Navwalikili haDecember 22, 1929, muNoville, mukala wanyanya kwadiña mafamu 9 kwakwihi naBastogne, muArdennes kuBelgium. Nanukaña yuma yayiwahi yamwekeneña hinachidiña kansi hafamu nawanvwali jami. Ami namwanyikami weyala, Raymond, twakamwineña añombi mayeli namakasa nikukwashana mumudimu wakwaañula. Twazatilileña hamu nankashi mukunuñañana muniwu mukala wetu wanyanya, wejima wetu twadiña namuchima wakudikwasha wumu namukwawu.

Anvwali jami aEmile nawaAlice adiña aKatolika chikupu. Hamulungu-hamulungu ayileña kuchidika chaMisa. Hela chochu, kwakwihi na 1939, apayiniya afumini kuEngland enjili mumukala wetu nawa ayinkeli atata kukooleka kwakutambwila mpinji yejima magazini yateneneñawu nawu Consolation (yinakutenawu chayinu mpinji nawu Awake!) Atata ashikeneni kwiluka nawu yuma yahosheleña awa magazini yadiña yalala nawa chumichi chayisañumwini kutachika kutaña Bayibolu. Atata chalekeliwu kuya kuchidika chaMisa, antuñi netu itwatiyañeneña nawu atachikili kuyidimbulula. Ayikanjikijileña atata kutwalekahu kwikala aKatolika, chumichi chaletesheli atachiki kubobola nankashi kapampa kakavulu.

Chankatili nankashi kumona atata anakuyikabisha muniyi njila. Chumichi chanletesheli nilombi wukwashu kudi Nzambi mukulomba kwakufuma hamuchima kunatena kumatachikilu achinu chibaaba. Muchima wami wazañaleli nankashi chelili ikañesha dawantuñi netu ditachiki kukeha. Nakuhweleleli chikupu nami Yehova diyi “Mukakutiya kulomba.”

ANazi Germany alukukili Belgium haMay 10, 1940, nawa chumichi chaletesheli antu amavulu nankashi kufuma mwituña. Chisaka chetu chatemukilili kukabeta kakuchidiilu kaFrance. Chitwayileña,  twadiwanineña mumaluña mwadiña wubanji mwazuñilileñawu amashidika awaGerman namashidika awaFrance.

Chitwafuntili kufamu yetu, twawanini yuma yayivulu anayiyi. Twawaninihu hohu kawa wetu, Bobbie, nawa diyi watutambwilili. Ichi chuma chamwekeni chaletesheli nidihuli nami, ‘Muloñadi njita niyihuñu chijamwekenaña?’

Hayina mpinji, atukolesheli nankashi kudi manakwetu wenjili nakututala wejina daEmile Schrantz, a payiniya nawa mukulumpi washinshika. Walumbulwili chiwahi kuzatisha Bayibolu muloña waweni wutwakabakenaña nawa waakwili malwihu ami amakwawu inehwileña kutalisha hawumi. Nekalili nawubwambu wakola naYehova nawa nelukili chikupu nami hiNzambi wukweti kukeña.

Nihampinji yelili njita kanda yimani, chisaka chetu chadikundileña mpinji yejima nawamanakwetu. MuAugust 1943, Manakwetu José-Nicolas Minet wenjili hafamu yetu nakuhana mpanji. Watwihwili nindi, “Anyi anakukeña kupapatishewa?” Atata ninami tolweli makasa. Twapapatisheweli mukaloña kanyanya kadiña kwakwihi nafamu yetu.

