Bashali bangu bakeeya cancine mumyaaka yamuma 1920 kabatana kweebana. Ndakashalwa mu 1939 alimwi ndyendakalinga mwanike ndakalinga kuya kumabungano abashali bangu katukala ku England. Ndakalinga kwaabanamo lubasu amu Cikolo Cancito Yeendeleshekwa a Lesa. Nciibaluka ciindi cakutaanguna mbocakalinga kwaamba likani. Ndakatanta pacibokosi kwaamba ayi ncikoonshe kushika pakalinga kweela ka staandi ka mwaambi. Paciindi cilya kaancitebo myaaka 6 alimwi ndakalinga kucite boowa abuumbi kulangilisha bacinene boonse bakalinga mulikoto.

Katutana kuya muncito yakushimikila, bata bakalinga kunembela nsheenga ndaamba shiniini pakakaadi. Ndakalinga kucite myaaka 8 ciindi cakutaanguna ndyendakaya mukushimikila paŋanda neenka. Ndakakondwa abuumbi mwine ŋanda ndyaakabelenga kakaadi akusumina kutambula libuku lya “Let God Be True”! Ndakacica lubilo kuya kunshila kwakalinga bata akubalwiita. Kushimikila alimwi akucanika kumabungano kwakalinga kunsangalasha alimwi kwakancafwa kuba alusuno lwakusebensela Yehova muncito yaciindi coonse.

Bata ndyebakalembesha ayi notambula Njashi Yamulindilishi, ndakatalika kucisuna abuumbi cancine. Aboobo na ndatambulabo magazini ndakalinga kwiibelenga yoonse. Lushomo lwangu muli Yehova lwakayuminaako aboobo ndakalyaaba kuli nguwe.

Mu 1950 nebo amukwashi woonse twakacanikako kukubungana kunene kwakalinga mutauni ya New York, kwakalinga kucite mutwi wakalinga kwaamba ayi “Theocracy’s Increase.” Mutwi wabushiku bwa Pacinai pa 3 August wakalinga kwaamba ayi “Bushiku Bwabamishonali.” Pabushiku bulya, Mukwesu Carey Barber, uyo mukuya kwaciindi wakesa mukuba wamu Likoto Litanjilila, ngowakaamba likani lyakubombekwa. Ndyaakepusha bakalinga kuya mukubombekwa miipusho yobilo kumamanino alikani lyakwe, ndakeemikana akukumbula ayi, “Ee!” Nabi ndakalinga kucitebo myaaka 11, ndakashiba  ayi nshendakasala shakalinga shiyandika abuumbi. Nacibi boobo, ndakalinga kucite boowa kunjila mumaanshi mukwiinga paciindi ici kaantana kwiiya kusamba njabwe. Baacisha bakaya andime nkotwakalinga kuya mukubombekelwa alimwi bakanjuminisha ayi shoonse shitobabo kabotu. Alimwi ncakwiila mukaciindi kaniinibo, ndakabombekwa. Nshikwe kulyata ashimpanta panshi pamaanshi mukwiinga mukwesu womwi wakanyamuna akupa mukwesu wakalinga kubombeka, lyalo kwakubula akuntula panshi pesule lyakubombekwa mukwesu uyo wakanyamuna kuswa mumaanshi. Kuswabo bushiku bulya buyandika, Yehova watolelela kululamika nshila shangu.

Ndyendakamanisha cikolo, ndakalinga kusuni kutalika bupainiya, sombi bamatica bakalinga kunjuminisha ayi njebo ku yunivesti. Bakayumaawo kunkakatisha kushikila anebo ndasumina. Nacibi boobo, ndakesa mukubona kwaamba ayi inga nshicikoonshi kutolelela kuba muyumu lwakumushimu alimwi akusebensa cankusu kucikolo, aboobo ndakacileka cikolo ca yunivesti. Ndakapaila kuli Yehova akulemba nkalata kucikolo akubasansulwita mubulemu kwaamba ayi ntocileka cikolo kumamanino amwaaka wakutaanguna. Ndakacinka manungo muli Yehova akutalika bupainiya peenkapo.

