IJapane

UKUSEBENZA kanzima nokuphikelela kanye nenjongo efanayo, kuphakathi kwezici eziye zavusa iJapane ekucekelweni phansi yiMpi Yezwe II yaba elinye lamazwe angomakhonya kwezezimboni emhlabeni namuhla. Namuhla, lelizwe elinabantu abayizigidi ezingu-125 alidumile nje ngamakhamera alo, izimoto nezinto zikagesi kuphela, kodwa lidume nangezimbali zezihlahla zama-cherry, ama-azalea neMount Fuji ehlala ilele iqhwa, engamamitha angu-3 776.

Nakuba kunjalo, intuthuko engokwasezulwini yangemva kwempi iye yahlaba umxhwele ngisho nakakhulu. Umhlangano omkhulu owawuseTokyo ngo-1951 wawunezithunywa zevangeli ezingaba ngu-40 ezathweswa iziqu e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead kanye nabamemezeli abadabuka eJapane abangu-200. UN. H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, wathi wayebheke phambili esikhathini lapho kuyoba khona abamemezeli boMbuso abadabuka eJapane abaningi kangangokuba kuze kube nzima ukuthola izithunywa zevangeli phakathi kwabo. Aluthathanga sikhathi lolo suku! Zisekelwa uJesu Kristu, kwathatha iminyaka eyishumi ukuba izithunywa zevangeli, njengezisebenzi ezikanye noNkulunkulu, ziqoqe abamemezeli baseJapane bokuqala abayinkulungwane. Kodwa ngo-1992, inyanga ngayinye kwakwenezelwa isilinganiso sabamemezeli abayinkulungwane. (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 3:9-11.) Ingqikithi yezikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu eziqhingini ezakha iJapane isinyuke yafinyelela ku-220 663, kanti inyanga ngayinye eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-18 edlule bekufinyelelwa inani elisha eliphakeme. Kuye kwagcwaliseka ingxenye ejabulisayo ka-Isaya 60:8, 9, ethi: “Ngobani laba abandiza njengefu, nanjengamajuba aya ezidlekeni zawo, na? Iziqhingi ziyangihlalela.”

INcwadi Yonyaka ka-1973 (yesiNgisi) yawulandisa omunye walomlando wakudala waseJapane, kuze kufike ku-1972, lapho kwakusenabamemezeli ababalelwa ku-14 000, kuhlanganise nabangaphezu kuka-3 000 enkonzweni yamaphayona eyayanda ngokushesha. Lomlando uyabukezwa lapha, bese udlulela eminyakeni engu-25 eyalandela.

Imbewu Yokuqala Yeqiniso LoMbuso

Kulelizwe eligcwele ubuBuddha nobuShinto, yatshalwa kanjani imbewu eye yaveza inala engaka yesivuno esingokomoya? Ngo-1911, uC. T. Russell, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, wathatha uhambo olwaluwumhlahlandlela oluya eJapane. Wabika ukuthi izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa zidikibele kakhulu nokuthi abantu nje abanasithakazelo esitheni enkolweni. Nokho, wayenomuzwa wokuthi abantu badinga “iVangeli loMbuso.” UR. R. Hollister, umMelika, wamiswa njengommeleli weNhlangano eMpumalanga. Kwahunyushwa amapheshana nezincwadi, kuhlanganise nethi The Divine Plan of the Ages, futhi kwasakazwa izigidi zamakhophi, ikakhulu kusakazwa yizisebenzi eziqashiwe zendawo. Ngo-1926, uJunzo Akashi, umJapane waseMelika, wathunyelwa eJapane njengommeleli weNhlangano. Kwamiswa ihhovisi legatsha eKobe ekuqaleni kuka-1927, futhi lathuthelwa eTokyo ngasekupheleni kwalowo nyaka. Ngo-1938 inani lama-colporteur elalisakaza omagazini nezincwadi lase lande laba ngu-110. Kodwa ezweni lonke kwakukhuthazwa ukushisekela izwe okungenangqondo, futhi lokhu kwaholela ngokuqondile eMpini Yezwe II. Ngo-June 21, 1939, amalungu angu-130 e-Todaisha (okusho ukuthi “Lighthouse Association,” njengoba yayibizwa kanjalo inhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova kuleyo ndawo ngaleso sikhathi) aboshwa futhi agqunywa ejele, okwawuphelisa nyá umsebenzi ohleliwe phakathi neminyaka yempi.

Kuyadabukisa ukuthi umbonisi wegatsha wahlubuka ngaphansi kokucindezelwa. Ngaphandle kwabambalwa abathembekile, njengomkhaya wakwa-Ishii nowakwaMiura, iningi lamalungu e-Todaisha lamlandela layiyeka inkonzo kaJehova. Ukuhluleka kwaleli qembu kwabangelwa nawukulandela kwalo umuntu, uJunzo Akashi. Walandela isiko laseJapane lesithembu, nakuba ayesenayo inkosikazi. Yaqhubeka iphayona ngokwethembeka iminyaka engaphezu kuka-40 eNew York, futhi abaningi eWest Manhattan bayikhumbula ngokuthi uDade Ogawachi. Lapho izithunywa zevangeli zaseGileyadi zifika eJapane ngemva kwempi, zathola iqembu elikhulu lama-Todaisha e-Osaka. Lalikhokhisa imali ngokubhapathiza, futhi okubi nakakhulu, lalilingisa u-Akashi ngokuphila ukuphila okuxekethile. Lenqaba ukuyiyeka lendlela yokuphila; ngakho, ukuze ibandla lihlanzeke, abangu-30 kuleli qembu kwadingeka basuswe ekuhlanganyeleni.

Labo Abahlala Bekholekile

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, cabangela uJizo noMatsue Ishii, ababephakathi kwama-colporteur okuqala aseJapane. Balihlanganisa lonke izwe ngawo-1929 kuya ku-1939. Ngo-June 1939 baboshwa futhi bagqunywa ejele eSendai. UMatsue usawukhumbula unyaka wokuqala avalelwa ngawo yedwa esitokisini esincane, esingcolile, esigcwele amazeze. Wayengavunyelwe ukuba ageze futhi wayedliwa izimbungulu. Wehla waba amakhilogremu angu-30, waba ngangothi lokuvungula futhi wacishe wafa. Lapho ethunyelwa kwelinye ijele, impilo yakhe yathi ukuba ngcono, futhi wadedelwa ngasekupheleni kuka-1944. Umyeni wakhe waphathwa ngendlela efanayo, futhi kamuva wabonisa ubuqotho bakhe ngokwenqaba ukumpontshelwa igazi. (IzE. 21:25) Washona eneminyaka engu-71. UMatsue uye waqhubeka enguFakazi okholekile kuze kube manje. Uyaphawula: “Abaningi kwababenamakhono amahle futhi behlakaniphile ngaphambi kwempi bayishiya inhlangano kaNkulunkulu lapho bengaphansi kokucindezelwa. . . . Labo abahlala bekholekile babengenamakhono atheni futhi babengavelele. Ngempela sonke kumelwe sithembe kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu.”—IzAga 3:5.

Omunye umbhangqwana okholekile kwakunguKatsuo noHagino Miura, abangenela inkonzo yama-colporteur ngo-1931. Nabo baboshwa ngo-1939 eHiroshima. Benqaba ukukhulekela umbusi noma ukusekela ezempi zaseJapane. UKatsuo washaywa kabuhlungu, futhi wahlupheka evalelwe yedwa kwaze kwaba yilapho ijele lidilizwa ibhomu lenuzi ngo-August 1945. Nakuba ayeneminyaka engu-38 kuphela ubudala, impilo yakhe yayibuthaka. Lapho ededelwa, wayefana nekhehla. Waphindela enyakatho, e-Ishinomori, lapho uHagino, owayededelwe ngaphambidlana, ayekhulisa khona indodana yabo uTsutomu.

UKatsuo watholana kanjani futhi nenhlangano kaJehova? Iphephandaba laseJapane eliphambili i-Asahi, lathola ukuthi kwakufike izintokazi ezinhlanu e-Osaka, izithunywa zevangeli ze-Watch Tower, zizophila njengamaJapane endlini ethile yamaJapane. Izintatheli zazivakashela futhi zabhala isihloko esihle kakhulu esinemifanekiso, esafanisa labodade abahlanu nezingelosi, njengezimbali zesihlahla sama-cherry, ezazehle ezulwini. Lesi sihloko sabuye sanikeza nekheli lekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Eqhele ngamakhulu amakhilomitha enyakatho, uKatsuo wasibona lesi sihloko. Ngokushesha waphinde waxhumana nenhlangano futhi wabhalisa njengephayona. Wakhonza ngokukholeka waze washona ngo-1957.

UMiyo Idei, oneminyaka engu-92 manje, usakhonza eKobe, eJapane. Phakathi neminyaka engu-65 eseqinisweni, uye wakhuthazelela ubunzima obuningi. Indaba evusa amadlingozi yokuphila kwakhe yavela kuyi-Nqabayokulinda ka-September 1, 1991.

“Ezango-1949”

Izimo zokushumayela zaba ngcono kakhulu ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II. Kodwa ngo-1947, uJunzo Akashi watshela ihhovisi le-Watch Tower Society eliseBrooklyn, eNew York, ukuthi akasavumelani nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli. Ngokushesha uMfoweth’ uKnorr wabhalela eHawaii wacela izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingamaJapane aseHawaii ukuba zize ekilasini le-11 leSikole SaseGileyadi zizoqeqeshelwa ukuba izithunywa zevangeli. Umbonisi wegatsha laseHawaii, owayengunobhala kaJ. F. Rutherford ekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-1920 wazincengela: “Kodwa, Mfoweth’ uKnorr, uthini ngabakwaHaslett?” Ngakho uDon Haslett nomkakhe, uMabel, nabo bamenywa nakuba base bezohlanganisa iminyaka engu-50 ubudala. EGileyadi, uShinichi Tohara no-Elsie Tanigawa babefundisa abafundi abangaphezu kuka-20 isiJapane.

Ngo-1949 “abaseHawaii”—uDon noMabel Haslett, uJerry noYoshi Toma, uShinichi noMasako Tohara nezingane zabo ezintathu, no-Elsie Tanigawa—bathola izabelo edolobheni laseTokyo elalivithizwe amabhomu. Ngawo lowo nyaka, balandelwa iqembu labase-Australia, elalakhiwa u-Adrian Thompson, uPercy no-Ilma Iszlaub, uLloyd noMelba Barry, ababelwa edolobheni laseKobe elalicekelwe phansi yimpi. Lezi zithunywa zevangeli zokuqala eJapane zabizwa ngokuthi “ezango-1949.” Eziyisithupha kulezi ziye zafela ezabelweni zazo, njengoba isaga sisho, “isosha lifela emsebenzini walo,” kanti ezinye ezingu-8 zisesenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele eJapane naseBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngo-1949, abamemezeli bendawo abangu-8 nabo babika isikhathi ababesichithe enkonzweni yoMbuso.

Ukwanda ETokyo

Iqembu laseHawaii lenza intuthuko emangalisayo eTokyo. UYoshi Toma ukhumbula ukuthi kulowo nyaka wangemva kwempi, babesebenza insimu “besuka endlini esemgodini beya kwenye.” Uthi: “Abantu babempofu futhi bezama kanzima ukululama emiphumeleni yempi. Ukudla babekwamukeliswa, uDon Haslett wayeye ame emgqeni nomakhelwane ukuze athole isigaxa sakhe seklabishi.” Kodwa abaninikhaya babemnene futhi benomusa, belalela ngesineke lapho lezi zithunywa zevangeli zibhidilisha izintshumayelo zazo ngesiJapane. Kwadingeka zifunde ukukhumula izicathulo zazo lapho zingena endlini. Bese zingena egunjini elincikene nalelo ezingene kulo. Kodwa uphahla lwalungaphakeme, futhi uDon Haslett, owayemude, waba nezibazi eziningi ngenxa yokuzingqubuza ngekhanda. Phakathi nonyaka owodwa noma emibili, “abaseHawaii” base bakhe isisekelo esiqinile eTokyo, manje esinamabandla angu-139.

‘Kwezango-1949,’ oFakazi abagcotshiwe uDon noMabel Haslett babeka isibonelo esihle kakhulu emsebenzini wasensimini ngisho sebekhulile ngeminyaka. Lapho uDon eshona ngo-1966, abazalwane abayisithupha ababebambe ibhokisi lakhe lapho lingena enkonzweni yomngcwabo eHholo LoMbuso, bonke babeyizinsizwa ayezifundise iqiniso futhi ngaleso sikhathi ezazikhonza emkhayeni waseBethel yaseJapane, eTokyo, owawunamalungu angu-19.

UMabel waphila iminyaka engu-8 ngemva kokushona kukaDon. Eseneminyaka engaphezu kuka-70, wangenwa umdlavuza kapopopo. Isibhedlela esikhulu eTokyo, esiseToranomon, savuma ngomusa ukumhlinza ngaphandle kwegazi, uma nje ayezoya esibhedlela kusasele amasonto amabili. Ngosuku lwakhe lokuqala esesibhedlela, udokotela osemusha weza kuye, efuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani enqaba igazi. Lokhu kwaholela ezingxoxweni ezinhle zeBhayibheli ezaqhubeka zonke izinsuku kwaze kwaba usuku lokuba ahlinzwe. Ngenxa yokuba bucayi kwesimo sakhe, wahlinzwa odokotela abane. Lapho uMabel ephaphama, wababaza: “Uqalekisiwe wena Adamu!” Yeka ukuthi kwakufaneleka kanjani! UMabel wahlala usuku olulodwa egunjini lababangwa nezibi, kanti ezinye iziguli ezine ezazihlinzelwe into efanayo ngalolo suku futhi zampontshelwa igazi zahlala izinsuku eziningana khona. Kuthiwani ngodokotela osemusha? Kamuva watshela uMabel: ‘Wena ubungazi, kodwa bebebahlanu odokotela kuleliya gumbi lokuhlinzela. Nami ngingenile ukuze ngiqikelele ukuthi abakufaki igazi.’ UDkt. Tominaga waqhubeka nesifundo sakhe seBhayibheli eYokohama. Namuhla, yena noyise ongudokotela nomkabo bangamalungu akhuthele ebandla. Yeka izithelo ezinhle zokulala esibhedlela!

UMabel waqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe yezithunywa zevangeli ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eTokyo Mita. Lapho eneminyaka engu-78, umdlavuza wabuya, akabange esakwazi ukuvuka embhedeni. Nokho, lapho izithunywa zevangeli zifika ekhaya kusihlwa ngolunye usuku, zixoxa ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwazo okujabulisayo ezikuthole emkhankasweni we-Kingdom News, uMabel waphikelela wathi abamgqokise bamhambise ayosakaza i-Kingdom News. Waba namandla okuhambela izindlu ezintathu eziseduze, zona lezo zindlu ezintathu aqala ukufakaza kuzo lapho efika eJapane. Ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa wayiqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni futhi wadlulela esabelweni sakhe sasezulwini.—Qhathanisa noLuka 22:28, 29.

Intuthuko EKobe

EKobe nakhona ukwanda kwabonakala ngokushesha. Umhlangano wokuqala ongokwasezulwini ngempela eJapane waba semagcekeni ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli elinendawo evulekile eKobe, kusukela ngo-December 30, 1949 kuya ku-January 1, 1950. Inani lababekhona lafinyelela ku-101 eMhlanganweni Weningi ngeSonto, owawusehholo lesikole saseTarumi, eKobe. Kwabhapathizwa abathathu endlini enkulu yomphakathi yokugeza eTarumi.

U-Adrian Thompson, weqembu lezithunywa zevangeli zaseKobe, wathuthuka ngendlela emangalisayo olimini lwesiJapane, kwathi ngo-1951, wamiswa njengombonisi wesifunda wokuqala eJapane. Kamuva waba umbonisi wesigodi wokuqala. Wafeza okukhulu ekubekeni isisekelo esiqinile sokwanda okwakusazoba khona. Wayeyindodana kadade owayesenesikhathi eside ephayona ngokwethembeka eNew Zealand, ezakhele udumo ngokuba umdlali oseqophelweni eliphezulu webhola lombhoxo, kodwa lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II, walushiya phansi lolo dumo lwezemidlalo, waba uFakazi obhapathiziwe, wabe esengenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele e-Australia. Nakuba ashona ngo-1977, “uTommy” uyohlale ekhumbuleka ngenxa yamandla akhe angapheli ‘nokugcizelela kwakhe ukuzinikela okuphelele’ kuJehova.—Num. 25:11, qhathanisa ne-NW.

Kwathatha isikhathi ngaphambi kokuba izithunywa zevangeli zijwayele imizi yaseJapane, isiko nolimi, kodwa isithakazelo sazo esiyinhloko sasisekuhlanganyeleni iqiniso leBhayibheli nabanye. “UTiger” (Percy) Iszlaub, umuntu othanda abantu waseQueensland e-Australia, uyakhumbula: “Saqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi. Nganginezingu-36, kanti u-Ilma nabanye babenezicishe zilingane nalezi. Esasibafundela babeza ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli bezofundelwa, abanye beza nsuku zonke. Kuwo wonke amakamelo endlu kwakuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli, ezintathu noma ngaphezulu ubusuku ngabunye. Sasivula izincwadi ezifundwayo ngesiNgisi nangesiJapane. Ukuze sisize abafundelwayo, sasibala imigqa size sifike lapho kunempendulo khona. Kwakudla isikhathi, kodwa yayimangalisa indlela ababeqonda ngayo ngokufunda nje imibhalo nokuyiqhathanisa nokusezincwadini. Futhi baseqinisweni namuhla!”

Ezinsukwini zakuqala, izithunywa zevangeli zazinezincwadi zoMbuso ezimbalwa ezazishumayela ngazo. Ibhokisi lencwadi yesiJapane ethi Light, uMqulu Wesibili, elalikhona ngaphambi kwempi, lase liseKobe, kodwa abantu babeye bathi, ‘ngingathanda ukuqale ngifunde uMqulu Wokuqala.’ Nokho, omunye wamaJapane okuqala ngqá ukwamukela iqiniso eKobe waba nesithakazelo ngoba efundé uMqulu Wesibili futhi wathuthuka, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waba umbonisi wesifunda. Ngokushesha, kwasetshenziswa ukwaziswa okusencwadini ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso.” Abambalwa ababefundelwa bazihumushela bona izahluko zencwadi, futhi kwenziwa amakhophi azo, abolekwa izithunywa zevangeli ukuze ziwasebenzise kwezinye izifundo zeBhayibheli. Kodwa okunye kwababekuhumushile kwakungabazisa. U-Ilma Iszlaub washaqeka lapho ethola ukuthi ‘izincazelo zikaNkk. Ilma Iszlaub’ zazifakwe njengemibhalo yaphansi kwamanye amakhasi ayehunyushiwe.

Ngemva kweminyaka engaba yishumi, edolobheni laseFukuoka, uPercy waba nokuhlangenwe nakho okungavamile. UKimihiro Nakata, isiboshwa esinobudlova esasigwetshwe intambo, esasithengwe ukuba sibulale amadoda amabili, wacela isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi uPercy owamfundela. Ngenxa yalokho, uKimihiro wabulahla ngokuphelele ‘ubuntu bakhe obudala.’ Wabhapathizwa ejele, uPercy wamchaza ngokuthi “ungomunye wabamemezeli boMbuso abashiseka kakhulu ayeke wababona.” (Efe. 4:22-24) UKimihiro wafunda i-Braille futhi wenza ikhophi yesandla yencwadi ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso,” incwajana ethi “Lezi Zindaba ZoMbuso,” nezihloko ze-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! waziyisa kuyi-Braille. Lezi zincwadi zasakazwa ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zeJapane, kuhlanganise nasezikoleni zezimpumputhe. Kwathi ekuseni ngo-June 10, 1959, imoto yabakwasidlodlo yafika ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. UKimihiro wayecele ukuba uPercy abe khona lapho ebulawa ngalelo langa ekuseni. UPercy wavuma. Egcekeni okubulawelwa kulo, bathi ukuxoxaxoxa, ekugcineni bahuba ingoma yoMbuso ndawonye. UKimihiro wathi kuPercy: “Kungani uqhaqhazela, Percy? Yimina okufanele ngishaywe uvalo.” Ngaphambi kokuba alengiswe, washo lamazwi okugcina: “Namuhla nginethemba eliqinile kuJehova nasemhlatshelweni wesihlengo nasethembeni lovuko. Ngizolala isikhashana, kodwa uma kuyintando kaJehova, ngiyonibona nonke ePharadesi.” Wakhonza ngokufudumele kubafowabo emhlabeni wonke. UKimihiro wafa ukuze kwenziwe ubulungisa, ekhokha ukuphila ngokuphila—akafanga eyisigebengu esingenathemba nesilukhuni, kodwa wafa eyinceku kaJehova ethembekile, ezinikezele, ebhapathiziwe.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 25:11.

Ngemva kweminyaka eyishumi elwa nomdlavuza, u-Ilma Iszlaub washonela e-Ebina, eJapane, eKhaya LaseBethel ngo-January 29, 1988. Ngemva kwalokho, njengelungu le-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, uPercy ubehambela imihlangano eminingana yeNhlangano yaminyaka yonke, ubesanda kunikeza umbiko omuhle ngeJapane; ushone ngo-1996.

Naphezu kwemigoqo yolimi, uMelba Barry waqala isifundo seBhayibheli ngosuku lokuqala enkonzweni yasensimini eKobe, ngasekupheleni kuka-1949. Leso sifundo sazala abamemezeli ababili, futhi omunye wabo, uMiyo Takagi, waphayona amashumi amaningana eminyaka. Kamuva watshela uMelba ukuthi kwakumhlabe umxhwele ukubona odade ababili abayizithunywa zevangeli bexhafuza udaka beza kuye. Manje, ngemva kweminyaka engu-48, uMiyo uya endlini ngendlu ngenqola yabakhubazekile njengoba eqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe. Esikhathini esingaphansi kweminyaka emithathu, ngaphambi kokuba aphinde abelwe ukuyokhonza eTokyo njengesithunywa sevangeli, uMelba wasiza abantu abangaba ngu-7 ukuba bamukele iqiniso. Baye bakhuthazela kuleminyaka edlule, futhi kuyajabulisa nokuthi basinda ekuzamazameni komhlaba okukhulu eKobe ngo-1995.

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ezengeziwe Ziya Ensimini

Ekuqaleni kuka-1950, odade abahlanu ababesekilasini le-11 laseGileyadi ababengakwazanga ukuthola izimvume zokungena eNew Caledonia babelwa eKobe, eJapane. BabengoLois Dyer, manje oseneminyaka engu-67 ephayona, noMolly Heron. Bebelokhu bephayona ndawonye iminyaka engu-49 edlule, manje bakhonza ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eTokyo Mita. Indaba yokuphila kukaLois yavela kuyi-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 15, 1980.

UMolly Heron uyakhumbula: “Ikhaya laseKobe lalivulekile, futhi sagubha iSikhumbuzo ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha kufike izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala. Kwafika abangaba ngu-180, bagcwalisa igumbi lokudlela nephasishi, kanti abanye babeyilalele ngamafasitela inkulumo eyayihunyushwa.” Ngemva kokuzwa isaziso esiphathelene nenkonzo yasensimini kulowo mhlangano, kwafika abangu-35 ngakusasa ekuseni (ngeSonto) bezohlanganyela kuyo. UMfoweth’ uBarry uyabika: “Isithunywa sevangeli ngasinye kwadingeka sihambe nabantu abathathu noma abane abasanda kuthakazela baye ensimini, futhi njengoba izithunywa zevangeli zazingakalwazi kahle ulimi, abaninikhaya babeye babheke abangane bethu abangamaJapane futhi baxoxe nabo. Kudel’ owaziyo ukuthi laba bantu ababesanda kuthakazela babebatshelani abaninikhaya.”

Ngasekupheleni kuka-June 1950, kwagqashuka iMpi YaseKorea ngokungazelele. Yebo, izithunywa zevangeli eJapane zazifuna ukwazi ukuthi kwakwenzekeni kumalungu angu-8 ekilasi lazo ayekhonza eKorea. Akudingekanga zilinde isikhathi eside. Ngosuku lwesibili kugqashuke impi, ezinye izithunywa zevangeli zaseKobe zazibuyela ekhaya ngesitimela. Safikisana nesinye esasivela kwenye indawo. Lapho zombili lezi zitimela zisuka, nansi imihlola! Izithunywa zevangeli zaseKobe zabona amalungu engu-8 eqembu lezithunywa zevangeli zaseKorea emi epulatifomu. Yeka indlela okwaba mnandi ngayo lapho zihlangana! EzaseKorea zazibaleke ngendiza yokugcina eyayithwala izakhamuzi. Manje izithunywa zevangeli eKobe zanda zisuka kweziyishumi zaya kweziyishumi nesishiyagalombili. Insimu yakulelo dolobha eyayimapeketwane yathola ubufakazi bangempela.

Ngokushesha uScott no-Alice Counts baya ekhaya laseTokyo, kodwa ngo-October zonke izithunywa zevangeli zaseKorea ezingu-8 zathuthela ekhaya elisha elamiswa eNagoya. Kuleli qembu laseKorea, uDon Steele nomkakhe u-Earlene kuphela abaphindela kulelozwe lapho izimo ziba ngcono.

Amasimu Alungele Ukuvunwa

UGrace noGladys Gregory babephakathi kwalabo ababa nesandla ekumisweni kwekhaya laseNagoya. Bathola insimu ilungele ukuvunwa. Ngo-April 1951, uGrace wahlangana no-Isamu Sugiura owayeneminyaka engu-18, esebenzela umuntu owayedayisa izimpiyano. UGladys uyakhumbula: “Unina ka-Isamu wayemkhulisele ehlelweni lobuShinto, futhi wayetshelwe ukuthi iJapane iyi-shinshu (izwe laphezulu) nokuthi i-kamikaze (umoya waphezulu) izoyivikela iJapane futhi ibasize banqobe impi. Naphezu kwalokho, ukholo lwakhe konkulunkulu bamaJapane lwaphela nyá lapho iJapane icela umaluju futhi ebhekana nezimo zomnotho ezinzima nokuntuleka kokudla okwakudalwe yimpi. Uyise wabulawa ukungondleki kahle ngemva konyaka impi iphelile. U-Isamu osemncane walamukela ithemba lomhlaba oyipharadesi futhi wabhapathizwa emhlanganweni wesifunda ngo-October 1951.”

