Ndidabadwa mu gole la 1948 mu ka mzinda kang’ono kunyantsi kwa dziko la Nigéria. Pa nthawe imweyire, tiu wangu a Moustapha, ang’ono wawo wa pai wangu, pabodzi na m’bale wangu mkulu, Wahabi, adabatizidwa acikhala Mboni za Yahova. Pomwe ndikhana magole 9, pai wangu adasaika. Bzimwebzi bzidandisunamisa kwene-kwene. Wahabi adalewa kuti tingadadzawawona pomwe papá akadzalamusidwa. Mafala yamweya yadanditsangalaza ndipo yadandicitisa kuti ndiyambe kupfunza Bibliya. Ndidabatizidwa mu gole la 1963. Patsogolo pace, abale wangu atatu adadzabatizidwambo.

Mu gole la 1965, ndidayenda kukakhala na m’bale wangu mkulu Wilson ku mzinda wa Lagos ndipo kumweko ndidadziwanambo na abale winango omwe akhali apainiya wakukhazikika mu Gwere la Igbobi. Cikondweso cawo na nyongo yawo bzidacitisa kuti mu Janeiro 1968 ndiyambembo kucita upainiya.

M’bale Albert Olugbebi, omwe akhatumikira pa Beteli, adacitisa mtsonkhano wa maswaka omwe ukhafotokoza bza kufunika kwa apainiya wakupambulika ku norte kwa Nigéria. Ndikadakumbukira mafala yabwino yomwe M’bale Olugbebi adalewa. Iye adati: “Iwepo ndiwe tswaka, ndipo ungaphatise basa nthawe yako na mphanvu zako pakutumikira Yahova. Pana basa lizinji lomwe ungacite kumweko!”  Pakufuna kutewezera mzimu wakubzipereka wa mpolofeta Zaiya, ndidatumiza petição. — Zaiya 6:8.

Mu Maio, gole la 1968, Ndidauzidwa kuti ndikatumikire ninga mpainiya wakupambulika mu mzinda wa Kano, kumadokero kwa Nigéria. Bzimwebzi bzidacitika pa nthawe yomwe kumweko kukhacitika nkhondo (1967-1970). Nkhondoyo idadzonga kwene-kwene ndipo kudaphedwa wanthu azinji pomwe nkhondoyo ikhanati kufika kumabvadzuwa kwa Nigéria. M’bale munango omwe akhacita nande thupo adandiuza kuti ndileke kuyenda. Tsono inepano ndidamutawira kuti: “Ndikutenda kwene-kwene na thupo lanu. Tsono penu Yahova akufuna kuti ndikatumikire kumweko, ndikupenukira lini kuti iye an’dzakhala nande.”

Mpsakupasa ntsisi kwene-kwene bzinthu bzomwe bzidacitikira mzinda wa Kano. Nkhondo idadzonga kwene-kwene mzinda umweyo. Nthawe zinango tikakhala tiri mu upalizi, tikhambawona wanthu wakufa. Napo kuti pakuyamba ku Kano kukhana magwere mazinji, abale azinji adathawa. Akhadandosala ni apalizi ang’ono-ng’ono wakukwana 15 ndipo iwo akhana mantha ndipo akhali wakuwofoka. Abalewo adakomedwa kwene-kwene pomwe apainiya wakukwana 6 tidafika kumweko. Ifepano tidawalimbikisa kwene-kwene ndipo iwo adabzibva bwino. Tidawathandiza kuti ayambe pomwe kucita mitsonkhano, kupalizira na kumbacemeresa mabukhu ku mthambi.

Apainiyafe tidayamba kupfunza cirewedwe ca Cihausa. Pakubva mafala yabwino mu cirewedwe cawo, wanthu azinji akhatitetekera. Tsono atsogoleri wa magereja akhakomedwa lini na basa lathu lakupalizira, ndipopa tikhafunika kucita bzinthu mwakucenjera kwene-kwene. Pa nthawe inango, inepano na mwanzangu tidateweredwa na munthu omwe akhana cisu. Bzakukondwesa mpsakuti tidakwanisa kuthawa! Napo kuti tikhagumana na mabvuto yamweya, Yahova adapitiriza “kutikhotcerera” ndipo apalizi akhapitiriza kuthumizirika. (Salimo 4:8) Tsapano, ku Kano kuna apalizi wakupitirira 500 omwe ali m’magwere 11.

