Ubaba wayengumdala kweyinye isonto okuthiwa yi-United Church of Canada, yikho maviki wonke wayengihambisa ku-Sunday school lodadewethu, ngemva kwalokho besesingena laye inkonzo ngo-11. Emini sasihamba lomama eWolu yoMbuso. Sawubona lula umehluko okhona phakathi kwenkolo lezi ezimbili.

Umama watshela abangane bakhe uBob loMarion Hutcheson lokho ayesekukholwa njalo labo balamukela iqiniso. Ngo-1958 abakoHutcheson bahamba lami eNew York kanye labantwababo abathathu abangabafana emhlanganweni wezizwe. Umhlangano lo wawuzathatha amalanga angu-8 njalo wawulesihloko esithi: “Intando kaNkulunkulu” (Divine Will). Nxa ngicabanga ngiyananzelela ukuthi kwakungalula ukuthi bahambe lami kodwa umhlangano lowo angisoze ngafa ngawukhohlwa empilweni yami.

Ngakhulela emapulazini futhi ngangikukholisa ukwelusa lokukhangela izifuyo. Ngasengicabanga ukufundela ukuba ngudokotela wezinyamazana. Umama watshela omunye umdala webandla lokho engangikucabanga. Umdala lo wakhuluma lami kuhle wangikhumbuza ukuthi khathesi ‘sisezinsukwini zokucina,’ wasengibuza ukuthi ukuhamba eyunivesithi okweminyaka eminengi akusoze kuphambanise ubungane bami loJehova yini. (2 Thim. 3:1) Lokhu kwangenza ngacina ngingasahambanga eyunivesithi.

 Ngangilokhu ngizibuza ukuthi ngingaqeda esikolo ngizakwenzani. Ngangihamba sibili ekutshumayeleni ngempelaviki kodwa ngangingakukholisi ukutshumayela futhi ngangingaziboni ngisiba liphayona. Ubaba wayengayisuye Fakazi. Yena lobabomncane babengikhuthaza ukuthi ngihambe ngiyesebenza kweyinye ikhampani enkulu ye-Insurance eToronto. Ubabomncane wayelesikhundla ekhampanini leyo, yikho ngavuma ukuyasebenza khona.

Ngathi sengiseToronto ngasengingasazikhuthalelanga izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza ngoba ngangijayele ukusebenza isikhathi eside futhi ngasengilabangane abangakhonziyo. Ngaqalisa ngihlala lokhulu owayengayisuye Fakazi, kodwa wathi esetshonile kwasekumele ngidinge eyinye indawo yokuhlala.

Umfowethu lodade Hutcheson ababehambe lami emhlanganweni ngo-1958 babengiphatha njengomntanabo sibili. Bathi ngibuye ngizohlala labo basebengincedisa ukuthi ngiqinise ubungane bami loJehova. Ngabhabhathizwa ngo-1960 kanye lomntanabo okwakuthiwa nguJohn. UJohn waqalisa ukuphayona futhi lokhu kwenza lami ngaqalisa ukutshumayela isikhathi eside. Abafowethu ebandleni bakunanzelela ukuthi ngasengisenza kuhle bacina bengibeka ukuthi ngibe yinceku yeSikolo Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. a

Ngo-1966 ngatshada loRandi Berge. URandi wayeliphayona futhi etshiseka kakhulu, efuna ukuyatshumayela lapho okulabamemezeli abalutshwana khona. Umbonisi wethu wesiqinti wasincedisa ukuthi senze okunengi. Wasikhuthaza ukuthi siyencedisa ebandleni elalise-Orillia e-Ontario. Ngakho sathwala ezethu saya khona.

Sathi sifika nje e-Orillia ngahle ngaba liphayona lesikhathi sonke njengoRandi. URandi wayesengithelele ukutshiseka kwakhe. Ukuphayona kwathi sekusegazini ngaqalisa ukuthokoza ngoba ngasengilisebenzisa kuhle iBhayibhili futhi sengibona labantu belizwisisa iqiniso. Sathola isibusiso esikhulu sokuncedisa eyinye indoda lomkayo ababehlala e-Orillia ukuthi batshintshe impilo zabo futhi baqalise ukukhonza uJehova.

