Nkazaarwa 1927 omu tauni nkye eri haihi na Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Tata na maawe bakaba baine abaana bataano, Jetha, Don, nyowe, Karl, na Joy. Twena tukaba tumaririire kuheereza Yehova n’omutima gwaitu gwona. Jetha akaza omu ishomero rya kabiri erya Gileadi omuri 1943. Don, Karl, na Joy bakaza aha Beseeli omuri Brooklyn, New York, bakurataine omuri 1944, 1947, na 1951. Nkakwatwaho munonga eky’okureeberaho kyabo kirungi, n’eky’abazaire bangye.

Tata na Maawe bakaba bari abashomi ba Baibuli abaabaire nibakunda Ruhanga, kandi naitwe bakatuhwera kumukunda. Kwonka, tata ku yaarugire omu buserukare omu Rutaro rw’Ensi Yoona I omuri Europe, akarekyera aho kuha amakanisa ekitiinisa. Maawe, akashemererwa tata ku yaagarukire ahuriire, akamugira ati: “Karl, ka tuze omu kanisa nka ira.” Tata akamugarukamu ati: “Niinza kukushendekyereza, kwonka nyowe tindataahemu.” Maawe akamubuuza ati: “Ahabw’enki?” Akamugarukamu ati: “Omu rutaro, abeebembezi b’ediini emwe abaabaire nibashagika embaju zitarikushushana, bakaba nibaha omugisha abaserukare n’ebirwaniso byabo. Mbwenu shi Ruhanga akaba naashagika embaju zoona?”

Eizooba rimwe Maawe ku yaabaire ari aha kanisa, Abajurizi ba Yehova babiri bakaija owaitu. Bakaha tata ekitabo Light, eky’okubanza n’ekya kabiri, ebyabaire nibishoborora ekitabo ky’Okushuuruurwa. Tata akabikunda, kandi yaabiikiriza. Maawe ku yaareebire ebitabo ebyo, akatandika kubishoma. Eizooba rimwe akareeba ekirango omu rupapura rw’amakuru kirikweta abantu abarikwenda kwega Baibuli barikukoresa ebitabo bya Light. Akacwamu kuzayo. Ku yahikireyo, omukazi mukuru akamwigurira orwigi akwaitse kimwe aha bitabo ebyo, kandi maawe akamubuuza ati:“ Ekitabo eki nimukyegyera aha?” Akamugarukamu ati: “Eego, murungi we, taahamu.” Saabiiti eyakuratsireho, twena abaana bataano maawe akatutwarayo, kandi tukaguma nituzayo tutarikwosha.

Aha ruteerane rumwe, owaabaire naayebembera akanshaba kushoma Zaaburi 144:​15, aharikworeka ngu abarikuramya Yehova baine okushemererwa. Ekyahandiikirwe ekyo kikanshemeza munonga, hamwe n’ebindi byahandiikirwe nka 1 Timoseo 1:​11, aharikugira ngu Yehova ni Ruhanga orikushemererwa  n’Abaefeso 5:​1, aharikutuhiga kutooreza Ruhanga. Nkamanya ngu nyine kwesiimira omu bi naabaire nimbaasa kukorera Omuhangi wangye, n’okumwebaza ahabw’omugisha gw’okumanya amazima makuru.

Ekibiina ekyabaire kiri haihi kikaba kiri omuri Chicago kiromita 32 (Mahilo 20) kuruga omuka. Kwonka tukaba tuzayo, kandi nkongyera kumanya Baibuli. Ninyijuka eizooba rimwe owaabaire naayebembera akatoorana Jetha kugarukamu. Ku yaabaire naagarukamu, nkateekateeka nti: ‘Ekyo naanye naaba niinkimanya. Naaba nimbaasa kwimutsya omukono kugarukamu.’ Nkatandika kutebeekanisa eby’okugarukamu ebyangye. Kandi okukira munonga, nyowe na baarumuna bangye tukatunguuka omu by’omwoyo. Nkabatizibwa omuri 1941.

Niinyijuka munonga oruteerane oruhango orwa 1942 orwabaire omuri Cleveland, Ohio. Omu myanya endiijo nka 50 omuri United States baakahuriiza oruteerane oru aha siimu. Eka yaitu ekaba neeraara omu mahema omu mwanya ogu ab’eishe-emwe baabaire batutebeekanisiize. Orutaro rw’Ensi Yoona II rukaba niruhinda, kandi okuhakanisa Abajurizi ba Yehova kukaba nikweyongyera. Omu mwabazyo, nkareeba guruupu y’ab’eishe-emwe barikwemereza emotoka zaabo, amataara gaazo garikuraanzya aheeru. Boona bakaba baikiriziine ngu omuri buri motoka haine kubamu omuntu ow’okuguma arinzire ekiro kyona, kugira ngu haabaho akabi, ab’eishe-emwe bateho amataara gazibire abazigu kuhweza gye, kandi bateere n’engombe. Reero abandi barahukye kwimuka kuhwera. Nkeetegyereza ngu abantu ba Yehova beetebeekanisiize gye buri kimwe. N’ahabw’ekyo nkagwejegyera gye, kandi titurahikirweho kabi koona.

