NDINABADWA mu 1926, mumzinda wa Crooksville ku Ohio, m’dziko la United States. M’banja lathu tinali ana 8. Amai ndi Atate sanali kupemphela, koma anali kulimbikitsa anafe kupita ku chalichi. Ndinali kupita ku chalichi ca Methodist. Pamene ndinali ndi zaka 14, abusa anandipatsa mphoto cifukwa ndinali kupita kuchalichi Sondo iliyonse kwa caka cathunthu.

Panthawi imeneyo, mai wina wa Mboni za Yehova, amene tinali kukhala naye pafupi dzina lake Margaret Walker, anayamba kucezela amai ndi kuwauza uthenga wa m’Baibulo. Tsiku lina, ndinaganiza zopezekapo. Amai anaganiza kuti ndiziwasokoneza pamene akuphunzila, conco anandiuza kuti ndipite panja. Koma ndinayesetsa kuti ndizimvetselako zimene anali kukambilana. Atawacezela kwa maulendo angapo, a Margaret anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi dzina la Mulungu umalidziŵa?” Ndinayankha kuti, “Aliyense amalidziŵa, ndi Mulungu.” Iwo anati, “Tenga Baibulo lako ndipo uŵelenge Salimo 83:18.” Nditaŵelenga lembalo, ndinadziŵa kuti dzina la Mulungu ndi Yehova. Ndinathamangila panja ndi kuuza anzanga kuti, “Mukafika ku nyumba, muŵelenge Salimo 83:18 m’Baibulo lanu, kuti mudziŵe dzina la Mulungu.” Mwina tinganene kuti apa m’pamene ndinayambila kulalikila.

Ndinayamba kuphunzila Baibulo, ndipo mu 1941 ndinabatizidwa. Pambuyo pake, ndinapatsidwa udindo wocititsa phunzilo la buku la mpingo. Ndinalimbikitsa amai ndi azilongosi anga onse kuti azipezekapo pa phunzilo limenelo, ndipo anayambadi kupezekapo. Koma atate analibe cidwi ndi coonadi.

Ndinapatsidwa maudindo ambili mumpingo, ndipo ndinali ndi mabuku ambili a Mboni za Yehova. Tsiku lina, Atate analoza mabuku anga ndi kukamba kuti: “Kodi waziona zinthu zili paja? Sindifuna kuzionanso m’nyumba muno. Uzitenge ndipo ucoke pano, wamva?” Ndinacoka panyumba ndi kukakhala mumzinda wa Zanesville ku Ohio, koma ndinali kupitabe kunyumba kaŵilikaŵili kukalimbikitsa acibale anga.

Atate anali kuletsa Amai kupita ku misonkhano. Nthawi zina, amai akamapita kumisonkhano, io anali kuwathamangila ndi kuwakokela ku nyumba. Koma amai anali kutulukila khomo lina ndi kupita kumisonkhano. Ndinauza amai kuti: “Musadandaule, io adzalema  kukuletsani.” Patapita nthawi, atate analekadi kuwaletsa, ndipo amai anali kupita ku misonkhano momasuka.

Pamene Sukulu ya Ulaliki inayamba mu 1943, ndinayamba kukamba nkhani za m’sukulu mumpingo. Uphungu umene anali kundipatsa pambuyo pokamba nkhani unandithandiza kuti ndikhale mkambi wabwino.

Mu 1944, pa Nkhondo Yaciŵili Yapadziko Lonse, ndinalamulidwa kuti ndiloŵe usilikali. Ndinapita ku maofesi a za usilikali ku Fort Hayes, mumzinda wa Columbus ku Ohio. Kumeneko anandipima matenda ndipo ndinasaina mafomu. Koma ndinauza akuluakulu a boma kuti sindingakhale msilikali. Iwo anandilola kuti ndipite kunyumba. Koma patapita masiku ocepa, wapolisi anabwela kunyumba ndi kundiuza kuti, “Corwin Robison, tabwela kudzakugwila.”

Patapita milungu iŵili, ndinakaonekela ku khoti. Woweluza wina anati: “Nditapatsidwa mwai wokuweluza, ndikhoza kulamula kuti ukhale m’ndende kwa umoyo wako wonse. Kodi uli ndi mau alionse?” Ndinayankha kuti: “Wolemekezeka, ine ndine minisitala. Nchito yanga ndi kulalikila Uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu khomo ndi khomo, ndipo ndalalikila anthu ambili.” Ndiyeno woweluzayo anauza oweluza anzake kuti: “Simunabwele kuno kudzakambilana ngati mnyamatayu ndi minisitala kapena ai. Mwabwela kudzakambilana ngati iye anavomela kuloŵa usilikali kapena ai.” Pasanapite mphindi 30, oweluzawo anandiuza kuti ndili ndi mlandu. Woweluza analamula kuti ndikhale m’ndende kwa zaka 5, ku Ashland mumzinda wa Kentucky.

