Nasemekelwe pa 22 December, 1929 mu Noville, mu kamuzhi kacheche kajinga kwipi na muzhi wa Bastogne, mu Belgian Ardennes. Mvuluka bintu byawama bingi byansangajikanga byo nakijinga mwanyike byo twaikalanga pa fwamu na bansemi bami. Amiwa ne nkasami Raymond twafinanga mukaka ku bañombe pa juba pa juba kabiji twatuntanga kajo konse ko twanowanga. Mu muzhi mo twaikalanga, bantu baingijilanga pamo ne kwikwasha.

Bansemi bami ba Emile ne ba Alice bajinga Bakatolika bene bene batwezhezhemo ne mutwe. Bayanga ku Chechi pa Mulungu pa Mulungu. Nangwa byonkabyo, nobe mu 1939, bapainiya bafumine ku kyalo kya England baishile mu muzhi wetu. Kabiji baambijile batata kunembesha kutambulanga magazini wa Consolation (utelwa luno amba Labainga!). Batata ponkapotu bayukile’mba byo batangilenga mu magazini byajinga bya kine kabiji kino kibalengejile kutendeka kutanga Baibolo. Byo balekele kuya ku Chechi, bakwabo bakinkalankulo bajinga balunda nabo, batendekele kwibakanya’mba baleke kutanganga magazini ne Baibolo. Bakanjikizhenga batata amba batwajijile kwikala mu Katolika kabiji kino kyalengelanga kwipachika nabo.

Kyankolanga bingi ku muchima pa kumona batata byo bebakatazhanga. Kino kyo kyandengejile kulomba kwi Lesa lulombelo lwa kufuma panshi ya muchima lo naambapo ku ntendekelo ya uno mutwe. Najinga bingi na lusekelo batata byo balekele kwibakatazha ku bakinkalankulo. Nashiinwe kuba’mba kine Yehoba ‘umvwa milombelo’ yetu.

Kafulumende wa Nazi Germany walukukile kyalo kya Belgium pa 10 May, 1940 kabiji kino kyalengejile bantu bavula kufuma mu kyalo. Kisemi kyetu kyanyemejile ku bulenge bwa kyalo kya France. Byo twayilenga twataaine mazhita abena Germany ne abena France saka balwa.

 Pa kupitapo kimye byo twabwelele ku fwamu ko twaikalanga, twataaine kuba’mba bipe byetu byavula bebisenda. Kabwa wetu Bobbie ye yenkatu ye twataainepo. Bino bintu byonse bitumwekejile, byandengejile kutendeka kulanguluka’mba, ‘Mambo ka o kwaikela nkondo ne lumanamo?’

Pa kyokya kimye Mulongo Emile Schrantz, a painiya wa kishinka kabiji mukulumpe mu kipwilo, witutundaikanga bingi inge witufwakesha. Walumbulwile ene mambo o kwaikela lumanamo kabiji wakumbwile mepuzho akwabo ankatazhanga mu bwikalo bwami. Naikele na bulunda bwakosa ne Yehoba kabiji nashiinwe’mba aye ye Lesa wa butemwe.

Nangwatu nkondo saka ikyangye kupwa, kisemi kyetu bekifwakeshanga kimye kyonse ku balongo. Mu August 1943, Mulongo José-Nicolas Minet waishile ku fwamu wetu na kwamba jashi. Waipwizhe’mba, “Bañanyi bakeba kubatizhiwa? Amiwa ne batata twaimikile maboko kabiji twabatizhiwe mu kamukola kacheche kajinga kwipi na fwamu wetu.

Mu December 1944, nzhita ya bena Germany yalukukile japeleleko byalo bya ku muzhika wa Europe mu nkondo ya bubiji ya ntanda yonse. Kuno kulukuka kwayukanyikilwe ku bantu bavula amba Battle of the Bulge. Ko balwijilenga ino nkondo kwaipipile bingi na ku fwamu ko twaikelanga. Pa ñondo umo twaikelengatu mu kibamba kya panshi kya nzubo yetu. Juba jimo byo nalupukile pangye na kujiisha banyama, mabomba afikijile pa fwamu ne kubambula malata a pa kizubo mo balaminanga banyama. Mushilikale mwina America wajinga mu kishimikwa mo twalaminanga banyama kyajinga kwipi na ko najinga, wañambijile’mba “laala panshi.” Nanyemejile ko ajinga ne kulaala panshi kipi nanji kabiji wamvwikile kampompo ku mutwe pa kuba’mba anzhikijile.

