NAVWALIKILILI muWichita, Kansas, U.S.A., haDecember 10, 1936, nawa yami wedi hadi anyana awana. Anvwali jami aWilliam naJean, adiña akwakudifukula aYehova. Atata adiña acompany servant, idi dadiña ijina dateneneñawu muntu wadiña nakulombola muchipompelu hayina mpinji. Amama ayidizishili chalala chamuBayibolu kudi amama yawu aEmma Wagner. A Emma adizishili antu amavulu chalala, kushilahu niGertrude Steele, wazatili wumishonali hadi yaaka yayivulu mu Puerto Rico. * Dichi nadiña nawantu amavulu adiña nayilwilu yayiwahi yakwimbujola.

Ifuku dimu haMposu namelela hinadiña nayaaka yitanu yakusemuka, twahanineña nawatata magazini aKaposhi kakutalila niConsolation (yinakutenawu makonu nawu Awake!) kudi antu ahitileña munjila. Haniyi mpinji, mwituña mwadiña Njita Yakaayi Yamuchiyedi. Ndotolu washeteli wenjili nakuyihosha aTata mazu akasawuntu muloña adiñijili wanyi munsañu yamatuña nachiyuulu, wayilejeli nindi adiña nawoma nawa achinineña mudimu wawushidika. Iwu ndotolu wenjili nakwimana kumbidi yawaTata nakuyila nindi, “Ñeti eyi chisupi mukwawoma!” Natiyili woma ilaña aTata nayitiyili kuwaha. Wena atwalekelihu kuhana magazini kudi antu apompeli. Kuhiñahu kwadiña mushidika wahitileña, dichi iwu ndotolu wahosheli nindi, “Ilakuhu chuma chimu hadi iwu mukwawoma!” Iwu mushidika chamweniyi nindi iwu muntu nasheti, wamulejeli nindi, “Yaña kwitala nakukaama!” Wejima wawu ayili. Chinanuka, nahamekaña hañovu yakuhamuka yayinkeliwu atata kudi Yehova. Atata adiña namashopu ayedi akutewila nsuki muWichita, nawa ndotolu wadiña hakachi kawantu enjileña nakutewisha nsuki!

Chinashikijili yaaka 8, anvwali alandishili itala dawu nimashopu akutewila, atuñili itala danyanya dakwenda nadu, nawa ayili kuColorado nakuzatila kwadiña kukankila kweneni. Twashakamina kwakwihi naGrand Junction, kwazatililiwu anvwali jami  wupayiniya nawa mafuku amakwawu adiña nakuzatila hafamu nikuhemba ayimuna. Muloña wankisu jaYehova nikudikita kwawu, atachikili chipompelu. HaJune 20, 1948, aTata ampapatishili hamu nawakwetu mukaloña kahita mumapidi kushilahu niBillie Nichols nañodindi etejeli chalala chamuBayibolu. Kuhiñahu atachikili kuzata mudimu wawunkoñi wañinza, neyi cheliliyi mwanawu niñodindi.

Twadiña anuñañana nawa twadikolesheleña nayuma yakuspiritu nawakwetu akeñesheli mudimu wakushimwina, sweje-e amuchisaka chaSteele aDon naEarlene, Dave naJulia, niaSi naMartha ankolesheli chikupu. Anlejeli chinnateli kuwana muzañalu muchihandilu chami neyi nitwamijaku Wanta hambidi.

Chinashikijili yaaka 19, ibwambu wachisaka chetu Bud Hasty, wañilili neyi nukutwesha kuzata nindi mumudimu wawupayiniya kusouthern United States. Nkoñi wañinza watulejeli kubuukila kuRuston, Louisiana, kwadiña aYinsahu amavulu azeyeli kuspiritu. Watulejeli kulombola kupompa kwejima hela chakwila kudi antu antesha hela amavulu. Twawanini iluña dadiwahi dakupompela nawa twadiloñesheli. Twalombweleña kupompa kwejima, ilaña mpinji jikwawu twapompeleña hohu etu ayedi. Twadiña nakudihimpashana, neyi wumu nakuhana mpanji mukwawu nakwakula malwihu ejima. Neyi kudi chimwenu, wejima wetu twayileña hachinañamu henohu mwizaza mwosi muntu niwumu. Mukuhita kwamafuku, muhela wakashinakaji watachikili kupompa. Nkumininaku, atudizi aBayibolu amakwawu, kushilahu niantu amakwawu azeyeli kuspiritu, atachikili kupompa nawa chihashimbwili chantesha, chipompelu chakoleli kuspiritu.

