Ukuphila Kwami Enhlanganweni Eqondiswa Umoya KaJehova

Njengoba ilandiswa uAlbert D. Schroeder

NGESONTO lokuqala ngoJune 1934, mina noAlex Jones sasishumayela endlini ngendlu eDolobheni laseJersey, iNew Jersey. Singazelele, amaphoyisa agijimela egumbini lendlu esasikuyo, asifaka ozankosi, asifaka emotweni ngendlovu yangena, asiyisa ejele!

Ezinsukwini ezintathu kamuva, ijaji lasibeka icala lokuhamba sithengisa ngaphandle kwemvume lase lisigweba izinsuku eziyishumi sisejele. Sayiswa eJele elikhulu laseHudson County, satshelwa ukuba sikhumule, sidlule endaweni yokugeza egomayo, futhi sigqoke izingubo zasejele. Kamuva saqhutshwa sayofakwa esitokisini.

Lapha ngaba nesikhathi sokuzindla. Ngangineminyaka engama-23 kuphela ubudala futhi ngangikujabulela ukuphila kwami njengesikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Ake ngihlanganyele nani okunye kwalezozinkumbulo.

Ngiyambonga UGogo

Ngokukhethekile ngaba nezinkumbulo ezifudumele ngogogo ozala umama, uElizabeth Darger. Abazali bakhe baletha umkhaya eMichigan uvela eJalimane ngaphambi kuka-1870. Wafundisa isiJalimane nesiNgisi ezikoleni zomphakathi futhi wahlala nathi ekhaya labazali bami abangamaLuthela eSaginaw, eMichigan idolobha engazalelwa kulo. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, yena nodadewabo abangamathishelakazi bahlanganyela nabaFundi BeBhayibheli BeZizwe Zonke, (International Bible Students), manje abaziwa njengoFakazi BakaJehova.

Nakuba abazali bami babefuna ukuba ngiye kuSonto-sikole wamaLuthela, uGogo wavunyelwa ukukhuluma nami ngezinkolelo zakhe zeBhayibheli ezivusa amadlingozi. Wayekwazi ukufunda iBhayibheli ngesiLatini nangesiGreki, futhi wafaka kimina isifiso sokutadisha iBhayibheli ngezilimi zalo zokuqala. Ngothando, ngakhumbula izingxoxo ezishukumisayo nogogo bami ezazigxile kuhulumeni woMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokushesha ozobusa umhlaba ngokuvumelana noDaniyeli 2:44.

Ngo-1923 uGogo waqala ukutadisha nami, esebenzisa incwadi yeWatch Tower Society iThe Harp of God, futhi ngaya naye emihlanganweni yeBandla laseSaginaw. Manje, njengoba ngisesitokisini, ngazindla ngaleyo mihlangano, ngokulalela izinhlelo zomsakazo zeWatchtower zisakazwa kuyiWBBR ukusuka eBrooklyn, eNew York, nangokunye okuhlangenwe nakho okunjalo okwalolonga ukuphila kwami.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngakhumbula ngizwa emsakazweni iJaji uJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli weWatch Tower Society, ekhuluma emhlanganweni wabaFundi BeBhayibheli eToronto, eCanada, ngo-1927. EDetroit, eMichigan, ngo-1928, ngaya emhlanganweni wami wokuqala wesigodi. Lapho ngezwa uMzalwan’ uRutherford ekhuluma ngokoqobo. Kulowomhlangano, ngajabulela ukumemeza “uYebo” ezwini lesinqumo esasithi “Isimemezelo Esimelene NoSathane Esimelela UJehova.” Kwakhululwa incwadi entsha iGovernment eyayibonisa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu unguhulumeni ongokwasezulwini, hhayi obusa ngokwentando yeningi.

Izinkumbulo Zangezinsuku Ngisafunda Isikole

Ngakhumbula futhi izinsuku zami zesikole. Ngezikhuthazo zabazali bami, ababengafuni ukuba ngibe isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele, ngamukela umfunda-ze wasekholiji. Khona-ke ngoSeptember 1929, ngaya eYunivesithi yaseMichigan eAnn Arbor ukuyofunda ulimi nokuhlelwa kwalo, ezomnotho, nobunjiniyela.

UNkk. Judson, umnini-pulazi engangihlala kwakhe, wayejwayelene neBandla labaFundi BeBhayibheli laseAnn Arbor. Ekubuyeleni kwami esikoleni ekwindla ka-1930, wangitshela ukuthi insizwa ekahle evela eAlabama yayisanda kungena ekamelweni elibhekene nelami nokuthi wayecabanga ukuthi yayizosabela ‘esigijimini sethu seBhayibheli.’ Ngempela yasabela! Mina noWilliam Addison Elrod saba abangane beqiniso ngokushesha njengoba emukela amaqiniso eBhayibheli; futhi saqhubeka singabangane kuze kube namuhla.