Mu July 1957 ndakatalika ncito yaciindi coonse mutauni iitwa ayi Wellingborough. Ndakasenga ku Bethel yaku London ayi bandwiiteko na kuli painiya wasebensa myaaka iinji ngweenga ndaya mukusebensaakwe. Ndakatalika kusebensa a mukwesu Bert Vaisey, alimwi wakancafwa mushintu shiinji. Wakalinga kusebensa cankusu muncito yakushimikila makani abotu alimwi wakancafwa bwakubamba mulongo wakusebensa kabotu muncito iyi. Mulibungano mondakalinga mwakalinga mukwesu Vaisey alimwi abenankashi bali 6 bacinene. Kulibambila mabungano, kukumbulawo alimwi akwaabanamo lubasu mukwaamba makani, kwakancafwa kwiiya kucinka manungo abuumbi muli Yehova akucita shintu shakalinga kutondesha ayi ndicite lushomo.

Paciindi cimwi bakancata akumbika mujeele ceebo cakukaka kunjila busoja. Ndipakeenda nshiku shiniini kuswa ciindi ndyendakaswa mujeele, twakeshibana anankashi waliina lya Barbara uyo wakalinga painiya ulibetele. Mu 1959 twakeebana, alimwi twakalinga balyaabite kuya mukusebensela kumusena kuli koonse nkweenga batutuma. Pakutaanguna bakatutuma kumusena wiitwa ayi Lancashire mucishi ca England. Lyalo mu January 1961 bakanjita ku Cikolo ca Bwaami ca mweenshi womwi ku Bethel yaku London. Ndakakankamana kwaamba ayi pesule lyacikolo bakantuma kuya mukusebensa mbuli mutanjilili walubasu. Kwansondo shobilo mutanjilili walubasu wakasebensa kwa myaaka iinji uyo wakalinga kusebensela ku Birmingham wakancafwa kwiiya bwakusebensa muncito yalubasu. Lyalo nebo aba Barbara twakaboolelaamo ku Lancashire a Cheshire uko nkondakalinga kusebensela.

Ndyetwakaya mukufwakasha mu August 1962, twakatambula nkalata kuswa ku ofesi yamusampi. Nkalata iyo yakalinga kucite amafoomu akulembela ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi! Pesule lyakupaililaawo, nebo aba Barbara twakasaina mafoomu akwaatuma alimwi kumusampi kweelana ambobakatulwiita. Ndipakeenda myeenshi 5, bakatwiita ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi ca namba 38 cakwiiya lwiiyo lwamu Baibo kwa myeenshi 10 ico cakalinga kubeta ku Booklyn, New York.

Ndyetwakalinga ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi twakeeya shiinji pa Maswi akwe Lesa, libunga, alimwi apabamakwesu abenankashi nsengwe yoonse. Ndakalinga  kucite myaaka 24, ba Barbara bakalinga kucite myaaka 23, alimwi twakeeya shiinji kuswa kubeshicikolonyineesu. Ndakalinga kucite coolwe bushiku abushiku cakusebensa amukwesu Fred Rusk, womwi pabaabo bakalinga kutwiisha mu Cikolo ca Gilyadi. Cintu comwi liinji ncaakalinga kuyuminisha ncakwaamba ayi lyoonse na ulisuni kululika muntu bweelete, ulyeelete kushinisha kwaamba ayi kululika uko nkwamu Malembo. Pabaabo bakalinga kwaabanamo lubasu kwaamba makani ndyetwakalinga kucikolo pakalinga bamakwesu bakasebensa myaaka iinji mbuli mukwesu Nathan Knorr, Frederick Franz, alimwi amukwesu Karl Klein. Twakeeya shiinji kucabonenaako cakuliceesha cakalinga kutondesha mukwesu A. H. Macmillan, uyo wakaamba likani lyakatucafwa kunyumfwisha Yehova mbwaakatanjilila basebenshi bakwe mumeelesho akeendaamo bamakwesu mu mwaaka wa 1914, kushikila kumatalikilo a mwaaka wa 1919!

