NJATHEMUKILE lya December 10, 1936 mu Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A., cho yange ntwatwa mu nanga ya vana vawana. Vithemi vange va William na Jean vapwile vaka-kulemetha Yehova va kukanyama. Vatate vapwile vaka-kuwanetha mbunga ya vakulunu mu chikungulukilo. Vanana valilongethele vuthunga vwa mu Mbimbiliya kuli vaina va Emma Wagner. Va Emma valongethele vanu vavangi vuthunga, va kufwa ngwe Gertrude Steele uje wapwile kamishinali ha myaka yaingi mu Puerto Rico. * Ngechi kwakele vanu vavangi vanjapandele kutembwinina.

Litangwa limo lya Sapalalo mangwethzi omwo njakele na myaka itanu, twakele na kwana mangazini ya Kaposhi ka Kukengela na Toneni! na vatate kuli vanu vaje vakele na kwita mu ngila. Ha thimbu oyo te kuli Ndthzita ya Kaye ya mu chivali. Kwethzile ndotolo umo wa kupenda, cho washangumukile kupaketha vatate mwafwa ya kulyangununa kwa vaka-Kilisitu. Wendekele ngwendi vatate vakele na lyova, cho vatewele kukovela vushwalale. Owo ndotolo washumbamenene Vatate na kuvaleka ngwendi: “Njipupe ove chindele wa lyova.” Njatewele manene, oloni njashakele chuma chivalingile Vatate. Vakevo vatwaleleleho kwana mangazini kuli mbunga ije yakeleko. Omwo kwetile lishwalale, owo ndotolo wayalumukile ngwendi: “Mulingeko mumo ou chindele wa lyova.” Lishwalale wanangukile ngwendi owo ndotolo wapendele, mukemwo wamulekele ngwendi: “Ya kwimbo ukalale.” Voshe vavali vaile. Njikakandelela manene kuli Yehova ha kukwatha vatate vapwe va kuthimpa. Vatate vakele na vitanda vivali vya kutehwila vanu viñambu, cho owo ndotolo nendi kukekwo kwakele na kutehwila.

Omwo njakele na myaka 8, vithemi vange valandethele vitanda vyavo na njuvo yavo, cho vatungile kanjuvo kakandondo ka kwenda nako na kukapangela ku Colorado kuje kwakele vujene vwakama. Twakakele ku Grand Junction kuje vithemi vange vakalingilile vupainiya vwavo, cho  lalo vakashangumukile kulima na kulela vimuna. Mu kukilikita kwavo, Yehova wavakwathele vashokolole chikungulukilo. Lya June 20, 1948, Vatate vanjimbwitikile mu kandonga ka mu minkinda hamo lika na Billie Nichols na munakathzi wendi na vakwetu veka vaje vatambwile vuthunga vwa mu Mbimbiliya. Mu kwita kwa thimbu, Billie Nichols na munakathzi wendi valingile chipangi cha kuthzenguluka, cho munavo na munakathzi wendi navo valingile ngocho.

Twalikuwile kuthimutwiya viñanda vya ku sipilitu na vanu vavangi vaje vakele na kulinga chipangi cha Vumwene mu kushula, maneneni nanga ya va Steele—Don na Earlene na Dave na Julia na Si na Martha vaje vanjikwathele manene mu kuyoya kwange. Vanjikwathele njimone omwo kutwameka vya Vumwene kulutwe kukakwathelamo munu na kumunenela kuvwahelela mu kuyoya.

Omwo njakele na myaka 19, Bud Hasty uje wapwile kavuthamba ka nanga yetu wanjilanyele njikalinge nendi vupainiya mu mbwela ya United States. Ntwama wa kuthzenguluka watulombele tuye ku Ruston, Louisiana kuje Vakaleho vavangi vathzeyele. Watulekele ngwendi tutwamenene viwano thimbu yoshe, nameme vene kukwethi vanu. Twawanene mwela wauvwa wa kukungulukila, cho twauvwahethele. Twakele na kutwamenena viwano thimbu yoshe, oloni thimbu imo twakele na kukunguluka lika tu vavali. Nga umo atwamenena, mukwavo cho akumbulula vihula vyoshe. Nga ñanda ili na chimwetho, cho tuvavoshe tuya ha vutenda, oku wahi atutolilila. Mu kwita kwa thimbu, ndokathzi umo wa kakulukathzi washangumukile kukunguluka. Kukapwa muje, vaka-kulilongetha Mbimbiliya na vakwavo veka vaje vathzeyele vashangumukile kukunguluka, cho mukwetile lika thimbu yaindondo, chikungulukilo chetu chakanyamene.

