Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Nthaŵi Zonse Yehova Amafupa Anthu Ake Okhulupirika

YOSIMBIDWA NDI VERNON DUNCOMBE

Ndinamaliza kudya madzulo ndipo mwachizoloŵezi ndinayatsa ndudu. Kenaka ndinafunsa mkazi wanga Aileen kuti: “Kodi msonkhano unali bwanji madzulo ano?”

ANAIMA kaye n’kunena kuti: “Kunaŵerengedwa kalata yolengeza oikidwa atsopano, ndipo dzina lanu linatchulidwa. Mwaikidwa kukhala mtumiki wosamalira zokuzira mawu. Mawu omaliza a kalatayo anati: ‘Ngati aliyense wa abale amene angoikidwa kumeneŵa amasuta fodya, ayenera kulembera Sosaite kuti sangathe kuvomereza ntchitoyo.’” * Ndinayankha moziya ndiponso motsimikiza kuti, “Koodi! N’zimene chilengezocho chanena.”

Ndinaluma mano anga ndipo ndinatsitsitiza ndudu yanga m’kambale koika phulusa kamene kanali pafupi nane. “Sindikudziŵa kuti n’chifukwa chiyani andisankha. Koma sindinakanepo utumiki uliwonse, ndipo sindikufuna kuyamba kukana.” Ndinatsimikiza mtima kuti sindidzasutanso. Zimene ndinasankhazo zinakhudza kwambiri moyo wanga monga Mkristu komanso monga woimba. Taimani ndikuuzeni zimene zinachititsa kuti ndisinthe.

Moyo wa M’banja Ndili Mwana

Ndinabadwira ku Toronto ku Canada, pa September 21, 1914. Ndinali mwana wamwamuna wamkulu wa makolo achikondi komanso olimbikira ntchito, a Vernon ndi a Lila, amene anali kutisamala m’banja lathu, la anyamata anayi ndi atsikana aŵiri. Wonditsata anali Yorke, kenaka Orlando, Douglas, Aileen, ndi Coral. Pamene ndinali ndi zaka zisanu ndi zinayi zokha, amayi anga anandipatsa chida choimbira chotchedwa kuti violin ndipo analinganiza kuti ndizipita kukaphunzira kuimba ku Harris School of Music. Zinthu zinali zovuta. Koma amayi ndi bambo ankapeza ndalama zopitira ndi kulipira  sukulu. Kenaka ndinaphunzira malamulo a nyimbo komanso kalembedwe kake kusukulu ya Royal Conservatory of Music ku Toronto. Ndipo ndidakali ndi zaka 12, ndinachita nawo mpikisano wa ana oimba a mumzinda wonse ku Massey Hall, nyumba yotchuka yoimbirako nyimbo. Anandisankha kuti ndapambana ndipo anandipatsa chida choimbira chabwino chotchedwa violin m’chikwama chopangidwa ndi chikopa cha ng’ona.

Patapita nthaŵi, ndinaphunziranso kuimba piyano ndi violin yoimba besi. Nthaŵi zambiri gulu lathu linali kuimba pamapwando ang’onoang’ono madzulo a Lachisanu ndi Loŵeruka ndi pamadansi a ana a sukulu. Panali pa nthaŵi ina ya madansi ameneŵa pamene ndinakumana ndi Aileen koyamba. Chaka changa chomaliza kusekondale, ndinaimba ndi magulu oimba angapo mumzindawu. Nditamaliza maphunziro anga ndinaitanidwa kukagwira ntchito ndi gulu loimba la Ferde Mowry Orchestra, ndipo inali ntchito ya malipiro abwino imene ndinagwira mpaka 1943.

