Ndakashalwa pa 22 December, 1929 ku Noville mushi uniini mwakalinga mafaamu ali 9 uyo wakalinga pafwiifwi a tauni ya Bastogne, ku Belgian Ardennes. Ndyendakalinga mwanike ndakalinga kusangalala abuumbi abashali bangu pa faamu. Bushiku abushiku, nebo a Raymond mwanike wangu musankwa twakalinga kukama ŋombe akututa nshotwakalinga kutebula. Mumushi motwakalinga kukala, soonse twakalinga kusebensela pomwi kwaamba ayi tunoocafwana.

Ba Emile aba Alice bashali bangu, bakalinga bayumu mushabupailishi bwaci Katolika. Lyoonse Pasondo bakalinga kuya kukubungana nkobeeta ayi “Maasi Yakulyaaba.” Nacibi boobo, pafwiifwi amwaaka wa 1939, bapainiya bamwi bakesa mumushi wesu kuswa ku England akusenga bata ayi balembeshe kunootambula magazini ya Consolation (pacecino ciindi ileetwa ayi Sinsimuka!). Kapatana kwiinda aciindi cilaamfu bata bakashiba ayi shakalinga kulembetwe mumagazini nshancine alimwi ici cakabayuminisha kutalika kubelenga Baibo. Ndyebakacileka kucanika kukubungana kwa Maasi, bantu mbotwakalinga kubambenaabo abaabo mbotwakalinga kunyumfwanaabo bakatalika kupikisha bata abuumbi. Bakakakatisha bata kutolelela kuba mubupailishi bwaci Katolika alimwi ici cakapa kwaamba ayi liinji banoopikishanya abuumbi.

Cakancisa kumoyo abuumbi kubona bata mbobakalinga kukakatishikwa kubantu mbotwakalinga kubambenaabo. Ici cakapa kwaamba ayi mpaile mupailo wakuswa panshi lyamoyo ngondaambawo kumatalikilo, kusenga Lesa kwaamba ayi acafwe bata. Ndakasangalala abuumbi mukuya kwaciindi bantu mbotwakalinga kubambenaabo ndyebakacileka kupikisha bata. Ndakashoma cakutatoonsha ayi Yehova ‘alakutika mipailo.’

Cishi ca Germany ndyecakalinga kweendeleshekwa aba Nazi, cakalwana cishi ca Belgium pa 10 May, 1940 akupa kwaamba ayi bantu balongeemo mucishi ici. Mukwashi wesu wakalongela kumalenge lya cishi  ca France. Ndyetwakalinga kuya, cimwi ciindi twakalinga kuba mumisena iloondesha abuumbi umo bamasoja baku German abaku France mobakalinga kulwanina.

Ndyetwakaboolela ku faamu, twakacana kwaamba ayi shintu shesu shiinji bakashiipa. Twakacanawobo kabwa wesu Bobbie. Ishi shakacitika shakampa kuliipusha ayi, ‘Ino nceebonshi kuli nkondo akupenga abuumbi pacishi?’

Paciindi ici, Mukwesu Emile Schrantz uyo wakalinga kusebensa mbuli painiya alimwi munene mulibungano, wakalinga kutuyuminisha abuumbi na watufwakashila. Wakasebensesha Baibo kusansulula kabotu cipa kwaamba ayi bantu banopenga alimwi wakakumbula miipusho iinji njondakalinga kucite yaamba pabuumi. Ndakaba abushicibusa buyumu a Yehova akushoma cakutatoonsha ayi ngu Lesa ucite lusuno.

Nabi inkondo kaitana kumana, liinji bamumukwashi wangu bakalinga kucikonsha kubonana akubandika abashominyinaabo. Mu August 1943, Mukwesu José-Nicolas Minet wakesa mukutufwakashila akwaamba likani. Wakeepusha ayi, “Ino mbaani basuni kubombekwa?” Nebo abata twakatambika maansa. Twakabombekwa mukalonga kakalinga pafwiifwi a faamu yesu.

Mu December 1944, bamasoja baku German bakatalika nkondo inene yakweelaako kulubasu lwa kumbo lya Europe, iyo yakalinga kwiitwa ayi Inkondo ya Bulge, mu Nkondo Yapacishi Coonse Yabili. Twakalinga kukala pafwiifwi akumusena kwakalinga nkondo, alimwi twakekala mucipinda capaanshi pafwiifwi amweenshi womwi. Bushiku bumwi ndyendakaswa pansengwe kwaamba ayi nsanine shinyama, boomu yakanyonyoola ciluli ca ŋanda motwakalinga kusungila shintu. Lyalo ndakanyumfwa musoja umwi waku America uyo wakalinga motulamina shinyama kaoolobesha ayi, “Ona paanshi!” Ndakacica akuya mukoona pafwiifwi anguwe, lyalo wakamfwalika cimpompo cakwe kumutwi kwaamba ayi anshitilishe.