Mina noBill Elrod sathatha izifundo zokucwaninga phakathi nehlobo lika-1931, ngaleyondlela asikwazanga ukuba khona emhlanganweni wesigodi wango-1931 eColumbus, eOhio. Nokho, ngeSonto, ngoJuly 26, sayilalela inkulumo yeningi emsakazweni futhi saba phakathi kwezilaleli ezingabonakali ezishisekayo ezamukela igama elisha elihle elithi “OFakazi BakaJehova.”

Ngalezozinsuku, ehositela lasekholiji kwakuxoxwa kabanzi ngezinhlobo zohulumeni, oweSimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni, owobuFascist nowobuKhomanisi. Ngo-October 1931 uWinston Churchill wakhuluma nabayizi-3 000 bethu thina bafundi, ephakamisa uhulumeni obusa ngentando yeningi njengohlobo oluhle lukahulumeni. Kamuva, ngoDecember 1931, uMhlonishwa Bertrand Russell, isazi sezibalo nesefilosofi owaziwayo waseBrithani, wakhuluma ngokusetshenziswa kobudlova njengendlela yokulungisa izinkinga. Futhi kamuva uDr. Hjalmar Schacht, umongameli weReichsbank eBerlin, eJalimane, waxoxa ngesidingo sokuphathwa kwezomnotho ngokobuzwe; ngamanye amazwi wayesekela isimiso sokuthi isizwe sisebenzele uhulumeni, noma ubuNazi. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva wayekuhulumeni kaHitler njengongqongqoshe wezindaba zomnotho.

Sengizizwile izikhalo zalezikhulu zezwe, ngaqiniseka ngokwengeziwe kunanini ngaphambili ukuthi uMbuso wobuMesiya kuphela obungaba uhulumeni womhlaba owanelisayo. Ngakho-ke mina noBill Elrod sahlela ukuqeda isikole ngoJune 15, 1932, bese siqala emsebenzini wokushumayela wesikhathi esigcwele sindawonye, manje owaziwa njengokuphayona.

Saqalisa inkonzo yethu yobuphayona ngaphambi kokuba sibhapathizwe ngoba ngalesosikhathi kwakungaqondakali ngokucacile noma labo ababenethemba lasemhlabeni kwakudingeka ukuba babhapathizwe noma cha. Nokho, ngemva kokubhapathizwa eChibini iVandercook, eMichigan, ngoJuly 24, 1932, kwaba sobala ukuthi ithemba lami lase lishintshela kulelo labagcotshiwe, okwakuqinisekiswa ‘ngobufakazi bomoya.’—Roma 8:16.

Inkonzo YaseBethel YaseBrooklyn

NgoSeptember 9, sisaphayona eHowell, eMichigan, uBill waphuma eposini egijima ephakamise incwadi yocingo ephuzi. Lapho siyivula, safunda isimemo esivela kuMzalwan’ uRutherford sokuba sifike sizosebenza eBethel ngokushesha uma sesikulungele. Kwasithatha amahora angama-72 kuphela ukuphetha izindaba zethu zobuphayona sasesihamba amakhilomitha ayi-1100 ukuya eBrooklyn ngeModel T Ford yethu. Ekugcineni sawela iBhuloho laseBrooklyn safika eBethel ngoSeptember 13, 1932. Ngalesosikhathi, kwakunamalungu omkhaya waseBethel acishe abe ama-200, iningi lawo lingabafowabo beNkosi abagcotshiwe.

Ngemva kokukhonza esabelweni sasefektri amasonto ambalwa, ngashintshelwa eMnyango weNkonzo. Umbonisi kwakungumzalwane onomusa waseIreland, uThomas J. Sullivan. Wayesikhumbuza njalo thina abasebasha, ‘Lapho kulethwa izinkinga, qinisekani ukuthola wonke amaqiniso ngaphambi kokusikisela ikhambi.’ (IzAga 18:13) Ecwayiza amehlo, wanezela: “Nijaheni? Nikani uJehova ithuba. Nibone ukuthi umoya wakhe wenzani ngakho.”

