NDINABADWA mu 1927 m’tauni yaing’ono yotchedwa Wakaw ku Saskatchewan, m’dziko la Canada. Ndinakulira m’banja lalikulu la anyamata 4 ndi atsikana atatu.

M’ma 1930, kunali vuto la zachuma limene linakhudza dziko lonse. Banja lathu linalibe ndalama zambiri koma sitinkasowa chakudya. Tinkaweta nkhuku ndiponso ng’ombe imodzi. Choncho nthawi zonse tinkapeza chakudya monga mazira ndi mkaka. Tonse m’banja lathu tinkagwira ntchito zapakhomo komanso yosamalira ziweto.

Ndimakumbukira zinthu zosangalatsa zambiri zimene zinkachitika ndili mwana. Mwachitsanzo, pa nyengo ina bambo anga ankapita m’tauni tsiku lililonse kukagulitsa zinthu ndipo ankabwera ndi maapozi. Tinkasangalala kwambiri kudya maapozi okoma komanso onunkhira bwino.

Banja lathu linayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndili ndi zaka 6. Zimene zinachitika n’zakuti mnyamata woyamba kubadwa m’banja lathu dzina lake Johnny anamwalira ali wakhanda. Makolo anga anathedwa nzeru kwambiri n’kufunsa wansembe kuti: “Ndiye kuti Johnny wapita kuti?” Wansembeyo ananena kuti mwanayo anali wosabatizidwa choncho sanapite kumwamba koma akudikira kumalo enaake otchedwa Limbo. Iye ananenanso kuti ngati makolo anga atamupatsa ndalama, akhoza kupempherera Johnny kuti achoke kumalowa n’kupita kumwamba. Kodi inuyo mukanauzidwa zimenezi mukanamva bwanji? Makolo anga anakhumudwa kwambiri moti sanalankhulenso ndi wansembeyo. Koma ankafunabe kudziwa kumene Johnny anapita.

Tsiku lina, mayi anga analandira kabuku kofotokoza zimene zimachitika munthu akamwalira. Kabukuko kanali kofalitsidwa ndi Mboni za Yehova ndipo iwo anachita nako chidwi kwambiri n’kukawerenga konse. Bambo atabwera, anawauza mosangalala kuti: “Ndadziwa tsopano kumene kuli Johnny. Panopa akugona koma tsiku lina adzadzuka.” Madzulo a tsikulo, bambo anawerenganso kabukuko. Mayi ndi bambo analimbikitsidwa kwambiri ataphunzira zoti Baibulo limanena kuti panopa akufa akugona ndipo m’tsogolo adzaukitsidwa.—Mlal. 9:5, 10; Mac. 24:15.

Zimene anaphunzirazi zinatilimbikitsa komanso zinatithandiza kukhala osangalala. Makolowo anayamba kuphunzira Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova komanso kupita kukasonkhana mumpingo wa ku Wakaw. Anthu ambiri mumpingowu anali ochokera ku Ukraine. Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, makolo anga anayamba kugwira nawo ntchito yolalikira.

Kenako tinasamukira ku British Columbia ndipo abale ndi alongo a kumeneko anatilandira bwino. Ndimakumbukira kuti banja lathu linkakonda kukonzekera limodzi Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda. Tonse tinayamba kukonda kwambiri Yehova komanso mfundo za m’Baibulo. Ndinkaona kuti Yehova akutidalitsa kwambiri ndipo tinkakhala mosangalala.

 Anafe tinkachita manyazi kuuza anthu zimene tinkakhulupirira. Koma ine ndi mng’ono wanga dzina lake Eva tinkakonzekera zimene tinganene polalikira ndipo nthawi zambiri tinkachita chitsanzo pa Msonkhano wa Utumiki. Zimenezi zinatithandiza kwambiri kuti tisiye kuchita manyazi polalikira.

Chinthu china chosangalatsa chimene ndimakumbukira ndi chakuti atumiki a nthawi zonse ankakonda kufikira kunyumba kwathu. Mwachitsanzo, tinkasangalala kwambiri M’bale Jack Nathan, yemwe anali woyang’anira dera, akafikira kunyumba pamene ankachezera mpingo wathu. * Ankatiyamikira kwambiri komanso ankatiuza nkhani zosangalatsa. Zimenezi zinatithandiza kuti tizitumikira Yehova mokhulupirika.

Ndimakumbukira kuti ndili mwana ndinkafuna kuti ndikadzakula ndidzakhale ngati M’bale Nathan. Sindinkadziwa kuti zimene ndinkaphunzira kwa m’baleyu zidzandithandiza kuti ndidzachite utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Pamene ndinkafika zaka 15, ndinali nditatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuti ndizitumikira Yehova ndipo ine ndi Eva tinabatizidwa mu 1942.

