I-Albania

I-ALBANIA iyizwe elincane elinomlando omude obuhlungu. Abantu bezinhlanga nezizwe eziningi baye banqamula kuyo, yahlushwa eminye imibuso futhi yaba unkom’ idla yodwa amashumi eminyaka. Ngesikhathi oFakazi BakaJehova bebhekene nezinselele eziningi nokuhlupheka okukhulu lapha, uJehova uNkulunkulu ubelokhu ebasekela futhi ebabusisa ngokuchuma okungokomoya okujabulisayo. Amakhasi alandelayo alandisa kafushane ngomlando wabo ovusa amadlingozi futhi abonise indlela “isandla sikaJehova” esizisekele ngayo izinceku zakhe ezithobekile kuleli zwe.—IzE. 11:21.

Kwadlula amakhulu eminyaka eminye imibuso ilwela ukubusa i-Albania, futhi lowo mshuduliswano wawuhambisana nezingxabano zenkolo. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1500, le ndawo yayihlukene ngokwenkolo, abanye bezibiza ngamaSulumane, abanye ngama-Orthodox, abanye ngamaKatolika.

Ekupheleni kwawo-1800 kwanda ubuzwe namaqembu ashisekela izwe e-Albania. Iningi labantu lapha laliyizimpofana futhi abaningi babekhala ngokuthi ubuphofu babo bubangelwa ukubuswa amanye amazwe. Ngawo-1900, ukufuna ukuzibusa kanye nenkululeko yikona okwathungela izimpi phakathi kwayo neGreece, iSerbia neTurkey. Ekugcineni, ngo-1912 i-Albania yathola inkululeko.

Kamuva, uhulumeni waqeda cishe yonke inkolo ehleliwe. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II, uhulumeni wamaKhomanisi wayiqeda nyá inkolo, wawusumemezela ukuthi i-Albania iyizwe lokuqala emhlabeni elingakholelwa kuNkulunkulu.

‘UKWAMUKELA IQINISO NGENJABULO’

Ngaphambi kuka-56 C.E., umphostoli uPawulu wabika ukuthi yena nabangane bakhe base bezishumayele ngokuphelele izindaba ezinhle “kuze kufike e-Iliriku,” isifundazwe saseRoma esasihlanganisa indawo eyi-Albania namuhla. (Roma 15:19) Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye kule ndawo baba amaKristu eqiniso ngaleso sikhathi, ngoba umlando ubika ukuthi ubuKristu baqala e-Albania ekhulwini lokuqala.

Umlando wanamuhla wokukhulekela kweqiniso kule ndawo waqala ngo-1921, lapho uJohn Bosdogiannis eseCrete ebhalela eBethel yaseBrooklyn mayelana nokuvakashela “ikilasi” elalifunda iBhayibheli e-Ioannina, manje eyingxenye yeGreece esenyakatho. Cishe ngaso leso sikhathi, abantu abaningi base-Albania, kuhlanganise noThanas (Nasho) Idrizi noCosta Mitchell, bazinza eNew England nase-United States. Lapho bethola iqiniso, babhapathizwa ngokushesha. UMfoweth’ u-Idrizi waphindela eGjirokastër, e-Albania, ngo-1922—umuntu wokuqala wase-Albania owabuyela ezweni lakubo namaqiniso eBhayibheli. UJehova wawubusisa umoya wakhe wokuzidela futhi abantu baqala ukusabela. Ngokushesha amanye amakholwa alapha ayehlala eMelika nawo abuya. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uCosta Mitchell waqhubeka eshumayela ensimini enabantu base-Albania eBoston, eMassachusetts, e-U.S.A.

USokrat noThanas Duli (Athan Doulis) bazalelwa e-Albania kodwa bayiswa eTurkey besebancane. USokrat wabuyela e-Albania ngo-1922. Ngonyaka olandelayo, uThanas naye wabuyela emuva eneminyaka engu-14 eyocinga umfowabo. Uyabhala: “Lapho ngifika ekhaya, angisheshanga ngamthola umfowethu ngoba wayesebenza endaweni eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-200. Kunalokho ngathola INqabayokulinda, iBhayibheli, imiqulu engu-7 ethi Studies in the Scriptures namanye amapheshana akhuluma ngeBhayibheli. Kusobala ukuthi ngisho nakuleyo ndawo ecezile esezintabeni, babekhona abaFundi BeBhayibheli abakhuthele ababekade beye eMelika babuya sebelazi iBhayibheli futhi belithanda.” Lapho ekugcineni betholana, uSokrat—owayesengumFundi WeBhayibheli obhapathiziwe—akazange anqikaze ukufundisa umfowabo uThanas iqiniso.

Ngo-1924, ihhovisi laseRomania labelwa ukuba liqondise insimu eyayisanda kuvulwa e-Albania. Nakuba umsebenzi wokufakaza wawungakandi, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 1, 1925, yabika: “Izincwadi ezithi The Harp of God, The Desirable Government, The World Distress zahunyushwa futhi zanyatheliswa ngolimi lwalapha . . . Sekuhanjiswe eziningana impela, futhi abantu base-Albania balamukela ngelikhulu isasasa iqiniso.”

Ngaleso sikhathi i-Albania yayihlukene phakathi ngenxa yezinxushunxushu zezombusazwe. Kodwa kwakwenzekani ezincekwini zikaJehova? “Ngo-1925 kwakunamabandla amathathu ahleliwe e-⁠Albania kanye nabaFundi BeBhayibheli abangabodwa,” kubhala uThanas. Waveza nokuthi uthando lwabo lwaluhluke ngokuphelele ezinxushunxushwini, ukuzazisa nokuncintisana kwabantu. Ngesikhathi abantu abaningi belishiya leli, abanye ababethole iqiniso babebuya, belangazelela ukufundisa izihlobo zabo ngoMbuso kaKristu owawusanda kumiswa.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lé eBoston kwakunikezwa izinkulumo zeningi ngesi-Albania ezilalelini ezingaba ngu-60 ngamaSonto ekuseni. Ababeba khona babengabafundi abakhuthele ababethanda ukutadisha imiqulu ethi Studies in the Scriptures. Incwadi ethi The Harp of God nayo yatadishwa ngokucophelela, nakuba kwaba namaphutha lapho ihunyushwa. (Ngokwesibonelo, isihloko sayo saqale sahunyushwa ngokuthi The Guitar of God.) Noma kunjalo, le ncwadi yasiza abantu abaningi ukuba bafunde iqiniso leBhayibheli, bakhe nokholo oluqinile.

“NINGABAHLUPHI!”

Ngo-1926, INqabayokulinda yabika ukuthi bangu-13 abantu ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. “Bangu-15 kuphela abazalwane abazinikele e-Albania,” kusho INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1927 (yesiNgisi), “futhi bayazikhandla ukuze basakaze isigijimi sombuso.” Le Ncwadi Yonyaka yathi: “EMelika kunabazalwane abazinikele abangaba ngu-30 futhi bamagange ukusiza abanye abantu abadabuka e-Albania ukuba bafunde iQiniso.” Abazalwane abangu-15 e-Albania bakujabulela ukuba khona kwabangu-27 eSikhumbuzweni ngo-1927, okuyinani elaliliphinda izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezimbili elangonyaka owawandulele.

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1920, kwakusekhona iziyaluyalu eziningi zezombusazwe kuleli zwe. Uhulumeni kaFan Noli, umbhishobhi wama-Orthodox, wathatha izintambo okwesikhashana, kanti uzoqunjwa phansi uMongameli u-Ahmed Bey Zogu. Wachaza i-Albania ngokuthi ingumbuso okukhala kuwo isicathulo sakhe, yena, Nkosi Zog I.

Ngo-1928 uLazar Nasson, uPetro Stavro nabanye abafowethu ababili, basuka e-United States baya e-Albania beyobukisa i-“Photo-Drama of Creation.” Ngesikhathi esifanayo, umpristi wamaKatolika nowama-Orthodox ababevela e-United States nabo babelapha bevakashele iNkosi uZog I.

Umpristi ongumKatolika waxwayisa uZog: “Qaphela! Kunamadoda avela eMelika azohlupha la.”

Umpristi ongumOrthodox wamphikisa. Wayebazi abazalwane ngoba babesanda kushiya isonto lakhe eBoston. Watshela uZog: “Ukube wonk’ umuntu ubenjengabo, bekungeke kudingeke nihluthulele iminyango yezigodlo zenu!”

“Uma kunjalo, bayekeni,” kuphendula uZog, “ningabahluphi!”

Ngawo lowo nyaka, eBoston kwanyatheliswa iculo elithi Songs of Praise to Jehovah ngesi-Albania, futhi ngenxa yalokho abafowethu bagcina bezifundile izingoma ezikulo. Ezimbili ezazithandwa kakhulu ezithi “Fear Not, O Little Flock” [Ningesabi, Mhlambi Omncane] nelithi “To the Work!” [Emsebenzini!]—izingoma ezaqinisa abafowethu eminyakeni enzima eyalandela.

Ngokuvamile lapho abantu base-Albania bekhuluma, abashoni ngapha nangapha, balimisa ngesihloko futhi bayamazisa umuntu onjalo. Inkulumo abanye abayibheka njengehlabayo, ijwayelekile kubo. Uma bengayifuni into ethile noma beyifuna, abananazi ukukusho nokukwenza lokho futhi ngokuvamile abagobi uphondo. Lokhu kube nethonya elikhulu endleleni abasabela ngayo ezindabeni ezinhle.

UBUNZIMA BUVEZA IMIPHUMELA EMIHLE

Ngenxa yezingqinamba kwezombusazwe nakwezomnotho, abantu abaningi base-Albania babelishiya izwe lakubo, futhi abanye babo babethola iqiniso eNew England naseNew York. Nomaphi lapho kwakunabantu abaningi abasuka e-Albania, iqiniso lalanda. Abafowethu bakuthokozela ukuthola incwajana ethi Kingdom nethi The Crisis ngesi-Albania, kwazise babekubheke ngabomvu ukuthola izincwadi ezengeziwe.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, iziphathimandla e-Albania zazizithathile ezinye zezincwadi zethu. Noma kunjalo, ngo-1934, i-Bulletin (manje INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso) yabika: “Sijabula kakhulu ukunazisa ukuthi uNobhala Womnyango Wezobulungisa usanda kukhipha umyalo oya kuzo zonke izifundazwe othi kusukela manje kuqhubeke sesingazisebenzisa ngenkululeko izincwadi zethu . . . Zonke izincwadi nezincwajana ezazithathwe amaphoyisa sezibuyiselwe kubafowethu . . . Kunabafowethu abangu-7 abaqashe imoto bahambisa izincwadi ezindaweni eziqhelile kuyilapho abanye bezihambisa ezindaweni eziseduze.” Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-1935 nango-1936, abafowethu bahambisa izincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-6 500!

“UHLELO OKUCATSHANGWA UKUTHI LUYOBA NEZILALELI EZININGI KUNAZO ZONKE”

Ekuqaleni kuka-1936, iphephandaba laseBrithani, i-Leeds Mercury, lathi: “Kuzozanywa ukuba kusakazwe uhlelo okucatshangwa ukuthi luyoba nezilaleli eziningi kunazo zonke. Kuzobe kwethulwa inkulumo yomvangeli uJudge Rutherford eLos Angeles.” UJ. F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli woFakazi BakaJehova ngaleso sikhathi, wayezobeka inkulumo eyayizosakazwa ngocingo kuyo yonke i-United States neGreat Britain futhi idluliselwe nasemazweni amaningana aseYurophu. “Linye iZwe laseYurophu elingeke neze liyizwe le nkulumo,” kuphetha isihloko se-Mercury. “Yi-Albania ngoba ayinazo izingcingo.”

Nokho, ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa ibekiwe le nkulumo, uNicholas Christo wasebandleni lesi-Albania eBoston wabhalela endlunkulu: “Sifisa ukunazisa ukuthi sisanda kuthola umbiko ovela e-Albania wokuthi abantu bayizwile inkulumo kaJudge Rutherford enesihloko esithi ‘Ukuhlukanisa Izizwe,’ ngakho ne-Albania iphakathi kwamazwe amaningi ayizwile. Yezwakala ezindaweni ezimbili . . . , cishe icoshwa isiteshi esithile somsakazo. . . . Abafowethu bajabule ngendlela engachazeki lapho bezwa izwi likaJudge Rutherford.”

Abamemezeli base-Albania babeyiqhuba kanjani imihlangano ngaphambi kokuba kushicilelwe INqabayokulinda yesi-Albania? Iningi elamukela iqiniso kwakungamadoda ayefunde ezikoleni zamaGreki eningizimu yezwe. Ngakho lalikwazi ukufunda INqabayokulinda yesiGreki. Abanye babeyifunda ngesiNtaliyane noma ngesiFulentshi. Kwakuthi uma imihlangano iqhutshwa ngesi-Albania, abafowethu bahumushe izincwadi njengoba bezifunda.

EBoston nakhona iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda sasiqhutshwa ngesi-Albania ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa kusetshenziswa INqabayokulinda yesiGreki. Noma kunjalo, abafowethu abaningi babafundisa kahle abantababo, kwathi ngemva kweminyaka eminingi amadodana namadodakazi abo, abashana, abazukulu nezingane zabazukulu bangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Empeleni, abafowethu base-Albania baziwa ngokushumayela ngentshiseko kangangokuba abantu baqala ukubabiza ngokuthi ama-ungjillorë, okusho ukuthi “abavangeli.”

KUSHUNYAYEZWA IZITATANYISWA

Ngo-1938, sekusele unyaka kuketulwe umbuso weNkosi uZog, odadewabo beNkosi ababili baya eBoston. Ngo-December umagazini i-Consolation (manje i-Phaphama!) wabika: “Lapho amakhosazana ase-Albania efika eBoston, ngahamba nothile esasinaye ebandleni lofakazi bakaJehova lalapho saya ehhotela ababekulo sabashumayeza ngombuso kaNkulunkulu. Basamukela ngomusa omkhulu.”

Lab’ oFakazi ababili kwakunguNicholas Christo nodadewabo uLina. Abatholanga amakhosazana kuphela kodwa bathola nezinye izicukuthwane ezinhlanu, kuhlanganise nenxusa lase-Albania elalizinze e-United States, uFaik Konitza [Konica]. Ngaphambi kokuba baqale ukuxoxa, kwafundwa ikhadi elivela e-Albania elalichaza indlela iqiniso elalishunyayelwa kabanzi ngayo khona. Lalithi: “Siyajabula ukunazisa ukuthi lesi sigijimi siye sashunyayelwa iminyaka eminingi nase-Albania, futhi iziphathimandla nabantu bakhona baye banikezwa amashumi ezinkulungwane zezincwadi ukuze bafundiswe futhi baduduzwe.”

Inxusa uKonitza lathi emakhosazaneni: “Bafisa ukuba nisebenzise igunya lenu ukuze bakwazi ukuqhubeka beshumayela ngaphandle kweziphazamiso e-Albania. Inkolo yabo ‘yintsha,’ futhi bakholelwa ukuthi izwe [inhlangano yezwe yamanje] lizoqedwa ngokushesha futhi ngemva kwalokho uKristu uzobusa, nabafileyo bavuswe.”

UMnu. Konitza wayekwazi kanjani konke lokhu? I-Consolation yathi ‘kwakungenxa yokuthi wayejwayelene nofakazi mumbe ngaphambi kokuba lowo fakazi athole iqiniso eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, futhi wayexoxe kaningana naye ngeqiniso.’

