INicaragua — Watchtower UMTAPO OKUYI-INTHANETHI

INicaragua

INicaragua ichazwa kufanele ngokuthi ipharadesi elishisayo. Izingu zakhona ezisempumalanga zibheke amanzi acwebile aluhlaza oLwandle LwaseCaribbean. Ugu olusentshonalanga lugugulwa amagagasi avela oLwandle olukhulu lwasePacific. Uma ulibuka uphezulu, leli zwe lihlotshiswe amahlathi, amapulazi, imifula kanye namachibi amaningi anjengamatshe ayigugu asemigodini yezintaba-mlilo zasendulo. Kodwa la machibi awalutho uma eqhathaniswa namachibi amabili amakhulu—iChibi iNicaragua neChibi iManagua. Njengoba lithatha indawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-8 200, iChibi iNicaragua lilodwa nje lithatha indawo engaphezu kwamaphesenti ayisithupha yezwe lonke!

Inhloko-dolobha, iManagua, isogwini oluseningizimu yeChibi iManagua, elithatha indawo engaba amakhilomitha-skwele ayinkulungwane. Kuyafaneleka ukuthi ngolunye lwezilimi zendabuko igama elithi “Managua” lisho “indawo enamanzi amaningi.” Njengoba eManagua kunamahhovisi kahulumeni namabhizinisi amaningi, kunabantu abacela esigidini—okungamaphesenti angu-20 abantu bakuleli zwe abayizigidi ezinhlanu. Isemathafeni asePacific, lapho kuhlala khona abantu baseNicaragua abangaba amaphesenti angu-60. Amanye amaphesenti angu-30 ahlala ezinkangala ezimaphakathi nezwe, bese kuthi bonke abanye—abangaphansana kwamaphesenti ayishumi—bahlale kude ezifundazweni ezimbili ezisempumalanga, ezingenabo abantu abaningi, ezizibusayo, nezithatha isigamu sendawo yezwe.

Emngceleni weNicaragua oseningizimu, umdweshu wezwe oseMelika Ephakathi uya uncipha ngoba uLwandle LwaseCaribbean noLwandle LwasePacific luqhelelene ngamakhilomitha angu-220 kuphela. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uMfula iSan Juan usuka eChibini iNicaragua uthele eCaribbean, nguMdweshu Wezwe WaseRivas ongamakhilomitha angu-18 kuphela ohlukanisa leli chibi nePacific. Ngesikhathi ingakakhiwa iPanama Canal, abantu babethanda ukuhamba ngendlela edlula emzileni wamanzi ophakathi koMfula iSan Juan neChibi iNicaragua, okwakwenza abantu bafise ukuzohlala kulesi sifundazwe. Umlando wembula ukuthi ngempela leli zwe lithonywe yizizwe eziningi ezinjengamaMaya, ama-Aztec, amaToltec, namaChibcha ngaphandle kwemibuso yangaphandle—iSpain, iFrance, iGreat Britain, iNetherlands, i-United States, neSoviet Union.

Umphakathi waseNicaragua okhuluma izilimi eziningi nonamasiko amaningi ubonisa ukuthi uthonywe izinhlanga nezizwe eziningi. Nakuba abantu abaningi abahlala eduze kolwandle lwasePacific beyingxube yabantu baseSpain nabalapha futhi bekhuluma iSpanishi, eCaribbean kuhlala izizwe ezihlukahlukene. Maningi amaMiskito, amaCreole nalaba bantu abayingxube futhi bahlala nezizwe ezincane zamaSumo, amaRama namaGarifuna—okuyinzalo yabantu baseCaribbean nezigqila eziNsundu. Nakuba eminingi yale miphakathi isakhuluma ulimi lwayo lwendabuko futhi isagcina amasiko, laba bantu bathobekile, bayaxoxa futhi banobungane. Bayayithanda kakhulu nenkolo futhi abaningi bayalithanda iBhayibheli.

Njengoba sizobona kule ndaba, isimo sabantu baseNicaragua sishintshwe nayizinhlekelele, ezemvelo nezibangelwa abantu. Ngokwesibonelo, ekhulwini leminyaka elidlule kuze kwaba kabili iManagua icekelwa phansi ukuzamazama komhlaba okwakusuka ngasolwandle lwasePacific. IMpumalanga yeNicaragua yona ihlushwe olunye uhlobo lwenhlekelele yemvelo—iziphepho ezilalisa uyaca ezaziqhamuka ngasolwandle lwase-Atlantic. Kanti okunye okuye kwadala izinhlekelele yizimpi zombango, izinxushunxushu zezombusazwe nababusi abangomashiqela.

Noma kunjalo, amanzi amsulwa eqiniso leBhayibheli agelezele nakuleli zwe elihle elinamachibi nemifula, alethela izinkulungwane zabantu abaqotho induduzo nethemba. (IsAm. 22:17) Yebo, umfula ongamalungiselelo angokomoya ogeleza eNicaragua namuhla ufakazela ukuthi uJehova uwubusisa ngokucebile umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso kuleli zwe, ikakhulukazi uma sicabanga ukuthi eminyakeni engu-60 edlule izindaba ezinhle zaziyiconsi nje.

Ekuqaleni Zaziyiconsi

Ngo-June 28, 1945, uFrancis noWilliam Wallace, izelamani ezaphothula ekilasini lokuqala le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, bafika eManagua. Baqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle ngendlela ehleliwe eNicaragua futhi bazicabela indlela izithunywa zevangeli ezazizofika. Kodwa akubona abafika nesigijimi soMbuso kuleli zwe ngoba ngo-1934, udade oyiphayona owayevakashile wayezihambisile izincwadi eManagua nakwezinye izindawo zalapha. Noma kunjalo ngo-1945 bambalwa kakhulu ababezwile ngoFakazi BakaJehova.

Lapho izelamani zakwaWallace ziqala ukushumayela zazithwala igilamafoni zidlale izinkulumo zeBhayibheli eziqoshiwe—okuyinto ababeyiqabuka abantu baseNicaragua! Ngakho ngenyanga yokuqala bangu-705 abantu abezwa isigijimi soMbuso.

Ngo-October walowo nyaka, kwafika ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezine—imibhangqwana eshadile uHarold no-Evelyn Duncan noWilbert no-Ann Geiselman. Njengoba babemagange ngokumemezela uMbuso ngazo zonke izindlela, bahlela ukuba kube nochungechunge lwemihlangano yeningi. Ngakho ngo-November 1945, kwakuthi lapho abantu baseNicaragua bezihambela, bazithele kubantu abaphethe amapheshana abamemela enkulumweni yeBhayibheli. Nakuba izibhelu zezombusazwe nabantu ababelwa emgwaqweni eduze kwaleyo ndawo kwakufuna ukuphazamisa isimiso, umhlangano awuphazamisekanga futhi leyo nkulumo yeningi yokuqala yalalelwa abangaphezu kuka-40. Ngaleso sikhathi iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda noMhlangano Wenkonzo wamasonto onke kwaqala ukuqhutshelwa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli.

Unyaka ka-1946 wazijabulisa izithunywa zevangeli nalabo ababengabokuqala abamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli. Omunye wabo kwakungu-Arnoldo Castro owayeneminyaka engu-24 ubudala, omamathekayo lapho ekhumbula ukuthi waluthola kanjani ulwazi lweqiniso leBhayibheli. Uthi: “Mina nabantu engangihlala nabo, u-Evaristo Sánchez noLorenzo Obregón, sanquma ukufunda isiNgisi. Kwathi ngolunye usuku kwafika u-Evaristo evela emakethe evayizisa incwadi, ethi: ‘Ngithole umuntu waseMelika ozosifundisa isiNgisi!’ ‘Uthisha’ yena wayengahlosile lokho, kodwa u-Evaristo wayecabanga kanjalo. Ngakho lapho kufika isikhathi ababesinqumile, thina sobathathu sasikulindele ngesasasa ukufunda isiNgisi. Lo ‘thisha,’ okwakuyisithunywa sevangeli uWilbert Geiselman, wamangala lapho ethola ‘abafundi beBhayibheli’ ababemagange kangaka bemlindile sebephethe incwadi.”

“Kwakuyincwadi ethi ‘IQiniso Liyakunikhulula’ esasiyifunda kabili ngesonto,” kuchaza u-Arnoldo. “Asisingakanani-ke isiNgisi esagcina sisifundile, kodwa iqiniso leBhayibheli lona salifunda.” U-Arnoldo wabhapathizwa ngo-August 1946 emhlanganweni owawuseCleveland, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., wabe esephindela eNicaragua eyoqala inkonzo yamaphayona. Ekupheleni kwalowo nyaka, nalezi zinsizwa ezimbili ayehlala nazo zabhapathizwa.

U-Evaristo Sánchez oseneminyaka engu-83 manje uyajabula lapho ekhumbula lezo zinsuku zokuqala. Uthi: “Ekuqaleni sasingenayo indawo yokuqhubela imihlangano. Kodwa sasimbalwa, ngakho sasihlangana lapho kwakuhlala khona izithunywa zevangeli. Kamuva kwaqashwa umuzi onezitezi ezimbili esasihlanganyela kuwo njalo, sasiba ngu-30 kuya ku-40.”

Lezi zinsizwa ezintathu zazingabantu bokuqala baseNicaragua abahamba nezithunywa zevangeli enkonzweni, babeqala eManagua bese beya ezindaweni eziqhelile. Ngaleso sikhathi iManagua yayincane kunamanje, yayinabantu abacela ku-120 000. Enkabeni yedolobha kwakunendawo encane eyayikhonkiwe. U-Evaristo uyakhumbula: “Sasihamba ngezinyawo. Kwakungekho mabhasi, kungekho migwaqo ekhonkiwe, kukhona ojantshi bezitimela nemizila yamakalishi kuphela. Ngakho sasihlala sihamba othulini noma odakeni, kuye ngokuthi lomisile yini noma liyana.” Kodwa bazibona izithelo zemizamo yabo ngesikhathi kufika abangu-52 eSikhumbuzweni sango-April 1946.

Kumiswa Igatsha

Ngayo leyo nyanga, uNathan H. Knorr noFrederick W. Franz, basendlunkulu eBrooklyn, bavakashela eNicaragua beqala ngqa. Ezinsukwini ezine abazihlala, izilaleli ezingu-158 zalalela inkulumo yeningi kaMfoweth’ uKnorr eyayithi “Jabulani Nina Zizwe.” UMfoweth’ uFranz wayihumushela olimini lweSpanishi. Engakahambi, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wamisa ihhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eNicaragua ukuba liqondise umsebenzi. UWilliam Eugene Call, owayeneminyaka engu-26 ubudala futhi esanda kushintshwa esuka eCosta Rica, wamiswa njengenceku yegatsha.

Emashumini eminyaka alandela, ihhovisi legatsha lavula amakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli ezindaweni ezinjengaseJinotepe, eMasaya, eLeón, eBluefields, eGranada naseMatagalpa. Kwenziwa namalungiselelo okuba umbonisi wesifunda ahambele amabandla namaqembu ayesanda kumiswa ngenjongo yokuqinisa nokukhuthaza abazalwane.

Impumelelo Yabaphikisi Ifana Nomlilo Wamaphepha

Intshiseko yabazalwane yasheshe yathela izithelo, bacasuka abefundisi beLobukholwa. Izinkomba zokuqala zokuphikiswa zabonakala eBluefields, idolobha elisoGwini LwaseCaribbean lapho kwakwabelwe khona izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili. Kwaba kubi kakhulu ngo-October 17, 1952, ngenkathi inkantolo ikhipha umthetho ovimbela oFakazi BakaJehova. Lo mthetho owawuvimbela yonke imisebenzi yoFakazi wasayinwa umphathi woMnyango Wezifiki, kodwa wawushaywe umfundisi wamaKatolika.

Izithunywa zevangeli zaseBluefields, eLeón, eJinotepe naseManagua zatshelwa ngalo mthetho. Kwafakwa izikhalo eziphathimandleni ezifanele—kuhlanganise nowayengumongameli u-Anastasio Somoza García—kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya. Abazalwane baqala ukuhlangana ngamaqembu amancane, bayeka ukuhambisa umagazini emigwaqweni, nezincwadi ezazisegatsheni zathuthelwa ezindaweni eziphephile. Izitha zethu zenkolo zaziphumelele ukuvimbela umsebenzi ngokuqamba amanga zithi oFakazi BakaJehova bangamaKhomanisi. Kwaqashwa ummeli ukuba asidlulisele eNkantolo Ephakeme Yobulungisa lesi sinqumo.

Nakuba abanye abazalwane balulahla ukholo lwabo ngenxa yokwesaba abantu, iningi lahlala liqinile. Izithunywa zevangeli, ezazivuthiwe futhi zinesibindi, zaba yinsika kubazalwane bendawo abaqhubeka belalela iZwi likaNkulunkulu, beshumayela futhi behlangana ndawonye. (IzE. 1:8; 5:29; Heb. 10:24, 25) Kwabe sekuthi ngo-June 9, 1953—ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-8 nje kuphela umsebenzi uvinjelwe—inkantolo ephakeme yakhipha isinqumo esasivuna oFakazi BakaJehova, sigcizelela ukuthi umthetho-sisekelo uyalisekela ilungelo lenkululeko yokukhulekela nokukhuluma. Abaphikisi babeshaye phansi kwashunq’ uthuli.

Izinselele Zezithunywa Zevangeli Zokuqala

Izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala azigcinanga nje ngokuphikiswa abefundisi kuphela. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaSydney noPhyllis Porter, abaphothula ekilasini le-12 laseGileyadi. Lapho befika eNicaragua ngo-July 1949, uSydney wamiswa waba umbonisi wesifunda esasihlanganisa izwe lonke. Uyachaza ukuthi kwakunjani ukujikeleza ngalezo zinsuku. “Sasihamba ngezitimela namabhasi. Kwakuqabukela sithole abazalwane esasizohlala nabo, ngakho sasiphatha izingubo zokulala nesitofu esincane esasizobilisa ngaso amanzi futhi sipheke ngaso. Kwakuye kuphele amasonto ayishumi singekho egatsheni. Nokho, insimu yona yayivunde kangangokuthi kwakuyinselele ukuya kubo bonke abantu abanesithakazelo. Ngokwesibonelo, kwathi lapho isifunda sethu sekuyiManagua, uPhyllis waqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-16! Wayesithathaphi isikhathi? Wayeziqhuba ngosuku esasiphumula ngalo nasebusuku uma ingekho imihlangano yebandla.” Yeka ukuzinikela kwalezo zithunywa zevangeli zokuqala!

UDoris Niehoff, owafika ngo-1957, usho loko akubona lapho eqala ukufika kule ndawo: “Kwakusekupheleni kuka-March, okuyisikhathi sasebusika, ngakho konke okumilayo kwakushile. Zazingeziningi neze izimoto ngaleso sikhathi; abantu babehamba ngamahhashi—bephethe izibhamu! Kwakungathi ngifika lapho kuthwetshulelwa khona ifilimu ebonisa ukuphila kwaseNtshonalanga ye-United States. Kulezo zinsuku, uma kungeve kuwukuthi uyisigwili, wawumpofu, kodwa abaningi babempofu. Okwenza isimo saba sibi nakakhulu ukuthi iNicaragua yayilwa neHonduras bebanga indawo, futhi kwathi sekusele izinyanga eziyisithupha ngifike, uMongameli uSomoza García wabulawa, izwe labe selibuswa amasosha.”

UDoris uyaqhubeka: “Ngabelwa eLeón, idolobha elineyunivesithi. Njengoba ngangingasazi kahle iSpanishi, abafundi babethanda ukudlala ngami. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ngithi ngizobuya ngizoxoxa nabafundi abathile ngeBhayibheli, bavuma kodwa bahleka lapho bengitshela ‘amagama’ abo. Omunye wangitshela igama lomuntu owayebulele umongameli, omunye wazibiza ngegama lesigelekeqe esaziwayo! Kuyamangaza ukuthi angizange ngiboshwe ngesikhathi ngibuya ngizocela abafundi abanalawo magama!”

Ngixoxa Nombhishobhi WaseMatagalpa

Uma usuka eManagua uhambe amakhilomitha angu-130 uya ngasenyakatho, uthola idolobha laseMatagalpa liphahlwe amagquma asendaweni etshalwe ikhofi. Zine izithunywa zevangeli ezazabelwe lapho ngo-1957. U-Agustín Sequeira, owayenguprofesa wezibalo ekolishi elaliphethwe izindela ezingamaJosephine, ukhumbula isimo senkolo sangaleso sikhathi eMatagalpa. Uthi: “Iningi labantu lalingamaKatolika futhi libesaba abapristi ikakhulu umbhishobhi. Lo mbhishobhi wayemele enye yezingane zami ngesikhathi ibhapathizwa.”

Lo moya wokwesaba wenza kwaba nzima ngegatsha ukuba litholele izithunywa zevangeli izindawo zokuhlala. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho lifuna indlu elalizoyiqasha, ihhovisi legatsha latshela umuntu owayeqashisa, owayengummeli, ukuthi izithunywa zevangeli zazizoqhubela nemihlangano yobuKristu endlini ayezoziqashisela yona. Wathi: “Akunankinga.”

Echaza okwenzeka ngemva kwalokho, uDoris Niehoff uthi: “Mhlazane sifika nayo yonke ifenisha yethu, kwaqhamuka umninimuzi ehwaqabele. Wasitshela ukuthi wayesithumelele incwadi yocingo ethi singabe siseza. Isizathu? Umbhishobhi wayemesabise ngokuthi uma esiqashisa, indodana yakhe yayingeke isavunyelwa ukufunda esikoleni samaKatolika. Ngenhlanhla, thina sasingayitholanga leyo ncwadi yocingo futhi sase siyikhokhile imali yokuhlala inyanga eyodwa.”

UDoris uyenezela: “Kwasishikilisa ukufuna enye indlu ngaleyo nyanga, kodwa sayithola. Ngenkathi umbhishobhi ezama ukuphoqa usomabhizinisi wendawo owayengesabi ukuba angasamukeli, lo somabhizinisi waphendula: ‘Uma uzongikhokhela ama-cordoba angu-400 njalo ngenyanga, ngizobaxosha.’ Umbhishobhi akazange ayikhokhe leyo mali. Kodwa akazange adikibale, waya kuzo zonke izitolo waxhoma amabhodi ayexwayisa abantu ukuba bangakhulumi noFakazi BakaJehova. Watshela nabanini-zitolo ukuba bangasidayiseli.”

Naphezu kwentshiseko yezithunywa zevangeli, kwabonakala kungekho muntu ozimisele ukwamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli eMatagalpa. Kodwa u-Agustín, uprofesa wezibalo, wayenemibuzo eminingi engaphenduliwe. Ngokwesibonelo, wayezibuza ukuthi kungani imibhoshongo ecijile isekhona kanti oFaro abayakha kade bafa! Usakhumbula kahle ukuthi kwafika isithunywa sevangeli sambonisa izimpendulo zemibuzo yakhe eBhayibhelini. U-Agustín uyachaza: “Yangihlaba umxhwele imibhalo ebonisa ukuthi umuntu akadalelwanga ukufa kodwa ukuphila phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi nokuthi abafileyo bayovuswa. Ngasheshe ngabona ukuthi yiqiniso leli.” Wabe esenzenjani u-Agustín? Uthi: “Ngaqala ukushumayeza bonke abantu ekolishi engangifundisa kulo, kuhlanganise nothisha-nhloko, owayeyindela. Wabe esengicela ukuba ngize ngeSonto sizoxoxa ‘ngokuphela kwezwe.’ Ngamangala lapho ngifika ngithola umbhishobhi waseMatagalpa engilindile.”

Wathi: “Shono-ke Mhlobo wami, ngizwa kuthiwa usuphelelwa ukholo.”

“Luphi lona ukholo?” ngiphendula. “Engingakaze ngibe nalo? Mina ngiqala manje ukuba nokholo lwangempela.”

