Paul: Tukaba tushemereirwe munonga! Novemba 1985, tukaba nituza omu buheereza bwaitu bw’obumiisani obw’okubanza omuri Liberia, West Africa. Enyonyi ei twagyendeiremu ekeemerera Senegal. Anne akagira ati: “Omu shaaha nk’emwe, nitwija kuba turi Liberia!” Bwanyima tukahurira ekirango kirikugira kiti: “Abarikuza Liberia murugye omu nyonyi. Titurikwikirizibwa kwemererayo ahabw’obutabanguko.” Tukamara ebiro ikumi, turikutuura n’abamiisani omuri Senegal, turikuhurira amakuru agarikukwata aha bantu baingi abaitsirwe omuri Liberia n’abaabaire nibateerwa amasasi ahabw’okwanga kuguma omu ka.

Anne: Titurikukunda kuba omu myanya misya. Nangwa, kuruga omu buto nkaba niimanywa nk’orikwerarikirira munonga. Nintiina n’okucwekanisa oruguuto. Kwonka tukaba tumariirire kuza kuhikiiriza obujunaanizibwa bwaitu.

Paul: Nyowe na Anne tukakurira omu kicweka kimwe omuri burengyerwa izooba bwa England. Abazaire bangye na nyina wa Anne bakatuhiga kuba baapayoniya, kandi ku twaherize siniya, twembi nikyo twakozire. Bakatushagika omu bwijwire kuza omu buheereza obw’obutwire. Aha myaka 19, nkaza aha Beseeli, kandi bwanyima Anne akanyegaitaho ku twataahire omu bushwere omuri 1982.

Anne: Tukaba nitukunda Beseeli, kwonka turikwenda kuheereza ahu ababuurizi barikwendwa munonga. Okuheereza aha Beseeli n’abaabaire bari abamiisani kikatuhwera kuhamya ekyetengo ekyo. Tukashaba aha bikwatiraine n’enshonga egi buri kiro kumara emyaka eshatu, n’ahabw’ekyo 1985 tukashemererwa ku twayetsirwe kuza omu ishomero rya Gileadi erya 79. Tukooherezibwa kuheereza Liberia, West Africa.

Paul: Tukagyendera omu nyonyi eyaabandize kwikirizibwa kuza Liberia. Embeera ekaba neetiinisa, kandi hakaba hakiriho emikiingo. Abantu omu katare bakaba bakangarana, emotoka ku yaabaire eyomba munonga kitaraariire. Kubaasa kwikaikana, tukaba tushoma hamwe emishororongo emwe ya Zaaburi buri kiro. Tukaba nitukunda obuheereza bwaitu. Anne akaba ari omu murimo gw’okubuurira nk’omumiisani, kandi  nyowe nkaba nimpeereza aha Beseeli, na John Charuk. a Ebi yaabaire naamanya, n’okwetegyereza gye embeera z’ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe, bikamuhwera kuntendeka.

Anne: Ahabw’enki twarahukire kukunda Liberia? N’ahabw’ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe. Bakaba baine rukundo, barikushaashanuka, kandi bari abeesigwa. Tukagira omukago guhami nabo baahinduka eka yaitu ensya. Obuhabuzi burungi obu baatuhaire bukatuhwera kuhama omu by’omwoyo. Obuheereza bukaba nibushemeza munonga. Abu twabaire tubuurira bakaba baguubwa kubi twarahuka kugyenda. Abantu bakaba bagaaniira aha Byahandiikirwe aha rubaju rw’omuhanda. Kikaba kyorobi kubeegaitaho omu kigaaniiro. Tukaba twine abeegi ba Baibuli bingi, n’ahabw’ekyo kikaba kigumire kubeegyesa boona. Kwonka tukaba tushemererwa kubeegyesa.

Paul: Bwanyima y’emyaka ena ey’obusingye buringaniire, omuri 1989 hakabaho orutaro. Omu Kwamushanju 2, 1990 abaheekyera bakagota ekicweka eki Beseeli yaabaire erimu. Kumara ameezi ashatu tukaba tutarikubaasa kuhurizana n’ab’aheeru, otwariiremu ab’eka zaitu na ofiisi enkuru. Hakaba hariho obutabanguko, eibura ry’eby’okurya, n’okuhamba abakazi. Embeera nk’egyo ekagumizamu kumara emyaka 14, kandi ekakwata aha ihanga ryona.

