Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Kukatumikira Kulikonse Kumene Ndinkafunika

YOSIMBIDWA NDI JAMES B. BERRY

Munali mu 1939. Nyengo ya mavuto aakulu a zachuma inali kupangitsa moyo kukhala wovuta ku United States, ndipo n’kuti nkhondo ikudetsa nkhaŵa m’madera onse a Ulaya. Ine ndi mng’ono wanga Bennett, tinali titachoka kumudzi kwathu ku Mississippi kupita ku mzinda wa Houston, ku Texas, kukafunafuna ntchito.

TSIKU lina, chakumapeto kwa chilimwe, tinamva chilengezo chochititsa mantha kwambiri pa wailesi: Asilikali a Hitler aloŵa ku Poland. “Armagedo yayamba!” anafuula motero mng’ono wanga. Nthaŵi yomweyo, tinasiya ntchito zathu. Tinapita ku Nyumba ya Ufumu imene inali pafupi kwambiri ndi kuchita nawo msonkhano wathu woyamba. N’chifukwa chiyani tinapita ku Nyumba ya Ufumu? Ndiloleni kuti ndiyambire pachiyambi.

Ndinabadwira ku Hebron, m’chigawo cha Mississippi, m’chaka cha 1915. Tinkakhala kumidzi. Ophunzira Baibulo, dzina la Mboni za Yehova m’nthaŵiyo, ankabwera m’deralo pafupifupi kamodzi pachaka ndi kulinganiza zokamba nkhani pakhomo pa munthu winawake. Chotsatirapo chake chinali chakuti makolo anga anali ndi zofalitsa zambiri zothandiza pophunzira Baibulo. Ine ndi Bennett tinayamba kukhulupirira zimene mabukuwo ankaphunzitsa: Helo si wotentha, moyo umafa, olungama adzakhala padziko lapansi kosatha. Komabe, panali zinthu zambiri zoti tiphunzire. Nthaŵi inayake pambuyo pomaliza sukulu, ine ndi mng’ono wanga tinapita ku Texas kukafunafuna ntchito.

Pomalizira pake titakumana ndi Mboni pa Nyumba ya Ufumu, zinatifunsa ngati tinali apainiya. Sitinkadziŵa kuti mpainiya anali mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse wa Mboni za Yehova. Kenako anatifunsa ngati tikanakonda kulalikira. “Inde!” tinatero. Tinkaganiza kuti atigaŵa ndi winawake kuti atisonyeze mmene tingalalikirire. Koma anangotipatsa  khadi losonyeza gawo, n’kutiuza kuti, “Kalalikireni kumeneko!” Ine ndi Bennett sitinkadziŵa chilichonse chokhudza mmene tingalalikirire, ndipo sitinkafuna kuchititsidwa manyazi. Pomaliza pake, tinangoposita khadilo ku mpingo n’kubwerera ku Mississippi!

Kupanga Choonadi cha Baibulo Kukhala Chathuchathu

Titabwerera kumudzi, tinakhala tikuŵerenga zofalitsa za Mboni tsiku lililonse kwa pafupifupi chaka chimodzi. Nyumba yathu inalibe magetsi, chotero tinkaunikira moto tikamaŵerenga usiku. Masiku amenewo, atumiki a dera, kapena oyang’anira oyendayenda ankachezera mipingo ya Mboni za Yehova ndiponso Mboni zimene zili kutali kopanda mpingo n’cholinga chowalimbikitsa mwauzimu. Mmodzi wa atumiki ameneŵa, Ted Klein, anadzachezera mpingo wathu ndipo ine ndi Bennett tinkapita naye ku ulaliki wa khomo ndi khomo, nthaŵi zambiri ankatitenga tonse aŵirife pamodzi. Anatifotokozera zinthu zonse zokhudza ntchito yaupainiya.