Ndyetwakalinga pafwiifwi akumanisha cikolo, Mukwesu Knorr wakalwiita ba Barbara anebo ayi tutootumwa kucishi ca Burundi mu Africa. Aboobo twakacicila mu laibulali yapa Bethel akubona mulibuku lya Yearbook (Libuku Lyapa Mwaaka) kwaamba ayi tushibe namba ya beshikushimikila bakalinga mucishi ca Burundi paciindi cilya. Twakakankamana kwaamba ayi takwakalingaawo makani aliwoonse akalinga kwaamba sha namba ya beshikushimikila mucishi cilya! Aboobo twakeshiba kwaamba ayi tutooya kumusena kutana kushimikilwawo kale makani abotu. Alimwi tatwakalinga kucishi shiinji pacishi ca Africa, aboobo twakalisukama! Nacibi boobo, pesule lyakupaila kuli Yehova, twakakalika myoyo.

Ndyetwakashika ku Burundi, shintu shoonse shakalinga kupusene abuumbi anshetwakashibila. Twakalinga kweelete kushibila kuca kwa bushiku kupuseneeko, milawo, alimwi akwiiya mulaka upya. Twakalinga kuyandika kwiiya ci French. Alimwi cakalinga ciyumu kucana kwakukala. Ndipakeenda nshiku shobilo kuswa ciindi ndyetwakashika, mukwesu Harry Arnott ngotwakalingaakwe ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi wakatufwakashila paciindi ndyaakalinga kuboolelamo ku Zambia nkwaakalinga kusebensela. Wakatucafwa kucana ŋanda iyo yakesa mukuba ŋanda yabamishonali yakutaanguna. Tapana kwiinda aciindi cilaamfu bamfulumeende batakalinga kucishiwo cili coonse pali Bakamboni Bakwe Yehova bakatalika kutupikisha. Ndyetwakatalikabo kunyumfwa kabotu kusebensela mucishi cilya, bamfulumeende bakatulwiita ayi tulyeelete kutaanguna kubwesa cipepa ncobapa baabo baya mukusebensela kucishi cimwi. Aboobo cakabica abuumbi mukwiinga twakalinga kweelete kulonga akuya ku Uganda.

Twakalisukama abuumbi kwaamba ayi tutoonjila buyani mucishi ca Uganda kwakubula cipepa cakutusuminisha  kunjila mucishi cilya, nacibi boobo, twakacinka manungo muli Yehova. Mukwesu wakaswa ku Canada wakalinga kusebensela kumusena ubulishite ku Uganda wakabandika awacinene usebensa mumfulumeende akumusansulwita bukaalo mbotwakalingaamo, aboobo bakatusuminisha kukalako myeenshi iniini katutana kubwesa shipepa shakutusuminisha kukala mucishi cilya. Ici cakatupa kubona kwaamba ayi Yehova ngoototucafwa.

Shintu ku Uganda shakalinga kupusene abuumbi aku Burundi. Paciindi cilya makani abotu kaali akatalika kale kushimikilwa mucishi cilya, nabi kwaamba ayi mwakalingabo Bakamboni Bakwe Yehova bali 28. Bantu baanji kumusena nkotwakalinga kushimikila bakalinga kucishi kwaamba Cisungu. Nacibi boobo, twakesa mukushiba kwaamba ayi twakalinga kweelete kwiiyako mushobo umwi waambwa mucishi cilya kwaamba ayi tucikoonshe kucafwa baanji kuya panembo. Twakatalika kushimikila mutauni iitwa ayi Kampala uko bantu baanji nkobaamba mushobo wiitwa ayi Luganda, aboobo twakatalika kubikila maano kukwiiya mushobo uyu. Twakatola myaaka iinji kwaamba ayi tucikoonshe kwiiya mushobo uyu, nacibi boobo, ici cakatucafwa kusebensa kabotu muncito yakushimikila! Twakatalika kushiba kabotu shakalinga kuyandika beshikwiiya Baibo besu. Alimwi ndyebakabona mbotwakalinga kubabikilako maano bakatalika kwaanguluka kubandika andiswe akwaamba ambokalinga kulinyumfwa pamakani ngobakalinga kwiiya.

