HALWOLA ngwapwile kushikola chiyoyelo chami kachalumukile chikumako mwomwo vatu vaze ngwaputukile navo shikola vakiko ngwakumishile navo, ngocho twalitachikijile majina tuvosena.

Mbaka yaLiberty vayijingilikile kujifwamu jize valiminenga chikuma vivwale. Kufuma vene hakusemuka chami tata apwilenga nakuzata hajifwamu kana. Omu ngwapwile ngukanyike ngwalinangwile kutambukisa munyau wakulimisa, kaha nawa ngwalinangwile kanawa mulimo waunjimi.

Omu ngwasemukile, tata apwile namyaka yakusemuka 56, kaha mama apwile namyaka yakusemuka 35. Tata apwile wamundende mujimba, wakulikangula, wakujikiza, samalikita kaha nawa atunangwilenga nayetu vana venyi mangana tupwenga ngana mwayikiye. Numba tuhu tata kapwilenga najimbongo jajivuluko oloze ahashilenga kutuwanyina mwakusavala navyakuvwala, navyakulya kaha nawa atuzakaminenga. Chaluvinda omu tata ahetesele myaka 93, afwile. Mama nawa afwile omu apwile namyaka 86. Oloze visemi jami vosena kavapwile Vinjiho jaYehovako. Havandumbwami vosena, songo yami umwe kaha ikiye nazachilanga Kalunga nakashishi mumulimo waulama muchikungulwilo kufuma vene haze vaputukile kutongola tulama muji 1970.

Mama azangilenga chikuma vyakwitava, kaha twayilenga nenyi kuchachi yaBaptist chalumingo hichalumingo. Omu ngwapwile namyaka yakusemuka 12, ngwevwilenga kunangula chakuvuluka Tulunga vatatu. Hakusaka kutachikiza vyavivulu ngwahulishile mama ngwami: “Uno Yesu apwa ngachilihi Mwana kaha nawa Tata?” Ikiye angukumbulwile ngwenyi: “Chihande kana chapwa chachikalu kuchivwishisa.” Mazu ahanjikile mama angulingishile nguhone kwivwishisa chihande kana. Chipwe ngocho omu ngwapwile namyaka 14 vangumbapachishile mumwanakalwiji, kaha vangumbwichikilemo katatu kulumbununa Tulunga vatatu.

Omu ngwapwile kushikola, ngwapwile nasepa lyami uze apwile mukuhema chakuzunga jindombo kuzachisa jikonyi chize vavuluka ngwavo boxing, kaha angukunywile nayami ngwazane mukuhema kanechi. Ngocho ngwaputukile kulinangula kuhema kana, kufumaho ngwengilile mulizavu lyavaka-kuzunga lize vavulukilenga ngwavo Golden Gloves. Hakuwana nge kangwatachikijile kanawa mwakwashila jikonyiko ngocho ngwazungileko halwola lwalundende nakwecha. Kutwala muze vangwingishile mulizavu lyaMaswalale lyakuU.S. nakungutuma kuGermany. Halwola ngwapwile kuze nakuzata, vakulwane jami vamwene ngwavo ngwapwile nauhashi wakutwaminyina vatu, ngocho vangutwalile kushikola yakulinangula mulimo wakutwaminyina yize vavulukilenga ngwavo Noncommissioned Officers Academy. Ava vakulwane vasakilenga ngufwile chikuma mulimo wauswalale. Oloze ami kangwazangile mulimo kanako ngocho omu ngwakumishile shikola hamyaka yivali mu 1956, vangusuwile nguyenga kwimbo. Nakushimbula chiku, ngwengilile mulimo weka wauswalale wakulipwila.

