Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Kutsatabe Njira ya Yehova Kumatipatsa Mphamvu ndi Chimwemwe

YOSIMBIDWA NDI LUIGGI D. VALENTINO

“Njira ndi iyi, yendani inu m’menemo.” Akulangiza motero Yehova. (Yesaya 30:21) Kutsata malangizo ameneŵa kwakhala cholinga changa kuyambira pamene ndinabatizidwa zaka 60 zapitazo. Chimenechi chinakhala cholinga changa ndili wamng’ono, kutsatira chitsanzo cha makolo anga, omwe anachokera ku Italy n’kukakhala ku Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., mu 1921. Iwo anali ndi ana atatu​—mkulu wanga Mike, ineyo, ndi mlongo wanga Lydia.

MAKOLO anga anali kufunafuna chipembedzo choona, mapeto ake, anangosiya mokhumudwa. Koma tsiku lina mu 1932, bambo anali kumvera pulogalamu ya pawailesi ya m’Chitaliyana. Inali kuulutsidwa ndi Mboni za Yehova ndipo bambo anasangalala ndi zimene anamva. Pofuna kudziŵa zambiri, analemba kalata, ndipo Mboni yachitaliyana inabwera kunyumba kwathu kuchokera ku likulu lawo ku Brooklyn, New York. Atakambirana zochititsa chidwi mpaka mbandakucha, makolo anga anakhutira kuti apeza chipembedzo choona.

Bambo ndi mayi anayamba kupita kumisonkhano yachikristu ndipo mosangalala, ankapereka malo ogona kwa oyang’anira oyendayenda. Ngakhale kuti ndinali wamng’ono, anthuwa anandilola kumapita nawo kolalikira ndi kundipangitsa kuganizira za kutumikira Yehova nthaŵi  zonse. Mmodzi wa alendowo, anali Carey W. Barber, yemwe tsopano ali m’Bungwe Lolamulira la Mboni za Yehova. Patapita kanthaŵi pang’ono, ndinabatizidwa mu February 1941, ndili ndi zaka 14 ndipo mu 1944, ndinayamba kutumikira monga mpainiya ku Cleveland. Nayenso Mike ndi Lydia anayamba kutsatira njira ya choonadi cha Baibulo. Mike anatumikira Yehova mpaka pamene anamwalira, ndipo Lydia anatumikira limodzi ndi mwamuna wake Harold Weidner, yemwe anali woyang’anira woyendayenda kwa zaka 28. Tsopano ndi atumiki apadera a nthaŵi zonse.

Kukhala M’ndende Kunandilimbikitsa

Kuchiyambi kwa 1945, ndinaikidwa m’ndende ya Ohio’s Chillicothe Federal Prison chifukwa chakuti chikumbumtima changa chophunzitsidwa Baibulo chinandipangitsa kutsata mawu a pa Yesaya 2:4 omwe amanena za kusula malupanga kukhala zolimira. Nthaŵi ina, akuluakulu a ndendeyo analola akaidi a Mboni kuti azikhala ndi mabuku angapo ofotokoza Baibulo ofalitsidwa ndi Mboni za Yehova. Komabe, Mboni za mpingo wapafupi zinatithandiza. Nthaŵi zina ankasiya mabuku angapo m’minda yoyandikana ndi ndendeyo. M’mamaŵa, akaidi akamapita kumalo antchito, ankafufuza mabukuwo ndipo analoŵa nawo m’ndendeyo. Nthaŵi imene ndinafika kundendeko, anatilola kukhala ndi mabuku ambiri. Ngakhale zinali choncho, ndinaphunzira kuona chakudya chauzimu chimene Yehova amatipatsa kukhala chamtengo wapatali kuposa kale lonse. Ndimakumbukira phunziro limenelo nthaŵi iliyonse ndikalandira magazini atsopano a Nsanja ya Olonda kapena Galamukani!

Ngakhale anatilola kumachita misonkhano ya mpingo m’ndendemo, anthu omwe sanali a Mboni sanawalole kusonkhana nafe. Komabe, akuluakulu ena a ndendeyo ndi akaidi ena, ankasonkhana nafe mobisa, mpaka angapo analandira choonadi. (Machitidwe 16:30-34) Mbale A. H. Macmillan akabwera kudzacheza nafe, ankatilimbikitsa kwambiri. Nthaŵi zonse ankatitsimikizira kuti nthaŵi yomwe takhala m’ndende sinapite pachabe chifukwa tikukonzekera maudindo a m’tsogolo. Mbale wachikulire wokondedwa ameneyo anandifika pamtima ndi kulimbitsa cholinga changa cha kuyendabe m’njira ya Yehova.