IMPI YEZWE II ILETHA UVIVINYO

Ngawo-1930, i-Italy yaqala ukubusa e-Albania futhi ngo-1939 iNkosi uZog nomkhaya wayo babaleka kuleli. Ibutho lamaFascist lase-Italy lavimbela ukusetshenziswa kwezincwadi zethu futhi lakwenza kwaba ukwephula umthetho ukushumayela kwabamemezeli abangu-50. Ehlobo lika-1940, bephucwa izincwadi ezingaba ngu-15 000. Ngo-August 6 eKëlcyrë, amaFascist abopha abafowethu abangu-9 abafaka esitokisini esingamamitha amabili ubude namane ububanzi. Kamuva bayiswa ejele eTiranë. Bahlala khona izinyanga ezingu-8 bengaquliswanga cala, base begwetshwa izinyanga ezisukela kweziyishumi kuya eminyakeni emibili nengxenye.

Iziboshwa kwakudingeka zithole ukudla emindenini yazo. Kodwa abantu okwakuyibona ababondla imikhaya yibo ababesejele. Babezokuthola kanjani ukudla?

“Sasithola isinkwa esomile esingamagremu angu-800, amalahle angamakhilogremu amathathu nesigaxa sensipho njalo ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-15,” kukhumbula uNasho Dori. “Mina noJani Komino sasinemali yokuthenga ikhilogremu elilodwa likabhontshisi. Sasibasa amalahle siwubilise, bese ezinye iziboshwa ziwuthenga ngezipuni. Ngokushesha sase siwupheka ngamabhodwe amahlanu amakhulu. Ekugcineni saba nemali yokuthenga inyama.”

Ebusika ngo-1940/1941, amasosha aseGreece ahlasela eningizimu ye-Albania, aphoqa amadoda ukuba ayokulwa. Kwenye indawo, lapho umzalwane enqaba, ethi akathathi hlangothi, amasosha amhudula emdonsa ngezinwele, amshaya waze waquleka.

Lapho ephaphama, umkhuzi wamasosha wamkhaca: “Awukafuni ukulalela namanje?”

“Angikashintshi, angiyi empini!” kusho umfowethu.

Ecasukile, amasosha amdedela.

Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, lo mkhuzi waya emzini walo mfowethu ayemshayile, wamncoma ngesibindi sakhe. Wathi: “Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ezidlule, ngibulale amaNtaliyane angu-12 ngase ngithola indondo. Kodwa ngiyazisola futhi nginamahloni okuyigqoka. Ihlala isekhukhwini ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi iwuphawu lokuthi kukhona abantu engababulala.”

ABABUSI ABASHA—UVIVINYO OLUFANAYO

Naphezu kwezimpi nezinxushunxushu, kwakufufusa iQembu Lamakhomanisi Lase-Albania, yize amaFascist ayezabalazela ukuqhubeka ebusa. Ngo-1943, amasosha ayelwa namaKhomanisi abamba umzalwane, amphonsa elolini, amyisa lapho impi ibambene khona, amnikeza isibhamu. Wasenqaba.

“UyiKhomanisi wena!” kubhavumula umkhuzi webutho. “Ukube ubungumKristu, ngabe nawe uyalwa njengoba nabapristi belwa!”

Umkhuzi wayala amasosha ukuba abulale lo mzalwane. Lapho bethi bamqeda ngenhlamvu, kwaqhamuka esinye isikhulu sabuza ukuthi kwenzenjani. Sathi singezwa ngokungathathi hlangothi komfowethu, sathi makangakadutshulwa, waphunyuka kanjalo umfowethu.

Ngo-September 1943, amaFascist agoba uphondo, amasosha aseJalimane ahlasela abulala abantu abangu-84 eTiranë ngobusuku obubodwa vó. Abaningi bathunyelwa emakamu okuhlushwa. Ngaleso sikhathi, abafowethu babhala imiyalezo evela eBhayibhelini enikeza induduzo nethemba. Uma umuntu eqeda ukufunda lowo myalezo, wayecelwa ukuba awubuyise ukuze unikezwe nabanye. Abafowethu babeqhubeka beshumayela, besebenzisa izincwajana ezimbalwa ababezifihlile. Babeshumayela ngezingxenye ezithile zeBhayibheli ngoba babengenalo eliphelele, kwaze kwaba maphakathi nawo-1990.

Ngo-1945, abafowethu abangu-15 base bezidonsile izigwebo zasejele. Ababili babo babekade beyiswe emakamu okuhlushwa, lapho omunye wabo ahlukunyezwa khona waze wafa. Okuxakayo ukuthi ngesikhathi abafowethu e-Albania beshushiselwa ukungajoyini amasosha aseJalimane, eNtaliyane naseJapane empini, abanye abafowethu base-Albania ababehlala e-United States babeboshelwa ukungalwi nawo la masosha.

E-Albania eyayicekelwe phansi yimpi, izincwadi abafowethu ababeziphucwa zazigcinwa esakhiweni sikahulumeni. Njengoba impi yayibambene eduze kwalesi sakhiwo, sabhidlika, kwaba ubusaphasapha bezincwadi emgwaqweni. Abantu abadlulayo bazicosha baqala ukuzifunda! Abafowethu nabo abapholisanga maseko, bacosha ezazisele.

Ngo-1944, amasosha aseJalimane aphuma e-Albania, ibutho lamaKhomanisi lamisa uhulumeni wesikhashana. Ngokushesha, abafowethu bacela imvume yokuphinde banyathelise izincwajana, kodwa benqatshelwa. Batshelwa: “INqabayokulinda igxeka abefundisi, thina sisabahlonipha la.”

IMPI IYAPHELA KODWA USHUSHISO LUYAQHUBEKA

Lo hulumeni omusha wamaKhomanisi wabiza izintela ezimba eqolo wathatha nezindawo zabantu, izimboni, amabhizinisi, izitolo nezindawo zokubukela amabhayisikobho. Abantu babengavunyelwe ukuthenga, ukudayisa noma ukuqasha indawo futhi yonke imikhiqizo kwakumelwe inikezwe uHulumeni. Ngo-January 11, 1946, i-Albania yazibiza ngokuthi iyi-People’s Republic of Albania. IQembu LamaKhomanisi ladla umhlanganiso lase libeka u-Enver Hoxha njengomongameli.

Izikole eziningi zavulwa, izingane zafundiswa ukufunda nakuba uhulumeni ayengafuni muntu ofunda izincwadi ezingabukhuthazi ubuKhomanisi. Izincwadi zethu zathathwa, uhulumeni washaqa namaphepha nemishini yokubhala yabafowethu eyayivele imbalwa.

Kwakuthi lapho abafowethu becela imvume yokunyathelisa izincwadi, benqatshelwe futhi besatshiswe. Kodwa baqina. Batshela iziphathimandla: “UJehova usinike umthwalo wokwazisa abantu base-Albania ngenjongo yakhe, nina niyasivimba. Icala lisala nani.”

Kwaba sengathi uhulumeni uthi: ‘Kukhala esethu isicathulo la! Asinandaba nani futhi asifuni kuzwa lutho ngoNkulunkulu wenu, uJehova, esingamazi!’ Abafowethu abaphelanga amandla, baqhubeka beshumayela izindaba ezinhle nomaphi nanoma yinini.

Ngo-1946 abantu baphoqwa ukuba bavote, futhi noma ubani owayengavoti wayebhekwa njengesitha soMbuso. Kwabekwa imithetho enqabela imihlangano futhi ukushumayela kwakuyicala. Benzenjani abafowethu?

Abangaba ngu-15 eTiranë bahlela umkhankaso wokushumayela ngo-1947. Zisuka nje baboshwa. AmaBhayibheli abo adatshulwa nabo bahlukunyezwa. Uma sebededelwa, babedonswa ngendlebe kuthiwe bangayi ndawo ngaphandle kwemvume yamaphoyisa. Amaphephandaba ayehlekisa ngoJesu nangoJehova.

Abafowethu base-Albania ababeseBoston bezwa ngalokhu, kwathi ngo-March 22, 1947, babhalela u-Enver Hoxha incwadi ehloniphekile enamakhasi amabili egameni loFakazi BakaJehova base-Albania. Bachaza ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abalona usongo kuhulumeni baveza nokuthi abaphikisi benkolo babebaqambele amanga ngoba izincwadi zethu zidalula imikhuba yabo ekhohlakele. Incwadi yaphetha ngokuthi: “Lapho ithimba lase-Albania elaliya eZizweni Ezihlangene liholwa uMnu. Kapo livakashela eBoston, saya ehhotela ayekulo. UMnu. Kapo akasicwasanga kunalokho wasijabulela wasamukela ngemfudumalo wayesesilalela.” UHysni Kapo wayekade enesikhundla esiphakeme kakhulu e-Albania eminyakeni engaphambili. Yize kunjalo izinkinga zaya phambili.

Ngo-1947, i-Albania yakha umfelandawonye neSoviet Union neYugoslavia, yaxabana neGreece. Ngonyaka olandelayo, yehlukana neYugoslavia yezwana kakhulu neSoviet Union. Noma ubani owayengawusekeli umbono kahulumeni wayekhishwa inyumbazane. Ukungathathi hlangothi kwabafowethu kwabalethela ukuphikiswa nenzondo.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1948, abafowethu nodadewethu abayisithupha babeseSikhumbuzweni edolobheni elincane. Amaphoyisa angena ephonseka ababhambabula isikhathi eside, ayesebadedela. Ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa, abopha umfowethu owayenikeze inkulumo yeSikhumbuzo, ammisa amahora angu-12. Phakathi kwamabili, isikhulu samaphoyisa samthethisa, “Niwephuleleni umthetho nina?”

“Umthetho weNkosi uza kuqala kunowoMbuso kithina!” kuphendula umfowethu.

Sithukuthele sibhodla umlilo, lesi sikhulu safasabula umfowethu ngempama, sambuza sathi, “Wenzani?” lapho sibona umfowethu ebheka eceleni.

“Ngikutshelile ukuthi singamaKristu,” ephendula. “UJesu wasifundisa ukuthi uma umuntu ekushaya, mphendulele nesinye isihlathi.”

“Uma isho kanjalo iNkosi yenu,” kubhavumula lesi sikhulu, “ngeke ngiyilalele, ngeke ngisakushaya futhi! Phuma la!”

“NGIZOQHUBEKA NGISHUMAYELA”

USotir Ceqi wayengumOrthodox ozinikele ohlala eTiranë. Esemncane wayenesifo esihlasela amathambo futhi imilenze ibuhlungu ngendlela engachazeki. Lapho eneminyaka engu-17, wacindezeleka kakhulu kangangokuba wanquma ukuzibulala ngokuziphonsa esitimeleni. Esathi nje uzokwenza lokho, kwafika isihlobo sakhe, uLeonidha Pope, simvakashele. Engakwazi okwakuhloswe uSotir, wamtshela ukuthi uJesu welapha abagulayo nokuthi umhlaba uzoba ipharadesi. Wamnikeza nekhophi yemiBhalo yesiGreki, uSotir waqala ukuyifunda ngaso leso sikhathi.

“Ngazizwa ngingcono,” kusho uSotir. “Ngase ngilitholile iqiniso!”

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa engakaxhumani futhi noLeonidha, wacabanga: ‘IBhayibheli lithi uJesu washumayela. Bonke abaphostoli nabafundi bashumayela. Kusobala ukuthi nami kufanele ngishumayele.’

Ngakho waqala ukushumayela. Wayephatha imiBhalo yesiGreki ngesandla, aphathe udondolo ngesinye, ashumayele ngesibindi endlini ngendlu.

Ngaleyo minyaka i-Sigurimi, noma uMnyango KaHulumeni Wezokuphepha, yayinomthwalo wokuvikela isizwe. Njengoba yayiqaphe ngeso lokhozi noma yini esongela ubuKhomanisi, yambona uSotir eshumayela ngesibindi. Yambopha, yamvalela isikhathi eside, yamshaya, yamtshela nokuthi ayeke ukushumayela.

Lapho ededelwa wathinta uLeonidha owamyisa kuSpiro Karajani, udokotela owayethole iqiniso eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili. Wamelapha, wamsiza nokuba aliqonde kangcono iqiniso.

USpiro wathi kuSotir: “Uma uphinde uboshwa, ngaphambi kokuba usayine noma yini, ubobala wonke amagama nemigqa ebhaliwe. Udwebe umugqa ngemva kwegama ngalinye, ungashiyi sikhala. Ufunde yonk’ into ngokucophelela. Uqiniseke ukuthi lokho ozokusayina yilokho okushilo.”

Ngemva nje kwezinsuku ezimbili, amaphoyisa aphinde ambamba eshumayela. Afika esiteshini samaphoyisa amnika isitatimende athi akasisayine. Esezosayina, wakhumbula amazwi kaSpiro. Nakuba amaphoyisa ayesemmele ngenhla ethi akasayine ngokushesha, uSotir wazinika isikhathi wafunda igama negama.

Wathi, “Ngiyaxolisa, ngeke ngisayine. Angikushongo lokhu. Uma ngisayina, ngiyobe ngiqamba amanga, manje angifuni ukuqamba amanga.”

Amaphoyisa enza isiswebhu ngentambo, amshaya ngaso isikhathi eside. Njengoba engavumi ukusayina, ambambisa izintambo zikagesi ezimbili, ayeselokhu embamba kabuhlungu ngogesi.

Kamuva wakhumbula: “Lapho ngingasakwazi ukubekezela, ngathandaza ngikhala. Khona manjalo, kwavuleka isicabha. Memfu isikhulu samaphoyisa. Sathi nhla sase sibheka le. Sathi: ‘Myekeni! Nenzani!’ ” Ayazi kahle ukuthi kuyicala ukuhlukumeza umuntu. Amyeka kodwa ayelokhu emhlezi entanyeni ethi akasayine. Wenqaba futhi.

Ekugcineni athi: “Usihlulile!” Aziphoqa awabhala phansi engafuni amazwi anikeza ubufakazi obuhle ayeshiwo uSotir. Amnikeza lelo phepha. Nakuba ayesebhaxabulwe wabhaxabulwa, wabanjwa nangogesi, wafunda igama negama elalibhaliwe. Kwakuthi uma umusho uphela maphakathi nekhasi, adwebe umugqa ekugcineni kwawo.

“Uyifundephi le nto oyenzayo?” kubuza amaphoyisa emangele.

“UJehova ungifundise ukungayisayini into engingayishongo,” kuphendula uSotir.

“Ubani-ke okunike lokhu?” kubuza iphoyisa njengoba limnika ucezu lwesinkwa noshizi. Kwase kuyihora lesi-9 kusihlwa futhi uSotir wayesefile indlala, engadlanga usuku lonke. “NguJehova? Cha. Yithina.”

“UJehova uphana ngezindlela eziningi. Manje nje usanda kuthambisa izinhliziyo zenu,” kusho uSotir.

La maphoyisa acasukile athi, “Sizokudedela, kodwa uma uke waphinda washumayela, uzoyikhotha imbenge yomile.”

“Uma kunjalo-ke ningangidedeli ngoba ngizoqhubeka ngishumayela.”

Elinye lathi, “Ungatsheli muntu ngalokho okwenzeke la!”

USotir waphendula, “Uma bengibuza, ngeke ngiqambe amanga.”

“Phuma la!” kubhavumula iphoyisa.

USotir wayengomunye wabaningi abahlukunyezwa ngaleyo ndlela. Ngemva kwalesi sehlakalo esivivinya ukholo, wabhapathizwa.

Kwaphela iminyaka kuseshwa amaposi e-Albania futhi imibiko eyayivela khona yayingaqondakali. Njengoba kwakuya kuba nzima ukuhamba emigwaqweni nokuhlangana, abafowethu kuleli zwe ababange besakwazi ukuxhumana. Babengekho abantu abaqondisa umsebenzi, ngakho kwakunzima ukwazi ukuthi kwenzekani. Noma kunjalo, inani labamukela iqiniso laqhubeka landa. Ngo-1940, abafowethu nodade e-Albania babengu-50, ngo-1949 baba ngu-71.

