Bzimwebzi bzidacinja moyo wangu ndipo ndidayamba kukumbukira bza Mulungu. Tsono ndikanati kukufotokozerani bzomwe bzidacitika usiku bule, lekani ndikuuzeni bzomwe bzidacitika pomwe ndikhali mwana, bzomwe bzidandicitisa kufuna kudziwa Mulungu.

Ndidabadwa mu 1937 ku Guesnain, mzinda omwe uli kumpoto kwa dziko la França. Pai wangu akhaphata basa mu mgodi wa malaxa ndipo adandipfunzisa kufunika kwa kuphata basa na nyongo. Ndipo na Pai wangu ndidapfunzambo kumbawenga bzinthu bzakusaya cirungamo, bzomwe bzidawacitisa kufuna kuthandiza anyakuphata basa mu mgodi omwe akhaphata basa mwakubonerera kwene-kwene. Tenepo, pai wangu adacita mbali mu thimu lomwe likhakhotcerera anyakuphata basa mu mgodi. Ndipo pai wangu akhawengambo atsogoleri wa magereja wakunama. Azinji mwa atsogoleriwo akhana moyo wabwino. Tsono napo bzikhali tenepo, iwo akhakumbira anyakuphata basa mu mgodi omwe akhali wakusauka kobiri na cakudya. Pai wangu akhaipidwa kwene-kwene na bzimwebzi, mwakuti alibe kundipfunzisa bza Mulungu. Ndipo ne akhaiguma lini nkhani imweyi.

Pomwe ndikhakula, ndidayamba kuwengambo bzinthu bzakusaya cirungamo. Ndipo bzinthu bzakusaya  cirungamobzo bzikhaphatanidza tsankhulo lomwe likhacitiridwa wanthu omwe akhali lini wa ku França. Ndikhamenya bola na wana wa wanthu omwe akhadacokera m’madziko manango, ndipo ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene kusenzeka nawo. Kuthimizira bzimwebzi, mai wangu akhali lini wa ku França, koma akhali wa ku Polônia. Tenepo, ndikhafuna kuti wanthu wakusiyana-siyana akhale pabodzi mwa mtendere ndipo acimbawonedwa mwakundendemera.

Mu 1957 ndidacemeredwa kuti ndikacite basa la ucikunda. Bzimwebzi ndibzo bzomwe bzidacitisa kuti ndikagumanike ku mapiri ya ku Argélia, ninga momwe ndafotokozera pakuyamba pale. Pambuyo pakukuwa kuti “Mai ine, Mulungu wangu, Mulungu wangu!” ndidawona bulu, sikuti nyamadulanthaka. Ndikhandocita mantha, tsono napo bzikhali tenepo, bzomwe bzidacitikabzi, pabodzi na nkhondo yomwe ikhacitika, bzidandicitisa kukumbukira kwene-kwene bza moyo. Thangwe ranyi tidalengedwa? Kodi Mulungu ambatisamaliradi? Kodi ifepano tin’dzakhaladi na mtendere wakusaya kumala?

Pomwe ndidayenda kukazungira pai wangu, ndidagumana na m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova. Iye adandipasa Bibliya la Cifaransa la gereja ya Katolika, ndipo ndidayamba kuliwerenga pomwe ndidabwerera ku Argélia. Ndidakomedwa na cinembo ca Cibvumbulutso 21:3, 4, comwe cimbati: ‘Tendi la Mulungu liri pakati pa wanthu . . . Iye an’dzapukuta misozi yentse m’maso mwawo, ndipo infa in’dzawoneka lini pomwe. Pan’dzawoneka lini pomwe kulira, ayai kubuula ne kuwawidwa.’ * Ndikhanati kubva kale mafala yamweya. Tenepo, ndidabzibvunza kuti: ‘Kodi bzimwebzi bzingakhaledi bzacadidi?’ Pa nthawe imweyire ndikhadziwa lini cinthu ciri-centse pakulewa bza Mulungu ne Bibliya.

