UJehova Uzibonakalisa Ethembekile
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUPETER PALLISER
Kwakungu-December 1985. Injabulo yakhula njengoba siqala ukwehlela esikhumulweni sezindiza zamazwe ngamazwe eNairobi, eKenya. Lapho singena kuleli dolobha ngemoto, kwabuya izinkumbulo ezazivuswa ukubona izinto nokuzwa imisindo ejwayelekile.
SAFIKA eKenya sizé eMhlanganweni Wesigodi “Wabagcini Bobuqotho” WoFakazi BakaJehova. Eminyakeni engu-12 ngaphambili, mina nomkami saphoqeleka ukuba sihambe eKenya ngenxa yokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Sasikade sihlala eBethel yakhona, igama ezibizwa ngalo izakhiwo zamagatsha zoFakazi BakaJehova. Yeka isimanga esijabulisayo esasizosithola lapho siphindela khona sivakashile!
Owayesiza ekulungiseni ukudla kwasemini eBethel kwakunguFakazi osemncane esamazi eseneminyaka emibili ubudala. Okungenani amalungu ayisithupha omkhaya waseBethel kwakungabantu esasibazi beseyizingane. Yeka injabulo okwakuyiyo ukubabona sebengabantu abadala manje, bekanye nemikhaya yabo, bonke besakhuthele enkonzweni! UNkulunkulu wethu uJehova wayebanakekele, ngokuvumelana nesithembiso seBhayibheli esithi: “Kothembekileyo uyazibonakalisa ethembekile.” (2 Samuweli 22:26) Yeka umehluko engangiwubona phakathi kokuphila kwami ngisemusha nokuphila okunemivuzo lentsha eyayikuphila!
Ukuphila Okungenanjongo Ngisemusha
Ngazalelwa eScarborough, eNgilandi, ngo-August 14, 1918. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva umama nodadewethu wokutholwa bathuthela eCanada, ngakho iminyaka emithathu eyalandela ngangihlala nobaba, nogogo nobabekazi. Lapho ngineminyaka emihlanu, umama wangithumba wangiyisa eMontreal, eCanada. Ngemva kweminyaka emine wangiphindisela eNgilandi ukuze ngiyohlala nobaba futhi ngifunde esikoleni.
Umama nodadewethu babengibhalela njalo ngemva kwezinyanga ezingaba yisithupha. Ekupheleni kwezincwadi zabo, babengifisela ukuba ngibe isakhamuzi esihle, esithembekile eNkosini nasezweni. Cishe izimpendulo zami zazibadumaza ngoba ngangiye ngibhale ngibatshele ukuthi ngikholelwa ukuthi ubuzwe nempi akulungile. Kodwa njengoba ngangingenasiqondiso esicacile lapho ngiseneminyaka eyeve eshumini nambili, ngangiphila ukuphila okungenanjongo.
Kwabe sekuthi ngo-July 1939, emasontweni ayisithupha ngaphambi kokuqala kweMpi Yezwe II, ngabuthelwa ebuthweni lempi laseBrithani. Ngangineminyaka engu-20 kuphela. Ngokushesha ibutho lethu lathunyelwa enyakatho yeFrance. Lapho izindiza zamaJalimane zisihlasela, thina mabhungu sasizikhomba ngezibhamu futhi sidubule. Kwakuwukuphila ngovalo. Sahlehla lapho amabutho aseJalimane eza ngaphambili, futhi ngangiphakathi kwalabo abakhishwa eDunkirk ngesonto lokuqala lika-June 1940. Ngisethuka namanje uma ngikhumbula ngibona izidumbu zebutho lonke zilele uyaca ogwini. Ngasinda kuleso sigameko esesabisayo futhi ngafika eHarwich empumalanga yeNgilandi ngigibele emkhunjini omncane othwala impahla.