Ngathi ngivakatshele eToronto ngahlangana lo-Arnold MacNamara owayengomunye wabazalwane ababekhokhela eBhetheli. Wasibuza ukuthi singafuna yini ukuba ngamaphayona aqakathekileyo, ngahle ngaphendula ngathi: “Siyafuna sibili, kodwa eQuebec ngeke!” Ngangingafuni ukuya eQuebec ngoba abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi ababehlala eCanada babejayele ukukhuluma kubi ngendawo leyo ngenxa yeziphithiphithi ezazisenzakala eQuebec lapho okuhlala khona abantu abakhuluma isiFrench. Ngalesosikhathi kwakuleqembu lezombusazwe elalitshengisela, lifuna ukuthi iQuebec izimele yodwa ingabi ngaphansi kweCanada.

U-Arnold wangiphendula wathi: “Khathesi igatsha lithumela amaphayona aqakathekileyo eQuebec kuphela.” Ngathi ngisizwa lokhu ngahle ngavuma ukuhamba. Ngangivele ngikwazi ukuthi uRandi uyafuna ukuya khonale. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngananzelela ukuthi lesi kwakungesinye sezinqumo ezinhle kulazo zonke esake sazenza empilweni yethu.

Sathi sesiqede ukufundela isiFrench okwamaviki amahlanu, mina loRandi lomunye umfowethu lomkakhe saya eRimouski. Indawo le ingaba ngamakhilomitha angu-540 usuka eMontreal. Kwakusesekunengi okwakumele sikufunde njalo lokhu kwakhanya ngelinye ilanga ngibala izaziso ebandleni. Ngathi emhlanganweni wesabelo olandelayo sizakuba lama-ostrich (izintshe) amanengi azasivakatshela, ngizama ukuthi kuzakuba labazalwane abanengi abavela e-Austria abazasivakatshela.

Sathi siseRimouski kwabuya odade abane abangatshadanga kanye lemuli yakoHuberdeau lamadodakazi abo amabili bazohlala lathi. Umfowethu uHuberdeau lomkakhe barenta indlu eyayilamarumu angu-7 futhi wonke amaphayona ayehlala lapho ayencedisa ekubhadaleni irenti. Indlu leyo sasiyibiza ngokuthi yiWhite House ngoba yayimhlophe phambili futhi ilensika ezimhlophe. Izikhathi ezinengi sasihlala singu-12 kumbe singu-14. Njengoba mina loRandi sasingamaphayona aqakathekileyo sasijayele ukutshumayela ekuseni, emini, lantambama futhi sasikukholisa ukuhamba ekutshumayeleni labanye lanxa kwakuyabe kuqanda ebusika.

Saba ngabangane abakhulu lamaphayona la ayethembekile, kwasekungathi singabantwana bomuntu munye. Kwezinye izikhathi sasizikwejisela sisonke emlilweni kumbe sibe lamalanga lapho esasipheka khona amadombolo siwafake izinto ezitshiyeneyo phakathi. Omunye umzalwane esasihlala laye wayengumhlabeleli, yikho sasijayele ukuthi ngeMigqibelo ntambama sihlabele futhi sigide.

Abantu abanengi eRimouski babekuthanda ukufunda iBhayibhili. Eminyakeni emihlanu sikhonale sathokoza ukubona abanye abantu esasifunda labo iBhayibhili bethuthuka futhi bebhabhathizwa. Ibandla lakhula laba labamemezeli abangaba ngu-35.

Ngesikhathi siseQuebec safunda izinto ezinengi ezasincedayo emsebenzini wethu wokutshumayela. Sabona indlela uJehova ayesincedisa ngayo enkonzweni yethu lendlela ayesincedisa ngayo ngezinye izinto zokuziphilisa. Kanti njalo okunye esakufundayo yikuthanda abantu abakhuluma ulimi lwesiFrench lokuthanda ulimi lwabo lamasiko abo. Lokhu kwasinceda ukuthi sithande abantu abalamasiko angafanani lawethu.—2 Khor. 6:13.