Kum’dziŵa Yehova

Makolo anga anadziŵa za choonadi cha Baibulo koyamba nkhondo yoyamba ya padziko lonse isanayambe, pamene bambo anali kugwira ntchito yoika zinthu m’mawindo oonetsera katundu m’sitolo lalikulu ku Toronto. Anali kumvetsera kukambirana kwa antchito ena aŵiri amene anali Ophunzira Baibulo (mmene Mboni za Yehova zinkadziŵikira panthaŵi imeneyo) m’chipinda chodyeramo, ndipo anali kuwauza amayi madzulo atabwera kunyumba. Patapita zaka zingapo, mu 1927, Ophunzira Baibulo anachita msonkhano waukulu wachigawo ku Toronto m’bwalo lalikulu la maseŵera pa Canadian National Exhibition Grounds. Nyumba yathu, imene inali midadada iŵiri kuchokera ku khomo lakumadzulo la bwalolo, tinaigwiritsa ntchito kukhala malo ogona anthu 25 amene anachokera ku Ohio, U.S.A.

Pambuyo pake, Wophunzira Baibulo wina, Ada Bletsoe, anayamba kubwera kaŵirikaŵiri kwa amayi. Anali kuwasiyira mabuku atsopano. Tsiku lina ananena kuti: “Ndakhala ndikukusiyirani mabuku kwa nthaŵi yaitali amayi Duncombe. Kodi munaŵerengako lililonse la mabukuwo?” Ngakhale kuti amayi anali kulera ana asanu ndi mmodzi, anatsimikiza mtima kuyamba kuŵerenga magazini kuyambira nthaŵi imeneyo, ndipo sanalekenso. Koma ine sindinali kuwaŵerenga kwambiri mabukuwo. Cholinga changa chinali chakuti ndimalize sukulu, ndipo ndinali wotanganidwa kwambiri ndi zoimba.

Mu June 1935, tinakwatirana ndi Aileen mu tchalitchi cha Anglican. Popeza ndinali nditasiya tchalitchi cha United Church ndili ndi zaka 13, ndinalibe chipembedzo chilichonse; choncho ndinasaina pamtchatho kuti ndinali wa Mboni za Yehova, ngakhale sindinali Mboni.

Tinafuna kudzakhala ndi ana nthaŵi ina m’tsogolo ndipo tinali kufuna kuti tidzakhale makolo abwino. Choncho, tinayamba kuŵerenga Chipangano Chatsopano pamodzi. Komabe, ngakhale kuti cholinga chathu chinali chabwino, zinthu zina zinasokoneza. Tinayesanso nthaŵi ina koma osaphula kanthu. Ndiyeno pa Khirisimasi mu 1935, tinalandira mphatso yokutidwa ya buku lamutu wakuti Zeze wa Mulungu. Mkazi wanga anati: “O, iyi ndi mphatso yachilendo ya Khirisimasi imene amayi anu atitumizira.” Komabe, pamene ndinapita kuntchito, anayamba kuliŵerenga, ndipo anakonda zimene anali kuŵerenga. Kwa nthaŵi yotalikirapo ndithu, sindinadziŵe zimenezo. Ponena za kufuna kwathu kukhala ndi ana, sizinachitike. Mwana wathu wamkazi amene anabadwa pa February 1, 1937, anapitirira. Tinalitu ndi chisoni kwambiri!

Panthaŵi imeneyo, banja lathu linali kuchita nawo ntchito yolalikira, ndipo ndinamva kuti ndi bambo okha amene anali wofalitsa Ufumu m’banja lathu amene sanapatsepo munthu mwayi wolembetsa magazini a Consolation (tsopano Galamukani!). Chimenecho chinakhala cholinga cha mwezi umenewo. Ngakhale ndinali ndisanaŵerengeko chofalitsa chilichonse cha Sosaite, ndinawamvera chisoni ndipo ndinati: “Chabwino, bambo, ndilembetsereni ineyo, ndipo mudzafanana ndi ofalitsa ena.” Chilimwe chinafika, ndipo gulu lathu loimba linasamuka mu mzindawo kukaimba kumalo ena achisangalalo. Consolation inanditsata papositi. Nyengo imene mitengo imayoyola masamba itayamba, gulu loimbali linabwereranso ku Toronto. Ndinapitiriza kulandira magaziniwo pa adiresi yatsopano, ndipo ndinali ndisanamasulepo ngakhale imodzi.