Ngonyaka olandelayo, ngo-March 1941, ngathunyelwa eNdiya. Lapho, ngaqeqeshelwa ukuba umakhenikha wemishini yokuqondisa izindiza. Ngemva kokuba sesibhedlela isikhathi esithile ngenxa yokungenwa ukugula, ngashintshelwa esikhungweni sebutho esiseDelhi, inhloko-dolobha yaseNdiya. Njengoba ngangikude nasekhaya futhi ngingakaphili kahle, ngaqala ukucabanga ngekusasa. Ngangizibuza ikakhulukazi ngokuthi kwenzekani kithi uma sifa.
Ukubonisa Ubuqotho Obusha
EDelhi ngangihlala neNgisi lakithi endlini, uBert Gale. Ngolunye usuku wathi “inkolo ekaDeveli,” lawo mazwi avusa isithakazelo sami. Umkakhe wayesengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, futhi wayehlale ahlale amthumelele izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Enye yazo, incwajana ethi Itemba, yangikhanga. Ukukhuluma kwayo ngethemba lovuko kwanginikeza umuzwa wokuzola kwangempela.
Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1943, uBert waxoxa nesakhamuzi esizalwa yiNgisi neNdiya, uTeddy Grubert, esasisebenza nathi kulesi sikhungo sebutho lempi. Kwasimangaza ukuthola ukuthi uTeddy wayenguFakazi. Nakuba ngo-1941 izincwadi zoFakazi BakaJehova zazivinjelwe, wasiyisa emihlanganweni oFakazi ababeyiqhuba eDelhi. Kulelo bandla elincane, ngathola ubudlelwane obufudumele bangempela ngokokuqala ngqá ekuphileni kwami. UBasil Tsatos, umzalwane waseGreece ongumKristu owayesekhulile, wangifukamela futhi waphendula imibuzo yami. Wanikeza izimpendulo zeBhayibheli ezicacile zemibuzo emayelana nesizathu sokuba siguge futhi sife, uvuko nezwe elisha lokulunga uNkulunkulu alithembisile.—IzEnzo 24:15; Roma 5:12; 2 Petru 3:13; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
Incwajana ethi Peace—Can It Last?, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1942, yangikhanga kakhulu. Yachaza iNhlangano Yezizwe ‘njengeyisilo sasendle esinombala obomvu klebhu.’ (IsAmbulo 17:3) Lapho icaphuna isAmbulo isahluko 17, ivesi 11, lencwajana yathi: “Sekungashiwo manje ukuthi iNhlangano ‘yayikhona, kodwa ayisekho.’” Yaqhubeka yathi: “Inhlangano yezizwe zomhlaba izophinda ivuke.” Ngo-1945, eminyakeni engaphezu kwemithathu kamuva, kwenzeka lokho kanye lapho kubunjwa inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene!
Ngenkathi izincwadi zoFakazi zivinjelwe, ngangikwazi ukusiza abangane bami abasha. Lapho kufika ibhokisi lezincwajana ezithi Peace—Can It Last?, ibandla lalililetha kimi ukuze ngililonde. Ubani owayengase acabange ukufuna izincwadi ezivinjelwe ekamu lebutho lempi? Njalo lapho ngiya emihlanganweni, ngangihamba nezincwajana ezimbalwa ukuze abafowethu bahlale benazo. Ngangibafihlela ngisho nezincwadi zeBhayibheli zabo siqu lapho benovalo lokuthi imizi yabo ingase iseshwe. Ekugcineni, ngo-December 11, 1944, ukuvinjelwa kwasuswa.
Ukwethembeka kwami ezimfundisweni zobuKristu kwavivinyeka lapho kunemikhosi kaKhisimusi ngo-1943 eyayihlelelwe iqembu lebutho lethu. Ngenqaba ukuhlanganyela kuyo, njengoba ngase ngifundile ukuthi uJesu akazalwanga ngenkathi ebandayo ka-December nokuthi amaKristu okuqala ayengawugubhi uKhisimusi.—Qhathanisa noLuka 2:8-12.