Kulowo mhlangano kwakunezithunywa zevangeli ezingaba ngu-50, kanye namaJapane angaba ngu-250. Kwamhlaba umxhwele kakhulu u-Isamu ukuthi izithunywa zevangeli zazidlelana ngokukhululeka namaJapane zingawabandlululi, nakuba iMpi Yezwe II yayiphele eminyakeni eyisithupha nje ngaphambili. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-45 yenkonzo yomphefumulo wonke, kuhlanganise neSikole SaseGileyadi nomsebenzi wesifunda nowesigodi, uMfoweth’ uSugiura manje ukhonza eBethel yase-Ebina njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha.

UGladys Gregory ukhumbula efika kwenye inkosikazi eyayikade ingumBuddha nje ngegama, kamuva eyayisiphendukele emasontweni eLobukholwa; kodwa yayiwashiyile nawo, iphelelwe yithemba. Yayidunyazwe ukuhluleka kwabefundisi ukuchaza kucace ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungubani nokuthi kungani babengalisebenzisi igama likaNkulunkulu, nakuba livela izikhathi ezingu-7 000 eBhayibhelini layo (i-Bungotai, inguqulo yakudala). Kunokuba baphendule imibuzo yayo eminingi, abefundisi bayo babeyitshele ukuthi “ikholwe nje.” Yathola INqabayokulinda (ephuma zinyanga zonke ngesiJapane kusukela ngo-May 1951) uGladys ayeyihambisele umakhelwane wayo. Ihlatshwe umxhwele yilokho eyayikufundile, yafuna uGladys. Mayelana nalendaba, uGladys kamuva wathi: “Lapho ibona izimpendulo zeBhayibheli emibuzweni yayo, zayithinta inhliziyo. Kungakapholi maseko, yeza eSifundweni Sencwadi Sebandla. Lapho, yezwa izaziso eziphathelene nenkonzo yangakusasa futhi yathi iyafisa ukuya nayo. Sazama ukuyibamba amatomu ngokuyitshela ukuthi kudingeka iqale ifunde kancane. Yathi: ‘Kulungile, ngizofunda, kodwa ngiyafuna nokuya enkonzweni!’ Yaya, futhi yabika amahora angaphezu kuka-50 kuleyo nyanga yokuqala! Kungakapheli nonyaka yayisibhapathiziwe futhi isiqalé nokuphayona, kwathi kamuva yakhonza njengephayona elikhethekile elikhiqizayo. Nakuba isineminyaka engu-80 ubudala, isesenkonzweni yamaphayona.”

UJehova Wakhulisa

Odade abahlanu abayizithunywa zevangeli abababelwe e-Osaka ngo-1951 babekujabulela ukuba abantu abaningi bazifikele mathupha ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli bezofundelwa. Kodwa lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezintsha zazingakwazi kahle ukuhlukanisa umJapane komunye. ULena Winteler, waseSwitzerland, uthi: “Lapho abantu befika, thina sonke sobahlanu sasihamba njengeqembu siye kubo ukuze bakhethe umuntu obafundelayo.” Zizama ukulingisa isiko lamaJapane, izithunywa zevangeli zaziklelisa izicathulo ukuze zisetshenziswe abantu abavakashile, kodwa zazingawazi umehluko phakathi kwezicathulo zezivakashi nezasendlini yangasese. Ngelinye ilanga umuntu ofundelwayo wabizela uLena eceleni wamluma indlebe: “Asizinikezi izivakashi izicathulo zasendlini yangasese.” Kancane, kancane izithunywa zevangeli zafunda.

Ngezinye izikhathi, abazalwane abayizithunywa zevangeli eKobe babeye bavakashele e-Osaka beyosiza odade abahlanu abangashadile lapho. Kwakunedlanzana labamemezeli kulo lonke elase-Osaka ngaleso sikhathi. Ngesinye isikhathi, uLloyd Barry waya nezinye izithunywa zevangeli zase-Osaka ekhonsathini ye-opera eyayisenkundleni enkulu, evulekile ye-baseball eKoshien. Kukhona owathi: ‘Akuve kungaba kuhle uma ngelinye ilanga lenkundla ingagcwala izihambeli zomhlangano!’ Kwakubonakala kuyiphupho.

Nokho, ngasekupheleni kuka-1994, uMfoweth’ uBarry, manje oyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo eBrooklyn, wacelwa ukuba anikeze inkulumo yokunikezela iHholo LoMhlangano elalisanda kwakhiwa eHyogo, elisetshenziswa amabandla angu-52 endaweni yaseKobe. Kwakuwumhlangano omnandi, owawuhanjelwe abamemezeli bokuqala abadabuka eJapane. Kwakuhlelwe ukuba kube nomhlangano omkhudlwana ngakusasa. Wawuzoqhutshelwaphi? Kwakungenakuba kwenye indawo ngaphandle kwaseBaseball Stadium yaseKoshien. Kwakubuthene abangaphezu kuka-40 000, futhi yeka ukuthi babeyiqembu elihleleke kanjani! Abaningi babehlangene kwezinye izindawo ezingu-40 kulo lonke elaseJapane, bexhumana ngocingo. Ngakho ingqikithi yababekhona yaba ngaphezu kuka-254 000—bedlula ngisho nababesemhlanganweni omkhulu eNew York ngo-1958. Yeka ukuthi uJehova ‘ukhulise’ ngendlela emangalisa kanjani eJapane!—1 Kor. 3:6, 7.

Ekuqaleni kuka-1951 kwamiswa ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eYokohama. Leli dolobha lazibonisa liyinsimu enezithelo kakhulu. Umbonisi wokuqala waleli khaya uGordon Dearn, manje ongumfelwa, usaqhubeka nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele egatsheni laseTokyo e-Ebina. Namuhla kunamabandla angu-114 eYokohama, futhi ukwanda kusaqhubeka, abazalwane bendawo beqhubeka lapho izithunywa zevangeli zashiya khona.

Ngo-1952 kwamiswa ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nasedolobheni laseKyoto. Izithunywa zevangeli zase-Osaka naseKobe zathuthelwa eKyoto ukuze zihlangane neqembu elishisekayo lezithunywa zevangeli ezintsha lapho. Ngo-April 1954, uLois Dyer noMolly Heron nabo babuye babelwa eKyoto besuka eKobe.

EKyoto kunamathempeli angaba yinkulungwane, ube usaqhamuke, nali ithempeli. Leli dolobha lalingazange libhonjwe ngesikhathi sempi, ngenjongo yokulondoloza lamathempeli. ULois uyakhumbula: “Siselapho, sahlangana noShozo Mima, umdayisi wokudla owayelulamela ekhaya ngemva kokugula isikhathi eside. Nakuba ayengumBuddha oshisekayo, wangitshela ukuthi ufuna ukwazi ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso. Kwaba lula kakhulu ukuqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye. Kamuva umkakhe namadodakazi akhe bafundelwa, umkhaya wonke wangena eqinisweni. UShozo onogazi waba insika engokomoya eBandleni LaseKyoto.”

UMargrit Winteler, waseSwitzerland, waya kudadewabo omdala uLena, eKyoto. Wathola ukuthi kulesi sabelo esisha kwakudingeka ajwayele lokho abantu abakushoyo nezenzo zabo. Ngokwesibonelo, indoda elindela ukuba kube umkayo onqumayo ukuthi uyayithatha yini incwadi, ingamane inyakazise ucikicane, ibonisa ukuthi inkosikazi ayikho. Kanti inkosikazi yona ingamisa isithupha, esifanekisela umyeni wayo, bese ithi umyeni akekho ekhaya. UMargrit wagcina esazi ukuthi uma abantu baseKyoto belokhu bebuka omagazini abahanjiswayo, bephenya ngokucophelela ikhasi ngalinye ngesikhathi, babemane nje bebenqaba nakuba bengasho, befuna azifundele kwezakhe. Nokho, akubona bonke ababenqaba, kungaba ngamazwi noma ngezenzo. Namuhla kunamabandla akhulayo oFakazi BakaJehova angu-39 eKyoto.

Ukubhekana Nobusika Obushubisa Umkantsha Nolimi Olusha

Lapho izithunywa zevangeli ezengeziwe, kuhlanganise no-Adeline Nako nomngane wakhe uLillian Samson, zifika eJapane zivela eHawaii ngo-1953, zabelwa edolobheni elibandayo elisenyakatho iSendai. Amazinga okushisa ebusuku ayehla abe ngu-5°C. ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa. UDon noMabel Haslett babekade bemise ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli elisha lapha ngo-October owawandulele futhi kamuva kwakufike uShinichi noMasako Tohara. Njengoba babekhulele ezindaweni ezishisayo, abantu baseHawaii babuthola buyinselele ubusika obushubisa umkantsha baseSendai. Baziwa ngokuthi “abantu baseHawaii abadla iqhude lifile.”

ULillian uyakhumbula: “Ngokokuqala ngqá ekuphileni kwethu, safunda ukucanda izinkuni zokubasa. Isitofu sasisekhishini kuphela, ngakho sasiye sizame ukufudumeza imibhede yethu nge-yutanpo, insimbi yamaJapane yokufudumeza umbhede. Emini sasithenga ama-ishi-yakiimo (ubhatata ophekwe ngetshe), siwafake emaphaketheni ukuze sifudumeze izandla, bese sidla wona emini.”

Nokho, akuwona amakhaza kuphela ayeyinkinga. Ngaphambi kokuba izithunywa zevangeli zikwazi ukufunda izinhlamvu zamagama esiJapane, kwakusinda kwehlela. U-Adeline akakalukhohlwa usuku lapho, ngenxa yokungakwazi ukufunda isiJapane, acindezela khona inhlaba-mkhosi yezicisha-mlilo, ecabanga ukuthi inkinobho yokungqongqoza ebomvu. Abantu baphuma belakanyana ezindlini zabo bezobona ukuthi kwenzekani. Bathi abamudle luhlaza ngenxa yalokho.

Nokho, izinkumbulo zalezo zithunywa zevangeli zihlanganisa okungaphezulu kakhulu kokuhlangenwe nakho komuntu siqu phakathi neminyaka yazo yokuqala eJapane. Izinkulungwane eziningi zabafowabo nodadewabo baseJapane nezenzakalo abaye bahlanganyela kuzo ndawonye, konke kunendawo kuyi-‘albhamu yazo yomkhaya.’ Sikumema ukuba uhlole amakhasi aleyo-albhamu njengoba sibheka emuva kwezinye izenzakalo eziye zaba neqhaza ekwandeni komphakathi ongokwasezulwini eJapane.

Amaphayona Akhethekile Avula Amasimu Amasha

Umsebenzi wamaphayona akhethekile ubulokhu uyisici esibalulekile ekusakazeni isigijimi soMbuso emagumbini omane omhlaba. Amanye awo ayeqeqeshwe izithunywa zevangeli ngokwazo futhi abonisa izinga elifanayo lentshiseko ngoJehova. Njengoba lezi zithunywa zevangeli zazisebenza kwezinye izindawo, lamaphayona akhethekile aseJapane athunyelwa emadolobheni amancane namakhulu. Amaphayona akhethekile amaningi akuqala, nakuba ayenesikhathi esifushane ebhapathiziwe lapho emiswa, ayebonisa ukuzinikela nokukhuthazela okumangalisayo.

Ngemva nje konyaka nezinyanga ezine ebhapathiziwe, uHisako Wakui wamiswa njengephayona. Yena nomngane wakhe uTakako Sato, bebelokhu bengamaphayona akhethekile besebenza ndawonye kusukela ngo-1957. Bobabili baye basiza abantu abangaphezu kuka-80 ukuba babe oFakazi ababhapathiziwe, ezabelweni ezingu-9.

Mayelana nemiphumela yesibusiso sikaJehova ngomunye wabokuqala abaqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli, uHisako uyabika: “Wayelikhuthalele isonto, kodwa wathi, ‘Uma kuyisifundo seBhayibheli, ngingafunda zonke izinsuku.’ Lapho efunda ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu uJehova nokuthi unguYise kaJesu, walishiya phansi isonto futhi ngokushesha wayesephuma insimu.” Intshiseko yakhe ayizange inciphe lapho ethuthela endaweni ebanda qa eyayingenalo nebandla. Namuhla, umyeni wakhe nezingane ezine bonke baseqinisweni. Abafana abathathu bangabadala kanti indodakazi yakhe iyiphayona elikhethekile.

Lapho beseTsuru, eSifundeni SaseYamanashi, uHisako noTakako bathola ukuthi ukwanda kwakukuncane kakhulu. Babeba bane noma babe bahlanu emihlanganweni. Umbonisi wesifunda wacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe kungcono babelwe ensimini ethela kakhudlwana, kodwa labodade babengenkamunkamu ngokuhamba eTsuru. Babenomuzwa oqinile wokuthi njengoba uJehova ebathumele eTsuru, kumelwe ukuba unezimvu khona. Ngakho umbonisi wesifunda wathi: “Uma kungafika abantu abangu-18 enkulumweni yeningi kulempelasonto, ngizotshela iNhlangano ngesifiso senu sokuhlala kulesi sabelo.” Lamaphayona enza konke ayengakwenza okungokomBhalo ukuze enze abantu beze emhlanganweni ngeSonto. Ngokumangalisayo kwafika abangu-19! Ngesonto elilandelayo, ababekhona babuye behla baba bane noma baba bahlanu, kodwa lamaphayona akwazi ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wawo kuleyo nsimu. Namuhla iBandla LaseTsuru lineqembu elikahle labamemezeli neHholo LoMbuso elihle.

UKazuko Kobayashi ungelinye iphayona elikhethekile eliye lakhonza iminyaka engu-40 liqala amasimu amasha. Lapho uPauline Green, isithunywa sevangeli saseKyoto, eqala ukumbona, uKazuko wayekade efuna ukuthola injongo yokuphila. UPauline wambonisa umShumayeli 12:13, futhi lokho kwamenelisa uKazuko. Waphetha ngokuthi indlela yokuphila yalesi sithunywa sevangeli ithi ayifane ncamashí nendlela umKristu okufanele aphile ngayo, ngakho wazibekela umgomo wokuphila ngaleyo ndlela. Lapho emiswa njengephayona elikhethekile, wayeneminyaka emithathu kuphela ebhapathiziwe. Kodwa kungekudala waqala ukubona isivikelo sikaJehova sothando enkonzweni yakhe ekhethekile, futhi wabona imiphumela emihle. UKazuko waqonda nendlela abantu basemaphandleni ababezizwa ngayo—ukuthi izinqumo zabo zithonywa ukwesaba lokho abanye abangase bakucabange. Wakusingatha kanjani lokhu? Uthi: “Ngenza imizamo yokuba ngibe umngane wabo. Ngiyabathanda abantu, futhi nomaphi lapho ngiya khona ngangizama ukukhumbula ukuthi noJehova uyabathanda. Khona-ke kwaba lula ukuba umngane wabo.”

Ngo-March 1971, ihhovisi legatsha lathumela amaphayona akhethekile engeziwe ayesanda kuqala ukuba ayoshumayela emasimini angawodwa. Amanye awo kwakungodade ababili ababesengamatshitshi, u-Akemi Idei (manje ongowakwa-Ohara), indodakazi yokutholwa kaMiyo Idei noKazuko Yoshioka (manje ongowakwaTokumori), ababelwa eKaga, maphakathi neJapane. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, babekhonza ngaphansi “kwekhwapha” labazali babo namabandla ababekuwo. “Manje izinto zase zishintshile,” kukhumbula uKazuko. “Kwakuyithina sodwa esasimemezela izindaba ezinhle ensimini esasabelwe kuyo.” Ukuze benze abantu bangabaxwayi, ababengazethembi izihambi, baprakthiza ukuzethula ngolimi lwendawo, bekhuluma ngendlela efana ncamashí neyabantu bakhona. Phakathi kwalabo abamukela iqiniso kwakunamabhungu amathathu ayeseqenjini labasubathi. UKazuko uthi lapho laba abathathu beqala ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini, wayengakwazi ukuhambisana nabo. Babengabasubathi bamabanga amade, futhi babevele bagijime besuka kwelinye ipulazi beya kwelinye.

Njengoba amaphayona akhethekile ashisekayo ayefakaza ezindaweni ezazingamasimu angabelwe, inani lamabandla namaqembu angawodwa landa, lafinyelela kwayinkulungwane ngo-January 1976.

Intuthuko E-Okinawa

Eziqhingini zase-Okinawa kwakunentuthuko nakhona. Lezo ziqhingi, ezinabantu abangu-1 200 000 zase zingaphansi kwe-United States ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II. Ama-Okinawa angabantu abathulayo, ababekezelayo, abanomoya omuhle nabanobungane ngokwemvelo. Abafowethu nodadewethu base-Okinawa nabo babonisa izimfanelo ezinhle zokukhuthazela nokushisekela iqiniso.

I-Okinawa yabelwa igatsha laseJapane, futhi uLloyd Barry, owayesengumbonisi wegatsha eTokyo ngaleso sikhathi, wavakashela lapho ngokokuqala ngo-1953. Wahlangatshezwa abazalwane abane, bonke beyizisebenzi zokwakha ezazivela ePhilippines, okwathi ngokushesha bamyisa esikhungweni sokulungisa izigwegwe soMbutho Wezempi Wase-United States, lapho kwakuboshwe khona amasosha amathathu. Lezi zinsizwa zaziye zamelela iqiniso leBhayibheli kodwa zazingasebenzisi ukuhlakanipha. Zazeqisa. Ngokwesibonelo, akekho owayekwazi ukulala kulesi sakhiwo ngoba zazivimbanisa ngomculo wezingoma zoMbuso kuze kube phakathi kwamabili. Zasizwa ukuba zikwazi ukulinganisela. Ephawula ngalokho, umfundisi wasejele wathi uMbuso kaKristu usazothatha iminyaka eyinkulungwane andukuba ufike. Kamuva omunye walezi zinsizwa wakhonza njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn; bobathathu baba izinceku ezinokwethenjelwa ebandleni lobuKristu. Kulokho kuhambela kwaqhutshwa umhlangano, kwaba nabantu bakulesi siqhingi abangaphezu kwekhulu bebuthene emjondolo othile.

UYoshi Higa, umOkinawa wendabuko wayekhona kulowo mhlangano. E-Okinawa kuyisiko ukulahla amathambo abafile emhumeni omkhulu, omise okwesibeletho ngasekungeneni—okubonisa ukuthi abafayo baphindela lapho babeqhamuke khona. UYoshi wayebhace emhumeni onjalo ngesikhathi seMpi Yase-Okinawa embi kakhulu ngeMpi Yezwe II. Lapho ebuka amathambo abafileyo ayelapho, wagculiseka ukuthi abafileyo bafe ngempela. Lapho efunda iBhayibheli, wayamukela ngentshiseko imfundiso yalo yesimo sabafileyo nethemba lovuko elimangalisayo.

UYoshi waba ummemezeli wokuqala ongumOkinawa futhi waba iphayona elivamile lokuqala. Isiteshi somsakazo sendawo sasizimisele ukusakaza izingxoxo zeBhayibheli, kodwa abefundisi beLobukholwa babekuvilaphela ukulungiselela izinhlelo. Nokho, bathola ukuthi uYoshi wayezimisele kakhulu ukuvala isikhala. Izinyanga eziningana wayefunda izihloko zomagazini INqabayokulinda emsakazweni.

Ngokushesha, bakwazi ukuhlelela abamemezeli bendawo ababesanda kuhlanganyela abangu-12 umhlangano wesifunda, isimiso siqhutshwa ngesiJapane, ngu-Adrian Thompson eshintshana noLloyd Barry. Umsebenzi wanda ngokushesha, inani labamemezeli namaphayona landa ngokukhulu ukushesha.

UYoshi Higa wangenela umsebenzi wamaphayona ngo-May 1954. Eminyakeni engu-43 yenkonzo yokuphayona ngokwethembeka, usize abantu abangaphezu kuka-50 ukuba bafunde iqiniso, ‘izincwadi zakhe eziningi zokutusa’ zivela esontweni lendawo laseShuri. (2 Kor. 3:1-3) Usaqhubeka nomsebenzi wamaphayona eGinowan.

Omunye uFakazi oshiseka kakhulu uMitsuko Tomoyori, umfelokazi, owaqala ukuphayona nendodakazi yakhe uMasako ngo-1957 eShuri, inhloko-dolobha yase-Okinawa. Amehlo kaMitsuko asaqhansa inhlansi lapho exoxa ngeminyaka engu-40 edlule aye wayijabulela enkonzweni yamaphayona nalapho exoxa ngabantu abaningi aye wabasiza bamukela iqiniso eliholela ekuphileni okuphakade.

Ngo-1965, i-Watch Tower Society yamisa igatsha e-Okinawa, umbonisi wakulelo gatsha kuyisithunywa sevangeli saseHawaii uShinichi Tohara. (UngumOkinawa ngokuzalwa.) Leli lungiselelo laqhubeka ngisho nalapho lezi ziqhingi sezibuyiselwe ngaphansi kukahulumeni waseJapane ngo-1972. Lapho kumiswa ilungiselelo leKomiti Yegatsha ngo-February 1976, uShinichi Tohara, uJames Linton (isithunywa sevangeli sase-Australia), noChukichi Une (umOkinawa wendabuko nowayethweswe iziqu eGileyadi) bamiselwa ukukhonza kule komiti.

Ukubekezela Kuyadingeka

Phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1976, lapho kwenziwa umzamo wokwandisa ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle, amaphayona akhethekile abelwa eziqhingini ezengeziwe ezingaphansi kwegatsha lase-Okinawa. Kwezinye iziqhingi, ukusabela kwakukuhle. Kwezinye, kwathatha iminyaka eminingi ukuba kunqontshwe amasiko, ukukholelwa ezeni nezibopho eziqinile zomkhaya. Amaphayona akhethekile ayabelwe lapho ayedinga ukubekezela okukhulu. Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bendawo babengazethembi izihambi, babecishe bangakwazi ukuthola izindawo zokuhlala naphezu kokuba zaziningi izindlu ezingenamuntu. Ngezinye izikhathi okuwukuphela kwendlu esasisuke singayithola kwakuba eyomuntu ozibulele. Kodwa, ngenxa yokukholelwa ezeni kwabantu bendawo, indawo enjalo yayingenakusetshenziswa njengendawo yokuqhuba imihlangano.

Nakuba kunjalo, ngokubekezela okukhulu, amaphayona aqala ukubona izithelo. Esiqhingini saseTokuno Shima, ngesikhathi sokuhambela kombonisi wesifunda, kweza umkhaya othile uzolalela inkulumo yeningi. Ubaba wakhona wayewuthanda engazenzisi umdlalo odumile endaweni wokulwa kwezinkunzi. (Izinkunzi ziyaqhathwa ukuze kubonakale ukuthi iyiphi enamandla amakhulu okududula.) Wayenenkunzi yekhethelo eyayiqeqeshelwe imincintiswano. Kodwa isithakazelo sakhe eBhayibhelini sasivuswe indodakazi yakhe eyayixoxe noFakazi BakaJehova eJapane. Lomkhaya wasamukela isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi yena nomkakhe, indodakazi yakhe namadodana amathathu baba oFakazi abazinikezele. Imikhaya emibili engomakhelwane nayo yangena eqinisweni. Leli qembu laba amashoshozela angempela alomsebenzi. Manje, kulesi siqhingi esincane kunebandla labangu-49, kuhlanganise namaphayona angu-16.

Esiqhingini sase-Ishigaki esiqhelile esiseningizimu, abazalwane bamangala ukubona insizwa ethile, umshayi-sibhakela owaziwayo, ibafuna futhi icela isifundo seBhayibheli. Yayike yafundelwa eYokohama, kodwa yesaba ukubhekana nomthwalo wemfanelo eyayiwunikezwa iqiniso leBhayibheli. Ukuze iwugweme, yabalekela e-Iriomote, isiqhingi esingenabo abantu abaningi, lapho yayiqiniseka ukuthi akekho noyedwa uFakazi KaJehova. Naphezu kwalokho, kungakapholi maseko, yabona izincwadi ze-Watch Tower futhi yabamba ongezansi lapho ibona ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babeshumayelile nalapho. Yaphetha ngokuthi yayingekho indlela yokubalekela uJehova. (Qhathanisa noJona 1:3.) Isebenzisa ikheli lommemezeli elalibhalwe kwenye yezincwadi, yafuna oFakazi esiqhingini esiseduze sase-Ishigaki. Ngesikhashana nje, yaba uFakazi ozinikezele noyiphayona elishisekayo.

Ngemva kokuba uMilton Henschel ehambele igatsha ngo-September 1980, i-Okinawa yaphinda yaba ngaphansi kwegatsha laseJapane. UMfoweth’ uTohara nomkakhe, noMfoweth’ u-Une nomkakhe, baqhubeka nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele e-Okinawa, uMfowethu noDade Linton baphindela emsebenzini wesigodi eziqhingini ezinkudlwana zaseJapane.

Abazalwane Abajikelezayo Bafeza Indima Ebalulekile

Ngenxa yomoya wokuzidela wababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo, baye bakwazi ukuba neqhaza ngezindlela eziningi ekwandeni nasekuvuthweni kwamabandla aseJapane. Inkonzo yabo iyawakha amabandla. Abazalwane bayaqaphela ukuthi laba babonisi nomkabo baye ‘bashiya izindlu nonina noyise ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle.’—Marku 10:29.