Ifuku dimu, ami niBud twawanini nkoñi waChechi yaKristu, wateneni nsona jinabulili kwiluka. Chumichi chanhayamishili chikupu nawa chanletesheli nitoñojoki chikupu hayuma yinakuhwelela. Nachishileña wufuku wejima nakusandujola ñakwilu yamalwihu añihwiliyi nawa nelili mwenimu hadi mulungu wumu. Chumichi chankwashili chikupu kukeña chalala, nawa natalileña kudimona nankoñi mukwawu wachechi.

Chihashimbwili chantesha, nkoñi wami wañinza wañihwili neyi nukutwesha kuya kuEl Dorado, Arkansas, kulonda nakakwashi yipompelu. Hampinji yinadiña kuna, kakavulu nadiña nakufunta kuColorado kulonda nakadimoni nezanvu dawakulumpi awamashidika. Halwendu lumu, ami niakwetu apayiniya amakwawu twayileña hamu mumotaka yami nawa twadiwanini mumaposu ahamukwakwa chakwila motoka yami yakisikili. Twatambikili manakwetu  wenjili nakutusenda nakututwala kwitala dindi nawa watutwalili kuchipompelu nakupompa. Muchipompelu mwenimu abidikili nawu twadiña mumaposu ahamukwakwa nawa amanakwetu atwinkeli mali akudikwasha nachu. Manakwetu yeniwu wanlandishililiku motoka yami hawuseya wa $25.

Twatwesheli kukandama motoka nakuya kuWichita kwadiña nakuzatilayi ibwambu detu wachisaka E. F. “Doc” McCartney wupayiniya. Anyanindi awamayala ampamba, Frank naFrancis, niwena adiña amabwambu jami chikupu. Adiña namotoka yawu yayikulu yanlandishiliwu nawuseya wa $25, wuseya wunalandishili nachu motoka yami yakisikili. Iyi diyi yadiña mpinji yatachi yinamweni Yehova chankwashiliyi muloña natwamijiliku Wanta hambidi muchihandilu chami. Hanilu lwendu, chisaka chawaMcCartiney chanlejeli muhela wamuwahi wamuchipompelu, wejina daBethel Crane. Amama yindi aRuth, aChinsahu adikita muWellington, Kansas, atwalekelihu kuzata wupayiniya henohu adi nayaaka kubadika ha 90. Chimwahitili kwakwihi nachaaka mu 1958, ami naBethel twadisumbwili, nawa twazatilili hamu wupayiniya muEl Dorado.

Hanyima yakushinshika chikupu hayakutalilahu yayiwahi yawantu itwakulili nawu, twafuukwilihu kudihana kuya kwejima kwakatulejawu kuya kudi kuloñesha kwaYehova. Atutemesheli kuzata mudimu wawupayiniya wadimena kuWalnut Ridge, Arkansas. Kuhiñahu, mu 1962, twatiyili kuwaha kutambwila mutambi wakuya kushikola yaGileyadi yanaamba 37. Twazañaleli cheñi hakumona Don Steele tudi nindi mushikola yoyimu. Chitwamanishili shikola, ami naBethel atutemesheli kuNairobi, muKenya. Twatiyili chikela chitwafumini muNew York, ilaña ichi chikela chabalumukili nakwikala muzañalu chitwadiwanini nawamanakwetu hebulu dandeki muNairobi.

Chihahitili kapinji kanti, twatachikili kukeña ituña daKenya nimudimu wetu wakushimwina. Atudizi etu aBayibolu atachi elileña chiwahi kuspiritu adiña aChris naMary Kanaiya. Nihanu achidi kukalakala nakashinshi mumudimu wampinji yejima muKenya. Chaaka chalondelelihu, atulejeli kuya kuKampala, muUganda, nakuzatilamu wumishonali katachi. Iyi yadiña mpinji yayiwahi muloña amavulu adiña nampwila yakudiza chalala chamuBayibolu, nawa ekalili akwetu aYinsahu. Hela chochu, chimwahitili yaaka yisatu nachikunku yitwashakamini muAfrica, twafuntili kulonda twakekali nachisaka. Twafuntili kuUnited States. Ifuku ditwafumini muAfrica, twadiña nachikela cheneni nankashi kubadika chitwadiña nachu hampinji yitwafumineña muNew York. Twakeñeli antu amuAfrica, dichi twatalilileña kufunta cheñi mpinji yikwawu.

