Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Sindidzasiya Kutumikira Mlengi Wanga

YOSIMBIDWA NDI CONSTANCE BENANTI

Zinthu zinachitika mofulumira kwambiri! Pa masiku asanu ndi limodzi okha, thupi la Camille, mwana wathu wachaka chimodzi ndi miyezi khumi, linatentha kwambiri ndipo anamwalira. Ndinagwidwa ndi chisoni chosaneneka. Inenso ndinangofuna n’tamwalira basi. N’chifukwa chiyani Mulungu analola zimenezi? Sindinamvetse.

AMAYI ndi bambo anachokera ku Castellammare del Golfo, tauni inayake ku Sicily, ku Italy. Iwo anasamukira ku mzinda wa New York, kumene ine ndinabadwira pa December 8, 1908. M’banja mwathu tinalimo ana asanu ndi atatu, aamuna asanu ndipo aakazife tinalipo atatu. *

Mu 1927 bambo, dzina lawo a Santo Catanzaro, anayamba kusonkhana ndi kagulu ka Ophunzira Baibulo. Ili linali dzina la Mboni za Yehova nthawi imeneyo. Giovanni De Cecca, mbale wachitaliyana amene anali kutumikira kulikulu ku Brooklyn, New York (ku Beteli), ankachititsa misonkhano kumene tinali kukhala, ku New Jersey, kufupi ndi ku New York. Patapita nthawi, bambo anayamba kulalikira ndipo anakhala mtumiki wa nthawi zonse. Anapitiriza ntchito imeneyi mpaka imfa yawo mu 1953.

Amayi ali aang’ono, anafuna kukhala sisitere, koma makolo awo sanalole. Poyamba amayi anandisonkhezera kuti ndisamaphunzire Baibulo limodzi ndi bambo. Koma posapita nthawi, ndinaona kuti  bambo asintha. Anakhala munthu wofatsa kwambiri ndiponso wodekha, ndipo panyumba panali mtendere kusiyana ndi kale. Zimenezo zinandisangalatsa.

Kenako, ndinakumana ndi Charles, mwamuna wazaka ngati zanga ndipo anabadwira ku Brooklyn. Banja lawo, mofanana ndi lathu, linachokera ku Sicily. Posakhalitsa, tinachita chinkhoswe ndipo bambo atabwerako ku msonkhano wa Mboni za Yehova ku Columbus, Ohio, mu 1931, tinakwatirana. Sipanapite ndi chaka chomwe pamene Camille, mwana wathu wamkazi anabadwa. Mwanayo atamwalira, zinali zosatheka kunditonthoza. Tsiku lina Charles, akulira, anandiuza kuti: “Camille anali mwana wathu tonse. Bwanji sitingangopitiriza ndi moyo wathuwu n’kumatonthozana?”

Kuphunzira Choonadi cha M’Baibulo

Charles anandikumbutsa kuti pamene bambo anali kukamba nkhani pamwambo wa maliro a Camille, analankhula zoti pali chiyembekezo chakuti akufa adzauka. Ndiye ine ndinam’funsa kuti: “Kodi inuyo mukukhulupiriradi kuti akufa adzauka?”

“Inde!” anayankha choncho. “Bwanji titafufuza zambiri zimene Baibulo limanena?”

Usiku umenewo sindinagone. Nthawi ya 6 koloko m’mawa, bambo asanapite ku ntchito, ndinawauza kuti ine ndi Charles tikufuna kuphunzira Baibulo. Iwo anasangalala kwambiri ndipo anandikupatira. Amayi, amene anali adakali chigonere, anamva tikulankhulana. Iwo anandifunsa kuti kwachitika zotani. Ndiye ine ndinayankha kuti: “Palibe. Kungoti ine ndi Charles tasankha kuti tiziphunzira Baibulo.”

“Tonsefe tikufunika kuphunzira Baibulo,” amayi anatero. Ndiye tonsefe, ndi azing’ono anga onse, tinayamba kuphunzirira pamodzi monga banja. Tinalipo 11.

Kuphunzira Baibulo kunanditonthoza, ndipo pang’ono ndi pang’ono ndinasiya kusokonezeka maganizo. M’malo mwa chisoni, ndinakhala ndi chiyembekezo. Patapita chaka, mu 1935, ine ndi Charles tinayamba kuuzako ena choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Mu 1937 mwezi wa February, tinabatizidwa pamodzi ndi abale ena kuhotela ina chapafupi. Zimenezi zinachitika titamvetsera nkhani kulikulu ku Brooklyn imene inafotokoza zimene ubatizo wa m’madzi umatanthauza malinga ndi Malemba. Ndinachita zimenezi kuti tsiku lina ndidzaonane ndi mwana wanga komanso chifukwa chakuti ndinafuna kutumikira Mlengi wathu, amene ndinam’dziwa ndi kum’konda.

