Indaba Yokuphila

Ukufuna UMbuso Kuqala—Ukuphila Okulondekile Nokujabulisayo

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUJETHA SUNAL

Ngemva kokudla kwasekuseni sezwa isimemezelo emsakazweni: “OFakazi BakaJehova abavunyelwe ngokomthetho, futhi umsebenzi wabo uvinjelwe.”

KWAKUNGU-1950, singabesifazane abane abevile eminyakeni engu-20 ubudala, sikhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli zoFakazi BakaJehova eDominican Republic. Sasifike khona ngonyaka owandulele.

Inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli yayingewona umgomo wami ekuphileni. Yiqiniso, njengengane ngangiya esontweni. Nokho, ubaba wayeka ukuya esontweni phakathi neMpi Yezwe I. Ngosuku lokuqinisiswa kwami eSontweni lama-Episcopal ngo-1933, umbhishobhi wafunda ivesi elilodwa nje kuphela eBhayibhelini, wabe eseqala ukukhuluma ngezombangazwe. Umama wathukuthela kangangokuthi akaphindange alubhade esontweni.

Ukushintsha Kwendlela Yethu Yokuphila

Abazali bami, uWilliam Karl Adams nomama uMary, babenabantwana abayisihlanu. Abafana kwakungu-Don, uJoel, noKarl. Udadewethu, uJoy, wayenguthunjana, mina ngiyizibulo. Cishe ngangineminyaka engu-13 lapho ngelinye ilanga ngiphuma esikoleni, ngithola umama efunda incwajana enyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Yayinesihloko esithi The Kingdom, the Hope of the World. “Leli yiqiniso,” kusho umama kimi.

Umama wakhuluma nathi sonke ngezinto ayezifunda eBhayibhelini. Ngezwi nangesibonelo, wagxilisa kithi ukubaluleka kweseluleko sikaJesu: “Funani kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe.”—Mathewu 6:33.

Ngezinye izikhathi nganginganaki lapho ekhuluma. Ngesinye isikhathi ngathi, “Mama, ake uyeke ukungishumayeza, ngale kwalokho ngeke ngiphinde ngikusulele izitsha.” Kodwa ngokuhlakanipha waqhubeka ekhuluma nathi njalo thina zingane lapho eya ezifundweni zeBhayibheli ezaziba semzini ka-Clara Ryan, owayehlala kude buduze nasekhaya e-Elmhurst, e-U.S.A.

UClara wayeqhuba nezifundo zopiyano. Lapho abafundi bakhe beya kodlala upiyano embukisweni, wayesebenzisa lelo thuba ukuba akhulume ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nangethemba lovuko. Ngenxa yokuthi nganginesithakazelo emculweni, njengoba ngangifunde i-violin kusukela ngineminyaka engu-7, ngakulalela lokho uClara ayekusho.

Ngokushesha, thina bantwana saqala ukuhamba nomama siya emihlanganweni yebandla entshonalanga yeChicago. Kwakuwuhambo olude ngebhasi nangemoto ehamba kujantshi, kodwa kwakuyindlela esaqala ngayo ukufunda ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukufuna uMbuso kuqala. Ngo-1938, iminyaka emithathu umama ebhapathiziwe, ngahamba naye siya emhlanganweni omkhulu woFakazi BakaJehova eChicago. Leli kwakungelinye lamadolobha angu-50 ayexhunyaniswe ngocingo esimisweni. Kwangithinta inhliziyo lokho engakuzwa lapho.

Kodwa-ke, ngangizifela ngomculo. Ngaphothula esikoleni esiphakeme ngo-1938, futhi ubaba wayesengihlelele ukufunda e-American Conservatory of Music, eChicago. Ngakho phakathi neminyaka emibili eyalandela, ngafundela umculo, ngadlala namaqembu amabili omculo wezinsimbi, futhi ngacabanga ngokuqhubeka nalo mkhakha.