UKWANDA OKUNGOKOMOYA PHAKATHI NEMIBANGO YEZOMBUSAZWE

Ngawo-1950 imithetho yaqiniswa kuzo zonke izici zokuphila. Iziyaluyalu zezombusazwe phakathi kwe-Albania neGreece zanda. Babungekho nhlobo ubuhlobo neNgilandi ne-United States. I-Albania ayibange isakwazi ngisho nokuxhumana neSoviet Union. Kancane kancane yaba izwe elihlukanisiwe namanye, zonke izindlela zokuxhumana zashayelwa imithetho enzima.

Noma kunjalo, ababili babafowethu babenayo indledlana yokuthumelela abafowethu eSwitzerland izincwadi nama-postcard. Abafowethu baseSwitzerland bona babephendula ngesiFulentshi noma ngesiNtaliyane, bebhala ngendlela eyimfihlo. Ukubhalelana ama-postcard kanje yikona okwasiza abafowethu base-Albania ukuba bezwe ngomhlangano waseNuremberg owawungo-1955. Izindaba zokukhululwa kwabafowethu baseJalimane ngemva kokuqedwa kombuso kaHitler zakhuthaza abafowethu e-Albania ukuba baqine okholweni.

Ngo-1957, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-75 e-Albania. Nakuba amanani ayenganembile, kwaba “nenani elihle” lababekhona eSikhumbuzweni futhi “abafowethu e-Albania basaqhubeka beshumayela,” kusho INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1958 (yesiNgisi).

INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1959 (yesiNgisi) yabika: “Lab’ ofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile bayaqhubeka benza konke abangakwenza. Babatshele ngokucacile abanye iqiniso, baze bazama nokunyathelisa izincwadi. Bayakujabulela ukudla okungokomoya okufika ngesikhathi abake bakuthole ngezikhathi ezithile, kodwa kusobala ukuthi ababusi bamakhomanisi bazivale zonke izindlela zokuxhumana nabo.” Lo mbiko waphetha: “Nakuba ababusi bezwe bengabahlukanisa abafowethu e-Albania nayo yonke inhlangano Yezwe Elisha, ngeke bakunqamule ukusebenza komoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu kubo.”

UMZABALAZO UYAQHUBEKA

Ngaleso sikhathi, wonk’ umuntu kwakumelwe abe nekhadi elibonisa ukuthi usekela impi. Ababenqaba ukuba nalo babephelelwa imisebenzi noma baboshwe. Ngenxa yalokho, uNasho Dori noJani Komino baphinde bavalelwa ejele izinyanga eziningana. Nakuba abambalwa babesaba ukulahlekelwa imisebenzi futhi belahla ukholo lwabo, iqembu labafowethu abaqotho lagubha iSikhumbuzo ngo-1959 futhi abafowethu nodade abaningi babesashumayela ngesibindi.

Ngo-1959 uMnyango Wezobulungisa wavalwa, abameli baphelelwa umsebenzi. IQembu LamaKhomanisi labeka eyalo imithetho. Bonke labo abangazange bavote babebhekwa njengezitha. Ukwesaba nokungathembani kwanda.

Abafowethu base-Albania bathumela imiyalezo bechaza indlela izinto ezibheda ngayo, besho nokuthi bazimisele ukuhlala bethembekile. Ngaleso sikhathi, indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn yayilokhu izama ukuxhumana nabo. UJohn Marks, owazalelwa eningizimu ye-Albania kodwa ehlala e-United States, wacelwa ukuba azame ukuthola i-visa yase-Albania.

Ngemva konyaka nengxenye wayithola, nakuba umkakhe uHelen engazange. UJohn wafika eDurrës ngo-February 1961 wayeseya eTiranë. Elapho, wahlangana nodadewabo uMelpo, owayenesifiso sokwazi iqiniso. UMelpo wasiza uJohn ukuba axhumane nabafowethu ngosuku olulandelayo.

UJohn waxoxa nabafowethu isikhathi eside, wabanikeza nezincwadi ezithile ayezifake esikhwameni esifihlekile sepotimende lakhe. Bajabula kakhulu abafowethu. Kwase kuphele iminyaka engaphezu kuka-24 bengavakashelwa abazalwane bakwamanye amazwe.

UJohn wathola ukuthi babengu-60 abafowethu emadolobheni amahlanu nabanye abambalwa emadolobheni amancane. ETiranë, abafowethu babezama ukuhlangana kanye ngesonto ngamaSonto kodwa bangabonwa ukuze babukeze izincwadi ababezithukuse kusukela ngo-1938.

Njengoba kwase kuyisikhathi eside bengaxhumani nenhlangano, abafowethu base-Albania kwadingeka baziswe ngezinto eziphathelene nokusebenza kwenhlangano kanye namaqiniso amasha. Ngokwesibonelo, imihlangano yayiqhutshwa abazalwane nodade, odade baze bathandaze nokuthandaza. UJohn wabhala kamuva: “Abafowethu babesaba futhi bekhathazekile ngokuthi kazi odade bazolwamukela kanjani lolu shintsho, ngakho bangicela ukuba ngichazele odade bebodwa, ngabachazela. Kwangijabulisa ukubona ukuthi bayalwamukela.”

Nakuba zazihlupheka, lezi zinceku ezithembekile zawusekela ngentshiseko umsebenzi woMbuso. Ngokwesibonelo, uJohn waphawula abafowethu ababili asebekhulile baseGjirokastër okwathi “emalini yabo encane babeka imali ababezoyinikela eNhlanganweni.” Ngamunye wayebeke imali engaphezu kwamarandi angu-800.

Abafowethu baseTiranë bajabula lapho bethola incwajana elungiselelwe bona ethi Ukushumayela Nokufundisa Ngokuthula Nangobunye, eyabanikeza iziqondiso zendlela amabandla okwakumelwe asebenze ngayo ngisho evinjelwe. Kwase kuthi ngo-March, uJohn waqhuba iSikhumbuzo emzini kaLeonidha Pope eTiranë, kwaba khona abangu-37. Ngemva nje kwenkulumo uJohn waphindela eGreece ngomkhumbi.

Ngemva kokuba abafowethu endlunkulu bexoxe ngombiko kaJohn wokuhambela kwakhe e-Albania, babela uLeonidha Pope, uSotir Papa noLuçi Xheka ukuba banakekele iBandla LaseTiranë nomsebenzi e-Albania. USpiro Vruho wamiswa njengombonisi ojikelezayo. Kwakumelwe ahambele amabandla futhi ahlangane nabafowethu njalo kusihlwa, enikeza izinkulumo futhi bexoxa ngezincwadi. Inhlangano yayenza konke engakwenza ukuze isize abafowethu e-Albania ukuba baqine ngokomoya futhi bafundiswe izinto ezintsha.

Njengokulindelekile, njengoba iposi lalivulwa lihlolwe, inhlangano yayingakwazi ukuthumela incwadi enalesi siqondiso. Ngenxa yalokho, uJohn wakudlulisa kancane kancane lokhu kwaziswa kubafowethu e-Albania, ebhala ngendlela eyimfihlo lapho ebayalela amakhasi ezincwadi. Baphendula ngokushesha bathi bakuzwe kahle obekushiwo encwadini. Laba bafowethu abathathu eTiranë babekhonza njengeKomiti Yezwe, futhi uSpiro ewahambela njalo amabandla.

Abafowethu base-Albania kwadingeka bathole izindlela ezingavamile zokuthumela imibiko yenkonzo yasensimini endlunkulu. Enye yazo kwakuwukuthumela ama-postcard kubafowethu baphesheya. Babebe sebesebenzisa ipeni elicijile babhale imibiko ngendlela eyimfihlo ngaphansi kwesitembu. Ngokwesibonelo, babebhala inombolo yekhasi lencwajana ethi Ukushumayela Nokufundisa lapho kukhulunywa khona “ngabamemezeli.” Eceleni kwayo bese bebhala inani labamemezeli ababikile ngaleyo nyanga. Kwadlula iminyaka eminingi abafowethu bakwamanye amazwe besebenzisa lezi zindlela ukuze baxhumane nabase-Albania.

ISIQALO ESIHLE—KWASE KONAKALA

Nakuba iKomiti Yezwe yayisebenza kanzima ikhuthaza ukukhulekela okumsulwa, kwakufufusa uthuthuva. Ngo-1963, uMelpo Marks wabhalela umfowabo uJohn ukuthi abazalwane ababili kwabathathu beKomiti Yezwe, uLeonidha Pope noLuçi Xheka, “babengekho emakhaya” nokuthi imihlangano yayingasaqhutshwa. Kamuva kwafika umbiko othi uSpiro Vruho wayesesibhedlela noLeonidha Pope noLuçi Xheka begula, ubhalwe izEnzo 8:1, 3, ezilandisa ngokuthi uSawulu waseTarsu wathumela amaKristu ejele. Kwakwenzekani?

ULeonidha Pope, uLuçi Xheka noSotir Ceqi babesebenza embonini iQembu LamaKhomanisi elaliba nembizo kuyo nazo zonke izisebenzi, likhuthaza imibono yamaKhomanisi. Langa limbe kukhulunywa ngokuziphendukela kwemvelo, uLeonidha noLuçi basukuma bathi: “Cha! Abantu abavelanga ezinkawini!” Ngakusasa bobabili bahlukaniswa nemindeni yabo badingiselwa ukuba bayosebenza kude, isijeziso abase-Albania ababesibiza ngokuthi i-internim. ULuçi wayiswa ezintabeni zaseGramsh. Ngenxa yokuthi babethi uLeonidha uye “ophethe,” wathunyelwa ezintabeni zaseBurrel ezibandayo nezimazombezombe. Wayezohlala lapho iminyaka engu-7 ngaphambi kokuba abuyele kwakhe eTiranë.

Ngokuyinhloko ngo-August 1964 imihlangano yayingasaqhutshwa. Ukwaziswa okuncane okwakuputshuka kwakubonisa ukuthi i-Sigurimi yayigade abafowethu ngeso elibukhali. Omunye umyalezo owawubhalwe ngaphansi kwesitembu wawuthi: “Sithandazeleni eNkosini. Izincwadi ziyathathwa endlini ngendlu. Abasivumeli sifunde. Abathathu badingisiwe.” Ekuqaleni kwakucatshangwa ukuthi abafoweth’ uPope noXheka bakhululiwe ngoba yibo bodwa ababekwazi ukubhala ngaphansi kwezitembu. Nokho, kamuva kwacaca ukuthi umkaLuçi, uFrosina, nguye owayebhale lowo myalezo.

Abafowethu ababehola babethathiwe. Ukugadwa ngeso lokhozi yi-Sigurimi kwenza abanye bangakwazi ukuxhumana. Noma kunjalo, abafowethu ababedingisiwe banikeza ubufakazi obuphawulekayo kunoma ubani ababehlangana naye. Abantu baseGramsh babethi: “Kunama-ungjillorë [abavangeli] la. Awayi empini kodwa akha amabhuloho, alungise nemishini yethu yokuphehla ugesi.” Laba bafowethu baba nedumela elihle elahlala amashumi eminyaka.

IZWE ELINGAKHOLELWA KUNKULUNKULU

Ezindabeni zezombusazwe, i-Albania yahlukana neSoviet Union futhi yazihlanganisa neChina. Imibono yamaKhomanisi yayinethonya kangangokuthi abantu abathile base-Albania babeze bagqoke izingubo ezifana nezikaSihlalo WeQembu LamaKhomanisi AseShayina, uMao Tse-tung. Ngo-1966, u-Enver Hoxha waqeda izikhundla ebusosheni, futhi njengoba kwakungekho ukwethembana, imibono ephikisayo yayingabekezelelwa.

Amaphephandaba aqala ukukhipha izihloko ezazimelene nenkolo, eyibiza ngokuthi “into eyingozi.” EDurrës, iqembu labafundi labhidliza isonto ngogandaganda. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, namanye amasonto akwamanye amadolobha abhidlizwa. Ngo-1967, njengoba uhulumeni wawugqugquzela ukuqedwa kwenkolo, i-Albania yaba izwe lokuqala elingakholelwa nhlobo kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba amanye amazwe obuKhomanisi ayeyilawula inkolo, e-Albania yayingafunwa.

Abanye abapristi bamaSulumane, bama-Orthodox nabamaKatolika baboshwa ngenxa yokuzigaxa kwezombusazwe. Abapristi abaningana kwabahambela kangcono bona ngoba bavele bayishiya phansi indaba yenkolo. Izakhiwo ezimbalwa ezinomlando wenkolo zashintshwa zenziwa amamnyuziyamu. Kwakungavunyelwe zimpawu zenkolo ezinjengeziphambano noma izithixo, izindlu zokukhulekela noma imibhoshongo. Igama elithi “Nkulunkulu” lalidelelwa. Lokhu kwenza isimo sabafowethu saba nzima.

Ngawo-1960 abanye abafowethu bashona. Abamemezeli ababesele besakazekile baqhubeka bevikela iqiniso ngangokusemandleni abo. Kodwa ngisho nabantu ababenenhlansi yesithakazelo babesaba kakhulu ukulalela.

UTHANDO LWEQINISO ALUZANGE LUNCIPHE

Ngo-1968, uGole Flloko wabhalela uJohn noHelen Marks ebatshela ngempilo yakhe ebuthaka. Ukushumayela kwakuwukwephula umthetho futhi imihlangano yayivinjelwe. Kodwa uGole, owayesevile eminyakeni engu-80, wachaza indlela ayevame ukukhuluma ngayo nabangane nabantu ayehlangana nabo emakethe, epaki noma ezitolo zekhofi. Ngemva kwalokho, uGole washona ethembekile. Njengabaningi e-Albania, akukho lutho olwalungaqeda uthando lwakhe olungevinjwe ngoJehova neqiniso.

Ngenxa yokukhula, uSpiro Vruho wayengasakwazi ukujikeleza njengasekuqaleni. Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1969, watholakala efile emthonjeni. I-Sigurimi yabika ukuthi wayezibulele. Kodwa ingabe lokhu kwakuyiqiniso?

Nakuba kwaba sengathi uzibulele wayeseshiya incwadi eyayithi wayecindezelekile, yayingabhaliwe ngesandla sakhe. Futhi kuthiwa ngaphambi kokuba afe, wayephile kahle. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayenamabala amnyama entanyeni, abonisa ukuthi wayehlaseliwe ngandlela-thile. Akutholakalanga zindophi emthonjeni okungabe wazikhunga ngazo, kwakungekho namanzi emaphashini akhe.

Ngemva kweminyaka, kwezwakala ukuthi uSpiro wayetshelwe ukuthi uma engavoti, yena nomkhaya wakhe babezoboshwa, bangatholi kudla. Abafowethu eTiranë bathola ukuthi uSpiro wayebulewe ngosuku olwandulela ukhetho, wabe esephonswa emthonjeni. Kwakungekhona okokugcina oFakazi BakaJehova beqanjelwa amanga kuthiwa bazibulele.

ISHUMI LEMINYAKA YOKUBA UNKOM’ IDLA YODWA

Ngo-1971, oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke bajabula lapho kwenezelwa amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo eBrooklyn, eNew York. Kwaba nesasasa elikhulu lapho kumenyezelwa ilungiselelo lokumisa abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo. Kwathatha iminyaka nokho ukuba abafowethu e-Albania bezwe ngalezi zinguquko. Bazizwa ngezivakashi zase-United States ezabonana noLlopi Bllani, udade waseTiranë. Lezi zivakashi zatshelwa ukuthi imihlangano yayingasaqhutshwa nokuthi bathathu kuphela oFakazi abakhuthele, nakuba empeleni babebaningana.

UKosta Dabe wayekade eseGreece kusukela ngo-1966, ezama ukuthola i-visa yokubuyela ezweni lakubo e-Albania. Lapho eseneminyaka engu-76, wayefuna ukufundisa abantwana bakhe iqiniso. Njengoba ehluleka ukuthola i-visa, lapho efika emngceleni wase-Albania wakhipha incwadi yase-United States yokungena kwelinye izwe, wangena, azi ukuthi kungenzeka angaphinde aphume.

