“Nansi Indlela. Hambani Ngayo”

Indaba Ka-Emilia Pederson

Ilandiswa uRuth E. Pappas

UMAMA, u-Emilia Pederson, wazalwa ngo-1878. Nakuba aba nguthisha, empeleni wayefisa ukuchitha ukuphila kwakhe esiza abantu ukuba basondele kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu kufakazelwa ipotimende elikhulu elalisekhaya, edolobheni elincane laseJasper, eMinnesota, e-U.S.A. Phela wayelithenge ngenjongo yokufaka izimpahla zakhe aye eChina lapho ayefuna ukuyokhonza khona njengomshumayeli wevangeli. Nokho, lapho ugogo eshona, kwadingeka akhohlwe izinhlelo zakhe ahlale ekhaya ukuze anakekele izingane zakubo ezimelamayo. Ngo-1907, washada noTheodore Holien. Mina ngazalwa ngo-December 2, 1925—nginguthunjana ezinganeni ezingu-7.

Umama wayenemibuzo yeBhayibheli ayefisa ngempela ukuthola izimpendulo zayo. Omunye waleyo mibuzo wawuphathelene nemfundiso ethi isihogo siyindawo okuhlushwa kuyo abantu ababi. Wabuza isikhulu seSonto LamaLuthela esasivakashile ukuthi le mfundiso itholakalaphi eBhayibhelini. Samtshela ukuthi akukhathaliseki ukuthi iBhayibheli lithini—imfundiso yesihogo esishisayo kumelwe ifundiswe.

Isifiso Sakhe Esingokomoya Siyaneliswa

Ngemva nje kuka-1900, umam’ ncane, u-Emma, waya eNorthfield, eMinnesota, ukuze ayofundela umculo. Wahlala emzini kaMilius Christianson, uthisha wakhe. Umkakhe wayengumFundi WeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. U-Emma watshela lona wesifazane ukuthi wayenodadewabo owayekukhuthalele ukufunda iBhayibheli. UNks. Christianson akachithanga sikhathi, wabhalela umama incwadi enezimpendulo zemibuzo yakhe yeBhayibheli.

Ngolunye usuku, umFundi WeBhayibheli, uLora Oathout wafika eJasper ngesitimela ezoshumayela evela eSioux Falls, eNingizimu Dakota. Umama wazifunda izincwadi zeBhayibheli amnika zona futhi ngo-1915 waqala ukutshela abanye ngamaqiniso eBhayibheli nokuhambisa izincwadi ayezithola kuLora.

Ngo-1916, umama wezwa ukuthi kwakuzoba noCharles Taze Russell emhlanganweni wesigodi eSioux City, e-Iowa. Wayefuna ukuya kuwo. Ngaleso sikhathi, wayesenabantwana abahlanu kuhlanganise nomncane, uMarvin, owayenezinyanga ezinhlanu nje kuphela. Noma kunjalo, wathatha uhambo olungamakhilomitha angu-160 ngesitimela nazo zonke izingane zakhe baya kulowo mhlangano eSioux City. Walalela izinkulumo zikaMfoweth’ uRussell, wabona i-“Photo-Drama of Creation,” futhi wabhapathizwa. Lapho esebuyele ekhaya, wabhala indaba ngomhlangano eyanyatheliswa kuyi-Jasper Journal.

Ngo-1922, umama wayephakathi kwabangaba ngu-18 000 ababesemhlanganweni wesigodi eCedar Point, e-Ohio. Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano, akayekanga ukumemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Empeleni, wayehlale esinxusa ukuba silalele lesi siyalo: “Nansi indlela. Hambani ngayo.”—Isaya 30:21.

Izithelo Zenkonzo YoMbuso

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1920, abazali bami bathuthela kwenye indlu engaphandle kwaseJasper. Ubaba wayenebhizinisi elichumayo nomkhaya omkhulu okwakudingeka awondle. Akazange atadishe iBhayibheli ngendlela umama ayelitadisha ngayo, kodwa wawusekela ngenhliziyo yonke umsebenzi wokushumayela futhi umuzi wakhe wawuvulela abajikelezi, ababebizwa ngokuthi ama-pilgrim ngaleso sikhathi. Lapho omunye wabajikelezi enikeza inkulumo ekhaya, kwakuvame ukuba kube nabantu abangaba ikhulu—bahlale egumbini lokuphumula, lokudlela nasekamelweni.