Lapho kuqhutshwa uMhlangano “Wabamemezeli Abanobunye” eJubbulpore (eJabalpur) ngomhla ka-27 kuya ku-31 December 1944, ngangiphakathi kwalabo ababengaba ngu-150 ababekhona. Izihambeli zomhlangano eziningi zahamba ngesitimela zisuka eDelhi, okwakuwuhambo lwamakhilomitha angaphezulu kakhulu kuka-600. Angisoze ngasikhohlwa lesiya simo esihle njengoba sasingaphandle, lapho ngabona khona ukusebenza kwenhlangano kaJehova.
Izihambeli zomhlangano zalaliswa ezindlini zokulala zasezikoleni, lapho sasihlabelela khona izingoma zoMbuso futhi sijabulele ubudlelwane bobuKristu obujabulisayo. Phakathi nalowo mhlangano ngaqala ukuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela obala, umsebenzi engawuthanda kusukela ngaleso sikhathi.
Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele ENgilandi
Ngo-1946 ngabuyela eNgilandi futhi ngokushesha ngaqala ukuhlanganyela neBandla LaseWolverton. Nakuba sasinabamemezeli boMbuso abangaba yishumi kuphela, bangenza ngazizwa ngikhululekile, futhi ngathola ukwaneliseka okufanayo nalokho enganginakho lapho nginabafowethu eNdiya. UVera Clifton wayevelele ebandleni ngokuba umuntu oqotho nonomusa. Lapho ngithola ukuthi wayenesifiso esifanayo nesami sokuba iphayona, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zibizwa kanjalo, sashada ngo-May 24, 1947. Ngalungisa umahamba-nendlwana, kwathi ngonyaka olandelayo sathola isabelo sethu sokuqala samaphayona, idolobha laseHuntingdon elisemaphandleni.
Ngalezo zinsuku sasihamba ngamabhayisekili ethu lapho siya ensimini yasemaphandleni ekuseni ngovivi. Ukushumayela kwethu usuku lonke kwakuphazanyiswa ikhefu elifushane nje lasemini lapho sidla amasemeshi. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sasiphambana nomoya onamandla kangakanani noma ukuthi laliyidliva kangakanani lapho siphindela ekhaya ngamabhayisekili, sasijabule futhi sanelisekile emsebenzini weNkosi.
Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi salangazelela ukwandisa inkonzo yethu nokuhlanganyela “izindaba ezinhle” nabantu bakwamanye amazwe. (Mathewu 24:14) Ngakho safaka isicelo sokuya esikoleni saseGileyadi sezithunywa zevangeli esasiseNingizimu Lansing, eNew York, e-U.S.A. Ekugcineni samukelwa ekilasini lama-26 laseGileyadi elathweswa iziqu ngo-February 1956.
Inkonzo Eyandisiwe E-Afrika
Isabelo sethu sezithunywa zevangeli kwakuyiNyakatho Rhodesia (manje eyiZambia) e-Afrika. Ngemva kwesikhashana sifikile sabizelwa ukuzokhonza eBethel yakulelozwe. Ingxenye yomsebenzi wami eBethel kwakuwukusingatha izincwadi ezivela eMpumalanga Afrika. Ngo-1956, eKenya—elinye lalamazwe aseMpumalanga Afrika—kwakunoFakazi abane kuphela, kuyilapho kwakunabangaphezulu kakhulu kuka-24 000 eNyakatho Rhodesia. Mina noVera saqala ukucabanga ukuthi kwakungeve kungaba kuhle uma sasingakwazi ukukhonza lapho indingeko inkudlwana khona.