Kuyenda naye pamodzi kunatipatsa malingaliro oti tichite zinthu zochuluka pa kutumikira Mulungu. Chotero pa April 18, 1940, Mbale Klein anabatiza Bennett, mlongo wathu Velva, ndiponso ineyo. Makolo athu anali nawo pa ubatizo wathuwo, ndipo anali osangalala ndi chosankha chathu. Pafupifupi zaka ziŵiri pambuyo pake, nawonso anabatizidwa. Onse aŵiri anakhalabe okhulupirika kwa Mulungu mpaka imfa zawo​—Atate mu 1956 ndi Amayi mu 1975.

Mbale Klein atandifunsa ngati ndikanatha kuchita upainiya, ndinamuuza kuti ndikanakonda kutero, koma ndinalibe ndalama, zovala, chinthu chilichonse. “Zilibwino,” anatero, “ndikonza zimenezo.” Ndipo anaterodi. Choyamba, ananditumizira chikalata changa chofunsira kuchita upainiya. Kenako, anapita nane ku New Orleans, mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 300, kuchokera kwathu, ndi kundionetsa nyumba zina zabwino kwambiri zosanja pamwamba pa Nyumba ya Ufumu. Zinali zoti apainiya azikhalamo. Posapita nthaŵi yaitali, ndinadzaloŵamo n’kuyamba ntchito yanga yaupainiya. Mboni za ku New Orleans zinkathandiza mwa kupatsa apainiyawo zovala, ndalama ndi chakudya. Masana, abale ankatibweretsera chakudya n’kuchisiya pakhomo kapenanso kuchiika m’firiji. Mbale wina amene anali ndi lesitilanti pafupi ndi panyumbapo, anatipempha kuti tizipita nthaŵi zonse akamatseka kuti akatipatse chakudya chongokonzedwa kumene​—monga nyama, buledi, nyama yogaya yothira tsabola, ndi mapayi​—zomwe zinatsala patsikulo.

Kukumana ndi Magulu Achiwawa

Patapita kanthaŵi, ndinatumizidwa kukachita upainiya ku mzinda wa Jackson, ku Mississippi. Ine limodzi ndi mzanga amene ndinkatumikira naye tinakumana ndi kagulu ka ziwawa kumeneko, ndipo zinkaoneka ngati kuti mabungwe olimbikitsa malamulo a kumeneko ankaikira kumbuyo maguluwo! Zinalinso chimodzimodzi kumalo omwe tinagaŵiridwa pambuyo pake, ku mzinda wa Columbus, ku Mississippi. Popeza kuti tinkalalikira kwa anthu a mafuko ndi mitundu yonse, anthu ena achizungu ankadana nafe. Ambiri ankakhulupirira kuti tinali ndi mlandu wogalukira boma. Mtsogoleri wa kagulu ka asilikali opuma pantchito m’nthambi ya bungwe la American Legion mu mzindawo, kagulu kodzipereka kwambiri pankhani za dziko, analinso ndi maganizo amenewo. Mkuluyo anasonkhezerapo kangapo magulu omwe anali olusa kwambiri kuti atichite chipongwe.

Nthaŵi yoyamba kutifikira ku Columbus, kaguluko kanatipeza tikugaŵira magazini m’mphepete mwa msewu. Anatimenyetsa ku zenera la nyumba yosungira magalasi. Anthu anasonkhana kuti aone zomwe zinkachitika. Apolisi anafika mwamsangamsanga n’kutitengera ku nyumba yoweruzira milandu. Kaguluko, komwe kanatitsatira ku nyumba  yoweruzira milanduyo, kanalengeza pamaso pa akuluakulu onse a bwalolo kuti ngati titachoka mu mzindawo pofika tsiku linalake, tingadzachoke amoyo. Ngati titachoka pambuyo pa tsikulo, tingadzachoke titavulazidwa ngakhale kuphedwa kumene! Tinaona kuti kunali bwino kuti tichoke kaye m’taunimo. Koma patapita milungu ingapo, tinabwereranso n’kupitiriza kulalikira.

