Ndikanati kulewa comwe cidadzacitika, lekani ndikuuzeni kuti ndidayamba tani utumiki bwa nthawe zentse.

Ndidabadwa mu 1942 pa ntsuwa yakudeka ya ku Caribe yakucemeredwa Curaçao. Ku mui kwa pai wangu kukhali ku Suriname, koma iwo akhakhala ku Curaçao thangwe ra basa. Mu 1940, iwo adakhala m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova zakuyambirira pa ntsuwa ya Curaçao. a Iwo akhambapfunza nafe Bibliya sumana zentse, napo kuti kucita bzimwebzi kukhali lini kwakupusa. Pomwe ndikhana magole 14, tidayenda kukakhala ku Suriname kuti iwo akafuwe mai wawo omwe akhadakalamba.

Pomwe ndikhali ku Suriname, ndidayamba kucita uxamwali na abale na mpfumakazi omwe akhatumikira Yahova mwakukhulupirika. Inepano na iwo tikhadasiyana magole yakucepa ndipo iwo akhali apainiya wakukhazikika. Ndikhawona kuti iwo akhakomedwa kwene-kwene pomwe akhafotokoza bzinthu bzabwino bzomwe bzikhawacitikira mu utumiki. Mitsonkhano ikamala, inepano na axamwali wangu tikhambaceza nkhani za m’Bibliya uko tidakhala panja ticimbanyang’anisa nyenyezi. Axamwali amwewa adandithandiza kudziwa cinthu cakufunika kwene-kwene pa moyo wangu, ndipo ndidafuna kuphatira basa Yahova. Ndipopa ndidabatizidwa pomwe ndikhana magole 16. Ndipo, pomwe ndidapfitsa magole 18, ndidayamba kucita upainiya bwakukhazikika.

Pomwe ndikhacita upainiya, ndidapfunza bzinthu bzizinji. Ndipo bzinthu bzimwebzi bzidadzandithandiza pomwe ndikhacita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse. Cinthu cakuyamba comwe ndidapfunza ni kufunika kwa kupfunzisa wanthu winango. Pomwe ndidayamba kucita upainiya, m’misiyonario m’bodzi wakucemeredwa Willem van Seijl adalatiza kuti akhambakomedwa nande kwene-kwene. b  Iye adandipfunzisa bzomwe ningacite kuti ndikwanise kucita mabasa yentse ya m’gwere. Pa nthaweyo ndikhadziwa lini kuti bzomwe ndikhapfunzisidwabzo bzingadadzandithandiza kutsogolo. Ndipo gole la mangwana lace, ndidakhala mpainiya wakupambulika, ndipo ndidayamba kumbatsogolera kagrupo kabodzi komwe kakhali ku Suriname. Pomwe ndidakumbukira bzomwe ndidapfunza, ndidakomedwa kwene-kwene! Kuyambira nthawe imweyire nimbacita nyongo kuti nditewezere abale omwe adandipfunzisa wale mwa kumbapfunzisambo anzangu.

Cinthu caciwiri comwe ndidapfunza n’cakuti kukhala na bzinthu bzakucepa na kukhala munthu wakulinganizika kuna phindu kwene-kwene. Kumayambiriro kwa mwezi uli-wentse, inepano na mwanzangu omwe ndikhacita naye pabodzi upainiya bwakupambulika tikhambawoneratu bzinthu bzomwe tin’funika kugula kuti tidye mwezi wantero. Ndipo tikamala, m’bodzi wa ifepano akhacita ulendo butali bwakuyenda ku mzinda kuti akagule bzomwe tikufunabzo. Tikhaphatisa bwino basa kobiri yomwe tikhatambira kuti ireke kumala pomwe mwezi ukanati kumala. Thangwe ingadamala, bzingadakhala bzakunesa kuti pawoneke munthu wakutithandiza. Kuyambira pomwe ndikhali mwana, ndidapfunza kuti kukhala na bzinthu bzakucepa na kukhala munthu wakulinganizika bzingadandithandiza kutumikira Yahova moyo wangu wentse.

Cinthu cacitatu comwe ndidapfunza ni kufunika kwa kupfunzisa wanthu mafala ya Mulungu na cirewedwe cawo cakubadwa naco. Inepano ndikhambalalewa Ciholandeji, Cingerezi, Cipapiamento na Cisranantongo (comwe cimbadziwikambo na dzina lakuti Cisranan) comwe ni cirewedwe comwe wanthu azinji ambalalewa ku Suriname. Tsono pomwe tikhapalizira m’mii ya m’thengo ire, ndikhawona kuti wanthu akhafuna kubva tikalalewa nawo mu cirewedwe cawo cakubadwa naco. Bzikhandinesa kulalewa bzirewedwe bzinango ndipo cibodzi mwa bzirewedwe bzomwe bzikhandinesabzo ni Cisaramakan, thangwe mu cirewedwe cimweci nthawe zinango umbafunika kukuwa ndipo nthawe zinango umbafunika kugwesa fala. Koma ndidacita nyongo kuti ndicidziwe. Ndidakwanisa kupfunzisa wanthu azinji cadidi ca m’Bibliya thangwe ndikhalalewa cirewedwe cawo.