Milungu iŵili yoyambilila ndinali m’ndende mumzinda wa Columbus ku Ohio. Tsiku loyamba anandiika m’cipinda ca ndekha. Ndili mmenemo, ndinapemphela kwa Yehova kuti: “Yehova sindingakwanitse kukhala muno zaka 5. Ndithandizeni.”

Tsiku lotsatila, asilikali olondela ananditulutsa m’cipindaco. Nditatuluka ndinapita pamene panali mkaidi wina wamtali ndi wojincha. Tinaimilila pa windo ndi kumayang’ana panja. Iye anandifunsa kuti, “Unalakwa ciani iwe?” Ndinayankha kuti, “Ndine Mboni ya Yehova.” Iye anati, “Zoona? Nanga ucita ciani kuno?” Ndinati, “Mboni za Yehova sizipita kunkhondo ndi kupha anthu.” Iye anati, “Akuika m’ndende cifukwa cokana kupha anthu. Koma anthu ena ali muno cifukwa cakuti anapha anthu. Kodi cimeneci n’cilungamo?” Ndinati, “Iyai, si cilungamo.”

Kenako iye anati, “Kwa zaka 15 ndinali m’ndende ina ndipo ndinali kuŵelengako mabuku anu.” Nditamva zimenezo, ndinapemphela kuti, “Yehova ndithandizeni kuti munthu uyu akhale ku mbali yanga.” Nthawi imeneyo, mkaidiyo amene dzina lake linali Paul anati: “Munthu aliyense muno akayamba kukuvutitsa, uzikuwa. Ndizibwela kukuthandiza.” Conco, panthawi yonse imene ndinali m’ndendemo, sindinavutitsidwepo ndi m’kaidi aliyense mwa akaidi 50 amene anali m’ndendeyo.

 Pamene oyang’anila ndende anandisamutsila ku ndende ya ku Ashland, ndinakumana ndi abale ofikapo kuuzimu amene anali kale m’ndendemo. Iwo anathandiza ineyo ndi abale ena kukhalabe paubwenzi wabwino ndi Yehova. Iwo anatipatsa mbali pa kuŵelenga Baibulo kwa mlungu ndi mlungu, ndipo tinali kukonza mafunso ndi mayankho ophunzila pa misonkhano imene abale anakonza. Cipinda cimene tinalimo cinali ndi mabedi ambili m’mbali mwa zipupa. Panali m’bale wina amene anali kutigaŵila magawo. Iye anali kundiuza kuti: “Robison, uzilalikila mabedi awa ndi awa. Limeneli ndilo gawo lako. Uzionetsetsa kuti walalikila munthu aliyense asanacoke pabedi.” Izi n’zimene tinali kucita kuti tizilalikila mwadongosolo.

Nkhondo yaciŵili ya padziko lonse inatha mu 1945, koma ndinakhalabe m’ndende kwa kanthawi. Ndinali kudela nkhawa a m’banja langa cifukwa atate anandiuzapo kuti, “Ndikathana ndi iwe, enawa sangandivute.” Nditatuluka m’ndende, ndinadabwa kwambili kupeza kuti anthu 7 a m’banja langa anali kusonkhana, ndipo mmodzi wa azilongosi anga anali atabatizidwa ngakhale kuti Atate anali kuwatsutsabe.

Pamene nkhondo ya ku Korea inayamba mu 1950, ndinalamulidwanso kuyamba usilikali. Anandiuza kuti ndipitenso ku Fort Hayes. Pambuyo pakuti msilikali wandiyesa kuti aone ngati ndingakwanitse, anandiuza kuti, “Iwe wapambana onse m’gulu lako.” Pamenepo ndinati, “Cabwino, ngakhale n’telo sindingaloŵe usilikali.” Ndinagwila mau lemba la 2 Timoteyo 2:3 ndi kukamba kuti, “Ndine kale msilikali wa Kristu.” Iye anakhala cete kwa kanthawi, kenako anati, “Ungapite kunyumba.”

Patapita nthawi yocepa, ndinapezeka pa kukumana kwa ofuna kutumikila pa Beteli pa msonkhano umene unacitikila ku Cincinnati ku Ohio. M’bale Milton Henschel anatiuza kuti pa Beteli pakufunika abale ambili odzipeleka kuti acilikize nchito ya Ufumu. Ndinafunsila utumiki wa pa Beteli ndipo anandiyankha. Mu August 1954, ndinayamba kutumikila pa Beteli ya ku Brooklyn, ndipo mpaka pano ndikutumikilabe kumeneko.

Ndakhala ndikugwila nchito zosiyanasiyana pa Beteli. Kwa zaka zambili ndinali kugwilila nchito ku ziwiya zotenthetsela m’nyumba yosindikizila mabuku, ndi m’maofesi. Ndinalinso kukonza makina oonongeka ndi maloko. Ndinali kugwilanso nchito m’Nyumba za Misonkhano mumzinda wa New York.

