Ngwasemukile ha 22 December, 1929, muNoville, kangalila kakandende kakumembo, kaze kapwile najifwamu 9 kwakamwihi naBastogne, muBelgian Ardennes. Ngwanukilenga vyuma ngwahichilemo omu ngwapwile ngukanyike hafwamu hamwe kaha navisemi jami. Ami nasongo yami Raymond twakamwinenga mavele avangombe namavoko hakumbi hakumbi, nakukafwa nawa visemi jetu kwaha jimbuto. Mungalila yetu vatu vosena vazachililenga hamwe nakulikafwa.

Visemi jami vaEmile naAlice vapwile vaka-Katolika vatwima. Vayilenga kuchachi Sondo hiSondo. Chipwe ngocho, kafwe mumwaka wa 1939, kuEngland kwafumine vapayiniya vavali vaze vejile mungalila yetu, kaha vahanyine tata mangazini yakwamba ngwavo Consolation (yize vali nakuvuluka makumbi ano ngwavo Tonenu!). Tata amwene ngwenyi nawane muchano, kaha aputukile kutanga Mbimbiliya. Omu alitwaminyinyine kuya kuchachi, vatu vaze vapwilenga masepa jenyi vamufumbukilile. Vamushinjililile atwaleho lika kupwa muka-Katolika, kaha nawa vahanjikilenga vyuma vyavivulu kutalisa kuchihande kana.

Changuvijile chikuma kumuchima hakumona tata navamuyanjisa mujila kaneyi yayipi. Echi chikiko changulingishile ngulombe Kalunga akafwe tata, kaha kulomba kana chikiko chize ngwavulukanga kumaputukilo achihande chino. Ngwawahililile chikuma omu vatu vechele jino kuyanjisa tata. Kaha ngwakunyukile ngwami, chikupu vene Yehova apwa “muka-kwivwilila kukulomba.”

Maswalale javaka-Nazi muGerman valukukile lifuchi lyaBelgium ha 10 May, 1940, kaha echi chalingishile vatu vavavulu vachine mulifuchi. Tanga yetu yachinyinyinyine kusulo yaFrance. Kahomu twapwilenga nakuchina, twahichilenga muvihela vimwe muze maswalale javaGerman valizungishilenga namaswalale javaFrance.

 Omu twakindulukile hafwamu yetu, twawanyine vyuma vyetu vyosena vanavipupu. Vatuseleleleko kaha kawa ketu Bobbie uze atutambwokesele. Vyuma twahichilemo vyangulingishile ngulihulise ngwami, ‘Mwomwo ika kwapwila jijita nakuyanda?’

Halwola kana twanganyalilenga chikuma mwomwo vatutambukililenga kuli ndumbwetu Emile Schrantz, a payiniya wakushishika kaha nawa mukulwane muchikungulwilo. Ou ndumbwetu azachishile Mbimbiliya hakulumbununa kanawa ovyo tweji kuyanjilanga, nakukumbulula nawa vihula vyami vyeka ngwalihulishilenga mukuyoya. Echi changulingishile ngutunge usoko wakukola naYehova nakukunyuka ngwami Kalunga apwa wazangi.

Shimbu kanda jita yikume, twashimutwililenga navandumbwetu. Kaha kuheta muAugust 1943, ndumbwetu José-Nicolas Minet atutambukilile hafwamu yetu nakuhanjika chihande. Atuhulishile ngwenyi, “veya vali nakusaka kuvambapachisa?” Tata emikile livoko, kaha omu mukiko ngwalingile nayami. Ngocho vatumbapachishile mumwanakalwiji uze apwile kwakamwihi nafwamu yetu.

MuDecember 1944, maswalale javaGerman valukukile mafuchi akumulauko waEurope nakulemeka chikuma vatu. Jita kana yikiko yapwile yamakumishilo, kaha vayivuluka ngwavo Battle of the Bulge. Twatwaminenga kwakamwihi nakuze vashilililenga jita, kaha twapwilenga muzuvo yetu mukapete kahamavu hakakweji wamuundu. Likumbi limwe omu ngwalovokele haweluka nakulisa vimuna, vashile chilyanga hafwamu yetu chize chenyekele mulungu wazuvo. Liswalale umwe wavaka-America uze apwile kwakamwihi nayami atambakanyine ngwenyi, “savala hamavu!” Kaha ngwalahile nakusavala kwakamwihi naikiye, kaha anguvwikile litepa lyauswalale kumutwe mangana angukinge.