Mulimo ngwazachilenga wangulingishile ngulivwimbe mwomwo yajingolo jami. Vaka-kuhema vavavulu havisaji vyamivwimbimbi veji kusololanga ngwavo mutu atela kupwa najingolo numba vamuvuluke ngwavo lunga kaha evi vikiko vishinganyeka ngwapwilenga navyo nayami. Ngwamwenenga vaka-kunangula vyakwitava kupwa vatu vakuhehela chikuma. Oloze ngwaputukile kulinangula vyuma vize vyalumwine kuyoya chami. Likumbi limwe omu ngwapwile nakuya mumbaka naminyau yami, vana vamapwevo vavali vangumenekele. Vapwile vasongo janyali uze ambachile yayami. Ava vana vamapwevo vapwile Vinjiho jaYehova. Vanguhanyinenga jimangazini jaKaposhi Kakutalila naTonenu! mapapa kakavulu, oloze ngwevwile nge mangazini yaKaposhi Kakutalila yapwile yayikalu kwivwishisa. Vangulanyine kuya kuChilongesa chaMukanda chaChikungulwilo chize chapwilililenga hembo lyavo. Ngwavakumbulwile ngwami ngunayi nguchikashinganyekeho. Vakiko vamwesele nakunguhulisa ngwavo: “Unakuhanjika muchano nawiza tahi?” Ngwambile ngwami “Eyo ngunahanjika muchano vene.”

Numba tuhu ngwaliveyele ngwami kangwatelelele kuvafwelelesako,oloze ngwasakile kutesamo lushiko lwami, kaha ngwayile. Ava vanyike vangwivwishile kuwaha chikuma. Ngwalikomokelele chikuma mwomwo vatachikijile Mbimbiliya kuhambakana ami. Numba tuhu ngwayilenga namama kuchachi lwola lwosena oloze nevi ngwalinangwilenga vene vyauchi. Echi changulingishile ngufwile kulinangula vyavivulu. Shikaho ngwetavilile chilongesa chaMbimbiliya. Chatete, ngwalinangwile nge lijina lyaKalunga waNgolo Josena ikiye Yehova. Shimbu kanda nguputuke kulinangula, ngwahulishile mama hali Vinjiho jaYehova, kaha ikiye angukumbulwile ngwenyi, “Vapwa vatu vaze veji kulemesanga kashinakaji umwe vavuluka ngwavo Yehova.” Oloze vyuma ngwalinangwile vyangukafwile ngutachikize muchano.

Kutachikiza ngwami ngunawane muchano changulingishile nguzovoloke washiwashi. Mwahichile tukweji 9 kufuma haze ngwayile kuze kuchilongesa vangulanyine, kaha kuheta muMarch 1957, vangumbapachishile.  Chiyoyelo chami chalumukile jino. Omu ngweji kwanukanga muchima ngwapwile nawo wakulivwimba, ngweji kumusakwililanga Kalunga mwomwo Mbimbiliya yangunangula ngutachikize omu atela kupwa mutu numba vamuvuluke ngwavo lunga. Chakutalilaho, Yesu apwile wakukupuka, kaha nawa apwile najingolo chikuma kuhambakana vatu vosena. Chipwe ngocho, kazanyinenga mujindomboko, oloze alisuwile ‘vamumwenese vihuli’ nganomu vapolofwetele lyehi. (Isa. 53:2, 7) Ngwatachikijile jino ngwami muka-kukavangiza Yesu wamuchano “atela kupwa wamuvwovu kuli vosena.”—Chimo. 2, 2:24.

Kuheta mu 1958, ngwaputukile kuzata upayiniya, oloze nakushimbula chiku, ngwecheleko hakashimbu kakandende. Mwomwo ika? Mwomwo ngwasakile kumbata. Hali vaze vana vamapwevo ngwambachileho uze wamukulwane. Lijina lyenyi ikiye Gloria. Kanda nguliveyengaho lyehi hachuma ngwasakwile. Gloria apwile wamulemu kuli ami halwola ngwamumbachile kaha noholyapwa achili lika wamulemu kuhambakana ndayamonde. Ivwililenu omu mwalijimbula ivene.