Pomwe ndidamaliza basa langu la ucikunda mu 1959, ndidagumana na m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova wakucemeredwa François, omwe adandipfunzisa bzinthu bzizinji kucokera m’Bibliya. Mwa ciratizo, iye adandilatiza m’Bibliya kuti dzina cairo la Mulungu ni Yahova. (Psalymo 83:18) François adandiuzambo kuti Yahova an’dzabweresa cirungamo pa dziko la pantsi, an’dzacitisa dzikoli kukhala paraizo, na kukwanirisa mafala ya pa Cibvumbulutso 21:3, 4.

Bzimwebzi bzikhali bzakubveseseka, ndipo ndidakomedwa kwene-kwene mu mtima mwangu. Pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo, inepano ndikhadakalipa na atsogoleri wa magereja, ndipo ndikhafuna kuwawonesa padeca kuti bzomwe akhapfunzisa bzikhacokera lini m’Bibliya! Bzikuwoneka kuti ndikhana makumbukidwe ninga ya pai wangu, ndipo ndikhafuna kumalisa kusaya cirungamo komwe kukhalipo. Mwakuti ndikhafuna kucita bzimwebzo pa nthawe imweyoletu!

Tenepo, François pabodzi na axamwali wangu winango omwe akhalimbo Mboni za Yahova, adandithandiza kugwesa nfuwa pantsi. Iwo adandithandiza kuwona kuti basa lathu ninga Akristau ndakumanga lini mulandu wanthu, koma ndakuwapasa cidikhiro mwakuphatisa basa bzipsa bzabwino bza Umambo bwa Mulungu. Limweri ndiro basa lomwe Jezu adacita, na kupasambo ateweri wace kuti alicite. (Mateu 24:14; Luka 4:43) Ndipo ndidapfunzambo kumbalewalewa na wanthu mwakuderekha, napo kuti ndikhabverana lini na bzomwe iwo ambakhulupira. Ninga momwe Bibliya limbalewera kuti: ‘Kapolo wa Mbuya an’funika lini kunesana na wanthu, koma an’funika kukhala wakuderekha na wentse.’—2 Timotio 2:24.

Ndidacinja bzinthu pa moyo wangu ndipo ndidabatizidwa ninga m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova pa  mtsonkhano wadera mu 1959. Pa mtsonkhanopo ndidadziwana na mpfumakazi inango yakucemeredwa Angèle, yomwe idandidekera kwene-kwene. Ndidayamba kumbayenda kukatsonkhana ku gwere lace. Ndipo mu 1960, tidalowolana. Kulewa cadidi, iye ni mkazi wabwino, na mphaso yakucokera kwa Yahova.—Mimwani 19:14.

Kuyambira kale-kale, ndapfunza bzinthu bzizinji bzakufunika na abale wakukhwima mwauzimu. Cibodzi mwa bzinthu bzakufunikabzo, n’cakuti: Kuti tikwanise kucita basa liri-lentse lomwe tapasidwa, napo licikhala lakunesa, ifepano tin’funika kukhala wakubzicepesa na kuphatisa basa nfundo yakugumanika pa Mimwani 15:22, pomwe pambati: ‘Bzakulinga bzimbakwanisika . . . alangizi akawanda.’

Mu 1964, ndidayamba kuwona kuti mafala yakufuliziridwa yamweya ngacadidi. Mu gole limwelire, ndidayamba kutumikira ninga nyakunyang’anira dera, ndipo ndikhazungira magwere kuti ndilimbikise abale. Tsono pa nthawe imweyi ndikhana magole 27 yakubadwa, ndipo ndikhadziwa lini bzinthu bzizinji. Tenepo, nthawe zinango ndikhambaphonya. Tsono ndikhayezera kupfunza na bzinthu bzomwe ndikhaponyabzo. Kuposa bzentse, ndidapfunza bzinthu bzizinji bzakufunika kwene-kwene kucokera kwa abale wakukhwima mwauzimu.

Ndikukumbukira cinthu cinango comwe cidacitika pomwe ndidayamba kutumikira ninga nyakunyang’anira dera. Pambuyo pakuzungira gwere linango ku Paris, m’bale munango wakukhwima mwauzimu adandikumbira kuti aceze nande. Tenepo, ndidatawira kuti: “Bziribe mulandu.”