Sathi sisalibele, igatsha lasicela ukuthi siye edolobheni leTracadie elisekhunjini elingasempumalanga yeNew Brunswick. Lokho kwakunzima kakhulu ngoba sasisanda kusayina isivumelwano sokurenta enye indlu futhi ngasengithole umsebenzi wokufundisa okwamahora amalutshwana ngeviki kwesinye isikolo. Kanti njalo abanye abantu esasifunda labo iBhayibhili babesanda kuba ngabamemezeli futhi sasiphakathi komsebenzi wokwakha iWolu yoMbuso.

 Sathandaza ngakho okwempelaviki yonke, sasesisiyavakatsha eTracadie. Indawo le yayitshiyene leRimouski. Kodwa sazitshela ukuthi nxa uJehova efuna siye khona kumele sihambe. Samlinga uJehova futhi lakanye sambona esisusela zonke izinto ezazingasibuyisela emuva. (Mal. 3:10) Kwabalula ukuthi sithuthe ngoba uRandi ngumuntu olokholo oluqinileyo, ozinikelayo futhi ohlala ethabile.

Ebandleni lethu elitsha kwakulomdala oyedwa kuphela okwakuthiwa nguRobert Ross. Wayephayona endaweni le lomkakhe uLinda futhi bakhetha ukuqhubeka behlala khona sebelomntanabo wokuqala. URobert loLinda basikhuthaza kakhulu mina loRandi ngenxa yokuthi babezimisele ukuqhubeka ngenkonzo betshiseka lanxa babesondla umntanabo futhi basamukela kuhle.

Sathi sesiphayone eTracadie okweminyaka emibili sathola esinye isibusiso esasingasilindelanga, esokuyakwenza umsebenzi wokuhambela. Sahambela iziqinti ezazikhuluma ulimi lwesiNgisi okweminyaka engu-7. Ngemva kwalokho sacelwa ukuthi siyehambela isiqinti esasikhuluma ulimi lwesiFrench eQuebec. Sathi siseQuebec umbonisi wethu wesigaba umfowethu uLéonce Crépeault, wayengincoma ngezinkulumo zami. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi wayengibuza athi: “Ungenzani ukuze izinkulumo zakho zihambelane lalokho okwenzakala ezimpilweni zabantu?” b Umfowethu lo wanginceda ukuthi ngikhulume ngezinto ezazinceda abantu njalo ngifundise ngendlela elula.

Okunye engingasoze ngafa ngakukhohlwa ngumsebenzi engawuphiwa emhlanganweni wezizwe owawuseMontreal ngo-1978 owawulesihloko esithi: “Ukholo Luyanqoba.” (Victorious Faith). Ngangisebenza kuhlangothi lokudla. Sasikhangelele ukuthi kuzakuba labantu abangu-80 000 njalo kwasekulohlelo olutsha okwakumele silulandele nxa silungisa ukudla. Konke nje kwakukutsha, izinto esasizisebenzisa ukupheka, ukudla esasikupheka kanye lendlela okwasekumele sipheke ngayo. Sasilamafriji amakhulu angaba ngu-20 kodwa kwezinye izikhathi ayengasebenzi. Ngelanga kuzavuka kungumhlangano samelela ukulungisa izinto zethu kwaze kwaba sebusuku ngenxa yokuthi ngalolosuku kwakube lomdlalo enkundleni esasizangenela kuyo umhlangano. Kanti njalo kwakumele silayithe izitofu zethu emadabukakusa ukuze sipheke ukudla kwekuseni. Sasidinwa kakhulu kodwa ngafunda okunengi kulabo engangisebenza labo ngoba babesebenza nzima, belobuntu obuhle futhi bewukholisa umsebenzi wabo. Sazwanana kakhulu njalo lalamuhla  silokhu singabangane. Sathokoza ukuba lomhlangano omnandi eQuebec ngoba endaweni le, ngabo-1940 labo 1950 abantu bakaNkulunkulu babehlukuluzwe kakhulu.

Ngafunda okunengi kubazalwane ababekhokhela emihlanganweni emikhulu esasisiba layo eMontreal. Ngomunye umnyaka uDavid Splane, oselilunga leQula Elikhokhelayo, nguye owayengumbonisi womhlangano. Komunye umhlangano yimi engaphiwa umsebenzi lo njalo umfowethu uSplane wangisekela kakhulu.

