Mbiri ya Moyo Wanga

Kukhulupirika kwa Achibale Anga Kwandithandiza

YOSIMBIDWA NDI KATHLEEN COOKE

MU 1911, agogo anga aakazi a Mary Ellen Thompson, anapita ku Glasgow, ku Scotland ndipo ali kumeneko anakamvera nkhani imene anakamba Charles Taze Russell, yemwe anali munthu wodziwika kwambiri m’gulu la Ophunzira Baibulo. Ophunzira Baibulowo anadzayamba kudziwika ndi dzina loti Mboni za Yehova. Agogo angawo anasangalala kwambiri atamvetsera nkhaniyo. Atabwerera kwawo ku South Africa, anapezana ndi Ophunzira Baibulo kumeneko. Mu April 1914 iwo anali mmodzi wa anthu 16 amene anabatizidwa pa msonkhano woyamba wa Ophunzira Baibulo ku South Africa. Nthawiyi n’kuti mwana wawo Edith, yemwe ndi mayi anga, ali ndi zaka zisanu ndi chimodzi.

Mbale Russell atamwalira mu 1916, panali kusagwirizana pakati pa Ophunzira Baibulo padziko lonse. Chiwerengero cha omwe anali okhulupirika ku Durban chinatsika kuchoka pa 60 kufika pafupifupi 12. Koma agogo anga a Ingeborg Myrdal, pamodzi ndi mwana wawo wobatizidwa Henry, yemwe panthawiyo anali asanakwanitse zaka 20, anali m’gulu la anthu okhulupirika. M’chaka cha 1924, Henry anakhala mkopotala, ndipo ili linali dzina la atumiki a nthawi zonse a Mboni za Yehova. Kuyambira panthawiyi, iye analalikira m’madera ambiri a ku Africa kuno kwa zaka zisanu. Mu 1930, Henry anakwatirana ndi Edith ndipo patatha zaka zitatu anabereka ineyo.

 Achibale Ena

Tinakhala ku Mozambique kwa kanthawi, koma mu 1939 tinasamuka n’kumakhala kwa makolo awo a mayi anga, a Thomson, ku Johannesburg. Agogo anga aamuna analibe chidwi ndi choonadi cha m’Baibulo ndipo nthawi zina ankawavutitsa agogo anga aakazi, komabe anali munthu wodziwa kuchereza anthu. Mng’ono wanga Thelma, anabadwa mu 1940, ndipo iyeyo pamodzi ndi ine tinaphunzira kusamalira anthu okalamba. Nthawi zambiri tikamadya chakudya chamadzulo, tinkacheza kwambiri n’kumauzana zimene zatichitikira patsikulo kapena kukumbutsana za kale.

Banja lathu linkalandira alendo omwe anali Mboni, makamaka amene anali mu utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Nawonso ankasimba nkhani zawo tikamadya chakudya chamadzulo chija, ndipo mawu awo anatithandiza kuyamikira kwambiri cholowa chathu chauzimu. Zimenezi zinalimbikitsa ineyo ndi Thelma kufuna kukhala apainiya.

Tinaphunzitsidwa kukonda kuwerenga, kuyambira tili ana aang’ono. Mayi ndi bambo, komanso agogo aakazi ankatiwerengera mabuku a nthano zabwino kapena ankatiwerengera Baibulo. Misonkhano ndi utumiki wachikristu zinangosanduka mbali ya moyo wathu basi. Bambo anali mtumiki wa gulu (yemwe tsopano amatchedwa woyang’anira wotsogolera) wa Mpingo wa Johannesburg, motero tonse tinayenera kumafika pamisonkhano nthawi yabwino. Tikakhala ndi msonkhano wachigawo, bambo ankakhala ndi ntchito yambiri yoyang’anira msonkhanowo, ndipo mayi ankathandiza kupeza malo ogona anthu obwera pamsonkhanowo.

Msonkhano Wapadera

Msonkhano wachigawo wa mu 1948 womwe unachitikira ku Johannesburg unali wapadera. Kwa nthawi yoyamba, kunabwera anthu a kulikulu la Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn, New York. Bambo anapemphedwa kuti ayendetse a Nathan Knorr ndi a Milton Henschel pa galimoto yawo panthawi yonse ya ulendo wawowo. Ndinabatizidwa pamsonkhano umenewo.

Posakhalitsa, bambo anadabwa kwambiri bambo awo atawauza kuti anadandaula kwambiri kuti pamene Mbale Russell anamwalira, iwo anatengeka ndi anthu omwe anasiya gulu la Ophunzira Baibulo. Anamwalira patangotha miyezi yochepa. Koma agogo anga aakazi a Myrdal, anakhalabe okhulupirika mpaka pamene anamaliza moyo wawo padziko lapansi mu 1955.

