Ngakithi sibathathu, kulodadewethu lomnewethu kanye lami futhi sakhulela emakhaya aseduzane ledolobho leBicester e-United Kingdom. Sasiloja kokunye okuyindlu okuncane okwakuseplazini lomunye umuntu. Ngathi ngileminyaka engu-19 lami ngaqalisa ukuphayona njengodadewethu lomnewethu. Ngemva kwesikhathi ngaba liphayona eliqakathekileyo eScotland. Kwathi ngo-1970 sengileminyaka engu-23, ngabizwa ukuthi ngizosebenza eBhetheli yeLondon. SengiseBhetheli yikho lapho engaqalisa ukuzwa khona ukuthi kulolimi lwezandla futhi ukwazi lokhu kwayitshintsha impilo yami. Kwanginika amathuba amanengi okuthi ngikholise ukukhonza uJehova.

Ukufundela Ulimi Lwezandla

 SengiseBhetheli ngasengingena lebandla leMill Hill lapho engahlangana khona laboFakazi abathile ababengezwa endlebeni. Ngangihlala labafowethu labodadewethu laba emihlanganweni yebandla ukwenzela ukuthi ngibe ngilufunda kancane kancane ulimi ukuze ngibe ngabangane babo.

 Ngalesosikhathi kwakungelabandla lolimi lwezandla eBritain yikho abazalwane abangezwayo endlebeni babengena imihlangano emabandleni akhuluma isiNgisi besebetolikelwa kulandelwa ibala ngebala. Kodwa kwathi abafowethu labodadewethu laba sebengifundisile ngananzelela ukuthi ulimi lwabo alufanani lesiNgisi, lulendlela yalo yokubeka amabala yikho babezuza okulutshwane emihlanganweni yebandla. Lokhu kwangenza ngabathanda kakhulu abafowethu labodadewethu laba ngoba babezimisele ukuyingena yonke imihlangano yebandla. Kwangenza ngazimisela lokuthi ngilufunde ulimi lwezandla.

 Ulimi lwezandla olusetshenziswa eBritain lubizwa ngokuthi yiBritish Sign Language (BSL). Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi labo ababetolika emihlanganweni yebandla basebelwazi ulimi lwezandla bengasatoliki belandela ulimi lwesiNgisi ibala ngebala. Lokhu kwaba luncedo kakhulu kubafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni ngoba kwasokukunengi abasebekuzwa emihlanganweni yebandla. Kwaphinda kwabanceda lokuthi bamanyane labanye ebandleni. Nxa ngicabanga ngalokho obekusenzakala eminyakeni engu-50 edlulileyo ngiyazibonela sibili ukuthi uJehova ukubusisile konke obekusenziwa ukuze kusekelwe abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni. Ake ngilichathekele okunye okuhle okwenzakalayo uJehova angivumele ukuthi ngikwenze.

Okuhle Okwenzakale Ensimini Yolimi Lwezandla

 Ngo-1973 sekudlule umnyaka ngingumdala, omunye umfowethu okuthiwa nguMichael Eagers owayengezwa endlebeni wangibuza ukuthi kungaba njani ukuthi ezinye izingxenye zemihlangano yebandla sizenze ngolimi lwezandla. Sathi sesicele imvumo egatsheni mina lomunye umfowethu sahlela ukuthi kube leminye imihlangano yebandla eyenziwa ngolimi lwezandla inyanga ngayinye edolobheni leDeptford, eliseningizimu-mpumalanga yeLondon.

 Okwenzakala ngemva kwalokho kwasithokozisa kakhulu! OFakazi abangezwayo endlebeni abahlala eLondon lababevela endaweni eziseningizimu-mpumalanga ye-England babekhona emhlanganweni lo wokuqala. Abazalwane laba basebesenelisa ukufunda ngoJehova lokuqinisa ukholo lwabo ngolimi abaluzwisisayo. Ngemva komhlangano sasijayele ukuxoxelana lokho okwakwenzakale empilweni zethu ngapha sizidlela ukudla okumnandi. Ngangiphinda ngisebenzise lelothuba ukuthi ngikhuthaze abafowethu labodadewethu laba.

 Ngokuya kwesikhathi imihlangano yolimi lwezandla yayisisenzelwa edolobheni leBirmingham leleSheffield. Abafowethu labodadewethu ababefuna ukufundela ulimi lwezandla labo basebeyingena imihlangano le. Abanengi babo baba luncedo kakhulu ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle ngolimi lwezandla lakwezinye izindawo ze-England.

Ngathola Inkosikazi Enhle

 Ngo-1974 ngabonana lodadewethu omuhle okuthiwa nguStella Barker, owayeliphayona eliqakathekileyo ebandleni elaliseduze leBhetheli. Saqalisa ukuthandana sasesitshada ngo-1976, ngemva kwalokho saba ngamaphayona aqakathekileyo. Ibandla esasikulo laliseHackney, enyakatho yeLondon. Sesikhonale uStella waqalisa ukungincedisa ensimini yolimi lwezandla. Nxa ngikhumbula ngalesosikhathi ngiyakubona sibili ukuthi ukuphayona ndawonye lomkami kwasinceda kakhulu ukuthi umtshado wethu uqine.

