INE ndi Gwen tinayamba kuphunzila kuvina tili ndi zaka zisanu. Nthawi imeneyo tinali tisanadziŵane. Koma pamene tonse tinali kukula, tinali kufunitsitsa kuti kuvina kudzakhale nchito yathu. Titapita patsogolo kwambili ndi nchito yovina, tinaganiza zoleka nchitoyo. N’ciani cinacititsa kuti tipange cosankha cimeneco?

David: Ndinabadwa m’caka ca 1945, m’dziko la Shropshire, ku England. Atate anali ndi famu kudela linalake la kumidzi. Ndikaŵeluka kusukulu, ndinali kukonda kudyesela nkhuku ndi kutola mazila ake, komanso kusamalila ng’ombe ndi nkhosa. Panthawi yachuti, ndinali kuthandiza nchito yokolola, ndipo nthawi zina ndinali kuyendetsa matalakita athu.

Komabe, cinthu cina cinayamba kutenga malo paumoyo wanga. Ndikali wamng’ono, atate anga anazindikila kuti ndikangomva nyimbo ikulila ndinali kuvina. Conco, pamene ndinali ndi zaka zisanu, io anauza amai kuti akandilembetse pa sukulu ina yophunzitsa kuvina kudela lathu. Aphunzitsi anga anaona kuti ndinali ndi luso lovina, ndipo anayamba kundiphunzitsa maluso ambili a kavinidwe. Nditafika zaka 15, ndinapata mphoto yondilipilila maphunzilo pa sukulu ina yochuka yophunzitsa kuvina ku London yochedwa The Royal Ballet School. Pa sukuluyi m’pamene ndinadziŵila Gwen, ndipo tinayamba kuvinila limodzi.

Gwen: Ndinabadwa m’caka ca 1944 ku London. Ndikali kamtsikana, ndinali ndi cikhulupililo colimba mwa Mulungu. Ndinali kuŵelenga Baibulo, koma sindinali kulimvetsetsa. Pamene ndinali ndi zaka zisanu, ndinayamba kuphunzila kuvina. Patapita zaka 6, ndinapambana mpikisano waukulu wovina umene tinali nao m’dziko la Britain. Pa mpikisano umenewo, ndinapata mphoto yondilipilila maphunzilo pa sukulu ina yaikulu yophunzitsa kuvina yocedwa The Royal Ballet School. Maphunzilo amenewo anali kucitikila pa nyumba ina yaikulu yocedwa White Lodge, pafupi ndi mzinda wa London. Kumeneko ndinaphunzila maluso ambili a kavinidwe kucokela kwa aphunzitsi apamwamba. Nditafika zaka 16, ndinayamba kucita maphunzilo ovina apamwamba pa sukulu imeneyo. Pa sukuluyi m’pamene ndinadziŵila David. Patapita miyezi yocepa, tinayamba kuvinila limodzi ndi David m’nyumba ina yaikulu yocitilamo maseŵela yochedwa Royal Opera House m’dela la Covent Garden, ku London.

David: Zoonadi, monga mmene Gwen wakambila, zolinga zathu zinaticititsa kukhala ndi mwai wokavinila m’nyumba yaikulu yocitilamo maseŵela ya Royal Opera House (nyumbayo masiku ano imachedwa English National Ballet) komanso kukhala m’gulu lina la ovina lochedwa London Festival Ballet. Mphunzitsi wina wophunzitsa za mavinidwe anakhazikitsa kampani ya zovinavina mumzinda wa Wuppertal, ku  Germany. Iye anasankha ine ndi Gwen kuti tikhale m’gulu lake la ovina. Panthawiyo tinali kuvina m’mabwalo ambili padziko lapansi, ndipo tinali kuvina ndi akatswili ena monga Dame Margot Fonteyn ndi Rudolf Nureyev. Mpikisano umenewu unaticititsa kukhala onyada, ndipo tinadzipeleka kwambili pa nchitoyo.

Gwen: Maganizo anga onse anali pa nchito yovina. Ine ndi David tinali ndi colinga cakuti tikhale akatswili ochuka ovina. Ndinali kukondwela kulemba sigineca yanga pa zinthu za anthu, kulandila maluŵa, ndi kuona anthu akundicemelela. Anthu ambili amene ndinali kuvina nao anali kucita ciwelewele, kusuta fodya, ndi kuledzela, ndipo ine ndinali kudalila zithumwa za mwai mofanana ndi ovina ena.

David: Pambuyo pogwila nchito yovina kwa zaka zambili, ndinatopa ndi umoyo woyendayenda. Popeza kuti ndinakulila pa famu, ndinayamba kulakalaka umoyo wosalila zambili wa kumudzi. Conco, mu 1967, ndinaleka nchito yovina, ndipo ndinayamba kugwila nchito pa famu ina yaikulu pafupi ndi makolo anga. Mwini famuyo anandilola kucita lendi kanyumba kena kakang’ono. Ndiyeno, ndinatumila foni Gwen ndi kum’funsila cikwati. Iye anali atakwezedwa pa nchito yake yovina. Conco, zinali zovuta kuti apange cosankha. Ngakhale ndi telo, iye anavomela kuti tikwatilane, ndipo titakwatilana tinayamba kukhala kumudzi ngakhale kuti iye anakulila ku tauni.