Pamene ndinali kupuma pa Khirisimasi, ndinayang’ana mulu wa magazini n’kugamula kuti ngati ndinalipirira magaziniŵa, ndiyenera kuŵerengako ena a iwo kuti ndione zimene amanena. Magazini oyamba amene ndinatsegula anandidabwitsa. Amavumbula machenjera a andale ndi katangale wa panthaŵiyo. Ndinayamba kuuza anzanga oimba nawo  zimene ndinali kuŵerenga. Komabe, amatsutsa kuti zimene ndinali kunena si zoona, ndipo ndinapitiriza kuŵerenga kuti ndizichirikiza zonena zangazo. Mosadziŵa, ndinali nditayamba kuchitira umboni za Yehova. Ndipo kuyambira panthaŵi imeneyo sindinaleke kuŵerenga zofalitsa zophunzirira Baibulo zabwino kwambiri za “kapolo wokhulupirika ndi wanzeru.”​—Mateyu 24:45.

Ngakhale kuti ndinali kukhala wotanganidwa ndi ntchito m’kati mwa mlungu, posataya nthaŵi ndinayamba kusonkhana pa Lamlungu ndi Aileen. Pamene tinafika kumsonkhano tsiku lina Lamlungu mu 1938, alongo aŵiri achikulire anatipatsa moni, ndipo mmodzi anati: “Mbale wachinyamata iwe, kodi sunasankhebe kukhala kumbali ya Yehova? Ukudziŵa kodi, Armagedo ili pafupi kwambiri!” Ndinali kudziŵa kuti Yehova ndiye Mulungu yekha woona, ndipo ndinali kutsimikiza kuti limeneli ndilo gulu lake. Ndinafuna kukhala m’gululi, choncho pa October 15, 1938, ndinabatizidwa. Aileen anabatizidwa patapita pafupifupi miyezi isanu ndi umodzi. Ndili wokondwa kunena kuti onse m’banja lathu anakhala atumiki odzipatulira a Yehova.

Ndinakhalatu ndi chisangalalo mwa kusonkhana ndi anthu a Mulungu! Mosakhalitsa, ndinakhala womasuka pakati pawo. Ndikalephera kupita ku misonkhano, ndinkafunitsitsa kudziŵa zimene zinachitika kumeneko. Nthaŵi ya usiku ija imene ndanena pachiyambi pa nkhani ino inali posinthira utumiki wanga kwa Yehova.

Nthaŵi ya Kusintha Kwathu Kwakukulu

Kusintha kwathu kwina kwakukulu kunachitika pa May 1, 1943. Tinasonkhana koyamba pamsonkhano waukulu wachigawo wakuti Msonkhano Wateokalase wa Dziko Latsopano ku Cleveland, Ohio mu September 1942. Kumeneko, m’kati mwenimweni mwa nkhondo yoopsa ya padziko lonse, nkhondo yosadziŵika kuti ingathe, tinamva Mbale Knorr, amene anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, akukamba molimba mtima nkhani yapoyera yochititsa chidwi yakuti, “Mtendere​—Kodi Ungakhalitse?” Timakumbukira bwino ndithu mmene anasonyezera, kuchoka pa Chivumbulutso chaputala 17, kuti pambuyo pa nkhondoyo padzakhala nyengo yabata imene ntchito yaikulu yolalikira idzachitidwa.

Chimene chinatikhudza kwambiri inali nkhani yoyambirira ya Mbale Knorr yakuti, “Yefita ndi Choŵinda Chake.” Kenaka panali pempho lofuna apainiya enanso! Tinayang’anana ndi Aileen ndipo mogwirizana (pamodzi ndi enanso ambiri panthaŵi imeneyo) tinati: “Ndifeyotu amenewo!” Nthaŵi yomweyo tinayamba kukonzeka kukachita ntchito yofunika kwambiri imeneyo.

Ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova inali yoletsedwa ku Canada kuyambira pa July 4, 1940. Pamene tinayamba kuchita upainiya pa May 1, 1943, kuchitira umboni za Yehova ndi kugaŵira mabuku a Sosaite muutumiki wakumunda kunali koletsedwabe. Pokhala Akristu, tinanyamula mabaibulo athu a King James basi. Patangotha masiku ochepa okha titafika kugawo lathu loyamba limene tinakachitako upainiya ku Parry Sound, ku Ontario, Stewart Mann amene anali mpainiya wozoloŵera anatumizidwa ndi ofesi ya nthambi kudzagwira nafe ntchito m’munda. Anali makonzedwe abwino kwambiri! Mbale Mann anali munthu wabwino kwambiri ndi wansangala. Anatiphunzitsa zambiri ndipo tinasangalala. Tinali kuchititsa maphunziro angapo a Baibulo pamene Sosaite inatitumizanso ku mzinda wa Hamilton. Sipanatenge nthaŵi yaitali, ndipo anandilemba usilikali ngakhale kuti ndinali nditapitirira msinkhu woloŵa usilikali. Kukana kwanga kuloŵa usilikali kunandimangitsa pa December 31, 1943. Mlandu wanga utazengedwa, ndinapatsidwa chilango chokagwira ntchito ku kampu ya aja okana kunyamula zida, kumene ndinakhala mpaka mu August 1945.

Pamene ndinamasulidwa, ine ndi Aileen tinalandiranso ntchito yaupainiya imene inatipititsa ku Cornwall, ku Ontario. Posakhalitsa, tinachoka kupita  ku Quebec ndi ntchito yapadera yokamba ndi apolisi kukhoti yochokera ku Dipatimenti ya Zamalamulo ya Sosaite. Imeneyo inali nthaŵi imene Duplessis anali kulamulira ku Quebec, pamene Mboni za Yehova zinali kuzunzidwa kwambiri. Masiku ambiri mlungu uliwonse, ndinali kupezeka kumakhoti anayi osiyanasiyana kuthandiza abale athu. Imeneyo inali nthaŵi yosangalatsa ndi yolimbitsa chikhulupiriro.

Pambuyo pa msonkhano wachigawo ku Cleveland mu 1946, ndinachita ntchito ya dera ndi ntchito ya chigawo imene inatiyendetsa ndi mkazi wanga dziko lonselo la Canada. Zinthu zinali kuyenda mofulumira. Mu 1948 tinaitanidwa kukakhala nawo m’kalasi ya 11 ya Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower. Mbale Albert Schroeder ndi Mbale Maxwell Friend anali alangizi athu m’kalasi la ophunzira 108 kuphatikizapo 40 amene anali odzozedwa. Kukhala ndi atumiki a Yehova ambiriwo amene anakhala nthaŵi yaitali muutumiki wawo kunali kwamtengo wapatali komanso kofupa kwambiri!

Tsiku lina Mbale Knorr anatichezera kuchokera ku Brooklyn. Mu nkhani yake anapempha anthu 25 amene anakonda kudzipereka kuti aphunzire chinenero cha Chijapani. Tonse 108 tinadzipereka! Zinatsalira pulezidentiyo kusankha amene akanaphunzitsidwa. Ndikukhulupirira kuti Yehova anatsogolera ntchito yosankhayo chifukwa pambuyo pake zinthu zinayenda bwino kwambiri. Ambiri mwa anthu 25 amene anasankhidwawo komanso n’kukhala ndi mwayi wokatsegulira ntchito ku Japan adakapitirizabe ntchito yawo​—okalamba, inde, koma ali konkobe. Ena, monga Lloyd ndi Melba Barry, anasinthidwa kupita kwina. Lloyd anali wa Bungwe Lolamulira mpaka pamene anamwalira chaka chatha. Tikukondwera nawo pamodzi onse chifukwa cha mfupo imene Yehova wapereka.

Tsiku la mwambo womaliza maphunziro linafika, ndipo anati tipita ku Jamaica. Komabe, chifukwa cha masiku otsala opitabe kukhoti ku Quebec, tinalangizidwa kuti tibwerere ku Canada.

Kuimbabe!

