Tinadalitsidwa Chifukwa Chokonda Kwambiri Mulungu

Yosimbidwa ndi Pierre Worou

Kuyambira ndili mwana, ndakhala ndikugwiritsa ntchito moni wa m’chifalansa wakuti “Bonjour!” Koma mu November 1975, anandimanga chifukwa chopereka moni wotere. Ndikufuna ndikuuzeni zimene zinachititsa kuti andimange komanso zimene zakhala zikundichitikira kuyambira nthawi imeneyi.

NDINABADWA pa January 1, 1944, ku Malété, m’tauni ya Savé, yomwe ili m’chigawo chapakati m’dziko la Benin. * Makolo anga anandipatsa dzina la Chiyoruba lakuti Abiola. Koma ndili wachinyamata ndinasintha dzina n’kukhala Pierre, chifukwa ndinkaona kuti dzina limeneli linali lotchuka komanso losachititsa manyazi.

Achinyamata ambiri a m’tauni mwathu ankapatsidwa maina. Ineyo anandipatsa dzina lakuti Abusa chifukwa chakuti pobadwa nkhope yanga inkafanana ndi ya mbusa winawake wa kwathuko. Koma ineyo ndinkakonda kusewera mpira osati kupita ku tchalitchi.

Mu 1959 ndinasamukira mu mzinda wa Sakété womwe uli kum’mwera kwa Benin kuti ndikapitirize sukulu. Ndinkakhala ndi msuweni wanga Simon yemwe anali mphunzitsi ndipo anali atayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova. Poyamba sindinkafuna kuphunzira nawo Baibulo. Koma kenako ndinapempha msuweni wanga wina dzina lake Michel kuti tizikhala limodzi pophunzira Baibulo. Anavomera ndipo paphunziro limeneli ndinadziwa kuti dzina la Mulungu ndi Yehova.

Lamlungu lina, ineyo, Simon ndi Michel tinagwirizana kuti m’malo mopita kutchalitchi kwathu, tipite kumisonkhano ya Mboni. Koma tinakhumudwa chifukwa kumisonkhanoko kunalibe anthu ambiri, kunali ifeyo ndi Mboni ziwiri zokha basi. Komabe tinazindikira kuti kumeneko, tinaphunzira choonadi motero tinapitirizabe kuphunzira Baibulo. Michel ndiye anayamba kubatizidwa monga chizindikiro choti wadzipereka kwa Mulungu. Masiku ano iye akutumikira monga mpainiya, dzina limene alaliki a nthawi zonse a Mboni za Yehova amadziwika nalo.

Kenako Simon anasamukira kumpoto kwa Benin mumzinda wa Kokoro ndipo ineyo ndinapita naye limodzi. Ku Ouansougon kunali msonkhano wa Mboni za Yehova ndipo Simon anapita pagalimoto koma ine ndinapita panjinga. Ulendowu unali wamakilomita 220. Tonse tinabatizidwa pamsonkhano umenewu, pa September 15, 1961.

Ndinakumana ndi Mavuto mu Utumiki Wanthawi Zonse

Kuti ndizipeza zinthu zofunika pamoyo wanga ndinkagwira ntchito yopenta ndi kugulitsa zithunzi ndiponso ndinkalima kamunda kenakake kachonde. Woyang’anira woyendayenda wina dzina lake Philippe Zannou anayendera mpingo wathu ndipo anandifunsa ngati ndinaganizirapo zochita utumiki wa nthawi zonse wa upainiya. Ndinakambirana zimenezi ndi mnzanga wina dzina lake Emmanuel Fatunbi ndipo tinagwirizana zoti tiyambe upainiya mu February, 1966. Patapita nthawi ndinayamba kutumikira monga woyang’anira woyendayenda ndipo ntchito yanga inali yoyendera mipingo yolankhula Chifoni, Chiguni, Chiyoruba ndi Chifalansa.

