Ndinabadwa mu 1954, ku St. Paul mumzinda wa Minnesota ku U.S.A. Banja lathu linali la Katolika ndipo silinali lolemera komanso silinali losauka. M’banja mwathu tinabadwa ana 5 ndipo ndine wachiwiri. Ndili mwana, ndinkaphunzira sukulu ya Katolika ndipo ndinkathandiza wansembe tikamachita miyambo ya tchalitchi. Komabe sindinkadziwa zambiri zokhudza Baibulo. Ngakhale ndinkakhulupirira kuti kuli Mulungu amene analenga zinthu zonse, ndinali nditasiya kukhulupirira kuti tchalitchi changa chingandithandize.

M’chaka choyamba, ndili kusukulu yophunzitsa za malamulo ya William Mitchell, a Mboni za Yehova anabwera kwathu. Pa nthawiyi ndinali ndikuchapa, choncho banjalo linalonjeza kuti lidzabweranso. Atabweranso ndinawafunsa mafunso awiri awa: “N’chifukwa chiyani anthu oipa zinthu zimawayendera kwambiri kuposa anthu abwino?” ndiponso “N’chiyani chimene munthu angachite kuti akhaledi wosangalala?” Anandipatsa buku lakuti Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya komanso Baibulo la Dziko Latsopano  la Malemba Opatulika lomwe linali lokongola kwambiri, lachikuto chagirini. Ndipo ndinavomera kuti azindiphunzitsa Baibulo. Kuphunzira Baibulo kunanditsegula maso. Ndinasangalala kudziwa kuti Ufumu wa Mulungu ndi boma limene lidzalamulire dziko lapansi. Ndinaona kuti maboma a anthu alephera kuthetsa mavuto ndipo zimenezi zachititsa kuti m’dzikoli mudzaze mavuto komanso zinthu zopanda chilungamo.

Ndinadzipereka kwa Yehova kumayambiriro kwa chaka cha 1982 ndipo ndinabatizidwa chaka chomwecho pamsonkhano wachigawo wakuti “Choonadi cha Ufumu” womwe unachitikira muholo ina yaikulu mumzinda wa St. Paul. Mlungu wotsatira ndinapitanso kuholoyi kukalemba mayeso a ntchito ya uloya. Chakumayambiriro kwa mwezi wa October ndinadziwitsidwa kuti ndakhoza mayeso ndipo tsopano ndine loya.

Pamsonkhano wachigawo uja ndinakumana ndi M’bale Mike Richardson, yemwe ankatumikira ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn. M’baleyu anandiuza kuti kulikulu kwakhazikitsidwa ofesi yoona za malamulo. Ndinakumbukira mawu omwe nduna ya ku Itiyopiya inanena opezeka pa Machitidwe 8:36. Ndipo ndinadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi chikundiletsa n’chiyani kuti ndisakatumikire mu ofesi yoona zamalamuloyi?’ Choncho ndinafunsira utumiki wa pa Beteli.

Makolo anga sanasangalale nditawauza kuti tsopano ndine wa Mboni za Yehova. Bambo anga anandifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi kugwira ntchito ku Beteli kungakuthandize chiyani?’ Ndinawafotokozera kuti ndikufuna ndizikagwira ntchito yongodzipereka. Ndinawauza kuti ndizikalandira kandalama kochepa komwenso anthu ena amene amatumikira pa Beteli amalandira.

Popeza ndinkafunika ndigwire kaye ntchito kukhoti lina, ndinayamba utumiki wanga wa pa Beteli ku Brooklyn mumzinda wa New York mu 1984. Ndinauzidwa kuti ndizitumikira mu ofesi yoona za malamulo. Luso limene ndinapeza pogwira ntchito kukhoti kuja linandithandiza kwambiri nditayamba utumikiwu.

Mu November 1983, gulu linagula holo ya Stanley Theater yomwe ili mu Jersey City, ku New Jersey. Abale anapempha chilolezo kuboma kuti akonzenso magetsi komanso mapaipi amadzi. Atakumana ndi akuluakulu a boma, abalewo anafotokoza kuti akufuna azichitiramo misonkhano ya Mboni za Yehova. Koma zimenezi zinabweretsa vuto lina. Malamulo a m’tawuniyi, amanena kuti nyumba zolambirira ziyenera kumangidwa kumalo kumene kuli nyumba zokhala anthu. Ndiye popeza holoyi inali m’dera la zamalonda, akuluakulu  a boma anakana kupereka chilolezo. Ndiyeno abale anachita apilo koma apiloyo inakanidwa.

