NDAKABAHWA mu gore ro 1926 ku Crooksville, Ohio, ku Estadhos Unidhos. Baba wangu na mai wangu avacainamata, asi ivona vakabvunja itusu vana taikwana kuita vasere kuti tiende ku ceci. Ndakaenda ku Ceci yo Metodhista. Pandainga no 14 o makore, mutungamiriri wo gerejero wakandipekeja cipo ngo ndava yo kuti andizivi kumboruza Dimingu riri rese ko gore rese.

Mu nguva yondhoyo, mwanakaji umweni wainga cigarisano cedu waidanijwa Margaret Walker, umwe wo Zvapupu zva Jehovha, wakatanga kubvakacira mai wangu ecibhuya navo ngo pamusoro po Bhaibheri. Njiku imweni, ndakatema civaringo co kumbogara pasi kuti ndizwevo zvavaibhuyaro. Mai vakarangarira kuti ndaida kuphingaija jijo yavo, ngo iyo ndava vakandibvunja kuti ndibvepo. Asi ndaindoeja kupurutana mabhuyo avo. No papera bvaza nganani Margaret ecitibvakacira, njiku imweni wakandibvunjisa kudari: “Unoriziva zina ra Mwari?” Inini ndakadavira kudari: “Vandhu vese vanozviziva—kuti ndi Mwari.” Iyena wakananga kudari: “Torai Bhaibheri rako usote pana Nduyo 83:18.” Ndakazviita ndofumbhura kuti zina ra Mwari ndi Jehovha. Ndakagogoma ku shamwari jangu, ndoguma ndojibvunja kudari: “Mukahwirira kumuzi usiku  huno, endanyi kosota mu Bhaibheri pana Nduyo 83:18 kuti muvone zina ra Mwari.” Mungananga henyu kuti ndainga ndatotanga kupa ucapupu.

Ndakajija Bhaibheri zve ndakabhabhatijwa mu gore ro 1941. Pa nguva shomani ndakagajwa kuti ndiitise jijo yo Bhaibheri yo ungano. Ndakavangisa mai wangu pomwe no hama jangu kuti vaveyo ku jijoyo. Zve vese vakatanga kuviadi. Asi, baba avacaidakarira.

Ndakagajwa mabasa amweni mu ungano, ngo kudaro ndakava no bhibhirioteka rangu ro mabhuku o umwari. Njiku imweni, baba vakatatija mabhuku angu vonanga kudari: “Uri kuvona mamuzviro ako awo? Mabvisei mumba muno, zve iwewe ungapindavo nawo.” Ndakabuda pa muzi ndoenda kopsaka kwaratu mu ndharaundha yo muphedomo yaizwi Zanesville, Ohio, asi ndakahwirira kuitira kovangisa ukama.

Baba vakaeja kurambisa mai kwenda kumusongano. Nguva jimweni pavainga vari mu gwanja vecienda kumusongano, baba vaivateverera vovabata vohwirira navo kumuzi. Asi mai vaikwanisa kutiza ngo musovo umweni woenda kumusongano. Ndakazovabvunja mai kudari: “Mucadothya. Baba vanozoremba kumutevera.” Pa kufamba ko nguva, baba vakazosiya kueja kurambisa mai kwenda kumusongano, zve mai vaienda kumusongano vacikaneswi.

Mu gore ro 1943 ungano yedu yakatanga kuva no Cikora co Mushando wo Umwari, zve inini ndakatanga kuita hurukuro inga mujiji. Mazano andaishira pakupeja kuita divi rangu pa cikora akandibesera kuita nani kukwanisa kwangu kuvereketa.

