Ndinaphunzira Kudalira Mulungu

YOSIMBIDWA NDI ELLA TOOM

BANJA lathu linkakhala kufupi ndi tawuni ina yaing’ono ya Otepää, kum’mwera kwa dziko la Estonia, makilomita pafupifupi 60 kuchokera ku malire a dzikoli ndi dziko la Russia. Mu October 1944, patatha miyezi yowerengeka nditamaliza maphunziro anga a kusekondale, nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse inali chakumapeto. Banja lathu pamodzi ndi anthu ena oyandikana nawo nyumba, tonse okwana pafupifupi 20, tinakabisala m’nkhalango limodzi ndi ziweto zathu, pamene asilikali a ku Russia ankathamangitsa asilikali a dziko la Germany kudutsa mu Estonia.

Kwa miyezi iwiri pamene mabomba ankaphulitsidwa kufupi ndi komwe ifeyo tinali, tinkaona ngati kuti tili pakatikati pa dera lankhondo. Nthawi zina tinkasonkhana pamodzi, ine n’kumawerenga mbali zina za Baibulo, makamaka kuchokera m’buku la Maliro. Aka kanali koyamba pa moyo wanga kuwerenga Baibulo. Tsiku lina ndinakwera pa phiri lina lalitali, n’kugwada ndi kupemphera kuti, “Nkhondo ikadzatha, ndikulonjeza kuti ndizidzapita ku tchalitchi Lamlungu lililonse.”

Posapita nthawi asilikali aja analowera chakumadzulo, kenako dziko la Germany litagonja mu May 1945, nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse inatha ku Ulaya. Nthawiyi n’kuti ndikuchita zija zomwe ndinalonjeza Mulungu ndipo ndinkapita ku tchalitchi mlungu uliwonse. Koma kutchalitchiko kunkabwera azimayi achikulire okha owerengeka basi. Ndinkachita manyazi kukhalako. Munthu wina atabwera mwadzidzidzi kunyumba kwathu, ndinabisa Baibulo pansi pa tebulo.

Posapita nthawi ndinapeza ntchito yauphunzitsi pasukulu ina ya kwathu komweko. Panthawiyi, n’kuti tili mu ulamuliro wa Chikomyunizimu ndipo anthu ambiri ankakana kuti kuli Mulungu. Koma ine ndinakana kulowa Chipani cha Chikomyunizimu. Ndinkatanganidwa ndi zochitika zina zakwathuko monga kukonza za magule a makolo oti ana avine.

Kukumana ndi Mboni

Pankafunika zovala zoti ana azivala povina, choncho mu April 1945, ndinapita kwa Emilie Sannamees, telala wodziwa bwino kusoka. Sindinkadziwa kuti iyeyu anali wa Mboni za Yehova. Iye anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi ukuganiza bwanji za mmene dzikoli lilili?” Popeza kuti nthawi imeneyo msonkhano wokambirana za mtendere unali m’kati ku San Francisco, m’dziko la United States, ndinamuyankha kuti, “Posachedwapa boma ili litha, ndipo ndikukhulupirira kuti msonkhano wokambirana za mtenderewu cholinga chake n’chofuna kuonetsetsa kuti boma limeneli lathadi.”

Emilie anati msonkhano wokambirana za mtenderewo sungapindulitse anthu kwa nthawi yaitali, ndipo anandipempha kuti andisonyeze m’Baibulo chifukwa chake zili choncho. Panthawi imeneyo sindinkafuna kumvetsera mzimayi wachikulirepo, wofatsa ndi waulemu ameneyu, choncho anandifunsa funso ndisanapite, lakuti, “Kodi ukudziwa kumene Mulungu anafuna kuti Adamu ndi Hava azikhala?” Popeza sindinathe  kuyankha, anangonena kuti, “Ukafunse bambo ako.”

