Nabuthawa omwa Kwerikuminibiri 22, 1929, e Noville, akalu kake akali mw’esyofamu mwenda esiri hakuhi ne Bastogne, omwa Belgian Ardennes. Ngawithe ebyo ng’ibuka ebikatsemesaya eby’omwa bwana ingane n’ababuthi baghe okwa famu. Ingye na mughalha wethu omulere ya Raymond ithukakama esyonde syethu obuli kiro n’eriletha amathe agho thwabya thukakama w’eka. Omwa kalu kethu kake mwabya omuthima w’eriwathikania, ithwe bosi ithukawathikanaya.

Ababuthi baghe, Emile na Alice, ini bakatuliki abakihambirire. Ibakaghenda okwa misa obuli Kyasande. Nomwabine, ng’omwa 1939, abatemburi mubalhua e England bamasa omwa kyalu kyethu kandi bamaha thatha waghe y’ekopi y’egazeti eyabya yikahulhuamo Consolation (lino eyikahulhawamo Awake!). Thatha waghe mwalhuaho iniaminya ngoku ebya egazeti yamabugha ni kwenene kandi amatsuka erisoma e Biblia. Abere akaleka eribya akaya okwa misa, abataka bethu, abanabya banywani bethu, mubathuhakanisya kutsibu. Mubahira oku thatha waghe kw’akahathikano k’erithend’ilhua omwa kikatuliki, ekindu ekyaletha erikakalhukana.

Mukyanyilhuma ingalhangira thatha waghe akabana akahathikano akakalire. Ekyo mukyaleka ingasondya obuwathikya bwa Nyamuhanga omwa musabe owakalhua okwa muthima owakanibweko okw’itsuka ly’omwatsi ono. Erihakanisya ly’abataka bethu lyabere likahwa, etseme muyabya nene omwa muthima waghe. Munaligha ngoku Yehova “akasubiraya erisaba.”

E Nazi Germany muyalhwa ne Belgium omo Kwakathano 10, 1940, kyamaleka abandu bangyi b’obuli kiro ibahuma. Efamile yethu muyathibitha e  France y’eyikwa. Ithune omwa nzira, ithukanayisanga ithwabiriwa omwa malhwa w’abasirikali be German n’abe France.

Thwabere thukasuba omwa famu, muthweya ebingyi by’okwa bindu byethu ibyabiribwa. Embwa yethu nyisa, eyikahulhawamo Bobbie, y’eyathuthangirira. Ebindu ng’ebyo mubyaleka ingayibulya indi, ‘Busana naki ihabya esyonyuhi n’eriaghalhwa?’

Okwa buthuku obo, muthwaghasirwa kutsibu omwa lhubungo lhwa Ndugu Emile Schrantz, a omusyakulhu omutemburi omuthaleghulha. Mwasoborera ndeke erilhua omwa Biblia ekikaleka ihabya eriaghalhwa kandi mwasubirya ebindi bibulyo byaghe ebihambire okwa ngebe. Munathunga obughuma obughumire na Yehova kandi n’amaligha ngoku ni Nyamuhanga w’olhwanzo.

Nibya olhuhi lhuthe lhwahwa, efamile yethu iyikatsema eribya iyinemubya haghuma n’abalikyethu. Omo Kwomunani 1943, Ndugu José-Nicolas Minet mwathubungira okwa famu yethu erithulhabirya omukania. Mwabulya athi, “Nindi oyukanza eribatizibwa?” Thatha waghe mwasumba ebyalha, kuthya naghe. Muthwabatizibwa omwa kusi kake akali hakuhi n’efamu yethu.