Uthisha wami we-violin, uHerbert Butler, wayethuthele e-United States esuka e-Europe. Ngamnika incwajana ethi Refugees,a ngicabanga ukuthi angase ayifunde. Wayifunda, futhi esontweni elilandelayo ngemva kwesikole, wathi: “Jetha, udlala kahle, futhi uma uqhubeka nezifundo zakho, ungathola umsebenzi eqenjini lomculo emsakazweni noma ube uthisha womculo. Kodwa,” esho ekhomba incwajana engangimnike yona, wanezela, “Ngicabanga ukuthi inhliziyo yakho ilapha. Kungani ungakwenzi umsebenzi wokuphila kwakho?”

Ngacabanga ngokujulile ngalokho. Esikhundleni sokuqhubeka nezifundo zami, ngamukela isimemo sikamama sokuya emhlanganweni woFakazi BakaJehova eDetroit, eMichigan, ngoJuly 1940. Sasihlala ematendeni endaweni yokupaka izinqola ezidonswayo. Ngangingenakuyishiya i-violin yami, futhi ngadlala kuyi-ochestra yasemhlanganweni. Endaweni yokupaka izinqola ngahlangana namaphayona amaningi (abashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele). Wonke ayejabule kakhulu. Nganquma ukuba ngibhapathizwe futhi ngifake isicelo senkonzo yamaphayona. Ngathandaza kuJehova ukuba angisize ngiqhubeke nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ukuphila kwami konke.

Ngaqala ukuphayona edolobheni lakithi. Kamuva, ngakhonza eChicago. Ngo-1943, ngathuthela eKentucky. Kulelo hlobo, ngaphambi nje komhlangano wesigodi, ngathola isimemo sokuya ekilasini lesibili lesikole saseGileyadi, lapho ngangizoqeqeshelwa khona umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli. Ikilasi lalizoqala ngoSeptember 1943.

Phakathi nomhlangano kulelo hlobo, ngahlala noFakazi owangipha noma iyiphi ingubo engangiyifuna kwezendodakazi yakhe. Indodakazi yakhe yayisanda kuba yisosha futhi yayitshele unina ukuba aphisane ngazo zonke izinto zayo. Kimi, lezi zipho zaziwukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaJesu: “Qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe, khona-ke zonke lezi ezinye izinto niyozenezelwa.” (Mathewu 6:33) Izinyanga eziyisihlanu eGileyadi zaphela ngokushesha, futhi ngemva kokuphothula ngo-January 31, 1944, ngangikubheke ngabomvu ukuqala inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli.

Nabo Bakhetha Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Umama wayeqale inkonzo yamaphayona ngo-1942. Ngaleso sikhathi, abafowethu abathathu nodadewethu babesafunda isikole. Umama wayebahlangabeza ngemva kwesikole aye nabo enkonzweni yasensimini. Wabafundisa nokusiza ekunakekeleni imisebenzi yasekhaya. Yena ngokwakhe wayehlala kuze kube sebusuku e-ayina, enza nemisebenzi ebalulekile ukuze akwazi ukuba sensimini phakathi nosuku.

Ngo-January 1943, ngesikhathi ngisaphayona eKentucky, uDon, umfowethu naye waqala ukuphayona. Lokhu kwamdumaza ubaba, owayenethemba lokuthi zonke izingane zakhe ziyothola imfundo yasekolishi, njengaye nomama. Ngemva kokuphayona cishe iminyaka emibili, uDon wacelwa ukuba ayoqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe yesikhathi esigcwele njengelungu lasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn, eNew York.

UJoel waqala ukuphayona ngo-June 1943 esahlala ekhaya. Phakathi naleso sikhathi wazama kodwa wehluleka ukwenza ubaba ukuba aye emhlanganweni. Nokho, ngemva kwemizamo kaJoel engaphumelelanga yokuqhuba isifundo ensimini yakhe, ubaba wavuma ukuba amqhubele isifundo ngencwadi ethi “IQiniso Liyakunikhulula.” Wayeyiphendula kalula imibuzo, kodwa wayecindezela uJoel ukuba amnike ubufakazi obungokomBhalo balokho okwakushiwo encwadini. Lokho kwamsiza uJoel ukuba enze iqiniso leBhayibheli libe ngelakhe.