Pa nthawi ya nkhondo yachiwiri ya padziko lonse, anthu ambiri ankachita zinthu zosonyeza kukonda kwambiri dziko lawo. Ndiyeno aphunzitsi ena anachotsa sukulu achemwali anga awiri ndi mchimwene wanga chifukwa chokana kuchitira saluti mbendera. Kenako anauza aphunzitsi anga kuti andichotsenso. Koma aphunzitsi angawo anawayankha kuti: “Malamulo a dziko lino sakakamiza anthu kuchita zinthu zosonyeza kukonda dziko lathu.” Anzawowo anawakakamiza kwambiri kuti andichotse koma iwo anakanitsitsa kwamtuwagalu.

Aphunzitsi ovutawo anauza aphunzitsi anga kuti akawaneneza ngati sandichotsa sukulu. Ndiyeno aphunzitsi angawo anauza mayi anga kuti sankafuna kundichotsa koma sangachitire mwina chifukwa akapanda kutero adzachotsedwa ntchito. Zitatero tinangopeza mabuku osiyanasiyana n’kumaphunzira kunyumba kwathu. Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, tinasamukira kudera lina pa mtunda wa makilomita 32 ndipo tinakalowa sukulu ya kumeneko.

Pa zaka zonse za nkhondoyi, mabuku athu ankaletsedwa koma ife tinkalalikirabe pogwiritsa ntchito Baibulo. Izi zinathandiza kuti tikhale ndi luso lophunzitsa anthu pogwiritsa ntchito Malemba. Zinatithandizanso kuti tizikonda kwambiri Yehova n’kumaona kuti akutithandiza.

Ine ndi Eva titangomaliza sukulu tinayamba upainiya. Ineyo ndinayambanso ntchito mushopu inayake kuti ndizipeza kangachepe. Kenako kwa miyezi 6, ndinaphunzira ntchito yokonza tsitsi ndipo ntchito imeneyi inkandisangalatsa kwambiri. Ndinkagwira ntchito kusaluni masiku awiri pa mlungu ndipo ndinkaphunzitsa ena ntchitoyi kawiri pa mwezi. Izi zinkandithandiza kuti ndizipeza zofunika pa moyo uku ndikuchita upainiya.

Mu 1955, ndinkafuna kupita ku msonkhano wakuti, “Ufumu Wolakika” mumzinda wa New York, ku United States komanso ku Nuremberg, m’dziko la Germany. Ndisananyamuke, ndinakumana ndi M’bale Nathan Knorr wochokera kulikulu la padziko lonse. Iye ndi mkazi wake anali ku msonkhano wa mumzinda wa Vancouver, ku Canada. Ndiyeno ineyo ndinapemphedwa kuti ndikonze tsitsi la  Mlongo Knorr. M’bale Knorr anasangalala kwambiri ndi mmene ndinakonzera tsitsilo moti anandiitanitsa kuti andione. Pocheza, ndinamuuza kuti ndidzafika ku New York ndisanapite ku Germany. Choncho anandiuza kuti ndikagwire ntchito ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn kwa masiku 9.

Ulendo umenewu unasintha kwambiri moyo wanga. Ku New York ndinakumana ndi mnyamata wina dzina lake Theodore Jaracz. Ndinadabwa kuti titangokumana anandifunsa kuti: “Kodi ukuchita upainiya?” Ndinamuyankha kuti ayi koma mnzanga wina dzina lake LaVonne anangoilowerera nkhaniyo n’kunena kuti: “Ee, akuchita upainiya ameneyo.” Apa Theodore anadabwa n’kufunsa kuti: “Ndiye ndimve ziti, za iwe kapena za uyo?” Zitatero ndinamufotokozera kuti ndinkachita upainiya ndipo ndikufuna ndiyambirenso ndikachoka ku msonkhano.

Theodore anabadwa mu 1925 ku Kentucky, m’dziko la United States ndipo anabatizidwa ali ndi zaka 15. Iye anayamba upainiya patangopita zaka ziwiri ngakhale kuti m’banja lawo wa Mboni analimo yekha. Theodore anachita utumiki wa nthawi zonse kwa zaka pafupifupi 67.

Mu July 1946, Theodore anamaliza maphunziro a Sukulu ya Giliyadi ndipo pa nthawiyo anali ndi zaka 20. Kenako anakagwira ntchito yoyang’anira dera mumzinda wa Cleveland, ku Ohio. Patapita zaka pafupifupi 4, anatumizidwa ku Australia kuti akayang’anire nthambi ya m’dzikolo.

Nayenso Theodore anapita ku msonkhano wa ku Nuremberg, ku Germany ndipo tinakumana kumeneko n’kupeza mpata wocheza. Ndiyeno tinayamba chibwenzi. Ndinasangalala kuona kuti ankafuna kuchita zambiri potumikira Yehova. Iye anali wodzipereka kwambiri, wokoma mtima komanso wochezeka. Ndinkaona kuti ankaganizira zofuna za ena kuposa zake. Msonkhanowu utatha Theodore anabwerera ku Australia ndipo ine ndinabwerera ku Vancouver. Koma tinkalemberana makalata.

Patapita zaka pafupifupi 5, Theodore anachoka ku Australia n’kubwerera ku United States. Kenako anabwera kudzachita upainiya ku Vancouver. Mchimwene wanga wamkulu dzina lake Michael ankanditeteza ndipo nthawi zambiri sankasangalala akaona anyamata akundichezetsa. Koma iye ankakonda Theodore ndipo anandiuza kuti: “Melita, wapeza mwamuna wabwinotu. Uzimulemekeza ndipo uzisamala kuti asakusiye.” Ndinasangalala kuti anthu am’banja lathu ankamukonda.

Nanenso ndinkamukonda kwambiri. Ndiyeno tinakwatirana pa December 10, 1956. Tinachita upainiya ku Vancouver ndiponso ku California. Kenako tinagwira ntchito yoyang’anira dera ku Missouri ndi ku Arkansas. Kwa zaka 18, tinkachezera mipingo m’madera osiyanasiyana m’dziko la United States. Mu utumiki munkachitika zinthu zosangalatsa komanso tinkasangalala kucheza ndi abale ndi alongo ambiri. Izi zinathandiza kuti tisamadandaule ndi moyo wosamukasamuka.

Ndinkalemekeza kwambiri Theodore chifukwa nthawi zonse ankayesetsa kulimbitsa ubwenzi wake ndi Yehova. Iye ankaona kuti ndi mwayi waukulu kutumikira Mfumu ya chilengedwe chonse. Tinkakonda kwambiri kuwerenga ndiponso kuphunzira Baibulo limodzi. Tsiku lililonse tisanagone tinkagwada pafupi ndi bedi ndipo Theodore ankapemphera. Kenako aliyense ankapemphera payekha. Ndinkadziwa ngati iye akuda nkhawa ndi zinazake chifukwa ankadzuka n’kugwada ndipo ankapempheranso kwa nthawi yaitali. Ndinkasangalala kuona kuti Theodore ankakonda kupempha Yehova kuti amuthandize pa nkhani zazikulu ndi zazing’ono zomwe.

 Patapita zaka zingapo titakwatirana, Theodore anandiuza kuti adzayamba kudya zizindikiro pa Chikumbutso. Iye anati: “Ndapemphera kwambiri za nkhaniyi pofuna kutsimikiza kuti ndikuchita zimene Yehova akufuna.” Sindinadabwe kwenikweni kuti Theodore anadzozedwa ndi mzimu wa Mulungu kuti adzakatumikire kumwamba. Kuyambira nthawi imeneyo, ndinali ndi mwayi wothandiza m’bale wa Khristu.—Mat. 25:35-40.

Mu 1974, tinadabwa kwambiri titamva kuti Theodore azikatumikira m’Bungwe Lolamulira la Mboni za Yehova. Kenako tinapita kukatumikira ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn. Theodore ankatumikira m’Bungwe Lolamulira pomwe ine ndinkagwira ntchito kusaluni ya ku Beteliko komanso kukonza m’nyumba.

Ntchito ina imene Theodore ankagwira inali yoyendera maofesi a nthambi osiyanasiyana. Iye ankachita chidwi kwambiri ndi mmene zinthu zikuyendera m’mayiko amene ntchito yolalikira inali yoletsedwa. Nthawi ina tinatopa kwambiri ndipo tinakachita tchuthi ku Sweden. Tili kumeneko, Theodore anandiuza kuti: “Melita, ntchito yolalikira ndi yoletsedwa ku Poland, ndiye ndikufuna ndikathandize abale kumeneko.” Choncho tinapitako ndipo Theodore anakumana ndi abale amene ankayang’anira ntchito yolalikira m’dzikolo. Iwo anapita kokayenda n’cholinga choti anthu ngati apolisi asamve zimene ankakambirana. Abalewo anakambirana za nkhaniyi kwa masiku 4. Theodore anasangalala kwambiri chifukwa chothandiza abale athuwo.

