Ndidaseka thangwe ndikhadziwa lini kuti xamwali wanguyo ambadziwa nkhani za gereja. Inepano ndidamubvunza kuti: “Kodi iwepo umbadziwa nkhani za m’Bibliya?” Iye alibe kunditawiriratu pa nthawe imweyire. Iye adandiuza kuti mai wace akhali Mboni ya Yahova; ndipo iye adapfunza bzinthu bzizinji na mai wacewo. Pomwe adandiuza bzimwebzi, inepano ndidamukumbira kuti andifotokozere bzizinji.

Maceza yathuyo yadaticitisa kuti ticedwe kugona. Xamwali wanguyo adandiuza kuti Bibliya limbalewa kuti Sathani ndiye akutonga dzikoli. (Juwau 14:30) Pinango imwepo mukhaidziwa kale nkhani yimweyi. Koma pomwe inepano ndidabva bzimwebzi, ndidadabwa kwene-kwene. Kuyambira kale-kale, inepano ndikhabva kuti Mulungu ni munthu wabwino ndipo ndiye omwe akutonga dzikoli. Tsono bzomwe ndikhabvabzo bzikhali bzakusiyana na bzomwe ndikhawona bzikucitikira wanthu. Napo kuti ndikhana magole 26 basi, inepano ndikhadawona kale bzinthu bzizinji bzakuipa bzikucitikira wanthu.

Pai wangu akhafambisa ndeke za nkhondo za ku América. Pomwe ndikhali mwana, ndidakwanisa kuwona kuti nkhondo zikulu-zikulu zingacitike pa dziko la pantsi pano; thangwe acikunda akhali wakukonzeka kuthusa mabomba yomwe yangaphe wanthu azinji. Nkhondo yomwe ikhacitika ku Vietname idacitisa kuti nditazire kupfunza bwino-bwino ku universidade ku Califórnia. Ndidacita mbali ya grupo la anzangu wa ku xikola omwe akhacita greve. Mapolisiya yadatithamangisa ndipo ifepano tidathawa uku tikutazira kuwona thangwe ra utsi bomwe bukhacoka mu mpfuti zomwe iwo akhaliza. Pa nthawe imweyi wanthu akhacita bzinthu bzizinji bzakuipa bzakulatiza kuti akhabvera lini boma. Akulu-akulu wa ndale akhaphedwa, wanthu akhacita greve, ndipo akhafuna lini kubvera boma. Munthu ali-wentse akhandofuna kucita bzinthu bzomwe akhafuna. Bzikhali bzakunesa kwene-kwene.

Mu 1970, ndidayamba kuphata basa ku Alasca ndipo ndikhatambira kobiri zizinji. Patsogolo pace ndidayenda ku Londres. Kumweko ndidagula mota ndipo ndidayamba kuufambisa ndiciyenda komwe ndikhakudziwa lini. Pomwe ndidamala minyezi, ndidafika ku África. Mu njira, ndidagumana na wanthu omwe akhana nzeru ninga zangumbo, zakufuna kuyenda ku mbuto komwe angakakhale na ufulu acisaya kugumana na mabvuto.

 Bzomwe ndidabva na kuwona bzidandicitisa kuti ndikhulupire bzomwe Bibliya limbapfunzisa bzakuti pana munthu wakuipa omwe akutonga dzikoli. Pakuti ni Mulungu lini omwe akutonga dzikoli, ndikhafuna kudziwa kuti Mulunguyo ali kuponi ndipo akucita ciyani.

Mwezi wa mangwana wace, ndidagumana mtawiro. Ndipo pomwe padapita nthawe, ndidadzadziwanambo na wanthu omwe adalatiza kuti akhali wakukhulupirika kwa Mulungu wacadidi napo kuti akhagumana na mabvuto mazinji.