Twakasangalala abuumbi kucafwa bantu baanji kwiiya cancine, alimwi twakakondwa abuumbi ndyebakatutuma kusebensa muncito ya kweenda mucishi coonse ca Uganda. Twakapekwa ncito kuswa kumusampi waku Kenya yakunooya cilangoola misena ipusenepusene kweenga kwayandika bapainiya balibetele. Liinji twakalinga kukumanya bantu batana kukumanyawo Bakamboni Bakwe Yehova, alimwi bakalinga kututambula kabotu abuumbi. Bakalinga kututambula camaansa obilo akutubambila shakulya.

Lweendo lwakakonkelawo lwakalinga lwakuswa ku Kampala akuya ku Kenya kuciito ca Mombasa nkondakatanta sitima akweenda nshiku shobilo. Lyalo ndakatanta bwaato kuya kunsumbu iitwa ayi Seychelles icanika pacishiba cinene ca Indian Ocean. Kuswa mu 1965 kuya mukushika mu 1972, twakatalika kuya aba Barbara ndyendakalinga kufwakashila nsumbu ya Seychelles. Paciindi cilya, pansumbu apa pakalingabo beshikushimikila bobilo. Lyalo kwakesa kwaba kakoto ako mukuya kwaciindi kakesa mukuba libungano. Palweendo lumwi ndakapekwa coolwe cakuya mukufwakashila bamakwesu mucishi ca Eritrea, Ethopia, alimwi a Sudan.

Shintu shakaaluka mu Uganda masoja ndyebakanyaya bweendeleshi. Kupilingana kwa shintu kwakatalika kwakalinga kuloondesha abuumbi alimwi kwakampa kwiibaluka kuyandika kwa kukonkela Baibo nshoyaamba ayi “amupe Sisa shintu shakwe Sisa.” (Maako 12:17) Paciindi cimwi, mfulumeende yakabika mulawo wakwaamba ayi uliwoonse wakaswa kucishi cimwi alyeelete kuya mukulembesha kupolisi ili pafwiifwi ankwakala. Aboobo peenkapo twakaya mukulembesha. Ndipakeenda nshiku shiniini, twakalinga amotoka mutauni ya Kampala kaandi amukwesu umwi alakwe mishonali, bakapokola bakalinga kufwete shakufwalabo bakatwiimika. Twakaloonda abuumbi! Bakatubekesha ayi tuli beshikusensa aboobo bakatutola kupolisi inene nkotwakabasansulwiita kwaamba ayi ndiswe bamishonali alimwi tuli bantu beshiluumuno. Twakeeleshako kubalwiita ayi twakalembesha kale kubakapokola kumusena nkotukala sombi tabakwe kutunyumfwila. Bakatucata akututola kupolisi yakalinga pafwiifwi ankotwakalinga kukala. Ndyetwakashika twakanyumfwa kabotu mukwiinga kapokola ngotwakalinga twacana ndyetwakaya mukulembesha wakatushiba akubalwiita ayi batuleeke.

Paciindi cilya twakalinga kupenga abuumbi na twacana masoja panshila, bunene bunene na masoja batwiimika balikoletwe. Nacibi boobo, lyoonse twakalinga kupaila kuli Yehova aboobo ici cakalinga  kutucafwa kukalika myoyo alimwi bakalinga kutusuminisha kwiinda. Cakabicaako, mu 1973 bamishonali boonse kuswa kushishi shimwi bakalwiitwa ayi baswe mu Uganda.

Aboobo paciindi ici twakapekwa ncito ipya alimwi, twakatumwa kuya mukusebensela kucishi ca Côte d’Ivoire, ico cicanika kumbo kwa Africa. Twakalinga kweelete kwaaluka mushintu shiinji alimwi, mbuli kwiiya milawo yamucishi cilya, kutalika kwaamba mushobo waci French alimwi, akushibila kusebensela pomwi abamishonali bamwi bakaswa kushishi shimwi! Nacibi boobo, Yehova wakalinga kutucafwa, mukwiinga bantu bakalinga kucite myoyo ibotu bakalinga kusumina kukutika makani abotu. Nebo amukaangu twakabona kucinka manungo muli Yehova mbokwakapa kwaamba ayi Yehova alulamike nshila shesu.

