Inepano ndidabadwa mu 1927 mu kamzinda kang’ono pafupi na mzinda wa Chicago, Illinois, EUA. M’mimba mwathu tikhalipo axanu. Wakuyamba Jetha, waciwiri Don, wacitatu inepano, wacinai Karl na wakumalizira Joy. Tentsenefe tikhafuna kucita bzizinji pakutumikira Yahova. Jetha adapita turma yaciwiri ya Xikola ya Jileyade mu 1943. Abale wangu winango atatu adayenda kukatumikira ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn, Nova Iorque. Don adayamba kutumikira mu 1944, Karl mu 1947, ndipo Joy mu 1951. Bzomwe iwo pabodzi na abereki wangu adacita bzidandilimbikisa kwene-kwene.

Abereki wangu akhambawerenga Bibliya ndipo akhafuna kwene-kwene Mulungu. Tenepo, iwo adatipfunzisa kuti timbafunembo kwene-kwene Mulungu. Tsono pambuyo pa kuyenda kukamenya Nkhondo Yakuyamba ya pa Dziko Lentse ku Europa, pai wangu adadzasiya kukhulupira magereja. Pakuti mai wangu adakomedwa thangwe ra iwo kubwerera na moyo ku mui, adawauza kuti: “AKarl, mbatiyendeni ku gereja ninga momwe tikhacitira pakuyamba.” Pai wangu adatawira kuti: “Inepano niniyenda nawe pabodzi, tsono nin’kapita lini mu gerejamo.” Mai wangu adawabvunza kuti: “Thangwe ranyi mun’kapita lini?” Iwo adatawira kuti: “Pomwe ndikhali ku nkhondo, akulu-akulu wa magereja omwe akhali wa madziko mawiri yakusiyana koma akhapemphera gereja ibodzi akhambapempherera acikunda wa dziko lawo! Kodi bzimwebzi bzin’funa kulewa kuti Mulungu akhabva mipembo ya wentsewo?”

Ntsiku inango, pomwe mai wangu akhali ku gereja, Mboni za Yahova ziwiri zidagogodza msuwo wathu. Iwo adapasa pai wangu bzipande bziwiri bza bukhu lakuti Light, (Ceza) lomwe likhafotokoza bza bukhu la Apokalipse. Pai wangu adakomedwa na mabukhuyo ndipo adayatambira. Ndipo pomwe mai wangu adayawona mabukhuyo adayamba kuyawerenga. Ntsiku inango, iwo adabva cidziwiso mu jornale comwe cikhacemera wanthu kuti akapfunze Bibliya mwakuphatisa basa mabukhu yakuti Light (Ceza). Iwo adayenda kumweko. Pomwe iwo adafika, mkazi munango adafungula msuwo. Mai wangu adamulatiza mkaziyo bukhulo ndipo adamubvunza kuti: “Imwepo mukupfunza Bibliya mwakuphatisa basa bukhu iri?” Mkaziyo adatawira kuti: “Inde, mungapite.” Sumana ya mangwana yace mai wangu adanyamula inepano na azibale wangu ndipo tidayamba kumbayenda kumweko sumana iri-yentse.

 Pa mtsonkhano unango m’bale omwe akhatsogolera adandikumbira kuti ndiwerenge Salimo 144:15, pomwe pambalewa kuti wale omwe ambatumikira Yahova mbakukondwa. Cinemboci cidandidekera kwene-kwene ndipo ndidakomedwambo na 1 Timotio 1:11, pomwe pambalewa kuti Yahova ni “Mulungu wakukondwa” na Aefezo 5:1, omwe ambalewa kuti “tewezerani Mulungu.” Ndidazindikira kuti ndikhafunikira kukhala wakukondwa thangwe ra kutumikira Mulengi wangu na kumutenda thangwe ra mwayi umweyu. Ndibzo bzomwe ndikuyezera kucita pa moyo wangu wentse.