Yaqala kanjalo-ke ingxoxo eyadonsa amahora amathathu, indela ilalele. Ukushisekela kuka-Agustín ukholo lwakhe olusha kwakuye kumenze abatshele ezikabhoqo abantu. Waze walikhipha nelokuthi inkolelo ephambene nobuKristu yokungafi komphefumulo womuntu iyisu lokuthola imali ngokuxhaphaza abantu abangazi lutho. Ukuze acacisele umbhishobhi leli phuzu, u-Agustín wathi: “Ngokwesibonelo, ake sithi umama ushonile. Kuyaziwa ukuthi ngizoza kuwe ungenzele inkonzo yeMisa ngoba umphefumulo wakhe usesihlanzweni. Bese wena uyangikhokhisa ngalokho. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-8, wenze enye inkonzo yeMisa. Ngemva konyaka, uphinde enye, njalonjalo. Kodwa akwenzeki nje uthi kimi: ‘Mhlobo wami, ngeke ngisakwenzela inkonzo yeMisa ngoba umphefumulo kanyoko usuphumile esihlanzweni.’”

“Hha!” kusho umbhishobhi, “Phela uNkulunkulu yedwa owaziyo ukuthi uphuma nini!”

“Wazi kanjani-ke pho ukuthi wangena nini njengoba ungikhokhisa nje?” kuphendula u-Agustín.

Kwathi phakathi nengxoxo u-Agustín ethi ucaphuna omunye futhi umbhalo weBhayibheli, indela yathi kumbhishobhi: “Bheka Baba! Usebenzisa iBhayibheli elingavunyelwe; elamaLuthela!”

“Cha, yimina engamnika lelo Bhayibheli,” kuphendula umbhishobhi.

Njengoba ingxoxo iqhubeka, u-Agustín wamangala lapho ezwa umbhishobhi ethi umuntu akufanele akukholwe konke okuseBhayibhelini. U-Agustín uthi: “Ngemva kwalowo mhlangano ngase ngazi ukuthi abefundisi beLobukholwa bathanda isiko lesonto kuneZwi likaNkulunkulu, njengabaholi benkolo bosuku lukaJesu.”

Ngo-February 1962, u-Agustín Sequeira waba ummemezeli wokuqala obhapathiziwe eMatagalpa. Waqhubeka ethuthuka ngokomoya, kamuva waba iphayona futhi waba umdala, kwathi ngo-1991 waba ilungu leKomiti Yegatsha YaseNicaragua. Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2002, iMatagalpa ibisinamabandla amabili akhulayo anabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-153.

Amaphayona Akhethekile Angakhathali

Abaningi abamukela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu bashukumiseleka ukuba bandise inkonzo yabo ngokuba amaphayona. Abanye babo kwakunguGilberto Solís; umkakhe uMaría Cecilia; nodadewabo kaGilberto omncane uMaría Elsa. Bobathathu babhapathizwa ngo-1961, ngemva kweminyaka emine baba iqembu lamaphayona akhethekile eliphumelelayo impela. Bobathathu baba neqhaza ekumiseni noma ekuqiniseni amabandla angu-9 asezindaweni ezihlukahlukene kuleli zwe. Enye indawo ababelwa kuyo yisiQhingi Sase-Ometepe esiseChibini iNicaragua.

I-Ometepe ingamakhilomitha-skwele angu-276 futhi yakhiwe izindunduma ezadalwa izintaba-mlilo ezimbili, enye yazo ephakeme ngamamitha angu-1 600. Uma usibuka uphezulu lesi siqhingi simise okuka-8. La maphayona amathathu ayeqala ukushumayela kusempondozankomo e-Ometepe, agibele ibhasi, ehle lapho ligcina khona bese eqhubeka ngezinyawo—ngokuvamile eshaya ngoCetshwayo—ehamba ogwini olunesihlabathi eya ezindaweni eziningi ezikulesi siqhingi. Esikhathini esiyizinyanga ezingu-18, amisa amaqembu abafundi beBhayibheli amaningana angawodwa kulo lonke elase-Ometepe, elikhulu kunawo wonke laliseLos Hatillos.

Abamemezeli abaningi ababesanda kuhlanganyela eLos Hatillos babekade beziphilisa ngokutshala ugwayi, kodwa manje onembeza babo abaqeqeshwe iBhayibheli babengasabavumeli ukuba benze lowo msebenzi. Ngakho abaningi base bephila ngokudoba yize kwakungayingenisi kahle imali. Yeka intokozo ababa nayo abakwaSolís lapho bebona ukholo olunjalo, kanye nobunye ubufakazi obuningi bokuthi uJehova uyibusisa ngokucebile inkonzo yabo! Empeleni, basheshe banda abamemezeli kule ndawo baba ngu-32, okwenza kwadingeka iHholo LoMbuso. Omunye wabamemezeli ababesanda kuhlanganyela, u-Alfonso Alemán, wayetshala amakhabe, wathi uzonikela ngesiqeshana sendawo ukuze kwakhiwe ihholo. Kodwa abamemezeli baseLos Hatillos babezoyithola kanjani imali yokwakha?

UGilberto Solís wacela amavolontiya ayezotshala imbewu yamakhabe eyayivela kuMfoweth’ u-Alemán, esiqeshaneni sendawo ayenikele ngaso. UGilberto wakhuthaza la mavolontiya ukuba awanakekele kahle “amakhabe kaJehova,” wabeka isibonelo ngokusebenza kanzima naye. UMaría Elsa, omncane ngomzimba kodwa okhuthele, uchaza indlela leli qembu elincane labamemezeli elaliwanakekela ngayo amakhabe. Uthi: “Sasiye sivuke entathakusa sichelele insimu. Amakhabe avuma, sawavuna kwaze kwaba kathathu. UMfoweth’ u-Alemán wayewela iChibi iNicaragua ngesikebhe sakhe aye eGranada, afike awadayise abese ethenga izinto zokwakha. Lakhiwa kanjalo iHholo LoMbuso eLos Hatillos, yingakho umfowethu elibiza ngokuthi ihholo elincane lamakhabe.” Injalo-ke indaba yesiQhingi Sase-Ometepe njengoba manje sesinamabandla amathathu akhulayo.

Ukuthobeka, umoya omuhle, nokuthembela ngokuphelele kuJehova okwaboniswa uGilberto, umkakhe, nodadewabo kwathinta izinhliziyo zabaningi. UGilberto wayevame ukuthi: “Abasanda kuhlanganyela kufanele sibabheke njengamankonyane. Bayathandeka kodwa basebuthakathaka. Ubuthakathaka babo mabungasicasuli kodwa masibasize baqine.” Akungabazeki ukuthi umoya wothando onjalo waba nengxenye ekubeni la maphayona amathathu ayizibonelo asize abantu abangu-265 bazinikezele futhi babhapathizwe! Umka Gilberto waze wafa ethembekile, kanti uGilberto naye njengoba eseneminyaka engu-83 ubudala, impilo yakhe isiwohlokile. Kodwa isifiso sakhe sokukhonza uJehova sisalokhu siqinile. UMaría Elsa, uthe lapho ebuzwa muva nje ukuthi uzizwa kanjani ngemva kweminyaka engu-36 eyiphayona elikhethekile, waphendula wathi: “Ngendlela engangizizwa ngayo ngosuku lokuqala! Ngiyajabula futhi ngimbonga njalo uJehova ngokusiletha enhlanganweni yakhe engcwele nangokusenza sihlanganyele kuleli pharadesi elingokomoya elimangalisayo.” Eminyakeni edlule amaphayona amaningi azikhandlayo, njengabakwaSolís, avune izithelo zoMbuso eziningi eNicaragua ngenxa yesibusiso esicebile sikaJehova.

Ukuzamazama Komhlaba EManagua Ngo-1972

Ngemva nje kwehora le-12 ebusuku ngo-December 23, 1972, iManagua yahlaselwa ukuzamazama komhlaba okwakungu-6,25 esikalini sikaRichter, kwakunamandla angangawamabhomu e-athomu angu-50. Ihhovisi legatsha lalisempumalanga yeManagua, lihlukaniswe imigwaqo engu-18 kuphela nendawo okwakuzamazame kuyo umhlaba. “Zonke izithunywa zevangeli zazilele,” kusho uLevi Elwood Witherspoon, owayengumbonisi wegatsha ngaleso sikhathi. “Lapho kuthula ukuzamazama, saphuthuma saphumela emgwaqweni. Wabe usuphinda uzamazama kabili izikhathi zilandelana. Imizi yabhidlika ngapha nangapha. Idolobha lagqunqa laba mnyama bhuqe, kwathi ezansi nalo kwalanguka amalangabi.”

Indawo enamabhizinisi yayingenhla kwalapho kuzamazame khona umhlaba, futhi kwathi ngemva nje kwesigamu somzuzu kwasuka esinamathambo eManagua. Abasindile babethubeleza othulini nasemfucumfucwini, bephefumula kanzima. Abaningi basala khona. Nakuba abanye bethi kwafa abangaphezu kuka-12 000, alaziwa inani eliqondile. Kwabhidlika imizi ebalelwa kumaphesenti angu-75 eManagua, abantu abangaba ngu-250 000 basala dengwane. Ezinsukwini ezintathu ngemva kokuzamazama komhlaba, bacela ku-100 000 abantu ababelishiya leli dolobha ngosuku.

Basizwa Uthando LobuKristu

Kwathi kuqambe kuba semini ngosuku okwakuzamazame ngalo umhlaba, ihhovisi legatsha labe selithole umbiko ogcwele ovela kubabonisi bamabandla eManagua. Laba bazalwane abathembekile basukumela phezulu ngobunye baya elungwini ngalinye lebandla ukuze bathole ukuthi lidingani. Kuyajabulisa ukuthi akufanga namunye koFakazi abangaphezu kwenkulungwane ababekuleli dolobha, kodwa abangaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-80 babesele dengwane.

Uthando lobuKristu lwashukumisa abantu bakaJehova basemazweni aseduze ukuba basize abafowabo masinyane, kwathi engakapheli amahora angu-22 umhlaba uzamazamile, kwatheleka amaloli egcwele ukudla, amanzi, imithi nezingubo zokugqoka egatsheni. Eqinisweni, igatsha laba phakathi kwabokuqala abanikeza izinto zosizo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwafika inqwaba yezisebenzi zokuzithandela zivela emabandleni ahlukahlukene eNicaragua, kwathi kungakabiphi zabe sezihlukanisa izingubo zokugqoka ngononina, zifaka ukudla emabhokisini futhi zikuthumela. Kwaze kwafika nezinto zosizo ezivela koFakazi abasezindaweni ezikude kakhulu.

Ngosuku olulandela olokuzamazama komhlaba, umbonisi wegatsha wahlangana nezithunywa ezazivela egatsheni laseCosta Rica, e-El Salvador, nelaseHonduras bezoxoxa ngosizo olwengeziwe olwaludingeka. OFakazi baseNicaragua ababengahlali eManagua babonisa uthando babavulela imizi yabo abazalwane okwadingeka bayishiye inhloko-dolobha. OFakazi ababesele bahlelwa baba amaqembu ukuze baqhube imihlangano yobuKristu baye nasensimini. Umbonisi wesifunda wahambela la maqembu eyowakhuthaza awanike nezinto zosizo.

Ngenxa yaloku kuzamazama komhlaba ezomnotho zaleli zwe zantengantenga. Yize ukuphila kwakuya kuba nzima, kwaqhubeka ukwakhiwa kabusha kwamaHholo OMbuso nemizi yabazalwane. Okunye futhi, abaningi ababesanda kuhlanganyela bathutheleka emabandleni. Kusobala ukuthi uJehova wayejabula ngabantu bakhe ngoba babeqhubeka bebeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala ekuphileni kwabo.—Math. 6:33.

INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1975 (yesiNgisi) yabika: “Iningi lamabandla angu-14 aseManagua lisahlanganyela ezakhiweni ezinezindonga ezinemifantu noma kuvulandi. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi inani lababa khona kule mihlangano seliphindeke kabili kusukela ngonyaka odlule. Isilinganiso sabamemezeli sibe ngaphezu kwesangonyaka odlule ngamaphesenti angu-20. Sebengu-2 689 abazisa abanye iqiniso futhi kwabhapathizwa abangu-417.”

Lokhu kwanda okuqhubekayo kwenza igatsha elidala lasheshe labonakala lilincane. Ungacabanga-ke ukuthi abamemezeli bathokoza kanjani lapho kuphothulwa ihhovisi legatsha elisha nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli ngo-December 1974—ngemva kweminyaka emibili nje vo kube nokuzamazama okukhulu! Igatsha elisha lalisemgwaqweni ongaphithizeli okuthiwa u-El Raizón, osebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-16 eningizimu yedolobha laseManagua.

Izithunywa Zevangeli Zibeka Isibonelo Sothando Nobunye

Selokhu kwafika izelamani ezimbili zakwaWallace ngo-1945, izithunywa zevangeli zaseNicaragua bezilokhu ziyizibonelo zokholo, ukukhuthazela, nokuthanda abantu. Lezo zimfanelo ezinhle zenza izithunywa zevangeli zasondelana, zasondelana nanabazalwane bendawo. Isithunywa sevangeli uKenneth Brian sithi: “Ngemva kokuzamazama kwaseManagua, sasiza egatsheni, satakula abazalwane emizini yabo, sabasiza bangcwaba izihlobo zabo ezase zishonile. Ukusebenza ndawonye ezimweni ezinjalo kunenza nisondelane kakhulu.” Ekhuluma ngezithunywa zevangeli ayekanye nazo, uMarguerite Moore (ngaphambili owayengowakwaFoster) uthi: “Yize sasiyizizwe ezingefani, sivela ezizindeni ezihlukene futhi sinobuntu obungefani, umoya wokuthi singumkhaya onobunye wasisiza sajabula esabelweni sethu, naphezu kokushiyeka kwethu.”

Izithunywa zevangeli ezinjengoKenneth noSharan Brian zikubheka njengelungelo elikhethekile ukuthi zizuzile ezibonelweni zezithunywa zevangeli esezimnkantsh’ ubomvu ezinjengoFrancis no-Angeline Wallace, uSydney noPhyllis Porter, no-Emily Hardin. “Zonke zazizikhandla ngempela,” kukhumbula uSharan, “futhi kwakubonakala ukuthi ziyawuthanda umsebenzi eziwenzayo.”

Eminyakeni edlule, imibhangqwana eminingi eyizithunywa zevangeli yenza nomsebenzi wokujikeleza. Ngempela, isisekelo esiqinile esabekwa izithunywa zevangeli ezishisekayo sanikela ekwandeni okungokomoya okwabonakala eNicaragua eminyakeni yokuqala engu-30 umsebenzi wokushumayela uqaliwe lapha. Nokho, lelo ngokomoya elase lakhekile lase lizovivinywa, lingavivinywa okunye ukuzamazama komhlaba, kodwa okuthile okuhlala isikhathi eside nokuyingozi ngokomoya—ubuzwe nezinguquko zezombusazwe.—1 Kor. 3:12, 13.

Bavivinywa Igagasi Lezinguquko Zezombusazwe

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970, kwaba nombhikisho wezombusazwe owawuholwa i-Sandinista National Liberation Front (i-FSLN ngeSpanishi) eNicaragua. Ekugcineni yagumbuqela umbusi wozalo olwase luneminyaka engu-42 lubusa kuleli zwe. URuby Block, oseneminyaka engu-15 eyisithunywa sevangeli eNicaragua, uthi ngaleyo nkathi: “Ukushuba kwesimo sezombusazwe ngaleyo minyaka kwenza bonke abantu bahlala bethuk’ izanya. Amasosha ayetholana phezulu njalo nama-Sandinista. Kwakudingeka sithembele ngokugcwele kuJehova ukuze siqhubeke nenkonzo yethu.”

Yize oFakazi BakaJehova babengathathi hlangothi kwezombusazwe ngoba bengamaKristu, ababecheme nama-Sandinista babeye babakhombe ngomunwe bathi bayizincelebana zikaSomoza noma ze-Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) yaseMelika. Kwavuka nomoya wokungabathandi abantu bokuhamba. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi isithunywa sevangeli u-Elfriede Urban sisensimini, indoda yimbe yathi siyinhloli. Sathi: “Ngingaba kanjani inhloli? Angiphethe khamera nasiqopha-mazwi. Futhi nje yini engingayihlola lapha?”

Yaphendula: “Uqeqeshwe kahle kangangokuthi amehlo akho ayikhamera, izindlebe nobuchopho bakho kuyisiqopha-mazwi.”

Isiqubulo ababethanda ukusisho emigwaqweni yaseManagua ngalezo zinsuku sithi: “UbuKristu abuxabani nezombusazwe!” Lo mbono, owasakazeka eLatin America ngawo-1970, wawuyimfundiso yenkolo yenkululeko, okuwumbono owawukhuthazwa imfundiso kaMarx eSontweni LamaRoma Katolika. Ngokwe-Encyclopædia Britannica, injongo yemfundiso yenkolo yenkululeko yayiwukusiza “abampofu nabacindezelwe ngokufaka [inkolo] ezindabeni zezombusazwe nezomphakathi.”

URuby Block uyakhumbula: “Abantu babejwayele ukusibuza ukuthi, ‘Nithini ngalezi zinguquko?’ Sasibachazela ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo kuphela oyoxazulula izinkinga zesintu.” Kwakuyinselele ukuhlala uthembekile kuJehova esimweni sezombangazwe esasishube kanjalo. URuby uyanezela: “Ngangithandaza njalo kuJehova ngicela amandla okuba ngingathathi hlangothi, hhayi nje ngengikushoyo kuphela kodwa nangengqondo nenhliziyo.”

Ngemva kodlame olwathatha izinyanga, ngo-May 1979 i-FSLN yavuka inj’ ebomvu yagumbuqela uhulumeni. UMongameli uSomoza Debayle kwadingeka abaleke, noMbutho Wezempi Wesizwe wahlakazwa. Ngo-July walowo nyaka, kwabe sekubusa uHulumeni Omusha Wesizwe. Babalelwa ku-50 000 abantu baseNicaragua abafa ngesikhathi salezi zinguquko.

Kwabahambela kanjani abazalwane? INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso (yesiNgisi) ka-October 1979 yayinalesi saziso: “Abazalwane banomoya omuhle futhi sebeqalile ukuya ezifundweni nokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela nokufundisa. Njengoba bekunodlame, . . . bathathu abafowethu abashonile. Abaningi basala dengwane, kodwa njengoba iningi labo laliqashile, lalahlekelwa kakhulu izimpahla ezaphangwa nezacekelwa phansi. Zimbalwa kakhulu izinto zokuhamba. Amabhasi aminingi ashaywa noma ashiswa, imigwaqo yimá ilungiswa, nophethiloli uyindlala.” Noma kunjalo, abantu bakaJehova babesahlalelwe uvivinyo olukhulu.

Bayaboshwa Futhi Baxoshwe

Kwasheshe kwahlaluka ukuthi lo hulumeni omusha wawungayingeni eyokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abathathi hlangothi. Ngokwesibonelo, uMnyango Ohlola Izimpahla wabadonsisa kanzima lapho befuna ukulanda izincwadi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngo-1981 kwamiswa umthetho wokuba zonke izinhlangano zomphakathi nezenkolo zibhalise kabusha ukuze ziqashelwe ngokomthetho. Abazalwane babengeke besaqashelwa ngokomthetho kuze kube yilapho sebebhalise kabusha. Kuyadabukisa ukuthi izicelo zabo zokubhalisa kabusha aziphendulwanga.

Ngo-September 1981, u-Andrew noMiriam Reed baboshwa ngesikhathi bejikeleza ezinkangala ezimaphakathi. Kwaphela izinsuku eziyishumi bevalelwa emajele ahlukahlukene nangaphansi kwezimo ezingemnandi neze. Ekugcineni bayiswa esiteshini esikhulu samaphoyisa, abavalela ngokwehlukana izikhathi eziningi. Ayevame ukubaphenya ngemibuzo isikhathi eside efuna bakhiphe amagama abazalwane abaholayo. Ayefika komunye amtshele ukuthi omunye uvumile ukuthi usebenzela i-CIA, kodwa abakwaReed babengaveli ngisho nase-United States! Ekugcineni batshelwa ukuthi kwenzeke iphutha. Nakuba babengakaze bamangalelwe, baxoshwa bayiswa eCosta Rica. Nokho, bengakahambi batshelwa ukuthi kwakungamukeleki ukwenqaba koFakazi BakaJehova ukulwa nokuthi bonke abantu baseNicaragua kwakumelwe bakulungele ukulwela izwe labo.