“Twasemukile 17 mutanga yetu. Mama apwile Chinjiho wakushishika. Omu ngwapwile namyaka 14, mama afwile. Halwola kana hakiko tata aputukile kulinangula Mbimbiliya. Hakuwana nge katwapwile namamako, ngocho tata ayile kuli mukulwane washikola mangana atwitavise ami nayayami tuyenganga kushikola hamakumbi akulihandununa. Halwola kana yayami asalile namyaka yayindende kaha nakukumisa shikola. Twalihanyinenga makumbi akusala hembo mangana tuzakame vasongo jetu nakuwahisa vyakulya vize twalilenga nge tata nafumu kumilimo. Mukulwane washikola etavilile, kaha omu mukiko twalingilenga swi nomu yayami akumishile shikola. Twalinangwilenga Mbimbiliya najitanga jivali jaVinjiho, kaha hali vana 17, etu 11 twalumukile nakupwa tuVinjiho jaYehova. Ngwazangilenga chikuma mulimo wakwambulula numba tuhu ngunalipikinga nasonyi. Lunga lyami ikiye nangukafwe nguhone kwivwanga sonyi hakwambulula.”

Kuheta muFebruary, 1959, twalimbachile. Twalivwishilenga kuwaha kuzachila hamwe mulimo waupayiniya. Kuheta muJuly twatumine fwomu yakulomba kuzata haMbetele mwomwo twafwililile kuzachila hachikota chetu. Ndumbu Simon Kraker ikiye atwihwojwele, kaha atulwezele ngwenyi halwola kana haMbetele kahapwile nakusakiwa vaka-kulimbatako. Chipwe ngocho twima yetu yakuzachila haMbetele kayakumineko numba tuhu hahichile lwola lwalusuku nakutusanyika.

Twasonekelele mukanda weka kuchikota chetu wakulomba vatutume kweshokwo kwapwile nakusakiwa vaka-kwambulula. Ngocho vatutumine kuya nakuzachila kungalila yaPine Bluff, muArkansas. Halwola kana, muPine Bluff mwapwile kaha vikungulwilo vivali chimwe chavindele chikwavo chavatu velava. Etu vatutumine kuchikungulwilo chavatu velava muze mwapwile vaka-kwambulula 14.

Pamo munalikomokela hakwivwa ngwavo Vinjiho jaYehova vavindele navatu velava kavakungulukililenga hamweko. Vahonenenga kukungulukila hamwe mwomwo halwola kana kwapwile jishimbi jakukanyisa vindele kulikata navatu velava. Kaha vaze valikachilenga navatu velava vavevwishilenga woma. Mujingalila jajivulu vandumbwetu vavindele kavalikachilenga navandumbwetu velavako mwomwo vachinyine ngwavo nge navalinga ngocho, kaha Zuvo yavo yaWangana vanahase kuyipuzula. Vyuma kana vyasolokelenga chikupu. Chakutalilaho, vandumbwetu velava vaze vayilenga nakwambulwila kuzuvo hizuvo mungalila yavindele vavavetelenga nakuvakasa. Shikaho hakusaka mulimo wetu vahone kuutangula, twononokele jishimbi javaka-fulumende nakufwelela nawa ngwetu kulutwe vyuma navikawaha.

Chipwe ngocho,twamwenenga ukalu mumulimo wakwambulula. Lwola lumwe omu twambulwililenga mungalila yavatu velava, twayilenga hamembo avindele chakuzeneka kutachikiza. Vamwe twavambulililenga mukavatu, kaha vakwavo twavalwezelenga ngwetu tukonekelenuko katwejivangako. Omu mukiko chapwilenga chiyoyelo mujingalila jimwe.

Twatondelenga nawa milimo mangana tuwaneko jimbongo jakulikafwa najo hakuzata mulimo waupayiniya. Kakavulu vatufwetelenga jimbongo jajindende chikuma. Gloria azachilenga milimo yakuwahisa mujizuvo. Kuzuvo yimwe twayile, vangwitavishile ngumukafweko mangana tukumise washi. Vatuhanyine navyakulya vize twalile halwola lwamusana. Chalumingo hichalumingo Gloria avangomalililenga vyakuvwala, kaha ami ngwawahishilenga kuweluka nakukosa jinjanena namilimo yeka. Omu twayile kuzuvo yachindele umwe, vatulwezele kukosa jinjanena. Gloria apwile mukachi, ami kuweluka. Twazachile likumbi lyosena lyamuundu, ngocho vatuhanyine vyakulya halwola lwamusana. Gloria alililile mukachi ami ngwalililile haweluka muchitandapoli chakukunjikila jiminyau. Oloze kangwalizakaminyineko. Twalivwishile  kuwaha kulya vyakulya kana. Vatu kana vapwile vamwaza michima, chuma chavahonesele kulya hamwe nayetu shina mwomwo yaluze lushimbi lwapwileko. Ngunakwanuka lwola lumwe omu twayile halishima lyakulanjila maji amuminyau. Hakukumisa kulanda, ngwalombele muka-kulanjisa maji etavise puwami ayengako muchimbushu chavo. Angutalile naliso lyautenu, kaha ambile ngwenyi: Kwakupachika.

