Ngabelethwa ngoDisemba 22, 1929, e-Noville endaweni encani esemakhaya, eplasini lethoba hlanu kwe-Bastogne, e-Belgian Ardennes. Saba neenkhathi ezimnandi nababelethi bami eplasini. Sinomfowethu u-Raymond besisenga iinkomo ngezandla qobe langa begodu besisiza nangokuvuna. Lapha ebesihlala khona, woke umuntu bekasebenza budisi ukusizana.

Ababelethi bami u-Emile no-Alice, bebamaKatolika azinikeleko. Qobe ngoSondo, bebatjhinga embuthwaneni obizwa ngokuthi yi-Mass. Nanyana kunjalo, ngabo-1939, amaphayona avela e-England eza eplasini ebesihlala kilo, anikela ubaba umagazini othi, Consolation (njenganje obizwa ngokuthi yi-Phaphama!). Msinyana ubaba wabona ukuthi okusemagazinini lo kuliqiniso begodu wathoma ukufunda iBhayibheli. Nakalisa ukuya embuthwaneni obizwa ngokuthi yi-Mass, abomakhelwana ebebanomusa kithi basijikela baphikisana nathi. Balinga ukukatelela ubaba ukuthi angalisi ukuba muKatolika begodu banghanghisana khulu ngendaba le.

Kwangizwisa ubuhlungu khulu ukubona ubaba agandeleleke ngendlela le. Lokho kwangenza ngafuna isizo kuZimu, ngathandaza ngokusuka ehliziyweni njengombana ngitjhwile ekuthomeni kwesihlokwesi. Ngathaba khulu lokha kancanikancani abomakhelwana bethu bathoma ukulisa ukuphikisana nathi. Lokho kwangiqinisekisa ukuthi kwamambala uJehova ‘umuMuzwi womthandazo.’

I-Nazi Germany yasahlela i-Belgium ngoMeyi 10, 1940, lokho kwabangela isibalo esikhulu sabantu sakhamba e-Belgium. Umndeni wekhaya  wabalekela esewula ye-France. Njengombana besikhamba, ngezinye iinkhathi besiba seendaweni eziyingozi lapho amasotja we-Germany newe-France alwa khona.

Nasibuyela eplasini lekhaya safumana ukuthi izinto zethu ezinengi zithethwe. Safumana kunenjethu kwaphela u-Bobbie. Koke lokhu bekungenza ngizibuze ukuthi, ‘Kubayini ephasini kunezipi nokutlhaga?’

Ngaso isikhatheso uMfowethu u-Emile Schrantz, a wasikhuthaza khulu njengombana bekamdala nephayona elithembekileko. Waphendula ngokukhanyako ngokususela eBhayibhelini ukuthi kubayini kunokutlhaga, waphendula neminye imibuzo ebenginayo yokuphila. Ngatjhidelana khulu noJehova bengaqiniseka ukuthi unguZimu wethando.

Ngaphambi kokuthi ipi iphele, umndenekhaya bewuthabela ukuhlangana nabafowethu. Ngo-Arhostosi 1943, uMfowethu u-José-Nicolas Minet, wavakatjhela iplasi lethu azokunikela ikulumo. Wabuza ukuthi, “Ngubani ofuna ukubhajadiswa?” Mina nobaba saphakamisa izandla. Ngemva kwalokho, sabhajadiselwa emlanjaneni omncani eduze neplasini ebesihlala kilo.

NgoDisemba 1944, amasotja we-Germany athoma ukusahlela okukhulu kwamaswaphela, kwePi YePhasi yesibili etjingalanga yeYurobhu, eyaziwa ngokuthi yi-Battle of the Bulge. Besihlala hlanu kwalapho ukusahlelokhu ebekwenzeka khona. Njengombana ipi le beyiraga, savaleleka inyanga lapha sihlala khona. Ngelinye ilanga nangiphumako ukuthi ngiyokupha iinlwana ukudla, ibhomu ekulu yadumuza iplasi yavithiza umfulelo. Isotja le-America ebelihlanu kwami esitalini, larhuwelela lathi, “Lala phasi!” Ngagijima ngayokulala hlanu kwalo, labeka isikoporo salo ehlokwami bona lingivikele.

Ngemva kwepi, ngakghona ukuragela phambili ngiba nebandla elise-Liège, elingaba makhilomitha ama-90 ukutjhinga etlhagwini yalapha esihlala khona. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, sathomisa isiqhenyana sesifundo e-Bastogne. Ngathoma ukusebenza ngezomthelo, ngafumana ithuba lokufundela zomthetho. Ngemva kwesikhathi, ngasebenza e-ofisini lakarhulumende walapha  ebengihlala khona. Ngo-1951 sathomisa isiqhema somhlangano wesifunda e-Bastogne. Abantu ebebalapho bebangaba likhulu, kuhlanganise nodade okhutheleko oliphayona u-Elly Reuter. Wareya itsikiri amakhilomitha ama-50 ukuthi abekhona emhlanganweni lo. Sathoma ukuthandana, sathembisana umtjhado. U-Elly wafumana isimemo sokuthi aye esiKolweni seGiliyadi e-United States. Watlola incwadi eya emzimkhulu ukuhlathulula amabanga amenza ale isimemesi. UMfowethu u-Knorr, obekadosaphambili abantu bakaJehova ngesikhatheso, waphendula ngomusa wathi, mhlamunye ngelinye ilanga uzakuza eGiliyadi nendodakho. Satjhada ngoFebherbari 1953.