Iye adandibvunza kuti: “Louis, dotolo akayenda kumui kwa munthu, kodi iye ambakhala akuyenda kukawona yani?”

Ine ndidatawira kuti: “Nyakuduwala.”

Iye adati: “Ndibzodi. Tsono ndawona kuti iwepo umbamala nthawe yako na wanthu omwe ali kale bwino mwauzimu, ninga akulu wa gwere. M’gwere mwathu muna abale na mpfumakazi zizinji, omwe mbakutepa mwauzimu, mbapsa, ayai ana manyazi. Ndipo iwo angakomedwe kwene-kwene ucimbaceza nawo ayai uciyenda kumui kwawo kuti ukadye nawo pabodzi.”

Ndidatenda kwene-kwene malango ya m’baleyu. Ndipo lufoyi lace kuna mabira ya Yahova lidandidabwisa kwene-kwene. Tsono, napo kuti bzikhali bzakunesa kubvuma kuti ndikhadaphonyeka, inepano ndidaphatisa basa bzomwe iye adandiuzabzo. Ndipo nimbatenda Yahova thangwe ra kutipasa abale ninga umweyu.

Mu 1969 mpaka 1973, ndidasankhulidwa kuti ndinyang’anire Depatimenti Yakunyangʼanira Cakudya  pa mitsonkhano miwiri ya madziko yomwe idacitikira ku Colombes, ku Paris. Pa mtsonkhano wa mu 1973, ifepano tikhafunika kupasa cakudya wanthu wakukwana 60.000 pa ntsiku zixanu! Ndikhadziwa lini momwe tingadacitira bzimwebzi. Tsono comwe cidandithandiza ni kukumbira malango kwa abale wakukhwima mwauzimu, ninga momwe cimbalewera cinembo ca Mimwani 15:22. Tenepo, ndidakumbira thandizo kwa abale. Ndipo winango mwa abalewo akhali wakupha nyama, alimi, wakuphika na wakugulisa bzinthu. Ndipo na thandizo lawo, tidakwanisa kucita basa lomwe likhawoneka ninga lakunesali.

Mu 1973, ine na mkazangu tidacemeredwa kuti tikatumikire ku Beteli ya ku França. Utumiki bomwe tidapasidwa kumweko bukhali pomwe bwakunesa kwene-kwene. Ndikhafunika kunyang’ana njira yakutumizira mabukhu abale wathu wa ku Camarões, ku África, komwe basa lathu likhadaletsedwa kucokera mu 1970 mpaka 1993. Ndikhadziwa lini kuti ningadakwanisa tani kucita bzimwebzi. Nyakunyang’anira mthambi ku França pinango adadziwa momwe ndikhabvera, ndipo adandilimbikisa mwakundiuza kuti: “Abale wathu ku Camarões akufunikira mabukhu. Ifepano tin’funika kuwathandiza.” Ndipo ifepano tidacitadi bzimwebzo.

Ndidacita ulendo buzinji bwakuyenda madziko yomwe yambacita malire na dziko la Camarões kuti ndikagumane na akulu wa gwere wa dzikolo. Abale wakukhwimika na wanzeru amwewa, adandithandiza kugumana njira za momwe tingadambatumizira mabukhuyo kuti abale ambakhale aciyatambira nthawe zentse ku Camarões. Yahova adasimba nyongo yathu. Kulewa cadidi kuyambira nthawe imweyire mpaka magole 20, abale wathu wa dziko limwelire alibe kuluza ne revista ibodzi ya Ntsanza ya Mulindiri pabodzi na kabukhu ka mitsonkhano ka pakati pa mdzinga, komwe na kupita kwa nthawe kadadzacemeredwa kuti Utumiki Bwathu bwa Umambo.

Kucokera pomwe ndidadziwana na Angèle, ndidawona kuti iye akhali pa uxamwali bwakulimba na Yahova. Pomwe tidalowolana, ni pomwe ndidatsimikiza bzimwebzi. Mwa ciratizo, pa ntsiku ya malowozi yathu kumaulo, mkazanguyo adandikumbira kuti  ndipempherere cikhumbo cathu cakufuna kutumikira Yahova ninga banja. Tenepo, Yahova adatawira mpemboyo.

