Paul: Tikhali wakukondwa kwene-kwene! Ukhali mwezi wa Novembro 1985, pomwe tikhayenda ku utumiki bwathu bwakuyamba bwa umisiyonario bomwe bungadakakhala ku Libéria, Kumadokero kwa África. Ndeke yomwe tikhadapakira idaima ku Senegal. Anne adalewa kuti: “Yandosala ora ibodzi basi kuti tifike ku Libéria!” Tsono tidadzabva cidziwiso cakuti: “Wanthu omwe akuyenda ku Libéria abuluke mu ndeke muno. Wanthu winango akucita phiringu na boma la kumweko. Ndipopa bzin’kwanisika lini kuti ndekeyi ikafike ku Libéria.” Tidakhala na amisiyonario winango ku Senegal kwa ntsiku 10, ndipo tidabva kuti wanthu azinji ku Libéria akhaphedwa, ndipo boma la kumweko likhabvumiza lini kuti munthu ali-wentse acoke ku mui kwace usiku. Munthuyo angadandobula angadaphedweratu na bomalo.

Anne: Ndife wanthu omwe timbafuna lini kuikha moyo wathu pa ngozi. Kulewa cadidi, kuyambira kale-kale ndikhadziwika ninga munthu wa mantha. Ndipo ndikhacita mantha napo kumoga mseu! Koma tikhali wakutsimikiza kuyenda ku Libéria napo kuti kucita bzimwebzi kungadaikha moyo wathu pa ngozi.

Paul: Inepano na Anne tidabadwira ku mbuto kubodzi- bodzi komwe ni kumadokero kwa Inglaterra. Abereki wangu na mai wace wa Anne nthawe zentse akhatilimbikisa kuti ticite upainiya, ndipopa awirife tidayamba kucita upainiya pomwe tidamaliza kupfunza. Iwo adakomedwa kwene-kwene pomwe adadziwa kuti tikhafuna kuphatisa basa moyo wathu kuti ticite utumiki bwa nthawe zentse. Pomwe ndikhana magole 19, ndidakhala na mwayi wakuyenda kukatumikira pa Beteli ndipo Anne adadzatumikirambo pa Beteli pambuyo pa malowozi yathu mu 1982.

Anne: Tikhakomedwa kwene-kwene ku Beteli, tsono tikhafunisisa kukatumikira komwe kukhafunikira apalizi azinji. Kuphata basa pabodzi na abale na mpfumakazi ku Beteli omwe adatumikira ninga amisiyonario na kuwona ciratizo cawo cabwino bzidacitisa kuti tifunembo kukhala amisiyonario. Kwa magole matatu usiku buli-bwentse tikhapemba kwa Yahova bza cikhumbo comwe tikhanacoci cakukhala amisiyonario. Ndipo mu 1985 tidatambira mcemo wakuti tiyende ku Xikola ya Jileyade, ticikapfunza turma 79! Pomwe tidamala kupfunza xikolayo, tidauzidwa kuti tikatumikire ku Libéria, Kumadokero kwa África.

Paul: Tidapakira ndeke yakuyamba yomwe ikhayenda ku Libéria. Pomwe tidafika, tidawona kuti wanthu akhana mantha kwene-kwene ndipo akhacoka lini pa mui. Wanthuwo akhana mantha kwene-kwene mwakuti karo ikandolira ayai ikandocita baludya iwo akhakuwa aciyamba kuthawa. Kuti tikhale wakugwa mpfuwa tidawerenga mbali za Salimo usiku bwentse. Tsono tikhafuna kwene-kwene utumiki bwathu.  Anne akhali misiyonario ndipo akhambapalizira nthawe zentse, ndipo ine ndikhaphata basa pa Beteli pabodzi na m’bale John Charuk. Ndidapfunza bzinthu bzizinji na iye thangwe ra kuti iye akhadakhala ku Libéria kwa magole mazinji ndipo akhayadziwa bwino mabvuto yomwe abale na mpfumakazi akhagumana nayo.

