Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Kusafuna Zambiri M’moyo Potumikira Yehova

YOSIMBIDWA NDI CLARA GERBER MOYER

Ndili ndi zaka 92 zakubadwa ndipo kuyenda n’kondivuta zedi, koma mphamvu zanga za kuganiza ndi kukumbukira n’dakalinazobe. Ndinetu woyamikira kwabasi pakuti ndakhala ndi mwayi wotumikira Yehova kuyambira ubwana wanga! Kukhala ndi moyo wosafuna zambiri, moyo wopepuka kwathandiza kwambiri kuti zimenezo zitheke.

NDINABADWA pa August 18, 1907, mu Alliance, Ohio, m’dziko la United States, ndipo ndine woyamba kubadwa mwa ana asanu. Pamene ndinali ndi zaka zisanu ndi zitatu, mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse wa Ophunzira Baibulo, monga momwe Mboni za Yehova zinkadziŵikira panthaŵiyo, anapalasa njinga n’kudzafika ku famu yathu ya ng’ombe za mkaka. Anakumana ndi mayi anga a Laura Gerber pakhomo ndi kuwafunsa ngati akudziŵa chifukwa chake kuipa kwaloledwa. Nthaŵi zonse amayi ankasinkhasinkha za nkhani imeneyi.

Atakambirana ndi atate, omwe panthaŵiyo anali m’nyumba yosungiramo zipangizo za pafamupo, amayiwo anawombola mavoliyumu asanu ndi imodzi a buku la Studies in the Scriptures. Amayi anawaŵerenga kwambiri mabuku ameneŵa ndipo anakhudzidwa mtima kwabasi ndi choonadi cha Baibulo chomwe ankaphunzira. Anaphunzira Voliyumu 6, lakuti The New Creation (Chilengedwe Chatsopano), mwakuti anamvetsa bwino lomwe kufunika kwa ubatizo wachikristu womiza m’madzi. Posadziŵa momwe akanapezera Ophunzira Baibulo, amayiwo anapempha atate kuti awabatize m’kakhwawa kena m’mphepete mwa famuyo, ngakhale kuti umenewo unali mwezi wozizira wa March 1916.

Posapita nthaŵi chichitikire zimenezo, amayi anaona chilengezo m’nyuzipepala chakuti nkhani idzakambidwa m’holo ina yotchedwa Daughters of Veterans mu Alliance. Nkhaniyo inali ndi mutu wakuti “Zomwe Mulungu Amafuna Atachita Kuyambira Kale Lomwe.” Anachitapo kanthu nthaŵi yomweyo, popeza kuti Voliyumu 1 ya Studies in the Scriptures inalinso  ndi nkhani ya mutu wofananawo. Tinakonzekera ulendo, ndipo banja lonse linakwera kavalo ndi ngolo paulendo wopita ku msonkhano wathu woyamba. Kuchokera nthaŵiyo kunkabe m’tsogolo, tinkapita m’misonkhano yomwe inkachitikira m’nyumba za abale Lamlungu ndi Lachitatu madzulo. Posapita nthaŵi, amayi anabatizidwanso ndi woimira mpingo wachikristu. Pang’ono ndi pang’ono, atate omwe nthaŵi zonse amakhala wotanganidwa ndi ntchito ya pafamu, anayamba kuchita chidwi ndi phunziro la Baibulo, chotero anabatizidwa patangopita zaka zoŵerengeka.

Kukumana ndi Atsogoleri

Pa June 10, 1917, J. F. Rutherford, yemwe panthaŵiyo anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, anadzacheza ku Alliance kuti adzakambe nkhani yamutu wakuti “N’chifukwa Chiyani Mitundu Imamenya Nkhondo?” Ine n’kuti ndili ndi zaka zisanu ndi zinayi ndipo kumsonkhanowo ndinapita ndi makolo anga limodzi ndi abale anga aŵiri, Willie ndi Charles. Kunasonkhana anthu oposa 100. Mbale Rutherford atatsiriza kukamba nkhani yake, ambiri mwa omwe anadzamvera nkhaniyo anajambulitsa chithunzi kunja kwa holo ya Columbia Theater, imene anakambiramo nkhani yakeyo. Mlungu wotsatira, A. H. Macmillan anakambanso nkhani pamalo omwewo yakuti “Ufumu wa Mulungu Ulimkudzawo.” Linali dalitso kwa ife kuti abale ameneŵa anadzacheza ku katauni kathu kakang’onoko.