Lapho ababonisi besifunda behambela amabandla ezinsukwini zakuqala, zazingekho izindlu zokuhlala ababengaba bodwa kuzo. Kodwa ukwamukela kwabo ngenjabulo noma yini eyayikhona kwabenza baba izilomo kubazalwane. UKeiichi Yoshida kuthi akahleke lapho ekhumbula muva nje ngo-1983, lapho yena nomkakhe bahlala khona nomzalwane ongashadile nomkhaya wakubo ongakholwa endlini enkulu esepulazini engxenyeni esenyakatho yeHonshu. Uthi: “Lomkhaya wasibingelela ngemfudumalo futhi wasibonisa lapho sizohlala khona—ekamelweni eline-altare elikhulu likaBuddha. Lapho sesilala, ngaphandle kwesixwayiso umkhulu, egqoke izingubo zokulala, wavula umnyango futhi engazange athi vú, washaya insimbi yase-altare, washisa impepho, wathandaza, wabe esephuma ngomnyango ongakolunye uhlangothi. Kwalandela nabanye. Kwaze kwaphela isonto sinexhala lokungazi ukuthi bazofika nini noma beqhamuka ngakuphi abeze e-altare. Kodwa salijabulela isonto esalichitha nalomkhaya onomusa nophanayo.”

Ababonisi abajikelezayo, manje abangu-209, banesilinganiso seminyaka engaba ngu-20 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Iningi labo lalingamaphayona akhethekile. Lokhu kubenza bakwazi ukunikeza ukuqeqesha okuhle ekufakazeni endlini ngendlu. Intshiseko yabo ngenkonzo yasensimini iye yaba neqhaza elikhulu emoyeni omuhle wokuphayona okhona eJapane.

Abanye balaba babonisi besifunda baye basiza bashukumisa abantu ngabanye nemikhaya ukuba bathuthele ezindaweni ezinendingeko enkulu yoFakazi boMbuso. Abanye baye bagxila ngokukhethekile kubangane bomshado abangakholwa, kwaphumela ekubeni abanye babe oFakazi ababhapathiziwe. Intsha nayo iye yasizwa ukuba ifinyelele imigomo engokomoya ngenxa yesithakazelo esikhethekile somuntu siqu eboniswa sona, nesibonelo esibekwa abazalwane abajikelezayo.

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ziyaqhubeka Zibamba Iqhaza

Ngawo-1970 izithunywa zevangeli zazabelwa emadolobheni amancane. Kulezi zindawo abantu babesadla ngoludala futhi besabambelele emasikweni, ngakho umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi wawuhamba kancane kakhulu. Lapho kwakunamabandla khona, izithunywa zevangeli zazisiza abazalwane bendawo ukuba bakhule ngokubenza bahole. Amanye amadolobha ezawakhonza i-Akita, iGifu, iKofu, iKawaguchi, iKochi, iNagano, iWakayama neYamagata.

Ngesineke zazama ukusiza oFakazi bendawo ukuba babone ukuhlakanipha kokwamukela zonke izici zeqiniso leBhayibheli. (Heb. 6:1) UMasao Fujimaki, umbonisi owengamele webandla laseKofu, ukhumbula ngesikhathi ibandla lifunda incwadi ethi Ukwenza Ukuphila Komkhaya Wakho Kujabulise. Omunye umzalwane osekhulile wayengasiqondi kahle iseluleko esithi amadoda kufanele abonise uthando komkawo obala. Wathi: “Thina-ke esakhuliswa ngaphambi kwempi kuyaziwa nje ukuthi asisoze sakwazi ukukwenza lokho.” URichard Bailey, omunye wezithunywa zevangeli ebandleni, wamsiza ngomusa ngasese, ethi: ‘Amaqiniso esiwafundayo akufanele aphazanyiswe isizinda sobuzwe noma ukuthi sizalwe nini; asebenza ngaso sonke isikhathi futhi azuzisa njalo. Uma kunengxenye yeqiniso esiyithatha kalula, singase sibe nesibindi sokulahla ngisho nezici zalo ezibaluleke kakhulu.’ (Luka 16:10) Umzalwane walithola iphuzu, futhi ngemva kwalokho wayebonakala ezihlalele ngenjabulo nomkakhe—okwakuyinto entsha shá kubo.

OFakazi bendawo bazuza nangezinye izindlela ngokuhlanganyela nezithunywa zevangeli. Omunye udade wathi: “Zazithokozile futhi zikwazi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngenjabulo. Zangifundisa nokubaluleka kokunamathela ezimisweni ezisekelwe othandweni kunasekushayeni imithetho.”—Dut. 10:12; IzE. 13:52.

Izithunywa zevangeli zasiza abaningi ukuba bazizwe ukuthi ngempela bayingxenye yobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke. UKazuko Sato, owaqale wafundelwa uMelba Barry eTokyo, ukhumbula indlela aqiniswa ngayo lapho ephayona emaqaqasini lapho inkolo yayizondwa khona kakhulu. Ezizwa enesizungu, wabhalela izithunywa zevangeli ayekade ehlanganyela nazo ebandleni: “Ngishumayela ngedwa vó.” Kwafika incwadi enemiyalezo yezithunywa zevangeli eziningana, eminye ibhalwe ngefonetiki yesiJapane, ithi: “Kazuko, awuwedwa! Lalela, ngalé kwensimu yama-apula uzozwa izigi, izigi zabazalwane abashisekayo nabakholekile abasemhlabeni wonke.”—Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 7:9, 10.

Okwamanje, izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-41 zisakhonza zisemakhaya azo amahlanu eJapane—eYamagata, e-Iwaki, eToyama, namabili aseTokyo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-9 zisemsebenzini wokujikeleza, kanti ezingu-9 ziseBethel e-Ebina. Lezi zithunywa zevangeli ziye zabeka isibonelo esihle ngokwethembeka kuJehova nasenhlanganweni yakhe. Ngamazwi nezenzo, ziye zaba neqhaza ‘ekwanulekeni’ kwemibono nasekuqondeni iqiniso

ngokujulile koFakazi BakaJehova eJapane.—2 Kor. 6:13; Efe. 3:18.

Imisebenzi Yasehlobo Yokuhlanganisa Amasimu Angabelwe

Kukhona nabanye abahlanganyela ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle emadolobheni amakhulu namancane aqhelile. Ngo-1971 amaphayona avamile amenyelwa ukusebenza emasimini angabelwe ngezinyanga zasehlobo. Kwathi ngo-1974, kwaqalwa ilungiselelo lamaphayona akhethekile esikhashana ezinyanga ezintathu zasehlobo. Njalo ngonyaka, amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana angu-50 abelwa ezindaweni ezingu-25 ezihlukene, futhi ahambisa inqwaba yezincwadi.

Ngo-1980, kwakusele abantu abangaba ngu-7 800 000 kuphela ababehlala emasimini angabelwe bandla eJapane. Ngakho esikhundleni sokumisa amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana, ihhovisi legatsha lacela amabandla, amaqembu amaphayona avamile nemikhaya ukuba isebenze emasimini angabelwe ngezinyanga zasehlobo. KoFakazi baseJapane, esuke iganele esokeni uma benza izinto ndawonye, babebheke phambili kukho ngenjabulo.

Imiphumela yayithinta inhliziyo. Ngo-1986, ummemezeli owayesebenza ensimini engabelwe waya emzini osentabeni esigodini saseMiwa eSifundeni Sase-Ibaraki futhi wamukelwa umama wekhaya owayephethe incwadi ethi Ukwenza Ukuphila Komkhaya Wakho Kujabulise nethi INcwadi Yami Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli. Wayekade ethole lezo zincwadi futhi wazifunda izikhathi eziningi. Wayelifune waze wancama iBhayibheli ezitolo zezincwadi, ngakho wajabula lapho ezwa ukuthi umkhaya ongamaKristu wawuzothuthela kulesi sigodi. Kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli masinyane futhi manje wonke umkhaya useqinisweni.

Kancane kancane amadolobha namadolobhana ayesele abelwa amabandla aseduze.

Imfundo Ekhethekile Yabadala

Njengoba ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle kwakwanda, nenani nobukhulu bamabandla kwanda. Ngokuvamile kwakuba nomzalwane oyedwa noma ababili abafanelekayo ababehola ebandleni. Bambalwa kubo ababeqeqeshwe kahle ezindabeni zebandla. Kodwa ngemva kokumiswa kohlelo lwabadala ngo-October 1, 1972, abadala ababesanda kumiswa bamenyelwa ehhovisi legatsha eNumazu futhi banikezwa imfundo ekhethekile yamasonto amabili.

Lesi sikole sasiyingqopha-mlando ngempela. Othisha bazama ukusiza abazalwane ukuba babone ukubaluleka kokubonisa uthando lwangempela nokokuba abalinganiselayo nabahluzekile ekusebenzelaneni noFakazi abakanye nabo. (2 Kor. 1:24) Babuye bagcizelela nokubaluleka kokunakekela ingokomoya lomkhaya womuntu siqu. (1 Thim. 3:4; 5:8) Lokhu kwakungavamile ukugcizelelwa emikhayeni yaseMpumalanga.

Abazalwane babezimisele ukugoduka nakho konke abakufunde esikoleni. Nokho, abaningi babethanda ukukubamba ngekhanda njengoba babenza esikoleni besafunda. UTakashi Abe, omunye wothisha, uyakhumbula: “Abafundi babengalali kuze kube sebusuku impela, bezikhandla ngokubhala amaphuzu ezingxoxo zasemini. Sazama ukubanqanda ukuba bangabhali amaphuzu amaningi futhi bashaye imithetho, kodwa kunalokho sabanxusa ukuba basebenzise amakhono abo okucabanga nezimiso zeBhayibheli.”—Roma 12:1; Heb. 5:14.

Abazalwane abaningi badela okuningi kakhulu ukuze beze kulesi sikole. Abanye babevela eHokkaido eneqhwa, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-1 300 ukuya enyakatho; abanye bevela e-Okinawa eshisayo, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-1 800 ukuya eningizimu. Kwakukhona nabanye okwakudingeka bafesele imisebenzi emisha yokuziphilisa lapho bebuyela emikhayeni yabo. Ngo-1977 kwaqhutshwa isikole sezinsuku ezimbili ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene kulo lonke izwe. Lokhu kwenza kwaba lula kakhulu ngabazalwane ukuba babe khona.

Ukubhekana Nokuphikisa Komkhaya

Ukuba umKristu eJapane kunezinselele. “Ezindaweni zasemaphandleni ikakhulu, abasanda kuhlanganyela bathola ukuphikiswa okukhulu ezihlotsheni ezihlala emphakathini,” kuchaza uHiroko Eto, oseneminyaka engu-37 ephayona. “Izihlobo ziba namahloni ngokuba nelungu lomndeni elihlukile emphakathini, futhi ukwesaba abantu kukhulu.”

Unina kaHiroko, uYuriko Eto, wayelithanda iBhayibheli engakahlangani nakuhlangana noFakazi BakaJehova. Kodwa ngo-1954, lapho bemsiza ukuba aqonde injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuyisa umhlambi omncane wamaKristu athembekile ezulwini nokwenza umhlaba ube ipharadesi eligcwele izinceku zikaJehova ezijabulayo, waba magange ukuhlanganyela nabanye lezi zindaba ezinhle. Yena nezingane zakhe, ngesineke baye basiza abaningi ukuba banqobe ukwesaba abantu ukuze bamukelwe uJehova.

Ngokuphathelene nemizamo yakhe yokusiza owesifazane oqotho, uHiroko wahlangabezana nalokhu. Umama wekhaya owaqala ukufundelwa waphikiswa uninazala, yena nomyeni wakhe ababehlala naye. Engafuni ukuphazamisa ukuthula komkhaya, lomama wayeka ukufunda. UHiroko uthi, “Ngangiye ngimgade emgwaqweni futhi ngimkhuthaze ukuba abe nomusa kuninazala, futhi ngezenzo abonise umphumela omuhle wokufunda iBhayibheli. Ngokuhlakanipha wayebuza umyeni wakhe imibuzo ngalokho ayekufunda futhi wagcina emenze waba nesithakazelo. Ekuqaleni umyeni wakhe wamtshela ukuthi: ‘Emaphandleni anje, ngeke uze ube umKristu.’ Naphezu kwalokho, uthando ngoJehova lwabasiza ukuba bamelane nokuphikiswa okukhulu.” Manje bona nendodana yabo endala babhapathiziwe. Umyeni, oyinceku ekhonzayo, uqhuba iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla esisemzini wakhe, futhi unina wabamangaza bonke lapho efika esifundweni mhlazane indodana yakhe izonikeza inkulumo yayo yeningi yokuqala.

Ngokuvamile ukuphikisa kuvela kubangane bomshado. Amanye amadoda aphikisa ngenxa yesikhwele noma ngenxa yokuthi akhulela lapho amadoda ngokuvamile engomakhonya khona. Lapho uKeiko Ichimaru owayesanda kushada eqala ukufunda iBhayibheli ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, umyeni wakhe, uHiroyuki, wamphikisa kakhulu futhi wamtshela nokuthi angayi ezifundweni. “Ngangingayizwa nhlobo indaba yokuthi inkolo izothandwa ngaphezu kwami,” kuchaza uHiroyuki kamuva. UKeiko wayemthanda umyeni wakhe, ngakho, ngokuhlakanipha wamcela ukuba ahlole ukuthi kulungile yini lokhu ayekufunda. Wanquma ukuzifundela yedwa iBhayibheli kodwa akazange aliqonde. Wacela kumkakhe ukuba abe khona lapho umkakhe efundelwa. Bobabili baba oFakazi ababhapathiziwe. Ekugcineni, uHiroyuki waba iphayona elivamile futhi manje usengumdala.

Ngemva kokuba umsebenzi wokumemezela ngoMbuso uqalile eChikugo ngo-1971, uMayuki Sakamoto waba ngomunye wabokuqala abamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli. Umyeni wakhe, uToyota, wavuka indlobane lapho umkakhe nendodana yakhe beqala ukuya ezifundweni edolobheni eliseduze. Ezimisele ukumyekisa, uToyota wamphikisa ngokwengeziwe. Waqhubeka emphikisa iminyaka engu-14, ngisho nalapho esebhapathiziwe ngo-1973. Ngelinye ilanga wamkhomba ngesibhamu, wamemeza: “Ngizokubulala uma ungayeki!” Impendulo yakhe ezolile yamthinta inhliziyo uToyota. Wayezibuza ukuthi yini emenza aqine kangaka.

Kukho konke lokho, uMayuki wayefuna ukumbonisa uthando umyeni wakhe. Akazange ayeke ukuzama ukumsiza ukuba afunde iqiniso. (1 Pet. 3:1, 2) Ngelinye ilanga, ecasulwe ukuthi umkakhe nendodana yakhe bayaphayona kanti yena uyasebenza, uToyota waya emsebenzini wesula. Kwakuyisinyathelo esibalulekile lesi ngoba amadoda aseJapane ngokuvamile abheka umsebenzi wawo njengonkulunkulu. UToyota wayenethemba lokuthi umkakhe nendodana yakhe bazomdabukela. Kodwa lapho efika ekhaya ebatshela ayekwenzile, bashaya izandla. Lokhu kwamenza wacabanga uToyota. Ngokushesha waqala ukufunda. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waphayona nabo, futhi manje ukhonza njengomdala ongumKristu.

Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yawo-1970 amadoda ayeqala ukuza emihlanganweni yethu ayevame ukuthi kuba khona abesifazane nezingane kuphela. Kodwa kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, amashumi ezinkulungwane zamadoda aye enza intuthuko enhle kakhulu ngokomoya. Manje inhlangano inesisekelo esiqinile samadoda avuthiwe ngokomoya anakekela zonke izidingo zenhlangano. Phakathi kwawo kukhona nayephikisa ngawo-1970.

Amaphayona Aya Esikoleni

Ngenxa yamaphesenti aphakeme ezikhonzi ezingamaphayona (amaphesenti angu-25 kuya kwangu-30) ebandleni ngalinye ngeminyaka yawo-1970, baningi ababebhalisele ukuya eSikoleni Senkonzo Samaphayona, esaqala ngo-January 1978 eJapane. Lesi sikole siye saba neqhaza elikhulu ekuvuthweni kwamabandla.

Kwaqale kwabizwa amaphayona akhethekile, izithunywa zevangeli nababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo kulesi sikole. UShigeru Yoshioka, omunye wothisha bokuqala, uyakhumbula: “Kwasiza kakhulu ukuba nalamaphayona angomakad’ ebona emakilasini okuqala. Esakufunda ezimpendulweni nakokuhlangenwe nakho kwalezi zikhonzi ezivuthiwe sakusebenzisa emakilasini alandela.”

Kusukela ngo-February 1980, iSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona saqhutshwa esifundeni ngasinye. Ababonisi besifunda nabanye abazalwane abavuthiwe ababekade bekulesi sikole baba othisha. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-8 sivuliwe lesi sikole, inani lamaphayona avamile landa ngesilinganiso samaphesenti angu-22 unyaka nonyaka, uma kuqhathaniswa nokwanda kwabamemezeli ngamaphesenti angu-12. Manje, izifunda eziningi ngokuvamile ziba namakilasi amaphayona amabili noma ngaphezulu anabafundi abangu-25 kuya ku-30 unyaka nonyaka.

Iningi lamaphayona aba kulesi sikole asuke emasha impela eqinisweni, kodwa ngenxa yalemfundo, athola isibindi nekhono enkonzweni yawo futhi afunda izifundo ezibalulekile zokuphila kobuKristu. Elinye iphayona likubeka kanje: “Kuze kube manje, inkonzo, ukuqeqesha izingane, ubuntu bobuKristu nolwazi lweBhayibheli bekuphithene ekhanda lami. Nokho, kulesi sikole sezinsuku eziyishumi, ngikwazile ukukuhlela ngononina.” Ngo-September 1997, kwase kuqhutshwe amakilasi angu-3 650, kwaba khona amaphayona angu-87 158.

Kuye Kwasabela Zonke Izinhlobo Zabantu

Abantu abavela ezizindeni ezihlukahlukene bakha inhlangano engokwasezulwini enezinhlobonhlobo zabantu eJapane. UToshiaki Niwa ungumdala omnene ebandleni laseYokohama. Kodwa ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe II wayeqeqeshelwa ukushayela i-Ohka, indiza engenanjini, yebutho elihlaselayo i-kamikaze elalizohlasela imikhumbi yebutho lasolwandle lase-United States. Inkonzo enjalo yayibhekwa njengobufakazi bokuzinikela kumbusi. Nokho, impi yaphela engakalitholi ithuba lokufela izwe lakhe. Kamuva umkakhe wafunda iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Lapho uToshiaki ezwa ukuthi oFakazi babengathathanga-hlangothi nhlobo empini, naye waba nesithakazelo. Ngo-1977 wahlanganyela nomkakhe ekunikezeni abanye umyalezo weBhayibheli wokuthula.

Nasemkhakheni wezokuzijabulisa siye sathola abantu abayishintshe ngenjabulo indlela yabo yokuphila ukuze babe abadumisi bakaJehova. UYoshihiro Nagasaki wayakhe iqembu le-jazz laseDixieland nabangane bakhe abaningana basekolishi. Bacela indoda eyayibafundise i-jazz ukuba ibe umphathi weqembu labo. Lendoda, uYoshimasa Kasai, omunye wabaculi be-jazz baseJapane abadla ubhedu, phakathi naleso sikhathi yayihlangane no“Trummy” Young, umdlali wecilongo owayevakashile evela eHawaii. “Ngalo lolo suku, zaqala izifundo, hhayi ezomculo, kodwa babefunda iqiniso,” kukhumbula uYoshihiro, manje okhonza eKomitini Yegatsha. “Sasingenasithakazelo nakancane, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayeshiseka futhi singafuni ukuba ayeke ukuba umphathi weqembu lethu, samlalela.” Baze bavuma nokufundelwa. Nokho, ushintsho kuYoshihiro lwenzeka lapho ehambele umhlangano wesifunda ngo-April 1966. Kulomhlangano, omunye ayefunda naye esikoleni esiphakeme, ayekade embonile ngaphambili wamema uYoshihiro ukuba ahambe naye baye enkonzweni yasensimini. Wayefakaza esebenzisa iBhayibheli, uYoshihiro anikeze abaninikhaya amapheshana. Uyakhumbula: “Ngokokuqala ngqá, iqiniso laqala ukusho okuthile kimi.” Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano, waya enkonzweni zonke izinsuku futhi wathuthuka ngokushesha. Amalungu amane kwayisithupha alelo qembu manje angoFakazi abakhuthele.

UShinji Sato wayengumpristi e-Izumo Shrine eSifundeni SaseShimane, enye yezindawo zokukhulekela zobuShinto ezibalulekile eJapane. Wayebuye abe uthisha wehlelo i-Izumo Oyashirokyo. Nakuba ayeseneminyaka engaba ngu-20 ekhonza njengompristi wobuShinto, wayedunyazwe ukungabi nabulungisa nokungabi naluthando ayekubona kubapristi. Wayeye waqaphela ukuthi onkulunkulu bamaShinto babengenansindiso, futhi waqala ukufuna uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli, kodwa wayesenemibuzo eminingi.

Yilapho-ke lapho ahlangana khona emgwaqweni nomuntu ayemjwayele, ayazi ukuthi ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho wabuza imibuzo ayenomuzwa wokuthi izoveza inkolo yeqiniso: “Ingabe inkolo yakho ayingeni kwezombangazwe? Ayiyenzi inzuzo? Izimfundiso zenu zivela kuNkulunkulu noma kubantu? Abantu abaniphethe bayakwenza lokho abakushumayelayo?” Wayesebuza: “Uma inhlangano okuyo ihlangabezana nalemibandela, ungangifundisa yini iBhayibheli?” Yeka impumuzo aba nayo lapho ekugcineni egqashula eBabiloni Elikhulu! (IsAm. 18:4) Uthi: “Manje njengoba sengingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova futhi ngifundisa abanye indlela yeqiniso likaNkulunkulu, ngizizwa ngendlela efana ncamashí nelotshwe kuyizAga: ‘Isibusiso sikaJehova siyacebisa; akenezeli usizi kuso.’”—IzAga 10:22.

Abadwebi nabaculi abadumile, umbhali wamahlaya, umdlali odlala umdlalo wokubambana wohlobo lwe-sumo, abagibeli bamabhayisikili abayizihlabani bonke baye balushiya udumo lwabo. Ochwepheshe abanjengodokotela, umbhali owaziwayo nabameli baye bakubona ukukhanya kweqiniso futhi amakhono abo bawasebenzisela ukuthuthukisa izithakazelo zoMbuso. Abantu ababeseqenjini lezigebengu, ababeyizidlamlilo, amaphoyisa nabezombangazwe bahlala ndawonye ngokuthula nabafowabo abangokomoya. (Isaya 11:6-9) Izindela zamaBuddha, abapristi bamaShinto nomsunguli wesonto elithi yena baye baphuma eBabiloni Elikhulu. (IsAm. 18:2) Othisha, osomabhizinisi baseJapane abavelele nezingcweti zemisebenzi yezandla ezinamakhono ahlukahlukene basebenza ndawonye emisebenzini engokwasezulwini. Inhlangano kaJehova iye yakhula yahlanganisa zonke izinhlobo zabantu eziye zasizwa ukuba ‘zigqoke ubuntu obusha obadalwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu ngokulunga kweqiniso nokwethembeka.’—Efe. 4:24.

Umoya Wentshiseko Wokuphayona

Naphezu kokuncipha kwensimu nokwanda kokungayigqizi qakala inkolo, iyaqhubeka yanda intshiseko ngenkonzo yokuphayona. Entwasahlobo, lapho inani elikhulu lamaphayona asizayo lingena ezinhlwini zamaphayona, ingqikithi yenani lawo wonke amaphayona lafinyelela kumaphesenti angaphezu kuka-50 abamemezeli. Ngo-March 1997, abangu-108 737 bakhonza njengamaphayona.

Umbuzo ovame ukubuzwa yilona, “Kungani kunamaphayona amaningi kangaka eJapane?” Kubonakala ziziningi izizathu. Isisekelo sokwanda kwangemva kwempi eJapane sabekwa izithunywa zevangeli ezishisekayo, futhi abafundelwayo abanokwazisa babezama ukulingisa labo ababebafundele. (Luka 6:40) Ngenxa yalokho, ifa lokushisekela inkonzo ladluliselwa esizukulwaneni esilandelayo sabafundi. Okunye futhi, kuyiqiniso ukuthi imizi yaseJapane ayibona ubukhazikhazi, okwenza kudingeke isikhathi esincane sokuyinakekela, futhi ngokuvamile indlela yokuphila igcinwa ilula. Lokhu kwenza kube lula ukuba omama benze izinto ezingokomoya zize kuqala. (Math. 6:22, 33) Ngaphezu kwalokho, isimo sezulu ngokuvamile siphakathi nendawo eJapane, futhi izimo zezombangazwe nezomnotho bezilokhu zizinhle kulelo lizwe.

Isizinda sempucuko kanye nezici zobuzwe kubonakala kungesinye isizathu. Ngokuvamile, abantu baseJapane bayazilalela iziqondiso, bayasabela esikhuthazweni esivela eqenjini futhi umsebenzi bawenza ngentshiseko. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, uShinichi Tohara, umJapane waseMelika oweza eJapane njengomunye wezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala zangemva kwempi, wathi: ‘Abashayeli be-kamikaze bafela umbusi wabo ngokuqondisa izindiza zabo emikhunjini yempi yesitha. Uma amaJapane ethembeke kangako emakhosini angabantu, yini ayeyoyenza uma esethole iNkosi yeqiniso, uJehova?’ Yebo, bonke abafaka izicelo zokuphayona baqhutshwa isifiso esibukhali sokujabulisa uJehova.

Abazali Abangamaphayona

Obani abangamaphayona? Iningi lingodade, abaningi kubo abashadile futhi abanezingane. Abaningi baphayona bengakutholi ukusekelwa ngokomoya okuvela kubayeni babo nasezihlotsheni ezingakholwa.

