Paul: Mu November 1985 tinali pa ulendo wopita ku Liberia, ku West Africa, kukachita umishonale ndipo tinasangalala kwambiri. Ndege yomwe tinakwera inaima kaye ku Senegal. Anne anati: “Tifika ku Liberia pasanathe ola limodzi.” Kenako tinangomva akulengeza kuti, “Nonse amene mukupita ku Liberia tsikani ndegeyi. Sitingathe kukafikako chifukwa anthu ena akufuna kulanda boma.” Tinakhala ndi amishonale a ku Senegal kwa masiku 10. Tinkamva nkhani kuti ku Liberia anthu ambiri akuphedwa ndipo boma linkaletsa anthu kutuluka m’nyumba zawo n’kumakayenda mumsewu madzulo. Wophwanya lamuloli ankaomberedwa.

Anne: Ine ndi mwamuna wanga timayesetsa kuchita zinthu mosamala kwambiri. Ndipo kungochokera ndili wamng’ono ndakhala ndikudziwika kuti ndine wamantha. Ndimaopa ngakhale kungowoloka msewu. Koma tinkafunitsitsa kupita ku Liberia kuti tizikatumikira.

Paul: Ine ndi Anne tinabadwira m’dera limodzi chakumadzulo kwa England. Tonse tinayamba upainiya titangomaliza sukulu kusekondale. Ine ndinalimbikitsidwa ndi makolo anga ndipo Anne analimbikitsidwa ndi mayi ake. Iwo anatilimbikitsa kuti tichite utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Ine ndinaitanidwa ku Beteli ndili ndi zaka 19. Ndipo Anne anabwera titakwatirana mu 1982.

Anne: Ine ndi Paul tinkakonda utumiki wa pa Beteli koma tinkafunitsitsa titakatumikira kumene kukufunika olalikira ambiri. Kutumikira ku Beteli ndi abale amene anachitapo umishonale kunatilimbikitsa kuti tizifuna kuchita zimenezi. Tinkaipempherera nkhaniyi usiku uliwonse kwa zaka zitatu. Choncho mu 1985 tinasangalala titaitanidwa kukachita nawo maphunziro a kalasi nambala 79 ya Sukulu ya Giliyadi. Titamaliza anatitumiza kudziko la Liberia ku West Africa.

Paul: Tinakwera ndege yoyamba imene inaloledwa kupita ku Liberia. Anthu ankachita mantha kwambiri ndipo sankaloledwa kuchoka panyumba zawo madzulo. Galimoto ina ikangochita phokoso anthu ankachita mantha, kukuwa ndiponso kuthawa. Kuti mitima yathu izikhala m’malo, usiku uliwonse tinkawerengera limodzi buku la Masalimo. Ngakhale zinali chonchi, tinkakonda kwambiri utumiki wathu. Anne  ankapita kukalalikira tsiku lililonse pomwe ineyo ndinkatumikira pa Beteli ndipo ndinkagwira ntchito limodzi ndi M’bale John Charuk. a Ndinaphunzira zambiri kwa m’baleyu chifukwa anali atakhala m’dzikoli kwa nthawi yaitali ndipo ankadziwa zimene abale ndi alongo athu ankakumana nazo.

Anne: N’chifukwa chiyani tinayamba kukonda kwambiri utumiki wathu ku Liberia? Chifukwa chakuti abale ndi alongo athu kumeneku anali achikondi, omasuka ndi anthu komanso okhulupirika. Tinayamba kuwakonda kwambiri moti anakhala anthu a m’banja lathu. Malangizo awo abwino ankatilimbikitsa kwambiri. Ntchito yolalikira inali yosangalatsa kwambiri. Eni nyumba ankakhumudwa tikachokapo mwamsanga. Anthu ankakambirana mafunso okhudza Baibulo paliponse. Zinali zosavuta kuti ungolowerera nkhani imene akukambirana. Tinali ndi maphunziro ambiri a Baibulo moti zinali zovuta kuti tiziphunzira ndi onsewo. Kunena zoona linali gawo losangalatsa kwambiri.

Paul: Tinakhala mwamtendere kwa zaka 4 koma mu 1989 nkhondo yapachiweniweni inayamba ndipo zinthu zinasintha kwambiri. Pa 2 July 1990, zigawenga zinaukira dera la pafupi ndi Beteli. Kwa miyezi itatu, sitinkatha kulankhulana ndi anthu a kunja kwa dzikoli kuphatikizapo achibale athu komanso abale a kulikulu. Kunali chisokonezo, kusowa kwa chakudya, ndipo akazi ankagwiriridwa. Mavutowa anapitirira kwa zaka 14 ndipo anakhudza dziko lonse la Liberia.

