Ndinayamba ‘Kukumbukira Mlengi Wanga’ Zaka 90 Zapitazo

Yosimbidwa ndi Edwin Ridgwell

PA November 11, 1918, linali tsiku limene mayiko ankakambirana zokhazikitsa mtendere. Ana onse pasukulu yathu anauzidwa mosayembekezera kusonkhana pamodzi kuti achite mwambo wokondwerera kutha kwa Nkhondo Yaikulu, imene inadzatchedwa nkhondo yoyamba ya padziko lonse. Pa nthawiyi n’kuti ndili ndi zaka zisanu zokha ndipo sindinamvetse bwinobwino chimene chinali kuchitika. Komabe chifukwa cha zimene makolo anga anandiphunzitsa zokhudza Mulungu, ndinaona kuti si bwino kuchita nawo mwambowo. Ndinapemphera kwa Mulungu koma kenako ndinalephera kudzigwira n’kuyamba kulira. Koma sindinachite nawo mwambowo. Apa m’pamene ndinayambira ‘kukumbukira Mlengi wanga.’​—Mlal. 12:1.

Miyezi ingapo izi zisanachitike, banja lathu linali litasamukira kudera la pafupi ndi mzinda wa Glasgow, ku Scotland. Pa nthawi imeneyi, bambo anga anamvera nkhani ya onse yakuti, “Anthu Mamiliyoni Ambiri Amene Ali ndi Moyo Sadzafa.” Nkhani imeneyi inasintha kwambiri moyo wawo. Bambo ndi mayi anayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndipo ankakonda kukambirana za Ufumu wa Mulungu ndi madalitso amene akubwera. Ndikuthokoza kwambiri Mulungu chifukwa chakuti kuyambira nthawi imeneyi, makolo anga anandiphunzitsa kukonda kwambiri Mulungu komanso kumudalira.​—Miy. 22:6.

Ndinayamba Utumiki wa Nthawi Zonse

Nditakwanitsa zaka 15, ndinayenerera kupita kuyunivesite koma ndinkafunitsitsa kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Bambo anga ankaona kuti sindingakwanitse chifukwa choti ndinali mwana, choncho ndinayamba kugwira ntchito mu ofesi inayake. Mtima wofuna kutumikira Yehova mu utumiki wa nthawi zonse unakula kwambiri moti tsiku lina ndinalembera kalata M’bale J. F. Rutherford, amene pa nthawiyo ankayang’anira ntchito yolalikira padziko lonse. Ndinamufunsa maganizo ake pa zimene ndinkafunazi. M’kalata yake, M’bale Rutherford anayankha kuti: “Ngati ukukwanitsa ntchito ya mu ofesi, ndiye kuti ndiwe wamkulu ndipo utha kutumikira Ambuye bwinobwino. . . . Ndikukhulupirira kuti Ambuye adzakudalitsa ngati udzam’tumikira mwakhama komanso mokhulupirika.” Kalatayi anailemba pa March 10, 1928 ndipo inalimbikitsa kwambiri banja lathu lonse. Pasanapite nthawi yaitali Bambo, mayi, mchemwali wanga komanso ineyo tinayamba utumiki wa nthawi zonse.

Pamsonkhano wa ku London mu 1931, M’bale Rutherford anafunsa za amene angadzipereke kukalalikira uthenga wabwino m’mayiko ena. Ine limodzi ndi Andrew Jack tinadzipereka ndipo anatitumiza kumzinda wa Kaunas, womwe unali likulu la dziko la Lithuania. Pa nthawiyi n’kuti ndili ndi zaka 18.