Nditafika kunyumba ndinafunsa funsolo kwa bambo anga. Sanathe kuyankha ndipo anati sitiyenera kudzivutitsa ndi kuphunzira Baibulo; koma tikungofunika kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro basi. Nditapita kuti ndikatenge zovala zija, ndinamuuza Emilie kuti bambo sakudziwa yankho la funso lake lija. Iye ndi mchemwali wake anatenga Mabaibulo awo n’kundiwerengera malangizo amene Mulungu anapatsa Adamu ndi Hava, onena za kasamaliridwe ka munda umene anali kukhalamo ndiponso kuti akhalemo mwachimwemwe kosatha. Anandisonyezanso m’Baibulo kuti chinali chifuniro cha Mulungu kuti Adamu ndi Hava abereke ana ndi kufutukula Paradaiso kuti afike padziko lonse. Ndinachita chidwi ndi umboni wa m’Malemba umenewo!—Genesis 1:28; 2:8, 9, 15; Salmo 37:29; Yesaya 45:18; Chivumbulutso 21:3, 4.

Msonkhano Wanga Woyamba ndi Mboni

Popeza kuti ndinkafunikira kupita kusukulu yauphunzitsi ku Tartu kwa miyezi itatu m’chilimwe cha chaka chimenecho, Emilie anandiuza mmene ndingapezere nyumba ya Mboni ina imene inkakhala mu mzinda umenewo. Anandipatsanso buku la Creation, limene linandichititsa chidwi chifukwa cholongosola momveka bwino za mfundo zazikulu za choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Choncho pa August 4, 1945, ndinapita ku nyumba ya munthu amene Emilie anandiuza uja.

Nditagogoda pachitseko koma popanda aliyense woyankha, ndinagogodanso kwambiri mpaka munthu wina wa nyumba yoyandikana ndi imeneyo anatsegula chitseko n’kundiuza malo ena oti ndikayese, ndipo kumeneko kunali ku 56 Salme Street. Nditafika kumeneko ndinafunsa kwa mzimayi wina yemwe ankasenda mbatata m’nyumba kuti, “Kodi kuno kukuchitika msonkhano wa chipembedzo?” Mokwiya mzimayiyo anandiuza kuti ndizipita, ndipo anandiuza kuti sakusangalala nane. Popeza ndinaumirira, mzimayiyo anandiuza kuti ndilowe m’chipinda chosanja kuti ndikakhale limodzi ndi gulu la anthu ophunzira Baibulo. Posapita nthawi, inafika nthawi yopuma yamasana, ndipo ndinkakonzekera zoti ndizibwerera. Koma anthu ena anandilimbikitsa kuti ndisachoke.

Panthawi yopuma ndinaona anyamata awiri, omwe anali otumbuluka ndiponso oonda, atakhala pafupi ndi windo. Kenako, ndinauzidwa kuti m’nthawi ya nkhondo anyamatawo anakhala m’zipinda zosiyanasiyana zapansi koposa chaka chimodzi poopa kugwidwa. * M’chigawo cha masana, Friedrich Altpere anatchula liwu lakuti “Armagedo” m’nkhani yake. Popeza kuti liwulo sindinkalidziwa, titamaliza msonkhanowo ndinam’funsa za liwulo, ndipo anandisonyeza m’Baibulo. (Chivumbulutso 16:16) Ataona kuti ndikudabwa, iyenso anaoneka kuti wadabwa kuti liwulo linali lachilendo kwa ine.

Apa ndinazindikira kuti msonkhanowu anakonzera anthu odziwika kuti ndi Mboni komanso odalirika. Kenako ndinauzidwa kuti umenewo unali msonkhano wawo woyamba chithereni nkhondo. Kuyambira nthawi imeneyo mpaka m’tsogolo mwake, ndinadziwa za kufunika kodalira Mulungu. (Miyambo 3:5, 6) Patapita chaka chimodzi, mu August 1946, ndili ndi zaka 20, ndinabatizidwa posonyeza kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Mulungu woona, Yehova.

Kupirira Potsutsidwa ndi Anthu a M’banja Mwathu

Boma linalimbikira kuti kusukulu tiziphunzitsa maphunziro okana kuti kuli Mulungu, choncho zimenezi zinayesa chikumbumtima changa chophunzitsidwa Baibulo. Ndinaganiza zoti ndisinthe ntchito. Nditawauza zimenezi amayi, anakalipa, n’kundizula tsitsi. Ndinaganiza zochoka panyumbapo, koma abambo anandilimbikitsa kuti ndizingopirira ndiponso anati iwowo azindithandiza.

