PANDAINGA ndecijija cikora, zviro azvicaicinja maningi. Vadoni vawaijija navo pa gore ro kutanga ndivona wovaijija navo mbhera koopeja cikora. Zvokadi, waiziva mazina o uzinji hwo vandhu vo mudhorobha rowaigara, ivona vaikuzivavo.

Dhorobha ro Liberty raitendenejwa ngo fazenda doko zve kwairimwa maningi mabomore. Pandakabahwa, babangu vaishandira pa fazenda imweni yo mundharaundhemo. Ndakajijira kufambisa torotori no kuita mabasa amweni anoitwa mu fazenda ndiciri muaruki.

Babangu avacainga mujaha. Pandakabahwa, ivona vainga vaano 56 o makore o kubahwa, zve mangu vainga no 35. Pikija zvakadaro, babangu vainga vakavanga zve no uhomi hwaushoni. Vaida maningi kuita mabasa akavanga zve vakajijisa vana vavo vese kudavo mabasa akadaro. Avazivi kumbova no mare yakawanda, asi vakatipsakira ndau yo kugara, zvokusimira no zvokuha zvinokwana. Zve vaipeja nguva yakawanda nesu. Ivona vakatamika pavainga no 93 o makore okubahwa. Kuveni mangu vakatamika no 86 o makore. Na umwe wavo wakamboshandira Jehovha. Asi umwe wo hama jangu ndi mukuru wo ungano wakagondeka kubvira mu gore ro 1972.

Mangu vainga munamati kamare. Vaienda nesu ku gerejha Bhatista mu ma Dimingu ese. Pandainga no makore 12 o kubahwa, ndakazwa ngo pamusoro po jijiso yo  Utatu. Ngo kudaro ndakabvunjisa mamaa kudari: “Zvingaitisa kudini kuti Jesu ave Mwana na Baba pa mukuvo wondhowo?” Ndicaceukija mupinguro wavo: “I mushamaiso, mwanangu. Atingazvizwisisi.” Zvokadi waingadi mushamaiso kwandiri. Pikija zvakadaro, pandainga no makore 14, ndakabhabhatijwa pa cimurambo cimweni co mu mutundhu mwedumo. Ndakabijwa mu kumwa katatu, hwo kutanga ngo zina ra Baba, hwo cipiri ngo zina ro Mwana, hwo citatu ngo zina ro mujimu mucena!

Pandaijija ku cikora cikuru, ndakava no shamwari yainga bhokisero (mutambo wo kutakana ngo zvibhakera), zve iyona yakandikhohwesa kuti ndiejevo kuva bhokisero. Ngo kudaro, ndakatanga kuterenari, ndotoguma pa kuva umwe wo pa cikwata co mabhokisero caidanijwa Golden Gloves. Andicaizvikwanisa ushoni, ngo iyo ndava pasure po kutakana ko bvaza nganani, ndakazviregera. Pa kufamba ko nguva, ndakadanijwa ku Cikwata co masoca o ku Estadhus Unidhus, ndotumihwa ku Aremanya. Pandainga ndiri kondhono, vatungamiriri vangu vakanditumira ku cikora co masoca ngo kuti vaivona kuti ndaizova mutungamiriri wakanaka. Vaida kuti usoca uve basa rangu mu upenyu hwese. Asi, andicaida kuramba ndiri mu basa ro usoca, ngo iyo ndava, nondapeja basa rondaidikana kuita ko makore maviri, ndakabuda mu usoca mu gore ro 1956. Apazivi kupera mukuvo wakareba, ndakanghwina mu mukhaindi umweni wo usoca.