Anne: N’ciyani comwe cidaticitisa kuti tikufune kwene-kwene ku Libéria? Comwe cidaticitisa ni abale na mpfumakazi zathu. Iwo adatilatiza lufoyi ndipo akhali wakukhulupirika. Tidabverana nawo kwene-kwene ndipo tidakhala pa uxamwali bwakulimba na iwo mwakuti adakhala banja lathu lipsa. Iwo akhatipasa malango yabwino ndipo akhambatilimbikisa. Ndipo kucita basa lakupalizira kukhakhala kwakudekeza kwene-kwene. Wanthu akhakomedwa lini tikasaya kukhalisa ku mui kwawo! Wanthu akhambacita mibvunzo ya m’Bibliya ku mbuto iri-yentse. Bzikhakhala bzakupusa kwene-kwene kuyamba kuceza nawo. Tikhana mapfunziro ya Bibliya mazinji kwene-kwene mwakuti bzikhakhala bzakunesa kupfunza na wentsenewo. Likhali gawo labwino kwene-kwene!

Paul: Kwa magole manai bzinthu bzikhali bwino m’dzikolo ndipo mukhana mtendere. Tsono mu gole la 1989 bzinthu bzidacinja. Kudayamba kucitika nkhondo. Pa 2 Julho gole la 1990, wale omwe akhamenyana na boma adakunda mbuto inango yomwe ikhali pafupi na Beteli. Thangwe ra bzimwebzo, kwa minyezi mitatu bzidakhala bzakunesa kuceza na wanthu winango ayai kuwaligaliri, kuphatanidzambo wanthu wa m’banja mwathu na abale wa likulu lathu la pa dziko lentse. Kukhacitika ciwembo na bzinthu bzakuipa pa mbuto iri-yentse. Cakudya cikhali cing’ono-ng’ono ndipo akazi azinji akhapswithidwa. Mabvuto yamweya yadamala magole 14.

Anne: Wanthu wa madzinza manango akhamenyana na kuphana na wanthu wa m’madzinza manango. Mu mseu mwentse mukhana acikunda. Iwo akhana nfuti zizinji, bzakubvala bzawo bzikhali bzakupasa mantha ndipo akhambayenda ku mui uli-wentse acikatenga bzomwe akhafuna. Kwa winango wa iwo kupha wanthu “kukhali ninga kupha nkhuku.” Acikundawo adafunga miseu kuti akwanise kumbaphata wanthu. Ndipo kazinji-kazinji wale omwe akhapita na mu mseumo akhaphedwa. Pambuyo pa kuwapha, akhambawalongedza mudwi ndipo bzimwebzi bzidacitikambo pafupi na Beteli. Abale azinji wakukhulupirika adaphedwa kuphatanidzambo amisiyonario awiri omwe tikhawafuna kwene-kwene.

Acikundawa akagumana na wanthu omwe mbadzinza wa gulu lomwe akhamenyana nalolo akhawapha. Abale na mpfumakazi adaikha moyo wawo pa ngozi kuti abise abale na mpfumakazi omwe akhali wa madzinza yamweya na kuwakhotcerera. Amisiyonario na abale omwe akhatumikira pa Beteli adacitambo bzibodzi-bodzibzi. Pakuti tikhakhala mu prediyo ku Beteli, abale winango omwe akhathawa akhambakhala m’makwartu yomwe yakhali pantsi ndipo ifepano tikhambakhala na abale winango m’makwartu yomwe yakhali m’dzaulu mwa prediyoyo. Mu kwartu mwathu tikhakhala na wanthu wakukwana 7.

Paul: Ntsiku iri-yentse acikundawo akhambabwera ku Beteli kuti adzawone penu tikubisa wanthu. Bzimwebzi bzikacitika, awiri wa ifepano akhambayenda kuti akaceze na acikundawo. Ndipo winango awiri akhambasonzokera  na pa janera. Manja ya abale omwe akhalewalewa na acikundawo yakakhala yali kutsogolo bzikhalatiza kuti bzentse bziri bwino. Tsono manja yawo yakakhala yali kumbuyo bzikhalatiza kuti acikundawo akalipa kwene-kwene, ndipo wale omwe akhasonzokera na pa janera akhathamanga acikabisa abale wathu.

