Nabuthawa 1927 omwa katawuni kake akali hakuhi ne Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Thatha na Mama waghe ibawithe abaana bathano—Jetha, Don, ingye, Karl, na Joy. Ithwe bosi muthwathwamu erikolera Yehova n’omuthima wosi. Jetha mwasoma okwa klasi yakabiri eye Gileadi omwa 1943. Don, mwayakolera okwa Beteli e Brooklyn, New York omwa 1944, Karl amayayo omwa 1947, na Joy amayayo omwa 1951. Eby’erileberyako byabu ebyuwene kuthya n’eky’erileberyako eky’ababuthi baghe mubyanyihambako ndeke.

Thatha na Mama ini basomi be Biblia abanzire Nyamuhanga kandi nethu ng’abaana mubathukangirirya erimwanza. Nomwabine, Thatha mwabya isyakisikirye esyokanisa enyuma w’erikolha ng’omusirikali omwa Yuropu omwa buthuku bw’Olhuhi lhw’Ekihugho Kyosi olhw’Erimbere. Mama iniabiritsema busana na Thatha erisuba eka iniakineho, mwamubwira athi: “Karl, thughende okwa kanisa ngoku thwanabya thukakolha.” Thatha mwasubirya athi: “Ngendi kuthwalhayo, aliwe ingye singend’ingira.” Mama mwamubulya athi: “Busana naki?” Thatha mwasubirya athi: “Ithune omwa lhuhi, abakulhu b’amadini ababya omwa dini ngumerera aliwe isibali okwa lhuhandi lhughumerera omwa malhwa ibakatsumulha abasirikali n’ebirwanisyo byabu! Mbwino Nyamuhanga abya okwa syombande syosi?”

Enyuma waho, Mama iniane okwa kanisa, Abema ba Yehova babiri mubahika eka. Mubaha Thatha y’ebitabu bibiri ebikahulhawamo Light, ebyabya bikasoborera ekitabu ky’Eribisulirwa. Thatha mwatsema kandi mwaligha ebitabu ebyo. Mama abere alhangira ebitabu ebyo, mwatsukiraho eribisoma. Mwalhangira omwatsi omwa syombapura sy’amakuru owakakokaya abosi abanganzisibwa okw’igha lye Biblia eyo bakendi kolesya ebitabu ebikahulhawamo Light. Mama mwathwamu eriyayo. Abere ahikayo, omukali mulebe oyukulire omwa myaka mwamukyungulira olhuyi. Inianemukangania ekighuma ky’okwa bitabu ebi, Mama mwamubulya athi, “Hano hamuk’ighira ekitabu kino?” Omukali oyo mwamusubirya athi: “Inga mwanithu, wangan’ingira.” Ewiki eyakwamako Mama mwaghenda nethu, n’enyuma waho thwamabya thukaghendayo mughulhu wosi.

Okwa muhindano mughuma, oyuwabya akasondolha mwanyisaba erisoma Esyonyimbo 144:15, ahakabugha hathi abakaramaya Yehova batsemire. Erisako eryo mulyanyitsemesya, kuthya n’awandi masako abiri—1 Timoteo 1:11, NWT, ahakabugha hathi Yehova ni “Nyamuhanga oyutsemire,” na Abanya Efeso 5:1, ahakathuhira mw’omuhwa ‘w’erimugherererya.’ Munayibwira indi ng’atholere ingatsemera ebyo ngakolera Omuhangiki waghe n’erimusima busana n’olhusunzo  olhw’eribya n’ekwenene eyo engebe yaghe yiseghemereko.