Ngokuhlakanipha iKomiti Yegatsha yaqinisa ukuqeqeshwa kwabazalwane bendawo ukuze bengamele umsebenzi uma kwenzeka ihhovisi legatsha livalwa. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwaqhutshwa isikole sababonisi besifunda nabababambelayo, iSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso sabadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo eziningana, neSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona. Kodwa kwakunzima ukuba kube nemibuthano emikhulu.

Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba abaphathi bedolobha laseMasaya babethe izotholakala inkundla okwakuzoqhutshelwa kuyo omunye weMihlangano Yesigodi ‘Yobuqotho BoMbuso’ ngo-December 1981, kwathi sekusele amahora angu-36 bashaya ingwijikhwebu. Lesi sinqumo sasingaveli ehhovisi lomphathi-dolobha, kodwa kuhulumeni. Abazalwane batshelwa ngalesi sinqumo. Ngakho ngosuku olwandulela umhlangano, bacela udade othile onomusa ukuba baqhubele umhlangano epulazini lakhe lezinkukhu. Laliqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-8 eManagua. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela zasebenza ubusuku bonke zilungisa le ndawo. Kwahlatshwa umkhosi kubazalwane abangaphezu kuka-6 800 ukuthi umhlangano usuzoba kuphi.

Igatsha Liyavalwa

NgoMgqibelo ngo-March 20, 1982, ngo-6:40 ekuseni, u-Ian Hunter wayenzela ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ukudla kwasekuseni. Kwafika ibhasi elaligcwele abaphathi bomnyango wezifiki namasosha ayehlome ngezibhamu. Amasosha ahaqa ihhovisi legatsha nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. U-Ian uthi: “Lezi zikhulu zathi umuntu nomuntu makapakishe ipotimende elilodwa nesikhwama esincane. Azisitshelanga isizathu, zamane nje zathi zisiyisa emzini othile esizohlala kuwo isikhashana kuze kwenziwe uphenyo oluthile. UReiner Thompson, umqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha, wangena ehhovisi isinyenyela washayela amanye amakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli ucingo ebaxwayisa ngalokho okwakwenzeka.”

URuby Block uyakhumbula: “Ngalelo langa ngaqonda ukuthi asho ukuthini ngempela amazwi kaPawulu: ‘Ningakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa kukho konke izicelo zenu mazaziwe nguNkulunkulu ngomthandazo nangokunxusa . . . ; ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula konke ukucabanga kuyolinda izinhliziyo zenu namandla enu engqondo.’ (Fil. 4:6, 7) Njengoba isosha elihlomile lalisigadile lisekhishini, uReiner Thompson wathandaza, sonke sabe sesisho u-‘Amen’ osuka enhliziyweni. Ngemva kwalokho, amaphaphu ehla yize sasingazi ukuthi yayizozala nkomoni. Sasiqiniseka ukuthi noma kungenzekani, uJehova uzosipha amandla okukuthwala. Angisoze ngasikhohlwa leso sifundo.”

UMfoweth’ uHunter usichazela okwenzeka ngemva kwalokho, uthi: “Basigibelisa ebhasini basiyisa epulazini elidala lekhofi le emaqaqasini. Ngakhumbuza lezi zikhulu ukuthi njengabantu bokuhamba, sinelungelo lokukhuluma namanxusa asemazweni akithi. Angiphendula athi ukumenyezelwa komthetho wesimo esibucayi ekuqaleni kwesonto kwakusho ukuthi awasekho lawo malungelo nokuthi uma sesingaphandle kwaleli zwe sesingakhuluma nanoma ubani esimthandayo. Savele safunda kwezethu ukuthi sesiyaxoshwa eNicaragua.” Ngalolo suku izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-9 ezazihlala egatsheni zahanjiswa ngezimoto zayiswa emngceleni weCosta Rica.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi izithunywa zevangeli ezazikwamanye amakhaya amabili zasukumela phezulu lapho zithola ucingo lukaMfoweth’ uThompson. Abazalwane bendawo bazilekelela zakhipha imishini eminingi, kuhlanganise nowokunyathelisa, kanye nezimpahla zazo eziningi. Zathi ziqambe zifika izikhulu zomnyango wezifiki, zakhangwa yizindlu zingasenalutho nezithunywa zevangeli zipakisha amapotimende azo. Ngalelo langa ebusuku izithunywa zevangeli eziyishumi ezazikulawo makhaya amabili zayiswa esikhumulweni sezindiza. UPhyllis Porter uyalandisa: “Bathi simelene nohulumeni omusha kodwa abazange basiseshe noma baseshe izimpahla zethu. Yize sasingenawo amathikithi endiza, amathikithi ezimpahla zethu ayebonisa ukuthi sixoshelwa ePanama.” Izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili ezase zisele zodwa lapha—umbhangqwana waseBrithani owawujikeleza—zaxoshwa ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa.

Ngemva kwezinsukwana izithunywa zevangeli zaphinde zahlangana egatsheni laseCosta Rica. INdikimba Ebusayo yazinikeza izabelo zokuba ziqhubeke nenkonzo yazo ezindaweni eziseduze njengeBelize, i-Ecuador, i-El Salvador neHonduras. Kodwa uReiner noJeanne Thompson no-Ian Hunter basala bona eCosta Rica okwesikhashana ukuze balokhu bethintana nabazalwane abase bengamele umsebenzi eNicaragua.

Basala kanjani abazalwane baseNicaragua? Ngaleso sikhathi uMfoweth’ uHunter wathi: “Abazalwane esibathandayo badabuka lapho bezwa ngokuxoshwa kwethu kodwa basayibambile. Labo abasekomitini yezwe esanda kumiswa bazibambe zaqina futhi siyaqiniseka ukuthi bazokwenza umsebenzi omuhle.” UFélix Pedro Paiz, umbonisi wesifunda waseNicaragua osemnkantsh’ ubomvu, ukhumbula indlela abazalwane abazizwa ngayo ngokuhamba kwezithunywa zevangeli: “Safa olwembiza. Zazizinikele ngempela futhi zahlala zithembekile. Isibonelo sazo sabaqinisa abazalwane futhi sakha isisekelo esiqinile somsebenzi kuleli zwe.”

Ubekelwe Imingcele, Awuvinjelwe

Ngezinye izikhathi ohulumeni abasiqondi kahle isimo soFakazi BakaJehova sokungathathi hlangothi kwezombusazwe, ezimpini, nasezinxushunxushwini. Lokhu kuye kubenze babe nyamana mbana abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphansi kombuso kaSomoza ngawo-1950 nawo-1960, abaphikisi babethi bangamaKhomanisi. Kodwa manje ama-Sandinista ayesegxeka abazalwane ethi bayizincelebana ze-CIA yaseMelika. Abezindaba nabo bagaxela bathi “bamelene nohulumeni omusha.”

Noma kunjalo, oFakazi BakaJehova abazange bavinjelwe nakuba eminyakeni ephakathi kuka-1982 no-1990 inkululeko yabo yokukhulekela yayibekelwe imingcele ecacile. Ngokwesibonelo, babengavunyelwe ukungenisa izincwadi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwasungulwa indlela yokuyiqapha ngeso elibukhali imisebenzi yabo—ngisho neyabanye abantu.

Bagadwe Izimpimpi Ezisemphakathini

Incwadi ye-Library of Congress ithi: “Kwathi kungathatha uhulumeni omusha, i-FSLN yamisa izinhlangano ezinkulu zabantu abanenjongo efanayo eNicaragua.” Phakathi kwalezi zinhlangano kwakukhona ezezisebenzi, ezomame, ezabafuyi bezinkomo, ezabalimi nezabantukazana. Le ncwadi ithi, “kwathi kuqambe kuba ngu-1980 izinhlangano ezazimiswe ama-Sandinista zase zinabantu baseNicaragua abangaba ngu-250 000.” Phakathi kwezazinegunya kakhulu kwakukhona amaKomiti Okuvikela Ama-Sandinista (Comités de Defensa Sandinista ngeSpanishi), noma ama-CDS, ayelingisa amaKhomanisi. Njengoba ayenamakomiti emphakathini, ama-CDS ayebala abantu ezindlini ngezindlu emadolobheni ngakho “ayebazi bonke abantu ukuthi bakuphi,” kusho le ncwadi engenhla. Ayeyithuluzi elihle lokuqoqela uhulumeni izindaba nokutshela abantu izinto ezishiwo uhulumeni.

Ngokushesha imisebenzi yoFakazi BakaJehova yayisigadwe ngeso elibukhali ikakhulukazi ngenxa yezinto ezingamanga aluhlaza ezazishiwo ngabo. Abantu ababesolwa ngokuthi bamelene nohulumeni omusha nokuthi “banemibono ehlukile” babecetshwa njalo kuma-CDS angakubo ezikhulwini zama-Sandinista. Laba bantu babeboshwa amaphoyisa e-General Directorate of State Security, okungumbutho wamaphoyisa omshoshaphansi.

Omunye umsebenzi wama-CDS kwakuwukuhlela abantu abazogada ebusuku. Kwakubizwa amadoda nabesifazane ukuba bashintshane bagade izigebengu nontamolukhuni. OFakazi bona babengagadi futhi benqaba ukuba imihlangano yamasonto onke yama-CDS iqhutshelwe emizini yabo. Kodwa babevuma ukwenza eminye imisebenzi, njengokuhlanza imigwaqo. Noma kunjalo, oFakazi babebhekwa njengezinhlanya nabantu abayingozi kuHulumeni. Omunye umzalwane uthi: “Phakathi naleso sikhathi, phambi kwakwami kwakubhalwe ngopende amazwi athi ‘Sinigadile.’”

Baqaphile Kodwa Banesibindi

Lapho abazalwane besesifundweni nasensimini babeqapha ukuze bangazidonseli amehlo abantu ngokungadingekile. Isifundo sasiqhutshwa ngamaqembu alingana nomkhaya endaweni engezubonwa umphakathi, emizini yabazalwane noma emaHholo OMbuso angabhaliwe. Kwezinye izindawo abazalwane babengaziculi izingoma zoMbuso esifundweni. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abazalwane babhala izinombolo esikhundleni samagama abo emafomini ahlukahlukene nasemibikweni yebandla. Okunye futhi, abantu abathakazelayo babengamenyelwa neze esifundweni uma bengakaqedi izinyanga okungenani eziyisithupha befundelwa futhi kubonakala ukuthi bayathuthuka.

Imihlangano yesifunda yayiqhutshwa ngamaqembu amancane nesimiso sasincishiswa. Izinkulumo zomhlangano nokunye kwakuthunyelwa ebandleni ngalinye, abadala bakulelo bandla bahlele izinkulumo bese bezethulela ibandla, besizwa izinceku ezikhonzayo ezifanelekayo. Amalungu ekomiti yezwe nababonisi abajikelezayo babeya kweminingi yale mihlangano.

Kwakuyalezwa kubantu ukuthi imihlangano izoba kuphi, futhi awukho umhlangano owake wabhuntsha. Kodwa ezinye izindawo kwakudingeka zishintshwe ngomzuzu wokugcina. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1987, kwenye indawo yasemaphandleni, umhlangano owawuzoba nabantu abangaba ngu-300 wawuzoqhutshelwa egcekeni lomzalwane othile. Kwavele kwathi thushu isikhulu samasosha sihamba namasosha aso. “Kwenzekani lapha?” kubuza lesi sikhulu.

“Sizoba nomcimbi,” kuphendula umzalwane, ebona ngamabhuzu ale ndoda ukuthi ivela eMbuthweni Wezokuvikela. Sabe sesihamba lesi sikhulu. Ngenxa yokuthi abazalwane babeqiniseka ukuthi inkukhu iyawusola umgqakazo, abazalwane nodade basebenza ubusuku bonke bediliza yonke into. Kwathi kushaya u-5:00 ekuseni, izihlalo, isiteji, nazo zonke izinto zokupheka zabe sezisusiwe lapha zayiswa kwenye indawo eqhele ngekhilomitha nesigamu. Izinsizwa zagijima zazisa abazalwane ngendawo entsha. Lapho ilanga seliphakeme, kwafika iloli elaligcwele amasosha ahlomile lapho kwakukade kuzoba nomhlangano khona, ecabanga ukuthi azowuhlakaza, abuthe intsha iyolwa, abophe nabazalwane abaholayo. Kodwa afica umninikhaya yedwa.

“Sebeshonephi abanye?” kubuza isikhulu samasosha.

“Phela umcimbi ubuyizolo, usuphelile manje,” kuphendula umzalwane.

“Beningeve ninomhlangano nje?” kubuza lesi sikhulu.

“Uyazibonela nje nawe,” kusho umzalwane. “Akukho lutho lapha.”

Singagculisekile, lesi sikhulu saphikelela: “Pho aphi amatende abelapha izolo?”

“Angithi ngiyasho ngithi umcimbi uphelile,” kuphinda umzalwane. “Bahambe nazo zonke izinto.”

Amasosha ajokola ahamba. Kanti abazalwane babezitika ngesimiso esakhayo ngokomoya kwenye indawo.

“Bhekani!” kusho uJesu, “Nginithuma njengezimvu phakathi kwezimpisi; ngakho-ke yibani abaqaphile njengezinyoka nokho nibe msulwa njengamajuba.” (Math. 10:16) Abamemezeli abagcinanga nje ngokulalela la mazwi lapho beqhuba imihlangano emincane nemikhulu kodwa nalapho besensimini. Ngakho abasebenzanga ngamaqembu amakhulu kodwa babonisa ukuqonda basebenza ngababili emasimini ababewabelwe ngaphambi kokuphuma baye ensimini. Umbonisi wesifunda uFélix Pedro Paiz uyachaza: “Kwakudingeka sivule amehlo ngempela. Sasiphatha iBhayibheli kuphela ensimini. Abazalwane babeshintshana zonke izinsuku ngokuhamba nami ensimini. Lapho ngihambele amabandla athile, ngangiya kwelinye iqembu lesifundo sencwadi ngoLwesibili kusihlwa, ngoLwesine ngiye kwelinye, nangeSonto ngiphinde ngiye kwelinye. Kwezinye izindawo kwakungadingeki siqaphe kangaka.”

Abazalwane Baphucwa AmaHholo, Baboshwe

Kwathi ngelinye ilanga ebusuku ngo-July 1982 isixuku sabantu abasuka kwabayikhulu kuya kwabangaphezu kwamakhulu amahlanu, ababehamba namasosha oMbutho Wezokuvikela, bahlasela amaHholo OMbuso amaningana ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene, bathi bayawathatha “egameni labantu.” Ngo-August 9 phakathi kuka-7:00 no-9:00 ebusuku kwathathwa amanye amaHholo OMbuso amahlanu, iHholo LoMhlangano, nesakhiwo segatsha esasise-El Raizón. Ngemva kokuxoshwa kwezithunywa zevangeli ngo-March, abazalwane baseNicaragua abayisithupha nombhangqwana oyizithunywa zevangeli basala egatsheni baligada. Kodwa ekugcineni la masosha, ehlohlwa izixuku ezazipikla, abaxosha nabo angabanika ngisho nethuba lokuthatha izinto zabo.

Uhulumeni wathi ama-CDS awabone ukuthi enzani ngamaHholo OMbuso ayewathathile, lawo manje ayesebizwa ngokuthi “impahla yabantu.” Kwathiwa la mahholo ayezosetshenziswa umphakathi. Angu-35 kwangu-50 agcina esesetshenziswa abantu ngokungemthetho, yize kwakungazange kushiwo ukuthi ayathathwa.

Phakathi naleli gagasi lokushisekela izwe, abazalwane abaholayo babengagadiwe ngeso elibukhali nje kuphela kodwa futhi babesongelwa. Ngokwesibonelo, kwezinye izindawo kwakuphela amahora amaningi amalungu ama-CDS ehlupha abazalwane phambi kwemizi yabo, eklabalasa ebachwensa futhi esho neziqubulo zezombusazwe. Izikhulu zoMbutho Wezokuvikela zasesha imizi yabo zayiphanga eminye. Kwaboshwa abadala abaningi kuhlanganise nabangamalungu ekomiti yezwe futhi bahlukunyezwa.

Phakathi kwabadala bokuqala abaphathwa kanje kwakunoJoel Obregón, owayengumbonisi wesifunda. Ngo-July 23, 1982, amasosha oMbutho Wezokuvikela ahaqa umuzi ababefikele kuwo yena nomkakhe, uNila, ambopha. Ngemva kwamasonto amahlanu uNila ephans’ phezulu efuna imvume yokubona umyeni wakhe, wagcina eyitholile, ngisho noma avunyelwa ukumbona imizuzu emithathu kuphela, nakhona egadwe isosha elihlomile. Kwavele kwahlaluka nje ukuthi uJoel uphathwa kabi ngoba uNila waphawula ukuthi wayesezacile futhi engakwazi ukukhuluma kahle. “UJoel akafuni ukwenza into esimtshela yona,” kusho isosha.

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-90 eboshiwe, wadedelwa—esehle ngamakhilogremu angu-20. Abadala bakwezinye izindawo nabo baboshwa, baphekwa ngemibuzo, badedelwa. Yeka indlela isibonelo sabo sobuqotho esaluqinisa ngayo ukholo lwabafowabo!—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Banqwamana Namaphoyisa Omshoshaphansi,” emakhasini 99-102.

Ukubuthwa Ngempoqo Kuvivinya Intsha EngamaKristu

Umthetho wango-1983 ophathelene nokubuthwa ngempoqo kwezinsizwa ezilinganayo obizwa ngokuthi iNkonzo Yokulwela Izwe, wathinta ikakhulukazi abazalwane abasebasha. Umthetho wawuthi izinsizwa ezineminyaka engu-17 kuya kwengu-26 ubudala kufanele ziyolwa iminyaka emibili, bese kuthi eminye emibili zingalwi kodwa zibe sebuthweni lezokuvikela. Zazibuthwa ziyiswe ekamu lezempi ziyoqeqeshwa. Yayingangenwa indaba yabantu abenqaba ukuyolwa ngenxa kanembeza; uma wenqaba wawuvalelwa ejele ulindele ukuthethwa kwecala, bese ugwetshwa iminyaka emibili. Abazalwane baba nesibindi ngaphansi kwalolu vivinyo, bazimisela ukuhlala bethembekile kuJehova.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-February 7, 1985, uGuillermo Ponce, owayeyiphayona elivamile laseManagua elineminyaka engu-20 ubudala, wayeyoqhuba ezinye izifundo zakhe zeBhayibheli ngenkathi ebanjwa amaphoyisa. Ngenxa yokuthi wayengenalo ikhadi elibonisa ukuthi ubuthiwe, wayiswa ekamu lezempi. Kodwa esikhundleni sokuba athathe izikhali, uGuillermo waqala ukushumayeza izinsizwa ezibuthiwe. Ebona lokhu, omunye wabaphathi wabhavumula: “Akukhona esontweni la; yisekamu lezempi. Uzolalela thina lapha!” UGuillermo waphendula ngokucaphuna amazwi ezEnzo 5:29: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.” Lo mphathi owayethukuthele, ongowokuzalwa eCuba nongumqeqeshi, wamhlwitha iBhayibheli wamsongela: “Sizotholana ebusuku”—okwakusho ukuthi uGuillermo wayezohlukunyezwa ingqondo ukuze akhishwe inkani.

Kuyajabulisa ukuthi lo mphathi akakwenzanga lokho ayekuhlosile. Kodwa ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu uGuillermo wayiswa ejele afike wahlala kulo izinyanga ezingu-9 ngaphansi kwezimo ezingezinhle. Noma kunjalo waqhubeka ephayona, eqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ngisho nemihlangano khona ejele. Phakathi naso lesi sikhathi esinzima, uGuillermo waba usizo olukhulu ekomitini yezwe.

Kunokuba baboshwe, abanye abazalwane abasebasha bayiswa ngenkani ezintabeni bayojoyiniswa amabutho ezempi abizwa ngokuthi ama-Irregular Warfare Battalion. Ibutho ngalinye lalinamaviyo amahlanu noma ayisithupha anamadoda angu-80 kuya kwangu-90 aqeqeshelwe ukulwa emahlathini asezintabeni, lapho yayibambene khona ngezihluthu nabashokobezi (ababephikisana nama-Sandinista). Yize abazalwane babenqabile ukufaka iyunifomu yamasosha nokuthatha izikhali, baphoqwa ukuba baye lapho kwakuliwa khona, kanti futhi babejeziswa, bathukwe.