Gwere lomwe likhali pafupi na komwe tikhakhala likhali pa ntantho wa makilometro 32. Napo bziri tenepo, tikhambayenda kukatsonkhana kumweko ndipo ndidayamba kudziwa bzizinji bza m’Bibliya. Ndikukumbukira ntsiku inango m’bale omwe akhatsogolera adalata Jetha kuti atawire. Pomwe iye akhatawira, inepano ndidalewa kuti: ‘Mtawiro omwe akuperekayu ndikumudziwambo. Ningadaimisambo kuti nditawire.’ Kuyambira pamwepo ndidayamba kumbakonzekera kuti nimbaperekembo mitawiro. Koma cakufunika kwene-kwene n’cakuti inepano na abale wangu tikhalimbisa uxamwali bwathu na Yahova. Ndidadzabatizidwa mu 1941.

Ndikukumbukira bzomwe bzidacitika pomwe ndikhali pa mtsonkhano wa cigawo ku Cleveland, Ohio mu 1942. Abale wa mu mphimpha zakupitirira 50 za ku Estados Unidos akhatetekera programayo na pa telefoni. Banja lathu pabodzi na abale winango lidafikira ku mbuto yomwe ikhali pafupi na mbuto yomwe ingadacitikira mtsonkhanoyo. Imweyi ikhali nthawe yomwe Nkhondo Yaciwiri ya pa Dziko Lentse ikhacitika. Ndipo kuzunzidwa kwa Mboni za Yahova kukhayenda kucilemweratu. Usiku abale adaimisa karo zawo ku njira ku mbuto yomwe tikhaliko ndipo maluju ya karoyo yakhambanyang’anisisa ku njira. Wentse adapangana kuti karo iri-yentse ikhale na mulindiri. Cinthu ciri-centse comwe cingadacitikeco abale angadaliza bozina ndipo angadagasa maluju kuti anyamadulanthakawo aleke kuwona. Ndipo abale winango angadayenda kukawathandiza. Pomwe ndidawona bzimwebzo ndidati: ‘Wanthu wa Yahova adakonzekadi!’ Inepano ndidagona bwino-bwino ndipo tiribe kugumana na bvuto liri-lentse.

Pomwe padapita magole mazinji, ndidayamba kukumbukira bzomwe bzidacitika pa mtsonkhano ule ndipo ndidazindikira kuti mai wangu akhacita lini thupo ne mantha. Iwo akhakhulupira Yahova na gulu lace. Ndipo inepano nin’dzayebwa lini bzimwebzi.

Pomwe mtsonkhano ule ukhanati kucitika, mai wangu adakhala mpainiya wakukhazikika. Ndipopa iwo akhambakhala tceru pomwe nkhani zomwe zikhalewa bza utumiki bwa nthawe zentse zikhafotokozedwa. Pomwe tikhabwerera ku mui, iwo adalewa kuti: “Ndikufuna kupitiriza kukhala mpainiya, tsono nin’kwanisa lini kucita upainiyabo pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo ndicimbasamalira pa mui.” Tenepo iwo adatikumbira kuti timbawathandize kusamalira pa muipo. Ifepano tidabvuma, ndipopa adapasa munthu ali-wentse kwartu kuti ambalimpari tikanati kudya matabitcu. Ndipo tikayenda ku xikola, iwo akhambawona penu m’nyumbamo mudacena patsogolo pace akhambayenda mu utumiki. Iwo akhali wakutanganika kwene-kwene. Koma napo bziri tenepo, akhambatisamalira bwino. Tikacokera ku xikola, iwo akhatidikhirira kuti tidye nawo pabodzi midiya. Ndipo ntsiku zinango tikambacokera ku xikola tikhambayenda nawo pabodzi  mu utumiki. Bzimwebzi bzidatithandiza kubvesesa momwe moyo wa upainiya umbafambira.