Omo Kwerikuminibiri 1944 amahe we Germany mwatsukisya olhuhi okwa musirya w’eyu w’ebulengera lyuba—olhwasibwe ng’Olhuhi lhwe Bulge. Thwabya thw’ikere omwa kitsweka ekyabya mw’olhuhi, neryo muthwabya b’eribya omwa kisenge ky’ekabuno eky’enyumba ahabw’okwezi kughuma. Kiro kighuma, nabere ingayalisya ebisoro byaghe, ebbomu muyawa omwa famu yethu, yamatsandalikania olhuthwe lhw’enyumba y’ebisoro. Omusirikali we Amerika oyuwabya hakuhi n’aho ebisoro bikabya mwalhaka athi, “Mukesaye ahisi!” Munathibitha n’erilhambama aho ali, neryo amahira esapeho yiwe okwa muthwe waghe erinyitheya.

Enyuma w’olhuhi, muthwathoka eribya thukakanirania n’abalikyethu omwa kithunga kye Liège, esyokilomita nga 90 eyikwa okwa eyo thwabya. Obuthuku mubwahika, thwamatsukisya egurupu nyike y’erighiramo e Biblia e Bastogne. Munatsuka omubiiri w’erikolera omwa by’emisolho kandi n’amabana akaghisa k’erisoma eby’ebilhaghiro. Enyuma waho, munakolera omwa gavumente. Omwa 1951, muthwatsukisya omuhindano muke w’omuthimbo owali kw’omulebererya w’omuthimbo e Bastogne. Hakuhi bandu kikumi mubahindana, imwamune na mwali wethu omutemburi ow’omuhwa,  Elly Reuter. Abya iniabirighendya eggali ahabw’esyokilomita 50 erithoka erihindana. Habere halhaba buthuku buke, muthwanzana kandi thwamatsuka obuthethane. Elly abya iniabirikokibwa eriyasoma esukuru ye Gileadi omwa United States. Mwahandikira ekyaghanda kikulhu eribasoborera ekikaleka iniayowa isyatholere erighenda kuyo. Mughalha wethu Knorr, oyuwabya akasondolha abandu ba Yehova okwa buthuku obo, omwa bwolho-bwolho mwasubirya athi obundi kiro kighuma wukendisyabya okwa Gilead haghuma na Mwira wawu. Muthwathahania omwa Okwakabiri 1953.

Omwaka iwan’oyo, ingye na Elly muthwahindana okwa muhindano owa New World Society owabya omwa Yankee Stadium, e New York. Ithuneyo, munabanangana na ndugu oyuwanza er’imba omubiiri owuwene kandi amabugha athi ngahumire omwa United States. Thwabere thwabiribwira Yehova y’okwa mwatsi oyo omwa musabe, ingye na Elly muthwathwamu erighana ekyo n’erisuba e Belgium erisighika egurupu nyike y’abathuliri ng’ikumi e Bastogne. Omwaka owakwamako, muthwatsema Elly akabutha omwana w’obulhume, ye Serge. Eky’obulighe, enyuma w’amezi musanju, Serge mwalhwalha, neryo amaholha. Omwa musabe, ithukabwira Yehova y’obulighe bwethu, kandi amaha w’erilhubuka mwathughumya.

Omo Kwerikumi 1961, munabana omubiiri ow’erikolha biro bike omwa wiki owanyithokesirye erikolha obutemburi. Aliwe ekiro ikyan’ekyo, omughombe w’okwa kyaghanda kye Belgium mwanyitherera. Mwambulya nga nganayitheghekire erikolha ng’omughombe w’omuthimbo (lino oyukahulhawamo omulebererya w’omuthimbo). Munabulya indi: “Mbwino sithwanga tsuka erikolha ng’abatemburi thuthe thwaligha olhusunzo olhu?” Munalighirwa. Enyuma w’erikolha ng’omutemburi ahabw’amezi munani, muthwatsuka erikolha omubiiri w’obulebererya omo Kwomwenda 1962.

Ithwamabirighunza myaka ibiri omwa mubiiri w’obulebererya, muthwakokibwa erikolera okwa Beteli e Brussels. Muthwatsuka erikolerayo omo Kwerikumi 1964. Olhusunzo lhuhyaka olhu mulhwaleka ithwabana mighisa mingyi. Buthuku buke enyuma waho Mughalha wethu Knorr abere akabungira e Beteli yethu omwa 1965, munasweka ingasombolhwa erikolha ng’omughombe w’okwa Kyaghanda ky’Omuthahulha. Enyuma waho, ingye na Elly muthwakokibwa eriyasoma okwa klasi ya 41 y’esukuru ye Gilead. Ebinywe ebya Mughalha wethu Knorr abugha myaka 13 enyuma mubyabererera! Enyuma w’erighunza esukuru, muthwasuba okwa Beteli ye Belgium.

