA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1958

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1977

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wakhulela emkhayeni wamaKristu e-Ukraine, usesize abantu abangaphezu kuka-30 ukuba babhapathizwe futhi manje uyiphayona elikhethekile.

LAPHO ngizwa ngesidingo sabamemezeli eLatvia, ngathuthela khona ngo-1986. Sasingakwazi ukushumayela obala, ngakho iBhayibheli ngangilifihla esikhwameni sokuphatha ukudla bese ngiya kubantu emapaki nakwezinye izindawo zomphakathi. Sasikhuluma ngethemba loMbuso, amaBhayibheli ethu siwasebenzisa kuphela uma umuntu esabela kahle. Besaba izihlobo noma omakhelwane, kwakuqabukela abantu besimemela emizini yabo, ngakho abathakazelayo sasivame ukubafundela lapho sibathola khona.

Izincwadi zaziyindlala. Empeleni, kwaphela iminyaka eminingana ibandla lethu linencwadi eyodwa vó yesiRashiya yokutadisha iBhayibheli, Iqiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade. Sakusebenzisa kahle ukwaziswa esasikufunde kule ncwadi ensimini kodwa yayingaphumi ebandleni!

Ngelinye ilanga sishumayela ngasesontweni, mina nengangihamba naye sahlangana noPyotr Batnya, umfundisi. Ukuze siqale ingxoxo, sambuza ukuthi singalithengaphi iBhayibheli. “Nami ngiyalithanda iBhayibheli,” ephendula. Sabe sesiba nengxoxo emnandi kakhulu. Ngakusasa, sahlangana naye epaki elingekude, sambonisa okuqukethwe incwadi ethi Iqiniso, sambuza ukuthi yini angathanda ukuxoxa ngayo. Wakhetha isihloko esithi “Amasiko Athandwa Ngabantu Lawo Enyelisa UNkulunkulu.” Leyo ngxoxo yathela futhi yaholela esifundweni seBhayibheli esiqhutshwa njalo, esasiqhutshwa umzalwane.

Esenolwazi olunembile lweBhayibheli, uPyotr waqala ukubuza abanye abefundisi imibuzo, wathola ukuthi abakwazi ukuchaza ngisho nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli eziyisisekelo! Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uPyotr wesula esontweni, wanikezela ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova.

Ngo-1991, mina noPyotr sashada futhi saqala ukuphayona. Ngokudabukisayo washona engozini eminyakeni embalwa nje kamuva. Ngiye ngabhekana kanjani nalesi simo? Ngokuyinhloko ngiye ngagxila kakhulu enkonzweni, ngisiza abanye ukuba bazi ‘uNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke.’ (2 Kor. 1:3, 4) Ngo-1997, ngaba nelungelo lokumiswa njengephayona elikhethekile.

[Isithombe]

UPyotr

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 200, 201]

Ngangilangazelela Uhulumeni Onobulungisa

U-INDRA REITUPE

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1966

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1989

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE WayeyiKhomanisi, waqala ukuphayona ngo-1990, usesize abantu abangaphezu kuka-30 ukuba babhapathizwe.

LAPHO ngisakhula, ngangingakholelwa kuNkulunkulu naseBhayibhelini. Noma kunjalo, ngangizama njalo ukulwela okulungile futhi kwakungixaka ukuthi kungani abantu behluleka ukwakha uhulumeni omuhle nonobulungisa.

Lapho ngiqala ukuhlangana noFakazi BakaJehova, kwangimangaza abangibonisa kona eBhayibhelini. Ababekusho kwakunengqondo! Engakufunda ngoMbuso nobulungisa obaboniswa uJesu kwayithinta inhliziyo yami. Ngo-1989, ngabhapathizwa echibini, kwathi ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha ngaba iphayona elivamile. Ngaleso sikhathi, mina nomyeni wami sasinengane eyodwa. Kamuva sathola amawele. Umyeni wami, u-Ivan, naye ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova futhi ngosizo lwakhe lothando, ngiye ngakwazi ukuqhubeka enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

Ngenkathi izingane zisezincane, ngangivame ukushumayela ngokwethukela emigwaqweni nasemapaki. Empeleni, amawele ayewusizo ngoba ayeheha abantu futhi ayebenza bazizwe bekhululekile, bafune ukuxoxa nami.

Lapho ngishumayela epaki laseRiga, ngahlangana nentokazi egama layo ngu-Anna. Wayehlezi ebhentshini elinde ukuba kuqale ikhonsathi, eselithengile nethikithi. Kodwa wayelangazelela ukufunda ngethemba leBhayibheli ngesintu kangangokuthi lamlahlekela kwalelo khonsathi. Safunda imibhalo ndawonye, sahlela ukuphinde sihlangane epaki. Ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha, u-Anna (kwesokudla) waba udadewethu futhi manje ukhonza emnyango wabahumushi egatsheni. Yebo, inhliziyo yami iphuphuma injabulo lapho ngicabanga ngesibusiso sikaJehova enkonzweni yami.