Ndidakhala mpainiya pomwe ndikhana magole 16. Napo kuti pai wangu akhanati kukhala Mboni ya Yahova, akhafuna kudziwa momwe bzinthu bzikhandifambira. Ntsiku inango usiku ndidawauza kuti napo ndikhacita nyongo ndikhalibe pfunziro la Bibliya. Inepano ndidawabvunza kuti: “Papá, imwepo mukufuna kuti inepano ndikupfunziseni Bibliya?” Iwo adandinyang’anisisa ndipo adabvuma kuti ndipfunze nawo Bibliya. Nyakupfunza wangu wa Bibliya wakutoma adakhala pai wangu!

Ndikhapfunzisa Bibliya papá mwakuphatisa basa bukhu lakuti “A Verdade Vos Tornará Livres.” Na kupita kwa nthawe ndidawona kuti pai wangu akhandipfunzisa kukhala mpfunzisi wabwino na kumbafunambo kupfunza bzizinji bza m’Bibliya. Ntsiku inango pomwe tikhapfunza, iwo adandiuza kuti: “Ndabvesesa bzomwe bukhuli likulewa. Tsono iwepo ukudziwa tani kuti bukhuli likunama lini?” Ndiribe kukwanisa kuwatawira, ndipopa ndidawauza kuti: “Nin’kwanisa lini kukutawirani tsapanopa, tsono pa pfunziro lathu la sumana ya mangwana nin’dzakutawirani.” Ndipo ndidadzawatawiradi. Ndidagumana mavesi yomwe yakhatsindika nfundo yomwe tikhadapfunzayo. Kuyambira pamwepo ndidapfunza kumbafufudza na kumbakonzekera bwino pfunziro liri-lentse. Bzimwebzi bzidandithandiza kuti ndikhale wakukhwima mwauzimu ndipo bzidathandizambo pai wangu. Iwo adadzayamba kuphatisa basa bzomwe akhapfunza ndipo adadzabatizidwa mu gole la 1952.

Ndidacoka pa mui pomwe ndikhana magole 17. Jetha a adakhala misiyonario, ndipo Don adayenda kukatumikira pa Beteli. Iwo akhafuna kwene-kwene utumiki bwawo ndipo bzimwebzi bzidandilimbikisa kwene-kwene. Ndipopa ndidaprenxeri petição ziwiri, ya ku Beteli na ya ku Xikola ya Jileyade. Ndipo ndidadikhirira kuti Yahova andiyendese komwe iye akhafuna. Ndidadzauzidwa kuti ndikatumikire pa Beteli mu 1946.

Magole 75 yomwe ndamala ndiri ku Beteli ndidapfunza mabasa yakusiyana-siyana. Ndidaphata basa lakukonza mabukhu, mu depatimenti ya kontabilidade, kutambira bzinthu bza kunja na kutumiza bzinthu m’madziko manango. Tsono cakufunika kwene-kwene n’cakuti Beteli idandithandiza kukula mwauzimu mwakuphatisa basa kucezerana vesi la ntsiku na nkhani zakusiyana-siyana.

Ndidapfunzambo bzizinji na mng’ono wangu Karl, omwe adayamba kutumikira ku Beteli mu 1947. Iye akhapfunza Bibliya nthawe zentse ndipo akhali mpfunzisi wabwino wa Bibliya. Pa nthawe inango ndidamukumbira kuti andithandize kuti ndikafotokoze bwino nkhani yangu. Ndidamuuza kuti ndikhadafufudza  bzinthu bzizinji tsono ndikhadziwa lini momwe ningadabziphatisira basa. Iye adandithandiza mwa kundicita mbvunzo wakuti: “Joel, kodi msolo wa nkhani yako nguponi?” Mbvunzo umweyu udandithandiza kudziwa bzomwe ndikhafunika kucita. Ndikhafunika kuphatisa basa nfundo zomwe zikhabverana na nkhani yangu basi. Ndiribe kuyebwa bzimwebzi.