Misonkhano Yachigawo Yoyambirira Yosaiŵalika

Msonkhano woyambirira womwe ndidamvetsera unachitika m’chaka cha 1918 pa Atwater, ku Ohio, makilomita oŵerengeka kuchokera ku Alliance. Kumeneko amayi anafunsa woimira Sosaite ngati ineyo ndinali wamsinkhu woyenerera kubatizidwa. Ndinkadzimva kuti ndinadzipatulira kwa Mulungu kuchokera pansi pa mtima kuti ndichite chifuno chake, chotero analola kuti ndibatizidwe tsiku lomwelo m’kakhwawa kena komwe kanali pafupi ndi munda waukulu wazipatso za ma apulo. Ndinakasintha zovala m’hema lina lomwe abale adamanga kuti ligwiritsidwe ntchito imeneyo ndipo ndinabatizidwa nditavala mwinjiro wakale, wolemera wovala pogona.

Mu September chaka cha 1919, ine ndi makolo anga tinakwera sitima paulendo wopita ku Sundusky, Ohio, m’mbali mwa nyanja ya Erie. Kumeneko tinakwera bwato, ndipo posakhalitsa tinafika ku Cedar Point, komwe anakonza kuti kuchitikire msonkhano wathu wosaiŵalika. Titangotsika bwatolo, tinaona thebulo lina laling’ono la chakudya chamasana padoko pomwepo. Ndinatengako nyama yogayagaya ataiika pakati pa buledi, imene kwa ine m’masiku amenewo inali chinthu chosapezekapezeka. Inali yokoma kwabasi! Chiŵerengero chapamwamba cha opezeka pa msonkhano wathu wachigawo wa masiku asanu ndi atatu umenewo chinafika 7,000. Kunalibe zokuzira mawu, chotero ndinafunikira kumvetsera mosamalitsa.

Pamsonkhano umenewu panatulutsidwa magazini anzake a Nsanja ya Olonda, otchedwa The Golden Age (omwe tsopano ndi Galamukani!) Sindinapite kusukulu kwa mlungu wonse woyambirira, n’cholinga chakuti ndikapezeke pamsonkhano umenewu, komatu kunalidi koyenerera kutero. Cedar Point adali malo osangalalira patchuthi, ndipo kunali malo odyera anthu onse komwe ophika kumeneku amakonzera chakudya anthu osonkhana. Koma pazifukwa zina, ophika chakudya ndi operekera chakudyacho ananyanyala ntchito, chotero abale achikristu omwe anali odziŵa bwino kuphika chakudya anadzipereka ndipo anakonzera chakudya anthu onse omwe anafika pa msonkhanowo. Kwa zaka zambiri chichitikire zimenezo, anthu a Yehova amakonza okha chakudya chawo pa misonkhano ikuluikulu.

Tinalinso ndi mwayi wobwerera ku Cedar Point mu September 1922 kukakhala nawo pa msonkhano wachigawo wamasiku asanu ndi anayi kumene chiŵerengero chapamwamba cha osonkhana chinaposa 18,000. N’kumeneku komwe Mbale Rutherford anatilimbikitsa kuti “lengezani, lengezani, lengezani, Mfumu ndi ufumu wake.” Komabe, ndinali nditayamba kale utumiki wanga mwa kufalitsa mathirakiti komanso magazini a The Golden Age zaka zambiri m’mbuyomu.

Kuyamikira Utumiki

Kumayambiriro kwa chaka cha 1918, ndinagaŵira nawo thirakiti lakuti Kugwa kwa Babulo ku mafamu ena oyandikana nawo. Chifukwa cha kuzizira, tinkawotcha mwala winawake pambaula kunyumbako ndipo tinkayenda nawo m’ngolo kuti tizimva kutentha kumapazi kwathu. Tinavala makhothi olemera ndi zipewa, popeza kuti ngoloyo inali ndi denga lokha ndipo m’mbali munali makatani koma munalibe chochititsa kuti muzitentha. Komatu imeneyo inali nthaŵi yosangalatsa.

