Amayi ndi Atate anali Akatolika odzipeleka. Koma ataphunzila m’Baibulo kuti dzina la Mulungu ndi Yehova, onse anakhala Mboni za Yehova zokangalika. Atate analeka kusema zifanizilo za Yesu. M’malomwake, anayamba kugwilitsa nchito luso lawo la ukalipentala kukonza nyumba yathu kuti ikhale Nyumba ya Ufumu yoyamba m’komboni ya San Juan del Monte, mumzinda wa Manila, likulu la dziko la Philippines.

N’nabadwa mu 1952. Pambuyo pake, makolo anga anayamba kundiphunzitsa Baibulo monga anali kucitila kwa abale anga anayi, komanso alongo anga atatu. Pamene ndinali kukula, Atate anandilimbikitsa kuti ndiziwelengako caputala cimodzi ca m’Baibulo tsiku lililonse. Ndipo anaphunzila nane zofalitsa zathu zambili. Nthawi zina, makolo anga anali kuitanila oyang’anila oyendela komanso oimila ofesi ya nthambi kuti adzakhale kunyumba kwathu. Abalewa anali kutifotokozelako zimene zinawacitikila pautumiki wawo. Ndipo nkhanizi zinali kutisangalatsa ndi kutilimbikitsa kwambili. Zinatisonkhezelanso kuika utumiki patsogolo muumoyo wathu.

Ndinaphunzila zambili kwa makolo anga amene anali ndi cikhulupililo colimba mwa Yehova. Amayi anga okondeka atamwalila cifukwa ca matenda, ine ndi Atate tinayamba kucita upainiya pamodzi mu 1971. Koma mu 1973, pamene ndinali ndi zaka 20, Atate nawonso anamwalila. Kutaikilidwa makolo anga onse kunandipangitsa kumva kuti umoyo wanga ulibe phindu komanso kuti ndatsala ndekhandekha. Koma ciyembekezo “cotsimikizika komanso cokhazikika” ca m’Baibulo cinandithandiza kuti ndisataye mtima, ndiponso kuti ndikhalebe wolimba kuuzimu. (Aheb. 6:19) Pasanapite nthawi yaitali pamene Atate anamwalila, ndinavomela utumiki waupainiya wapadela pacilumba ca Coron m’cigawo ca Palawan.

Ndinali ndi zaka 21 pamene ndinafika pacilumba ca Coron. Popeza ndinakulila mumzinda waukulu, ndinadabwa kupeza kuti pacilumbaci nyumba zokhala ndi magetsi komanso madzi akumpopi zinali zocepa. Ndipo panali magalimoto owelengeka. Ngakhale kuti analipo abale ocepa, kunalibe mpainiya  wina wolalikila naye, moti nthawi zina ndinali kulalikila ndekha. M’mwezi woyamba ndinawayewa kwambili anthu am’banja mwanga komanso mabwenzi anga. Usiku, ndinali kuyang’ana kumwamba kuli nyenyezi zambili misozi ikumbwela. N’nali kungoganiza zosiya utumikiwu ndi kubwelela kunyumba.

Panthawi zimenezo pomwe ndinali ndekha, ndinali kumukhutulila zamumtima mwanga Yehova. Ndinali kukumbukila mawu olimbikitsa amene ndinawelenga m’Baibulo komanso m’zofalitsa zathu. Nthawi zambili ndinali kuganizila lemba la Salimo 19:14. Ndinazindikila kuti Yehova angakhale “Thanthwe langa ndiponso Wondiwombola” ngati ndingamasinkhesinkhe zimene zimam’kondweletsa, monga zimene amacita komanso makhalidwe ake. Nkhani ya mutu wakuti “You Are Never Alone” a ya mu Nsanja ya Mlonda ya Cingelezi, inandithandiza kwambili. Ndinaiwelenga mobwelezabweleza. Ndikakhala ndekha ndinali kumva kuti ndili ndi Yehova. Ndipo umenewu unali mwayi wapadela wopemphela, wowelenga, ndiponso wosinkhasinkha.

Pasanapite nthawi nditafika pacilumba ca Coron, ndinaikidwa kukhala mkulu. Popeza ndinali ndekha mkulu, ndinayamba kucititsa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Mulungu, Msonkhano wa Utumiki, Phunzilo la Buku la Mpingo, komanso Phunzilo ya Nsanja ya Mlonda mlungu uliwonse. Ndinalinso kukamba nkhani ya onse mlungu uliwonse. Apa tsopano zosungulumwa zija kunalibenso!