UGiovanni Gaitán owayeneminyaka engu-18 ubudala wabekezelela ukuphathwa kanjalo. Bazama ukumphoqa ukuba aye empini ngaphambi nje komhlangano wesigodi wango-December 1984 ayethi uzobhapathizwa kuwo. Wathunyelwa ekamu lokuqeqeshela impi lapho kwaze kwaphela khona izinsuku ezingu-45 amasosha ezama ukumphoqa ukuba athathe isibhamu ayolwa ehlathini. Kodwa ngenxa kanembeza wakhe oqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli, uGiovanni wenqaba ‘ukufunda impi.’ (Isaya 2:4) Akazange ayigqoke iyunifomu yamasosha futhi akazange azithathe izikhali. Noma kunjalo waphoqwa ukuba ahambe namasosha izinyanga ezingu-27 ezalandela.

UGiovanni uthi: “Ngazigcina ngiqinile ngokuthandaza ngingaphezi, ngokuzindla ngezinto engangizifundile, nangokushumayeza noma imaphi amasosha ayenesithakazelo. Ngangivame ukukhumbula amazwi omhubi: ‘Ngizophakamisela amehlo ami ezintabeni. Usizo lwami luzovelaphi? Usizo lwami luvela kuJehova, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba. Akunakwenzeka ukuba avumele unyawo lwakho luntengantenge. Akunakwenzeka ukuba Lowo okuqaphile ozele.’”—IHu. 121:1-3; 1 Thes. 5:17.

Nakuba abekwa esifubeni sempi izikhathi ezingaba ngu-40, uGiovanni waphuma engenamyocu. Lapho esededelwe, wabhapathizwa ngo-March 27, 1987, wabe esengenela inkonzo yamaphayona. Nabanye abazalwane abaningi abasebasha babhekana nokufanayo.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ngaphoqwa Ukuba Ngiye Empini,” emakhasini 105-6.

Bavikela Isimo Sabo Sokungathathi Hlangothi

Imithombo yezindaba elawulwa uhulumeni kanye nama-CDS baqambela oFakazi BakaJehova amanga bathi basebenzisa inkonzo yendlu ngendlu ukuze bavimbe abantu bangazingeneli Izinkonzo Zokulwela Izwe. Kwathiwa oFakazi bawubukela phansi umbutho wezwe wezokuvikela ngokwenza intsha yaseNicaragua yenqabe ukuya empini. Nakuba zazingasekelwe ndawo, lezi zinto zazilokhu ziphindaphindwa ukuze abashushisi namajaji babalahle ngecala. Okwenza isimo saba sibi nakakhulu ukuthi abaholi bamasonto adumile abaVangeli, ababethi basekela uhulumeni omusha, nabo bathi labo abangathathi hlangothi ngenxa yenkolo “bayizitha zabantu.”

UFakazi owayengummeli wasingatha amacala ayedluliswe abazalwane abangu-25 abasebasha ababegwetshwe iminyaka emibili ejele ngenxa yokwenqaba ukuya empini. Ngenxa yokuthi umthetho wawungakuvumeli ukwenqaba ukuya empini ngenxa kanembeza, injongo yokudlulisa amacala kwakuwukunciphisa izigwebo, kuvezwe ukuthi abamangalelwa banerekhodi lokuziphatha kahle nokuthi abadazanga inkani lapho beboshwa. Umphumela waba ukuthi ezinye izigwebo zancishiswa ngezinyanga ezingu-6 kuya kwezingu-18, kodwa hhayi zonke.

UJulio Bendaña, umzalwane owayekhona ecaleni, uthi: “Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi ngaphandle koFakazi BakaJehova, ayikho enye intsha eyenqaba ukuya empini ngezizathu zenkolo. Ngaziqhenya lapho ngibona intsha yethu eneminyaka engu-17 ubudala ivikela ukungathathi hlangothi kwayo ngokuqiniseka okukhulu phambi kwejaji nomshushisi wasemasosheni, kubukele izihlwele eziphikisayo.”—2 Kor. 10:4.

Kunyatheliswa Ngomshoshaphansi

Phakathi naso sonke lesi sikhathi, iNdikimba Ebusayo yaqhubeka inikeza usizo nesiqondiso kubazalwane baseNicaragua isebenzisa igatsha laseCosta Rica nekomiti yezwe yaseNicaragua. Izincwadi zazivinjelwe ukungena kuleli zwe, pho ‘ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele’ kwakuzotholakala kanjani? (Math. 24:45) Nalapha futhi uJehova wayivula indlela.

Ngo-1985 abazalwane bakwazi ukuthola izihloko ezifundwayo ze-Nqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini besebenzisa inkampani enyathelisayo. Kodwa le ndlela yayiyingozi ngoba yayisihlanganisa nabaphikisi. Ngakho kwanqunywa ukuba kusetshenziswe umshini owawulokhu unyathelisa izimiso zomhlangano nezimemo zeSikhumbuzo kwaze kwaba yilapho igatsha livalwa. Wabekwa emzini kadade owayehlala ngaphandle kwaseManagua.

Ngeshwa, ngo-November walowo nyaka, uhulumeni wawuthola lo mshini, wawuthatha. Abazalwane abavumanga ukuba lokhu kubaphazamise, ngokushesha bavuselela umshini omdala wokwenza amakhophi, abawuqamba ngokuthi iQhude. Wawukade unyathelisa amapheshana, izincwadi ezazibhalelwa amabandla, nezimiso. Lapho bengasazitholi izinto zokukhanda lo mshini, abazalwane bakwazi ukuthola omunye kuyo le ndawo, bawuqamba ngokuthi iNkukhu. Kamuva negatsha lase-El Salvador labanika umshini. Nawo bawuqamba ngesilwane esifuywayo bathi iSikhukhukazi.

Indlela yokunyathelisa eyisidala kodwa ephumelelayo yayisebenzisa izingqwembe zokwenza amakhophi, lezo abazalwane ababezibiza ngokuthi ama-tablitas, noma izingqwembe ezincane. La mabhodi ayakhiwa uPedro Rodríguez, umbazi owabhapathizwa ngo-1954, ayenezinhlaka ezimbili eziyizikwele ezazihlanganiswe izinkintsho ezazibambe indwangu eyinetha phezulu nengilazi noma ipulangwe ngezansi. Ayakhiwe ngendlela elula, kulula nokunyathelisa ngawo. Iphepha eselibhaliwe lalifakwa ohlakeni oluphezulu linamathele enetheni bese kufakwa iphepha elingabhalwe lutho ohlakeni olungezansi. Kwakufakwa u-inki phezu kwenetha, bese kuthi njalo uma sekubhalekile kufakwe iphepha elisha.

Nakuba le ndlela yayinesicefe, ziningi izincwadi ezanyatheliswa, kuhlanganise neculo elithi Hubani Izindumiso ZikaJehova elinezingoma zoMbuso eziphelele ezingu-225. U-Edmundo Sánchez, naye owayenyathelisa, uyakhumbula: “Kwathi lapho abazalwane sebengompetha ekusebenziseni izingqwembe ezincane, banyathelisa amakhasi angu-20 ngomzuzu. Sagcina sinyathelise amaculo angaba ngu-5 000.”

Umka Edmundo, u-Elda, wayengomunye wodade bokuqala abasiza ngokubhala ngomshini amaphepha ayezofakwa emshinini wokunyathelisa. U-Elda, owayengumama futhi, wayebhala ngowakhe umshini, eqala ekuseni ngovivi asebenze kuze kuhlwe ebhala ngomshini izihloko ezifundwayo ze-Nqabayokulinda emaphepheni ayezofakwa emshinini wokunyathelisa. Uyakhumbula: “U-Edmundo wayeye anginike umagazini owawuvela eCosta Rica. Ngangingazi ukuthi mangaki amaqembu ayenyathelisa noma ukuthi ayenyatheliselaphi; engangikwazi nje mina umsebenzi enganginikwe wona. Ngangazi nokuthi uma sibanjwa, umuzi wethu, impahla yethu—konke nje—kwakuzothathwa nathi siboshwe, futhi mhlawumbe sigcine ‘sesinyamalele.’ Kodwa ukuthanda uJehova nokumesaba kwaqeda konke ukwesaba umuntu okwakungenzeka sasisenakho.”

Amashabhu Okunyathelisa

UGuillermo Ponce uyakhumbula ukuthi amashabhu okunyathelisa ayenjani. Uyena owayehlola umsebenzi osuhunyushiwe abuye abe umxhumanisi phakathi kwabazalwane ababebhala amaphepha ngomshini, ababenyathelisa, nababekhipha izincwadi. UMfoweth’ uPonce uyachaza: “Amashabhu ayeba semizini yoFakazi abathile. Ishabhu ngalinye lalisekamelweni elakhiwe phakathi kwelinye ikamelo, okwakwenza indawo yokusebenzela ibe ncane kakhulu. Ukuze ungazwakali umsindo womshini wokwenza amakhophi, sasibeka isidlala-makhasethi noma umsakazo ngaphandle kweshabhu bese siwuvulela kakhulu.”

Bejuluke beconsa, abazalwane babesebenza amahora angu-9 kuya kwangu-10 ngosuku kula makokosana benza amakhophi e-Nqabayokulinda noma ezinye izincwadi. Kwakuthi uma omakhelwane besola noma othile etshele amaphoyisa, kuthuthwe yonke into iyiswe komunye umuzi ngokuphazima kweso.

Lo msebenzi wawubhekwa njengoyinkonzo yaseBethel, futhi wawenziwa abazalwane abaseyizinsizwa abangashadile. UFelipe Toruño wayeneminyaka engu-19 ubudala futhi esanda kubhapathizwa ngenkathi ecelwa ukuba azosebenza kwelinye lamashabhu. Uthi: “Angisoze ngakhohlwa mhla ngingena esikutwini sekamelo elincanyana elalinuka phu umuthi wokucisha okubhalwe ngomshini. Ngacishe ngafa ukushisa, kanti kwakukhanyiswe nesibani esincane sikagesi.”

Kwakunezinye futhi izinselele. Ngokwesibonelo, uma umshini udinga ukulungiswa—okwakuyinto evamile—wawungeke uvele uwuthathe uwuyise lapho uzolungiswa khona. Abantu babezobuza: ‘Okabani lo mshini? Kunyatheliswani ngawo? Uhulumeni uyakwazi nje lokho?’ Ngakho abazalwane kwakudingeka bazilungisele umshini futhi ngezinye izikhathi baze bazakhele nezinto zokuwulungisa. Enye inkinga ukuthi ugesi wawuhamba njalo. “Ngenxa yokuthi abantu ababenyathelisa babengafuni umsebenzi usalele emuva,” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ uPonce, “ngezinye izikhathi ngangibafica besebenza bekhanyise isiketekete, amakhala abo egcwele umusi. Ukwazisa, isimo esihle, nomoya wokuzidela walezi zinsizwa eziqotho kwangenza ngaqhubeka ngiyibambile.”

Izinkumbulo Ezimnandi

UFelipe Toruño uyajabula lapho ecabanga ngeminyaka emine ayisebenza enyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi. “Ngangihlale ngizikhumbuza ukuthi abazalwane bakulindele ngabomvu loku kudla okungokomoya okubalulekile,” kusho uFelipe. “Ngakho naphezu kwezingqinamba eziningi esasibhekene nazo, sasikhonza ngenjabulo.” U-Omar Widdy, owayenza lo msebenzi kusukela ngo-June 1988 waze waphela ngo-May 1990, uyakhumbula: “Enye yezinto ezangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu kwakuwumoya wothando wabazalwane. Abazalwane ababefika babezimisele futhi bemagange ukufunda futhi babefundiswa ngesineke imisebenzi ehlukahlukene. Izimo ababesebenza kuzo zazingezinhle, kodwa lezi zisebenzi zokuzithandela, nakuba zazisencane, zazingabantu abangokomoya ababekuqonda ngempela ukuzidela okwakudingeka kulo mkhakha wenkonzo.”

UGiovanni Gaitán naye wayesebenza emashabhu okunyathelisa. Uyakhumbula: “Ukwazisa uJehova nenhlangano yakhe kwasisiza saqhubeka. Sasingatholi mali ngaleso sikhathi, kodwa kwakungasikhathazi lokho; sasinako esasikudinga. Mina ngokwami ngase ngike ngabhekana nezimo eziningi ezazidinga ukuba ngithembele ngokugcwele kuJehova. Ngenxa yalokho ngangingakhathazeki kakhulu ngezidingo zami. Abafowethu abanjengoGuillermo Ponce, uNelson Alvarado noFelipe Toruño babeyizibonelo ezinhle kimi yize babesebancane. Abazalwane asebekhulile ababehola nabo bangiqinisa. Yebo, mangisho ukuthi konke lokhu kuye kwakucebisa ngempela ukuphila kwami.”

Bonke ababenyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi bambona uJehova ebasekela ngezindlela eziningi, ngisho nakuwona umsebenzi wokunyathelisa imbala. UMfoweth’ uGaitán uthi: “Ngokuvamile iphepha elilodwa okwakwenziwa ngalo amakhophi lalenza angu-300 kuya ku-500. Thina sasenza amakhophi angu-6 000 ngalo!” Kungani kwakudingeka kwandiswe inani lamakhophi ayenziwa ngaleli phepha? Ngaphandle kokuthi laliyindlala, lalitholakala ezitolo zikahulumeni kuphela, okwakungathi uma lithengwa ngobuningi kusolise, kumfake engozini lowo olithengayo. Yebo, uJehova wayibusisa imizamo yabazalwane ngoba ngaphandle kwalowaya mshini wokuqala, amaphoyisa awazange awathole noma awavale amashabhu.

Abazalwane ababesebenza ukuze bondle imikhaya yabo nabo bafaka isandla kulo msebenzi, okwakuye kubafake engozini enkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, abaningi babediliva izincwadi ngezimoto zabo kulo lonke leli zwe. Ngezinye izikhathi babehamba usuku lonke, bedlula ezindaweni eziningi ababeseshwa kuzo amasosha. Babazi ukuthi uma bengabanjwa, babengaphucwa izimoto zabo, baboshwe, bavalelwe ngisho nasejele. Kodwa bama baqina. Njengoba kulindelekile, laba bazalwane babedinga ukuba amakhosikazi abo abasekele ngokugcwele, amanye awo ayefeze ingxenye ebalulekile phakathi nalesi sikhathi esinzima, njengoba sizozwa manje.

Amakhosikazi Angokomoya Anesibindi

Amakhosikazi amaningi angamaKristu abonisa isibindi nokwethembeka okuyisimanga phakathi neminyaka yokubekelwa komsebenzi imingcele eNicaragua. Abambisana nabayeni bawo avula imizi yawo ukuze kunyatheliselwe kuyo ngomshoshaphansi, okwakuye kuthathe izinyanga eziningi. Ayeziphekela nokudla izisebenzi, esebenzisa imali yawo nezinye izinto zawo. “Kwakheka isibopho esiqinile sobuKristu phakathi kwethu thina esasiyizinsizwa nalab’ odade,” kukhumbula uNelson Alvarado, owayesiza ekunyatheliseni. “Babengomama kithi. Futhi sasibadalela umsebenzi omningi, njengoba nje kwenza amadodana. Ngezinye izikhathi, sasisebenza kuze kube ihora lesine ekuseni ukuze umsebenzi uphele ngesikhathi, ikakhulukazi uma kunezinye izinto esingavamile ukuzenza, njengencwajana ethi Ukuhlola ImiBhalo Nsuku Zonke. Ngezinye izikhathi sasishintshana sibe babili sisebenze amahora acishe abe ngu-24. Kodwa lab’ odade babehlale bekulungisile ukudla, ngisho nasekuseni ngovivi.”

Imikhaya eyayineshabhu lokunyathelisa emizini yayo yayibuye igade nokuthi kuphephile yini. Omama yibona ababevame ukwenza lesi sabelo, ngoba iningi labayeni lalisebenza emini. Omunye udade uyakhumbula: “Ukuze sigqibe umsindo wemishini sasivulela umsakazo ukhuze phezulu. Uma kungena umuntu esangweni, sasiqwashisa abazalwane abaseshabhu ngokuchofoza inkinobho eyayikhanyisa isibani esaziwa yibo.”

Izivakashi kwakuye kube oFakazi noma izihlobo. Noma kuyibo, odade babenza isu lokubenza basheshe bahambe. Njengoba ungacabanga, kwakungelula njalo ukwenza lokhu ngoba lab’ odade babebathanda abantu. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJuana Montiel, owayenesihlahla sohlobo lwamantongomane okuthiwa ama-cashew kwakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi oFakazi babeye bafike bezowakha, kwaJuana kwase kusemphelandaba. “Kwathi lapho sithola ilungelo lokuba ishabhu lokunyathelisa libe semzini wethu,” kukhumbula uJuana, “kwadingeka mina nomyeni wami sisigawule lesi sihlahla. Sasingakwazi ukuchazela abazalwane ukuthi kungani sesingathandisisi ukuba kufike abantu ekhaya, kodwa sasazi ukuthi ishabhu kufanele livikelwe.”

UConsuelo Beteta, ongasekho, wabhapathizwa ngo-1956. Umuzi wakhe nawo wawuneshabhu. Kodwa abantu babezosola uma abazalwane bepaka phambi komuzi wakhe bezothatha izincwadi. Ngakho babema endaweni engezusolisa—emzini womzalwane osemgwaqweni olandelayo. Lapho kuxoxwa naye ngaphambi kokuba ashone, uDade Beteta wasixoxela okwakwenzeka ngalezo zinsuku. Ngamehlo agcwele injabulo, wathi: “Omagazini babegoqwa bagxishwe emasakeni ayezothunyelwa emabandleni ahlukahlukene. Isaka ngalinye laliba nesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-15. Lapho siya emzini walo mzalwane, mina nomalokazana wakwami sasiwathwala la masaka siwele umsele ongemva kwakwami. Omakhelwane abazange basole lutho ngoba la masaka ayefana nalawo ayethwalwa amakhosikazi amaningi.”

Yeka indlela abazalwane ababebazisa ngayo lab’ odade abathembekile nabanesibindi! “Kwakuyilungelo elikhulu ngempela ukusebenza nabo,” kusho uGuillermo Ponce, ekhulumela nabazalwane abaningi ayekhonza nabo ngaleso sikhathi. Kuyafaneleka ukuthi lawo makhosikazi angamaKristu aqotho kanjalo kanye nabayeni bawo, aba yizibonelo ezinhle kubantwana bawo. Manje ake sixoxe ngezinye zezinselele izingane ezabhekana nazo phakathi naleyo minyaka engenakulibaleka.

Izingane Eziqotho Futhi Ezithembekile

Njengabazali bazo, izingane zalabo ababenyathelisa ngomshoshaphansi futhi behambisa izincwadi nazo zabonisa ubuqotho obumangalisayo. UClaudia Bendaña, ozingane zakhe ezimbili zazisahlala ekhaya ngaleso sikhathi, uyakhumbula: “Kwaze kwaphela izinyanga eziyisihlanu kunyatheliselwa ekamelweni elingemuva komuzi wethu. Zazithi zingabuya nje esikoleni izingane, zifune ukusiza abazalwane. Kodwa msebenzi muni ezazingawenza? Esikhundleni sokuzixosha, abazalwane babezivumela ukuba zihlanganise amaphepha asenyathelisiwe e-Nqabayokulinda. Izingane zazingeve zikuthanda ukusebenza nalezo zinsizwa, ezazizikhuthaza ukuba zibambe ngekhanda amavesi eBhayibheli nezingoma zoMbuso!”

“Ukuze sigcine lo msebenzi uyimfihlo,” kusho uDade Bendaña, “mina nomyeni wami sazichazela izingane zethu ukuthi sisezikhathini ezinzima, ukuthi lo msebenzi okaJehova, nokuthi kubaluleke kakhulu ukuhlala sithembekile. Kwakungafanele zitshele muntu ngawo—ngisho nezihlobo noma abafowethu nodadewethu abangamaKristu. Siyajabula ngokuthi izingane zathembeka futhi zalalela.”