M’chaka cha 1920 buku la The Finished Mystery, koma lokonzedwa mwapadera lotchedwa ZG, analipanga  monga momwe magazini imakhalira. * Ine ndi makolo anga tinapita kuulaliki mu Alliance momwemo ndi chofalitsa chimenechi. M’masiku amenewo aliyense ankapita yekha kukhomo ndi khomo, choncho ine mwamantha ndinakwera pakhonde pomwe anthu ambirimbiri anali atakhala pansi. Nditatsiriza kulankhula nawo, mkazi wina anati: “Wakamba kankhani kabwino kwabasi,” ndipo analandira bukulo. Ndinawomboletsa mabuku a ZG okwana 13 tsiku limenelo, nthaŵi yanga yoyamba kulankhula ndi anthu kwa nthaŵi yaitali kunyumba ndi nyumba.

Pamene ndinali m’kalasi la giredi 9, amayi anagwidwa ndi chibayo kotero kuti anakhala ali chigonere kuposa mwezi umodzi. Mchemwali wanga wamng’ono kwambiri, Hazel, anali akali khanda, chotero ine ndinasiya sukulu kuti ndithandize pa ntchito ya pafamu ndi kusamala ana. Komabe, banja lathu linaona choonadi cha Baibulo kukhala chofunika kwambiri ndipo tinkapita m’misonkhano yonse ya mpingo mokhazikika.

Onse amene anafika pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Kristu m’chaka cha 1928, analandira thirakiti lakuti “Where Are the Nine?” (Ali kuti Asanu ndi Anayi?) Linali kukamba za Luka 17:11-19, pamene Baibulo limanena kuti mmodzi yekha mwa akhate khumi okonzedwawo ndiye amene anadzathokoza Yesu modzichepetsa chifukwa cha machiritso ozizwitsawo. Zimenezo zinandikhudza mtima. Ndinadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi ndimayamikira motani?’

Popeza kuti tsopano zinthu zinali kuyenda bwino panyumbapo, ndikuti ine ndinali wanyonga ndi womasuka, ndinaganiza zochoka panyumba ndi kuyamba utumiki wa upainiya, monga momwe utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse timautchulira. Makolo anga anandilimbikitsa kuchita zimenezo. Choncho mnzanga Agnes Aleta, ndi ineyo anatiuza kumene tidzapita, ndipo pa August 28, 1928, tinakwera sitima ya 9:00 p.m. Aliyense wa ife anali ndi sutikesi imodzi komanso kachikwama kakang’ono konyamulira mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo. Tili pamalo odikira sitima, abale anga ndi makolo anga analira ndipo ifenso tinalira. Tinaganiza kuti mwinamwake sindidzawaonanso, chifukwa chakuti tinkakhulupirira kuti Armagedo inali pafupi. Mmaŵa wotsatira, tinafika kumalo athu ochitirako utumiki ku Brooksville, Kentucky.

Tinapanga lendi chipinda chaching’ono panyumba ina yogona alendo ndipo tinagula zitini za chakudya chotchedwa spaghetti ndi kupanga masangweji. Tsiku lililonse tinkalowera mbali zosiyanasiyana, aliyense ankagwira ntchito yekha ndi kugaŵira mabuku asanu kwa eni nyumba pa chopereka cha $1.98. Pang’ono ndi pang’ono tinalalikira m’tauni yonseyo, ndipo tinakumana ndi anthu ambiri omwe anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi Baibulo.

M’miyezi pafupifupi itatu, tinali titafikira aliyense mu Brooksville ndi malo ozungulira mzindawo komanso m’tauni ya Augusta. Choncho tinapitirizabe kumakalalikira m’matauni a Maysville, Paris, ndi Richmond. Mkati mwa zaka zitatu zotsatira, tinayenda m’zigawo zambiri mu Kentucky kumene kunalibe mipingo. Kaŵirikaŵiri tinali kuthandizidwa ndi mabwenzi ndi am’banja lathu omwe ankabwera mmodzimmodzi pagalimoto kuchokera ku Ohio kudzachita nafe utumiki kwa mlungu kapena kuposapo.

