EQINISWENI, akhange bekungitshwenye nakancani ukuthi besimbalwa mhlazana ngibeka ikulumwami leyo ngomnyaka ka-1957. Bengimumuntu oneenhloni. Ekhabolakhona, nangisakhulako, bengibhaca nakunabantu abavakatjhele ngakwethu, ngitjho nanyana kubabantu engibaziko.

Kanti-ke kungakurara ukwazi ukuthi ezinengi zezabelo zami ehlanganweni kaJehova le, bezingikatelela bona ngibe phakathi nabantu, ngikhulume nabo—kungakhathaliseki bona ngengibaziko namkha ngengingabaziko. Kodwana iinhloni zabulala ukatsu, bengisolo ngilwisana nazo kangangobana nanje akunalitho engingazikhakhazisa ngalo ezabelweni zamezo. Kunalokho, ngasibona isithembiso sakaJehova sizaliseka: “Ngiyakuqinisa bengiyakusiza, ngikugugudlhele ngesidla sami sokuphumelela.” (Isa. 41:10) Engingathi uJehova ungisize ngakho lisekelo lamaKrestu engikhonza nawo. Khengikubeke esithombeni ngokhunye kwalokho, sithome ebuncanini bami.

BekungoSondo ekuseni, libalele eminyakeni yabo-1940, nakuzakuza u-Elsie Huntingford eplasini lakwethu ngeSewula-tjingalanga ye-Ontario. Umma waya emnyango ayokuvula, njengombana ubaba—naye  egade aneenhloni njengami—ahlezi ngendlini nami, silalele. Nebasolo bakhuluma njalo umma banoDade loyo, ubaba wacabanga ukuthi ngomunye wabantu abathengisako ozokwenza umma agcine selathenge nezinto esingazitlhogiko, yeke ubaba wasikima waya emnyango ayomtjela ukuthi angadlulela kwabanye. UDade Huntingford wabuza wathi: “Nizangitjela ukuthi vele anifuni ukuzwa litho ngeBhayibheli?” Ubaba wathi: “IBhayibheli asinakinga nayo.”

Kwatjho ukuthi uDade Huntingford ufike ngesikhathi esihle, ngani ngoba ababelethi bami bebamalunga akhutheleko weSondo leCanada, kodwana besebaqunte ukusula kilo. Ngaliphi ibanga? Ngebanga lokuthi, esondwenapho umfundisi bekanerhelo labo boke abanikelako, nokuthi ngamunye unikela kangangani. Yeke, ababelethi bami ebekubabantu abaphasi, bebaphasi vele nerhelwenelo, begodu umkhandlu wesondweni bewusolo ubalele nje ngendaba yomnikelo. Omunye umfundisi wabe wavuma nokuthi ebekakufundisa naye ngokwakhe bekangakukholelwa, kodwana bekenziswa kukuthi bekangafuni ukulahlekelwa msebenzakhe. Sathi nasizwa lokho, salitjhiya phasi isondo, kodwana khenge silise ukufunana nokuzosanelisa eendabeni zamaBhayibheli noZimu.

Ngebanga lokuthi umsebenzi waboFakazi bakaJehova bewuvinjelwe eCanada, uDade Huntingford bekasifundisa ngeBhayibheli nencwajana encani enzima ebakazitlolele kiyo amaphuzu. Wathi nasekabona bonyana angekhe sayomveza kwabaphezulu, wakhani asinikela iincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Iincwadezo besizifihla qobe nesiqeda ukufunda. *

Naphezu kokuthi bekuneenqabo nokuphikiswa, uDade Huntingford bekakukhuthalele ukutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi. Ikuthalo yakhe yangenza ngamukela amaqiniso. Kwathi ngemva komnyaka ababelethi bami sebabhajadiswe njengaboFakazi bakaJehova, nami ngazinikela kuZimu. Ngabhajadiswa ngomhla ka-27 Febherbari 1949, ngibhajadiselwa ngekerebheni abalimi ebebasezela kiyo ifuyo yabo. Bengineminyaka eli-17 ngesikhatheso, begodu besengijame nangomumo bona ngisebenzele uZimu isikhathi esizeleko.

Bengisaba ukuvele ngiphayone zisuka nje. Bengisebenza ebhanga ne-ofisini ngombana bengizitjele ukuthi ngifuna ukuba nemali ezongiqalelela  njengombana ngiphayona. Kodwana ngebanga lokuthi bengingakabi nelemuko ngezeemali, imali ebengiyifumana leyo beyiphelela emoyeni ngombana bengiyibhubhudlha buthaphuthaphu. Kwathi omunye umzalwana uTed Sargent wangikhuthaza bona ngibe nesibindi, ngithembele kuJehova. (1 Kron. 28:10) Ngathi nangizwa isikhuthazweso, ngathoma ukuphayona ngoNovemba 1951. Ngesikhatheso benginamadolara ama-40 (R400) kwaphela, nomlelenjani oreyiweko, ne-briefcase etja. Kodwana uJehova bekenza umude wokuthi ngithole koke engikutlhogako. Awazi ngimthokoza kangangani uTed ngokungikhuthaza kwakhe bona ngingenele ikonzo yokutjhumayela isikhathi esizeleko le! Imbusiswezo khenge ziphelele lapho.