Angèle adandithandizambo kuti nimbathembe kwene-kwene Yahova. Mwa ciratizo, pomwe tidacemeredwa kuti tikatumikire pa Beteli mu 1973, ndidazeza thangwe rakuti ndikhakomedwa na basa langu la kunyang’anira dera. Tsono, Angèle adandikumbusa kuti ifepano tidapereka moyo wathu kwa Yahova. Kodi tin’funikira lini kucita bzomwe gulu la Yahova latikumbira kucita? (Wahebereu 13:17) Ndidabvuma bzomwe iye adalewabzo. Tenepo, ifepano tidadzayenda ku Beteliko. Mkazangu ngwanzeru ndipo ni munthu omwe ambafunadi Yahova. Ndipo makhalidwe yamweya yadalimbikisa banja lathu, ndipo yadatithandizambo kumbasankhula kucita bzinthu bzabwino pa magole yentse yomwe takhala pabodzi mpaka kukalamba kwathu.

Napo takalamba, Angèle akupitiriza na makhalidwe yabwino, ndipo ni mkazi wakuthandiza. Mwa ciratizo, kuti tikapfunze xikola zakupfunzisa utumiki, zizinji mwa izo zikhapfunzidwa mu Cingerezi, ine na Angèle tidayamba kucita nyongo yakupfunza cirewedweco. Tenepo, tikhatsonkhana gwere la Cingerezi napo kuti pa nthawe imweyo ndikhana magole pafupi-fupi 70. Na maudindo yomwe ndikhanayo ninga m’bodzi wa m’Komiti ya Mthambi ku França, bzikhali bzakunesa kupfunza cirewedwe cinango. Tsono ine na Angèle tikhambathandizana. Tsapano, napo kuti ndina magole pafupi-fupi 80, tikupitiriza kukonzekera mitsonkhano ya gwere mu cirewedwe ca Cingerezi na Cifaransa. Ndipo timbayezerambo kucita bzomwe tingakwanise pa mitsonkhano na mu utumiki pabodzi na gwere lathu. Yahova adasimba nyongo yathu yakupfunza Cingerezi.

Mu 2017, inepano na Angèle tidakhala na mwayi wakuyenda ku Xikola ya Abale wa m’Makomiti ya Mthambi na Akazi Wawo, yomwe idacitikira ku Likulu la Mapfunziro la Watchtower ku Patterson, Nova Iorque.

Kulewa cadidi, Yahova ni Mpfunzisi Mkululetu. (Zaiya 30:20) Ndipopa mpsakudabwisa lini kuti atumiki wace, akulu-akulu na wana ambagumana phindu na mapfunziro yabwino. (Bzakutonga 4:5-8) Tenepo, inepano nimbakwanisa kuwona kuti maswaka yomwe yambabvera Yahova pabodzi na abale na mpfumakazi za m’gwere yambasankhula kucita bzinthu bzabwino pa moyo wawo bzomwe bzimbawathandiza kuyenda patsogolo mwauzimu. Ndipo akadzakula bzinthu bzimbadzawafambira bwino mwakubverana na mafala ya pa Mimwani 9:9, yomwe yambati: ‘Pfunzisa munthu wanzeru, ndipo iye an’dzakhaliratu wanzeru kwene-kwene. Pfunzisa nyakulungama, ndipo iye an’dzathimizira cadidi cace.’

Nthawe zinango, nimbakumbukira mdima wakupasa mantha ku mapiri ya ku Argélia, magole 60 mbuyomu. Pa nthawe imweyo inepano ndikhadziwa lini bzinthu bzabwino bzomwe ningadadzagumana nabzo kutsogolo. Ndidapfunza bzinthu bzizinji na wanthu winango. Kulewa cadidi, Yahova adapasa ine na Angèle moyo wabwino na wakudekeza. Tenepo, tidatsimikiza kuleka kusiya kupfunza na Baba wathu wakudzulu pabodzi na abale na mpfumakazi wakukhwima mwauzimu omwe ambamufuna.