Hanyima yajita, twahashile kuliwana navandumbwetu vakuchikungulwilo chakuLiège, kafwe jikilomita 90, chize chapwililile kunote. Kutwala muze, twatungile kalizavu kakandende muBastogne kakulinangula. Ngwaputukile kuzata mulimo wakutambula mitelo, nakupwa nakutokwa chakupwa kushikola yakulinangula jishimbi. Kutwala muze, ngwaputukile kuzata milimo yaukalaliki. Kuheta mu 1951, lizavu lyetu lyapwile nakukunguluka chachihanda muBastogne. Kaha vatu kafwe 100 vapwile kukukunguluka kana, kuhakilako naElly Reute, ndumbwetu wapwevo  uze apwile payiniya wakwipangweji. Avuwile kinginga jikilomita 50 mangana ezenga kukukunguluka. Nakushimbula chiku ngwamuzangile, kaha ngwamuhuhwile. Halwola kana Elly vamusanyikile kuShikola yaNgileyate muUnited States. Asonekelele kuchikota chetu nakulumbununa ovyo vyamulingishile ahone kuya kushikola kana. Ndumbwetu Knorr uze apwile nakutwaminyina vatu jaYehova halwola kana, amukumbulwile mujila yalikoji ngwenyi pamo likumbi limwe mwakaya kushikola kana hamwe kaha nalunga lyenyi. Twalimbachile muFebruary 1953.

Mumwaka vene uze, ami napuwami Elly twayile kukukunguluka chachihanda chize chapwile namutwe wakwamba ngwavo, Vatu VamuLifuchi Lyalihya (New World Society), chize chapwililile muYankee Stadium, New York. Kaha ngwaliwanyine nandumbwetu uze anguhanyine milimo nakungulweza ngwalukile kuUnited States. Oloze omu ngwalombele kuli Yehova hachihande kana, ami napuwami Elly twakanyine milimo kana, ngocho twakindulukile kuBelgium nakukundwiza lizavu lize lyapwile navaka-kwambulula kafwe 10 muBastogne. Mwaka wakavangijileho twapwile namwana walunga uze twalukile ngwetu Serge. Chaluvinda, omu mwahichile tukweji 7 kufuma hakusemuka chenyi, avijile, kaha afwile. Twalombele kuli Yehova nakumulweza ushona wetu, kaha lutalililo lwakusanguka lwatukolezezele.

MuOctober 1961, ngwawanyine milimo yize ngwazachilenga hamakumbi amwe muchalumingo, yize yangukafwile nguzata kanawa mulimo waupayiniya. Halikumbi vene lize, ngwatambwile shinga kufuminyina kuli muka-kutwaminyina mutango muBelgium. Anguhulishile numba nge ngunahase kuzata mulimo wamuka-kuzata muchihanda (uze vali nakuvuluka makumbi ano ngwavo kalama wakujinguluka). Kaha ngwamulombele numba nge ngwatela kuvangila kuzata mulimo waupayiniya numba jino tukazate mulimo kana. Ngocho etavile. Kaha hanyima yakuzata upayiniya hatukweji 8, twaputukile kuzata mulimo wakutambwojoka muSeptember 1962.

Omu twazachile mulimo wakujinguluka hamyaka yivali, vatusanyikile kuya nakuzachila haMbetele yamuBrussels. Twaputukile kuzata mulimo kana muOctober 1964. Ou mulimo wauhya watunganyalishile chikuma. Kahomu mwahichile kashimbu kakandende, ndumbwetu Knorr atambukilile Mbetele yetu mu 1965. Ngwalikomokelele chikuma omu vangutongwele kupwa muka-kutwaminyina mutango. Kutwala muze, ami napuwami Elly vatusanyikile kuya kuShikola yaNgileyate yakusokesa 41. Mazu ahanjikile ndumbwetu Knorr myaka kafwe 13 kunyima, ateselemo. Omu twakumishile shikola yaNgileyate, twakindulukile kuMbetele yamuBelgium.

