Mabwenzi a Mulungu pa Zisumbu za Tonga

M’chaka cha 1932 boti lina linapita ku Tonga ndi mbewu yofunika kwambiri. Mmalinyero wamkulu wa botilo anapatsa a Charles Vete kabuku ka “Kodi Akufa Ali Kuti?” A Charles anakhulupirira kuti apeza choonadi. Kenako, likulu la Mboni za Yehova linavomereza pempho la a Charles loti amasulire kabukuko m’chinenero cha kumeneko. Atatsiriza ntchito yomasulirayo, a Charles analandira timabuku timeneti 1,000 tosindikizidwa pamakina ndipo anayamba kutigawa kwa anthu. Umu ndi mmene mbewu ya choonadi chonena za Ufumu wa Yehova inayambira kufesedwera m’dziko la Tonga.

DZIKO la Tonga lili m’nyanja yamchere ya South Pacific. Chisumbu chachikulu pa zisumbu zomwe zimapanga dzikoli ndi chisumbu cha Tongatapu. Chili pa mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 2,000 kumpoto chakummawa kwa mzinda wa Auckland, wa ku New Zealand. Tonga, ndi dziko la zisumbu zokhazokha zokwana 171, ndipo zisumbu 45 mwa zisumbuzi ndizo zili ndi anthu. Woyendera malo wotchuka kwambiri wa m’zaka za m’ma 1700 wa ku Britain, dzina lake James Cook, anatcha zisumbu zomwe zili kwazokha zimenezi dzina lakuti “Friendly Islands” chifukwa cha ubwenzi wa anthu ake.

Zisumbu za dziko la Tonga, lomwe lili ndi anthu pafupifupi 106,000, zinagawidwa m’magulu atatu, ndipo zisumbu zazikulu kwambiri pa maguluwa ndi zisumbu za Tongatapu, Ha’apai, ndi Vava’u. Mwa mipingo isanu ya Mboni za Yehova yomwe ili pazisumbuzi, mipingo itatu ili pa zisumbu zotchuka za Tongatapu, umodzi uli pa zisumbu za Ha’apai, ndipo winawo uli pa zisumbu za Vava’u. Pofuna kuthandiza anthu kuti akhale mabwenzi a Mulungu, Mboni za Yehova zili ndi nyumba ya amishonale ndiponso ofesi yomasulira mabuku kufupi ndi mzinda wa Nuku’alofa, womwe ndi likulu la dzikolo.​—Yesaya 41:8.

Kuyambira m’ma 1930, a Charles Vete ankadziwika kwambiri kuti ndi a Mboni za Yehova, ngakhale kuti anali osabatizidwa mpaka mu 1964. Anthu ena anayamba kugwira ntchito yolalikira pamodzi ndi iwowa, ndipo mu 1966 kunamangidwa Nyumba ya Ufumu yolowa anthu 30. Mu 1970 ku Nuku’alofa kunakhazikitsidwa  mpingo wa ofalitsa Ufumu okwana 20.

Kuchokera nthawi imeneyo, zakhala zosavuta kuona kuti mawu a mneneri Yesaya akukwaniritsidwa pazisumbu za Tonga. Mawuwo amati: “Apereke ulemerero kwa Yehova, anene matamando ake m’zisumbu.” (Yesaya 42:12) Ntchito ya Ufumu yapitiriza kupita patsogolo, zomwe zathandiza anthu ambiri kukhala paubwenzi ndi Yehova. Pamsonkhano wachigawo ku Nuku’alofa mu 2003, panasonkhana anthu 407, ndipo panabatizidwa anthu asanu. Anthu 621 anachita nawo Chikumbutso cha mu 2004, zomwe zikutipatsa chiyembekezo chakuti Mboni pa zisumbuzi zidzachuluka.

Anthu Amakhala Moyo Wosalira Zambiri

Komabe, n’zoonekeratu kuti kumadera akutali kwambiri ndi likulu la dzikoli kulibe olengeza ufumu okwanira. Mwachitsanzo, anthu okwana 8,500 omwe ali ku zisumbu 16 za ku Ha’apai zomwe kumakhala anthu akufunika kumva zambiri za choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Zisumbu zambiri za Ha’apai n’zotsika, zili ndi migwalangwa yambiri ndiponso madoko aataliatali, amchenga wotuwa. Kunyanja, madzi ake n’ngoyera bwino moti munthu angathe kuona bwinobwino mamita oposa 30 pansi pamadzi. Kusambira limodzi ndi nsomba mitundu yoposa 100 zokongola za m’derali m’miyala yokongola kwambiri ya pansi pamadzi n’kosangalatsa kwabasi. Midzi yambiri ndi ing’onoing’ono. Nyumba zam’midziyi, ngakhale kuti n’zing’onozing’ono komanso sazimanga ndi zipangizo zapamwamba, n’zomangidwa moti zisagwe ndi mphepo zamkuntho.