MuDecember 1944, amashidika awaGerman ayili nakulukuka kulukuka kweneni kwakukumishaku muNjita Yakaayi Yamuchiyedi kukabeta kamujika kaEurope, kulukuka kwatenañawu nawu the Battle of the Bulge. Twashakamineña kwakwihi neluña kwazuñilileñawu njita, nawa kwakwihi nakakweji kamu twashakamineña mukapeka kaheseki mwitala detu. Ifuku dimu chinedikili nakudiisha ayimuna, nyitendanzumbu yashikeneni hafamu yetu nawa yakisañeni iwulu detala mwakuhembela yuma hafamu. Mushidika wakuAmerica wadiña mwitaña kwakwihi nanami wabidikili nindi, “Kaamaku heseki!” Nayili lufuchi kwadiñayi, nakaami heseki kwakwihi nayena nawa wanvwikili itepa dindi kumutu kulonda ankiñi.

Chamanini njita, twatwesheleña kuhanjeka mpinji yejima nawamanakwetu niahela amuchipompelu chamuLiège, hadiña makilomita 90 (mamayilu 56) kufuma kutwashakamineña nakuya kukabeta kakuchimunswa. Mukuhita kwampinji, twatachikili izanvu danyanya dawatudizi muBastogne. Natachikili kuzata mudimu wakutambula nyisonku nawa nadiña nakukooleka kwakudiza jakwikala ihaku. Nkumininaku,  nazatili mukasanji kanfulumendi yamwiluña detu. Mu 1951 twaloñesheli kupompa kwañinza kwanyanya muBastogne. Kwapompeli hohu antu kwakwihi na 100, kushilahu nimuhela payiniya wadikita nankashi, Elly Reuter. Wendeli nankinga makilomita 50 (mamayilu 31) kulonda enzi nakupompa. Hashimbwili wanyi twadikeñeli nawa namwoteli. Elly watambwilili mutambi wakuya kuShikola yaGiliyadi, kuUnited States. Wasonekeleli kasanji keneni mukaayi nakulumbulula chuma chaletesheli akaani iwu mutambi. Manakwetu Knorr walombweleña antu jaYehova hayina mpinji, waakwili nindi hadaha ifuku dimu Elly wakaya kushikola yaGiliyadi nanfumwindi. Twadisumbwili muFebruary 1953.

Muchochina chaaka, ami naElly twayili kukupompa kwaNew World Society Assembly kwadiña mwibulu daYankee, kuNew York. Henohu tuchidi kweniku, nadibulakeni namanakwetu wanlejeli nindi kudi mudimu wawuwahi wunateli kwiñila nawa wanlejeli nindi nibuukili kuUnited States. Hanyima yakulombelahu haniwu mudimu kudi Yehova, ami naElly twakaanini iwu mudimu nawa twafuntili kuBelgium nakukwasha izanvu danyanya dawakakushimwina 10 muBastogne. Muchaaka chalondelelihu, ami nañodami twazañaleli chelili yavwali mwana weyala, Serge. Chawushona, chimwahitili tukweji 7, Serge wakatili nawa wafwili. Twamulejeli Yehova chumichi mukulomba, nawa twakolesheweli nakuchiñeja kwalala kwahosha hakusañuka.

MuOctober 1961, nawanini mudimu wakuzataku mafuku antesha mumulungu watela kunshilañaku mpinji yakuzata wupayiniya. Hela chochu, hadodina ifuku antemesheleli foni kudi nkoñi wamutayi muBelgium. Wañihwili neyi nikwiteja kutachika kukalakala neyi nkoñi wañinza. Namwihwili nami, “Kwila tuzataku ntahi wupayiniya henohu kanda twiteji iwu mudimu nehi?” Atwitejeli mutwalombeli. Hanyima yakuzata wupayiniya hadi tukweji 8, twatachikili mudimu wakwenda muSeptember 1962.

Hanyima yakuzata yaaka yiyedi mumudimu wakwenda, atutambikili kuya nakuzatila haBeteli muBrussels. Twatachikili kuzatila haBeteli muOctober 1964. Muniwu mudimu wawuha mwafumini yuma yayiwahi yayivulu. Hashimbwili wanyi kufuma hendeleliyi Manakwetu Knorr Beteli yetu mu 1965, nahayamini chantondeliwu kwikala nkoñi wamutayi. Mukuhita kwampinji, ami naElly atutambikili kuya kuShikola yaGiliyadi yanaamba 41. Mazu ahosheliyi Manakwetu Knorr hanyima yayaaka 13 yahitilihu ashikijeweli! Chitwamanishili iyi shikola, twafuntili kuBeteli yamuBelgium.

