Ngaphambi kobana ngikutjele okwenzekako, ngibawa ungivumele ngikutjele ukuthi ngathoma njani ukuba sekonzweni yesikhathi esizeleko.

Ngabelethwa ngo-1942 esihlengeleni esihle seCuraçao. Ubaba wabelethelwa eSuriname kodwana wafudukela esihlengeleni ngebanga lomsebenzi. Eminyakeni embalwa ngaphambi kobana ngibelethwe, bekangomunye waboFakazi kaJehova bokuthoma endaweni leyo begodu wabhajadiselwa eCuraçao. a Qobe veke bekafunda nathi njengombana sibantwana bakhe iBhayibheli nanyana ngezinye iinkhathi besimtlhagisa nakufuze sifunde. Ngesikhathi ngineminyaka eli-14, safudukela eSuriname bona ubaba ayokutlhogomela ummakhe obesele aluphala.

ESuriname, ngazifumanela abangani abatjha ebebazimisele ukulotjha uJehova. Bebabakhulu kimi ngemnyaka embalwa begodu bebamaphayona wesikhathi esizeleko. Nabakhuluma ngezinto ezenzeke kibo lokha nabasemsebenzini wokutjhumayela, bebathaba begodu ubuso babo bebumomotheka. Ngemva kwemihlangano yebandla, mina nabangani bami besicoca ngeenhloko zeBhayibheli, lokho besikwenza sihleli ngaphandle siqale iinkwekwezi phezulu. Abangani bami bangisiza ngabona ukuthi khuyini engifuna ukuyenza ngokuphila kwami; Bengifuna ukusebenzela uJehova. Yeke, lokha nangineminyaka eli-16 ubudala, ngabhajadiswa. Kwathi lokha nangineminyaka eli-18, ngaba liphayona lesikhathi esizeleko.

Ngafunda iimfundo ezinengi njengombana bengiliphayona begodu iimfundwezo zangisiza kikho koke ukuphila kwami ekonzweni yesikhathi esizeleko. Ngokwesibonelo, isifundo sokuthoma engasifundako kuqakatheka kokubandula abanye. Lokha nangithoma ukuphayona, isithunywa sevangeli igama laso linguWillem van Seijl sazitjhideza  kimi. b Sangifundisa okunengi ngendlela okufuze ngenze ngayo izabelo zami. Ngesikhatheso, bengingazi ukuthi lingangani ibandulo ebengilitlhoga. Emnyakeni owalandelako, ngafumana ilungelo lokuba liphayona elikhethekileko lesikhathi esizeleko, ngemva kwalokho ngathoma ukudosa phambili iinqhema ezincani ebezingaphakathi emahlathini weSuriname. Nanje ngisakuthokoza ukubandulwa okwafika ngesikhathi engakufumana kubafowethu! Kusukela mhlokho, ngazimisela ukulandela isibonelo sabo ngokuthi ngidose phambili emsebenzini wokubandula abanye.

Isifundo sesibili engasifundako kukuthi kuhle ukuphila ipilo elula nehlelekileko. Ekuthomeni kwenyanga ngayinye, mina nomfowethu ebengiphayona naye besihlela kuhle izinto ebesizozitlhoga eemvekeni ebezizokulandela. Bese kuthi omunye wethu bekufuze athathe ikhambo elide atjhinge edorobheni asithengele izinto esizitlhogako. Bekufuze siyisebenzise kuhle imali ebesiyifumana qobe nyanga, sithenge izinto ebezizosibamba inyanga yoke. Nasiphelelwa ngokuthileko, bebambalwa nange bakhona abantu ebebangasisiza Ngikholelwa ukuthi ukuphila ukuphila okulula nokwazi ukuhlela kuhle izinto kwangisiza bona ngikghone ukudzimelela emsebenzini kaJehova ukuphila kwami koke.

Isifundo sesithathu engasifundako bekukuqakatheka kokufundisa abantu iqiniso ngelimi abalimunyako. Ngikhule ngikhuluma isi-Dutch, isiNgisi, isi-Papiamento kunye nesiSranantongo (esaziwa nangokuthi yiSranan), okumalimi akhulunywa babantu beSuriname. Kodwana abantu ebengibatjhumayeza, ngalemuka ukuthi basabela kuhle nangibatjhumayeza ngelimi abalimunyako. Bekubudisi ukukhuluma amanye wamalimi lawo njengesiSaramaccan, ebesifuna lokha nawusikhulumako ukhuphule iphimbo namkha ulehlisele phasi. Nanyana kunjalo, kuyangithabisa ukuthi ngazimisela ukufunda. Eminyakeni eyalandelako, ngakghona ukufundisa abantu abanengi iqiniso ngelimi abalimunyako.

Iye, ngikhe ngaba neenkhathi ezihlazisako. Ngokwesibonelo, ngelinye ilanga, bengifuna ukubuza omunye umuntu wengubo okhuluma isiSaramaccan ofunda iBhayibheli ukuthi uvuke njani, njengombana bekaphethwe mathumbu. Kodwana ngambuza ukuthi inga-kghani usebantwini na! Angitlhogi nokutjho bona waphendula wathini kodwana khenge awuthande umbuzwami. Naphezu kwemitjhapho enjalo, bengizimisela ukufunda amalimi wabantu ebengitjhumayela kibo.

Ngo-1970 ngaba mbonisi wesigodi. Ngomnyaka loyo, ngadlalela iinqhema ebengizivakatjhela ihlelo leenthombe elithi, “Visiting the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Bona sifikelele kibo, mina kunye nesiqhema sabafowethu besikhwela isikepe sekhuni eside sikhambe emlanjeni. Esikepeni besifaka i-generator, isigubhu se-petrol neembani kunye neenthombe ezizokudlalwa nge-projector. Nasifikako, besikhupha zoke izinto ebesizithwele ngesikepe sizibeke endaweni esizokuhlanganyela kiyo bona sibukele ihlelo leenthombe. Engikukhumbula khulu  ngamakhambo la yindlela abantu ebebalithanda ngayo ihlelweli. Bekungithabisa ukusiza abanye bafunde ngoJehova nangengcenye yehlanganwakhe esephasini. Ukubona abantu bathabile begodu batjhidela kuJehova, bekungenza ngithabe ngokwenza umsebenzi lo.

Ukuhlala ngingakatjhadi bekungisiza ngikghone ukwenza okunengi emsebenzini engiwenzela uJehova, nanyana kunjalo, benginesifiso sokuba nomlingani engizokuphila naye ukuphila kwami koke. Yeke, ngathandaza ngokunqophileko ngabawa umuntu engizokutjhada naye ozokukghodlhelela kunye nami ngethabo esabelwenesi sekonzo yesikhathi esizeleko. Ngemva komnyaka, ngathoma ukuhlekisana no-Ethel, iphayona elikhethekileko ebelinommoya wokuzidela. Kusukela asesemncani, u-Ethel bekathanda khulu isibonelo sompostoli uPowula begodu bekafuna ukumlingisa ngokuzinikela emsebenzini wokutjhumayela. Satjhada ngoSeptemba 1971 begodu sathoma umsebenzi wokukhambela amabandla njengabatjhadikazi.

U-Ethel ukhule anganazo izinto ezinengi eziphathekako, yeke lokho kwenza bona kube bulula kuye ukujayela umsebenzi wokutjhumayela esimini ebesiyitjhumayela. Ngokwesibonelo, lokha nasilungiselela ukukhambela amabandla ebewasemahlathini, besingathwali izinto ezinengi. Besihlanza izambatho zethu emlanjeni besihlambele khona. Godu besijayele ukudla nanyana yini abantu abayidlako, bebasinikela ama-iguana, ama-piranha nananyana yini abantu abayithiye emlanjeni namkha abayizumileko. Lokha nakunganazitja, besisebenzisa amakari webhanana bona sidlele kiwo. Nakunganangobho zokudla, besidla ngezandla. Ukuzidela kwethu sisobabili bona sisebenzele uJehova kwenze bona mina no-Ethel sibambane sibe yintambo emicu mithathu. (UMtj. 4:12) Angeze satjhugulula nakunye kwalokho okwasenzakalelako!

Isenzakalo engikhulume ngaso ekuthomeni senzeka lokha nasibuya ukuyokuvakatjhela abafowethu  endaweni ebesitjhumayela kiyo. Njengombana isikepe besikhamba sibetjhwa magagasi, sangena ngaphasi kwamanzi isikhatjhana kodwana msinyana saphuma. Kuyathabisa ukuthi soke besimbethe izambatho zobujamo oburhabako zemanzini begodu khenge siwele ngaphandle kwesikepe. Kodwana isikepe sazala amanzi. Sawakhupha ngezinto ebesinazo ngaphakathi, sakhupha izinto ebezingaphakathi kweempoto, sazilahlela ngemlanjeni, sasebenzisa iimpoto bona sikhuphe amanzi ebewangene ngesikepeni.

Njengombana besele singanakho ukudla, sathoma ukuthiya iimfesi njengombana besikhamba emlanjeni. Kodwana besingabambi litho. Sathandaza sabawa uJehova bona asinikele ukudla kwangelangelo. Ngemva kokuthandaza, omunye wabafowethu walinga ukuthiya godu, wabamba ifesi ekulu ebeyizosanela sobahlanu njalo begodu sadla ngobusukobo sasutha.

Ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu sikhambela amabandla sino-Ethel, safumana isibusiso ebesingakasilindeli, besizokuba babelethi. Kwangithabisa ukuzwa iindabezo nanyana bengingazi ukuthi ingomuso lisiphatheleni. Bekusifiso sethu esiqinileko bona sihlale ekonzweni yesikhathi esizeleko ukuphila kwethu koke nakukghonakalako. Ngo-1976, indodanethu yokuthoma u-Ethniël yabelethwa. Indodanethu yesibili uGiovanni yalandela ngemva kweminyaka emibili nesiquntu.

Ngebanga letlhogeko ebeyiseSuriname ngesikhatheso, i-ofisi legatja lahlela bona ngiragele phambili nokuba mbonisi okhambako khisibe ngapha ngikhulisa abantwana. Ngesikhathi abantwana bethu basesebancani, ngabelwa bona ngikhambele amabandla ambalwa. Lokho bekutjho ukuthi ngizokukhambela amabandla iimveke ezimbalwa ngenyanga ngemva kwalokho bengiragela phambili nokuba liphayona ebandleni engabelwe kilo. U-Ethel namadodanethu bebajayele ukukhamba nami lokha nangikhambela amabandla aseduze. Bekuthi nangikhambela amabandla kunye nemihlangano esimini esemahlathini, bengikhamba ngedwa.

Bekufuze ngihlele kuhle bona ngenze zoke izabelo zami. Bengenza koke okusemandlenami bona sihlale sinehlelo lokulotjha komndeni qobe veke. Nangikhambele amabandla, u-Ethel bekasala arage ukulotjha komndeni namadodanethu. Kanengi ngendlela ebengikghona ngayo, bengilwela bona senze izinto ndawonye njengomndeni. Mina no-Ethel besijayele ukuzithabisa namadodanethu sivakatjhele iindawo ezihle eziseduze nalapha ebesihlala khona besidlale nemidlalo.  Bekuthi boke nabayokulala, bengisala ngilungiselele izabelo zami. U-Ethel, njengomfazi okuzAga 31:15, bekavuka kusesemnyama alungiselele ukuthi sifunde umtlolo welanga njengomndeni besidle ndawonye ngaphambi kobana amadodanethu aye esikoleni. Ngikuthabela khulu ukuba nomfazi ozidelako, ohlale angisiza bona ngenze kuhle izabelo uJehova anginikele zona!

Njengababelethi, sisebenze budisi ukusiza amadodanethu bona athande uJehova nomsebenzi wokutjhumayela. Besifuna amadodanethu akhethe ukuphayona isikhathi esizeleko njengengcenye yebizelo lawo kodwana ingasi ngombana thina sifuna enze njalo, kufuze akwenze ngombana kusifiso sawo. Besihlala sicoca ngokuthi ikonzo yesikhathi esizeleko ithabisa kangangani. Besingabufihli nobudisi obuba khona, sibacocela nangokuthi uJehova usisize bewasibusisa njani njengomndeni. Besikwenza umukghwa ukuthi sijayele abafowethu ababeka uJehova qangi emaphilwenabo ukwenzela bona amadodanethu afunde kibo.

UJehova bekasinikela koke esikutlhogako njengombana besikhulisa amadodanethu. Iye, nami bengilinga okusemandleni bona ngidlale indimami. Okwangenzakalela ngesikhathi ngisesemutjha esabelweni sami semahlathini njengephayona elikhethekileko elingakatjhadi, kwangifundisa ukuhlela nokusebenzisa kuhle imali. Kodwana ngezinye iinkhathi nanyana besenze okusemandlenethu, besingakufumani esikutlhogako. Ngikholelwa bona eenkhathini ezinjalo, uJehova bekangenela asisize. Ngokwesibonelo, ekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-1980, ukuya ekuthomeni kwabo-1990, kwaba nepi eSuriname. Eminyakeni leyo, bekubudisi ukufumana izinto eziqakathekileko zokuphila. Nanyana kunjalo, uJehova bekasitlhogomela.—Mat. 6:32.

Kikho koke ukuphila kwami, uJehova bekasolo asitlhogomela begodu wasinikela ithabo nokwaneliseka. Abantwana bethu basibusiso esikhulu kithi begodu ukubakhulisa bona balotjhe uJehova kusithabise khulu. Kuyasithabisa ukuthi bakhethe ukwenza ikonzo yesikhathi esizeleko yaba yingcenye yokuphila kwabo. Bobabili u-Ethniël noGiovanni bathabele ukuya eenkolweni zekonzo begodu nje basebenza egatjeni eSuriname nabalingani babo.

Mina no-Ethel sele siluphala nje kodwana sisesemajadu nokusebenzela uJehova njengamaphayona akhethekileko. Ekhabolakhona, simajadu kangangokuthi asikasifumani isikhathi sokufunda ukududa! Kodwana angizisoli. Nangiqala emva, ngicabanga ukuthi ukuqunta ngisesemutjha ukungenela ikonzo yesikhathi esizeleko bengiyenze umsebenzi wokuphila kwami koke, siqunto esihle engakhe ngasenza ekuphileni kwami.