Ndinkakonda choonadi kuyambira ndili mwana. Ndinkafuna kupereka moyo wanga kwa Yehova komanso kubatizidwa. Ndinasangalala kwambiri nditakwanitsa cholinga changachi pamene ndinali ndi zaka 13. Kenako ndili ndi zaka 14, M’bale Helge Linck a anandifunsa ngati ndinaganizirapo zotumikira monga mpainiya. Nthawi imeneyi sindimaiiwala. Ngakhale kuti mayi anga ndi bambo anga ankatumikira monga apainiya akanthawi (omwe pano amadziwika kuti apainiya othandiza), ineyo sindinkadziwa kuti kukhala mpainiya wokhazikika kumatanthauza chiyani. Funso limene anandifunsa M’bale Linck linandichititsa kuti ndikhale ndi mtima wofunitsitsa kuchita zambiri potumikira Yehova.

 Mu 1974, zinthu zinasokonekera kwambiri m’dziko la Ethiopia ndipo anthu anamangidwa komanso kuphedwa chifukwa cha mavuto azandale. M’kupita kwa nthawi, sitinkathanso kulalikira nyumba ndi nyumba ndipo tinkasonkhana m’magulu a anthu ochepa. Makolo athu ankatithandiza kuzindikira mavuto enanso omwe tingakumane nawo monga kutsutsidwa. Mfundo za m’Baibulo zinatithandiza kumvetsa chifukwa chimene Akhristu salowerera zochitika za m’dziko. Tinaphunzira kuti Yehova adzatithandiza kudziwa zimene tinganene ngati titafunsidwa, komanso nthawi yomwe tiyenera kukhala chete.​—Mateyu 10:19; 27:12, 14.

 Nditamaliza sukulu ndinayamba kugwira ntchito ku kampani ya ndege ya Ethiopian Airlines. Tsiku lina nditapita kuntchito anzanga anayamba kundiyamikira chifukwa ndinasankhidwa kukhala mtsogoleri wa gulu la anthu ochita chikondwerero cha boma. Nthawi yomweyo ndinauza abwana anga kuti sindichita nawo chikondwererocho chifukwa chakuti sindilowerera nawo zochitika za m’dziko.

 Tsiku lotsatira, ndikugwira ntchito kubwalo la ndege, chapatali ndinaona asilikali atakolekera mfuti akupita pamalo odulira matikiti. Poona ndinkangoti akufuna amange munthu winawake amene akufuna kutuluka m’dziko mozemba. Koma ndinangoona akulozerana ineyo. Ndinadabwa kuti n’chifukwa chiyani akufuna ineyo. Apatu zinthu zinasintha mwadzidzidzi ngakhale kuti tsikuli linayamba bwinobwino.

 Asilikali ananditengera muofesi ina ndipo ndinakafunsidwa mafunso kwa maola ambirimbiri. Ankandifunsa kuti: “Ndi ndani amene amalipira a Mboni za Yehova? Kodi umagwira ntchito ku bungwe lomenyera ufulu wa dziko la Eritrea? Kodi iweyo kapena bambo ako mumagwira ntchito za boma la United States?” Ndimathokoza kwambiri Yehova pondithandiza kukhala wodekha ngakhale kuti nthawiyi inali yosautsa mtima kwambiri.​—Afilipi 4:6, 7.

 Atamaliza kundifunsa mafunso, asilikali ananditengera kunyumba ina yomwe inali itasandutsidwa ndende ndipo anandiika m’chipinda cha masikweya mita 28. Chipandachi chinali chitadzadza ndi atsikana pafupifupi 15 omwe anamangidwa pa nkhani za ndale.

 Madzulo pogona, ndidakali mu yunifolomu yanga yogwirira ntchito, ndinayamba kudera nkhawa kuti makolo anga ndi abale anga azidandaula kwambiri. Iwo ankadziwa kuti ndamangidwa koma sankadziwa komwe ndinali. Ndiye ndinapemphera kwa Yehova kuti awathandize kudziwa komwe ndili.

 Mam’mawa nditadzuka ndinazindikira msilikali wina wachinyamata wolondera akaidi. Iye anandiyang’ana modabwa ndipo anandifunsa kuti, “Aster, ukutani kuno?” Ndinamupempha kuti apite kunyumba akauze makolo anga komwe ndili. Kenako masana a tsikulo makolo anga anandibweretsera zakudya ndi zovala. Msilikali uja anali atawauza komwe ndinali. Apatu Yehova anayankha pemphero langa. Ndipo zimenezi zinanditsimikizira kuti sindinali ndekha.