 Kungakayi ngaphi sacelwa ukuthi sibe sisiyancedisa eBhetheli ngamanye amalanga. Sasesilokunengi okumele sikwenze. Ngangiphinda ngibambele umbonisi wesiqinti, ngifundise eSikolo Senkonzo SoMbuso sabadala futhi ngangihlela ukuthi ngobani abazatolika ngolimi lwezandla emihlanganweni yesabelo yesiNgisi. Lanxa kwezinye izikhathi sasisiba lokunengi kakhulu okumele sikwenze sasiyikholisa imisebenzi yakhona.—UMathewu 11:28-30.

 Ngo-1979 saba lendodana yethu yokuqala uSimon, kwathi ngo-1982 saba leyesibili uMark. Kwasithokozisa kakhulu lokhu lanxa nje kwasekusitsho ukuthi sesilokunengi okumele sikwenze. Okwasincedayo ukuthi senelise ukuyenza yonke imisebenzi le yikuthi mina lomkami sahle savumelana ukuthi loba nini nxa kumele ngenze umsebenzi othile enhlanganisweni sasizahamba siyimuli futhi sidinge lesikhathi sokuzilibazisa. Sasifuna abantwabethu babone ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuyasithokozisa! Abafana bethu bathi sebekhulakhulile bafundela ulimi lwezandla njalo baqalisa ukuphayona. Sathokoza kakhulu ngesikhathi uSimon loMark bebizwa eBhetheli. Kusenzakala lokhu kwesekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-40 abazali bami benikele ngethole leliyana engike ngakhuluma ngalo, elaba ngelokuqala ukuya eBhetheli.

Ukuncedisa Abantu Abangezwayo Endlebeni

 Ngabo-1990 kwakulokhu kungelabadala bebandla abangezwayo endlebeni eBritain, kodwa izinceku ezikhonzayo zona zazikhona. Yikho abadala ababesizwa endlebeni kodwa bengalwazi ulimi lwezandla yibo okwasekumele bahlole ukuthi amadoda la ‘ayesenelisa yini ukufundisa’ okokuthi asengaba ngabadala ebandleni. (1 KuThimothi 3:2) Umfowethu ongezwayo endlebeni okuthiwa nguBernard Austin wayeyinceku ekhonzayo ebandleni lesiNgisi futhi esenza kuhle kakhulu ngoba wayesaziwa ngokuba lendaba lezimvu zikaJehova. Ngathokoza kakhulu mhla ebekwa ukuthi abe ngumdala webandla. Waba ngumdala wokuqala ongezwayo endlebeni!

 Sathokoza kakhulu ngo-1996 ngesikhathi igatsha livula ibandla lokuqala lolimi lwezandla eBritain. Ibandla leli lalise-Ealing, entshonalanga yeLondon. UJehova wayelokhu eyibusisa sibili insimu yolimi lwezandla.

Ukungena Yonke Imihlangano Ngolimi Lwezandla

 Ngabo-1980 labo-1990, ngangincedisa kuHlangothi Lwenkonzo lweBhetheli ngisebenzela ngisendlini. Umsebenzi wami wawungokuwophendula imibuzo emayelana lensimu yolimi lwezandla. Ngezinye izikhathi abafowethu babebhalela egatsheni bebuza ukuthi bangabancedisa njani abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni ukuze benelise ukuzuza okunengi emihlanganweni yebandla, eyeziqinti leyezabelo eyenziwa ngesiNgisi. Ngaleyominyaka kwakungelahlelo lokuthi abafowethu abangezwayo endlebeni batolikelwe nxa besemihlanganweni emincane lemikhulu futhi babengelamabhuku ababengawasebenzisa. Yikho ngangijayele ukubakhuthaza abazalwane abangezwayo endlebeni labezwayo ukuthi babekezele, balindele uJehova.

 Ukubekezela kwethu kwasinceda ngoba kungakayingaphi igatsha lahlela ukuthi kutolikwe ngolimi lwezandla kuyo yonke imihlangano emincane lemikhulu eyenziwa ngesiNgisi. Okuhle yikuthi abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni babehlalela phambili ukuze babone kuhle isikhulumi lalowo otolikayo. Abafowethu laba basebekubona sibili ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda lokuthi baqakathekile emulini yakhe.

 Mhlaka 1 April 1995 kwaba lomhlangano wokuqala wolimi lwezandla owathatha usuku olulodwa owenzelwa eWolu Yemihlangano Emikhulu eseDudley entshonalanga yeMidlands. Ngacelwa ukuthi ngincedise umfowethu uDavid Merry owake waba ngumbonisi wesiqinti ukuze sihlele umhlangano lo. Abanye abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni bahamba umango omude kakhulu, abanye bevela eScotland abanye eCornwall ukuze bazongena umhlangano lo. Angisoze ngiwukhohlwe umhlangano lo lentokozo esaba layo sibona abafowethu abedlula 1 000 behlangana ndawonye okwakuqala.