Ngo-1975 umbhangqwana wase-Albania ohlala e-United States wavakashela e-Albania. Wabika ukuthi abaseshi “baqaphe kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili” nokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babebhekwe ngeso lokhozi. Izivakashi zakwamanye amazwe zaziphelezelwa abaqondisi bezivakashi abasemthethweni, abaningi babo abangamalungu e-Sigurimi. Ngemva kokuba izivakashi sezihambile, i-Sigurimi yayilandelela labo ababevakashelwe. Izivakashi zazingethenjwa futhi zingamukelwa kahle. Abantu babezesaba.

Ngo-November 1976 incwadi evela kuKosta Dabe yabika ukuthi bahlanu ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni eVlorë. Wayazi ukuthi ePërmet naseFier kwakunoFakazi oyedwa edolobheni ngalinye owagubha iSikhumbuzo eyedwa. ETiranë, kukhona abasigubha bebabili, abanye bebane. Ngakho, ngokolwazi lwakhe, cishe bangu-13 ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni ngo-1976.

Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, uKulla Gjidhari ukhumbula indlela agubha ngayo iSikhumbuzo: “Ekuseni ngenza isinkwa ngakhipha iwayini. Kusihlwa ngavala amakhethini ngakhipha iBhayibheli engangilifihle ngemva kwendlu yangasese. Ngafunda indlela uJesu amisa ngayo iSikhumbuzo kuMathewu isahluko 26. Ngathandaza, ngaphakamisa isinkwa, ngasibeka phansi. Ngaphinde ngafunda uMathewu, ngaphinde ngathandaza, ngaphakamisa iwayini, ngase ngilibeka. Ngemva kwalokho, ngahuba. Ngangingedwa kepha ngangazi ukuthi ngisigubha nabanye abafowethu emhlabeni wonke!”

UKulla wayengenazihlobo eziningi. Lapho esemncane, uSpiro Karajani wamthola wamkhulisa kanye nendodakazi yakhe uPenellopi eTiranë. USpiro washona ngawo-1950.

I-ALBANIA IYAQHUBEKA NOKUBA UNKOM’ IDLA YODWA

Inkathi entsha yokuba unkom’ idla yodwa yaqala ngo-1978 lapho i-Albania isihlukene neChina. Umthetho-sisekelo omusha wawuhlose ukuthi i-Albania izimele gelekeqe, unemithetho eqinile ebusa zonke izici zokuphila, kuhlanganise nendawo yokubuka amabhayisikobho, umdanso we-ballet, izincwadi nezobuciko. Umculo we-classic owawubhekwa njengokhuthaza ukuvukela waqedwa. Ababhali abagunyaziwe kuphela ababevunyelwe ukuba nemishini yokubhala. Noma ubani owayebukela izinhlelo zethelevishini zakwamanye amazwe wayephekwa yi-Sigurimi ngemibuzo.

Kule nkathi yokucindezelwa okukhulu, abafowethu base-Austria, eJalimane, eSweden, eSwitzerland nase-United States bangena njengezivakashi ngenjongo yokuxhumana nabafowethu balapha. Abambalwa okwaxhunyanwa nabo bayazisa ngempela le mizamo. Nokho, abazalwane babengavunyelwe ukuba baxhumane, ngakho bambalwa ababazi lapho kufika isivakashi.

Ngo-1985, abantu base-Albania balilela ukufa kukamashiqela u-Enver Hoxha okwase kuyisikhathi eside ebusa. Kwase kuzokwenziwa izinguquko kuhulumeni nakwezenhlalo. Ngonyaka olandelayo uJohn Marks wayeseshonile futhi umkakhe, uHelen, owayeneminyaka engaba ngu-65, wanquma ukuvakashela e-Albania. Lapho elanda i-visa yakhe, iziphathimandla zathi: “Uma kwenzeka noma yini kuwe ngesikhathi ulapho, ungacabangi ukuthi sizokusiza.”

Uhambo lukaHelen lwamasonto amabili lwaluyingqopha-mlando kubamemezeli abambalwa base-Albania. Wagcina embonile uMelpo, udadewabo kaJohn, owayethole iqiniso kumfowabo eminyakeni engu-25 ngaphambili. Nakuba uMelpo ayengakabhapathizwa, kwadlula iminyaka eminingi kunguyena ngokuyinhloko oxhumana nenhlangano.

UHelen wahlangana nanoLeonidha Pope noVasil Gjoka, owabhapathizwa ngo-1960. Wezwa ngoFakazi abangu-7 ababesaphila ezindaweni ezihlukene. Watshela abafowethu base-Albania ezakamuva ngenhlangano nangendlela umsebenzi owawuqhubeka ngayo emazweni obuKhomanisi. Wayebashumayeza ngokuqapha labo ayehlangana nabo. Waphawula ukuthi izinkinga zomnotho zazibhidlangile e-Albania.

Wathi: “Ukuze uthole imbijana yobisi, kwakuvamile ukuba ume emgqeni kusukela ngehora lesithathu ekuseni. Izitolo eziningi zazingenakudla.”

Ngo-1987 igatsha lase-Austria nelaseGreece enza imizamo yokuthumela ezinye izivakashi e-Albania. Ngo-1988 umbhangqwana wase-Austria, uPeter Malobabic nomkakhe, bangena njengezivakashi bapha uMelpo ihembe, wajabula kakhulu. Nokho, wajabula wafa lapho ethola incwadi ethi “Izinto UNkulunkulu Angeqambe Amanga Ngazo” ithukuswe phakathi ehembeni.

Kamuva ngalowo nyaka, omunye umbhangqwana wanika uMelpo izincwadi ezengeziwe, kodwa kwakufanele uvule amehlo ngoba i-Sigurimi yayiwuqaphe ngeso lokhozi. Ngemizuzwana ezazithola ngayo ithuba lokuzihambela zodwa zingagadiwe, izivakashi zazikhuluma isikhashana nabafowethu. Bezwa ukuthi uLeonidha uyagula nokuthi abanye abafowethu abaningi e-Albania base bekhulile futhi bengasakwazi kahle ukuhamba.

IZIMO ZIQALA UKUSHINTSHA

Isimo sezombusazwe sasishintsha ngo-1989. Isigwebo sentambo uma uzama ukweqa e-Albania saqedwa. UHelen waphinde wavakashela khona ehlobo. Wachitha isikhathi eside edlulisa ukwaziswa neziqondiso ayezinikeziwe. UVasil Gjoka wahambela abafowethu kafushane ngendlela ayengakwazi ngayo.

I-Sigurimi yezwa ukuthi uHelen uvakashele khona yayomvakashela. Kunokuba imhluphe, yacela isipho esivela eMelika. Umuntu ulala ephenduka!

UDonga LwaseBerlin lwawa ngo-November 9, 1989, futhi akuphelanga sikhathi imiphumela yezwakala nase-Albania. Ngo-March 1990 babhikishela ubuKhomanisi eKavajë. Izinkulungwane zabantu zatheleka ezakhiweni zamanxusa eTiranë, zizama ukuhamba. Abafundi babezifuna la izinguquko futhi baduba ukudla.

Ngo-February 1991, isixuku sabantu sadiliza isizemazema sesithombe sika-Enver Hoxha esingamamitha ayishumi ubude, okwase kuyiminyaka simi eSkanderbej Square, eTiranë. Ngokombono wabantu, umashiqela wayengasekho. Ngo-March, abantu balapha abangaba ngu-30 000 baduna imikhumbi eyayisuka eDurrës naseVlorë babalekela e-Italy. Ngaleyo nyanga kwaba nokhetho phakathi kwamaqembu ahlukahlukene okokuqala ngemva kwesikhathi eside. Nakuba iQembu LamaKhomanisi ladla umhlanganiso, kwacaca ukuthi uhulumeni wawungasenamandla kangako.

UHelen Marks wahambela e-Albania okokugcina ngo-August 1991, kodwa kulokhu wathola ukuthi izimo zase zishintshile. Kwase kuyinyanga uhulumeni uvule ihhovisi likanobhala wezenkolo, izinkolo zaphinde zabhaliswa ngokomthetho ngemva kweminyaka engu-24. Abafowethu abachithanga sikhathi, bandisa umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela bahlela nemihlangano yebandla.

UVasil Gjoka waya eGreece wahlala ehhovisi legatsha efunda indlela yokuqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela. Njengoba ayengasazi kahle isiGreki, abafowethu ababesazi kancane isi-Albania bamfundisa lokho ababengamfundisa kona. Lapho ebuyela eTiranë, uVasil wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze asebenzise ayekufundile azame nokuhlela kangcono imihlangano yebandla eyayiqhutshwa kabili ngesonto, omunye kungowesifundo se-Nqabayokulinda eyayisanda kukhishwa yokuqala ngqá ngesi-Albania.

“Ngaphambili, imihlangano yayivulwa ngengoma nomkhuleko,” kukhumbula omunye umfowethu, “sicula izingoma esasizifundiswe abazalwane asebekhulile. Sasiqhuba isifundo, siphethe ngengoma​—noma ezimbili, noma ezintathu noma ngaphezulu! Sasivala ngomthandazo.”

Ngo-October 1991 nango-February 1992, uThomas Zafiras noSilas Thomaidis baletha izincwadi e-Albania zivela eGreece. Bahlangana nabafowethu eTiranë nabamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe eBerat, babhala namagama abantu ababefisa ukufunda iqiniso. Ngemva kweminyaka yonswinyo olungokomoya, abantu babefile yindlala engokomoya. Ngokwesibonelo, eBerat, nakuba babengekho abazalwane abhapathiziwe, abantu abathakazelayo babeyiqhuba imihlangano. Yini eyayizokwenziwa ukuze kulungiswe lokhu?

ISABELO ESINGALINDELEKILE

UMichael noLinda DiGregorio babeyizithunywa zevangeli eDominican Republic. Ugogo nomkhulu kaMichael babephakathi kwabantu base-Albania ababhapathizelwa eBoston ngawo-1920 futhi wayesazi kancane isi-Albania. Ngakho lapho abakwaDiGregorio benquma ukuyovakashela izihlobo zase-Albania ngo-1992, babuza iNdikimba Ebusayo ukuthi kunganjani bahlangane nabazalwane kulezo zinsuku ezintathu ababezozihlala khona. Bamangala lapho ibacela ukuba bahlale izinyanga ezintathu ukuze basize ekuhleleni umsebenzi wokushumayela.

Egatsheni laseRome, abafowethu baseGreece nabase-Italy babathi fahla abakwaDiGregorio ngesimo sase-Albania, bababonisa nezithombe zabafowethu abathile, kuhlanganise noVasil Gjoka. Lapho abakwaDiGregorio beya eTiranë ngo-April 1992, abantu base-Albania ababehlala phesheya base bevunyelwe ukubuyela kuleli. Noma kunjalo, kwakusenodlame lwezombusazwe futhi abantu benexhala ngekusasa.

Lapho uMichael noLinda befika nje esikhumulweni sezindiza, abakubo kaMichael bagijima bayobabingelela. Ngaso leso sikhathi uMichael wabona uVasil Gjoka, naye owayetsheliwe ukuthi bazofika ngalelo langa.

UMichael wathi kuLinda: “Wena hamba nabasekhaya, ngiyabuya khona manje.”

Ngemva kokubingelela uLinda, izihlobo zathatha imithwalo yabo zaphuthuma ezimotweni, uMichael yena waya kuVasil ngokushesha.

“NgeSonto ngizoza eTiranë,” uMichael etshela uVasil, “sizobonana khona.”

UKoço, isihlobo sakubo kaMichael sase-Albania, owayengazi ukuthi uLinda noMichael bangoFakazi BakaJehova, wagijima waya kuye wathi: “Wenzani? Asikhulumi nabantu esingabazi!”

Njengoba begwinciza beya eKorçë, abakwaDiGregorio baqaphela indlela izinto ezazihluke ngayo kwezaseCaribbean. “Yonke into yayimthuqasi,” kukhumbula uMichael. “Kwakunocingo oluhlabayo yonk’ indawo. Wawungathi abantu bafelwe yizwe. Zazingabonwa izimoto. Amafasitela ayefile. Abalimi babelima ngemikhono. Kwakusafana nangezinsuku zokhokho! Ngazizwa sengathi sibuyele kuleso sikhathi!”

“UHAMBO LWENU LUQONDISWE UNKULUNKULU”

UKoço wayenokuthile ayekufihle iminyaka, manje wayesefuna ukukutshengisa uMichael. Lapho ugogo kaMichael eshona, umndeni waseBoston wabhalela owase-Albania incwadi ende. Amakhasi ayishumi okuqala ayekhuluma ikakhulu ngezindaba zomndeni, kodwa ngasekugcineni kwencwadi babechazelwe ngovuko.

UKoço watshela uMichael: “Amaphoyisa ayibheka incwadi, afunda amakhasi ambalwa okuqala. Kodwa acikeka, ayesethi: ‘Ithathe! Izinto zomndeni zodwa!’ Lapho ngiyifunda ngasekugcineni, ngajabula kakhulu lapho ngizwa okuthile ngoNkulunkulu!”

UMichael wabe esemtshela ukuthi yena noLinda bangoFakazi BakaJehova, wayesemshumayeza.

Njengoba abantu babenza ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, abantu base-Albania bazizwa bephoqelekile ukuba banakekele futhi bavikele izivakashi zabo. Ngakho uKoço waphikelela ngokuthi ufuna ukuphelezela uMichael noLinda lapho beya eTiranë.

UMichael uyakhumbula: “Asiwutholanga umuzi kaVasil eTiranë ngoba imigwaqo yayingenamagama. Ngakho uKoço wathi kungcono siyobuza eposini.”

ULinda uyaqhubeka: “Lapho ebuya, uKoço wayebonakala emangele, sahamba saqonda ngqo emzini kaVasil.”

Kamuva uKoço wachaza: “Lapho ngingena eposini ngibuza ngoVasil, bathi: ‘Usanta lowo! Uyazazi izinto ezimehlele? Ayikho indoda elunge kanje eTiranë!’ Lapho ngizwa lokhu, ngivele ngabona ukuthi uhambo lwenu luqondiswe uNkulunkulu! Ngeke nginivimbe!”

KUHLELWA UMSEBENZI ETIRANË

UVasil wajabula lapho ebona abakwaDiGregorio futhi baxoxa isikhathi eside. Kwaze kwaba yilapho sebezohamba lapho uVasil abatshela khona ukuthi uJani Komino, owayekade eboshwe noNasho Dori, wayeshone ekuseni ngalelo langa. Kungani uVasil engayanga emngcwabeni walo mzalwane othandekayo, ongumngane wakhe omkhulu? Wachaza: “Yingoba bekuza umuntu othunywe iNdikimba Ebusayo.”

UMichael noLinda babefuna ukuhlala eTiranë kodwa uhulumeni wangaleso sikhathi wawungazivumeli izihambi ukuba zihlale lapha. Babezokwenzenjani?

“Sayishiyela kuJehova le ndaba,” kusho uMichael, “ekugcineni sathola ifulethi elincane sahlala kulo.”

“Izihluthulelo zalo zazihlala kubaninilo,” kukhumbula uLinda, “futhi babengena bephuma ngokuthanda kwabo. Kanti futhi kwakudingeka sinqamule lapho kwakuhlala khona abanye andukuba singene kweyethu indawo. Kodwa-ke kungcono ngoba eyethu yayisekugcineni futhi vele sasingafuni ukuba semehlweni abantu.”

Kwaphela eside isikhathi abakwaDiGregorio belalele abafowethu asebekhulile eTiranë belandisa ngovivinyo ababeye balukhuthazelela. Nokho, enye yezinkinga yayiwukuthi abanye babo babengathembani.

“Ngamunye wabo wayethembekile,” kukhumbula uMichael, “kodwa babezibuza ukuthi kazi abanye babethembekile yini. Nakuba babezehlukanisa bona bodwa, abazihlukanisanga nathi. Ngemva kokuba sesixoxe nabo ngomoya ophansi, bavuma ukuthi into ebaluleke kakhulu kwakuwukwenza igama likaJehova laziwe. Baba munye othandweni labo ngoJehova, bebheke ikusasa ngabomvu.”