Anne: Pambuyo pa sumana zizinji acikunda winango wa ukali adakwanisa kupita ku Beteliko. Inepano na mpfumakazi inango tidabzifungira mu kazadebanyo ndipo m’mwemo mukhana kambuto kanango komwe kakhali kakubisika. Mpfumakazi yomwe ndikhanayoyo idabisala m’kambuto kamweko. Acikundawo adanditewera ndipo akhana nfuti. Iwo adamenya msuwo wathu mwaukali. Paul adayezera kuwakhotca mwa kuwauza kuti: “Mkazangu ali m’kazadebanyo.” Pomwe ndikhayezera kuti ndifunge ka mbuto komwe mpfumakaziyo ikhadabisalirako ndidacita baludya, ndidampswikha-mpswikha pa mbutoyo ndipo bzimwebzi bzidacitisa kuti ndicedwe. Ndikhana citsimikizo centse cakuti pinango acikundawo akhabzibvunza kuti n’ciyani comwe ndikhacita m’mwemo. Ndipo bzimwebzi bzidandicitisa kuti ndicite mantha kwene-kwene mwakuti ndidayamba kutetemera. Pakuti inepano ndikhatetemera, cakuyamba ndidawona kuti ndikhafunika kukhala wakugwa mpfuwa. Tsono ciyani comwe ningadacita? Ndidapemba kwa Yahova kuti andithandize. Patsogolo pace ndidafungula msuwo ndipo mwakugwa mpfuwa ndidawamusa. M’bodzi wa iwo adandigwinya acipita m’kazadebanyomo aciyamba kufusa-fusa bzentse. Pomwe iye alibe kugumana munthu ali-wentse alibe kukhulupira. Iye pabodzi na anzace adanyang’ana m’makwartu mwentse pabodzi na m’dzaulu. Tsono iwo alibe kugumana cinthu basi.

Paul: Kwa minyezi mizinji tikhalibe cakudya cakukwanira. Kazinji-kazinji ifepano tikhadya lini matabitcu. Tsono vesi la ntsiku lomwe tikhacita ku Beteli likhakhala ninga “cakudya cathu.” Tentsenefe tikhadziwa kuti kuwerenga Bibliya na kupfunza bzingadatithandiza kuti tikhale wakulimba ticikwanisa kupirira mabvuto yomwe tikhagumana nayo.

Tikhadziwa kuti tingadacoka kuti tikanyang’ane cakudya na madzi tingadakwanisa lini kukhotcerera wale omwe tikhadawabisa. Ndipo bzimwebzi bzingadacitisa kuti iwo aphedwe. Kazinji-kazinji Yahova akhatipasa bzomwe tikhafunikira pa nthawe yomwe ifepano tikhafunikira bzinthubzo ndipo iye akhacita bzimwebzo mu njira yakudabwisa! Yahova adatipasa bzomwe tikhafunikira ndipo adatithandiza kuti tikhale wakugwa mpfuwa.

Bzinthu bzidafika pa kuipiratu mu dzikolo, tsono cadidi cidapasa wanthu mphanvu. Abale adathawa kazinji-kentse kuti apulumuse moyo wawo, tsono napo bziri tenepo akhapitiriza kukhala na cikhulupiro cakulimba na kupitirizambo kukhala wakugwa mpfuwa napo kuti akhagumana na mabvuto mazinji. Abale winango adalewa kuti kulimbana na mabvuto yamweyale kukhali ninga “kukonzekera citsautso cikulu.” Akulu wa gwere na maswaka manango adacita bzomwe angakwanise kuti athandize abale na mpfumakazi. Abale na mpfumakazi omwe akhathawira ku mbuto zinango akhathandizana ndipo akhayamba kupalizira ku mbuto komwe akhathawirako. Iwo akhaphatisa basa cinthu ciri-centse comwe akhagumana m’thengomo kuti amangire Nyumba ya Umambo acitsonkhana. Pa nthawe zakunesa zire, kuyenda ku mitsonkhano na kupalizira wanthu winango kudathandiza kuti abalewo akhale na cidikhiro ndipo bzimwebzi bzidawalimbikisambo kwene-kwene. Pomwe tikhagawanisa cakudya, bzakubvala na bzinango, abale azinji akhambakumbira mapasta m’mbuto mwa bzakubvala. Bzimwebzi bzidatilimbikisa kwene-kwene! Wanthu azinji omwe akhagumana na mabvuto thangwe ra nkhondoyo akhatetekera mafala ya Mulungu. Iwo akhadabwa kwene-kwene pomwe akhawona momwe Mboni za  Yahova zikhacitira bzinthu. Abale na mpfumakazi akhali ninga ceza mu mdima! (Mateu 5:14-16) Thangwe ra kuwona nyongo yomwe abale akhacita, acikunda winango adapfunzambo cadidi acibatizidwa.

