Ndisanafotokoze zomwe zinachitika nthawi imeneyo, ndikufotokozereni kaye mmene ndinayambira utumiki wa nthawi zonse.

Ndinabadwa mu 1942 pachilumba chokongola cha Curaçao ku Caribbean. Bambo anga kwawo kunali ku Suriname, koma anapita pachilumbachi kukagwira ntchito. Zaka zingapo ndisanabadwe, iwo anali mmodzi wa a Mboni za Yehova oyambirira kubatizidwa pachilumbachi. a Mlungu uliwonse ankaphunzira Baibulo ndi anafe ngakhale kuti nthawi zina tinkavuta. Ndili ndi zaka 14, bambo anga anasamutsira banja lathu ku Suriname kuti azikasamalira mayi awo omwe anali okalamba.

Ku Suriname, ndinayamba kugwirizana ndi achinyamata mumpingo omwe ankachita khama kutumikira Yehova. Iwo anali okulirapo poyerekeza ndi ineyo ndipo ankachita upainiya wokhazikika. Akamafotokoza zomwe zawachitikira mu utumiki, nkhope zawo zinkaoneka zosangalala. Misonkhano ikatha, ine ndi anzangawo tinkakambirana nkhani za m’Baibulo ndipo nthawi zina tinkaima panja n’kumayang’ana nyenyezi. Anzangawo anandithandiza kuzindikira chomwe ndinkafuna pa moyo wanga, chomwe ndi kutumikira Yehova. Choncho ndinabatizidwa ndili ndi zaka 16. Kenako nditakwanitsa zaka 18, ndinayamba upainiya wokhazikika.

Ndili mpainiya ndinaphunzira zinthu zambiri ndipo zimenezi zandithandiza pa utumiki wanga wa nthawi zonse. Mwachitsanzo, chimodzi mwa zinthu zomwe ndinaphunzira ndi kufunika kophunzitsa ena. Mmishonale wina dzina lake Willem van Seijl ankachita nane chidwi b ndipo anandiphunzitsa zambiri pa nkhani ya mmene ndingasamalirire maudindo mumpingo. Pa nthawiyo sindinkaona kuti ndinkafunikira kuphunzitsidwa  zimenezo. M’chaka chotsatira, ndinaikidwa kukhala mpainiya wapadera ndipo kenako ndinkatsogolera timagulu takutali m’katikati mwa nkhalango ya Suriname. Ndimayamikira kwambiri kuti abale anandiphunzitsa zinthu pa nthawi yoyenera. Kungochokera nthawi imeneyo, ndakhala ndikutengera chitsanzo chawo poyesetsa kuti ndiziphunzitsa ena.

Chinthu chachiwiri chomwe ndinaphunzira, ndi ubwino wokhala moyo wosalira zambiri komanso wadongosolo. Kumayambiriro kwa mwezi uliwonse, ine ndi mnzanga yemwe ndinkachita naye upainiya tinkakonzeratu bajeti ya zomwe tikufunikira m’mwezi umenewo. Kenako m’modzi wa ife ankayenda ulendo wautali kupita kumzinda waukulu kukagula zomwe tikufunikirazo. Tinkafunika kugwiritsa ntchito mosamala zinthuzo n’cholinga choti zitikwanire m’mwezi wonsewo. Ngati chinthu chinachake chatithera, zinkakhala zovuta kwambiri kupeza munthu woti akatigulire. Ndimakhulupirira kuti kuphunzira ndili wamng’ono kukhala moyo wosalira zambiri komanso wadongosolo kunandithandiza kuti ndiziika maganizo anga onse pa kutumikira Yehova pa moyo wanga.

Chinthu chachitatu chomwe ndinaphunzirapo, ndi ubwino wophunzitsa ena m’chilankhulo chawo. Ndimalankhula Chidatchi, Chingelezi, Chipapiamento ndi Chisiranantongo (chimadziwikanso kuti Chisiranani), chomwe chimalankhulidwa kwambiri ku Suriname. Koma ndinaona kuti anthu a m’midzi ya m’nkhalango ankasangalala kumva uthenga wabwino tikamawalalikira m’zilankhulo zawo. Ndinkavutika kulankhula zilankhulo zina monga ngati Chisaramakani, chomwe chimagwiritsa ntchito mawu okwera ndi otsika. Ndimasangalala kuti ndinaphunzira chilankhulochi ngakhale kuti pankafunika kuchita khama. Pa zaka zapitazi, ndakwanitsa kuphunzitsa choonadi anthu ambiri chifukwa chowalalikira m’chilankhulo chawo.

Komabe, nthawi zina ndinkalankhula zinthu zimene pambuyo pake ndinkachita nazo manyazi. Mwachitsanzo, pa nthawi ina ndinkafuna kufunsa wophunzira Baibulo wina wa Chisaramakani mmene ankamvera chifukwa m’mimba munkamuwawa. Koma ndinangopezeka kuti ndamufunsa ngati anali woyembekezera. Zimenezi zinamukhumudwitsa. Ngakhale kuti nthawi zina ndinkalakwitsa chonchi, ndinkayesetsabe kuti ndiphunzire chilankhulo cha anthu a m’dera limene ndinkatumikira.

