Mi kiyaariye mwaakha wo 1927, isittatti yankaani yo waattamela u Chicago, Illinois, EUA. Asithumwanaka yaahana aasana 5 —Jetha, Don, mi, Karl ni Joy. Hi naaneekurumica cinene unvarela nteko Yehova. Jetha aahokela iturma yo 2 Icikola yo Gileade mwaakha wo 1943. Asinyenyaaka akhwaaweeyo yaahorwaa Upeteli yo Brooklyn, Nova York. Don, mwaakha wo 1944, Karl, mwaakha wo 1947, ni Joy, mwaakha wo 1951. Ntakihero naya ni ntakihero naasithumwanaka nihokikurumica cinene.

Asithumwanaka yansoma Ibiibiliya ni yanonfenta Nluku ni ayo yanniitthuciha unfenta ciicammo Nluku. Masi, umaliha waya waana ikotto yoopacera yo ntuninyani, apaapa yaahohiya urwaa ukereja. Masi ukhala wiira amaama yaahokhala ootteeliya woona waya apaapa yaaturuwaka anari akumi, ayo yaahowiirela apaapa co: “Karl, nttwee nituruwele uswali ukereja.” Vano, apaapa yaare co: “Mi kinaahala wuutthukanani mpaka wonwo, masi akinhala urwaa ukela nkerejammo.” Amaama yaahakoha: “Kontha isiyani?” Apaapa yaahakhula: “Kontha ukati wo khotto, ahooleeli o iyo ikerejeeyo, yaapanka mphantte wa naakhotto ni yaanaacaaliha anatoropa o iyo ilapweeyo! Kiireke wiira Nluku ankavihera miphantte cotheene?”

Nihuku nimoca, amaama anari ukereja, Masaahiti a Yehova yaahophiyaca uwaani. Ni yahaavahaca apaapa iliivuru yeehaniya Light (Luz), inuuluma iliivuru ya Apokalipise. Apaapa yaahacivela ni yaahakhelela. Vano, amaama woona waya nnyo iliivurunnyo, ayo yaahopacera usoma. Nihuku nimoca, ayo yaahoona iwarakha njornalini yaalattula atthu wiira asome Ibiibiliya yaavarelaka nteko iliivuru Light (Luz). Ayo yaaholakela urwaa. Uphiya waya nwo, athiyana amoca yaahowakhelela. Vano, amaama yaahowoonihera iliivuru imoca ni yaahakoha: “Nyuuva mwaatthi nnaasoma ila iliivurwiila?” Vano athiyana yaahakhula: “Iye ninaasoma, nyuuva ciicammo pooti upacera usoma.” Vano isumana ikhwaaweeyo, amaama yaahokitthukana nloko miiva nkhayi naasinyenyaaka ni nuuwakatyaaya, naahopacera urwaa khula isumana.

Nihuku nimoca nonkutthaano, munna aahoolela uyo nkutthaanooyo aahokilepela wiira kisome Isaalimu 144:15, ineera: ale anonswalela Yehova ankhala ootteeliya. Mi yaahokicivela cinene iyo iveereswiiyo.  Ciicammo, yaahokicivela iwarakha 1 Timotiyu 1:11, ineera: Yehova khanle ‘Nluku ootteeliya’, ni ya Efesu 5:1 ineera: nihaana ‘untakiha Nluku.’ Mi kaahonenela wiira kihaana ukhala ootteeliya nlattu wonswalela Mumpyaaka ni unsukhuru nlattu wo iyo iparakheeyo —ni kinawiikurumica upanka nnyo citthunnyo muukumini waka motheene.

Nloko naattamenleehu naari u Chicago, yaakhala ikilometuru 32. Hataa ukhalaka commo, hi nanrwaaka woona mikutthaano ni ucuwelaca waka Ibiibiliya waahoncererya. Mi kinawuupuwela ikhwaha imoca munna aahoolela aahomwiihana Jetha wiira akomentari. Uno akomentarikiyooyo, mi kaahopowela co: ‘Mi kancuwela waakhuliya waya nno nikohonno. Mi pooti konwusaaka moono wiira ciicammo kikomentari.’ Vano, kaahopacera wiitthenkaca ni ukomentari. Masi itthu yofayita cinene waari miiva nkhayi naasinyenyaaka ulipihaca upatthaniihu ni Yehova. Mi kipattisiye mwaakha wo 1941.

Mi kinawuupuwela sana-saana ikonkereesu yo mwaakha wo 1942, u Cleveland, Ohio. Woopwahaka mapuro 50 o Estados Unidos, yaaviriyana ikonkereeswiiyo yanvarelaka nteko ntelefooni. Amucyaaka yaari nkhayi nimayamunna makhwaawe nipuro nowaattamela ukonkereesuni. Apoovu yaananana ikhotto yo nayeeli yo ntuninyani ni woopopihaciya wo Masaahiti a Yehova wanvira waatepaka. uhiyu, mayamunna yaaheemesa ikaaro nipuro naari ivaraawu cookhurupuliya. Otheene yaaholakela ukhalana ntthu aahala ukhalelela ikaaro uhiyu wotheene. Waakhalaka wiira yanhala ukhumelela itthu yoonanaara, mayamunna yanhala urumiha ipusina co kaaro ni uparihela iluusu wiira yaamwalele anaakhotto. Vano atthu akhwaawe yanhala urwaa waakavihera. Woona waka commo, mi kahuupuwela co: ‘Apoovu a Yehova khweeliini ari owiitthenkaceene!’ naayo manannaayo, mi kaahorupa woohoova ni hataa unikhumelela masakha.