Kulalikira Uthenga wa Ufumu M’mayiko Ena

Pa nthawi imeneyi dziko la Lithuania linali losauka, anthu ambiri anali alimi ndipo kulalikira m’madera akumidzi kunali kovuta kwambiri. Malo ogona anali ovutanso ndipo pali malo ena  amene sitinawaiwale. Mwachitsanzo, tsiku lina ine ndi Andrew tinadzuka usiku chifukwa cholephera kugona. Titayatsa nyali, tinaona kuti bedi lonse linali ndi nsikidzi zokhazokha. Zinatiluma kuyambira kumutu mpaka kumapazi. Kwa mlungu wathunthu, m’mawa uliwonse ndinkapita kumtsinje wina wapafupi kukalowa m’madzi ofika m’khosi kuti ndichepetseko ululu womwe ndinkamva chifukwa cholumidwa. Komabe tinatsimikiza kuti sitisiya utumiki. Pasanapite nthawi, vutoli linatha pamene tinakumana ndi banja lina limene linali litalandira kale choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Banjali linatitengera kukanyumba kawo komwe kanali kakang’ono koma kaukhondo. Ngakhale kuti sitinkagona pabedi, tinkagona tulo tabwino.

Pa nthawiyo n’kuti akuluakulu a tchalitchi cha Katolika ndi cha Russian Orthodox ali ndi mphamvu kwambiri m’dziko la Lithuania. Anthu olemera okha ndi amene ankatha kugula Baibulo. Cholinga chathu chachikulu chinali choti tiyesetse mmene tingathere kuti tilalikire gawo lalikulu ndi kugawira mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo ambiri kwa anthu achidwi. Tinkapeza malo ogona m’tawuni n’kuyamba kulalikira m’madera akutali. Tikamaliza kumeneko, tinkayamba kulalikira m’tawuniyo mwamsangamsanga. Izi zinkachititsa kuti tizimaliza ntchito yathu ansembe akumaloko asanayambitse chisokonezo.

Kunachitika Chisokonezo Chimene Chinachititsa Kuti Anthu Amve Uthenga Wathu

M’chaka cha 1934, Andrew anapemphedwa kuti akatumikire ku ofesi ya nthambi ku Kaunas, choncho ine ndinayamba kutumikira ndi John Sempey. Panali zinthu zina zosaiwalika zimene zinatichitikira. Tsiku lina, ndili m’katawuni kenakake, ndinalowa mu ofesi ya loya wina kuti ndimulalikire. Koma iye anakwiya kwambiri ndipo anatulutsa mfuti n’kundiuza kuti ndituluke. Nditapemphera chamumtima, ndinakumbukira malangizo a m’Baibulo akuti: “Mayankhidwe ofatsa abweza mkwiyo; koma mawu owawitsa aputa msunamo.” (Miy. 15:1) Choncho ndinayankha kuti: “Sindine mdani wanu. Ndabwera kuno kuti ndidzakuuzeni uthenga wabwino. Zikomo kwambiri chifukwa choleza mtima osandipha.” Nditanena zimenezi, munthu uja sanandiwombere ndipo ndinayenda cham’mbuyo n’kutuluka mu ofesimo.

Nditakumana ndi John, anandiuza zimene nayenso anakumana nazo. Iye anati ananamiziridwa kuti anaba ndalama zambiri za mayi wina amene anakumana naye ndipo anthu ena anamutenga kupita naye kupolisi. Pofufuza ndalamazo, apolisi anamuuza John kuti avule zovala zake zonse koma sanazipeze. Kenako munthu amene anaba ndalamazo anapezeka.

Chifukwa cha zochitikazi, panali chisokonezo ndithu ndipo zimenezi zinachititsa kuti anthu m’tawuniyi amve uthenga wathu.

Tinkachita Zinthu Mwachinsinsi

Ntchito yolalikira inali yoletsedwa m’dziko la Latvia. Choncho ntchito yokasiya mabuku kumeneko inali yoika moyo pachiswe. Mwezi uliwonse tinkakwera sitima yausiku kukasiya mabuku ku Latvia. Nthawi zina tikasiya mabuku ku Latvia, tinkapitanso ku Estonia kukatenga mabuku ena omwe timadzawasiyanso pobwerera kwathu.

Munthu wina wogwira ntchito yoona za misonkho anali atauzidwa za ntchito yathu. Choncho, tsiku lina iye anatiuza kuti titsike m’sitima ndipo  tipite ndi mabuku athu kwa bwana wake. Ine ndi John tinapemphera kwa Yehova kuti atithandize. Mwamwayi, munthuyo sanauze bwana wakeyo zimene tinatenga koma anangomuuza kuti: “Anthuwa akufuna kuti afotokoze katundu amene ali nawo.” Pofotokoza katunduyo, ndinangomuuza bwanayo kuti ndatenga katundu amene amathandiza anthu m’masukulu ndi m’makoleji kumvetsa chifukwa chake zinthu masiku ano sizikuyenda bwino. Zitatero, bwanayo anangotiuza ndi mkono kuti dutsani, ndipo tinakapereka mabukuwo popanda vuto lililonse.