Gwen: Kukamba zoona, zinali zovuta kuti ndizoloŵele kukhala pa famu. Nchito yokama mkaka ku ng’ombe ndi kudyesela nkhumba ndi nkhuku inali yosiyana ndi nchito yanga yovina. David anali atayamba kosi ya miyezi 9 pa koleji ina ya zaulimi kuti aonjezele maphunzilo ake a zaulimi, ndipo ndinali kukhala wosungulumwa mpaka iye atafika panyumba usiku. Nthawi imeneyo, Gilly, mwana wathu woyamba wamkazi anali atabadwa. David anandilimbikitsa kuphunzila kuyendetsa galimoto, ndipo tsiku lina ndili m’tauni ina yapafupi, ndinaona Gael. Ndinadziŵana naye pamene anali kugwila nchito m’sitolo ina ya pafupi ndi kwathu.

Mokoma mtima, Gael anandipempha kukamwa tiyi kunyumba kwao. Nditapita kumeneko, anandisonyeza zithunzi zao za pa cikwati, inenso ndinam’sonyeza zathu. Koma pa cithunzi cao cina panali gulu la anthu limene linali pa malo ena ochedwa Nyumba ya Ufumu. Ndinam’funsa kuti, ‘kodi cimeneco cinali chalichi cotani?’ Atandiuza kuti iye ndi mwamuna wake ndi a Mboni za Yehova ndinakondwela kwambili. Ndinakumbukila kuti alongo ao ena a atate anali a Mboni. Ndinakumbukilanso mmene atate anali kukwiila ndi kunyansidwa ndi alongo ao amenewo cakuti anali kuwataila mabuku ao motaila zinyalala. Atate anali munthu waubwenzi kwambili,  koma ndinali kudabwa cimene cinali kuwacititsa kukwiila alongo ao amene anali okoma mtima.

Tsopano ndinali ndi mwai wodziŵa kusiyana pakati pa zimene alongo ao a atate anali kukhulupilila ndi za m’machalichi ena. Gael anandionetsa zimene Baibulo limaphunzitsa m’ceniceni. Ndinacita cidwi kudziŵa kuti ziphunzitso zambili monga Utatu ndi kuti mzimu wa munthu sukufa, n’zosagwilizana ndi Malemba. (Mlal. 9:5, 10; Yoh. 14:28; 17:3) Kwa nthawi yoyamba, ndinaonanso dzina la Mulungu lakuti Yehova m’Baibulo.—Eks. 6:3.

David: Gwen anandiuza zimene anali kuphunzila. Ndinakumbukila kuti pamene ndinali mwana atate anandiuza kuti ndiyenela kuŵelenga Baibulo. Conco, ine ndi Gwen tinayamba kuphunzila Baibulo ndi Gael ndiponso mwamuna wake Derrick. Patapita miyezi 6, tinasamukila m’tauni ya Oswestry, m’dela la Shropshire, cifukwa tinali ndi mwai wocita lendi famu yathuyathu yaing’ono. Kumeneko, mlongo wina dzina lake Deirdre anapitiliza kuphunzila nafe Baibulo moleza mtima. Poyamba zinali zovuta kuti tipite patsogolo. Tinali kutangwanika kwambili ndi nchito yosamalila ziŵeto. Koma pang’onopang’ono coonadi cinali kuzika mizu m’mitima yathu.

Gwen: Vuto lalikulu limene ndinali kufunikila kuthetsa linali kukhulupilila zamatsenga. Lemba la Yesaya 65:11 linandithandiza kudziŵa mmene Yehova amaonela anthu amene ‘amayalila tebulo mulungu wa Mwayi.’ Zinanditengela nthawi kuti ndileke kugwilitsila nchito zithumwa za mwai, koma pemphelo linandithandiza. Mfundo yakuti “aliyense wodzikweza adzatsitsidwa, koma aliyense wodzicepetsa adzakwezedwa,” inandithandiza kukhala mtundu wa munthu amene Yehova afuna. (Mat. 23:12) Ndinali kufuna kutumikila Mulungu amene amasamala kwambili za ife, cakuti anapeleka Mwana wake wamtengo wapatali monga dipo. Panthawiyo, tinali ndi mwana wina wamkazi, ndipo zinali zokondweletsa kuphunzila kuti banja lathu lingathe kukhala ndi moyo wamuyaya m’paladaiso padziko lapansi.