 Ngo-2001 igatsha lacela mina lomfowethu uMerry ukuthi sihlele umhlangano wesabelo wolimi lwezandla owawuzangenwa ngomnyaka olandelayo. Wawumkhulu umsebenzi okwakumele wenziwe. Kodwa uJehova wakubusisa konke okwenziwayo ukuze umhlangano lo uphumelele njalo ngomunye wemihlangano esingasoze siwukhohlwe. Kusukela khonapho ngaba lesibusiso sokukhangela ukuhlelwa kwemihlangano yesiqinti leyesabelo yolimi lwezandla okweminyaka eminengi, kwaze kwaba yilapho uJehova ekhetha abafowethu abasesebatsha ukuthi baqhubeke ngomsebenzi lo.

Amavidiyo Olimi Lwezandla

 Saphinda sathokoza futhi ngo-1998 lapho inhlanganiso kaJehova isethulela ibhukwana elithi Yini UNkulunkulu Ayifunayo Kithi? ngolimi lwezandla. Ibhukwana leli lalitholakala liyi-Videocassette futhi yilo esasesilisebenzisa ukufundisa abantu iBhayibhili.

 Emhlanganweni wesabelo esaba lawo ngo-2002 kwaba ngokokuqala ukuthi izingoma zoMbuso zitolikwe ngolimi lwezandla. Abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni basebesenelisa ukusebenzisa izandla zabo ukuthi bahlabele belandela umuntu owayetolika izingoma. Wawuzibonela sibili ukuthi izingoma lezo zazibathinta inhliziyo. Ngilokhe ngisamkhumbula omunye umzalwane ongumdala webandla ongezwayo endlebeni engambona ekhala ngesikhathi sihlabela emhlanganweni lo!

 Kulokunye futhi okwenzakalayo emhlanganweni wesabelo ka-2002. Ibandla lolimi lwezandla elaliseLondon lacelwa ukuthi lirekhode idrama yomhlangano. Kodwa sasizawenza njani umsebenzi omkhulu kangaka thina singakaze siwenze? UJehova wasincedisa ngendlela esasingayicabangeli. Wasenza senelisa ukuthola abafowethu ababewazi kuhle umsebenzi wokurekhoda amafilimu. Umsebenzi wokurekhoda idrama le waphuma kuhle kakhulu! Esakufunda khonapho kwasinceda sibili ngoba kusukela ngo-2003 kusiya ku-2008 ngaba lesibusiso sokukhangela umsebenzi worekhoda amadrama womhlangano ayezabukelwa emihlanganweni yesabelo elandelayo yolimi lwezandla.

 Mina lomkami uStella sasikukholisa ukusebenza eBhetheli ndawonye lamadodana ethu. Kodwa umsebenzi esasiwenza wawungalula, kwakumele siphrakthize okwamaviki besesirekhoda. Sathi siqeda ukurekhoda sonke nje abadlali lababerekhoda sasidinwe sizinkukhu. Kodwa kasizisoli ngitsho ngomsebenzi esawenzayo. Kwasithokozisa kakhulu ukubona abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni belizwisisa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, kwabanengi babo zehla ezentokozo!

 Zaqhubeka zithululeka izibusiso ezivela kuJehova. Ngo-2015 saqalisa ukuba le-Nqabayokulinda efundwayo ngolimi lwezandla. Kwazokuthi ngo-2019 kwethulwa ibhuku leBhayibhili likaMathewu. Khathesi sesileMibhalo yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi futhi iMibhalo yesiHebheru yona isahunyutshwa. Abafowethu labodadewethu abangezwayo endlebeni bambonga bengaqedi uJehova ngalokho abenzele khona!

 Ngiyazibonela sibili ukuthi sisemulini kaJehova elabantu abamlingiselayo ngokungabandlululi. (ImiSebenzi 10:34, 35) Mina lemuli yami sihlala simangala nxa sikhangela indlela inhlanganiso kaJehova ezimisele ngayo ukunceda bonke abantu okuhlanganisa lalabo abangezwayo endlebeni labangaboniyo. a

 Konke obekusenziwa bekuphumelela ngoba sikhuluma nje sekulamabandla amanengana olimi lwezandla eBritain. Kuyangithokozisa ukuthi ngibe lengxenye encane kukho konke lokhu obekusenzakala. (UZakhariya 4:10) Kodwa okumele adunyiswe ngakho konke lokhu nguJehova ngoba nguye oqondisa inhlanganiso yakhe. Phela nguye onika abantu bakhe konke abakudingayo ukuze batshumayeze abantu bayo yonke imihlobo. Kanti njalo nguye owenza inhlanyelo yoMbuso ikhule ezinhliziyweni zalabo abafuna ukwazi iqiniso.