Ndinapeza Mnzanga

Nkhondo yachiŵiri ya padziko lonse inatha, ndipo tinamasulidwa. Ndinayambiranso upainiya, utumiki wanthaŵi zonse. Koma mu 1947 bambo anamwalira. Kuti ndithandize banja lathu, ndinayamba ntchito. Ndinaphunziranso kuchiritsa anthu mwa kuwasinika minofu. Luso limeneli linadzandithandiza panthaŵi yovuta imene ine ndi mkazi wanga tinakumana nayo zaka 30 m’tsogolo mwake. Koma ndayamba kunena zam’tsogolo. Bwanji ndifotokoze kaye za mkazi wanga.

Tsiku lina masana mu 1949 ndili m’Nyumba ya Ufumu, ndinamva kulira kwa telefoni. Nditayankha foniyo, ndinamva timawu tokoma tikuti: “Dzina langa ndi Christine Genchur. Ndine wa Mboni za Yehova. Ndinabwera kuno ku Cleveland kudzafuna ntchito ndipo ndikufuna kupeza mpingo.” Nyumba yathu ya Ufumu inali kutali ndi kumene iye amakhala, koma timawuto tinandisangalatsa. Choncho ndinam’fotokozera mmene angayendere ndi kum’limbikitsa kuti abwere Lamlungu, tsiku limene ndinakamba nkhani yapoyera. Lamlungulo, ndinali woyamba kufika pa Nyumba ya Ufumu, koma panalibe mlongo wachilendo yemwe anabwera. Pamene ndinali kukamba nkhani, ndinkayang’anayang’ana kukhomo koma sanabwere. Tsiku lotsatira, ndinamuimbira telefoni, ndipo iye anati sanali kudziŵa mmene mabasi amayendera. Ndiye ndinadzipereka kukumana naye ndi kum’longosolera bwinobwino.

Anandiuza kuti kwawo kwa makolo ake ndi ku Czechoslovakia, ndipo anayamba kugwirizana ndi Ophunzira Baibulo ataŵerenga kabuku kakuti Where Are the Dead? (Kodi Akufa Ali Kuti?) Makolo ake anabatizidwa mu 1935. Mu 1938, bambo a Christine anakhala mtumiki wa gulu (yemwe tsopano timati woyang’anira wotsogolera) mu mpingo wa Mboni za Yehova ku Clymer, ku Pennsylvania, U.S.A., ndipo mu 1947, Christine anabatizidwa ali ndi zaka 16. Mwamsanga, ndinayamba kum’konda mlongo wokongola wokhwima mwauzimu ameneyu. Tinakwatirana pa June  24, 1950. Kuyambira pamenepo, Christine wakhala mnzanga wokhulupirika, wofunitsitsa kuchita za Ufumu wa Mulungu choyamba nthaŵi zonse. Ndikuthokoza Yehova kuti mnzanga woyenera ameneyu anavomera kukhala ndi ine moyo wonse.​—Miyambo 31:10.

Sitinayembekezere Mpang’ono Pomwe

Pa November 1, 1951, tinayamba upainiya. Zaka ziŵiri zitadutsa, pamsonkhano waukulu ku Toledo, Ohio, Mbale Hugo Riemer ndi Mbale Albert Schroeder analankhula kwa gulu la apainiya ofuna utumiki wa umishonale. Ife tinali nawo m’gululo. Tinalimbikitsidwa kupitirizabe upainiya ku Cleveland, koma m’mwezi wotsatirawo, anatiitana kukakhala nawo m’kalasi nambala 23 la Sukulu ya Gileadi yophunzitsa Baibulo ya Watchtower yomwe inali kudzayamba mu February 1954. Izi sitinaziyembekezere mpang’ono pomwe.