Ngokungalindelekile, ngabe sengithola esinye isimemo sokuba ngiye eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, kulokhu ngiyokwenza izifundo zababonisi zezinyanga eziyishumi. Ngashiya uVera eNyakatho Rhodesia, ngaya eNew York City, lapho iSikole SaseGileyadi sasikhona ngaleso sikhathi. Ngemva kokuqeda izifundo ngo-November 1962, ngabelwa eKenya ukuba ngiyomisa ihhovisi legatsha khona. Manje kwase kunoFakazi abangaphezu kwekhulu eKenya.
Lapho ngibuyela eNyakatho Rhodesia ngizohlangana noVera, kwakufanele ngiqale eNairobi, eKenya, ngihlale isikhashana. Kodwa lapho ngifika, uBill Nisbet, owayethweswe iziqu eGileyadi ekilasini lama-25, wangihlangabeza ngezindaba zokuthi kunethuba lokuthola imvume engokomthetho yokungena eKenya ngaso leso sikhathi. Saya kuziphathimandla zokuthuthela kwamanye amazwe, futhi ngemizuzu embalwa nje ngathola imvume yokusebenza yeminyaka emihlanu. Ngakho angizange ngisaphindela eNyakatho Rhodesia; kunalokho, uVera weza kimi eNairobi.
Ngemva kwezifundo zesiSwahili ezihleliwe, sahlanganyela enkonzweni nebandla elincane laseNairobi. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuthi ngemva kokumfundela intshumayelo yethu yesiSwahili, umninikhaya akhuze ababaze, “Angisizwa isiNgisi!” Naphezu kwalokho, saphikelela futhi kancane kancane sasinqoba isithiyo solimi.
Insimu yethu yayihlanganisa izindawo ezinkulu ezinezindlu zokuhlala ezazibizwa ngamagama aseBhayibhelini anjengoJerusalema noJeriko. Isithakazelo sasivuka ngokushesha, futhi baningi ababa abamemezeli boMbuso abasha abavela kulezi zindawo. Yeka umphumela omangalisayo iqiniso leBhayibheli elaliba nawo kulaba bantu! Imizwa yokuphakama ngenxa yobuzwe yashabalala njengoba ukwethembeka eMbusweni kwakwakha ubunye phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova. Kwaba ngisho nanemishado yezizwe ezihlukene, okuyinto eyivelakancane kakhulu kwabangebona oFakazi.
Abamemezeli boMbuso abasha bamukela iqiniso ngentshiseko. Ngokwesibonelo, uSamson wayekulangazelela kakhulu ukuba iqiniso leBhayibheli lingene endaweni yakubo kangangokuthi wayelokhu ecela ukuba kuthunyelwe amaphayona kuleyo ndawo. Eqinisweni, wanweba umuzi wakhe osendaweni yase-Ukambani ukuze awalungiselele indawo yokuhlala. Ngokushesha kwamiswa ibandla elisha labamemezeli boMbuso kuleyo ndawo.
Ngabavakashela kaningana abafowethu abasezweni laseTopiya eMpumalanga Afrika. Babesebenza isilinganiso samahora angu-20 ngenyanga enkonzweni, yize babeboshwa, beshaywa, futhi behlala beqashelwe. Amabhasi amabili ayegcwele abazalwane nodade baseTopiya ake ahamba isonto lonke, enqamula izindawo eziyingozi ezintabeni, eya emhlanganweni wesigodi eKenya. Ukuba namasu kwabo okuhlela ukuba izincwadi zoMbuso zitholakale ezweni labo kwakuphawuleka. Thina eKenya sakujabulela ukubagcina benazo lezi zincwadi.
Umsebenzi wethu eKenya wavinjelwa ngokomthetho ngo-1973, futhi izithunywa zevangeli zaphoqeleka ukuba zihambe. Ngaleso sikhathi kwakunoFakazi abangaphezu kuka-1 200 eKenya, futhi abaningi babo babesesikhumulweni sezindiza bezosivalelisa ngendlela engenakulibaleka. Ukuba khona kwabo kwenza omunye esasihamba naye asibuze ukuthi siyizilomo ezithile yini. Mina noVera saphindela eNgilandi futhi sanikezwa isabelo khona, kodwa sasilangazelela ukubuyela e-Afrika.
