Ngiyabonga Ngokuphila Isikhathi Eside Ngisenkonzweni KaJehova
Njengoba ilandiswa ngu-Ottilie Mydland
Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, imikhumbi kaseyili yayimi isondelene esikhumulweni saseKopervik entshonalanga Norway. Ngalezo zinsuku amadoda namahhashi ayeqhuba amakalishi emigwaqweni. Abantu babekhanyisa ngezibani zikaphalafini, futhi izindlu zamapulangwe ezipendwe zaba mhlophe zazifudunyezwa ngezinkuni nange-coke. Ngazalelwa lapho ngo-June 1898, ngingowesibili ezinganeni ezinhlanu.
NGO-1905, ubaba wayengasebenzi, ngakho waya e-United States. Wabuya ngemva kweminyaka emithathu enepotimende eligcwele izipho ezinhle zethu zingane nezingubo zikasilika nezinye izinto zikamama. Kodwa okuyigugu kakhulu ayekuphethe kwakuyimiqulu kaCharles Taze Russell enesihloko esithi Studies in the Scriptures.
Ubaba waqala ukutshela abangane nezihlobo ngezinto ayezifunda kulezi zincwadi. Emihlanganweni yesonto lendawo, wasebenzisa iBhayibheli ukuze abonise ukuthi asikho isihogo esivuthayo. (UmShumayeli 9:5, 10) Ngo-1909, ngemva konyaka ubaba ebuyile e-United States, uMfoweth’uRussell wavakashela eNorway futhi wanikeza izinkulumo eBergen naseKristiania, manje eyi-Oslo. Ubaba waya eBergen eyomlalela.
Abantu abaningi basola ubaba ngokuthuthukisa izimfundiso zamanga. Ngamzwela futhi ngamsiza ekuhambiseleni omakhelwane amapheshana. Ngo-1912, ngahambisela indodakazi yomfundisi ipheshana elikhuluma ngesihogo. Yangithuka nobaba. Kwangishaqisa ukuthi indodakazi yomfundisi yayingasebenzisa ulimi olungcole kangako!
AbaFundi BeBhayibheli abathile, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, ngezinye izikhathi babesivakashela eKopervik, kuhlanganise noTheodor Simonsen, isikhulumi esinekhono. Ngangimemela abantu ezinkulumweni ayezinikeza ekhaya. Ngaphambi kwenkulumo yakhe wayedlala ihabhu abese ehlabelela, kuthi ngemva kwenkulumo ahlabelele ingoma yokuphetha. Sasimhlonipha kakhulu.
Omunye owayevakasha ekhaya kwakungu-Anna Andersen, i-colporteur, noma isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Wayehambela amadolobha ahlukahlukene kulo lonke elaseNorway, ngokuyinhloko esebenzisa ibhayisikili, ehambisela abantu izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Wayeke waba isikhulu seMpi Yosindiso futhi azi ezinye izikhulu zeMpi Yosindiso eKopervik. Zamvumela ukuba anikeze inkulumo yeBhayibheli esontweni lazo, futhi ngamema abantu ukuba beze bazomlalela.
Elinye i-colporteur elalisivakashela eKopervik kwakunguKarl Gunberg. Lendoda ezothile, ethule, kodwa enamancoko, ngezinye izikhathi yayiba nawumhumushi ehhovisi legatsha e-Oslo. Eminyakeni ethile kamuva sasebenza ndawonye lapho.
Ukuthonywa Yimibono Engokwenkolo
Ngaleso sikhathi abantu abaningi babengenalo nje ukholo oluqinile kuNkulunkulu naseBhayibhelini kuphela kodwa futhi babenezinkolelo ezigxilile, njengesihogo somlilo noZiqu-zintathu. Ngakho-ke kwaba nesiyaluyalu lapho abaFundi BeBhayibheli befundisa ukuthi lezi zimfundiso azivumelani neBhayibheli. Ngathonywa ukumangalela komakhelwane bethu okunamandla kokuthi ubaba uyimbuka. Ngesinye isikhathi ngaze ngathi kuye: “Okufundisayo akulona iqiniso. Kuwubumbuka!”
“Sondela lapha, Ottilie,” engikhuthaza, “ubone lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo.” Wabe esengifundela emiBhalweni. Ngenxa yalokho, ngamethemba ngokwengeziwe ubaba nalokho ayekufundisa. Wangikhuthaza ukuba ngifunde imiqulu ye-Studies in the Scriptures, ngakho ehlobo lika-1914, ngangivame ukuhlala egqumeni elingaphesheya kwedolobha ngifunde.