Uvira waya myaakha, ukati wuupuwenlyaka ile ikonkereeswiile, mi kahoonenela wiira amaama khayathoonihenre woova. Ayo yaanonkhuluvela cinene Yehova ni mphwinkwaawe ni mi akinhala uliyala ntakihero naya.

Ukati vakaani inavinre ile ikonkereeswiile, amaama yaahokhala piyoneera owiicaverya. Vano, ayo yaahoviriyana sana-saana mwaha wooluma uvara nteko wa Yehova ukati wotheene. Ukati waarweehu uwaani, ayo yaaheera: “Mi wankicivela ukhala nanlelo piyoneera, masi akinhala ukhitiri ni uhihiyerera uwaacera itthokweehu veekha.” Vano, ayo yaahoniko wakhala wiira hiiva nanhala waakavihera. Naahowakhula niwiirelaka nanhala waakavihera. Vano, amaama yaahonthanla ntthu mmoca awula eeli wiira akwacakwece wecisuru. Vano, naaneera nakhumaka wiira naarwaaka ucikolani, amaama yahaana woona wakhala wiira nihaarumari saana mpaanimmo, vano ayo haakhumaaya yaarwaaka wuulalyeerani. Ayo yaanvara miteko cinci, masi yankhitiri uniwaacera saana. Ukati waakhumeehu ucikolani wiira naalye, ayo naaphwanyaka yaaniwehereraka ni mahuku makhwaawe yannitthukanaka nkhayi wuulalyeerani naaturuwaka ucikolani. Ni iyo yaahonikavihera ucuwela mananna oovara nteko weepiyoneeru.

Mi kikhanle piyoneeru kinaarina myaakha 16. Hataa ukhalaka wiira apaapa khayanakhala Saahiti a  Yehova, ayo yampheela ucuwela mananna ntekooyo caakettelaaya. Uhiyu mmoca, mi kaahahimerya wiira hataa kikurumicaka cinene, nanlelo akaarina ntthu onsomiha Ibiibiliya. Vano mi kahakoha co: “Nyuuva nnaapheela usoma Ibiibiliya ni miiva?” Ayo yaahakhula yeeraka: “Khweeliini mi kinaapheela usoma.” Vano, waahokitteela nrima nlattu woopacera waasomiha Ibiibiliya apaapa!

Mi kaasomanaka iliivuru “A Verdade Vos Tornará Livres”. Vano nuuwakatyaaya, mi kaahonenela wiira apaapa yaaniira ukikavihera ukhala namasomiha Ibiibiliya omaana ni uhihiyerera usoma cinene Ibiibiliya. Wootakihera, naasomaka, umaliha waya usoma iparaagarafu imoca, ayo yaaheera co: “Mi kihocuwela itthu iliivuru ihimilyaaya. Masi uncuwela cani wiira iliivurwiiyo khayoothile?” Mi akeetthenkacile wiira kaakhule. Vano, mi kaahakhula: “Mi akincuwela waakhula nno nikohonno phiyaarunna va, masi nihuku ninhaleehu uturuwela usoma kinaahala uwa waakhula nno nikohonno.” Ni mi kaahokhitiri waakhula. Mi kaahophwanya iveerusu caakhula uyo mwahooyo. Ukhuma nenne nihukunne mpaka, mi kaheetthuca utotha ni wiitthenkaca saana kihinaaya upacera usoma. Iyo yaahokikavihera ukhala ntthu ookhomaala nhina mminepani nkhayi naapaapa. Ayo yaahopacera weettela itthu yiitthucaaya ni apattisiye mwaakha wo 1952.

Mi kikhumile wapuwani waasithumwanaka kinaarina myaakha 17. Jetha aahokhala misiyonariya, a Don aavara nteko upeteli. O yeeli caya waanacivela cinene nteko waavaraaya ni iyo yaahokilipiha cinene. Vano, mi kaahoveleliha ipetisau upeteli ni u Gileade ni kaaholakela wiira Yehova akivarele nteko khula nipuro. Vano, kaaholattuliya upeteli mwaakha wo 1946.

Myaakha 75 kivirihilyaaka kivaraka nteko Upeteli, mi kihookavihera miphantte coovirikana ni kiheetthuca citthu cinci. Wootakihera, utthenkaca iliivuru, uwaacera nsurukhu, importação ni exportação. Masi itthu yofayita waari mananna mayamunna Oopeteli cikikaavihenryaaya woonuwa nhina mminepani, wootakihera, uswali wo wecisu ni myaha cimpankiya para amuci Oopeteli.

