Unavinre mwaakha wo 1940, apaapa ni amaama yahancera usomihiya Ibiiblya ni Masaahiti a Yehova. Nuuwakatyaaya, ayo yahohiya usomihiya Ibiiblya, masi amaama nanlelo yaanaakhelaka irevista Ukhalenla ni Despertai!. Wahoolo, unavinre mwaakha wo 1950 amucyaaka yaholattuliya woona ikonkereesu yolapo cinci yaahala upankiya isittatti yo Nova Iorque.

Woohipica, amunna amoca yeehaniya Lawrence Jeffries ahancera unootola wiira anoopane myaha ca Nluku. Amunna Jeffries yaanaapheela cinene wiira miiva kiitthuce ikhweeli co mbiiblyani. Masi wiipaceroni, mi khayaakicivela mananna Masaahiti a Yehova caakhottaaya wiikelakeliha isiyaasa ni ikhotto. Mi kahowiirela ayo amunnaayo wiira wakhalaka wiira atthu otheene anaakhotta urwaa ukhottoni, ilapweehu yo América yanhala utupheliya niilapo cikhwaawe ni ukhitiriya. Amunna Jeffries yahokiirela: “Unari wiira apoovu otheene o Estados Unidos aholakela unswalela Yehova, unaacuwela isiyani Yehova yaahalaawe upanka yakhumelelaka ilapo ikiina yaahala umananiha waathuphela?” Citthu ayo amunnaayo coolumalyaaya nhina uyo mwahooyo ni nhina myaha cikiina cahokikavihera woona wiira mi akaarina isariya. Phimaana, mi kahopheela wiitthuca ikhweeli.

Mi kahoviriha iwoora cinci kisomaka irevista Ukhalenla ni Despertai! cokhalayi amaama caahiilyaaya uwaani. Nuuwakatyaaya, mi kahoona wiira citthu ceetthucaaka caari ikhweeli. Phimaana, mi kahotthuna wancera usomihiya Ibiiblya naamunna Jeffries. Ciicammo, mi kahancera urwaa umikutthaanoni. Mi cankicivela cinene citthu cotheene ceetthucaaka ni kahokhala namalalyeera ihapari comaana. Mi kahorukunusa itthu yaapheelaaka utthara muukumini waka ukati weetthucilyaaka wiira “nihuku na Yehova niri wakhiviru.” (Sof. 1:14) Mi akaapheela-tho urwaa usoma wuuniversidade. Itthu yaapheelaaka waari waakavihera akhunanaka wiitthuca ikhweeli.

Mi kaamalihile usoma icikola nihuku 13, mweeri wo Junho wo 1956, ni uvira waya myeeri miraru, kahopattisiya wanthukumanoni wosirikwiitu. Mi akoopuwela  hataa vakaani iparakha caahalaaka waakhela nlattu woohoolelihera uvarela nteko ukumyaaka wiira kiitthuce myaha ca Yehova ni wiira kiwiitthucihe akhunanaka nnyo myahannyo.

Uvira waya myeeri siita kinapattisiye, mi kahokhala piyoneeru owiicaaverya. Nhina mwaalivuru Ministério do Reino o Dezembro o 1956 wahaavo mwaha weera: “Nyuuva nnaatthuna ukavihera mapuro anthwaa anamalalyeera?” Mi kaanaatthuna, kontha kaanaapheela cinene ukavihera mapuro yaathwaa anamalalyeera.—Mat. 24:14.

Mi kahothamela isittatti ineehaniya Edgefield, ncoko wo Carolina do Sul. Nloko naarweelyaaka yarivo anamalalyeera acese paahi ni thi mi kaapiihera oneethano. Hi naapankaka mikutthaano wasaala, inupa ya munna mmoca. Khula mweeri, mi kanviriha iwoora 100 kilalyeeraka. Mi kaakhala ninteko mwinci kilalyeeraka ni kitthenkacaka miphantte caakhalanaaka umikutthaanoni. Ni ukati weekurumicaaka uvara miteko co wanlokoni, mi kantepa wiitthuca citthu ca Yehova.

Yahaavo athiyana yaasomihaaka Ibiiblya yaarina empereesa yowaasikha atthu ookhwa wasittatti yo Johnston yaattamenle vakaani isittatti yo Edgefield waakhalaaka. Ayo athiyanaayo yaari ooreera nrima ni yahokivaha nteko woovariya iwoora vakaani wamperesa waya ni mi kaanaapheela cinene uyo ntekooyo. Ciicammo, ayo yahonaaverya nipuro nankaani wiira nipanke isalawiihu yo Umwene.