Zochitika Zimene Zinasintha Moyo Wanga

Ndinayamba kuchita upainiya wokhazikika pa February 1, 1949. Posakhalitsa tinasangalala titamva kuti kudzakhala msonkhano wa mayiko ku New York City chaka chotsatira. Tinalakalaka kupita, koma tinalibe ndalama. Kenako, mu February 1950, agogo aamuna a Thompson anamwalira, ndipo agogo aakazi anatenga ndalama za masiye n’kutilipirira ulendo ife tonse asanu.

Kutatsala milungu ingapo kuti tinyamuke, kunabwera kalata kuchokera ku likulu la Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn, New York. Kalatayo inali  yondiitana kupita ku sukulu ya Gileadi yophunzitsa umishonale kukalowa nawo kalasi la 16. Zimenezi zinali zosangalatsa kwambiri, chifukwa ndinali ndisanakwanitse zaka 17. Maphunzirowo atayamba, ndinali konko kumasangalala ndi madalitso amenewo pamodzi ndi ophunzira khumi amene anachokera ku South Africa.

Titamaliza maphunziro mu February 1951, ife asanu ndi atatu tinabwerera ku South Africa kukachita umishonale. Kwa zaka zingapo zotsatira, ine ndi mnzanga wina tinalalikira kwambiri m’matawuni aang’ono kumene amalankhula Chiafirikana. Poyamba, sindinali kuchidziwa chinenerocho, ndipo ndikukumbukira tsiku lina, ndinapalasa njinga kupita kunyumba ndikulira chifukwa cholephera kulalikira. Koma patapita nthawi, ndinachidziwa, ndipo Yehova anandidalitsa.

Nditakwatiwa Ndinayamba Ntchito Yoyendayenda

Mu 1955, ndinadziwana ndi John Cooke. Ameneyu anali atathandiza kutsegula ntchito yolalikira ku France, Portugal, ndi Spain isanayambe nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse ndipo anakhala mmishonale mu Africa chaka chimene ndinakumana naye. M’tsogolo mwake, analemba kuti: “Ndinaona zodabwitsa zitatu pamlungu umodzi . . . Mbale wachifundo anandipatsa galimoto laling’ono, ndinaikidwa kukhala mtumiki wa chigawo, ndipo ndinapeza chibwenzi.” * Tinakwatirana mu December 1957.

Tili pachibwenzi, John anali atanditsimikizira kuti moyo wathu udzakhala wosangalatsa, ndipo sananame. Tinachezera mipingo yonse ya mu South Africa, makamaka m’madera a anthu akuda. Mlungu uliwonse, tinali kukumana ndi vuto lopempha chilolezo kuti tilowe m’madera amenewo, ndiye zogona kumeneko zinali zosatheka. Nthawi zina, tinkagona pansi m’sitolo yopanda kanthu m’dera la Azungu la kufupi ndi kumeneko, ndipo tinayesetsa kudzibisa kuti anthu odutsa asatione. Nthawi zambiri tinali kukhala ndi Mboni zachiyera zimene zinali kukhala kufupi ndi kumeneko, ngakhale kuti mtunda wake unali wautali kwambiri.

 Vuto linanso linali malo a msonkhano akumidzi omangidwa m’tchire. Tinaonetsa anthu mafilimu opangidwa ndi Mboni za Yehova amene anathandiza anthuwo kudziwa gulu lathu la abale la padziko lonse. Popeza kuti madera ambiri amenewo analibe magetsi, tinali kutenga jenereta. Tinakumananso ndi zovuta m’madera olamulidwa ndi Britain kumene mabuku athu anali oletsedwa panthawiyo komanso tinakumana ndi vuto lophunzira Chizulu. Ngakhale zinali choncho, tinasangalala kutumikira abale.

Mu August 1961, John anakhala mlangizi woyamba ku South Africa wa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu ya milungu inayi, yokonzedwa kuthandiza oyang’anira mipingo. Anali ndi luso la kuphunzitsa ndipo anafika anthu pamtima, pogwiritsa ntchito mafanizo osavuta koma amphamvu. Pafupifupi chaka ndi theka, tinapita kumalo osiyanasiyana kusukulu zotsatizana za Chingelezi. Pamene John anali kuphunzitsa abale, ine ndinali kupita mu utumiki wa kumunda ndi Mboni za kumeneko. Kenako, tinadzidzimuka kulandira kalata yotiitana kukatumikira pa ofesi ya nthambi ya South Africa kufupi ndi ku Johannesburg kuyambira pa July 1, 1964.