Pomwe ndidabwerera ku Londres, ndidagumana na mkazi munango omwe akhali xamwali wa mai wangu, ndipo iye adandipasa Bibliya. Pomwe ndidayenda ku Amsterdão, ku Holanda, munthu m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova adandiwona ndikuwerenga Bibliyalo pa luju lomwe likhali mu mseu, ndipo iye adandithandiza kudziwa bzizinji. Patsogolo pace, ndidayenda ku Dublin, ku Irlanda. Ndipo kumweko ndidakagumana mthambi ya Mboni za Yahova. Ndidagogodza msuwo wakutsogolo wa mthambiyo. Kumweko ndiko ndidadziwana na m’bale Arthur Matthews, omwe akhali wanzeru ndipo akhadziwa bzinthu bzizinji. Ndidakumbira pfunziro la Bibliya, ndipo iye adabvuma kupfunza nande.

Ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene na kupfunzako, ndipo ndidayamba kumbawerenga mabukhu na marevista yomwe Mboni za Yahova zikhakonza. Ndipo ndikhawerengambo Bibliya. Bzimwebzi bzikhali bzakudekeza kwene-kwene! Pa mitsonkhano ya gwere, ndikhadabwa kuwona wana ang’ono akupereka mitawiro ya mibvunzo yomwe wanthu akulu-akulu akanati kuidziwa mitawiro yace, ninga mibvunzo yakuti: ‘Thangwe ranyi bzinthu bzakuipa bzimbacitika? Kodi Mulungu mbani? Kodi n’ciyani cimbacitika munthu akafa?’ Ndidayamba kukhala na axamwali m’gwere. Bzimwebzi bzidacitika thangwe rakuti ndikhadziwa lini wanthu winango m’dzikolo. Iwo adandithandiza kufuna Yahova na kufunambo kucita bzomwe iye ambafuna.

Ndidabatizidwa mu 1972. Pomwe padapita gole libodzi, ndidayamba kucita upainiya mu kagwere kang’ono, ku Irlanda do Norte. Ndidalugari kanyumba kaminyala komwe kakhali pafupi na phiri. Kumweko kukhana ng’ombe, ndipo ndikhambakonzekera nkhani zangu pafupi na ng’ombezo. Pomwe ng’ombezo zikhambakhala pa mbuto ibodzi, zicimbatampfuna bzakudya bzomwe zadya, zikhambakhala ninga kuti zikutetekera nkhani yanguyo. Izo zikhalewa lini cinthu, koma zikhandithandiza kuti ndikakwanise kukafotokozera wanthu nkhaniyo. Mu 1974, ndidakhala mpainiya wakupambulika ndipo tidamala magole mazinji tikuphata basa pabodzi na Nigel Pitt.

Pomwe padapita nthawe, ku Irlanda do Norte kudayamba kucitika bzinthu bzakuipa. Wanthu winango adayamba kucemera dzikoli kuti “dziko la mabomba na mabala.” Nthawe zizinji, wanthu akhambamenyana mu msewu, winango akhambaphedwa na mpfuti padeca ndipo karo zikhambaphoka mu msewu. Bzimwebzi bzikhambacitika thangwe ra mabvuto ya ndale na  kusaya kubverana kwa magereja. Tsono, magereja yentse pabodzi na gereja ya Katolika yakhadziwa kuti Mboni za Yahova zimbacita lini mbali ya ndale, ndipopa ifepano tikhapitiriza kupalizira mwa ufulu. Wanthu omwe tikhawapalizira, kawiri-kawiri, akhadziwa mbuto zomwe wanthu akhanesana, ndipo iwo akhambaticenjeza kuti titcenkhe kuyenda mbuto zimwezo.