Ngobunye ubusuku ngo-Arhostosi 1952, ngafumana umtato ovela eToronto. E-ofisini legatja laboFakazi bakaJehova eCanada, bengibizwe bona ngizokusebenza eBethel, kusukela ngoSeptemba. Nanyana gade ngisaba nje, begodu ngingakhange khengikweriyele e-ofisinelo, bengithabathabile nokho, ngombana amanye amaphayona gade angitjele okuhle kodwa ngeBethel. Ngavele ngazizwa ngisekhaya.

Kwathi ngemva kwesikhatjhana ngifike eBethel, ngahlangana noBill Yacos egade ayinceku yesiqhema samabandla weShaw, eToronto (nje eseyaziwa ngomthintanisi wesihlopha sabadala). * Nangiseminyakeni yama-23 ubudala, ngazizwa kwanga ngimsanyana wemaplasini. Kodwana uMzalwana uYacos bekazigedlele mina ngesineke, angitjela okufuze ngikwenze. Nangambala uJehova wangisiza.

UMzalwana uYacos bekangangelithi lokuvungula, anomzinjana omncani begodu azithandela abantu. Bekabathanda abazalwana, kanti-ke nabo bebamthanda. Bekabavakatjhela qobe la bahlala khona, begodu lokho bekangakwenzi nebanemiraro kwaphela. UBill Yacos wangikhuthaza bona nami ngenze soneso, ngisebenzisane kuhle nabazalwana nabodade emsebenzini wokutjhumayela. Wathi: “Ken, batjengise abazalwana ukuthi unaso isikhathi sabo. Lokho kuzokwenza ungazitjheji iimphoso zabo.”

UJehova bekangisiza ngendlela ekhethekileko solo kwangoJanabari 1957. Ngenyanga leyo ngatjhada no-Evelyn, umbandulwa weklasi le-14 lesiKolo seGiliyadi. Kodwana ngaphambi kokutjhada, bekakhonza enarheni yabakhuluma isiFrentji eQuebec. Emihleni leyo iQuebec beyilawulwa liSondo lamaRoma Khatolika, okutjho bona isabelo saka-Evelyn besibudisi kwamanikelela, kodwana wasolo akakarele kiso nakuJehova.

Nami-ke wanginamathela njalo u-Evelyn. (Efe. 5:31) Eqinisweni, ukuthi uthembeke kangangani kwabonakala ngemva kobana sitjhade! Besihlele bona sizikhiphe sivakatjhele eFlorida, e-U.S.A., kodwana ngelanga elingemva kwelomtjhadwethu, egatjeni bangibawa bona ngiye emhlanganweni ebewuzokudosa iveke eBethel yeCanada. Phela umhlangano loyo waqabhela ihlelo lethu, kodwana sino-Evelyn besizimisele ukwenza nanyana yini uJehova asibawa yona. Salitshwilisa ngobunjalo-ke ikhambo lethu. Phakathi neveke leyo gade atjhumayela emizini  emagega neBethel. Nanyana abantu balapho egade abatjhumayeza bebahlukile kunebeQuebec, wakubekezelela lokho.

Kwathi ngekupheleni kweveke leyo ngaphathiswa isabelo ebengingakasilindeli—ukuba mbonisi wesifunda etlhagwini ye-Ontario. Bengisese lisokana elisanda ukutjhada, ngineminyaka ema-25 nelemuko belingasingako, kodwana savele saqina isibindi, sangena indlela satjhinga la uJehova asithume khona. Bekuphakathi nobusika eCanada, sikhamba ngesitimela, siphahlwe bajikelezi esebanesikhathi eside bayibambile, njengombana bona besebabuyela ezabelweni zabo. Basikhuthaza basikhuthazile! Omunye umzalwana wabe wasitjela nokuthi sithathe indawakhe yokulala ekharavaneni, khona singazozifumana sesihlezi esofeni ubusuku boke. Kwathi ngelanga elilandelako, ngemva kwamalanga ali-15 sitjhadile, sazifumana sesisebandleni elincani leHornepayne njengombana khengatjho nekuthomeni.

Besisalindelwe matjhuguluko amanengi khulu sino-Evelyn. Sathi nasisakhonza esigodini ngekupheleni kwabo-1960, ngamenyelwa eklasini lama-36 lesiKolo seGiliyadi, ifundobandulo yakhona eyathatha iinyanga ezilitjhumi kusukela ngoFebherbari 1961, eBrooklyn, eNew York. Khona bengithabile, kodwana ngidaniswe kukuthi u-Evelyn akakamenywa. Kunalokho, u-Evelyn njengabanye abafazi ebebasebujamweni obunjengebakhe, bekufuze atlole incwadi yokungivumela bona ngikhambe isikhathi esingangeenyanga ezilitjhumi, ngibe kude naye. Wathi nakezwa lokho wahlengezela iminyembezi, kodwana wavuma bona ngiye esikolweni njengombana bekazi ukuthi ngizokufumana ibandulo elihle kwamambala eGiliyadi.