“Lapho ngiqala ukuphayona, indodakazi yami engumagcino yayinezinyanga ezimbalwa nje ubudala,” kusho uMutsuko waseFujisawa, oseneminyaka engaphezu kuka-20 ephayona. “Umyeni wami owayesebenza ebhange wayevame ukufika ekhaya sesibuyile emihlanganweni yethu yakusihlwa. Nakuba kwakudinga umzamo omkhulu, ngangifuna ukuqhubeka ngiphayona.” Wavuzwa lapho izingane zakhe zontathu zihlanganyela naye enkonzweni yamaphayona lapho ziphothula esikoleni. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yokuphikisa nokunganaki, nomyeni wakhe waqala ukushintsha. Yeka intokozo uMutsuko aba nayo ebandleni lapho elalele indodana yakhe inikeza ingxenye yokuqala yenkulumo yeningi, kwalandela umyeni wakhe wayiqedela!

Obaba abaphayonayo nabo banethonya elihle. UHisataka wayazi ukuthi uyise wayesishiye phansi isikhundla sakhe njengothisha we-data processing ukuze aphayone. Ngesikhathi samaholide kaHisataka asehlobo esikoleni sabaqalayo, uyise wayehamba naye aye emsebenzini wakhe, bediliva ubisi ekuseni ngovivi. “Ngesikhathi isibhakabhaka empumalanga sigcwala umbala okhazimulayo osawolintshi,” kukhumbula uHisataka, “ubaba wayengitshela ngemizwa yakhe ejulile ngendlela okunomvuzo ngayo ukukhonza uJehova ngomphefumulo wonke. Ukumbona ekhandlekela uJehova ngentokozo kwangishukumisa ngendlela amazwi ayengeke enze ngayo.” UHisataka manje ukhonza njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel yase-Ebina.

Ngasinda Kuyi-karoshi

“Uma uthanda ukusebenza uze ugobe, ngena enkampanini yamaJapane,” kuye kwasho abanye bentela. Lokhu kubangelwa ukuthi indoda evamile nenomkhaya yaseJapane izinikela ngokungazigodli emsebenzini wayo futhi ichitha amahora amaningi isemsebenzini. Nokho, obaba abaningi ababesebenza baze bancamele i-karoshi (ukufa ngenxa yokusebenza ngokweqile) manje bazinikezele, hhayi enkampanini yomsebenzi wokuziphilisa, kodwa kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi baye bahlanganyela nemikhaya yabo enkonzweni yokuphayona.

UShunji waseKobe, owayesebenzela inkampani enkulu yokwakha, uthi: “Ngangiqhutshwa ukuthanda ibhizinisi lami nesifiso sokuphumelela. Lapho izakhiwo esasisebenza kuzo zikude nasekhaya, ngangivakashela umkhaya wami ngezimpelasonto kuphela uma izimo zivuma.” Yini eyashintsha konke lokho? Uyaphendula: “Ngangikwesaba ukufa, ngangikhathazeka ngokuthi kuzokwenzekani emkhayeni wami uma ngifa. Ngangididwa ukuthi kungani umkami nendodana yami behlale bejabula kangaka ngokuyoshumayela.” Lapho uShunji esiza ibandla lendawo ngemicikilisho eyayihilelekile ekwakheni iHholo LoMbuso lalo, umdala othile wamkhuthaza ukuba aqhutshelwe isifundo seBhayibheli. Wavuma futhi manje yena nomkhaya wakhe bahlanganyela injabulo yenkonzo yamaphayona avamile. Ujabulela nokukhonza eKomitini Yokwakha Yesifunda.

Kudinga ukholo lwangempela nomoya wokuzidela ngezinhloko zemikhaya ukuba zishiye lokho okubhekwa njengomsebenzi oqinisekile wokuphila konke futhi zibambe amatoho angatheni ukuze zithole isikhathi esidingekayo enkonzweni yokuphayona. Uyise kaMitsunobu waseChiba wawushintsha umsebenzi wakhe. Enkampanini enkulu ayesebenza kuyo, nalapho ozakwabo base bekhushulelwe ezikhundleni zokuphatha, wayephuma engena emahhovisi eqoqa amaphepha alahliwe ukuze agaywe kabusha. Enokwazisa kwangempela, uMitsunobu uthi: “Angive ngibabonga abazali bami abangifundisa indlela yokwazisa igugu lenkonzo yokuphayona, ngaleyo ndlela bangisiza ukuba ngiyenze ibe umsebenzi wami wasikhathi sonke!” Labo abenza ukuzidela okunjalo ekuphileni bayaqiniseka ukuthi izinzuzo zemali zingezesikhashana nokuthi amagugu angokomoya abaluleke ngokwedlulele.—Math. 6:19-21.

Zinakekele Ukuze Uphile Kade!

Abanye abanesifiso esiqotho sokwenza okusemandleni abo enkonzweni kaJehova baye banqoba izinkinga zempilo ezingathi sína. “Uzokwazi ukuphila ubone indodana yakho ikhula. Ungalokothi uzikhandle, kodwa yiba onakisisayo ukuze uphile kade.” Washo njalo udokotela owayehlaziya izinkinga zempilo kaYaeko Ono eziphathelene nenhliziyo. Indodana yakhe yayineminyaka emithathu ngaleso sikhathi. “Ngingakuphila kanjani ukuphila kwami konke ngingazisoli ngalutho?” wazibuza lapho egoduka evela esibhedlela. Ngesikhathi efika ekhaya, wayesenqume ukuba iphayona. Lapho izihlobo zakhe zikuzwa lokhu, zakhathazeka, kodwa lokho akuzange kumenze ashintshe ingqondo. Uthi: ‘Ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-September 1978. Ngangingazi ngaleso sikhathi ukuthi ngikhulelwe. Umama wagula kakhulu. Nami ngabangwa nezibi. Naphezu kwalokho, amazwi kaJesu angikhuthaza: “Uma ninokholo olulingana nohlamvu lwesinapi intaba ingasuka.” (Math. 17:20) Nganquma ukwenza okusemandleni ami.’

Ngemva kweminyaka engu-17, uYaeko wathi: “Ngizwa sengathi izingalo zikaJehova eziduduzayo bezingigonile.” Ngezinye izikhathi izinkinga zazicishe zimgojele, kodwa wayeye abale izibusiso zikaJehova, futhi lokhu kwakumsiza ukuba akhuthazele. Ethonywe intshiseko yakhe, umyeni naye waqala ukufundelwa. Futhi intokozo yakhe yagcwala lapho umyeni wakhe ephayona naye, okwakuyimpendulo yemithandazo yakhe eqotho!

Yilolu uhlobo lwamaphayona oluthola eJapane. Singabala namanye—njengomunye umzalwane owayekhubazeke kusukela emqaleni kwehle, kodwa owayengumthombo wesikhuthazo esingapheli kwabanye njengoba ayekhonza njengephayona ngokubhala izincwadi ngokuyinhloko, udade owazalwa ekuqaleni kwaleli khulu leminyaka futhi wachitha iminyaka yakhe yokugcina engu-13, kwaze kwaba ngu-1994, eyiphayona endaweni eneqhwa, nomdala oyimpumputhe owathuthela kwelinye idolobha ukuze aphayone khona futhi asize ibandla elincane lapho. Bonke laba, njengofakazi abakholekile bakudala, nakuba bebuthaka ngokwenyama, uNkulunkulu ‘wabenza baba namandla’ ukuze benze intando yakhe.—Heb. 11:32-34.

I-New World Translation YesiJapane

Emhlabeni wonke, ukusetshenziswa kweBhayibheli ngokwalo enkonzweni yasobala kuye kwaba uphawu loFakazi BakaJehova. EJapane abamemezeli babenesifiso esijulile sokuba neBhayibheli elinembile, elifundeka kalula lesiJapane sanamuhla. Abaningi babeye bashikiliswa inguqulo yakudala. Naphezu kwamagama ayo amnandi nokusebenzisa kwayo igama likaNkulunkulu elingcwele, kwakunzima ngalabo ababeyé esikoleni ngemva kwempi ukuba baqonde ukuhlelwa kwayo kwamagama. Ngakho, ngo-January 1970 abazalwane egatsheni bajabulisa okwezingane lapho bethola incwadi evela endlunkulu egunyaza ukuhunyushwa kwengxenye yesiGreki ye-New World Translation iyiswe olimini lwesiJapane.

Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu, eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokunqoba Kwaphezulu” owawuse-Osaka, isixuku sabangu-31-263 sashaya ihlombe ngenjabulo enkulu lapho uLyman Swingle weNdikimba Ebusayo ememezela ukukhululwa kwe-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ngesiJapane. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-9 ikhululiwe, kwahanjiswa amakhophi angu-1 140 000, okucishe kube ukuphinda inani labamemezeli ngesikhathi inyatheliswa okokuqala izikhathi ezingu-75. Lelo Bhayibheli lanyatheliswa e-United States, kodwa kwakungasensuku zatshwala ngaphambi kokuba ukunyathelisa nokuhlanganisa izincwadi kwenziwe ezakhiweni zethu eJapane.

Ingabe Izindawo Zemihlangano Zazingathuthukiswa?

Njengoba inani lamabandla laliqhubeka landa kulo lonke elaseJapane, kwaya kucaca ukuthi izindawo zemihlangano ezifanelekayo zidingeka kakhulu. Ngaphambi kwawo-1970, ayembalwa kakhulu amabandla ayenezindawo zawo zemihlangano. Empeleni, angu-9 kuphela amaHholo OMbuso ayenikezelwe ngeshumi leminyaka lawo-1960. Amabandla amaningi ayehlanganela emahholo omphakathi noma emizini yabantu.

Ekhumbula ubunzima ‘balemihlangano eyayiba sezindaweni ezihlukahlukene’ u-Ai Nakamura, udade waseHirosaki, uthi: “Cishe ngo-1963 sasiqasha i-Education Hall yakuleli dolobha njalo ngezimpelasonto, bese kuthi ngezinsuku elingatholakali ngazo leli hholo, ibandla labantu abangu-15 liyiqhubele kwami imihlangano. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho sinomhlangano, sonke kwakudingeka sisize ekuphatheni omagazini, izincwadi, itafulana lesikhulumi njalonjalo.” Amahholo ayeqashwa ayevame ukunuka phú ugwayi abuye abe neziqubulo nemihlobiso ephathelene nezombangazwe noma ezenkolo. Akukho kulokhu okwakuhambisana nokwakuqukethwe imihlangano yoFakazi.

UMolly Heron noLois Dyer bakhumbula ihholo ababeliqashela imihlangano eKyoto. Kwakuyikamelo eliphezu kwesitolo elaline-tatami, noma icansi. Ngapha nangapha kwalo kwakunamanye amakamelo. Kwelinye, kwakufundelwa i-samisen, insimbi yomculo enezintambo yamaJapane; kanti kwelinye, amadoda ayedlala i-go, umdlalo wamaJapane ofana nomlabalaba. “Phakathi nalobo buwelewele, sasizama ukuqhuba isifundo sethu se-Nqabayokulinda. Ukuphela kwendawo esasingayisebenzisa ngalezo zinsuku,” kusho uLois Dyer. Ngenxa yokuthi sasingenazo izindawo eziqondile zemihlangano, njengamanye amaqembu enkolo, abantu babeye babe nomuzwa wokuthi siyihlelo nje elingasho lutho nelesikhashana.

Kodwa maphakathi nawo-1970, njengoba inani lamabandla amasha lalanda, abazalwane bafuna izakhiwo ababengazisebenzisa njengamaHholo OMbuso. Ngo-July 1974 amabandla angu-646 ayesebenzisa cishe amaHholo OMbuso angaba ngu-200 ezweni lonke. Kulawa, angu-134 ayenikezelwe phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1974 kuphela.

Nakuba abafowethu babengenazimali ezitheni, babekhaliphile impela. Ngokwesibonelo, esiqhingini saseKyushu, iBandla LaseKitakyushu Wakamatsu lakha iHholo LoMbuso elingamamitha-skwele angu-130 esizeni esasinikelwe omunye wabamemezeli bendawo. Ibandla lathola izingodo ezingamasekeni nama-tile okufulela mahhala ezindlini eziyisihlanu ezazidilizwa. Bathola nezingodo mahhala ezindlini zomphakathi zokugezela ezazingasasetshenziswa. Bathenga izinto zokwakha izingxenye ezazizobonakala lapho ihholo seliqediwe kuphela. Endaweni eseduze yokubuka amafilimu eyayingasasetshenziswa, kwatholakala izihlalo mahhala, zapendwa kabusha futhi zafakwa ehholo. Ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha zokusebenza kanzima, abazalwane base beneHholo LoMbuso elihle.

Ngenxa yokumba eqolo kwezindawo, abanye oFakazi ababenezindawo emadolobheni badiliza imizi yabo bayakha kabusha sebehlanganisa neHholo LoMbuso ngaphansi, phezulu kube indlu yabo yokuhlala.

Kudingeka Kunwetshwe Igatsha Ukuze Lihlangabezane Nezidingo

Njengoba nje ingane ishiywa izingubo njalo nje, nezakhiwo ezazisetshenziswa igatsha laseJapane kuye kwadingeka zinwetshwe ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuze zinakekele ukwanda kwamanani oFakazi kuleli lizwe. Ngo-1971, kwase kudwetshwe amapulani efektri enezitezi ezintathu neKhaya LaseBethel elinezitezi ezinhlanu elalizokwakhiwa eNumazu, lapho iMount Fuji ibonakala kahle khona.

Ekuqaleni, izakhiwo zefektri zazisetshenziselwa ukunyathelisa INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! yesiJapane ngokuyinhloko. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, kwaba yingqopha-mlando ukunyathelisa umagazini okhethekile i-Phaphama! ka-October 8, 1972, emshinini wokunyathelisa we-rotary iTokyo Kikai ongamathani angu-40, owawusanda kufakwa. Kwakuwumagazini wokuqala owenziwa abazalwane endaweni yethu yokunyathelisa eNumazu. Kodwa izisebenzi zasendaweni yokunyathelisa zazisazofunda okuningi. Ngezinye izikhathi zazizibuza ukuthi ziyoke zikwazi yini ukuwusebenzisa kahle lomshini. Umzalwane owayesebenza emshinini uthi: “Ngalezo zinsuku ezinye izinhlamvu zamagama zazichicha uyinki kangangokuba wawukwazi ukuzifunda lapho uzithinta!” Ezinye zazibonakala kalufifi. Nokho, njengoba abazalwane bethola ulwazi, izinga lababekunyathelisa lathuthuka kancane kancane nenani lomagazini abahanjiswa enkonzweni yasensimini landa.

Lapho uMfoweth’ uKnorr enikeza inkulumo esimisweni sokunikezela lezo zakhiwo zegatsha eNumazu ngo-1973, izivakashi zazibuthene endaweni engenalutho esitezi sesithathu sefektri entsha zizolalela isimiso. Ebhekisela kulokho eyayizosetshenziselwa kona lendawo, wathi: “Lendawo engenalutho imelela ukholo lwenu. Sikholelwa ukuthi lendawo izobe idingeka esikhathini esiwunyaka noma emibili ezayo. Inhlangano kaNkulunkulu iqhubekela phambili, futhi ngesivinini esikhulu kakhulu.”

Njengoba uMfoweth’ uKnorr ayebikezele, ngokushesha lendawo engenalutho yasebenza yonke. Ngo-1974 kwase kudingeka ezinye izakhiwo ezimbili—esokugcina impahla nesokuhlalisa izisebenzi. “Kwakuwumsebenzi wokwakha wokuqala oFakazi baseJapane abazenzela wona mathupha,” kusho uToshio Honma. “Sasinexhala lokuthi kazi zizoba khona yini izisebenzi ezanele ezinolwazi. UNkulunkulu wasibusisa ngokusinikeza abantu abanjengoTadazo Fukayama, umbonisi wezokwakha owayenolwazi lweminyaka engaphezu kwengu-30 ayeluthole enkampanini enkulu yokwakha.”

Ngemva kweminyaka enza umsebenzi owawumqhelisa ekhaya, uTadazo wayesanda kuwuyeka ukuze achithe isikhathi esengeziwe nomkhaya wakhe. Ngakho wathi ukudideka lapho ecelwa ukuba acabangele ukuza eNumazu azokwengamela umsebenzi wokwandiswa kweBethel. Kwakuzodingeka aphinde awushiye umkhaya wakhe? “Cha!” kuphendula igatsha. Umkakhe namadodana akhe amabili, aneminyaka engu-18 nengu-20 nabo bamenywa.

Nakuba izakhiwo ezazakhiwa ngaleso sikhathi zazincane uma kuqhathaniswa nezakamuva, lomsebenzi wanikeza abazalwane ulwazi nesiqiniseko sokuthi ngosizo lukaJehova bangenza nemisebenzi emikhulu nakakhulu.

Abazalwane Bendawo Bathwala Imithwalo Yemfanelo Esindayo

Ngo-April 1975, uLloyd Barry, owayengumbonisi wegatsha kusukela ngo-1952, wahamba eJapane wayokhonza njengelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Wayehlanganyele ngentshiseko emsebenzini phakathi nesikhathi inhlangano engokwasezulwini yanda isuka kubamemezeli abangu-8 ngo-1949 iya kubamemezeli boMbuso abashisekayo abangaphezu kuka-30 000. Lapho ehamba igatsha lenganyelwa uToshio Honma, umzalwane wendawo ongumJapane, owayekhonza njengombonisi wefektri ngaleso sikhathi.

Ngokuqondene namakhono kaMfoweth’ uHonma, iphini lakhe efektri lathi: “UToshio wayengeyena umuntu ohlala phansi alindele ukutshelwa okufanele akwenze njalo nje. Wawungamnikeza umsebenzi bese uthi kuye, ‘Shona khona,’ avele akhwele phezu komsebenzi. Wayezihlela kahle izinto futhi ebafaka ugqozi abantu.”

Olunye ushintsho olungokwenhlangano lwenzeka ngo-February 1976. Njengakwamanye amagatsha emhlabeni wonke, ukuqondiswa kwegatsha eJapane kwaba ngaphansi kwekomiti yabazalwane kunokuba kube umbonisi wegatsha oyedwa. Abayisihlanu abamiswa kuqala kwakunguToshio Honma, umqondisi, uMasataro Oda, uShigeo Ikehata, uKiichiro Tanaka noJames Mantz. Abazalwane baseJapane balamukela ngazo zombili leli lungiselelo elisha ngoba babejwayelene kakhulu nokwenza izinto njengeqembu nokufuna uvo lweningi lapho kwenziwa izinqumo. Kamuva omunye wamalungu ekomiti wathi: “Njengoba kunelungiselelo leKomiti Yegatsha, abazalwane babheka iqembu labazalwane abavuthiwe njengabameleli benhlangano. Umphumela walokhu uba ukuthi ukunaka kwabazalwane kuqondiswa enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu hhayi kumuntu oyedwa.” Lapho kudingeka kuthathwe isinqumo esisindayo, leli lungiselelo lenza kube neqembu lamadoda angokomoya anezizinda namakhono ahlukene angasicabangela futhi afune isiqondiso somoya ongcwele neseZwi likaNkulunkulu.

Ngo-January 1983, uMasataro Oda, owayesekhonze eBethel kusukela ngo-February 1960, waba umqondisi. Wathatha indawo kaMfoweth’ uHonma, ngaleso sikhathi owayesenendodana eneminyaka emibili okwakudingeka ayinakekele. Abanye abaye bakhonza eKomitini Yegatsha ngokushiyashiyana bahlanganisa uRyosuke Fujimoto, uPercy Iszlaub, u-Isamu Sugiura, uYoshihiro Nagasaki, uMakoto Nakajima, uKenji Mimura noRichard Bailey. Okwamanje bangu-7 abazalwane abakhonza eKomitini Yegatsha. Njengoba umsebenzi uye wanda, ngamunye walaba bazalwane ngokuthobeka uye wanikela ngamakhono akhe ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kulengxenye yensimu yomhlaba.

UMfoweth’ u-Oda uthi: “Kuleli qophelo, lapho sibheka emuva, sibona ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu elungiselelweni lekomiti. Kusukela ngo-1976, lapho kuqala ilungiselelo lekomiti, umsebenzi uye wakhula wafinyelela lapho umuntu oyedwa ebengenakuwufeza khona. UJehova wanikeza iNdikimba Ebusayo ukuhlakanipha kokuphathisa abazalwane abaningi imithwalo yemfanelo, futhi ngalendlela, umsebenzi uye wahamba ngokushelela.”

Abazalwane Bendawo Bahlela Imihlangano

Ngokufanayo, ngawo-1970 imithwalo yemfanelo ephathelene nokuhlelwa kwemihlangano yaqala ukunikezwa oFakazi bendawo. Omunye wababonisi besigodi bokuqala baseJapane owakhonza njengombonisi womhlangano kwakunguTakashi Abe. Wayethole ulwazi olubalulekile esebenza nezithunywa zevangeli ezinjengoPercy Iszlaub. UPercy wayengumbonisi womhlangano eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokuthula Emhlabeni” owawuseTokyo Korakuen Cycling Stadium ngo-1969. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, uMfoweth’ u-Abe waba umbonisi womhlangano emhlanganweni owawusenkundleni efanayo. Enolwazi ayeluthole emhlanganweni wango-1969, izinto zahamba kahle. Kodwa wayesahlalelwe okukhulu.

Ngo-1973, uMfoweth’ u-Abe wamiswa iNhlangano ukuba abe umbonisi womhlangano eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokunqoba Kwaphezulu” owawuzothatha izinsuku ezinhlanu e-Osaka. Kwakulindeleke abangu-30 000, kanye nezihambeli zakwamanye amazwe ezingu-400. Wasabela kanjani? Uyakhumbula: “Lapho ngithola incwadi eyayingazisa ngalokhu, ngagula ngabangwa nezibi futhi ngalala izinsuku eziningana embhedeni, ngingakwazi ngisho nokuhlala ngiqonde. Ngangicabanga ngenselele yokuhlela yonke iminyango yomhlangano. Ngajabula ngafa lapho ngithola incwajana ethi Convention Organization ivela eNhlanganweni, sekusele izinyanga ezimbalwa ngaphambi komhlangano! Ngokulandela izinqubo ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, izinkinga eziningi zaxazululeka.”

Enye yezinselele ezazikhona kwakuwukuthola izihlalo ezazizokwanela bonke ababezoba khona. Lomhlangano wawuzoba seFestival Plaza e-Expo (1970) Memorial Park e-Osaka, kodwa lendawo yayingenazihlalo noma isiteji. Amabandla aseduze abuzwa ngokuqondene nezihlalo ezivalwayo ezazingase ziqashelwe umhlangano. Kwelinye idolobha kwathintwa bonke othisha-nhloko bezikole. Kwabuzwa nomphathi wenkampani enkulu eyenza izinto zikagesi eJapane ukuthi inkampani yakhe ingabaqashisela yini izihlalo. Ummeleli walenkampani waxoxa nombonisi womhlangano mayelana nalesi sicelo. Nakuba lenkampani yayingenazo izihlalo ezivalwayo ezengeziwe eyayingaqashisa ngazo, yanikela ngokuzithandela imali yokuqasha ezingu-5 000. Kwakusadingeka izihlalo ezengeziwe. Laba yini ikhambi? Ukwenza amabhentshi ngamapulangwe ezikafula ezaziqashwe enkampanini yokwakha. Amabhentshi aqedwa sekusele izinsuku ezimbalwa kube nomhlangano, futhi izilaleli ezingu-31 263 zalalela inkulumo yeningi. Ngenxa yamanani abo andayo, kwaba ngokokugcina ukuba bonke oFakazi BakaJehova eJapane nase-Okinawa bakwazi ukubuthana emhlanganweni owodwa.

Amalungu amahlanu eNdikimba Ebusayo kanye nombonisi wefektri ababevela endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn baba khona kulomhlangano futhi bakhuthaza izilaleli. Kwakukhona nezinye izihambeli zivela e-Australia, eBrithani, eCanada, eGuatemala, eHawaii, eJalimane, eNew Zealand, eNigeria, ePapua New Guinea nase-United States, okwenza lomhlangano waba owezizwe ngempela.

Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano wase-Osaka, abazalwane bendawo abengeziwe baqala ukuthwala imithwalo yemfanelo yokuhlela imihlangano. Lokhu kwenza kwaba lula ngabazalwane ukuba balinganisele umsebenzi wangaphambi komhlangano neminye imithwalo yabo yemfanelo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ababonisi abajikelezayo manje base bengagxila esabelweni sabo kunokuba bachithe izinyanga eziningi ngaphambi komhlangano ngamunye benza umsebenzi womhlangano.

Imihlangano Yezizwe ‘Yokholo Olunqobayo’ Ka-1978

Umhlangano wezizwe wesine owaba seJapane kwakuwuMhlangano “Wokholo Olunqobayo” wezinsuku ezinhlanu ngo-1978. Manje kwasetshenziswa izindawo zomhlangano ezine ukuze bonke abantu banele. Umhlangano omkhulu owaba se-Osaka waba nabangu-31 785, kuhlanganise nezihambeli ezingaphezu kuka-200 ezazivela e-United States, eCanada, eJalimane, eSwitzerland, nezazivela emazweni aseYurophu, Asia naseNingizimu Melika. Kwakukhona amalungu amathathu eNdikimba Ebusayo ezohlanganyela esimisweni salomhlangano.

Kwase kutshaleke umoya omuhle wokubambisana eminyakeni edlule. Abazalwane base beqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi ngosizo lukaJehova bangasingatha ngisho nezabelo ezinkulu ezingokwasezulwini.