Numba tuhu twamwenenga ukalu wakutumona ulumbi, oloze twalivwishilenga kuwaha kupwa hamwe navandumbwetu, kaha nawa twazangile mulimo wetu wakwambulula. Omu twahetele muPine Bluff, twayile nakutwama nandumbwetu uze apwile ngamba wachikungulwilo. Halwola kana puwenyi kapwile Chinjihoko, ngocho Gloria aputukile kumunangula Mbimbiliya. Ami nawa ngwalinangwilenga namwanavo wapwevo nalunga lyenyi. Kutwala muze ou pwevo namwanenyi vasakwile kuzachila Yehova kaha vavambapachishile.

Twapwile nawa namasepa vavavulu vamuchikungulwilo chavindele. Kakavulu vatusanyikilenga kujizuvo javo mangana tulyenga navo hamwe kulya chachingoloshi. Oloze valingilenga ngocho mukuswama mwomwo liuka lyaKu Klux Klan (KKK) lyapwile nakuzata nangolo hakukanyisa vindele kulikata navatu velava. Nguli nakwanuka lwola lumwe ngwamwene lunga umwe natwame musenge yazuvo yenyi oku navwale uvwalo utoma kweseka navwaliso yavaka-liuka lyaKKK. Chipwe ngocho echi kachahonesele vandumbwetu kutusolwela likojiko. Chakutalilaho, lwola lumwe twapwile nakutonda jimbongo jakulikafwa najo hakuya kukunguluka changalila, ngocho ndumbwetu umwe etavilile kulanda minyau yetu mangana tuwaneko jimbongo japwile nakusakiwa. Omu mwahichile kakweji umwe, kwapwile likumbi limwe twazeyele chikuma kutambuka hakuzata mulimo wakuzuvo hizuvo nakutetekela vilongesa vyaMbimbiliya. Omu twakindulukile hembo, twalikomokelele. Twawanyine minyau yetu vanayikunjika, kuli namukanda haze vasonekele ngwavo: “Mbatenu tuhu minyau yenu, ngunamihaneyo kupwa wana wakufuma kuli ami ndumbwenu.”

Kwapwile nawa lwola lukwavo vatusolwelele likoji. Mu 1962 vangusanyikile kuShikola yaMulimo waWangana kuSouth Lansing, muNew York. Shikola kana yapwile yakunangula vaze vapwile nakutwaminyina vikungulwilo, natulama vakujinguluka, kaha yambachilenga kakweji wamuundu. Halwola kana kangwapwile hamilimoko, kaha nawa kangwapwile najimbongoko. Kapani yimwe yavaka-kutala vyajishinga vangwihwojwele vevwenga nge nanguhasa kuzata hakapani yavo. Nge ngwengilile milimo kana kachi ami yami ngwapwile mutu ulava watete kuzata hakapani yavo. Mukuhita chalwola vangulwezele jino ngwavo navangwingisa milimo. Ngwalihulishile ngwami nangulinga ngachilihi? Kangwapwile najimbongo jakuzachisa hakuya kuNew York koko. Shikaho ngwashinganyekele ngwami ngwatela kwingila milimo muchishishisa chakuya kushikola. Ngwahetele nahaseteko yakusoneka mukanda wakuvalweza ngwami kangweshi kuya kushikolako. Oloze kwasolokele chuma chimwe chize kangweshi kukavulyama mukuyoya chami chosenako.