UJoel wayenethemba lokuthi i-Selective Service Board, eyayikhulule uDon empini ngoba eyisikhonzi, yayizokwenza okufanayo nakuye. Kodwa lapho lo mkhandlu ubona indlela uJoel ayebukeka emncane ngayo, awuzange uvume ukumbheka njengesikhonzi (minister) wabe usumthumelela incwadi yokumbuthela empini. Lapho enqaba ukubuthwa, kwakhishwa incwadi yokumbopha. Ngemva kokuba i-FBI isimtholile, wachitha izinsuku ezintathu ejele laseCook County.

Ubaba wasebenzisa indlu yakithi njengesibambiso sebheyili. Ngemva kwalokho, wabenzela okufanayo oFakazi abasebasha ababebhekene nesimo esifanayo. Le nkohlakalo yamthukuthelisa ubaba, futhi wahamba noJoel baya eWashington, D.C. ukuze bayofaka isicelo sokudlulisa icala. Ekugcineni, bavuma ukubheka uJoel njengesikhonzi, necala lavalwa. Ubaba wangibhalela ngisesabelweni sami sezithunywa zevangeli: “Ngicabanga ukuthi kumelwe sidumise uJehova ngalokhu kunqoba!” Ngasekupheleni kuka-August 1946, uJoel naye wayesemenyelwe ukukhonza njengelungu lasendlunkulu eBrooklyn.

UKarl wayephayona njalo ngamaholide esikole ngaphambi kokuqeda esikoleni esiphakeme ngasekuqaleni kuka-1947, wabe eseqalisa inkonzo yamaphayona avamile. Ngaleso sikhathi impilo kababa yayiwohloka, ngakho uKarl wamsiza isikhashana ebhizinisini lakhe ngaphambi kokuba aye esabelweni sokuphayona kwenye indawo. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1947, uKarl waqala ukukhonza kanye noDon benoJoel njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel endlunkulu eBrooklyn.

Lapho uJoy eqeda esikoleni esiphakeme, waqala ukuphayona. Ngo-1951, wajoyina abafowabo eBethel. Wasebenza emkhakheni wokuhlanza izindlu naseMnyangweni Wezikhokhelo. Ngo-1955 washada noRoger Morgan, elinye ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel. Ngemva kweminyaka eyisikhombisa, bakhetha ukuba nomkhaya wabo, bahamba eBethel. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, bakhulisa abantwana ababili, nabo abakhonza uJehova.

Lapho bonke abantwana besesenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, umama wayenikeza isikhuthazo esasidingeka, okwenza ukuba nobaba anikezele ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1952. Iminyaka engu-15, kuze kube yilapho eshona, wayenekhono lokuthola izindlela zokuhlanganyela iqiniso loMbuso nabanye, yize ayelinganiselwe ngenxa yokugula.

Ngemva kokuyeka isikhashana ngenxa yokugula kukababa, umama waqhubeka ephayona kwaze kwaba sekushoneni kwakhe. Wayengakaze abe nemoto noma ibhayisekili. Nakuba ayemfushane, wayehamba zonke izindawo, ikakhulu emaphandleni, eyoqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli.

Ensimini Yezithunywa Zevangeli

Ngemva kokuphothula eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, iqembu lethu laphayona unyaka enyakatho yeDolobha laseNew York kwaze kwaba yilapho sithola imvume yokuya kwelinye izwe. Ekugcineni, ngo-1945, sathuthela esabelweni sethu, eCuba, lapho sagcina sesijwayele indlela entsha yokuphila. Ukusabela ekushumayeleni kwethu kwakukuhle, futhi ngokushesha sonke sase siqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi. Sakhonza lapho iminyaka eminingana. Sabe sesishintshelwa eDominican Republic. Ngelinye ilanga ngahlangana nowesifazane owangicela ukuba ngibone ikhasimende lakhe, uSuzanne Enfroy ongowesifazane ongumFulentshi, owayefuna usizo lokuqonda iBhayibheli.