Mlongo wanga Ants anagwirizana ndi amayi potsutsana nane. Koma tsiku lina anandipempha mabuku, omwe anawerenga n’kusangalala nawo kwambiri. Amayi anakwiya kwambiri. Ants anafika mpaka polankhula za Mulungu kusukulu, koma atakumana ndi chizunzo, anasiya kusonkhana ndi Mboni. Patapita nthawi yochepa, Ants anavulala m’mutu atachita ngozi podumphira m’madzi. Anam’goneka pa machira, ndipo sankatakataka, koma bongo unali kugwirabe ntchito bwinobwino. “Kodi Yehova adzandikhululukira?” anafunsa motero. Ndinamuyankha kuti, “Inde.” Ants anamwalira patangopita masiku owerengeka. Anali ndi zaka 17 zokha.

Mu September 1947, ndinasiya ntchito yauphunzitsi ija. Amayi anapitiriza kundivutitsa kwambiri. Atanditayira zovala zanga zonse panja, ndinachoka panyumbapo ndipo Emilie ndi mchemwali wake ananditenga kuti ndizikakhala nawo.  Ndinalimbikitsidwa ndi zimene ankandikumbutsa zakuti Yehova sasiya atumiki ake.

Mayesero Omwe Tinakumana Nawo ku Estonia Nkhondo Itatha

Emilie ndi mchemwali wake anandilola kuti ndizigwira nawo ntchito yosoka zovala za mabanja amene ankakhala m’mafamu. Nthawi zambiri tinkakambirana mfundo za choonadi cha m’Baibulo ndi anthu amenewa. Imeneyo inali nthawi yosangalatsa kwambiri, chifukwa sikuti ndinangophunzira kusoka kokha ayi, koma ndinauzolowera kwambiri utumiki wachikristu. Kuphatikiza pa kusoka, ndinapezanso ntchito yophunzitsa masamu. Komabe, mu 1948, akuluakulu a boma anayamba kumanga Mboni.

M’chaka chotsatira, mu October, ndinkagwira ntchito pa famu pamene ndinamva kuti akuluakulu a boma apita kunyumba ya Emilie kuti akandimange. Nditapita kukabisala pa famu ya Mbale Hugo Susi, ndinamva kuti mbaleyo wangogwidwa kumene. Mzimayi wina amene ndinamusokerapo zovala anandiitana kuti ndizikakhala naye ku nyumba kwake. Kenako ndinayamba kuyendayenda, kuchokera pa famu ina kupita pa famu inanso, kugwira ntchito yanga yosoka komanso kupitiriza ntchito yolalikira.

Nyengo yozizira itayamba, a bungwe la chitetezo cha boma lotchedwa Soviet State Security Committee (KGB) anandipeza ku Tartu ku nyumba ya Linda Mettig, Mboni yokangalika, yachitsikana, yomwe inali yokulirapo pang’ono kwa ineyo. Anandimanga n’kupita nane ku polisi kuti akandifunse mafunso. Ndinachita manyazi kwambiri atandikakamiza kuti ndivule zovala zonse, ndiye apolisi achinyamata azindionera. Koma, nditapemphera kwa Yehova, ndinakhala ndi mtendere wa mumtima.

Kenako, anandiika mu kachipinda kakang’ono, mmene sindinkatha ngakhale kugona. Ankanditulutsa pokhapokha ngati akufuna kukandifunsa mafunso. Apolisiwo ankanena kuti: “Sitikukuuza kuti usiye kukhulupirira kuti Mulungu aliko ayi, koma kuti usiye kulalikira kwako kopusako! Ukhoza kukhala ndi tsogolo labwinobwino.” Ndipo ankandiwopseza kuti: “Ukufuna moyo? Kapena ukufuna kuti ukafe ndi Mulungu wakoyo ku Siberia?”

Sindinagone kwa masiku atatu omwe anakhala akundifunsa mafunso. Kusinkhasinkha mfundo za m’Baibulo kunandithandiza kupirira. Kenako, munthu wina amene ankandifunsa mafunso anandiitana kuti ndikasaine chikalata chofotokoza kuti ndisiya kulalikira. Ndinamuuza kuti: “Ndaiganizira kwambiri nkhani imeneyi. Ndingakonde kukhala m’ndende n’kukhalabe ndi unansi wolimba ndi Mulungu kusiyana ndi kuti ndimasulidwe koma ndikhale paudani ndi Mulungu.” Nditatero, iye anakalipa, amvekere: “Wopusa iwe, eti! Tikugwirani nonse ndipo tikutumizani ku Siberia!”