Amunna Jeffries yaakisomihile Ibiiblya yahaana mwaana mmoca eehaniya Jolly. Uyo ahothama u Nova Iorque ni ahothamela wasittatti waakhaleehu ni hi nahancera uvara nteko nkhayi khampa mapiyoneeru. Hi ciicammo naakhala nkhayi nhina ikontentoore yaacimiyeehu nimunna mmoca.

Ncoko woohitto waakhaleehu khawaapokheriya nsurukhu mwinci. Hi naapokheraka idólar piili awula tthaaru paahi khula nihuku naavareehu nteko. Ikwaha imoca, mi kahorwaa upacari ni uthumela iyoolya nsurukhu vakaani waahalannyaaka ni kahokhala woohinsurukhu. Woohipica, nlopwana mmoca ahokiirela: “Unaapheela nteko? Kinaahala wuuliva idólar imoca khula iwoora inhalaa uviriha uvaraka nteko.” Uyo ahokivaha nteko wo mahuku mararu; waari nteko wookwecakweca nipuro naatekatekiya. Uyo ukatyuuyo, mi kahoona wiira Yehova phaakikavihera wiira kihihiye uvara ntekwaawe u Edgefield. Hataa makhalelo yarikarikacaka, mi kahokhitiri urwaa ukonkereesuni yolapo cinci yaapankiye u Nova Iorque mwaakha wo 1958.

Nihuku yonayeeli no iyo ikonkereeswiiyo, yaheerannya itthu ihinliyalaaka mpaka ilelo. Mi kahoncuwela Ruby Wadlington. Uyo aavara nteko weepiyoneeru u Gallatin, ncoko wo Tennessee. Ukhala wiira mi ni uyo naapheela ukhala mamisiyonaariyu, hi nahoona nkutthaano waatthu yaapheela usoma icikola yo Gileade. Wahoolo, hi nahancera wantikhelana iwarakha. Nuuwakatyaaka, mi kahorwaa utaphulela mwaha wanlokoni nawe, ni kahonveka wiira nithelanace. Uyo ukatyuuyo, mi kahothamela nloko nawe ni nahothelanaca mwaakha wo 1959.

Uwakati waarinaaka myaakha 23, mi kahothanliya wanlokoni no Gallatin wiira kikhale ule nomwiihaneehu ilelo humu notthenkaca mphwinko wo mahumu. Hi nahorwaa nloko amunna Charles Thompson  naapacenryaaya wootola ukati wancenryaaya ukhala mootoli osirikwiitu. Ayo yaari amunna oocuwelaca, masi mi kaaneekoha masakhani mayamunna yaananaaya ni mananna mamootoli akiina caakavihenryaaya. Mi kaheetthuca nkhayi naayo wiira kihinaaya ulakela upanka itthu, phataari wiipanka makoho wiira kicuwele mananna oowacera uyo mwahooyo.

Mweeri wo Maio wo 1964, mi kaholattuliya urwaa usoma Icikola yo Nteko wo Umwene. Iyo icikoleeyo yaahala usomiya mweeri mmoca u South Lansing, Nova Iorque. Mayamunna yaasomiha iyo icikoleeyo yahokikavihera upheela utepa wiitthuca myaha ca Yehova ni wuunuwa mminepani.

Mweeri wo Janeiro wo 1956, mi ni amwaaraka Ruby yaholattuliya wiira nancere uvara nteko wo wootola maloko. Hi naavahaceriye isirikwiitu yuulupale, yaahela nhina ncoko wo Knoxville, u Tennessee ni yaahala vakaani uphiya ncoko wo Richmond, u Virgínia. Nhina iyo isirikwiitwiiyo, yahaavo maloko o Carolina do Norte, Kentucky ni o Virgínia Ocidental. Mi kootolaka paahi maloko yaari anamalalyeera alupa ooriipa, kontha uyo ukatyuuyo malamulo o Estados Unidos yaanawaakhottiha alupa ooripa uthukumana naakunya. Ukhala wiira mayamunna khayaarina mihakhu cinci, hi naheetthuca waameela akhunanihu citthu caarineehu. Nkwaha mmoca, mootoli osirikwiitu ahokiitthuciha ikano yofayita. Uyo aakiirenle co: “Mwaphiyaka wanlokoni ninrweenyu wootola, nkhale munna; nhitothe ukhala seefi. Nyu nnohala ukhitiri waakavihera mayamunna yowoonakani ukhula munnaaya.”