 Sindinkaloledwa kukhala ndi Baibulo kapena mabuku ena alionse komanso achibale anga ndi anzanga sankaloledwa kudzandiona. Komabe Yehova ankandilimbikitsa pogwiritsa ntchito akaidi anzanga. Tsiku lililonse ndinkawalalikira ndipo ankasangalala kwambiri kumva mfundo zolondola zokhudza Ufumu wa Mulungu. Nthawi zambiri ankandiuza kuti: “Taona, ife tikuvutikira boma la anthu koma iweyo ukuvutikira boma la Mulungu. Ndiye usachite mantha ngakhale atakuopseza kuti akupha.”

 Nthawi zina asilikali olondera ankapanikiza akaidi ndi mafunso komanso kuwamenya. Tsiku lina cha m’ma 11 koloko usiku, anabwera kudzanditenga. Titalowa m’chipinda chomwe ankafunsira mafunso, anandiimba milandu yambirimbiri. Ananena kuti sindinathandize boma. Kenako nditakana kunena nawo mawu enaake ochemerera ndale, asilikali awiri anandimenya. Asilikaliwa ananditengera kokandifunsa mafunso maulendo ambirimbiri. Nthawi iliyonse akanditenga ndinkapemphera kwa Yehova mochokera pansi pa mtima ndipo ndinkaona kuti akundithandiza.

 Pambuyo pa miyezi itatu, msilikali wina anabwera n’kundiuza kuti ndamasulidwa ndipo ndikhoza kumapita kunyumba. Nditamva zimenezi ndinadabwa ndiponso kusangalala, komabe ndinakhumudwa pang’ono chifukwa ndinkasangalala kukambirana uthenga wa Ufumu ndi atsikana omwe ndinali nawo m’ndende aja.

 Tsiku lina nditakhala panja pa nyumba yathu, asilikali anabwera n’kumanga achinyamata onse m’banja lathu. Apa n’kuti patapita miyezi ingapo kuchokera pamene ndinatulutsidwa m’ndende. Anamanga azichemwali anga awiri ndi mchimwene wanga mmodzi. Ndinaona kuti imeneyi inali nthawi yabwino yoti ndithawe m’dziko lathu. Ngakhale kuti ndinakhumudwa kwambiri kuti ndisiyananso ndi banja langa, koma amayi anandilimbikitsa kuti ndikhale wolimba komanso ndizidalira Yehova. Posakhalitsa, ndinakakwera ndege n’kupita ku United States. Madzulo a tsikulo, asilikali anabwera kunyumba kuti adzandimange kachiwiri. Ataona kuti sanandipeze, anathamangira kubwalo la ndege. Koma pamene ankafika, ndege yomwe ndinakwera inali itayamba kale kuuluka.

 Nditafika ku Maryland ndinalandilidwa ndi a Haywood komanso a Joan Ward, amishonale omwe anaphunzitsa makolo anga choonadi. Patatha miyezi 5 ndinakwaniritsa cholinga changa chokhala mpainiya wokhazikika. A Ward anali ndi mwana wamkazi dzina lake Cyndi ndipo anali mnzanga amene ndinkachita naye upainiya. Ine ndi Cyndi tinkasangalala kwambiri muutumiki.

 M’chaka cha 1979, ndinapita ku Beteli ku New York ndipo kumeneko ndinakumana ndi Wesley Parker. Ndinasangalala kwambiri ndi makhalidwe ake abwino komanso zolinga zake zauzimu. Mu 1981, tinakwatirana ndipo kenako tinasamukira ku Wallkill, New York kukatumikira pa Beteli limodzi ndi Wesley. Poyamba ndinkatumikira ku dipatimenti yoyeretsa zipinda komanso kuchapa zovala kenako ndinapita dipatimenti yoyang’anira makompyuta. Kutumikira pabeteli kunandipatsa mwayi wotumikira Yehova ndi moyo wanga wonse kwinaku ndikudziwana ndi abale ndi alongo amene anadzakhala mabwenzi anga apamtima.

 Komabe, zinthu sizinali bwino kwathu ku Ethiopia chifukwa banja lathu linkazunzidwa kwambiri ndipo zimenezi zinkandidetsa nkhawa. Abale anga atatu omwe anamangidwa aja anali adakali m’ndende. b Chifukwa chakuti kundendeko sankapereka chakudya, mayi anga ankafunika kuphika ndi kukawapatsira chakudyacho tsiku lililonse.