Utumiki unali kuyenda bwino kwambili pacilumba ca Coron. Ndipo ena amene ndinali kuwaphunzitsa Baibulo anabatizika. Koma panalinso zovuta, nthawi zina ndinali kuyenda wapansi kucoka m’mawa mpaka masana kuti ndikafike kugawo. Ndipo sindinali kudziwa kuti ndidzagona kuti ndikafika. Gawo la mpingo wathu linali ndi zilumba zambili zing’onozing’ono. Kuti ndikafike kuzilumbazi, nthawi zambili ndinali kudutsa nyanja za anamondwe pogwilitsa nchito bwato loyendela injini. Ndinali kucita izi ngakhale kuti sindinali kudziwa kunyaya. Yehova anali kunditeteza ndi kundithandiza pa zovuta zonsezi. Pambuyo pake, ndinazindikila kuti Yehova anali kundikonzekeletsa zovuta zina zazikulu zimene ndinali kudzakumana nazo muutumiki wanga wotsatila.

Mu 1978, ndinatumizidwa kukatumikila kudziko la Papua New Guinea, kumpoto kwa dziko la Australia. Dziko la Papua New Guinea lili ndi mapili ambili, ndipo kukula kwake kumafanana ndi dziko la Spain. Ndinadabwa kwambili nditazindikila kuti m’dzikoli la anthu 3 miliyoni cabe, munali zinenelo zoposa 800. Koma mwamwayi wanji, unyinji wa anthu a kumeneko unali kukamba cinenelo cochedwa Tok Pisin.

Ndinatumizidwa kukatumikila mumpingo wa Cingelezi kwa kanthawi. Mpingowu unali mumzinda wa Port Moresby lomwe ndi likulu la dziko la Papua New Guinea. Kenako ndinasamukila mumpingo wa ci Tok Pisin, ndipo ndinalowa kalasi yophunzitsa cineneloci. Zimene ndinali kuphunzila m’kalasi, ndinali kuzigwilitsa nchito muulaliki. Kutelo kunandithandiza kuphunzila cineneloci mofulumila kwambili. Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, ndinatha kukamba nkhani ya onse mu ci Tok Pisin. Ndinadabwa kwambili kuti pasanathe caka cifikileni ku Papua New Guinea, ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anila dela wotumikila m’mipingo yolankhula ci Tok Pisin m’zigawo zingapo zikuluzikulu.

Popeza mipingo inali patalipatali, ndinafunika kulinganiza misonkhano ya dela yambili, ndiponso kukhala pamaulendo kawilikawili. Poyamba, ndinamva  kuti ndili ndekhandekha popeza ndinali m’dziko lacilendo mmene anthu anali kulankhula cinenelo cosiyana ndi cimene ndinali kudziwa, komanso anali ndi zikhalidwe zosiyana ndi zimene ndinazolowela. Delali linali la mapili komanso lokumbikakumbika. Conco njila yokhayo yofikila kumipingo inali kugwilitsa nchito ndeke. Ndinali kuyendela pandeke pafupifupi mlungu uliwonse. Nthawi zina ndinali kukhala ndekha wonyamulidwa m’kandeke kakang’ono komwe sikanali mumkhalidwe wabwino. Pamaulendo amenewa, ndinali kucita mantha kwambili ngati mmene ndinali kucitila ndikamayenda pabwato!

Ndi anthu ocepa amene anali ndi mafoni. Conco ndinali kukambilana ndi mipingo kudzela m’makalata. Nthawi zambili ndinali kufika kumipingo makalata anga asanafike. Ndipo kuti ndidziwe kumene kuli abale, ndinali kufunikila kufunsa anthu akumaloko. Komabe nthawi iliyonse ndikawapeza abale, anali oyamikila komanso acikondi kwambili moti ndinali kukumbukila cifukwa cake ndinali kucita khama kwambili conci. Yehova anandithandiza m’njila zambili ndipo ubwenzi wanga ndi iye unalimba zedi.

Nthawi yoyamba kupezeka pamsonkhano pacilumba cochedwa Bougainville, mwamuna wina ndi mkazi wake anabwela kwa ine akumwetulila n’kundifunsa kuti, “Kodi mwatikumbukila?” Pamenepo ndinakumbukila kuti banjali ndinalilalikilapo nditangofika kumene ku Port Moresby. Ndinali nditayamba kuphunzila nawo Baibulo ndipo pambuyo pake ndinapempha m’bale wakumaloko kuti apitilize kuphunzila nawo. Koma panthawiyi tsopano, onse anali atabatizika. Ili linali limodzi mwa madalitso ambili amene ndinalandila pazaka zitatu ndili ku Papua New Guinea.