Ngawo umnyaka loyo mina no-Elly saya emhlanganweni i-New World Society Assembly ebewuse-Yankee Stadium, e-New York. Nasisese lapho ngahlangana nomfowethu owanginikela umsebenzi omuhle begodu wangibawa bona ngifudukele e-United States. Ngemva kokuthandaza kuJehova ngendaba le isikhathi eside, mina no-Elly sala isibaweso sabuyela e-Belgium ukuyokusekela isiqhema esincani sabatjhumayeli abalitjhumi e-Bastogne. Umnyaka olandelako sabusiswa ngendodana, u-Serge. Okudanisako kukuthi ngemva kweenyanga ezilikhomba, u-Serge wagula wabe wahlongakala. Sathandaza, satjela uJehova indlela ebesidane ngayo begodu sakhuthazeka ngethemba lokuvuswa kwabahlongakeleko.

Ngo-Oktoba 1961, ngafumana umsebenzi obewenza ngikghone ukuphayona. Kodwana ngalo ilangelo ngafumana umtato ovela egatjeni le-Belgium. Wangibuza ukuthi ngingakghona ukuthoma ukusebenza njenge-circuit servant (nje ebizwa ngokuthi mbonisi okhambako.) Ngambuza ukuthi, “Singakghona ukuba maphayona qangi na, ngaphambi kokwamukela isabelweso?” Isibawo sami basamukela. Ngemva kokuba maphayona iinyanga ezibunane, sathoma ukuvakatjhela amabandla ngoSeptemba 1962.

Nasele sivakatjhele amabandla iminyaka emibili, samenyelwa ukuyokusebenza e-Bethel ye-Brussels. Sathoma ukusebenza lapho ngo-Oktoba 1964. Isabelo esitjhesi sasilethela iimbusiso ezinengi. Kwangirara ukuthi ngemva kokuthi uMfowethu u-Knorr avakatjhele i-Bethel yethu ngo-1965 ngabekwa bona ngibe yi-branch servant. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi mina no-Elly samenyelwa bona siye etlasini lama-41 lesiKolo seGiliyadi. Amezwi kaMfowethu u-Knorr awakhuluma iminyaka eli-13 eyadlulako azaliseka. Ngemva kokuthi sithweswe iziqu sabuyela e-Bethel ye-Belgium.

Eminyakeni edlulileko ngaba nelungelo lokusebenzisa ilwazi enginalo ngezomthetho ukusiza ukuvikela amalungelo wokulotjha eYurobhu nakezinye iindawo. (Flp. 1:7) Lokho kwenza ukuthi ngikhulumisane neenkhulu eziseenarheni ezingaphezu kwezima-55, lapho umsebenzethu wokutjhumayela ukhandelwe khona. Kunokuzithula ngokuthi ngingumjameli, bengithi “ngimumuntu  kaZimu.” Nangithandazako, bengihlala ngibawa uJehova anginqophise ngombana bengazi ukuthi “ihliziyo yekosi [namkha umahluleli] injengemilanjana yamanzi esandleni sakaJehova. Uyinqophisa nanyana kukuphi lapha afuna iye khona.”—IzA. 21:1.

Okhunye engisakukhumbulako yikulumiswano engaba nayo nelunga le-European Parliament. Ngafaka iimbawo ezinengi zokukhulumisana naye, emaswapheleni wavuma. Wathi, “Ngizokunikela imizuzu emihlanu kwaphela ukukhuluma.” Ngakhothamisa ihlokwami ngathoma ukuthandaza. Umuntu wepalamende wathukwa wangibuza bona ngenzani. Ngaphakamisa ihlokwami ngathi, “Bengithokoza uZimu ngombana usisebenzi sakhe.” Wangibuza wathi, “Utjho ukuthini ngalokho?” Ngamtjengisa umtlolo webeRoma 13:4. Bekamumuntu olihloniphako iBhayibheli, yeke iveseli lamkara. Umphumela walokho waba kukuthi akhulume nami asiquntu se-awara, umhlanganwethu wakhamba kuhle khulu. Bewatjho nokuthi uwuhlonipha kangangani umsebenzethu.