Kuyamba Utumiki wa Nthawi Zonse

Zinali zosangalatsa ndi zolimbikitsa kuuza ena zimene ndinali nditaziphunzira. Zinali choncho  makamaka chifukwa chakuti nthawi imeneyo anthu ambiri anali kulabadira uthenga wa Ufumu ndipo iwonso anali kulengeza nawo uthengawo. (Mateyu 9:37) Mu 1941, ine ndi Charles tinakhala apainiya, dzina limene Mboni za Yehova zimatcha nalo atumiki a nthawi zonse. Posapita nthawi, tinagula kalavani, ndipo Charles anasiyira mchimwene wanga, Frank, fakitale yathu yosoka mathalauza. Patapita nthawi, tinasangalala titalandira kalata yotidziwitsa kuti atiika kukhala apainiya apadera. Poyamba, tinatumikira ku New Jersey, kenako anatitumiza ku New York State.

Mu 1946, tili pamsonkhano wachigawo ku Baltimore, Maryland, anatipempha kukumana ndi nthumwi zapadera za Mboni za Yehova. Tinakumana ndi Nathan H. Knorr ndi Milton G. Henschel. Iwowa anatiuza za ntchito ya amishonale, makamaka za ntchito yolalikira ku Italy. Anatipempha kuona ngati tingathe kupita ku Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Watchtower Yophunzitsa Baibulo.

Anatiuza kuti: “Mukaganize kaye, kenako mudzatiuze.” Titatuluka mu ofesi, ine ndi Charles tinayang’anana, kutembenuka, n’kulowanso mu ofesimo. “Nkhani ija taiganizira,” tinatero. “Ndipo ndife okonzeka kupita ku Gileadi.” Patadutsa masiku khumi, tinali kuphunzira m’kalasi lachisanu ndi chiwiri la Gileadi.

Miyezi imene tinali kusukuluko inali yosaiwalika. Tinachita chidwi makamaka ndi kuleza mtima ndi chikondi zimene alangizi athu anali nazo potithandiza kukonzekera mavuto amene tikakumana nawo m’munda wa dziko lina. Titamaliza maphunziro mwezi wa July mu 1946, anatitumiza kukalalikira kwa kanthawi mumzinda wa New York, kumene kunali Ataliyana ambiri. Kenako, tsiku losangalatsa kwambiri linafika. Pa June 25, 1947, tinanyamuka ulendo wopita ku Italy, gawo lathu la umishonale.

Kukhazikika mu Utumiki Wathu

Tinayenda ulendo wathu wa panyanja m’ngalawa imene kale asilikali anali kuigwiritsa ntchito pa zankhondo. Titayenda masiku 14, tinakocheza padoko la Genoa ku Italy. Mzindawo unali utawonongeka pa nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse, imene inali itatha zaka ziwiri m’mbuyomo. Mwachitsanzo, pasiteshoni ya sitima ya pamtunda, mawindo ake analibe magalasi chifukwa cha mabomba. Tinanyamuka ulendo pasitima yonyamula katundu ya pamtunda kuchoka ku Genoa kupita ku Milan, kumene kunali ofesi ya nthambi ndi nyumba ya amishonale.

Nkhondo itatha, moyo unali wovuta kwambiri ku Italy. Ntchito yomanganso zinthu inali m’kati, koma umphawi unali ponseponse. Posakhalitsa, ndinadwala matenda aakulu. Dokotala wina anandiuza kuti mtima wanga sunali bwino konse, ndipo anaganiza kuti zingakhale bwino nditabwerera ku United States. Ndine wokondwa kuti zimene anapezazo sindizo. Padutsa zaka 58 tsopano, ndipo ndidakali m’gawo langa ku Italy.

Tinatumikira kwa zaka zochepa chabe pamene achimwene anga ku United States anafuna kutipatsa galimoto. Koma Charles anakana zimenezo, ndipo ine ndinakondwera. Malinga ndi zimene tinali kudziwa, kunalibe Mboni iliyonse ku Italy imene inali ndi galimoto nthawi imeneyo, ndipo Charles anaganiza kuti ndi bwino kuti moyo wathu ukhale wofanana ndi wa abale athu achikristu. Tinakhala opanda galimoto mpaka mu 1961 pamene tinagula kagalimoto kenakake.

Nyumba ya Ufumu yoyamba imene tinagwiritsa ntchito ku Milan inali m’chipinda chapansi chopanda simenti pansi pake. Munalibe mipope  ya madzi, koma madzi okha amene anali kupezeka pansi ndi aja omwe amalowa kukagwa mvula. Komanso munali makoswe amene ankadutsadutsa. Munalinso mababu awiri amagetsi amene ankatiunikira nthawi ya msonkhano. Ngakhale tinali ndi mavuto amenewa, zinali zolimbikitsa kuona anthu oona mtima akufika pamisonkhano, kenako n’kumapita nafe mu utumiki.

