Newo nevyalika pa 22 Disemba 1929, ku Noville m’kamunzi katontho kamafamu 9 ku Belgian Ardennes. Nsaza wangu Raymond na newo, tenzekata ntchito yokama mkaka wa ng’ombe nsiku iliyonse komasoti tenzeyavya pantchito yoweja mbewu m’mafamu. M’munzi wetenzenkhala ŵanthu enzekatila ntchito pamozi poyavyana muyake na muyake.

Makolo ŵangu a Emile na a Alice, enze akatolika olipeleka. Sondo iliyonse pasondo ove enzeluta ku misa. Koma cham’ma 1939, apainiya ofumila ku England ewela m’munzi mwasu ndipo eyaŵila atata magazini ya Consolation (yamene lomba yoziŵika kuti Ukani!). Atata eziŵa mokulumija kuti afwana chonadi ndipo eyamba kuŵelenga Baibolo. Atata pechileka kuluta ku misa, maneba ŵasu ŵetenzekatijana nawo eyamba kuŵashusha mwamphamvu. Ove eŵakakamija atata kuti apitilije kunkhala m’tchetchi Chakatolika ndipo enzekambilana nawo nkhani zikulu-zikulu mosafisa mawu.

Newo nekalipa ngako kuwona aneba ŵasu akakamija atata kuti achite vamene ivi. Chifukwa cha vamene ivi newo nepemphela kwa Mulungu mopapatila pomusenga mofumila pansi pantima kuti atiyavye mupemphelo yanatomola kumayambililo kwa ino nkhani. Aneba ŵasu pechileka kutishusha, newo nesangalala ngako. Panthawe yamene iyo nekhulupilila kuti Yehova “ni Wakumvwa pemphelo.”

Pa 10 Meyi 1940, chipani cha Nazi chigonjesa chalo cha Belgium vamene vechitsha kuti ŵanthu athaŵe kwawo. Banja yasu ithaŵila kummwela kwa chalo cha France. Petenzeyenda munjila nthawe ziyakine tenzetendesha mmalo oyofya mwenzeniyatila nkhondo magulu ankhondo a German komasoti France.

Pavuli pake sewo tekwanisha kujokela kufamu yasu,  koma tefwana kuti katundu wasu unyinji waiŵiwa. Pang’anda techingofwanapo tyala imbwa yasu zina yake Bobbie, yamene niye itilondela. Vochitika monga nivamene ivi venzenichitisha kulikonsha kuti ‘Ndaŵa yanji pano pachalo pali nkhondo komasoti mavuto anyinji?’

Panthawe yamene iyo, nkulu muyakine wamene enzesoti mpainiya wokhulupilika zina yake Emile Schrantz, a etitang’isha ngako nakutandaja kwake. Pokatishila ntchito Baibolo, yove etifotokozela momvwika luweme chifukwa chake tukumana na mavuto ndipo eyankha makonsho ayakine ŵenenze nawo okhuza moyo. Panthawe yamene iyo ushamwali wangu na Yehova wetang’a ngako ndipo neyamba kukhulupilila kuti Mulungu niwachikondi.

Olo pavuli pakuti nkhondo yasila, ŵanthu am’banja mwasu enzekwanisha kuwonana kaŵili-kaŵili komasoti kulaŵijana na a Mboni za Yehova. Mwezi wa Ogasite mu 1943, nkwasu José-Nicolas Minet ewela kuzatitandaja kufamu ndipo elaŵila nkhani. Yove ekonsha kuti, “Kansi niŵani amene ofuna kuti abatizike?” Newo pamozi na atata tepanamika manja. Teluta kuyabatizika mukam’mana katontho kamene kenze pafupi na famu yasu.

Mu Disemba 1944 gulu ya nkhondo ya German, iyamba kuukila mwamphamvu paulwendo wosilijila pankhondo yachiwili yapa chalo chonse—Kunchingulo kwa European kwamene kuziŵika kuti Battle of the Bulge. Sewo tenzenkhala kufupi na dela yamene kwenzechitika nkhondo, ndipo kwapafupi-fupi mwezi umozi tenzefunikila kufisama m’chipinda chapansi mung’anda yasu. Nsiku iyakine penifuma panja kuti nikalyeshele vifuwo, mabala abazuka eponela mufamu yasu ndipo epasula ntenje wachimphaka. Nsodja wankhondo wachi American wamene enze m’chiŵaya pamozi na newo eŵilikija kuti, “Yona pansi!” Newo neutukila kuli yove noyona pansi ndipo yove etola chisote chake nonivwajika kumutu kuti nitetezeke.