Indawo Yokudlalela I-bowling Iba IHholo LoMhlangano

Kwaba sobala ukuthi ngalé kokuba namaHholo OMbuso, abazalwane babedinga izakhiwo zemihlangano ezinkudlwana nababengazethemba. Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1970, izakhiwo eziningi zomphakathi zazingenakuqashiselwa amaqembu ezinkolo, futhi izivumelwano zokusebenzisa izindawo zokuvocavoca umzimba zazingesulwa ngomzuzu wokugcina ngoba imidlalo yendawo yayihamba phambili. UHirofumi Morohashi, owayekhonza njengombonisi womhlangano eTokyo iminyaka eminingi, ukhumbula esinye isenzakalo esashukumisa abazalwane ukuba baqale ukuzifunela elabo iHholo LoMhlangano. Uthi: “Ngo-1974 sakhokha ama-yen angu-200 000 [R3 100] ehholo elalisendaweni yokuzijabulisa e-Oyama City esasizolisebenzisela umhlangano wethu wesifunda. Kamuva, kwathiwa ayisenamali lendawo yokuzijabulisa. Kwaba umshikashika ukuzama ukuthola imali esase siyikhokhile kanye nokuthola enye indawo yomhlangano.” UPercy Iszlaub wabe esebabonisa izithombe zase-Australia zefektri endala yokweluka izinto eyayisishintshiwe yaba iHholo LoMhlangano elihle. Abazalwane eTokyo baba nomuzwa wokuthi kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba bazame ukwenza okufanayo.

Bathola indawo yokudlalela i-bowling eyayingasasetshenziswa muntu. YayiseHigashi-Matsuyama, emaphethelweni eTokyo. Umnikazi walesi sakhiwo, engabazi oFakazi BakaJehova, wabhalela umkhaya ayehlale nawo e-United States wawubuza ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Wathola impendulo enhle eyayimtshela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bayinkolo enokwethenjelwa kunazo zonke e-United States. Kusukela lapho izinto zahamba kahle kakhulu, kwasayinwa nesivumelwano.

Ngakho, ngo-December 1976, kwaqedwa iHholo LoMhlangano lokuqala eJapane. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwakuqhubeka omunye umsebenzi obalulekile wokwakha.

UJehova Uqondisa Ukuthutha

Ngesikhathi kunikezelwa izakhiwo ezinwetshiwe zaseNumazu ngo-1977, kwakunabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-40 000. Leli gatsha latshelwa ukuba lifune indawo enkulu ngamaphesenti angu-300 kuneyaseNumazu. Kwatholakala ifektri endala yezindwangu e-Ebina, phakathi neNumazu neTokyo, engamahektare angu-7. Yayinkulu kunendawo yaseNumazu ngamaphesenti angu-1 600. Kodwa ingabe iNdikimba Ebusayo yayizokuvuma lokho kuthuthela ezweni lapho amanani ezindawo emba eqolo khona? Lendawo yayizobiza ngaphezu kwemali i-United States eyathenga ngayo i-Alaska eRussia ngo-1867 iphindwe kabili. Kwake kwathi cwaka, ingasho lutho indlunkulu. “Kungazelelwe, kwabe sekufika uMfoweth’ uBarry evela eNew York ehamba noMax Larson, umbonisi wefektri yeNhlangano eBrooklyn, bezobona lendawo, kwase kuthiwa asiyithathe,” kusho uToshio Honma. “Manje uma sibheka emuva ekwandeni esibe nakho eminyakeni engu-20 edlule, siyambonga uJehova ngokusiqondisa ukuba sithenge lowaya dedangendlale wendawo.”

Ngo-January 1979 kwaqala ukwakhiwa kwefektri enesitezi esisodwa, isakhiwo samahhovisi, izakhiwo zokuhlala ezintathu ezinamakamelo aseBethel angu-161, iHholo LoMbuso nezakhiwo ezimbili ezincanyana zokusebenzela. Kwakuwumsebenzi wokwakha omkhulu kunayo yonke eyayike yenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova nomaphi emhlabeni kuze kube yileso sikhathi.

Amadoda amaningi anemikhaya namakhono okwakha ashiya imisebenzi yawo, athuthela imikhaya yawo e-Ebina noma emadolobheni aseduze ukuze ahlanganyele emsebenzini wokwakha. UYoshiaki Nishio wayengomunye wabo. Lapho ethola isimemo sokuqala sokuba ahlanganyele kulomsebenzi ezofaka amapayipi, wayesanda kuthuthela edolobheni elincane eShikoku Island ukuze akhonze lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Njengoba ayenezingane ezincane ezintathu, engasebenzi futhi engenamali etheni, waqale wanqaba. Kodwa lapho ethola isimemo sesithathu ngeposi elisheshayo, waba nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova wayemtshela ukuba ahambe. Waxoxa ngalendaba nomkakhe, owathi uzowusiza umkhaya lapho ubaba engekho. “Lapho ngifika eBethel, ngathola ukuthi sasimenywe sonke sobahlanu! Kwakungakholeki!” kukhumbula uYoshiaki. Lezi zingane ezintathu zakhula zaba amaphayona, futhi enye yazo ikhonza njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel e-Ebina.

“Sabona uJehova esivulela iminyango izikhathi eziningi ngokuqondene nalowo msebenzi,” kukhumbula uJames Mantz, usihlalo weKomiti Yokwakha. “Phambi kwethu kwakukhona okwakubonakala njengezindonga ezingenakweqiwa. Uhulumeni weSifunda SaseKanagawa wayenemithetho yokulawula ukungcoliswa kwendawo eqine kunayo yonke ezweni lonke. Satshelwa ukuba singaconsiseli nelilodwa ithonsi lamanzi angcolile emseleni owawunqamula endaweni yethu. Kodwa uJehova wasivulela indlela. Ifektri eyayikulendawo yayipholisa imishini yayo ngamanzi avela emithonjeni emithathu. Amanzi ayefakwa emseleni abese esetshenziselwa ukunisela izitshalo zomakhelwane. Lapho omakhelwane bezwa ukuthi lamanzi ayesezophela, baya ehhovisi ledolobha beyokhononda, ‘Sithembele kulamanzi avela kulesiya sakhiwo ukuze sinisele izitshalo zethu.’ Ngakho izikhulu zedolobha zasishintsha isinqumo futhi zabeka isilinganiso samanzi esasizowafaka emseleni nsuku zonke ukuze abalimi bawathole. Ngalé kwamanzi asesebenzile ayehlanzwa angene kulomsele, kwakudingeka sidonse amanzi emithonjeni yethu ukuze sanelise izidingo zabalimi.”

Izakhiwo eziphelile zanikezelwa kuJehova ngo-May 15, 1982 kukhona uFrederick Franz, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society. ULloyd Barry nomkakhe uMelba nabo babekhona futhi baba nengxenye esimisweni sokunikezela. Njengoba uMfoweth’ uBarry ayexoxa nabangu-14 ayethweswe nabo iziqu eGileyadi, ababethunyelwe eJapane bevela ekilasini le-11, izilaleli zaziluzwa uthando olujulile ayenalo ngabazalwane baseJapane.

Ukwanda Ngenani Nezinga Eliphezulu

Abamemezeli baqhubeka banda; nesidingo sezincwadi sanda. Ngisho nangaphambi kokunikezelwa kwezakhiwo e-Ebina, ngo-October 1979 igatsha lazitholela umshini walo wokuqala wokunyathelisa oyi-offset. Lomshini wawunesisindo esingamathani angu-75, ungamamitha angu-20 ubude, futhi ukwazi ukunyathelisa omagazini abangu-300 ngomzuzu, ngombala ophelele. Ingabe lokho kwazanelisa izidingo zethu?

UMfoweth’ uMantz uyakhumbula: “Ngo-1981 sahanjelwa uMfoweth’ uJaracz. Waphawula ukuthi sasisebenza amashifu emshinini wethu wokunyathelisa futhi wasikisela ukuba sicele imvume yokuthenga owesibili. Sasimathintanyawo ukucela owesibili ngoba sasinomuzwa wokuthi kwakonga imali ukusebenzisa owodwa. Nokho, ingakapheli inyanga sathola iziqondiso zivela eBrooklyn zokuba sithenge umshini wesibili oyi-rotary offset. Ngaleso sikhathi, sasingazi ukuthi yini eyayisengaphambili. Kodwa lapho ufika ngemva konyaka ngo-May, kwadingeka siqale ngokushesha ukunyathelisa i-New World Translation yesiJapane eyayizokhululwa emihlanganweni yesigodi eyayizokuba ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili nje kuphela. Kuleyo mihlangano kwakuzokhululwa nencwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni. Ngakho saphinda sasibona isandla sikaJehova siqondisa izinto. Sasingeke neze sikwazi ukunyathelisa omagazini bethu, iBhayibheli nencwadi ngomshini owodwa.”

Ngo-1984 kwafakwa umshini wesithathu, onamandla iMitsubishi. Wawunama-web amabili nezingxenye zemibala emine ngalé kwengxenye yombala omnyama; wawukhipha omagazini abayinkulungwane ngomzuzu. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakuwumshini onejubane ukuyedlula yonke ezweni futhi waba undab’ uzekwayo kubanyathelisi bezwe. U-Ichiki Matsunaga, owathola ukuqeqeshwa okukhethekile kokusebenza ngalomshini, wajabula lapho ewubona ugijima ngejubane lawo lonke. Wathi: “Kodwa kujabulisa nakakhulu ukucabanga ngejubane elimangalisayo lesi sigijimi esinyathelisiwe esizohamba ngalo.”

Omagazini abangu-60 000 ngehora babengasingathwa kanjani ngendlela ekahle? Ekugcineni, abazalwane baseshabhu lemishini baklama futhi bakha isimiso sikagesi esihambisa izincwadi esasihambisa omagazini besuka emshinini wokunyathelisa, baye kowokubacindezela nowokubasika, onamasaha amathathu, bese bedlulela lapho bepakishwa khona. Umbonisi walomsebenzi uyachaza: “Umshini wokunyathelisa ufakwa iphepha eliyisigamu sethani njalo ngemizuzu engu-20, bese kuthi ngalé ekugcineni, omagazini bapakishwe emabhokisini aphawuliwe, sebelungele ukuthunyelwa.” Ngemizuzu emihlanu, iphepha lisuka emshinini wokunyathelisa, liye kowokusika, ligcine ebhokisini. Lesi simiso esiwuhide sinciphisa isidingo sezisebenzi ezengeziwe nesendawo enkulu yokubeka omagazini.

Izinga eliphezulu lokunyathelisa lalemishini, kanye nentuthuko yezinga lezithombe nephepha, lakuthuthukisa kakhulu ukubukeka komagazini. Abamemezeli babahambisa ngentshiseko enkonzweni yasensimini.

“Ochwepheshe Abaningi”

Njengoba kwase kunyatheliswa ngemishini ye-offset, iNhlangano yaqala ukuwufaka kuyi-computer umsebenzi wayo wangaphambi kokunyathelisa. Babekhona yini oFakazi bamaJapane abanolwazi olwanele lwezobuchwepheshe, ababengazenza batholakalele ukwenza lolu shintsho? Yebo! UYasuo Ishii, omunye wamavulandlela emkhakheni wezobuchwepheshe besayensi yama-computer eJapane, wayeseyinceku kaJehova ezinikezele. Wayehlanganyele ukholo lwakhe nozakwabo. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abayisithupha ababengonjiniyela besimiso sama-computer futhi bengama-programmer angongqondongqondo base bengoFakazi ababhapathiziwe. Lonke leli qembu lasamukela isimemo sokwenza umsebenzi weNhlangano, abanye njengezikhonzi zaseBethel kanti abanye besebenza khona kodwa behlala emakhaya. Ekhumbula okwenzeka, uToshio Honma, owayengumqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha ngaleso sikhathi, wathi: “UJehova wayenochwepheshe abaningi abavela ngesikhathi ababedingeka ngaso.”

Ngokuqondene ne-computer eyayizosetshenziswa, ihhovisi laseBrooklyn lasikisela ukuba kuqashwe eyakwa-IBM, enkulu yohlobo 4341 eyayingakadayiswa. Igatsha leNhlangano laseJapane lalingelesibili, ngonkatho, elalizothola enye yalama-computer amuva amakhulu. Nokho, umdayisi wakulenkampani eJapane waba nomuzwa wokuthi kuzoba ngcono ukuyinikeza elinye lamakhasimende abo elalinamakhono okwenza umsebenzi we-programming. Abazalwane abahlanu nodade oyedwa ababekulomsebenzi bayihlela ngononina imininingwane yezidingo zeNhlangano ezingavamile. Ngemva kokubona lemininingwane ebhalwe kahle, ngokushesha lenkampani yathumela ne-oda lethu lapho ithumela awokuqala.

Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kokuhlakanipha kwalabo chwepheshe, abazalwane nodade abangamavolontiya abangaphezu kuka-40 baqeqeshelwa ukuba ama-programmer. Umgomo wawuwukwakha isimiso esizilawula ngokwaso sokubhala nokuklama izincwadi zeNhlangano zesiJapane. Lesi simiso sabizwa ngokuthi i-SCRIPT (System of Character Reproduction Incorporating Photo-Typesetting [Isimiso Sokuveza Izinhlamvu Nokuklama Ngomshini]). Ingakapheli iminyaka emibili sase sikulungele ukuhlolwa. Incwadi yokuqala eyenziwa ngalesi simiso kwakuyincwadi enamakhasi angu-192 ethi “Let Your Kingdom Come.”

Ngo-1987 ama-computer ezwe amancane ayesethuthuke aze afinyelela eqophelweni lokuba akwazi ukuhlangabezana nezidingo ezingavamile zombhalo wesiJapane. Ngakho lapho umshini wokuklama okubhaliwe osebenzelana ne-SCRIPT uphuka, kwashintshelwa esimisweni seNhlangano esishibhile sokuklama okubhaliwe. Izici ezikhethekile abazalwane ababezakhele isimiso se-SCRIPT, esihlanganisa “izinhlamvu zamagama” esiJapane ayinkimbinkimbi angaba ngu-8 000, zabe sezifakwa esimisweni se-MEPS. Iningi lama-programmer ayesebenza esimisweni sesiJapane manje lisebenza kwamanye amazwe ukuze lisekele uhlelo lweNhlangano lokunyathelisa lomhlaba wonke.

Kuvulwa Umnyango Omusha

Kwase kuyiminyaka ecela ku-30 indawo yokunyathelisa yeNhlangano eBrooklyn inikeza iJapane izincwadi eyayizidingela insimu. Kodwa njengoba umsebenzi wokwakha ifektri entsha wawuqhubeka e-Ebina ngo-1978, kwenziwa isinqumo sokuba igatsha laseJapane liqale ukunyathelisa izincwadi zalo.

Ezwa ngalokho esasihlose ukukwenza, umphathi wenkampani enkulu yezinto zokunamathelisa wasivakashela. Lapho ezwa ukuthi sasihlose ukuzenzela ezethu izinto zokunamathelisa, wacela ukusitholela izinto zokwenza okokunamathelisa nemishini esasizoyidinga. Noma, uma sithanda, wayengakujabulela ukusenzela inhlaka ngezindleko zakhe. Wayekwenzelani lokhu? Eminyakeni embalwa ngaphambili, wayeye embukisweni wemishini yokuhlanganisa nokunyathelisa eChicago, e-U.S.A. Yena neqembu lakhe bahlangana nabazalwane baseBethel yaseBrooklyn lapho, ababamema ukuba bavakashele indawo yokunyathelisa ye-Watchtower Society eNew York. Konke okwakwenziwa lapho, ikakhulu umusa nokuzikhandla kwabazalwane, kwalihlaba umxhwele kakhulu leli qembu. Manje wayefuna ukusisiza nganoma iyiphi indlela. Kwabonakala kushibhile ukuba sithenge kuye izinto zokunamathisela kunokuba sizenzele ezethu. Ngaye, sakwazi nokuxhumana nabadayisi bezinye izinto, futhi lokhu kuye kwayonga kakhulu imali.

Abenzi bemishini abaningi babambisana nathi ngendlela efanayo. Lapho abameleli babenzi bemishini yokusika neyokuhlanganisa amakhasi befika e-Ebina bezokwenza isivumelwano, kwabahlaba umxhwele kakhulu konke abakubona esakhiweni, ikakhulu izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezazizikhandla. Umphumela waba ukuthi bathi bazosehlisela imali yemishini yabo ngama-yen angu-1 000 000 (R44 300).

Ubani Owayengaqeqesha Abazalwane?

Kwakungekho muntu efektri owayenolwazi lokuhlanganisa izincwadi. URobert Pobuda wayemenyelwe eBrooklyn eyoqeqeshwa amasonto ayisithupha futhi athole ukwaziswa ngokuqeqesha abazalwane eJapane. Lokhu kwaziswa kwahunyushwa kwabe sekuqhutshwa isikole sokufundisa ukuhlanganisa amakhasi ezincwadi. Lokhu kwanezelwa ngosizo lochwepheshe basezinkampanini zezentengiselwano abafika bezofundisa abazalwane ngokusebenzisa izinto zokuhlanganisa izincwadi. Sahlela nokuba sihambele ezinye izindawo zezentengiselwano ezenza izincwadi ukuze sibone ukuthi kusetshenzwa kanjani.

Ngesinye isikhathi lapho beqeda nje ukubuka enye yezindawo zokuhlanganisa izincwadi, abazalwane babizelwa ehhovisi lomphathi. Wabuza: “Niyazi yini ukuthi kungani nginivumele ukuba ningene? Ngokuvamile asibavumeli nhlobo abantu bangaphandle abahlanganisa izincwadi ukuba babone ifektri yethu, kodwa kwathi kusasele isonto elilodwa nicele imvume yokuzobona lendawo, kwafika uFakazi kwami futhi wanginikeza omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Imikhuba yakhe emihle kanye nalokho engakufunda komagazini kwangihlaba umxhwele.” Wathatha ezinye izincwadi kuhlanganise nesikhokhelo se-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! futhi ngokuzithandela wathi uzosiza ngokuqeqesha abazalwane abaningana isikhathi esingangenyanga efektri yakhe.

Eminyakeni eminingi edlule kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, labo abahlanganisa izincwadi baye baqhubeka bethuthukisa amakhono abo futhi bandisa ulwazi lwabo. Izinkampani zezentengiselwano ezihlanganisa izincwadi ziye zathumela ngisho nezisebenzi zazo ukuba zizobona ifektri yethu. Ukuhlanzeka nokunakekelwa kwezinto ezincane abakubonayo kuzihlaba umxhwele. UJames Mantz, owayengumbonisi wefektri uyakhumbula: “Enye inkampani yokuhlanganisa izincwadi yanikezwa imvume yokuthatha izithombe ze-video njengoba abameleli bayo behamba bebuka. Babehlose ukuyisebenzisela ukuqeqesha izisebenzi zefektri yabo. Babenemishini efana neyethu futhi benza umsebenzi ofanayo, kodwa babefuna ukusebenzisa izikhonzi zaseBethel njengezibonelo ngenxa yesimo sazo sengqondo, esasibonakala ebusweni bazo obujabulile ngesikhathi zisebenza, nangenxa yokuthi umsebenzi zaziwenza ngokushelela okukhulu.” UMfoweth’ uMantz ukhumbula nokumangala kwesikhulu sebhizinisi esavakashela indawo yeNhlangano yokuhlanganisa izincwadi. Lesi sikhulu sathi: “Intsha yaseJapane ihlushwa yilokho okubizwa ngokuthi isifo so-‘K’ abathathu—kiken, kitanai, ne-kitsui.” Lokho kusho into eyingozi, engcolile nekhandlayo. Uma umsebenzi uhilela noma ikuphi kulokhu, intsha eningi ayiwufuni. Kodwa akunjalo efektri yase-Ebina.

Abantu baye baba nesithakazelo esikhethekile emshinini wethu ofaka isembozo sesikhumba ezincwadini futhi emaphethelweni zibe sagolide. Umshini wethu wokuhlanganisa izincwadi ezakhiweni zase-Ebina uye waba indawo eyinhloko yokwaziswa okuphathelene nokufakwa kwezembozo ezinjalo eJapane. Kulomshini, amaBhayibheli anesembozo sesikhumba akhiqizwa ngobuningi.

Ukunyathelisa I-New World Translation Ephelele

Ukushintshela ekunyatheliseni nge-offset, ukuvulwa kwendawo yokuhlanganisa izincwadi nokwakhiwa kwesimiso se-SCRIPT konke kwabeka isisekelo sokunyathelisa i-New World Translation ephelele.

Ngo-1975 sasithole imvume yokuqhubeka nokuhumusha imiBhalo YesiHeberu ye-New World Translation. Lokhu kwakuzoba umsebenzi womfelandawonye. Kwakhethwa abahumushi abathathu ukuba benze lomsebenzi. Yini eyayingase yenziwe ukuze kulondolozwe ubunye obusezingeni eliphakeme kulezi zisebenzi ezingefani? Kwenziwa izinhlu zamagama amaningi kanye nokwaziswa okuphathelene namabizoqho, izilwane, izitshalo, okumbiwa phansi, imibala, izifo nezinto ezinjengamathuluzi, izingubo, ukudla nemihlatshelo futhi zanikezwa abahumushi. Kwadingeka kuhlolwe ngokucophelela namagama amaningi afanayo nemishwana ebalulekile futhi nawo afakwe kulezi zinhlu. Kamuva, abahumushi beBhayibheli baseJapane baba phakathi kwalabo abacelwa ukuba bazochathazela ulwazi abanalo labo ababeklama isimiso sama-computer sokuhumusha iBhayibheli endlunkulu. Ukusikisela kwabo kuphakathi kwalokho manje okusetshenziswa abahumushi beBhayibheli emhlabeni wonke.

I-New World Translation yesiJapane ephelele yanyatheliswa futhi yahlanganiswa ezakhiweni zethu zase-Ebina. Ukuze kukhiqizwe amaBhayibheli angu-136 000 ayezokhululwa eMihlanganweni Yesigodi ‘Yeqiniso LoMbuso’ engu-17 ngo-1982, i-Graphics Department, indawo yokunyathelisa nomshini wokuhlanganisa izincwadi konke kwasebenza amahora angu-24 ngosuku. Abanye abazalwane babesebenza amashifu amahora angu-12 kuya kwangu-16. Bashukunyiswa ukukhumbula ukuthi babeqhubekisela phambili uhlobo lomsebenzi olwalwenziwe u-Ezra, ‘umbhali ochwepheshile emthethweni kaNkulunkulu,’ ezikhathini zasendulo. Nakuba u-Ezra ayelobe umsebenzi wakhe ngesandla, bona babesebenzisa umshini onesivinini esiphezulu we-web offset ukuze bakulobe ngesiJapane. Ukuze bazikhumbuze ukuthi balingisa lowo mbhali ochwepheshile, banamathisela amazwi ka-Ezra 7:6 emshinini.

Ngalowo nyaka bonke abazalwane ababesebenza emshinini wokuhlanganisa izincwadi baya emhlanganweni wokugcina owawuseFukushima. IBhayibheli lokugcina elalizokhululwa baliqeda sekusele imizuzu engu-8 kuphele usuku lokugcina lokusebenza ngaphambi komhlangano. UShigeru Yoshioka, owayesebenza kulowo mshini ngaleso sikhathi, uyakhumbula: “Sasikhathele siyingcuba, kodwa lapho sibona izinyembezi zenjabulo ebusweni babazalwane ngesikhathi bethola i-New World Translation ephelele ababekade beyilindele, sonke saba nomuzwa wokuthi asisebenzelanga ize.”

Njengoba inguqulo yeBhayibheli yesiJapane yayisikuyi-computer, akubanga nzima ukwenza amaBhayibheli anobukhulu obuhlukahlukene. Eminyakeni edlule selokhu yaqedwa ngo-1982, kuye kwanyatheliswa amakhophi e-New World Translation yesiJapane acela ku-3 000 000.

Kuyenezelwa Futhi Ukuze Kuhlangatshezwane Nokwanda

Njengengane ekhula ngamandla, inhlangano engokwasezulwini eJapane yaba nkulu ngokushesha yadlula izakhiwo zayo zegatsha. Ngo-February 1984 kwamenyezelwa ukuthi kuzokwandiswa futhi, manje kube nefektri enezitezi eziyisithupha nesakhiwo sokuhlala esinezitezi ezingu-8, kokubili kube namakamelo angaphansi. Ifektri entsha yayizovuleka ngamamitha-skwele angu-22-500, okuwukuphindwa kabili kwefektri yokuqala e-Ebina. Isakhiwo esisha sokuhlala sasizoba namakamelo angu-128 ukuze kuhlale izisebenzi zokuzithandela zaseBethel.

Umsebenzi wokwandisa waqala ngo-September 1984, waphothulwa ngo-February 1988. Ngalenkathi, inani labamemezeli eJapane ladlula izinkulungwane eziyikhulu, futhi liye laqhubeka landa. Lomsebenzi wawuyokwenza igatsha likwazi ukubhekana nezidingo ezandayo zensimu yaseJapane futhi lisize nangokunyathelisela amanye amazwe. Ngo-May 13, 1989, izakhiwo ezintsha zanikezelwa kuJehova, okunguYena owayenze kwaba nokwanda okwenza kudingeke lezi zakhiwo.

Ukukhathalela Umkhaya Kuza Ngaphambi Kwezinye Izithakazelo

Ngezinye izikhathi abezindaba bakuleli lizwe baye baba noFakazi BakaJehova sháqa. Umkhankaso wabezindaba wango-1986 wenza abantu baqaphela indlela oFakazi BakaJehova abazikhathalela ngayo izingane zabo. Isihloko esikhulu kuyi-Mainichi Daily News sasithi: “Isikhulu Esiphezulu Se-JNR Siyashiya Ukuze Sibe Nomkhaya Waso.” EJapane, ubaba onezingane ezeve eshumini nambili ubhekana nenkanankana lapho eshintshwa emsebenzini, ngisho nalapho ekhushulelwa esikhundleni esithile. Umuntu uyashintshwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyini isimo somkhaya. Lapho izingane zabo zisesikoleni esiphakeme, ngokuvamile abazali abathandi ukucabanga ngokuthutha edolobheni labo njengomkhaya. Ngokuvamile ubaba uyavuma ukushintshwa abese eshiya umkhaya wakhe ngemuva. NgesiJapane, lokhu kubizwa ngokuthi i-tanshinfunin. Lesi sihloko sephephandaba sabika ukuthi uTakeshi Tamura, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, wayemiswe njengomqondisi-jikelele we-Kyushu Bureau of the Japanese National Railways (JNR). Nokho, waqoma ukwesula emsebenzini kunokuba amukele lesi sikhundla esiphezulu futhi ashiye umkhaya wakhe ngemuva. “Umsebenzi wokuba umqondisi-jikelele ungenziwa yinoma ubani. Kodwa yimina kuphela onguyise wezingane zami,” kusho uMfoweth’ uTamura, njengoba elinye iphephandaba lamcaphuna esho kanjalo.