Kumasulidwa Mosayembekezereka

Mwadzidzidzi, chapakatikati pausiku, anthu ondifunsa mafunso aja anandiuza kuti nditenge zinthu zanga ndipo ndizipita. Popeza ndinkadziwa kuti apolisi azinditsatira, sindinapite kunyumba kwa Akristu anzanga chifukwa kutero kukanawaululitsa. Ndikuyenda mumsewu, amuna atatu ananditsatiradi. Nditapemphera kwa Yehova kuti anditsogolere, ndinalowa mu nsewu wina womwe unalibe magetsi ndipo mwamsanga ndinathawira m’munda. Ndinagona pansi, n’kudziphimba ndi masamba. Ndinamva phokoso la anthu akudutsa, ndipo ndinkaona matochi awo akuwala.

Panadutsa maola ena, ndipo ndinachita dzanzi chifukwa cha kuzizira. Kenako, ndinayamba ulendo, kudutsa m’misewu ya miyala, nditanyamula nsapato zanga kuti ndisachite phokoso. Potuluka mu mzindawo, ndinkayenda m’ngalande ya mumsewu waukulu, ndipo magalimoto akamayandikira, ndinkagona pansi. Nthawi ya faifi koloko m’mawa, ndinafika ku nyumba kwa Jüri ndi Meeta Toomel, kufupi ndi mzinda wa Tartu.

Meeta nthawi yomweyo anandilowetsa m’bafa lokhala ndi nthunzi yotentha kuti ndifundidwe. Tsiku lotsatira anapita ku Tartu ndipo anakakumana ndi Linda Mettig. Linda anandilimbikitsa kuti, “Tiye tsopano tiyambe kulalikira ndipo tiyende mu Estonia yense ndi uthenga wabwino.” Ndinasintha kaonekedwe kanga pamene ndinakonza tsitsi langa mwa mtundu wina, n’kudzola zodzoladzola kumaso kwanga, ndiponso n’kuvala magalasi, kenako tinayamba kulalikira. M’miyezi yotsatira, tinayenda mitunda italiitali panjinga. M’njira tinkalimbikitsa okhulupirira anzathu okhala m’mafamu.

Mboni zinakonza msonkhano womwe umati udzachitike pa July 24, 1950, m’chinyumba chachikulu  chosungiramo udzu wodyetsa ziweto cha wophunzira Baibulo wina kufupi ndi Otepää. Titamva kuti a KGB adziwa za mapulani athu a msonkhanowo, tinatha kuchenjeza Mboni zambiri zomwe zinali m’njira, kubwera ku msonkhanowo. Malo ena anakonzedwa kuti pachitikire msonkhanowo tsiku lotsatira, ndipo panafika anthu pafupifupi 115. Aliyense anapita kwawo ali ndi chimwemwe ndiponso wotsimikiza mtima kuposa kale kuti akhalabe wokhulupirika akakumana ndi ziyeso. *

Kenako, ine ndi Linda tinapitirizabe kulalikira ndi kulimbikitsa Akristu anzathu. M’nthawi ina chaka chomwecho tinkakumba nawo mbatata ndipo tinkatha kulalikira za uthenga wa Ufumu kwa anzathu omwe tinkagwira nawo ntchitoyo. Mwini wa famu ina anasiya kugwira ntchito n’kumamvetsera kwa ola limodzi zinthu zimene ifeyo tinkankhula, ndipo anati, “Nkhani ngati izi zimasowa!”

Ine ndi Linda tinabwerera ku Tartu, kumene tinamva kuti Mboni zambiri zagwidwa, kuphatikizapo mayi ake a Linda. Anzathu ochuluka tsopano anali atagwidwa, kuphatikizapo Emilie ndi mchemwali wake. Popeza tinadziwa kuti a KGB aja akutifunafuna, tinapeza njinga ziwiri ndipo tinapitiriza kulalikira kunja kwa mzinda wa Tartu. Usiku wina a KGB anandipeza ku nyumba kwa Alma Valdja, Mboni yobatizidwa kumene. Ataona chiphaso changa, mmodzi wa iwo anafuula kuti: “Ella! Takhala tikukufunafuna paliponse!” Pamenepo panali pa December 27, 1950.