Patangopita nthaŵi pang’ono, kagulu ka amuna asanu ndi atatu kanatigwira n’kutikakamiza kukwera m’magalimoto awo aŵiri. Anapita nafe ku nkhalango ya mitengo, nativula zovala, n’kutikwapula ndi lamba wanga, zikoti 30 aliyense! Anali ndi mfuti ndiponso zingwe, ndipo ndinene pano kuti, tin’kachita mantha koopsa. Ndinkaganiza kuti atimanga n’kutiponya mu mtsinje. Anang’amba mabuku athu ndi kuwamwazamwaza ndiponso anaswa galamafoni yathu mwa kuimenyetsa ku chitsa cha mtengo.

Atatha kutikwapula, anatiuza kuti tivale zovala zathu ndi kuti tiloŵere m’kanjira kenakake m’nkhalangomo, koma osacheuka. Pamene tinkapita, tinkalingalira kuti ngati titangoyesa kucheuka, atipha ndi mfuti​—ndipo sangapatsidwe chilango! Koma patapita mphindi pang’ono, tinawamva akuliza magalimoto awo kuchoka pamalopo.

Pachochitika china, gulu laukali kwambiri linatithamangitsa, ndipo kuti tipulumuke tinachita kumangirira zovala zathu m’khosi n’kusambira pa mtsinje. Pasanapite nthaŵi yaitali chichitikire zimenezo, tinamangidwa chifukwa cha mlandu wogalukira boma. Tinakhala m’ndende milungu itatu tisanazengedwe mlandu. Nkhani imeneyi inafala kwambiri ku Columbus. Ophunzira a pa koleji ina yomwe inali chapafupi analoledwa kuŵeruka mwamsanga m’makalasi kuti akamvere nawo mlanduwo. Tsikulo litakwana, nyumba yoweruzira milanduyo inadzaza kwambiri​—moti anthu anangoimirira! Anthu amene ankaimira boma anali alaliki aŵiri, woyang’anira mzindawo, ndi apolisi.

Loya woimira Mboni, wotchedwa G. C. Clarke ndi mnzake anatumizidwa kuti adzatiimire. Iwo anapempha kuti mlandu wogalukira bomawo uthe chifukwa chakuti panalibe umboni. Loya amene amagwira ntchito ndi Mbale Clarke, ngakhale kuti sanali Wamboni za Yehova, anatiperekera mfundo zogwira mtima kwambiri. Nthaŵi inayake iye anauza woweruza mlanduwo kuti, “Anthu amanena kuti Mboni za Yehova ndi anthu amisala. Amisala? Thomas Edison ankati anali wamisala!” Kenako analoza getsi n’kunena kuti, “Koma taonani golobo ilo!” Edison, amene anayambitsa kupanga golobo la magetsi, anthu ayenera kuti ankam’ganizira kuti ndi wamisala, koma palibe amene anganyoze zimene anachita.

Atamaliza kumva maumboni, woweruza wamkulu wa bwaloli anauza otisumira mlanduwo kuti: “Mulibe umboni m’pang’ono pomwe wosonyeza kuti ndi ogalukira boma, ndipo ali ndi ufulu wogwira ntchito imeneyi. Musadzabwere nawonso m’bwalo lino ndi kuwonongetsa nthaŵi ndi ndalama zaboma limodzinso ndi nthaŵi yanga, kufikira mutadzapeza umboni!” Tinapambana!

Komabe, pambuyo pankhaniyo, woweruzayo anatiitanira ku ofesi yake. Anadziŵa kuti mzinda wonsewo sunagwirizane ndi maganizo ake. Choncho, iye anatichenjeza kuti: “Zomwe ndanena zija n’zogwirizana ndi malamulo, koma malangizo anga kwa aŵirinu n’ngakuti: Chokani mu mzinda muno, mukapanda kutero, akuphani!” Tinadziŵa kuti akunena zoona, ndipo tinachokadi.

Nditachoka kumeneko ndinakakhala ndi Bennett ndi Velva, amene ankatumikira monga apainiya apadera mu mzinda wa Clarksville, ku Tennessee. Patapita miyezi ingapo, tinatumizidwa ku mzinda wa Paris, ku Kentucky. Chaka chimodzi  ndi theka pambuyo pake, tinali titangotsala pang’ono kuti tikhazikitse mpingo kumeneko pamene ine ndi Bennett tinalandira chiitano chapadera kwambiri.

