Ngazalwa mhlaka 22 December ngo-1929 eNoville, indawo encane eyayilamapulazi angu-9 eduze kwedolobho leBastogne, eBelgium. Kulezinto ezinengi ezinhle engizikhumbulayo ezenzakala ngisakhula ngesikhathi ngihlala labazali bami epulazini. Mina lomnawami uRaymond sasijayele ukusenga inkomo ngezandla nsuku zonke njalo sasincedisa nxa kuvunwa. Endaweni esasihlala kuyo abantu babemanyene futhi bencedisana.

Abazali bami u-Emile lo-Alice babengamaKatolika njalo babeyikhuthalele isonto. Babengena iMisa maSonto wonke. Kodwa ngabo-1939 kwafika amaphayona esigabeni sethu evela e-England futhi abhalisa ubaba ukuthi abe ethola imagazini okuthiwa yi-Consolation (esibizwa ngokuthi yi-Vukani!). Ubaba wananzelela masinyane ukuthi wayeselitholile iqiniso waseqalisa ukubala iBhayibhili. Wathi eseyekelile ukungena iMisa, omakhelwane bethu ababeqalise belomusa basebemphikisa okuzwayo. Babesithi ubaba engasuki esontweni yeRoma njalo lokhu kwenza baxabana kakhulu.

Kwangizwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu ukubona ubaba ethwaliswe nzima kangaka. Lokhu kwangenza ngathandaza kuNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke ngicela ukuthi amncedise. Umthandazo lo yiwo engikhulume ngawo ekuqaliseni. Omakhelwane bathi sebeyekelile ukumphikisa ngathokoza kakhulu, ngaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova ‘uyayilalela imithandazo.’

Mhlaka 10 May ngo-1940 amasotsha eGermany ahlasela iBelgium njalo lokhu kwenza ukuthi abantu abanengi babaleke elizweni. Imuli yethu yabalekela eningizimu yeFrance. Ngesikhathi sisendleleni sasike sibe sezindaweni eziyingozi lapho okwakusilwa khona amasotsha eGermany laweFrance.

 Sathi sibuyela epulazini lethu sathola izinto ezinengi sezitshontshiwe, kwakusele inja yethu uBobbie kuphela. Lokhu kwangenza ngazibuza ukuthi, ‘Kungani kulezimpi lokuhlupheka?’

Ngalesosikhathi savakatshelwa ngumfowethu u-Emile Schrantz a owayengumdala webandla futhi eliphayona lesikhathi sonke njalo wasikhuthaza kakhulu. Wasichasisela ukuthi kungani kulokuhlupheka esebenzisa iBhayibhili futhi waphendula leminye imibuzo engangilayo emayelana lempilo. Ngamthanda kakhulu uJehova futhi ngasengiqiniseka ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olothando.

Abangakithi babesenelisa ukukhuluma labanye abazalwane impi isaqhubeka. Ngo-August 1943 umfowethu uJosé-Nicolas Minet wavakatshela epulazini lethu ezosinika inkulumo. Wabuza wathi, “Ngubani ofuna ukubhabhathizwa?” Mina lobaba saphakamisa izandla njalo sabhabhathizwa emfuleni owawuseduze lepulazi lethu.

Ngo-1944 ngoDecember ibutho leGermany lavusa impi enkulu entshonalanga ye-Europe njalo yayisaziwa ngokuthi yi-Battle of the Bulge. Sasihlala eduze lalapho impi le eyayitshisa khona njalo sacatsha endlini okwesikhathi esingaba yinyanga. Ngelinye ilanga ngathi ngisiyanika izifuyo ukudla, kwadutshulwa epulazini lethu njalo uphahla lwendlu okwakugcinelwa kuyo ukudla kwezifuyo lwabhidlika. Elinye isotsha leMelika elalisesibayeni eduze kwami lamemeza lathi, “Lala phansi!” Ngagijima ngafika ngalala phansi eceleni kwalo, laselingigqokisa ingwane yokuzivikela.