Ngizindla ngalokhu okuhlangenwe nakho okwedlule lapho ngisejele, ngajabulela ilungelo lokuhlupheka ngenxa yokulunga, ngisho nanjengoba kwenza uJesu Kristu nabaphostoli. (Johane 15:20; 1 Petru 4:16) Njengoba ngibheka emuva, ngiyabona ukuthi okuhlangenwe nakho okunjalo kwakungilungisela amalungelo esikhathi esizayo.

Ukukhanya Okusha Okuvusa Amadlingozi

Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1935, izinyanga eziyisithupha ngemva kokukhululwa kwami ejele nokubuyela eBethel, ngikhumbula izingxoxo ezimbalwa etafuleni laseBethel mayelana nokuphawulwa “kwesixuku esikhulu.” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 13) Abanye babonisa ukusekela umbono wokuthi lesi isigaba sesibili sasezulwini, ngisho nanjengoba umongameli weWatch Tower Society, uMzalwan’ uRussell, ayeye wafundisa. Nokho, abanye, baphikisa ngokuthi “isixuku esikhulu” sasihlanganiswa yilabo abanethemba lasemhlabeni. Phakathi nalezingxoxo, uMzalwan’ uRutherford akazange azihilele.

Sonke eBethel sasijabulile njengoba sasihamba ngesitimela esikhethekile siya eWashington, D.C., emhlanganweni owawuzobakhona kusukela ngoMay 30 kuze kube uJune 3, 1935. Ngosuku lwesibili lomhlangano, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wethula izindaba ezivusa amadlingozi zokuthi “isixuku esikhulu” ngempela siyisigaba sasemhlabeni. Emvuthwandaba, wabuza: “Bangasiza basukume bonke abanethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni?” Kwasukuma ingxenye yezi-20 000 yababekhona. Wayesememeza uMzalwan’ uRutherford ethi: “Bhekani! Isixuku esikhulu!” Kwaba nokuthula okwesikhashana. Sase sihlanganyela ekumemezeni ngenjabulo, nokuhalalisa kwakukukhulu futhi kwathatha isikhathi eside. Ngosuku olulandelayo kwabhapathizwa abangama-840, iningi labo lingabesigaba sasemhlabeni.

Lokukhanya okusha kwango-1935 ‘ngesixuku esikhulu’ kwaholela ezinyathelweni zokuhlelwa kabusha ngo-1936 ukuze kulungiselelwe ukwanda kwamalungu alesigaba. Ngokwesibonelo, kuze kube yilesosikhathi, kwakumane kunebandla elilodwa elikhulu labakhuluma isiNgisi kulo lonke iDolobha laseNew York, kodwa manje amabandla amasha amiswa kanye nathi abagcotshiwe abasebasha sabelwa njengababonisi. Namuhla, kunamabandla angama-336 eDolobheni laseNew York!

Isabelo Esisha

ULwesine, lukaNovember 11, 1937, lwabonakala luwusuku olubalulekile kimi. Ngangiye ngathola isaziso sokuthi ngiye ehhovisini likaMzalwan’ uRutherford ngo-3:00 ngaleyontambama. Njengoba ngangifike ngesikhathi, ngangikhathazekile ngokuthi ngingase ngithethiswe. Kodwa ngemva kwengxoxo enobungane, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wangibuza ukuthi ngiyafisa yini ukuthatha esinye isabelo.

“Ngifisa ukusebenza noma kuphi lapho kudingeka khona,” ngiphendula.

Ngakho-ke, engimangaza ngokuphelele, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wabuza: “Ubungathanda yini ukukhonza njengenceku yegatsha eBethel yaseLondon?”

“Habe, isabelo esikhulu leso!” ngiphawula.

“Ngaphezu kwalokho, lokhu kusho ukuhamba unomphela, ukuvuma ukuhlala lapho kuze kube ngemva kweArmagedoni. Ngakho-ke ngizokunika izinsuku ezintathu ukuba unqume,” eqhubeka.

“Nokho, Mzalwan’ uRutherford, angidingi izinsuku ezintathu. Uma kuyintando kaJehova ukuba ngihambe, impendulo yami uyebo!”

“Ngicabangile ukuthi leyo kuzoba impendulo yakho,” ephendula. “UMzalwan’ uKnorr usenalo kakade ithikithi lakho lomkhumbi omkhulu iQueen Mary ozoya eNgilandi ngoLwesithathu oluzayo.”

Ikhanda lami laqala ukuba nenzululwane. “Uzoqeqeshwa phakathi nezinsuku ezimbalwa ezizayo,” kuphetha uMzalwan’ uRutherford.