Tsono nthawe zinango, ndikhalewa bzinthu bzomwe ndibzo lini ndipo ndikhacita manyazi. Ndikukumbukira kuti ntsiku ibodzi ndikhamusana na nyakupfunza wangu wa Bibliya. Ndipo ndidamubvunza kuti iye ali tani thangwe iye akhamonyiwa. Tsono mwakusaya kudziwa, ndidamubvunza penu iye ana pathupi! Bzikuwonekeratu kuti iye alibe kukomedwa na mbvunzo wanguyo. Tsono napo kuti ndikhaphonya, nthawe zentse ndikhacita nyongo kuti ndipalizire wanthu mu cirewedwe cawo cakubadwa naco.

Mu 1970, ndidauzidwa kuti ndikhale nyakunyang’anira dera. Ndipo ndikhambawonesa abale wa m’magrupo programa yakuti “Kuzungira Likulu la pa Dziko Lentse la Mboni za Yahova.” Kuti ndikwanise kufikira abale azinji, ndikhambacita ulendo na barko. Ndipo m’barkomo tikhambapakiza  motori, gazolina, malampada na mitcini yomwe tikhaphatisa basa pa kuwonesa programayo. Tikabuluka m’barkomo, tikhambanyamula bzentsenebzi mpaka komwe tin’kawonesa programayo. Cinthu cikulu comwe ndikukumbukira pa maulendo yomwe tikhacitaya, n’cakuti wanthu akhafuna kwene-kwene kuwona programayi. Ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene thangwe ra kuthandiza wanthu kupfunza bza Yahova na kudziwa gulu lace la pa dziko la pantsi. Mabaibai yentse yomwe ndidatambira yadaposa nyongo yentse yomwe ndidacita pakutumikira Yahova.

Kukhala khowa kukhandipasa mpata wakucita bzizinji mu utumiki, koma ndidawona kuti bzingadakhala bwino kukhala na mwanzangu. Ndipopa ndidayamba kupemba kwa Yahova kuti andithandize kugumana mkazi omwe angadakwanisa kucita nande utumiki komwe ndikhatumikira kule. Pomwe padapita gole libodzi, ndidayamba kucita umakhadzi na Ethel, omwe akhali mpainiya wakupambulika wakubzipereka kwene-kwene. Kuyambira pomwe akhali mwana, Ethel akhakomedwa kwene-kwene na mpostolo Paulo, ndipo akhafuna kumutewezera pa kucita utumiki. Ifepano tidalowolana mu Setembro, 1971, ndipo tidapitiriza kumbazungira magwere.

Ethel alibe kukulira pa banja lakudala, ndipopa bziribe kumunesa kuzolowera moyo wa kumbazungira magwere ya m’thengo. Ndipo pomwe tikhakonzekera kuti tikazungire magwere, ifepano tikhambanyamula bzinthu bzakucepa. Tikhambafula na kusamba mu mkulo. Ndipo tikhambadyambo cakudya ciri-centse comwe abale akhambatiphikira. Iwo akhambatiphikira nyama ya tulombo twakucemeredwa iguanas, ntsomba zakucemeredwa piranhas, ayai cinthu ciri-centse comwe iwo akhaphata m’thengo ayai kumedza mu mkulo. Akakhala kuti alibe mapalato, ifepano tikhadyera pa masamba ya mibanana. Ndipo akakhala kuti alibe makudyeri, tikhambadya na manja. Inepano na Ethel tikhawona kuti kutumikira pabodzi Yahova kukhacitisa kuti tibverane  kwene-kwene ninga cingwe cakuposedwa na bzingwe bzitatu. (Mpalizi 4:12) Ndipo timbawona kuti bzimwebzi mpsabwino kwene-kwene!

Ntsiku ibodzi pomwe tikhacoka kukazungira abale winango omwe akhali kwa okha, bzidacitika bzire bzomwe ndafotokoza kumayambiriro kwa nkhani yanguyi. Pomwe tikhayambuka madzi na barko, barkolo lidagudza mwala ndipo lidadzala madzi. Tsono barkolo liribe kumira ndipo ifepano tikhadabvala kale bzinthu bzomwe bzimbacitisa kuti munthu aleke kumira m’madzi. Tidataya cakudya comwe cikhali m’mapoto ticitenga mapotoyo kuti tikupire madzi yomwe yakhadadzala m’barkomo.

Pakuti tidataya cakudya m’madzi, ifepano tidayamba kumedza. Tsono tiribe kuphata ntsomba ne na ibodziyo. Ndipopa tidapemba kwa Yahova ticimukumbira kuti atipase cakudya ca ntsiku imweyire. Pomwe tidamala kupemba, m’bale m’bodzi adamedza cintsomba cikulu, cakuti wanthu axanu tidakwana kudya ticikhuta.