Phakathi nesikhatheso, u-Evelyn bekasebenzela egatjeni leCanada. Wafumana nelungelo elikhethekileko lokuhlala nodade ozesiweko uMargaret Lovell, ngekamurweni linye. Sino-Evelyn sahlulukelana kwadamba ukoma. Kodwana ngesizo lakaJehova sazikghodlhelelela izabelo zethwezo zesikhatjhana. Ngathi nasengihlezi ngicabanga ngokuthi uvumile bona sihlale makudelana ukwenzela bona uJehova asisebenzise khudlwana ehlanganwenakhe, ngamthanda khulu.

Ngemva kweenyanga ezintathu ngiseGiliyadi, uMzalwana uNathan Knorr, egade adosa phambili emsebenzini wephasi loke, wangitjela enye indaba ebengingakayilindeli. Wangibuza ukuthi ngingakghona na ukulisa isikolo ngibuyele eCanada ngiyokuba mbanduli esiKolweni seKonzo somBuso ebesibanjelwa egatjeni. Kodwana nokho, akhange angikatelele bona ngilise isiKolo seGiliyadi. Nangithanda bengingaqeda isikolo bese siyokuba ziinthunywa zevangeli. Kodwana nengabe ngibuyela eCanada, bengingekhe ngisamenyelwa esikolwenesi godu, ebesengingakwenza kubuyela esimini ngitjhumayele khonapho eCanada. Koke lokho wakutjhiyela kimi ukuthi ngikhethe ngemva kokobana ngikhulumisane nomkami.

Ngombana u-Evelyn besekhewangitjela bona uzizwa njani ngokusebenzela uZimu, ngavele ngamtjela uMzalwana uKnorr ukuthi: “Nanyana yini uJehova afuna siyenze ehlanganwenakhe le, sizimisele  ukuyenza.” Besihlala sizibeke phambili izinto zakaJehova kunalokho okunyulwa ngithi, kangangobana besingaya nanyana kukuphi la ihlangano yakhe ethi siye khona.

Yeke, ngo-Apreli 1961, ngasuka eBrooklyn ngabuyela eCanada, ngayokufundisa esiKolweni seKonzo somBuso. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi saba malunga womndeni weBethel. Ngarareka mina nangizwa bona kufuze ngiyokungena eklasini lama-40 eGiliyadi, ebelizokuthoma ngo-1965. Godu u-Evelyn zamkosa bona atlole incwadi yokungivumela godu. Ngemva kweemveke ezimbalwa, sathaba sabhembesa nekafumana yakhe incwadi emtjela ukuthi angakhamba nami esikolweni.

Sathi nasifika eGiliyadi, uMzalwana uKnorr wasitjela ukuthi boke abafundi abaseklasini lesiFrentji njengathi bazokuthunyelwa e-Afrika. Sathi nasesijame ngomumo ngemva kokuthweswa iziqu sezwa batjho kufuze sibuyele eCanada! Nasifika lapho ngaba mbonisi wegatja (nje owaziwa ngomthintanisi weKomidi yeGatja). Ngesikhatheso bengineminyaka ema-34 ubudala, ngamtjela uMzalwana uKnorr ukuthi ngisesemcani mina. Kodwana wangiqinisekisa ukuthi ngizokukghona. Begodu kusukela lokho, bengilinga ukubuza ebazalwaneni ebesebanelemuko eBethel ngaphambi kokuthatha isiqunto esibudisi.

Ukusebenza eBethel kwanginikela ithuba elihle khulu lokufunda kwabanye. Ngiyawahlonipha bengiyawathanda namanye amalunga weKomidi yeGatja. Namanye amaKrestu egade sisolo sinawo la eBethel, amadoda nabafazi, abancani nabadala, boke bangikhuthazile, ngitjho nalabo egade sinabo emabandleni ahlukahlukeneko.

Ukusebenza eBethel kungisize ngafundisa nabanye bengabaqinisa nekukholweni kwabo. Umpostoli uPowula wakhe watjela uThimothi wathi: “Kakarela kilokho okufundileko.” Wabuye wathi: “Lokho owangizwa ngikufundisa phambi kwabofakazi abanengi, kudlulisele ebantwini abathembekileko abazakwazi nabo ukukufundisa abanye.” (2 Thim. 2:2; 3:14) Ngasikhathi abanye vane bangibuze ukuthi ngifundeni ngeminyaka ema-57 ngiseBethel. Ngivele ngibatjele ukuthi hlala ulungele ukwenza nanyana yini uJehova afuna umenzele khona, uthembele kuye uzokusiza.

Nangicabanga ukuthi ngafika ngimsanyana oneenhloni kangangani eBethel, nginganalo nelemuko, kimi lokho ngathi kwenzeke izolo. Kodwana yoke iminyaka le, uJehova bekasolo ‘angibambe ngesandla.’ Lokho bekakwenza ngabantu engikhonza nabo, kangangobana nanje usangiqinisekisa ukuthi: “Ungesabi, mina ngokwami ngiyakusiza.”—Isa. 41:13.