Kenaka ndinadziwana ndi mlongo wina wokongola, dzina lake Julienne, amene ankakhala moyo  wosafuna zambiri ngati ineyo. Kenako pa August 12, 1971 tinakwatirana ndipo tinayamba kuyendera mipingo limodzi. Mwana wathu woyamba Bola anabadwa pa August 18, 1972. Tikamayendera mipingo, tinkakwezana njinga, mkazi wanga atabereka Bola kumbuyo. Mboni ina inkatinyamulira katundu wathu panjinga. Tinakhala tikuyendera mipingo kwa zaka zinayi.

Tsiku lina mkazi wanga anadwala kwambiri ndipo sanagone usiku onse. Kutacha ndinapita kukaima mumsewu kuti ndikapeze thandizo. Kenako kunatulukira galimoto, zinali zodabwitsa chifukwa galimoto zonyamula anthu sizinkafika kawirikawiri m’dera lathu. Chodabwitsa chinali chakuti m’galimotomo munali dalaivala yekha. Ndinamufotokozera za vuto langa ndipo ndinam’pempha kuti anditenge ndi mkazi wanga kupita kuchipatala, ku Porto Novo, kulikulu la dziko la Benin. Ulendowu unali wamakilomita 25. Iye anavomera ndipo titafika kuchipatalako, dalaivalayo anandimwetulira n’kunena kuti: “Imeneyi ndi mphatso yako, usapereke ndalama iliyonse.”

Julienne anakhala ali chigonere ku nyumba ya Mboni ina kwa milungu iwiri. Dokotala amene ankamuthandiza ankabwera tsiku lililonse ndipo ankamupatsa mankhwala. Atatsala pang’ono kuchira, mwamantha ndinafunsa dokotalayo kuti andiuze ndalama zimene ndinafunika kulipira. Ndinadabwa kwambiri akundiuza kuti: “Usapereke ndalama iliyonse.”

Zinthu Zinasintha Kwambiri

Mu 1975, ntchito zonse zamalonda za dziko la Dahomey zinayamba kuyendetsedwa ndi boma. Kenako, dzikoli litalandira ufulu wodzilamulira, linayamba kutchedwa kuti Republic of Benin. Zinthu zinasintha kwambiri ndipo boma linapereka lamulo loti anthu popatsana moni azinena kuti “Pour la révolution?” (Kodi mwakonzeka kuti zinthu zisinthe?) Munthu ankafunika kuyankha kuti: “Prêt!” (Ndakonzeka!) Ifeyo sitinkapereka nawo moni wotere chifukwa tinaphunzira Baibulo ndipo chikumbumtima chathu sichimatilola kuchita nawo ndale. Zimenezi zinatibweretsera mavuto ambiri.

Lamlungu lina, chakumapeto kwa 1975, ndinamangidwa pomwe ndinkalalikira khomo ndi khomo kufupi ndi dera la St. Michel. Monga ndanenera kale, munthu wina atandipatsa moni wakuti: “Pour la révolution?” Ine ndinayankha kuti “Bonjour!” Ananditengera kupolisi komwe anandimenya kwambiri. Koma kenako kunabwera abale atatu amene anathandiza kuti nditulutsidwe.

Panthawiyo ndinali Mboni ya Yehova yoyamba kumangidwa m’dzikolo koma posakhalitsa, Mboni zinanso zambiri zinamangidwa. Boma linalanda Nyumba za Ufumu ndipo amishonale onse anathamangitsidwa. Ofesi ya nthambi inatsekedwa ndipo Mboni zambiri zinathawira ku Togo ndi ku Nigeria.

Tili ku Nigeria, Banja Lathu Linakula

Mwana wathu wachiwiri dzina lake Kola anabadwa pa April 25, 1976. Patangotha masiku awiri, boma linakhazikitsa lamulo loletsa ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova. Tinasamukira ku Nigeria kumene tinakasonkhana ku Nyumba ya Ufumu yomwenso kunasonkhana anthu ambiri othawa kwawo. Tsiku lotsatira anatigawira ku mipingo ina. Gulu limodzi akaligawa, pamabweranso gulu lina. Anthu amanyamulidwa pa galimoto zonyamula katundu popita ku mipingo ina.

Ofesi ya nthambi ya Mboni za Yehova ku Nigeria inandipempha kuti ndiziyendera mipingo yonse ya Mboni za Yehova zochokera ku Benin. Kenako anandisankha kuti ndikhale woyang’anira woyendayenda ku mipingo yolankhula Chiyoruba ku Nigeria ndipo patapita nthawi ndinayambanso kuyendera mipingo yolankhula Chiguni. Popita kukayendera mipingoyo tinkakwera njinga yamoto. Mwana wathu Bola tinkamukweza kutsogolo, ineyo pakati ndipo mwana wathu wina Kola ankakhala pakati pa ine ndi Julienne.

Mu 1979 mkazi wanga anali ndi mimba ya mwana wamkazi, dzina lake Jemima, motero tinafunika kusiya ntchito yathu yoyendera mipingo. Mng’ono wake wa Julienne dzina lake Pépé anabwera kuchokera ku Benin kuti azidzakhala nafe. Banja lathu linapitirizabe kukula. M’banja mwathu munabadwanso anyamata ena awiri, Caleb yemwe anabadwa mu 1983 ndi Silas yemwe anabadwa mu 1987. Choncho m’banja lathu lonse tinalipo anthu 8. Ineyo ndi Julienne tinkafunitsitsa kulera bwino ana athu komanso tinkafunitsitsa kupitiriza utumiki wanthawi zonse. Kodi zimenezi zikanatheka bwanji? Tinabwereka munda n’kumalima chinangwa, chimanga  ndi chilazi. Kenako tinamanga nyumba m’mudzi wa Ilogbo-Eremi.

Ana athu akapita kusukulu, ine ndi Julienne tinkapita kukalalikira m’mawa. Masana tinkadyera chakudya limodzi monga banja. Tikapuma pang’ono, tinkapita kukagwira ntchito kumunda. Julienne ndi Pépé ankapitanso kumsika kukagulitsa zokolola. Tinkagwira ntchito mwakhama ndipo timathokoza Mulungu kuti nthawi imeneyo sitinkadwaladwala.

Tinadalitsidwa Ngakhale Kuti Ana Athu Sanaphunzire Kwambiri

Sitinalimbikitse ana athu kuchita maphunziro apamwamba. Tinkadziwa kuti kuika zinthu za Ufumu patsogolo, kukhala ndi makhalidwe achikhristu ndiponso kugwira ntchito mwakhama, n’zothandiza kuti munthu akhale ndi moyo wosangalala. Tinayesetsa kukhomereza mfundo zimenezi m’mitima ya ana athu. Ndinkaphunzira nawo Baibulo ndipo ndinasangalala kwambiri kuona anawo akuyamba kukonda Yehova, kudzipereka kwa iye kenako n’kubatizidwa.

Mlamu wanga Pépé anali wamkulu kuposa ana anga ndipo iye ndi amene anayamba kuchoka panyumba pathu. Kuchokera panthawi imene anabwera kudzakhala nafe, ndinkamuphunzitsa kuwerenga. Ngakhale kuti sukulu sanapite nayo patali, ankakonda kwambiri kuphunzira Baibulo ndiponso kuchita zinthu zina zauzimu. Atachita upainiya kwa kanthawi, anakwatiwa ndi woyang’anira woyendayenda wina dzina lake Monday Akinra ndipo anayamba kuyendera limodzi. Panopo Pépé ndi Monday ali ndi mwana wamwamuna dzina lake Timothy ndipo akupitirizabe utumiki wanthawi zonse komanso Monday amagwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana pamisonkhano ikuluikulu.