Umuzi ka-Aura Lila Martínez wawuphakathi kweyokuqala okwakunyatheliselwa kuyo. Abazukulu bakhe babehlela amaphepha ngononina, bawahlanganise bese bewafaka emasakeni. Nabo baba amathe nolimi nabazalwane ababesebenza lapha. Futhi abazange bathi vu ngalo msebenzi. U-Eunice uyakhumbula: “Sasifunda nezingane zakwaBendaña nezakwa-Eugarrios futhi sidlala nazo cishe zonke izinsuku, kodwa sasingazi ukuthi nakubo kwakunyatheliswa izincwadi, saze sezwa sekukudala. ‘Ngempela? Nakini?’ sasibuzana simangele. Awubheke nje, sasikhula ndawonye futhi singabangane abakhulu, kodwa akekho noyedwa owake wayithi vu le ndaba kwabanye. Kusobala ukuthi lena yindlela uJehova ayevikela ngayo umsebenzi.”

Lezo zinto ezenzeka zisezincane lezi zingane zisenethonya elihle namanje kuzo. U-Emerson Martínez, oyinceku ekhonzayo manje enkonzweni ekhethekile yesikhathi esigcwele, uthi: “Abazalwane ababesebenza kulawo mashabhu babeyizibonelo kimi. Babeneminyaka engu-18 noma engu-19 kuphela ubudala, kodwa bangifundisa ukwazisa imithwalo yemfanelo engokomoya, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi mincane kangakanani, futhi ngafunda nokubaluleka kokuwenzisisa umsebenzi. Uma ngangingeqa ikhasi elilodwa njengoba ngangiwahlela ngononina, kunomuntu owayezolahlekelwa yilokho kwaziswa. Lokhu kwagxilisa kimi ukubaluleka kokumenzela okungcono kakhulu uJehova nabafowethu.”

U-Elda María, indodakazi ka-Edmundo no-Elda Sánchez, wayesiza ngokuhambisa amaphepha e-Nqabayokulinda nawezinye izincwadi unina ayewabhale ngomshini. Wayewahambisa ngebhayisekili kwaMfoweth’ uPonce, emgwaqweni wesihlanu uma esuka kubo. Ngaphambi kokuwanika indodakazi yakhe, uDade Sánchez wayewasonga kahle awafake kubhasikidi omncane. U-Elda María uthi: “Kusukela ngimncane abazali bami bangifundisa ukulalela. Ngakho lapho kufika lesi sikhathi sokubekelwa imingcele, ngase ngikujwayele ukwenza konke engikutshelwayo.”

Wayezazi yini izingozi abazalwane ababeqondisa umsebenzi wokunyathelisa ababebhekene nazo—kuhlanganise noyise? U-Elda María uthi: “Ngaphambi kokuba ahambe, ubaba wayejwayele ukungitshela ukuthi uma eboshwa, ngingesabi futhi ngingaphatheki kabi. Noma kunjalo, ngiyakhumbula ukuthi kwathi lapho ephuza ukubuya, mina nomama sathandaza sithandazile sicela ukuba angavelelwa yilutho. Sasivame ukubona abantu abavela eMbuthweni Wezokuvikela bepake phambi kwakithi besigadile. Uma umama esayovulela umuntu emnyango, mina ngangisala ngiqoqa zonke izinto ayezisebenzisa ngizifihle. Ngibonga kakhulu ngesibonelo sabazali bami nokungifundisa ukuba qotho kuJehova nakubafowethu.”

Njengoba zaba nesisekelo esiqinile zisezincane, izingane eziningi ezazisencane ngaleso sikhathi sezisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, futhi eziningi zinemithwalo yemfanelo emabandleni. Intuthuko yazo iwubufakazi bokuthi uJehova wababusisa ngokucebile abantu bakhe, okungekho noyedwa kubo owancisheka ukudla okungokomoya ngaleso sikhathi esinzima. Eqinisweni, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zaqhubeka zisakazeka, zathola ngisho ‘nenhlabathi ekahle’ ezinkulungwaneni zabantu ababeboshwe ngenkathi yama-Sandinista. (Marku 4:8, 20) Kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?

Imbewu YoMbuso Ihlwanyelwa Ejele

Ngemva kokuba sekubusa ama-Sandinista, izinkulungwane zamasosha oMbutho Wezempi Wesizwe owawuhluliwe namambuka bagqunywa ejele ngaphambi kokuba bayovela ezinkantolo ezikhethekile ezaqala ukusebenza ekupheleni kuka-1979 kuya ku-1981. Iningi lababengamasosha oMbutho Wezempi Wesizwe lagwetshwa iminyaka ecela kwengu-30 eCárcel Modelo (iJele LaseModelo), okuyijele elikhulu eliseTipitapa, ebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-11 enyakatho-mpumalanga yeManagua. Njengoba sizobona, abantu abaningi abanhliziyo ziqotho ababekulawo majele okwakunzima ukuhlala kuwo nayeminyene, bakhululwa ngokomoya.

Ekupheleni kuka-1979, umdala waseManagua wathola incwadi evela komunye uFakazi owayeboshiwe, kodwa engakayiswa eJele LaseModelo, eboshelwe ukuba yisosha likahulumeni kaSomoza ngaphambi kokuthola iqiniso. Kule ncwadi, lo mzalwane wayecela izincwadi ayezozifunda nezinye iziboshwa. Abadala ababili abahambisa lezi zincwadi abavunyelwanga ukumbona. Kodwa lokhu akumthenanga amandla ngoba waqhubeka efakaza kwezinye iziboshwa, eziqhubela ngisho nezifundo zeBhayibheli ezinye.

Omunye walabo ababefundelwa, u-Anastasio Ramón Mendoza, wathuthuka masinyane ngokomoya. Uyakhumbula: “Izinto engangizifunda ngangizithanda kakhulu kangangokuba ngaqala ukuhamba nomzalwane lapho eshumayeza ezinye iziboshwa. Ezinye zazisixosha; ezinye zisilalela. Sazithola sesifunda ndawonye ngesikhathi sekhefu egcekeni, cishe sasingu-12.” Ngemva kwesikhathi esingangonyaka, kwabhapathizwa oyedwa kulelo qembu lokuqala.

Ekuqaleni kuka-1981, leli qembu elincane labafundi beBhayibheli layiswa eJele LaseModelo kanye nezinye iziboshwa, lapho lafike laqhubeka khona lazisa abanye izindaba ezinhle. Ngaso lesi sikhathi, iziboshwa zazishintshana isinyenyela ngezincwadi zeBhayibheli, ezinye zazo zathola ‘inhlabathi ekahle’ nakakhulu.

Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJosé de la Cruz López nomkhaya wakhe owawungebona oFakazi. Ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha uJosé eboshiwe, umkakhe wathola incwadi ethi INcwadi Yami Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli koFakazi ahlangana nabo emgwaqweni. Wayehlose ukuyinika umyeni wakhe. UJosé uyalandisa: “Ngesikhathi ngiqala ukufunda le ncwadi, ngacabanga ukuthi incwadi yesonto labavangeli. Ngangingazi lutho ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Le ncwadi yangihlaba umxhwele kangangokuthi ngayifunda ngiphindelela, ngaqala nokuyifunda nabantu abangu-16 enganginabo esitokisini, bayijabulela bonke. Kwakufana nokuphuza amanzi aqabulayo. Iziboshwa ezazikwezinye izitokisi nazo zayiboleka, yaguduza ezitokisini eziningi, yagcina isidabukile futhi isiguge yaphela inkani.”

Iningi leziboshwa ezazinoJosé zazingamalungu amasonto obuvangeli; ezinye zingabefundisi imbala. UJosé waqala ukuzifundela iBhayibheli. Nokho, wadumala lapho ezibuza incazelo kaGenesise 3:15 zamtshela ukuthi iyimfihlo. Ngelinye ilanga esinye isiboshwa, naso esasingumfundi weBhayibheli, sathi kuJosé: “Impendulo ikule ncwadi yakho enyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngingayifunda nawe uma uthanda.” UJosé wavuma, futhi ngosizo lwencwadi Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli, wayithola incazelo kaGenesise 3:15. Wabe eseqala ukuzihlanganisa neziboshwa ezazingoFakazi.

Enye yezinto eyadonsela uJosé kuleli qembu elihlukile eJele LaseModelo kwakuwukuziphatha kwalo okuhle. “Ngabona abantu engangibazi ukuthi bakhohlakele sebeziphethe kahle ngenxa yokutadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova,” kusho uJosé. Ngapha, umkaJosé wayeqhubeka ethatha izincwadi koFakazi azinike umyeni wakhe owayethuthuka ngokomoya. Empeleni, iqembu ayekulo laze lamabela izitokisi ayezoshumayela kuzo. Ngakho wakwazi ukuboleka abathakazelayo izincwadi ezimbalwa ayenazo futhi wabamemela nasemihlanganweni eyayiqhutshelwa khona esitokisini ngesikhathi sekhefu.

Ukunakekela Izidingo Ezingokomoya Zeziboshwa

IBandla Lase-East Managua yilona elalinakekela izidingo ezingokomoya zeziboshwa ezazanda eJele LaseModelo, zona ezazifunda izincwadi futhi zithuthuka ngokomoya. Ngenxa yalokho leli bandla lahlela ukuba abazalwane nodade abathile bashushumbise izincwadi baziyise eziboshweni. Izivakashi zazivunyelwe kanye ngenyanga noma kanye ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili, kodwa isiboshwa sasivunyelwa ukuba sivakashelwe umuntu esasimbhalise sona ukuba asivakashele. Ngakho akubona bonke abantu abathakazelayo ababevakashelwa oFakazi balapha. Noma kunjalo, lokho akuzange kube inkinga kangako ngoba iziboshwa zazihlangana zixoxe futhi zifunde ndawonye.

Abadala beBandla Lase-East Managua basiza bahlela futhi baqondisa leli qembu elalanda phakathi eJele LaseModelo. Babexhumana njalo ikakhulukazi neziboshwa ezazihola ngokomoya, bazichazele indlela yokuqhuba imihlangano yamasonto onke, ukushumayela ngendlela ehlelekile, nokubika lokho ezikwenzile. Lezi ziboshwa zona zazibe sezitshela ezinye. Kwakudingeka ngempela ukuhleleka okuhle kwezinto ezingokomoya ngoba ngaleso sikhathi lase lilikhulu iqembu labafundi beBhayibheli ejele.

Ekuqaleni iJele LaseModelo lalinezakhiwo ezine, ngasinye sineziboshwa ezicela ku-2 000. “Isakhiwo ngasinye sasinezinto zaso,” kuchaza uJulio Núñez, omunye wabadala ababehambela leli jele, “ngakho imihlangano yamasonto onke yayiqhutshelwa endaweni yokungcebeleka yesakhiwo ngasinye, kube khona abangaba ngu-80.”

Babhapathizelwa Emgqonyeni

Njengoba ababesanda kuhlanganyela babethuthuka, abaningana bathi bafisa ukubhapathizwa. Abadala ababebahambela bathi bayakufanelekela ukubhapathizwa, babe sebesiza iziboshwa ezazihola ngokomoya ukuba zihlele ubhapathizo lube ngosuku umhlangano owawuzoba ngalo ngaphandle. Inkulumo yobhapathizo yayiba ngayizolo ebusuku kwesinye sezitokisi, bese kuthi ngakusasa ekuseni lapho iziboshwa ziyogeza, zibhapathizwe.

UJosé de la Cruz López wabhapathizwa ejele ngo-November 1982. Uyalandisa: “Ngabhapathizelwa emgqonyeni wezibi. Sawukhuculula ngensipho. Sabe sesendlala ishidi ngaphakathi sawugcwalisa amanzi. Kwavele kwathi memfu onogada abahlomile sisathi siyaqala ukubhapathiza. ‘Ubani oninike imvume yokubhapathiza?’ bebuza. Umzalwane owayehola wachaza ukuthi umuntu akudingeki athole imvume yokwenza okushiwo uNkulunkulu. Onogada bathula kodwa babefuna ukubukela. Ngabuzwa imibuzo emibili ebuzwa abazobhapathizwa, ngabe sengicwiliswa emgqonyeni besabukele.” Okungenani zingu-34 iziboshwa ezagcina zibhapathizwe kanje.

Ezinye iziboshwa zathuthuka masinyane. Esinye sazo kwakungu-Omar Antonio Espinoza, owadonsa iminyaka eyishumi kwengamashumi amathathu ayegwetshwe yona eJele LaseModelo. Iziboshwa zazihlala zihlale zishintshwe, okwenza ukuthi ngonyaka wesibili, u-Omar ahlale noFakazi. U-Omar waphawula ukuthi kwakuye kufike ezinye iziboshwa kulo muntu, azifundise iBhayibheli. Kwamhlaba umxhwele lokho ayekubona nayekuzwa, naye wabe esecela isifundo seBhayibheli.

U-Omar waqala ukufunda incwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade, befunda isahluko ngosuku. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-11 wayesefuna ukuba ummemezeli. Eseqedile ukufunda izahluko ezingu-22 zale ncwadi, wacela ukubhapathizwa. Kodwa abazalwane bamcela ukuba acabangisise isikhashana ngale ndaba. Batusa nokuba afunde incwadi yesibili, ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni, eyayisanda kufika ejele. Ngemva kwesikhathi esingaphezudlwana kwenyanga, u-Omar wayeseyiqedile nale ncwadi. Akagcinanga lapho, wayeka nokubhema, wenza nezinye izinguquko. Kwaba sobala ukuthi iqiniso leBhayibheli liyakuthonya ukuphila kwakhe. Lapho abazalwane bebona lezi zinguquko bagculiseka ukuthi isifiso sakhe siqotho, ngakho u-Omar wabhapathizelwa emgqonyeni ngo-January 2, 1983.

Ulimi Lwezandla Lwasejele

Ukuze batshele abanye izinto ezishiwo abadala abahambela amajele noma baqoqe izinto ezinjengemibiko yasensimini, abamemezeli ababoshiwe kwakudingeka baxhumane besezakhiweni ezihlukahlukene. UMfoweth’ uMendoza owabhapathizwa ejele ngo-1982 uyasitshela ukuthi babekwenza kanjani lokhu.

Uthi: “Abathile kithina bafunda ulimi lwezandla olwalusungulwe iziboshwa. Uma kufika isikhathi sokugubha iSikhumbuzo, sasiye sicabangele ukuthi ilanga selishonile bese sitshelana ngezimpawu ukuze sonke sithandaze kanye kanye. Sasikwenza minyaka yonke lokhu. Lolu limi lwezandla lwalusisiza nasesifundweni se-Nqabayokulinda. Uma abazalwane esakhiweni esithile bengenaso isihloko esifundwayo sangalelo sonto, sasibafundela sona sonke ngolimi lwezandla. Umzalwane olalele wayephimisela lokho okushiwoyo, omunye ebe ebhala.” Loku kudla okungokomoya kwakusuke kufike kanjani-ke ejele?

Ukudla Okungokomoya Kondla Iziboshwa

Abadala nemikhaya yabo kanye nabanye abamemezeli beBandla Lase-East Managua babeza njalo eJele LaseModelo bevakashele iziboshwa. Kwaze kwaphela iminyaka ecishe ibe yishumi belethela abafowabo ukudla okungokwenyama nokungokomoya, okwakuhlanganisa INqabayokulinda ne-Nkonzo Yethu YoMbuso. Ukudla okungokomoya-ke kona kwakudingeka kufihlwe.

Omunye umdala wayefihla omagazini ezindukwini zokhuni ezinkulu ayehamba ngazo. “Izingane nazo zazisiza ngoba zazingavamile ukuseshwa,” kulandisa uJulio Núñez. Ababevakasha babekwazi ngisho nokungena nezifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo ejele.

Isakhiwo ngasinye sasinosuku lwaso lwezivakashi, futhi abantu ababevunyelwe ukuvakasha babehlala usuku lonke nesiboshwa egcekeni elikhulu. Le ndlela yayenza ukuba idlanzana leziboshwa ezingoFakazi likwazi ukuhlangana nabafowabo nodadewabo baseManagua lithole ukudla okungokomoya. Kwakuthi kamuva uma seziphindela lapho zihlala khona, zikwazi ukwabela ezinye lokho ezikutholile.

Izingoma zoMbuso zazingashalazelwa. UMfoweth’ uLópez uthi: “Esakhiweni sethu munye umuntu owayekwazi ukubonana nabazalwane abavakashile. Ngakho kwakuwumsebenzi wakhe ukufunda izingoma ezimbalwa ngesikhathi esisodwa abese efundisa thina. Ngenxa yokuthi sasineculo elilodwa, sonke sasiprakthiza ngaphambi kokuya esifundweni.” UMfoweth’ uMendoza wayengomunye weziboshwa ezimbalwa ezazivunyelwe ukuba nezivakashi ezingoFakazi. “UCarlos Ayala nomkhaya wakhe bangivakashela,” kusho uMfoweth’ uMendoza. “Amadodakazi akhe amabili angifundisa okungenani izingoma zoMbuso ezingu-9, ngabe sengizifundisa ozakwethu.” UMfoweth’ uLópez ungomunye wabafundiswa izingoma esinye isiboshwa. Uyakhumbula: “Kamuva lapho sengiya esifundweni sengiphumile ejele, ngajabula kodwa futhi kumelwe ngivume ukuthi ngamangala lapho ngithola ukuthi nathi sasizicula ngendlela efanele izingoma.”

Bahlala Beqinile Ngokomoya Ejele

Hlobo luni lwezinto abazalwane nabantu abathakazelayo okwakudingeka bazibekezelele ejele, futhi yini eyabenza bahlala beqinile ngokomoya? UMfoweth’ uMendoza uyakhumbula: “Ukudla kwasejele kwakukuncane. Zonke iziboshwa zazibhaxabulwa kaningi, futhi ngezinye izikhathi onogada babevulela inhlamvu nxazonke sibe silele ngezisu. Inhloso yalokhu yayiwukuba sihlale sithuka izanya. Uma iziboshwa ezithile zixabene nonogada, sonke sasijeziswa ngokukhishelwa egcekeni sinqunu ukuze sithoswe yilanga. Thina oFakazi sasakhana futhi siduduzane ngalezi zikhathi. Sasizikhumbuza imibhalo yeBhayibheli futhi sixoxelane izinto esizifunde esifundweni somuntu siqu. La mathuba ayesisiza sihlale sinobunye futhi siqinile.”

Ngenxa yokuthi babenesikhathi esiningi esikhululekile, oFakazi abaningi nabantu abathakazelayo bafunda iBhayibheli baliqeda izikhathi ezine noma ezinhlanu. Kwakuyinto yabo ukutadisha ngokucophelela zonke izincwadi zeBhayibheli ababezithola futhi baziphindaphinde. UMfoweth’ uMendoza uzikhumbula ngokukhulu ukwazisa IziNcwadi Zonyaka. Uyakhumbula: “Thina sasifunda konke nje—izindaba ezivela kwamanye amazwe namabalazwe. Unyaka ngamunye sasibheka ukwanda kwenani lamabandla, inani lababhapathiziwe, nelababekhona eSikhumbuzweni ezweni ngalinye. Lezi zinto zazisithokozisa kakhulu.”

Ngenxa yalokho, abamemezeli abasanda kuhlanganyela babeshesha ukuthola ulwazi oluhle lweZwi likaNkulunkulu kanye nokuhleleka kwezinto ezingokwasezulwini. Futhi baba abashumayeli nabafundisi abashisekayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-February 1986 eJele LaseModelo kwakunabamemezeli abangu-43 beqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-80. Emihlanganweni yebandla kwakuvame ukuba khona abangu-83.

Zonke lezi ziboshwa ezase zikhululiwe ngokomoya zase zizothola enye futhi inkululeko ngoba uhulumeni wanquma ukuzinika ushwele zonke iziboshwa zezombusazwe. Ngenxa yalokho, abamemezeli bokugcina abangu-30 ababesasele eJele LaseModelo badedelwa ngo-March 17, 1989. IBandla Lase-East Managua lasheshe lahlela ukuba abadala baxhumane nalaba bamemezeli ababesanda kudedelwa ezindaweni ababekuzo. Nabo laba badala babamukela abafowabo abasha, okwathi ngemva kwesikhathi abaningi babo baba abadala, izinceku ezikhonzayo, namaphayona.