Litangwa limo, Bud nange twawanene ntwama wa mu vulombelo vwa Church of Christ uje wendekele ha vithoneka vije kunjathzivukile. Njalikomokelele ha kuthziva evi vithoneka, cho njathinganyekele manene ha vyuma vinjakulahela. Kunjamwene tulo ha chalumingo cha mutunu mu kutondethetha vikumbululo ku vihula vyanjihwile. Kulinga ngocho kwanjikwathele njithzivithithe manene vuthunga, cho njashakele njiwane ntwama wa mu vulombelo mukwavo lalo.

Mukwetile thimbu yaindondo, ntwama wa kuthzenguluka wanjilekele njikakwathe chikungulukilo cha ku El Dorado, Arkansas. Omwo njakele kuje, njakele na kwiluka iluka ku Colorado kukanjithompa kuli vaka-kukoveletha vushwalale. Thimbu imo, twakele na kwendela mu munyau wange na vakwetu, cho twaliwanene mu monde ku Texas ije yaviyithile munyau. Twatuminine ndolome umo uje  watutwalele ku njuvo yendi na kututwala ku viwano. Kuje ku chikungulukilo, vakanene mutambi ngwavo tunakala mu monde, cho vandolome vakatwaneneko vimbongo vya kulikwatha navyo. Owo ndolome wanjilandethelele munyau wange ha ndando ya $25.

Twathele kulonda na kuya ku Wichita kuje kwakele na kulingila vupainiya E. F. “Doc” McCartney, kavuthamba ka nanga yetu. Vana vendi va vampatha va vanalume, Frank na Francis, vapwile vavuthamba vange vakama, cho na thimbu ino hanga vachili vavuthamba vange. Vanjilandethele munyau wavo wa laja ha ndando ya $25, ije injalandethele munyau wange. Eyi ikeyo yapwile thimbu ya kulivanga kumona ngwange Yehova wanjikwathele mwafwa njatwamekele vya Vumwene kulutwe. Ha vungendthzi ovu, McCartney na munakathzi wendi vanjithzimbwile kuli ndokathzi wamuvwa uje wa kukanyama ku sipilitu, Bethel Crane. Vaina va Ruth vaje vapwile Vakaleho va kukanyama manene mu Wellington, Kansas, vatwaleleleho kulinga vupainiya kuketa na ha myaka 90. Mukwetile myaka yaindondo lika, twalyambatele na Bethel mu 1958, cho twakalingile hamo vupainiya mu El Dorado.

Munima ya kuthinganyeka ha myanja yaivwa ivatwakelele, twalivwahethelele kulinga vipangi vyoshe vyoshe vivatwanene mu munga ya Yehova. Vatutumine kukalinga vupayiniya vwa kulitila ku Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Mu 1962, twavwahelelele manene omwo twatambwile chilanyo cha kuya ku Sikola ya Ngilyande mu kilasi ya vu 37. Cho twavwahelelele manene mwafwa twakakele mu kilasi imo lika na Don Steele. Omwo twamanethele sikola, nange na Bethel vatutumine ku Nairobi, Kenya. Twalithzivile manene kuvihya ku mbunge omwo twatundile mu New York, oloni omwo twakaliwanene na vandolome ku litulilo lya vifulai, twavwahelelele.

Twashangumukile kuthzema manene kukala mu Kenya na kwambulwilamo. Chris na Mary Kanaiya vakevo vatwashangumukilile kulilongetha navo Mbimbiliya. Vachili na kutwalelelaho kupangela ku Kenya mu kulongwa. Mwaka wakavangeyeyeho, vatutumine tukapangele ku Kampala, Uganda, cho yetu twapwile vamishinali va kulivanga kupangelako. Oyo yapwile thimbu yaivwa manene mwafwa vanu vavangi vashakele kulilongetha vuthunga vwa mu Mbimbiliya, cho mu kwita kwa thimbu, navo vapwile Vakaleho. Oloni omwo twakele mu Africa myaka itatu na chimbwa, twelukile kwimbo kukanyunga nanga. Twelukile ku United States. Litangwa litwatundile mu Africa, twalithzivile manene kuvihya ku mbunge kutuvakana mutwalithzivilile omwo twatundile mu New York. Twalithzililile manene na vanu va mu Africa, cho twakulahelele ngwetu tangwa tukelukamo lalo.