Paul: Nthawe zinango tikhambacoka ku Libéria. Pa maulendo matatu tidacoka mu kanthawe kakucepa ticibwerera ndipo kawiri ticimala gole lentse tiri kunja kwa dzikolo. Mpfumakazi inango yomwe ikhali misiyonario idafotokoza bwino momwe tikhabvera pomwe tikhacoka mu dzikolo mwakulewa kuti: “Ku Xikola ya Jileyade adatipfunzisa kuti pa utumiki bwathu tikhafunika kufuna abale na mpfumakazi na mtima wentse. Ndipo ndibzo bzomwe ifepano tidacita. Ndipopa pomwe tidasiyana abale na mpfumakazi zathu pa nthawe zakunesa tidasunama kwene-kwene!” Tsono tidakomedwa kwene-kwene thangwe tidapitiriza kuthandiza abale na mpfumakazi wa ku Libéria pa basa lakupalizira napo kuti tikhakhala mu dziko linango.

Anne: Mu gole la 1996, anai wa ifepano tidacoka na karo ya ku Beteli, ndipo tikhana masamba mazinji yakufunika yomwe yakhalewa bza basa lomwe likhacitika ku Libéria. Tikhafuna kuyenda ku m’mbuto inango yakukhotcerereka ndipo kuti tifike ku mbuto imweyo, tikhafunika kufamba makilometro 16. Pomwe tidafamba pang’ono na karoyo, acikunda adafika mu ka mzinda komwe tikhakhalako. Acikunda omwe akhana ukali adaliza nfuti dzaulu aciimisa karoyo ndipo adabulusa atatu wa ifepano m’karomo acisiya Paul basi. Patsogolo pace, acikundawo adatenga karoyo na Paul. Tidacita mantha kwene-kwene. Mwadzidzidzi tidandowona Paul akubwera komwe tikhaliko ndipo mu msolo mwace mukhacoka mulopa. Pakuyamba ifepano tikhakumbuka kuti waliziridwa nfuti, tsono tidazindikira kuti bzikhali lini tenepoyo thangwe bzingadakhala kuti iye waliziridwadi nfuti angadakwanisa lini kufamba! Mcikunda m’bodzi adamumenya pomwe akhamubulusa m’karomo. Tsono bzakudekeza mpsakuti iye alibe kukwetekeka kwene-kwene.

Pakhana karo inango ya acikunda yomwe ikhadadzala na wanthu omwe akhacita mantha ndipo karoyo ikhafuna kuyenda. Tikhafunambo kupakira m’karomo. Tsono pakuti mukhalibe mbuto tidacita kukadambirira. Munthu omwe akhafambisa karoyo adayamba kuthamangisa kwene-kwene mwakuti tikhadasala pang’ono kugwa. Tidakuwa ticimukumbira kuti aimise karoyo, tsono iye akhana mantha kucita bzimwebzi. Tidaphatirira kuti tileke kugwa, tsono pomwe karoyo idafika komwe ikhayenda ifepano tikhadaneta kwene-kwene kuphatirirako ndipo tikhatetemera.