Ngo-2011 mina loRandi sesiqede iminyaka engu-36 sihambela, ngacelwa ukuthi ngiyefundisa eSikolo Sabadala Bebandla. Eminyakeni emibili salala emibhedeni etshiyeneyo engu-75. Lanxa kunjalo esasikukholisa kwakukukhulu kakhulu ukwedlula inhlupho esasisiba lazo. Ekupheleni kweviki ngayinye abadala babebonga kakhulu ngoba babebona ukuthi iQula Elikhokhelayo lifuna bahlale bengabangane bakaJehova.

Ngemva kwesikhathi ngafundisa eSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso. Abafowethu labodadewethu ababefunda esikolo lesi babehlala bebhizi ngoba kwakumele bahlale eklasini befunda okwamahora angu-7, futhi babephiwa lemisebenzi okwakumele bayenze ntambama okwamahora amathathu kanye lezabelo okwakumele bazenze eklasini ezazingaba zine kumbe zibe zinhlanu ngeviki. Mina lomzalwane engangifundisa laye sabachasisela ukuthi babengeke benelise ukwenza konke lokhu bengancediswa nguJehova. Angisoze ngiyikhohlwe indlela abafundi ababemangala ngayo nxa bebona ukuthi babesenelisa ukwenza izinto ezinengi ababengazicabangeli ngenxa yokuthembela kuJehova.

Umama wayelendaba labanye abantu futhi ebancedisa ukuthi bathuthuke. Lokhu kwanceda abantu ayefunda labo iBhayibhili, kwanceda lokuthi ubaba athande iqiniso. Kwathi sekulamalanga amathathu umama etshonile, samangala sibona ubaba ebuya eWolu yoMbuso ezolalela inkulumo kazulu wonke, futhi waqhubeka ebuya emihlanganweni yebandla okweminyaka engu-26 eyalandelayo. Lanxa ubaba engazange abhabhathizwe, abadala bangitshela ukuthi nguye owayesiba ngowokuqala ukufika eWolu yoMbuso iviki ngayinye.

Kanti njalo okwenziwa ngumama kwasinceda kakhulu thina abantwabakhe. Ngilabodadewethu abathathu futhi bonke bakhonza uJehova bethembekile labomkabo. Omunye wabo usebenza eBhetheli yePortugal, omunye kweyeHaiti.

Khathesi mina loRandi singamaphayona aqakathekileyo eHamilton, e-Ontario. Sisahambela sasikholisa ukuhamba labanye sisiyabona impindela zabo lezifundo zabo zeBhayibhili. Kodwa khathesi esesikukholisa yikubona abantu esifunda labo iBhayibhili bethuthuka futhi beqalisa ukukhonza uJehova. Kanti njalo sesilabangane abanengi ebandleni elitsha esesingena lalo. Kuyasikhuthaza ukubona indlela uJehova abasekela ngayo ngezikhathi ezimnandi langezikhathi ezinzima.

Siyababonga kakhulu abazalwane abanengi ababa lendaba lathi futhi abasincedisa ukuthi sithuthuke. Khathesi lathi siyazama ukuba lendaba labanye, sibakhuthaze ukuthi bathuthuke ukuze benze okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova. (2 Khor. 7:6, 7) Ngokwesibonelo kwenye imuli inkosikazi labantwana, umfana lenkazana babesenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke. Ngakho ngabuza indoda ukuthi yake yacabanga ngokuphayona yini. Umfowethu lo wathi wayesekela amaphayona amathathu. Ngambuza ngathi: “Ubona angani wena ungabasekela ukwedlula indlela uJehova angabasekela ngayo?” Ngamkhuthaza ukuthi azinike ithuba lokukholisa lokho imuli yakhe eyayikukholisa. Ngemva kwenyanga eziyisithupha waqalisa ukuphayona.

Mina loRandi sizaqhubeka ‘sitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo’ eyenziwa nguJehova, njalo sithemba ukuthi isizukulwane lesi sizakukholisa ukusebenzela uJehova ngendlela lathi ebesikholisa ngayo.—Hubo. 71:17, 18.