Mlungu womwe ndinayamba kutumikira pa Beteli, abale anakasuma nkhaniyi kukhoti. Popeza ndinali nditagwira ntchito kukhoti lofanana ndi limeneli kwa zaka ziwiri ku St. Paul ku Minnesota, ndinkadziwa bwino nkhani zimenezi. Loya wathu wina ananena kuti holo ya Stanley Theater inkagwiritsidwa ntchito pa zinthu zosiyanasiyana ngati kuchitiramo misonkhano, kuonetseramo mavidiyo komanso kuimbiramo nyimbo. Ndiyeno n’chifukwa chiyani zinali zosaloleka kuti tizichitiramo misonkhano yathu? Khoti linagamula kuti akuluakulu a boma anaphwanya ufulu wathu wachipembedzo. Choncho analamula akuluakuluwo kuti atipatse chilolezo. Apa ndinaona mmene Yehova anathandizira gulu lake pogwiritsa ntchito khoti kuti ntchito yake izipitabe patsogolo. Ndinasangalala kwambiri kuti ndinathandiza nawo kuti zimenezi zitheke.

Abale anayamba ntchito yaikulu yokonzanso holoyi moti mwambo wa kalasi ya nambala 79 ya Giliyadi unachitikira mmenemu pa 8 September 1985. Pa nthawiyi n’kuti chaka chisanathe kuchokera pamene tinayamba kukonza holoyi. Ndinasangalala kwambiri kuthandiza nawo pa ntchito ya Yehova kuposa momwe zinalili mmene ndinkagwira ntchito ngati loya kukhoti. Sindinkadziwa kuti Yehova ankafuna kudzandigwiritsira ntchito kwambiri m’tsogolo.

M’zaka za m’ma 1980, zipatala komanso madokotala sankalemekeza zosankha za a Mboni zoti asaikidwe magazi. Oweruza ankaona kuti makamaka azimayi apakati sankayenera kukana kulandira magazi. Iwo ankati azimayiwo akapanda kulandira magazi akhoza kumwalira ndipo mwana wobadwayo adzakhala wamasiye.

Pa 29 December 1988, Mlongo Denise Nicoleau anataya magazi ambiri pamene ankabereka mwana wake wamwamuna. Magazi ake anali ochepa kwambiri moti dokotala anamuuza kuti akufunika apatsidwe magazi koma iye anakana. Tsiku lotsatira madokotala anakapempha woweruza milandu kuti awapatse chilolezo choti akamupatse mlongoyo magazi. Woweruzayo sanapereke mwayi kwa Mlongo Nicoleau komanso mwamuna wake kuti afotokoze maganizo awo ndipo sanawauzenso kuti anapereka chilolezo choti mlongoyo apatsidwe magazi.

Lachisanu pa 30 December, madokotala anamupatsadi mlongoyu magazi ngakhale kuti iyeyo, mwamuna wake komanso achibale ake omwe anali kuchipatalako ankakana. Madzulo a tsiku limenelo, achibale angapo komanso akulu ena anamangidwa chifukwa choti anatchingira madokotala kuti asamupatse magazi mlongoyu. Loweruka m’mawa, pa 31 December, manyuzipepala, ma TV  komanso mawailesi a mu New York City, analengeza za kumangidwa kwa abalewa.

Tinachita apilo ndipo Lolemba m’mawa ndinalankhulana ndi woweruza wa khoti lalikulu dzina lake Milton Mollen. Ndinamufotokozera mmene nkhani yonse inayendera, ndinamuuza kuti woweruza yemwe anapereka chilolezo uja sanapereke mwayi kwa eniakewo kuti afotokoze maganizo awo. A Mollen anandiuza kuti ndipite ku ofesi kwawo madzulo kuti tikakambirane nkhaniyi komanso malamulo ogwirizana ndi nkhaniyi. Madzulowo ndinapita ku ofesi ya woweruzayo limodzi ndi m’bale Philip Brumley, yemwe anali woyang’anira ofesi yoona za malamulo. Woweruzayu anaitananso loya wachipatala chija kuti akhalepo. Nkhaniyi inafika povuta mpaka nthawi ina tidakali mu ofesimo, M’bale Brumley anandilembera mawu akuti “usapse mtima.” Amenewa anali malangizo abwino chifukwa ndinali nditayamba kulankhula mokwiya kwambiri poyankha zimene loya wachipatala uja ankanena.

Titakambirana pafupifupi kwa ola limodzi, a Mollen ananena kuti nkhaniyi idzakhala yoyambirira kukambidwa m’khoti tsiku lotsatira. Pamene tinkatuluka mu ofesimu a Mollen anauza loya wachipatala uja kuti akakhala ndi chintchito chachikulu kukhoti. Izi zinkatanthauza kuti loyayu akavutika kwambiri kusonyeza kuti chipatalacho sichinalakwitse pokakamiza Mlongo Nicoleau kuti apatsidwe magazi. Ndinkatha kuona kuti Yehova akundilimbitsa mtima kuti mlanduwu uyenda bwino. Ndimaona kuti ndi mwayi kuti Yehova anatigwiritsa ntchito pokwaniritsa cholinga chake.