USuzanne wayengumJuda, futhi lapho uHitler ehlasela iFrance, umyeni wakhe wababalekisela kwelinye izwe nezingane zabo ezimbili. Ngokushesha uSuzanne wayesezixoxela abanye izinto ayezifunda. Okokuqala wakhuluma nowesifazane owayengicele ukuba ngimhambele, kwase kuba uBlanche, umngane owayevela eFrance. Bobabili bathuthuka baze babhapathizwa.

USuzanne wangibuza: “Yini engingayenza ukuze ngisize abantabami?” Indodana yakhe yayifundela ubudokotela kanti indodakazi yakhe ifundela umdanso, inethemba lokudansa eRadio City Music Hall eNew York. USuzanne wabathumelela izikhokhelo ze-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Ngenxa yalokho, indodana kaSuzanne, umkayo, newele lomkayo, bonke baba ngoFakazi. Umyeni kaSuzanne, uLouis, wayethukile ngesithakazelo somkakhe koFakazi BakaJehova ngoba uhulumeni waseDominican Republic wawusuwuvimbele umsebenzi wethu. Kodwa ngemva kokuba wonke umkhaya uthuthele e-United States, naye wagcina esenguFakazi.

Ukuqhubeka Sikhonza Nakuba Sivinjelwe

Nakuba umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wavinjelwa eDominican Republic esikhathini esingengakanani sabelwe khona ngo-1949, sazimisela ukulalela uNkulunkulu njengoMbusi kunabantu. (IzEnzo 5:29) Saqhubeka sifuna kuqala uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokwenza ukuba izindaba ezinhle zaziwe, njengoba uJesu ayeyale abalandeli bakhe ukuba benze kanjalo. (Mathewu 24:14) Nakuba kunjalo, safunda “ukuqapha . . . njengezinyoka nokho saba msulwa njengamajuba” emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela. (Mathewu 10:16) Ngokwesibonelo, i-violin yami yaba usizo olukhulu. Ngangihamba nayo lapho ngiyoqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli. Izifundo zami azibanga abadlali be-violin, kodwa imikhaya eminingana yaba yizinceku zikaJehova!

Ngemva kokuba ukuvinjelwa kuqaliwe, thina mantombazane amane—uMary Aniol, uSophia Soviak, u-Edith Morgan, kanye nami—sasuswa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eSan Francisco de Macorís sayiswa kwelisegatsheni laseSanto Domingo, inhloko-dolobha. Kodwa inyanga ngayinye, ngangithatha uhambo lokuya esabelweni sethu sokuqala ngiyoqhuba izifundo zomculo. Lokho kwangivulela ithuba lokuba ngiphathele abafowethu abangamaKristu ukudla okungokomoya esikhwameni se-violin yami ngibuye nemibiko yomsebenzi wabo wokufakaza.

Ngesikhathi abafowethu baseSan Francisco de Macorís bevalelwe ejele laseSantiago ngenxa yokungathathi-hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu, ngacelwa ukuba ngibahambisele imali futhi uma kunokwenzeka, namaBhayibheli, futhi ngibuye nemiyalezo eya emikhayeni yabo. Ejele laseSantiago, lapho onogada bebona ngigodle isikhwama se-violin, babuza: “Eyokwenzani leyo nto?” Ngaphendula: “Eyokubajabulisa.”

Enye yezingoma engazidlala yayibhalwe uFakazi ngesikhathi esekamu lokuhlushwa lamaNazi. Leyo ngoma ingunombolo 29 eculweni loFakazi BakaJehova. Ngangiyidlalela abafowethu ababoshiwe ukuze bakwazi ukuyicula.