Ngakhale kuti ndinali nditaleka zoimba chifukwa cha utumiki waupainiya, zinaoneka ngati kuti nyimbo zinandiumirira. Chaka chotsatira, pulezidenti wa Sosaite Nathan Knorr, ndi mlembi wake, Milton Henschel, anabwera ku Maple Leaf Gardens, ku Toronto. Nkhani yapoyera ya Mbale Knorr yakuti “Ndi M’mbuyo mwa Alendo!” inasangalatsa aliyense. Kwa nthaŵi yoyamba, ndinapemphedwa kutsogolera gulu loimba nyimbo zamalimba pamsonkhano wachigawo. Tinakonza kaimbidwe kokoka ka nyimbo zina zodziŵika m’buku la nyimbo la Kingdom Service Song Book (1944). Zinaoneka ngati abale anazikonda. Pamene pulogalamu ya Loŵeruka inatha masana, tinayeseza pulogalamu yathu ya Lamlungu. Ndinaona mbale Henschel akubwera kumene tinali, ndipo ndinaimitsa oimba kuti ndikaonane naye. Anafunsa kuti, “Kodi uli ndi oimba angati m’gulu lako?” “Ngati onse alipo, amafika ngati 35,” ndinayankha. “Chabwino, udzakhala ndi ena kuŵirikiza amenewo ku New York nyengo yachilimwe ikudzayo,” anayankha.

Komabe chilimwe chisanafike, ndinaitanidwa ku Brooklyn. Chifukwa cha zovuta zina, Aileen sanathe kupita nane ulendo uno. Nyumba ya 124 Columbia Heights yatsopano inali isanathe. Choncho, ndinapatsidwa malo ogona m’nyumba yakale, m’chipinda chaching’ono pamodzi ndi abale aŵiri odzozedwa​—mbale wachikulire Payne ndi Karl Klein, ndipo kumeneku kunali kukumana nawo koyamba. Kodi chipindacho chinali chopanikiza? Inde. Koma tinali kukhala bwinobwino. Abale achikulirewo anali oleza mtima ndi odekha. Ndinkangoyesetsa kusawasokoneza! Linali phunziro labwino kwambiri kuona zimene mzimu wa Mulungu ungachite. Kukumana kwanga ndi Mbale Klein komanso kugwira naye ntchito kunandidzetseratu madalitso! Nthaŵi zonse anali wokoma mtima ndiponso wothandiza. Tinagwirira ntchito limodzi bwino lomwe ndipo takhala mabwenzi apamtima kwa zaka zoposa 50.

Ndinali ndi mwayi wothandiza kuimba ku Yankee Stadium pamisonkhano yachigawo mu 1950, 1953, 1955, ndi 1958 komanso kuthandizana kutsogolera gulu loimba ndi Al Kavelin pamsonkhano wachigawo wa mu 1963 umene unachitikira ku Rose Bowl, ku Pasadena, California. Pamsonkhano wachigawo mu 1953 ku Yankee Stadium, panali nyimbo Lamlungu nkhani yapoyera isanakambidwe. Erich Frost anaitana Edith Shemionik (amene anadzakwatiwa ndi Weigand), woimba sopulano, kuti aimbe nyimbo imene Erich anapeka yakuti “Tiyeni, Mboninu!” limodzi ndi gulu lathu loimba. Kenaka tinakondwa kwambiri pamene tinamva kwa nthaŵi yoyamba, abale ndi alongo athu a ku Afirika akuimba ndi mawu abwino komanso osalala. Mmishonale Harry Arnott ndiye anabweretsa tepi kuchokera ku Northern Rhodesia (tsopano Zambia) kuti  tisangalale nayo. Mawu ake anamveka m’bwalo lonselo.

Kujambulitsa Nyimbo za M’buku la Nyimbo la 1966

Kodi mukulikumbukira buku la nyimbo lapinki, “Kuyimba ndi Kutsagana ndi Nyimbo za Malimba M’mitima Mwanu”? Pamene linatsala pang’ono kutha kupangidwa, Mbale Knorr anati: “Tidzajambulitsa nyimbo zake. Ndikufuna kuti angapo m’gulu lanu mukonzeke ndi zida zoimbira zingapo za violin ndi zitoliro. Sindikufuna kuti wina aliyense akaimbe lipenga lake!” Tinali kukajambulitsira m’Nyumba ya Ufumu ya pa Beteli, koma panali zodetsa nkhaŵa kuigwiritsa ntchito. Kodi tidzatani ndi namalowe wochitika chifukwa cha chipupa chopanda zotchinga, matailosi apansi, ndi mipando yopinda yazitsulo? Adzatithandiza ndani kuthetsa vuto la phokoso losafunikalo. Wina anati: “Tommy Mitchell! Amagwira ntchito ku ABC Network Studios.” Tinakakambirana ndi Mbale Mitchell, amene anakonda kutithandiza.