Kwakubonakala ukuthi ibandla alikho. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uKulla Gjidhari noStavri Ceqi beqala ukubona incwajana ethi Ukuhlola ImiBhalo Nsuku Zonke, bayiphenyaphenya bengazi ukuthi eyani.

“Oho i-Manna!” kubabaza uStavri, ekhuluma ngencwadi ethi Daily Heavenly Manna for the Household of Faith, eyayisetshenziswa kudala ngesikhathi athola ngaso iqiniso.

UKulla wabuza, “Awusho, unjani umongameli, uMfoweth’ uKnorr? Usaphila umngane wakhe, uFred Franz?” Lokho kwabonisa ukuthi kwase kudlule iminyaka eminingi bengaxhumani nenhlangano!

YEKA ISIKHUMBUZO!

Igumbi elincane abafowethu ababeqhubela kulo imihlangano emzini kaVasil Gjoka lalilincane kakhulu ukuba lingenela abantu abeze eSikhumbuzweni. Abantu abangu-105 abafika bahlanganela egunjini elalikade liyikomkhulu lephephandaba leQembu LamaKhomanisi. Kwakuqala ukuba iSikhumbuzo singaqhutshelwa emzini womzalwane eTiranë. Nakuba kwakunabamemezeli abangu-30 kuphela e-Albania ngo-1992, bajabula ngokuba nabangu-325 eSikhumbuzweni.

Iqembu labathakazelayo eTiranë laliya landa, kuba khona abangu-40 emzini kaVasil. Ababesanda kuhlanganyela babefuna ukuba abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe, abanye befuna ukubhapathizwa. Abafowethu bachitha isikhathi eside bexoxa nababefuna ukubhapathizwa. Ngenxa yokuthi incwadi ethi Ukuhlelelwa Ukufeza Inkonzo Yethu yayingekho ngesi-Albania, kwakudingeka ukuba ababezobhapathizwa bahunyushelwe umbuzo ngamunye. Abanye ababesanda kuhlanganyela bafundiswa izinto ezijulile ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi bayaliqonda iqiniso. Nakuba ayengekho owayeke wafundelwa iBhayibheli, yayimangaza indlela ababeliqonda kahle ngayo.

BAQASHELWA NGOKOMTHETHO EKUGCINENI!

Emasontweni alandela, abafowethu bachitha amahora amaningi nabameli nezikhulu bezama ukubhalisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Abafowethu nabantu abathakazelayo eTiranë base besifakile isicelo, kodwa kwase kunohulumeni omusha, ngakho kwadingeka baphikelele.

“Noma siyaphi sasihamba ngezinyawo,” kukhumbula omunye umfowethu. “Sasithi uma sihamba edolobheni sihlangane nongqongqoshe wamalungelo abantu, owezangaphakathi, owobulungisa, umphathi wamaphoyisa, amalungu enkantolo yomthetho-sisekelo nezinye izikhulu. Laba bantu babenomusa futhi bejabula ngokuthi izinto ziba ngcono. Iningi labo lase lazi ngama-ungjillorë (abavangeli). Kwakungangatshazwa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bakhona e-Albania.”

Kwase kuphele amasonto izikhulu zicula iculo lokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bazoqashelwa ngokomthetho kodwa dó. Kwaphumeleleka lapho u-Angelo Felio, umfowethu wase-United States ongowokuzalwa e-Albania, evakashela umkhaya wakubo eTiranë. Lapho ese-Albania, wahamba nabafowethu baya kumeluleki kangqongqoshe okwakunguyena owayegunyaza ukuba umsebenzi uqashelwe ngokomthetho. Lo meluleki wajabula lapho ezwa ukuthi abakubo ka-Angelo bavela ngakubo.

“Abakini bavela kuyiphi indawo?” ebuza u-Angelo. Wamangala ukuthi kanti uvela ngakubo.

“Ningabakwabani?” ebuza.

Bamangala lapho bethola ukuthi uyisihlobo sakhe kodwa babedukelene kudala.

Wathi: “Ngiwuthandile umthetho-sisekelo wenu, nganquma nokuba nginisize, kodwa manje sengibophekile ukuba nginisize ngoba uyigazi lami!”

Ngemva kwezinsukwana, lo meluleki wabhalela abafowethu imvume (i-Order No. 100) eyayenza oFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwe ngokomthetho e-Albania. Ekugcineni, ukukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova, okwakuvinjelwe kusukela ngo-1939 manje kwase kuqashelwa ngokomthetho futhi kungasabekelwe mingcele! “Siswele amazwi okuchaza indlela esasijabule ngayo ngalolo suku,” kusho abakwaDiGregorio.

Emasontweni ambalwa kamuva, igatsha laseGreece, elalengamele e-Albania, lathumela uRobert Kern eTiranë. URobert wazisa abazalwane balapha ngokubhaliswa komsebenzi nokumiswa kweBandla LaseTiranë. Wabatshela nokuthi insimu yabo “yilo lonke elase-Albania.” Kwadingeka babhukule ukuze baqhubeke nomsebenzi wokushumayela endlini ngendlu. Kwaqashwa indlu enamakamelo amathathu yenziwa ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi, kunegumbi elikhulu elalixhumene nale ndlu elaba yiHholo LoMbuso lokuqala.

IMVU EYODWANA IYATHOLAKALA

“Bakhona yini oFakazi BakaJehova eVlorë?” kubuza abafowethu ngesikhathi bexoxa ngentuthuko yomsebenzi wokushumayela e-Albania. Abanye babezwe ngandlebenye ngesalukazi okwakuthiwa sinomdumakhanda. Kwabe sekufika owesifazane owabatshela ukuthi yena nabakubo bangabavangeli nokuthi iqiniso balifundiswe umuntu okuthiwa u-Areti waseVlorë. Ngakho abafowethu basuka eTiranë baya eVlorë beyomfuna.

U-Areti Pina, isalukazi esifushane, wabangenisa kwakhe, kodwa wayengenkabunkabu ngokuxoxa. Lapho bemchazela ukuthi bangabafowabo abangokomoya, wavele wababuka nje.

“Ngicela ukunibuza,” kusho u-Areti ngemva kwemizuzwana. Wabe eseqala ukubaphonsa imibuzo: “Niyakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu? Ubani igama likaNkulunkulu? Niyakholelwa esihogweni somlilo? Kwenzekani kithi lapho sifa? Kuzokwenzekani emhlabeni? Bangaki abazoya ezulwini?”

Abafowethu bayiphendula yonke le mibuzo.

“Niyashumayela?” kubuza u-Areti.

“Yebo,” kusho omunye umzalwane, “siyashumayela.”

“Nishumayela kanjani?” ebuza.

“Singena indlu ngendlu,” kuphendula umzalwane.

U-Areti wakhala, wasukuma wama ngezinyawo wanga umzalwane.

“Manje sengiyazi ukuthi ningabafowethu!” ebabaza. “OFakazi BakaJehova kuphela abashumayela endlini ngendlu!”

Amaqembu amaProthestani aseVlorë ayezwile ukuthi u-Areti uthanda inkolo futhi ayemcele ukuba awajoyine. “Kodwa ngangingafuni nakulibona iBhabhiloni Elikhulu!” echazela abafowethu. “Bengifuna ukuziqinisekisa ukuthi ngempela ngempela ningabafowethu yini!”

U-Areti wayebhapathizwe kudala ngo-1928 eneminyaka engu-18. Wayehla enyuka ngezinyawo ezintabeni, eshumayela ephethe iBhayibheli ngesandla. Nakuba ayelahlekelene iminyaka nabazalwane, waqhubeka eshumayela yedwa ngokwethembeka.

“UJehova muhle,” kusho u-Areti ekhala. “Akazange angikhohlwe!”

Abantu babecabanga ukuthi u-Areti uyahlanya ngenxa yokholo ayenalo kuNkulunkulu ngesikhathi sombuso wobushiqela. Kodwa lutho, wayephile saka!

WAMKHULU UMSEBENZI!

Manje njengoba umsebenzi wethu wawusubhaliswe ngokomthetho, kuningi okwakudingeka kwenziwe ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke e-Albania. Abafowethu kwakudingeka batshelwe ezakamuva futhi baqiniswe ngokomoya. Kwakudingeka izincwadi zesi-Albania, ezabafowethu nezasensimini. Kwakunanesidingo esiphuthumayo sabashumayeli abengeziwe. Obani ababezosiza?

Ngo-1992 amaphayona akhethekile ayevela e-Italy naseGreece athatha izifundo zesi-Albania. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, iqembu elincane laqala ukuhumusha izincwadi zethu. Nakuba kwakuye kungabibikho gesi izinsuku ezingu-21, abafowethu basenza ihlaya lesi simo, baba matasa ngomsebenzi.

Kwakunanomsebenzi omningi ophansi. Uma kubanda kwakudingeka kubaswe ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Kodwa zazingekho izinkuni e-Albania. Babezobasa ngani? Abafowethu baseGreece bayilamula ngokuthumela izingodo nesaha likagesi. Kodwa babesazoba nenkinga ngoba imbobo yokufaka izinkuni esitofwini yayincane futhi ungekho ugesi ngakho isaha lalingasebenzi. Ngenhlanhla, omunye umzalwane wayenomngane onembazo ohlala eTiranë. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakungenamabhasi, kwakuthatha amahora amabili ukuyilanda, kanti futhi kwakudingeka bayibuyisele lingakashoni ilanga. “Sasishintshana ngokucanda izinkuni lapho imbazo isekithi,” kukhumbula esinye isithunywa sevangeli, “ngakho sasihlale sifudumele!”

Njengoba abanye babecanda izinkuni, abanye besekilasini lokufunda ulimi, iqembu labahumushi besi-Albania lalijabulela ukuvakashelwa okokuqala uNick no-Amy Ahladis bevela emnyango obizwa ngokuthi iTranslation Services, manje osePatterson, eNew York. Umusa nesimo sabo esihle kwaba usizo olukhulu kubahumushi abasha, abashesha ukufunda benza nomsebenzi omuhle. Igatsha lase-Italy lanyathelisa izincwadi lazithumela e-Albania.

Wonke lo msebenzi onzima wawufaneleka uma ucabangela ukusabela okuhle okwatholwa abamemezeli ensimini. Abamemezeli abasha babevutha yintshiseko. Ngokwesibonelo, uLola wayesanda kuqala ukushumayela kodwa wayechitha amahora angu-150, 200, noma ngaphezulu inyanga ngayinye! Lapho ekhuthazwa ukuba aqaphele angazikhandli kakhulu enkonzweni, waphendula: “Ukuphila kwami bekulokhu kungenanjongo! Yini enye engingabuye ngiyenze ngesikhathi sami?”

UMSEBENZI UQHUBEKELA PHAMBILI

U-March 1993 kwakuyinyanga eyingqopha-mlando e-Albania. Amaphayona akhethekile aqala izabelo zawo ezintsha eBerat, eDurrës, eGjirokastër, eShkodër, eTiranë naseVlorë; INqabayokulinda ka-March 1 yayingumagazini wokuqala owahunyushwa abahumushi besi-Albania; abafowethu baba neSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini sokuqala, ngakho baba nayo yomihlanu imihlangano okokuqala ngqá; kwakhishwa INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yokuqala yesi-Albania; kwaba nomhlangano okhethekile wosuku olulodwa eSkanderbej Square eBallet-Opera Theater yaseTiranë.

Kwafika izihambeli zivela eGreece nase-Italy zize kulo mhlangano oyingqopha-mlando. UNasho Dori wavula umhlangano ngomkhuleko, ebonga uJehova ngazo zonke izibusiso ayebanike zona. Kwaba khona abangu-585, kwabhapathizwa abangu-41! Phakathi kwabo kwakunezingane nabazukulu babazalwane ababekhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka e-Albania.

Yaba nkulu intokozo ngo-1993 lapho kuba nomhlangano wesigodi wokuqala kuleli zwe. Kwakukhona abangaphezu kuka-600, kukhona nabavela e-Austria, eFrance, eGreece, e-Italy naseSwitzerland. Yeka indlela abajabula ngayo abafowethu base-Albania ngokuhlangana ngenkululeko nabafowabo abaningi kangaka ababevela emazweni amaningi kangaka emva kweminyaka eminingi bengaxhumani nenhlangano!

Ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke kahle, iNdikimba Ebusayo yamisa uNasho Dori, uVito Mastrorosa noMichael DiGregorio, ukuba bakhe iKomiti Yezwe eyayizokhonza ngaphansi kweso legatsha lase-Italy. Umsebenzi wabo wokuqala kwaba ukuthola indawo yehhovisi neyeqembu labahumushi elalikhula.

Eqenjini elalandela lamaphayona akhethekile aqala ukufunda isi-Albania kwakunoStefano Anatrelli wase-Italy. Ngemva kwamasonto amahlanu efunda ulimi, wabizelwa ehhovisi watshelwa: “Singathanda ukuba uhambele amaphayona akhethekile namaqembu njengombonisi ojikelezayo.”

Waqale wathi: “Kodwa angikwazi nokusikhuluma kahle isi-Albania!” Noma kunjalo, wabheka lesi sabelo njengelungelo eliyingqayizivele. Ngemva kokuthola usizo elungiselela izinkulumo ezimbalwa, waya emajukujukwini ase-Albania. Kwase kudlule iminyaka cishe engu-30 uSpiro Vruho ahambela abafowethu njengombonisi ojikelezayo phakathi nokuvinjelwa. Ngo-1995, uStefano wamiswa njengelungu leKomiti Yezwe.

Ngo-1994, kwafika iqembu lesithathu lamaphayona ase-Italy e-Albania. Abamemezeli abasha balapha bashukunyiswa umoya wentshiseko wawo wonke lawo maphayona. Ekupheleni konyaka wenkonzo ka-1994, kwase kunabamemezeli abangu-354 abahlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela.

Nokho, abamemezeli abaningi babenezinselele ezingokomzwelo. Ukusuka ekucindezelweni okwedlulele kuya ekukhululekeni ngokuphelele kwakungelula. Ukuze bakwazi ukuphila ngaphansi kobushiqela, kwakudingeka baqaphe bangavezi imizwa yabo kwabanye—ikakhulukazi kubantu abangabazi. Noma kunjalo, abazalwane bakwamanye amazwe babekuqonda lokhu futhi ngesineke bazama ukwenza abamemezeli abasha babethembe.

Ngawo lowo nyaka, abafowethu nodade asebekhulile nabamemezeli abasha bajabula lapho bebona uTheodore Jaracz, ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo lokuqala elahambela e-Albania. Bangaphezu kuka-600 abalalela inkulumo ayinikeza eTiranë.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwathengwa indawo yehhovisi lapha eTiranë. Kungakapheli nezinyanga eziyisithupha, iqembu elikhuthele labazalwane bakwamanye amazwe lalungisa indlu enkulu yakudala layenza yaba amahhovisi esimanje labuye lakha nezindawo zokuhlala abantu abangu-24. Zanikezelwa ngo-May 12, 1996, lapho uMilton Henschel weNdikimba Ebusayo evakashele e-Albania.

BASHUMAYELA BODWA

Insizwa yaseKorçë, u-Arben, yafunda incwadi yeBhayibheli eyayithunyelelwa udadewabo, yayisithola iqiniso. Yabhalela ihhovisi lase-Albania futhi yaqhubeka ifunda ngokubhalelana nabafowethu isikhathi esithile. Ukuze bayisize ngokomoya, abafowethu ababili bayivakashela ngokukhethekile. Njengoba bexoxa no-Arben, kwabacacela ukuthi uyakufanelekela ukuba ummemezeli. Bahamba naye baya edolobheni laseKorçë, bathi akabheke njengoba beshumayeza abantu abadlula ngendlela.