Tili paulendo wopita ku Sukulu ya Gileadi, yomwe panthaŵiyo inali ku South Lansing ku New York, Christine anali ndi mantha kwambiri ndipo ankandiuza kuti, “Dziyendetsa pang’onopang’ono!” Ine ndinati, “Christine, ngati tingayende pang’onopang’ono kuposa apa ndiye tiimatu.” Koma titafika kusukuluko, tinakhala omasuka. Mbale Nathan Knorr analandira gulu la ophunzira ndi kutionetsa malowo. Anafotokozanso mmene tingasamalire madzi ndi magetsi. Ananenetsa kuti kusamala zinthu n’kofunika kwambiri pogwira ntchito za Ufumu. Langizo limenelo linakhazikika m’mitima yathu. Timalitsatirabe.

Kupita ku Rio

Maphunziro athu anatha mwamsanga ndipo pa December 10, 1954, tinakwera ndege mosangalala mu mzinda wozizira wa New York City, poganizira za gawo lathu latsopano lotentha ku Rio de Janeiro, m’dziko la Brazil. Tinayenda limodzi ndi amishonale anzathu, Peter ndi Billie Carrbello paulendowu. Ulendowu unayenera kutenga maola 24 poima ku Puerto Rico, Venezuela, ndi ku Belém, kumpoto kwa Brazil. Komabe, chifukwa cha kuvuta kwa injini ya ndege, mzinda wa Rio de Janeiro unaonekera patapita maola 36. Unali mzinda wokongola bwanji! Magetsi ake anali kuwala ngati diamondi wonyezimira pakalapeti yakuda, ndipo kuwala kwa mwezi kunali kunyezimira m’madzi padoko la Guanabara.

Anthu angapo a m’banja la Beteli anali kutidikira pabwalo la ndege. Atatilandira ndi manja aŵiri, anatitengera ku ofesi ya nthambi ndipo tinagona m’ma 3 koloko mbandakucha. Maola angapo pambuyo pake, belo lodzutsa anthu linatikumbutsa kuti tsiku lathu loyamba monga amishonale lafika!

Phunziro la Mwamsanga

Posakhalitsa, tinaphunzira phunziro lofunika. Tinapita kukacheza kunyumba kwa banja la Mboni madzulo. Pamene tinafuna kubwerera ku nthambi, mwini nyumbayo anakana nati “Ayi musapite, kuli mvula,” ndipo anayesetsa kutilimbikitsa kuti tigone komweko. Pokana maganizo akewo, ndinanena moseleula kuti, “Kumene tachokera imagwanso mvula.” Choncho tinanyamuka.

Chifukwa cha mapiri ozungulira mzinda wa Rio, madzi a mvula amadzaza msanga mu mzindawo, ndipo kaŵirikaŵiri amasefukira. Posapita nthaŵi, madzi anatifika m’maondo. Pafupi ndi nthambi, misewu inali itasanduka mitsinje madzi ake ofika m’chifuwa. Pamene timafika ku Beteli tinali titanyoŵeratu. Tsiku lotsatira, Christine sanali kupeza bwino ndipo anadwala matenda a typhoid fever omwe anam’fooketsa kwa nthaŵi yaitali. N’zoonekeratu kuti monga amishonale atsopano, tinayenera kumvera malangizo a Mboni za kumeneko.

Kuyamba Umishonale ndi Ntchito Yoyendayenda

Pambuyo pa vuto limeneli, tinayamba utumiki wa kumunda mwachidwi.  Tinkachita kuŵerenga Chipwitikizi kwa aliyense yemwe takumana naye, ndipo tinali kuchiphunzira mofanana. Mwininyumba wina anauza Christine kuti, “Ndikumva zomwe mukunena koma osati za awa,” kuloza ine. Mwininyumba wina anauza ine kuti, “Ndikumva zomwe mukunena koma osati za awo.” Ngakhale zinali choncho, tinali okondwa kugawira masabusikiripishoni 100 a Nsanja ya Olonda pa milungu yoyambirira imeneyi. Ndiponso, angapo mwa omwe tinaphunzira nawo Baibulo ku Brazil, anabatizidwa m’chaka choyamba, kutionetsa mmene utumiki wa umishonale ungakhalire wopindulitsa.

M’kati mwa ma 1950, mipingo yambiri ku Brazil siinkayenderedwa kaŵirikaŵiri ndi oyang’anira dera chifukwa cha kusowa kwa abale oyeneretsedwa. Choncho, ngakhale kuti ndinali kuphunzirabe chilankhulo, ndiponso ndisanakambepo nkhani yapoyera m’Chipwitikizi, ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anira dera mu mzinda wa São Paulo mu 1956.