Abantu badideka. Ngaphambili abezindaba babeye bachaza oFakazi BakaJehova njengabanonya, bethi bangabantu abathanda ukuba izingane zabo zife. Kodwa nansi indoda okwathi ngenxa yokuba ifuna ukuba nomkhaya wayo, yaba nesibindi sokwesula esikhundleni amadoda amaningi asebenza e-JNR angenza noma yini ukuze asithole. Izintatheli zethelevishini zaya endlini ngendlu. Zaxoxa nosomabhizinisi ababemukele i-tanshinfunin lapho behla ezitimeleni beyochitha izimpelasonto nemikhaya yabo. Izintatheli zabuza abantu ukuthi babezizwa kanjani ngesinqumo sikaMfoweth’ uTamura. Impendulo eyayivamile yilena: ‘Ngimethulela isigqoko ngesinqumo sakhe. Ngifisa sengathi nami benginesibindi sokwenza njengaye.’

Ekhumbula okwenzeka, uMfoweth’ uTamura uthi: “Angazi ukuthi iphephandaba i-Mainichi layithola kanjani lendaba. Ngokuvamile, uma ukwaziswa okunjalo kuputshukile, abakwa-JNR baye bashintshe izabelo zezisebenzi ngamabomu, ukuze nje babonise ukuthi lokhu okwakusuke kubikiwe kungamanga. Nokho, kulokhu lendaba yaphuma injengoba yayibikwe abezindaba. Kumelwe ukuba uJehova wayekusekela. Ngabezindaba, amaJapane ezwa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bangabantu abayikhathalelayo imikhaya yabo.” Namuhla, uMfoweth’ uTamura nomkhaya wakhe wonke bakhonza njengabashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele. Ungumbonisi owengamele ebandleni akulo, kanti indodana yakhe iyisisebenzi saseBethel sokuzithandela sesikhashana.

Intuthuko E-Okinawa

Ngemva kokuba i-Okinawa ifakwe ngaphansi kwegatsha laseJapane, kwaqhubeka kunentuthuko enhle kuleyo nsimu, lapho amasiko akudala asenethonya elinamandla ekuphileni kwabantu. Ukukhula ngeminyaka akumvimbelanga uKiku Sunagawa oneminyaka engu-70 ukuba angenele umsebenzi wokuphayona. Iminyaka eminingi wayegqilazwe i-yuta yasendaweni, noma isangoma. Kodwa washukunyiswa kakhulu ukufunda emiBhalweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso unegama nokuthi ukwazi ukuhlola inhliziyo. Ngokushesha walahla konke ayenakho okwakuhlobene ne-yuta. Wabe esezimisela ukufunda ukuzifundela ukuze azuze ulwazi olwengeziwe ngentando kaNkulunkulu. Owayemfundela wamnikeza usizo ayeludinga ngesineke. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1981, futhi ngonyaka olandelayo wabhalisela ukuphayona.

Nakuba ayengafundile ngaphambili, manje wayesekwazi ukufundisa umyeni womuntu osekhulile owayefundelwa iBhayibheli ukuba akwazi ukuzifundela nokubhala ukuze yena nomkakhe bathuthukele obhapathizweni kanyekanye. Lombhangqwana owawunokwazisa wanikeza iBandla Lase-Akamichi isiqeshana esikahle sendawo elalizokwakha kuyo iHholo LoMbuso elihle elisha. Imizamo kaKiku yabusiswa nalapho odadewabo ababili abancane begqashula ethonyeni le-yuta ukuze bakhonze uNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova.

Ngo-1989 umbhangqwana osukhulile eHamamatsu wamukela isabelo sokuyofakaza esiqhingini esincane sase-Aguni Jima, esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-60 ogwini lwase-Okinawa. Wadayisa izindandatho zawo zomshado ukuze uqongelele izimali ezazidingeka ukuze uye kulesi siqhingi esikude. Izinsuku ezingu-20 wazichitha uhambela imizi engu-600 kulesi siqhingi. Langa limbe lapho uzihambela ugudla uthango lwamatshe, ilanga lasehlobo libalele likhipha umkhovu etsheni, amantombazanyana amabili awuphuzisa amanzi ayesezimvabeni zawo. Ushukunyiswa umusa walamantombazane, lombhangqwana wanquma ukuvakashela abazali balezi zingane. Lapho uzethula ngokuthi ungoFakazi BakaJehova, abazali bawanga ngemfudumalo. Laba bantu babengakaze babone Fakazi KaJehova selokhu bathutha e-Okinawa ezinyangeni ezingu-8 ngaphambili. Kwahlelwa isifundo seBhayibheli ngeposi, kwathi kamuva lesi sifundo sadluliselwa ebandleni laseNaha, e-Okinawa. Laba bazali kanye nendodakazi yabo endala babhapathizwa ngo-1993. Basiza abantu abaningi ukuba bafunde iqiniso kuleso siqhingi esingasodwa.

Ngo-1980, lapho i-Okinawa ibuyela ngaphansi kwegatsha laseJapane, inani labamemezeli e-Okinawa naseziqhingini ezingomakhelwane lalingu-958 emabandleni angu-22. Manje kunabamemezeli boMbuso abangaphezu kuka-2 600 abakhonza eSifundeni Sase-Okinawa.

AmaKomiti Okwakha Ezifunda Ayasiza

Kwase kungamashumi eminyaka amabandla akha amaHholo OMbuso awo esebenzisa noma iluphi ulwazi nezinto zokwakha ezazitholakala endaweni, kodwa kwakunezinkinga zokwakha, ezomthetho, kanye nezinye. Amabandla amaningi ayengakunaki ukuxuba imibala ezwanayo. Izisebenzi eziningi zokuzithandela kwakungabantu abangenamakhono, futhi zaziphuza ukuqeda imisebenzi. Izinyanga, ngisho neminyaka, eyayidingeka kweminye imisebenzi yokwakha yayilifaka engozini ingokomoya lebandla futhi ikakhulu elalabo ababakha. Kwase kuyisikhathi sokucabangela ukusebenzisa izimiso zokwakha ngokushesha ezazisetshenziswa e-United States.

IKomiti Yokwakha Yesifunda yokuqala yamiswa eTokyo ngo-September 1990. Kamuva kwamiswa namanye angu-7 ukuze kuhlanganiswe nezinye izingxenye zezwe. Ngo-March 1991 iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala eJapane elakhiwa ngendlela yokwakha esheshayo laba seNakaminato, eSifundeni Sase-Ibaraki. Nakuba isivunguvungu esinamandla ngosuku lwesibili sathi ukuphazamisa kancane, leli hholo elinezihlalo ezingu-120 laqedwa ngezinsuku ezine kuphela.

Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, amaKomiti Okwakha Ezifunda okuqala angu-8 kulo lonke elaseJapane aye andiswa aba ngu-11, asiza ekwakheni amaHholo OMbuso asuka ku-80 kuya ku-100 unyanga nonyaka. Ahlanganisa amaHholo OMbuso abhangqene namahholo anendawo yokupaka ngaphansi, ngenxa yokubiza kweziza. E-Okinawa iKomiti Yokwakha Yesifunda kwadingeka ishintshe amapulani ukuze izakhiwo zikwazi ukubhekana neziphepho ezivame ukuhlasela lesi siqhingi.

Kwathi sekusele usuku iBandla LaseKochinda e-Okinawa liqale umsebenzi wokwakha ngendlela esheshayo, umzalwane owayenikele ngesiza washona. Kwakuhlelwe ukuba umngcwabo wakhe ube ngo-4:00 ntambama ngeSonto elilandelayo—eHholo LoMbuso elalingakakhiwa. Lomzalwane wayedumile kulendawo, ngakho umngcwabo wakhe wamenyezelwa ezindabeni. Bebona isiza esikhonkiwe kuphela, abantu bathi: “Nizosiqeda ngempela isakhiwo ngaphambi komngcwabo?” Yebo, ihholo laphela ngesikhathi, futhi abantu abaningi, kuhlanganise nabanye ababevela emikhakheni yezomthetho nezombangazwe, babuthana kulo bezolalela inkulumo yomngcwabo.

Okwamanje, kunamaHholo OMbuso angu-1 796 kulo lonke elaseJapane nelase-Okinawa, futhi angu-511 kulawa akhiwe noma alungiswe ngendlela yokwakha ngokushesha. Lamahholo awubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuba khona koFakazi BakaJehova futhi kunika uNkulunkulu abamkhulekelayo udumo.

AmaHholo OMhlangano Ezweni Lonke

Kungashiwo okufanayo nangamaHholo OMhlangano, lapho kuqhutshelwa khona imihlangano yesifunda neyosuku olukhethekile. Kusukela ngawo-1980, amaHholo OMhlangano akhiwa ngokulandelana—eKansai, e-Ebina, eChiba, eTokai, eHyogo, eGumma, eHokkaido naseTochigi. IHholo LoMhlangano lesishiyagalolunye, elakhiwa eKyushu, laqedwa ngo-1997.

Ukuziphatha okuyisibonelo kwabazalwane abakhuthele ngokuvamile kwakushintsha izinhliziyo zomakhelwane ababengenamusa ekuqaleni. Lapho kwakhiwa iHholo LoMhlangano laseTokai eduze kwaseNagoya, umakhelwane othile wavuka indlobane futhi wazama ukusungula umkhankaso wokulibhuntshisa. Wayeza esakhiweni nsuku zonke ezobuka ukuthi kwenziwani. Ngelinye ilanga wafika nesaha. Lapho umzalwane oqondisa umsebenzi embuza ukuthi uhlose ukwenzani, wathi: “Bengilokhu ngibuka ebenikwenza kuze kube yimanje. Futhi kubonakala sengathi lolu qalo lunivimbela indlela. Ake ngibambe iqhaza nami namuhla emsebenzini wokuzithandela.” Naye wasiza.

Ngo-1995, lapho abazalwane bakha iHholo LoMhlangano laseHokkaido esiqhingini esilé enyakatho, imali yayincane impela. Ngakho bajabula lapho bethola izihlalo ezingu-2 000 mahhala. Bazithola kanjani? Ngesikhathi kwakhiwa, ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba kwahlasela iKobe namadolobha aseduze, kwashiya izakhiwo eziningi zingenakusebenziseka. IKobe Kokusai Kaikan, eyayinehholo elihle lamakhonsathi, yayingesinye sazo. Ngemva kokuba kunqunywe ukuba lesi sakhiwo sibhidlizwe, umbiko wezindaba zethelevishini waveza abaculi belivalelisa leli hholo. Bebona lezi zindaba, oFakazi ababenza umsebenzi wokusiza eKobe bathintana nalabo ababeqondisa umsebenzi wokwakha futhi bathola imvume yokuthatha izihlalo baziyise eHholo LoMhlangano laseHokkaido. Ingxenye yesithathu yalezi zihlalo ezingu-2 000 yayiyintsha shá, kanti ezinye zaziyosebenziseka ngemva kokuba zilungisiwe. Inkampani eyabhidliza leli hholo lamakhonsathi yajabula ngokuthi izihlalo zase zithathiwe.

Ngemva kweHholo LoMhlangano laseTochigi nelaseHokkaido ngo-1995, abazalwane nodade ababefanelekela ukukhonza ngaphansi kwamaKomiti Okwakha Esifunda aqondisa ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso nabo baba nengxenye ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMhlangano. Abazalwane bawazisa kakhulu amaHholo abo oMhlangano nethuba lokuba nobudlelwane ndawonye lapho benemihlangano. Kulezi zakhiwo babona obunye ubufakazi besibusiso sikaJehova esicebile emizamweni yabo yokunikela ngomhlatshelo wokudumisa ofanelekayo.

Izindawo Ezifanelekayo Zemihlangano Emikhulu

Ngawo-1980 iningi lemihlangano yesigodi emikhulu yayiqhutshelwa ezinkundleni ezivulekile. Lokhu kwakuhilela ukubekezelela ukushisa kwasehlobo okukhiph’ inhlanzi emanzini, umswakama kanye neziphepho, eziye ziqale ukuhlasela eJapane cishe ngesikhathi semihlangano yasehlobo.

Ngo-1983 kwahlelwa umhlangano wesigodi wabantu abangaphezu kuka-20 000 owawuzoba ngo-August 18 kuya ku-21 eGreenery Squares e-Expo Memorial Park ese-Osaka. Lapho ulungiselelwa, izisebenzi zokuzithandela zamisa amatende amabili amakhulu ngeSonto, ngo-August 14. Nokho, isiphepho esasivunguza ngejubane lamakhilomitha angu-160 ngehora sasiqonde ngqó e-Osaka. Abazalwane banquma ukuwaqaqa amatende ukuze bagweme ingozi. “Amahhovisi omhlangano wawungathi isiteshi esibikezela isimo sezulu njengoba abazalwane babegade ngokucophelela ukuthi siya ngakuphi isiphepho,” kusho uShogo Nakagawa, umbonisi womhlangano.

“Umhla ka-16 waba usuku lomthandazo. Ukuze umhlangano uqale ngesikhathi, kwakumelwe ukuba abazalwane babe sebewamisile amatende ngo-5:00 ekuseni ngo-August 17. Iphephandaba lakusihlwa ngo-August 16 lalithi: ‘Kulindeleke Imvula Nesivunguvungu E-Osaka.’ Ukuze sikwazi ukumisa amatende ngesikhathi, kwakudingeka isiphepho sisheshe futhi sijikele ngakwesokudla, futhi liphenye ngasentshonalanga. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka. Ngo-4:00 ekuseni, ngomhla ka-17 laliyidliva engxenyeni eseningizimu ye-Osaka kodwa lingani lapho kwakuzoqhutshelwa khona umhlangano. Amatende aphinde amiswa ngaphambi kokuqala komhlangano, owaqala ngo-1:20 ntambama ngoLwesine, ngomhla ka-18, njengoba nje kwakuhleliwe.”

Kancane kancane, kwatholakala izinkundla ezivalekile namahholo ayengathatha abantu abangaphezu kuka-10 000. Ngawo-1990, oFakazi BakaJehova baqala ukuqasha lamahholo ayenesimiso sokupholisa umoya. Omunye wemibuthano emikhulukazi owawukulamahholo wawuseTokyo Dome Stadium ngo-1992. Sebebonke, bangu-39 905 abantu ababa kuloMhlangano Wesigodi “Wabaphathi Bokukhanya.” Njengoba lenkundla isenkabeni yeTokyo, lomhlangano wanikeza ubufakazi obuhle kwabawubona. Indoda eyayisebenza eduze nenkundla yavuma kwelinye iphayona elalihambele emzini wayo ukuthi yona nozakwabo babebagxeka oFakazi. Kodwa ngemva kokubuka izihambeli zomhlangano, yaxolisa yabe isithi: “Manje njengoba imibono yami isishintshile, labo magazini ngizobafunda nomkami.”

Abatakuliwe Bayemukelwa

Ngawo-1980 ikhono labazalwane lokuhlangabezana nesidingo lavivinywa. Njengoba nje namaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayenamathuba okubonisa ukujula kothando lwawo ngokunikeza usizo kwabakholwa nawo ababentula eJudiya, noFakazi BakaJehova eJapane eminyakeni yamuva baye baba namathuba okuveza lezi zimfanelo zobuKristu ezikhathini zenhlekelele. (IzE. 11:28, 29; Roma 15:26) Indlela abakwenze ngayo iye yanikeza obunye ubufakazi bokugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJesu: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.”—Joh. 13:35.

Isibonelo sokuqala semisebenzi emikhulu yokunikeza usizo senzeka ngemva kokuba kuqhume iMount Mihara esesiqhingini sase-Izu Oshima ngo-November 21, 1986. Ngo-4:17 ntambama, uJiro Nishimura, umdala webandla okuwukuphela kwalo kulesi siqhingi wezwa ukuqhuma okuvala izindlebe. “Lapho ngiphumela phandle,” kusho uMfoweth’ uNishimura, “kwakunefu elikhulu phezu kweMount Mihara njengokungathi kuqhume ibhomu lenuzi.” Lingakapheli nehora, ukuzamazama komhlaba okungu-80 kwazamazamisa lesi siqhingi. Ebusuku kwase kutakulwe abantu abangaphezu kuka-10 000.

Ngemva kwamahora ambalwa nje kube nokuqhuma, amakomiti okunikeza usizo amiswa e-Izu Peninsula naseTokyo ukuze anakekele oFakazi ababetakuliwe. Ngemva kwesiqondiso sokuba abantu batakulwe, uYoshio Nakamura wahamba nabanye ababevela emabandleni aseTokyo baphuthuma esikhumulweni somkhumbi ngehora lesibili entathakusa ukuze basize amalungu eBandla Lase-Izu Oshima. Kamuva omunye wababetakuliwe wathi: “Lapho sehla emkhunjini, sabona uphawu oluthi, ‘OFakazi BakaJehova.’ . . . Zehla izinyembezi kumkami ngoba kwathi gidí kuye lapho sithola abazalwane besihlangabezile esikhumulweni somkhumbi.”

Ukuqhuma KwaseShimabara

Ingakapheli iminyaka eyisihlanu kamuva, ngo-June 1991, kwaqhuma iMount Fugen eShimabara Peninsula eduze kwaseNagasaki. Kwafa abantu abangaphezu kuka-40. Omunye uFakazi nezingane zakhe wasinda ngokulambisa ngoba indlu yakhe yayilapho kwakuhamba khona umoya nodaka olwaluvutha. Kubamemezeli abangu-42 abahlanganyela neBandla LaseShimabara, bangu-30 okwadingeka bashiye amakhaya. Ibandla alibange lisakwazi ukusebenzisa iHholo lalo loMbuso ngoba lalisendaweni eyingozi. Amabandla ezweni lonke atshelwa ngezidingo zabafowabo kulendawo eyayisebunzimeni, kwabe sekuvulwa i-akhawunti yasebhange yesikhwama sokusiza. Abantu basabela ngokushesha; ukusabela kwakukukhulu kangangokuba ibhange lendawo lakhungatheka. Lacela ukuba ukufakwa kwemali kuthi ukuma kancane libe lizama ukuqedela ukusebenza ngeyase ingenile. Yathi ingakapheli inyanga, iKomiti yendawo yokunikeza usizo yacela ukuba amabandla akhawule ukuthumela imali, ngoba yase ithole engaphezu kweyayidingeka. Ngalé kokunakekela labo ababelahlekelwe imisebenzi yabo nemizi yabo, iminikelo eyathunyelwa yenza bakwazi ukwakha iHholo LoMbuso elisha elihle leBandla LaseShimabara nelinye leBandla Lase-Arie elalisanda kumiswa, ingxenye yababaleki ehlanganyela kulo manje.

Imisebenzi yokunikeza usizo kanye nokukhathalela kothando okwaboniswa ezincwadini ezingaphezu kuka-3 000 ezafika, kwazithinta ngokujulile izinhliziyo zoFakazi basendaweni eyayinenhlekelele. Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-April wonyaka owalandela inhlekelele, abamemezeli abangu-28 beBandla LaseShimabara kanye namalungu angu-20 abhapathiziwe eBandla Lase-Arie bonke bangenela inkonzo yamaphayona asizayo kuleyo nyanga. Kwakuyisibonakaliso sokubonga kwabo uJehova.

Kudingeka Usizo Lwezomthetho

Yebo, umsebenzi wobunye wezinceku zikaJehova awuzange umjabulise uSathane. Njengakwamanye amazwe, uye wazama ukubeka izithiyo ukuze aphazamise inqubekela-phambili yabantu bakaJehova. Lokhu kuye kwenza kwadingeka ukuba ngezinye izikhathi izindaba ziyiswe ezinkantolo.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 25:11.

Ukuze kusingathwe izimo ezidinga iseluleko sezomthetho, kwavulwa ingosi yezomthetho ehhovisi legatsha ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1980. Ngo-1991 ummeli osemusha nomkakhe, bazinikela ukuba bakhonze isikhathi esigcwele egatsheni. Ngemva kokuthintana nabanye abazalwane abasemkhakheni wezomthetho, wahlela ukwaziswa okuwusizo kakhulu okwakuzosetshenziswa izindikimba zabadala okuphathelene nezindaba ezinjengokuqasha iHholo LoMbuso nobunikazi, indlela efanele yokusingatha ubudlova obenziwa kubantu bakaJehova nezinyathelo eziwukuhlakanipha ezingase zithathwe ezimpikiswaneni zokuhlukanisa nezokuwinwa kwabantwana. Ngaphezu kwalokho, igatsha lanikezwa iseluleko esidingekayo sokubhekana nokushintsha kwemithetho ephathelene nokunyathelisa, ukuthumela izincwadi zeBhayibheli nokunye okunjalo.

Amacala Okwenqaba Ngenxa Kanembeza Ongokwenkolo Ayiswa Enkantolo

Icala elaziwayo elayiswa ezithebeni zezinkantolo lalihilela uKunihito Kobayashi oneminyaka engu-16, owayefunda eKobe Municipal Industrial Technical College. (EJapane, amakolishi ezobuchwepheshe anikeza izifundo zeminyaka emihlanu ezingaphoqelelwe, ezihlanganisa iminyaka emithathu yasesikoleni esiphakeme.) Ezinye izikole zazikwenze umkhuba ukuphindisa ikilasi noma ukuxosha abafundi ababengahlanganyeli ezifundweni zobuciko bokulwa. Ngaleyo ndlela babephucwa ilungelo lokuthola imfundo. Ngesikhathi uLloyd Barry ehambele igatsha ngo-December 1986, kwatuswa ukuba kukhethwe umzalwane oyisibonelo owayebhekene nalenkinga, mhlawumbe kube indodana kamdala, afake isikhalazo ezinkantolo ngalokhu kuxoshwa.

Ngo-1990, uKunihito Kobayashi kanye nabanye abafundi abane babezenqabile izifundo ze-kendo (ukungcweka ngezinkemba kwamaJapane) ngokuvumelana nomyalo ka-Isaya 2:4 ‘wokukhanda izinkemba zabo zibe-ngamakhuba nokungabe kusafundwa ukulwa.’ Ngenxa yalokho, benqatshelwa ukuba badlulele ekilasini elilandelayo. UKunihito, nakuba ayebaqwaqwada emakhanda abanye ekilasini, wagcina exoshiwe esikoleni ngoba engaphumelelanga esifundweni sokuvocavoca umzimba iminyaka emibili ilandelana. UKunihito nabanye abane bafaka isikhalo ngenxa yezenzo zesikole, bethi babephucwe amalungelo abo angokomthetho enkululeko yokukhulekela nawokuthola imfundo. Ngemva kokudluliswa izikhathi eziningi, icala likaKunihito lagcina lifike eNkantolo Ephakeme. Ngo-March 8, 1996, amajaji eSecond Petit Bench yeNkantolo Ephakeme amvuna ngazwi-linye, athi ikolishi lalenze iphutha ngokumphoqa ukuba akhethe phakathi kwemfundo nenkolo yakhe. Kwakuqala ngqá ukuba inkantolo ikhiphe isahlulelo secala elihilela inkululeko engokwenkolo negunya lesikole eliphathelene nohlelo lwezifundo. Uthisha-nhloko omusha wabiza bonke abafundi, wavuma ukuthi isikole sasingahlulelanga kahle kuleli cala, futhi wabacela ukuba ‘bamamukele ngemfudumalo uMnu. uKobayashi njengomfundi okanye nabo.’ Ngo-April 1996, ngemva kweminyaka emine exoshiwe, uMfoweth’ Kobayashi, manje owayeseneminyaka engu-21, waphindela esikoleni.

Lesi sinqumo sasakazwa kabanzi ezweni lonke, futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bajabula ngokuthi umphakathi wawuphinde waqasheliswa igama likaJehova nezindlela zakhe zokulunga nokuthi kwakunikezwe ubufakazi obuhle.—Math. 10:18.

Ukubonisa Inhlonipho Ngomthetho KaNkulunkulu Ngegazi

Nakuba kwaziwa kahle ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bayabakhathalela abantu abaphila nabo, kuye kwadingeka kwenziwe umzamo oqinile wokunqoba ukuphikiswa kwabo okukhulu ngokuhlonipha ubungcwele begazi. (Gen. 9:4; IzE. 15:28, 29) Ngaphambi kwawo-1980 ihhovisi legatsha lalinohlu lwezibhedlela nodokotela ababeye bahlinza ngaphandle kwegazi. Kodwa kwakungelona uhlu lodokotela ababambisana nathi; abanye babeye bahlinza ngaphandle kwegazi bezihudula.

Ingabe kukhona okwengeziwe okwakungase kwenziwe ukuze kusizwe oFakazi ababedinga amagama odokotela abazimisele ukuhlinza ngaphandle kwegazi? U-Akihiro Uotani, owahileleka ngokuqondile ekuhlangabezaneni nalesi sidingo, uyakhumbula: “Sasikhungathekile ngoba ngokuvamile zaziyima emthumeni lapho kufika izingcingo eziphuthumayo eNhlanganweni zifuna amagama odokotela abazimisele ukuhlinza ngaphandle kwegazi.” Kwathi ngasekuqaleni kuka-1989, eJapane kwezwakala amahlebezi okuthi e-United States kwakunengqungquthela yeKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela (HLC [Hospital Liaison Committee]). Linesithakazelo, igatsha labhalela indlunkulu eBrooklyn incwadi labuza. Kamuva, ngo-November ngalowo nyaka, kwafika incwadi ivela eMnyangweni Wokwaziswa Ngezezibhedlela eBrooklyn itshela igatsha ukuthi iKomiti Yokunyathelisa ivumile ukuba ingqungquthela ye-HLC ibe seJapane ngo-March 1990. Kwakuzoba eyokuqala eyayingeke iqhutshelwe e-United States.