Zochitika pa Umishonale Wathu

Tsiku lina tinakumana ndi mwamuna wina n’kumusiyira kabuku kakuti Peace​—Can It Last? Pochoka panyumbapo, mkazi wake, Santina, anafika atanyamula zogulagula. Anakwiya ndithu, ndipo anati ali ndi ana asanu ndi atatu aakazi oti awasamalire, choncho analibe nthawi. Nditapitanso kwa Santina, ndinapeza mwamuna wake palibe, ndipo mayiyo anali kuluka. Iye anati: “Ndilibe nthawi yoti ndimvetsere. Komanso, sinditha kuwerenga.”

Ndinapemphera chamumtima kwa Yehova. Kenako, ndinam’funsa ngati ndingam’patse ndalama kuti andilukire juzi la mwamuna wanga. Patadutsa milungu iwiri, ndinalandira juzi lija, ndipo ine ndi Santina tinayamba kuphunzira Baibulo mokhazikika pogwiritsa ntchito buku lakuti “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Santina anadziwa kuwerenga, ndipo ngakhale kuti mwamuna wake anali kutsutsa, mayiyu anapita patsogolo mpaka kubatizidwa. Asanu mwa ana ake aakazi anakhala Mboni, ndipo Santina wathandizanso anthu ena ambiri kuphunzira choonadi cha m’Baibulo.

Mu 1951 mwezi wa March, ifeyo limodzi ndi amishonale ena​—mayina awo Ruth Cannon, * ndi Loyce Callahan amene anadzakwatiwa ndi Bill Wengert​—anatitumiza ku Brescia kumene kunalibe Mboni iliyonse. Tinapeza nyumba imene inali ndi mipando ndi mabedi, koma patadutsa miyezi iwiri yokha, eniake anatiuza kuti tichokemo asanadutse maola 24. Popeza kunalibe Mboni iliyonse m’deralo, sitinachitire mwina koma kupita kuhotela basi, kumene tinakhala pafupifupi miyezi iwiri.

Zimene tinali kudya si zambiri ayi. Tinali kungomwa khofi, kudya tinan’tina, tchizi pang’ono, ndi zipatso. Ngakhale panali mavuto amenewa, tinadalitsidwa kwambiri. Patapita nthawi, tinapeza kanyumba, ndipo pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Kristu mu 1952, tinalipo anthu 35 m’kachipinda kamene tinkagwiritsa ntchito ngati Nyumba ya Ufumu.

Kulimbana ndi Zopinga

Nthawi imeneyo, atsogoleri a zipembedzo anali ndi mphamvu kwambiri pa anthu. Mwachitsanzo, tikulalikira ku Brescia, ansembe analimbikitsa anyamata ena kutigenda ndi miyala. Komabe, patapita nthawi zimenezo zitadutsa, tinayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndi anthu 16, ndipo posakhalitsa, iwo anakhala Mboni. Kodi mukudziwa kuti mmodzi wa iwo anali ndani? Anali mmodzi wa anyamata aja amene anafuna kutigenda ndi miyala! Panopa ndi mkulu mumpingo wina wa ku Brescia. Pamene tinachoka ku Brescia mu 1955, ofalitsa Ufumu okwanira 40 anali kuchita nawo ntchito yolalikira.

Titachoka kumeneko, tinakatumikira zaka zitatu ku Leghorn (Livorno), kumene Mboni zambiri zinali akazi. Chifukwa cha zimenezi, ife alongo tinkachita ntchito zimene abale amachita mumpingo. Kenako tinasamukira ku Genoa, kumene tinayambira zaka 11 m’mbuyomo. Koma tsopano, kunali mpingo umodzi. Nyumba ya Ufumu inali pansanjika yoyamba m’nyumba imene tinali kukhala.

Titafika ku Genoa, ndinayamba kuphunzira ndi mayi wina amene mwamuna wake kale anali katswiri wa nkhonya ndi woyang’anira nyumba yophunziriramo za nkhonya. Mayiyo anapita patsogolo mwauzimu ndipo, posakhalitsa, anakhala mlongo wathu wachikristu. Koma mwamuna wake anali kutsutsa ndipo anatero nthawi yaitali. Kenako anayamba kubwera ku misonkhano ndi mkazi wake. Sanali kulowa m’holo. M’malo mwake anali kukhala panja n’kumamvetsera. Titachoka ku Genoa, tinamva kuti anapempha kuti aziphunzira Baibulo. Patapita nthawi, anabatizidwa ndipo anakhala woyang’anira wachikondi mumpingo. Anakhala wokhulupirikabe mpaka imfa.