Kumangidwa N’kutumizidwa ku Siberia

Ine ndi Alma tinalongedza mwachifatse zinthu zathu zowerengeka, kenako tinakhala pansi n’kuyamba kudya. A KGB anadabwa, n’kunena kuti, “Simukulira n’komwe. Mwangokhala pamenepo n’kumadya.” Tinawayankha kuti, “Tikupita kukayamba ntchito yatsopano, ndipo sitikudziwa kuti chakudya china tidzachipezanso liti.” Popita ndinatenga bulangete limene kenako ndinalidulako n’kusoka masokosi ndi magalavu ofunda. Patatha miyezi tili kundende, mu August 1951, ndinatumizidwa ku Estonia limodzi ndi Mboni zina. *

Titachoka ku Estonia anatitumiza pasitima kupita ku Leningrad (tsopano St. Petersburg), m’dziko la Russia, ndipo kuchokera kumeneko anatipititsa ku ndende zozunzirako anthu zoipa kwambiri ku Vorkuta, ndi Komi, dera la kumpoto kwenikweni kwa dziko lapansi. Pagulu lathu panali Mboni zitatu. Kusukulu ndinaphunzira Chirasha ndipo ndinakhala ndikulankhula chinenero chimenechi kuyambira nthawi imene ndinagwidwa. Choncho ndinkatha kulankhula bwinobwino Chirasha panthawi imene tinafika ku ndendeko.

Ku Vorkuta tinakumana ndi mzimayi wina wachitsikana wa ku Ukraine amene anakhala Mboni ali ku ndende yozunzirako anthu ya Nazi ku Poland. Mu 1945 iye ndi Mboni zina 14 anaikidwa mu sitima imene Ajeremani ankafuna kuti imire mu nyanja ya Baltic. Koma sitimayo siinamire mpaka inakafika ku Denmark. Kenako, mzimayiyu atabwerera ku Russia, anagwidwa chifukwa cholalikira ndipo anatumizidwa ku Vorkuta, kumene anali kutilimbikitsa.

Tinakumananso ndi azimayi awiri, amene anafunsa mu Chiyukireniya kuti, “Ndani pano amene ali Mboni ya Yehova?” Nthawi yomweyo tinadziwa kuti iwo ndi alongo athu achikristu. Anatilimbikitsa ndi kutisamalira pa zosowa zathu. Akaidi ena anati zinkakhala ngati kuti ifeyo tinali ndi abale athu amene ankatiyembekezera kuti tifika.

Kutumizidwa ku Ndende za ku Mordovia

Mu December 1951, zotsatira za kuchipatala zinasonyeza kuti ndinali ndi matenda a chithokomiro, ndipo anandisamutsira kum’mwera koma chakumadzulo pa mtunda wokwana makilomita pafupifupi 1,500, ku ndende ina yaikulu kwambiri ku Mordovia, ndipo kumeneku kunali makilomita pafupifupi 400 kum’mwera cha kum’mawa kwa Moscow. M’zaka zotsatira kumeneko, ndinakumana ndi Mboni za Chijeremani, Chihangare, Chipolishi, ndi  Chiyukireniya m’ndende za akazi zimene ananditsekeramo. Ndinakumananso ndi Maimu, mkaidi wochokera ku Estonia amene anamangidwa pa zifukwa za ndale.

Pamene anali kundende ya ku Estonia, Maimu anabereka mwana, ndipo mlonda wina wachifundo anapereka khandalo kwa mayi ake a Maimu. Ku ndende ya ku Mordovia, tinaphunzira Baibulo ndi Maimu, ndipo anavomereza zimene ankaphunzirazo. Maimu analembera kalata amayi ake, omwenso anaphunzira choonadi cha m’Baibulo ndipo anaphunzitsa choonadicho mwana wa Maimu, dzina lake Karin. Patapita zaka sikisi Maimu anatuluka ku ndende ndipo anapezana ndi mwana wake. Karin atakula, anakwatiwa ndi Mboni inzake. Atumikira limodzi kwa zaka 11 zapitazi pa ofesi ya nthambi ya Mboni za Yehova ku Tallinn, m’dziko la Estonia.