Ngesikhathi ngineminyaka engaba ngu-7, kwangena ucingo lukamam’ ncane uLettie esitshela ukuthi omakhelwane bakhe, u-Ed Larson nomkakhe, babefuna ukutadisha iBhayibheli. Bawamukela masinyane amaqiniso eBhayibheli futhi kamuva bamema omunye umakhelwane, uMartha Van Daalen, umama onezingane ezingu-8, ukuba naye eze esifundweni. UMartha nawo wonke umkhaya wakhe baba abaFundi BeBhayibheli.a

Cishe phakathi naleso sikhathi uGordon Kammerud, insizwa eyayihlala buqamamana nasekhaya yaqala ukusebenza nobaba. UGordon wayexwayisiwe: “Uwaqaphele amadodakazi omqashi wakho. Asonta esontweni elixakayo.” Nokho, uGordon waqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli futhi washeshe wakholiseka ukuthi wayethole iqiniso. Wabhapathizwa ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu. Abazali bakhe nabo baba amakholwa, futhi le mikhaya—owakwaHolien, owakwaKammerud nowakwaVan Daalen—yaba abangane abakhulu.

Waqiniswa Imihlangano Yesigodi

Umhlangano wesigodi owawuseCedar Point wamkhuthaza kakhulu umama kangangokuba akafunanga neze ukuphuthelwa omunye umhlangano wesigodi. Ngakho, ngikhumbula kahle ngisemncane sihamba amabanga amade siya kule mibuthano. Umhlangano owawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-1931 waba ojabulisa kakhulu ngoba salamukela lapho igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. (Isaya 43:10-12) Ngiwukhumbula kahle nomhlangano wesigodi owawuseWashington, D.C., ngo-1935 lapho kwabekwa khona inkulumo eyaqopha umlando eyacacisa ukuthi singobani “isixuku esikhulu” okukhulunywa ngaso kuyisAmbulo. (IsAm. 7:9) Odadewethu uLilian no-Eunice babephakathi kwabangaphezu kuka-800 ababhapathizwa kuwo.

Umkhaya wakithi waya emhlanganweni owawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-1937; ngo-1938 saya eSeattle, eWashington kwathi ngo-1939 saya kowawuseNew York City. Sahamba nomkhaya wakwaVan Daalen nowakwaKammerud nabanye, futhi sasihamba silala endleleni. U-Eunice washada noLeo Van Daalen ngo-1940, futhi baba amaphayona. Ngawo lowo nyaka, uLilian washada noGordon Kammerud, nabo baba amaphayona.

Umhlangano owaba seSt. Louis, eMissouri ngo-1941 wawukhethekile. Kulowo mhlangano, izinkulungwane zentsha zathola incwadi ethi Children. Nganquma kulowo mhlangano ukuthi ngizokwenzani ngokuphila kwami. Ngokushesha ngemva kwawo, mina nomfowethu uMarvin, nomkakhe uJoyce, saqala ukuphayona ngo-September 1, 1941. Ngangineminyaka engu-15 ubudala.

Endaweni esasihlala kuyo engamapulazi, kwakungelula ukuba bonke abazalwane baye emihlanganweni emikhulu ngoba yayivame ukuba ngesikhathi sokuvuna. Ngakho, ngemva komhlangano, sasibukeza umhlangano ebaleni ekhaya ukuze labo ababengayanga bakwazi ukuzuza. Zazingeve zimnandi lezo zikhathi.

IGileyadi Nezabelo Zakwamanye Amazwe

Ngo-February 1943, kwasungulwa iSikole SaseGileyadi ngenjongo yokuba amaphayona aqeqeshelwe inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli. Ikilasi lokuqala lalinamalungu ayisithupha akwaVan Daalen—u-Emil, u-Arthur, uHomer noLeo ababengabandawonye; umzala wabo uDonald; kanye nomkaLeo, udadewethu u-Eunice. Sabavalelisa sijabule kodwa futhi izinhliziyo zibuhlungu ngoba sasingazi ukuthi sasiyophinde sibabone nini. Ngemva kokuthola iziqu, bonke babelwa ePuerto Rico, izwe elalinoFakazi abangaphansi kuka-12.

Ngemva konyaka, uLilian noGordon kanye noMarvin noJoyce baya ekilasini lesithathu laseGileyadi. Nabo bathunyelwa ePuerto Rico. Kwathi ngo-September 1944, ngineminyaka engu-18, ngaya ekilasini lesine laseGileyadi. Ngemva kokuthola iziqu ngo-February 1945, nami ngajoyina izingane zakithi ePuerto Rico. Yeka ukuthi lokho kwaba okuhlangenwe nakho okuthakazelisa kanjani! Nakuba ukufunda iSpanishi kwakuyinselele, akuphelanga isikhathi esingakanani abanye bethu base beqhuba izifundo ezingaphezu kuka-20 umuntu ngamunye. UJehova wawubusisa umsebenzi wethu. Namuhla, kunoFakazi abangaba ngu-25 000 ePuerto Rico!