 Yehova anali malo anga othawirako pa nthawi yonse yovutayi komanso abale ndi alongo a m’banja la beteli ankanditonthoza ndi kundilimbikitsa kwambiri. (Maliko 10:29, 30) Tsiku lina M’bale John Booth anandiuza kuti: “Tikusangalala kwambiri kuti ukutumikira pa beteli. Zimenezi zikungosonyezeratu kuti Yehova akukudalitsa.” c Mawu olimbikitsawa ananditsimikizira kuti Yehova anadalitsa zomwe ndi ndinasankha zochoka ku Ethiopia komanso kuti adzasamalira amayi ndi abale anga.

 Mu January 1989, ndinakhala woyembekezera. Poyamba, tinkakanika kuvomereza koma patapita masiku angapo, tinasiya kudandaula ndipo tinayambiranso kumakhala mosangalala. Komabe tinkadera nkhawa kuti tidzakwanitsa bwanji kukhala makolo abwino? Kodi tizikakhala kuti? Nanga tizikapeza bwanji zosowa zathu tikachoka ku beteli?.

 Pa 15 April 1989, tinanyamuka kupita ku Oregon komwe tinakonza zakuti tikapitirize kuchita utumiki wanthawi zonse monga apainiya. Koma pasanapite nthawi, anzathu ena amene ankatifunira zabwino anatiuza kuti imeneyo sinali nthawi yabwino yoti tichite upainiya. Ndi zoona kuti tinalibe zinthu zambiri zofunikira pamoyo komanso tinkayembekezera kubadwa kwa mwana wathu. Ndiye kodi tikanatani? Panthawiyi, woyang’anira dera wathu dzina lake Guy Pierce ndi mkazi wake Penny anadzacheza kunyumba kwathu. d Iwo anatilimbikitsa kuti tisafooke koma tichite zomwe tinakambiranazo. Ndiye tinayamba kuchita upainiya ndipo tinkakhulupirira kuti Yehova atithandiza. (Malaki 3:10) Tinapitirizabe kuchita utumikiwu mwana wathu woyamba wamwamuna dzina lake Lemuel komanso wachiwiri dzina lake Jadon atabadwa.

 Timaona kuti tinachita bwino kwambiri kuchita upainiya ana athu adakali aang’ono. Zimenezi zinatithandiza kwambiri kuti tizikhala ndi nthawi yambiri yolalikira komanso kuphunzitsa ana athu mfundo za choonadi. (Deuteronomo 11:19) Komabe tinkafunika kusiya kuchita upainiya kwa kanthawi mwana wathu wachitatu dzina lake Japheth atabadwa.​—Mika 6:8.

 Tinazindikira kuti monga makolo, tinali ndi udindo waukulu kwambiri wophunzitsa ana athu kuti aziona kuti Yehova ndi weniweni komanso kuti akuyenera azimukonda pawokha. Kuti tikwanitse kuchita zimenezi, tinayesetsa kuti azikonda kulambira kwa pabanja. Ali aang’ono kwambiri, tinkawawerengera mabuku akuti Kumamumvetsera Mphunzitsi Wamkuluyo komanso Bukhu Langa la Nkhani za Baibulo. Ndipo nthawi zina tinkachita masewero a nkhani zimene tinkawerengazi. Mkazi ndinalipo ndekha mnyumba yonse ndiye ndinatenga mbali ya Yezebeli pamene tinkachita sewero lokhudza nkhaniyi. Ana athuwa anasangalala kwambiri akundikankhira pansi kuchoka pampando komanso kuyerekezera ali agalu. Kuonjezera pamenepo, mwamuna wanga ankaphunzira Baibulo ndi anyamatawa aliyense payekha.

 Tinkasamalira komanso kukonda kwambiri ana athu ndipo tinkapemphera kuti tonse tizigwirizana nthawi zonse. Pamene ankakula, tinayamba kuwaphunzitsa ntchito mogwirizana ndi msinkhu wawo monga kutsuka mbale, kukonza kuchipinda kwawo, kuchapa zovala komanso kuphika.

