Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Ndakalamba Ndipo Ndakhutira ndi Zaka za Moyo Wanga

YOSIMBIDWA NDI MURIEL SMITH

Tsiku lina ndinamva kugogoda pakhomo lakumaso kwa nyumba yanga. Ndinali n’tangofika kumene kuti ndidzadye nkhomaliro n’talalikira mmawa wonse. Mwachizoloŵezi, ndinali kuphika tiyi kuti ndimwe ndisanapume kwa mphindi makumi atatu. Kugogodako kunapitirizabe ndipo pamene ndinkapita kukhomoko ndinkangodzifunsa kuti, ndani angabwere kuno nthaŵi ino. Posakhalitsa ndinadziŵa. Amuna aŵiri omwe anali pakhomopo anandiuza kuti ndi maofesala apolisi. Ananena kuti abwera kudzafufuza mabuku m’nyumba mwanga opangidwa ndi gulu loletsedwa la Mboni za Yehova.

N’chifukwa chiyani Mboni za Yehova zinaletsedwa ku Australia, ndipo kodi ine ndinakhala bwanji wa Mboni? Zonse zinayamba chifukwa cha mphatso yomwe mayi anga anandipatsa mu 1910, ndili ndi zaka khumi.

MAKOLO anga, ine, ndi abale anga, tinkakhala m’nyumba yamatabwa ku Crows Nest, kumpoto kwa mzinda wa Sydney. Tsiku lina n’tabwera kusukulu, ndinapeza mayi akulankhula ndi mwamuna wina pakhomo la nyumba yathu. Ndinkalakalaka n’tamudziŵa munthu wachilendoyo amene anavala suti ndiponso ananyamula chikwama chodzaza ndi mabuku. Mwamanyazi ndinangoti, pepani ndidutse nawo, kenako ndinaloŵa m’nyumba. Komabe, patangopita mphindi zoŵerengeka, Mayi anandiitana. Anati: “Awa ali ndi mabuku abwino kwambiri ndipo onse akunena za  m’Malemba. Ndiyeno, popeza tsiku lokumbukira kubadwa kwako layandikira, nditha kudzakupatsa diresi latsopano kapena mabukuŵa. Usankhapo chiyani?”

“Aa, ndasankha mabuku Mayi,” ndinayankha motero.

Choncho ndili ndi zaka khumi, ndinali ndi mabuku atatu oyambirira akuti Studies in the Scriptures olembedwa ndi Charles Taze Russell. Munthu amene anabwerayo anauza mayi kuti afunika azindithandiza kumvetsa mabukuwo chifukwa ndekha sindingawamvetse. Mayi ananena kuti ndi okonzeka kuchita zimenezo. Mwatsoka, pasanapite nthaŵi yaitali, Mayi anamwalira. Bambo anayesetsa kutisamalira anafe, ine, mlongo wanga wamng’ono, ndiponso mng’ono wanga. Komabe, tsopano ndinali ndi ntchito zambiri, ndipo ntchitozo zinkaoneka kuti zandikulira. Ngakhale zinali choncho, tsoka lina linali litayandikira.

Nkhondo yoyamba yapadziko lonse inaulika mu 1914, ndipo patangotha chaka chimodzi, bambo athu omwe tinkawakonda kwambiri anaphedwa. Popeza tinali ana amasiye, mlongo wanga ndi mng’ono wanga anawatumiza kukakhala ndi achibale athu, ndipo ine ananditumiza ku koleji ya Akatolika yogonera komweko. Nthaŵi zina ndinali kusukidwa kwambiri. Komabe, ndikuthokoza kwambiri mwayi womwe anandipatsa wopititsa patsogolo luso langa lokonda kuimba, makamaka kuimba piyano. Patapita zaka, ndinamaliza maphunziro anga kukolejiyo. Mu 1919, ndinakwatiwa ndi Roy Smith, yemwe ankagulitsa zida zoyimbira. Mu 1920, tinabereka mwana wathu woyamba ndipo ndinayambanso kukhala ndi nkhaŵa za moyo wa tsiku ndi tsiku. Koma bwanji nanga za mabuku aja?