Kuli mitengo ya zipatso zosiyasiyana kuphatikizapo mango yomwe imapatsa anthu mithunzi ndiponso chakudya. Anthu pazisumbuzi amatha nthawi yambiri tsiku lililonse kufunafuna ndi kukonza chakudya. Amakonda kwambiri nyama yankhumba, komanso zakudya zosiyanasiyana za m’nyanja. Mabanja amakhala ndi minda yolimamo mbewu monga chinangwa, mbatata ndi zina komanso ndiwo zamasamba. Mitengo ya malalanje imangodzimerera yokha; ndipo kuli mitengo yambiri ya koko ndiponso kuli nthochi zambiri. Ana amaphunzira mankhwala a zitsamba kuchokera kwa makolo awo omwenso anaphunzira kwa makolo awo.

Komabe, chosangalatsa kwambiri pa zisumbu za Ha’apai ndi anthu ake omwe ndi ansangala, ndipo siziwavuta kukhala m’malo abata amenewa. Anthuwa sakhala moyo wolira zambiri. Azimayi ambiri amagwira ntchito zoluka madengu, kuwomba nsalu kuchokera ku makungwa a mitengo, ndiponso kuluka mphasa. Azimayi a ku Tonga amakhala pamtengo wamthunzi n’kumagwira ntchito zawo, nkhani ndi nyimbo zili pakamwa kwinakunso akuseka, ndipo nthawi zambiri ana amakhala akusewera kapena atagona poteropo. Komanso nthawi zambiri nyanja ikakhala bata, azimayi ndi amene amapita kunyanjako kukapha nsomba ndi kukafuna zakudya zina kuphatikizapo tomera tina tomwe amapanga saladi wokoma kwambiri.

Abambo ambiri amakhala akulima, kusodza, kusema zinthu zosiyanasiyana, kukonza mabwato, ndiponso akombe. Abambo, amayi ndi ana amayenda kuchoka pa chisumbu china kupita pa china m’mabwato ang’onoang’ono osodzera omwe amakhala ndi denga. Amatero popita kokacheza ndi anansi awo, popita kuchipatala, ndiponso pokachita malonda.

Palibe Malo Osatheka Kufikako ndi Uthenga Wabwino

Mmene amishonale awiri ndi apainiya awiri ankafika ku zisumbuzi Chikumbutso cha 2002 chitayandikira anapeza malo amenewa, omwe n’ngosangalatsa, abata ndiponso a anthu a moyo wosalira zambiri. M’mbuyomo, Mboni za Yehova zinali kufikako mwa apo ndi apo, ndipo panthawi yomwe amishonale ndi apainiyawa ankafika n’kuti anthu a ku Ha’apai atalandirapo mabuku ofalitsidwa ndi Mboni, ngakhalenso kuphunzira nazo Baibulo kumene.

Aphunzitsi a Baibulo anayi amene anafikawa anali ndi zolinga zitatu: kugawa mabuku ofotokoza  Baibulo, kuyambitsa maphunziro a Baibulo apanyumba, ndi kuitanira anthu achidwi ku mwambo wa Chakudya Chamadzulo cha Ambuye. Zolinga zonsezi anazikwaniritsa. Anthu 97 anamvera pempho loti adzakhale nawo pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Yesu. Ena anayenda m’mabwato opanda denga ngakhale kuti kunali mvula yoopsa ndiponso mphepo yamphamvu kwambiri. Chifukwa chakuti nyengo sinali bwino, ambiri sanabwerere m’makwawo Chikumbutso chitatha, m’malo mwake anagona n’kubwerera tsiku lotsatira.

Wokamba nkhani ya Chikumbutso anakumana ndi mavuto ambiri. Mmishonale amene anakamba nkhaniyo anati: “N’zosachita kufunika kukuuzani kuti inali ntchito yaikulu kwambiri kuti tsiku limodzi lokha ndikambe nkhani ya Chikumbutso m’zinenero ziwiri zochita kuphunzira. Mukhoza kuona nokha kuti ndinali ndi nkhawa kwambiri. Koma pemphero linandithandiza kwambiri. Moti pankhanizo ndinkakumbukira mawu ndiponso ziganizo zomwe sindinkadziwa kuti ndinaphunzira.”

Chifukwa cha ntchito yomwe olalikirawa anagwira yothandiza anthu a pazisumbu za Ha’apai kukhala ndi chidwi ndi Baibulo, m’derali munabatizidwa abambo awiri pamodzi ndi akazi awo. Mmodzi wa abambowa anayamba kukhala ndi chidwi ndi mabuku a Mboni pamene anali pamaphunziro oti akhale mtumiki wa tchalitchi cha pachisumbu chawo.