Lapho ngibuyela eMnyango weNkonzo, osefektri, uMzalwan’ uKnorr waqala ukuhleka ukumangala kwami. Wayazi ukuthi yini eyayisanda kwenzeka. UNathan Knorr wayengumbonisi wefektri futhi wayeke waya eNgilandi noMzalwan’ uRutherford ngaphambili. Khona manjalo waqala ukungifundisa indlela yokwengamela umsebenzi wegatsha. Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, ngabuyela kuMzalwan’ uRutherford ukuyothola ukuqeqeshwa okwengeziwe.

Iseluleko sikaMzalwan’ uRutherford, esisekelwe kuMika 6:8, ‘sasiwukwenza ngokufaneleyo, ukumelela ngokuqinile imithetho yenhlangano, ukusekela izimiso zeBhayibheli, ukulalela ngokushesha, nokungadebeseli. Ukuba mnene ekusebenzelaneni nabazalwane, ukuhlanganyela njalo enkonzweni yasensimini, nokuhamba noNkulunkulu ngokuzithoba.’ Wathi insimu yabakhuluma isiNgisi yayingasekho ngoba umongameli wegatsha wesikhathi esidlule akazange ayisekele ngokugcwele inkonzo yasensimini. Ngakho-ke waphetha ngokugcizelela: “Khuthaza inkonzo yasensimini eyandisiwe. Kumanje iBrithani idinga amaphayona ayi-1 000, hhayi angama-200 njengoba benawo njengamanje.”

Ukwamukelwa ENgilandi

Lapho iQueen Mary ifika eSouthampton, ngagibela isitimela esiya eLondon ngase ngihamba ngetekisi ngiya ehhovisi legatsha leNhlangano, elaliku-34 Craven Terrace eLancaster Gate, iminyaka engama-26. Isekela likamongameli weNhlangano YabaFundi BeBhayibheli beZizwe Zonke langamukela ngenjabulo. Ngadlulisela kulo incwadi yoMzalwan’ uRutherford eyayiligunyaza ukuba likhiphe inceku yegatsha nokuthi lazise umkhaya waseBethel ukuthi ngangizothatha indawo yayo. Lokhu kwenziwa ngesikhathi sokudla kwasemini, futhi amalungu angama-30 aseBethel angamukela ngokufudumele.

Ngesikhathi esifanele ngajwayelana nezikhonzi eziningi nabameleli begatsha eYurophu. Laba kwakungabagcotshiwe ababehola ngokungagunciyo emsebenzini wokushumayela naphezu kwezithiyo zesikhathi sikaHitler, amadoda anjengoMartin Harbeck, waseSwitzerland, uCharles Knecht waseFrance, uFritz Hartstang waseNetherlands, uJohan Eneroth waseSweden, uWilliam Dey waseDenmark, noRobert Winkler onesibindi wohlelo oluwumshoshaphansi lweNhlangano lwaseJalimane. Ngokusebenzisa yonke imiBhalo, lamadoda anesibindi okholo amelana noshushiso olunzima lobuNazi.

UMzalwan’ URutherford Uyavakasha

Ngo-1938, unyaka wangaphambi kokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe II, abaseBrithani basungula indlela yokudlulisela umbiko ngaphesheya kolwandle ngomsakazo nangocingo. Onjiniyela babo bavuma ukuxhumanisa amazwekazi emagumbini amane ngomhlangano okhethekile owawuseLondon, ngoSeptember 9 kuya ku-11. IHholo iRoyal Albert, eliyindawo enkulu kakhulu efanelekile eLondon, laqashelwa umhlangano. Iqembu likaMzalwan’ uRutherford, kuhlanganise noNathan Knorr, lafika emasontweni amathathu kusengaphambili ukuzosiza ngamalungiselelo.

Ukuze kumenyezelwe inkulumo yeningi, kwahlelwa umbukiso wamabhodi abhaliwe agaxwa entanyeni elinye libe ngemuva futhi elinye ngaphambili. Ngaphambi kokuba umbukiso wokuqala onokwaziswa uqale, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wacela ukungibona. Lapho sixoxa ngezindaba zomhlangano, wayedlalisa ipeni lakhe, okuyinto ayeyenza njalo lapho ekhuluma nothile. Wadabula iphepha wanginikeza lokho ayekubhalile. “Ucabangani ngalokhu?” ebuza.

Kwakufundeka kanje: “INKOLO IWUGIBE FUTHI IYINDLELA YENKOHLISO YOKUTHOLA IMALI.”

“Kubukeka kunamandla impela,” ngiphendula.