Ikwaha imoca yootoleehu nloko, amwaaraka Ruby yahancera unsomiha Ibiiblya nthiyana aarina mwaana mwanthiyana o mwaakha mmoca. Aahikhumeleleke ntthu o wanlokoni onsomiha Ibiiblya uyo mmirawooyo, amwaaraka yansomihaka niiwarakha. Ikwaha ikhwaawe nootonleehu nno nlokonno, uyo nthiyanooyo ahoona mikutthaano cotheene. Vano asirokorihu mapiyoneera eeli waathamenlyaaya nno nlokonno, yahorweehela uhoolo unsomiha Ibiiblya uyo nthiyanooyo ni ahopattisiya. Uvira waya myaakha 30, ninari u Peteli yo Patterson mwaakha wo 1995, ahowa nrokorihu mmoca uwuulumana amwaaraka. Uyo nrokorihuuyo aari mwanaya yaale athiyana yaasomihiya Ibiiblya naamwaarakaale. Uyo naawannyawe yaasoma iturma 100 yocikola yo Gileade.

Isirikwiitu yonayeeli yaavareehu nteko yaari u Flórida. Ule ukatyuule, hi nampheela cinene ukhalana ikaaro ni nahokhitiri uthuma niiperesu yomaana. Masi yeele isumaneele, mootooru wo iyo ikaarweeyo wahokanyuwa ni hi khanaarina nsurukhu woorehenriha. Phimaana, kahonlikarela munna mmoca ni kahonlepela wiira anikavihere. Uyo ahonruma nantekwaawe urehererya ikaarweehu ni ahoniirela wiira pooti uhinliva. Mi kaheera: “Phataari.” Masi ciicammo, uyo ahonivaha nsurukhu! Iyo itthwiiyo yahokoonihera mananna Yehova cinaawaceraawe aswalyaawe ni yahoniitthuciha mi naamwaaraka wiikurumica wiira ciicammo naakavihere akhwiihu.

Khula ikwaha yootoleehu nloko, hi naalukama wapuwani wo mayamunna. Iyo itthwiiyo ihonikavihera ukhalana apatthani enci. Nihuku nimoca, mi kahancera wantikha irelatooriyu yo nloko nootoleehu ni kahohiya wamaakinani wantikhaaka mi nuukhuma. Ukati waaturuwilyaaka uhiyu wiira kimalihaceke, kahoona wiira mwanaya amunna yaalukamenleehu “ahomalihera” wantikha. Ikwaha cinci, kawoonaka athumwaane uyo mwaanooyo, mi kaanawaathukanaka kawuupuseraka itthu yaakipankacilyaawe mwaamwanaya.

Mwaakha wo 1971, mi kaholattuliya uvara nteko khampa mootoli odistritu wasittatti yo Nova Iorque. Mi akaaweherera uvahaceriya uyo ntekooyo! Ukati wancenreehu uvara, mi kaarina myaakha 34 paasi ni thi mi kaari mootoli odistritu nlupa ooriipa aapacenre uvara nteko uyo. Mayamunna otheene yahokaakhelela saana.

Ukati waaryaaka mootoli odistritu, mi kahokhalana iparakha yoowiitthuciha akhunanaka myaha ca Yehova wiimaleloni khula isumana mmamithukumanoni cosirikwiitu. Mamootoli osirikwiitu enci yaari oocuwelaca cinene ukivikana mi. Ni mpaka ahaavo mootoli osirikwiitu mmoca aataphulenle mwaha wo mpattiso nihuku naapattisiyaaka. Mootoli osirikwiitu nkhwaawe yaari amunna Theodore Jaracz. Ayo wahoolo yahovara nteko nhina Mphwinko wo Mahumu Unhoolela. Ni ciicammo yahaavo mayamunna akhwaawe yaavara nteko u Peteli yo Brooklyn. Masi mayamunna yaari mamootoli osirikwiitu ni ciicammo yaavara nteko u Peteli yaanaakaatanana sana-saana. Mi kinawaasukhuru ayo mahumu oofentaayo, yaahaahiya ukhuluvela Ibiiblya ni yaakavihera mphwinko wa Yehova ninrimaaya wotheene. Wiiyeviha waya uhokikavihera cinene ukati waaryaaka mootoli odistritu.

Mwaakha wo 1974, Mphwinko wo Mahumu Unhoolela wahaathanla mayamunna akhwaawe wiira akhale mamootoli odistritu, ni mi kahothanliya-tho wiira kikhale mootoli osirikwiitu. Ula nkwahoola, kaahala urwaa uvara nteko u Carolina do Sul. Masi wootteeliha nrima, khayaarivo-tho malamulo owaakhottiha alupa ooriipa uthukumana naakunya. Phimaana, mayamunna otheene owasirikwiitu pooti waathukumanaaya nkhayi mmalokoni. Iyo itthwiiyo yahaatteeliha nrima cinene mayamunna.