Hamyaka yayivulu ngunazachisanga chinyingi chami chakutachikiza jishimbi, mangana nguhakwile lisesa lyetu lyakulemesa Yehova mumafuchi amuEurope namumafuchi eka. (Fwili. 1:7) Echi changulingishile ngushimutwile navilolo veka vamumafuchi akuzomboka 55, muze mulimo wetu vaukanyishile mujijila jimwe chipwe kuukanyisa wosena. Muchishishisa chakulijimbula ngwami ngumutu uze alinangula jishimbi, oloze ngwalijimbwilenga kupwa “mutu waKalunga.” Lwola lwosena ngwalombelenga kuli Yehova angutwaminyine mwomwo ngwatachikijile ngwami,  “muchima wamwangana [chipwe muka-kuyula] unapu nge kalwiji mulivoko lyaYehova. Eji kuutalikisanga mweshomwo nasake.”—Vishi. 21:1.

Ngweji kwanukanga lika kushimutwila twapwile nacho nalunga umwe wamuZuvo yaJishimbi yamuEurope. Ngwamulombelenga mapapa kakavulu mangana ngushimutwile nenyi, kaha kutwala muze etavilile. Ambile ngwenyi, “Nangukuhana kaha minyutu 5, katwatela kuzombwesahoko.” Kaha ngwanongamine nakulomba kuli Yehova. Jino ou lunga wamuzuvo yajishimbi anguhulishile ngwenyi, “Uli nakulinga ika?” Ngwolwele mutwe wami, kaha ngwamulwezele ngwami, “Ngwapwanga nakusakwilila Kalunga mwomwo wapwa umuka-kumwimanyinako.” Kaha anguhulishile ngwenyi, “Unatalisa mulihi?” Ngwamutangililile chisoneka chaWavaka-Loma 13:4. Ou lunga apwile muka-Polotesitati, kaha vyuma ngwamutangililile hachisoneka kana vyamuhetele kumuchima. Jino vyuma muka vyafuminemo? Angulwezele ngwenyi tunahase kushimutwila hachimbwa chaola, kaha nawa twashimutwilile kanawa. Ahanjikile ngwenyi, avumbika mulimo wetu.

Hamyaka yayivulu, Vinjiho jaYehova vanayinga kuzango yayinene yamuEurope yize yatala halisesa vatwama nalyo vatu kutalisa kuchihande chovyo vaka-Kulishitu vahonena kwazana muvihande vyalifuchi nachiyulo, nakukasa vana, namitelo, navihande vyeka. Ngunapunga nakutokwa chakwazana muvihande vyosenevi, kaha ngunamononga omwo Yehova natukisulanga nakutulingisa tufukile nakufungululanga ukalu kana. Vinjiho jaYehova vanasambe muvihande vyakuzomboka 140 kuZango Yayinene yamuEurope Yize Yatala haLisesa Vatwama Nalyo Vatu.

Mumyaka yamuji 1990, twazachililile hamwe nandumbwetu Philip Brumley wakuchikota chetu, nandumbwetu Valter Farneti wakuItaly, mangana tuhakwile lisesa lyavandumbwetu muCuba lyakulemesa Kalunga muze mulimo wetu vaukanyishile mujijila jimwe. Ngwasonekele mukanda kuli chilolo uze emanyinako lifuchi lyaCuba muBelgium mangana tukaliwane nachilolo uze vatongwele kutala hachihande chetu. Omu twaliwanyine hakavanga, vyuma kavyatambukile kanawako kutalisa kuvyuma vyalingishile mulimo wetu vaukanyise mujijila jimwe.

Omu twalombele kuli Yehova mangana atutwaminyine, twalwezele vilolo jafulumende mangana vatuhane lisesa tutwale jiMbimbiliya 5,000 muCuba. JiMbimbiliya jahetele kanawa, kaha vajipangililile kuli vandumbwetu, shikaho twamwene ngwetu Yehova natukafwe hakukilikita chetu. Twalombele cheka lisesa lyakutwitavisa tutume jiMbimbiliya jikwavo jakuheta ku 27,500. Kaha vatwitavishile tulinge vene ngocho. Chikupu vene, kukafwa vandumbwetu twazanga muCuba mangana mutu himutu apwenga naMbimbiliya, chatulingishile tuwahilile.