Twakakele ha minkinda ya mu kangombe ka yambi ka ku Colorado kuje kuvakele vithemi vetu. Mukwetile thimbu yaindondo, munetu wa kulivanga Kimberly wathemukile, cho munima ya vingonde 17, kwathemukile lalo Stephany. Twakele manene mbunge ku chipangi chetu chachiha cha kulela vana, cho twavalongethele vuthunga. Twashakele kutembwinina myanja ivatwakelele. Twathzivukile ngwetu kwakela vana mwanja wauvwa kukulumbununa ngwavo voshe vatwalelelaho kupangela Yehova omwo vakola. Shongo yange wa mukwenje na wa mumbanda vatundile mu vuthunga. Njakulahela ngwange tangwa vatembwinina myanja yaivwa ya Vithemi vetu.

Twalikuwile chipangi cha kulela vana vetu na kulinga vyuma hamo lika. Twakele kuyehi na Aspen, Colorado, ngechi twakele na kwehela mu ndonga  hamo lika. Eyi thimbu ya kulivwaheleletha hamo na nanga yetu, yatulingithile tuwane thimbu yaingi ya kukala na vana vetu. Thimbu imo, twakele na kuya navo lalo ku mitambela imo, kukavweka tuhya na kuthimutwiya navo. Nameme vapwile vanike, oloni vakele na kwihula vihula vyakufwa ngwe evi: “Vika njikalinga omwo njikola?” na “Munu wa kufwa vati injinapande kukalyambata nendi?” Twethekele kulongetha vana vetu vya ku sipilitu oku vachili vavandondo. Twavakwathele valyangwile kulinga chipangi cha thimbu yoshe na kulyambata lika na munu uje ali na vilengo vya kulifwa na vyavo. Twavakwathele lalo vathzivuke ngwavo kuvapandele kukovela mu vulo oku vachili manene vanike. Twakele na kuvaleka ngwetu: “Chachivwa kuvandamenako, noho ukala na myaka 23.”

Twakele na kuya mumo ku viwano na nanga yetu, ngwe muvakele na kulingila vithemi vetu. Twakele na kulanya vanu vamo vaje vakele mu chipangi cha thimbu yoshe ku njuvo yetu mangana tuthikame navo. Cho lalo twakele na kuthimutwiya ha vyuma vyavivwa vitwalikuwile mu chipangi cha vumishinali. Twakulahelele ngwetu litangwa limo, tuvavoshe tu vawana tukaya mu Africa. Vana vetu vashakele kumona mu Africa.

Twakele na kukala na chilongetha cha nanga thimbu yoshe, cho twakele na kweha vyuma vije vinatha kulingiwa ku sikola. Vanike vakevo vakele na kulinga ngwe Vakaleho vaje vakumbulula vihula. Vashakele kulilongetha mu ngila eyi, cho kwavakanyamethele. Omwo vakele na kukola, vithimbu vimo vakele na kulilombela ngwavo tukale na chilongetha cha nanga. Thimbu imo kunjashuvulukile, cho njavalekele ngwange vaye na kulala, kutulilongetha. Valikomokelele, cho vashangumukile kulila na kunjileka ngwavo vashaka kulilongetha. Echi chatulingithile tumone ngwetu twakunine vuthunga mu vimbunge vyavo oku vachili vanike. Vashakele manene kulilongetha, cho twakele na kuvana thimbu ya kwendekako vithinganyeka vyavo. Oloni thimbu imo twakele na kukomoka omwo vakale na kuvyana vyuma vimo vya vuthunga vivakele na kulilongetha. Oloni twathzivukile vyakele mu vimbunge vyavo. Omwo twakele na kuvalumbunwina mwamuvwa, vakele na kuthzivithitha vithinganyeka vya Yehova ha vyuma.

Chipangi chetu cha kulela vana chahwile vwathi kutuvakana mutwathinganyekelelemo. Njambi hamo lika na munga yendi vatukwathele twetheke mwoshe mutwathelele kulongetha vana vetu vathzeme Yehova. Twavwahelelele manene kumona vana vetu vamanetha sikola, na kushangumuka kulinga vupainiya, na kulilongetha mwakuwanena vimbongo. Vaile na vandokathzi vakwavo vavali ku Cleveland, Tennessee kukapangela kuje kwakele vujene vwakama. Vatuthethzele mu vuli vwakama, oloni twavwahelelele omwo valyanene kupanga chipangi cha thimbu yoshe mu kuyoya kwavo. Mukemwo Bethel nange twashangumukile vupainiya lalo, echi chatushokolwele ngila ya kupanga vipangi vikwavo lalo vyavivwa. Twakwathele ntwama wa kuthzenguluka na ntwama wa viwano vya mutambela.