Koma apa n’kuti thanzi la John litayamba kutidabwitsa. Mu 1948 anadwala TB ndipo atachira, anali kukhala wopanda mphamvu nthawi zambiri. Anali kuonetsa zizindikiro za chimfine ndipo anali kudwala masiku ndithu osatha kuchita chilichonse kapena kuonana ndi wina aliyense. Dokotala amene tinakaonana naye tili pafupi kuitanidwa kupita ku nthambi, anapeza kuti John ali ndi nthenda ya kuvutika maganizo.

Sitinafune kusintha moyo wathu, monga mmene dokotala ananenera. Kunthambi, John anaikidwa ku Dipatimenti ya Utumiki ndipo ine anandiika ku dipatimenti ya owerenga zofunika kukonza. Ndipotu linali dalitso kukhala ndi chipinda chathuchathu. Tisanakwatirane, John anali atatumikirapo m’madera a Chipwitikizi, choncho mu 1967 anatipempha kuti tithandize banja lina la Mboni la Chipwitikizi kulalikira m’dera lalikulu la Apwitikizi pafupi ndi ku Johannesburg. Zimenezi zinafuna kuti ine ndiphunzire chinenero chinanso.

Popeza kuti dera la Apwitikizi linali lalikulu kwambiri, tinali kuyenda maulendo aatali, nthawi zina makilomita 300 kuti tikapeze anthu oyenerera. Apa n’kuti Mboni zolankhula Chipwitikizi za ku Mozambique zitayamba kubwera kumisonkhano yathu yaikulu, ndipo zimenezi zinathandiza kwambiri atsopano. Pa zaka zonse 11 zimene tinalalikira Apwitikizi, tinaona kagulu kathu ka anthu pafupifupi 30 kakukula kukhala mipingo inayi.

Zinthu Zisintha Kwathu

Izi zili chomwechi, zinthu zinali zitasintha kwathu. Mu 1960 mbale wanga, Thelma, anakwatiwa ndi John Urban, mpainiya wa ku United States. Mu 1965 iwo analowa kalasi la 40 la Gileadi ndipo anachita umishonale mokhulupirika ku Brazil kwa zaka 25. Mu 1990 anabwerera ku Ohio kukasamalira makolo a John amene anali kudwala. Ngakhale kuti pakhala zovuta posamalira makolowo, iwo apitirizabe ndi utumiki wa nthawi zonse mpaka lero.

A Thompson, agogo anga aakazi, anamaliza moyo wawo padziko lapansi mu 1965, ali okhulupirika kwa Mulungu ndipo anamwalira ali ndi zaka 98. Chaka chomwecho, bambo anapuma pantchito. Choncho pamene ine ndi John tinapemphedwa kukathandiza kugawo la Chipwitikizi, bambo ndi mayi anadzipereka kuti tizipitira limodzi. Anathandiza kwambiri kagulu kathu, ndipo patadutsa miyezi yochepa, mpingo woyamba unakhazikitsidwa. Sipanapite nthawi, mayi anayamba kuvutika ndi khansa, imene anamwalira nayo mu 1971. Atate anamwalira patadutsa zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri.

Kupirira Matenda a John

Pofika m’ma 1970, zinaonekeratu kuti thanzi la John siliwongokera. Pang’ono ndi pang’ono, anayamba kusiya ntchito zina zimene anali kuzikonda kwambiri, monga kutsogolera Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda la banja lathu panthambi limene limachitika mlungu uliwonse ndi kukambirana Baibulo m’mawa. Anasinthidwanso kuchoka ku Dipatimenti ya Utumiki kupita ku Chipinda cha Makalata ndipo kenako kukagwira ntchito panja m’maluwa.

Popeza kuti John anali munthu wakhama,  zinamuvuta kwambiri kusintha. Ndikamamuumiriza kuti azigwira ntchito pang’onopang’ono, anali kunena nthabwala kuti ine ndili ngati unyolo wake womulepheretsa kuchita zambiri, kenako ankandikumbatira mwachikondi. Patapita nthawi, tinaona kuti ndi bwino kuchoka m’gawo la Chipwitikizi n’kukakhala mu mpingo umene unali kusonkhana m’Nyumba ya Ufumu ya panthambipo.