Likumbi limwe nachimene, ndumbwetu umwe wapwevo ukwechi lunga lyenyi uze kapwile Chinjihoko ejile kuzuvo, kaha atuhanyine jimbongo. Ikiye navana venyi vahindukilenga chimene hichimene  kuya nakwaha wanda mangana valanjise vawaneko jimbongo vatuhane tuyenga kuNew York. Ou ndumbwetu ambile ngwenyi: “Yenu kushikola mukalinangule mangana omu namukeza mukatunanguleko nayetu.” Ngocho ngwayile kuli mukulwane wayize kapani angwitavise ngukaputuke kuzata lwola lweka. Uze mukulwane akanyine, oloze kangwalizakaminyineko. Ngweji kwivwanga kuwaha chikuma hachuma ngwasakwile kulinga.

Gloria nawa eji kwanukanga vyuma vyamwaza alivwishilenga kuwaha omu twapwile kuPine Bluff. Ambile ngwenyi: “Ngwalivwishilenga kuwaha kwambulwila mungalila twapwile. Ngwapwilenga navilongesa vyaMbimbiliya vyakuhambakana 15. Twayilenga kuzuvo hizuvo nachimene nakutwaminyina vilongesa likumbi lyosena lyamuundu, kaha kakavulu twazachilenga swi nalwola lwa 23:00. Lwola lumwe ngweji kushinganyekanga ngwami kachi katwafumine kungalila kanako. Kuhanjika muchano, kangwasuulukileko omu vatulwezele ngwavo tufumeko nakuya mumulimo wakutambwojoka. Oloze Yehova atachikijile mulimo twatelelele kuzata.”

Omu twapwile nakuzata upayiniya muPine Bluff, twasonekele fwomu yaupayiniya wakulipwila. Twafwelelele ngwetu navatwitavila mwomwo kalama wangalila atulwezele kuya nakukafwa chikungulwilo chamuTexas, kaha asakile muchikungulwilo kana mupwenga vapayiniya vakulipwila. Twashinganyekele ngwetu etu yetu twatelelele kuya nakuzachila kuchikungulwilo kana. Ngocho twavandaminyine halwola lwalusuku, twayilenga kuposo nakutala mikanda yakufuma kuSosayiti oloze katwayiwanyinengako. Kuheta muJanuary 1965, vatutuminyine mukanda wakutulweza kuya nakuzata mulimo wakutambwojoka. Ndumbu Leon Weaver uze apwa Muka-Kuwanyisa Komiti yaMutango waUnited States nawa vamutongwele kupwa kalama wakujinguluka mwaka vene uze.

Ngwevwilenga woma kuzata mwakalama wakujinguluka. Omu kwasalile kafwe mwaka umwe nakungutongola nguzate mulimo wakutambwojoka, ndumbu James A. Thompson, Jr., angukekesele amone nge ngunatemo kuzata mwakalama chipwe chiku. Angukafwile mujila yalikoji vyuma vize ngwatelelele kuzachilaho mangana ngutengamo kupwa ngukalama wakwipangweji. Omu ngwazachile mulimo waulama halwola lwalundende ngwamwene jino kulema chavyuma angukafwile. Omu vangutongwele, ndumbu Thompson ikiye apwile kalama wangalila watete kuzata nenyi. Ngwalinangwile vyavivulu kuli ou ndumbwetu wakushishika wakuhya kushipilitu.

Kunyima tulama vakujinguluka kavavanangwilenga halwola lwalusukuko. Ngwazachile nakalama wakujinguluka chalumingo chimwe, kaha chalumingo chakavangijileho ami yami ngwazachile, ikiye apwile nakungutalijiza kaha. Angukafwile vyuma vimwe ngwatelelele kuzachilaho, kufumaho jino, ngwaputukile kuzata ukawami. Ngwahulishile Gloria ngwami, “Kutala natuhasa kuzata ukawetu tahi?” Mukuhita chalwola, ngwamwene jino ngwami kuli vandumbwetu veka vaze vanahase kutukafwa kachi nge natwitavila  vatukafwe. Ngweji kusakwililanga vandumbwami vaze vangukafwile vakufwana nge J. R. Brown, uze apwile kalama wakutambwojoka, naFred Rusk uze azachililenga haMbetele.