Anne: Ab’enganda ezimwe bakaba nibarwana n’ab’enganda ezindi, kandi babaita. Abaheekyera abaabaire baine ebirwaniso by’amaani, kandi bajwaire omu muringo gutari gwa butoosha bakaba nibagyendagyenda omu tauni barikwiba ebintu by’abandi. Abamwe bakagira ngu bakaba nibareeba okwita omuntu “nk’okubaaga enkoko.” Emitumbi ekaba erunzire ahu baabaire nibafuuriza ebintu, kandi endiijo ekaba eri haihi na ofiisi y’eitaagi. Abajurizi ba Yehova abeesigwa bakaitwa, otwariiremu n’abamiisani babiri abakundwa.

Abajurizi ba Yehova abandi bakooga amagara gaabo baashereka ab’enganda ezindi abu baabaire nibenda kwita. Abamiisani n’Ababeseeli nabo nikyo baakozire. Ab’eishe-emwe abamwe abaabaire bahungiire aha Beseeli bakaba nibaraara omu bishengye by’ahansi, kandi abandi bakaba nibaraara naitwe ahaiguru. Omu kishengye kyaitu tukaba turimu n’eka y’abantu mushanju.

Paul: Buri izooba abaheekyera bakaba bateeraho kutaahamu kureeba yaaba tusherekire abantu. N’ahabw’ekyo tukaba tukoresa abantu bana nk’abarinzi. Babiri bakaba nibareebera omu dirisa, abandi babiri bari aha irembo. Ab’eishe-emwe ab’aha irembo ku baabaire bata emikono omu maisho kikaba kimanyisa obusingye. Kwonka ku baabaire bagita enyima, kikaba  kimanyisa ngu abaheekyera baatabuka, n’ahabw’ekyo ab’omu dirisa bakaba bashereka bataahi baitu ahonaaho.

Anne: Bwanyima ya saabiiti nyingi, guruupu emwe y’abaheekyera abaabaire baine ekiniga bakataahamu kifuba. Nyowe na munyaanyazi-itwe tukesibirana omu kinaabiro ekyabaire kirimu ekabada, eyaabaire erimu akaanya kakye k’okwesherekamu enyima y’orubaaho ahu munyaanyazi-itwe ogwo yaayesherekire. Abaheekyera bakankurata omu kishengye ahaiguru baine embundu zaabo. Bakateera munonga orwigi n’ekiniga. Paul akabeeshengyereza ati: “Omukazi wangye ari omu kinaabiro.” Orubaaho rukaba niruyomba waaba noorugaruraho, kandi okuteereza ebintu omu kabada kikatwara akaire, n’ahabw’ekyo nkatandika kutetema kuruga aha mutwe kuhika aha bigyere. Nkaba nimbaasa kwigura nta orwigi ntaine bwoba? Nkashabira aha mutima, ndikweshengereza Yehova kumpwera. Bwanyima nkaigura orwigi naabaramustya nyikaikaine. Omwe aharibo akantsindika yaataahamu, yaaza aha kabada, yaagiigura, yaacebera buri kimwe. Akaba atarikubaasa kukiikiriza ngu tiharimu muntu. Bwanyima, we na guruupu ye bakatandika kusherura omu bishengye ebindi n’omu ntandaruha. Kwonka nabwo, tihaine ou baashangireyo.

Paul: Kumara ameezi, tukaba tutaine eby’okurya birikumara. Kwonka eby’omwoyo bikaba nibimara. Okuramya kw’akasheeshe aha Beseeli niyo yaabaire eri “kyantsya” yaitu yonka, kwonka ekaba etuhwera kuhama.

Kuri noogira ngu amaizi n’eby’okurya bikahwaho, kyatwetengyesa kuruga aha ofiisi y’eitaagi, abu twabaire tusherekire bakaba nibabaasa kwitwa. Obumwe, omuringo n’obwire obu Yehova yaabaire atuheeramu ebirikwetengyesa gukaba nigutangaaza! Yehova akatureeberera, kandi yaatuhwera kutatiina.

Embeera ku zaayongyeire kuba mbi, amazima gakongyera kureebwa butunu. Kaingi ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi itwe bakaba bahunga kurinda amagara gaabo, kwonka okwikiriza kwabo kukaba kuguma kuhami, kandi baguma baikaikaine. Abamwe bakagira ngu ebi baarabiremu omu rutaro bikaba “nibibatebeekanisiza okubonabona kwingi.” Abareeberezi emanzi n’ab’eishe-emwe abato bakareeberera abandi. Ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe ku baabaire bahunga, bakaba baguma hamwe, bagira ebicweka bisya by’okubuuriramu, kandi bakorera enteerane omu Byombeko by’Obukama ebi baabaire bombeka omu kishaka. Enteerane zikaba nizihuumuriza omu bwire obwo obwabaire bugumire, kandi okubuurira kukahwera ab’eishe-emwe kugumisiriza. Ku twabaire nitubaha obuhwezi, tukakwatwaho munonga ku baatushabire enshaho z’okubuurira omu mwanya gw’ebijwaro. Abantu abaabaire baine enaku nyingi bakahurikiza amakuru marungi. Bakatangaara ku bareebire okushemererwa oku Abajurizi ba Yehova baabaire baine, bakaba bari nk’ekyererezi omu mwirima. (Mat. 5: 14-16) Obweziriki bw’ab’eishe-emwe bukareetera n’abaheekyera abamwe kuhinduka ab’eishe-emwe.