Pambuyo pakukhala ku Kano kwa minyezi yakucepa, mu Agosto, 1968, ndidatumizidwa mu mzinda wa Niamey, likulu la dziko la Níger pabodzi na apainiya winango wakupambulika. Pomwe tidafika kumweko  tidazindikira kuti dziko la Níger liri pakati pa madziko yomwe yambapsa kwene-kwene kumadokero kwa África. Tikhafunika kupfunza momwe tingadapalizirira pa nthawe yakupsa na kupfunzambo Cifaransa. Napo kuti tidagumana na mabvuto yamweya, tidathemba Yahova ndipo tidayamba kupalizira ku likulu la dzikolo pabodzi na apalizi winango omwe akhakhala kumweko. Mu nthawe ing’ono-ng’ono, wanthu azinji wa ku Niamey omwe akhadziwa kuwerenga adatambira bukhu lomwe tikhaliphatisa basa pa kupfunzisa wanthu Bibliya lakuti Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya. Wanthu akhacita kutinyang’ana kuti atambire bukhulo!

Pomwe padapita nthawe pang’ono, tidazindikira kuti boma la kumweko likhakomedwa lini na Mboni za Yahova. Mu Julho, 1969, tidatsonkhana kuti ticite mtsonkhano wa dera wakuyamba mu dzikolo, ndipo wanthu omwe adagumanika akhalipo 20. Tikhafunisisa kuwona kubatizidwa kwa anyakupfunza awiri. Tsono pa ntsiku yakuyamba ya mtsonkhanoyo mapolisiya yadabwera yaciimisa mtsonkhanoyo. Iwo adatenga apainiya wakupambulika pabodzi na nyakunyang’anira dera aciwayendesa ku esquadra. Pomwe adamala kutibvunza, adatiuza kuti tibwerere pomwe mangwana yace. Pomwe tidazindikira kuti bomalo lingadatibweresera mabvuto, tidacinja mbuto yakucitira mtsonkhanoyo, tidakacitira mtsonkhanoyo ku nyumba inango ndipo wanthu omwe akhafuna kubatizidwawo, adakabatizidwira ku mkulo.

Pomwe padapita sumana zing’ono-ng’ono, boma la kumweko lidauza inepano pabodzi na apainiya winango kuti ticoke ku Níger. Iwo adatipasa ntsiku ziwiri basi kuti ticoke mu dzikolo, ndipo tikhafunikira kucita makonzedwe yathu-yathu. Tidabvera, ndipo tidacoka ticiyenda ku mthambi ya ku Nigéria, komwe tidakatambira utumiki bupsa.

Ndidauzidwa kuti ndiyende kukatumikira ku mudzi wakucemeredwa Orisunbare, kumweko basa lakupalizira likhafamba bwino kwene-kwene pabodzi na kagrupo ka apalizi wa kumweko. Pomwe padapita minyezi 6, mthambi idandiuza kuti ndibwerere pomwe ndekha ku Níger. Pambuyo pa kudabwa na kucita thupo pang’ono, inepano ndikhafunisisa kukawonana pomwe na abale wa ku Níger!

Ndidabwerera pomwe ku Niamey. Pomwe ndidafika, munthu munango wakucita malonda wa ku Nigéria adazindikira kuti ndikhali Mboni ya Yahova, ndipo adayamba kundicita mibvunzo mizinji yakulewa bza Bibliya. Ndidapfunza naye Bibliya. Ndipo pomwe iye adasiya kufumali na kumwa kwene-kwene, adabatizidwa. Ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene kupalizira pabodzi na abale na mpfumakazi m’mphimpha zakusiyana-siyana za ku Níger, na kuwonambo momwe wanthu akhayendera patsogolo mwauzimu. Pomwe ndidafika, mu dzikolo mukhana Mboni za Yahova zakukwana 31. Tsono pomwe ndidacoka mukhana Mboni za Yahova zakukwana 69.