Ahabw’emyaka mingyi nabirithunga olhusunzo lhw’erikolesya ebyo ngasi omwa by’ebilhaghiro erilhwira okwa bughabe bwethu bw’eriramya omwa Yuropu n’omwa yindi myanya. (Fil. 1:7) Eki mukyaleka ingabanangana n’abakulhu ab’ebihugho ebilhabire omu 55 eyo omubiiri wethu abya iniabirihiribwako olhukako. Omwakanya k’eribera erilengekania okwa ebya ngasi omwa by’ebilhaghiro, iningayikanayako “ng’omundu wa Nyamuhanga.” Mughulhu wosi iningasondaya obusondoli bwa  Yehova omwa musabe, ingan’ibukire ngoku “omuthima w’omwami ali omo byalha by’Omwami Mukulhu ng’esyonzira sy’amaghetsi, akabinduliragho eyo anzire.”—Emi. 21:1.

Ngakin’ibukire ingakanirania n’omunya paliamenti owe Yuropu. Habya ihabirilhaba mughulhu muuli inganemusaba akaghisa k’erikania nayu, kandi mwaligha ingye eribanangana nayu. Mwabugha athi, “Ngendi kuha dakika ithano nyisa, kandi simwendi lhabira na dakika nguma.” Mununama n’eritsuka erisaba. Omunya paliamenti mwambulya ng’angali okuki inianakwire obuba. Nabere ingasumba omuthwe waghe, munabugha nyithi, “Ngalhue ingasima Nyamuhanga kundi wuli mughuma w’okwa baghombe biwe.” Mwabulya athi, “Wukamanyisayaki?” Munamusomera Abanya Roma 13:4. Abya mupera, neryo mwatsemera erisako lye Biblia eri. Ni kyahi ekyalhwiririramo? Mwamba embindi y’esaha, kandi muthwathunga erikanirania eryalhwiririramo ebibuya. Nibya mwakangania kwasikirye omubiiri wethu.

Ahabw’emyaka mingyi, omwa Yuropu, abandu ba Yehova babirisinga emisango eyihambire okw’ithendibya na lhuhandi ery’Abakristayo, eyihambire okwa ky’ababuthi erighabana obulembere obw’abaana, ey’emisolho, n’eyindi mingyi. Nabirithunga olhusunzo lhw’eriwathikya okwa mingyi y’okw’iyo n’eriyilhangirira ngoku Yehova akawathikaya abandu biwe erisingura. Abema ba Yehova babirisingura emisango eyilhabire omu 140 omwa Koti Ngulhu eye Yuropu ey’Obughabe bw’Abandu!

Omwa myaka ya 1990, munakolha haghuma na Ndugu Philip Brumley, erilhua okwa kyaghanda kikulhu, na Ndugu Valter Farneti, erilhua e Italy, erihiriraho balikyethu be Cuba obwiranda bunene bw’eriramya, eyo omubiiri wethu w’Ekikristayo abya iniabirihirwako olhukako. Munahandikira e ofisi ya ambasada eye Belgium neryo n’amabanangana n’omukulhu oyusombwerwe erikolha okwa mwatsi wethu. Omw’ibanangana lyethu ly’erimbere, muthwalemwa erighunzaho ebyaleka ihabya erithendi yitheghererania eryaleka ihabya olhukako.

Enyuma w’erisondya obusondoli bwa Yehova omwa musabe, muthwasaba eriletha e Cuba y’esyo Biblia 5,000 kandi thwamalighirwa. Esyo Biblia musyahika ndeke kandi musyaghabirwa balikyethu, neryo muthwakiminya ngoku Yehova anemutsumulha akaghalha kethu. Neryo muthwasaba eriletha esindi Biblia 27,500. Nakyo mukyaliwa. Eriwathikya balikyethu banzwa abe Cuba eribya n’esyokopi syabu sye Biblia mukyaleka ingatsema kutsibu.