Ngathola ukuthi iningi loFakazi, lalithuthelwe epulazini likaTrujillo, inhloko kahulumeni. Ngatshelwa ukuthi laliseduze nomgwaqo webhasi. Ngakho-ke, ngezikhathi zasemini, ngehla ebhasini, ngabuza indlela eya khona. Umnini-sitolo esincane wakhomba ngalé kwezintaba wangiboleka nehhashi lakhe nomfana owayezongibonisa indlela uma nje ngishiya i-violin yami njengesibambiso.

Ngalé kwalawo magquma, kwadingeka sobabili siwele umfula ngehhashi. Lapho, sabona umhlambi wopholi, besho ngezinsiba zabo ezicwebezelayo ezinemibala eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka nokotshani. Kwakungumbukwane othakazelisayo! Ngathandaza: “Siyakubonga, Jehova, ngokubenza babe bahle kangaka.” Ekugcineni, ngehora lesine ntambama, safika epulazini. Isosha elaliphethe langivumela ngomusa ukuba ngikhulume nabafowethu, nokuba ngibanike zonke izinto engingibaphathele zona, ngisho neBhayibheli elincanyana.

Lapho sesibuyela emuva, ngathandaza yonke indlela, ngoba kwase kumnyama. Safika esitolo simanzi té yimvula. Njengoba ibhasi lokugcina lase lidlulile, ngacela umnini-sitolo ukuba angimisele iloli elidlulayo. Ingabe kwakuphephile ukuhamba nalawo madoda amabili elolini? Enye yangibuza: “Uyamazi uSophie? Wayefundela udadewethu.” Ngaphetha ngokuthi lena kwakuyimpendulo kaJehova yomthandazo wami! Bangiyisa eSanto Domingo ngokuphepha.

Ngo-1953, ngangiphakathi lwalabo ababevela eDominican Republic ababesemhlanganweni wezizwe woFakazi BakaJehova eYankee Stadium eNew York. Wonke umkhaya wakithi, kuhlanganise nobaba, wawukhona. Ngemva kombiko wokuqhubeka komsebenzi wokushumayela eDominican Republic, mina nesinye isithunywa sevangeli engangikanye naso, uMary Aniol, saba nengxenye encane esimisweni, sibonisa ukuthi sasishumayela kanjani ngaphansi kokuvinjelwa.

Injabulo Ekhethekile Yomsebenzi Wokujikeleza

Kulelo hlobo, ngahlangana noRudolph Sunal, owaba ngumyeni wami ngonyaka owalandela. Umkhaya wakubo wawube ngoFakazi e-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, ngokushesha ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I. Ngemva kokudonsa isikhathi esithile ejele njengomKristu ongathathanga luhlangothi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, wangenela inkonzo yaseBethel eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngemva kwesikhashana nje sishadile, wamenyelwa ukuba ahambele amabandla njengombonisi ojikelezayo. Nganginaye emsebenzini wesifunda iminyaka engu-18 eyalandela.

Inkonzo yethu yasiyisa ePennsylvania, eWest Virginia, eNew Hampshire, naseMassachusetts, uma ngibala izindawo ezimbalwa. Ngokuvamile sasihlala nabafowethu abangamaKristu emizini yabo. Kwakuyinjabulo ekhethekile ukubazi kahle nokukhonza uJehova kanye nabo. Ngaso sonke isikhathi babesibonisa umoya wokungenisa izihambi nothando olufudumele noluqotho. Ngemva kokuba uJoel eshade nesithunywa sevangeli engangikanye naso, uMary Aniol, bakhonza iminyaka emithathu emsebenzini wokujikeleza, behambela amabandla. Kamuva, ngo-1958, uJoel wamenyelwa ukuba aphinde abe yilungu lomkhaya waseBethel, manje esekanye noMary.

UKarl wayesekhonze eBethel iminyaka engu-7 lapho abelwa umsebenzi wokujikeleza izinyanga ezimbalwa ukuze athole okuhlangenwe nakho okwengeziwe. Ngemva kwalokho wafundisa eSikoleni saseGileyadi. Ngo-1963 washada noBobbie, owakhonza ngokwethembeka eBethel kwaze kwaba sekushoneni kwakhe ngo-October 2002.

