MUMWAKA wa 1970, mungonde yanonga ngwavijile chikuma, kaha vangutumbikile muchipatela chaValley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, muUnited States. Nase walunga angupiminenga kavali muola hiola mangana amone omu ali nakutambuka manyinga ami. Halwola kana ngwapwile nguliswalale wamyaka yakusemuka 20, kaha ngwavijile musongo waupi. Uze nase apwile mukulwane hali ami, kaha asolokele nge alizakaminyine chikuma. Omu manyinga ami apwile nakutambuka chindende, ngwamuhulishile ngwami, “Uno wamonaho lyehi hafwila mutu tahi?” Angukumbulwile oku nalizakamina ngwenyi: “Nduma.”

Halwola kana kangwashinganyekele ngwami nanguyoyako. Uno ngwaliwanyine ngachilihi muchipatela? Manenu ngumilweze vyuma vimwe ngwahichilemo mukuyoya chami.

Ou musongo wanguwanyine omu ngwapwile nakuzachila muchipatela nakuwahisa makina amuzuvo yakupulila vaveji halwola lwajita mulifuchi lyaVietnam. Ngwevwilenga kuwaha kukafwa vaveji navaze valemekelenga, ngocho ngwasakile ngukapwe ngundotolo wakupula vaveji. Ngwahetele mulifuchi lyaVietnam muJuly 1969. Kaha vangunangwile chalumingo chamuundu mwakutwamina kuchihela kana mangana ngwijilile, ngana muze valingilenga kuvatu vosena vavahya.

Omu ngwaputukile kuzata muchipatela muMekong Delta, muDong Tam, tupokopoko vavavulu vanehelenga vaveji. Hakuwana nge ngwazangilenga kuzata chikuma mulimo, ngwaputukile kuzata hahaze vene. Vaze vavulumukile vavatwalile kutupete vavandende kuze vapwile nakuvapulila. Ndotolo wakupula vaveji, nauze eji kulalikanga vaveji, nanase uze eji kusokololanga chikasha chavinoma vyakuzachisa hakupula mutu, nauze eji kuhananga vinoma, valilumbikile mukapete kana aka kakandende mangana vayovole vaveji. Viteli vimwe vize vajingililile mumapapilo elava kavavifumishile mutupokopokoko. Vangulwezele ngwavo mumapapilo kana mwapwile vihanda vyamijimba yamaswalale vaze vafwile mujita. Aha hakiko ngwaputukile kwazana mujita.

Omu ngwapwile ngukanyike ngwalinangwileko chindende muchano kuli Vinjiho jaYehova. Mama apwile nakulinangula Mbimbiliya naVinjiho jaYehova, oloze kazovolokele nakuheta kulumbapachisoko.  Ngwevwilenga kuwaha chikuma kwivwilila omu mama apwilenga nakulinangula. Halwola kana, twayile kwakamwihi naZuvo yaWangana natata wakungulela. Ngwamuhulishile ngwami, “Eyi zuvo yaka?” Angukumbulwile ngwenyi, “Kanda mukeseka kuswenya kwakamwihi navatu kana!” Hakuwana nge ngwazangile chikuma tata, ngocho ngwakavangijile vyuma angulwezele. Shikaho, kangwahashile kulimona cheka naVinjiho jaYehovako.

Omu ngwafumine kuVietnam, ngwafwililile kutachikiza Kalunga mukuyoya chami. Kwanuka vyuma vyavipi ngwahichilemo changuhombeselenga. Chasolokele nge kakwapwile mutu atachikijile kanawa vyuma vyapwile nakusoloka muVietnam. Ngunakwanuka pindangano yapwileko omu vatu vapihililile namaswalale javaka-U.S., nakuvavuluka ngwavo vaka-kujiha vakemba mwomwo vevwile mijimbu ngwavo vanyike vavandende vali nakuvajiha mujita.

Hakusaka mangana ngupwenga nausoko wamwaza naKalunga, ngwaputukile kuya mujichachi jakulisezaseza. Ngwafwilile kutachikiza Kalunga mukuyoya chami chosena, oloze kangwasuulukile navyuma vyapwile nakusoloka mujichachiko. Ngocho lyaSondo, muFebruary 1971, ngwayile jino kuZuvo yaWangana yaVinjiho jaYehova yize yapwilile kuDelray Beach, muFlorida.