Kuphampha kwa gole la 1977, ndidabwerera ku Nigéria kuti ndikatambire mapfunziro manango. Mapfunziroyo yadamala sumana zitatu, ndipo patsogolo pace mbveranisi wa Komiti ya Mthambi  wakucemeredwa Malcolm Vigo adandiuza kuti ndiwerenge karta yomwe ikhadacokera ku mthambi ya ku Serra Leoa. Abale kumweko akhafuna m’bale omwe akhali mpainiya, wa thanzi labwino, wakusaya kulowola na omwe akhalalewa bwino Cingerezi ca Cifaransa kuti akatumikire ninga nyakunyang’anira dera ku Guiné. M’bale Vigo adandiuza kuti inepano ndikhapfunzisidwa kuti ndikacite utumikibo. Iye adandifotokozera kuti basalo lingadakhala lini lakupusa, mwakulewa kuti: “Kumbuka bwino ukanati kubvuma.” Inepano ndidamutawira kuti: “Pakuti ni Yahova omwe akunditumayo, inepano ndiniyenda.”

Ndidayenda ku Serra Leoa, ndipo ndidakagumana na abale wa ku mthambi. M’bodzi mwa abale omwe akhatumikira mu komiti ya mthambi adandiuza kuti: “Timbadziwa lini bzizinji bza basa lakupalizira ku Guiné.” Napo kuti abale wa mthambi ya ku Serra Leoa adauzidwa kuti ambatsogolere basa lakupalizira ku Guiné, iwo akhakwanisa lini kucezerana na apalizi wa ku Guinéko thangwe boma likhacitisa kuti pakhale na mabvuto mazinji. Abalewo adayezera kazinji-kentse kutumiza m’bale ku Guiné, koma bzikhakwanisika lini. Ndipopa ndidauzidwa kuti ndiyende ku likulu la Guiné, ku Conacri, kuti ndikakumbire kukhala mu dzikolo.

Pomwe ndidafika ku Conacri, ndidayenda kukawonana na muimikiri wa dziko la Nigéria kumweko. Ndidamuuza kuti ndikhafunisisa kupalizira ku Guiné. Iye adandiuza kuti ndileke kukhala kumweko thangwe ningadaikha moyo wangu pa ngozi ayai ningadaikhidwa m’kawoko. Iye adandiuza kuti: “Bwerera ku Nigéria, ndipo kapalizire kumweko.” Ine ndidamutawira kuti: “Inepano ndikufuna kukhala kumwekuno.” Tenepo, iye adanemba karta aciuza boma la Guiné kuti lindithandize, ndipo bomalo lidanditambira bwino.

Boma lidandibvumiza kukhala ku Guiné! Patsogolo pace, ndidabwerera ku mthambi ya ku Serra Leoa ndipo ndidawafotokozera abale bzimwebzo. Abalewo adakomedwa kwene-kwene pomwe adadziwa momwe Yahova akhadasimbira ulendo bwangu.

Mu gole la 1978 mpaka 1989, ndidatumikira ninga nyakunyang’anira dera ku Guiné, Serra Leoa ndipo ndidatumikirambo ninga wakuimira nyakunyang’anira dera ku Libéria. Pakuyamba inepano ndikhaduwala-duwala. Kazinji-kazinji bzimwebzi bzikhandicitikira ku mbuto komwe nyumba za ulapi zikhali lini pafupi. Tsono abale akhacita bziri bzentse bzomwe angadakwanisa kuti andiyendese ku nyumba ya ulapi.