Phakathi neminyaka eminingi eseBethel, uDon uye wahambela amanye amazwe ngezikhathi ezithile, ukuze akhonze labo abasebenza emahhovisi egatsha nasensimini yezithunywa zevangeli. Izabelo zakhe ziye zamyisa emazweni aseMpumalanga, e-Africa, e-Europe, nasemazweni ahlukahlukene eMelika. UDolores, umkaDon othembekile, uhamba naye ngokuvamile.

Ukushintsha Kwezimo Zethu

Ngemva kokugula isikhathi eside ubaba washona, kodwa ngaphambi kokushona kwakhe, wangitshela ukuthi wayejabula kakhulu ngokukhetha kwethu ukukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu. Wathi sasibusiswe kakhulu kunalokho okwakuyoba yikho ukuba sasiye ekolishi njengoba ayefisa. Ngemva kokusiza umama ethuthela endaweni eseduze nodadewethu, uJoy, mina nomyeni wami sathola isabelo sokuphayona eNew England ukuze sibe seduze nomama wakhe, owayedinga usizo lwethu ngaleso sikhathi. Ngemva kokushona kukamama wakhe, umama wahlala nathi iminyaka engu-13. Kwathi ngo-January 18, 1987, waphetha isabelo sakhe sasemhlabeni eneminyaka engu-93.

Ngokuvamile lapho abangane bemtusa ngokukhulisa zonke izingane zakhe ukuba zithande futhi zikhonze uJehova, umama wayebaphendula ngesizotha: “Ngamane nje ngaba ‘nenhlabathi’ ekahle engahlwanyela kuyo.” (Mathewu 13:23) Yeka isibusiso okuyiso ukuba nabazali abesaba uNkulunkulu abasibekela isibonelo esihle sokushiseka nokuthobeka!

UMbuso Usalokhu Uza Kuqala

Siye saqhubeka sibeka uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala ekuphileni kwethu futhi siye sazama ukusebenzisa iseluleko sikaJesu ngokuphathelene nokupha abanye. (Luka 6:38; 14:12-14) UJehova, uye wazinakekela ngokungagodli izidingo zethu. Ukuphila kwethu kuye kwaba okulondekile nokujabulisayo.

Mina noRudy sisawuthanda umculo. Kuba isikhathi esijabulisayo lapho abanye abanothando olufanayo ngomculo befika ekhaya futhi sidlale izinsimbi zomculo ndawonye. Kodwa umculo awukona ukuphila kwami. Umane nje wenezele injabulo ekuphileni. Manje mina nomyeni wami sijabulela ukubona izithelo zenkonzo yethu yokuphayona, abantu esiye sabasiza phakathi neminyaka.

Ngaphandle kwezinkinga zempilo esinazo manje, ngingasho ngithi ukuphila kwethu bekujabulisa futhi kulondeke ngempela kule minyaka engaphezu kuka-60 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Njalo ekuseni lapho ngivuka, ngibonga uJehova ngokuphendula umkhuleko wami lapho ngingenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele eminyakeni eminingi edlule, futhi ngizibuze: “Ngingawufuna kanjani uMbuso kuqala namuhla.”

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Umkhaya wakithi ngo-1948 (kusuka kwesobunxele): uJoy, uDon, umama, uJoel, uKarl, yimina, nobaba

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Umama wabeka isibonelo sentshiseko enkonzweni

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UKarl, uDon, uJoel, uJoy, kanye nami namuhla, eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-50 kamuva

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Kusuka kwesobunxele: Yimina, uMary Aniol, uSophia Soviak, no-Edith Morgan siyizithunywa zevangeli eDominican Republic

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NginoMary (kwesobunxele) eYankee Stadium, ngo-1953

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Nginomyeni wami esesemsebenzini wokujikeleza