NGWASEMUKILILE muKarítsa ngalila yayindende yamuGreece mu 1926. Twasemukile tuva 8, kaha ami yami wamuchi 7. Visemi jami vapwile vaka-kukilikita chikuma.

Shimbu kanda ngusemuke, visemi jami valiwanyine naJohn Papparizos uze apwile muka-kulinangula Mbimbiliya wakwipangweji, vaze vali nakuvuluka makumbi ano ngwavo Vinjiho jaYehova. Vawahililile chikuma hakwivwa omu John apwile nakulumbununa kanawa Visoneka, kahechi chavalingishile vaputuke kukunguluka naVaka-kulinangula Mbimbiliya vamungalila yetu. Numba tuhu mama kapwile wakutangako, oloze afwelelele chikuma Yehova Kalunga, kaha alwezelengako vakwavo vyuma alinangwilenga lwola lwosena. Chaluvinda, tata ashishikilenga chikuma hatutenga twavakwavo, ngocho aputukile kwecha kukunguluka chikoki chikoki.

Ami navandumbwami twamwenenga Mbimbiliya kupwa yayilemu oloze twahungukililenga kuviseke. Kuheta mu 1939 omu Jita yaKaye yamuchivali yaputukile muEurope, vyuma vyasolokele mungalila yetu vyatukomwesele chikuma. Nicolas Psarrasi uze twalihachile nenyi kaha nawa musonyetu uze apwile Chinjiho wamuhya mumuchano, vamukwachile mangana apwenga liswalale wavaHelase. Halwola kana Nicolas Psarrasi apwile namyaka yakusemuka 20, kaha alwezele vakulwane vamaswalale ngwenyi, “Kangweshi kwazana mujitako mwomwo ngwapwa nguliswalale waKulishitu.” Kaha vamutwalile kuzango yakusopela nakumukasa jino hamyaka 10. Twalikomokelele chikuma.

Kuheta mu 1941 maswalale vengilile mulifuchi lyaGreece, kaha Nicolas vamufumishile mukamenga. Kaha akindulukile kuKarítsa kuze akawanyine yayami Ilias uze amuhulishile vihula vyavivulu havyuma yahanjika Mbimbiliya. Nayami ngwafwililile kwivwilila chikuma. Kutwala muze ami naIlias, nasongo yetu wapwevo Efmorfia twaputukile kulinangula Mbimbiliya nakuyanga kukukunguluka chaVinjiho lwola lwosena. Mwaka wakavangijileho tuvosena tuvatatu twalihanyine  kuli Yehova nakutumbapachisa. Kutwala muze, vandumbwami vawana navakiko vapwile jino Vinjiho jaYehova.

Mu 1942 chikungulwilo chamuKarítsa chapwile navakweze vamalunga navavamapwevo 9 vamyaka yakusemuka 15 nakuheta ku 25. Tuvosena twatachikijile ngwetu kulutwe kuli vyeseko. Ngocho twaliwanyinenga tuvosena nakulinangula Mbimbiliya, nakwimba myaso yawangana, nakulomba mangana tujikijise lufwelelo lwetu. Kulinga vyuma kana chatujikijishile chikuma.

Omu yakumine Jita yaKaye yamuchivali, vaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo vavaHelase, valikangile kufulumende yavaHelase kahechi chanehele jita yakulitala hamiyachi. Maswalale javaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo vakwachile vatu mulifuchi mangana navakiko vakundwize mulimo wauswalale. Omu valukukile ngalila yetu, vakwachile Vinjiho vavakweze vatatu Antonio Tsoukaris, naIlias, nayami. Twavalembelele vatweche hakuvalweza ngwetu katwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyuloko, oloze vatukanjikijile nakutukandwisa kupili yaOlympus, kafwe jiola 12 kufuma mungalila yetu.

Kufumaho, mukulwane wavaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo atushinyinyikile twingile hamukana wamaswalale. Omu twamulumbunwinyine ngwetu etu vaka-Kulishitu katwakwata kumata nakujiha vakwetuko, ou mukulwane apihililile nakututwala kuli mukulwane wenyi. Omu twalwezele uze mukulwane mukwavo, kaha ou ambile ngwenyi, “Kahanyi mbatenu chimbulu mangana mumbate mbate vaze vanavulumuka mujita muvatwale kuchipatela.”

Kaha twamukumbulwile ngwetu, “Ngachilihi nge maswalale jafulumende navatuwana, kutala kaveshi kumona ngwavo nayetu tumaswalale jenuko tahi?” Kaha ambile ngwenyi, “Kahanyi twalilenu vyakulya vaze vali mujita.” Twambile ngwetu, “Nyi ngachilihi nge mukulwane wamaswalale mwatwamba ngwenyi mbatenu chimbulu mutwale mata kuli vaze vali nakwasa jita?” Ou mukulwane aholele kulu nakushinganyeka chikuma. Kutwala muze, ambile ngwenyi: “Kahanyi yenu mukatwame hapili mufungenga mikoko.”