 Ngunatambukilanga lifuchi lyaCuba mapapa kakavulu mangana ngukafwe vandumbwetu kutala havihande vyajishimbi jakutalisa kumulimo wetu. Echi changulingishile ngutunge usepa wamwaza navilolo jafulumende vavavulu.

Mumwaka wa 1994 vatu vakuzomboka ku 1,000,000 vavajihile mujita yize yapwileko muRwanda yakujiha muyachi wavaTutsi. Chaluvinda, navandumbwetu vamwe vavajihile. Nakushimbula chiku, vandumbwetu vamwe vavatongwele mangana vakafwe vandumbwavo hakuvahana vyuma vyakulikafwa navyo mukuyoya navitumbo.

Omu twahetele munganda yayinene yaKigali hamwe kaha navandumbwetu vaze twasakwile, twawanyine ofesi yakwalumwina mikanda nachihela chakutulila mikanda vanavyase vilyanga. Kaha nawa twevwilenga mijimbu yayipi yavandumbwetu vaze vajihile najipoko. Chipwe ngocho, twevwilenga nawa mijimbu yavandumbwetu omwo valisolwelelenga zangi. Chakutalilaho, twaliwanyine nandumbwetu uze ahanjika lilimi lyaTutsi uze aswamine muwina hamakumbi 28, uze vakingile kutanga yaVinjiho jaYehova vaze vahanjika lilimi lyaHutu. Kuliwana twapwile nacho muKigali, twavendejekele vandumbwetu vakuzomboka 900.

Kufumaho, twayile mulifuchi lyaZaire (lize vali nakuvuluka makumbi ano ngwavo Democratic Republic of the Congo), mangana tukatonde Vinjiho vavavulu vamuRwanda vaze vachinyinyinyine kuchilombo chamatunduke kwakamwihi nanganda yaGoma. Kaha katwawanyine mutu numba umweko, ngocho twalombele Yehova atutwaminyine mangana tuvawane. Twamwene mutu umwe uze apwile nakwiza kuli yetu, kaha twamuhulishile numba nge natachikizako Vinjiho vamwe. Uze mutu ambile ngwenyi, “eyo, ami nguChinjiho chaYehova. Nanguwahilila kumitwala kukomiti yakukafwa vatu vali muukalu.” Kahomu twaliwanyine nakomiti kana, twawanyine nawa matunduke vakuheta kafwe ku 1,600 vaze twavendejekele nakukolezeza. Twavatangililile nawa mukanda wakufuma kuLizavu lyaKutwaminyina. Vandumbwetu vawahililile chikuma hakwivwa mazu akuvakolezeza akwamba ngwavo: “Lwola lwosena tweji kumilombelangako. Tunatachikiza ngwetu Yehova keshi kumisezako.” Mazu awa akufuma kuLizavu lyaKutwaminyina akafwile vandumbwetu. Makumbi ano, muRwanda muli Vinjiho jaYehova vakuzomboka 30,000.

Hanyima yakupwa muulo hamyaka kafwe 58, puwami Elly afwile mu 2011. Ngwalwezele Yehova ushona wami kuhichila mukulomba, kaha anguvendejekele. Kwambulula nawa mujimbu wamwaza waWangana kuli vakwetu changuvendejekele chikuma.

Oholyapwa nguli namyaka yakusemuka yamuji 90, chipwe ngocho ngweji kwazananga mumulimo wakwambulula chalumingo hichalumingo. Ngwapwa nawa wakuwahilila hakukafwa Lipatimende Lyatala haJishimbi lyahamutango waBelgium, nakulwezako vakwetu vyuma ngunahichimo, nakukolezeza vakweze vamutanga yaMbetele.

Munahichi jino myaka kafwe 84 kufuma haze ngwalombele kuli Yehova halwola lwatete. Kulomba kana chapwile maputukilo akupwa nachiyoyelo chamwaza chize chinangupandamisanga lika kuli Yehova. Ngweji kusakwililanga chikuma Yehova, mwomwo nevwililanga kukulomba chami mukuyoya chami chosena.—Samu 66:19. b