Wathi: “Bengivele ngifuna ibe namandla.” Wayeseyaleza ukuba ngokushesha kwenziwe amabhodi analamagama azosetshenziselwa umbukiso onokwaziswa komhlangano wethu wokuqala ngoLwesithathu ntambama. Ngobusuku obulandelayo mina noNathan Knorr sahola ujenga olwalungabazalwane abangaba inkulungwane amakhilomitha ayishumi sidabula inkaba yeLondon.

Ngosuku olulandelayo uMzalwan’ uRutherford wangibizela ehhovisi lakhe wacela umbiko. Ngathi: “Abaningi basibize ngamakhomanisi nabaphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu futhi bakhuluma nezinye izinkulumo ezimbi.” Khona-ke wacabanga imizuzu embalwa, ekugcineni wadabula iphepha elinesiqubulo esisikiselwe esithi “KHONZA UNKULUNKULU NOKRISTU INKOSI.” Wacabanga ukuthi ukuhlanganisa izimpawu nalamagama kungadambisa ukusabela okunomsindo, okuyinto eyenzeka. Lomhlangano wango-1938 waqhubeka kahle. Izimiso eziyinhloko ngoMgqibelo nangeSonto nenkulumo eqhamile, ethi “Bhekana Namaqiniso” kwadluliselwa ngezingcingo ngokuphumelelayo emihlanganweni yesigodi engama-49 eyayiqhutshwa kanyekanye kulo lonke izwe okukhulunywa kulo isiNgisi.

Ngemva komhlangano, kwaba khona isikole sokuqeqesha izinceku zamagatsha zamazwe aseYurophu. Phakathi nesikole, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wangisola kanzima ngokuhluleka kwami ukuqeqesha izinceku. Iseluleko sangifikisela izinyembezi. Kamuva, uWilliam Dey waseDenmark wangiduduza ngasese, ethi uMzalwan’ uRutherford wayesebenzisa mina ukuze afundise bona bonke. Futhi kwakunjalo! Ngosuku olulandelayo uMzalwan’ uRutherford, owayethanda ukugqoka iphinifa futhi apheke, wasimemela sonke ekudleni kwakusihlwa okukhethekile ayekulungiselele. Sonke sajabulela ukuhlangana okuthokozisayo.

Iminyaka Yempi Yezwe II

NgoSeptember 1, 1939, uHitler wahlasela iPoland. NgeSonto langoSeptember 3, iBrithani yamemezela impi eJalimane. Ngalolosuku izinkulungwane zethu eBrithani zazisenkonzweni yasensimini, ngokufanelekile zihambisa incwadi entsha iSalvation. Emnyango ngamunye abantu babenovalo; abanye abesifazane babekhala. Sonke saphelelwa izincwadi zeBhayibheli njengoba sasinikeza abantu induduzo engokomBhalo.

Ngenyanga elandelayo, sathola ikhophi ekhishwe ngaphambi kwesikhathi yeNqabayokulinda kaNovember 1, 1939 enesihloko esithi “Ukungathathi-hlangothi”. Ngesikhathi esifanele yaveza isimo esingokomBhalo amaKristu eqiniso okumelwe abe naso phakathi neziphithiphithi zezwe. (Johane 17:16) Ngokushesha kwabakhona ukuboshwa nokuvalelwa emajele kwamakhulu abazalwane bethu nodade baseBrithani.

Impi yasemoyeni eBrithani, eyayibizwa ngokuthi iMpi yaseBrithani, yaba namandla ekupheleni kuka-1940 kuqhubeke kuze kube ngo-1941. Thina eLondon sabekezelela ukuqhuma kwamabhomu okwakuthatha amahora ayi-14 ubusuku obungama-57 obulandelanayo. Umoya ovunguzayo wawunomsindo wokuklabalasa. Kuyo yonke indawo umlilo wawuvutha ngamandla. Amabhomu angamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye awela eduze kwaseBethel ngamamitha angama-460. IHholo lethu loMbuso elikhulu eliseduze naseBethel lashiswa amabhomu ayeqhunyiswa abantu, kodwa lacishwa ngokushesha abazalwane bethu baseBethel abaqeqeshiwe.

Kwakunezinhlobo eziningi zokuvinjelwa ngesikhathi sempi, kuhlanganise nokwabiwa kokudla nemingcele ekuhambeni. Nokho, saqhubeka futhi saze sathuthukisa nokushumayela kwethu kwendlu ngendlu. Ngo-1937 iBrithani yayinabamemezeli abayizi-4 375 kodwa ngo-1942 banda baba yizi-12 436 ngo-1942. Amaphayona ayeye anda esuka kuma-201 lapho ngifika eNgilandi ngo-1937 kuya e-1 488 ngo-1942! Ngempela, uJehova wakubusisa ngokucebile lokhu kutshala kwakuqala kwabashumayeli basensimini. Manje, eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngama-50 kamuva, kunabamemezeli boMbuso abangaphezu kwezi-109 000 eBrithani, kuhlanganise namaphayona avamile angaphezu kwezi-6 000.