Mwana wathu Bola anayamba kuphunzira ntchito yophika pa kampani inayake yaikulu. Bwana wina pakampanipo ataona kuti Bola ndi wolimbikira ntchito, wokhulupirika ndiponso wamakhalidwe achikhristu, anamukweza pantchito. Koma chosangalatsa kwambiri n’choti iye amakonda kwambiri mkazi wake Jane, amasamalira bwino ana ake atatu komanso ndi mkulu mumpingo wa Mboni za Yehova mumzinda wa Lagos ku Nigeria.

Mwana wathu wina Kola anaphunzira ntchito yautelala ndipo anayambanso upainiya. Ali ku Nigeria anaphunzira Chingelezi, motero mu 1995 anaitanidwa kuti azikagwira ntchito yomasulira mabuku pa ofesi yanthambi ya Mboni za Yehova ku Benin. Tsopano iye watha zaka 13 akuchita utumiki umenewu.

Tinabwerera Kukatumikira ku Benin

Pa January 23, 1990 tinasangalala kumva kuti boma la Benin lathetsa lamulo loletsa Mboni za Yehova. Chifukwa cha zimenezi anthu ambiri anabwerera ku Benin. Kunafikanso amishonale atsopano ndipo ofesi ya nthambi inatsegulidwanso. Mu 1994 banja lathu linabwerera ku Benin koma Pépé ndi Bola anatsalira ku Nigeria limodzi ndi mabanja awo.

Ndinapeza mwayi wogwira ntchito yaganyu. Tinamanga nyumba kufupi ndi ofesi ya nthambi ndi ndalama zochepa zimene tinkapeza tikalandira ndalama za lendi ya nyumba yathu ku Nigeria ndiponso zimene Bola ankatipatsa, ndipo banja lathu linasamukira m’nyumba imeneyo. Jemima anatumikira monga mpainiya kwa zaka 6 ndipo ankagwira ntchito yosoka zovala kuti azipeza zofunika pamoyo. Kenako anakwatirana ndi Kokou Ahoumenou ndipo panopo akutumikira pa ofesi ya nthambi. Caleb ndi Silas asala pang’ono kumaliza sukulu. Ineyo ndi Julienne tatha zaka zoposa 40 tikuchita utumiki wanthawi zonse ndipo takwanitsa kuchita zimenezi ndi thandizo la Mulungu komanso banja lathu.

Mulungu wadalitsa kwambiri ntchito yolalikira ku Benin. Panthawi imene ndinkabatizidwa mu 1961, Mboni za Yehova zomwe zinkalalikira Uthenga wa Ufumu m’dzikoli zinali zongokwana 871. Koma nthawi imene ndinkamangidwa, chiwerengerochi chinafika 2,381. Titabwerera ku Benin mu 1994, chiwerengero chinafika 3,858 ngakhale kuti Mboni za Yehova zinali zoletsedwa kwa zaka 14. Panopo ku Benin kuli Mboni za Yehova zoposa 9,000 ndipo anthu amene anafika pamwambo wokumbukira imfa ya Yesu mu 2008 analipo 35,752.

Nthawi zina ndimapita pamalo amene ndinamangidwira zaka 30 zapitazo ndipo ndikamaganizira zimene zinachitika nthawi yonseyi, ndimathokoza Mulungu chifukwa chodalitsa banja lathu. Palibe chimene timasowa pamoyo wathu. Mpaka pano ndimapatsabe anthu moni wakuti: “Bonjour!”

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 13]

Anandimwetulira n’kunena kuti: “Imeneyi ndi mphatso yako, usapereke ndalama iliyonse”

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 14]

Sitinalimbikitse ana athu kuchita maphunziro apamwamba

 [Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Ndili woyang’anira woyendayenda mu 1970

[Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Tili ndi ana athu awiri, Bola ndi Kola, mu 1976

[Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Ndili ndi mkazi wanga, ana athu asanu, zidzukulu zathu zitatu ndi banja la Pépé posachedwapa