Thimbu kanda vana vetu vaye ku Tennessee, valivangele kuya ku London, England, cho vaketele na ha ofisi ya munango. Stephany uje wakele na myaka 19, wakaliwanene na mukwenje wa ha Mbetele, Paul Norton. Omwo velukilileko lalo, Kimberly wakaliwanene na Brian Llewellyn uje yakele na kupanga nendi. Paul na Stephany valyambatele, oloni Stephany te natuvakana laja myaka 23. Brian na Kimberly valyambatele mu mwaka wakavangeyeyeho, Kimberly te ali na myaka 25. Kuvashatukilile kushomboka, kuvanga muvakele na myaka 23. Twathzemene manene vanu vavangwile kulyambata navo.

Vana vetu vakatuleke ngwavo mwanja utwavakelele yetu na vakuku yavo wavakwatha vononoke lishiko lya Yesu lya kulivanga tayi ‘kushakethzeka Vumwene’ nameme mu thimbu yaikalu. (Mateo 6:33) Mu April 1998, Paul na Stephany vavalanyele ku Sikola ya Ngilyande mu kilasi ya vu 105, cho munima vavatumine kukapangela ku Malawi, mu Africa. Ha thimbu imo lika, Brian na Kimberly navo vavalanyele kukapangela ha Mbetele ya ku London, cho mu kwita kwa thimbu vavatumine kukapangela ha Mbetele ya ku Malawi. Twavwahelelele manene mwafwa eyi ikeyo lika ngila oyo vavaha vatha kupangethelamo kuyoya kwavo.

Mu January 2001 hakeho havanjituminine na kuthimutwiya vije vinjinendeka ku maputukilo.  Ndolome Marais uje wapwile ntwama wa Vipangi vya Kunungulula wanjituminine na kunjileka ngwendi kuli chipangi cha kulongetha vaka kunungulula Vundele va mu kaye koshe, cho nange vanjilanyele mangana vakanjilongethe chipangi cha kulongetha vaka-kunungulula te njili na myaka 64. Nange na Bethel twathimutwiyiye ha ñanda eyi, cho twalekeleko Vithemi vetu mangana vatunangule. Vatulekele ngwavo tuye, nameme vene vatondele vukwathi vwetu. Njalekele uje ndolome ngwange, twalivwahethela kukapanga ocho chipangi chachivwa.

Vanana vashangumukile kuvinja mushongo wa kansa. Twavalekele ngwetu kutui mangana tulikwathe na ndokathzi yange Linda mu kuvanyunga. Vanana vanjikumbulwile ngwavo: “Nameme vene ukaleko, nevi viupanga vyai, oloni njivinja manene nga kuuyi.” Omwo mukemwo mwalithzivilile na Linda. Twakandelelele manene ku sipilitu yavo ya kulyana na kuli vavuthamba vatwatungile navo vaje vatukwathele. Mutwaketele ku Watchtower Educational Center ku Patterson, twakatumbamene lika litangwa limo, cho Linda watutuminine na kutuleka ngwendi Vanana vanathsi. Twatwaleleleho na chipangi chetu chachiha, ngwe omwo mwatushongangeyeye.

Twavwahelelele manene lalo mwafwa vatutumine kukapangela ku munango wa ku Malawi kuje kuvakele na kupangela vana vetu na vanalume vavo. Twakaliwanene lalo. Kutundoho, twakalongethelele mu Zimbabwe, cho twaya na mu Zambia. Omwo twalongethele ha myaka itatu na chitika, vatulekele twiluke ku Malawi kukathoneka vyakuliwana navyo vya Vakaleho vaje vavayandethele mwafwa ya kulyangununa kwa vaka-Kilisitu. *

Twalithzivile manene kuvihya lalo omwo twelukile kwimbo ku Basalt, Colorado mu 2005 kuje nange na Bethel twakatwaleleleho kulinga vupainiya. Mu 2006, Brian na Kimberly vajalukilile kuyehi netu kwakulela vana vavo va vambanda vavali, Mackenzie na Elizabeth. Paul na Stephany vachili ku Malawi, kuje Paul wapanga mu Komiti ya Munango. Ololo njipwa na myaka 80, ya kukola, cho njikavwahelela manene kumona vakwenje vanjakele na kupanga navo vapanga chipangi chinjakele na kupanga. Twawana kuvwahelela kwakama lalo mu kutembwinina myanja ivatwakelele mangana tukwathe vana na vatekulu vetu.