 Ndinaphunziranso Baibulo ndi mayi wina amene anali pachibwenzi ndi wapolisi. Poyamba, mwamunayo anali ndi chidwi, koma atakwatirana, anasintha maganizo. Anatsutsa mkazi wake mpaka mkaziyo anasiya kuphunzira. Atayambiranso kuphunzira Baibulo, mwamuna wakeyo anamuopseza kuti akadzatipeza tikuphunzira, adzatiombera mfuti tonse awiri. Ngakhale anatero, mkaziyo anapitabe patsogolo mpaka kukhala Mboni yobatizidwa. Ndinenenso pano kuti sanatiombere. Ndipotu patapita zaka ndili pamsonkhano ku Genoa, munthu wina anabwera kumbuyo kwanga ndi kundigwira kumaso. Kenako anandifunsa kuti ndinene kuti iye ndani. Ndinayesa kuzigwira kuti ndisalire koma ndinakanika, mpaka ndinagwetsa misozi nditaona kuti ndi mwamuna wa mkazi uja. Atandikupatira, anandiuza kuti wabatizidwa tsiku lomwelo, kusonyeza kuti anadzipereka kwa Yehova!

Kuyambira mu 1964 mpaka mu 1972, ndinali ndi mwayi woyenda ndi Charles pamene ankachezera mipingo, kuilimbikitsa mwauzimu. Tinatumikira pafupifupi dera lonse la kumpoto kwa Italy​—ku Piedmont, Lombardy, ndi Liguria. Kenako tinayambiranso upainiya kufupi ndi ku Florence ndipo pambuyo pake ku Vercelli. Mu 1977, kunali mpingo umodzi wokha ku Vercelli, koma pamene tinachokako mu 1999, tinasiya mipingo itatu. Chaka chimenecho, ndinakwanitsa zaka 91, ndipo anatilimbikitsa kusamukira ku nyumba ya amishonale ku Rome. Nyumba yake ndi yokongola kwambiri ndipo dera lake n’lamtendere ndithu.

Ndikumananso ndi Zachisoni

Mu 2002 mwezi wa March, Charles, amene anali wathanzi nthawi zonse, anadwala. Anadwala kwambiri mpaka kumwalira pa May 11, 2002. Kwa zaka 71, tinkalirira pamodzi zinthu zikativuta ndipo tinkasangalalira pamodzi tikapeza madalitso. Imfa yake inandipweteka kwambiri ndipo inandisiya pa chisoni chachikulu.

Nthawi zambiri m’maganizo mwanga ndimakhala ngati ndikumuona Charles, atavala suti ndi chipewa chake cha m’ma 1930. Ndimakhala ngati ndikumuona akumwetulira, kapena ngati ndikumumva akuseka. Chifukwa chothandizidwa ndi Yehova ndi abale ndi alongo anga okondedwa achikristu, ndatha kupirira nthawi yovuta imeneyi. Ndikudikirira mwachidwi nthawi imene ndidzaonananso ndi Charles.

Kupitiriza Utumiki Wanga

Pamoyo wanga, ndimaona kutumikira Mlengi kukhala chinthu chabwino koposa. Zaka zonsezi, ‘ndalawa, ndipo ndaona kuti Yehova ndiye wabwino.’ (Salmo 34:8) Ndaona chikondi chake ndipo wandisamalira. Ngakhale kuti mwana wanga anamwalira, Yehova wandipatsa ana ambiri auzimu, aamuna ndi aakazi m’dziko lonse la Italy. Ndipo amenewa amasangalatsa mtima wanga komanso wa Yehova.

Nthawi zonse ndimakonda kwambiri kuuza ena za Mlengi wanga. N’chifukwa chake ndikupitiriza kulalikira ndi kuphunzitsa ena Baibulo. Nthawi zina ndimamva chisoni kuti sinditha kuchita zambiri chifukwa cha thanzi langa. Koma ndikuzindikira kuti Yehova akudziwa zimene sindingathe kuchita ndipo amandikonda, komanso amayamikira zimene ndimatha kuchita. (Marko 12:42) Ndimayesetsa kutsatira mawu a pa Salmo 146:2 akuti: “Ndidzalemekeza Yehova m’moyo mwanga; ndidzaimbira zom’lemekeza Mulungu wanga pokhala ndi moyo ine.” *

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 13]

Camille

[Chithunzi patsamba 14]

Tsiku la ukwati wathu, mu 1931

[Chithunzi patsamba 14]

Ngakhale kuti poyamba sanafune, amayi anavomera kuti tonse tiziphunzira Baibulo

[Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Tili ndi Mbale Knorr pomaliza maphunziro a Gileadi, mu 1946

[Chithunzi patsamba 17]

Ndili ndi Charles asanamwalire