Anne: Anthu a mitundu ina ankamenyana komanso kuphana. Anthu onyamula zida komanso ovala zovala zoopsa anali paliponse m’misewu ndipo ankaba zinthu m’nyumba za anthu. Ena akamapha anthu ankangoona ngati akupha nkhuku. Anthu ena ankatseka msewu n’kumapha aliyense amene akudutsa ndipo akatero ankaunjika mitembo yawo pomwepo. Zoterezi zinachitikanso pafupi ndi ku Beteli. Akhristu ena okhulupirika anaphedwa kuphatikizapo amishonale awiri.

Abale ena ankaika moyo wawo pangozi pobisa Akhristu anzawo a mitundu imene inkasakidwa. Amishonale komanso atumiki a pa Beteli anabisanso abale ndi alongo awo ena. Ku Beteli, abale ndi alongo ena amene anathawa ankagona nyumba zapansi pomwe ena ankagona ndi ifeyo m’nyumba zathu zam’mwamba. M’chipinda chathu tinkakhala ndi banja lina la anthu 7.

Paul: Tsiku lililonse, anthu okhala ndi zida ankafuna kulowa ku Beteli kuti aone ngati tikusunga anthu ena. Panali anthu 4 amene ankalondera.  Awiri ankakhala pawindo ndipo awiri ankakhala panja pa geti. Ngati awiri amene ali panja pa geti aika manja awo kutsogolo, zinkatanthauza kuti zonse zili bwino. Koma akaika manja awo kumbuyo zinkatanthauza kuti anthuwo akwiya kwambiri. Choncho amene anali pawindo ankathamanga kukauza anzawo kuti abisale.

Anne: Patapita mawiki ambiri, gulu lina lomwe linali ndi zida linalowa ku Beteli. Ine ndi mlongo wina tinadzitsekera kubafa komwe kunali kabati yokhala ndi malo obisalamo. Mlongoyo analowa mukabatimo n’kudzipanikiza pamalo obisalawo. Anthuwo ananditsatira m’zipinda zam’mwamba atanyamula mifuti. Iwo anamenya chitseko chathu mwamphamvu. Paul anawachonderera kuti, “Mkazi wanga ali kutoileti.” Kusintha chitseko cha malo amene anabisalawo kunachititsa phokoso ndipo kusuntha zinthu zimene zinali pakabati kunachititsa kuti ndichedwe kwambiri. Choncho ndinayamba kunjenjemera thupi lonse. Ndiye kodi ndikanatsegula bwanji chitseko? Ndinapemphera chamumtima kupempha Yehova kuti andithandize. Kenako ndinatsegula chitseko n’kuwapatsa moni modekha. Munthu wina anandikankha n’kulowa kubafako kenako anayamba kusunthasuntha zinthu pakabati ija. Anadabwa kupeza kuti munalibe aliyense. Iye ndi anzakewo anayang’anayang’ana m’zipinda zina komanso kusiling’i koma sanapeze aliyense.

Paul: Kwa miyezi yambiri tinkasowa chakudya. Komabe tinkalimba chifukwa cha chakudya chauzimu. Kulambira kwa m’mawa n’kumene kunali ngati chakudya chathu cha m’mawa. Ndipo tinkapeza mphamvu chifukwa cha kuwerenga ndi kuphunzira Baibulo tsiku lililonse.

Chakudya ndi madzi zikanatheratu, mpaka kufika poti tituluke kunthambiko, anthu amene tinkawabisa akanaphedwa. Koma nthawi zambiri Yehova ankatipatsa zinthu zimene tikufunikira pa nthawi yoyenera komanso m’njira yodabwitsa. Yehova ankatisamalira ndiponso kutithandiza kuti tisamachite mantha.

Ngakhale kuti zinthu zinkaipiraipira m’dzikoli, choonadi chinkatipatsa chiyembekezo. Nthawi zambiri abale ndi alongo ankathawa kuti apulumutse miyoyo yawo koma chikhulupiriro chawo chinali cholimba ndipo ankakhala odekha. Ena ankanena kuti zomwe ankachita pa nthawi yankhondoyi zinkawakonzekeretsa zomwe adzachite pa chisautso chachikulu. Akulu komanso abale achinyamata olimba mtima ankatsogolera ndiponso kuthandiza abale ndi alongo. Abale ndi alongo akathawa m’nyumba zawo ankathandizana, kulalikira kwa anthu a m’madera amene athawirawo komanso kumanga zisakasa munkhalango kuti azisonkhanamo. Pa nthawi yovutayi, misonkhano komanso kulalikira zinkawalimbikitsa abale ndi alongo ndiponso kuwathandiza kupirira. Tikapita kukapereka chithandizo, tinkadabwa kuti abale ndi alongo akupempha zikwama zolalikirira osati zovala. Anthu ambiri amene anakumana ndi zoopsa pa nthawi ya nkhondoyi ankamvetsera uthenga wabwino. Ankadabwa kwambiri kuona abale ndi alongo akusangalala. Abalewo ankakhala ngati kuwala pa nthawi ya mdimayi.  (Mat. 5:14-16) Khama la abale ndi alongo linachititsa kuti anthu ena amene ankamenya nkhondoyi asinthe n’kukhala abale athu.