Paul: Pomwe tidanyang’anisana tidawona kuti tikhadapswipa kwene-kwene ndipo tiribe kukhulupira kuti tikana moyo. Pafupi na pomwe tikhalipo pakhana elikopito omwe akhadaboledwa na mabala ndipo akhawoneka ninga kuti angadambuluka lini bwino-bwino. Tsono elikopitoyo ndiye omwe angadatinyamula kuti tiyende ku Serra Leoa mangwana yanzace. Ndipopa tidagona pafupi na elikopitoyo. Pomwe tidafika ku Serra Leoa tidakomedwa kwene-kwene thangwe rakuti tikhana moyo, tsono tikhacita thupo na abale na mpfumakazi zathu za ku Libéria.

Anne: Tidafika wakukhotcerereka ku Beteli mu mzinda wa Freetown ku Serra Leoa, ndipo kumweko abale adatisamalira bwino kwene-kwene. Tsono mwadzidzidzi ndikhambayamba kukumbukira bzinthu bzakuipa bzomwe bzidacitika ku Libéria. Ntsiku iri-yentse ndikhambakhala na mantha kuti cinthu cakuipa cingadacitika, ndipo bzimwebzi bzikhandicitisa kuti ndileke kukumbuka bwino-bwino. Bzinthu bzentse bzomwe ndikhabziwona ndikhabziwona ninga kuti mpsacadidi lini. Ndikhambamuka usiku ndikutetemera na kucita mantha kuti cinthu cakuipa cingadacitika. Bzikhandinesa kuti ndipume bwino-bwino. Paul adaphata manja yangu acipemba nande. Tidayamba kuimba nyimbo za Umambo mpaka kutetemerako kudamala. Ndikhakumbuka kuti ndikuyamba kupenga ndipo ningadapitiriza lini kutumikira ninga misiyonario.

Nin’dzayebwa lini bzomwe bzidadzacitika patsogolo pace. Pa sumana ibodzi-bodzi ire tidatambira marevista mawiri. Ibodzi ikhali Mukani! wa 8 Junho, 1996 omwe mkati mwace mukhana nkhani ya msolo wakuti: “Bzomwe Mungacite Mukakhala na Mantha.” Nkhaniyo idandithandiza kubvesesa bzomwe bzikhandicitikira. Ndipo inango ni Ntsanza ya Mulindiri ya 15 Maio, 1996, yomwe ikhana msolo wakuti “Kodi Nyonga Yawo Amaipeza Kuti?” Ntsanza ya Mulindiri imweyi ikhana cithunzi-thunzi ca burbuleta yomwe ikhana thenga libodzi lomwe likhadadzongeka. Ntsanza ya Mulindiri imweyi idatindendemezera na burbuleta yomwe imbapitiriza kumbuluka napo kuti thenga lace lidadzongeka. Ndipo idafotokoza kuti napo tidasunama thangwe ra bzinthu bzakuipa bzomwe bzikucitika pa moyo wathu, Yahova angatithandize kuti tipitirize kuthandizambo wanthu winango. Yahova adandipasa bzomwe ndikhafunikira mwakuphatisa basa marevistaya. (Mateu 24:45) Ndidanyang’ana Ntsanza za Mulindiri zomwe zikhambalewa bza nkhani ibodzi-bodziyi ndipo ndidazikoya pa mbuto ibodzi. Na kupita kwa nthawe, mantha yomwe ndikhanayo yale yadamala.

Paul: Pomwe tidabwerera ku Libéria, tidakomedwa kwene-kwene. Kufika mu gole la 2004 tikhadakwanisa magole 20 tikucita utumiki bwathu. Nkhondo ikhadamala ku Libériako. Mthambi ipsa ikhafuna kumangidwa. Tsono mwadzidzidzi tidapasidwa utumiki bunango.

 Bzimwebzi bzikhali bzakunesa kwene-kwene kwa ifepano. Tikhawafuna kwene-kwene abale na mpfumakazi zathu wa ku Libéria. Iwo akhali ninga famidya yathu ndipo tikhafuna lini kuwasiya. Tsono tidakumbukira momwe Yahova akhadatithandizira kale m’mbuyomu, pomwe tidasiyana na wanthu wa m’banja mwathu ticiyenda ku Xikola ya Jileyade. Ndipopa tidabvuma utumiki bupsabo. Tidauzidwa kuti tikatumikire ku Gana.