Omu ngwahetele, ngwawanyine chihande chalikungumbuwa hinachiya nakukuma, ngocho ngwavandaminyine Kaposhi Kakutalila. Kangweshi nakwanuka chihande vapwile nakushimutwilako, oloze ngweji kwanukanga kaha vana vavandende vaze vapwile nakupandumuna jiMbimbiliya javo vawane visoneka. Chuma kana changusuulwishile chikuma. Ngwevwililile nakutala vyuma vyapwile nakusoloka. Omu ngwapwile nakulovoka muZuvo yaWangana, ndumbwetu umwe wamyaka kafwe 80 ejile nakungumeneka. Lijina lyenyi ikiye Jim Gardner. Akwachile mukanda wakwamba ngwavo Mucano Uli Nakutetekela Kumwono Wamyaka Yosena, kaha anguhulishile ngwenyi, “Kutala unahase kwitavila mukanda kana tahi?” Twalivwasanyine ngwetu natukaliwana lyaChiwana nachimene mangana tukalinangule Mbimbiliya.

Likumbi lize lyaSondo ngwazachile ufuku wosena. Ngwazachilenga muchipatela chaBoca Raton, muFlorida. Ngwazachilenga nalwola lwa 23:00 nakuheta ku 7:00 nachimene. Hakuwana nge kakwapwile vaveji vavavuluko, ngocho ngwatangile ou mukanda waMuchano. Mutu uze apwile mukulwane wavanase ejile nakungunyanga uze mukanda nakutanga halipapilo lyahelu, kaha anguhulishile nautenu ngwenyi, “Uno nayove uli nakusaka kupwa uChinjiho tahi?” Ngwamuhukwile uze mukanda nakwamba ngwami, “Ngunatange ou mukanda kuheta kaha hakachi, oloze chili nakusoloka nge ngunahase kupwa nguChinjiho.” Ngocho angusezele, kaha ngwakumishile kutanga uze mukanda ufuku vene uze.

Ngwaputukile kulinangula Mbimbiliya nandumbwetu Gardner hakumuhulisa ngwami, “Vyuma muka natulinangula?” Angukumbulwile ngwenyi, “Natulinangula mukanda uze ngwakuhananga.” Ngwamulwezele ngwami, “Ngwakumisa lyehi kuutanga.” Kaha angulwezele mujila yalikoji ngwenyi, “Unalingi mwamwaza, oloze tuchishimutwileko kaha kapetulu watete.” Ngwalikomokelele chikuma havyuma vyavivulu ngwalinangwile. Angulwezele ngutange visoneka vyavivulu muMbimbiliya yami yaKing  James Version. Aha jino hakiko ngwaputukile kulinangula vyaYehova Kalunga wamuchano. Ndumbu Gardner uze ngwavulukilenga ngwami Jim, angunangwile tupetulu vatatu mumukanda kana chimene vene chize. Kufuma vene haze, twalinangwilenga tupetulu vatatu Chiwana hiChiwana nachimene. Ngwalivwishilenga kuwaha vyuma ngwapwile nakulinangula. Ocho kutokwa kana ngwapwile nacho hakungunangula kuli ndumbwetu vawavisa uze atachikijile ndumbu Charles T. Russell.

Omu mwahichile vyalumingo vyavindende, ngwatelemo kupwa ngumuka-kwambulula mujimbu wamwaza. Jim angukafwile muvyuma vyavivulu ngwalizakaminyinenga, kuhakilako vene nakwambulula kuzuvo hizuvo. (Vili. 20:20) Hakuwana nge ngwazachilenga hamwe naJim, ngocho ngwazangile mulimo wakwambulula. Nguchili lika nakumona ou mulimo wakwambulula kupwa waulemu chikuma. Ocho kutokwa kana hakupwa ngumuka-kuzachila hamwe naKalunga!—Koli. 1, 3:9.

Manenu ngumilweze vyalwola lwatete ngwazangile Yehova. (Kuso. 2:4) Kuzanga Yehova chinangukafwe nguhone kushinganyekanga chikuma havyuma vyavipi ngwahichilemo mujita naukalu weka wauvulu.—Isa. 65:17.

Ngunakwanuka likumbi limwe lyakulipwila mungonde yanonga mu 1971. Halwola kana te visemi jami vanangufumisa mukapete kaze vanguhanyine ngutwamengamo, mwomwo tata kazangile kutwama naChinjiho chaYehova hembo lyenyiko. Halwola kana kangwapwile najimbongo jajivuluko. Kuchipatela ngwazachilile vangufwetelenga jimbongo omu mwahichilenga vyalumingo vivali, kaha halwola kana kangwapwile najimbongoko mwomwo josena ngwajilanjile uvwalo mangana ngusoloke kanawa hakwambulula mujimbu nakwalisa jino Yehova. Jimbongo ngwapwile najo japwile kunyambaulu kuMichigan, munganda yize ngwakolelele. Ngocho ngwatwaminenga muminyau yami hamakumbi amwe. Shikaho  ngwayilenga hajizuvo jakusanyina jahavihela vyakulanjila maji amuminyau mangana ngukasane nakuteula wevu.