NgoSeptember 3 kuya ku-7, 1941, sisizwa umoya kaJehova safeza lokho izikhulu zikahulumeni ezakubiza ngokuthi “kungokungenakwenzeka.” Saba nomhlangano woFakazi BakaJehova owawungomkhulu kunayo yonke eBrithani kuze kube yilesosikhathi. Kwahlangana abangaphezu kwezi-12 000 eHholo laseLeicester iDe Montfort futhi izindawo ezizungezile zazithe shí empini. Leli yilelohholo elasetshenziswa lapho umhlangano weNhlangano waminyanga yonke wawuseLeicester ngo-1983. Abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane ezintathu bethu bakhumbula okuhlangenwe nakho komhlangano wesikhathi sempi ka-1941.

Ihhovisi laseLondon laba isikhungo sababaleki phakathi nempi. Ucingo lwalo lwalukhala njalo. Isikhwama sokusiza senziwa satholakala, senza ukuba abazalwane abahlaselwe ngamabhomu bathole usizo ngokushesha. Futhi, abazalwane ababengababaleki basePoland, eJalimane, eNorway, eFrance, eBelgium, eHolland, nakwezinye izindawo beza eLondon lapho banikezwa khona usizo. Abaningi balaba bathatha inkonzo yobuphayona eBrithani.

Umuntu Ongemukeleki

Ngokushesha lapho iUnited States ingenela impi ngoDecember 8, 1941, ngalahlekelwa ukukhululeka kwami ekujutshelweni impi yamaNgisi njengesakhamuzi saseU.S. Ngenxa yokungathathi-hlangothi kwami kobuKristu, ngangingenakuvumelana nezinhlobonhlobo zemiyalo ekhishwa uhulumeni waseBrithani ephathelene nemisebenzi yempi. Ekugcineni, ngoMay 6, 1942 uhulumeni waseBrithani wangazisa ukuthi ngangingasemukeleki eBrithani ngalesosizathu, ngakho-ke ngatshelwa ukuba ngibuyele eUnited States. NgoAugust 1, iphephandaba laseLondon iDaily Herald lalinesithombe sami ekhasini lalo lokuqala sinesihloko esithi “Bamtshele Ukuba ‘Aye Ekhaya.’”

NgoMsombuluko ekuseni, ngoAugust 24, 1942, abaseshi ababili baseScotland Yard bangibopha ukuze bangibuyisele kwelakithi. Bangithatha ngesitimela bangiyisa eGlasgow, eScotland, lapho ngagcinwa ubusuku bonke eJele lakhona laseBarlinni langenkathi ephakathi. Ngosuku olulandelayo ngaphelezelwa ngayogitsheliswa umkhumbi wempi waseBrithani iS.S. Hilary, lapho ngaqhubeka ngiyisiboshwa khona. Kwathatha izinsuku eziyi-13 ngemikhumbi yethu evikelwe engama-52 ukuwela iAtlantic ngendlela egwegwesayo igwema imikhumbi-ngwenya yaseJalimane. Sibalekela iziqhumane zayo zasemanzini, safika ngokulondeka eHalifax, eCanada! Manje sengikhululiwe, ngosuku olulandelayo ngaya eNew York ngesitimela, ngafika ngoSeptember 10.

Inkathi Yokuthula Ibikezelwa Ngokuphawulekayo

Ngathola injabulo enkulu ekubuyeleni kwami kubazalwane abaningi abafudumele eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Ngangifike ngesikhathi ukuba ngibe khona emhlanganweni owaqopha umlando eCleveland, eOhio, ngoSeptember 18-20, 1942. Lapho uMzalwan’ uN. H. Knorr, umongameli omusha weNhlangano, wanikeza inkulumo ethi: “Ukuthula—Kungahlala Njalo?” Lokhu kwaletha ukukhanya okusha kusAmbulo 17:8. Kwembulwa ukuthi imibuso eSizanayo yayiyoqhubeka ikhona nokuthi kwakuzovela “isilo” esisha “sokuthula” kwezizwe zonke. Lokhu kwenzeka lapho, iZizwe Ezihlangene zihlelwa, ngemva kokuphela kwempi ngo-1945!