Pa mukovo wondhowo, nyika jainga jecihwisana pa Hondo yo Cipiri yo Pasi pese. Mu gore ro 1944, ndakadanijwa kuti ndiende koova musoca. Ndakaenda, ku Fort Hayes ku Columbus, kwenda koozemenwa muviri, no kutara phepha. Ndakabvunja vavonereri vo utongi kuti andicaizoita musoca. Ivona vakandisiya ndopinda. Papera njiku nganani, umwe wo vatungamiriri vo utongi wakandigumira kumuzi kwangu wondibvunja kudari: “Corwin Robison, ndino masoko okuti iwewe wasungwa.”

Nopapera mabviki maviri, ndakaenda ku tiribhunari kotongwa. Kondhoyo ndecitongwa, mutongi wakananga kudari: “No zvaifira kwandiri, ndaizokutongera kudihwa mujere upenyu hwese. Uno masoko ari ese?” Ndakadavira kudari: “Mutongi, inini ndinovoniwa inga mucumaeri. Tiribhuna yangu i musovo wo ari wese. Ndinocumaera masoko akanaka o Umambo kuno vandhu vese.” Mutongi wakabvunja uwo jhuri waimirira ndava yangu kudari: “Iwewe auripi pano kuti uteme civaringo co kuti mufana uwu ndi mucumaeri kana kuti haiwa. Uri pano kuti uteme civaringo co kuti mufana uwu anodikana kwenda ku usoca kana kuti haiwa.” Pacito pakhirira makumatatu o museswa, jhuri wakavia no civaringo co kuti inini ndainga no ndava. Mutongi wakanditongera makore mashanu ndiri mujere ku Ashland, Kentucky.

Ndakapeja mabviki maviri o kutanga mu jere ro ku Columbus, Ohio, zve njiku yo kutanga ndakadihwa mu sera yangu yandega. Ndakaita mukumbiro kuna Jehovha ndeciti: “Andikwanisi kugara musera yandega ko makore mashanu. Andicizivi co kuita.”

Pa njiku yakazotevera, vangwariri vakandibvisemo. Ndakafamba ndoenda painga no nyajere umwenivo wainga thoro no mapfuji akakura, tovaviri takaima pa jhanera tosota kunja. Iyena wakandibvunjisa  kudari: “Coti, ngenyi uri pano?” Ndakamudavira kuti: “Ndiri umwe wo Zvapupu zva Jehovha?” Iyena wakati: “Iwewe? Waro ngenyi uri pano?” Ndakati: “Ndakavabvunja kuti Zvapupu zva Jehovha azviendi ku hondo zve azviurai vandhu.” Iyena wonanga kudari: “Ivona vakakufungira mujere ngo kuti audi kuuraya vandhu. Vakafungira vafana vamweni ngo kuti vakauraya vandhu. Zvino shwiro here?” Inini ndakati: Azvina.

Perepo iyena wakananga kudari: “Ndakapeja 15 ro makore ku jere rimweni, zve kondhoyo ndakaverenga amweni o mabhuku enyu.” Inini ndakaita mukumbiro ndeciti: “Jehovha, itanyi kuti mwanarume uwu ave ku divi rangu.” Pa mukuvo wondhowo, mwanarume wondhowo, waidanijwa Pauro​—wakanga kudari: “Kudari umwe wo vafana ava akakupsasa, nangai. Inini ndinoshanda naye.” Pa kufamba ko nguva, ndakarovejana no vanyajere vese vaikwana kuita 50 vaigara pandau yondhoyo yandaingaro.

Ndakacinjwa ngo vatungamiri vo utongi kwenda ku jere ro ku Ashland, kondhoyo ndakawana mutengo wakati kuti wo hama jakaibva ku mujimu. Kuva pamwepo navo kwakandibesera kuramba ndakavanga ku mujimu. Ivona vakatigaja kuverenga Bhaibheri bviki ngo bviki, zve itusu tainasirira mubvunjo no mupinguro kuitira musongano jaidanijwa Nyuci jo Bhaibheri. Mondhomo maingazve no mubatiri wo kuvonerera ndima yo kucumaera. Tainga muzikwaratu rakakura rainga rakandandaniswa mubhedhu, jaicijikira mu mapiravira. Mubatiri wo kuvonerera ndima wakandibvunja kudari: “Robison, ndiwe wagajwa kucumaera vo pamubhedhu wakati no wakati. Ari wese mupsa anoviiswa ku mubhedu jondhojo, unodikana kumucumaera. Iva no gwinyiso kuti acumaehwe acito abudiswa.” Ngo maitiro awo taikwanisa kucumaera ngo maitiro akarongeka.