Likumbi limwe omu ngwakotokele kumilimo halwola ngwapwile nakusavala muminyau, ngwahetele haZuvo yaWangana shimbu kanda lwola lwakuliwana chakuya muwande. Omu ngwatwamine kunyima yaZuvo yaWangana kwakuhengama, ngwaputukile kwanuka vyuma ngwamwene mujita yamuVietnam. Ngwapwile nakwivwa kunuka chavatu vaze vochelenga, nakumona manyinga apwile nakupokomoka hajimbandu. Muvishinganyeka vyami ngwapwile nakwivwa nakumona vakweze navangulembelela ngwavo, “Uno nanguyoya tahi? Uno nanguyoya tahi?” Ngwatachikijile ngwami navafwa, oloze ngwesekele kuvavendejeka chikuma mwomwo kangwasakile kuvalweza muchanoko. Halwola kana luze ngwapwile muZuvo yaWangana, ngwevwile kupihya chikuma.

Ngwaputukile kulomba kuli Kalunga oku masoji ali nakuliulumukila. (Samu 56:8) Ngwaputukile kushinganyeka chikuma halutalililo lwakusanguka, kaha changukwachile kumuchima. Ngwanukile ngwami, Yehova Kalunga mwakasangula vatu vaze vanafunga mujijita nakufumisako ukalu wosena ngunamononga ami navakwetu veka. Kalunga mwakasangula vaze vakweze, kaha navakapwa nakutokwa chakulinangula muchano hali ikiye. (Vili. 24:15) Halwola luze, ngwazangile chikuma Yehova, kaha ngwevwile kuwaha kumuchima. Likumbi kana lyapwa lyakulipwila kuli ami. Kufuma vene haze, ngunakilikitanga mangana nguhone kuvulyama lwola lwatete ngwazangile Yehova, chikumanyi nge nguli muvyeseko chipwe nguli nakumona ukalu.

Vatu veji kulinganga vyuma vyavipi mujita, kaha nayami vene mukiko ngwalingilenga. Oloze kushinganyeka havisoneka vivali ngwazanga chikuma chikiko cheji kungukafwanga. Chisoneka chatete shina chaKusoloka 12:10, 11 chize chavuluka ngwacho Liyavolo vamufungulwile namazu aunjiho wetu namanyinga aMwanamukoko. Chisoneka chamuchivali shina chaWavaka-Ngalesha 2:20. Echi chisoneka chasolola nge Kulishitu Yesu angufwililile “ami.” Yehova eji kungutalanga kuzachisa manyinga aYesu, kaha nangukonekela havyuma ngwalingile. Kutachikiza chuma kana chinangukafwe ngupwenga nachivezu chitoma nakungukunyula ngukilikite chikuma hakukafwa vakwetu vatachikize muchano hali Kalunga ketu wakeke Yehova.—Hepe. 9:14.

Hakutala hakuyoya chami, ngunenjikiza chikupu ngwami Yehova napunga lika nakunguzakama. Chakutalilaho, likumbi vene lize Jim ejivile ngwenyi ngweji kusavalanga muminyau yami, angulwezele nguhanjike nandumbwetu wapwevo uze apwile nazuvo yenyi yakusavala vangeji. Ngwafwelela chikupu ngwami Yehova ikiye azachishile Jim nauze ndumbwami mangana vanguhane chihela chakutwamamo. Yehova atwama nalikoji. Eji kuzakamanga vaka-kumulemesa vakushishika.

MuMay 1971 ngwayile kuMichigan nakulingako vyuma vimwe. Shimbu kanda ngufume muChikungulwilo chaDelray Beach muFlorida, ngwalongejekele mikanda yayivulu muminyau yami nakuya jino ungeji wami hakuzachisa mukwakwa vavuluka ngwavo Interstate 75. Kaha shimbu kanda ngufume muGeorgia, yize mikanda yosena yakumine. Ngwambulwilenga natwima mujimbu wamwaza waWangana muvihela vyakulisezaseza. Ngwayile nakwambulwila kujinjele nakuhana jitalakiti kumalunga vaze ngwawanyinenga mujizuvo jakusanyina namuvimbushu. Noholyapwa kangwejiva kanawa numba nge jimbuto jimwe jize ngwakuvile jasokele nyi chiku.—Koli. 1, 3:6, 7.