Ni mwaakha wo 1976, mi kahorwaaniya uvara nteko nhina isirikwiitu yo Geórgia, iriyari waya isittatti yo Atlanta ni Columbus. Mpaka ilelo, mi kinawuupuwela ikwaha yaataphulenlyaaka mwaha wo nookhwa uwakati asaana alupa ooriipa athanu waakhwilyaaya nlattu woopaheriya inupa yaakhalaaya. Anumwanaya yahorakalaca cinene ni yahocisiya usipiritaali. Ni mayamunna enci alupa ooriipa ni akunya yahorwaa usipiritaali wiira yaamaalihe. Mi kahoona wiira khweeliini mayamunna anaafentana cinene. Nno nifentonno ninawaakavihera cinene aswali a Yehova uvilela masakha oorika cinene.

Mwaakha wo 1977, hi naholattuliya urwaa ukavihera nteko waahala uvariya myeeri vakaani u Peteli yo Brooklyn. Ukati waahalaaya vakaani umala uyo ntekooyo, mayamunna eeli o Mphwinko wo Mahumu Unhoolela yahokikoha wakhala wiira mi naamwaaraka Ruby khawaahala unicivela uvara nteko u Peteli. Hi nahotthuna..

Mi kihoviriha myaakha 24 kivaraka nteko nhina Departamento de Serviço. Mayamunna anvara nteko uyo mphanttyooyo ahaana yawaceraka myaha cuulupale ni coorikarika. Masi uvira waya myaakha, Mphwinko wo Mahumu Unhoolela wahonivaha malakihero menci ookumihiya mbiiblyani nhina mananna cinlamuliyaaya uvariya uyo ntekooyo. Ayo malakiherwaayo anawaakavihera mayamunna anvara uyo ntekooyo waakhula makoho oorika, masi ayo malakiherwaayo ciicammo anaavareliya nteko wiira atthenkaciye mamootoli osirikwiitu, mahumu ni mapiyoneeru. Malakihero otheennyaayo anawaakavihera atthu enci wuunuwa mminepani ni iyo itthwiiyo inaatepa ulipiha mphwinko wa Yehova.

Ukhuma mwaakha wo 1995 mpaka 2018, mi kihootola ipeteli cinci ntuninyani motheene. Mi kanthukumana ni mahumu anhoolela ipeteli, nimayamunna anvara nteko mmapeteli ni nimamisiyonaariyu wiira kaalipihe ayo mayamunnaayo ni kaakavihere nhina marikariko ankhalanaaya. Ni ayo mayamunnaayo ciicammo yaanaanilipiha yanihimyeeraka citthu caawiirannyeela. Wootakihera, uwakati wootonleehu ipeteli yo Ruanda mwaakha wo 2000, hi wahonitteela nrima nlattu wo wiiwa mananna mayamunneehu coopwaalyaaya ukati weevakaciyaaya atthu enci iyo ilapweeyo mwaakha wo 1994. Atthu enci yahokhwa asipatthannyaaya ni asimucyaaya, masi waahookhalaru commo, ayo mayamunnaayo khayaahiile umwaamini Nluku, uweherera iparakha cawe ni utteeliya nrima.

Nna co nihopwahiha myaakha 80. Ni myaakha 20 coomalela, mi kinvara nteko nhina Ikhurupu yo Mahumu Anhoolela Ipeteli yo Estados Unidos. Mi akisomile wuuniversidade; masi hataa ukhalaka commo, mi kihosoma icikola yuulupale ni ihinlikananiya—icikola ya Yehova insomihaniya mumphwinkoni wawe. Nlattu wo citthu ciitthucilyaaka mumphwinkoni wa Yehova, mi kihokhitiri uwiitthuciha akhunanaka ikhweeli co mbiiblyani cinhala waakavihera mpaka. (2 Akor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:2) Mi kihoona mananna Ibiiblya caakavihenryaaya atthu enci ulokihaca makhalelwaaya ni ukhalana upatthani ni Yehova. (Tiya. 4:8) Mi ni amwaaraka Ruby khaniviriihale ukati wotheene waakhalanneehu wo waakurumica mayamunna ni woolemeliha iparakha irineehu yo wiitthuca myaha ca Yehova ni uwiitthuciha atthu akiina ikhweeli co mbiiblyani. Iyo phi iparakha yuulupale nswali a Yehova inkhalanaawe!