Hondo yo Cipiri yo Pasi pese yakapera mu gore ro 1945, asi ndakaramba ndiri mu jere ko nguva yakatikuti. Ndainga ndecithyira ukama hwangu ngo ndava yozvakandibvunja baba, ivona vainga vakananga kudari: “Kudari ndikakwanisa kuimisa iwewe, ndinozokwanisavo vamweni ava.” Pandakabudiswa mujere, ndakava no mudakaro mukuru. Pikija no kurambijwa ndi baba, pa ukama hwangu, vandhu vanomwe vainga vecienda kumusongano zve umwe wo hambzaji jangu wakabhabhatijwa.

Hondo yo ku Koreya yakatanga mu gore ro 1950. Ndakadanijwazve ku Fort Hayes. Naapera kusota phepa rangu ro kupopohwa, umwe muvonereri wo utongi wakandibvunja kudari: “Pa cikwata cenyuco iwewe uri umwe wo vavoniwa kuva vakanaka.” Inini ndakamudavira kudari: “Zvakanaka, asi andiendi kuusoca.” Ndakananga zviri 2 Timoti 2:3 perepo ndoti: “Ndaamusoca wa  Kristu.” Iyena wakanyaririsa perapo woti: “Ungapinda hako.”

Pa mukuvo wakazotevera, ndakaendavo pa musongano wo Bheteri wakaitwa pa rimwe gungano. Rakaitwa ku Cincinnati, Ohio. Hama Milton Henschel vakatibvunja kuti, kudari hama iri yese inoda kushandira Umambo hwa Mwari ngo simba, sangano raizoishandisa pa Bhateri. Ndakaita cikumbiro cokushanda pa Bheteri, ndakatendehwa, zve ndakadanijwa ku Bheteri ro Brookrini mu mweji wa Katutu, gore ro 1954. Kubvira gore rondhoro ndiri kushandira pa Bheteri.

Andizivi kumbotama basa pa Bheteri. Ko makore akawanda, ndakashanda no mucini jo munodhindhwa mabhuku zve jinowanikazve mu nyumba yakandandanisa mahofisi, jinozwi makardheira, ndakashandazve inga makaniko, no kunasiriravo mafishadura. Zve ndakamboshandira ku Nyumba Jinoitihwa Magungano ku Dhorobha ro Novha Yoriki.

Ndinoda maningi urongwa hwo kumujimu huri pa Bheteri, uwo unobatanija kunamata ko mangwanani, Jijo yo mbhuri yo Murindiri, zve kutora rutivi mu basa ro kucumaera no ungano. Mukazvirangarira, munokwanisa kuceukija kuti urongwa hwakadaro ungawanika zve unodikana kuwanika pa mbhuri iri yese yo Zvapupu zva Jehovha. Apo vabari no vana pavano jija vhesi yo njiku pamwepo, vova no Kunamata ko Mbhuri nguva jese, zve vobatikana ngo maitiro akaperera pa musongano jo ungano pomwe no basa ro kucumaera masoko akanaka, vese pa mbhuri vanova no uhomi hwo kumujimu hwakanaka.