Ekithunga ekyabya hakuhi kyabya e Chicago, kilomita 32 erilhua ewethu. Nomwabine, ithukahindana, kandi mun’ongera eriyitheghererya e Biblia. Ngakin’ibukire buthuku bughuma oyuwabya akasondolha mwasombolha Jetha athi asubiraye. Ngabere ingamuhulikirira, munayibwira nyithi: ‘Ekyo ngalhwe inganakyasi. Nangabere ingabirisumba ebyalha nuku ngasubiraye.’ Munatsuka eribya ingathegheka n’eritheghekania eby’erisubirya byaghe. Ekikulhu kutsibu, munakulha-kulhana bunyakirimu haghuma n’abaana bethu. Munabatizibwa omwa 1941.

Kutsibu-tsibu, ng’ibuka olhuhindano olhwa thwahindanako e Cleveland, Ohio omwa 1942. Efamile yethu muyabya haghuma n’esindi famile nyingyi omwa syahema esyabya hakuhi n’ahabya olhuhindano. Kandi n’abandi balikyethu ababya omwa syotawuni esilhabire omu 50 e United States mubakwama-kwamania endegheka okwa syosimu. Olhuhi lhw’Ekihugho kyosi Olhwakabiri lhwabya ilhukinalholha embere, n’erihakanisya Abema ba Yehova lyabya irinemuyongera. Omw’igholho-gholho, munalhangira esyogurupu sy’abalikyethu ibabirimania esyomotoka syabu n’amatara wasyo inianakolirye eyihya sy’ekambu. Abosi babya ibabirilighirana bathi omwa buli matoka mubye omundu oyukenditheya omwa kiro. Hamabya akaminyikalho k’ekitsibu kyosi-kyosi, baghalha bethu bangakirye esyotara sy’esyamotoka syabu, nuku balibalibanaye abakabaghothera n’eribuya esyongombe. Neryo abandi banganguhire erisyawathikya. Munabugha indi, ‘abandu ba Yehova bakabya ibanayitheghekere ekindu kyosi-kyosi!’ Busana n’ekyo, munayowa ithune omwa butheya, munaghotsera ndeke, kandi muhathabya kitsibu kyosi-kyosi.

Myaka mirebe enyuma waho, ingalengekania okwa lhuhindano olho, mun’ibuka ngoku mama mwathahangya-hangya kutse eryubaha. Mwayiketherera ighuma Yehova n’ekithunga kiwe. Sinendi sy’ibirirwa eky’erileberyako kiwe kibuya.

Buthuku buke olhuhindano olho lhuthe lhwabya, Mama mwabya mutemburi w’omughulhu wosi. Ekyo mukyaleka iniahulikirira ndeke emikania eyikakanaya okwa mubiiri w’omughulhu wosi. Thukasuba eka, mwabugha athi, “Iningendyanza erilholha embere erikolha obutemburi, aliwe sinangathoka erikolha ekyo kandi inganemutsoma ndeke eka yethu.” Neryo mwathubulya nga thwangana wathikya. Muthwaligha, neryo amaha obuli mughuma w’okw’ithwe y’olhukwamirwa olhw’eriyonza ekisenge kighuma kutse bibiri thuthe thwalya eky’engyakya. Ithukabya thwabirighenda okwa sukuru, iniakayalebaya enyumba ngayinathondire ndeke neryo nayu iniaghenda omw’ithulira. Abya mukali oyuli bbize, aliwe iniakatsomana abaana biwe. Ithukabya thukasuba eka eriyalya eky’erithungyi n’omw’igholho thukakulhuka, iniakathuha obuthuku. Ebindi biro thwabirikulhuka okwa sukuru, ithukaghenda nayu omw’ithulira, ekindu ekyathuwathikaya eriyitheghererya ekya kikamanyisaya eribya mutemburi.

Munatsuka obutemburi ingane w’emyaka 16. Nomwakine indi Thatha abya isyali abya Mwema, iniakabya inianemwanza eriminya nga ngane mukolha indi. Erigholho lighuma munamubwira indi nomunganemulengaho kutsibu, sindi nabana owosi-wosi oyukaligha eryeghesibwa e Biblia. Thwabere thwabirihuna hake, munamubulya nyithi, “Iwangananza ingye eribya  ing’igha nawu e Biblia?” Mwalengekania hake n’erisubirya athi, “sihali ekyangaleka ingaghana.” Omw’igha waghe w’erimbere abya ini thatha waghe. Olho ka lhwabya lhusunzo lhw’embaghane!