Impi yathi isiphelile sasesisenelisa ukuxoxa labafowethu labodadewethu ababesebandleni leLiège, okwakungamakhilomitha ayengaba ngu-90 enyakatho kwalapho esasihlala khona. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi senelisa ukubumba iqembu elincane eBastogne. Ngaqalisa ukusebenza ekhampanini eyayibona ngezomthelo njalo ngathola ithuba lokufundela ezomthetho. Ngemva kwesikhathi ngasebenza ewofisini kahulumende endaweni engangihlala kuyo. Ngo-1951 sahlela umhlangano wesiqinti omncane eBastogne. Kwakulabantu abangaba ngu-100 futhi phakathi kwabo kwakulodadewethu owayeliphayona owayetshiseka okuthiwa  ngu-Elly Reuter. Wayehambe umango ongaba ngamakhilomitha angu-50 ngebhayisikili ukuze abuye emhlanganweni. Ngemva kwesikhathi sathandana sasesithembisana. Ngalesosikhathi u-Elly wayenxuswe ukuthi azongena isikolo seGiliyadi esasise-United States. Wabhalela emawofisini ethu amakhulu echasisa ukuthi kungani wayengasoze enelise ukungena isikolo leso. Umfowethu uKnorr, onguye owayekhokhela abantu bakaJehova ngalesosikhathi wamphendula kuhle emtshela ukuthi mhlawumbe ngelinye ilanga uzangena isikolo seGiliyadi lomkakhe. Satshada ngoFebruary ngo-1953.

Ngalowomnyaka mina lo-Elly sangena umhlangano omkhulu owawulesihloko esithi New World Society owenzelwa eYankee Stadium eNew York. Sikhonale ngahlangana lomunye umzalwane owangithembisa umsebenzi omuhle wathi sithuthe sizohlala e-United States. Ngemva kokukhuleka kuJehova ngendaba le, sayala ukuthuthela e-United States sasesikhetha ukubuyela eBelgium ukuze siyencedisa iqembu elincane elaliseBastogne. Iqembu leli lalilabamemezeli abangaba ngu-10. Ngomnyaka owalandelayo saba lomntwana ongumfana okwakuthiwa nguSerge. Kodwa ngemva kwenyanga eziyi-7 uSerge wagula futhi watshona. Lokhu kwasizwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu. Sathandaza kuJehova simtshela ngobuhlungu obukhulu esasibuzwa njalo ithemba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo lasiqinisa.

Ngo-1961 ngo-October ngathola umsebenzi owawuzanginika isikhathi sokuthi ngiphayone. Kodwa ngelanga engawuthola ngalo ngafonelwa yinceku yegatsha yaseBelgium ingibuza ukuthi ngangingenelisa yini ukuba yinceku yesiqinti (khathesi esibizwa ngokuthi ngumbonisi wesiqinti). Ngabuza ngathi, “Akwenzi yini ukuthi siqale sibe ngamaphayona singakemukeli umsebenzi lo?” Bavuma ukuthi siqale siphayone. Sathi sesiphayone okwenyanga ezingu-8 saqalisa ukuhambela ngoSeptember 1962.

Ngemva kweminyaka emibili sihambela, sabizwa eBhetheli yeBrussels. Saqalisa ukusebenza khona ngo-October 1964 njalo sathola izibusiso ezinengi emsebenzini lo. Ngo-1965 umfowethu uKnorr wavakatshela eBhetheli yethu futhi esanda kusuka ngamangala ngibekwa ukuba yinceku yegatsha. Ngemva kwesikhathi mina lo-Elly sabizwa esikolo seGiliyadi futhi sangena ikilasi yesi-41. Amazwi ayekhulunywe ngumfowethu uKnorr eminyakeni engu-13 eyadlulayo ayesegcwalisekile! Sathi siqeda isikolo sabuyela eBhetheli yeBelgium.