Ndakawana shamwari jakawanda pa Bheteri no ku ungano. Vamweni vainga vo kuzojwa zve vatopinda ku mupfupo wavo mugore. Vamweni avacainga vo kuzojwa. Asi, vaya vari vashandiri va Jehovha​—kubatanija maBheterita​—avazivi kukwana. Pandinova no ciri cese no hama, ndinoeja kuita runyararo. Ndinorangarira zviri pana Mateu 5:23, 24, zve ndorangarira zvitinovetehwa kuita kudari pakava kutama kuzwirana. Kukumbira kurengerehwa azvizivi kureruka, asi kazinji ndinovona kuti ndava inopera kwandiri no shamwri yangu, pandinondoikumbira kuregerehwa.

Ngo ndava yo mupira wangu, zviri kunesa kucumaera muzi ngo muzi, asi andizivi kuramwa. Ndakajijira padoko kuvereketa ndumi yo ciShina Mandarini zve ndiri kuva no mudakaro wo kukwanisa kubhuya no vaShina mu zvitaka. Mu mangwanani o njiku jimweni ndinokwanisavo kukovanisa  marevhista anokwana 30 kana 40 kuno vandhu vanodakarira.

Ndakatokwanisavo kuita hwiririro ku Shina! Njiku imweni, umwe musikane wakandinyemwererera paainga ecikhirira ecitokotesa masoko ngo pamusoro po rimweni bhanka raitengesa mucero. Inini ndakamunyemwererevo ndomupa marevhista Despertai! no Murindiri o ciShina. Iyena wakamaashira perepo wondibvunja kuti zina rake rainga Katie. Kubvira pondhopo, iyena akandondivona waiviya kobhuya na inini. Ndakamujijisa mazina o mucero no womushovo umweni wo masamba ngo Cingezi, zve iyena wakakwanisa kuhwirijiravo mazinevo. Ndakamusanangurira mavhesi o muBhaibheri, zve wakaashira bhuku Bhaibheri Rinojijisenyi. Asi pikija zvakadaro, papera mabviki manganani, iyena wakangara-ngaka.

Papera mweji, musikane umweni waingavo ecitokotesavo zviziviso, wakadaviravo marevhista andakamupekeja. Mabviki akazotevera, iyena wakabata foni yake wondiashija wondibvunja kudari: “Bhuyanyi no mundhu ari Shina”. Inini ndakananga kudari: “Akuna wandinoziva ari Shina.” Asi iyena wakavangirira, ngo kudaro ndakatora foni ndodavira: “Haroo, ndini Robison.” Mundhuwo wakadavira eciti: “ARobby, ndini Katie. Ndiri kuno Shina.” Inini ndakumubvunjisa kudari: “Shina?” Katie wodavira: “Hina. ARobby, munoziva musikane mwakandijijisa foni? Ndi hambzaji yangu. Imwimwi mwakajijisa zviro zvizinji zvakanaka. Ndapota mujijisenyi inga majijisire amakandiitaya.” Inini ndakamudavira kudari: “Katie, ndicaita zvandinokwanisa. Ndabonga ngo kundibvunjavo kwauri.” Pa nguva yakatevera ndakabhuya no hambzaji ya Katie ko bvaza yo kupejisira. Ndinovetera kuti vasikane vaya vari kujijira zvizinji ngo pamusoro pa Jehovha kuri kwese kovari waro.

Ndiri kushanda basa rakacena ra Jehovha ko makore 73. Ndinomubonga maningi kundibesera kwake kuramba ndicina kondakapeamira ndakagondeka pandainga mu jere. Zve, hama no hambzaji jangu vakandibvunja kuti vakaramba vacikaramwi, pavainga veciteverehwa ndi baba. Mai wangu pomwe hama jangu nomwe vakazogumisira ngo kubhabhatijwa. Pikija baba vakazothuruka, vototangavo kuenda kumusongano jimweni, vacito vatamika.

Ngo kuda ka Mwari, vo paukama hwangu pomwe no shamwari vakafaya, vanohwirira ku upenyu mu nyika imbza. Rangariranyi basi mudakaro unozoveyo patinonga tecinamata Jehovha no vaya vatinoda kwenda no kwenda! *