Kuti tikhale wakukondwa ku Beteli timbafunika kupalizira na nyongo ndipo bzimwebzi bzingatibweresere bzisimbo bzizinji. Ntsiku inango ku maulo tidayenda kukazungira mkazi munango omwe akhadatambira marevista ya Ntsanza ya Mulindiri na Mukani! ku Bronx, Nova Iorque. Ifepano tidayamba kuceza naye mkaziyo mwa kumuuza kuti: “Usiku buno ifepano tikuthandiza wanthu kupfunza bzinthu bzabwino bza m’Bibliya.” Mkaziyo adatawira kuti: “Penu nkhaniyo nja m’Bibliya imwepo mungapite.” Ifepano tidacezerana mavesi mazinji ya m’Bibliya yomwe yakhalewa bza Umambo bwa Mulungu na bza dziko lipsa. Iye adakomedwa kwene-kwene mwakuti adauzambo azixamwali wace winango kuti adzakhale naye pabodzi sumana yakutewera. Patsogolo pace, iye pabodzi na bayace adakhala Mboni za Yahova.

Pomwe ndikhanati kudziwana na mkazangu, ndidamala magole 10 kuti ndigumane munthu kuti ndimange naye banja. Comwe cidandithandiza kuti ndigumane munthu kuti ndimange naye banja ndico kupemba na kudziwa bzomwe ningadadzacita pambuyo pa kulowola.

Pomwe tidamala kucita mtsonkhano ku mbuto yakumenyera bola yakucemeredwa Yankee mu 1953, ndidadziwana na mpfumakazi inango yakucemeredwa Mary Aniol. Iye akhadacita mapfunziro ya Jileyade pabodzi na Jetha ndipo akhatumikira pabodzi ninga amisiyonario. Mwakukondwa Mary adandifotokozera momwe utumiki bwace bwa umisiyonario budafambira ku Caribe na mapfunziro ya Bibliya yomwe adakhala nayo. Ifepano tidayamba kufunana kwene-kwene. Ndipo tidadzalowolana mu Abril 1955. Kazinji-kentse ndidakwanisa kuwona kuti Mary akhali cisimbo cakucokera kwa Yahova ndipo iye adandipfunzisambo bzinthu bzizinji bzakufunika. Iye akhali wakukondwa pa utumiki buli-bwentse, akhali wanyongo, akhambacita thupo na wanthu winango ndipo nthawe zentse akhambaikha Umambo bwa Mulungu pa mbuto yakutoma. (Mateu 6:33) Tidamala magole matatu tikutumikira ninga anyakunyang’anira dera. Ndipo mu 1958, tidauzidwa kuti tikatumikire ku Beteli.

Ndidapfunza bzinthu bzizinji na mkazangu Mary. Pomwe tidalowolana tidayamba kupfunza Bibliya pabodzi. Tikhambawerenga mavesi 15 patsogolo pace tikhambacezerana bzomwe tawerengabzo na momwe tingadabziphatisira basa pa moyo wathu. Kazinji-kazinji Mary akhambandiuza bzomwe adapfunza ku Xikola ya Jileyade na mu utumiki bwace bwa umisiyonario. Bzomwe ndidapfunza na iye bzidandithandiza kuti nimbafotokoze bwino nkhani na kudziwa momwe ningambalimbikisire mpfumakazi. — Mimwani 25:11.

Mkazangu Mary adasaika mu 2013. Ndikufunisisa kudzamuwona pomwe mu dziko lipsa! Pomwe ndikudikhirira bzimwebzo, ndatsimikiza kupitiriza kupfunza bzizinji bza Yahova na kumbamukhulupira na mtima wentse. (Mimwani 3:5, 6) Kukumbukira bzomwe wanthu wa Yahova an’dzacita mu dziko lipsa kumbanditsangalaza ndipo kumbandicitisa kuti ndikhale wakukondwa. Mu dziko lipsa tin’dzapfunza bzinthu bzipsa bzizinji kwene-kwene na Mpfunzisi wathu Mkulu! Nimbatenda kwene-kwene Yahova thangwe ra bzinthu bzentse bzomwe adandipfunzisa kufika pano na bzabwino bzentse bzomwe adandicitira.