Napo kuti tikhali pa ufulu, nthawe zinango tikhakhalambo pa ngozi. Ntsiku ibodzi, inepano na Denis Carrigan, omwe akhali mpainiyambo, tidayenda kukapalizira ku kamzinda kanango komwe kakhalibe Mboni za Yahova, komwe tikhadayenda kale kukapalizira kabodzi basi. Mkazi m’bodzi adatinamizira kuti tikhali acikunda wa dziko la Grã Bretanha thangwe rakuti tikalalewa tikhabveka kuti ndife lini wa ku Irlandako. Bzimwebzi bzidaticitisa mantha. Munthu akandodziwika kuti ni xamwali wa acikunda, akhaphedwa ayai kubooledwa mwendo na mpfuti. Pomwe ifepano tikhadikhirira karo kuti tiyende, karo inango idabwera kudzaima kutsogolo kwa banka la mkazi ule. Mkaziyo adabula aciyenda kukalalewa na amuna awiri omwe akhali mkaromo acimbalata ifepano uko akukomedwa. Patsogolo pace, amunawo adafambisa karoyo acibwera pomwe ifepano tikhadaimapo acitibvunza kuti karo yomwe tikudikhirirayo in’bwera nthawe zanyi. Pomwe karo yomwe tikhaidikhirirayo idafika, iwo adalalewa na motorista wa karoyo. Ifepano tikhakwanisa lini kubva bzomwe iwo akhalewabzo. Mkaromo mukhalibe wanthu anango, ndipopa ifepano tidakumbuka kuti bzomwe akhapangana bzikhali bzakuti atitenge kuti akatiphe kunja kwa mzinda. Tsono bziribe kucitika tenepoyo. Pomwe ndidafendera pomwe pakhana motoristapo, ndidamubvunza kuti: “Kodi amuna omwe akhali panowa akhabvunza bza ifepano?” Iye adatawira kuti: “Inepano ndikudziwa kuti imwepo ndimwe mbani, ndipo ndawauza bzimwebzo. Lekani kugopa, palibe comwe cin’kucitikirani.”

Mu 1976, tidayenda ku mtsonkhano ku Dublin. Ndipo kumweko ndidakadziwana na Pauline Lomax, omwe akhali mpainiya wakupambulika wa ku Inglaterra. Iye akhafuna kwene-kwene Yahova, akhali wakubzicepesa ndipo akhana lufoyi. Iye na m’bale wace, Ray, adabadwira m’banja la Mboni za Yahova. Pomwe padapita gole libodzi, inepano na Pauline tidalowolana ndipo tidapitiriza kucita upainiya bwakupambulika ku Ballymena, ku Irlanda do Norte.

Patsogolo pace, ifepano tidakhala anyakunyang’anira dera, ticimbathandiza abale ku Belfast, Londonderry na mbuto zinango zakugopswa. Ifepano tidalimbikisidwa na kukhulupirika kwa abale na mpfumakazi zathu omwe adasiya bzinthu bzomwe akhacita kale-kale, ninga tsankhulo na ciwengo kuti atumikire Yahova. Ndipo Yahovayo adawasimba na kuwakhotcerera thangwe ra bzimwebzi!

Ndidakhala ku Irlanda magole 10. Ndipo mu 1981 tidacemeredwa kuti tikapite Xikola ya Jileyade turma 72. Pomwe tidamaliza, tidatumizidwa ku dziko linango la kumadokero kwa África lakucemeredwa Serra Leoa.

Pomwe tidafika ku Serra Leoa, tidakakhala pa nyumba ya amisiyonario yomwe ikhana wanthu 11. Nyumbayo ikhana kozinya ibodzi, makazadebanyo matatu, mbuto zakusambira ziwiri, telefoni ibodzi, makina yakufulira mabodzi na makina yakuumisira bzakubvala mabodzi. Maluju yakhathawa-thawa ndipo mu ntsodzi ya nyumbayo mukhana makoso ndipo pantsi pa nyumbayo nthawe zinango pakhakhala na nyoka.

Napo kuti moyo ukhali wakubonerera, koma upalizi bukhatifambira bwino. Wanthu akhalemekeza Bibliya ndipo akhambatitetekera pomwe tikhalalewa nawo. Azinji adabvuma kupfunza Bibliya ndipo adakhala Mboni za Yahova. Iwo atipasa madzina. Ine akhandicemera kuti “Pai Robert” ndipo mkazangu Pauline akhamucemera kuti “Mai Robert.” Inepano ndidadzayamba kuphata basa na mthambi ndipo ndikhambadzayenda lini kukapalizira kawiri-kawiri, ndipopa wanthuwo adadzayamba kumbacemera mkazangu kuti “Mai Pauline”  Ndipo ine akhambadzandicemera kuti “Pai Pauline.” Mkazangu Pauline adakomedwa na bzimwebzi!