Ngalé kwamalungu e-HLC angu-91 ayesanda kumiswa, kwakuzoba khona ababonisi abajikelezayo abangu-111, odokotela abangoFakazi abangu-25 baseJapane, abazalwane baseRepublic yaseKorea abangu-44 nothisha abathathu abavela eBrooklyn. Lengqungquthela yayizoba ngesiNgisi bese ihunyushelwa olimini lwesiKorea nesiJapane.

“Phakathi nalengqungquthela, othisha basigcizelela ngokuphindaphindiwe isidingo ‘sokufundisa odokotela’” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ u-Uotani. “Abanye babengabaza kakhulu ukuthi ukuxoxa nodokotela nokuhambela izibhedlela ngombono wokufundisa odokotela kuzokwamukelwa eJapane. Lokhu kwakubangwa ikakhulu ukuthi, ngokuvamile amaJapane avele amukele noma ikuphi ukwelashwa akunikwa odokotela, kanti nodokotela abathandisisi ukuxoxa nabantukazana ngalokho abakwenzayo. Nakuba kunjalo, ngemva kwalengqungquthela othisha abathathu bakha amaqembu ngamalungu eKomiti Yokubonisana base behambela izibhedlela eTokyo, kwaba nemiphumela emihle kakhulu.”

Ukufundisa Abezindaba Nodokotela

Ngenxa yemibiko echemile nokwaziswa okunganembile okwakuvela emaphephandabeni, kwabonakala ukuthi kufanele kwenziwe imizamo yokufundisa abezindaba kanye nodokotela mayelana nokuma kwethu endabeni yegazi. Ngakho, kusukela ngo-September 1990, ngemva kokukhululwa kwencwajana ethi Igazi Lingakusindisa Kanjani Ukuphila Kwakho?, igatsha laqala umkhankaso wokuxoxa nezintatheli zamaphephandaba ezwe lonke nawendawo ezazibhala izihloko eziphathelene nezokwelapha. Wahamba kahle kakhulu. Ezinye izintatheli, zihlatshwe umxhwele ezazikubonisiwe, zacela nokubhala isihloko esimayelana nodokotela abahlinza ngaphandle kwegazi.

Omunye umphumela omuhle walomkhankaso waba ukuthi izintatheli zesayensi zamaphephandaba ezwelonke adumile zatshela i-HLC yase-Osaka ukuthi i-Ethics Committee of the National Center for Circulatory Disease (IKomiti Yezimiso Zokuhle Yesikhungo Sezwe Sezifo Zegazi) ibhunga ngendlela yokusebenzelana noFakazi. Ngokushesha, kwabhalwa incwadi kucelwa ukuba kuxoxwe nomqondisi walesi sikhungo. Kwaba khona umqondisi nesekela likasihlalo weKomiti Yezimiso Zokuhle kulomhlangano. Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-April 22, 1991 kwenziwa isinqumo sokuba kuhlonishwe amalungelo oFakazi okwenqaba ukumpontshelwa igazi.

Ngemva kwalesi siqalo esihle, kwaxoxwa namanye amakomiti ezimiso zokuhle kwezinye izibhedlela, kwaba nemiphumela efanayo. Lapho i-Ethics Committee for the Tokyo Metropolitan Hospitals and Maternities ilungiselela iziqondiso zokusingatha ukwenqatshwa kwegazi ngezizathu zenkolo, kwacelwa ummeleli woMnyango Wokwaziswa Ngezezibhedlela egatsheni namalungu ama-HLC eTokyo ukuba afake isandla. Lekomiti enamalungu angu-13 yatusa ukuba zonke izibhedlela ezingu-16 ezingaphansi kukahulumeni omkhulu waseTokyo zihloniphe izifiso zeziguli ezingabantu abadala ezifisa ukwelashwa ngaphandle kwegazi ngisho noma odokotela benomuzwa wokuthi liyadingeka. “Lapho isiguli silethwa esibhedlela siqulekile kodwa sinekhadi eliqinisekisa ukuthi asithandi ukumpontshelwa, udokotela kumelwe acabangele leso sifiso kuqala,” kubika i-Mainichi Shimbun. Ngaphezu kwalokho, yathi “izifiso zezingane ezifunda esikoleni esiphakeme eziphathelene nokumpontshelwa ziyohlonishwa njengokungathi ezabantu abadala.”

Ngisho nezibhedlela ezazikade zinezimpawu ezithi “OFakazi BakaJehova Abathathwa” ziye zashintsha isimo sazo sengqondo futhi zizimisele ukwelapha oFakazi futhi zisebenzise izindlela ezingalisebenzisi igazi. Manje sekunamagama odokotela abangaphezu kuka-15 000 ohlwini lodokotela ababambisana nathi. Abanye odokotela babezizwa bekhishwa inyumbazane uma i-HLC yendawo ibashiya ngaphandle. Ngo-October 1995 iShin-Tokyo Hospital eMatsudo yaqala uhlelo lokwelapha ngaphandle kwegazi, olukuhlonipha ngokuphelele ukuma koFakazi ngokuqondene negazi. Ngakho, kuye kwaba nentuthuko enhle kakhulu kulendaba esemqoka.

Uthando Oluhambisana Nokuhleleka

Njengoba uJesu Kristu abikezela, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina ukuzamazama komhlaba kuyaqhubeka kugadla ezindaweni ngezindawo. (Math. 24:3, 7) Okunye kwagadla eKobe ngoLwesibili, ngo-January 17, 1995. Lokhu kuzamazama komhlaba, okwaba ngu-7,2 esikalini sikaRichter, kwabulala abantu abangaphezu kuka-5 000 kwashiya izinkulungwane eziningi zisele dengwane. Phakathi koFakazi abangu-9 000 ababehlala kulendawo yenhlekelele, oFakazi abangu-13 ababebhapathiziwe nababili ababengabamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe balahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo. UHiroshi noKazu Kaneko, umbhangqwana ongamaphayona akhethekile owawukhonza eBandleni LaseNishinomiya Central, batholwa ngaphansi kwemfucumfucu yesakhiwo esidala ngalolo suku ekuseni. Kwathatha isikhathi esingaphezu kwamahora amane ukutakula uMfoweth’ uKaneko, kodwa umkakhe uKazu wayesecindezeleke waze wafa. Ngenxa yokuthi uHiroshi wayengaphansi kwemfucumfucu esindayo isikhathi eside, izinso zakhe zayeka ukusebenza, waba sesimweni esibucayi izinsuku eziningi. “Ngabona kahle ukuthi izinto ezibonakalayo esinazo azinalusizo kangakanani,” kusho uHiroshi. “Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ngakubona ukubaluleka kwezimfanelo zangaphakathi ezinjengokholo nethemba. Lezo zimfanelo zisisiza ukuba sikwazi ukudlula ezimweni ezimbi kunazo zonke okungenzeka sibhekane nazo.”

Beshukunyiswe uthando olujulile ngabafowabo, oFakazi bathatha izinyathelo masinyane ukuze banikeze usizo. Ngenhlanhla, izifunda ezizungeze iKobe zazihlelwe ngendlela yokuba zihlukanise idolobha ukusuka enyakatho kuya eningizimu. Njengoba ukuzamazama kwagadla endaweni engasogwini ukusuka empumalanga kuya entshonalanga, isifunda ngasinye sasinamabandla angathintekile ayengasiza lawo ayentula. Abadala basemabandleni aseduze ayengathintekile bathatha izinyathelo kuqala zokuhlela umsebenzi wokusiza. Ngosuku lwangemva kokuzamazama kokuqala, ihele lezithuthuthu ezingu-16 layisa ukudla namanzi emabandleni asedolobheni eKobe.

Ngokushesha ababonisi abajikelezayo bakha izikhungo zosizo zesikhashana ukuze zinakekele oFakazi basendaweni ethintekile. Igatsha lamisa amaHholo OMbuso ayisithupha ayengabhidlikile njengezikhungo zokunikeza usizo. “Emahoreni ayisihlanu, lawo mahholo ayesegcwele phamá,” kukhumbula uYoshihiro Nagasaki, ilungu leKomiti Yegatsha owaya endaweni yenhlekelele ngesithuthuthu somunye uFakazi. “Kwadingeka sicele abazalwane ukuba izimpahla zokusiza baziyise emaHholo OMhlangano aseduze.” Kwamiswa izikhungo zokwaba izimpahla zosizo lapho abameleli bamabandla endawo babengase bakwazi ukufika khona bezolanda izinto ezidingekayo, abadala ebandleni ngalinye babeye banikeze amalungu ebandla labo izimpahla.

IBhayibheli likhuthaza amaKristu ukuba ‘asebenze okuhle kubo bonke, kodwa ikakhulukazi kulabo ahlobene nabo okholweni.’ (Gal. 6:10) OFakazi bakuhlanganyela ngenjabulo nomakhelwane babo lokho ababekutholile. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbili kuzamazame umhlaba eKobe, lapho umdala onguFakazi eqaphela ukuthi izimpahla zosizo zoFakazi zase zanele kodwa abanye abantu babesantula, ngokushesha wathumela amaveni amabili agcwele ukudla esikhungweni sendawo sababaleki.

Kunikezwa Usizo Olwengeziwe

Kwanakekelwa nezidingo ezingokomzwelo nezingokomoya. Ngokushesha kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuqhuba imihlangano yebandla. Elinye ibandla lahlanganela epaki ngalo lolo suku lokuzamazama komhlaba. NgeSonto elalandela ukuzamazama, amabandla amaningi kulendawo aba neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda esivamile. Ukuze kunakekelwe izidingo ezingokomzwelo nezingokomoya zababethintekile, kwathunyelwa ababonisi abajikelezayo abangu-7 ezifundeni eziyisihlanu ezazithintekile, ngaphandle kwababonisi besifunda bakhona abavamile. Babahambela ngokukhethekile abazalwane beyobaqinisa futhi babasize ukuba bagcine izithakazelo zoMbuso ziza kuqala ekuphileni kwabo naphezu kwalenhlekelele.

AmaHholo OMbuso ayishumi ayengakufanelekele ukusetshenziswa. Izindlu zabazalwane abaningi zazidilikile noma zonakele kancane. AmaKomiti Okwakha Ezifunda angu-11 eJapane ahlela amaqembu ezisebenzi ezingaba ngu-21 ezazizovuselela izindlu ezazonakele. Iqembu loFakazi elinikeza usizo elalivela e-United States lafika ngezindleko zalo lizosiza kulomsebenzi. Ngaphambi kokuba lamaqembu aqede umsebenzi wawo, ayeselungise izindlu ezingu-1 023, futhi alungisa izindlu ezine ezazibhidlikile. Kwakhiwa kabusha amaHholo OMbuso ayisihlanu kanti amane alungiswa abazalwane abazidela bevela kulo lonke lelo lizwe.

Amalungu omkhaya angakholwa aboniswa umusa ofana nowawuboniswa amalungu akholwayo aleyo mikhaya. Udade onomyeni ongakholwa nezingane ezine walahlekelwa indodana yakhe yesibili kulokhu kuzamazama komhlaba. Lomkhaya wahlala isonto lonke eHholo LoMbuso nabanye oFakazi abangu-70. Ibona indlela abazalwane ababebonisa ngayo ukukhathalela futhi benikeza usizo olungokoqobo, lendoda yaqala ukuyazisa inhlangano kaJehova. Ngelinye ilanga yavakashela isikhungo sokunikeza usizo eSuita. Lapho, yabona abazalwane abaningi bezikhandla ukuze kuzuze abantu abangabazi nhlobo. Yathinteka kakhulu, futhi ayikwazanga ukubamba izinyembezi. Ngalo lolo suku yamukela isifundo seBhayibheli.

Ukuzamukela Kahle Izinguquko

Njengoba iminyaka ihamba, isimo siye sashintsha eJapane. Ekupheleni kuka-March 1992, ngemva kweminyaka engu-43 kufike iqembu lokuqala lezithunywa zevangeli ngo-1949, yonke insimu eyabelwe igatsha laseJapane yayisihlanganiswa njalo ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Nokho, izimo zengqondo nezimo zabantu nazo zishintshile, futhi lokhu kuye kwadinga ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova bavumelane nezimo.

URodney Kealoha, isithunywa sevangeli esesineminyaka eminingi sijikeleza, wathi: “Eminyakeni engu-25 edlule [ngawo-1970] amaJapane ayenenhlonipho futhi enobungane kakhulu. Lapho oFakazi befika kuwo, nakuba engenasithakazelo, ayelalela.” Abantu babezinika isikhathi sokufunda futhi ngokuvamile, babesazisa kakhulu isimilo nokuhleleka komphakathi. Nokho, kancane kancane baphazanyiswa ukuchuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Omama bamakhaya baqala ukuyosebenza. Bambalwa abantu ababetholakala ekhaya emini. Labo ababesekhaya ngokuvamile babematasa kakhulu ukuba bangaxoxa isikhathi eside ngenkolo futhi babengazimisele ukuthatha izincwadi ababenomuzwa wokuthi abanasikhathi sokuzifunda.

Kwakwakhiwa izakhiwo zokuhlala namakhaya okungangeneki kalula kuwo futhi anemishini yokukhuluma ngaphandle. Abamemezeli kulezi zindawo kwadingeka bazijwayeze ukunikeza isigijimi emshinini. Bafunda ukuphindela kulabo ababemane babonisa umusa nenhlonipho. UHiroko, iphayona elikhonza eSapporo, waxoshwa owesifazane owayekhuluma ngomshini owathi ungumShinto. Eqiniseka ngokuthi kumelwe ukuba lona wesifazane unenhliziyo enhle ngoba unezwi elijabulile nelinesizotha, uHiroko waphindela. Wagcina esakhe ubungane ekhuluma ngalomshini. Ngemva kwezinyanga eziyishumi elokhu eya, ekugcineni wabingelelwa ngokuthi, “Ngicela ume kancane,” lona wesifazane wavula umnyango wamngenisa. Ingxoxo emayelana nomkhaya yaholela esifundweni seBhayibheli ngokushesha, kwabe sekuba ubhapathizo. Lodade osanda kuhlanganyela, manje oseyiphayona, ngempela wayenenhliziyo enhle.

Ngenxa yokuthi abantu abaningi baqabukela besekhaya emini, INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yakhuthaza ukuba kwandiswe ukufakaza kwakusihlwa nokwasemgwaqweni. Ngokushesha abamemezeli basabela ngomfutho. Kungakapholi maseko, kulo lonke elaseJapane, babebonakala behambisa INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! emigwaqweni, ikakhulu eziteshini zezitimela eziphithizelayo.

Isibonelo salokhu udade oseduze kwaseYokohama. Nakuba ayesebenza isikhathi sonke, wayefuna ukuba iphayona elisizayo. Umdala othile wasikisela ukuthi usuku ngalunye ngaphambi kokuba aye emsebenzini wokuziphilisa angafakaza emgwaqweni eduze nesiteshi sesitimela kusukela ngo-6:00 kuya ku-8:00 ekuseni. Ngemva kokunqoba ukwesaba ayenakho nokuhlekwa usulu abantu ayegibela nabo, wathola umzila kamagazini wabantu abangaba ngu-40 ababekujabulela ukuthola omagazini. Babehlanganisa abagibeli, izisebenzi zasesiteshini nabanini-zitolo eziseduze. Isilinganiso somagazini ayebahambisa sasingu-235 ngenyanga, ensimini amaphayona ayevame ukuhambisa kuyo abangaba ngu-30. Ngokuhlanganyela amaphuzu angokomBhalo nabantu, imizuzu embalwa nje usuku ngalunye, wakwazi ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziyisithupha—esinye kungesephoyisa.

Abanye abamemezeli basebenzisa ukusikisela kokufakaza ngocingo ukuze bafinyelele abantu ezakhiweni okungangeneki kalula kuzo. Ukuphikelela nokukhuluma ngesihloko esikhangayo kuye kwazala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi. Lapho udade owayefakaza ngocingo ebuza owesifazane othile ukuthi wayecabangisisa yini ngalokho ikusasa elimphathele kona yena nomkhaya wakhe, wavuma. Ukudumazeka ngenxa yokwehluleka kwabanye ukumsiza kwakulimaze impilo yakhe. Ngenxa yalokho wayengunkom’ idla yodwa ekhaya. Eshukunyiswa ukukhathalela okuqotho akuboniswa uFakazi, wavuma ukuba bahlangane esitolo esiseduze. Lapho eboniswa okuqukethwe incwadi Ukuphila Komkhaya, wasamukela ngokushesha isifundo seBhayibheli.

Umsebenzi wasensimini wentshiseko nokuvuthwa kwamabandla kuye kwaphumela ekwandeni okuqhubekayo. Uchungechunge lwamanani aphakeme abamemezeli lwaqala ngo-January 1979 futhi luye lwaqhubeka iminyaka engaphezu kuka-18 lunganqamuki. Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1980 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1990, isilinganiso sokwanda kwabamemezeli eJapane saba ngaphezu kuka-10 000 unyaka nonyaka. Ngo-March 1995, kwakunabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-200 000 kulelizwe. Ngo-August 1997, abamemezeli abangu-220 663 babehlanganyela emabandleni angu-3 785, uma kuqhathaniswa nabamemezeli abangu-14 199 ababesemabandleni angu-320 ngo-August 1972. Nokho, inani elandayo lalaba akubona abamemezeli abakhuluma isiJapane ngokwendabuko.

Usizo Lwamaqembu Akhuluma Ezinye Izilimi

Ngenxa yokuthi umnotho unamandla eJapane, izisebenzi eziningi ezikhuluma ezinye izilimi ngaphandle kwesiJapane ziye zathuthela kuleli lizwe. Kukhona noFakazi BakaJehova kuzo. IJapane ayiselona izwe lapho ulimi lwendabuko cishe lwawo wonke umuntu kuyisiJapane. Abantu abakhuluma ezinye izilimi babengasizwa kanjani ngokomoya?

Ngaphambi kwawo-1980, babeyingcosana kakhulu abantu abakhuluma ezinye izilimi. Amaqembu amancane angawodwa noma amabandla ayemisiwe eMisawa, eTachikawa, nase-Okinawa ukuze kuzuze amakhosikazi nezingane ezazondliwa izisebenzi zebutho lezempi lase-United States kanye nabanye abantu abathakazelayo.

Iqembu elikhulu kunawo wonke kwakungelezisebenzi zebutho lezempi laseMelika e-Okinawa. Ngo-1968, uKarl no-Evalyn Emerson, ababeyizithunywa zevangeli eKorea, bathutha nendodana yabo encane bayosiza abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi e-Okinawa. Kamuva kwafika uBill noMary Ives kanye noWayne noPenny Frazee bekilasi lama-40 nelama-52 laseGileyadi. UWayne, owayeshayela imoto encane endala eyi-360cc eKadena Air Base emangelengele, wayephumelela ngokukhethekile emasosheni ngenxa yesizinda sakhe sasempini. Bobabili uWayne noPenny bakwazi ukusiza abantu abangaba yikhulu ukuba babhapathizwe phakathi neminyaka engu-15 bekhonza e-Okinawa. Inkonzo yabo yayiphumelela kangangokuba umphathi wesinye isikhungo samasosha wabacela ukuba bashumayele kwenye indawo. Ngani? “Ningithathela amadoda ngempela,” ekhononda.

Nakuba abantu babephuma bengena njalo nje kuleli bandla, njengoba bababelwa kwezinye izikhungo zezempi, izinkulungwane zabantu ziye zaba khona emihlanganweni kanti amakhulu amaningi abantu aye asizwa ukuba abe ngasohlangothini lukaJehova. Iningi labo liye laqhubeka likhonza uJehova lapho liphindela e-United States. Abanye baye baba abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo. Omunye wabo, uNick Simonelli, kamuva owaya ekilasini lama-93 laseGileyadi, elandela ezinyathelweni zowamfundela. Manje ukhonza e-Ecuador nomkakhe.

Insimu Yolimi LwesiNgisi EJapane

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970, lapho kuphela iMpi yaseVietnam, kancane kancane amaqembu akhuluma isiNgisi eJapane aphela. Kodwa ekuqaleni kwawo-1980, ebona inani labantu abakhuluma isiNgisi ngakuyi-Atsugi Naval Air Base yase-United States eqhele ngemizuzu nje engu-15 eBethel, uJames Mantz, Jr., wamema abazali bakhe, ngaleso sikhathi abase behlala eCalifornia, e-U.S.A., ukuba bawelele kwelaseMpumalanga basize. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 16:9.) Ngakho, ngo-March 1981 uJames Mantz, Sr., nomkakhe uRuth, beneminyaka engu-62 nengu-59, bathuthela eSagamihara eduze kwesikhungo sezempi e-Atsugi. “Insimu yethu yayinoma kuphi lapho sithola khona abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi,” kukhumbula uRuth. “Lapho efakaza emgwaqweni, uRuth wayevame ukumisa amasosha asemasha aseMelika ahamba ngamabhayisikili, awabonise omagazini,” kukhumbula ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel yase-Ebina. Ngokudabukisayo, uJames Mantz, Sr., washona besanda kufika nje eJapane, kodwa uRuth wahlala kulendawo futhi wasiza abantu abaningana ukuba bazi iqiniso. Iqembu elincane lesiNgisi laseSagamihara lamiswa njengebandla ngo-October 1985.

Njengoba umnotho waseJapane waba namandla ngokwengeziwe phakathi nawo-1980, inani lezifiki landa ngokuphawulekayo. Izinkulungwane eziningi zasePhilippines, eNingizimu Melika, e-Afrika, eChina naseKorea zathutheleka kuleli lizwe njengezisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe. INhlangano yathatha izinyathelo zokunikeza usizo olungokomoya kulezi zisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe. Amaphayona aseJapane akhuluma isiNgisi, kuhlanganise nabaningi abakhonza eBethel, babelwa ukuba banikeze usizo. “Lapho iNhlangano iqala ukuhola kulokhu,” kusho omunye umzalwane owayeseneminyaka eminingi ekhonza nebandla lesiNgisi, “ukwanda kwaba khona ngokushesha.” Ngo-September 1, 1997, kwakunamabandla esiNgisi angu-18, akha isifunda esizimele.

Ukusiza AbaseBrazil

Inani elikhulu lamaJapane elibazali bawo noma ogogo nomkhulu bawo babethuthele eBrazil, labuyela eJapane lizosebenza, kodwa lalingasazi isiJapane nesiNgisi. Ngo-1986, umbhangqwana owawuke waba izithunywa zevangeli, uKazuyuki noNanako Kiritani, ababeke bakhonza eBrazil, bathuthela eYokohama, lapho kwakukhona khona odade abambalwa abakhuluma isiPutukezi nabantu ababefundelwa iBhayibheli. Leli qembu elincane laqala ukuba neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda kanye neSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini esifushanisiwe kanye ngenyanga ngesiPutukezi.

Entwasahlobo ka-1991, iNhlangano yabiza abadala baseBrazil abathathu, ababehlala eTokyo, eNagoya naseToyohashi, kanye noMfoweth’ uKiritani, ukuze baxoxe ngokuthuthukiswa kwensimu yesiPutukezi. Ngo-August 1991 amaqembu amane esiPutukezi aqala ukusebenza. Igatsha lalicele izikhonzi zaseBethel ezithandayo ukuba zisize, futhi kwaqalwa izifundo zesiPutukezi eBethel. Zalufunda ngomdlandla lolu limi futhi zaba ingxenye yesisekelo samaqembu esiPutukezi. Lamaqembu ayesanda kumiswa ashesha aba amabandla, futhi kungakapheli neminyaka eyisithupha kwase kunamabandla esiPutukezi angu-21, nawo akha isifunda esizimele.

Kuvuleka Insimu YeSpanishi

Ngo-September 1987, kwaqhutshwa umhlangano wokuqala ngeSpanishi ukuze kusizakale odade abangu-8 ababelokhu behlanganyela neqembu lesiPutukezi. ULouis Delgado, umzalwane ongashadile wasePeru, uyena owahola. Ngalezo zinsuku abanye odade babehamba amahora ayisithupha ukuze babe semhlanganweni weSpanishi, kodwa usizo olungokomoya ababeluthola lwalukwenza kufaneleke. Ngenxa yokungezwani ngolimi, abanye ababeshade nezakhamuzi zaseJapane ukuze bathole imali, babenobunzima emshadweni futhi bengakwazi ukuchaza imizwa yabo kubadala emabandleni esiJapane.

Inkonzo yasensimini yeqembu leSpanishi yayiyinselele nayo. Ukuze bahlele amasimu, baya kuzo zonke iziteshi zeYamanote Line ezingu-29, ulayini wesitimela ofinyelela eTokyo emaphakathi, befuna imizi yabantu abakhuluma iSpanishi. Nakuba kwakukhathaza futhi kudla isikhathi, lokhu kwabanikeza insimu eyanele ababezoyisebenza.

Emini, amaqembu odade ayehambela izindawo okwakuhlala kuzo abesifazane abaningi baseColombia. Laba besifazane babesebenza emashibhini ngokuvamile ayengawama-yakuza, iMafia yaseJapane. Uma owesifazane ebonakala ethuthuka ngokomoya, ama-yakuza ayengenela bese emshintshela kwenye indawo. Nokho, omunye owayefundelwa iBhayibheli kanjalo wathuthuka waze waqaphela ukuthi kufanele ashintshe umsebenzi wakhe ukuze ajabulise uJehova. Lokhu kwasho ukubalekela ama-yakuza nokuwacashela. Ngosizo lomuntu owayemfundela, wagcina ekwazile ukuphindela ezweni lakubo.