Emyaka eyaakuratsireho, ku naabaire nteekateeka aha ruteerane orwo, nkaba nyijuka ngu aha ruteerane orwo, maawe akaba aterarikiriire kandi atatiinire. Akaba naayesigira kimwe Yehova n’ekibiina kye. Tindikwija kwebwa eky’okureeberaho kye kirungi.

Tutakagiire aha ruteerane orwo, Maawe akaba aherize kuba payoniya ow’obutwire. N’ahabw’ekyo, akata omutima aha mbazo ezaabaire nizigamba aha buheereza obw’obutwire. Ku twabaire nitutaaha akatugira ati: “Niinyenda kugumizamu ndi payoniya, kwonka tindakibaase naaba nkiine kukora emirimo y’omuka yoona.” Reero akatubuuza yaaba nitubaasa kumuhweraho. Tukaikiriza. N’ahabw’ekyo, akaha buri omwe ahariitwe ekishengye ky’okuboneza tutakariire kyantsya. Ku twabaire tuza aha ishomero akaba areeba yaaba byona omu nju biri gye, reero agyenda kubuurira. Maawe akaba aine bingi by’okukora, kwonka nabwo akaba atarikunagiirira abaana be. Ku twabaire tugaruka omuka kurya kyamushana, na twagaruka omu mwabazyo turikuruga aha ishomero, akaba atuha obwire. Amazooba agamwe ku twabaire turuga aha ishomero, tukaba tugyenda nawe omu kubuurira, ekyatuhwereire kumanya eki kirikumanyisa okuba payoniya.

Nkaba payoniya nyine emyaka 16. Tata akaba atakabaire Mujurizi wa Yehova, kwonka akaba ateeraho kumanya oku obuheereza bwangye bwabaire nibugyenda. Omwabazyo gumwe, nkamugira nti: “N’obu ndaabe niinteeraho munonga, tinkatungire orikwenda kwega Baibuli.” Nkahunamamu kakye, reero naamubuuza nti: “Okayenzire nkwegyese?”  Akakiteekateekaho kumara akaire kakye, reero yangira ati: “Niingira tikiine nshonga.” N’ahabw’ekyo, omwegi wangye wa Baibuli ow’okubanza akaba ari tata. Buzima gukaba guri omugisha gw’amaani.

Tukeega ekitabo “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Ku twagumizemu nitwega, nketegyereza ngu tata akaba naampwera kwongyera kuba omwegi murungi wa Baibuli, kandi omwegyesa murungi. Nk’eky’okureeberaho, omwabazyo gumwe ku twaherize kushoma akacweka akangira ati: “Nindeeba ebi ekitabo kirikugamba, kwonka noomanya ota ngu bihikire?” Nkaba nteeteekateekire kumugarukamu, n’ahabw’ekyo nkamugira nti: “Ekyo tindikubaasa kukigarukamu hati, kwonka ogundi omurundi ku turaaze kwega ninza kuba nyine eky’okugarukamu.” Kandi nikyo naakozire. Nkasherura emishororongo erikushoboorora enshonga ei twabaire nitugambaho. Kuruga obwo, nkaba ntebeekanisa gye ntakamwegyeise, kandi nkeega kucondooza. Ekyo kikahwera tata hamwe naanye kutunguuka omu by’omwoyo. Akagyendera aha bi yaabaire naayega kandi yaabatizibwa omuri 1952.

Nkaruga omu ka nyine emyaka 17. Jetha a akaba omumiisani, kandi Don, yaaza aha Beseeli. Boona bakaba nibakunda obuheereza bwabo, kandi ekyo kikangumya munonga. N’ahabw’ekyo nkashaba kuza aha Beseeli n’okuza omu Ishomero rya Gileadi, reero enshonga nkazireka omu mikono ya Yehova. N’ekyarugiremu, bakanyeta kuza aha Beseeli omuri 1946.

Emyaka egi yoona, ntungire obujunaanizibwa bwingi ndikuheereza aha Beseeli, n’ahabw’ekyo mbaasize kwega ebintu bingi bisya. Omu myaka 75 ei mmazire aha Beseeli, nyegyesiibwe kuhwera omu kukora ebitabo n’omu by’embariirira. Kandi nyegire n’okushuubura. Okukira byona, ninkunda obwegyese obu Beseeli erikutuha omu kuramya kw’akasheeshe, n’embazo ezirikwegamira ahari Baibuli.