Umkhaya Wakithi Ulandelwa Izinsizi

ULeo no-Eunice baqhubeka behlala ePuerto Rico ngemva kokuzalwa kwendodana yabo, uMark, ngo-1950. Ngo-1952 bahlela ukuyovakashela izihlobo ekhaya. Bagibela indiza ngo-April 11. Ngokudabukisayo, leyo ndiza yaphahlazeka olwandle isanda kusuka. ULeo no-Eunice bashona. UMark owayeneminyaka emibili watholakala entanta olwandle. Omunye wabasinda kule ngozi wamphonsa esikejaneni esincane senjoloba futhi wasizwa ukuba aphefumule—wasinda kanjalo.b

Ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu, ngo-March 7, 1957, umama nobaba baqhunyelwa isondo lemoto besendleleni eya eHholo LoMbuso. Ngesikhathi esalishintsha ngaseceleni komgwaqo, ubaba washayiswa imoto eyayidlula, washonela khona lapho. Enkulumweni yomngcwabo wakhe kwakunabantu abangaba ngu-600 futhi lokhu kwanikeza ubufakazi obuhle emphakathini ubaba ayehlonishwa kakhulu kuwo.

Izabelo Ezintsha

Ngaphambi nje kokuba ubaba ashone, ngangithole isabelo sokuyokhonza e-Argentina. Ngo-August 1957, ngafika edolobheni laseMendoza elaliphansi kwamagquma eziNtaba Zase-Andes. Ngo-1958, uGeorge Pappas, owathola iziqu ekilasini laseGileyadi lama-30, wabelwa e-Argentina. Mina noGeorge saba abangane abakhulu futhi sashada ngo-April 1960. Ngo-1961, umama washona eneminyaka engu-83. Wayehambe ngokwethembeka endleleni yokukhulekela kweqiniso futhi esize abaningi ukuba nabo benze okufanayo.

Mina noGeorge sakhonza ndawonye iminyaka eyishumi sikanye nezinye izithunywa zevangeli emakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli ahlukahlukene. Sabe sesichitha iminyaka engu-7 emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Ngo-1975 sabuyela e-United States ukuze siyosiza amalungu omkhaya ayegula. Ngo-1980, umyeni wami wacelwa ukuba ayojikeleza ensimini yeSpanishi. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunamabandla eSpanishi angaba ngu-600 e-United States. Sahambela amaningi kuwo iminyaka engu-26 futhi sawabona anda aze aba ngaphezu kuka-3 000.

Baye Bahamba ‘Endleleni’

Umama wajabulela nokubona amalungu asemasha ngeminyaka omndeni wakubo engenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngokwesibonelo, uCarol, indodakazi kadadewethu omdala, u-Ester, waqala ukuphayona ngo-1953. Washada noDennis Trumbore futhi bebelokhu besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kusukela ngaleso sikhathi. Enye indodakazi ka-Ester, uLois, yashada noWendell Jensen. Baya ekilasini laseGileyadi lama-41 futhi bakhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli iminyaka engu-15 eNigeria. UMark, owashonelwa abazali lapho kuphahlazeka indiza, wathathwa futhi wakhuliswa udadewabo kaLeo, uRuth La Londe nomyeni wakhe uCurtiss. UMark nomkakhe, uLavonne, baphayona iminyaka eminingi futhi bakhulisa izingane zabo ezine ‘endleleni.’—Isaya 30:21.

U-Orlen, ukuphela kwengane yakithi esaphila, usevile eminyakeni engu-95. Namanje usakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. Mina noGeorge sisayijabulela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele.

Ifa Elashiywa Umama

Manje nginenye yezinto umama ayezazisa kakhulu—ideski lakhe. Waliphiwa ubaba lapho beshada. Kwelinye lamadilowa kunencwadi yakhe endala eyibhuku enezincwadi kanye nezihloko azibhala ezanyatheliswa emaphephandabeni futhi ezanikeza ubufakazi obuhle ngoMbuso. Ezinye zalezi zinto ezangeminyaka yasekuqaleni kwawo-1900. Leli deski linanezincwadi eziyigugu azibhalelwa izingane zakhe eziyizithunywa zevangeli. Angive ngikujabulela ukuzifunda njalo! Izincwadi naye ayesibhalela zona zazihlale zikhuthaza, zakha. Umama akazange akwazi ukufeza isifiso sakhe sokuba isithunywa sevangeli. Kodwa ukuyishisekela kwakhe inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli kwashukumisa izinhliziyo zabanye iminyaka eminingi kamuva. Yeka indlela engibheke phambili ngayo ekuhlanganeni komndeni wakithi wonke kanye nomama nobaba epharadesi lapha emhlabeni!—IsAm. 21:3, 4.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

U-Emilia Pederson

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Ngo-1916: Umama nobaba (ephethe uMarvin); ngezansi, kusukela kwesokunxele kuya kwesokudla: u-Orlen, u-Ester, uLilian noMildred

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

ULeo no-Eunice, ngaphambi nje kokushona kwabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Ngo-1950: Kusukela kwesokunxele kuya kwesokudla, ngenhla: U-Ester, uMildred, uLilian, u-Eunice noRuth; ngezansi: u-Orlen, umama, ubaba noMarvin

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

UGeorge noRuth Pappas besemsebenzini wokujikeleza ngo-2001