Paul: Obumwe tukaba twine kuruga omu ihanga. Emirundi eshatu tukagyenda kumara obwire bukye, kandi emirundi ebiri tukamara omwaka. Ebigambo bya munyaanyazi-itwe omumiisani bikooreka oku twabaire nitwehurira. Akagira ati: “Omuri Gileadi, bakatwegyesa kuta omutima aha buheereza bwaitu, kandi nikyo twakozire. N’ahabw’ekyo okutsigaho ab’eishe-emwe omu mbeera nk’egyo kikaba kiri nk’okutwihamu omutima.” Ekirungi, tukaba nitubaasa kushagika obuheereza omuri Liberia turi omu mahanga agagihereire.

Anne: Omu Kwakataano 1996, bana ahariitwe tukagyendera omu motoka y’ekibiina eyaabaire erimu ebihandiiko bikuru bya ofiisi y’eitaagi. Tukaba nitwenda kuvuga kiromita 16 nari (mahiro 10) kuza omu mwanya ogwabaire gurimu oburinzi. Omu kaire ako ekicweka kyaitu kikataahirirwa. Abaheekyera abaabaire baine ekiniga bakateera amasasi omu mwanya, baatwemereza, baashohoza bashatu ahariitwe kuruga omu motoka, reero baavuga baagyenda na Paul. Tukeemerera aho tushobeirwe. Ku twabaire turi aho, Paul akaija aha bigyere arikujwa eshagama aha buso. Tukabanza kuteekateeka ngu baamuteera eisasi, kwonka tukaijuka ngu kuri kyabaire kiri kityo akaba atarikubaasa kugyenda. Omwe aha baheekyera akaba amuteire arikumwiha omu motoka. Ekirungi, kikaba kitari kironda kihango.

Haihi naitwe hakaba hariho emotoka y’amahe eyaabaire erimu abantu batiinire. Tukagyendera aha motoka egyo turikurengyeera. Omuvugi waayo akavuga sipidi y’amaani, kandi tukaba turi haihi kuragara. Tukamweshengyereza kwemerera, kwonka nawe akaba atiinire atarikubaasa kwemerera. Tukagumisiriza twahika ahu twabaire nituza emitsi y’emikono erikushaasha, kandi enyama zirikutetema.

Paul: Tukaba twijwiire oburofa, ebijwaro byaitu bitaagukire, buzima tukatangaara ku twareebire tukihuriire. Tukaraara aheeru haihi n’enyonyi eyaabaire eteirwe amasasi, kandi eyaatutwaire Sierra Leone eizooba eryakuratsireho. Tukeesiima ahabw’okugira ngu tukaba tukihuriire, kwonka tukaba nitukyerarikirira munonga ahabw’ab’eishe-emwe bagyenzi baitu.

Anne: Ku twahikire aha Beseeli omuri Freetown, Sierra Leone, tukaba twine oburinzi, kandi turikureebererwa gye. Kwonka nkatandika kwijuka eby’enyima. Buri izooba nkaba nyemereza omutima, kandi nyerarikirira. Omu kiro, nkaba nkanguka omu turo ndikutuutuka, ndikutetema, kandi ntiinire ngu haaza kubaho ekintu kibi. Nkaba ningumirwa kwitsya. Paul akaba ambumbatira tushaba hamwe. Tukaba tweshongora ebyeshongoro by’Obukama kuhitsya naarekyera aho kutetema. Nkaba ninteekateeka ngu ngwire eiraro, kandi ngu tindikubaasa kugumizamu ndi omumiisani.

Tindyebwa ekyabaireho bwanyima. Saabiiti egyo tukatunga magaziini ibiri. Emwe ekaba eri Awake! eya Gyuni 8, 1996. Ekaba erimu ekicweka “Coping With Panic Attacks,” ekyampweraire kwetegyereza embeera yangye. Eya kabiri, ekaba eri Omunaara gw’Omurinzi ogwa Mei 15, 1996, ogwabaire gurimu ekicweka “Where Do They Get Their Strength?” Omunaara ogu gukaba gurimu ekishushani ky’ekihuguhugu kihuutaire. Ekicweka ekyo kikooreka ngu nk’oku ekihuguhugu kirikugumizamu nikirya, kandi kirikuguruka n’obu amapapa gaakyo garikuba gahuutaire munonga, ahabw’omwoyo gwa Yehova, naitwe nitubaasa kugumizamu nituhwera abandi, n’obu twakuba twine obusaasi omu nyehurira. Ebyo bikaba biri eby’okurya by’omwoyo birikugumya kuruga ahari Yehova omu bwire obuhikire. (Mat. 24:45) Okucondooza n’okurundaana ebicweka ebirikukwata aha mbeera yangye kikampwera munonga. Bwanyima y’obwire, nkaba ntakiteganisibwa munonga ebyabaireho.