Anne: Pomwe tikhacoka ku Libéria tidalira kwene-kwene. Tidadabwa na bzomwe m’bale munango wacikulire na wa nzeru wakucemeredwa Frank adalewa. Iye adati: “Imwepo mun’funika kutiyebwa!” Patsogolo pace, iye adalewa bzomwe akhafuna kuthandauza na mafala yomwe adalewayo pomwe adati: “Tikudziwa kuti imwepo mun’tiyebwa lini, tsono mun’funika kukafuna abale na mpfumakazi wa ku Gana na mtima wanu wentse. Mukucitira Yahova, ndipopa kaciteni bzentse kuti mukathandize abale na mpfumakazi zanu kumweko.” Bzomwe m’baleyu adalewabzi bzidatilimbikisa kwene-kwene kuti tikhale wakukonzeka kukakhala na axamwali wapsa mu dziko lomwe wanthu azinji akhatidziwa lini na komwe bzentse bzikhali bzipsa kwa ifepano.

Paul: Mu nthawe yakucepa tidayamba kufuna kwene-kwene abale na mpfumakazi zathu wa ku Gana. Ku Ganako kukhana Mboni zizinji za Yahova! Tidapfunza bzizinji na kukhulupirika na cikhulupiro cakulimba ca axamwali wathu apsawa. Pambuyo pa kutumikira ku Gana magole 13, cinthu cinango cakudabwisa cidacitika. Tidauzidwa kuti tikatumikire ku mthambi ya Kumabvadzuwa kwa África ku Quênia. N’cadidi kuti tidawasuwa abale na mpfumakazi wa ku Gana na Libéria, tsono bziribe kutinesa kukhala na axamwali wapsa ku Quênia. Ndipo ninga ku Gana na ku Libéria, ku Quênia kuno kuna bzinthu bzizinji bzomwe bzin’funika kucitidwa pa basa lakupalizira.

Anne: Pa moyo wangu ndidagumana na mabvuto yakunesa kwene-kwene, ndipo nthawe zinango ndikhakhala na mantha kwene-kwene. Tikakhala ku mbuto zomwe kukucitika bzinthu bzakuipa bzingaticitise kuti tiduwale ayai tingacite mantha. Ndipo tingadikhirire lini kuti Yahova atikhotcerere ku bzinthu bzentsene. Ndipo napo tsapano ndikabva kulira kwa nfuti, nimbacita mazungu ndipo nimbayamba kutetemera. Tsono ndidapfunza momwe ningaphatisire basa bwino njira zomwe Yahova akhaziphatisa basa kuti atipase mphanvu, ndipo njira inango ikhali abale na mpfumakazi. Ndipo tidakwanisa kuwona kuti tikapitiriza kupfunza, kupemba, kuyenda ku mitsonkhano na kupalizira, Yahova angatithandize kuti tipitirize kumutumikira pa utumiki bomwe tikucitabu.

Paul: Nthawe zinango wanthu ambatibvunza kuti: “Kodi imwepo mumbafuna utumiki bwanu?” Mbuto ingakhale yakudeka, tsono na kupita kwa nthawe bzinthu bzingacinje ndipo mbutoyo icikhala yakugopswa. Tsono, n’ciyani comwe timbacifuna kwene-kwene kuposa mbutoyo? Ni abale na mpfumakazi zathu omwe ambacita mbali ya banja lathu. Napo kuti ndife wa m’mabanja yakusiyana-siyana na wa ku mbuto zakusiyana-siyana. Timbakumbuka na kubva mu njira ibodzi-bodzi pakulewa bza Yahova. Tikhakumbuka kuti tidatumizidwa kuti tikalimbikise abale na mpfumakazi, tsono cadidi n’cakuti ndiwo omwe akhatilimbikisa.

Banja lathu la pa dziko lentse ni cisimbo cakucokera kwa Yahova. Tina abale ku mbuto iri-yentse. Tikacita mbali ya gwere, nthawe zentse timbakhala na banja na mbuto yakukhala. Tina citsimikizo cakuti tikathemba Yahova, iye an’dzatipasa mphanvu kuti tipirire cinthu ciri-centse comwe cicitikeco. — Afilipi 4:13.