Mu November 1977, tinapitanso ku Poland chifukwa Bungwe Lolamulira linatumiza F. W. Franz, Daniel Sydlik ndi Theodore kuti akaone mmene ntchito yolalikira ikuyendera m’dzikolo. Ngakhale kuti ntchitoyi inali yoletsedwabe, abale atatuwa anakwanitsa kukumana ndi abale a m’mizinda yosiyanasiyana. Anakumana ndi akulu, apainiya komanso abale amene anali atatumikira Yehova kwa nthawi yaitali.

Chaka chotsatira, Milton Henschel ndi Theodore anapitanso ku Poland ndipo anakumana ndi akuluakulu a boma amene ankaoneka kuti sakudana ndi Mboni za Yehova. Mu 1982, boma la Poland linalola kuti abale ndi alongo achite msonkhano wa tsiku limodzi. Chaka chotsatira, misonkhano ikuluikulu inachitika ndipo abale anachita lendi maholo osiyanasiyana. Mu 1985, ntchito yathu idakali yoletsedwa, tinaloledwa kuchita misonkhano yachigawo 4 m’masitediyamu akuluakulu. Ndiyeno mu May 1989, tikukonzekera misonkhano ina ikuluikulu, boma la Poland linachotsa lamulo loletsa ntchito yolalikira. Theodore anasangalala kwambiri ndi zimene zinachitikazi.

Mu 2007, tinali pa ulendo wopita kukatsegulira nthambi ya ku South Africa ndipo tinadutsira ku  England. Tili kumeneko, Theodore anadwala matenda a BP ndipo dokotala ananena kuti sayenera kupitiriza ulendowu. Atalandira chithandizo n’kuchira, tinabwerera ku United States. Koma patangopita milungu yochepa, anachita sitiroko ndipo ziwalo zake zakumanja zinafa.

Theodore ankachira mwapang’onopang’ono ndipo poyamba sankatha kupita ku ofesi. Koma tinkasangalala kuti ankatha kulankhula bwinobwino. Ngakhale kuti panali mavuto amenewa, iye ankayesetsa kugwirabe ntchito. Ankagwiritsa ntchito foni kuti azikhala nawo pa zokambirana za Bungwe Lolamulira mlungu uliwonse.

Theodore ankayamikira kwambiri zimene abale ndi alongo ogwira ntchito zachipatala pa Beteli ankachita pomuthandiza. Pang’ono ndi pang’ono, anayamba kuwongokera n’kumayenda. Anayambanso kugwira ntchito zake zina ndipo ankayesetsa kukhala wosangalala.

Patapita zaka zitatu, Theodore anachitanso sitiroko ndipo anamwalira Lachitatu pa June 9, 2010. N’zoona kuti ndinkadziwa zoti tsiku lina iye adzamaliza utumiki wake padzikoli, koma zitachitika zinandiwawa koopsa ndipo ndimamusowa kwambiri. Tsiku lililonse ndimayamikira Yehova chifukwa choti anandipatsa mwayi wothandiza Theodore. Tinachita limodzi utumiki wa nthawi zonse kwa zaka zoposa 53. Ndimathokozanso Yehova chifukwa cha zimene Theodore anachita pondithandiza kukhala pa ubwenzi wolimba ndi Atate wanga wakumwamba. Koma ndikudziwa kuti iye akusangalala kwambiri ndi utumiki umene akuchita panopa.

Kwa zaka zambiri, ine ndi mwamuna wanga tinkachita zambiri potumikira Yehova ndipo tinkasangalala. Koma tsopano zinthu zasintha ndipo pali mavuto ena amene ndikulimbana nawo. Mwachitsanzo, pamene Theodore anali moyo, tinkasangalala kwambiri kukumana ndi alendo ku Beteli komanso mumpingo. Koma panopa zimandivuta kucheza ndi anthu ambiri ngati kale chifukwa chakuti Theodore kulibe komanso thupi langa ndi lofooka. Ngakhale zili choncho, ndimasangalalabe kucheza ndi abale ndi alongo a pa Beteli komanso kumpingo. Moyo wa pa Beteli ndi wotanganidwa kwambiri komabe ndimasangalala kutumikira Yehova m’njira imeneyi. N’zoona kuti ndimatopa msanga komanso sinditha kuima kwa nthawi yaitali koma ndimakondabe kulalikira. Ndimasangalala kulalikira mumsewu komanso kuchititsa maphunziro a Baibulo.

Kunena zoona, zinthu m’dzikoli zikuipiraipirabe koma ine ndimasangalala kuti ndili m’gulu la Yehova komanso ndinali ndi mwamuna wabwino. Ndinganene kuti madalitso a Yehova andilemeretsa kwambiri.—Miy. 10:22.