Mi kihomwiitthucera cinene mwanhimaaka Karl aakenle Upeteli mwaakha wo 1947. Uyo aari naamasoma Ibiibiliya ni naamasomiha Ibiibiliya omaana. Ikwaha imoca mi kaahonlepela ukikavihera upanka mwaha waahalaka upanka. Mi kaahonhimerya wiira kahotothatotha cinene ni kaahokhitiri uphwanya masi akaacuwela uvarela nteko. Vano,  uyo ahokikavihera akikohaka co: “Joel, unooluma isiyani mwahooyo?” Vano mi kaahocuwelela woohipica mwahooyo —mi kahaana kivarelaka nteko ikaaruma caahala ukikavihera utaphulela saana mwahooyo. Akiliyanle-tho iyo itthwiiyo.

Wiira nikhale ootteeliya naavaraka nteko Upeteli, nihaana niikurumicaka urwaa wuulalyeerani ni iyo pooti uniilipiha cinene. Mi kanawuupuwela sana-saana ikhwaha munna mmoca ni miiva naarweeleehu waathotola athiyana amoca yaakhelenle irevista Ukhalenla ni Despertai! u Bronx, u Nova Yor. Hi naahopacera wiittonkaca niiraka co: “Ula ucociloola, hi ninawaakavihera atthu wiitthuca citthu cofayita co mbiibiliyani.” Vano, ayo yaahakhula: “Wakhala wiira citthu co mbiibiliyani, khaaripu. Naahosoma ni naahopela mwaha iveerusu cinci cinhimya Umwene wa Nluku ni ituninya yonaanaano. Ayo caahacivela ni mpaka yaahalattula amucyaaya wiira yaaviriyani myaha cihu ikwaha ikhwaaweeyo. Nuuwakatyaaya, ayova nkhayi naamucyaaya aahokhala aswali ookhuluvelya a Yehova.

Mi kaahoviriha myaakha woophiyaka 10 kamwaavyaka ntthu wiira kinthele kihinaaya waacuwela amwaaraka! Nnaacuwela isiyani ikikavihenre umphwanya nthiyana omaana wiira kinthele? Mi kaaholompa ni kawuupuwela cinene co: ‘Isiyani inhalaaka upanka kathenlaka vale?’

Uvira waya ikonkereesu yo mwaakha wo 1953, yaapankiye ikampu yoolupale yo Yankee, mi kahaacuwela anuunu amoca yeehaniya Mary Anoil. Ayo yaarweele u Gileade ikhayi ni Jetha ni ayoca yaakhaviheraca khampa mamisiyonariya nkhayi. Mary aahokihimerya nteko waakaviheraawe weemisiyonariya u Caribe ni atthu aasomihaawe Ibiibiliya myaakha cotheene. Waahopiya ukati ni ucivelana wihu wantepa waaviraka winciva. Niithelanne mweeri wa abril mwaakha wo 1955. Uvira waya ukati, mi kahoonenela wiira Mary yaari itthuvo ya Yehova ni yankitthuciha citthu cofayita. Ayo waanaacivela khula nteko, yaari owiikurumica, yanawaacera atthu akhwaawe ni kaayahiya uhoolelihera nipuro noopacera Umwene wa Nluku. (Mat. 6:33) Nihokavihera khampa mamootoli osirikwiitu myaakha 3 ni mwaakha wo 1958 naaholattuliya Upeteli.

Mi kihowiitthucera cinene ayova. Wootakihera, uthelanaca wihu, naaholakela usoma Ibiibiliya nkhayi. Hi naasomaka iveerusu 15 khula ikwaha. Vano ukhula ntthu asoma, hiiva naanoopela mwaha itthu naasomeehu ni manannani naahaleehu weettela muukumini wihu. Khula ikwaha amwaaraka yankihimerya citthu ciitthucilyaaya u Gileade ni muntekoni waya weemisiyonariya. Itthu yiitthucilyaaka naayo, ihokikavihera utthenkaca saana myaha ni ucuwela mananna owaalipiha mayanuunu.—Miru. 25:11.

Amwaaraka Mary akhwile mwaakha wo 2013. Mi kinaaweherera cinene uturuwela-tho woona upeephoni! Kaawehererakoono, kihaana kikurumicaka uhihiyerera wiitthuca myaha ca Yehova ni unkhuluvela ninrimaka wotheene. (Miru. 3:5, 6) Wuupuwela citthu apoovu a Yehova cinrwaaya upanka upeephoni cinaakimaliha ni cinaakiphwanyiha utteeliya. Nwo, khweeliini hi ninaarwaa wiitthuca citthu cinci coophiyaaru ni Mwiitthucihiihu Nkhulupale! Mi kinansukhuru Yehova nlattu wookiitthuciha citthu cinci mpaka nna co ni unamaana uhinkiphwanela unkithoonyeraawe.