Matenda a John atakula, zinali zokhudza mtima kuona kuti anali ndi ubwenzi wolimba ndi Yehova. Amati akadzuka pakati pa usiku chifukwa chovutika maganizo, tinali kukambirana mpaka poti maganizo ake akhazikika moti atha kupemphera kwa Yehova kuti am’thandize. Patapita nthawi, anayamba kutha kupirira yekha zinthu zikamuvuta mwa kudzikakamiza kubwereza chamumtima lemba la Afilipi 4:6, 7, NW, lomwe limati: “Musamade nkhawa ndi kanthu kalikonse . . . ” Akatero, maganizo ake anali kukhazikika kenako n’kuyamba kupemphera. Nthawi zambiri ndinali kukhala maso ndipo ndinkaona milomo yake ikugwedera pamene anali kupembedzera Yehova ndi mtima wonse.

Popeza kuti nthambi yathu inachepa, ntchito yomanga nthambi yatsopano inayambika kunja kwa Johannesburg. Ine ndi John nthawi zambiri tinkapita kumalo abata amenewa, kutali ndi mzinda waphokoso ndi wampweya woipa. Atatilola kusamukira kumeneko, zinam’thandiza kwambiri John. Tinakhala m’nyumba zongoyembekezera mpaka nthambi yatsopano itamalizika.

Mavuto Awonjezeka

Nzeru za John zitayamba kusokonekera kwambiri, anayamba kuvutika kuchita ntchito yake. Ndinakhudzidwa mtima ndi mmene ena anali kuyesera kum’thandiza John. Mwachitsanzo, zinali kuchitika kuti mbale wina akamapita ku laibulale m’tawuni kukafufuza zina zake, anali kupita ndi John. Matumba a John anali kudzaza mathirakiti ndi magazini okagawira tsiku limenelo. Zimenezi zinam’thandiza John kuona kuti akuchita zaphindu ndiponso kusunga ulemu wake.

Patapita nthawi, John sanathenso kuwerenga chifukwa cha matenda ake a kuubongo. Tinayamikira kwambiri makaseti a mabuku ofotokoza za m’Baibulo ndi a nyimbo za Ufumu. Tinamvetsera zimenezi maulendo ambirimbiri. John anali kukwiya ngati sindinakhale naye pansi n’kumamvetsera limodzi. Choncho, maola ambiri amene ndinkamvetsera naye limodzi matepiwo, ndinali kugwira ntchito yosoka. Ndipotu ntchito imeneyo inatithandiza kukhala ndi majuzi ndi mabulangete okwanira!

Kenako, matenda a John anafuna kuti ine ndizim’samalira nthawi yaitali kuposa kale. Nthawi zambiri ndinali kutopa kwambiri osatha kuwerenga kapena kuphunzira. Ngakhale zinali choncho, unali mwayi kum’samalira mpaka mapeto. Mapeto akewo anafika mu 1998 pamene John anamwalira mosavutika ine nditam’gwira. Anali atangokwanitsa zaka 85. Anakhala wokhulupirika mosagwedera mpaka mapeto. Mtima wanga ukulakalaka kumuona akadzauka, ali ndi thanzi labwino ndi maganizo ake abwinobwino!

Ndinalimbikitsidwa

John atamwalira, zinandivuta kuti ndizolowere moyo wokhala ndekha. Choncho mu May 1999, ndinakacheza kwa mbale wanga, Thelma, ndi mwamuna wake ku United States. Zinali zosangalatsa ndi zolimbikitsa kwambiri kukumana ndi mabwenzi apamtima ambiri okhulupirika, makamaka titapita ku likulu la dziko lonse la Mboni za Yehova ku New York! Izitu n’zimene ndinafunikira kuti ndilimbikitsidwe mwauzimu.

Ndikaganiza za moyo wa achibale anga okhulupirika, ndimakumbukira zinthu zambiri zimene zandithandiza kwambiri. Ndaphunzira kufutukula chikondi changa kwa anthu a mitundu ina ndi mafuko ena chifukwa cha malangizo awo, chitsanzo, ndi thandizo lawo. Ndaphunziranso kuleza mtima, kupirira, ndi khalidwe lotha kusintha. Makamaka, ndaona kukoma mtima kwa Yehova, Wakumva pemphero. Maganizo anga sakusiyana ndi a wamasalmo amene analemba kuti: “Wodala munthuyo mum’sankha, ndi kum’yandikizitsa, akhale m’mabwalo anu: tidzakhuta nazo zokoma za m’nyumba yanu.”​—Salmo 65:4.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 8]

Agogo aakazi ndi ana awo

[Chithunzi patsamba 9]

Ndili ndi makolo anga pamene ndinabatizidwa mu 1948

[Chithunzi patsamba 10]

Tili ndi Albert Schroeder, wosunga kaundula wa Gileadi, ndi ophunzira ena asanu ndi anayi ochokera ku South Africa

[Chithunzi patsamba 10]

Ndili ndi John mu 1984