Omu jita yapwile nakutohwelako lika, tuvosena vivezu vyetu vyatwitavishile kuya mangana tukalame mikoko. Omu mwahichile mwaka umwe, Ilias uze apwile mukulwane hali yetu, vamwitavishile akinduluke kwimbo nakulama mama uze apwile tuliwe. Kaha Antonio nawa avijile, ngocho vamusuwile ayenga kwimbo, oloze ami ngwasalile.

Maswalale vavaHelase vahakile vaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo muchingombela. Maswalale vaze vangukwachile vachinyine nakuvatasana hapili yize yalihata nalifuchi lyaAlbania. Omu twahete hamuseto walifuchi, twakasumukile vanatujingilika kuli maswalale vavaHelase. Kaha vaze maswalale vachinyine, oloze yami ngwaswamine mwishi yamutondo waholokele ngocho maswalale vavaHelase jino vanguwanyine.

Omu ngwalwezele vaze maswalale ngwami vangukwachile kuli maswalale vavaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo, vangukwachile nakungutwala hachilombo chavo chize chapwililile kwakamwihi nanganda yaVéroia yize vavuluka muMbimbiliya ngwavo Mbeleya mangana vakangwihule vyavivulu. Kuze vangutwalile vangulwezele ngufule tupila twakuswama maswalale. Omu ngwakanyine mukulwane wavo avalwezele vangutwale mukamenga kaze  kapwile navafunge vavavulu chikuma kuMakrónisos (Makronisi).

Ngalila yaMakrónisos yize yatwamina kungenge yaAttica tunda yajikilomita 50 kufuma kunganda yaAtene kayatwama nameyako kaha nawa yatwama namusana chikuma. Litungu kana likwechi jikilomita 13 muusuku, kaha mukutohwa kafwe jimita 500. Numba ngocho, kufuma mu 1947 nakuheta mu 1958, halitungu kana hapwile vafunge vakuhambakana 100,000. Vamwe vapwile vaka-kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo oloze veka vavashinganyekelele kaha, veka nawa vapwile vaka-kulikanga kufulumende, kaha naVinjiho jaYehova vakushishika navakiko muvapwile.

Omu vangutwalile halitungu kaneli mu 1949, ngwawanyine vafunge vanavahandununa muvilombo vyavivulu. Vanguhakile muchilombo chize chapwile navaufunge vaze kavapwile vakukingiwa chikumako. Kaha twasavalilenga tuva 40 mumbalaka yize yatelelele kupwa navatu 10. Twanwinenga meya amajilo alivumba nakulya makunde hamwe kaha namalembeka. Kuyoya chapwilenga chachikalu mwomwo kwapwilenga chikuma lukungu napeho. Chipwe ngocho etu katwapwile nakumbata viteli vyavilemu chikuma vize vyahokweleka jinyima javafunge vavavuluko.

Likumbi limwe omu ngwapwile kuchisekeseke, ngwawanyine vakwetu Vinjiho vavavulu vaze vafumine kuvilombo vyakulisezaseza. Twawahililile chikuma. Hakusaka vatu vahone kututachikiza twalikungulwilenga mukuswama. Kaha nawa twambulililenga vakwetu vafunge mukuswama, ngocho veka valumukile nakupwa Vinjiho jaYehova. Kulinga vyuma kanevi nakulombelanga hamwe vyatukafwile tupwenga vakujikiza kushipilitu.

Omu ngwatwamineko tukweji 10, muka-kutulama angulwezele nguputuke kuvwala uvwalo wauswalale. Kahomu ngwakanyine vangutwalile kuli mukulwane wavaka-kulama vafunge. Ngwasonekele mukanda nakuuhana kuli uze mukulwane ngwami, “Nguli nakusaka kaha kupwa nguliswalale waKulishitu.” Ngocho vangwivwishile woma nakungutwala cheka kuli muhato wenyi uze apwilenga Mbishopu wakaHelase muchachi yaOrthodox. Omu ngwahete kuli ikiye anguhulishile vihula vyavivulu, kaha ngwamukumbulwile kuzachisa Mbimbiliya, oloze ikiye apihililile nakwamba ngwenyi: “Mufumisenu kumeso, wajipami chikuma!”

Likumbi lyakavangijileho vakwetu maswalale vangulwezele nguvwale uvwalo wauswalale. Omu ngwakanyine vanguvetele jikonyi najimbwechi. Kufumaho, vangutwalile kuchipatela chamaswalale mangana vakapime vawane numba nge kuli chifuhwa chinahokoka nyi chiku, kaha vangukindulwishile mumbalaka yami. Vatwalileho lika kunguyanjisa hatukakweji vavali.