Pavuli pankhondo, sewo tenzekwanisha kulaŵijana nthawe zonse nenekwasu na akalongosi amumpingo waku Liège, pansenga wamakilomita 90 (56 mailosi) chakumpoto na kwetenzenkhala sewo. M’kupita kwanthawe, sewo tekwanisha kunkhazikisha kagulu katontho ka ophunzila ku Bastogne. Newo neyamba ntchito yololela misonkho ndipo nenze na mwayi wophunzila zamalamulo. Pavuli pake, neyamba kuseŵenza muofesi. Mu 1951 sewo teluta ku nsonkhano wadela ku Bastogne. Pansonkhano wamene uyu, pepezeka ŵanthu okwanila 100 kupamikijapo kalongosi Elly Reuter wamene enze mpainiya wakhama ngako. Yove eyenda nsenga wamakilomita 50 pa njinga (31 mailosi) kuti  akapezeke pasonkhano. Pakaliye pita nthawe itali, newo nekopeka naye ndipo nemutanila. Elly enze eitiwa kuti akaloŵe Sikulu ya giliyadi ku United States. Yove elembela kalata ku likulu yasu pofotokoza chifukwa chamene chechitisha kuti yove osati akwanishe kuyaloŵa sikulu yamene iyo. Poyankha, nkwasu Knorr wamene panthawe yamene iyo enze m’gulu ya abale osogolela ŵanthu a Yehova, emuuja mowama ntima kuti osati adandaule chifukwa nthawe iyakine kusogolo angakwanishe kuzaloŵa sikulu ya giliyadi pamozi na mwanalume wake. Sewo telungulana mu Febuluwale 1953.

M’chaka chamene icho newo pamozi na Elly tipezekapo pansonkhano wamutu wakuti Chalo chanyowani wamene wechitikila ku Yankee Stadium, ku New York. Tili kwamene uko, nekumana na mkwasu muyakine wamene enzefuna kuti anilembe ntchito iweme, ndipo enisenga kuti nifulukile ku United States. Pavuli popemphela kwa Yehova za nkhani yamene iyi, newo pamozi na Elly tikatijana kuti tikane ntchito yamene iyo nojokela ku Belgium kuti tikayavye kagulu katontho ka ofalisa okwanila pafupi-fupi 10 ku Bastogne. M’chaka chokonkhapo, Mulungu etidalisa potipasa mwana mwanalume zina yake Serge. N’vomvwisha chisoni kuti pavuli pa myezi 7 Serge elwala ngako ndipo emwalila. Sewo temufotokozela Yehova m’pepmhelo chisoni chetenze nacho, ndipo tetang’ishiwa ngako poganizila chiyembekezo chosimikijilika chakuuka kwa ŵanthu akufwa.

Mu Okutoba 1961, newo nefwana ntchito yama awazi atontho yamene yenzenipasa mpata wochita upainiya. Koma pansiku imo na imo yamene iyo, newo netumiliwa foni na ntumiki wa nthambi yaku Belgium. Yove enikonsha keno ningakwanishe kuyamba kutumikila monga ntumiki wadela (masiku ŵano oitiwa kuti wopanamila dela). Newo nelikonsha kuti: “Kansi chingankhalelini luweme kuti tiyambe tatumikilako monga apainiya poyamba tikaliyevomela utumiki wamene uyu?” Enekwasu etiuja kuti paliye vuto. Pavuli pakuti tatumikila monga apainiya kwamyezi 8, sewo teyamba kutumikila monga opanamila dela mmwezi wa Sekutemba 1962.

Petitumikila kwavyaka viŵili monga opanamila dela, sewo teujiwa kuti tikayambe kutumikila pa Beteli ku Brussels. Teyamba kutumikila pa Beteli mu Okutoba 1964. Utumiki wanyowani wamene uyu, wetiletela madaliso anyinji ngako. Pavuli pakuti mkwasu Knorr watandaja Beteli yasu mu 1965, newo nedabwa penisankhiwa kuti niyambe kutumikila monga ntumiki wa ofesi ya nthambi. Pavuli pake, Elly pamozi na newo, teitiwa kuti tikaloŵe kalasi namba 41 ya Sikulu ya giliyadi. Panthawe yamene iyi, mawu ŵechilaŵila mkwasu Knorr vyaka 13 kuvuli ekwanilishiwa! Pavuli pakuti tasilija sikulu ya giliyadi sewo tejokela ku Beteli yaku Belgium.