Ndicito ndajijia cokwadi, ndainga no murangariro wakashata ngo pamusoro po kuti zvinorevenyi kuva mwanarume wokadi. Ndaikwevejehwa ngo mavhidhio no vandhu vo mutundhumo. Ndairangarira kuti vanarume vaibhuyaya ngo zvo Bhaibheri avacainga vanarume kwavo. Asi ndakatanga kujija ciro cakacinja upenyu hwangu. Njiku imweni, pandainga ndecifambisa karu yangu yo kupsuka yakanyara mu dhorobha, vasikane vaviri vakandimusira mukono vecikumbira kuti ndivakhwederere. Ivona vainga hambzaji jo mwanarume wainga akarovora yayangu. Vasikane vaya vainga Zvapupu zva Jehovha. Pa bvaza imweni, ndainga ndakaashira navo marevhista Murindiri no Mukai! zve ndainga ndakanesehwa kuzwisisa zvainga mu Murindiri wiyana. Asi pa bvaza iyi, ivona vainga vakandikoka kuti ndiende ku Jijo yo Bhuku yo Ungano, yaiizwa pa musongano umweni wo kujija no kubhuisana ngo pamusoro po Bhaibheri, waiitihwa ku muzi kwavo. Ndakavabvunja kuti ndaida kumborangarira. Vakanyemwerera, vondibvunjisa kudari: “Unotigondesa here?” Inini ndakati: “Ndinogondesa.”

Ndakazvivaza ngo kunanga zvondhozvo, asi ndaidikana kukwanirisa cigondiso cangu. Ngo iyo ndava, pa usiku hwondhohwo ndakaenda ku musongano wiya. Ndakashamaisika maningi ngo zvivana zvondakawaneyo. Ndakakahamara ngo mazivire ozvaiita Bhaibheri. Pikija ndaienda ku gerejha na mai wangu mu maDimingu ese, Bhaibheri ndairiziva padoko basi. Apa wari, ndainga ndoda kuziva zvakawanda, ngo iyo ndava ndakadavira kujija Bhaibheri. Cimwe co zvandakatanga kujija, ngo cokuziva kuti zina ra Mwari wo Masimba-ese ndi Jehovha. Pa makore ainga akadarika, pandakabvunjisa mai wangu ngo pamusoro po Zvapupu zva Jehovha, ivona vakandidavira basi kudari: “Oh, ivona vanomatama mwanarume umweni musharuka anodanijwa Jehovha.” Asi, apa ndainga ndafununguhwa majiso!

Ndakaenderera mberi ngo kukasika ngo kuti ndainga ndawana cokwadi. Mu mweji wa Soka ra Baba wo gore ro 1957, mweji mupfumbamwe pasure po kuva pa musongano wo kutanga, ndakabhabhatijwa. Murangariro wangu wainga wacinja. Ndinobonga maningi ngo kuti ndakajija zvinonanga Bhaibheri ngo pamusoro po kuva mwanarume ano simba zve wakacunga. Jesu wainga  mwanarume wakakwana. Iyena wainga akavanga zve ano simba maningi kupinda mwanarume ari wese hake. Asi aazivi kumbohwisana. Kusiyapo, ‘iyena wakatendera kutambujwa,’ inga zvakanangwa. (Isaia 53:2, 7; Shanduro yeNyika Itsva) Ndakajijira kuti muteveri wokadi-kadi wa Jesu, “anodikana kupfavira vese.”—2 Timoti 2:24.

Ndakatanga basa ro upiyona mu gore rakazotevera, 1958. Asi ngo kukasika, ndakadikana kumboima ko cimukuvo. Ngenyi? Ngo kuti ndainga ndatema civaringo co kucadha na Gloria, umwe wo vasikane vaviri vakandikokaya kwenda kujijo yo bhuku! Andizivi kumbozvidemba ngo civaringo ico. Gloria wainga cinemeso kwandiri zve acindori cinemeso mbhera nyamasi. Kwandiri, iyena anosisira maningi kupinda dhiamanti rinosisira maningi, zve ndiri kudakajihwa maningi ngo kuva naye! Ambomuzwenyi ecinanga ega ngo zvake:

“Ndainga no hama pomwe hambzaji jaikwana kuita 16. Mangu vainga Capupu cakagondeka. Vakatamika pandainga no makore 14. Pasure pazvo, babangu vakatanga kujija Bhaibheri. Zvecivoneka kuti tainga ticinazve mai, babangu vakaita nasiriro no muvonereri wo cikora. Pa mukuvo wondhoo, yayangu vainga vecipejisa cikora zve Papaa vakakumbira kuti inini na yaya ticinjane pa njiku jokuenda ku cikora. Izvi zvaizoita kuti umwe wedu ave pa muzi ecikorondha hama jedu jainga jiciri vadoko. Taizokwanisavo kubika pa nguva kwayo kuti Papaa pavaiviya kubasa vatiwane tapera kubika. Muvonereri wo cikora wakatenderana nazvo zve takaramba tino urongwa uu mbhera yayangu povakazopejisa cikora. Mbhuri mbiri jainga Zvapupu, jaijija nesu Bhaibheri zve pa mutengo wedu tese inga vana, 11 vakaguma pa kuva Zvapupu zva Jehovha. Ndaidakarira basa ro kucumaera, pikija nguva jese ndainga mundhu anopseruka maningi. Mwamunangu, Samuel, ari kundibesera pa kuhwisana no mugariro uwu ko makore.”

Inini na Gloria takacadha mu mweji wa Musekwa wo 1959. Takadakajihwa ngo kushanda tese inga mapiyona. Mu mweji wa Khunguru wo gore rondhoro, takatara petisau kuti tiende kooshanda ku Bheteri. Itusu taida kamare kushandira ku cine ro pasi pese. Hama imweni inodiwa, yaidanijwa Simon Kraker, yakabhuisana nesu. Iyona yakatibvunja kuti Bheteri rainga riciripi kuashira varovorani pa mukuvo wondhowo. Tainga ticandoda kushanda pa Bheteri, asi takapeja makore akawanda kuti tikokwe.

Takatarira cine ro pasi pese tecikumbira kutumihwa kooshanda ku ndau yaidiwa maningi vacumaeri. Ivona vakatikhombija ndau imwe basi: Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Mu nguva yondhoyo ku Pine Bluff kwainga no ungano mbiri. Ungano imwe yainga no vacumaeri vo vazungu kuveni imweni yainga no vacumaeri vo vasenji. Itusu takatumihwa ku ungano yo vasenji, yainga no 14 ro vacumaeri.

Mungajibvunjisa henyu kuti ngenyi Zvapupu zva Jehovha zvaizokhetana, vacumaeri vo vasenji pavoga vo vazungu pavoga. Mupinguro ngo wo kuti mu njiku jondhojo, vasenji avacainga no mukana wo kukheta. Mutemo aucaitendera kuti vandhu vakasiyana ganda vave pamwepo zve kwainga no cineso co ungandanga. Mu ndau jakawanda, hama jaithya kuti Nyumba jo Umambo jaizophwanywa kudari jikabvengana kuti vanamate. Zviro zvakadaro zvaiitika. Capupu co musenji pacaicumaera nyumba ngo nyumba mu ndharaundha yo vazungu, caisungwa kangaije no kutotakwa. Ngo kudaro, kuti basa ro kucumaera riitwe, taizwira mutemo tecivetera kuti zviro zvaizocinjira kunaka.

Basa redu ro kucumaera aricainga rakareruka nguva jese. Pataicumaera mu ndima yo vasenji, nguva jimweni taiposa totaka musuvo wo mbhuri yo vazungu. Taidikana kutema civaringo ngo kukasika: Taizoeja kubhuya masoko mashoma o mu Bhaibheri here kana kukumbira kuregerehwa totoenda pa muzi umweni? Ngo mafambiro ozvaiita mu njiku jondhojo.

Zvokadi, inga mapiyona, taidikana kuramba tecipsaka mare yo kupona ndiyona. Uzinji hwo mabasa edu aipoceresa mare shoma. Gloria waiita mabasa manganani o mu kintari. Pamuzi pamweni paaibatira, ndaitendehwa kumubesera kuti akasike kupeja basa. Ukama hwo pondhopo hwaitipa zvokusvusvura. Zvainga zvokuha zvakabikwa kare zvopokotahwi, zvandaipungurirana na Gloria ticito tapinda. Bviki ngo bviki, Gloria waiita basa ro kupasari nguvo yo mbhuri imweni. Inini ndaiita basa ro kutemerera jhardhim, kusuka majhanera, no kuita mabasa amweni o pamuzi. Pa muzi wo muzungu umweni, takasuka majhanera. Gloria ngo mukati inini ngo kunja. Takapeja njiku yamutero, ngo kudaro, vakatipa zvokuha. Gloria wakahira mumba, akaparajana no mbhuri iyana. Inini ndakahira kunja  mu garajhe, asi andizivi kutozvirangarira hangu. Zvokuha zviya zvainaka maningi. Yainga mbhuri yakanaka maningi, asi vaikwevejehwa ngo vandhu vo mundharaundhemo. Ndinoceukija bvaza imweni patakaima pa bhomba ro mafuta. Notapera kuzaja tanki yo karu yedu ngo mafuta, ndakakumbira mushandi wo pondhopo wainga muzungu kuti Gloria aende mu kazadhobanyo. Wakandisota akanyangajwa wonanga kudari: “Yakafungwa.”