Kupita ku Utumiki Waumishonale

Pamene tinaona kalata yotiitana kukachita nawo maphunziro a kalasi lachiŵiri la Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower, tinkaganiza kuti, ‘Aphonyetsa! Angaitane bwanji anyamata aŵiri onyozeka a ku Mississippi kupita ku sukulu imeneyo?’ Tinkaganiza kuti ankafuna anthu ophunzira kwambiri, koma tinapitabe. M’kalasilo munali ophunzira 100, ndipo maphunzirowo anatha miyezi isanu. January 31, 1944, ndiye linali tsiku lomaliza maphunziro, ndipo tinali okonzeka kukatumikira ku mayiko ena. Koma m’masiku amenewo, zinkatenga nthaŵi yaitali kuti munthu apeze pasipoti ndi visa, chotero ophunzira ankatumizidwa mu United States kuti akachite upainiya mongoyembekezera. Titatumikira kwakanthaŵi ndithu monga apainiya ku Alabama ndi ku Georgia, ine ndi Bennett tinalandira gawo lathu​—Barbados, ku West Indies.

Nkhondo yachiŵiri ya padziko lonse n’kuti idakali m’kati, ndipo ntchito limodzi ndi mabuku a Mboni za Yehova zinali zoletsedwa m’mayiko ambiri, kuphatikizapo ku Barbados. Pa ofesi ya kasitomu kumeneko, maofesala anatsegula ndi kuchita chipikisheni m’chikwama chathu ndi kupezamo mabuku omwe tinabisamo. Tinaganiza kuti, ‘Basi, tatha lero.’ M’malo mwake, ofesala wina anangotiuza kuti: “Pepani kuti tinayenera kuchita chipikisheni m’chikwama chanu; ena mwa mabukuŵa ndi oletsedwa muno.” Komabe anatilola kuloŵa mu Barbados ndi mabuku onse amene tinatenga! Pambuyo pake, titalalikira kwa akuluakulu a boma, iwo ananena kuti sankadziŵa chifukwa chake mabukuwo anali oletsedwa. Patapita miyezi ingapo, chiletsocho chinachotsedwa.

Utumiki wathu ku Barbados unayenda bwino kwambiri. Aliyense wa ife ankachititsa maphunziro osachepera 15, ndipo ambiri mwa ophunzirawo anapita patsogolo mwauzimu. Tinali osangalala kuona ena akubwera ku misonkhano ya mpingo. Komabe, chifukwa chakuti mabuku athu anali oletsedwa kwakanthaŵi ndithu, abale a kumeneko sankadziŵa njira zamakono za mmene angachititsire misonkhano. Koma posapita nthaŵi yaitali, tinatha kuphunzitsa abale amene akanatha kutero. Tinali ndi chimwemwe chifukwa chothandiza ambiri mwa ophunzira athu kuyamba utumiki wachikristu ndi kuona mpingowo ukukula.

Kusamalira Banja

Titakhala ku Barbados kwa pafupifupi miyezi 18, ndinafunikira kuchitidwa opaleshoni chotero ndinabwerera ku United States. Ndili kumeneko, ndinakwatira Mboni ina yotchedwa Dorothy, yemwe ndinkalemberana naye makalata. Kenako, ine ndi mkazi wanga tinakachita upainiya ku mzinda wa Tallahassee, ku Florida, koma patapita miyezi isanu ndi umodzi tinasamukira ku mzinda wa Louisville, ku Kentucky, kumene Mboni ina inandilemba ntchito. Mbale wanga Bennett anapitirizabe kutumikira ku Barbados kwa zaka zambiri. Kenako anakwatira mmishonale mnzake n’kumatumikira m’ntchito yoyendayenda pazilumbapo. M’kupita kwanthaŵi nawonso anafunikira  kubwerera ku United States chifukwa cha matenda. Anapitiriza kutumikira m’ntchito yoyendayenda m’mipingo yolankhula Chisipanya kufikira imfa ya Bennett mu 1990 ali ndi zaka 73.