Newo nenkhala na mwayi uweme ngako wokatishila ntchito vinthu venenzeziŵa pankhani yamalamulo poteteze ufulu wa ŵanthu a Yehova kuti akolambila mwaufulu. (Afil. 1:7) Monga vokonkhapo vantchito yamene iyi, newo nenkhala na mwayi wowonana na akulu-akulu aboma m’vyalo vopitilila 55 kwamene ntchito yasu yenze ipanamikiwa olo kuleshewa. M’malo mouja akulu-akulu aboma amene awo za vinthu vanuziŵa pankhani ya malamulo, newo nenzeliziŵikisha kuli ove monga “munthu wa Mulungu.” Newo nthawe zonse nenzesenga Yehova kuti akonisogolela chifukwa nenzeziŵa kuti “ntima wa mfumu [olo woweluza] uli monga nimimana ya manzi mmanja mwa Yehova. Yove oilutisha kulikonse kwamene kwakufuna.”—Miy. 21:1.

 Newo nikalikumbukila mpaka pano makambilano ŵetenze nawo na mulangizi muyakine mung’anda yamalamulo ku European. Newo nenzemusenga kwamaulwendo anyinji ngako kuti nilawile naye, ndipo pavuli pake evomela kuti tikumane. Yove enena kuti, “nakupasa tyala 5 minesi kuti ulawile ndipo osati zipitilile.” Pamene apo newo negwada pansi noyamba kupemphela. Pochita wowa, mulangizi wala enikonsha kuti uchita chinji. Newo nepanamika kwanja ndipo nemuuja kuti, “nenzepemphela kwa Mulungu pomutembeja chifukwa chakuti mwewo nimwe atumiki ŵake.” Yove enikonsha kuti, “Kansi utanthauza chinji?” Pamene apo newo nemuwonesha Aloma 13:4. Mulangizi wamene uyo enzelemekeza Baibolo, tetyo vayunena vesi ya m’Baibolo yamene iyi vemuchitisha chidwi. Kansi vokonkhapo vake venze votyani? Yove elaŵila nane kwa hafu awa ndipo vinthu viyenda luweme ngako. Mulangizi wamene uyu efwika pofotokoza kuti olemekeza ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova.

Kwavyaka vinyinji ŵanthu a Yehova ankhala oniyatila nkhondo ufulu wawo m’makhoti anyinji ku European pankhani yakusaloŵelela ndale, munthu wamene angatole ŵana banja ikasila, komasoti nkhani ziyakine zinyinji. Newo nankhala na mwayi wotola nawo mbali pankhani zinyinji mwankhani zamene izi ndipo nawona mwawatisogolela Yehova kuti vinthu vitiyendele luweme notiyavya kuti tipambane. A Mboni za Yehova awina milandu yopitilila 140 kukhoti yowona za ufulu wa ŵanthu ku European!

M’vyaka vam’ma 1990, newo nekata ntchito pamozi na mkwasu Philip Brumley wamulikulu yapachalo chonse ya Mboni za Yehova, komasoti nkwasu Valter Farneti waku Italy, pofuna kuti enekwasu na akalongosi aku Cuba akolambila Mulungu mwaufulu m’madela amene ntchito yasu yenze ipanamikiwa. Newo nilembela kalata ku ofesi ya Kazembe wam’chalo cha Cuban ku Belgium ndipo pavuli pake neluta kuyakumana na nkulu muyakine waboma m’chalo chamene icho wamene eikiwa kuti akotipasa mayankho. Pakukumana koyamba, sewo tiliyekwanishe kusilija kuphoniyana maganizo kwamene kwechitisha akulu-akulu aboma kuti apanamike ntchito yasu muchalo chamene icho.

Pavuli popemphela kwa Yehova kuti atisogolele, sewo tesenga chilolezo kuli akulu-akulu aboma kuti titumije ma Baibolo okwanila 500 ku Cuba. Ma Baibolo ŵetitumija, efwika luweme ngako ndipo eyamba kuyaŵiliwa kuli enekwasu na akalongosi, ndipo chifukwa chavamene ivi sewo teziŵa kuti Yehova wadalisa kuyeja-yeja kwasu. Pavuli pake, teganiza kuti tisenge chilolezo chiyakine kuti atilole kutumija ma Baibolo ayakine okwanila 27.500. Akulu-akulu a boma evomelasoti pempho yamene iyi. Newo nesangalala ngako chifukwa choyavya enekwasu na akalongosi okondewa aku Cuba kuti ankhale na Baibolo yawo-yawo.