Ndisanacoke ku Coron mu 1978, ndinali nditadziwana ndi mlongo wina wokongola komanso wodzipeleka dzina lake Adel. Anali kucita upainiya wa nthawi zonse uku akusamalila ana ake awili, Samuel ndi Shirley. Panthawi imodzimodziyo, anali kusamalilanso amayi ake okalamba. Mu May 1981, ndinabwelela ku Philippines kukakwatilana ndi Adel. Pambuyo pa ukwati wathu, tinayamba kucitila pamodzi upainiya komanso tinali kusamalila banja lathu pamodzi.

Ngakhale kuti ndinali ndi banja, mu 1983, ndinaikidwanso kukhala mpainiya wapadela ndipo ndinatumizidwa kukatumikila kucilumba ca Linapacan, m’cigawo ca Palawan. Ine ndi banja langa tinasamukila kumalo akutali amenewa kumene kunalibe Mboni za Yehova. Patapita caka, apongozi anga aakazi anamwalila. Komabe tinali kukhala otangwanika ndi ulaliki. Izi zinatithandiza kupilila cisoni cacikulu cimene tinali naco. Tinayambitsa maphunzilo ambili a Baibulo opita patsogolo pacilumbaci ndipo tinafunikila Nyumba ya Ufumu yaing’ono. Conco tinamanga Nyumba ya Ufumu imodzi. Tinali osangalala kuona kuti anthu 110 anapezeka pa Cikumbutso pambuyo pa zaka zitatu cabe ife cifikileni pacilumbaci. Ambili a iwo anabatizika ife titacokako.

Mu 1986, ndinatumizidwa kukatumikila pacilumba ca Culion pomwe panali dela la anthu odwala khate. Pambuyo pake, Adel nayenso anaikidwa kukhala mpainiya wapadela. Poyamba tinali kucita mantha kulalikila anthu odwala khate amenewo. Koma ofalitsa akumeneko anatikhazika mtima pansi potiuza kuti odwalawo anali atalandila thandizo la mankhwala moti panali kuthekela kocepa kotengela matendawo. Ena mwa odwalawo anali kusonkhanila  m’nyumba ya mlongo wina. Posakhalitsa, tinazolowela ndipo tinali osangalala kwambili kugawilako ena ciyembekezo copezeka m’Baibulo kwa anthu amene anali kumva kuti ndi okanidwa ndi Mulungu komanso anthu. Zinali zosangalatsa kuona kuti anthu amene anali odwala kwambili akusangalala podziwa kuti tsiku lina adzakhala ndi thanzi langwilo.​—Luka 5:​12, 13.

Kodi zinthu zinawayendela motani ana athu pacilumba ca Culion? Ine ndi mkazi wanga Adel, tinaitana alongo awili acitsikana omwe anali ku Coron, kuti azikhala nafe n’colinga coti aziceza ndi ana athu. Samuel, Shirley, limodzi ndi alongo awili acitsikana amenewa, anali kuthandiza ena kuphunzila coonadi. Anali kuphunzitsa ana ambili Baibulo, pomwe ine ndi Adel tinali kuphunzitsa makolo a ana amenewo. Panthawi ina, tinali kuphunzila Baibulo ndi mabanja 11. Posapita nthawi, tinali kutsogoza maphunzilo a Baibulo opita patsogolo oculuka moti tinatha kupanga mpingo watsopano!

Poyamba ndinali ndekha mkulu kudelali. Conco ofesi ya nthambi inandipempha kuti ndizicititsa misonkhano ya mlungu ndi mlungu kwa ofalitsa 8 amene anali pacilumba ca Culion. Anandipemphanso kucita cimodzimodzi kwa ofalitsa 9 am’mudzi wina wochedwa Marily, womwe unali pamtunda woyenda maola atatu pabwato kucokela ku Culion. Pambuyo pa misonkhano, ine ndi banja langa tinali kuyenda m’malo a mapili kwa maola ambili kukatsogoza maphunzilo a Baibulo m’mudzi wina wochedwa Halsey.

M’kupita kwanthawi, anthu ambili a ku Marily komanso ku Halsey, anaphunzila coonadi moti tinamanga Nyumba za Ufumu m’madela amenewa. Abale komanso anthu acidwi ndiwo anabweletsa zinthu zambili zogwilitsa nchito, ndipo ndiwo anacita mbali yaikulu panchito yomangayi monga zinalili pacilumba ca Linapacan. Nyumba ya Ufumu ya ku Marily inali kulowetsa anthu 200, ndipo inamangidwa m’njila yakuti zizikhala zotheka kuikulitsa moti tinayamba kucitilapo misonkhano yadela.