Nabiribungira e Cuba mirundi mingyi eriwathikya okwa by’ebilhaghiro ebihambire okwa mubiiri wethu. Omw’ikolha ekyo, nabirithoka erikolongana ndeke n’abakulhu bangyi omwa gavumente.

Omwa 1994 abandu abalhabire omu 1,000,000 mubakerwa omwa katabanguko k’ebihanda akeritha Abatusi, e Rwanda. Eky’obulighe, abandi b’okwa balikyethu mub’ithibwa. Omwa byalhuba, egurupu y’abaghalha bethu mubasabwa eriyaha obuwathikya omwa kihugho ekyo.

Egurupu yethu yabere yahika e Kigali, etawuni ngulhu, muthweya ebidongo bye ofisi y’erihinduliramo n’eby’ahakahikira ebitabu ibyabiritamanguka busana n’amasasi. Muthwowa emyatsi mingyi eyikitha obulighe eyihambire okwa baghalha bethu n’abali bethu ab’ithibawa omwa mihamba. Kandi muthwowa eby’erileberyako bingyi eby’abalikyethu erikangania abandi b’olhwanzo. Ng’eky’erileberyako, muthwabanangana na mughalha wethu omutusi oyuwabisawa omwa kyuna ahabw’ebiro 28, inianemutheghibwa n’efamile y’Abema abahutu. Omwa muhindano e Kigali, muthwahumulikania balikyethu 900.

Muthwasokera okwa musirya we Zaire (lino ni Democratic Republic of Congo) erisondya Abema bangyi abanya Rwanda ababya ibabirithibitha omwa syokambu sy’abathibithi hakuhi n’etawuni ye Goma. Muthuthababana, neryo muthwasaba thuthi Yehova athuwathikaye eribabana. Neryo muthwalhangira omundu akasa eyo thuli, neryo muthwamubulya ng’anasi Omwema wa Yehova owosi-wosi. Mwasubirya athi: “Ee, ngali mwema. Iningendianza eribathwalha eyiri e komiti eyikaha obuwathikya.” Enyuma w’eribya n’omuhindano owakahumulikanaya n’ab’ekomiti eyikaha obuwathikya, muthwabanangana n’abathibithi 1,600 eribahumulikania n’eribahimba bunyakirimu. Kandi muthwabasomera ebaruha eyikalhua okw’Akathunga Akakasondolha. Balikyethu mubahambwako kutsibu bakowa ebinywe bino: “Thukabasabira mughulhu wosi. Thunasi ngoku Yehova syendi basighania.” Ebinywe ebyalhua okwa Kathunga Akakasondolha ebyo mubyabererera. Munabwire, e Rwanda yiri Abema abalhabire omu 30,000 abanemukolera Yehova buthaleghulha!

Thwabere thwabirighunza omwa butheke mw’emyaka 58, munaholerwa omwanze waghe Elly omwa 2011. Yehova mwanyihumulikania ingamubwira okwa bulighe bwaghe. Kandi munahumulikanibwa ingabwira abataka baghe okwa ngulhu yuwene y’Obwami.

Nomungane omwa myaka ye 90, ngakinasangira omwa mubiiri w’erithulira obuli wiki. Kandi ni ky’obutseme eriwathikya omwa Depatimenti y’Ebilhaghiro hano okwa kyaghanda kye Belgium, eribwira abandi b’okwa byangasi, n’eriwathikya erihimba abalere okwa Beteli.

Myaka nga 84 kera, munasaba Yehova omurundi w’erimbere. Lyabya itsuka ly’olhughendo lhubuyanga olhw’eriyithunda hakuhi na Yehova. Ngasima eribya Yehova iniabiribya iniane muhulikirira emisabe yaghe omwa ngebe yaghe yosi.—Esy. 66:19. b