Kumayiko akunyanja ya Baltic kutayambika mavuto azandale, anthu anayamba kudana kwambiri ndi Mboni za Yehova ndipo ntchito yolalikira inaletsedwanso ku Lithuania. Andrew ndi John anathamangitsidwa m’dzikolo ndipo nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse itatsala pang’ono kuyamba, anthu onse ochokera ku Britain anauzidwa kuti achoke m’dzikolo. Motero inenso ndinachoka koma mokhumudwa kwambiri.

Kutumikira ku Northern Ireland Ndiponso Madalitso Ake

Pa nthawiyi n’kuti makolo anga atasamukira ku Northern Ireland ndipo mu 1937, inenso ndinapita kukhala nawo kumeneko. Mabuku athu analinso ataletsedwa ku Northern Ireland chifukwa cha nkhondo, komabe tinapitiriza kulalikira pa nthawi yonse ya nkhondo. Nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse itatha, tinayambanso kulalikira mwaufulu. M’bale wina yemwe anali atachita upainiya kwa nthawi yaitali dzina lake Harold King, yemwenso anakachita umishonale ku China, ankatsogolera pokonzekera nkhani za onse. Iye anati: “Loweruka likubwerali, likhala tsiku langa loyamba kukamba nkhani pabwalo.” Ndiyeno anandiyang’ana n’kunena kuti: “Iwe udzakamba Loweruka linalo.” Nditamva zimenezi ndinadabwa kwambiri.

Ndimakumbukira bwino mmene zinthu zinalili pamene ndinkakamba nkhani yanga yoyamba. Panali anthu ambiri. Ndinkakamba nkhaniyi nditaima pabokosi linalake ndipo panalibe zokuzira mawu. Nditamaliza kukamba nkhaniyi, bambo wina anabwera kudzandigwira chanza ndipo anandiuza  kuti dzina lake ndi Bill Smith. Iye anati anabwera chifukwa chodabwa ndi gulu la anthulo ndipo ankafuna aone chimene chikuchitika. Bill anandiuza kuti anaphunzirapo Baibulo ndi bambo, koma anasiya kuphunzira pamene bambowo ndi mayi anga ondipeza, anasamukira ku Dublin kukachita upainiya. Ndinayamba kuphunzira naye Baibulo. Patapita nthawi, anthu 9 a m’banja la Bill anakhala atumiki a Yehova.

Pa nthawi ina ndinkalalikira kunyumba zina zazikulu kunja kwa mzinda wa Belfast ndipo ndinakumana ndi mayi wina wa ku Russia amene ankakhala ku Lithuania. Nditamusonyeza mabuku ena, analoza buku lina n’kunena kuti: “Ili ndili nalo. Bambo anga aakulu omwe ndi pulofesa kuyunivesite ya Kaunas ndi amene anandipatsa.” Anandisonyeza buku lakuti Creation, la m’Chipolishi. M’bali mwa masamba a bukulo munali mutalembedwa manotsi ambirimbiri. Mayiyu anadabwa kwambiri nditamuuza kuti ineyo ndi amene ndinawapatsa bukulo pa nthawi imene tinakumana ku Kaunas.​—Mlal. 11:1.

John Sempey atamva kuti ndikupita ku Northern Ireland, anandiuza kuti ndikaonane ndi mchemwali wake dzina lake Nellie, yemwe anali ndi chidwi chophunzira Baibulo. Ineyo ndi mchemwali wanga Connie, tinayamba kuphunzira naye Baibulo. Nellie anapita patsogolo mwamsanga ndipo anadzipereka kwa Yehova. Patapita nthawi, tinakhala pa chibwenzi ndipo kenako tinakwatirana.