Pa nthawe inango, inepano ndidaduwala kwene-kwene malária. Tsono pomwe ndidalimba, ndidadziwa kuti abale akhakumbuka kuti ningadafa ndipo akhacezerana bza komwe angadakanditaya. Napo kuti ndidagumana na mabvuto yentseneya, ndiribe kusiya kucita utumiki bwangu. Ndipo ndina citsimikizo cakuti Mulungu ndiye omwe angatikhotcerere bzacadidi, thangwe iye ana mphanvu ya kulamusa anyakufa.

Mu gole la 1988, ndidadziwana na Dorcas, mpainiya wakubzicepesa omwe akhafuna kwene-kwene Yahova. Ifepano tidalowolana, ndipo tidapitiriza kucita utumiki bwathu bwa kuzungira magwere. Dorcas adaphata basa mwanyongo kwene-kwene pabodzi na inepano mu utumiki bwathu, ndipo iye akhali wakukonzeka kucita ciri-centse pa kutumikira  Yahova. Tikhafamba pabodzi mtantho wa makilometro 25 ticiyenda ku magwere uko tidanyamula mitolo yathu. Kuna magwere yomwe yakhali yakutali, tikhambapakira ciri-centse comwe tikhambagumanaco ticicita ulendobo m’miseu yomwe ikhali yakudzongeka-dzongeka.

Dorcas ngwakukhwimika. Nthawe zinango tikhambafunika kuyambuka m’madzi yomwe yakhana anyakhoko. Pa nthawe inango, pambuyo pakucita ulendo bwa ntsiku zixanu, tidafika panango pomwe ponti ikhadadzongeka ndipo tikhafunikira kupakira mwadiya. Pomwe Dorcas adaima kuti abule m’mwadiyamo, adagwera m’madzi yakuzika. Palibe m’bodzi wa ifepano omwe akhadziwa kuyantca. Ndipo m’madzi mule mukhana anyakhoko. Bzakudekeza mpsakuti maswaka manango yadapita m’madzimo yacimunula. Bzimwebzi bzikhaticitisa kuti titaze kugona usiku. Koma tidapitiriza kucita utumiki bwathu.

Kumayambiriro kwa gole la 1992, tidadabwa kwene-kwene pomwe tidadziwa kuti Dorcas akhana pathupi. Kodi bzimwebzi bzidacitisa kuti utumiki bwathu bumale? Ifepano tidakumbuka kuti: “Imweyi ni mphaso ya Yahova!” Ndipopa, mwanayo tidamupasa dzina lakuti Jahgift, kuthandauza mphaso ya Yahova. Pomwe padapita magole manai pambuyo pa mwana wathu wacikazi Jahgift kubadwa, m’bale wace, Eric, adadzabadwambo. Wana awiriwa adakhaladi mphaso yakucokera kwa Yahova. Jahgift adatumikira pa cipinda cakusandulizira ku Conacri, ndipo Eric ni mtumiki wakuthandiza.

Napo kuti Dorcas adasiya kukhala mpainiya wakupambulika, iye adapitiriza kukhala mpainiya wakukhazikika napo kuti akhasamalira wana wathu. Na thandizo la Yahova, ndidapitiriza kucita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse. Pomwe wana wathu adakula, Dorcas adayamba pomwe kutumikira ninga mpainiya wakupambulika. Tsapano awirife tikutumikira ninga amisiyonario ku Conacri.

Nthawe zentse nimbayenda komwe Yahova ambandiuza. Kazinji-kentse, inepano na mkazangu timbakwanisa kuwona kuti iye akutikhotcerera na kutisimba. Thangwe ra kuthemba Yahova sikuti bzinthu bzakuthupi, tidatcenkha kugumana na mabvuto na kukhalambo na thupo. Inepano na mkazangu, Dorcas, tidapfunza kuti Munthu omwe angatikhotcerere bzacadidi ni “Mulungu wa cipulumuso cathu,” Yahova. (1 Nkhani 16:35) Ndina citsimikizo centse cakuti iye ‘an’dzakhotcerera moyo wa wale wentse omwe ambamuthemba na kuukoya mu budu lace la moyo.’ — 1 Samuyeli 25:29.