KUNDAŴI kwa lisiku line mu msinda wa Brookings, ku South Dakota, m’cilambo ca United States, kapitile kambepo kakusisima mnope. Yeleyi yangumbwisye kuti ndaŵi jakusisima mnope jisigele panandi kutanda. Nambo mpaka asimonje kupikana kuti palisikuli une ni ŵandu ŵane ŵamnono twaliji tuli mkutetemela mu nyumba jakusunjila yakulya ya yilango. Twajimi mumbali mwa cakumwela mesi ca yilango mwamwaliji mesi gakusisima. Kwende nasalile yine yakwayana ni umi wangu kuti apikanicisye ligongo lyakwe nasimanikwe malo gelega.

Napagwile pa 7 March, 1936, soni naliji jwakumalisya pa ŵanace mcece ŵatwapali m’liŵasa lyetu. Nyumba jetu jaliji mumgunda cakungopoko lyuŵa kwa South Dakota. Liŵasa lyetu lyanonyelaga kulima nambo nganijiŵa mbali jakusosekwa mnope pa umi wetu. Acinangolo ŵangu ŵabatiswe ni kuŵa Ŵamboni sya Yehofa mu 1934. Jemanjaji ŵalipelece kwa Atati ŵetu ŵakwinani, Yehofa. M’yoyo ŵakuwonaga kutenda lisosa lya Mlungu kuŵa kwakusosekwa mnope. Baba ŵangu, lina lyawo Clarence, soni akuluŵawo lina lyawo Alfred ŵatumicile mpela ŵakutumicila ŵa likuga (apano akusakolanjikwa kuti jwakulondesya masengo ga acakulungwa) mu mpingo wetu mu msinda wa Conde ku South Dakota.

Ndaŵi syosope liŵasa lyetu lyasimanikwaga pa misongano ja Ciklistu soni twajawulaga ku nyumba ni nyumba kukwalalicila ŵandu yajikusasala Baibulo pakwamba ya cembeceyo camsogolo. Cisyasyo cambone ca acinangolo ŵetu soni yindu yaŵatujiganyisye yatukamucisye mnope. Une ni mlumbwangu Dorothy, twaŵele ŵakulalicila tuli tukwete yaka 6. Mu 1943, nalembesye mu Sukulu ja Undumetume wa Mlungu, jijaliji jili jigambile kutanda kwene.

Twajiwonaga misongano jekulungwakulungwa kuŵa mbali jakusosekwa mnope. Ngusakumbucila msongano wine waupande wuwatendecele mu msinda wa Sioux Falls ku South Dakota mu 1949.  M’bale Grant Suiter jwaliji mlendo pamsonganowu, ni jwaŵecete ngani ja mtwe wakuti, “Mbesi Jiŵandicile Mnope Kulekangana ni Mwamkuganicisya!” M’baleju ŵagombelecesye kuti Aklistu wosope ŵabatiswe akusosekwa kamulicisya masengo umi wawo wosope pamasengo gakulalicila ngani syambone sya Ucimwene wa Mlungu. Yeleyi yalimbikasisye kuti nalipelece kwa Yehofa. Pa msongano wamkuli wakuyicisya wuwatendecele ku Brookings, nasimanikwe m’nyumba jakusunjila yakulya ya yilango janajikolasile kundanda jila, ndili mkwembeceya kuti mbatiswe. Twapali ŵandu mcece soni twabatiswe mu cakumwela mesi ca yilango pa 12 November, 1949.

Kaneko, natandite kola cakulinga cakutenda upayiniya. Natandite upayiniyawu pa 1 January, 1952, ndili ngwete yaka 15. Baibulo jikusasala kuti, “Naga ukwenda ni ŵalunda uciŵa jwalunda.” Mwiŵasa mwetu mwapali ŵandu ŵajinji ŵalunda ŵaŵalimbikasisye kuti ndende upayiniya. (Miy. 13:20) Baba ŵakulungwa lina lyawo Julius, ŵaŵakwete ya 60, ni ŵanatendaga nawo upayiniya. Atamose kuti yaka yetu yaliji yakulekangana mnope, nambo twasangalalaga kamula masengo gakulalicila yalumo. Nalijiganyisye yindu yejinji kutyocela pa yindu yaŵasimene nayo paumi wawo. Pali papite ndaŵi jamnono, Dorothy ŵatanditesoni upayiniya.

Kutandila ndili mwanace, acinangolo ŵangu ŵaŵilanjilaga ŵakulolela mkuli ŵakulekanganalekangana ni aciŵamkwawo kuti ayicileje kunyumba. Liŵasa limo lyalyangamucisye mnope lyaliji lya Jesse ni Lynn Cantwell. Jemanjaji ŵalimbikasyaga mnope, mwati yandendekasisye kuti ndande upayiniya. Lung’wanu luŵakwete pa une lwalimbikasisye kuti naliŵicile yakulinga yausimu. Ndaŵi sine pakwendela mipingo jakuŵandicila kumangwetu, ŵambilangaga kuti ngalalicile nawo. Yeleyi yalimbikasyaga mnope!

Kaneko Bud Miller ni ŵamkwakwe, Joan, ŵatandite kwendela mkuli wetu. Pandaŵiji nakwete yaka 18 soni nasosekwaga kusimana ni komiti jajasagulaga ŵandu kuti aŵe asilikali. Komitiji jasalile kuti ndendeje masengo ganagawonaga kuti galiji gakutindana ni yele Yesu ŵalamwile ŵakumkuya ŵakwe kuti akajinjililaga mu yandale. Nambo une nasakaga kamula masengo gakulalicila ngani syambone syakwamba ya Ucimwene. (Yoh. 15:19) M’yoyo najiŵendile komitiji kuti jikamba masengogo ligongo lyakuti naliji jwakulalicila.

Yalimbikasisye mnope kuti M’bale Miller ŵalipelece kuti ambecesye panajawulaga kukuwonegana ni komitijo. Mwacipagwa, m’baleju ŵaliji jwakungulucika  nambosoni jwakulimba mtima. Kuŵa ni mundu jwausimu jwati m’yiyi kwangamucisye mnope kuti ngatenda woga. Cakumbesi kwa caka ca 1954, komiti jila jajiticisye yanaŵendile yila. Yeleyi yawugwile litala lyakuti ngwanilisye yakulinga yine yausimu.

Mwangapita ndaŵi, naŵilanjidwe kuti ngatumicileje ku Beteli, kwele pandaŵijo kwakolanjikwaga kuti Watchtower Farm, jajaliji mu msinda wa Staten Island ku New York. Nakwete upile wakutumicila kwa yaka ciŵandika yitatu. Yeleyi yangamucisyesoni kuti nalijiganye yejinji ligongo nakamulaga masengo ni ŵandu ŵajinji ŵalunda.

Kumgunda wawaliji ku Staten Island kwalijisoni wayilesi ja WBBR jaŵajikamulicisyaga masengo Ŵamboni sya Yehofa kutandila mu 1924 mpaka mu 1957. Ŵandu ciŵandika 15 kapena 20 ŵa m’liŵasa lya Beteli ni ŵatwakamulaga masengo mumgundawo. Ŵajinji mwa m’weji twaliji ŵacinandipile soni nganitumanyililaga yejinji. Nambo papali m’bale jwine jwamsagulwe juŵaliji jwacikulile lina lyakwe Eldon Woodworth. Jwalakwe ŵaliji mundu jwalunda soni ŵakolaga nawe lung’wanu, mwati yeleyi yatukamucisye mnope. Ndaŵi sine patwakolaga yakusawusya jwine ni mjakwe, M’bale Woodworth ŵasalaga kuti, “Yatesile Ambuje yili yejinji mwangasamala kandu ya ungali umlama wa ŵandu ŵakwakamulicisya masengo.”