Ngakho, ekuqaleni kwawo-1990, lapho inani elikhulu lezisebenzi lithuthela eJapane livela ePeru, e-Argentina, eParaguay, eBolivia nakwamanye amazwe, uJehova wayeneqembu elincane leSpanishi elalikulungele ukunakekela izidingo zabo ezingokomoya. Ngo-1991 izikhonzi zaseBethel ezazizimisele ukusiza zavulelwa ikilasi leSpanishi. Ngonyaka owodwa nje ezinye zase zinikeza izinkulumo zeningi. Ngo-1993 kwamiswa ibandla lokuqala leSpanishi eTokyo. Ngo-1997, kwase kunamabandla eSpanishi akhulayo angu-13. Akha isifunda esizimele solunye ulimi.

Ukusiza Abavela E-Asia

Kwakutheleka nenani elikhulu lamaShayina eJapane. Phakathi kwawo kwakunezinkulungwane zabafundi kanye nozalo lwezingane zamaJapane ezazishiywe eChina ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe II. Kwalinganiselwa ukuthi amaShayina angaphezu kuka-300 000 ahlala eJapane, angu-200 000 kuwo ahlala emaphethelweni eTokyo. Lapho bephakamisa amehlo bebuka insimu yesiShayina, abazalwane babona ukuthi isilungele ukuvunwa, ‘kodwa izisebenzi zazimbalwa.’—Math. 9:37; Joh. 4:35.

UMasayuki Yamamoto nomkakhe uMasako, babechithe iminyaka engu-8 enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli eTaiwan. Ngo-1992, izikhonzi zaseBethel eziningana ezazizimisele ukusiza abantu abakhuluma isiShayina zafundiswa isiShayina. Kungakabiphi, uMasayuki waxhumana nalabo ababesibhidilisha isiShayina futhi kwamiswa iqembu lesiShayina elinabamemezeli abangu-28. Iningi labo lalingamaphayona angamaJapane, okwathi nakuba ayesasibhidilisha isiShayina, azimisela ukusiza abathakazelayo ababekhuluma lolo limi. Intshiseko enjalo yoFakazi abangamaJapane yawathinta inhliziyo amaShayina. Enye intokazi yathola incwadi ethi Umuntu Omkhulu Kunabo Bonke Owake Waphila kumzalwane othile eyayifunda naye esikoleni. Yayifunda lencwadi ngesonto elilodwa. Lokhu kwayishukumisela ukuba iye kuyo yonke imihlangano. Yamangala lapho ibona amaJapane amaningi efunda isiShayina ukuze nje ahlanganyele izindaba ezinhle nabantu abakhuluma isiShayina. Yona nomfowabo omncane bathuthuka ngokushesha, futhi babhapathizwa ungakapheli unyaka. Yayisiqhuba ezayo izifundo zeBhayibheli ngisho ingakabhapathizwa.

Ngo-May 1993 kwaba nomhlangano wesifunda wokuqala wesiShayina. Kwakukhona abangu-399 futhi kwabhapathizwa abangu-8. Ngokushesha kwase kunamabandla ayisihlanu esiMandarin, kanye neqembu lesifundo sencwadi esiqhutshwa ngesiShayina abandleni lesiJapane.

Amanye Amaqembu Ezilimi

Ekupheleni kwawo-1980, uPenn Pitorest nomkakhe, uPhiksang, baqala ukufunda iBhayibheli. Bobabili babengababaleki bevela eCambodia futhi babeshonelwe abazali babo lapho kucoboshiswa abantu ezweni lakubo. Intuthuko yayihamba kancane ngoba zazingekho nhlobo izincwadi zesiCambodia. Kodwa ekugcineni babhapathizwa. Njengoba babekhathazekile ngezidingo ezingokomoya zabanye ababaleki abavela eCambodia, bazama ukubaqhubela izifundo zeBhayibheli. Ngokushesha kwamiswa iqembu elincane lesiCambodia. Ngo-1994 bathola usizo olwengeziwe lapho kuqala ukuphuma INqabayokulinda ngesiCambodia. Ngemva kwalokho, abazalwane abayishumi baseBethel baqala ukufunda lolu limi futhi babelwa emihlanganweni yesiCambodia.

Nakuba iqembu lolunye ulimi elikhulu kunawo wonke eJapane kuyisiKorea, iningi labo bayasiqonda isiJapane, ngakho eminyakeni eminingi bebengahlukanisiwe ngamabandla. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwavezwa ukuthi abantu baseKorea abahlala eJapane bangaliqonda ngokushesha iqiniso uma belifunda ngolimi lwabo. Lokhu kwaholela ekumisweni kweqembu lesiKorea eduze kwaseBethel ngo-April 1996, kamuva kwamiswa eliseDolobheni Lase-Itami, eSifundeni SaseHyogo.

Akufanele sikhohlwe amabandla abakhuluma ngezandla. Amavolontiya amaningi aye afunda ulimi lwezandla lwesiJapane ukuze asize abantu abangezwa kulo lonke izwe. Kusukela ngo-1982 iNhlangano iye yahlela ukuba kuhunyushwe ngolimi lwezandla kweminye imihlangano yesigodi. Nokho, imizamo ebumbene yokusiza abangezwa yaqala ngo-1992 lapho kumiswa amabandla abakhuluma ngezandla edolobheni laseFukuoka naseKumamoto. Kuye kwalungiselelwa nama-video abakhuluma ngezandla. Manje kunamabandla angu-11 namaqembu angu-9 kulo lonke elaseJapane abasiza ngenkuthalo abantu abangezwa.

Ngaleyo ndlela oFakazi BakaJehova eJapane baye benza umzamo omuhle wokufinyelela futhi basize amaqembu ezilimi amaningi kuleli lizwe ukuze azuze ezindabeni ezinhle ngolimi abaluzwa kahle.

Intshiseko NgeSikole Esisha

Ngo-1993 abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo ezingashadile bavulekelwa ithuba elisha elihle kakhulu eJapane. Bathola ithuba lokwandisa inkonzo yabo kokubili ezweni lakubo nangaphandle. UJames Hinderer noDavid Biegler, abazalwane ababili abaneminyaka eminingi yokuhlangenwe nakho emsebenzini wokujikeleza, bathunywa besuka e-United States ukuba bayoqhuba ikilasi lokuqala leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo eJapane. Kuleli kilasi lokuqala, elaqhutshwa ngesiNgisi, kwakukhona nabanye abangu-7 ababebukela bevela eJapane, e-Republic yaseKorea nasePhilippines. Lezi zibukeli zaziqeqeshelwa ukuba zibe othisha emazweni akubo.

Lapho kuxoxwa ngendlela abazuza ngayo kulesi sikole, omunye wabafundi bekilasi lokuqala wathi: “Ngicabanga ukuthi iningi lethu lalikuthola kunzima ukuzicabangela nokwenza izinqumo ngokusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ezifanele. Sasizizwa sisekhaya uma kunemithetho. Kodwa esikoleni saqeqeshwa ukuba sicabangele izizathu ezisekela amaqiniso nezimpendulo, kusetshenziswa imibuzo emibili eyayivame ukubuzwa, ‘Kungani?’ nothi ‘Kanjani?’” Enanela lelo phuzu, omunye umfundi kuleli kilasi ukhumbula okwenzeka lapho omunye wothisha esikisela ukuba inceku ekhonzayo enakekela omagazini ingase ilungiselele intshumayelo yokuhambisa umagazini engase isetshenziswe ekuhambiseni omagazini abasanda kufika bese iyihlanganyela nabamemezeli. Umbuzo owabuzwa omunye wabafundi ngalokhu, waholela ekukhanyisweni kahle kakhulu komehluko phakathi kokulunga nobuhle. Uthisha wachaza: “Umuntu olungile wenza lokho iziyalezo ezibhalwe phansi ezikushoyo, kodwa omuhle udlulela ngalé kokudingekayo ukuze azuzise abanye. Akufanele sibe abalungile kuphela kodwa futhi kufanele sibe abahle senze noma yini esingayenza ukuze sizuzise amalungu ebandla, noma ungekho umthetho obhalwe phansi.”

EJapane, abazalwane abaseyizinsizwa, abangashadile ngokuvamile abajahi ukushada. Ababesemakilasini okuqala angu-18 babenesilinganiso seminyaka engu-29 ubudala, iminyaka engu-13 beseqinisweni neminyaka engu-8 besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngo-August 1997, kunabafundi abangaphezu kuka-790 abase bephothule emakilasini angu-33 eSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo, kunezinye izinkulungwane ezilindele ukungena. Lapho bethweswa iziqu, abanye bathola izabelo emsebenzini wesifunda, wamaphayona akhethekile nowezithunywa zevangeli.—IHu. 110:3.

Izinzuzo zisheshe zibonakale uma laba badala nezinceku ezikhonzayo eziqeqeshwe kahle zisebenza namabandla. Omunye umdala, ekhuluma ngethonya elihle omunye wabafundi analo ebandleni labo, wathi: “Ibandla selinempilo futhi lijabule kakhudlwana. Umoya wokuphayona wanda, futhi wonke amalungu ebandla akuqonda ngokwengeziwe ukubaluleka kokwenza izinto ngokwenqubo engokwasezulwini. Intshiseko yentsha ngezinto ezingokomoya yakhula, kwathi abaningi babhalisa eSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini.” Ngaleyo ndlela, amabandla aye aqiniswa futhi akhiwa.

Ukuthumela Izihambeli Emihlanganweni Yaphesheya

OFakazi BakaJehova eJapane bathole amathuba amaningi ‘okwanuleka’ ekuboniseni uthando ngobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke eminyakeni edlule. (2 Kor. 6:13) Kwathi kungaba lula ukuya phesheya, iNhlangano yacela igatsha laseJapane ukuba lithumele izihambeli emihlanganweni ekhethekile yezizwe eyayiseYurophu, e-Afrika, e-Asia, emazwekazini aseMelika, eHawaii, naseNew Zealand.

Inani lezihambeli elisabela kulezi zimemo belilokhu landa eminyakeni edlule, futhi kwakuvame ukuba kulezo zihambeli kube nenani elikhulu lamaphayona nezinye izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele. Ngo-1996, lapho kunemihlangano ekhethekile eCzech Republic naseHungary, kwakunezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezingu-1 114 ezihambelini zaseJapane ezingu-1 320.

Lokho izihambeli zaseJapane ezakubona nezakuzwa kulemihlangano ekhethekile kwavula imiqondo yazo futhi kwazinikeza nomfutho owengeziwe wokukhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo ephelele. UShigeo Ikehata, owavakashela e-Republic yaseKorea, eHong Kong, ePhilippines, naseTaiwan eye emihlanganweni yezizwe ka-1978, uyachaza: “Isibopho sothando esasikhona phakathi kwabazalwane nodade bakwamanye amazwe sangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu. Ukuzibonela ngawami ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bahlanganiswe ulimi oluhlanzekile kuye kwakuthonya kakhulu ukwazisa kwami amalungelo enkonzo enginawo nalokho engikushoyo emithandazweni yami.”

Ngokuvakashela amazwe lapho izinceku zikaJehova ziye zabekezelela khona ukushushiswa okunzima nangokuzizwela mathupha okuhlangenwe nakho kwalezi zinceku, lezi zihambeli zashukunyiswa ukuba zifune ukulingisa ukholo lwazo. UMisako Oda waya emhlanganweni wokuqala wezizwe ezweni elaliyiSoviet Union, eSt. Petersburg, ngo-1992. Uyakhumbula: “Lapho kuqala ingoma yokuqala ngosuku lokuqala lomhlangano, udade waseRussia owayehleli eduze kwami waqala ukukhala. Lapho ngiqalaza ngabona odade baseRussia abaningi behlengezela izinyembezi, bengakwazi ukuqedela ingoma. Ngambonga ngokujulile uJehova ngomusa wakhe ongafanele, ngokuvumela mina muntu ongakaze abhekane nohlobo loshushiso abadlule kulo, ukuba ngibe nabo lapho futhi ngihlanganyele kuleso sikhathi esiyingqopha-mlando sokunqoba kukaJehova nabazalwane abathembekile.”

Udade osemusha oyiphayona, uSeiko Namba (manje osengowakwaNakajima), uwukhumbula kahle umhlangano waseBuenos Aires ngo-1990. Uthi: “Kubazalwane nodade base-Argentina ngafunda indlela yokubonisa uthando nokwazisa kanye nokubaluleka kokubonisa abanye imizwelo enjalo. Omunye udade osekhulile wanganga lapho sesihamba futhi wanginikeza isipho. Wayekhala, elokhu ethi, ‘Hasta luego en el Paraíso’ [Siyobonana ePharadesi]. Lapho sengibuyele eJapane, ngazama ukubonisa uthando nomusa ofanayo kubantu abasebandleni lakithi nasensimini.” Ezinye izihambeli zaseJapane, nakuba ngokwemvelo zinamahloni futhi zithula, zasizwa futhi ukuhlangana nezinye zaseLatin America ukuze zithi ukuqaqeka ekuboniseni uthando lwazo.

Eminyakeni edlule, igatsha laseJapane liye laba nelungelo lokuthumela izinkulungwane zezihambeli emihlanganweni ekhethekile eyayikwamanye amazwe. Ukusabela okumangalisayo lapho kuthunyelwa izimemo emabandleni kubonisa izinga eliphezulu lentshiseko nokwazisa abazalwane abanakho ngaleli thuba lokuba nomkhaya wabo wamaKristu womhlaba wonke.

Ukuba Neqhaza Esidingweni Somhlaba Wonke

Kuyilungelo elikhulu ukukwazi ukuba neqhaza manje ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene ebuzalwaneni bomhlaba wonke. Njengoba igatsha laseJapane selinokuhlangenwe nakho okubalulekile kwezokunyathelisa, liyakwazi ukusiza amagatsha angomakhelwane ngezidingo zawo zokunyathelisa. Manje efektri yase-Ebina kunyatheliswa amakhophi e-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! angaphezu kuka-9 000 000 inyanga ngayinye ngezilimi eziyishumi.

Igatsha laseJapane manje linyathelisa izincwadi, amaBhayibheli, izincwajana, nezincwajana ezingangomagazini ngezilimi ezingu-26, kuhlanganise nesiLao, isiShayina, isiSinhalese, isiTamil (saseSri Lanka), isiThai, nezilimi zasePhilippines ezingu-11—zonke ngombala ophelele. Imishini yokunyathelisa ye-offset rotary enesivinini esikhulu yenza ifektri ikwazi ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zensimu ngokushesha. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-September 1993, kwathunyelwa eJapane izinto zokunyathelisa inguqulo ekhethekile yeBhayibheli lesiTagalog okwase kukudala yalindwa eyayihlanganisa ne-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki. Maphakathi no-October, kwase kunyatheliswe amaBhayibheli esiTagalog angu-70 000 futhi athunyelwa ngaphambi nje kokuba likhululelwe abazalwane emihlanganweni yabo yesigodi ngo-December. Kwalandela amaBhayibheli esiCebuano nesi-Iloko ngokushesha. Manje kuhlanganiswa amaBhayibheli esiPutukezi neSpanishi ohlobo lwe-deluxe endaweni yokunyathelisa e-Ebina.

Ngemva kokumiswa komnyango we-Translation Services endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ngo-1989, igatsha laseJapane lacelwa ukuba lihlanganyele ekunikezeni usizo kubahumushi kulo lonke elase-Asia nasezingxenyeni zePacific. Lapha kuhlala abantu abangaphezu kwengxenye yenani labantu emhlabeni, kodwa iningi lalaba bantu, abakhuluma izilimi eziningi, abakabi nezincwadi ze-Watch Tower. Abazalwane abangamaJapane abanamakhono okuhumusha nabazi ama-computer baye bathola ilungelo lokuya e-India, ePakistan, eSri Lanka, eNepal, eLebanon, eMalaysia, eThailand, eCambodia, e-Indonesia, eMyanmar, eSolomon Islands, eGuam nakwamanye amazwe, beyosiza ekutholeni, ekuqeqesheni nasekuhleleni amaqembu abahumushi kanye nasekufakeni izimiso ze-computer ezisungulwe iNhlangano zokusiza abahumushi.

Ukukhuthazana

Abazalwane nodade abangamaJapane abangu-76 abaye bazamukela ngentshiseko izabelo zokuthuthukisa izithakazelo zoMbuso kwamanye amazwe angu-9, belingisa izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza eJapane, akufanele sibalibale. Kuleli qembu kunabafundi abangu-13 abaya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo. Amazwe abathunyelwe kuwo ahlanganisa iBrazil (7), iCambodia (1), iGuam (2), iMalaysia (2), iNigeria (1), iPapua New Guinea (11), iParaguay (8), iSolomon Islands (5) neTaiwan (39). Izincwazi ezivela kulabo abanabo ezabelweni zibonisa ukuthi baye baphumelela ukufunda izilimi ezintsha, amasiko, ukudla nokubhekana nezifo zasezindaweni ezishisayo, futhi baye bazimisela ukukhonza ezindaweni ezisadla ngoludala, ngezinye izikhathi ezingenabo ompompi, i-gas noma ugesi, ezingefani neJapane yanamuhla ethuthuke kakhulu. Baye babathanda abantu bendawo futhi bafunda ukwaneliseka kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Bayajabula ngokuthi bakwazi ukuthuthukisa izithakazelo zoMbuso ngalendlela.

Lapho ukwanda okungokwasezulwini eJapane kwenza kudingeke kwandiswe izakhiwo zegatsha, umsebenzi waqalwa ngokubambisana nezisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe. Lomsebenzi uhlanganisa izakhiwo ezimbili zokuhlala ezinezitezi ezingu-13 nesinye esinezitezi ezinhlanu sokulungisa izinto. Ngo-1994, uFrank Lee, wase-United States, wabelwa ukuba akhonze njengomqondisi womsebenzi wokwakha. USteve Givins, isisebenzi somhlaba wonke sase-United States, naye weyesekomitini yokwakha. Kuye kwafika izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaphezu kuka-49 zivela e-Australia, eCanada, eCosta Rica, eFinland, eFrance, e-Italy, eLuxembourg, eNew Zealand, eNgilandi nase-United States zizofaka isandla kulomsebenzi. Zonke ziye zadela ngenjabulo ukuphila kokunethezeka emazweni akubo ukuze zizohlanganyela ulwazi lwazo namakhono nabafowabo bakwelinye izwe futhi ziqhubekisele phambili izithakazelo zoMbuso.

Okunye futhi okuye kwavelela kube ukusabela okumangalisayo kwabazalwane baseJapane, njengoba izisebenzi ezingaphezu kuka-4 600 ezinamakhono nezingenawo zifake izicelo zokwenza lomsebenzi. Eziningi zazo kuye kwadingeka zenze ushintsho olukhulu ukuze zisebenze kulesi sakhiwo ngisho isikhashana nje. Kuhilela ukushiya imisebenzi nemikhaya. Kodwa zizizwa zivuzwe ngokucebile ngemizamo yazo.

Bakhulile Kodwa Basashiseka

Ukwanda kwalesi sixuku esikhulu sabadumisi bakaJehova eJapane kwaqala ngokufika kwezithunywa zevangeli zekilasi laseGileyadi le-11 ngo-1949 nango-1950. Abanye bazilandela, kuhlanganise nabanye ababesekilasini lesikhombisa nabanye ababesemakilasini akamuva. Abangu-59 basesenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele eJapane. Abanye babo baneminyaka engu-70 noma engu-80 ubudala, futhi bonke basashiseka enkonzweni. ULois Dyer, ngemva kweminyaka engu-64 yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele yokuzimisela, wathi: “Ngilokhu ngiqhubeka ngithandaza ngokuqiniseka njengoba kwenza uDavide, ‘Ekupheleni kwamandla ami, . . . mawungangishiyi, nxa ngimdala, ngiyimpunga.’” (IHu. 71:9, 18) UJehova akazange abalahle laba bantu abaqotho abaye bachitha ingxenye enkulu yokuphila kwabo enkonzweni yoMbuso yokwethembeka. Elinye ilungu lomkhaya wezithunywa zevangeli likubeka kanje: “Inhlangano kaJehova ifana nomama osisonga ngengubo efudumalayo asigone.”

Omakad’ ebona abangu-21 kulaba manje basekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eTokyo Mita. Isakhiwo sokuqala eTokyo esasiyigatsha siye salungiswa kabusha ukuze sihlalise lezi zithunywa zevangeli esezikhulile ngeminyaka. Umkhaya wezithunywa zevangeli okahle kakhulu! Banesilinganiso seminyaka engu-74 ubudala nengu-50 beseqinisweni. Abangu-8 kubo babesekilasini laseGileyadi le-11. Usuwonke, lomkhaya wezithunywa zevangeli uye wanikeza inqwaba yobufakazi eminyakeni edlule, usiza abantu abangaba ngu-567 ukuba bafunde iqiniso. Nakuba amalungu amaningana alomkhaya esedlulile eminyakeni engu-80 ubudala futhi enezinkinga ezingathi sína zempilo, awavilaphi neze. Phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1997 enza isilinganiso samahora angu-40 enkonzweni yasensimini inyanga ngayinye futhi ahambisa omagazini abangu-17 291 namakhulu ezincwadi ensimini yawo esisetshenzwe kakhulu. Amalungu amabandla abakuwo ayabazisa labomakad’ ebona, kanti nomakhelwane bayabahlonipha.

URuth Ulrich, manje oneminyaka engu-87 ubudala, uchithe iminyaka engu-68 kuleyo emsebenzini wokuphayona nowezithunywa zevangeli. Uthi: “Kuye kwangiqinisa ukholo ukubona bonke laba bantu bephuma ezinkolweni zobuqaba bengena eqinisweni futhi beba abafowethu nodadewethu bangempela.”

Njengoba besibuka “i-albhamu yomkhaya” esitshela ngomlando wanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova eJapane, siye sabona eziningi zezinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo. Kodwa zimane nje ziyingxenye encane yezingaphezu kuka-220 000 ezimemezela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu eJapane. Lezi zithunywa zevangeli zaneliseke kakhulu ngalokho okufezwa izingane zazo ezingokomoya nabazukulu, kuze kufike esizukulwaneni sesithathu nesesine. Zibheke phambili ngesithakazelo esikhulu ekuboneni ukuthi iyiphi indima uJehova asazothi aziyifeze, kokubili kulezi zinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso samanje nasezweni lakhe elisha elihle, manje eseliseduze kakhulu!

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 66]

[Isithombe ekhasini 71]

Abamemezeli abathembekile baseJapane bangaphambi kwezikhathi zempi: (1) UJizo noMatsue Ishii, (2) uMiyo Idei, (3) uKatsuo noHagino Miura

[Isithombe ekhasini 72, 73]

Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezaqala ukukhonza eJapane ngo-1949-50: (1) UDon noMabel Haslett, (2) uLloyd noMelba Barry, (3) uJerry noYoshi Toma, (4) u-Elsie Tanigawa, (5, 6) uPercy no-Ilma Iszlaub, (7) uNorrine Thompson (uMaMiller), (8) u-Adrian Thompson, (9) uLois Dyer, (10) uMolly Heron, (11) uShinichi noMasako Tohara

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

UN. H. Knorr (ngenhla kwesobunxele) ebeka inkulumo emhlanganweni ngo-1951, ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eKobe

[Isithombe ekhasini 81]

UGrace (phezulu) noGladys Gregory, bekilasi le-11 leSikole SaseGileyadi

[Isithombe ekhasini 82]

UMargrit Winteler (kwesokudla, wekilasi lama-23 laseGileyadi) waya kudadewabo uLena (wekilasi le-15) eJapane

[Isithombe ekhasini 88]

UDon Haslett noLloyd Barry eKhaya LaseBethel eTokyo ngo-1953

[Isithombe ekhasini 89]

Amaphayona akhethekile aseJapane asekhonze iminyaka engu-40 (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla): UTakako Sato, uHisako Wakui, uKazuko Kobayashi

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

Igatsha lase-Okinawa, ngo-1979

[Isithombe ekhasini 95]

Sebelungele ukuyofakaza ebusika eHokkaido

[Isithombe ekhasini 95]

Ngenhla: U-Adeline Nako

Ngezansi: ULillian Samson

[Isithombe ekhasini 99]

UYuriko Eto

[Isithombe ekhasini 102]

Umkhaya ojabulayo ongamaphayona uyaphuma uya enkonzweni yasensimini

[Isithombe ekhasini 110]

Ihhovisi legatsha eTokyo ngo-1949-62

Ihhovisi legatsha eTokyo ngo-1963-73

Izakhiwo zegatsha eNumazu ngo-1972-82

[Isithombe ekhasini 115]

UToshio Honma, owayengumbonisi wegatsha maphakathi nawo-1970

[Isithombe ekhasini 116]

IKomiti Yegatsha ngo-1997 (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla): uRichard Bailey, uShigeo Ikehata, u-Isamu Sugiura, uMasataro Oda, uMakoto Nakajima, uYoshihiro Nagasaki, uKenji Mimura

[Isithombe ekhasini 124]

UJames Mantz waba nesandla ekuqondiseni ifektri (enomkakhe, uSarah)

[Isithombe ekhasini 132]

AmaHholo OMhlangano: eHyogo, e-Ebina, eKansai

[Isithombe ekhasini 139]

UKunihito Kobayashi

[Isithombe ekhasini 142]

EKobe ngemva kokuzamazama komhlaba ngo-1995

[Isithombe ekhasini 150]

UMasayuki noMasako Yamamoto

[Isithombe ekhasini 156]

Izihambeli ezingamaJapane emihlanganweni yaphesheya: (1) eKenya, (2) eNingizimu Afrika, (3) eRussia

[Isithombe ekhasini 158]

Ihhovisi legatsha neKhaya LaseBethel e-Ebina; izithombe ezincane zibonisa ukwandiswa okwenziwe ngo-1997