Ngakhale kuti anali wosauka, bamboyu ndi mkazi wake ankapereka ndalama zambiri dzina lawo likatchulidwa ku tchalitchi pamwambo wapachaka wosonkhetsa ndalama. Mboni ina yomwe inakumana ndi bamboyu m’mbuyomo, inamuuza kuti atsegule Baibulo lake ndi kuwerenga 1 Timoteo 5:8. Mtumwi Paulo analemba kuti: “Ngati wina sadzisungiratu mbumba yake ya iye yekha, makamaka iwo a m’banja lake, wakana chikhulupiriro iye, ndipo aipa koposa wosakhulupira.” Mfundo ya m’Baibulo imeneyi inam’khudza mtima. Anazindikira kuti pomvera zinthu zovuta zomwe tchalitchicho chinkafuna, zoti azipereka ndalama zambiri, iye anali kulephera kupezera banja lake zinthu zofunika. Pamwambo wotsatira wosonkhetsa ndalama, ngakhale kuti anali ndi ndalama m’thumba panthawiyo, iye sanaiwale lemba la 1 Timoteo 5:8. Ataitana dzina lake, iye analimba mtima n’kumuuza wansembe kuti iye ayenera kusamalira kaye banja lake. Chifukwa cha izi akuluakulu a tchalitchicho ananyoza ndi kukalipira banjali pamaso pa anthu.

Ataphunzira Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova, bamboyu ndi mkazi wakeyo anakhala ofalitsa a uthenga wabwino. Mwamunayu anati: “Choonadi cha m’Baibulo chandisintha kwambiri. Tsopano sindichitiranso nkhanza kapena kuzunza banja langa. Ndinasiya kumwa mowa kwambiri. Anthu a m’mudzi wathu amaona mmene choonadi chasinthira moyo wanga. Ndikukhulupirira kuti nawonso adzayamba kukonda choonadi ngati mmene ine ndimachitira.”

Anagwiritsa Ntchito Boti Pofufuza Anthu Achidwi

Patangotha miyezi yochepa chichitikireni Chikumbutso cha mu 2002, boti lina linapita ku zisumbu zovuta kufikako za Ha’apai ndi katundu wamtengo wapatali. Dzina la botili linali Quest. Linali la mamita 18 ndipo linafika ku zisumbu za Tonga kuchokera ku New Zealand. M’botilo munali Gary ndi Hetty, pamodzi ndi mwana wawo wamkazi, dzina lake Katie. Abale ndi alongo asanu ndi anayi a ku Tonga pamodzi ndi amishonale awiri anayenda ndi alendowa pa maulendo awiri. Mboni za pazisumbuzi zinawathandiza kuyendetsa bwino botilo, ndipo nthawi zina ankadutsa m’malo osadziwika kuti pansi panyanja pali chiyani. Maulendo awa sanali maulendo ongokasangalala. Anthu omwe anali kuyenda m’botilo anapita kumeneko kukaphunzitsa choonadi cha Baibulo. Anayenda mitunda italiitali panyanja kuti afike pazisumbu zokwana 14. Anthu okhala pa zina mwa zisumbuzi anali asanamvepo uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu.

Kodi anthu ankawalandira motani? Nthawi zambiri, anthu a pazisumbuzi omwe ndi ansangala ankalandira alendowa mwachidwi, mwachikondi komanso anali kuwachereza  mwachikhalidwe chawo. Anthuwo akamvetsa cholinga chomwe alendowo abwerera, anali kuyamikira kwambiri. Mboni zapanjirazo zinkaoneratu kuti anthu a pazisumbuzo amalemekeza Mawu a Mulungu ndipo amazindikira zosowa zawo zauzimu.​—Mateyu 5:3.

Nthawi zambiri, alendowo ankakhala patsinde pamtengo atawumbiriridwa ndi anthu omwe anali ndi mafunso ambiri okhudza Malemba. Kukada, ankapitirizira m’nyumba kukambirana za m’Baibulo. Anthu pachisumbu china anachonderera Mbonizo pamene zinali kunyamuka, kuti: “Musapite. Ndani azitiyankha mafunso mukachoka?” Mboni ina inati: “Nthawi zonse zinkatipweteka kusiya anthu ambiri angati nkhosa amenewa, omwe anali ndi njala ya choonadi. Tinafesa mbewu zambiri za choonadi.” Boti la Quest lija litafika pachisumbu china, Mboni zija zinapeza aliyense atavala zovala za maliro. Mkazi wa mkulu wina wa mumzinda wa pachisumbupo anali atamwalira. Mkuluyo anayamikira abalewo chifukwa chobwera ndi uthenga wolimbikitsa wa m’Baibulo.

Zisumbu zina zinali zovuta kufikapo. Hetty anafotokoza kuti: “Magombe a chisumbu china anali oipa kwambiri, magombe ake anali maphompho okhaokha okwera mwina mamita angapo kuchokera m’nyanja. Kabwato kathu kakang’ono kapulasitiki n’komwe kanathandiza kuti tithe kufika pachisumbucho. Choyamba, tinafunika kuponya zikwama zathu kwa anthu ofuna kutithandiza omwe anali kumtunda. Kenako, kabwato kakang’ono kaja katakwera ndi mafunde mpaka kufika pamwamba pa maphompho aja, tinafunika kujowera kumtunda, kabwatoko kasanatsike chifukwa cha mafundewo.”

Komabe sikuti onse amene ankayenda nawo ulendowu anali amalinyero olimba mtima. Atayenda kwa milungu iwiri, mmalinyero wamkulu analemba izi pofotokoza za ulendo wobwerera ku chisumbu chachikulu cha Tongatapu: “Tidakali ndi ulendo woti utenga maola 18. Sitingayende ulendowu popanda kuima chifukwa chakuti ena akuchita mseru chifukwa sanazolowere kuyenda panyanja. Tikusangalala kuti tikubwerera kwathu koma ndifenso odandaula kwambiri chifukwa chosiyana ndi anthu ambiri amene tsopano amva uthenga wa Ufumu. Tikupempha Yehova kuti awasamalire, mzimu wake woyera ndiponso angelo awathandize kukula mwauzimu.”

Zisumbu Zachonde Chauzimu

Patangotha miyezi isanu ndi umodzi chichokereni boti la Quest, olalikira uthenga wabwino awiri omwe ndi apainiya apadera, amene mayina awo ndi Stephen ndi Malaki, anatumizidwa kuti azikalalikira ku zisumbu za Ha’apai. Kumeneko anakathandizana ntchito yophunzitsa Baibuloyi ndi mabanja awiri omwe angobatizidwa kumene. Amakambirana nkhani zosangalatsa kwambiri zokhudza zimene Baibulo limaphunzitsa, ndipo ofalitsa akuligwiritsa ntchito bwino kwambiri Baibulo.

Pa December 1, 2003, ku Haʹapai kunakhazikitsidwa mpingo womwe ndi wachisanu m’dziko la Tonga. Mwa anthu amene amafika pamisonkhano pali ana ambiri. Anawa anaphunzira kukhala atcheru pamisonkhano. Sachita phokoso ndipo amakhala tcheru kutenga nawo mbali pa nkhani zokambirana ndi omvetsera. Woyang’anira dera ananena kuti “anawa amadziwa kwambiri nkhani za mu Bukhu Langa la Nkhani za Baibulo ndipo uwu ndi umboni wakuti makolo awo sanyalanyaza udindo womwe ali nawo wokhomereza choonadi cha m’Baibulo m’mitima ya ana awo.” N’zoonekeratu kuti zisumbuzi n’zachonde mwauzimu moti m’tsogolomu mabwenzi a Yehova kumeneko adzachuluka kwambiri.

Zaka zoposa 70 zapitazo, a Charles Vete atamasulira kabuku ka Kodi Akufa Ali Kuti? m’chinenero cha m’dziko la Tonga, sankadziwa mmene mbewu ya Ufumu idzazikire mizu m’mitima ya anthu a m’dziko mwawo. Kuyambira pa zinthu zochepa zomwe iwo anachitazo, Yehova wapitiriza kudalitsa ntchito yomwe ikupitiriza kukula, yolengeza uthenga wabwino ku mbali yovuta kufikako imeneyi ya dziko lapansili. Lero, tinganenedi zoona kuti dziko la Tonga ndi limodzi mwa zisumbu za m’nyanja zomwe zikutembenukira kwa Yehova. (Salmo 97:1; Yesaya 51:5) Tsopano pa zisumbu za “Friendly Islands” pali mabwenzi a Yehova ambirimbiri.

[Chithunzi patsamba 8]

Charles Vete, mu 1983

[Chithunzi patsamba 9]

Kuwomba nsalu kuchokera ku makungwa a mitengo

[Chithunzi patsamba 10]

Anagwiritsa ntchito boti la “Quest” kufalitsira uthenga wabwino ku Tonga

[Chithunzi patsamba 11]

Gulu la omasulira mabuku, ku Nukuʹalofa

[Mawu a Chithunzi patsamba 9]

Making tapa cloth: © Jack Fields/​CORBIS; background of pages 8 and 9, and fishing: © Fred J. Eckert