Eminyakeni edlulileyo ngike ngathola isibusiso sokusebenzisa imfundo yami yezomthetho ukuze ngincedise ukulwela inkululeko yethu yokukhonza e-Europe lakwezinye indawo. (Flp. 1:7) Ngesikhathi ngisenza umsebenzi lo ngahlangana leziphathamandla emazweni adlula 55 lapho umsebenzi wethu owawungavunyelwa khona kumbe lapho abafowethu ababengelankululeko yokukhonza khona. Ngangingahambi ngitshela iziphathamandla lezi ngemisebenzi esengenelise ukuyenza kwezomthetho kodwa ngangizitshela ukuthi “ngingumuntu  kaNkulunkulu.” Ngangihlala ngithandaza kuNkulunkulu ngicela ukuthi angikhokhele ngoba ngangikwazi ukuthi “inhliziyo yenkosi [kumbe eyomahluleli] injengezifula zamanzi esandleni sikaJehova. Uyiqondisa loba ngaphi afuna khona.”—Zaga. 21:1.

Angisoze ngiyikhohlwe ingxoxo engake ngabalayo lelinye ilunga lePhalamende ye-Europe. Ngasengicele ukukhuluma laye kanengi waze wacina evuma ukungibona. Wathi kimi, “Ngizakunika imizuzu engu-5 kuphela ungadlulisi langomzuzu owodwa.” Ngakhothamisa ikhanda ngakhuleka. Indoda le yamangala yangibuza ukuthi ngenzani. Ngavusa ikhanda ngathi, “Bengibonga uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi uyinceku yakhe.” Yangibuza yathi, “Utshoni?” Ngayitshengisa uRoma 13:4. Umbhalo lo wayimangalisa ngoba layo yayisonta. Kwasekuhamba njani? Yangivumela ukuthi ngikhulume layo okwemizuzu engu-30 njalo ingxoxo yethu yabanhle kakhulu. Yangitshela lokuthi iyawuhlonipha kakhulu umsebenzi wethu.

Eminyakeni eminengi edlulileyo abantu bakaJehova bebelwela amalungelo abo emthethwandaba ose-Europe. Ezinye izindaba bezimayelana lokungangeni kwezombusazwe, lokugcinwa kwabantwana, lemithelo kanye lokunye nje okunengi. Bekuyisibusiso ukuthi lami ngincedise ezindabeni ezinengi ezinjengalezi lokuthi ngizibonele ngawami uJehova esincedisa ukuthi sinqobe futhi siphumelele. OFakazi bakaJehova sebenqobe endabeni ezedlula 140 eMthethwandaba we-Europe Olwela Amalungelo Abantu!

Ngabo-1990 ngasebenza lomfowethu uPhilip Brumley owayesemawofisini ethu amakhulu kanye lomfowethu uValter Farneti owayevela e-Italy. Sasincedisa abazalwane beCuba ukuthi bathole inkululeko yokukhonza njengoba eminye imisebenzi yethu yayingavunyelwa kulelolizwe. Ngabhalela emawofisini eCuba ayeseBelgium ngasengibonana lesiphathamandla esasikhangela udaba lwethu. Emihlanganweni yethu yokuqala kwaba nzima ukuthi sizwisisane ezintweni ezazibangele ukuthi umsebenzi wethu umiswe.

Sathandaza sicela ukuthi uJehova asikhokhele, sasesicela ukuthi siphiwe imvumo yokungenisa amaBhayibhili angu-5 000 eCuba. Lakanye sayiphiwa leyomvumo. AmaBhayibhili la afika kuhle futhi aphiwa abazalwane. Lokhu kwenza sabona ukuthi uJehova wayeyibusisa sibili imisebenzi yethu. Saphinda sacela imvumo yokuthi singenise amanye angu-27 500 njalo savunyelwa. Kwangithokozisa kakhulu ukuncedisa abafowethu labodadewethu eCuba ukuthi bathole amaBhayibhili.