Twashakamini kukabeta kamujika kaColorado kwakunkumuka kwashakamineñawu anvwali jami. Chihashimbwili chantesha, mwanetu wamumbanda, Kimberly wavwalikili, nawa chimwahitili tukweji 17, mwanetu Stephany wavwalikili. Twazatili nañovu mudimu wetu wawuha hamu neyi anvwali, nawa twafuukwilihu kudizisha anyanetu ayedi awambanda. Twakeñeleña kwimbujola yakutalilahu yayiwahi yatwimikililiwu. Hela chakwila anyanetu tunateli kuyidizisha kuzatisha yakutalilahu yayiwahi, hichinayi mukwila nawu akatwalekahu kumukalakela Yehova mukuhanda kwawuku. Mwanyikami weyala niwamumbanda afumini muchalala. Nakuhweleli nami, akembujola cheñi yakutalilahu yayimikililiwu.

Twadiluñishili kukulisha anyanetu nikweseka kuzatila hamu neyi chisaka mpinji yejima. Chineli  twashakamineña kwakwihi naAspen, muColorado, wejima wetu twavwalileña kunyendu yuma yadiña neyi mapulanga nakuhemena munvula yachishika (snow). Iyi mpinji yakuhema yatukwashileña kuhanjeka nawanyanetu awambanda hampinji yitwadiña nakuhemena hamu. Twabuukileña hamu nakuya nakukaaminamu nawa twadiluñishileña kuhanjeka hamu kukesi. Hela chakwila adiña atwansi, ehwileña malwihu adi neyi, “Yumanyi yinakela muchihandilu chami neyi nakuli?” nawa “Muntu wamuchidinyi inakasumbuka nindi?” Twafwilileña kuyileja anyanetu eluki muyitoñojoka nimunyichima yawu kulema kwayuma yakuspiritu. Twayitanjikilili chikonkwanyi chamudimu wampinji yejima nikusumbuka chiña namuntu wukweti chikonkwanyi chochimu. Twafwilileña kuyikwasha eluki chichawahila kubula kusumbuka nawansi. Kakavulu twahosheleña netu, “Twalekakuhu nawujiki sampu wunashikiji yaaka 23.”

Twazatili nañovu kulonda tuyeña nakupompa nikushimwinaña mpinji yejima hamu neyi chisaka neyi chochatukulishiliwu anvwali jetu. Twadiña nakutambikaku antu amakwawu adiña mumudimu wampinji yejima kwinza nakushakama kwitala detu. Cheñi, twavulileña kuhosha nsañu yayiwahi kutalisha hampinji yitwazatili wumishonali. Twakuhweleleli chikupu netu kumbidi namafuku, wejima wetu awana twakendela hamu kuya kuAfrica. Anyanetu awambanda akeñeli nankashi kuyaku.

Mpinji yejima twadiña nakudiza kwachisaka, haniyi mpinji twahanjekeleña hayuma yinateli kuyimwekena kushikola. Twayihwileña anyanetu awambanda malwihu kulonda wena akuleña neyi aYinsahu. Atiyileña kuwaha kudiza muniyi njila nawa kwayikwashili kwikala ahamuka. Chiyakuliliwu, atiyileña kutama neyi hitudi nakudiza kwachisakaku. Mpinji yimu, nayilejeleña nami ayi kutupeka twawu twakukaama kulonda tubuli kudiza. Atiyili kutama chakwila atachikili kudila nakuhosha nawu anakukeña kudiza. Dichi twatachikili kwiluka netu twadiña nakusha yuma yakuspiritu munyichima yawanyanetu. Chiyakuliliwu, akeñeli nankashi kudiza nikuyiteja kuhosha yuma yejima yidi kumuchima. Mpinji jikwawu chadiña chakala kuyitiya anakuhosha nawu akaana yuma yimu yamuchalala. Hela chochu, chumichi chatukwashileña kwiluka yuma yayeni yadiña munyichima yawu. Hanyima yakuhanjeka nawu, elukileña chatoñojokañayi Yehova hanoyu nsañu.

Iwu mudimu wakukulisha anyanetu wamanini swayi. Muloña wakutukwasha nikulondela kuloñesha kwaNzambi, twazatili nañovu kuyikulisha anyanetu amukeñi Yehova. Twatiyili kuwaha chitwamweni anyanetu ejima anakuzata wupayiniya hanyima yakumanisha mashikola, nawa adizili yuma yayikwashili kuwana mali akudikwasha nachu. Abuukilili kuCleveland, muTennessee, nawakwawu ahela ayedi kuya nakuzatila kwadiña kukankila. Hela chakwila twayanukileña nankashi, ilaña twatiyili kuwaha muloña adiña nakuzatisha wumi wawu mumudimu wampinji yejima. Ami niBethel twatachikili kuzata wupayiniya cheñi, watuleteleli kukooleka kukwawu kwakuwahi. Antondeli kwikala nkwashi wankoñi wañinza nikuzata nyidimu yahakupompa kweneni.