Ngo divi rimweni, tainga no mukuvo jakanaka jataibungaija no hama zve taidakarira maningi kucumaera! Patakatanga kuguma ku Pine Bluff, taigara no hama yainga mushandiri wo ungano mu nguva yondhoyo. Mujimai wayo wainga acito waa mucokwadi zve Gloria wakatanga kujija naye Bhaibheri. Ininivo, ndakatangavo kujija no mwana wokaji wo pondhopo no mwamuna wake. Vese vo vaviri, mai no mwana, vakatema civaringo co kushandira Jehovha zve vakabhabhatijwa.

Tainga no shamwari mu ungano jo vazungu. Jaitikoka kwenda ku mamuzi kwajo koha, asi taidikana kwendeyo nokwasvipa kuitira kuti titame kuvoneka ngo ari wese tiri pamwepo navo. Ku Klux Klan cainga cikwata co vandhu vaibesera mukheto no ugevenga, cainga cakavanga maningi pa basa raco. Pa usiku humweni, ndinoceukija kuti ndakavona mwanarume umweni akagara pa vharanda yo kumbeji ko nyumba yake, ecidada ngo kusimira zinguvo no zinyacece, inga zvaiitwa ngo vo cikwata co Ku Klux Klan. Asi, zvineso izvi azvizivi kuimisa hama jedu pa kukhombijira kunaka mwoyo. Pa mukuvo umweni, taida mare kuti tiende ku gungano ro mutundhu zve hama imweni yakatendera kutenga karu yedu kuti tikwanisevo kwenda. Nopapera mweji, njiku imweni, tainga taremba pasure po kufamba nyumba ngo nyumba kwecipisa, teciitisa jijo jakawanda jo Bhaibheri. Pasure pazvo, takahwirira ku muzi towana zvakatishamaisa. Karu yedu iyana, yainga kumbeji ko nyumba! Painga no ciphepha cainga pa vhidru yo kumbeji, caitahwa kudari: “Mungatora henyu karu yenyu, i cipo cangu. Ndini hama yenyu.”

Ciito cimweni co kunaka mwoyo, cakandipsasa maningi. Mu gore ro 1962, ndakakokwa, kwenda ku Cikora co Mushando wo Umambo ku South Lansing, Novha Yorki. Ndaizopeja mweji wese ndecirovejwa inga muvonereri wo ungano, wo ndharaundha zve wo mutundhu. Mu nguva jondhojo ndainga ndicina basa zve tainga tino mare shoma. Asi kwainga no empereza imweni yo foni yainga yakabhuisana na inini kuti ndizoshandireyo. Novakandidanija kooshandeyo, ndaizova musenji wo kutanga kushandira pa empereza yondhoyo. Vakazogumisira ngo kundibvunja kuti vaida kundipa basa. Waro ndaizodini? Andicainga no mare yo kwenda ndiyona ku Novha Yorki. Ndakanasa kurangarira ngo ndava yazvo, ndaizotendera basa riya ndosiya kwenda ku cikora kondakakokwaya here. Pandainga ndecinasirira kuti nditarire Bheteri, kwakaitika ciro candicikazokanganwi.