Nkondo byo yapwile, twatwajijile kwisamba na balongo ne banyenga ba mu kipwilo kyajinga mu muzhi wa Liège waikejile ku buyeke na ko twaikelanga kabiji palepele nobe makilomita 90. Mu kuya kwa moba, twalengele kajibumba ka bafunda Baibolo mu muzhi wa Bastogne. Natendekele kwingila mwingilo wa kutala pa bya busulu kabiji nafunjile bya bushabyambo. Palutwe kacheche, natendekele kwingijila mu ofweshi wa kafulumende mu mpunzha mo twaikalanga. Mu 1951, twanengezhezhe kwikala na kubuñana kwa mwanzo kwa bantutu bacheche mu muzhi wa  Bastogne. Bantu kitota kimo bo bataainweko kuvwangakotu ne nyenga painiya waingilanga na mukoyo, aye Elly Reuter. Wakyofwele nkinga makilomita 50 pa kuba’mba eye ataanweko. Kechi papichile ne kimye kyabaya ne, twitemenwe kabiji twiipangwizhe. Pa kikye kimye, Elly po po atambwijiletu nkalata ya kumwita kuya na kutaanwa ku Sukulu wa Gileada mu United States. Wanembele nkalata ku ofweshi wetu mukatampe wa ntanda yonse ne kwibabuula’mba kechi wakonsheshe kuya na kutaanwa ku uno sukulu ne. Mulongo Knorr watangijilenga bantu ba Yehoba pa kyokya kimye, wamubwezhejile nkalata ne kumubuula’mba kampe juba jimo ukatanwa ku Sukulu wa Gileada pamo na mwatawanji. Twisongwele mu February 1953.

Mu yenkawa mwaka, amiwa ne Elly, twataainwe ku kubuñana kwa Mwanzo kwa New World Society kwaikejile mu kibanza kya Yankee, mu New York. Byo twakijinga ku ino mpunzha, mulongo wandaile kuntwezha nkito yawama kabiji wambujile’mba mvilukile ku United States. Twalombele kwi Yehoba pa kino kabiji amiwa ne Elly twafuukwilepo kubula kutwela ino nkito ne kubwela ku Belgium na kutundaika jibumba jicheche ja basapwishi jikumi jajinga mu Bastogne. Mu mwaka walondejilepo, twaikele na mwana wa mulume, Serge. Kyataminekotu ke kya kuba’mba byo papichile bañondo batanu na babiji, Serge wakolelwe kabiji wafwile. Twalombele kwi Yehoba kuba’mba etutekeneshe kabiji witukoseshe na mambo a luketekelo lwa lusanguko.

Mu October 1961, natwelele nkito ya kwingilakotu moba acheche mu mulungu yandengelanga kwingila bulongo mwingilo wami wa bupainiya. Pa jonkaja juba bantumijile foni ku kalama wa musampi wa mu Belgium. Wangipwizhe inge nakonsheshe kwikala kalume wa mwanzo (utelwa luno amba kalama wa mwanzo). Nebepwizhe’mba nanchi twakonsha kukingilako mwingilo wa bupainiya patanshi saka tukyangye kutwela mu mwingilo wa mwanzo nyi? Balongo baswile. Byo twaingijile mwingilo wa bupainiya pa bañondo batanu na basatu, twatendekele kwingila mwingilo wa mu mwanzo mu September 1962.

Byo twaingijile mu mwanzo myaka ibiji, betwichile kuya na kwingijila pa Betele mu muzhi mukatampe wa Brussels. Twatendekele kwingijila pa Betele mu October 1964. Twamwenejilemo bintu byawama byavula mu uno mwingilo. Mulongo Knorr wafwakashijile Betele wetu mu 1965 kabiji byo papichiletu moba acheche, bantongwele kwikala kalume wa musampi. Kino kyankumishe bingi. Mu kuya kwa moba, amiwa ne Elly betwichile kuya na kutaanwa ku sukulu wa Gileada wa nambala 41. Byambo byaambile Mulongo Knorr saka papita kala ne myaka 13, byafikile. Byo twapwishishe sukulu, twabwelele pa Betele wa mu Belgium.