M’ndende yaikulu ya ku Mordovia munali malo ena apadera. Malo aang’onowa anali m’kati mwa ndende ya chipupa ndipo ankawalondera kwambiri. Ine ndi Mboni zina zokwana sikisi tinaikidwa ku malo amenewo chifukwa cha ntchito zathu zachikristu. Komabe ngakhale tinali kumeneko, tinkalemba pamanja nkhani za mu Nsanja ya Olonda pa timapepala tating’ono n’kutitumiza mobisa ku ndende zina zoyandikana ndi malowa. Imodzi mwa njira zomwe tinkachitira zimenezi inali yoboola sopo wopaka, n’kuika timapepalato m’kati mwa sopoyo, n’kum’matanso.

Pa zaka zonse zimene ndakhala ku ndende za ku Mordovia, ndinatha kuthandiza anthu oposa 10 kukhala atumiki a Mulungu. Pomaliza, pa May 4, 1956, ndinauzidwa kuti, “Uli ndi ufulu wopita kwanu ndiponso kukhulupirira Mulungu wako, Yehova.” M’kati mwa mwezi womwewo, ndinapita kwathu ku Estonia.

Ndinabwerera Kwathu Zaka Pafupifupi 50 Zapitazo

Sindinali pantchito, ndinalibe ndalama ndiponso ndinalibe pokhala. Koma patapita masiku owerengeka chifikire kwathu, ndinakumana ndi mzimayi wina amene anasonyeza chidwi ndi zimene Baibulo limaphunzitsa. Analola kuti ndikhale naye kwakanthawi, pamodzi ndi mwamuna wake m’nyumba yawo ya chipinda chimodzi. Ndinabwereka ndalama n’kugula ulusi ndipo ndinaluka majuzi, amene ndinakagulitsa kumsika. Kenako ndinalembedwa ntchito pa chipatala cha matenda a khansa ku Tartu, kumene ndinagwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana kwa zaka seveni. Panthawiyi, nayenso Lembit Toom anabwerera kuchokera ku Siberia, ndipo mu November 1957 tinakwatirana.

A bungwe la KGB ankatilondalondabe, ndipo nthawi zambiri ankatichitira nkhanza, chifukwa choti ntchito yathu yolalikira inali idakali yoletsedwa. Komabe, tinkachita zimene tikanatha kuti tithe kuuza ena za chikhulupiriro chathu. Lembit anafotokoza mbali imeneyi ya moyo wathu mu Galamukani! ya February 22, 1999. Chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1950 ndiponso m’zaka zonse za m’ma 1960 ndi 1970, Mboni zomwe zinali ku ndende zinapitiriza kubwerera kwawo. Podzafika kumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1980, ku Estonia kunali Mboni zoposa 700. Mu 1991 ntchito zathu zachikristu zinavomerezedwa, ndipo kuyambira nthawi imeneyo Mboni ku Estonia zinawonjezeka mpaka kuposa 4,100.

Tsopano padutsa zaka zoposa 60, kuchokera nthawi imene ndinakhala nawo pa msonkhano wachinsinsi wa Mboni ku Estonia womwe unali woyamba pambuyo pa nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse. Kuyambira m’nthawi imeneyo, ndakhala ndi mtima wofuna kutsatira mawu a m’Baibulo akuti: “Khulupirira Yehova, ndipo chita chokoma.” Ndaphunzira kuti kuchita zimenezi kumapangitsa munthu kulandira “zokhumba mtima wako.”—Salmo 37:3, 4.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 23]

“Tiye tsopano tiyambe kulalikira ndipo tiyende mu Estonia yense ndi uthenga wabwino.”—Linda Mettig

[Chithunzi patsamba 24]

Ndili ndi Mboni zina naini m’kati mwa ndende ya ku Mordovia

[Chithunzi patsamba 24]

Lerolino, ndili ndi mwamuna wanga, Lembit