Lyalo cakuteengashila ba Barbara bakabacana abulwashi bwa kansa. Nabi kwaamba ayi twakeenda mankanda aanji kuya ku Europe kwaamba ayi bashilikwe, kushika mu 1983 cakaboneka patuba kwaamba ayi inga tatutoleleli kusebensela mu Africa. Twakalinyumfwa cibiibi abuumbi!

Bulwashi bwa ba Barbara bwakatolelela kuya panembo ndyetwakalinga kusebensela ku Bethel yaku London, aboobo mukuya kwaciindi bakafwa. Bamakwesu abenankashi pa Bethel bakancafwa abuumbi. Kucakubonenaako, beebene bamwi bakancafwa kushiba mbweenga ndatolelela kucinka manungo muli Yehova akushibila kukala neenka kwakubula bakaangu. Mukuya kwanshiku, twakeshibana a nankashi waliina lya Ann wakalinga kusebensela pa Bethel kaaswa kuŋanda, wakasebensa mbuli painiya ulibetele kwa myaaka iinji alimwi wakalinga muntu usuni Yehova abuumbi. Mu 1989, twakeebana aba Ann alimwi kuswa mumwaaka ulya kusa mukushika apacecino ciindi tutosebensela pa Bethel yaku London.

Kuswa mu 1995 kusa mukushika mu 2018, ndakalinga kucite coolwe cakusebensa mbuli shikwimikaninaako maofesi anene (kale kale ngobakalinga kwiita ayi shikutanjilila zoni), ndakafwakashila shishi pafwiifwi a 60. Mucishi cili coonse ncendakafwakashila, ndakalinga kubona bumboni bwakwaamba ayi ncakwiila Yehova atoopa shoolwe bantu bakwe nabi ndyebali mubukaalo bupusenepusene.

Mu 2017 twakafwakashila cishi cimwi mu Africa. Ndakakondwa abuumbi kuya aba Ann kucishi ca Burundi, alimwi balo ncocakalinga ciindi cakutaanguna kuyaako. Soonse twakakondwa abuumbi ndyetwakabona kufula kwa bantu bakesa mucancine! Kumusena nkondakalinga kushimikila kuŋanda aŋanda mu 1964, pacecino ciindi nkokumusena kubete Bethel yaku Burundi ibotu abuumbi. Alimwi pacecino ciindi mucishi ici muli beshikushimikila beendilila 15,500.

Ndakakondwa abuumbi ndyebakampa mulongo wa shishi nshendakalinga kweelete kufwakashila mu 2018. Cishi comwi pamulongo uyo cakalinga cishi ca Côte d’Ivoire. Ndyetwakashika mutauni ya Abidjan ndakalinyumfwa anga ndashika kumushi kumisheesu. Ndyendakalinga kulangilisha pamulongo wa manamba amafooni ku Bethel, ndakesa mukubona ayi cipinda cabeensu motwakashikila cakalinga pafwiifwi acipinda mwakalinga kukala mukwesu waliina lya Sossou. Alimwi ndakeebaluka kwaamba ayi mukwesu Sossou wakalingaawo shikutanjilila ndabala ndyendakalinga kukala ku Abidjan. Nacibi boobo, teshi ngowakalingaamo. Sombi mwakalinga mwanaakwe.

Yehova wakacita kweelana ambwakashomesha. Mapensho apusenepusene oonse ngondakeemdaamo akancafwa kwiibaluka cancine cakwaamba ayi na twacinka manungo muli Yehova, alalulamika nshila shesu. Aboobo ndisunishishi kutolelela kukonkela nshila yakwe iteeli iyo yeshi ikatolelele kumunika kushikila amucishi cipya—Tus. 4:18.