Abale wathu azinji akhali wakusauka, koma Yahova adapitiriza kuwathandiza. Ndipo nthawe zinango iye akhacita bzimwebzi mwakudabwisa. (Mateu 6:33) Ndikukumbukira bzomwe mpfumakazi inango idacita nthawe inango. Iyo ikhana kobiri kuti igule cakudya ca iye na ca wana wace basi. Tsono mpfumakaziyo idatenga kobiriyo icipasa m’bale munango omwe akhaduwala malariya kuti agulire mankhwala. Ntsiku yokha-yokhayo, mwakusaya kudikhiririka, mkazi munango adayenda kuna mpfumakaziyo aciiuza kuti imumange tsisi ndipo angadamupasa kobiri. Bzinthu ninga bzimwebzi bzikhacitika kawiri-kawiri.

Ifepano tidakhala ku Serra Leoa magole 9. Patsogolo pace tidacinjidwa ticiyenda kukatumikira ku Beteli ya ku Nigéria. Mthambi imweyo ikhali ikulu kwene-kwene. Kumweko, ndidaphata basa libodzi-bodzi na lomwe ndikhacita pomwe ndikhali ku mthambi ya ku Serra Leoa. Tsono Pauline adaphata basa lakusiyana na lomwe akhacita ku Serra Leoa. Iye akhambapalizira maora yakupitirira 130 mwezi uli-wentse na kucitisa mapfunziro ya Bibliya. Tsono kumweko, iye adakacita basa la kusona bzakubvala bzakung’ambika. Bzidatenga nthawe pang’ono kuti azolowere basalo. Tsono iye adadzazindikira kuti abale akhakomedwa na basa lomwe iye akhacita. Bzimwebzi bzidacitisa kuti iye apitirize kucita basalo na kulimbikisambo abale anango wa pa Beteli.

Cikhalidwe ca ku Nigéria cikhali cinovu kwa ifepano. Ndipopa pakhana bzinthu bzizinji kuti tipfunze. Ntsiku ibodzi, m’bale munango adabwera mu xikiritoriyo yangu kuti adzandilatize mpfumakazi yomwe ikhadacemeredwa kuti idzatumikire pa Betelipo. Pomwe inepano ndidaima kuti ndimuse mpfumakaziyo, iyo idandigodamiriratu. Bzimwebzi bzidandidabwisa kwene-kwene. Ndipo bzidandikumbusa bzinembo bziwiri bza m’Bibliya: Mabasa 10:25, 26 na Apokalipse 19:10. Ndidabzibvunza kuti: ‘Ndimuuze kuti aleke kucita bzimwebzi?’ Tsono pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo, inepano ndidakumbukira kuti penu iye adabvumizidwa kubwera ku Beteli, ndiye kuti iye ambadziwa bzomwe Bibliya limbapfunzisa.

Inepano ndidaumidwa thupi pomwe tikhaceza na mpfumakaziyo. Pomwe ndidamala kuceza naye ndidayenda kukafufudza bza nkhaniyo. Pomwe ndidafufudza ndidadziwa kuti bzomwe mpfumakaziyo idacita ni bzinthu bzomwe bzikhacitidwa mu cikhalidwe cawo ndipo bzikhapitiriza kucitidwa pa nthawe imweyo mu dzikolo. Amuna akhambacitiranambo bzimwebzi okha-okha. Imweyi ikhali njira yakulatizira ulemu. Kumweku kukhali lini kunamata munthu. Ndipo bzinthu ninga bzimwebzi bzikhacitikambo mu nthawe za m’Bibliya. (1 Samuweri 24:8) Nimbakomedwa kwene-kwene  thangwe rakuti ntsiku imweyire ndiribe kulewa cinthu comwe cingadapasisa manyazi mpfumakazi ire.