Tsiku loyamba kujambula Loŵeruka m’maŵa linafika, ndipo podziŵana ndi oimba, panapezeka kuti mbale mmodzi anali ndi chikwama cha chida choimbira chotchedwa trombone. Ndinakumbukira chenjezo la Mbale Knorr lakuti: “Sindikufuna kuti wina aliyense akaimbe lipenga lake!” Ndikadatani tsono? Ndinangoyang’ana pamene mbaleyo anatulutsa choimbiracho m’chikwama chake, analumikiza mbali yake ina m’chimake, ndipo anayamba kuyesera. Mbaleyo anali Tom Mitchell, ndipo manotsi ake oyamba anaimbawo anali osangalatsa kwambiri. Anachititsa chidacho kumveka ngati violin! Ine mumtima ndinati, ‘mbaleyu akhale!’ Mbale Knorr sanakane.

M’gulu loimba limenelo, tinali ndi akatswiri amenenso anali abale ndi alongo achikondi. Panalibe munthu wopupuluma! Kujambula inali ntchito yovuta, koma palibe anadandaula. Pamene ntchitoyo inatha, tinagwetsa misozi; ndipo amene anachita nawo ntchitoyo adakali paubwenzi wa ponda apa nane m’pondepo. Aliyense anasangalala ndi mwayiwo, ndipo ndi dalitso la Yehova, tinachita ntchitoyo.

Mwayi Winanso Wofupa

Zaka zambiri zapitapo ndipo ndikusangalalabe ndi utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse. Ndinagwira ntchito yadera ndi yachigawo zaka 28​—ndipo zonsezo zinali zosangalatsa. Kenaka zaka zisanu ndinayang’anira Nyumba ya Msonkhano ya Norval, ku Ontario. Pokhala ndi msonkhano wadera mapeto a mlungu uliwonse ndinso misonkhano yachigawo yachinenero china, ine ndi Aileen tinali otanganidwa. Mu 1979/80, olemba mapulani ndi mainjiniya anagwiritsa ntchito Nyumba ya Msonkhano pamene anali kupanga mapulani a nthambi ya Sosaite ya m’tsogolo ku Halton Hills. Kuchoka pa ntchito ya pa Nyumba ya Msonkhano, ndinakakhala nawonso m’gulu loimba ku Brooklyn, kuchokera mu 1982 mpaka mu 1984.

Mkazi wanga wokondedwa anamwalira pa June 17, 1994, patangodutsa masiku asanu ndi aŵiri kuchoka pa tsiku limene tinakwanitsa zaka 59 tili muukwati. Tinali titamaliza zaka 51 pamodzi tikutumikira modzipereka monga apainiya.

Ndikaganiza zinthu zambiri zimene zachitika pamoyo wanga, ndimakumbukira mmene Baibulo lakhalira lothandiza kwambiri ponditsogolera. Nthaŵi zina, ndimagwiritsa ntchito Baibulo la Aileen n’kusangalala kwambiri poona zimene zinali kum’gwira mtima​—mavesi onse, mbali zake zina, ndi mawu amene anachonga. Monga mmene zinalili ndi Aileen, inenso ndili ndi malemba amene ali ndi tanthauzo lapadera kwa ine. Mbali imodzi ndi Salmo la 137, limene limatchula pemphero labwino kwa Yehova lakuti: “Ndikakuiŵala Yerusalemu, ndisathenso kuimba zeze! Ndikasiya kuganiza za iwe monga chimwemwe changa chachikulu, ndisathenso kuimba!” (Salmo 137:5, 6, Today’s English Version) Ngakhale kuti ndimakonda kuimba, chimwemwe changa chochuluka chimabwera potumikira Yehova mokhulupirika, amene wandifupa ndi moyo wokhala ndi zambiri komanso wokhutiritsa.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 28]

Ndili ndi Aileen mu 1947

[Chithunzi patsamba 30]

Tikujambulitsa nyimbo kwa nthaŵi yoyamba