Mnansi Anandigaŵira Choonadi Chauzimu

Kwa zaka zonsezi, “mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo” aja ndinali kuyenda nawo. Ngakhale ndinali ndisanawaŵerenge, mumtima ndinkadziŵa kuti anali ndi uthenga wofunika. Kenako, tsiku lina chakumapeto kwa m’ma 1920, Lil Bimson, mmodzi mwa anansi athu omwe tinayandikana nawo nyumba anabwera kudzacheza. Tinapita kuchipinda chochezera, ndipo tinamwa tiyi.

“Oo, muli ndi mabuku awa eti!” iye anafuula motero.

Ndinadabwa ndipo ndinam’funsa kuti: “Mabuku ake ati?”

Iye analoza mabuku akuti Studies in the Scriptures omwe anali pa shelufu. Lil anabwereka mabukuwo n’kupita nawo kwawo ndipo anawaŵerenga mwakhama. Posakhalitsa iye anayamba kuonetsa kuti anasangalala kwambiri ndi zomwe anaŵerengazo. Lil anakatenga mabuku ena kwa Ophunzira Baibulo, dzina la Mboni za Yehova panthaŵiyo. Komanso, ankatiuza zomwe ankaphunzirazo. Limodzi mwa mabuku omwe iye anakatenga linali lakuti, Zeze wa Mulungu ndipo mwamsanga ndinapita nalo kunyumba kwathu. Kenako, moyo wanga wotumikira Yehova unayamba pamene ndinapatula nthaŵi yoŵerenga buku lofotokoza Baibulo limeneli. Potsirizira pake, ndinapeza mayankho a mafunso ofunika kwambiri omwe tchalitchi changa chinkalephera kundiyankha.

Mwamwayi, Roy nayenso anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi uthenga wa m’Baibulo ndipo tonse aŵiri tinali ophunzira Baibulo akhama. Mmbuyo monsemu, Roy anali wa kagulu kena kachipembedzo kotchedwa Freemasons. Tsopano banja lathu lonse linayamba kulambira koona ndipo kaŵiri pamlungu mbale wina ankachititsa phunziro la Baibulo ndi banja lonse. Tinalimbikitsidwanso kwambiri titayamba kupita kumisonkhano ya  Ophunzira Baibulo. Ku Sydney misonkhano imeneyi inkachitikira mu holo ina yaing’ono yomwe ankachita lendi ku Newtown. Panthaŵiyo, m’dziko lonselo munali Mboni zosakwana 400, moti abale ambiri ankayenda mtunda wautali popita kumisonkhano.

Banja lathu popita kumisonkhano tinkawoloka doko la Sydney. Mlatho wa pa doko la Sydney asanaumange mu 1932, aliyense wofuna kuwoloka, ankagwiritsa ntchito boti. Ngakhale kuti ulendowo unkatenga nthaŵi ndiponso unkafuna ndalama, tinkayesetsa kuti tisaphonye chakudya chauzimu chilichonse chomwe Yehova ankatikonzera. Khama lathu lofuna kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba linalidi laphindu chifukwa nkhondo yachiŵiri yapadziko lonse inali pafupi kuulika, ndipo nkhani yosaloŵerera m’nkhondoyo inali kudzakhudza banja lathu mwachindunji.

Nthaŵi ya Mayesero Ndiponso Madalitso

Kumayambiriro kwa m’ma 1930 inali nthaŵi yosangalatsa kwambiri kwa ine ndi banja langa. Ndinabatizidwa mu 1930, ndipo mu 1931, ndinali nawo pamsonkhano waukulu womwe tonse tinaimirira n’kulandira dzina labwino kwambiri lakuti Mboni za Yehova. Roy ndi ine tinkayesetsa kuchita mogwirizana ndi dzina limeneli mwa kulalikira nawo pogwiritsa ntchito njira zonse zolalikira ndiponso kuchita nawo ndawala zomwe gulu linkakonza. Mwachitsanzo, mu 1932 tinachita ndawala yapadera ya kabuku komwe kanakonzedwera anthu miyandamiyanda omwe anabwera kudzaonerera kutsegulira kwa mlatho wa pa doko la Sydney. Chapadera kwambiri kwa ife chinali kugwiritsa ntchito galimoto yokhala ndi zokuzira mawu. Tinalitu ndi mwayi wapadera kuti pa galimoto yathu anatiikira zokuzira mawu. Pogwiritsa ntchito makina ameneŵa, tinalengeza nkhani za m’Baibulo zokambidwa ndi Mbale Rutherford m’misewu yonse yamumzinda wa Sydney.

Komabe, zinthu zinayamba kuvuta ndipo zinapitirizabe kuvuta kwambiri. Pofika m’chaka cha 1932, dziko la Australia linali pamavuto adzaoneni azachuma moti Roy ndi ine tinaganiza zokhala ndi moyo wosalira zambiri. Mwa zina, tinasamukira kufupi ndi mpingo ndipo zimenezi zinathandiza kwambiri kuchepetsako ndalama zomwe timagwiritsa ntchito popita kumisonkhano. Komabe, mavuto azachumawo anafika poipa kwambiri pamene nkhondo yachiŵiri yapadziko lonse inakuta dziko lonse.

Chifukwa chomvera lamulo la Yesu lakuti osakhala a dziko lapansi, Mboni za Yehova ku Australia komanso padziko lonse, zinazunzidwa kwambiri. Chifukwa chopanikizika ndi nkhondo, anthu ena ankanena kuti ndife a Chikomyunizimu. Adani amenewo ankanena mabodza kuti Mboni za Yehova zikugwiritsa ntchito nyumba zawo za wailesi zisanu za ku Australia potumiza mauthenga kwa asilikali a ku Japan.

Abale achinyamata amene anawaitana ku nkhondo anali kuwawopseza kwambiri kuti agonje. Ndine wokondwa kuti ana athu aamuna onse atatu anakhalabe olimba m’chikhulupiriro ndipo sanaloŵerere pankhondoyo. Mwana wathu wamkulu, Richard, anamulamula kuti akhale m’ndende kwa miyezi 18. Mwana wathu wachiŵiri Kevin, analembetsa ku boma monga wokana kuchita zinthu zotsutsana ndi chikumbumtima chake. Komabe, mwatsoka, mwana wathu wamng’ono, Stuart, anamwalira pangozi ya njinga yamoto akupita ku khoti kukamaliza mlandu wake wokana kuloŵerera pankhondo. Ngozi imeneyi inali yopweteka kwambiri. Komabe, kuika zinthu za Ufumu patsogolo ndiponso kuganizira lonjezo la Yehova la chiukiriro kunatithandiza kupirira.

Anaphonya Zinthu Zofunika Kwambiri

Mu January 1941, Mboni za Yehova ku Australia zinaletsedwa. Koma monga anachitira atumwi a Yesu, Roy ndi ine tinamvera Mulungu monga wolamulira koposa anthu. Ndipo kwa zaka ziŵiri ndi theka tinapitirizabe kugwira ntchito yathu mobisa. Inali nthaŵi imeneyi pamene apolisi omwe ndatchula koyambirira kuja anagogoda pakhomo la nyumba yathu atavala zovala wamba. Kodi zinatani?

Eya, ndinawauza kuti aloŵe. Ataloŵa, ndinawapempha kuti, “Kodi zingatheke kuti ndimalize kaye kumwa tiyi musanayambe kufufuza chilichonse m’nyumba muno?” Ndinadabwa kuti anavomera, ndipo ndinapita kukhichini kukapemphera kwa Yehova ndipo ndinakhazikitsa mtima pansi. N’tabwerako, wapolisi wina anapita pomwe tinkaika mabuku n’kutenga chilichonse chomwe chinali ndi chizindikiro cha Watchtower kuphatikizapo mabuku omwe anali m’chikwama changa cha mu utumiki ndi Baibulo lomwe.

 “Kodi palibenso mabuku ena omwe munabisa m’makatoni kwina kwake?” iye anafunsa motero. “Tamva kuti mumachita msonkhano mlungu uliwonse mu holo yomwe ili kumapeto kwa msewu uwu ndipo akuti mumapita ndi mabuku ambiri kumeneko.”

Ndinayankha kuti: “N’zoonadi, koma ndi kale zinkachitika zimenezo osati panopa ayi.”

Iye anati: “Inde, zimenezo tikudziŵa, Mayi Smith. Tikudziŵanso kuti mabuku mukusungira m’nyumba za anthu m’chigawo chonse chino.”

Kuchipinda chogona cha mwana wathu wamwamuna, anapezako makatoni asanu a timabuku takuti Freedom or Romanism.

“Kodi mukunenetsa kuti ku galaja kulibe chilichonse?” anafunsa motero.

“Ayi, kulibe,” ndinayankha motero.