Twakwetesoni upile wakutumicila ni M’bale Frederick W. Franz. M’baleju ŵaliji jwalunda soni ŵagamanyililaga cenene Malemba. Ŵakolagasoni lung’wanu ni jwalijose jwetuwe. Yeleyi yatukamucisye mnope. M’bale juŵatutelecelaga yakulya ŵaliji Harry Peterson. Yaliji yangasawusya kamulicisya masengo lina lyakwe lyakumalisyali kulekangana ni lina lyakwe lisyesyene lyakuti, Papargyropoulos. Jwalakwe ŵalijisoni jwamsagulwe. M’bale Peterson ŵakamulaga cenene masengo gakwe pa Beteli nambosoni ŵalalicilaga mwamtawu. Ŵagaŵilaga magasini gejinji mwesi wuliwose. Jwalakwe ŵagamanyililagasoni cenene Malemba, soni ŵatujangaga yiwusyo yejinji yatwakolaga.

Kumgundaku twagungulaga liponda soni yisogosi. Pacaka, twasungaga liponda soni yisogosi ciŵandika makontena 45,000 kuti ŵandu ŵaŵatamaga pa Beteli alyeje. Pandaŵiji, nakwete upile wakamula masengo ni Mlongo Etta Huth, juŵaliji jwalunda. Jwalakwe ni juŵatulembelaga mwampaka tulinganyile  yagungulayo soni kuyisunga. Pandaŵi jatwalinganyaga yagungula, alongo ŵa m’mipingo jakuŵandicila ŵayikaga kukamucisya, soni Etta ni juŵapaga alongowo yakutenda. Atamose kuti Etta ŵakamucisyaga mnope pamasengo gakulinganya soni kusunga yagungula, nambo jwalakwe ŵaliji cisyasyo cambone pakwacimbicisya abale ŵaŵalolelaga kumgundako. Nam’wonaga jwalakwe kuŵa cisyasyo cambone cakupikanila umtwe.

Ndili mkutumicilape pa Beteli nasimene ni mundu jwine jwalunda. Jwalakwe ŵaliji jumo mwa alongo ŵaŵayikaga kukukamucisya kumgundako, lina lyakwe Angela Romano. Etta ni juŵamkamucisye jwalakweju paŵajinjile mu usyesyene. Une ni Angela twalombene mu April 1958, soni tuŵele tuli mkusangalala kutumicila yalumo m’maundumetume gakulekanganalekangana kwa yaka 58. Kwa yaka yosopeyi, liŵasa lyetu liŵele lyakulimba mnope ligongo lyakuti Angela aŵele ali jwakulupicika mnope kwa Yehofa. Ngusinamjegamila mnope jwalakwe atamose tusimane ni yakusawusya yatuli.

Mu 1957, wayilesi ja WBBR ku Staten Island ŵajisumisye, ni napite kutumicila ku Beteli ja ku Brooklyn kwa ndaŵi jamnono. Kaneko panalombene ni Angela, natyosile pa Betelipo. Kwa yaka ciŵandika yitatu twaŵele tuli mkutenda upayiniya ku Staten Island. Ndaŵi jine ŵaŵasumile wayilesi jila ŵalembile masengo. Pandaŵiji ŵajikolangaga kuti WPOW.

Une ni Angela twalingagalingaga kutama ni umi wangasaka yejinji kuti tuŵe ŵakoseka kuja kutumicila kulikose kukwasosecelaga cikamucisyo. M’yoyo, cakundanda kwa caka ca 1961 ŵatusalile kuti tukatendeje upayiniya wapajika ku Falls City, mu msinda wa Nebraska. Mkanijipite ndaŵi, twaŵilanjidwe kuti tukajinjile Sukulu ja Undumetume wa Ucimwene jajatendekwe kwa mwesi umo ku South Lansing mu msinda wa New York. Twasangalalaga mnope patwalijiganyaga sukuluji soni twajembeceyaga kuti pacitumalisyepo cituwujile ku Nebraska. Nambo twasimonjile paŵatusalile kuti citukatendeje umishonale ku Cambodia. Patwapite ku cilambo cakusalalaci cacili kumwela, cakungopoko lyuŵa kwa Asia twayiweni, kupikana soni kupasya yindu yejinji yayaliji yasambano kwetuwe. Twaliji ŵakusacilila mnope kuwandisya ngani syambone syakwamba ya Ucimwene kumaloku.