Sengivakatshele eCuba kanengi ukuze ngincedise ukuthi umsebenzi wethu uqhubekele phambili  futhi ube semthethweni. Ngesikhathi ngisenza umsebenzi lo ngaba lobungane leziphathamandla zikahulumende ezinengi.

Ngo-1994 abantu abedlula 1 000 000 babulawa ngesikhathi kubulawa amaTutsi eRwanda. Kuyadanisa ukuthi labanye abafowethu labodadewethu babulawa ngalesosikhathi. Ngesikhatshana nje iqembu labafowethu lacelwa ukuthi liyencedisa abafowethu labodadewethu kulelolizwe, libanike lezinto ababezidinga.

Iqembu lethu lathi lifika eKigali, isigodlo salelolizwe, sathola ewofisini yokuhumutsha lasendaweni okwakufikela khona amabhuku ethu kulezikhala zenhlamvu emdulini. Sezwa indaba ezinengi ezesabekayo zabafowethu labodadewethu ababebulewe ngemihedla. Saphinda sezwa lezinye ezaziphathelane lendlela abafowethu labodadewethu ababencedisana ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, sahlangana lomunye umfowethu ongumTutsi owayecatshe egodini okwamalanga angu-28 evikelwe ngeyinye imuli yaboFakazi engamaHutu. Ngesikhathi siseKigali saba lomhlangano lapho esakhuthaza khona abafowethu labodadewethu abedlula 900.

Sisuka eRwanda saya eZaire (esibizwa ngokuthi yiDemocratic Republic of the Congo) sisiyadinga oFakazi abanengi ababesuke eRwanda babalekela enkambeni zeziphepheli eduze ledolobho leGoma. Kwakunzima ukuthi sibathole yikho sakhuleka kuJehova sicela ukuthi asincedise. Ngemva kwalokho sabona omunye umuntu esilanda sasesimbuza ukuthi kungabe kuloFakazi kaJehova amaziyo yini. Wasiphendula wathi, “Ye lami nginguFakazi. Wothini ngiyelitshengisa abazalwane bekhomithi yokusiza.” Sathi sesibe lomhlangano lekhomithi yokusiza sahlangana leziphepheli ezingaba ngu-1 600 futhi saziduduza saphinda sazikhuthaza. Sababalela incwadi eyayivela kuQula Elikhokhelayo. Kwabathabisa kakhulu abafowethu labodadewethu ukuzwa amazwi athi: “Sihlala silithandazela. Siyakwazi ukuthi uJehova kasoze alilahle.” Amazwi la ayevela kuQula Elikhokhelayo ayeliqiniso sibili. Lamuhla kulaboFakazi abedlula 30 000 eRwanda futhi bakhonza uJehova bethokoza!

Ngo-2011 umkami engangimthanda u-Elly watshona futhi sasesileminyaka engaphosa ibe ngu-58 sitshadile. Ngangitshela uJehova ngobuhlungu engangibuzwa futhi wayengiduduza. Okunye okwangiduduzayo yikuxoxela omakhelwane bami izindaba ezinhle ngoMbuso.

Lanxa sengidlulise iminyaka engu-90 lokhu ngisatshumayela maviki wonke. Kuyangithokozisa ukuncedisa kuHlangothi Lwezomthetho lapha egatsheni laseBelgium lokutshela abanye lokho engihlangane lakho empilweni kanye lokukhuthaza abasakhulayo eBhetheli.

Eminyakeni engaba ngu-84 eyadlulayo ngathandaza okokuqala kuJehova. Lokho kwakuyikuqala kwempilo emnandi esingincede ukuthi ngiqhubeke ngisondela kuJehova. Ngiyambonga kakhulu ngoba kuyo yonke impilo yami ubeyilalela imithandazo yami.—Hubo. 66:19. b