Ana athu atakula, ine ndi Adel tinayamba nchito yam’dela ku Philippines mu 1993. Kenako mu 2000, ndinalowa Sukulu Yophunzitsa Utumiki kuti ndiphunzitsidwe kukhala mlangizi wa sukuluyi. Ndinaona kuti ndinali wosayenelela kukhala mlangizi, koma mkazi wanga anali kundilimbikitsa nthawi zonse. Anandikumbutsa kuti Yehova adzandipatsa mphamvu zofunikila kuti ndikwanilitse utumiki watsopanowu.  (Afil. 4:13) Adel anakamba zimenezi cifukwa iye anali kukwanilitsa utumiki wake uku akulimbana ndi matenda a thanzi.

Mu 2006, ndikutumikila monga mlangizi, Adel anam’peza ndi matenda amuubongo ochedwa Parkinson, amene amacititsa munthu kunjenjemela. Tinadabwa kwambili! Ndinauza Adel ganizo lakuti tisiye utumiki wathu kuti ndikam’samalile, koma iye anakamba kuti, “Conde, pezani dokotala amene angazindisamalila. Ndidziwa kuti Yehova adzatithandiza kupitiliza utumikiwu.” Pazaka 6 zotsatila, Adel anapitiliza kutumikila Yehova popanda kudandaula. Pamene sanali kutha kuyenda, Adel anali kulalikila pogwilitsa nchito njinga ya olumala. Zitafika poti akuvutikila kulankhula, anali kupeleka mayankho pamisonkhano mwa mawu amodzi kapena awili. Kawilikawili, Adel anali kulandila mauthenga aciyamikilo ocokela kwa abale ndi alongo kaamba ka citsanzo cake cabwino ca kupilila mpaka pomwe anamwalila mu 2013. Ndinali nditatha zaka 30 ndili ndi mkazi wanga wokhulupilika komanso wokondedwa. Conco, atagona mu imfa, ndinagwidwanso ndi cisoni cacikulu ndipo ndinakhalanso wosungulumwa.

Adel anali kufuna kuti ndipitilize utumiki wanga, conco ndinatelo. Ndinali kudzipatsa zocita zoculuka ndipo izi zinandithandiza kuti ndisamakhale wosungulumwa kwambili. Kucokela mu 2014 mpaka 2017, ndinapatsidwa utumiki woyendela mipingo ya cinenelo ca ci Tagalog, m’maiko amene abale athu analibe ufulu wolambila Yehova. Pambuyo pake ndinayendela mipingo ya ci Tagalog ku Taiwan, ku America, komanso ku Canada. Mu 2019, ndinali mlangizi wa Sukulu ya Alengezi a Ufumu ya Cingelezi ku India komanso ku Thailand. Ndapeza cimwemwe cacikulu m’mautumiki onsewa. Ndimakhala ndi cimwemwe cacikulu ndikaika maganizo anga onse pa kutumikila Yehova.

Muutumiki uliwonse umene ndapatsidwa, ndimawakonda kwambili abale ndi alongo amene ndakumana nawo, moti kusiyana nawo kumakhala kovuta zedi. Panthawi ngati zimenezi, ndaphunzila kudalila Yehova ndi mtima wanga wonse. Wakhala akundithandiza mobwelezabweleza. Ndipo izi zandithandiza kuvomeleza ndi mtima wonse masinthidwe alionse amene abwela. Tsopano ndine mpainiya wapadela ku Philippines. Ndazolowela mumpingo wanga watsopano, ndipo mpingowu wakhala banja limene limandithandiza komanso kundisamalila. Cinanso, ndimanyadila kuona Samuel ndi Shirley, akutengela cikhulupililo ca amayi awo.​—3 Yoh. 4.

Paumoyo wanga ndakumanapo ndi mayeso ambili. Ena mwa mayesowo ndi kuona mkazi wanga akuvutika ndi matenda osautsa. Cina, ndi kusinthasintha kwa mikhalidwe paumoyo wanga. Ngakhale n’telo ndaona kuti Yehova “sali kutali ndi aliyense wa ife.” (Mac. 17:27) “Dzanja la Yehova silinafupike moti n’kulephela” kuthandiza ndi kulimbitsa atumiki ake ngakhale amene ali kumalo akutali. (Yes. 59:1) Yehova, Thanthwe langa, wakhala ndi ine paumoyo wanga wonse. Kaamba ka ici ndimamuyamikila kwambili. Sindinakhalepo ndekhandekha.