Nambope, yindu yacenjile m’cilamboci pangani jandale. M’yoyo twasosekwaga kusama ni twapite kum’mwela kwa cilambo ca Vietnam. Nambo mkaniyimale yaka yiŵili, nalwasile mnope mwati twasosekwaga kuwujila kumangwetu. Pasosekwaga kupita kandaŵi nditu kuti mbole cenenepe. Panaposile, twatanditesoni kutenda upayiniya.

Mu March 1965, twatandite undumetume wakwendela mipingo. Kwa yaka 33, une ni Angela twaŵele tuli mkamula masengo gakulolela mkuli soni upande, soni twakamucisyaga kulinganya misongano. Najinonyelaga mnope misongano, m’yoyo nasangalalaga kamucisya nawo kulinganya misonganoji. Kwa yaka yakuŵalanjika twaŵele tuli mkwendela mipingo jajaliji mu msinda wa New York, soni misongano jejinji twatendelaga ku Yankee Stadium.

Une ni Angela twapocele maundumetume gane gasambano soni gakusawusya. Mwambone, mu 1995, naŵilanjidwe kuti ngajiganye Sukulu Jakwiganya Undumetume. Kaneko pali papitile yaka  yitatu, ŵatuŵilasile kuti tukatumicileje ku Beteli. Nasangalele mnope kuwujila kumalo kunatandile undumetume wandaŵi syosope yaka yakupunda 40 munyumamo. Kwakandaŵi, natumicile mu Dipatimenti ja Undumetume soni najiganyaga sukulu syakulekanganalekangana. Mu 2007, Likuga Lyakulongolela lyatamilikasisye Dipatimenti Jakulolela Masukulu gagakusatendecela pa Beteli. Nakwete upile wakuŵa jwakulolela mu dipatimentiji kwakandaŵi nditu.

M’yaka yapacangakaŵapa tukuweni kucenga kwekulungwa pambali ja masukulu gakwiganya undumetume. Mwambone, mu 2008 kwatandite Sukulu ja Acakulungwa ŵa Mumpingo. Panyuma pa yaka yiŵili, acakulungwa ŵa mumpingo ŵakupunda 12,000 ŵaliji ali alijiganyisye sukuluji ku Patterson soni ku Beteli ja ku Brooklyn. Sukulu jeleji jikwendelecelape kutendekwa m’malo gakulekanganalekangana. Mu 2010, Sukulu Jakwiganya Undumetume ŵajicenjile lina nikuŵa Sukulu Jakwiganya Baibulo ja Abale Ŵangalombela, soni ŵatamilikasisye Sukulu Jakwiganya Baibulo ja Maŵasa ga Ciklistu.

Kutandila m’caka ca undumetume ca 2015, Sukulu Jakwiganya Baibulo ja Abale Ŵangalombela ni Sukulu Jakwiganya Baibulo ja Maŵasa ga Ciklistu ŵajipwatikenye ni kuŵa Sukulu ja Ŵakulalicila ya Ucimwene. Ŵakwinjila sukulu jeleji komboleka kuŵa maŵasa, abale ŵangalombela soni alongo ŵangalombegwa. Ŵandu ŵajinji pacilambo cosope ŵasangalele mnope paŵapikene kuti sukuluji cijitendekweje mu nyambi syejinji. Yili yakusangalasya mnope kuti ŵandu ŵajinji akwete upile wakwinjila sukulu jeleji. Ngusasangalalasoni kusimana ni ŵandu ŵajinji ŵaŵalipelece kuti ajinjile sukuluji.

Panguganicisya ya umi wangu kutandila mkanimbatiswe kwikana sambano jino, ngusinam’yamicila Yehofa ligongo lya ŵandu ŵalunda ŵaŵangamucisye kuti njendejepe m’litala lya usyesyene. Ŵane mwa jemanjaji nganaŵa ŵa msingu wangu kapena ŵamtundu wangu. Nambo pakulola yaŵatendaga jemanjaji soni nganisyo syambone siŵakwete, nayiweni kuti ŵanduŵa ŵamnonyelaga mnope Yehofa. Mu likuga lya Yehofa mwana ŵandu ŵajinji ŵalunda ŵampaka tujende nawo. Unejo linjile yeleyi soni yingamucisye mnope.