Misonkhano Ina Yosaiŵalika

Msonkhano womwe unachitikira ku Columbus, Ohio, pa July 24-30, 1931 unalidi wosaiŵalika. Kumeneku n’komwe analengeza kuti tizidziŵika ndi dzina la m’Baibulo lakuti Mboni za Yehova. (Yesaya 43:12) Dzinali lisanaperekedwe, anthu akatifunsa chipembedzo chomwe tinali, tinkati “Ophunzira Baibulo Apadziko Lonse.” Komatu limenelo silinali kutisiyanitsa kwenikweni, chifukwa chakuti panali ophunzira Baibulo ogwirizana ndi magulu ena osiyanasiyana a zipembedzo.

Mnzanga Agnes anali atakwatiwa, ndipo ine ndinatsala ndekha; chotero ndinali wosangalala zedi pamene chilengezo chinaperekedwa chakuti omwe akufuna munthu woti azichita naye upainiya akapezeke pamalo akutiakuti. Kumeneko ndinakakumana ndi Bertha ndi Elsie Garty ndi Bessie Ensminger. Iwo anali ndi magalimoto aŵiri ndipo ankafuna mlongo yemwe ndi mpainiya kuti azigwira nawo ntchito limodzi. Tinachoka pamsonkhanopo tili limodzi, ngakhale kuti tinali tisanakumanepo chiyambire.

M’chilimwe tinagwira ntchito mu mzinda wonse wa Pennsylvania. Kenako pamene dzinja linali kuyandikira, tinapempha kuti atitumize kumadera otentha cha kumwera ku North Carolina, Virginia, ndi Maryland. M’ngululu tinabwerera kumpoto. Zimenezi n’zomwe apainiya anazoloŵera kuchita panthaŵiyo. M’chaka cha 1934, John Booth ndi Rudolph Abbuhl, omwe anatsatiranso chizoloŵezi chomwechi, anatenga Ralph Moyer ndi mng’ono wake Willard, n’kupita nawo kumzinda wa Hazard, ku Kentucky.

 Ndinali nditakumana ndi Ralph nthaŵi zingapo, ndipo tinadziŵana bwino lomwe pamsonkhano waukulu ku Washington, D.C., womwe unachitika pa May 30-June 3, chaka cha 1935. Ralph ndi ineyo tinakhala limodzi pakhonde pamene nkhani yonena za “gulu lalikulu” kapena kuti “khamu lalikulu” inali kukambidwa. (Chivumbulutso 7:9-14) Kudzafika m’nthaŵiyo tinkakhulupirira kuti akhamu lalikulu anali opita kumwamba omwe anali okhulupirika pang’ono powayerekezera ndi a 144,000. (Chivumbulutso 14:1-3) Choncho sindinafune kukhala mmodzi wa amenewo!

Ambiri anazizwa pamene mbale Rutherford analongosola kuti khamu lalikulu linali gulu la padziko la anthu okhulupirika omwe adzapulumuka Armagedo. Kenako anapempha onse a khamu lalikulu kuimirira. Ine sindinaime, koma Ralph anaimirira. Patapita nthaŵi, ndinayamba kumvetsa bwino zinthu, choncho chaka cha 1935 chinali chotsiriza kwa ine kudya mkate ndi kumwa vinyo zophiphiritsira pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Kristu. Koma, amayi anapitirizabe kumadya kufikira imfa yawo mu November 1957.

Mnzanga Wanthaŵi Zonse

Ralph ndi ine tinapitirizabe kulemberana makalata. Ine ndinkatumikira ku Lake Placid, mu New York, ndipo iyeyo anali ku Pennsylvania. M’chaka cha 1936 anapanga kalavani yaing’ono yoti adzikoka ndi galimoto yake. Anayenda nayo kuchokera ku Pottstown, Pennsylvania, ndi kukafika ku Newark, ku New Jersey kumsonkhano womwe unachitikira kumeneko pa October 16-18. Pulogalamu itatha usiku wina, ambiri mwa apainiyafe tinapita kukaona kalavani ya Ralph yatsopanoyo. Iyeyo ndi ine tinali titaima pambali pa sinki mu kalavani momwemo pamene anandifunsa kuti “Kodi kalavaniyi yakusangalatsa?”