Pesule lyankondo, twakacikoonsha kunoobandika abamu libungano lyaku Liège, ilyo lyakalinga kulubasu lwakumatwa kulaamfu makilomita ashika pafwiifwi a 90 kuswa nkotwakalinga kukala. Mukuya kwaciindi, twakacikoonsha kutalika kakoto kaniini ku Bastogne. Ndakatalika kusebensa ncito yakusonkesha misonko mu mfulumeende, alimwi ndakaba acoolwe cakwiiya shamilawo. Ndyepakeenda ciindi ndakatalika kusebensa mu ofesi imwi yamumfulumeende yakalinga kumusena nkondakalinga kukala. Mu 1951 twakabamba kubungana kwalubasu mu Bastogne uko kwakacanikabo bantu baniini. Bantu bashika pafwiifwi a 100  mbobakacanikaako, kwiilikaawo anankashi painiya usebensa cankusu waliina lya Elly Reuter. Wakeenda ancinga mushinso wa makilomita ali 50 kwaamba ayi acanikeeko. Lyalo twakasunana alimwi mukuya kwaciindi twakakobekelana. Ba Elly bakabeeta kuya mukucanika ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi ku United States. Bakalembela kumaofesi anene akubasansulwiita ayi teshi bakacikonshe kucanikaako. Mukwesu Knorr uyo wakalinga kutanjilila bantu bakwe Yehova paciindi ici, wakabakumbula munshila ili kabotu ayi bushiku bumwi inga bacanika kucikolo ici pomwi abeebaabo. Mu February 1953 twakeebana.

Mumwaaka weenka uyu, nebo aba Elly twakacanika kukubungana kwakalinga kucite mutwi waamba ayi New World Society uko kwakabeta mu Yankee Stadium, ku New York. Ndyendakalinga kukubungana uku, ndakabonana amukwesu umwi wakampa coolwe cakutalika kusebensa ncito ibotu akundwiita ayi tulongele ku United States. Pesule lyakupaililaawo pamakani aya kuli Yehova, nebo aba Elly twakasalawo kukaka coolwe ici akuboolela ku Belgium mukucafwilisha kakoto kaniini ka beshikushimikila bali 10 kakalinga mutauni ya Bastogne. Mwaaka wakakonkelaawo twakasangalala kuba amwaana musankwa waliina lya Serge. Cakabicaako ncakwaamba ayi, ndyepakeendabo myeenshi 7 Serge wakaciswa lyalo wakafwa. Twakapaila kuli Yehova akumulwiita mbotwakalinga kulinyumfwa cibiibi alimwi twakayuminishikwa ceebo cakulangila kwancine kwa kubushikwa kwa bafu.

Mu October 1961, ndakacana ncito yakunosebensabo nshiku shiniini munsondo iyo yakancafwa kusebensa bupainiya. Nacibi boobo, pabushiku bweenka ubo ndyendakatalika ncito, ndakatambula fooni kuswa ku musebenshi wa musampi waku Belgium. Wakanjipusha na inga ndacikonsha kutalika kusebensa mbuli musebenshi walubasu (pacecino ciindi wiitwa ayi mutanjilili walubasu). Ndakamwiipusha ayi: “Sa inga tatutaanguni kusebensa bupainiya katutana kusumina ncito iyi?” Bamakwesu bakasumina ncendakasenga. Pesule lyakusebensa bupainiya kwamyeenshi 8, mu September 1962 twakatalika kufwakashila mabungano.

Pesule lyakusebensa ncito yakufwakashila mabungano kwamyaaka yobilo, bakatwiita kuya mukusebensela kumusampi uli ku Brussels. Mu October 1964 twakatalika kusebensela pa musampi uyu. Mu ncito iyi ipya twakacana shoolwe shiinji. Ndyepakeendabo ciindi ciniini pesule lyakwaamba ayi Mukwesu Knorr wafwakashila musampi wesu mu 1965, ndakakankamana ndyebakansala ayi ntalike kusebensa mbuli musebenshi wa musampi. Lyalo nebo aba Elly bakatwiita kuya mukucanika ku Cikolo ca Gilyadi ca namba 41. Maswi Mukwesu Knorr ngakaamba myaaka 13 yainda akakumanishikwa! Pesule lyakumanisha cikolo twakaboolela ku musampi waku Belgium.