Hakuwana nge kangwakanyine lufwelelo lwamiko, ava maswalale vanguwanyinyine jila yayihya yakunguyanjishilamo. Vakashile mavoko ami kunyima, kaha vaputukile kunguveta mukole muvilyachilo. Omu ngwevwile kukola, ngwanukile mazu aYesu aze ambile ngwenyi: “Mwawahilila enu navasaula kuvatu nakumiyanjisa . . . Wahililenu, lisambenu, mwomwo fweto yenu yinapu yayinene mwilu, mwomwo mukiko vene vayanjishile navapolofweto vaze valivangile kupwako shimbu kanda enu muchisemuke.” (Mateu 5:11, 12) Kufumaho, omu vatwalileho lika kunguveta ngwalezumukile.

Ngwakasumukile nguli mukapete kameya akale, chakuhona vyakulya nameya chipwe lipayi. Numba tuhu chapwile ngocho, oloze ngwaunjile muchima nakupwa lika wakumika. Ngana muze yahanjika Mbimbiliya “kuunda chaKalunga” ‘chakingile muchima wami navishinganyeka vyami.’ (Fwili. 4:7) Omu kwachele liswalale umwe angwivwilile keke, kaha anguhanyine vyakulya, nameya nachashi. Kaha liswalale mukwavo anguhanyinenga chazano chavyakulya vyenyi. Likoji vangusolwelele ava maswalale vavali lyasolwele nge Yehova apwile nakunguzakama.

Fulumende yangumwene ngwavo ngwapwile nguwakunjinjavala, ngocho vangutwalile kuzango yamaswalale yakusopela kuAtene. Kuheta kuze, vangukashile hamyaka yitatu mukamenga muYíaros Gyaros lifuchi lize lwatwama halitungu jikilomita 50 kufuma kumututuko waMakrónisos.

Kamenga waYíaros apwile wamunene mwomwo mwapwilenga vafunge vakuzomboka 5,000 vaze valikangile kufulumende. Mukamenga kana mwapwile naVinjiho jaYehova 7 vaze vakashile mwomwo yakuhona kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo. Numba tuhu vakanyishilenga kukunguluka, oloze etu 7 twalikungulwilenga hamwe mukuswama mangana tulinangule Mbimbiliya. Kaha nawa shimbu yosena twatambwilenga jimangazini jaKaposhi Kakutalila mukuswamana, ngocho twanungulwilenga mazu  amuKaposhi Kakutalila nakuwasoneka etu vavene mangana tuzachise omu natulinangula Mbimbiliya.

Likumbi limwe omu twapwile nakulinangula, muka-kulama vafunge umwe atuwanyine, kaha atutambwile mikanda yetu yosena. Kaha uze muka-kulama ambulwile kuli mukulwane, ngocho twalizakaminyine ngwetu navawezelako cheka myaka yikwavo yakutwama mukamenga. Oloze uze mukulwane ambile ngwenyi: “Twamitachikiza kanawa kaha nawa twavumbika vyuma mwafwelela. Kaha nawa twamifwelela. Shikaho yenu mutwaleho kuzata milimo yenu.” Etu vamwe vatuhanyine jino milimo yayashi kuli ou mukulwane. Twawahililile chikuma nakusakwilila nawa. Chikupu vene, kupwa vakumika mukamenga cheji kwalisanga Yehova.

Kumika chetu nawa chanehele vyuma vyeka vyamwaza. Funge umwe uze alinangula chikuma vyamakumi amwene vilinga vyetu vyamwaza, kaha ahulishile vyavivulu kutalisa kuvyuma twafwelela. Omu etu Vinjiho vatusokwele kumaputukilo amwaka wa 1951, nauze funge nawa vamwechele. Kutwala muze, naikiye vamumbapachishile nakupwa Chinjiho kaha nawa muka-kwambulula washimbu yosena.

Omu vangwechele ngwakindulukile kuli vaka-tanga yami kuKarítsa. Kutwala muze, twafumine kuKarítsa nakuya kuMelbourne mulifuchi lyaAustralia. Kuheta kuze, ngwambachile Janette mukwetu chinjiho, kaha twasemene vana vawana, walunga umwe mapwevo vatatu, kaha twavalelele nakuvakafwa vazakamenga vyuma vyakushipilitu.

Oholyapwa nguli namyaka yakusemuka yakuhambakana 90, kaha nguchili lika ngukalama muchikungulwilo. Nge ngunazate chikuma mumulimo wamuwande ngweji kwivwanga kukola mujimba wosena namuvilyachilo mwomwo yavipupu vize vangupupwilenga mukamenga. Chipwe ngocho, noholili nguchili lika ‘nguliswalale waKulishitu.’—Chimo. 2, 2:3.