Ngo-August 1914 abantu babuthana ngaphandle kwesakhiwo sephephandaba lendawo befunda ngokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe I. Ubaba wafika ezobona okwakwenzeka. Wathi: “Siyabonga Nkulunkulu!” Waqaphela ukuthi ukugqashuka kwempi kugcwalisa iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ayeshumayela ngazo. (Mathewu 24:7) Ngaleso sikhathi abaFundi BeBhayibheli abaningi babekholelwa ukuthi babezoyiswa ezulwini ngokushesha. Lapho lokhu kungenzeki, abanye badumala.
Ukumelela Kwami Iqiniso LeBhayibheli
Ngo-1915, lapho ngineminyaka engu-17, ngaphothula esikoleni sebanga eliphakathi ngase ngithola umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ehhovisi. Ngabe sengiqala ukufunda INqabayokulinda njalo. Kodwa imihlangano yasikhathi sonke yaqala ukuqhutshwa ngo-1918 eKopervik. Saqale saba bahlanu esasiba khona. Sasifunda izincwadi ze-Watch Tower Society, njenge-Studies in the Scriptures, bese sixoxa ngesikufundile ngokubuza imibuzo bese sinikeza izimpendulo. Nakuba umama ayekhuluma kahle ngabaFundi BeBhayibheli kwabanye, akazange abe omunye wethu.
Ehhovisi engangisebenza kulo, ekuqaleni kuka-1918, ngajwayelana no-Anton Saltnes, engakwazi ukumsiza waba umFundi WeBhayibheli. Ngaleso sikhathi ngaba ummemezeli ophuma njalo futhi ngabhapathizwa emhlanganweni owawuseBergen ngo-1921.
Ngo-May 1925 kwaba nomhlangano wawo wonke amazwe aseScandinavia e-Örebro, eSweden. Kwakunabangaphezu kuka-500, kuhlanganise noJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli we-Watch Tower Society. Sasuka e-Oslo singabantu abangaba ngu-30 ngenqola yesitimela eyayigcinelwe thina.
Kulomhlangano kwamenyezelwa ukuthi kwakuzomiswa iHhovisi eNyakatho Yurophu eCopenhagen, eDenmark, elalizonakekela umsebenzi wokushumayela kuwo wonke amazwe aseScandinavia naseBaltic. UWilliam Dey waseScotland wabelwa ukuba engamele umsebenzi wokushumayela. Wayethandwa kakhulu, futhi kungakapholi maseko wayesaziwa ngokuthi iSikhulu SaseScotland. Ekuqaleni, uMfoweth’uDey wayengazazi izilimi zasemazweni aseScandinavia, ngakho emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu wayehlala ngemuva anakekele izingane ukuze abazali bazo bagxilise izingqondo kulokho okwakushiwo endaweni yesikhulumi.
INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-March 1, 1925, yakhulumela isAmbulo isahluko 12 futhi yachaza ukuthi lesi sahluko sikhuluma ngokuzalwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokuthi lokhu kuzalwa kwenzeka ezulwini. Le-Nqabayokulinda yachaza ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka ngo-1914. Ngakuthola kunzima ukuyiqonda, ngakho ngafunda leso sihloko ngokuphindaphindiwe. Lapho ekugcineni ngisiqonda, ngajabula kakhulu.
Lapho kwenziwa ukulungisa ekuqondeni kwethu izindaba zeBhayibheli, abanye baye bakhubeka futhi bamonyuka kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lapho lokhu kulungisa kunzima ukukuqonda, njalo ngangifunda indaba ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuze ngizame ukuqonda iphuzu. Uma nangemva kwalokho ngingayiqondi incazelo entsha, ngangilindela ukuba icaciswe. Izikhathi eziningi siye sangizuzisa isineke esinjalo.
Inkonzo YaseBethel
Iminyaka ethile ngasebenza njengomgcini-mabhuku, unobhala nomhlaziyi-zimali wesifundazwe. Ngo-1928 umuntu owayenakekela ama-akhawunti ezimali eNhlangano wagula kwase kudingeka ahambe eBethel. Njengoba ngangiwazi lowo msebenzi, ngacelwa ukuba ngithathe isikhundla sakhe. Ngaqala inkonzo yaseBethel ngo-June 1928. Ngezikhathi ezithile, uMfoweth’uDey wayesivakashela futhi ahlole ama-akhawunti. Umkhaya wethu waseBethel wawuhola nasemsebenzini wokushumayela obala e-Oslo, lapho ngaleso sikhathi sasinebandla elilodwa kuphela.
Abanye bethu babesiza inceku eyayinakekela ukuthunyelwa kwezincwadi eBethel, uMfoweth’uSakshammer, ngokupakisha nangokuthumela i-Golden Age (manje eyi-Phaphama!). UMfoweth’uSimonsen noGunberg babephakathi kwalabo ababesisiza. Sasiba nesikhathi esijabulisayo, sivame ukuhlabelela lapho sisebenza.