Kenako anatsegula m’kabati yomwe inali ku chipinda chodyera. Anapezamo mafomu osalembapo chilichonse omwe tinkagwiritsa ntchito polemba malipoti a mpingo. Anatenga zonsezo ndipo analimbikira zoti akaone ku galaja.

Ndinawauza kuti: “Chabwino bwerani kuno.”

Ananditsatira kupita ku galaja ndipo atatha kufufuza kumeneko, anapita.

Apolisiwo ankaganiza kuti m’makatoni asanu aja muli zonse zomwe ankafuna! Komabe, anasiya zinthu zofunika kwambiri. Eetu, masiku amenewo ndinali mlembi wampingo ndipo ndinali ndi m’ndandanda wa maina a ofalitsa onse ndiponso makalata ena ofunika kwambiri m’nyumba mwanga. Mwamwayi, abale anatichenjezeratu za kufufuzako, ndipo ndinabisa mosamala makalata onse ofunika kwambiri. Ndinawaika mu envulopu n’kuwaika pansi pa zitini za tiyi, shuga, ndi ufa. Ndinabisanso zinthu zina m’khola la nkhuku lomwe linali pafupi ndi galaja. Choncho, apolisiwo anangopitirira malo omwe akanapeza zinthu zofunika kwambiri zomwe ankafuna.

Kuchita Utumiki wa Nthaŵi Zonse

Pofika m’chaka cha 1947, ana athu akuluakulu anali atayamba mabanja awo. Panthaŵiyi, Roy ndi ine tinaganiza kuti n’zotheka tsopano kuyamba utumiki wanthaŵi zonse. Ku dera lakumwera kwa Australia kunkafunika olalikira ambiri, choncho tinagulitsa nyumba yathu n’kugula kalavani yomwe tinaitcha kuti Mizpah kutanthauza kuti “Nsanja ya Olonda.” Kugwiritsa ntchito kalavani kunatithandiza kulalikira m’madera akumidzi. Nthaŵi zambiri tinkalalikira m’madera omwe kunalibe olalikira. Pali zosangalatsa zambiri za m’masiku amenewo zomwe ndikuzikumbukirabe. Mmodzi mwa amene ndinkaphunzira nawo Baibulo anali mtsikana, dzina lake Beverly. Iye anasamuka m’deralo asanafike poti n’kubatizidwa. Tangoganizani chimwemwe chomwe ndinali nacho pamene patapita zaka zambiri, mlongo wina pamsonkhano waukulu anabwera kwa ine n’kundiuza kuti iyeyo ndi Beverly! Ndinalitu ndi chimwemwe chodzaza tsaya kumuona iye patapita zaka zambiri, akutumikira Yehova pamodzi ndi mwamuna wake ndi ana ake omwe.

Mu 1979, ndinali ndi mwayi wochita nawo Sukulu ya Utumiki Waupainiya. Imodzi mwa mfundo zomwe anatsindika kwambiri pasukuluyo inali yoti, kuti munthu apitirize utumiki waupainiya afunika kukhala ndi chizoloŵezi chabwino chochita phunziro laumwini. Ndinaonadi kuti zimenezo n’zoona. Kuŵerenga, kusonkhana, ndiponso kulalikira ndizo ndakhala ndikuchita pa moyo wanga wonse. Ndi mwayi wanga wapadera kuti ndatumikira monga mpainiya wokhazikika kwa zaka zoposa 50.

Kulimbana ndi Matenda

Komabe, zaka makumi angapo zapitazi, ndakumana ndi mavuto apadera kwambiri. Mu 1962,  ndinadwala maso. Panthaŵiyo, mankhwala omwe ankapezeka sanali amphamvu kwenikweni ndipo maso anga anawonongeka mofulumira kwambiri. Nayenso Roy sanali kupeza bwino kwenikweni, ndipo mu 1983 anadwala kwambiri matenda oumitsa ziŵalo a sitiroko moti ankalephera kulankhula. Iye anamwalira mu 1986. Iye anandithandiza kwambiri panthaŵi yautumiki wanga wanthaŵi zonse ndipo ndimam’pukwa kwambiri.