Tinagwira ntchito mpaka usiku pokonzekera zoti tikanene kukhoti tsiku lotsatira. Khotili linali pafupi ndi Beteli ya ku Brooklyn choncho ambiri mwa abale a mu ofesi yoona za malamulo anapita kukhotiko. Oweruza 4 omwe ankamvetsera mlanduwu anagamula kuti woweruza amene anapereka chilolezo uja analakwitsa. Choncho khoti lalikulu linaweruza mlanduwu mokomera Mlongo Nicoleau. Linanena kuti ndi kuphwanya malamulo kupereka chilolezo choti munthu apatsidwe magazi popanda kumva maganizo ake.

Kenako, nalonso khoti lalikulu kwambiri la ku New York linagwirizana ndi chigamulochi kuti Mlongo Nicoleau anali ndi ufulu wothandizidwa popanda kumupatsa magazi. Mlanduwu unali umodzi mwa milandu 4 yokhudza magazi yomwe inaweruzidwa motikomera ndi makhoti aakulu kwambiri a  ku United States, ndipo ndinachita mwayi kuthandiza nawo pa milanduyi. (Onani bokosi lakuti “Milandu Yomwe Tinawina Kumakhoti Aakulu Kwambiri.”) Ndinagwiranso ntchito limodzi ndi maloya ena aku Beteli pa nkhani zokhudza kholo limene liyenera kulera ana banja likatha, kutha kwa banja, komanso malamulo okhudza malo ndi nyumba.

Pamene ndinkakumana ndi Dawn, n’kuti banja lake litatha ndipo ankalera yekha ana ake atatu. Mlongoyu ankagwira ntchito komanso ankachita upainiya. Pa moyo wake ankakumana ndi mavuto ambiri ndipo ndinachita chidwi ndi khama lake potumikira Yehova. Mu 1992, ndinakumana ndi Dawn kumsonkhano wachigawo wa mutu wakuti, “Wonyamula Kuwala” womwe unachitikira ku New York City. Ndipo ndinamufunsira kuti tikhale pachibwenzi. Chaka chotsatira, tinakwatirana. Ndimaona kuti ndi Yehova amene anandipatsa mkazi wabwinoyu, wokonda kuseka komanso wokonda zinthu zauzimu. Dawn wandithandiza kwambiri pa nthawi yonse imene takhalira limodzi.​—Miy. 31:12.

Pamene tinkakwatirana ana atatu aja n’kuti wina ali ndi zaka 16, wina 13, winanso 11. Ndinkafunitsitsa kukhala bambo wabwino choncho ndinkakonda kuwerenga komanso kutsatira malangizo opezeka m’mabuku athu onena za mmene munthu angalere bwino ana owapeza. N’zoona kuti tinakumana ndi mavuto ena, koma ndimasangalala kuti m’kupita kwa nthawi anawo anayamba kundidalira komanso kumandiona kuti ndine bambo wawo. Tinkalola kuti anzawo a ana athu azibwera kudzacheza kunyumba kwathu ndipo tinkasangalala nawo.

Mu 2013, ine ndi Dawn tinasamukira ku Wisconsin kuti tizikasamalira makolo athu okalamba. Sindinkayembekezera kuti pa nthawiyi ndingapitirizebe kumachita utumiki wa pa Beteli. Abale anandiuza kuti ndikhoza kumathandizabe pa nkhani za malamulo.

Mu September 2018, ndinazindikira kuti pakhosi panga panali vuto. Dokotala anandiyeza koma sanapeze chimene chinkachititsa vutoli. Kenako dokotala wina anandiuza kuti ndikaonane ndi dokotala woona za ubongo. Mu January 2019, dokotalayo anandiuza kuti n’kutheka ndili ndi matenda oopsa omwe akhoza kukhudza thupi langa lonse.

Patadutsa masiku atatu, ndinapita kukachita masewera omwe ndinkawakonda kwambiri ndipo ndinagwa n’kuthyoka mkono. Apa m’pamene ndinazindikira kuti thupi langa layamba kusiya kugwira ntchito bwinobwino. Ndinadabwa kuti matendawa anakula mwamsanga kwambiri, moti m’kanthawi kochepa ndinayamba kulephera kulankhula, kuyenda komanso kumeza zinthu.

Ndimasangalala kuti ndakhala ndikuthandiza gulu la Yehova pogwira ntchito monga loya. Ndimasangalalanso kuti ndinalemba nkhani zambiri m’magazini zomwe zimawerengedwa ndi madokotala, maloya komanso oweruza milandu. Ndakhalanso ndi mwayi woyenda m’mayiko osiyanasiyana kukathandiza anthu kudziwa zoti a Mboni za Yehova ali ndi ufulu wopangidwa opaleshoni komanso kulandira thandizo lamankhwala popanda kuikidwa magazi. Komabe, mogwirizana ndi zimene Baibulo limanena pa Luka 17:10, ndimaonabe kuti ‘ndine kapolo wopanda pake. Ndangochita zimene ndinayenera kuchita.’