Imingcele Ayizange Iwumise Umsebenzi Wokushumayela

Naphezu kwezingqinamba nezingozi, inani labamemezeli eNicaragua laqhubeka landa ngesivinini esikhulu ngenkathi kusabekwe imingcele. Empeleni, ezindaweni ezithile kwamiswa amabandla ayenabantu abasanda kuhlanganyela bodwa. Elinye lawo yiBandla LaseLa Reforma. Amaphayona akhethekile u-Antonio Alemán nomkakhe, u-Adela, babehamba zonke izinsuku beyoshumayeza abantu basemaphandleni phakathi kweMasaya neGranada. Enye yalezi zindawo kwakuyiLa Reforma. Ekuqaleni kuka-1979, abakwa-Alemán bafundela uRosalío López, insizwa yalapha eyayingumfelwa. URosalío akapholisanga maseko, waxoxela abasekhweni lakhe, ayehlala nabo, izinto ayezifunda. Waqale waxoxela umkhwekazi wakhe, kwase kulandela abalamu bakhe. Akuphelanga sikhathi amalungu angu-22 omndeni owodwa ayesehamba ndawonye eya esifundweni eMasaya, eqhele ngamakhilomitha ayisithupha.

Ngelinye ilanga abasekhweni likaRosalío bathi kuye: “Esifundweni sizwe kuthiwa oFakazi BakaJehova bashumayela endlini ngendlu, kodwa thina asishumayeli.”

“Kulungile-ke,” kusho uRosalío, “sizohamba siyoshumayela ngalo Mgqibelo.” Bahamba nangempela! Bonke abangu-22 babengena emzini owodwa, kukhulume uRosalío! Lapho u-Antonio efika ezobafundela, uRosalío washo ngokukhulu ukumamatheka wathi: “Sonke sihambe sayoshumayela kuleli sonto!” Nakuba yayimjabulisa intshiseko yalaba bantu ayebafundela, u-Antonio wakhuthaza le mibhangqwana esemisha ukuba ilungise ukuphila kwayo kuqala.

Ngo-December 1979, uRosalío nomunye wabalamu bakhe, uHúber López, yibo ababhapathizwa kuqala kuleli qembu, nabanye balandela ngokushesha. Ngemva nje kweminyaka emithathu, kwamiswa iBandla LaseLa Reforma. Laqala linabamemezeli abangu-30—bonke kungabomndeni owodwa! Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uHúber, umfowabo uRamón, noRosalío bamiswa njengabadala. Ngo-1986, abantu abangu-54 kuleli bandla base bengamaphayona.—Bheka ibhokisi emakhasini 99-102.

Ngenxa yokushumayela ngentshiseko kwamalungu eBandla LaseLa Reforma, kwagcina kumiswe amabandla ayisithupha ezindaweni eziseduzane. Khumbula futhi ukuthi amaphoyisa ayesabagade ngeso elibukhali abazalwane, ngakho ayengayinambithisisi intshiseko yabo. “Amaphoyisa ayesihlukumeza njalo,” kukhumbula uHúber López, “kodwa asizange siyeke ukushumayela.” Eqinisweni umsebenzi wokushumayela wanda phakathi nale nkathi enzima. Wandiswa yini? Ukuthi abazalwane abaningi baphelelwa imisebenzi base bengenela inkonzo yamaphayona avamile noma asizayo.

UJehova wayibusisa imizamo yabo. Ngo-1982, kwakunabamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abangu-4 477 eNicaragua, kodwa ngo-1990—ngemva kweminyaka engu-8 umsebenzi ubekelwe imingcele futhi kunoshushiso—lelo nani lase likhuphukele ku-7 894. Kwakuwukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-76 lokho!

Imingcele Iyasuswa

Ngo-February 1990 ukhetho olwaluqashwe abantu bamazwe ngamazwe lwabangela ukushintsha kukahulumeni eNicaragua. Ngemva nje kwalo, imingcele eyayibekelwe oFakazi BakaJehova yasuswa, kwaphela ukubuthwa kwabantu, namakomiti okuvikela ahlakazwa. Nakuba babesaqaphile, abazalwane babengasesabi ukuthi omakhelwane babagadile. Ngo-September ngalowo nyaka, u-Ian Hunter, owayekade eseKomitini Yegatsha eGuatemala, waba umqondisi omusha wekomiti yezwe yaseNicaragua.

Eminyakeni engu-8 eyayandulele, ikomiti yezwe yaqondisa umsebenzi eNicaragua ibe ingenahhovisi namishini yasehhovisi. UMfoweth’ uHunter wayejabula ngempela ngokuthi wayefike nomshini wokubhala ayewusebenzisa egatsheni laseGuatemala! Umzalwane walapha, uJulio Bendaña, wabonisa umusa wabanika izimpahla zakhe eziningi zasehhovisi abazalwane, bona ababenomsebenzi omningi.

Kwatholakala umuzi emaphethelweni aseManagua, wenziwa ihhovisi legatsha. Kodwa abazalwane abaningi babengayijwayele indlela yokusebenza yaseBethel ngoba babejwayele ukusebenza ngomshoshaphansi ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene nangezikhathi okungavamile ukusetshenzwa ngazo. Kodwa baqeqesheka futhi bazenza izinguquko ezazidingeka. Iningi lalezi zinsizwa lisaqhubeka likhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka, ezinye zisemikhakheni ehlukahlukene yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele.

Kwathunyelwa nabazalwane abavela kwamanye amazwe ukuze basize emsebenzini egatsheni. Izithunywa zevangeli uKenneth noSharan Brian baphinde babelwa eNicaragua besuka eHonduras ngasekupheleni kuka-1990. Ngo-January 1991, uJuan noRebecca Reyes, abathweswa iziqu ekilasini lokuqala loPhiko LweSikole SaseGileyadi eMexico, bafika bevela eCosta Rica, balandelwa u-Arnaldo Chávez, naye owayethweswe iziqu ekilasini lokuqala eMexico, nomkakhe, uMaría. ULothar noCarmen Mihank bafika ngemva kweminyaka emibili bevela ePanama, lapho uLothar ayekade ekhonza khona eKomitini Yegatsha. Abaningi babelwa kuleli gatsha elisha lapho basiza khona babuyisela umsebenzi esimweni esifanele. Namuhla, umkhaya waseBethel yaseNicaragua unamalungu angu-37 ezizwe ezihlukahlukene.

Ngo-February 1991 kwamiswa iKomiti Yegatsha eyathatha indawo yekomiti yezwe, futhi igatsha laseNicaragua laphinde lavulwa ngo-May 1, 1991. Manje kwase kubekwe isisekelo sokwanda, futhi yeka ukwanda okwakuzoba khona! Kusukela ngo-1990 kuya ku-1995, kwabhapathizwa abafundi abasha abangu-4 026—ukwanda okungamaphesenti angu-51. Ngenxa yaloku kwanda, kwaba nesidingo esikhulu sezindawo ezifanelekayo zokuhlanganyela. Kodwa uzokhumbula ukuthi ngo-1982, uquqaba lwezichwensi lwathatha amahholo angu-35.

Bacela Ukubuyiselwa Izakhiwo Zabo

Lapho amaHholo OMbuso ethathwa ngokungemthetho, abazalwane abazange nje basonge izandla kodwa bakhalaza ngokushesha kuhulumeni becaphuna uMthetho-sisekelo WaseNicaragua owawubalwela. Kodwa naphezu kokuba abazalwane benza zonke izinto ezazidingwa umthetho, izicelo zabo zashaywa indiva. Ngo-1985 abazalwane baze babhalela owayengumongameli waseNicaragua becela ukuqashelwa ngokomthetho nokubuyiselwa zonke izakhiwo zabo. Ngaphandle kwalokho, bafaka izicelo eziningi zokuxoxa nongqongqoshe wezangaphakathi. Kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya.

Lapho uhulumeni omusha uthatha izintambo ngo-April 1990, abazalwane bafaka esinye isicelo masinyane, manje sesiqonde kungqongqoshe omusha wezangaphakathi, becela ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova babhaliswe kabusha ngokomthetho. Abeve bajabula futhi babonga uJehova lapho isicelo sabo samukelwa ngemva nje kwezinyanga ezine! Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, uhulumeni waseNicaragua usuyiqaphela njengenhlangano yomhlaba wonke i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society futhi isebenza ngokukhululekile kanti ayikhokhi ntela njengezinye izinhlangano ezingenzi nzuzo. Kodwa akuzange kube lula ukuwathola amaHholo OMbuso ngoba amanye awo “ayephiwe” abantu ababesekela uhulumeni wangaphambili.

Abazalwane bafaka isicelo eKomitini Yezwe Yokubuyiswa Kwezakhiwo Ezazidliwe eyayisanda kumiswa, becela ukuba babuyiselwe zonke izakhiwo zabo. Kwaba umzukuzuku ngenxa yokuthi zaziziningi izicelo ezifanayo ezazivela kwezinye izinhlangano nabantu. Ngemva kokushikashikeka unyaka wonke, isakhiwo esisodwa sabuyiswa ngo-January 1991. Abazalwane baya nakubantu ababehlala emaHholo OMbuso ukuze baxoxe nabo. Kodwa iningi lalaba bantu lalinomuzwa wokuthi “lalihlabene” ngesikhathi kushintsha uhulumeni.

Isakhiwo segatsha sabuyiswa ekupheleni kwalowo nyaka, kodwa umkhaya owawuhlala khona kwadingeka uthengelwe omunye umuzi. Eminyakeni eyalandela, abazalwane bagcina bethole izakhiwo ezingu-30 kwezingu-35, uhulumeni wawusubanxephezela ngokubakhokhela imali yalezo abangazitholanga.

Babhekana Nezinhlekelele Zemvelo

Ngaphandle kokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulunywe ngako ekuqaleni kule ndaba, izintaba-mlilo neziphepho nazo ziye zadala umonakalo omkhulu eNicaragua. Kusukela ngo-1914 intaba-mlilo yakuleli zwe eqhuma njalo iCerro Negro isiqhume izikhathi ezingu-12, yemboza odedangendlale bamasimu ngomlotha. U-Elfriede Urban, isithunywa sevangeli esasikhonza eLeón ngenkathi iqhuma ngo-1968 nango-1971, siyachaza ukuthi kwakunjani: “Kwaze kwaphela amasonto amabili kulokhu kunenhlabathi emnyama nomlotha kuleli dolobha. Kwadingeka isuswe ophahleni ukuze lungabhodloki. Kwakufanele abantu bakhathazeke ngoba iLeón yayike yagqibeka emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili. Umoya wawuphephula inhlabathi uyiyise yonke indawo. Wawuyithola ezicathulweni, ezingutsheni, emibhedeni, ekudleni, ngisho nasezincwadini zethu! Kodwa abazalwane abakunakanga konke lokho, baqhubeka beya emihlanganweni nasensimini.”

Ngo-October 1998, iSiphepho uMitch, leso ezinye izazi ezisibiza ngokuthi “isiphepho esabulala abantu abaningi ukuzedlula zonke ezake zahlasela eNtshonalanga Yenkabazwe emakhulwini amabili eminyaka adlule,” sayingcwaba yonke iMelika Ephakathi. “UMitch wabulala abantu abaphakathi kuka-3 000 no-4 000 eNicaragua wadala nomonakalo omkhulu,” kusho i-Encarta Encyclopedia. “Izimvula ezinamandla zakha ichibi emgodini wentaba-mlilo iCasitas, labe selibhidlika, amanzi amboza indawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-80, akhukhula amadolobha amaningi amancane.” Izibalo zamuva zithi kwafa abangaphezu kuka-2 000.

Njengakwamanye amazwe ayethintekile, oFakazi BakaJehova eNicaragua baqala umkhankaso omkhulu wokunikeza usizo. Emadolobheni athile izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingoFakazi zakha amaqembu ahamba ngamabhayisekili ayezoya ezindaweni izimoto ezazingakwazi ukuya kuzo, ayokuzwa ukuthi abazalwane banjani futhi abahambisele nokudla nezinye izimpahla. Kwakuvame ukuba kube yibo abafika kuqala nosizo, bajabule bafe abazalwane abase besele dengwane. OFakazi baseCosta Rica nasePanama bathumela amathani angu-72 okudla nezingubo ngokuphazima kweso. Ngemva kokuba sezinakekelwe izidingo eziphuthumayo, izisebenzi ezazinikeza usizo zaqhubeka izinyanga eziningana zilungisa amaHholo OMbuso zakhela nabazalwane imizi emisha.

“Enye” INicaragua

Ngo-1987 uhulumeni wakha izifunda ezimbili ezizimele ezisempumalanga yeNicaragua. Ngaphambili zazibizwa ngokuthi iZelaya, manje sezibizwa ngokuthi iNorth Atlantic Autonomous Region (i-RAAN ngeSpanishi) neSouth Atlantic Autonomous Region (i-RAAS). Yize lezi zifunda zithatha indawo engaba amaphesenti angu-45 yezwe laseNicaragua, zihlala abantu abangamaphesenti angu-10 kuphela.

Izifunda i-RAAN ne-RAAS zinezimayini zegolide nesiliva, zisuka ngasempumalanga yezinkangala ezimaphakathi ezinezintaba ziye emachwebeni nasemaxhaphozini aseMosquito Coast. Phakathi nendawo kukhona amahlathi aluhlaza, izihlahla zikaphayini nezesundu, nemifula nemifudlana eminingi ethubeleza ize iyofika olwandle iCaribbean. Eminyakeni edlule, ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni, emadolobheni amancane namakhulu kuye kwahlala abantu abayingxube, kanye namaMiskito nabanye abantu bomdabu.

Kubantu abaningi abahlala kulesi sifunda abangamaMiskito, amaSumo, amaRama, namaCreole, inhloko-dolobha iManagua ihlukile. Ayikho imigwaqo ekhonkiwe exhuma impumalanga nentshonalanga. Nakuba endaweni engase-Atlantic kukhulunywa iSpanishi, abantu abaningi bakhuluma isiMiskito, isiCreole noma olunye ulimi lwendabuko. Futhi abaningi bathi bangamaProthestani, ngokuvamile aseMoravia, kanti iningi labahlala esifundeni esingasePacific lingamaKatolika. Ngakho impumalanga ihluke cishe ngazo zonke izindlela entshonalanga—ngokuma kwezwe, ngezilimi, ngomlando, ngamasiko nangenkolo. Zazizokwamukelwa kanjani-ke izindaba ezinhle kule Nicaragua?

Isigijimi SoMbuso Siya Kude

Kudala ngawo-1946 izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi zaya esifundeni esisempumalanga ziyosihlola, zafike zahambisa izincwadi. Ngawo-1950, umbonisi wesifunda uSydney Porter nomkakhe uPhyllis, bahambela amadolobha amancane asogwini iBluefields nePuerto Cabezas, iziQhingi ZaseCorn, namadolobha anezimayini iRosita, iBonanza, neSiuna. “Ngesinye isikhathi lapho siye ezimayini,” kuxoxa uSydney, “ngamunye wethu wahambisa omagazini abangaphezu kwabayinkulungwane nezincwadi eziyikhulu. Abantu babekuthanda ukufunda.” Kungakabiphi kwamiswa amaqembu angawodwa emadolobheni amaningi alapha, futhi kusukela ngawo-1970 la maqembu aye akhula aze aba amabandla.

Nokho, kunezindawo zase-RAAN nase-RAAS okwase kuphele iminyaka kungashunyayelwa kuzo. Ukuba kude kwendawo, ukungabi khona kwemigwaqo exhumanisayo, nezimvula ezina izinyanga ezingaphezu kuka-8 ngonyaka kwakuyinselele enkulu emsebenzini wokushumayela. Kodwa lezi zinto zazingeyona inkinga engenakuxazululwa, njengoba amaphayona amaningi ashisekayo nanesibindi abonisa. Ngenxa yokuzimisela nokuzikhandla kwawo, sikhuluma nje e-RAAN nase-RAAS kunamabandla angu-7 namaqembu angu-9 anabamemezeli boMbuso abacela ku-400.

Ukuze ubone izinselele oFakazi ababhekana nazo kulezi zindawo, cabanga ngesibonelo somzalwane oneminyaka engu-22 ubudala. Kathathu ngesonto uhamba ezintabeni amahora angaba ngu-8 eya esifundweni edolobheni elinezimayini laseRosita, lapho ibandla eliseduze likhona. Uyinceku ekhonzayo nephayona elivamile. Njengoba kunguye yedwa uFakazi obhapathiziwe kubo, uyisebenza yedwa le ndawo enezintaba, kumthatha amahora amabili ukusuka kwenye indlu aye kwenye. Uma ehlwelwa emzini othile, ulala khona avuke ngakusasa aqhubeke nokushumayela ngoba ngeke akwazi ukugoduka ebusuku. Uyise usanda kushona, kwase kudingeka anakekele umkhaya wakubo njengoba kunguye omdala. Kodwa usakwazi ukuphayona. Empeleni, omunye umfana wakubo usengummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe futhi usehamba naye ensimini.

Kusukela ngo-1994 igatsha lahlela imikhankaso yaminyaka yonke yokushumayela kule ndawo enkulukazi. Amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana, akhethwe emaphayoneni avamile ashisekayo, ashumayela emadolobheni nasezindaweni zasemaphandleni ezikude e-RAAN nase-RAAS izinyanga ezine ngenkathi lomisile. La maphayona aqungayo amelana nokushisa okuchochobalisayo, indawo emazombezombe, izinyoka, izilwane zasendle, amanzi angcolile, nezifo ezithelelwanayo angase azithole. Umgomo wawo uwukufakaza kubo bonke abantu, aqhube izifundo zeBhayibheli nabathakazelayo, aqhube nemihlangano yamaKristu, kuhlanganise neSikhumbuzo. Impumelelo aba nayo iyalisiza nehhovisi legatsha ukuba linqume ukuthi lizowabelaphi amaphayona akhethekile. Eminyakeni edlule le mikhankaso iholele ekumisweni kwamabandla namaqembu edolobheni laseWaspam nelaseSan Carlos, malungana noMfula iCoco kude le enyakatho-mpumalanga.

Yize abantu abayingxube abakhuluma iSpanishi beye batheleka lapha e-RAAN nase-RAAS, amaMiskito omdabu kuseyiwona amaningi kulezi zindawo. Zikhona izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezitholakala ngesiMiskito, futhi amaphayona amaningi aselufundile lolu limi. Ngenxa yalokho, abaningi kulaba bantu abanomusa nabathanda iBhayibheli baye basamukela isigijimi soMbuso.

Ngokwesibonelo, eduze koMfula iLikus e-RAAN kukhona iKwiwitingni ehlala amaMiskito, enemizi engu-46, futhi engu-6 yale mizi yayingahlali muntu ngesikhathi amaphayona enza umkhankaso ngo-2001. Ngalowo nyaka amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana aqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-40 kule ndawo—esisodwa emzini ngamunye! Ngemva nje kwenyanga eyodwa, abathathu bathi bafuna ukubhapathizwa, oyedwa wayengumvangeli eSontweni lendawo laseMoravia. Imibhangqwana emibili yayifuna ukuba abamemezeli kodwa yayingashadile ngokomthetho. Amaphayona abe eseyichazela ngomusa izindinganiso zeBhayibheli ngomshado nobhapathizo. Cabanga ukuthi amaphayona ajabula kanjani lapho, ngaphambi kokuba ahambe, kufika le mibhangqwana emibili iphethe izitifiketi zayo zomshado!

Kusukela kulowo mkhankaso owaba impumelelo, abamemezeli baseWaspam bebelokhu behamba amakhilomitha angu-19 beya eKwiwitingni beyosiza abasanda kuhlanganyela ukuba baqhubeke bethuthuka ngokomoya futhi babaqeqeshele inkonzo.

Amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana ayeshumayela ezindaweni eziningana ezisemaphandleni amaMiskito ezigudle uMfula iCoco ahlangana neqembu elikhulu labantu baseMelika benza umsebenzi wezenhlalakahle. Amaphayona abahambisela omagazini besiNgisi abaningi. Emaphandleni aseFrancia Sirpi, eduze koMfula iWawa, abantu besonto lamaBaptist babakha isikole esincane. Induna yabakhi yathi kwelinye lamaphayona: “Ngiyawuthanda umsebenzi owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Nizofundisa ngeBhayibheli lapha. Sengathi nesonto lami lingakwenza loku.”

Kudingeka Abazalwane Abanokuhlangenwe Nakho

Ngesikhathi umsebenzi ubekelwe imingcele, oFakazi abangaba ngamaphesenti angu-60 eNicaragua babeqhuba isifundo beyiqembu elingangomkhaya. Babenezincwadi ezimbalwa zokuzihambisa ensimini. Isimiso semihlangano emikhulu sasifingqwa bese siqhutshwa emabandleni. Abazalwane abaningi abavuthiwe nababeyizinhloko zemikhaya babebambela ababonisi abajikelezayo kodwa ngezikhathi ezithile kuphela. Kanti nemikhaya eminingi okwase kuyisikhathi eside ingoFakazi yathuthela kwezinye izindawo ngaleyo minyaka yeziyaluyalu. Ngakho lapho umsebenzi uphinde ubhaliswa ngokomthetho, kwakunesidingo esiphuthumayo sabadala abanokuhlangenwe nakho namaphayona.

Abadala kwabona babelangazelela ukuqeqeshwa mayelana nenqubo yenhlangano, kuyilapho abamemezeli bona babefuna isiqondiso ezintweni ezinjengokukhulumela izincwadi ensimini. Ukuze yanelise lezi zidingo, iNdikimba Ebusayo yabela abathweswe iziqu eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo esasise-El Salvador, eMexico, nasePuerto Rico ukuba baye eNicaragua. Omunye walaba bazalwane, uPedro Henríquez, owathweswa iziqu ekilasini lokuqala leSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo e-El Salvador, waqala ukujikeleza eNicaragua ngo-1993. Ababonisi besifunda baseMexico abangu-11 abanokuhlangenwe nakho nabo ‘bawelela’ kule Makedoniya yanamuhla beyosiza.—IzE. 16:9.

Eminyakeni engu-9 edlule, iNicaragua ithole nabangu-58 abaphothule eGileyadi, abasemakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli angu-6 asezweni lonke. Ukuvuthwa kwabo kusizile kwenza kwaba nomoya omuhle wokuthanda izinto ezingokomoya emabandleni, futhi basize intsha eningi yafisa ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

Labo abafika eNicaragua ngawo-1960 nangawo-1970 bezokhonza khona ngoba indingeko inkulu, babethi akuve kumnandi. Kusenjalo nanamuhla. Umzalwane othile oseMnyango Wenkonzo egatsheni uthi: “ENicaragua abamemezeli namaphayona basazinqumela ukuthi bazoqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingaki ngoba baningi kakhulu abantu abathakazelayo.” Yingakho nje abaningi abazimisele ukuyosiza lapho indingeko inkulu khona nasebezibalile izindleko beye babuza mayelana nokuyokhonza eNicaragua. Eqinisweni, ngo-April 2002, amaphayona angu-289 avela emazweni angu-19 ayesethuthele khona eyosiza. Abeve bejabula oFakazi balapha ngazo zonke lezi zisebenzi zokuvuna!—Math. 9:37, 38.

Umhlangano Othakazelisayo Wezwe Lonke

Ngaphambi kokuba umsebenzi ubekelwe imingcele, kwakugcine ngo-1978 ukuba kube nomhlangano wezwe lonke. Ngakho ungacabanga ukuthi abazalwane bajabula kanjani lapho bemenyelwa emhlanganweni wesigodi owawuzoba seManagua ngo-December 1999! Amalungu emikhaya akhuthazwa ukuba aqale ukubeka imali yokuhamba neyezinye izindleko ukuze wonke akwazi ukuhamba. Abanye oFakazi bakwazi ukusungula izindlela zokuthola imali. Ngokwesibonelo, njengoba inyama yengulube ithandwa eNicaragua, abanye bathenga izingulube, bazifuya babe sebezidayisa. Ngenxa yokuhlela ngokuhlakanipha nokuzimisela, oFakazi nabantu abathakazelayo abangu-28 356 ababevela kulo lonke leli bakwazi ukuya eMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wezwi LikaNkulunkulu Lesiprofetho’ owaqala ngo-December 24 enkundleni ye-baseball yesizwe yaseManagua.

Yeka ukuthi zajabula kanjani izihambeli zalowo mhlangano ngoMgqibelo lapho zibona abangu-784 bebhapathizwa—okwakungabaningi kunabo bonke abake babhapathizwa eNicaragua! Kwakukhona izithunywa zevangeli ezazike zakhonza lapho futhi zaxoxela ababekhona okuhlangenwe nakho okukhuthazayo. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, lo mhlangano wawunethonya elinamandla lokwenza ababekhona babe munye ngokubashukumisa bonke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bakhuluma luphi ulimi noma abasiphi isizwe, ukuba bazimisele nakakhulu ukuqhubeka ‘nolimi olulodwa oluhlanzekile’ lweqiniso lezinto ezingokomoya ‘ukuze bakhonze uJehova belinganisene ihlombe nehlombe.’—Zef. 3:9.

Ukulwela Ilungelo Lethu Lokwelashwa Ngaphandle Kwegazi

INicaragua inamaKomiti Okubonisana Nezibhedlela [Hospital Liaison Committees (ama-HLC)] amathathu, amsebenzi wawo uqondiswa uMnyango Wezokwaziswa Ngezezibhedlela osegatsheni. Ngaphandle kokusiza iziguli ezingoFakazi uma kuphakama indaba yokumpontshelwa igazi, la makomiti alwela ukwazisa odokotela asebephothulile nabasafunda ngezindlela zokwelashwa eziningi ezamukelwa oFakazi BakaJehova ezingase zisetshenziswe esikhundleni sokubampompela igazi.

Ukuze enze lokho, amalungu ama-HLC aye ethulela odokotela asebephothulile nabasafunda izinkulumo nemibukiso, abanye babo abaye bawancoma kakhulu. Eqinisweni, sebebaningi odokotela abahlinzayo nababulala izinzwa abathe bazimisele ukubambisana noFakazi BakaJehova bahloniphe ukuma kwabo okusekelwe eBhayibhelini endabeni yokumpontshelwa igazi.

Bazimisele Ukuqhubekela Phambili

Umlando wenkonzo waseNicaragua unikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi izinhlekelele zemvelo nezenziwe abantu ngeke zizivimbe izindaba ezinhle ukuba ziqhubekele phambili. Ngempela uJehova uye wenza “omncane” waba “yinkulungwane.” (Isaya 60:22) Umbiko wokuqala wenkonzo yasensimini waleli zwe wango-1943 wabonisa ukuthi bathathu kuphela abamemezeli abashumayelayo; eminyakeni engu-40 kamuva kwakunabamemezeli abangu-4 477. Ngesikhathi izithunywa zevangeli sezivunyelwe ukubuya ngo-1990, leli nani lase lingu-7 894! Eminyakeni yawo-1990 uJehova waqhubeka ebabusisa, inani labamemezeli boMbuso lacishe laphindeka kabili.

Njengoba ungase ulindele, ngenxa yaloku kwanda okusheshayo sekunesidingo esiphuthumayo samaHholo OMbuso engeziwe. Ngakho, ihhovisi legatsha liqondisa umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha ohlanganisa ukwakhiwa kwamanye amaHholo OMbuso angaba ngu-120 kanye nowokwakhiwa kwegatsha elisha eliseTicuantepe, esebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-11 eningizimu yeManagua. Leli gatsha kufanele libe seliqediwe ngo-April 2003.

Eminyakeni yamuva isimo somnotho eNicaragua siye sasimama, ikakhulu eManagua, idolobha okuye kwavuleka kulo amathuba amaningi omsebenzi, emfundo, nawokuzijabulisa. Umsebenzi wokwakha wona awupheli kuleli dolobha eseligcwele izitolo zokudla zesimanje, amagaraji, nezitolo eziwuxhaxha ezigcwele izinto ezithandwa abantu nezinye izinto eziningi ongazithola emphakathini waseNtshonalanga ye-United States.

Izinto ezinjalo nezingibe eziningi ezihambisana nazo zibekela amaKristu izinselele ezintsha. Omunye umdala ongumakad’ ebona wathi: “Izinto sezijikile manje. Kufana nokuthatha indishi egcwele amaswidi uyinike ingane eyazi ukudla ilayisi nobhontshisi kuphela, bese uthi kuyo: ‘Uboqaphela, ungadli noma imuphi uswidi!’ Thina siyakwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngaphansi kobunzima, kodwa manje isitha sesicashile. Sekunzima nakakhulu-ke manje.”

Noma kunjalo, ukwethembeka, intshiseko, nesibindi okwaboniswa abantu bakaJehova ngesikhathi umsebenzi usabekelwe imingcele kusalokhu kuthela izithelo ezinhle. Izingane eziningi ezakhula ngaleyo nkathi manje sezingabadala, amaphayona, nezikhonzi zaseBethel. Manje iNicaragua isinezifunda ezingu-17 ezakhiwa amabandla angu-295, kuhlanganise namaqembu angawodwa angu-31. Umbiko ka-August 2002 wabonisa inani elisha labamemezeli abangu-16 676, kanti bangu-66 751 ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni ngalowo nyaka!

Ngenxa yalokhu, sithandazela ukuba nabanye abantu abaningi kuleli zwe elinezinto ezinhlobonhlobo bamazi uJehova ungakapheli ‘unyaka wokuthakazelelwa’ nguye. (Isaya 61:2) Yebo, kwangathi uBaba wethu wasezulwini angaqhubeka enweba imingcele yepharadesi lethu elingokomoya kuze kube yilapho wonke umhlaba ‘usugcwele ulwazi ngoJehova njengoba nje amanzi esibekela ulwandle.’—Isaya 11:9.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 72]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu NgeNicaragua

Izwe: INicaragua yilona zwe elikhulu kunawo wonke eMelika Ephakathi. Izintaba eziphakathi nendawo zilihlukanise kabili leli zwe. Ingxenye esentshonalanga igcwele amachibi. Ingxenye esempumalanga ayivundile kangako futhi igcwele amahlathi namathafa. ENicaragua kunezintaba-mlilo ezingaba ngu-40; ezinye zazo zisavutha.

Abantu: Abaningi bakhuluma iSpanishi futhi banegazi elixubile—bayingxube yamaNdiya aseMelika nabeLungu. Idlanzana lamaMonimbó namaNdiya angamaSubtiaba lihlala ogwini olusentshonalanga, kanti empumalanga kukhona amaMiskito, amaSumo, namaNdiya angamaRama, kanye namaCreole namaCarib aNsundu. Inkolo engumakhonya eyamaRoma Katolika.

Ulimi: Ulimi olungokomthetho yiSpanishi. Ziyakhulunywa nezilimi zendabuko.

Indlela yokuziphilisa: Ezolimo yiwona mgogodla wezomnotho eNicaragua.

Ukudla: Ukudla okukhonziwe kuleli zwe yilayisi, ummbila, ubhontshisi, amabele, ukhova, umdumbula, nezithelo ezinhlobonhlobo. Okuyiswa kwamanye amazwe yikhofi, ushukela, ubhanana, ukudla kwasolwandle, nenyama yenkomo.

Isimo sezulu: Kuyashisa eNicaragua. Imvula iba amasentimitha angu-190 kuya kwangu-380, kuye ngendawo. Izinga lokushisa livame ukuba ngu-26°C. eduze kogu, kanti kuthe ukuphola kancane ezinkangala.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 99-102]

Ukunqwamana Namaphoyisa Omshoshaphansi

UHúber NoTelma López

Umlando wabo omfushane: Banezingane ezintathu esezikhulile. UHúber ungumdala ebandleni lendawo.

Ngaphansi kukahulumeni wamavukelambuso, izinceku ezikhonzayo nabadala babeye baboshwe amaPhoyisa OMbuso bagqunywe ejele usuku olulodwa kuya emasontweni ambalwa bephenywa. Ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi kwabo okusekelwe eBhayibhelini, oFakazi BakaJehova babemangalelwa ngokuthi benza abantu bavukele uhulumeni kodwa babengakaze babekwe icala. Abaphenyi babefuna namagama “abafundisi nabaholi” bethu.

Omunye wabazalwane abaningi ababoshwa nguHúber López, namuhla ongumdala nonezingane ezintathu esezikhulile. Ngo-December 1985, uMfoweth’ uLópez waboshwa ekwakhe eLa Reforma, engamaqaqasi aseningizimu-mpumalanga aqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-40 eManagua. Umkakhe, uTelma, ulandisa ngosizi lwangalolo suku:

“Ngo-4:00 ntambama kwama izimoto zamaphoyisa ezimbili phambi komuzi wethu, kwenye kunamaPhoyisa OMbuso, kwenye kunamasosha ehla azungeza umuzi. Ngemva kokuba sengiwatshelile amaphoyisa ukuthi umyeni wami akekho, athi mina nezingane masiphumele phandle ngoba afuna ukusesha endlini. Kodwa indodana yethu endala eyayineminyaka eyishumi, u-Elmer, yasala endlini. Yawabuka lapho ekhipha izincwadi zesikole nezasesifundweni ekhabetheni. Kulezo zincwadi umyeni wami wayefihle amarekhodi athile ebandla. Lapho amaphoyisa ehamba nezincwadi eya ezimotweni, u-Elmer wamemeza: ‘Baba, uthatha nezincwadi zami zesikole?’ Isosha laphendula ngembodlomane yezwi: ‘Kulungile-ke zithathe.’ Ngokwenza kanjalo indodana yethu yakwazi ukuvikela izincwadi zayo kanye namarekhodi ebandla.

“Kwathi sesidla ukudla kwakusihlwa ngalo lelo langa, amasosha abuya. Asikhomba ngezibhamu, athatha umyeni wami ahamba naye izingane zibukele, zikhala. Awazange asitshele ukuthi amthathelani nokuthi amyisaphi.”

Echaza okwenzeka ngemva kwalokho, uMfoweth’ uLópez uthi: “Ngayiswa ejele laseMasaya ngafakwa esitokisini esasinazo zonke izinhlobo zezigelekeqe. Ngasheshe ngaziveza ukuthi ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova futhi ngafakaza kula madoda amahora ambalwa. Phakathi kwamabili, kwafika othile wangikhomba ngenganono wangikhipha esitokisini wangifaka emotweni yamaphoyisa eyayime ngaphandle ebumnyameni. Kwathiwa angibheke phansi, kodwa lapho ngingena emotweni, ngabona abanye abantu abane engibaziyo nabo bebhekise amakhanda phansi. Kwakuyizinceku ezikhonzayo nabadala baseMasaya nabo ababeboshwe ngalobo busuku.

“Ngalobo busuku asisongela kwaze kwaba kabili ngokuthi azosibulala, okokuqala ngenkathi sisemasimini ekhofi nalapho sesisedolobheni, lapho asiklelisa khona odongeni. Kuzona zombili lezi ziqubu ayesilinda sengathi kukhona esizokusho, kodwa asizange sisho lutho. Ekugcineni, asiyisa ejele eliseJinotepe asivalela ezitokisini ezihlukene izinsuku ezintathu.

“Sasingavunyelwe ukulala isikhathi eside. Kwakuhlale kumnyama ezitokisini zethu, ngakho sasingazi ukuthi kusemini noma kusebusuku. Sasibizwa sibiziwe egunjini esasiphekwa kulo ngemibuzo, sibuzwa ngomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela, ngemihlangano, namagama ‘abaholi’ bethu. Omunye wababengipheka ngemibuzo waze wangisongela nangokuthi uzobopha abazali bami abaphoqe ukuba bamtshele. Eqinisweni, ngesikhathi ngisesitokisini ngezwa ngisho namazwi abazali bami, umkami, namanye amalungu omkhaya. Kodwa engangikuzwa kwakungamazwi aqoshiwe ayeqoshelwe ukungenza ngikholwe ukuthi abantu bakithi babelandiwe bezophenywa.

“Ngosuku lwesine, ngoLwesine, ngatshelwa ukuthi ngizodedelwa. Kodwa kwakumelwe ngiqale ngisayine ifomu elithile elinesifungo sokuthi ngizoyeka ukushumayela ngenkolo yami. Ngatshelwa nokuthi abanye oFakazi sebelisayinile—okwakungelona neze iqiniso. ‘Uma ungafuni ukulisayina,’ kusho ababengiphenya ngemibuzo, ‘sizokuphindisela phakathi ufele khona.’

Ngaphendula: “‘Uma kunjalo ngicela ningangidedeli; ngiyekeni khona lapha.’

“‘Sikuyekeleni?’

“‘Ngoba ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, futhi lokho kusho ukuthi ngiyashumayela.’

“Ngamangala lapho sidedelwa sonke sobahlanu ngosuku olulodwa. Yebo, uJehova wayiphendula imithandazo yethu, wasiqinisa sangatatazela futhi sangabadalula abafowethu. Kodwa ngemva kwaleso sigigaba, sasihlale sigadiwe.”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 105, 106]

Ngaphoqwa Ukuba Ngiye Empini

UGiovanni Gaitán

Unyaka abhapathizwa ngawo: 1987

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Waboshwa sekusele amasonto ambalwa nje abhapathizwe, waphoqwa ukuba ahambe ne-BLI izinyanga ezingu-28. Waphayona iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-8.

Abanye abazalwane abaseyizinsizwa baphoqwa ukuba bahambe nama-Irregular Warfare Battalion (ama-BLI ngeSpanishi) ayelwela emahlathini asezintabeni.

Enye yalezi zinsizwa kwakunguGiovanni Gaitán. Ngesikhathi esengummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe, uGiovanni wachitha izinyanga ezingu-28 nama-BLI. Waboshwa sekusele amasonto ambalwa nje abhapathizwe. UGiovanni uyalandisa: “Uvivinyo lwami lwaqala ngemva kwempi yokuqala. Induna yathi angiwashe iyunifomu enegazi yesosha elase lifile. Ngenqaba ngoba ngibona ukuthi lokhu kwakungase kube yisiqalo sezinto ezazingagcina ngokuthi ngilahle ukungathathi hlangothi kwami kobuKristu. Le nduna yathukuthela yagan’ unwabu, yangisakaza ngempama. Yakhipha ivolovolo yangikhomba ngalo, yadubula kodwa akwangaphuma nhlamvu. Yabe isingishaya ngalo ebusweni, yathi uma ngingake ngiphinde ngingayilaleli, izongibulala.

“Ezinyangeni ezingu-18 ezalandela, yangihlupha kakhulu le ndoda. Kwaba iziqubu eziningana ingibopha izandla usuku lonke ukuze ngingakwazi ukudla. Ngiboshiwe nginjalo, ngangiye ngihanjiswe ngenkani phambili ehlathini ngihole iqembu, ngibelethe isibhamu namabhomu esandla—ngiwukudla kwesitha! Yangishaya yathi izongibulala, ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi impi ibambene ngezihluthu amasosha efa ngapha nangapha mina ngenqaba ukucosha izibhamu zawo. Kodwa angizange ngiyizonde futhi ngangingesabi ngoba uJehova wanginika isibindi.

“Ngolunye usuku ngo-March 1985, mina nabanye abazalwane kwathiwa asehle ezintabeni siye endaweni imikhaya yakithi eyayivunyelwe ukusivakashela kuyo eduze kwaseMulukukú, esenyakatho-mpumalanga eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-300 eManagua. Lapho ngidla futhi ngixoxa nabakithi, ngayibona le nduna ihleli yodwa. Ngayihambisela ukudla. Lapho isiqedile ukudla, yangibiza. Ngamangala lapho ixolisa ngendlela eyayingiphathe ngayo ngoba mina ngangilindele okubi kunalokho. Yaze yangibuza nangezinkolelo zami. Ngagcina lapho ukuyibona; yafa ngemva nje kwalokho engozini yeloli lamasosha.”

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 116-118]

Amalungu Amabili EKomiti Yezwe Akhumbula Okwenzeka

Ngenkathi umsebenzi uvinjelwe, umsebenzi eNicaragua wawuqondiswa igatsha laseCosta Rica. Kwamiswa ikomiti yezwe eNicaragua eyayizoqondisa abazalwane bakhona. Abazalwane ababili ababekuleyo komiti, u-Alfonso Joya no-Agustín Sequeira, bakhumbula lezo zikhathi zovivinyo.