[Isithombe]

Nginomkhaya wami

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 204, 205]

Ungathi Babazi Ukuthi Ngicabangani

U-ANDREY GEVLYA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1963

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1990

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Eboniswe lapha enomkakhe, uYelena, ukhonza njengephayona, umbambeli wombonisi wesifunda futhi ungumbonisi wedolobha.

NGO-JANUARY 1990 ngisesitimeleni esilibangise eRiga, ngabuzwa abesifazane ababili ukuthi ngangike ngalifunda yini iBhayibheli. Ungathi babazi ukuthi ngicabangani, ngoba kwase kuyisikhathi eside ngifuna ukufunda iBhayibheli kodwa ngingakwazi ukulithola. Ngabanika ikheli nenombolo yami yocingo, omunye wabo kwakungu-Indra Reitupe. (Bheka ibhokisi emakhasini 200-201.) Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, bafika kwami bangithola ngibabheke ngabomvu. Yangihlaba umxhwele indlela abalisebenzisa ngobuhlakani ngayo iBhayibheli lapho bephendula imibuzo yami. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uPyotr Batnya, isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele, owayeke waba umfundisi, waqala ukungifundela.—Bheka ibhokisi emakhasini 192-3.

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezine, ngaya okokuqala emhlanganweni. Kanye ngenyanga ehlobo, kusuka ngo-10:00 ekuseni kuya ku-6:00 ntambama, imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa ehlathini. Abazalwane babexoxa ngezingxenye ezithile zeSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini nezoMhlangano Wenkonzo, futhi kwakuvamile ukuba kube khona obhapathizwayo, okusho ukuthi sasiba nenkulumo yobhapathizo ngaphambi kwekhefu lasemini.

Ulwazi engangisanda kuluthola nothando lobuzalwane emihlanganweni kwangijabulisa kakhulu. Ngafuna ukubhapathizwa ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Lelo thuba lavela ekupheleni kuka-August walowo nyaka, futhi ngacwiliswa echibini.

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1990, ngafundela abantu abaningana iBhayibheli endaweni engangidwebela kuyo. Abanye baba abafowethu abangokomoya. Ngo-1992, uJehova wanezela enjabulweni yami—umkami othandekayo, uYelena, waba udadewethu ongokomoya.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 208, 209]

Ukubuyela Ekhaya Ngemva Kweminyaka Engu-50

U-ĀRIJA B. LEIVERS

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1926

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1958

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wazalelwa eLatvia, wahlala emazweni amaningana ngaphambi kokubuyela eLatvia eyokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona.

PHAKATHI neMpi Yezwe II, ubaba wanquma ukuba umkhaya wakithi ulifulathele elaseLatvia. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngashada, mina nomyeni wami sagcina sesihlala eVenezuela. Lapho, ngahlangana noFakazi BakaJehova okokuqala, ngavuma ukufundelwa iBhayibheli udade oyisithunywa sevangeli. Sasifunda ngesiJalimane. Lapho ngiqala ukuya emihlanganweni, ngafunda iSpanishi, ulimi olusemthethweni eVenezuela.

Ngo-1958 sathuthela e-United States kwathi ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili ngabhapathizwa. Ngemva kokushona komyeni wami, ngathuthela eSpain nendodakazi yami, lapho ngafike ngaphayona khona. UJenene Franco wayengumbusi ongumashiqela ngaleso sikhathi, futhi abantu abathobekile abesaba uNkulunkulu babomele iqiniso. Phakathi neminyaka engu-16 ngiseSpain, ngaba nelungelo lokusiza abantu abangaba ngu-30 ukuba babhapathizwe.

Ngemva kokuwa kobuKhomanisi baseSoviet ngo-1991, ngavakashela eLatvia ngafike ngabona ukuthi kunendingeko enkulu yabamemezeli boMbuso. Iphupho lami lokubuyela kwelakithi ngiyophayona lafezeka ngo-1994—ngemva kweminyaka engu-50 ngahamba.

Insimu yaseLatvia yayikulungele ngempela ukuvunwa. Ngokwesibonelo, ngashumayeza omunye umlisa owacela enye yezincwadi zethu. Wathi indodakazi yakhe iyazithanda izinto ezingokomoya, ufuna ukuyiphathela incwadi. Ngacela ikheli layo, ngaqala ukuyifundela, kwathi ungakapheli nonyaka yabhapathizwa. Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokunginika ilungelo namandla okuphayona ezweni lakithi ngemva kwesikhathi eside kangaka ngingekho.

[Isithombe]

Ngineminyaka engu-20 ubudala

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 216, 217]

ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO ELatvia

1916 U-Ans Insberg oyitilosi uyabhapathizwa. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, ufaka izaziso ezimemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu emaphephandabeni aseLatvia.