Kuhanjika muchano, halwola ngwalinangwile muchano kangwambulililenga vatu mukuzangamako, chikumanyi vausoko wami. Hakuwana nge ngwazangile chikuma Yehova, ngocho ngwambulwilenga nakumika, chakuzeneka kuhita mutenga. Ngwazangile chikuma ndumbwami John naRon, kaha ngwavashinjililile hakuvambulwila muchano. Mukuhita chalwola, ngwalikonekelele kuli vakiko hakuvambulwila mujila kana. Chipwe ngocho, noholili  ngweji kuvalombelangako mangana vaketavile muchano. Kufuma vene haze, Yehova nangunangulanga, kaha ngunakweseka jino kwambulila vatu nakuvanangula mukuzangama.—Kolo. 4:6.

Numba tuhu ngwazanga chikuma Yehova, oloze kuli vatu veka nawa vaze ngwazanga mukuyoya chami. Ngwazanga puwami Susan. Ngwatachikijile ngwami ngwasakiwile kupwa namutu uze mwangukafwa hakuzata milimo yaWangana. Susan hipwevo wakujikiza uze akwechi usoko wamwaza naYehova. Ngweji kwanukanga vyuma vyasolokele likumbi limwe omu ngwamutambukilile shimbu kanda tulimbate. Ngwamuwanyine natwame musenge yazuvo yavisemi jenyi mumbaka yaCranston, muRhode Island. Apwile nakutanga Kaposhi Kakutalila naMbimbiliya. Chuma changusuulwishile shina hakuwana nge apwile nakutanga chihande chakuhakilako navisoneka vize vyapwilemo. Ngwashinganyekele ngwami, ‘Ou pwevo azanga Yehova chikupu!’ Kaha twalimbachile muDecember 1971. Ngweji kumusakwililanga chikuma mwomwo kufuma vene halikumbi lize, Susan eji kunguzakamanga nakungukundwiza. Chuma chikwavo ngwamuzangila shina chakuwana nge numba tuhu anguzanga, oloze azanga chikuma Yehova.

Ami naSusan vatukisula navana vavali vamalunga, Jesse naPaul. Yehova apwilenga navakiko omu vapwile nakukola. (Samwe. 1, 3:19) Hakuwana nge vamona muchano kupwa waulemu, ngocho veji kutwivwisanga kuwaha. Vanatwaleho lika kuzachila Yehova mwomwo veji kwanukanga zangi yavo yatete. Vosena vavali vanazatenga mulimo washimbu yosena hamyaka yakuhambakana 20. Kaha nawa  ngwasuuluka navamawenu vamwaza vaStephanie naRacquel, vaze ngweji kumonanga nge hivana vami vakulisemena. Vana vami vosena vambata mapwevo vaze vazanga Yehova Kalunga namichima yavo yosena namyono yavo yosena.—Efwe. 6:6.

Kufuma hakungumbapachisa, ngwazachilile kuRhode Island hamyaka 16 kuze twakatungile masepa vavavulu. Ngweji kwanukanga vakulwane vavavulu vamuchikungulwilo vaze ngwazachilenga navo. Kaha nawa ngweji kusakwililanga tulama vakutambwojoka vavavulu vaze vangujikijishile, vaze kangweshi kuhasa kulavako. Ocho kutokwa kana ngwapwile nacho hakuzachila hamwe namalunga vaze kavavulyama lwola lwatete vazangile Yehovako! Mu 1987, twayile nakuzachila kuNorth Carolina kuze kwapwile nakusakiwa vaka-kwambulula, kaha twakatungile nawa masepa vavavulu kuze. *

MuAugust 2002, ami naSusan twetavilile kuya nakuzachila haMbetele yamuPatterson muUnited States. Ngwazachililenga muLipatimende lyaMulimo, kaha Susan azachililenga mulipatimende lyakukosa uvwalo. Azangilenga chikuma milimo yenyi. Kaha muAugust 2005, vangutongwele kupwa muLizavu lyaKutwaminyina. Ngwalivwile nge kangwatelemo kuzata milimo kana. Kaha puwami nawa alizakaminyine chikuma hamilimo ngwapwile nayo, namaungeji aze veji kutambwojokanga ava vandumbwetu. Susan eji kwivwanga woma kunyina mundeke, chipwe ngocho maungeji amavulu tweji kuwatambukanga mundeke. Susan eji kwambanga ngwenyi mapwevo javandumbwetu vamuLizavu lyaKutwaminyina veji kumukafwanga mujila yazangi, kaha echi cheji kumukafwanga afwile kutwalaho lika kungukundwiza. Omu mukiko nalinginga, kaha echi hichuma chikwavo ngwamuzangila.

Muofesi yami mwatwama mivwimbimbi yayivulu yize yeji kungwanukisanga vyavivulu. Yeji kungwanukisanga vyuma ngunalivwisa kuwaha mukuyoya. Yehova nangukisula mujijila jajivulu mwomwo yakutwalaho lika kushinganyeka halwola lwatete ngwazangile Yehova.