Ndakaba acoolwe cibotu cakusebensesha lushibo ndooncite pamakani ashamilawo kucafwilisha kushitilisha lwaanguluko lwa bantu bakwe Yehova lwakulambila cakwaanguluka ku Europe amumisena imwi. (Filip. 1:7) Aboobo incito iyi yakapa kwaamba ayi mbonane abacinenenene bamu mfulumeende bamushishi shiindilila 55 umo incito yesu moyakalinga yakashikwa na mbasu shimwi sha ncito yesu. Muciindi cakulwiita bacinenenene aba lushibo ndondakalinga kucite pamakani ashamilawo, ndakalinga kubalwiita ayi ndi musebenshi wakwe Lesa. Lyoonse ndakalinga  kusenga butanjilishi kuli Yehova mumupailo mukwiinga ndakalinga kucishi ayi ‘moyo wa mwaami [na moomboloshi] uli anga ntulonga twamaanshi mulyaansa lyakwe Yehova. Uloolulamika kuli koonse nkwaasuni ayi ululame.’—Tus. 21:1.

Nciibaluka mubandi ngondakalinga kucite a womwi wa baabo beemikaninaako bamuŋanda ya milawo yaku Europe. Mankanda aanji ndakasenga ayi mbandikaakwe, lyalo mukweelaako wakasumina. Wakaamba ayi, “Ntookupabo mamineti ali 5, alimwi uteendilishiiwo nabi yomwi.” Ndakakotamika mutwi akutalika kupaila. Musankwa uyo wakaloonda akunjipusha ncondakalinga kucita. Ndakamulanga akwaamba ayi, “Ndalinga kulumba Lesa mukwiinga muli womwi wa basebenshi bakwe.” Wakanjipusha ayi, “Ino utosansulula nshi?” Ndakamutondesha lilembo lya Bene Loma 13:4. Wakalinga kupaila kubupailishi bwaci Protestant, aboobo lilembo ili lyakamushika pamoyo. Ino nshiinshi shakaswaamo? Wakandwiita ayi inga ndabandikaakwe kwa mamineti ali 30, alimwi mubandi wesu wakeenda kabotu abuumbi. Kwiilikaawo, wakaamba ayi alalemeka ncito ya Bakamboni Bakwe Yehova.

Kwamyaaka iinji, bantu bakwe Yehova ku Europe batola milandu iinji ku kooti ikumite ku shamilawo pamakani aamba pa Beneklistu kutaabanamo lubasu mushacishi, baana abeshikubalama, kulipila misonko alimwi ashimwi. Calinga ncoolwe cinene kuli ndime kubona Yehova mbwakatucafwa kuswitilila akuwiina milandu iyo. Bakamboni Bakwe Yehova bakawiina milandu iindilila 140 ku European Court of Human Rights!

Mumyaaka yamuma 1990, ndakasebensela pomwi a Mukwesu Philip Brumley a Mukwesu Valter Farneti waku Italy, kushitilisha lwaanguluko lwa bamakwesu ku Cuba, uko mbasu shimwi sha ncito yesu nkoshakalinga shakashikwa. Ndakalembela ku maofesi abaabo beemikaninaako cishi ca Cuba ayo akalinga mu Belgium, akubandika a wacinenenene umwi wa mumfulumeende uyo wakasalwa kwaamba ayi abandike andime. Mumibandi njotwakalinga kucite pakutaanguna, tatuna kucikonsha kubandikishanya kabotu pashakapa kwaamba ayi mfulumeende ikashe mbasu shimwi sha ncito yesu.

Pesule lyakupaila kuli Yehova kwaamba ayi atutanjilile, twakabasenga ayi batusuminishe kutola ma Baibo ali 5,000 ku Cuba alimwi bakatusuminisha. Ma Baibo akashikabo kabotu lyalo akaabilwa ku bamakwesu, alimwi cakatupa kulinyumfwa ayi Yehova wakalinga kutupa shoolwe pakusebensa cankusu kwesu. Kwiilikaawo, twakabasenga kwaamba ayi batusuminishe kutuma ma Baibo aamwi ali 27,500. Mfulumeende yakatusuminisha alimwi. Kucafwa bamakwesu abenankashi baku Cuba kwaamba ayi womwi awomwi abe a Baibo, cakampa kusangalala abuumbi.