U-Arben uyalandisa: “Base benginika omagazini bathi, ‘Ithuba lakho manje.’ Bathi angihambe ngedwa, ngahamba.”

Kwakusasele izinyanga ezimbalwa kufike amaphayona akhethekile azomsiza. Kodwa abantu bamlalela. Akuphelanga sikhathi kufike amaphayona akhethekile, kwamiswa iqembu.

Ngasekupheleni konyaka, amaphayona aseVlorë athintana nehhovisi, ethi u-Areti Pina uyagula futhi ufuna ukubonana nomunye wabazalwane abaqondisayo. Lapho umzalwane efika, u-Areti wacela ukuba wonke umuntu aphume endlini ukuze akhulume naye ngasese.

Wathi: “Izinsuku zokuba ngife sezisondele,” esho ephefumula kanzima. “Kukhona ebengikucabanga futhi ngifuna ukukubuza okuthile. Angisakwazi ukuqonda yonke into, kodwa ngifuna ukwazi, Sezigcwalisekile yini iziprofetho zesAmbulo?”

Umzalwane waphendula: “Yebo dadewethu, eziningi sezigcwalisekile,” wayesembonisa izinto ezimbalwa ezisazogcwaliseka. U-Areti walalelisisa.

“Manje sengingafa ngokuthula. Bengifuna nje ukwazi ukuthi ukuphela sekuseduze kangakanani,” kusho u-Areti.

Kwaphela iminyaka u-Areti engummemezeli oshisekayo—eshumayela yedwa ezintabeni noma embhedeni lapho egula. Ngemva nje kwaleyo ngxoxo, waqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngokwethembeka.

UKHOLO LWAKHE LWAQINA KWAZE KWABA SEKUPHELENI

UNasho Dori, owayesevile eminyakeni engu-80, wayegula futhi engasenamandla. Kodwa kuneqembu labazalwane elalidinga isikhuthazo sakhe—izinsizwa ezazibuthelwe impi. Abefundisi bama-Orthodox eBerat ababenomona ngokwanda okukhulu koFakazi BakaJehova, bacindezela iziphathimandla ukuba zimangalele lezi zinsizwa.

Abafowethu abayisithupha abenqaba ukubuthwa babezogqunywa izinyanga eziningana ejele. Eqaphela isidingo sokuba bakhuthazwe, uNasho waqopha umyalezo we-video esembhedeni.

Wabakhuthaza: “Ningesabi. Akuqali ngani. UJehova uzoba nani. Uma niboshwa, ningakhathazeki. Kuyophakamisa igama likaJehova.”

Njengoba impilo kaNasho yayiqhubeka iba buthaka, wabiza abafowethu, wathi: “Kudingeke ngithandaze ngicele intethelelo. Ngesonto elidlule bengigula kakhulu kangangokuthi ngithandazile ngacela ukufa. Ngabe sengicabanga, ‘Jehova, nguwe uMniki-kuphila. Uyakukhathalela ukuphila. Ngicele into ephambene nentando yakho. Ngiyaxolisa!’ ”

Lapho uNasho ezwa ukuthi abamemezeli sebengu-942 e-Albania, wathi: “Ekugcineni sesinaso isixuku esikhulu!” Ngemva kwezinsukwana, washona, eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.

I-TRAZIRA—ISIKHATHI SESIYALUYALU

Ngo-1997 kwakubhidlange ukuxhashazwa kwabantu, ukufumbathisa nenkohlakalo. Abaningi e-Albania bathengisa konke ababenakho batshala izimali zabo ezinhlelweni zomacebangelanga. Lapho zishona, abantu ababedumele babhikisha ezitaladini.

Ngesikhathi kuqhubeka isimiso somhlangano okhethekile, udade owayesebenzela usomaqhuzu othile watshela abafowethu ukuthi undunankulu wayesezosishiya isikhundla sakhe. Wayezwe kuthiwa kuzobheduka udlame olwalungakaze lube khona. Safushaniswa isimiso somhlangano ukuze abafowethu basheshe bagoduke. Ngemva kwamahora amabili isimiso siphelile, kwase kunesimo esibucayi kwamiswa nomthetho wewashi.

Akekho owayazi kahle-hle ukuthi kwenzekani. Abanye babesho lokhu abanye besho lokhuya. Ingabe kwakuyizinkinga ezibangelwa ukugxambukela kwamazwe angaphandle noma kwakungezaphakathi? Izinhlelo zomasikhuphulane zase ziwile, iningi labantu lilahlekelwe iyo yonke imali elaliyifake kuzo. Kwatelekwa eVlorë. Abantu bagqekeza izinqolobane zezikhali bazitapela zonke izikhali neziqhumane. Njengoba abezindaba babebika okwakwenzeka, kwakuqubuka udlame yonk’ indawo. Kwasuka esinamathambo, nabakwasidlodlo behluleka ukukhuza. Kwavele kwabheda yonk’ into, nabantu bazenzela umathanda.

Iningi lezinceku zesikhathi esigcwele zangaphandle ezingu-125 ezazise-Albania zaphephela eTiranë. Abantu abaningi bakuleli zwe basola abantu bokufika ngalesi siphithiphithi, ngakho kwakuwukuhlakanipha ukuba amaphayona okufika ahambe. Ngenxa yokuthi isikhumulo sezindiza sasivaliwe, amanye amaphayona ase-Italy ayiswa eDurrës, itheku elaliphethwe abantu bendawo abahlomile. Ngemva kokulinda amahora angu-12 ngaphansi kwesimo esishubile, agibela isikebhe agoduka.

IKomiti Yezwe yayibathinta njalo ngocingo abafowethu ezindaweni eziningi zezwe. Ekuseni kwakuye kuthi gozololo emigwaqweni. Kodwa ntambama, abantu babeqala ukudubula baqhubeke ubusuku bonke kuze kuse. Abanye babenanezikhali zokudubula izindiza. Lesi simo saziwa ngokuthi i-trazira, noma isiyaluyalu.

“KUYOPHAKAMISA IGAMA LIKAJEHOVA”

U-Arben Merko, omunye wabazalwane abayisithupha baseBerat owaboshelwa ukungathathi hlangothi, uthi: “Esitokisini sami kwakunembobo encane odongeni. Indoda eyayisesitokisini esiseduze kwesami yangibuza ukuthi ngingubani.” U-Arben wayishumayeza amasonto amaningi. Ngelinye ilanga akabange esalizwa izwi layo.

Ngemva kokuba u-Arben esededelwe ejele, kwafika insizwa emzini wakhe. U-Arben wayengayazi kodwa izwi layo wayelijwayele—kwakuyileya nsizwa eyayisesitokisini esasiseduze kwesakhe ejele.

Yathi ku-Arben: “Ngilethe lokhu,” imnikeza isikhulisa-msindo.

Yatshela u-Arben: “Ngesikhathi kunesiyaluyalu, ngantshontsha lesi sikhulisa-msindo eHholo lenu LoMbuso. Kodwa izinto owangitshela zona ngisejele zangithinta. Ngifuna ukuba nonembeza ohlanzekile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, yingakho ngisibuyisa.”

U-Arben wavele wakhumbula amazwi okugcina uNasho Dori awatshela izinsizwa ezagcina ubuqotho: “Kuyophakamisa igama likaJehova.”

UKUNAKEKELA IZIMVU ZIKAJEHOVA

Ukuhamba kwabadala bakwamanye amazwe kwashiya iningi lamabandla namaqembu amakhulu ezandleni zezinceku ezikhonzayo ezineminyaka engu-19 nengu-20 ubudala. Ngelinye ilanga, abathathu balaba bafowethu babeka ukuphila kwabo engozini ngokusuka eVlorë baye eTiranë. Ikhathazeke ngokusweleka kokudla, iKomiti Yezwe yabuza laba bafowethu ukuthi kukhona yini abakudingayo.

“Sisanda kuphelelwa amapheshana ombiko wenkonzo yasensimini,” kuphendula laba bafowethu. Babekhathazeke kakhulu ngezidingo ezingokomoya, njengabafowethu asebekhulile ababethembekile bakudala. Babe sebelandisa ukuthi abantu abaningi bayazamukela izindaba ezinhle ngenxa yokwesaba nokuphelelwa ithemba.

Ngemva nje kweSikhumbuzo, ihhovisi lathola ucingo. “Siyiqembu lodadewenu eKukës,” kusho omunye wabo, “futhi besilokhu siziqhubela imihlangano selokhu kwahamba amaphayona.”

Ngenxa yesiphithiphithi, abafowethu eTiranë balahlekelana nabamemezeli baseKukës. Noma kunjalo, iqembu labamemezeli abangu-7 abangabhapathiziwe laligubhe iSikhumbuzo ezindaweni ezimbili ezihlukene. Nakuba babekhathazeke ngokuthi mhlawumbe abasigubhanga kahle, bakujabulela ukubika ukuthi kwaba khona abangu-19. Kuyamangaza ukuthi naphezu komthetho wewashi nezimo ezinzima ezazikhona ngo-1997, kwaba khona abangu-3 154 eSikhumbuzweni kuyo yonke i-Albania. Nakuba kwakunezinxushunxushu, abamemezeli baqhubeka beshumayela, beduduzana bebe beqaphile.

Lapho iKomiti Yezwe izwa ukuthi abafowethu baseGjirokastër badinga ukudla nezincwadi, baxoxa ngokuthi kuphephile yini ukuba iloli likuhambise. Ingxoxo yabo yaphazanyiswa udade owabatshela ukuthi intatheli yezindaba eyayingase ibe usizo olukhulu ifuna ukubabona.

Ingazi nokuthi baxoxa ngani, le ntatheli yathi kubo: “Noma ngabe nenzani, ningayi eningizimu kusasa. Sithole imibiko ethi kunento eyingozi ehleliwe eTepelenë.” Ngenxa yokuthi iloli eliya eGjirokastër lalizodlula eTepelenë, abafowethu banquma ukungabe besahamba.

Ngakusasa, ngemva nje kuka-11 emini, izindaba eziphambili zabika ukuthi kube nesibhicongo eTepelenë nokuthi ibhuloho libhidliziwe. Yeka indlela abafowethu abambonga ngayo uJehova ngokuthi abahambanga ngalolo suku!

Kwaphela amasonto umkhaya waseBethel uzwa ukuqhuma kwezibhamu ubusuku bonke, futhi kwakuthi lapho beqhuba itekisi losuku bezwe umsindo wezibhamu namabhomu. Izinhlamvu zezibhamu zazindiza emoyeni, wawungatholwa inhlamvu noma nini. Ukuze uphephe, umkhaya waseBethel awuphumelanga ngaphandle, nabahumushi babehlala phansi baqhele emafasiteleni lapho besebenza.

Ngo-April 1997, kwafika amasosha eZizwe Ezihlangene angu-7 000 ezolamula. Ngo-August ayesehambile futhi abafowethu bakwazi ukuhlela umhlangano wesigodi. Abamemezeli bajabula; phela babekade behlangana ngamaqembu amancane kuphela.

Izigelekeqe ezihlomile zavimbezela amabhasi ayeqashwe abazalwane ukuze abayise emhlanganweni. Kepha lapho zithola ukuthi bangoFakazi BakaJehova, zathi: “Nihlukile nina! Ngeke sinenze lutho.”

I-trazira yawuthinta kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela e-Albania? Kunokuba iwukhinyabeze, yenza abaningi baqaphela isidingo sabo esingokomoya ngenxa yokuba sengozini nokukhathazeka. Ngakho, ngemva nje kwezinyanga ezingu-15 kwaba nabamemezeli abasha abangu-500 abenza kwaba nengqikithi yabamemezeli abangu-1 500.

IKOSOVO INGUNDABUZEKWAYO

Ngemva kwe-trazira, ukuqhuma kwezibhamu kwathi damu namabandla aqhubeka ekhula. Noma kunjalo, kwaqubuka izinkinga ezweni elingumakhelwane, iKosovo. Imiphumela yempi yakhona yayithinta i-Albania njengoba ababaleki babethuthelekela khona. Abamemezeli base-Albania abachithanga sikhathi, banikeza laba babaleki isigijimi sethemba nezincwadi eziduduzayo. Banakekela neqembu loFakazi BakaJehova abangu-22 nezingane zabo.

Lapho kuphela impi ngo-August, abafowethu baseKosovo babuyela emakhaya sebephelezelwa abafowethu base-Albania nabase-Italy, kuhlanganise namaphayona akhethekile ayishumi ayefuna ukubasiza ngokomoya. Ngasekupheleni konyaka wenkonzo ka-1999, kwase kunabamemezeli abangu-1 805 e-Albania nabangu-40 eKosovo.

ISIMO ESINGOKOMOYA ESIZINZILE

Ngaphambi kokuba ashone, uNasho Dori wathi: “Ngiyajabula ukubona ukuthi umsebenzi wokuhumusha usungaka, kodwa esikudinga ngempela INguqulo Yezwe Elisha—iBhayibheli elihle kakhulu elizosakha ukholo!” Ngo-1999, ngemva nje kweminyaka emithathu eshonile, iNdikimba Ebusayo yanikeza imvume yokuba kuhunyushwe INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesi-Albania.

Emhlanganweni wase-Albania ngo-2000, ababekhona babelindelwe okuthile okujabulisayo —ukukhululwa kwe-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesi-Albania! Abahumushi abakhuthele bazikhandla ekwenzeni lo msebenzi futhi bawuqeda ngesikhathi esingaphansi nje konyaka. Iphayona elivamile elalingumKhomanisi oyilungu lasephalamende labhala: “Kuyamangalisa! Kungemva kokuba sengifunde le nguqulo kuphela lapho ngiqale ukwazisa ubuhle beBhayibheli, ulimi oluhle, ubunkondlo nezindaba zalo ezimnandi. Lapho ngifunda indlela uJesu enza ngayo izimangaliso, achwenswa futhi adelelwa ngayo, ngathinteka ngendlela engingakaze ngithinteke ngayo. Ngiye ngakwazi ukuzibona kahle ngeso lengqondo zonke izinto ezibuhlungu ezenzeka!”

Ngaleso sikhathi kwakunabamemezeli abangu-2 200 e-Albania, umkhaya waseBethel unamalungu angu-40. Kwakuqashwe izindawo zokuhlala, kodwa kwakudingeka indawo enkudlwana. Ngakho, iNdikimba Ebusayo yavuma ukuba kuthengwe indawo engamahektare amathathu emaphandleni aseTiranë eMëzez. Ukuze yengamele insimu ekhulayo e-Albania naseKosovo, iKomiti Yezwe yaqala ukusebenza njengeKomiti Yegatsha ngo-2000.

Ngo-September 2003, ngesikhathi kuqala ukwakhiwa kwegatsha, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-3 122 e-Albania. Ngesikhathi esifanayo kwakuhunyushwa imiBhalo YesiHeberu ngesi-Albania. Umsebenzi wokushumayela wawanda ngokushesha futhi abamemezeli babethuthuka kahle kakhulu ngokomoya. Iningi lezinsizwa ezingu-20 ezazisekilasini lokuqala lase-Albania leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo ngo-August 2004, lalingaphansi kweminyaka engamashumi amabili ngesikhathi linakekela amabandla phakathi ne-trazira eminyakeni embalwa ngaphambili. Yeka ukuthi zajabula kanjani ngokuthola imfundo yaphezulu eyengeziwe!

‘UDEVELI WAYETHUKUTHELE’

“UJehova Ufundisa Abantu Ukuba Bazibulale,” sasibhalwe kanjalo isihloko sephephandaba lango-February 2005. Imibiko yethelevishini namaphephandaba yayifafaza amahebezi angamanga okuthi intombazanyana eyayizibulele yayingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Eqinisweni le ntombazane yayingakaze ifundelwe noma iye esifundweni. Noma kunjalo, abaphikisi basebenzisa lawo manga ukuze bahlasele oFakazi.