 Sikuti ndi ana athu okhawa amene ankafunika kuphunzira komanso ifeyo monga makolo tinkafunika kuphunzirapo pa zinthu zina. Mwachitsanzo, nthawi zina sitinkawalankhula bwino ana athu. Ngakhalenso ifeyo sitinkalankhulana bwino nthawi zina ndipo tinkafunika kudzichepetsa ndi kupepesana.

 Nthawi zambiri tinkaitana abale ndi alongo a mumpingo mwathu kuti tidzacheze nawo. Ndiponso tinkakonda kukacheza ndi atumiki a pabeteli, amishonale, oyang’anira madera komanso abale amene ankatumikira kumadera amene kunkafunika olalikira ambiri. (Aroma 12:13) Tikamacheza ndi alendo, sitinkathamangitsa ana athu kuti azikasewera kuchipinda kwawo koma tinkakhala nawo limodzi kuti azimva nkhani zosiyanasiyana zimene abale ndi alongowa ankafotokoza. Ndipotu anawa ndi amene amakumbukira bwino kwambiri nkhani zimene zinkakambidwazo kusiyana ndi ifeyo.

 Ine ndi mwamuna wanga tinkachita khama kuti tizisangalala potumikira Yehova. Mwachitsanzo, tinkakonzekereratu komanso kusunga ndalama ndi masiku athu atchuthi ndi cholinga chakuti tidzakwanitse kupita kumayiko osiyanasiyana. Dziko lililonse lomwe tinkapitako, tinkakaona nthambi ya dzikolo, kusonkhana komanso kulalikira nawo. Zimenezi zinatithandiza kwambiri kuti tizikonda gulu la Yehova la padziko lonse komanso kuti tizikondana monga banja.

 Tinazindikira kuti m’dera limene tinkakhala, munali anthu ambiri olankhula Chisipanishi koma sankalalikidwa pafupipafupi. Choncho ana athu adakali aang’ono, tinafunsa M’bale Pierce ngati kunali koyenera kuti banja lathu lisamukire mpingo wa Chisipanishi. M’bale Pierce anayankha akumwetulira kuti, “Ngati ndiwe m’sodzi, umayenera kupita komwe kuli nsomba.” Atatilimbikitsa choncho tinasamukira mumpingo wa Chisipanishi wa ku Woodburn, Oregon. Tinasangalala kwambiri kuyambitsa maphunziro a Baibulo opita patsogolo, kuthandiza anthu ena kubatizidwa komanso kuona kagulu ka Chisipanishi kakukula mpaka kukhala mpingo.

 Panthawi ina mwamuna wanga ntchito itamuthera, tinafunika kusamukira ku California chifukwa nkumene anapeza ntchito ina. Patapita zaka ziwiri, ineyo, Lemuel ndi Jadon tinaganiza zoyamba upainiya. Mu 2007, ndinasangalala chifukwa ndinalowa nawo limodzi Sukulu ya Utumiki Waupainiya. Titangomaliza sukuluyi, tinazindikira kuti mugawo lathu munali anthu ambiri olankhula Chiarabu. Titatha zaka 13 tikutumikira mugawo la Chisipanishi, tinaganiza zosamukira mumpingo wa Chiarabu. Tinkasangalala kulalikira kwa anthu a mugawo lathu olankhula Chiarabu komanso anthu ena amene tinkawapeza tikapita kumayiko ena. Tinapitirizabe kuchita upainiya mugawo la Chiarabu ku San Diego, California.

 Mwamuna wanga Wesley ndi mutu wa banja wabwino kwambiri. Amalemekeza kwambiri gulu la Yehova. Iye sananenepo chilichonse choipa chokhudza beteli kapena dongosolo limene mpingo umayendera, koma nthawi zonse amayankhula zabwino. Amandipempherera, amapemphera nane limodzi ndipo tikakumana ndi mavuto, mapemphero ake amandilimbikitsa komanso kundithandiza kuti mtima wanga ukhale pansi.

 Ndikamakumbukira m’mbuyomu ndimaona kuti tinasangalala kwambiri kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse, kulera ana athu komanso kutumikira kumipingo yomwe kunkafunika olalikira ambiri. Taona kuti Yehova amadalitsa anthu amene amaika zofuna zake pamalo oyamba ndipo sitinasowe chilichonse. (Salimo 37:25) Sindinong’oneza bondo kuti ndinasankha kutumikira Yehova kwa moyo wanga wonse ndipo ndimaona kuti ndi chinthu chamtengo wapatali kwambiri chomwe ndinasankha.​—Salimo 84:10.