Mu 1970, ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anira dera. M’chaka chimenecho, ndinaonetsa pulogalamu ya zithunzi kumadera akutali m’katikati mwa nkhalango. Pulogalamuyo inali yamutu wakuti, “Kuona Malo Kulikulu Lapadziko Lonse la Mboni za Yehova.” Kuti tikapeze anthu, ine ndi abale ena tinkadutsa m’mitsinje ya munkhalangoyi titakwera boti lalitali lamatabwa. Mubotimo tinkaikamo jenereta, chigubu chamafuta, nyale zamafuta komanso zida zoonetsera mavidiyo. Tikafika komwe tikupita, tinkanyamula zida zonse n’kupita pamalo omwe tizikaonetsera pulogalamuyo. Chomwe ndimakumbukira n’choti anthu a m’madera akutaliwa ankakonda kwambiri pulogalamuyo. Ndinkasangalala kuthandiza ena kuti adziwe za Yehova komanso mbali yapadziko lapansi ya gulu lake. Ntchitoyi inkakhala yovuta,  komabe ndinkasangalala kudziwa kuti ndathandiza ena kukhala pa ubwenzi wabwino ndi Yehova.

Ngakhale kuti ndinkaona ubwino wokhala wosakwatira pa utumiki wanga, ndinkafunabe nditakwatira. Choncho ndinayamba kupempherera nkhaniyi kuti Yehova andithandize kupeza mkazi yemwe angamadzapirire mosangalala mavuto amene ndinkakumana nawo pa utumiki wa nthawi zonse m’dera lankhalango. Patatha chaka, ndinayamba chibwenzi ndi mpainiya wina wapadera dzina lake Ethel, yemwe anali wodzipereka kwambiri. Kuyambira ali mwana, Ethel ankachita chidwi kwambiri ndi chitsanzo cha mtumwi Paulo ndipo mofanana ndi iye, ankafuna atadzipereka pochita utumiki. Tinakwatirana mu September 1971 ndipo tinayamba kuchita utumiki woyang’anira dera monga banja.

Ethel sanakulire m’banja lochita bwino, choncho zinali zosavuta kuti azolowere utumiki woyendayenda m’dera lankhalangoli. Mwachitsanzo, tikamakonzekera kukachezera mipingo yomwe inali m’kati mwenimweni mwa nkhalangoyi, tinkangonyamula zinthu zochepa. Tinkachapa komanso kusamba m’mitsinje. Tinazoloweranso kudya zakudya zimene anthu amene atilandirawo atipatsa, kaya nyama zimene apha munkhalango kapena nsomba zimene awedza. Ngati palibe mbale tinkadyera pamasamba a nthochi ndipo ngati palibe masupuni kapena mipeni, tinkadyera manja. Ine ndi Ethel timaona kuti kuchitira limodzi zinthu modzimana potumikira Yehova, kwatithandiza kukhala ogwirizana kwambiri ngati chingwe chopotedwa ndi zingwe zitatu. (Mlal. 4:12) Sitingayerekezere zabwino zimene takumana nazo potumikira Yehova ndi china chilichonse.

Pamene tinkachokera m’dera lina lakutali, m’pamene panachitika zimene ndinafotokoza kumayambiriro zija. Pamene tinkadutsa malo ena amiyala, kutsogolo kwa botilo kunalowa m’madzi, komabe mofulumira linatulukamo. Mwamwayi, tinali titavala zovala zothandiza kuyandama  komanso sitinagwere m’madzi. Komabe madzi analowa m’boti lathulo. Nthawi yomweyo tinataya m’madzi zakudya zomwe tinali nazo n’cholinga choti tigwiritse ntchito mapoto omwe munali zakudyawo kuchotsera madzi omwe analowa m’botilo.

Popeza kuti tsopano tinalibe chakudya, tinayamba kuwedza nsomba pamene tinkapitiriza ulendo wathu. Koma sitinagwire nsomba iliyonse. Choncho tinapempha Yehova kuti atipatse chakudya chathu cha tsiku limenelo. Titangopemphera, m’bale wina anaponya mbedza ndipo anawedza nsomba yaikulu yomwe inatikwanira tonse anthu 5 madzulo a tsiku limenelo.

Titayendera dera kwa zaka 5, ine ndi Ethel tinalandira madalitso ena osayembekezereka. Ethel anakhala woyembekezera. Ndinasangalala ndi nkhaniyi ngakhale kuti sindinkadziwa mmene zimenezi zikhudzire moyo wathu. Ine ndi Ethel tinkafunitsitsa titapitiriza utumiki wa nthawi zonse ngati zikanakhala zotheka. Mwana wathu Ethniël anabadwa mu 1976. Patapita zaka ziwiri ndi hafu, tinakhala ndi mwana wina wamwamuna dzina lake Giovanni.