Paul: Nthawi zina tinkafunika kuchoka m’dzikolo. Mwachitsanzo, kwa maulendo atatu tinkachoka kwa kanthawi kochepa ndipo maulendo awiri tinachoka kwa chaka chonse. Mlongo wina anafotokoza bwino momwe tinkamvera pomwe anati: “Ku Giliyadi anatiphunzitsa kuti tizikonda kwambiri abale ndi alongo athu ndipo ndi zimene tinkachita. Choncho kuchoka pa nthawi imene abale athu anali pamavuto ngati amenewo kunkatipweteka kwambiri.” Koma timayamikira kuti tinkatha kuthandiza abale ndi alongo athu a ku Liberia tili m’mayiko ena apafupi.

Anne: Mu May 1996, ine ndi mwamuna wanga pamodzi ndi anthu ena awiri tinali pa galimoto ya ku ofesi ya nthambi ndipo tinanyamula mapepala a zinthu zina zofunika kwambiri. Tinkafuna kuyenda ulendo wa makilomita 16 kupita kumbali ina ya tauniyo komwe kunali kotetezeka. Koma nthawi yomweyo kunafika magulu a nkhondo. Anthu omwe anali atanyamula zida anayamba kuombera m’mwamba ndipo anatiimitsa. Ananditsitsa pamodzi ndi anthu awiri aja, n’kumapita ndi galimotoyo, Paul ali momwemo. Tinangoima pamalopo titathedwa nzeru. Mosayembekezera tinangoona Paul akudutsa gulu la anthu kubwera pomwe tinali akutuluka magazi pachipumi. Chifukwa chosokonezeka tinkaganiza kuti amuwombera. Koma kenako tinazindikira kuti akanamuwombera si bwenzi akuyenda. Mmodzi mwa anthuwo anali atamumenya pomukankha kuti atuluke m’galimoto muja. Mwamwayi linali bala laling’ono.

Chapafupi panali galimoto ya asilikali yomwe munadzaza anthu ndipo ankaoneka amantha. Koma chifukwa choti munalibe malo tinangoizendewera. Dalaivala wake ananyamuka mwaliwiro moti tinkafuna kugwa. Tinamupempha kuti aime koma ankachita mantha. Mwamwayi sitinagwe ndipo tinakafika koma tikunjenjemera komanso tikumva ululu.

Paul: Tinayang’anizana ndipo zovala zathu zinali zakuda komanso zong’ambika. Sitinkamvetsa kuti tinali tidakali ndi moyo. Tinagona panja pafupi ndi helikopita yomwe inali itawomberedwa ndi zipolopolo zambirimbiri. Ndegeyi ndi imene inatinyamula tsiku lotsatira kupita ku Sierra Leone. Tinayamikira kuti tinali ndi moyo koma tinkadera nkhawa abale ndi alongo athu.

Anne: Titafika ku Beteli mumzinda wa Freetown, ku Sierra Leone, tinali otetezeka ndipo abale anatilandira bwino. Koma kenako ndinayamba kukumbukira zinthu zoopsa zomwe zinkachitika ku Liberia. Tsiku lililonse ndinkachita mantha n’kumaona ngati choopsa chinachake chichitika ndipo ndinkalephera kuganiza bwino. Usiku ndinkadzuka ndikutuluka thukuta kwinaku ndikunjenjemera chifukwa cha mantha ndipo ndinkalephera kupuma. Paul ankandigwira n’kupemphera nane limodzi. Tikatero tinkaimba nyimbo za Ufumu mpaka nditasiya kunjenjemera. Ndinkaona ngati ndikhoza kudwala kwambiri ndipo sindingathe kupitiriza kuchita umishonale.

Sindidzaiwala zomwe zinachitika pambuyo pake. Mlungu womwewo tinalandira magazini awiri. Imodzi inali Galamukani! ya Chingelezi ya June 8, 1996. Mu Galamukani! imeneyi munali nkhani yofotokoza zimene munthu angachite ngati amavutika maganizo chifukwa cha mantha. Tsopano ndinamvetsa chifukwa chake ndinkachita mantha komanso kunjenjemera. Inayo inali Nsanja ya Olonda ya May 15, 1996, ndipo inali ndi nkhani yakuti “Kodi Nyonga Yawo Amaipeza Kuti?” M’magaziniyi munali chithunzi cha gulugufe wovulala. Nkhaniyo inafotokoza kuti mofanana ndi gulugufe amene amapitirizabe kudya komanso kuuluka ngakhale kuti mapiko ake avulazidwa, ifenso Yehova angatipatse mzimu wake kuti tipitirizebe kuthandiza ena ngakhale kuti takumana ndi zodetsa nkhawa. Chimenechi chinali chakudya chopatsa mphamvu chochokera kwa Yehova cha panthawi yoyenera. (Mat. 24:45) Kufufuza komanso kusonkhanitsa nkhani ngati zimenezi kunandithandiza kwambiri. Patapita nthawi ndinasiya kuchita mantha kapena kukhala ndi nkhawa.