IWatchtower Bible School YaseGileyadi

Ngemva komhlangano wenhlangano engokomthetho yeWatch Tower Society waminyaka yonke ngo-October 1, 1942, uMzalwan’ uKnorr njengomongameli wangibizela ehhovisi lakhe, mina noMaxwell G. Friend, kanye noEduardo F. Keller. Wasitshela ukuthi kwakwenziwe isinqumo ngalolosuku sokumisa isikole seBhayibheli sezithunywa zevangeli eKingdom Farm, eSouth Lansing, eNew York. Wathi ngangizoba unobhala wesikole futhi kwakumelwe ngikhonze njengosihlalo wekomiti ukuze isikole sihleleke. Sasebenza noMzalwan’ uF. W. Franz ekuklameni izifundo ezinhle zeBhayibheli. Lokhu kwaqalisa isikhathi eside esijabulisayo sokusebenzelana naye ekuthuthukiseni imfundo yeBhayibheli.

NgoMsombuluko ekuseni, ngoFebruary 1, 1943, kwakuwusuku lokunikezelwa okungokomthetho ngoMzalwan’ uKnorr kwalokho manje okwaziwa ngokuthi iWatchtower Bible School yaseGileyadi, eseKingdom Farm eduze naseSouth Lansing, eNew York. Ngemva kwesimiso sokunikezela, izimiso zesikole zaqala emakilasini amane, ngalinye linabafundi abangama-25. Izifundo zemfundo yobuKristu ethuthukisiwe zahlanganiswa emasontweni angama-20, iBhayibheli liyincwadi eyinhloko.

Izinyanga zokujabula, bese kuba iminyaka yokujabula, yezifundo ezijule ngokwengeziwe zeBhayibheli zabonakala ziyisibusiso esikhulu kimi. Nginabanye abaqondisi abazinikele, ngabonga uJehova ngalelilungelo lokufundisa nokushukumisa izinhliziyo zabafundi abanjalo abazinikezele ababethanda uJehova nomsebenzi wakhe! Kuze kube u-1960, abafundi abayizi-3 700 beza bevela emazweni angama-70 ukuzocebisa amakilasi esikole sethu.

Ukuhlanganyela Ekuphileni Komshado

Lapho ngisemihlanganweni ethi “Umbuso Onqobayo” eYurophu ngo-1955, ngavuselela ubungane bami noCharlotte Bowin othandekayo, owayekade engomunye wabafundi bami ekilasini lokuqala laseGileyadi ngo-1943. Wakhonza iminyaka eyi-12 njengesithunywa sevangeli esithembekile ensimini yeSipanishi, kuhlanganise iMexico ne-El Salvador. Manje, enoJulia Clogston ayesebenza naye enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli, wahlanganyela kulemihlangano yaseYurophu. Ngenhlanhla, bobabili abazali bakaCharlotte babeye baba amalungu omkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn ngesikhathi bengakashadi bobabili, ezikhathini zamuva zoMzalwan’ uRussell. Ngakho-ke lapho sebeshadile, uMartin Bowin waba umbonisi ojikelezayo kwaze kwazalwa uCharlotte ngo-1920.

NgoJanuary 1956 uCharlotte wangenela inkonzo yaseBethel futhi wayiswa eKingdom Farm. NgoAugust 1956 sashada. Lapho uCharlotte ekhulelwa, sadangala, sikholelwa ukuthi lokhu kwakuzoqeda inkonzo yethu yesikhathi esigcwele. Nokho, uMzalwan’ uFranz wasikhuthaza, ethi: “Anonanga ngokwenza isibeletho sithele. Yibani nesibindi! Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova uzonihlelela ngandlela-thile ukuba niqhubeke enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.”

Nangempela kwaba njalo. Ngakwazi ukuqhubeka nezifundo zeSikole saseGileyadi. Okokuqala sahlala endlini encane eqashiwe, kwase kuthi ngo-1962 sathuthela endlini entsha eyayiqhele ngekhilomitha nengxenye esikoleni. Lé eSouth Lansing, eNew York, indodana yethu, uJudah Ben, eyazalwa ngoFebruary 1958, yachitha iminyaka yayo yokuqala.

Sasinenjabulo enkulu ekukhuliseni kwethu uJudah Ben, njengoba sasizama njalo ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli. (Efesu 6:1-4) Wakhuthazwa ukuba alandele uMika 6:8, njengoba ngisho nami ngangifuna ukusebenzisa lowombhalo ekuphileni kwami. Kamuva, uJudah waba isizukulwane sesithathu esikhonza eBethel futhi wakhonza khona iminyaka eyi-12. Washada nodade othandekayo oyiphayona, uAmber Baker, ngoJune 1986. Manje baphayona eMichigan.