Ukuqiniseka Ngethemba LoMbuso
Ngo-1935 saqonda ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu” sasingesona isigaba sesibili sasezulwini. Kunalokho, safunda ukuthi simelela isigaba esisinda osizini olukhulu futhi esinethuba lokuphila phakade ePharadesi emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 7:9-14) Ngenxa yalokhu kuqonda okusha, abanye ababehlanganyele ezifanekiselweni zeSikhumbuzo baqaphela ukuthi babenethemba lasemhlabeni, futhi bayeka ukuhlanganyela.
Nakuba ngangingakaze ngilingabaze ithemba lami lasezulwini, ngangivame ukuzibuza, ‘Kungani uNkulunkulu efuna mina?’ Ngangizizwa ngingalifanelekeli ilungelo elikhulu kangako. Njengowesifazane omncane, onamahloni, ngakuthola kuyinqaba ukuzicabanga ngiyinkosi ebusa noKristu ezulwini. (2 Thimothewu 2:11, 12; IsAmbulo 5:10) Nokho, ngacabanga ngamazwi omphostoli uPawulu athi “ababaningi abanamandla” ababizwa, kodwa “uNkulunkulu wakhetha izinto ezibuthakathaka zezwe, ukuze ahlazise izinto ezinamandla.”—1 Korinte 1:26, 27.
Umsebenzi Phakathi Nempi Yezwe II
Ngo-April 9, 1940, iNorway yahlaselwa amabutho aseJalimane, futhi ngokushesha alithatha lelozwe. Ngenxa yempi, abaningi basabela esigijimini soMbuso. Kusukela ngo-October 1940 kuya ku-June 1941, sahambisa izincwadi nezincwajana ezingaphezu kuka-272 000. Lokho kusho ukuthi ngamunye woFakazi abangaphezu kuka-470 ababeseNorway ngaleso sikhathi, ngokwesilinganiso, wahambisa izincwadi nezincwajana ezingaphezu kuka-570 phakathi nalezo zinyanga ezingu-9!
Ngo-July 8, 1941, amaGestapo avakashela bonke ababonisi abengamele ebatshela ukuthi uma ungami umsebenzi wokushumayela, babezothunyelwa emakamu okuhlushwa. Izikhulu zamaphoyisa aseJalimane ezinhlanu zeza eBethel zathatha impahla eningi ye-Watch Tower Society. Amalungu omkhaya waseBethel athathwa ayophenywa, kodwa akekho phakathi kwethu owaboshwa. Ekugcineni, ngo-July 21, 1941, isakhiwo seNhlangano esasiku-Inkognitogaten 28 B, sathathwa, futhi umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela wavinjelwa. Ngabuyela eKopervik futhi ngathola umsebenzi wokuziphilisa.
Ngaleso sikhathi, ubaba wayekhonza njengephayona. Ngolunye usuku, amaNazi afika ezoguduza umuzi kababa. Athatha zonke izincwadi zakhe, kuhlanganise namaBhayibheli akhe namakhonkodensi eBhayibheli. Sasithola ukudla okungokomoya okuncane phakathi nalenkathi. Ukuze sihlale siqinile ngokomoya, sasitadisha izincwadi ezindala ngokuphindaphindiwe, njengencwadi ethi Government, futhi saqhubeka sishumayela.
Ngokudabukisayo, ezindaweni eziningi abafowethu bahlukana phakathi. Abanye babenombono wokuthi kufanele sishumayele obala futhi sihambe indlu ngendlu kanti abanye babenomuzwa wokuthi kufanele sisebenze ngomshoshaphansi, sithintane nabantu ngezinye izindlela. Ngakho abafowethu abavelele, ababebambisana kahle ngaphambili futhi esasibathanda kakhulu, babengasakhulumisani. Ukuhlukana kwabo phakathi kwangidabukisa ngaphezu kwanoma yisiphi esinye isimo ekuphileni kwami nginguFakazi.
Ukuvuselelwa Komsebenzi Ngemva Kwempi
Ngemva kwempi, ehlobo lika-1945, uMfoweth’uDey wavakashela eNorway futhi waqhuba imihlangano e-Oslo, eSkien naseBergen. Wanxusa abafowethu ukuba babuyisane futhi wacela bonke abafisa ukwenza kanjalo ukuba basukume. Wonke umuntu wama ngezinyawo! Ukungezwani kwalungiswa ngokuphelele ngo-December 1945, ngemva kokuvakasha kukaNathan H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi.