Muthw’igha ekitabu “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Erigha lyethu lyabere linemulholha embere, munaminya ngoku Thatha anemungwathikya eribya mwigha mubuya kandi mukangirirya mubuya. Ng’eky’erileberyako, erigholho lighuma enyuma w’erisoma enungu, mwabugha athi: “Namalhangira ebya kitabu kikabugha. Aliwe thukaminya thuthi ngoku ebya kitabu kikabugha bihikire?” Nabya isingayitheghekere ekyo, neryo munabugha indi: “Sinanga kusoborera ekyo lino, aliwe omw’igha lyethu erikakwamako, ngendisyabya inabiribana eky’erisubirya.” Kandi munakikolha. Munabana emilhondo eyikasighika enzumwa eyo thwabya thukakaniako. Enyuma waho, munabya ingayitheghekera ndeke erigha lyethu, n’er’igha erisekulya. Ekyo mukyaleka ingye na thatha waghe ithwakulha-kulhana bunyakirimu. Mwatsuka erighendera okwa ebyo ak’igha kandi amabatizibwa omwa 1952.

Nalhua eka inganawithe emyaka 17. Jetha a mwabya mumisyonare, na Don, amabya munya Beteli. Abosi ibakatsemera ebyo babya bakakolha, ekindu ekyanyihira mw’omuhwa munene. Neryo mun’usulirirya efomu ye Beteli n’ey’Esukuru ye Gileadi n’erileka emyatsi omwa byalha bya Yehova. Ekyalhwiririramu? Munakokibwa okwa Beteli omwa 1946.

Ahabw’emyaka mingyi, nabiribya inganemuhebwa esyongwamirwa muthina-muthina okwa Beteli, neryo n’abirithoka erigha ebindu bingyi bihyaka. Omo kwenene, omwa myaka 75 eyo n’amabirighunza okwa Beteli, nabiry’eghesibwa eriprintinga ebitabu n’erikolha okwa by’embaririra. Kandi mun’igha erighulha ebindu erilhua omwa bindi bihugho n’erithumayo ebindi. Ekilhabire okw’aho, ng’atsemera erithendekwa ly’obunyakirimu eryo e Beteli yikathuha erilhabira omw’iramya ly’engyakya n’emikania eyiseghemere okwa Biblia.

Kandi mun’ighira okwa mulere waghe ya Karl, oyuwasa okwa Beteli omwa 1947. Abya mwigha kandi mukangirirya mubuya kutsibu we Biblia. Muhanayira namamusaba obuwathikya okwa mukania ogho nahebawa erilhabya. Munasoborera Karl ngoku nabirisorokya emyatsi mingyi ey’erikolesya aliwe nabiribulha nga ngendi kolesyayo nyithi. Mwaleka ingabana eky’erikolha omw’inyibulya ekibulyo kighuma athi, “Joel, omuthwe w’omukania wawu akabugha athiki?” Munalhuaho ingayitheghererya ekyo akanza erimanyisya—lyabya iry’erikolesya omwatsi ow’anahambene n’omukania waghe n’erihira ebindi bya lhuhandi. Singendi sy’ibirirwa erisomo eryo.