Eminyakeni edlulileko abantu bakaJehova balwe izipi ezinengi khulu ezingokomthetho eYurobhu, ezimalungana nokungathathi ihlangothi, amalungelo wokuhlala nomntwana, ukubhadelwa komthelo nokhunye okunengi. Kube lilungelo kimi ukusebenza ngalokho nokubona indlela uJehova asenze saphumelela ngayo. AboFakazi bakaJehova bathumbe imilandu engaphezu kweli-140 eKhotho ePhakemeko Yamalungelo Wabantu eYurobhu!

Ngabo-1990, bengisebenza noMfowethu u-Philip Brumley wemzimkhulu noMfowethu u-Valter Farneti we-Italy, ukufumana ikululeko yekolo yabafowethu e-Cuba lapha umsebenzethu wokutjhumayela ukhandelwe khona. Ngatlolela ubuzenda be-Cuba ngise-Beligium, ngahlangana nomjameli owabelwe bona amukele isibawo sami. Emhlanganwenethu wokuthoma, akhenge sikghone ukusombulula ukungazwisisani njengombana umsebenzethu bewukhandelwe lapho.

Ngemva kokuthandaza sibawe isinqophiso sakaJehova, sabawa imvumo yokuthumela amaBhayibheli ama-5000 e-Cuba. AmaBhayibheli afika ngokuphephileko, anikelwa abafowethu, yeke saphetha ngokuthi uJehova ubusise imizamwethu. Ngemva kwalokho, safaka isibawo sokuthumela amaBhayibheli azii-27 500. Isibaweso samukelwa. Ukusiza abafowethu nabodadwethu be-Cuba babe namaBhayibhelabo kwangenza ngathaba khulu.

 Ngavakatjhela i-Cuba iinkhathi ezinengi ukubasiza ngezomthetho malungana nomsebenzethu. Ngokwenza njalo, ngaba nobuhlobo obuhle nabajameli abanengi bakarhulumende.

Ngo-1994 abantu abangaphezu kwee-1 000 000, babulawa kabuhlungu khulu epini yama-Tutsi ebeyise-Rwanda. Okudanisa khulu kukuthi abanye abafowethu nabodadwethu bahlongakala lapho. Abanye abafowethu babelwa ukuthi banikele abafowethu nabodadwethu ebebalapho izinto ebebazitlhoga.

Nakufika esiqhema sethu ehlokodorobha, e-Kigali, safumana i-ofisi lokutjhugulula neencwadi zethu zizele ngamakule. Sezwa iindaba ezihlahlathisela umzimba zabafowethu nabodadwethu ababulawako. Sezwa nangeendaba ezikhuthazako zethando labafowethu. Ngokwesibonelo, sahlangana nomfowethu omu-Tutsi ogade azifihle ngemgodini amalanga ama-28, avikela umndeni wama-Hutu oboFakazi. Emhlanganwenethu e-Kigali, saduduza abafowethu nabodadwethu abama-900 ngeBhayibheli.

Ngemva kwalokho, seqa umkhawulo saya e-Zaire (njenganje eyaziwa ngokuthi yi-Democratic Republic of the Congo) ukuyokufuna abafowethu abanengi abavela e-Rwanda ababalekele emakampeni wedorobha eliseduze, i-Goma. Akhenge sibafumane, yeke sathandaza sabawa uJehova ukuthi asinqophise kibo. Sabona umuntu eza kithi, sambuza ukuthi kukhona aboFakazi bakaJehova abaziko. Waphendula wathi, “Iye, nginguFakazi, nginganihlanganisa nekomidi yokuhlangula.” Ngemva komhlangano okhuthazako esibe nawo nekomidi yokuhlangula, sahlangana nababaleki abayi-1 600, ukuthi sibaduduze besibaqinise ngeBhayibheli. Sabafundela nencwadi evela esiHlopheni esiBusako. Abafowethu nabodwethu baduduzeka ngesiqinisekiso abasifumanako esithi: “Nihlala nisemthandazwenethu. Siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova angekhe anilahle.” Qala bona amezwi wesiHlopha esiBusako aliqiniso kangangani. Namhlanjesi kunaboFakazi abazii-30000 e-Rwanda.

U-Elly umkami othandekako, wahlongakala ngemva kobana sitjhade iminyaka ema-58, ngo-2011. UJehova wangiduduza njengombana bengithandaza kuye. Okhunye okwangiduduzako kutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi kibomakhelwana bami.

Ngitjho nanyana ngiseminyakeni yama-90, ngisatjhumayela qobe veke. Kuyangithabisa nokusiza e-Legal Department la egatjeni le-Belgium, ukuthi ngibabele ngalokho okwenzekileko eminyakeni edlulileko, nokuthi ngikhuthaze abasese batjha emndenini we-Bethel.

Emnyakeni ema-84 eyadlulako ngathandaza kuJehova kokuthoma. Bekukuthoma kwendlela eyangitjhideza khulu noJehova. Kuyangithabisa ukuthi ekuphileni kwami uJehova bekayilalela imithandazwami.—Rhu. 66:19. b