U-Alfonso Joya: “Ngangiwumdala eManagua lapho ngicelwa ukuba ngibe sekomitini yezwe ngo-1985. Emsebenzini wokuziphilisa ngangiyimenenja yegatsha elikhulu lebhange elidumile. Ulwazi lwami lwasebhange lwangenza ngakwazi ukusiza ekusebenziseni kahle imali yenhlangano kaJehova ngesikhathi imali yaseNicaragua iphelelwa amandla ngokushesha, ikhubaza ezomnotho. Ngisho nezicathulo nje ezingatheni, ezazikade zibiza ama-cordoba angaba ngu-250, zabe sezibiza ama-cordoba ayizigidi ezimbili!

“Kulesi sikhathi esinzima sokwehla kwamandla emali, waba yindlala nophethiloli kuleli zwe, okwaba nzima ukuba abazalwane bahambise izincwadi emabandleni akude. UJehova wasisiza ngokungenza ngikwazi ukusiza abazalwane ngophethiloli ababewudinga.

“Umkhaya wami wawungazi ukuthi ngiyilungu lekomiti yezwe. Ngaleso sikhathi ngangineminyaka engu-35 ubudala futhi ngifaneleka ukuba ngingenele umbutho wezempi. Abombutho wezempi bazama izikhathi ezine ukungibutha, ngesinye isikhathi baze bafika nakwami. Ngisikhumbula kahle lesi sigigaba ngoba umkami nezingane zami ezincane ezintathu babeseceleni kwami njengoba ngangikhonjwe ngesibhamu. Kuyisimanga ukuthi awuzange ungiphelele umsebenzi wami ebhange.”

U-Agustín Sequeira: “Ngangiyiphayona elikhethekile edolobheni elincane laseBoaco ngenkathi izithunywa zevangeli zixoshwa ngo-1982. Ngemva kwesikhathi, ngathola ilungelo lokumiswa njengelungu lekomiti yezwe. Abazalwane basebandleni lethu babengazi lutho ngalokhu. Ngangivuka ngo-4:00 kusempondozankomo ngenze umsebenzi engangiwabelwe, bese ngiya enkonzweni yasensimini nebandla.

“Sonke thina esingamalungu ekomiti yezwe sasizibiza ngamagama okungewona awethu lapho sisebenza, futhi savumelana ngokuthi ngeke sitshelane ngemisebenzi esiyenzayo. Kwakuyoba isivikelo lokhu uma kwenzeka siboshwa. Sasingenalo ihhovisi kodwa sasisebenzela emizini ehlukahlukene. Ngenxa yokuthi isikhwama sasingase sisolise, ngezinye izikhathi amaphepha omsebenzi ngangiwafaka esikhwameni sephepha bese ngigcina ngo-anyanisi ngaphezulu. Ngasinda ngokulambisa izikhathi ezimbalwa kodwa angizange ngiboshwe.

“Amalungu eKomiti Yegatsha YaseCosta Rica asivakashela kaningana ezosikhuthaza asinike nesiqondiso. Into engingasoze ngayikhohlwa neyangikhuthaza kakhulu kulapho kunikezelwa igatsha laseCosta Rica ngo-January 1987, ngoba ngaleso sikhathi mina nelinye ilungu lekomiti yezwe sajabulela ukuba namalungu amabili eNdikimba Ebusayo.”

UMfoweth’ uSequeira ushone ngaphambi kokuba lo mbiko unyatheliswe. Ubeneminyaka engu-86 ubudala futhi eneminyaka engu-22 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ubeyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha yaseNicaragua.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 122, 123]

Sathola Inkululeko Yangempela Ejele

Phakathi kuka-1979 no-1989, iCárcel Modelo yayigcwele iziboshwa ezazingafuni ukuyolwa nezaziboshelwe ezombusazwe ezazisekela uhulumeni omdala. Isigijimi soMbuso sangena sadlulela ngale kwalezi zindonga, sagcwala ezinhliziyweni nasezingqondweni zabantu abanhliziyo ziqotho, sabasiza bakha ubuntu obunjengobukaKristu. (Kol. 3:5-10) Nakhu okushiwo abambalwa ababeyiziboshwa.

UJosé de la Cruz López: “Ngenkathi ngiboshiwe, ngangiphatheke kabi ngingenathemba, ngingenakusasa. Ngabe sengitholana nezinye iziboshwa ezase zibe oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngayithanda indlela ababechaza ngayo iBhayibheli nababeziphethe kahle ngayo. Ekugcineni nganeliseka ngokomoya futhi ngaba nethemba. Ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi uma kade ngizimisele ukudela ukuphila kwami ngenxa kahulumeni wabantu ongeke unginike ithemba langempela, kufanele ngithembeke kangakanani-ke kuLowo owanikela iNdodana yakhe ngenxa yami! Lapho sengiphumile ejele, umkami namadodakazi ami kanye namanye amalungu omkhaya amathathu nabo bafunda iqiniso. Angisoze neze ngakwazi ukumkhokhela uJehova ngalokho angenzele kona.”

UMfoweth’ uLópez ungumdala eManagua.

U-Omar Antonio Espinoza: “Lapho ngineminyaka engu-18 ubudala, ngagwetshwa iminyaka engu-30 ejele futhi ngadonsa engu-10 ngaphambi kokuthola ushwele. Nakuba kungiphatha kabi ukuthi ngalahlekelwa inkululeko yami, kusejele lapho ngafunda khona ngoJehova nangenkululeko yangempela. Ngaphambili ngangiyisonakali kodwa manje sengishintshe ngokuphelele. Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokuthi indebe yami iyachichima ngomqondo ongokomoya. Ngizimisele njengoJoshuwa, yena owathi: ‘Mina nendlu yami, sizokhonza uJehova.’—Josh. 24:15.”

UMfoweth’ u-Espinoza ungumdala edolobheni laseRivas.

U-Anastasio Ramón Mendoza: “Kungakapheli zinyanga nje ngiboshiwe, ngaqala ukuzifundela iBhayibheli. Ngabe sengilitadisha nesinye isiboshwa esasingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngasheshe ngagculiseka ukuthi sengilitholile iqiniso. Kodwa ngazindela ukubhapathizwa ngoba ngangibazonda ngendlela eyisimanga abantu ababengibophile—okuyinto engangazi ukuthi uJehova akayifuni.

“Ngathandaza ngenhliziyo yonke, ngithandazela intethelelo nosizo lokunqoba le nzondo. UJehova wakuzwa ukunxusa kwami ngoba ngesineke wangifundisa ukuzonda izimo zengqondo nezenzo ezimbi hhayi abantu. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1982. Kusukela ngadedelwa ngo-1989 sengifunde iBhayibheli nabaningi ababesempini nabanye ababesesimweni esifana nesami. Abanye sebengabafowethu abangokomoya.”

UMfoweth’ uMendoza uyinceku ekhonzayo eManagua.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 141-145]

Imithandazo Yomfundisi Iyaphendulwa

UTeodosio Gurdián

Unyaka abhapathizwa ngawo: 1986

Umlando wakhe omfushane: UMfoweth’ uGurdián ungumdala eBandleni LaseWamblán.

Ngo-1986, ngesikhathi ibambene ngezihluthu eyama-Sandinista namavukelambuso, abamemezeli ababili basebandleni elincane laseSan Juan del Río Coco, bahamba amakhilomitha ayikhulu beya enyakatho eWamblán, idolobha elisenkangala ewugwadule eduze komngcele waseHonduras. Iqembu elincane loFakazi ababehlala lapho lalihambe eminyakeni emibili ngaphambili eWamblán lixoshwa yimpi. Laba bazalwane ababili babefuna umlisa mumbe okuthiwa uTeodosio Gurdián. UTeodosio uyachaza ukuthi babemfunelani.

“Ngangiwumfundisi esontweni labavangeli eWamblán. Isonto lethu laliphethwe yi-National Association of Nicaraguan Pastors (i-ANPEN ngeSpanishi), inhlangano yabefundisi bawo wonke amasonto amaProthestani eManagua. Athi angawuthatha nje umbuso amaSandinista, i-ANPEN yasayina isivumelwano esivumela abefundisi nabantu abavamile ukuba bangene emaKomitini Okuvikela Ama-Sandinista nakwezinye izinhlangano, ezihlanganisa nombutho wezempi. Kodwa lokhu kwangikhathaza ngoba ngangizibuza ukuthi ‘Isikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu singaziphatha kanjani izikhali?’

“Ngabe sengithola incwadi ethi Ukuthula Kweqiniso Nokulondeka—Kuvela Kumuphi Umthombo? komunye umkhaya woFakazi owawuhlala eWamblán. Ngayifunda kwaze kwacishe kwasa. Ngaqala nokubafunda njalo omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Ngakuthola ekugcineni ukudla okungokomoya kwangempela. Eqinisweni lokho engangikufundile ngaze ngashumayela nangakho esontweni. Lapho izikhulu zesonto zizwa ngalokhu, zangibizela emahhovisi amakhulu eManagua.

“Izikhulu zazicabanga ukuthi ngiwumfundisi odukiswe ukuthi akanalo ulwazi olwanele, zabe sezinginikeza umfundaze wokuyofunda izinyanga ezingu-8 eManagua. Kodwa izinto engangizifunde ezincwadini zoFakazi zazisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngakho ngabuza izikhulu zesonto imibuzo eminingi, enjengokuthi, ‘Asishumayeli ngani endlini ngendlu njengamaKristu akuqala? Sibakhokhiselani abantu okweshumi kanti abaphostoli bona babengabakhokhisi?’ Zahluleka ukuphendula imibuzo yami ngendlela egculisayo, zase ziqala ukungibiza ngokuthi nginguFakazi.

“Ngemva kwalokhu, ngasula esontweni ngahamba ngayofuna oFakazi BakaJehova eManagua. Kodwa kwakungu-1984 futhi oFakazi babehlangana ngasese. Ngakho ngemva kwamasonto amabili ngibafuna, ngabuyela eWamblán nenduku yombangandlala, ngabe sengizitshalela isivande sommbila nobhontshisi ukuze ngondle umkhaya wami.

“OFakazi ababekade behlala eWamblán babehambise izincwadi eziningi ngaphambi kokuba bahambe kule ndawo. Ngakho njalo lapho ngibona lezi zincwadi emizini engangiyivakashela, ngangiye ngibuze: ‘Niyayifunda le ncwadi? Ningangidayisela yona?’ Abaningi babenginika, okwenza ukuba ngigcine senginomtapo omncane wezincwadi zasesifundweni.

“Nakuba ngangingazange ngiphumele obala ngithi nginguFakazi, abantu baseWamblán nabo baqala ukungibiza kanjalo. Ngakho akuphelanga sikhathi amaPhoyisa OMbuso abe esengiphonsa imibuzo ngezinto engangizenza. Aze angitshela nokuthi ngingashumayela emadolobhaneni aseduze, uma nje ngizowanikeza amagama abantu ababecheme namavukelambuso. Ngaphendula ngathi: ‘Uma ngingenza lokhu enikucelayo, ngiyobe ngilahla uNkulunkulu wami, futhi ngeke nikubone lokho. UJehova ufuna sizinikele kuye yedwa.’

“Ngesinye isikhathi, isikhulu sezempi sangicela ukuba ngisayine ifomu lokusekela ama-Sandinista. Ngenqaba. Sabe sesikhipha ivolovolo sangisongela: ‘Awazi yini ukuthi singaziqeda izimbungulu ezingawusekeli umzabalazo?’ Kodwa esikhundleni sokungidubula, sanginika isikhathi sokuba ngiphinde ngicabange. Ngalobo busuku ngavalelisa kumkami. Ngathi kuye: ‘Noma ngingalisayina lelo phepha vele ngizokufa. Kodwa uma ngifa ngingalisayinanga, uJehova angase angikhumbule ovukweni. Uziphathe kahle izingane, uthembele kuJehova. Uzosisiza.’ Ngakusasa ekuseni ngathi kulesi sikhulu: ‘Sengifikile. Ngenze noma yini, kodwa ngeke ngilisayine.’ Sanqekuzisa ikhanda sathi: ‘Uyindoda emadodeni. Bengazi ukuthi uzosho kanjalo. Ngiyabazi mina oFakazi BakaJehova.’ Sabe sesingidedela ngahamba.

“Ngemva kwalokho, ngashumayela ngokukhululeka ngaya emadolobhaneni amaningi acezile ngimema nabathakazelayo ukuba bahlangane ndawonye. Umbhangqwana oshadile osukhulile wawuphakathi kwabokuqala abamukela iqiniso; kwase kulandela neminye imikhaya. Kungakapheli sikhathi esingakanani sase singu-30 esasihlangana ndawonye njalo. Ngangisebenzisa INqabayokulinda endala, ngiyenze ibe inkulumo ngoba sasinekhophi eyodwa kuphela. Ngaze ngafundela amanye amasosha iBhayibheli, elinye lawo elaba uFakazi.

“Ngo-1985 isosha elafika lapha langitshela ukuthi kunebandla loFakazi BakaJehova eJinotega, okuyibanga elingaba amakhilomitha angu-110 eningizimu yeWamblán. Ngacela umuntu owayefundelwa iBhayibheli eWamblán ukuba angiphelezele siye khona. Ngemva kokubuza emakethe eseJinotega sagcina siwutholile umuzi woFakazi. Savulelwa inkosikazi yakhona. Uma siyitshela ukuthi singoFakazi BakaJehova, yasibuza ukuthi size eSikhumbuzweni yini. Sayibuza: ‘Yini iSikhumbuzo?’ Yathi ingezwa lokho, yabiza umyeni wayo. Lapho esegculisekile ukuthi asiqambi amanga, wasingenisa endlini. Ngeshwa, iSikhumbuzo sasingayizolo ebusuku, kodwa sahlala nabo izinsuku ezintathu saya naseSifundweni Sencwadi Sebandla esasiqala ukuya kuso.

“Lapho sesibuyele eWamblán ngaqhubeka ngishumayela ngiqhuba nemihlangano. Kwathi ngosuku olwandulela iSikhumbuzo sango-1986, kwafika abazalwane ababili okukhulunywe ngabo ekuqaleni. Iqembu lethu elincane labafundi beBhayibheli laphuthuma latshela bonke abathakazelayo ezindaweni eziseduze, kwaba khona abangu-85 eSikhumbuzweni sethu sokuqala.

“Ngabhapathizwa ngo-October walowo nyaka, kanye nabantu bokuqala engabafundela iBhayibheli—umbhangqwana osukhulile okukhulunywe ngawo ngaphambili, owawusuwevile eminyakeni engu-80 ubudala. Sikhuluma nje iBandla LaseWamblán linabamemezeli abangu-74 namaphayona avamile amathathu. Nginelungelo lokukhonza njengomunye wabadala. Ngo-2001, iSikhumbuzo saba khona nakwamanye amadolobhana amathathu ngaphandle kwaseWamblán, kwaba khona ingqikithi yabangu-452.”

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 80, 81]

ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO ENICARAGUA

1925

1934: Udade oyiphayona ovakashile uhambisa izincwadi kuleli zwe.

1937: USomoza uyaqala ukubusa.

1945: Kufika abafundi bokuqala abaphothule eGileyadi.

1946: UN. H. Knorr noF. W. Franz bavakashela eManagua. Kumiswa igatsha.

1950

1952: Umsebenzi uyavinjelwa, kugqugquzela abefundisi bamaKatolika.

1953: INkantolo Ephakeme Yobulungisa iyakuqeda ukuvinjelwa.

1972: Ukuzamazama komhlaba kucekela phansi iManagua.

1974: Ihhovisi legatsha elisha nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli kuyaqedwa ukwakhiwa.

1975

1979: Ama-Sandinista anqoba uhulumeni kaSomoza. Kufa abantu ababalelwa ku-50 000 lapho kugumbuqelwa umbuso.

1981: OFakazi BakaJehova abasaqashelwa ngokomthetho.

1990: OFakazi BakaJehova baphinde baqashelwe ngokomthetho.

1994: Kumiswa amaphayona akhethekile esikhashana ayikhulu. Kubuye kumiswe namanye.

1998: ISiphepho uMitch sishaya iMelika Ephakathi, sibulale abantu abangu-4 000 eNicaragua.

2000

2002: Bangu-16 676 abamemezeli ababikayo eNicaragua.

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

20 000

15 000

10 000

5 000

1950 1975 2000

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 73]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

Matagalpa

León

MANAGUA

Masaya

Jinotepe

Granada

Lake Nicaragua

Ometepe Island

Isthmus of Rivas

San Juan River

Bluefields

COSTA RICA

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 66]

[Isithombe ekhasini 70]

Ngenhla: UFrancis (kwesobunxele) noWilliam Wallace nodadewabo uJane

[Isithombe ekhasini 70]

Ngezansi (emgqeni ongemuva, kusukela phezulu kuye ezansi): UWilbert Geiselman, uHarold Duncan, noFrancis Wallace; (emgqeni ongaphambili, kusukela phezulu kuye ezansi): UBlanche Casey, u-Eugene Call, u-Ann Geiselman, uJane Wallace, no-Evelyn Duncan

[Izithombe ekhasini 71]

Ngenhla: U-Adelina no-Arnoldo Castro

Kwesokudla: UDora no-Evaristo Sánchez

[Isithombe ekhasini 76]

UDoris Niehoff

[Isithombe ekhasini 76]

USydney noPhyllis Porter

[Isithombe ekhasini 79]

U-Agustín Sequeira waba ngummemezeli wokuqala eMatagalpa

[Isithombe ekhasini 82]

UMaría Elsa

[Isithombe ekhasini 82]

UGilberto Solís nomkakhe, uMaría Cecilia

[Izithombe ekhasini 87]

Ukuzamazama komhlaba kwango-1972 kwayicekela phansi iManagua

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

U-Andrew noMiriam Reed

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

URuby noKevin Block

[Isithombe ekhasini 92]

UMhlangano Wesigodi ‘Wobuqotho BoMbuso’ waqhutshelwa epulazini

[Izithombe ekhasini 95]

Izithunywa zevangeli ezaxoshwa eNicaragua ngo-1982

[Isithombe ekhasini 109]

Abazalwane ababenyathelisa izincwadi ngesikhathi bevinjelwe, nemishini ababeyisebenzisa, iQhude, iSikhukhukazi neNkukhu

[Isithombe ekhasini 110]

U-Elda Sánchez wayebhala amaphepha okuzokwenziwa ngawo amakhophi, engesabi lutho

[Isithombe ekhasini 115]

Lab’ odade babelungisa ukudla babuye bagade ngesikhathi abazalwane benyathelisa

[Isithombe ekhasini 126]

Emgqeni ophambili: Abanye babazalwane abalithola ejele iqiniso, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: uJ. López, u-A. Mendoza, no-O. Espinoza; emgqeni ongemuva: uCarlos Ayala noJulio Núñez, abadala ababeya ejele beyosiza abazalwane ngokomoya

[Isithombe ekhasini 133]

Lapho isisusiwe imingcele eyayibekelwe oFakazi BakaJehova, lo muzi waba ihhovisi legatsha

[Izithombe ekhasini 134]

Ngemva kweSiphepho uMitch, ezinye izisebenzi zokuzithandela zazidiliva ukudla nezinye izimpahla ngamabhayisekili. Ezinye zakha kabusha amaHholo OMbuso nemizi

[Isithombe ekhasini 139]

EBanacruz, indawo ese-RAAN, lapho izindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwa khona naphezu kwezinselele

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

EMhlanganweni Wesigodi ‘Wezwi LikaNkulunkulu Lesiprofetho’ ka-1999 kwakukhona abangu-28 356, okwakuwumhlangano wesigodi wokuqala wesizwe ngemva kuka-1978

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

Ababesemhla-nganweni babona kubhapathizwa abangu-784—okwakungabantu abaningi kunabo bonke abake babhapathizwa eNicaragua

[Isithombe ekhasini 148]

IKomiti Yegatsha ekuqaleni kuka-2002, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: U-Ian Hunter, u-Agustín Sequeira, uLuis Antonio González, noLothar Mihank