Ndakafwakashila cishi ca Cuba mankanda aanji  kwaamba ayi bamakwesu abenankashi batolelele kuba alwaanguluko lwakusebensa ncito yesu. Ici cakapa kwaamba ayi mbe abushicibusa bubotu abacinenenene bamumfulumeende baanji.

Mu 1994 ndyekwakalinga nkondo ya kucayana kwa mishobo ku Rwanda, bantu bamushobo waci Tutsi beendilila 1,000,000 bakacaikwa. Alimwi cakabicaako ncakwaamba ayi bamakwesu abenankashi bamwi bakacaikwa. Ndyepakeendabo ciindi ciniini, kakoto ka bamakwesu bamwi kakapekwa ncito yakutola shakulya ashintu shimwi shakalinga kuyandika kubamakwesu abenankashi mucishi ici.

Kakoto kesu ndyekakashika mu Kigali, tauni inene yamucishi ici, twakacana ayi lubumbu lwa ofesi yabasansulushi alwa ŋanda mwakalinga kushikila mabuku lwakatuloolwa ku mambaala. Twakanyumfwa makani abiibi aamba pa bamakwesu abenankashi abo bakacaikwa ku shibenesi. Alimwi twakanyumfwa bamakwesu abenankashi mbobakalinga kutondeshanya lusuno. Kucakubonenaako, twakakumanya mukwesu waamba mushobo waci Tutsi uyo wakalinga wayuba mucimfwengo kwanshiku 28, uyo ngobakashitilisha kumukwashi umwi wa Bakamboni baamba mushobo waci Hutu. Ndyetwakalinga kucite kubungana mu Kigali, twakasebensa cankusu kuyuminisha bamakwesu abenankashi beendilila 900.

Lyalo twakasotoka boda akunjila mucishi ca Zaire (pacecino ciindi ciitwa ayi Democratic Republic of the Congo) kuya ciyandoola bamakwesu baanji baku Rwanda abo bakacicila mumisumba yakalinga pafwiifwi a tauni ya Goma. Tatuna kubacanaawo, aboobo twakapaila kuli Yehova kwaamba ayi atucaafwe kubacana. Lyalo twakabona muntu umwi keesa kuli ndiswe, alimwi twakamwiipusha na alishiko Bakamboni bali boonse. Wakakumbula ayi: “Ee, ndi Kamboni. Ntomutondesha kuli komiti ya baabo batopa lucafwo.” Pesule lya mubandi uyuminisha abamakwesu bamu komiti yakalinga kupa lucafwo, twakabonana abamakwesu abenankashi bakacica kumishaabo bashika pafwiifwi a 1,600 kwaamba ayi tubayuminishe. Kwiilikaawo, twakababelengela nkalata yakaswa ku Likoto Litanjilila. Bamakwesu abenankashi bakasangalala abuumbi ndyebakanyumfwa maswi ayuminisha akwaamba ayi: “Tulamupaililaako lyoonse. Tulicishi kwaamba ayi Yehova teshi akamulekelesheewo.” Maswi ngobakaamba bamu Likoto Litanjilila akalinga ancine. Pacecino ciindi, ku Rwanda kuli Bakamboni beendilila 30,000 basangalete kusebensela Yehova pomwi!

Pesule lyakukala mucikwati kwamyaaka pafwiifwi a 58, ba Elly bakaangu mbondakalinga kusuni abuumbi bakafwa mu 2011. Ndakapaila kuli Yehova kumulwiita mbocakancisa kumoyo abuumbi alimwi wakanjuminisha. Cimwi cakanjuminisha nkulwiitako bamwi makani abotu aamba pa Bwaami.

Nabi kwaamba ayi ndicite myaaka iindilila 90, nsondo ansondo ndaabanamo lubasu muncito yakushimikila. Alimwi ndisangalete kucafwilisha mu Dipatimenti Ilanga Pamilawo kuno kumusampi waku Belgium, kulwiitako bamwi nshendakeendaamo, akucita bweembeshi kubacanike bali pa Bethel.

Myaaka mpashi 84 yainda, ndyendakapaila ciindi cakutaanguna kuli Yehova. Cakalinga nciindi cakutalika kwa bushicibusa bwangu bubotu a Yehova ubo bwatolelela kuyuminaako. Ndalumba abuumbi kwaamba ayi kwabuumi bwangu boonse, Yehova alakutika mipailo yangu.—Kulu. 66:19. a