Chifukwa cha mmene zinthu zinalili ku Suriname pa nthawiyo, ofesi ya nthambi inakonza zoti ndipitirize kutumikira monga woyang’anira dera, kwinaku tikulera ana athu. Ana athu ali aang’ono, ndinkapatsidwa madera omwe anali ndi mipingo yochepa. Zimenezi zinkachititsa kuti milungu ina pamwezi ndizikayendera dera, ndipo milungu ina yotsalayo ndinkachita upainiya mumpingo womwe tinali. Ethel ndi ana athu ankapita nane limodzi ndikamakachezera mipingo yapafupi. Koma ndikamakachezera mipingo komanso kuchititsa misonkhano m’dera lankhalango, ndinkakhala ndekha.

Ndinkafunika kuchita zinthu mwadongosolo kwambiri kuti ndikwaniritse maudindo onse omwe ndinali nawo. Ndinkaonetsetsa kuti mlungu uliwonse tikuchita phunziro la banja. Ndikapita kukachezera mipingo yakutali munkhalango, Ethel ndi amene ankachititsa phunziro la banja ndi ana athu. Komabe tinkayesetsa kuti tizichitira zinthu limodzi ngati banja. Ine ndi Ethel tinkachitanso zosangalatsa ndi ana athu, kaya kusewera magemu kapena kukangoona malo osangalatsa pafupi. Nthawi zambiri ndinkagona mochedwa chifukwa chokonzekera nkhani zoti ndikakambe. Monga mkazi wabwino wotchulidwa pa Miyambo 31:15, Ethel ankadzuka m’mawa kwambiri n’cholinga chofuna kuonetsetsa kuti tithe kuwerenga lemba la tsiku monga banja komanso  kudyera limodzi chakudya ndi ana athu asanapite kusukulu. Ndimayamikira kwambiri chifukwa chokhala ndi mkazi wodzipereka yemwe nthawi zonse wakhala akundithandiza kukwaniritsa maudindo anga.

Monga makolo, tinkayesetsa kuthandiza ana athu kuti azikonda Yehova komanso utumiki. Tinkafuna kuti iwo asankhe kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse, osati chifukwa chakuti n’zimene ifeyo tinkafuna kuti achite koma chifukwa chakuti chinali chosankha chawo. Nthawi zonse tinkawauza zinthu zosangalatsa zokhudza utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Tikamawauza mavuto omwe amakhalapo, tinkawafotokozera kwambiri mmene Yehova anatithandizira komanso kutidalitsa monga banja. Tinkaonetsetsanso kuti ana athu akuchita zinthu ndi a Mboni anzathu omwe amaona kuti kutumikira Yehova n’kofunika kwambiri pa moyo wawo.

Yehova ankatipatsa zonse zomwe tinkafunikira pamene tinkalera ana athu. Komabe inenso ndinkayesetsa kuchita mbali yanga. Zomwe ndinaphunzira pamene ndinali mpainiya wapadera ndisanakwatire, zinandithandiza kuti ndizitha kukonza bajeti ya zinthu zimene tinkafunika kugula. Koma nthawi zina ngakhale titayesetsa bwanji, sitinkapeza zinthu zonse zimene tinkafunikira. Pa nthawi ngati zimenezo, sindimakayikira kuti Yehova ankatigwira dzanja. Mwachitsanzo, kumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1980 mpaka kumayambiriro kwa zaka za m’ma 1990, anthu anaukira boma ku Suriname. M’zaka zimenezo nthawi zina zinkakhala zovuta kupeza ngakhale zinthu zofunika pa moyo. Komabe Yehova ankatithandiza.​—Mat. 6:32.

Pa moyo wathu wonse, Yehova wakhala akutisamalira komanso kutithandiza kukhala osangalala ndi okhutira. Timaona kuti ana athu ndi madalitso ochokera kwa Yehova ndipo kuwathandiza kuti azimutumikira unali mwayi wamtengo wapatali. Timasangalala kuti nawonso anasankha kuti azichita utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Onse awiri, Ethniël ndi Giovanni, analowa sukulu za gulu ndipo panopa akutumikira ku ofesi ya nthambi ku Suriname limodzi ndi akazi awo.

Ine ndi Ethel panopa ndife achikulire. Komabe timatanganidwa ndi ntchito ya Yehova pochita upainiya wapadera. Ndipotu timatanganidwa kwambiri moti sindinapezebe nthawi yoti ndiphunzire kusambira. Komabe sindimanong’oneza bondo. Ndikaganizira zomwe zachitika pa moyo wanga, ndinganene moona mtima kuti ndimaona kuti ndinachita bwino kwambiri kusankha kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse ndili wachinyamata.