Tidadziwana na abale azinji wa ku Nigéria omwe adamala magole mazinji akutumikira Yahova ndipo adalatiza kuti mbakukhulupirika. M’bodzi wa iwo ni m’bale wakucemeredwa Isaiah Adagbona. a Iye adapfunza cadidi pomwe akhali mwana. Ndipo patsogolo pace adadzayamba kuduwala matenda ya mapere. Iye adakaikhidwa ku mbuto komwe kukhakhala wanthu omwe akhaduwala matenda yamweya. Ndipo kumweko kukhalibe Mboni za Yahova. Napo kuti iye akhanyozedwa, iye adathandiza wanthu wakupitirira 30, omwe akhaduwalambo mapere, kudziwa cadidi. Ndipo adathandizirambo kuti kumweko kukhale na gwere.

Mu 1996, ifepano tidauzidwa kuti tikatumikire ku mthambi ya ku Quénia. Kamweka kakhali kaciwiri kuyenda ku Quénia. Ulendo bwakuyamba ni bule bomwe ndabufotokoza kumayambiriro kwa nkhaniyi. Pomwe tidafika kumweko, tidakakhala pa Beteli. Kumweko kukhana akolo azinji. Iwo akawona mpfumakazi idanyamula mafruta, akhambaimogera. Ntsiku ibodzi, mpfumakazi ya pa Betelipo idayebwa kufunga janera ya kwartu yace. Pomwe adabwerera adawona akolo adadzala m’nyumbamo ali kudya cakudya comwe iye akhadasiya. Iye adakuwa acithawa. Akolowo adakuwambo ndipo adamoga na pa janera acibula m’nyumbamo.

Inepano na Pauline tikhatsonkhana mu gwere la Ciswahili. Pomwe padapita nthawe pang’ono, ndidauzidwa kuti nimbacitise Pfunziro la Bibliya la Gwere. Tsono inepano ndikhadziwa lini kulalewa bwino-bwino cirewedweco. Ndikhambakonzekera pfunzirolo pomwe ntsiku ya mitsonkhano ikanati kufika. Ndipopa ndikhakwanisa kucita mibvunzo. Tsono nyakutawirayo akasaya kucita kuwerenga pa ndime, inepano ndikhakwanisa lini kubva bzomwe alewabzo. Bzikhali bzakupasa manyazi. Ndikhawabvera ntsisi abale na mpfumakazi wale. Bzidakhala bzakudabwisa kuwona abale wale akubvuma makonzedwe yakuti inepano nimbacitise pfunziro lire. Iwo adabvuma thangwe rakuti akhali wakupirira na wakubzicepesa.

Ifepano tiribe kumala gole ku Quénia. Mu 1997 tidacemeredwa kuti tikatumikire pa Beteli ya ku Brooklyn, ku Nova Iorque. Limweri likhali dziko lakudala. Ndipo bzimwebzi bzingadabweresa mabvuto kuna abale. (Mimwani 30:8, 9) Tsono abale wathu mu dziko limweri mbakukhulupirika kwene-kwene. Iwo akuphatisa basa nthawe yawo na bzinthu bzomwe anabzo sikuti akhale wakudala, koma kuti athandizire basa labwino lomwe gulu la Yahova likucita.

M’magole yentseneya takwanisa kuwona kuti abale wathu wacikristau mbakukhulupirika napo kuti akugumana na mabvuto yakusiyana-siyana. Ku Irlanda, tidakwanisa kuwona kukhulupirika kwa abale napo kuti akhabonera na nkhondo. Ku África, tidawona kuti abale wathu mbakukhulupirika napo kuti mbakusauka ndipo ambakhala m’mbuto zakutalikirana. Ku Estados Unidos, tidawona kuti abale wathu mbakukhulupirika napo kuti mbakudala. Yahova ambakomedwa kwene-kwene akawona wanthu wace akulatiza kuti ambamufuna napo kuti akugumana na mabvuto yakusiyana-siyana!

Magole yathamanga kwene-kwene “kuposa momwe cimbathamangira cakufulizira nguwo.” (Djobi 7:6) Tsapano tikuphata basa ku likulu lathu la pa dziko lentse ku Warwick, ku Nova Iorque. Ndipo tikukomedwa kuphata basa na abale omwe ambafunana. Ifepano ndife wakukondwa pa kudziwa kuti tikuthandizira Mambo wathu, Kristu Jezu, omwe tsapanopali anisimba wanthu wace wakukhulupirika. — Mateu 25:34.