Ngakhale ndinakumana ndi zinthu zofooketsa zimenezi, ndinayesetsa kupitirizabe kuchita zinthu zauzimu. Ndinagula galimoto yoyenera kupita nayo kokalalikira m’madera akumidzi, ndipo mwana wanga wamkazi Joyce, anandithandiza kupitiriza utumiki wanga waupainiya. Maso anga anapitiriza kuwonongeka moti diso limodzi linasiiratu kupenya. Dokotala analichotsa n’kuikapo diso lagalasi. Ngakhale zinali choncho, ndinkaŵerenga kwa maola atatu mpaka asanu pogwiritsa ntchito magalasi ndiponso mabuku azilembo zazikulu.

Kwa ine, nthaŵi yoŵerenga ndi yamtengo wapatali kwambiri nthaŵi zonse. Choncho mutha kuona kuti zinali zopweteka kwambiri kuti tsiku lina madzulo pamene ndinali kuŵerenga, maso anga anangoti phii, osaonanso chilichonse. Zinali ngati kuti wina wazimitsa nyali. Maso anga anasiyira pomwepo kuona. Kodi tsopano ndimaŵerenga bwanji? Eya, ngakhale kuti tsopano makutu anga sakumva kwenikweni, moyo wanga wauzimu umadalira kumvetsera makaseti ndiponso banja langa.

Kupirira Mpaka Mapeto

Popeza kuti tsopano ndili ndi zaka zoposa 100, umoyo wanga wasintha kwambiri moti sinditha kuchita zinthu zina. Nthaŵi zina ndimasokonezeka. Popeza tsopano sindiona, nthaŵi zina ndimasochera! Ndimalakalaka n’takhalanso ndi maphunziro a Baibulo, koma ndi mmene umoyo wanga ulili panopa, sindingathe kuwapeza. Poyamba, zimenezi zinkandipweteka kwambiri. Ndinachita kuphunzira kuvomereza kuti sindingathe kuchita zinthu zina m’malo mwake ndizingochita zimene ndingathe. Zimenezi zinali zovuta kwambiri. Komabe, ndine wokondwa kuti mwezi uliwonse ndimapereka malipoti a nthaŵi yomwe ndathera kulankhula za Mulungu wathu wamkulu, Yehova. Ndimagwiritsa ntchito mwayi uliwonse umene ndapeza kulankhula za Baibulo kwa anthu ngati manesi, amalonda, ndiponso ena amene amabwera kunyumba kwanga. Komatu ndimachita zimenezi mwanzeru.

Ena mwa madalitso aakulu kwambiri omwe ndapeza ndiwo kuona ana anga, zidzukulu zanga, zidzukulutuvi zanga, ndiponso ana a zidzukulutuvi zanga akulambira Yehova mokhulupirika. Ena mwa ameneŵa adzipereka kutumikira monga apainiya m’madera omwe kukufunika olalikira ambiri, ena ndi akulu ndi atumiki otumikira, ndiponso ena ali pa Beteli. Monga momwe zinalili ndi ambiri a mbadwo wanga, inenso ndinkayembekezera kuti mapeto a dongosolo lino la zinthu afika posachedwa panthaŵi imeneyo. Koma kwa zaka makumi asanu ndi aŵiri zomwe ndakhala ndikutumikira, ndaona Mboni zikuwonjezeka kwadzaoneni! Ndimamva bwino kwambiri kuti ndagwira nawo ntchito yaikulu kwambiri.

Manesi amene amabwera kudzandiona amanena kuti n’chikhulupiriro changa chomwe chikundichititsa kukhalabe ndi moyo. Inenso ndikuvomereza zimenezo. Kutumikira Yehova mwakhama kumabweretsadi moyo wabwino koposa. Monga Mfumu Davide, inenso ndinganenedi kuti ndakalamba ndipo ndakhutira ndi zaka za moyo wanga.​—1 Mbiri 29:28.

(Mlongo Muriel Smith anamwalira pa April 1, 2002, pamene nkhani ino anali kuimaliza kukonza. Anamwalira kutatsala mwezi umodzi kuti akwanitse zaka 102. Kunena zoona, analidi chitsanzo chabwino cha kukhulupirika ndi kupirira.)

[Zithunzi patsamba 24]

Ndili ndi zaka pafupifupi zisanu komanso pamene ndinakumana ndi mwamuna wanga, Roy ndili ndi zaka 19

[Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Galimoto lathu ndiponso kalavani yomwe tinaitcha kuti Mizpah

[Chithunzi patsamba 27]

Ndili ndi mwamuna wanga, Roy, mu 1971