 Erithoka eribya okwa Beteli ithunatsemire, thutholere ithwasangira ndeke omw’ithulira, kandi ekyo ikikendi leka ithwabana ebyalholirweko ebikahimba. Ekyalholirweko kighuma ekyo ng’ibuka kyabya omw’igholho lighuma e Bronx, omwa New York City. Ingye na mughalha wethu mulebe muthwabungira omukali oyuwaligha Akaleberyo ne Awake! Muthwamubwira ekyamathuletha omw’ibugha thuthi, “Erigholho lino thune muwathikya abandu erigha emyatsi eyikahimba erilhua omwa Biblia.” Mwasubirya athi, “Yamabya iyihambire okwa Biblia, mw’ingiremu.” Muthwasoma n’erikania okwa masako muthina-muthina awahambire okwa Bwami bwa Nyamuhanga n’ekihugho kihya-kihya ekikayasa. Ekyo mukyamutsemesya, neryo ewiki eyakwamako mwakokya banywani biwe erithuyiyungako. Neryo enyuma waho, iyo na mwira wiwe mubabya baramya ba Yehova abathaleghulha.

Nabya inganemusondya ow’eryingira nayu omwa butheke ahabw’emyaka 10 ngathe ngabana mukali waghe. Ni kyahi ekyanyiwathikaya eribana omukali oyutholere? Omw’isaba, munalengekania okwa kibulyo kino, ‘Nganzire ingye na mukali waghe ithwasyakolhaki thwabirithahania?’

Okwa lhuhindano olhwa 1953 omwa Yankee Stadium, muneya mwali wethu oyukahulhawamo Mary Aniol. Iyo na Jetha babya haghuma omwa klasi eyakabiri eye Gileadi, kandi mubakolha haghuma obumisyonare. N’omuhwa munene, Mary mwambwira okwa mubiiri wiwe ow’obumisyonare ogho abya akakolha e Caribbean n’okwa bigha be Biblia abo abya inianemweghesya ahabw’emyaka mingyi. Thwabere thunemuminyangana, muthwaminya ngoku thuwithe ebilhubirirwa bighumerera eby’obunyakirimu. Olhwanzo lhwethu mulhwayongera, kandi muthwathahania omwa Kwakani 1955. Omwa syonzira nyingyi, Mary abiribya kihembo erilhua oku Yehova kandi eky’erileberyako ky’erigherererya. Iniakatsemera obuli mubiiri ogho akahebawa. Iniakakolha kutsibu, iniakatsomana abandi erilhua okwa muthima, kandi mughulhu wosi iniakahira emyatsi y’Obwami y’embere. (Mt. 6:33) Muthwakolha omubiiri w’obulebererya ahabw’emyaka isathu, neryo omwa 1958, muthwakokibwa okwa Beteli.

Ni bingyi ebya n’ighira oku Mary. Ng’eky’erileberyako, imuthwanamathahania, muthwathwamu eribya thukasomera haghuma e Biblia, ithukasoma emilhondo15 obuli kiro. Omughuma w’okw’ithwe iniakabya abirisoma ekitsweka, neryo ithukakanaya okwa masako ayo n’erilebya nga thwanga kolesyagho thuthi omwa ngebe syethu. Mughulhu mungyi Mary iniakanyibwira okwa ebyo igha okwa sukuru ye Gileadi kutse omwa mubiiri wiwe w’obumisyonare. Erikanirania eri mulyangwathikya eryuwania emikania yaghe n’eriminya nga nanga himba nyithi bali bethu.—Emi. 25:11.

Omwanze waghe Mary mwaholha omwa 2013. Ka ngakandira erisyamulholhako omwa kihugho kihya-kihya! Nganalindire ekyo, nabirithwamu erilholha embere erigha, eriyikethera Yehova n’omuthima waghe wosi. (Emi. 3:5, 6) Ngabana erihumulikana n’etseme ingalengekania okwa ebyo abandu ba Yehova bakendi syakolha omwa kihugho kihya-kihya. Ekyo mwamune erisy’igha ebindu bihyaka ebihambire okwa Mukangirirya wethu Mukulhu! Omo kwenene, ngasima Yehova ya kutsibu busana n’ebyosi ebyo abirithanyeghesya kuthya n’ebyo abirikolha erinyikangania olhukogho.