Othisha babehlekisa ngezingane zoFakazi. Abafowethu balahlekelwa yimisebenzi. Abantu babesha amashushu befuna ukuba umsebenzi wethu uvalwe. Nakuba abafowethu bazama ukukhuluma nabezindaba, isimo saba sibi nakakhulu.

Kwaba sobala ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova zidinga isiqondiso nokusekelwa ukuze zibhekane nalokhu kuhlaselwa. Ngakho igatsha lahlela ukuba kubekwe inkulumo ekhethekile eyayizobonisa ukubaluleka kokuqhubeka nokushumayela iqiniso ukuze kumelanwe nala manga ayingozi. Abafowethu bakhuthazwa ukuba babonisane nabantu futhi bangabesabi. Babengabonisa abanhliziyo ziqotho ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu banda ngokubabazekayo eminyakeni edlule, obekungeke kwenzeke uma bezibulala. Kwakungaqali ukuba baqanjelwe amanga anjalo. Bakhunjuzwa ngendaba kaSpiro Vruho okwakuthiwe uzibulele ngawo-1960. Batshelwa ukuthi la manga ngeke afeze lutho, futhi nangempela kwaba njalo!

Ngemva nje kwezinyangana, ngo-August, uDavid Splane weNdikimba Ebusayo wahambela umhlangano wesigodi owawunabangu-4 675 ababevela e-Albania naseKosovo. Abakwazanga ukuzibamba ngenxa yenjabulo lapho uMfoweth’ uSplane ekhulula i-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele ngesi-Albania!

“Yingakho uSathane ebezama kangaka ukusiphazamisa!” kusho elinye ikhehla. “Ubethukuthele ngoba kuningi obekufezwa abantu bakaJehova.”

Naphezu kwemibiko emibi yabezindaba, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu e-Albania zaqhubekela phambili. Abayeni abaningi abangakholwa nezihlobo ezazizibonela ukuthi le mibiko ingamanga zaqala ukufunda iBhayibheli futhi zaba abamemezeli. Naphezu kokuhlasela kukaSathane okuyingozi, intando kaJehova yafezwa. Umkhaya waseBethel wathuthela egatsheni elisha, kwaba nekilasi lesibili leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo.

UKUNIKEZELWA KWEGATSHA

Ngo-June 2006, uTheodore Jaracz noGerrit Lösch, beNdikimba Ebusayo, babephakathi kwabangu-350 abavela emazweni angu-32 ababekhona lapho kunikezelwa izakhiwo zegatsha elisha. Kwakukhona noSotir Ceqi owayehlukunyezwe ngokubanjwa ngogesi ngawo-1940. Nakuba esecela eminyakeni engu-80, usaqhubeka ekhonza ngenjabulo.

UFrosina Xheka, osakhonza ngokwethembeka naphezu kobunzima obukhulu abhekana nabo iminyaka eminingi, wathi: “Bengilokhu ngiphupha ngalolu suku.” UmkaJani, uPolikseni Komino, walandisa ngamadodakazi nabazukulu bakhe abangamaphayona avamile. Kwakukhona noVasil Gjoka, manje owayesekhokhoba ngemva kweminyaka yokuhlupheka. Amehlo akhe agcwala izinyembezi lapho ekhumbula evakashela uLeonidha Pope futhi ebhapathizwa ngasese ngo-1960.

Igatsha elaliseTiranë lenziwa iHholo LoMbuso nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli ezingu-14. Amakilasi ayisithupha eSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo akhiqize amaphayona akhethekile athembekile, anomoya wokuzidela nawusizo olukhulu ensimini yase-Albania. Amaphayona avamile namaphayona akhethekile angaphezu kuka-950 asendaweni abonisa umoya ofanayo wobuvangeli.

IKUSASA

Abafowethu nodadewethu e-Albania balazisa kakhulu iBhayibheli nezincwadi zolimi abaluncela. Umsebenzi kaJehova kule ndawo uqhubekela phambili. Ngaphezu kwabazalwane abazimisele nabafanelekayo abaqeqeshelwa ukuthwala imithwalo yemfanelo engokwasezulwini, “abesifazane abalandisa izindaba ezinhle bayibutho elikhulu.”—IHu. 68:11.

OFakazi BakaJehova e-Albania bawubufakazi obuphilayo bokuba yiqiniso kwamazwi aphefumulelwe: “Noma isiphi isikhali esiyokwakhiwa ngokumelene nawe ngeke siphumelele, nanoma yiluphi ulimi oluyokuvukela ekwahluleleni uyolulahla. Leli yifa lezinceku zikaJehova.” (Isaya 54:17) Ngenxa yomusa kaJehova ongafanelwe namandla akhe, baqhubeka beqinile embusweni wobushiqela, ekuhlushweni, ekuhlukanisweni nabantu bakaJehova, emangeni abezindaba nasezinkingeni zomuntu ngamunye.

Abantu bakaJehova e-Albania babheke ikusasa beqiniseka ngokugcwele ngothando lukaNkulunkulu oluqotho nesibusiso sakhe. Naphezu kobunzima, bayajabula ngelungelo lokujabulisa inhliziyo kaYise wasezulwini nethemba abanalo. (IzAga 27:11; Heb. 12:1, 2) Into eye yacaca emlandweni ongokomoya wase-Albania yilena: UJehova akalokothi akukhohlwe ukuzidela, okukhulu nokuncane, kwezinceku zakhe eziqotho, ezincane nezindala.—Heb. 6:10; 13:16.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 130]

Isihloko saqale sahunyushwa ngokuthi The Guitar of God

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 140]

“Ukube ubungumKristu, ngabe nawe uyalwa njengoba nabapristi belwa!”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 189]

Sisanda kuphelelwa amapheshana ombiko wenkonzo yasensimini”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 132]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu Nge-Albania

Izwe

I-Albania iseningizimu-mpumalanga Yurophu, enyakatho yeGreece nasempumalanga ye-Italy. Iyindawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-28750, futhi ugu lwayo olungamakhilomitha angu-362 lugudla ulwandle lwase-Adriatic nolwase-Ionian. Amabhishi anesihlabathi esimhlophe namanzi aluhlaza nezintaba ngale ngemuva, konke kuhlobisa le ndawo yase-Albania ekhonzwe izivakashi, esuka edolobheni laseVlorë iye eSarandë. Enyakatho naphakathi nezwe kunondi lwezintaba ezicijile, kanti eningizimu-ntshonalanga kunezindawo ezivundile okuhlala kuzo abantu abafuyayo nabalimi.

Abantu

Kulinganiselwa ukuthi abantu bangu-3 600 000 futhi iningi labo abokuzalwa e-Albania, kanti akhona namaRoma, amaGreki namaSerbia, yize engemaningi.

Isimo sezulu

Ezindaweni ezisogwini oluseningizimu, izinga lokushisa ehlobo liba ngu-26°C. Kanti ezintabeni zaseDibër ezisenyakatho izinga lokubanda liba ngu-25°C ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa.

Ukudla

Uphaya onemfino, ushizi, utamatisi no-anyanisi noma ezinye izinhlobo zemifino noma inyama ubizwa ngokuthi i-byrek. Inkukhu noma imvu ephekwe ngeyogathi ebabababayo ne-dill ibizwa ngokuthi i-tava e kosit. Abantu balapha bayathanda ukudla ngezinkezo, kwazise kudliwa ikakhulu amasobho nezitshulu. Ngezikhathi ezikhethekile lapho kudliwa imvu, isivakashi esikhethekile siphakelwa ikhanda. Phakathi kophudingi abaningi abadliwa e-Albania kukhona i-baklava (esesithombeni kwesokudla) ne-kadaif, okuyinhlama ebhakwayo bese ithelwa isiraphu noma uju namantongomane. Abantu base-Albania basikhonzile isinkwa. Uma ufuna ukutshela umuntu ukuthi udlile, umane uthi, “Hëngra bukë,” okusho ukuthi “Ngidle isinkwa.”

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 134]

Imihlangano Yokuqala

Ngaphandle kweMihlangano Yeningi Yesi-Albania yangeSonto, abazalwane base-Albania eNew England, e-U.S.A., babevame ukuya emabandleni esiNgisi noma esiGreki. Phakathi nawo-1920 nawo-1930, bakujabulela ukuya emihlanganweni eyayiqhutshwa ngesiGreki. Noma kunjalo, bajabula ngokuba namabheji olimi lwabo ayebhalwe ukuthi: “UMhlangano Wesigodi Wezinsuku Ezintathu WabaFundi BeBhayibheli Base-Albania.”

[Izithombe]

Ibheji (kwesokudla) elaligqokwe abafowethu base-Albania (ngezansi) emhlanganweni owawuseBoston ngasekupheleni kwawo-1920

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 151, 152]

“UJehova Akazange Asishiye!”

UFROSINA XHEKA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1926

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1946

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Iqiniso walithola esemncane. Nakuba abazali bakhe babemphikisa neziphathimandla zingafuni nakumbona, wayezizwa esondelene noJehova nenhlangano yakhe. Washona ethembekile ngo-2007.

◼ UFROSINA wathola iqiniso kubafowabo abadala ngawo-1940. Abazali bakhe abangahlanganyeli bamxosha ekhaya ngoba enqabe ukushada nomuntu ababemkhethele yena. Umzalwane othile, uGole Flloko, wamthatha wahlala naye nomkhaya wakhe, wamphathisa okwendodakazi yakhe.

UFrosina wathi: “Ngake ngaboshwa ngoba ngenqaba ukuvota. Ngangingedwa endlini ngesikhathi kufika amaphoyisa angaba ngu-30 engikaka. Elinye lamemeza, ‘Uthi uyazi nje ukuthi yini esingakwenza yona?’ Ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova unami, ngathi, ‘Akukho lutho eningalwenza ngaphandle kokuba luvunyelwe iNkosi enguMbusi uJehova!’ Acabanga ukuthi ngisangene, ayesethi, ‘Mkhipheni la!’ Ngangiqinisile. UJehova wayenami ngempela!”

Ngo-1957 uFrosina washada noLuçi Xheka, futhi ngemva kwesikhathi baba nezingane ezintathu. Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1960, uLuçi waba ilungu leKomiti Yezwe eyayisanda kumiswa, eyayizoqondisa umsebenzi e-Albania. Ngokushesha wagwetshwa iminyaka emihlanu edingiselwe eGramsh, kude noFrosina nezingane. Elapho, waqhubeka eshumayela futhi ekhuluma ngenhlangano. Abantu baseGramsh basamkhumbula namanje.

Njengoba uLuçi ayedingisiwe, iQembu LamaKhomanisi lafaka uFrosina ohlwini lwabantu elalibagadile, ngakho wayengakwazi ukuyozithengela ukudla. Uthi: “Angizange ngikhathazeke. Idlanzana labafowethu lalabelana ngelalinakho. Sakwazi ukuphila ngoba uJehova akazange asishiye!”

Ngemva kokushona kukaLuçi, abazalwane ababange besahlangana njalo. Yize kunjalo, uFrosina waqhubeka eshumayela. Uyakhumbula: “Ngawo-1960, savakashelwa uJohn Marks. Lapho ekugcineni ngibonana nomkakhe uHelen ngo-1986, kwaba sengathi kudala sazana! Mina noLuçi sasikade sibathumelela imiyalezo ngasese abakwaMarks, bona bayidlulisele kubafowethu eBrooklyn.”

Lapho oFakazi sebethole inkululeko ngo-1992, uFrosina wayengomunye woFakazi abangu-9 ababhapathiziwe ababesele e-Albania. Wayeya njalo esifundweni futhi ngalo kanye usuku ashona ngalo ngo-2007 wayesensimini. Esezoshona nje, wathi: “UJehova ngimthanda ngenhliziyo yami yonke! Angikucabanganga nokukucabanga ukulahla ukholo lwami. Ngangazi ukuthi nginomkhaya omkhulu emhlabeni wonke, kodwa manje kungijabulisa kakhulu ukubona ukuthi kanti mkhulu kangaka umkhaya wethu ongokomoya e-Albania. UJehova wayenathi zikhathi zonke, futhi kwamanje usasibambe ngezandla zakhe ezinothando!”

[Isithombe]

UFrosina Xheka ngo-2007

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 159, 160]

Sasinezincwadi Ezimbalwa Manje Sesinenqwaba

UVASIL GJOKA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1930

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1960

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Walimelela ngokuqinile iqiniso nakuba ayephila ngaphansi kombuso wobushiqela. Namuhla ungumdala eTiranë.

◼ NGIKHUMBULA mhla ngibona INqabayokulinda yesiGreki endaweni yakithi eBarmash ngawo-1930. Ubaba wakhomba lo magazini wayesethi, “Baqinisile labo bantu!” Kwaphela iminyaka ngingazi ukuthi wayesho ukuthini. Ngangikuthanda ukufunda iBhayibheli nakuba kwakuyingozi ukuba nalo. Emngcwabeni wasekhweni likamfowethu ngabona umzalwane waseTiranë. Ngambuza ngesibonakaliso ‘sezinsuku zokugcina’ esikuMathewu isahluko 24. Wangichazela, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi ngaxoxela noma ubani ngalokho engangikufunda.

Ngo-1959 ngaya emhlanganweni abazalwane ababewuqhubela ngasese emzini kaLeonidha Pope. Ngangikade ngifunda incwadi yesAmbulo, ngase ngibuza ukuthi siyini isilo sasendle neBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Lapho bengichazela, ngabona ukuthi yiqiniso leli! Ngabhapathizwa ngemva konyaka.

Ngangishumayela ngomdlandla futhi ngenxa yalokho ngaxoshwa emsebenzini. Ngabe sengizitholela umkhehlekhehle wekalishi ngadiliva ngawo izimpahla eTiranë. Yize ngangingakwazi ukuxhumana kahle nabazalwane futhi ngingenazincwadi, ngaqhubeka ngishumayela.

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1960, ngaphambi kokuba uLeonidha Pope adingiswe, wakwazi ukuthola izincwadi ezimbalwa zesiGreki ezazingene ngesinyenyela e-Albania. Wayezihumusha, mina ngibhale phansi ayekusho. Wayebe esethi angenze amakhophi bese ngiwathumela kubazalwane abambalwa eBerat, eFier naseVlorë.

Yeka izinguquko ezibe khona kusukela ngawo-1990! Kungithokozisa kakhulu ukubona izincwadi eziningi uJehova asinikeze zona. Kusukela ngo-1992 kuze kube manje, sihambise omagazini besi-Albania abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-17! Izincwadi ezintsha zihunyushelwa olimini lwesi-Albania, futhi sine-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha ngolimi lwethu! Uma ngicabanga ngeminyaka esasingenazo ngayo izincwadi, kuhlengezela izinyembezi zenjabulo. Ukuswela izincwadi isikhathi eside kangaka kusenze saba abantu abanokwazisa kakhulu!

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 163, 164]

Ngathola Umsebenzi Wangempela Kwelakithi

U-ARDIAN TUTRA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1969

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1992

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wathola iqiniso e-Italy, wayesebuyela e-Albania. Uyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha Yase-Albania.

◼ NGO-1991 ngangineminyaka engu-21 lapho ngihamba e-Albania nezinkulungwane zababaleki. Sasidune isikebhe esasiya e-Italy. Izwe lase-Albania lalimpofu, ngakho kwangijabulisa ukuthola indlela yokulishiya. Ngangicabanga ukuthi kufezeka iphupho.

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbili ngiseBrindisi, e-Italy, ngaphuma ngesinyenyela ekamu lababaleki ngayofuna umsebenzi. Ngahlangana nendoda eyanginikeza ipheshana leBhayibheli elibhalwe ngesi-Albania futhi yangimemela emhlanganweni owawuzoba khona ngaleyo ntambama. Ngacabanga ngokushesha: ‘Anginaso isizathu sokungayi. Mhlawumbe ngizothola umsebenzi!’