Hadi yaaka yinahitihu nadiña nakukooleka kwakuzatisha yuma yinadizili yakundama kunshimbi kuhakwilaku wuswa wetu wakudifukula muEurope nikumatuña amakwawu. (Fwili. 1:7) Chumichi chaletesheli nidiluki nawayilolu amavulu mumatuña kubadika 55 mwakaanishawu hela kulekesha mudimu wetu. Chatela nihosheña nankashi hayuma yinelili muloña wakwikala ihaku, nadilumbulwileña nami “nidi muntu waNzambi.” Nalombeleña wunlomboli waYehova mpinji yejima, muloña neluka nami  “muchima wamwanta [hela nsompeshi] wudi neyi tuloña twamenji muchikasa chaYehova. Wawulombolaña kwejima Kunakeñiyi.”—Yish. 21:1.

Chuma chimu chamwekeni chinanukaña nankashi hikukooleka kunadiña naku kwakuhanjeka namembala wumu waMwitala daNshimbi muEurope. Nalombeli kapampa kakavulu nami nihanjiki nindi, nawa nkumininaku wetejeli kudimona nanami. Wahosheli nindi, “Nukukwinka maminiti 5 hohu, nawa hinukukushilahu miniti yikwawuku.” Nanoñamini nawa natachikili kulomba. Membala wamwitala danshimbi wakamini nakuñihula chuma chinelileña. Chinenukili, nahosheli nami, “Namusakilileña Nzambi muloña eyi wudi hakachi kawayilolu jindi.” Wañihwili nindi, “Wunatalishi mudihi?” Namubakwilili haARoma 13:4. Wadiña Protestanti, dichi walemesheli awa mazu amuBayibolu. Chumanyi chafuminimu? Wañitejeli kuhanjeka nindi hadi chikunku chaora, dichi iku kubulakana kwendeli chiwahi nankashi. Nawa wahosheli nindi walemesheli mudimu wetu.

Hadi yaaka yayivulu, antu jaYehova analwishi nanyiloña yayivulu muEurope kutalisha hakubula kudiñija munsañu jamatuña nachiyuulu, wuswa wakuhemba anyana, nyisonku niyuma yikwawu. Kwadiña hikukooleka kweneni kwakuzataku muniyi nyiloña yayivulu nikudimwena Yehova chatukwashañayi kwimika mushindu nikuyiña. AYinsahu jaYehova anayiñi nyiloña yakubadika 140 muchota chaEuropean Court of Human Rights!

Muyaaka yamuma 1990, nazatilili hamu naManakwetu Philip Brumley, wafumini kukasanji keneni mukaayi, niManakwetu Valter Farneti, wafumini kuItaly, kulonda tukwashi amanakwetu niahela muCuba adifukuleña kudi Yehova mukukasunuka chikupu, muloña mudimu wetu awukaanishili. Nasonekeleli kasanji kaCuba embassy muBelgium nawa nadimweni nachilolu atondeliwu kuzatila hachuma chitwakeñeleña. Mukubulakana kwetu kwatachi, hitwatwesheli kumanisha kukala kwejima kwaletesheli mudimu wetu awukaanishiku.

Hanyima yakulomba kudi Yehova, twalombeli lusesa lwakutwala maBayibolu 500 kuCuba, nawa atwitejeli. MaBayibolu ashikili chiwahi nawa ayinkeli amanakwetu, dichi twakunkulwili netu Yehova watukiswilileña chitwazatileña nañovu. Twalombeli cheñi netu atwiteji kutemesha maBayibolu amakwawu 27,500. Atwitejeli cheñi. Kukwasha amanakwetu niahela muCuba kwikala naBayibolu hamuntu-hamuntu kwanzañalesheli nankashi.