Nditavomera ndi mutu, anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi ukufuna utamakhala mmenemu?”

“Inde,” ndinatero poyankha, ndipo anandipsopsona mwachikondi mwakuti sindidzaiwala. Patapita masiku angapo, tinakalembetsa mtchato. Pa October 19, patangopita tsiku limodzi msonkhano utatha, tinapita ku Brooklyn ndipo tinakaona makina osindikizira a Watch Tower Society. Kenako tinapempha kuti atipatse dera komwe tizikatumikira. Grant Suiter ndiye amene anali woyang’anira dera ndipo anafuna kudziŵa yemwe adzatumikira m’deralo. Ralph anati, “Tidzatero ngati titakwatirana.”

“Mutabweranso 5:00 p.m., tingalinganize zimenezo,” Mbale Suiter anayankha motero. Ndiyeno usiku umenewo tinamangitsa ukwati wathu m’nyumba ya Mboni ina ku Brooklyn Heights. Tinadya ndi abwenzi ena pamalo odyera akomweko ndipo kenako tinakwera matola kupita ku Newark, New Jersey kumene kunali kalavani ya Ralph.

Mosakhalitsa, tinauyamba ulendo wopita ku Heathsville, Virginia, kumalo athu oyambirira kuchitirako upainiya tili limodzi. Tinachita upainiya m’dera la Northumberland ndipo kenako tinachokako n’kupita m’madera a Fulton ndi Franklin mu Pennsylvania. M’chaka cha 1939, Ralph anaitanidwa kukagwira ntchito yoyendera mipingo, ntchito yomwe inafunikira kuti tizichezera mipingo ingapo mobwerezabwereza. Tinkatumikira mipingo ya m’chigawo cha Tennessee. Chaka chotsatira mwana wathu wamwanuna Allen, anabadwa, ndipo mu 1941 tinaleka ntchito yoyendera mipingo. Zitatero anatitumiza ku Marion, Virginia, kukatumikira monga apainiya apadera. M’masiku amenewo, kukhala mpainiya wapadera kunatanthauza kulalikira kwa maola 200 pamwezi.

 Kusintha

M’chaka cha 1943, ndinaona kuti kunali koyenera kuti ndisiye utumiki wa upainiya wapadera. Kukhala m’kalavani yaing’ono, kusamalira mwana wakhanda, kukonza chakudya, kuchapa zovala, ndi kuthera maola pafupifupi 60 mwezi uliwonse muutumiki zinali zokhazo zomwe ndikanatha kuchita. Koma Ralph anapitirizabe kuchita upainiya wapadera.

Tinabwerera ku Alliance, Ohio m’chaka cha 1945, tinagulitsa kalavani ija yomwe inali nyumba yathu kwa zaka zisanu ndi zinayi, ndiyeno tinasamukira m’nyumba ya pafamu kukakhala limodzi ndi makolo anga. Kunali kumeneku, pakhonde lakutsogolo pomwe mwana wathu wamkazi, Rebekah anabadwira. Ralph anayamba ganyu m’tauni ndipo anapitiriza monga mpainiya wokhazikika. Ine ndinkagwira ntchito pafamuyo ndi kuchita zomwe ndikanatha kumuthandiza kuti apitirizebe kuchita upainiya. Ngakhale kuti makolo anga anatipatsa malo ndi nyumba zaulere, Ralph anakana. Anafuna kukhala wosalemetsedwa kotero kuti tikhoze kulondola zinthu za Ufumu mokwanira.

M’chaka cha 1950 tinasamukira ku Pottstown, Pennsylvania, ndi kukachita lendi nyumba ya $25 pa mwezi. Pa zaka 30 zomwe tinakhala palendipo, mtengo wolipirira nyumbayo unakwera kungofika pa $75 yokha basi. Tinadziŵa kuti Yehova anali kutithandiza kuti tikhale m’moyo wosafuna zambiri. (Mateyu 6:31-33) Ralph ankagwira ntchito yometa masiku atatu pa mlungu. Mlungu uliwonse tinkaphunzira Baibulo limodzi ndi ana athu aŵiriwo, tinkapita ku misonkhano yampingo, ndiponso timalalika uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu monga banja. Ralph anatumikira monga woyang’anira wotsogolera wa mpingo wa komweko. Mwa kusafuna zambiri m’moyo, tinali okhoza kuchita zochuluka muutumiki wa Yehova.