Pomwe padapita magole maxanu tikuzungira magwere, inepano na Ethel tidatambira mphaso yomwe tikhaidikhirira lini. Ifepano tidakhala na mwana. Ndidakomedwa pomwe ndidadziwa bzimwebzi, tsono ndikhadziwa lini kuti n’ciyani cin’ticitikira. Inepano na Ethel tikhafunisisa kupitiriza kucita utumiki bwathu. Mu 1976, mwana wathu wakucemeredwa Ethniël adabadwa. Ndipo pomwe padapita magole mawiri, padabadwa mwana wathu waciwiri wakucemeredwa Giovanni.

Pa nthawe imweyire ku Suriname kukhafunika anyakunyang’anira dera azinji. Ndipopa mthambi idatibvumiza kuti tipitirize kutumikira uko tikulera wana wathu. Pomwe wana wathu akhakula, tidauzidwa kuti timbazungire magwere yakucepa. Bzimwebzi bzidacitisa kuti pa mwezi nimbacite sumana ziwiri ndikuzungira magwere, sumana ziwiri ndikucita upainiya pa gwere lomwe tikhatumikira. Ndikakhala ndikuzungira magwere yomwe yali pafupi na pa mui pathu, ndikhambayenda na Ethel pabodzi na wana wathu. Koma ndikakhala ndikuzungira magwere yomwe yali kutali, ayai kuyenda kukacitisa mitsonkhano ya dera, ndikhambayenda ndekha.

Ndikhafunika kukonzekera bwino kuti ndikakwanise kucita mabasa yentse. Ndikhawonesesa kuti banja lathu likucita kunamata kwa pa banja sumana zentse. Ndikakhala kuti ndayenda kukazungira magwere, Ethel ndiye akhatsogolera kunamata kwa pa banja. Ndikabwerera, tentse tikhambapfunza pabodzi. Inepano na Ethel tikhambazunga na kusenzeka na wana wathu. Nthawe  zinango, ndikhambacedwa kugona, thangwe ndikhambakonzekera nkhani na bzinthu bzinango bza m’gwere. Ndidakwanisa kuwona kuti Ethel ni mkazi wabwino omwe ambafotokozedwa pa Mimwani 31:15. Iye akhambamuka macibese-bese kuti aphike matabitcu kuti banja lathu likwanise kupfunza vesi la ntsiku pomwe wana wathu akanati kuyenda ku xikola. Nimbatenda kwene-kwene Yahova thangwe ndidagumana mkazi omwe ambandithandiza kucita mabasa yentse yomwe iye adandipasa!

Ifepano tikhacita nyongo yakuthandiza wana wathu kufuna Yahova na kufunambo kumutumikira. Tikhafuna kuti wana wathu akakula adzacite utumiki bwa nthawe zentse. Tsono tikhafuna lini kucita kuwasankhulira bzakucita; tikhafuna kuti iwo asankhule okha kucita utumiki bumwebu. Nthawe zentse tikhawathandiza kubvesesa kuti munthu akacita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse ambakhala wakukondwa. Tikhawauza mabvuto yomwe tikhagumana nayo pa kucita utumikibu, na momwe Yahova adathandizira banja lathu na kutisimba. Ndipo tikhawathandizambo kukhala na axamwali omwe ambafuna kwene-kwene kutumikira Yahova.

Yahova akhatipasa bzentse bzomwe tikhafunikira pa kulera wana wathu. N’cadidi kuti ndikhafunika kucita nyongo. Bzomwe ndidapfunza pomwe ndidacita upainiya bwakupambulika bzidandithandiza kuwona kufunika kwa kumbakoya kobiri. Tsono nthawe zinango, bzikhatinesa kugumana bzinthu bzomwe tikhafuna. Pa nthawe ibodzi tidacita kuwoneratu kuti Yahova ndiye omwe akhatithandiza. Ndikulewa tenepoyo thangwe kuyambira mu gole la 1986 mpaka mu gole la 1992, kukhacitika nkhondo ku Suriname. M’magole yamweya bzikhanesa kugumana bzinthu kumweko. Koma Yahova adapitiriza kutithandiza. — Mateu 6:32.

Pa moyo wangu wentse ndakwanisa kuwona kuti Yahova akhatithandiza pa bzentse na kutithandiza kukhala na mpfatso caiwo. Wana wathu ni mphaso yakucokera kwa Yahova, ndipo udakhala mwayi ukulu kwa ifepano kuwapfunzisa kuti adzatumikire Yahova. Ifepano timbakomedwa thangwe rakuti iwo adasankhulambo kucita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse. Ethniël na Giovanni adapita kale maxikola ya utumiki ndipo tsapano akutumikira pa Beteli ya ku Suriname na azikazawo.

Inepano na Ethel takalamba, koma tikadapitiriza kucita bzizinji pa basa la Yahova. Ndipo ndife apainiya wakupambulika. Ifepano tina bzizinji bzakucita mwakuti tiribe nthawe yakuti tipfunzire kuyantca! Tsono nimbakhumbula lini. Ndikakumbukira bzomwe ndidasankhula kucita pomwe ndikhali tswaka, nimbawona kuti ndidacita bwino kusankhula kucita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse.