UMhlangano Ongasoze Walitshalwa

KUSUKELA ngo-August 15-18, 1963, abamemezeli abaningi bakuleli zwe nabangu-122 ababevela kwamanye amazwe bahlanganela edolobheni laseBandung, eNtshonalanga Java. Babeze eMhlanganweni onesihloko esithi “Izindaba Ezinhle Zaphakade,” okwakuwumhlangano wokuqala wezizwe e-Indonesia.

Abazalwane babhekana nezingqinamba eziningi njengoba babelungiselela lo mhlangano. Indawo okwakuzoqhutshelwa kuyo umhlangano yashintshwa kwaze kwaba kathathu ngenxa yemigubho yoSuku Lwenkululeko. Lapho kukhuphuka imali yezinto zokuhamba ngamaphesenti angu-400, ezinye izihambeli zomhlangano zamane zenza amanye amalungiselelo. Omunye umzalwane wahamba phansi izinsuku eziyisithupha eya emhlanganweni. Izihambeli ezingu-70 zaseSulawesi zahamba izinsuku ezinhlanu ngezikebhe ezazigcwele zinyinyitheka.

Abazalwane base-Indonesia bajabula kakhulu lapho behlangana nabafowabo nodadewabo abangamaKristu bakwamanye amazwe, kuhlanganise namalungu amabili endikimba ebusayo, uFrederick Franz noGrant Suiter. Esinye isihambeli sathi: “Abazalwane babonakala bejabule kakhulu; balokhu behleka futhi bemoyizela.”

Bangaphezu kuka-750 ababekulo mhlangano futhi kwabhapathizwa abangu-34. “Lo mhlangano oyingqopha-mlando wenza abantu abaningi abathakazelayo bamukela iqiniso,” kusho uRonald Jacka. “Wenza abazalwane balapha baba nogqozi lomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu.”