Pa myaka yavula yapitapo, naingijisha bintu byo nafunjile mu mwingilo wa bushabyambo kukwasha bantu ba Yehoba kwikala na luusa lwa kupopwela Yehoba mu Europe ne mu mapunzhatu akwabo. (Fili. 1:7) Nesambile na babilolo ba mu kafulumende ba mu byalo kukila 55 mo bakanya mwingilo wetu wa kusapwila. Mu kifulo kya kwilumbulula ku babilolo ba mu kafulumende kuba’mba nafunjile mwingilo wa  bushabyambo, nebambilanga’mba “nemuntu wa Lesa.” Kimye kyonse, nalombanga kwi Lesa kuntangijila ne kuyuka’mba “muchima wa mfumu [nangwa mutonyi] uji nobe tukola twa mema tuji mu kuboko kwa Yehoba. Aye umwalulwila konse ko asaka.”​—Maana 21:1.

Kintu kimo kyo mvuluka nangwatu luno, ke mwisambo ye najinga nanji na ntomesha wa mu nzubo ya mizhilo ya mu Europe. Nalombele bimye byavula kuba’mba nesambe nanji kabiji japeleleko waswile. Waambile’mba, “Nkakupatu maminiti atanu a kwisamba ne amiwa kwa kubula kukizhapo.” Nakunyikile kilungi kyami panshi ne kutendeka kulomba. Uno ntomesha wa mu nzubo ya mizhilo waakaminwe kabiji wangipwizhe kyo naubilenga. Byo napwishishe kulomba ne kwinuna mutwe, namwambijile’mba, “Naji kusanchilanga Lesa mambo wi wamwingilo wanji.” Aye wangipwizhe’mba, “Watazha mwepi?” Namumwesheshe kinembelo kya Loma 13:4. Wayanga mu chechi wa Bapulotesitanti, onkao mambo, waumvwine bingi bulongo pa kumutangila kino kinembelo. Ñanyi kintu kyo aubile? Wampele maminiti 30 a kwisamba nanji kabiji twisambile bingi bulongo. Kabiji waambile’mba wanemeka bingi mwingilo wetu.

Pa myaka yavula, bantu ba Yehoba babinga mambo avula bingi mu makochi a mu Europe pa mambo a bena Kilishitu kubula kwivwanga mu bya bumulwila ntanda, kulama baana, misonko ne bintutu bikwabo. Kutotolola ano mambo avula mu makochi ne kwimwena Yehoba byo etukwasha kwiabinga, kwandetela bingi lusekelo. Bakamonyi ba kwa Yehoba babinga mambo kukila pa 140 mu Kochi Mukatampe wa mu Europe Utala pa Luusa lwa Bantu.

Mu ma 1990, naingijijilenga pamo na Mulongo Philip Brumley wafumine ku ofweshi wetu mukatampe wa ntanda yonse ne Mulongo Valter Farneti wafumine ku kyalo kya Italy, pa kuba’mba tukwashe balongo ne banyenga kwikala na bwana bwa bene bwa kupopwela Yehoba mu kyalo kya Cuba mo bakainye mwingilo wetu. Nanembejile ofweshi wa mu Belgium wimenako kyalo kya Cuba kabiji twamonañene na kilolo wa mu kafulumende ye batongwele kwingijila pa mambo etu. Misambo itanshi yo twajinga nayo, kechi yapwishishe makatazho alengejile kafulumende kukanya mwingilo wetu mu kino kyalo ne.

Twalombele kwi Yehoba kwitutangijila kabiji betuswishishe kutuma ma Baibolo 500 mu kyalo kya Cuba. Ano ma Baibolo afikiletu bulongo kabiji beapaine ku balongo. Kino kitulengejile kushiinwa’mba Yehoba wapesheshenga byo twaubilenga. Kabiji twalombele luusa kuba’mba betuswishe kutuma ma Baibolo akwabo 27,500. Kafulumende wituswishishe ne pa kikye kimye. Kukwasha balongo ne banyenga mu kyalo kya Cuba kwikala na ma Baibolo abo kwandetejile bingi lusekelo.