David: Nditamvetsetsa kukwanilitsidwa kocititsa cidwi kwa maulosi a m’Baibulo, monga ulosi wa pa Mateyu 24 ndi wa m’buku la Danieli, ndinatsimikiza mtima kuti ici ndico coonadi. Ndinazindikila kuti palibe cinthu cina m’dongosolo lino la zinthu cimene cingapose kukhala paubwenzi wolimba ndi Yehova. Conco, m’kupita kwa nthawi ndinayamba kukhala ndi umoyo wosalila zambili. Ndinazindikila kuti moyo wanga, wa mkazi wanga ndi wa ana anga unali wofunika kuposa zinthu zina. Lemba la Afilipi 2:4 linandithandiza kuti sindiyenela kuganizila kwambili za ine ndekha kapena zokhala ndi famu yaikulu. M’malo mwake, kutumikila Yehova kuyenela kukhala patsogolo pa umoyo wanga. Ndinasiya kusuta fodya. Komabe, zinali zovuta kupita ku misonkhano ya pa Ciŵelu madzulo, popeza unali mtunda wa makilomita 10, ndipo nthawiyo ndi imene tinali kufunika kukama mkaka ku ng’ombe. Ngakhale zinali conco, Gwen anali kundithandiza, ndipo sitinaphonyepo misonkhano, kapena kupita mu ulaliki ndi ana athu m’mawa uliwonse pa Sondo tikatsiliza kukama mkaka ku ng’ombe.

Acibale athu sanakondwele pamene tinakhala a Mboni, cakuti atate ake Gwen anasiya kukamba ndi  Gwen kwa zaka 6. Makolo anga naonso anayesa kutiletsa kugwilizana ndi a Mboni.

Gwen: Yehova anatithandiza kupilila mavutowo. M’kupita kwa nthawi, abale ndi alongo a mumpingo wa Oswestry anakhala ngati banja lathu latsopano cifukwa anali kutithandiza pa mavuto athu mwacikondi. (Luka 18:29, 30) M’caka ca 1972, tinadzipeleka kwa Yehova ndi kubatizidwa. Pofuna kuthandiza anthu ambili kuphunzila coonadi, ndinayamba upainiya.

David: Nchito imene tinali kugwila pa famu yathu kwa zaka zonsezo inali yovuta, koma tinayesetsa kukhala citsanzo cabwino kwa atsikana athu pankhani yolambila Yehova. M’kupita kwa nthawi tinacoka pa famuyo cifukwa boma linasiya kuthandiza alimi. Tinapemphela kwa Yehova kuti atithandize ndi kutitsogolela popeza tinali pa ulova, tinalibe nyumba, ndipo mwana wathu wacitatu anali ndi caka cimodzi. Tinaganiza zogwilitsila nchito luso lathu mwa kutsegula sukulu yophunzitsa kuvina kuti tizisamalila banja lathu. Tinakhala ndi zotsatilapo zabwino cifukwa ca khama lathu loika zinthu za kuuzimu pamalo oyamba. Zosangalatsa n’zakuti ana athu onse atatu anayamba upainiya atatsiliza sukulu. Mkazi wanga nayenso anali mpainiya, ndipo anali kucilikiza atsikanawo masiku onse.

Pamene ana athu aŵili, Gilly ndi Denise, anakwatiwa, tinatseka sukuluyo. Tinalembela ku ofesi ya nthambi kufunsa ngati kuli malo osoŵa kumene tingapite kukathandiza. Anatiuza kupita ku matauni a kum’mwela ca kum’mawa kwa England. Popeza panthawiyo tinali cabe ndi mwana mmodzi panyumba, dzina lake Debbie, inenso ndinayamba upainiya. Patapita zaka zisanu, anatipempha kuti tikathandize mipingo ina yosoŵa kumpoto kwa England. Debbie atakwatiwa, tinali ndi mwai wothela zaka 10 mu pulogalamu yomanga yapadziko lonse ku Zimbabwe, Moldova, Hungary, ndi ku Côte d’Ivoire. Kenako, tinabwelelanso ku England kukathandiza pa nchito yomanga pa Beteli ya ku London. Popeza ndinali kudziŵa zaulimi, anandipempha kuti ndizigwila nchito pa famu ya pa Beteli imene inali kugwila nchito panthawiyo. Pali pano, tikutumikila monga apainiya kumpoto cakumadzulo kwa dziko la England.

Gwen: Kudzipeleka pa nchito yathu yovina kunali kosangalatsa, koma cisangalalo cake cinali ca kanthawi. Koma kudzipeleka kwa Yehova kumene ndiye kofunika kwambili kwatibweletsela cisangalalo cosatha. Tikali kucitila zinthu limodzi, ndipo panopa timacitila upainiya limodzi. Kuthandiza anthu ambili kudziŵa coonadi camtengo wapatali komanso copatsa moyo, kwaticititsa kukhala ndi cimwemwe cosaneneka. Utumikiwu ndi “makalata oticitila umboni” ndipo ndi wabwino kuposa kuchuka m’dzikoli. (2 Akor. 3:1, 2) Tikanakhala kuti sitinaphunzile coonadi, tikanangotsala ndi zithunzi zathu zakale ndi mapepala a mapulogalamu oonetsa kumene tinali kuvinila.

David: Kutumikila Yehova kwasintha kwambili umoyo wathu. Kwandithandizanso kukhala mwamuna komanso tate wabwino. Baibulo limatiuza kuti Miriamu, Mfumu Davide, ndi anthu ena anaonetsa cimwemwe cao mwa kuvina. Nafenso, limodzi ndi anthu ena, tikulakalaka kudzavina cifukwa ca cimwemwe m’dziko latsopano la Yehova.—Eks. 15:20; 2 Sam. 6:14.