Pakuti mpingo woyamba kuuchezera unali usanalandirepo woyang’anira dera kwa zaka ziŵiri, aliyense anali kuyembekezera mwachidwi nkhani yapoyera. Pokonzekera nkhaniyo, ndinatenga ndime za mu Nsanja ya Olonda ya Chipwitikizi ndi kuzilemba papepala. Lamlungu limenelo, Nyumba ya Ufumu inadzaza. Anthu anakhala ngakhale pa pulatifomu, onse akudikira nkhani yapaderayi. Nkhaniyo, kapena nditi kuŵerenga kunayambika. Nthaŵi ndi nthaŵi ndinkayang’ana omvera, ndipo ndinadabwa kuti palibe yemwe anali kuyendayenda ngakhale ana. Onse anali kundiyang’anitsitsa. Chamumtima ndinati: ‘Eee Valentino, wayamba kulankhula Chipwitikizi chabwino bwanji! Anthuwa akumvetsera.’ Patapita zaka, ndinayenderanso mpingowo, ndipo mbale yemwe analipo patsiku loyamba lija anati: “Mukukumbukira nkhani yapoyera munakamba ija? Sitinamvepo kanthu.” Ndinavomereza kuti ngakhale ine sindinaimvetsetse nkhaniyo.

M’chaka choyamba m’ntchito yadera, kaŵirikaŵiri ndinkaŵerenga Zekariya 4:6. Mawu akuti “ndi mphamvu ayi, koma ndi Mzimu wanga,” amandikumbutsa kuti ntchito ya Ufumu inapita m’tsogolo chifukwa cha mzimu wa Yehova basi. Ndipo inapitadi m’tsogolo ngakhale ife tinali operewera.

Kukumana ndi Mavuto ndi Madalitso

Ntchito ya dera inatanthauza kuyendayenda m’dzikolo titanyamula makina otaipira, makatoni a mabuku, masutikesi, ndi mabulifikesi. Christine anali kuŵerenga katundu yense kuti tisaiwale kanthu potsika m’basi ina kupita mu ina. Sichinali chachilendo kuyenda pa basi kwa maola 15 m’misewu yafumbi popita ku mpingo wina. Nthaŵi zina zinali zochititsa mantha makamaka mabasi aŵiri akamasemphana modutsana pafupi kwambiri pa mlatho wosalimba. Tinayendanso pasitima za pamtunda, za pamadzi, ndi pa mahatchi.

Mu 1961 tinayamba ntchito yoyang’anira chigawo, kuyenda kuchokera ku dera ili kupita ku dera lina m’malo mwa mpingo ndi mpingo. Madzulo angapo pa mlungu, tinkaonetsa mafilimu opangidwa ndi gulu la Yehova m’malo osiyanasiyana. Kaŵirikaŵiri, tinkachita zinthu mochenjera chifukwa akuluakulu a chipembedzo ankayesetsa kuti atilepheretse kuonetsa mafilimuwo. M’tauni ina, wansembe anakakamiza mwini holo yemwe tinagwirizana naye kuti atikanize holoyo. Titafunafuna kwa masiku angapo, tinapeza malo ena. Koma sitinauze wina aliyense ndipo tinapitirizabe kuitanira anthu ku malo oyamba aja. Nthaŵi yoyamba kuonetsa itatsala pang’ono, Christine anapita ku holo ija ndipo mwakachetechete analondolera omwe ankafuna kuonera filimuyo ku malo atsopanowo. Tsiku limenelo, anthu 150, anaonera filimuyo yomwe inali ndi mutu woyenerera wakuti The New World Society in Action.

Ngakhale kuti ntchito yoyendayenda ku madera akutalikutali inali yovuta nthaŵi zina, abale odzichepetsa a kumeneko ankayamikira kwambiri maulendo athu ndipo ankatichereza ndi kutipatsa malo m’nyumba zawo zing’onozing’ono mwakuti nthaŵi zonse tinali kuthokoza Yehova pokhala nawo. Kukhala nawo paubwenzi kunatipatsa madalitso osangalatsa. (Miyambo 19:17; Hagai 2:7) Tinali okhumudwa kwambiritu kuti titatumikira kwa zaka zopitirira 21 ku Brazil, masiku athu aumishonale anafika kumapeto!