Kandi nkeegyera n’ahari murumuna wangye Karl, owaizire aha Beseeli omuri 1947. Akaba naayeyegyesa gye Baibuli, kandi ari omwegyesa murungi. Hariho obu naamushaba kumpwera kutebeekanisa orubazo oru baabaire bampaire. Nkagambira Karl ngu nkaba ntooraine eby’okukoresa bingi, kwonka nkaba ntarikumanya oku ndabikorese. Akambuuza ekibuuzo kimwe ekyampweraire kumanya eky’okukora. Akambuuza ati: “Joel, omutwe gw’orubazo rwawe niguuha?” Nkarahuka kwetegyereza enshonga. Nkakoresa ebyo byonka ebyabaire nibihikaana n’omutwe, ebindi naabireka. Tinkeebwaga eishomo eryo.

Kubaasa kugira okushemererwa aha Beseeli, twine kwejumbira kimwe omu kubuurira, kandi ekyo nikirugamu ebirungi ebirikugaruramu amaani. Kimwe aha bi ndikwijuka gye kikabaho omwabazyo gumwe omuri  Bronx, New York City. Nyowe n’ow’eishe-emwe ondiijo tukaza kubuurira omukazi owaabaire aikiriize Omunaara gw’Omurinzi na Awake! Tukeeyanjura, reero twagira tuti: “Omwabazyo ogu nituhwera abantu kwega ebintu bikuru omu Baibuli.” Akagira ati: “Mwaba nimugamba ahari Baibuli, mutaahemu.” Tukashoma ebyahandiikirwe bingi ebirikukwata aha Bukama bwa Ruhanga, n’ensi ensya twabihikaanisaho ebiteekateeko. Ekyo kikamushemeza munonga, yaayeta baingi aha banyabuzaare be kutwegaitaho saabiiti eyakuratsireho. We, na iba bwanyima bakaba abaheereza ba Yehova abeesigwa.

Nkaba ntwire ninsherura ow’okutaaha nawe omu bushwere kumara emyaka 10 ntakatungire owaabaire omukazi wangye. Niki ekyampweraire kutunga omukazi onshemereire? Nkashaba Yehova, reero naayebuuza nti: ‘Niinyenda kukora ki naaheza kuza omu bushwere?’

Omuri 1953 aha ruteerane oruhango orwabaire omuri Yankee Stadium, nkabuganayo munyaanyazi-itwe Mary Aniol. We na Jetha bakaba bari hamwe omu ishomero rya kabiri erya Gileadi, kandi bakaba nibaheereza hamwe nk’abamiisani. Mary akangambira n’omuhimbo mwingi aha buheereza bwe bw’obumiisani omuri Caribbean, n’aha bu yaabaire ayegyeise Baibuli omu myaka egyo. Ku twayongyeire kumanyana, tukeetegyereza ngu tukaba twine ebigyendererwa by’omwoyo ebirikushushana. Tukoongyera kukundana, kandi tukataaha omu bushwere Apuri 1955. Omu miringo mingi, Mary akooreka ngu n’ekiconco kuruga ahari Yehova, kandi eky’okureeberaho kirungi. Akaba ashemererwa omu bujunaanizibwa bwona obu baabaire bamuha. Akaba akora n’amaani, arikufayo aha bandi, kandi obutoosha arikwebembeza eby’Obukama. (Mat. 6:33) Tukaza omu buheereza bwa saketi kumara emyaka eshatu, kandi omuri 1958, twembi tukeetwa kuheereza aha Beseeli.

Nkeegyera bingi ahari Mary. Nk’eky’okureeberaho, obu twabaire tuherize kutaaha omu bushwere, tukacwamu kushoma Baibuli hamwe, turikushoma emishororongo nka 15 buri izooba. Omwe ahariitwe ku yaabaire aheza kugishoma, tukaba tugihikaanisaho ebiteekateekaho, kandi tugamba oku turikubaasa kugigyenderaho. Emirundi mingi, akaba angambira ebintu ebi yaayegire omuri Gileadi, nari omu buheereza bwe bw’obumiisani. Okugaaniira okwo kukampwera kumanya bingi, kandi kwampwera kwongyera kuha gye embazo n’okugumya banyaanyazi-itwe.—Enf. 25:11.

Omukundwa wangye Mary akafa 2013. Nyine ekihika ky’okumureeba omu nsi ensya. Obwire obwo butakahikire, mmaririire kugumizamu niinyega, kandi ndikwesiga Yehova n’omutima gwangye gwona. (Enf. 3:​5, 6) Nintunga obuhuumure, n’okushemererwa ku ndikuteekateeka aha bi abantu ba Yehova baraakore omu nsi ensya. Ekyo nikiija kuba nikitwariramu okwegyesibwa ebintu bisya Omwegyesa Orikukirayo, n’ebirikumukwataho. Buzima nimusiima munonga ahabwa byona ebi anyegyeise, n’ahabw’okunyoreka embabazi ezitanshemereire.