Ine ndi Nellie tinatumikira Yehova limodzi kwa zaka 56 ndipo tathandiza anthu oposa 100 kudziwa choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Tinkaganiza kuti tikhala limodzi mpaka kupulumuka Armagedo n’kulowa m’dziko latsopano limene Yehova walonjeza. Koma tsoka ndi ilo, Nellie anamwalira mu 1998. Izi zinandipweteka kwambiri moti ndinkangoona ngati kwanga kwatha. Imeneyi inali nthawi yovuta kwambiri pa moyo wanga.

Kubwereranso Kumayiko Akunyanja ya Baltic

Patatha chaka chimodzi Nellie atamwalira, ndinalandira madalitso. Ndinaitanidwa ku ofesi ya nthambi ku Tallinn, m’dziko la Estonia. M’kalata yawo, abale a ku Estonia analemba kuti: “Pa abale 10 amene anatumizidwa kumayiko akunyanja ya Baltic chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1920 ndi kumayambiriro kwa zaka za m’ma 1930, ndi iwe wekha amene uli moyo.” Kalatayo inafotokozanso kuti nthambi ikufuna kukonza nkhani yofotokoza mbiri yathu m’mayiko a Estonia, Latvia ndi Lithuania. Kenako m’kalatamo anandifunsa kuti: “Kodi ungabwere?”

Unali mwayi waukulu kufotokoza zimene ine ndi anzanga tinakumana nazo zaka zimenezo. Ku Latvia ndinawasonyeza nyumba imene tinkagwiritsa ntchito ngati ofesi ya nthambi. Ndinawasonyezanso malo ena kudenga, amene tinkasungapo mabuku athu ndipo apolisi sanawatulukire malowa. Titafika ku Lithuania, tinapita kukatawuni kena kotchedwa Šiauliai kamene kalelo ndinachitako upainiya. Titasonkhana pamalo ena kumeneko, m’bale wina anandiuza kuti: “Kalekale ine ndi mayi anga tinagula nyumba m’tawuni muno. Tikuyeretsa kachipinda kapamwamba, ndinapeza buku lakuti The Divine Plan of the Ages ndi lakuti Zeze wa Mulungu. Nditawerenga mabukuwa, ndinadziwa kuti ndapeza choonadi. Muyenera kuti ndi inuyo amene munasiya mabuku amenewa kalekalelo.”

Ndinapezekanso pamsonkhano wadera m’tawuni ina yomwe kalelo ndinkachitamo upainiya. Zaka 65 izi zisanachitike, tinachitirakonso msonkhano wadera ndipo pa nthawiyo tinalipo anthu 35. Koma ulendo uno zinali zosangalatsa kuona kuti panali anthu oposa 1,500. Yehova wadalitsa kwambiri ntchito yathu.

‘Yehova Sanandisiye’

Posachedwapa, ndinalandira madalitso osayembekezereka pamene mlongo wina wokongola kwambiri, dzina lake Bee, anavomera kuti akhale mkazi wanga. Tinakwatirana mu November 2006.

Achinyamata amene akuganizira zoti achite pa moyo wawo asamakayike kuti ndi nzeru kutsatira malangizo ouziridwa akuti: “Ukumbukirenso Mlengi wako masiku a unyamata wako.” Panopa, ndikusangalala ngati wamasalmo amene ananena kuti: “Mulungu, mwandiphunzitsa kuyambira ubwana wanga; ndipo kufikira lero ndilalikira zodabwiza zanu. Poteronso pokalamba ine ndi kukhala nazo imvi musandisiye, Mulungu; kufikira nditalalikira mbadwo uwu za dzanja lanu, mphamvu yanu kwa onse akudza m’mbuyo.”​—Sal. 71:17, 18.

[Mapu patsamba 25]

(Onani m’magazini yeniyeni kuti mumvetse izi)

Ntchito yokasiya mabuku ku Latvia inali yoika moyo pachiswe

ESTONIA

TALLINN

Gulf of Riga

LATVIA

RIGA

LITHUANIA

VILNIUS

Kaunas

[Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Ndinayamba ukopotala (upainiya) ndili ndi zaka 15, ku Scotland

[Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Ndili ndi Nellie, pa tsiku la ukwati wathu mu 1942