Mu 1950, Dorothy anabala mwana wathu woyamba, khanda lalikazi lomwe tinalitcha kuti Daryl. M’kupita kwanthaŵi tinakhala ndi ana asanu. Mwana wathu wachiŵiri, Derrick, anamwalira ndi matenda oumitsa ziŵalo pamene anali ndi zaka ziŵiri zokha ndi theka. Koma Leslie anabadwa mu 1956, ndipo kenako Everett mu 1958. Ine ndi Dorothy tinayesetsa kulera ana athu m’choonadi cha Baibulo. Nthaŵi zonse tinkayesetsa kukhala ndi pulogalamu ya phunziro la Baibulo la banja mlungu uliwonse ndi kulipanga kukhala losangalatsa kwa ana onse. Pamene Daryl, Leslie, ndi Everett anali adakali ang’onoang’ono, tinkawapatsa mafunso mlungu uliwonse kuti achite kafukufuku ndi kudzayankha mlungu wotsatira. Ankachitanso maseŵero a ulaliki wa kunyumba ndi nyumba. Wina ankaloŵa m’kachipinda moikamo zovala n’kumayerekezera ngati mwininyumba. Wina ankaima kunja ndi kugogoda. Popanga maseŵerowo ankagwiritsa ntchito mawu oseketsa n’cholinga chofuna kuopsezana, koma zimenezi zinawathandiza kukonda ntchito yolalikira. Komanso, nthaŵi zonse tinkapita nawo limodzi kolalikira.

Pamene mwana wathu wamwamuna yemwe ndi wamng’ono pa onse, Elton, anabadwa mu 1973, Dorothy anali ndi zaka pafupifupi 50 ndipo ine n’kuti ndikuyandikira zaka 60. Ku mpingo, anatitcha kuti Abrahamu ndi Sara! (Genesis 17:15-17) Kaŵirikaŵiri anyamata okulirapowo ankapita ndi Elton mu utumiki. Tinkalingalira kuti unali umboni wamphamvu kwambiri kwa anthu kuona mabanja​—abale ndi alongo, makolo ndi ana​—akugwirira ntchito pamodzi, kugaŵana choonadi cha Baibulo ndi anthu ena. Achimwene a Elton ankam’landizana pom’nyamula paphewa n’kuika thirakiti la Baibulo m’manja mwake. Pafupifupi nthaŵi zonse anthu ankamvetsera akatsegula zitseko zawo n’kuona kamwana kochenjera kameneka kali paphewa pa mchimwene wake. Anyamatawo anaphunzitsa Elton kuti azipereka thirakitilo kwa munthuyo ndi kumuuza mawu ochepa pamene iwo amaliza kukambirana naye. Ndi mmene anayambira kulalikira.

M’kupita kwa zaka, tinatha kuthandiza anthu kudziŵa Yehova. Chakumapeto kwa m’ma 1970, tinasamuka ku Louisville kupita ku Shelbyville, ku Kentucky, kukatumikira ku mpingo womwe unali wosowa. Tili kumeneko, sikuti tinangoona kukula kokha kwa mpingo koma tinathandizanso kupeza malo ndi kumanga Nyumba ya Ufumu. Kenako, tinapemphedwa kukatumikira ku mpingo wina umene unali chapafupi kumeneko.

Zinthu Zosayembekezereka M’moyo Wabanja

Ndikanakonda kunena kuti ana athu onse anapitiriza kuyenda m’njira ya Yehova, koma sizinali choncho. Atakula ndi kukakhala kwaokha, atatu mwa ana athu anayi omwe ali moyo anasiya choonadi. Koma mwana wathu wamwamuna, Everett anatsatira chitsanzo changa n’kuyamba utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse. Pambuyo pake anakatumikira pa likulu la dziko lonse la Mboni za Yehova ku New York ndipo mu 1984 anaitanidwa kukaphunzira nawo m’kalasi la 77 la Gileadi. Atamaliza maphunzirowo, anapita ku ntchito yake ku Sierra Leone, ku West Africa. M’chaka cha 1988 anakwatira Marianne, mpainiya wochokera ku Belgium. Kuchokera nthaŵi imeneyo akhala akutumikira limodzi monga amishonale.