Paul: Burikugaruka Liberia ahu twabaire nitutwara nk’omu ka, tukaba tushemererwa. Omwaka 2004 gurikuhendera, tukaba tumazire nk’emyaka 20 omu buheereza bwaitu. Orutaro rukaba ruhweire. Kandi hakaba hariho entebeekanisa z’okutandika kwombeka ofiisi y’eitaagi. Kwonka ahonaaho tukashabwa kuza kuheereza ahandi.

Okwo kukaba kuri okugyezibwa kw’amaani. Tukaba twine omukago guhami n’ab’eishe-emwe abo, kandi tutarikwenda kubatsigaho. Ahabw’okugira ngu tukaba twatsigireho ab’eka zaitu turikuza omu Gileadi,  kandi tukaba twareebire oku okwesiga Yehova kurikurugamu emigisha mingi, tukaikiriza. Tukaza kuheereza haihi na Ghana.

Anne: Obu twabaire nituruga Liberia tukarira munonga. Tukatangaara ow’eishe-emwe Frank, owaabaire akuzire kandi ari omunyabwengye, obu yaatugira ati: “Mwine kutwebwa!” Reero akashoboorora ati: Nitumanya ngu timuraatwebwe, kwonka mwine kuta omutima aha buheereza bwanyu obusya. Niburuga ahari Yehova, n’ahabw’ekyo mute omutima aha b’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe ab’okwe.” Ebigambo ebyo bikatugumya, kandi bikatuhwera kumanyiira embeera omu mwanya musya ahu baingi baabaire batarikutumanya.

Paul: Kwonka kikatwara akaire kakye kukunda eka yaitu ey’eby’omwoyo omuri Ghana. Hakaba hariyo Abajurizi ba Yehova baingi. Tukeegyera bingi ahari banywani baitu abasya abaabaire bari abeesigwa, kandi bahami omu by’omwoyo. Bwanyima y’okuheereza omuri Ghana kumara emyaka 13, tukaheebwa obujunaanizibwa obundi kitaraariire. Tukashabwa kuza kuheereza aha ofiisi y’eitaagi eya East Africa omuri Kenya. N’obu turaabe twagiriire orushusho banywani baitu abu twatsigireho, tukarahuka kutunga emikago ehami omuri Kenya. Kandi nitukiheereza omu kicweka kihango eki, ahu abahwezi barikwendwa munonga.

Anne: Kumara emyaka, ntwire nintiina kandi ndikutetema. Embeera z’akabi nari ezirikwerarikiriza nizitukwataho aha mubiri n’omu nyehurira. Yehova tarikuturinda embeera ezo omu muringo gw’eky’okutangaaza. Ku ndikuhurira amasasi nigagamba nari ebikompora, nindiibwa omunda, kandi engaro zangye nizishanyarara. Kwonka nyegire kugasirwa omu buhwezi obu Yehova arikutuha kutugumya, otwariiremu n’obushagiki bw’ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe. Kandi ndeebire ngu twaguma twine entebeekanisa nungi y’eby’omwoyo, Yehova naabaasa kutuhwera kuguma omu buheereza bwaitu.

Paul: Abamwe nibabaasa kubuuza bati: “Nimukunda obuheereza bwanyu?” Amahanga nigabaasa kuba gari marungi, kwonka nigabaasa kubamu obutabanguko n’embeera z’akabi. Mbwenu shi niki eki turikukunda munonga kukira eihanga? N’eka yaitu ey’ab’eishe-emwe na banyaanyazi-itwe ab’omuhendo. N’obu turaabe twine obukomooko butarikushushana, kwonka twine emiteekateekyere erikushushana. Tukaba nituteekateeka ngu bakatwohereza kubagumya, kwonka amazima gari ngu nibo barikutugumya.

Buri kuza omu mwanya ogundi, nitureeba eky’okutangaaza eky’obunaku obu, nirwo ruganda rw’ab’eishe-emwe. Twaba turi omu kibiina, nituba nitwehurira nk’abari omu ka. Nituhamiza kimwe ngu twaguma nitwesiga Yehova, naija kutugumya kyayetengyesa.—Fil. 4:13.