Phakathi naleso sikhathi, ngo-July 17, 1945, ngathola ithelegramu evela encekwini yegatsha, uMfoweth’u-Enok Öman ithi: ‘Ungabuya nini eBethel?’ Abanye babethi kufanele ngihlale ekhaya nginakekele ubaba, owayeseneminyaka engaphezu kuka-70 ngaleso sikhathi. Kodwa ubaba wangikhuthaza ukuba ngiphindele enkonzweni yaseBethel, futhi ngaphindela. Ngo-1946, uMarvin F. Anderson, umzalwane wase-United States, waba umbonisi wethu wegatsha, futhi umsebenzi wokushumayela wahlelwa kabusha.
Phakathi namaholide asehlobo ngangiya eKopervik ngiyobona umkhaya wakithi. Abafowethu ababili nodadewethu ababili abazange babe oFakazi, kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi babenomusa kubaba nakimi. Omunye kubafowethu waba umphathi wesikhumulo sezikebhe nomshayeli wazo omkhulu, omunye enguthisha. Nakuba ngangingenakho okuningi ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, ubaba wayethi kubo: “U-Ottilie ucebe ngaphezu kwenu.” Futhi kwakuyiqiniso! Lokho ababenakho kwakungenakuqhathaniswa nengcebo engokomoya engangiyijabulela! Ubaba washona ngo-1951 eneminyaka engu-78. Umama wayeshone ngo-1928.
Into evelele ekuphileni kwami kwakuwukuba khona emhlanganweni wezizwe wabantu bakaJehova eNew York City ngo-1953. Ngalowo nyaka insimu yomhlaba yayinabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-500 000, futhi kwaba nabangaphezu kuka-165 000 kulowo mhlangano! Ngaphambi komhlangano ka-1953, ngasebenza isikhathi esingangesonto eBethel yaseBrooklyn, indlunkulu yenhlangano kaJehova esemhlabeni.
Ukwenza Okusemandleni Ami
Eminyakeni yamuva amehlo ami aye afiphala ngenxa yongwengwezi lwamehlo. Ngisengawafunda kancane amagama agqamile ngezibuko eziwugqinsi nengilazi ekhulisayo. Futhi odade abangamaKristu bayangivakashela bangifundele kabili ngesonto, okuyinto engiyazisa kakhulu.
Umsebenzi wami wokushumayela nawo ulinganiselwe. Ngezinye izikhathi ehlobo, odade abangamaKristu bayaye bangithathe ngesihlalo sami esinamasondo bangiyise endaweni lapho ngingashumayela khona. Futhi ngivame ukuthumela omagazini nezincwajana ezikoleni zaseKopervik, njengasesikoleni sabaqalayo engangifunda kuso cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule. Ngiyajabula ngokuthi ngisewummemezeli ophuma njalo.
Ngenhlanhla indawo yokudlela neHholo LoMbuso kusesitezi esisodwa nekamelo lami eBethel, ebilokhu iseYtre Enebakk ngaphandle kwe-Oslo kusukela ngo-1983. Ngakho ngiyakwazi ukuya ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni, ekudleni nasemihlanganweni yethu ngihamba ngohlaka lokuhamba. Futhi ngiyajabula ngokuthi ngisakwazi ukuya emihlanganweni emikhulu. Ngiyakujabulela ukubona abangane osekuyiminyaka eminingi ngibazi, kanye nabafowethu nodadewethu abasanda kuhlanganyela nezingane eziningi ezinhle.
Ukulondoloza Ukholo Kuze Kube Sekugcineni
Kuyisibusiso ukuba phakathi kwabantu abashisekayo, abajabulisayo nabangokomoya lapha eBethel. Lapho ngingenela inkonzo yaseBethel, wonke umkhaya wawakhiwa yilabo abanethemba lasezulwini. (Filipi 3:14) Manje wonke umuntu eBethel ngaphandle kwami ubheke phambili ekuphileni phakade emhlabeni.
Yiqiniso, sasilindele ukuba uJehova athathe isinyathelo ngaphambi kwalesi sikhathi. Nokho, ngiyakujabulela ukubona isixuku esikhulu sanda. Yeka ukwanda engiye ngakubona! Lapho ngiqala ngqá ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni, kwakunabamemezeli abangaba ngu-5 000 emhlabeni wonke. Manje kunabangaphezu kuka-5 400 000! Ngempela, ngiye ngabona ‘omncane eba yinkulungwane, ophansi eba yisizwe esinamandla.’ (Isaya 60:22) Kudingeka sihlale silindele uJehova, njengoba umprofethi uHabakuki abhala: “Noma ulibala, wulindele, ngokuba uyakufika nokufika, awuyikwephuza.”—Habakuki 2:3.