1920

1926 Kuvulwa ihhovisi eRiga.

1928 Kukhululwa incwajana ethi Freedom for the Peoples, engeyokuqala ngesiLatvia. Kufika ama-colporteur evela eJalimane.

1931 UPercy Dunham uba umphathi wehhovisi.

1933 Kubhaliswa i-International Bible Students Association (IBSA).

1934 Uhulumeni uvala ihhovisi le-IBSA.

Ayikho imibiko eyatholakala kusukela ngo-1939 kuya ku-1992.

1940

1940 ILatvia iba ingxenye yeSoviet Union; abakwaDunham bayaxoshwa kuleli.

1951 OFakazi badingiselwa eSiberia.

1960

1980

1991 ILatvia iyazimela futhi.

1993 Kufika izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi.

1995 INqabayokulinda yesiLatvia iphuma nyanga zonke.

1996 Kumiswa iKomiti Yezwe eRiga.

1997 Kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala elisha eJūrmala.

1998 Amabandla amabili eRiga abhaliswa ngokomthetho.

2000

2001 Kuhlelwa umkhankaso wokuqala okhethekile wokushumayela.

2004 ILatvia iba igatsha ngo-September 1.

2006 Izakhiwo zegatsha ezinwetshiwe ziyaqedwa; kunabamemezeli abakhuthele abangaphezu kuka-2 400 eLatvia.

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

2,000

1,000

1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 176]

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

“I-Freedom for the Peoples” ngesiLatvia yaletha isigijimi senjabulo ngo-1928

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

Lesi sakhiwo sasiyihhovisi lokuqala labaFundi BeBhayibheli eRiga, ngo-1926

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

URees Taylor

[Isithombe ekhasini 180]

UFerdinand Fruck, wabhapathizwa ngo-1927

[Isithombe ekhasini 180]

UHeinrich Zech nomkakhe, u-Elsa, phambi kwesitolo sabo eLiepaja

[Izithombe ekhasini 183]

UEdwin Ridgewell (kwesobunxele) no-Andrew Jack babezishushumbisela eLatvia izincwadi

[Isithombe ekhasini 183]

UPercy noMadge Dunham

[Isithombe ekhasini 183]

Abasebenza emahhovisi kanye nabanye oFakazi ngawo-1930

[Isithombe ekhasini 191]

ESiberia, ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1950

[Isithombe ekhasini 191]

Uhlu lwe-KGB loFakazi ababoshwa ngo-1950. Abaningi bayiswa eSiberia

[Isithombe ekhasini 194]

Emibuthanweni emikhulu, njengakulo mngcwabo, abafowethu babezwa izinkulumo ezingokomoya

[Isithombe ekhasini 194]

UPauls Bergmanis noValija Lange bahumushela “INqabayokulinda” olimini lwaseLatvia, beyibhala ngesandla emabhukwini esikole

[Isithombe ekhasini 194]

Besebenzisa amafilimu (kuboniswe ubukhulu bawo bangempela), abafowethu babegeza futhi benze amakhophi e-“Nqabayokulinda,” bawasakaze

[Izithombe ekhasini 197]

UPaulīne Serova waletha iqiniso kuTeofīlija Kalvīte, umhlengikazi

[Isithombe ekhasini 199]

UYurii Kaptola, ngo-1981

[Isithombe ekhasini 199]

Namuhla, phambi kwejele ayeboshwe kulo

[Izithombe ekhasini 202]

UMhlangano ‘Wendlela KaNkulunkulu Yokuphila’ ngo-1998, owawungowokuqala eLatvia, wawunengxenye yolimi lwezandla

[Izithombe ekhasini 207]

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu uJānis Folkmanis ebe ingqwele yosozinyama eLatvia, waba ummemezeli woMbuso

[Izithombe ekhasini 207]

Lapho esejele, uMāris Krūmin̗š wathandaza kuNkulunkulu ngokokuqala

[Isithombe ekhasini 210]

UDace Puncule waxoshwa esikoleni ngenxa yokwenqaba ukucula izingoma zokushisekela izwe

[Isithombe ekhasini 210]

UYelena Godlevskaya washona ngemva kokumpontshelwa igazi ngenkani

[Isithombe ekhasini 210]

Ababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo baqinisa amabandla

[Isithombe ekhasini 215]

Umkhaya waseBethel eLatvia

[Izithombe ekhasini 215]

IKomiti Yegatsha, ngo-2006

UPeter Luters

U-Anders Berglund

UHannu Kankaanpää

UJuha Huttunen

[Isithombe ekhasini 215]

Izakhiwo ezintathu zegatsha kuMiera Street, eRiga

[Isithombe ekhasini 218]

Abantu bakaJehova eLatvia manje sebengashumayela ngokukhululekile

[Isithombe ekhasini 218]

Lesi sakhiwo samabhayisikobho esishile (kweso-bunxele) saba amaHholo OMbuso amabili (ngezansi)