Nayaku dehi kuCuba kapampa kakavulu nakuhakwilaku mudimu wetu kulonda wutwalekihu.  Hampinji yinayileñaku, nadilukili chiwahi nankashi nawayilolu amavulu amunfulumendi.

Mu 1994, antu amavulu kubadika 800,000 ayijahili muniyi mpinji yatama yanjita yanyichidi muRwanda. Chawushona, amanakwetu niahela amakwawu niwena ayijahili. Hashimbwili wanyi izanvu dimu dawamanakwetu adinkeli mudimu wakuloñesha yuma yakukwasha amanakwetu akaankilili munidi ituña.

Izanvu detu chidashikili muKigali, musumba weneni, twawanini mbañu jakasanji kakubalumwina nimwatentekañawu nyikanda jakulokola-lokola nayidaña. Twatiyili nsañu yayivulu yakuneñesha kutalisha hadi amanakwetu niahela ajahiliwu nanyipanga. Twatiyili cheñi nsañu yayivulu hadi amanakwetu chadimwekesheleleñawu kukeña wumu namukwawu. Chakutalilahu, twawanini manakwetu wakumuchidi waTutsi aswekeliwu muwina heseki hadi mafuku 28, amukiñili kudi chisaka chawaYinsahu chamuchidi waHutu. Hampinji yitwabulakeni muKigali, twayikundejeli kuspiritu amanakwetu niahela akubadika 900.

Kuhiñahu twayili muZaire (yinakutenawu chayinu mpinji nawu Democratic Republic of the Congo) nakukeñakeña aYinsahu amavulu amuRwanda atemukilili muyilombu yawamatunduka kwakwihi namusumba waGoma. Hitwayiwaniniku, dichi twalombeli kudi Yehova netu atulomboli kulonda tuyiwani. Twamweni muntu wenjileña kutwadiña nawa twamwihwili neyi chakwila welukilihu aYinsahu adi ejima. Waakwili nindi, “Eña, ninami nidi Chinsahu. Nateli kuyitwala kudi kometi yakwashaña antu adi mukukaankila.” Hanyima yakubulakana chiwahi nakometi yakwashaña antu adi mukukaankila, twabulakeni nawamatunduka 1,600 nakuyikundeja nikuyikolesha kuspiritu. Twayilejeli cheñi nsañu yadiña mumukanda wafumini Kwizanvu Dalombolaña. Amanakwetu niahela azañaleli nankashi chatiyiliwu mazu akukolesha akwila nawu: “Twayilombelañaku mpinji yejima. Tweluka netu Yehova hamba kayuumba chisayikilaku.” Ana mazu ahosheli Izanvu Dalombolaña adiña alala. Chayinu mpinji, muRwanda mudi aYinsahu akubadika 30,000 anakumukalakela Yehova hamu namuzañalu!

Hanyima yakushakama hamu muwulu kwakwihi nayaaka 58, nafwishili ñodami inakeña Elly mu 2011. Yehova wankundejeli chinamulejelimu chineñi chami mukulomba. Nakundejeweleña cheñi chinalejeleñaku antuñi nami nsañu yayiwahi yaWanta.

Hela chakwila nidi muyaaka yamuma 90, nichidi kushimwina mulungu-nimulungu. Natiyaña cheñi kuwaha kukwasha Dipatimenti Yatalaña haNyiloña ahanu hakasanji kamutayi kamuBelgium, kuyileja akwetu yuma yinnahitimu nikubiña atwansi adi muchisaka chaBeteli.

Munahiti yaaka 84 kufuma hinalombeli kulomba kwami kwatachi kudi Yehova. Dihinatachikili lwendu lwami lwaluwahi lunanswiji chikupu kwakwihi nayena. Nasakililaña nankashi hakwiluka nami muchihandilu chami chejima Yehova washaña maana kukulomba kwami.—Mas. 66:19. b