Isikole Sabadala

Emhlanganweni ka-1958 owawuseYankee Stadium, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wamemezela ukuvulwa kwesikole esisha sabadala esasizokwaziwa njengeSikole SeNkonzo YoMbuso. NgoMarch 9, 1959, ikilasi lokuqala labafundi abangama-25 laqala izifundo zalo zamasonto amane eKingdom Farm, lapho nesikole saseGileyadi sasiqhutshwa khona. Lapho isikole saseGileyadi sithuthela eBrooklyn ngoSeptember 1960, iSikole SeNkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini sasala eKingdom Farm, lapho sasikwazi khona ukuqeqesha abadala abayikhulu zinyanga zonke. Ngathola ukuthi ukuba ubaba kwabonakala kuwusizo ekufundiseni izinhloko zemikhaya ezazisesikoleni esisha.

Ngo-1967 lesikole sathuthelwa eBethel eBrooklyn. Kamuva, ngo-1968, sabuyiselwa ePittsburgh, lapho, kuze kube u-1974, izinkulungwane zabadala abanesizotha zathola ukuqeqeshwa khona. Kusukela ngo-1974 kuqhubeke, isikole sasiqhutshwa emaHholo oMbuso ahlukahlukene kulo lonke izwe. Umkami nendodana babehamba nami njengoba ngiya kulezondawo ezihlukahlukene. Bakhonza njengamaphayona lapho mina ngifundisa esikoleni.

Enye Inkonzo YaseNdlunkulu

NgoNovember 1974, ngangifundisa iSikole SeNkonzo YoMbuso edolobheni lakithi eSaginaw, eMichigan, lapho ngithola incwadi engenakukhohlakala eyayivela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo. Yangimema ukuba ngibe ilungu laleyondikimba kanti futhi yamema umkami nendodana ukuzokhonza njengamalungu omkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn. Ngakho-ke ngoDecember 18, 1974, sathuthela eBethel, futhi ngathatha amalungelo ami amasha enkonzo.

INdikimba Ebusayo isebenza kahle ndawonye ekuqondiseni imisebenzi yoFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke, ekusakazeni ukudla okungokomoya ngenxa yokukhanyiselwa kwethu okuqhubekayo, nasekwenzeni izinqumo zokwahlulela. INdikimba Ebusayo ihlangana njalo ngoLwesithathu, ivula umhlangano ngomthandazo icela isiqondiso somoya kaJehova. Kwenziwa umzamo wangempela ukuze kubonwe ukuthi zonke izindaba ezisingathwayo nazo zonke izinqumo ezenziwayo zivumelana neZwi likaNkulunkulu iBhayibheli.

Njengelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, ngiye ngathunywa ukuba ngivakashele amagatsha ahlukahlukene njengombonisi wamagatsha. Kuye kwafudumeza inhliziyo ngami ukubona okokuqala ubunye babantu bakaJehova emazweni amaningi kangaka. Futhi kuyinjabulo yami siqu ukuphinde ngihlangane nezithunywa zevangeli eziningi ezisathembekile ezabelweni zazo zakwamanye amazwe. Yebo, emazweni onke, abantu bakaJehova bangaba ngcono kakhulu futhi bajabula kakhulu!

UJehova ubondla kanyekanye bonke abantu bakhe ngokomoya ngeNqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Konke lokhu kuwubufakazi bokuthi uKristu Jesu ubelokhu eyiNkosi yethu ebusayo kusukela ngo-1914 nokuthi uzosihola ngokuphumelelayo ‘osizini olukhulu’ esibhekene nalo. Okokugcina, nina nonke enisebasha, yenzani ngokuhlakanipha imisebenzi yenkonzo engcwele yesikhathi esigcwele manje! Nani futhi niyoba namalungelo athakazelisayo anilindele. (Mika 7:7) Ngiyajabula ngamalungiselelo kaJehova okunginakekela yonke iminyaka engamashumi edlule. Izibusiso zakhe ngempela ziye zangicebisa. (IzAga 10:22) Ngiyambonga uJehova nsuku zonke ngamalungelo enginawo okumkhonza ngisenhlanganweni eqondiswa umoya wakhe.—IsAmbulo 7:14.

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

NginoBill Elrod umngane wami

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Ngiyiswa eJele laseBarlinni ngesitimela

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Nginenkosikazi yami, uCharlotte