Ngangingacabangi ukuthi ngizokwamukelwa ngendlela engamukelwa ngayo. Ngemva komhlangano eHholo LoMbuso, bonke beza kimi bangamukela ngezandla zombili. Umkhaya othile wangimemela esidlweni sakusihlwa. Yeka umusa nenhlonipho owangibonisa yona—mina xathu wansondo nombaleki wase-Albania!

Emhlanganweni olandelayo, uVito Mastrorosa wacela ukungifundela iBhayibheli. Ngavuma futhi ngabona ngokushesha ukuthi yiqiniso leli. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-August 1992 e-Italy.

Ngagcina ngiyitholile imvume yokuhlala. Ngathola umsebenzi omuhle futhi ngithumelela umkhaya wakithi e-Albania imali. Ngabe sengicabanga: ‘Njengoba umsebenzi ungasavinjelwe e-Albania, kunendingeko enkulu. Ingabe kufanele ngiphindele emuva ngiyokhonza khona? Kodwa bazothini abasekhaya? Bayayidinga le mali engibathumelela yona. Abantu bona bazothini?’

Ngabe sengithola ucingo luvela ehhovisi eTiranë, libuza ukuthi ngingathanda yini ukuya khona ngiyowafundisa isi-Albania amaphayona akhethekile ase-Italy ayethuthela e-Albania ngalowo November. Isibonelo sawo sangenza ngacabangisisa ngale ndaba. Ayeya ensimini engangiyishiyile. Ayengalwazi ulimi lwakhona kodwa ayethanda ukuya khona. Mina ngikhuluma sona isi-Albania futhi ngikhulele khona. Pho ngangifunani e-Italy?

Ngenza isinqumo, ngahamba nawo lawo maphayona akhethekile ngesikebhe. Zisuka nje, ngakhonza eBethel yakhona encane. Ekuseni ngangifundisa isi-Albania, ntambama ngihumushe. Ekuqaleni, akubajabulisanga abasekhaya lokhu. Kodwa bathi bangasiqonda isizathu esingibuyisele e-Albania, baqala ukulalela izindaba ezinhle. Kungakabiphi, abazali bami, odadewethu ababili nomfowethu babhapathizwa.

Ingabe ngiyazisola ngokushiya umsebenzi nemali e-Italy? Nhlobo! Ngathola umsebenzi wangempela e-Albania. Ngokubona kwami, umsebenzi obaluleke ngempela noletha injabulo engapheli ukukhonza uJehova ngakho konke onakho!

[Isithombe]

U-Ardian nomkakhe uNoadia

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 173, 174]

Imihlangano Yomshoshaphansi Iyaphela

U-ADRIANA MAHMUTAJ

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1971

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAW0 1993

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wamenyelwa esifundweni esasiqhutshelwa ngasese, kwase kuba noshintsho olukhulu. Njengamanje ukhonza njengephayona elikhethekile.

◼ NGESIKHATHI kushona umzala wami ngo-1991, ngezwa owesifazane okuthiwa uBarie eduduza ubabekazi ngeBhayibheli. Ngavele ngabuza imibuzo ngaso leso sikhathi, wayesengimema ukuba ngihlangane nomngane wakhe uRajmonda lapho ayesebenza khona. Abakubo kaRajmonda babeya “ekilasini,” njengoba babeyibiza kanjalo imihlangano. URajmonda wangitshela ukuthi kufanele bake bangifundele isikhashana kuqala ngoba abantu abasha babengavumelekile ukuvele bayongena ekilasini. Ngakuthanda engangikufunda futhi ngokushesha ngavunyelwa ukuya ekilasini.

Ekilasini kwakunabantu abangabhapathiziwe ababeqale bahlangana noSotir Papa noSulo Hasani. Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, i-Sigurimi yayingene ngesinyenyela emakilasini futhi yaceba abafowethu emaphoyiseni. Ngakho bonke babeqapha ukuthi ubani omenywayo emihlanganweni!

Mhla ngiya okokuqala emihlanganweni, ngafunda ukuthi kufanele sibhale uhlu lwabangane bethu bese sibatshela lokho esikufundayo. Angichithanga sikhathi, ngakhuluma no-Ilma Tani. Ngokushesha naye wavunyelwa ukuba eze ekilasini. Ikilasi lethu elalinabangu-15 lakhula ngokushesha.

Ngo-April 1992, uMichael noLinda DiGregorio bahambela eBerat. Sakhuthazwa ukuba simeme noma ubani enkulumweni kaMichael. Kweza abangu-54. Sasingabhapathiziwe sonke. Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano saphonsa abakwaDiGregorio imibuzo amahora amaningi. Ekugcineni sabona ukuthi kufanele siyiqhube kanjani imihlangano.

Ngokushesha oFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwa ngokomthetho. Mina no-Ilma nabazalwane ababili saya eTiranë siyofunda ukushumayela endlini ngendlu. Sacelwa ukuba sibonise abanye eBerat lokho esase sikufundile. Sazama ngamandla ethu onke. Ngesikhathi kuthunyelwa amaphayona akhethekile amane ase-Italy ngo-March 1993 eBerat, ibandla lathuthuka kakhulu, kuhlanganwa ngokukhululekile kabili ngesonto.

Ngalowo March mina no-Ilma sabhapathizwa emhlanganweni okhethekile wokuqala eTiranë. Kwakunabangu-585. Saba amaphayona avamile, ngemva kwalokho sacelwa ukuba sibe amaphayona akhethekile okuqala endawo. Sasingasafihli lutho. Sabelwa ukuyokhonza eKorçë.

Kamuva u-Ilma washada no-Arben Lubonja, owayesenezinyangana eshumayela yedwa eKorçë. Ekugcineni bajikeleza futhi manje bakhonza eBethel. Ngiyajabula ngokuthi ngamemela u-Ilma kuleliya kilasi!

Muva nje bengisemhlanganweni wesigodi obunabangaphezu kuka-5 500, ngase ngicabanga ngekilasi lethu lomshoshaphansi. Yeka ushintsho olwenziwe uJehova! Imihlangano emincane nemikhulu isiqhutshwa ngenkulu inkululeko manje. Nakuba abafowethu abaningi bethuthile eBerat ngenxa yezimo zomnotho, ikilasi lethu elincane selande laze laba amabandla amahlanu akhulayo!

[Isithombe]

U-Ilma (Tani) no-Arben Lubonja

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 183]

Kulungile, Asihambe!”

U-ALTIN HOXHA NO-ADRIAN SHKËMBI

UNYAKA ABAZALWA NGAWO Bobabili bazalwa ngo-1973

ABABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO Bobabili babhapathizwa ngo-1993

UMLANDO WABO OMFUSHANE Bashiya iyunivesithi bayophayona, manje bakhonza njengabadala.

◼ NGASEKUQALENI kuka-1993, babefunda eyunivesithi yaseTiranë. Umngane wabo wabaxoxela isikhathi eside ngalokho ayekufundiswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Konke kwakusekelwe eBhayibhelini. Kamuva bafunda okwengeziwe, bazenza izinto ababezifunda futhi ngawo lowo nyaka babhapathizwa. Ehlobo, bahamba bayoshumayela eKuçovë, lapho kwakungekho mmemezeli khona.

Lapho sebebuyele eTiranë, u-Adrian wathi ku-Altin: “Sisafundelani? Asihambe siyoshumayela eKuçovë!”

U-Altin waphendula: “Kulungile, asihambe!” Ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-7 bebhapathiziwe, baphindela eKuçovë.

UJehova wayibusisa ngokucebile imizamo yabo. Namuhla, kunabamemezeli abakhuthele abangaphezu kuka-90 eKuçovë. OFakazi abangaba ngu-25 bathutha khona ukuze bayokhonza njengamaphayona noma bakhonze eBethel. Abaningi babo bafundelwa u-Adrian no-Altin.

Lapho ecabanga ngeyunivesithi, u-Altin uyamomotheka abese ethi: “Umphostoli uPawulu wanquma ukungaphishekeli umsebenzi waleli zwe, futhi ngo-1993, ngenza isinqumo esifanayo. Angikaze ngizisole ngokuthi ngathi, ‘Kulungile, asihambe!’ ”

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 191, 192]

Owayefundisa Ukungakholelwa KuNkulunkulu Usefundisa Iqiniso

U-ANASTAS RUVINA

UNYAKA AZALWA NGAWO 1942

ABHAPATHIZWA NGAWO 1997

UMLANDO WAKHE OMFUSHANE Wayefundisa amasosha ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho ngaphambi kokuba izingane zakhe zimfundise iqiniso. Manje usekhonza njengomdala nephayona elikhethekile.

◼ NGO-1971, ngemva kokuphothula esikoleni sobusosha, ngaba umqondisi weqembu lezombusazwe. Kwakusetshenziswa lelo gama ngoba ngo-1966 uhulumeni wawuziqedile izikhundla zasebusosheni. Omunye wemisebenzi engangiyenza kwakuwukugxilisa kulabo engangibaphethe imfundiso yokuthi uNkulunkulu akekho. Ngangibatshela ukuthi inkolo iwumlaliso wabantu.

Ngangishadile futhi nginezingane ezintathu. Ngo-1992 indodana yami, u-Artan, yaqala ukuya emihlanganweni yoFakazi BakaJehova eTiranë. Yabe isiqala ukuhamba nodadewabo u-Anila. Ngangicabanga ukuthi bachitha isikhathi futhi bayiziphukuphuku. Ngenxa yalokho, kwaba nezimpikiswano eziningi ekhaya.

Ngelinye ilanga, ngaba nelukuluku ngathatha INqabayokulinda. Ngamangala kabi lapho ngikuzwa kunengqondo lokho engangikufunda. Nakuba u-Artan no-Anila babengikhuthaza ukuba ngifunde iBhayibheli, ngangingafuni. Ngangizitshela ukuthi umuntu ongakholelwa kuNkulunkulu akumelwe alifunde. Ngo-1995 kwakhululwa incwadi ethi Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? ngesi-Albania. U-Artan no-Anila banginika yona. Ngalithola lapho-ke iqiniso. UNkulunkulu ukhona! Ngangingasenazaba; kwakumelwe ngifunde. Ngokushesha, sobabili nomkami, uLirie, safundelwa futhi sagculiseka ukuthi yiqiniso leli.

Uma ngikhuluma iqiniso, kwangithatha isikhathi ukuba ngithuthuke. Ngangineminyaka engu-53. Kwakungelula ukushiya indlela yami yokucabanga eyayithonywe ezombusazwe nobusosha. Kumelwe ngisho ukuthi nguMdali, uJehova, owangisiza ngaqhubekela phambili.

Ngangingafuni ukuba ummemezeli ngoba ngangikhathazeke ngokuthi kumelwe ngiyoshumayeza bona kanye laba bantu engangibafundise ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho. Babezothini nje? Ngelinye ilanga sifunda, uVito Mastrorosa wangifundela indaba kaSawulu waseTarsu. Yilokho okwangisiza! USawulu wayeshushisa amaKristu, wafunda iqiniso wayeseshumayela. Ngosizo lukaJehova, ngangazi ukuthi nami ngingakwenza okufanayo.

Ngezinye izikhathi ngiyazihleka njengoba uJehova eqhubeka engisiza ukuba ngingabi nesandla esiqine kakhulu, ngibonelele futhi ngingabi undlovukayiphikiswa. Ngiyathuthuka kancane kancane.

Angisaziphikisi izingane zami. Kunalokho, ngiyaziqhenya ngazo. U-Artan ungumdala futhi ukhonza njengephayona elikhethekile. Amadodakazi ami, u-Anila no-Eliona, bobabili bakhonza eBethel eTiranë.

Mina noLirie sikhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile. Kuyilungelo ukufundisa abantu iqiniso ngoMdali wethu Omkhulu nokubabona beguquka. Kuyajabulisa ngempela ukunikeza abantu ithemba langempela elisekelwe ezithembisweni zowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo noweqiniso, uJehova!

[Isithombe]

Kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: U-Artan, u-Anila, uLirie, u-Anastas, u-Eliona nomyeni wakhe uRinaldo Galli

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 176, 177]

ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO E-Albania

1920-1922 Abase-Albania bathola iqiniso e-United States.

1922 UThanas Idrizi ubuyela eGjirokastër neqiniso.

1925 Kuba namakilasi ezifundo zeBhayibheli e-Albania.

1928 I-“Photo-Drama of Creation” ibukiswa emadolobheni amaningi.

1930

1935-1936 Kuba nomkhankaso omkhulu wokushumayela.

1939 OFakazi BakaJehova bayavinjelwa.

1940

1940 Abafowethu abangu-9 baboshelwa ukungathathi hlangothi.

1946 Uhulumeni wamaKhomanisi uyaqala.

1950

1960

1960 IKomiti Yezwe iqala ukwengamela umsebenzi e-Albania.

1962 Amalungu ekomiti ayiswa emakamu okuhlushwa.

1967 I-Albania iba yizwe elingakholelwa kuNkulunkulu.

1980

1990

1992 OFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwa ngokomthetho.

1996 UMilton Henschel uba khona ngesikhathi kunikezelwa iBethel okokuqala.

1997 I-trazira (isikhathi sesiyaluyalu) iyaqala.

2000

2005 INguqulo Yezwe Elisha ikhululwa ngesi-Albania.

2006 Ihhovisi legatsha liyanikezelwa eMëzez, eTiranë.

2010

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

1930 1940 1950 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 133]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

MONTENEGRO

KOSOVO

MACEDONIA

GREECE

Ioannina

Lake Scutari

Lake Ohrid

Lake Prespa

ADRIATIC SEA

ALBANIA

TIRANË

Shkodër

Kukës

Burrel

Mëzez

Durrës

Kavajë

Gramsh

Kuçovë

Fier

Berat

Korçë

Vlorë

Tepelenë

Këlcyrë

Barmash

Përmet

Gjirokastër

Sarandë

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 126]

[Isithombe ekhasini 128]

Ngemva kokuthola iqiniso eNew England, e-U.S.A., uThanas Idrizi wayisa izindaba ezinhle eGjirokastër, e-Albania

[Isithombe ekhasini 129]

USokrat Duli wafundisa umfowabo iqiniso

[Isithombe ekhasini 137]

UNicholas Christo washumayeza izicukuthwane zase-Albania

[Isithombe ekhasini 142]

Incwadi enamakhasi amabili eyathunyelwa abafowethu base-Albania ababehlala eBoston ku-Enver Hoxha

[Isithombe ekhasini 145]

ULeonidha Pope

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

“UJehova ungifundise ukungayisayini into engingayishongo.”—USotir Ceqi

[Isithombe ekhasini 149]

UHelen noJohn Marks ngaphambi kokuba babuyele e-Albania

[Isithombe ekhasini 154]

USpiro Vruho wayengumbonisi ojikelezayo

[Isithombe ekhasini 157]

ULlopi Bllani

[Isithombe ekhasini 158]

Nakuba ayeyedwa, uKulla Gjidhari wasigubha iSikhumbuzo

[Isithombe ekhasini 167]

UMichael noLinda DiGregorio

[Isithombe ekhasini 172]

I-Order No. 100 yenza oFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwa ngokomthetho

[Isithombe ekhasini 175]

Umhlangano webandla eHholo LoMbuso lokuqala ngo-1992, eTiranë

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

U-Areti Pina washumayela ngokwethembeka eyedwa

[Izithombe ekhasini 184]

Indlu enkulu yashintshwa yenziwa amahhovisi esimanje

[Isithombe ekhasini 186]

“Uma niboshwa, ningakhathazeki.”—UNasho Dori

[Izithombe ekhasini 194]

UDavid Splane ukhulula “INguqulo Yezwe Elisha” yesi-Albania ephelele

[Isithombe ekhasini 197]

Izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza e-Albania namuhla

[Izithombe ekhasini 199]

Igatsha Lase-Albania

IKomiti Yegatsha: U-Artan Duka, u-Ardian Tutra, uMichael DiGregorio, uDavide Appignanesi noStefano Anatrelli