Halwola kana vatu valimwenenga chikuma ulumbi. Lwola lumwe lizavu lyaKKK lyapwile nakuchaula mumbaka yamuTennessee muze twapwile nakuya. Lwola lukwavo nawa omu lizavu lyetu lyamulimo lyayile kuzuvo yakulila vyakulya, ngwayile kuchimbushu chamalunga, kaha ngwamwene lunga wakutatamana wajichato ali nakungukavangiza. Oloze ndumbwetu umwe wachindele uze apwile wakujika kuhambakana lunga atukavangijile. Omu ejile anguhulishile ngwenyi: “Kwahola kuno ndumbu Herd?” Uze lunga wakutatamana hakwivwa ngocho, alovokele muze muchimbushu. Hamyaka yosena eyi yinahichimo, ngunatachikiza jino chikupu ngwami, shili yize twaswana kuli Alama yikiko yeji kutulingisanga tulimone ulumbi keshi chikova chamutuko. Ngunatachikiza nawa nge ndumbwetu numba apwa ulava chipwe chindele, vosena hivandumbwetu, kaha nawa vanahase kutukafwa mukala ukalu chipwe vene kutufwila.

Ngwazachile mwakalama wakujinguluka hamyaka 12, kufumaho ngwazachile mwakalama wangalila hamyaka 21. Chikupu vene, twanganyalile mwamunene. Chipwe ngocho,kwapwile nawa chuma chikwavo chakulipwila. Omu twahetele muAugust 1997, Yehova akumbulwile kulomba chetu. Vatusanyikile jino kuya nakuzachila haMbetele muUnited States, chuma chize twavandaminyine hamyaka 38 kufuma haze twasonekele fwomu. Ngocho kakweji akavangijileho twaputukile kuzachila haMbetele. Ngwashinganyekele ngwami vakulwane vahaMbetele vasakile kaha nguzachileho hakatando kakandende, oloze omu keshi mukiko chapwileko.

Omu ngwahetele haMbetele ngwazachililenga kuLipatimende lyaMulimo. Ngwalinangwile vyuma vyavivulu chikuma. Vandumbwetu vamulipatimende kana vakumbulwilenga vihula vyavikalu vize vahulishilenga tulama muvikungulwilo, natulama vakujinguluka mulifuchi lyosena. Ava vandumbwami vangunangwilenga kanawa. Chipwe ngocho, ngwalivwilenga lika ngwami, numba nge vangulwezele kuya nakuzachila kulipatimende kana kachi ngwasakiwile lika kungunangula.

Ami napuwami Gloria tweji kulivwisanga kuwaha kuzachila haMbetele. Tweji kuhindukanga chimenemene, kaha echi cheji kutukafwanga chikuma tutesemo milimo yahaMbetele. Omu mwahichile kafwe mwaka umwe kufuma haze vatusanyikile haMbetele, vangutongwele kupwa Muka-Kukafwa muKomiti yaMulimo yaLizavu lyaKutwaminyina lyaVinjiho jaYehova. Kaha kuheta mu 1999 vangutongwele ngupwenga muLizavu lyaKutwaminyina. Ngunalinangula vyavivulu hakuzata mulimo kana, chachinenenyi shina kutachikiza ngwami Yesu Kulishitu ikiye kaha apwa mutwe wachikungulwilo chavaka-Kulishitu.

Omu ngweji kushinganyekanga havyuma ngwahichilemo mukuyoya chami, ngweji kwivwanga ngana muze evwile kapolofweto Amose. Yehova amwene ou kafunga kupwa wamulemu numba tuhu vatu vamwenenga mulimo wakutuvatuva jikuyu jamisukumole uze azachilenga kupwa wavaka-kuhutwa. Kalunga atongwele Amose apwenga kapolofweto, mulimo kana wapwile wakulipwila chikupu. (Amo. 7:14, 15, kwinyikila chamwishi) Ngana mwaAmose, Yehova angumwene kupwa nguwamulenu numba tuhu ngwapwile ngumwana njimi wamuLiberty, muIndiana. Ngocho nangukisula jino mwamunene. ( Vishi. 10:22) Chikupu vene, ngunamono ngwami, Yehova nangukisula mwamunene numba tuhu ngwafuma kutanga yakuhutwa.