Monga momwe kholo lililonse lingamvere, zinali zofoola m’nkhongono kwambiri kuona atatu mwa ana athu akusiya njira yamoyo yomwe ndi yokhutiritsa panopo ndiponso ya chiyembekezo chabwino kwambiri cha moyo wosatha pa dziko lapansi la paradaiso m’tsogolomu. Nthaŵi zina ndinkadziimba mlandu. Koma ndinatonthozedwa podziŵa kuti ngakhale ena mwa ana auzimu a Yehova weniweniyo, kapena kuti angelo, analeka kum’tumikira​—ngakhale kuti Yehova amalanga mwachikondi ndi mokoma mtima ndipo salakwa. (Deuteronomo 32:4; Yohane 8:44; Chivumbulutso 12:4, 9) Zimenezi zandipatsa malingaliro akuti ngakhale makolo atayesetsa motani kulera ana awo mwa Yehova, koma ena angadzakanebe choonadi.

Monga mtengo umene umagwedezekagwedezeka ndi mphepo yamphamvu, tiyenera kusintha mogwirizana ndi mavuto omwe tikukumana nawo. M’kupita kwa zaka, ndaona kuti kuphunzira Baibulo ndi kufika pa misonkhano nthaŵi zonse zimandipatsa nyonga zosinthira ndi kupulumuka mwauzimu. Pamene ndikukalamba ndi kuona zophophonya za m’mbuyomu, ndimadzilimbikitsa  ndi zinthu zina zabwinopo kuchokera pa zophophonyazo. Ndiponso, ngati titakhalabe okhulupirika, zokumana nazo ngati zimenezo zimangolimbikitsa kukula kwathu mwauzimu. Ngati titatola phunziro pa zimenezi, mbali zovuta m’moyo zingathe kukhala ndi mbali zina zopindulitsa.​—Yakobo 1:2, 3.

Ine ndi Dorothy tsopano tilibenso thanzi ndi nyonga zochitira zomwe timafuna kuchita mu utumiki wa Yehova. Komabe ndife oyamikira chithandizo cha abale ndi alongo athu okondedwa achikristu. Pafupifupi pa msonkhano uliwonse, abale amatiuza mmene amayamikirira kufikapo kwathu. Ndipo amadzipereka kuti atithandize mulimonse mmene angathere​—ngakhale kutikonzetsera nyumba ndiponso galimoto.

Mwa apo ndi apo, timatha kuchita utumiki wa upainiya wothandiza, ndiponso kuchititsa maphunziro ndi osonyeza chidwi. Chinthu chapadera chosangalatsa chomwe nthaŵi zonse timakondwera nacho ndicho kulandira nkhani kuchokera kwa mwana wathu amene akutumikira ku Africa. Timachitabe phunziro la Baibulo la banja, ngakhale kuti tsopano ndi la aŵiri tokhafe. Ndife okondwa chifukwa chakuti tinathera zaka zochuluka pa kutumikira Yehova. Iye amatitsimikizira kuti ‘sadzaiwala ntchito yathu ndi chikondi chimene tidachisonyeza kaamba ka dzina lake.’​—Ahebri 6:10.

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Velva, Bennett ndi Ine tikubatizidwa ndi Ted Klein pa April 18, 1940

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Ndili ndi mkazi wanga, Dorothy cha kumayambiriro kwa zaka za m’ma 1940 ndi mu 1997

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Nkhani yapoyera yakuti, “Kalonga Wamtendere,” ikulengezedwa pa basi yoyenda mu mzinda ku Barbados

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Mng’ono wanga Bennett kumaso kwa nyumba ya amishonale