Paul: Nthawi iliyonse tikabwerera kwathu ku Liberia tinkasangalala kwambiri. Kumapeto kwa 2004, tinali titakhala mu utumiki wathu kwa zaka pafupifupi 20. Nkhondo inali itatha ndipo panali patakonzedwa  kuti pa ofesi ya nthambi payambike ntchito yomanga. Koma mosayembekezereka utumiki wathu unasintha.

Zimenezi zinali zovuta kwambiri kwa ife. Tinkagwirizana kwambiri ndi abale ndi alongo omwe anali ngati banja lathu ndipo sitinkafuna kusiyana nawo. Koma tinali titaona mmene Yehova anatidalitsira pa nthawi imene tinasiya achibale athu n’kukalowa Sukulu ya Giliyadi. Choncho tinavomera utumiki watsopanowu. Anatipempha kuti tipite kudziko loyandikana nalo, ku Ghana.

Anne: Tinalira kwambiri pamene tinkachoka ku Liberia. Koma tinadabwa kwambiri pamene m’bale wina wachikulire dzina lake Frank anatiuza kuti: “Ingoiwalani za ife!” Kenako anafotokoza kuti: “Tikudziwa kuti simungatiiwale, koma muyenera kuika maganizo anu onse pa utumiki wanu watsopano. Utumikiwu wachokera kwa Yehova choncho muziganizira za abale a kumeneko.” Zimenezi zinatilimbikitsa ndipo zinatikonzekeretsa kuti tikapeze anzathu atsopano m’dziko limene ambiri sankatidziwa komanso chilichonse chinali chachilendo kwa ifeyo.

Paul: Komabe sipanatenge nthawi yaitali kuti tiyambe kukonda banja lathu latsopano ku Ghana. Kumeneku kunali a Mboni ambiri. Tinaphunzira zambiri kwa anzathu atsopanowa omwe anali okhulupirika ndipo anali ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba. Titatumikira ku Ghana kwa zaka 13 tinalandiranso utumiki wina. Tinauzidwa kuti tizikatumikira kunthambi ya ku East Africa m’dziko la Kenya. Ngakhale kuti tinkawasowa kwambiri abale ndi alongo athu a ku Ghana ndi ku Liberia, tinayamba kugwirizana kwambiri ndi abale a ku Kenya. Panopa tikutumikirabe ku Kenya komwe kukufunikanso olalikira ambiri.

Anne: Pa zaka zapitazi ndakhala ndikukumana ndi mavuto ambiri. Zinthu zoopsa komanso zodetsa nkhawa zimakhudza kwambiri thupi komanso maganizo athu. Sitingayembekezere kutetezedwa modabwitsa ku zinthu ngati zimenezi. Ndikamva kulira kwa mfuti komanso zida za nkhondo, ndimadwala m’mimba komanso manja anga amachita dzanzi. Koma ndaphunzira kudalira zinthu zonse zimene Yehova amatipatsa kuti zitilimbikitse kuphatikizapo abale ndi alongo athu. Ndipo ndaona kuti tikamapitiriza kuchita zinthu zokhudza kulambira Yehova amatithandiza kuti tipitirize kumutumikira.

Paul: Nthawi zina anthu amatifunsa kuti: “Kodi mumasangalala ndi kumene mukutumikira?” Dziko likhoza kukhala lokongola. Koma zinthu zitha kusokonekera n’kukhala loopsa. Choncho timakonda kwambiri abale ndi alongo omwe ali ngati banja lathu kuposa dziko limene tikutumikira. Ngakhale kuti timachokera kosiyana, tonsefe timakonda kwambiri Yehova. Tinkaganiza kuti atitumiza kuti tikawalimbikitse koma zoona zake n’zakuti iwowo ndi amene atilimbikitsa.

Kulikonse kumene tingapite timaona ubale wathu wapadziko lonse womwe ndi wodabwitsa. Tikapitiriza kukhala mumpingo timapeza achibale komanso nyumba. Sitikukayikira kuti tikapitiriza kudalira Yehova adzapitiriza kutipatsa mphamvu kuti tipirire, kaya tikumane ndi zotani.​—Afil. 4:13.