Hambzaji imweni yo mu ungano yedu, yainga no mwamuna aciripi Capupu, yakataka musuvo wedu comangwanani kamare yondipa envhiropi. Yaizara ngo mare. Hambzaji iyi no vana vayo vadoko vainga vakapeja njiku jakatikuti vecimuka sedo kamare kwenda kooita muphakamiso wo kusakurira mu maminda o thonje. Ivona vaizviitira inini kuti ndikwanise kwenda ku cikora ku Novha Yorki. Hambzaji iyi yakananga kudari:  “Endanyi ku cikora kojija mbhera pamunokwanisa, muzoviye kotijijisavo.” Pa kufamba ko nguva, ndakazobvunjisa vo ku empereza yo foni iyana kuti zvaizoita here kuti ndizoshandeyo pasure po mweji mushanu. Mupinguro wavo wakajeka wakava wo kuti: “Haiwa.” Asi andizivi kutozvirangarira hangu. Ndainga ndatema civaringo cangu. Ndinobonga maningi ngo kuti andizivi kwenda ku basa riya.

Gloria anoceukija nguva yatairarama ku Pine Bluff: “Ndaidisisa maningi ndima yo kondhono! Ndainga no jijo jo Bhaibheri jaikwana 15 mbhera 20. Ngo kudaro, ndaikwanisa kwenda kocumaera nyumba ngo nyumba comangwanani perapo ndaikwanisa kwenda kooitisa jijo jo Bhaibheri kubvira comasikati atee 23 ora. Basa raidakajisadi kamare! No zvaibvira, ndaizoramba ndiri kondhono. Kubhuya cokwadi, andicaida kucinjwa basa rondaiita, ndoenda mu basa ro kufambira ungano, asi Jehovha waida kutipa basa rimweni.” Zvokadi wakatipa.

Patainga mapiyona ku Pine Bluff, takatara petisau kuti tishande inga mapiyona anosisira. Zvokadi, taivetera kugajwa mu basa iri. Ngenyi? Ngokuti taiziva kuti muvonereri wedu wo mutundhu waida kuti tibesere ungano imweni yo ku Texas zve waida kuti tishandeyo inga mapiyona anosisira. Itusu taizvida maningi zvondhozvo. Ngo kudaro takavetera no kundovetera mupinguro, asi apana karata yaiguma. Pejisire, karata yakazoguma. Takagajwa koita basa ro kufambira ungano! Mwainga mu mweji wa Zvita wo 1965. Hama Leon Weaver, wari vari kushanda inga murongi wo Komisau yo ku Estadhus Unidhus, vakagajwa kuti vashande inga muvonereri wo ndharaundha mu mukuvo wondhowo.

Ndaithimwa-thimwa ngo pamusoro po kuva muvonereri wo ndharaundha. Nopapera gore kana papera nguva shomani, muvonereri wo mutundhu, hama James A. Thompson, Jr., vakapopora zvikwaniriso zvangu. Ngo kunaka mwoyo, vakandisanangurira zvandaidikana kuitisa nane, vecinanga mugariro jaidiwa ku muvonereri wo ndharaundha. Ngo kudaro, pasure po kutanga basa iri, ndakazwisisa kuti ndaidikana kupuwa mbhangiro iji. Pasure po kugajwa kwangu, Hama Thompson vakava muvonereri wo mutundhu wo kutanga wandakashanda naye. Ndakajija zvakawanda no hama iyo yakagondeka.

Mu njiku jondhojo, muvonereri wo ndharaundha waiashira rovejo shoma. Ndakasotesesa muvonereri wo ndharaundha ko bviki rimwe paainga ecifambira ungano. Perepo, iyena wakandisotesesavo ko bviki rimwe, pandainga ndecifambira ungano imweni. Wakandipa mazano no ndhungamiriro. Asi pasure pazvo, takatoshanda tega. Ndinoceukija ndecibvunja Gloria kudari: “Vari kutisiyadi wari kamare?” Asi, pakufamba ko nguva, ndakazwisisa ciro cimweni cinosisira maningi. Nguva jese kuno hama jakanaka jingakubesera, asi jinozviita kudari ukajitendera. Ndiciri kubonga ngo besero rondakaashira ku hama jakadari inga J. R. Brown, pasure pazvo muvonereri umweni wo ndharaundha zve hama Fred Rusk vo pa mbhuri yo Bheteri.