Henohu kanda tubuukili kuTennessee, anyanetu awambanda ayili kuLondon, muEngland, nawa ayili nakuhempula kasanji kamutayi. Kweniku, Stephany henohu wudi nayaaka 19, wadimweni namukwenzi Paul Norton, wazatilileña haBeteli. Chiyafuntiliku cheñi, Kimberly wadiwanini namukwawu Brian Llewellyn muyazatilileñawu. Paul naStephany adisumbwili, ilaña haniyi mpinji Stephany wadiña nayaaka 23. Brian naKimberly niwena adisumbwili chaaka chalondelelihu hampinji yashikijiliyi Kimberly yaaka 25. Dichi ashakamini wujiki sampu nichashikijiliwu yaaka 23 hela kubadikahu. Twayitejeli namuchima wumu kusumbuka nawantu atondeliwu.

Awa anyanetu awambanda atulejaña nawu yakutalilahu yetu niyawankaaka jawu yitwayimikilili yayikwashili kwovwahila lushimbi lwaYesu ‘lwakusambila kukeña Wanta,’ hela chakwila adiña nakukala kwamali. (Mat. 6:33) MuApril 1998, aPaul naStephany ayitambikili kushikola yaGileyadi yanaamba 105, kuhiñahu ayitemesheli kuya nakuzatila kuMalawi, muAfrica. Hampinji yoyimu, aBrian naKimberly ayitambikili kuya nakuzatila kuBeteli yamuLondon nawa kuhiñahu ayitemesheli kuBeteli yamuMalawi. Twazañaleli chikupu, muloña kwosi njila yacheñi yinateli kuzatishilamu anyana wumi wawuku.

MuJanuary 2001, natambwilili foni nakunleja mazu itwatena hakutachika kwaniyi nsañu. Manakwetu  Marais, mukulumpi waMudimu waKubalumuna, walumbulwili nindi amanakwetu anakuloñesha shikola yakudizishilamu Chizungu akwakubalumuna mukaayi kejima, nawa hinadiña nayaaka 64 antondeli kwikala mukwakudizisha. Ami naBethel twalombelelihu nawa twahanjekelihu nawanvwali jetu awambanda adiña ashinakaja dehi kulonda atukwashi. Wejima wawu etejeli nawu tuyi hela chakwila akushala chakadi etu kuyikwasha. Nayitemesheleli nshiña nakuhosha nami tukutiya kuwaha nankashi kudihana namuchima wejima kuzata iwu mudimu.

Kuhiñahu, amama ayiwanini namusoñu wakansa. Nayilejeli nami tukushakama kulonda tumukwashi muhelami Linda hakuyakamena. Amama akwili nawu, “Hela chakwila wukubula kuya kwosi yuma yiwukwila. Chikuletesha hohu niswejeliku kukata.” Dichatiyiliyi niLinda nawa. Twatiyili kuwaha hamuchima wawu wakudihana niwukwashu wafumini kudi amabwambu amwiluña detu. Chitwashikili kuWatchtower Educational Center muPatterson, ifuku dahiñilihu, Linda watemesheli nshiña nakutuleja nindi amama anafwi. Twatachikili kuzata mudimu wetu nañovu chikupu neyi chochatukolesheliwu.

Kubombela hamuzañalu wutwadiña nawu, twatiyili kuwaha chatutemesheliwu kutachikila kuzatila kumutayi wakuMalawi, kwadiña nakuzatilawu anyanetu awambanda hamu nawanfumujawu. Twadiwanini cheñi! Kuhiñahu, twayili nakudizisha muZimbabwe nimuZambia. Chitwadizishili hadi yaaka yisatu nachikunku, atulejeli kufunta kuMalawi nakusoneka kukala kwamweneñawu aYinsahu ayandishiliwu muloña wakubula kudiñija munsañu jamatuña nachiyuulu. *

Mu 2005, twatiyili chikela kumuchima chitwafuntili kumukala wetu kuBasalt, muColorado kutwatwalekelihu kuzatilaku wupayiniya naBethel. Mu 2006, Brian naKimberly enjili nakushakama kwakwihi nanetu kulonda akulishi anyanawu ayedi awambanda, Mackenzie niElizabeth. Paul naStephany achidi kuzatila muMalawi, nawa nfumwindi Paul nakuzatila muKomiti yaMutayi. Chineli nidi kwakwihi nayaaka 80 yakusemuka, inakutiya kuwaha kumona anyikwenzi innazati nawu hadi yaaka yayivulu anakuzata nyidimu yinazatileña. Tudi namuzañalu chayinu mpinji muloña wayakutalilahu yatwimikililiwu nawa tunafwili kuyimbujola kulonda anyanetu niezukulu etu ahetelimu.