Newo neluta ku Cuba maulwendo anyinji ngako kuyayavya enekwasu kuti boma iŵalole kuti akolambila mwaufulu. Vamene ivi vechitisha kuti ninkhale paushamwali uweme na akulu-akulu aboma anyinji.

Mu 1994 ŵanthu opitilila 1.000.000 epaiwa pa chiŵembu choniyatana na ŵanthu antundu wachi Tutsi ku Rwanda. N’vomvwisha chisoni ngako kuti ayakine mwa enekwasu na akalongosi epaiwa panthawe yamene iyi. Pakaliye pita nthawe itali, kagulu ka enekwasu na akalongosi kesengewa kuti kapeleke chithandizo kuli enekwasu am’chalo chamene icho.

Kagulu kasu pekafwika ku Kigali, yamene ni tauni ikulu m’chalo chamene icho tefwana kuti vipupa vang’anda komasoti malo omasulilila mabuku, elijiliwa mfuti malo anyinji ngako. Sewo telondelasoti malipoti anyinji omvwisha chisoni onena za enekwasu na akalongosi amene epaiwa navibemba. Koma techimvwasoti nkhani za enekwasu na akalongosi zowonesha kuti enzewoneshana chikondi muyake na muyake. Mwachisanzo, sewo tekumana na muyakine wantundu wa Chitutsi wamene enze efisama m’chisengu kwamasiku 28, ndipo banja ya Mboni za Yehova yantundu wa Chihutu niye yamene yenzemuteteza. Pansonkhano uyakine wamene wechitikila ku Kigali, sewo tekata ntchito yotonthoja enekwasu na akalongosi opitilila 900.

Pavuli pake, sewo tetauka boda ya Zaire (masiku ŵano chalo chamene ichi chuziŵika kuti Democratic Republic of the Congo) posakila a Mboni za Yehova anyinji aku Rwanda amene enze ethaŵa kwawo noluta kumakempu kosungilako ŵanthu othaŵa kwawo kufupi na tauni ya Goma. Sewo tiliyekwanishe kuŵafwana, tetyo tepemphela kwa Yehova pomusenga kuti atisogolele. Pavuli pake tewona munthu muyakine akuza kuli sewo ndipo temukonsha keno oziŵako munthu aliyense wa Mboni za Yehova. Yove poyankha enena kuti “eye newo nine wa Mboni za Yehova. Ningakupelekejeni kuli komiti yupeleka chithandizo.” Pavuli pakuti tachita nsonkhano wotang’isha na komiti yupeleka chithandizo, sewo tekumana na ŵanthu okwanila pafupi-fupi 1.600 amene ethaŵa kwawo, ndipo teŵatonthoja mwauzimu noŵatang’isha. Sewo teŵafotokozelasoti nkhani zam’kalata yofumila ku Bungwe yutonga ya Mboni za Yehova. Enekwasu na akalongosi amene awo ekhuziwa ntima ngako pechimvwa mawu onena kuti: “Sewo tukupemphelelani nthawe zonse. Tukaikilalini kuti Yehova azakutayenilini.” Mawu ofumila ku Bungwe yutonga amene aŵa, enze achendi. Palipano a Mboni za Yehova opitilila 30.000 otumikila Yehova mosangalala ku Rwanda!

Pavuli pakuti tankhala m’banja kwavyaka vopitilila 58, mwanakazi wangu wokondewa Elly emwalila mu 2011. Newo nemufotokozela Yehova m’pemphelo kukula kwa chisoni chenenze nacho ndipo yove enitonthoja. Newo netonthojewasoti ngako penenzekata ntchito yolalikila uthenga uweme wa Ufumu pamozi na ayangu.

Olo kuti palipano nili na vyaka vam’ma 90, nikalipitilija mphela kukata ntchito yolalikila sondo iliyonse. Komasoti nusangalala kuyavya mu Dipatimenti yuwona zamalamulo kuno kunthambi yaku Belgium, kuujako ayakine vinthu vanakumana navo, komasoti kukata ntchito yoŵetela achilumbwana m’banja ya Beteli.

Pofwika pano, papita vyaka 84 kufumila panthawe yenipeleka pemphelo yangu yoyamba kwa Yehova. Pemphelo yamene yala chenze chiyambi chaulwendo wangu uweme ngako wamene wanivwendeja ngako kwa Mulungu. Newo nutembeja ngako kuti Yehova wankhala omvwishila mapemphelo ŵangu mwachidwi ngako pa moyo wangu wonse.—Sal. 66:19. b