 Mukheto wainga uri kwese mu njiku jondhojo. Bvaza imweni, cikwata co Ku Klux Klan cakafamba pamwepo mu dhorobha rimweni, itusu patainga tecibvakaca ku Tennessee. Ndinoceukija pa mukuvo umweni patainga mu basa, takaima pa restauranti imweni kuti timbozorore. Pandakaenda ku kazadhebhanyo, mwanarume umweni wainyangajwa zve wainga ano tatuajhe yo mukheto wakanditeverera mondhomo. Asi hama imweni yo muzungu yainga no muviri wakakura kupinda tese, yakaviya. Iyona yakandibvunjisa kudari: “Hama Herd, muri ushoni?” Kriente umweni, wakabvepo acizivi kushandisa kazadhebhanyo. Ko makore, ndiri kukwanisa kuvona kuti thangwe kamare rinoitisa kuti vandhu vakhetane asipi mukhaindi wo ganda ro mundhu asi i cishaishi cino umwe nga umwe wedu. Zve ndakajija kuti hama ndi hama basi, azvinenyi no mukhaindi wo ganda rayo zve iyona inozofa ngo ndava yako kudari zvecidiwa.

Takapeja 12 ro makore mu basa ro kufambira ndharaundha zve 21 tecifambira mutundhu. Akava makore akazara ngo upfumi no mupfupo, akazara ngo zviitiko zvinovangisa. Asi kwainga kuno mupfupo umweni waitivetera. Mu mweji wa Katutu wo gore ro 1997 cidisiso catainga naco ko makore cakakwanirisika. Takakokwa kooshandira ku Bheteri ro ku Estadhus Unidhus. Painga padarika 38 o makore notaita petisau yedu yo kutanga. Pa mweji wakazotevera, takatanga basa redu pa Bheteri. Ndinovona kuti hama jainga no mutoro pa Bheteri, jaindida kuti ndibesere ko nguva shomani, asi andizvopi zvakazoitika.

Ndakatanga kushanda mu Bauhwa ro Basa. Ndakajija zvakawanda! Hama mu bauhwa rondhoro jaiashira mubvunjo jakawanda jinonesa zve jinopsasa mwoyo, jaibva ku matare o vakuru o munyikemo. Ndinobonga maningi ngo kuti hama jakandiroveja jaisengerera zve jaibesera. Kudari nondaigajwazve kushanda mondhomo, ndaizoramba ndecijija zvakawanda no hama iji.

Inini na Gloria tinodakarira maningi maponero o pa Bheteri. Nguva jese taidakarira kumuka sedo, ngo kudaro cirovejeso ico ciri kutibesera pa Bheteri. Papera gore no zviri kunja, ndakatanga kushanda inga mubeseri wo Komisau yo Basa yo Mukhumbi Unotonga wo Zvapupu zva Jehovha. Perepo mu gore ro 1999, ndakagajwa inga umwe wo vo Mukhumbi Unotonga. Ndiri kujija zvakawanda pa basa iri. Asi cijijo cinosisira maningi candakajija ngo co kuti musoro wo ungano yo ciKristu ndi Jesu Kristu, haiwa mundhu.

Pandinorangarira ngo pamusoro po upenyu hwangu, nguva jimweni ndinojizwa padoko inga mu muporofita Amosi. Jehovha wakavona muhavisi uwo waijidodokesa wainga no basa rakareruka ro kungwarira makuyu, ainga zvokuha zvo varombo. Asi Mwari wakagaja Amosi kuti ave muporofita zve wakamukomborera maningi mu basa iro. (Amosi 7:14, 15) Mukufananavo, Jehovha wakavonavo inini, mwana wo murombo wo ku Liberty, Indiana, waishanda mu fazenda. Zve Jehovha wakandikomborera maningi, ngo zvizinji zvandingananga pano! (Mazwi Akangwara 10:22) Ndizvona hazvo kuti upenyu hwangu hwakatanga ndiri murombo ku nyama, asi zvokadi ndiri kuvona kuti pakupejisira ndaamukhupuki maningi kupinda zvandingarangarira!