Kutayikidwa Wokondedwa Wanga

Pa May 17, 1981, tinali chikhalire m’Nyumba ya Ufumu, kumvetsera nkhani yapoyera. Ralph anadwala, ndipo anapita kumbuyo m’nyumbayo, ndiyeno kunabwera kalinde kudzandipatsa kakalata komwe analembapo kuti akupita kunyumba. Ralph sanayambe wachitapo zimenezo chotero ndinapempha winawake kuti anditengere kunyumba pagalimoto mwamsanga. Ralph anamwalira ndi sitiroko yamphamvu pasanathe ndi ola lomwe. Pamene phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda limatha m’maŵa umenewo, analengeza kumpingo kuti wamwalira.

Mwezi umenewo Ralph anali atathera kale maola oposa 50 muutumiki. Anachita utumiki wake wanthaŵi zonse monga mpainiya kwa zaka zoposa 46. Anali atachititsa maphunziro a Baibulo ndi anthu oposa 100 omwe pambuyo pake anadzakhala Mboni za Yehova zobatizidwa. Madalitso auzimu omwe tinalandira analidi oyenerera kudzimana komwe tinakuchita m’zaka zonsezo.

Ndikuyamikira Mwayi wa Mautumiki Anga

Kwa zaka zonse 18 zapitazi, ndakhala ndekha, ndimapita ku misonkhano, kulalikira ngati ndinali wokhoza kutero, ndiponso kuphunzira Mawu a Mulungu. Tsopano ndikukhala m’nyumba zokhalamo anthu okalamba omwe anapuma pantchito. Katundu yemwe ndili naye ndi mipando yoŵerengeka chabe ndipo ndinasankha kusakhala ndi wailesi yakanema. Komabe moyo wanga n’ngwokhutira ndi wolemera mwauzimu. Makolo anga ndi alongo anga aŵiri anali okhulupirika kufikira imfa yawo, ndipo achemwali anga aŵiri akupitirizabe kuyenda mokhulupirika m’njira ya choonadi.

Ndikunyadira kuti mwana wanga, Allen, akutumikira monga mkulu wachikristu. Kwa zaka zambirimbiri wakhala akumangirira zokuzira mawu m’Nyumba ya Ufumu ndi m’Nyumba Yamsonkhano ndipo wagwira ntchito yoika zokuzira mawu m’misonkhano yaikulu ya m’chilimwe. Mkazi wake ndi mtumiki wokhulupirika wa Mulungu, ndipo ana awo aŵiri akutumikira monga akulu. Mwana wanga wamkazi Rebekah Karres, wathera zaka zoposa 35 mu utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse, kuphatikizapo zaka zinayi zomwe anakhala akutumikira kulikulu la padziko lonse la Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn. Iye ndi mwamuna wake athera zaka 25 zapitazi akugwira ntchito yoyendayenda m’madera osiyanasiyana mu United States.

Yesu ananena kuti Ufumu uli ngati chuma chobisika chomwe chingapezeke. (Mateyu 13:44) Ndine woyamikira kuti banja langa linapeza chuma chimenecho zaka zambirimbiri zapitazo. Ndikudzimva kukhala wodalitsika kwabasi kuyang’ana m’mbuyo zaka zoposa 80 zomwe ndakhala ndikuchita utumiki wopatulika kwa Mulungu, popanda kuchita chisoni! Kukanakhala kuti n’kotheka kuti moyo wanga ungabwerere ngati masiku amenewo, ndithudi, ndikadakhala monga momwe ndinkakhalira kalero chifukwa chakuti, ‘chifundo cha Mulungu chiposa moyo makomedwe ake.’​—Salmo 63:3.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Tinamvetsera nkhani ya Mbale Rutherford m’chaka cha 1917 mu Alliance ku Ohio

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Ine ndi Ralph patsogolo pa kalavani yomwe anaipanga

[Chithunzi patsamba 24]

Ine ndi ana anga aŵiri lerolino