 Nafwakesha kyalo kya Cuba pa bimye byavula na kwisamba na ba mu kafulumende pa kuba’mba baswishe mwingilo wetu. Na mambo a bino, nalengele bulunda na babilolo bavula ba mu kafulumende.

Mu 1994, bantu kukila 1,000,000 bebepayile mu malwañano atamine bingi a kukeba kuvizha Batusi mu kyalo kya Rwanda. Kyatamakotu ke kya kuba’mba balongo ne banyenga yetu bamo nabo bebepayile. Palutwe kacheche, jibumba ja balongo bebapele mwingilo wa kunengezha bya kukwasha balongo ne banyenga bapichilenga mu ano makatazho.

Jibumba jetu byo jafikile mu muzhi mukatampe wa Kigali, twataaine kuba’mba ofweshi wa bantuntuluzhi ne kishimikwa mo balaminanga mabuku etu, bebibozaula na mpolopolo. Twaumvwine masawakya avula bingi aambilenga pa balongo ne banyenga bo baipayile na mapoko akatampe. Nangwa byonkabyo, twaumvwine ne masawakya aambilenga pa balongo ne banyenga bakwashishe bakwabo na mambo a kwibatemwa. Twamonañene na mulongo Mututsi wafyamine panshi mu kimbo pa moba 28, ye bafile ku kisemi kya Bakamonyi kya Bahutu. Byo twapwijilenga mu muzhi wa Kigali, twatundaikile ne kutekenesha balongo ne banyenga kukila 900.

Kabiji twaimene lwendo kuya mu kyalo kya Zaire (luno kyo batela’mba Democratic Republic of the Congo) na kukeba Bakamonyi bavula bena Rwanda banyemejile mu ma kampu a babipuluka kwipi na muzhi wa Goma. Twakankelwe kwibataana, onkao mambo, twalombele kwi Yehoba kuba’mba etukwashe kuyuka ko baji. Twamwene muntu waishilenga ko twajinga kabiji twamwipwizhe inge wayukilepo Bakamonyi ba kwa Yehoba baji bonse. Waambile’mba, “Ee, ne amiwa ne Kamonyi. Twayai nemutwale ku kavoto kabena kukwasha bantu baponenwa na bya malwa.” Panyuma ya kwisamba na kavoto kakwashishenga baponenwa na bya malwa, twamonañene na jibumba ja babipuluka nobe 1,600 pa kuba’mba twibatekeneshe ne kwibatundaika. Kabiji twibatangijile nkalata ya kwibatundaika yafumine ku Jibumba Jitangijila. Balongo ne banyenga baumvwine bingi bulongo pa kumvwa byambo bya lutundaiko bya kuba’mba: “Twimulombelako mu milombelo yetu kabiji twayuka kuba’mba Yehoba kechi ukemulekelela ne.” Bino byambo byafumine ku Jibumba Jitangijila byajinga bya kine. Lelo jino, Bakamonyi kukila 30,000 babena kwingijila Yehoba na lusekelo mu Rwanda.

Byo twaikele myaka nobe 58 mu masongola, mukazhami Elly wafwile mu 2011. Yehoba wantekeneshe bingi byo namubuujile mu lulombelo bulanda bo najinga nabo. Kabiji kusapwila mambo awama a Bufumu ku bakwetu nako kwantekeneshe bingi.

Nangwa kya kuba nafikizha myaka kukila 90, bino nsapwila mulungu ne mulungu. Kabiji nji bingi na lusekelo mambo nkwashako mu kavoto kemenako Bakamonyi mu bije bya mambo kaji pa musampi wa mu Belgium, kubuulako bakwetu bintu byo napitamo ne kutundaika banyike ba mu kisemi kya Betele.

Myaka 84 yapitapo, nalombele kimye kitanshi kwi Yehoba. Kabiji buno ke bwikalo bwawama bingi bwandengela kutwajijila kufwenya kwipi ne Yehoba. Nji bingi na lusekelo mu bwikalo bwami mambo Yehoba watwajijila kukumbula milombelo yami.​—Sala. 66:19. b