Ndimasangalala kwambili ndi mapulogilamu akuuzimu apa Beteli monga kulambila kwa m’maŵa ndi Phunzilo la Nsanja ya Mlonda. Ndimasangalalanso kulalikila pamodzi ndi mpingo. Ndipo mungavomeleze kuti zimenezi ndi zimene banja lililonse la Mboni za Yehova liyenela kucita nthawi zonse. Ngati makolo ndi ana amaphunzila lemba la tsiku pamodzi, amacita Kulambila kwa Pabanja nthawi zonse, amatengako mbali pamisonkhano  ndi kulalikila mwakhama uthenga wabwino, onse m’banja amakhala paubwenzi wabwino ndi Yehova.

Ndapeza mabwenzi ambili pa Beteli ndiponso mumpingo. Ena anali odzozedwa ndipo anapita kumwamba. Ena sanali odzozedwa. Atumiki onse a Yehova ndi opanda ungwilo, kuphatikizapo atumiki a pa Beteli. Conco, ngati ndasemphana maganizo ndi Mkristu mnzanga, ndimayesetsa kuti tikhalenso pamtendele. Ndimaganizila lemba la Mateyu 5:23, 24 ndi kuona zimene ndingacite kuti ndithetse mikangano. Sicopepuka kukamba kuti “Pepani,” koma zimenezi ndi zimene zimathandiza kuthetsa mikangano.

Masiku ano, ndimavutika kulalikila khomo ndi khomo cifukwa ca ukalamba, koma ndimayesetsabe. Ndinaphunzilako Cicainizi Cacimandarini, ndipo ndimakonda kulalikila m’miseu kwa anthu okamba Cicainizi. Nthawi zina m’maŵa ndimagaŵila magazini 30 kapena 40 kwa anthu a cidwi.

Panthawi ina, ndinacita ulendo wobweleza kwa munthu amene anali ku China. Tsiku lina, ndinakumana ndi mtsikana wina wacicepele amene anali kutsatsa malonda a zipatso. Atandiyang’ana, anamwetulila. Inenso ndinamwetulila ndipo ndinam’gaŵila Nsanja ya Mlonda ndi Galamukani! ya Cicainizi. Analandila ndipo anandiuza kuti dzina lake ndi Katie. Kuyambila pamenepo, Katie akandiona, anali kubwela kudzandilankhula. Ndinam’phunzitsa maina a Cingelezi a zipatso ndiponso a ndiwo za masamba, ndipo iye anali kubweleza zimene ndinali kukamba. Ndinamuuzanso uthenga wa m’Baibulo ndi kum’gawila buku la Zimene Baibo Imaphunzitsa. Koma patapita milungu yocepa, ndinaleka kumuona.

Patapita miyezi ingapo, ndinagaŵila magazini kwa mtsikana winanso amene anali kutsatsa malonda a zipatso. Mlungu wotsatila, mtsikanayo anandipatsa foni ndi kukamba kuti, “Pali munthu wina wa ku China amene afuna kukamba nanu.” Ndinamuuza kuti, “Sindidziŵa munthu aliyense ku China.” Koma mtsikanayo analimbikila, conco ndinatenga foni ndi kukamba kuti, “Halo, ndine Robison.” Kenako ndinamva mau pa foniyo akuti, “A Robby, ndine Katie. Ndinabwelela kuno ku China.” Ine ndinati, “Uli ku China?” Katie anayankha kuti, “Inde a Robby, ndipo mtsikana amene wakupatsani foniyo ndi mkulu wanga. Munandiphunzitsa zinthu zambili zabwino. Conde nayenso m’phunzitseni zimene munandiphunzitsa.” Ndinati, “Ndidzacita zimene ndingathe Katie. Zikomo kwambili pondidziŵitsa kumene uli.” Ndinapitiliza kukambilana ndi mkulu wakeyo kwa kanthawi, koma nayenso anasiya kuoneka. Kulikonse kumene atsikanawo alili, pemphelo langa ndi lakuti aphunzile zambili ponena za Yehova.

Ndatumikila Yehova kwa zaka 73 tsopano, ndipo ndine wosangalala kwambili kuti iye anandithandiza kusatengamo mbali m’nkhondo, ndi kukhalabe wokhulupilika kwa iye. Komanso abale anga amandiuza kuti analimbikitsidwa kwambili cifukwa ca kupilila kwanga pamene Atate anali kunditsutsa. M’kupita kwa nthawi, amai ndi abale anga 6 anabatizidwa. Ndipo ngakhale atate anali atayamba kuonetsako cidwi moti nthawi zina anali kupezeka pa misonkhano asanamwalile.

Ndikhulupilila kuti anthu a m’banja langa ndi anzanga amene anamwalila adzakhalanso ndi moyo m’dziko latsopano. Tidzakhala osangalala kwambili pamene tidzatumikila Yehova kwamuyaya pamodzi ndi anthu amene timakonda! *—Onani mau a munsi.