 Pamavuto, Yehova Anatithandiza

Mu 1975, Christine anamuchita opaleshoni. Tinayambanso ntchito yoyendayenda, koma umoyo wa Christine sunali bwino kwenikweni. Tinaona kuti n’koyenera kubwerera ku United States kuti akalandire chithandizo cha mankhwala. Mu April 1976, tinafika ku Long Beach, ku California komwe tinakhala ndi mayi anga. Pakuti tinali kunja kwa zaka 20, sitinadziŵe chochita ndi vuto lathulo. Ndinayamba kuchiritsa anthu mwa kuwasinika minofu kotchedwa massage ndipo ndalama zomwe ndimapeza ndizo zinkatithandiza. Boma la California linam’patsa Christine chipinda m’chipatala, koma anali kufookerafookera tsiku ndi tsiku chifukwa madokotala ankakana kumuthandiza popanda kumuika magazi. Tinasoweratu mtengo wogwira, ndipo tinapempha Yehova kuti atitsogolere.

Tsiku lina masana pamene ndinali kulalikira, ndinaona ofesi ya dokotala, ndipo mwamsanga ndinaganiza kuti ndiloŵe. Ngakhale kuti dokotalayo anali akuŵeruka, anandilola ndipo tinakambirana kwa maola aŵiri. Kenako anati: “Ndikuthokoza ntchito yanu ya umishonale, ndipo ndidzam’thandiza mkazi wanu popanda kumuika magazi ndiponso mwaulere.” Sindinakhulupirire zomwe ananenazo.

Dokotala wokoma mtima ameneyu, yemwe anali wodziŵika kwambiri, anasamutsira Christine ku chipatala chomwe ankagwirako ntchito. Atachita zonse zothekera, Christine anayamba kupeza bwino. Tinathokoza kwambiri kuti Yehova anatisonyeza chochita panthaŵi ya mavuto.

Ntchito Zatsopano

Pamene Christine anapezanso mphamvu, tinatumikira monga apainiya ndipo tinali ndi chimwemwe chifukwa chothandiza anthu angapo ku Long Beach kukhala olambira Yehova. Mu 1982 tinapemphedwa kugwira ntchito yoyang’anira dera ku United States. Tinkathokoza Yehova tsiku ndi tsiku chifukwa chotigwiritsanso ntchito yoyendayenda​—utumiki womwe timaukonda. Tinatumikira ku California kenako ku New England, komwe kunali mipingo ina ya Chipwitikizi. Pambuyo pake deralo linaphatikizapo ku Bermuda.

Patatha zaka zinayi zokumbutsira ntchito yathu, tinapatsidwa ntchito ina. Tinapemphedwa kukatumikira monga apainiya apadera kulikonse komwe tikufuna. Ngakhale kuti sizinatisangalatse kusiya ntchito yoyendayenda, tinali otsimikiza kupitirizabe ndi ntchito yathu yatsopano. Koma kodi tinapita kuti? Pamene ndinali woyang’anira dera, ndinaona kuti mpingo wa Chipwitikizi ku New Bedford, ku Massachusetts, ukufunikira thandizo. Choncho tinapita ku New Bedford.

Titafika, mpingowo unatilandira ndi phwando lalikulu. Zimenezo zinatipangitsa kudzimva kuti ndife ofunika. Tinagwetsa misozi. Mokoma mtima, banja lina la ana aŵiri ang’onoang’ono, linatitenga kuti tikhale nawo m’nyumba yawo mpaka titapeza nyumba yathu. Ndithudi Yehova anadalitsa upainiya wapadera umenewu kuposa mmene tinaganizira. Kuyambira mu 1986, tathandiza anthu osiyanasiyana 40 m’tauni ino, kukhala Mboni. Ameneŵa ndi banja lathu lauzimu. Kuwonjezera apo, ndinali ndi chimwemwe kuona abale asanu akukula kukhala abusa osamalira gulu. Zakhalatu zopindulitsa monga utumiki wa umishonale.

Tikayang’ana m’mbuyo, tikusangalala kuti tatumikira Yehova kuyambira tili ana ndipo tapanga choonadi kukhala njira ya moyo wathu. N’zoona kuti ndife okalamba ndi ofooka matupi tsopano, koma kutsatabe njira ya Yehova kumatipatsa mphamvu ndi chimwemwe.

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Titangofika kumene ku Rio de Janeiro

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Banja lathu lauzimu ku New Bedford, Massachusetts