Emuva E-Afrika
Ngakho, ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, sathola isabelo sethu esisha saseBethel yase-Accra, inhloko-dolobha yezwe laseGhana elisentshonalanga ye-Afrika. Kulendawo esinye sezabelo zami sangenza ngazibona ngokuqondile izinkinga abafowethu ababebhekana nazo khona. Njengoba nganginakekela ukuthengwa kokudla nezinto zomkhaya waseBethel, ngamangazwa amanani okudla amba eqolo. Umuntu wayevele nje angakwazi ukuthenga izinto azidingayo. Ukuswelakala kukaphethiloli nezinsimbi zemishini kwabangela izinkinga ezengeziwe.
Ngafunda ukubaluleka kokubekezela, okuyinto abafowethu baseGhana abase benayo. Kwakungeve kukhuthaza ukubona isimo sengqondo sokwenama ababehlale benaso lapho benqaba ukulingelwa ukuba bathole izinto abazidingayo ekuphileni ngokufumbathisa. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu bakaJehova eGhana baduma ngokwethembeka kwabo futhi baba negama elihle ezikhulwini eziningi.
Nokho, naphezu kokuswela ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, kwakunokuchuma okwandayo okungokomoya. Kulo lonke lelizwe, izincwadi zethu zeBhayibheli zazitholakala cishe kuyo yonke imizi. Futhi sabona inani labamemezeli boMbuso baseGhana likhula lisuka ku-17 156 ngo-1973 lapho sifika laze leqa ku-23 000 ngo-1981. Ngalowo nyaka ukuhlaselwa kwami umdlavuza wesikhumba, ngokungangabazeki okwakunezelwe ukushiswa yilanga iminyaka eminingi eNdiya nase-Afrika, kwasiphoqa ukuba sihambe eGhana futhi siphindele eNgilandi ukuze ngithole ukwelashwa kwasikhathi sonke.
Izimo Ezintsha ENgilandi
Kimi ukubuya kwethu kwakusho ukwenza ushintsho olukhulu enkonzweni yami. Ngase ngikujwayele kakhulu ukukhuluma ngokukhululekile nabantu abahlonipha uNkulunkulu neBhayibheli. Kodwa eLondon, ngangiqabukela ngithole isimo sengqondo esinjalo. Kuyangimangalisa ukuphikelela kwabafowethu eBrithani. Lokhu kuye kwangenza ngabona isidingo sokubonisa ububele kakhudlwana kubantu ‘abaphundlekile nabahlakazekile’ ngokomoya.—Mathewu 9:36.
Ngemva kokubuya kwethu sivela e-Afrika, mina noVera sakhonza eBethel yaseLondon kwaze kwaba yilapho eshona ngo-September 1991 eneminyaka engu-73 ubudala. Akuzange kube lula ukulahlekelwa umngane othembeke kangaka owashikashikeka kanye nami enkonzweni iminyaka eminingi kangaka. Angive ngimkhumbula. Kodwa ngiyajabula ngokusekela okuhle engikuthola emkhayeni wethu waseBethel onamalungu angaba ngu-250.
Ngikubheka njengelungelo ngempela ukubona ukuthuthuka kwenhlangano kaJehova nokubona abaningi kangaka benza inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ibe indlela yabo yokuphila. Ngingakuqinisekisa ukuthi ayikho indlela yokuphila engcono kunale, ngoba “uJehova . . . akabashiyi [abathembekile, NW] bakhe.”—IHubo 37:28.
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Saphayona eNgilandi kusukela ngo-1947 kuya ku-1955
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Ngiqala ukuba senkonzweni phakathi nomhlangano eNdiya
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Lapho siyizithunywa zevangeli eNyakatho Rhodesia
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Ngo-1985, sinabangane okwase kuyiminyaka engu-12 sabagcina