PETHIMBO ndi li mosikola yongula, kapwa li naanaa pwa ningwa omalunduluko ogendji. Mosikola yetu, aantu ngaa mboka nda li nayo moongundu dhopetameko oyo ngaa nda ka mana nayo osikola. Onkee ano, onda li ndi shi omadhina gaantu oyendji mondoolopa, yo nayo oya li ye shi ndje.

Ondoolopa Liberty oya li ya kundukidhwa koofaalama oonshona, naashoka sha li hashi kunwa mo unene omapungu. Sho nda valwa, tate okwa adhika ha longo muyimwe. Pethimbo omugundjuka, ondi ilongo okuhinga embakumbaku, nonda tseya iilonga yilwe yomofaalama.

Sho nda valwa, onda adha nale tate omukokele, e na omimvo 56, omanga meme 35. Nonando ongawo, tate okwa li e na uukolele, omulumentu e na oonkondo, ngoka e hole iilonga nokwa li e tu longa atuhe tu kale tu yi hole. Nonando tate ka li ha mono iimaliwa oyindji, okwa li ha shilipaleke kutya otu na ehala lyokulala, oonguwo niikulya. Onkee ano, okwa li e na ko nasha natse. Tate okwa si e na omimvo 93, omanga meme a si e na 86. Kapu na nando ogumwe gwomuyo a longela Jehova. Maamwayina yandje, ondi na omumwamememati gumwe, ngoka a longela Jehova nuudhiginini e li omukuluntugongalo, okuza ngaa sho elongekidho ndyono lya tameke mo 1970 nasha.

Meme okwa li e hole lela okuya kongeleka. Osoondaha kehe, otwa li hatu yi naye kongeleka yaBaptist. Sho ndi na omimvo 12, olwo lwotango ndu uvu kombinga yelongo lyUukwatatu. Onkee ano, onda pula meme nda limbililwa nda ti: “Ongiini Jesus ta vulu okukala Omwana nosho wo He poshikando?” Otandi dhimbulukwa sho a yamukula ndje a ti: “Mumati gwandje, shoka oshiholekwa. Inatu pitikwa oku shi uva ko.” Odhoshili kutya shoka osha li oshiholekwa kungame. Sho ndi na omimvo 14 lwaampono, onda ninginithwa mongeleka yomoshitopolwa, nda tulwa kohi yomeya lutatu shi ikolelela kUukwatatu.

Sho nda li kosekondele, onda li ndi na kuume ngoka e hole uudhano woongonyo, nokwa ladhipike ndje ndi kuthe ombinga muyo. Onkee ano, onda tameke okwiidheula, nokonima onda wayimine ehangano lyuudhano woongonyo lyedhina Golden Gloves. Kanda li lela ndi shi okuumba oongonyo, onkee konima yethimbo, onde wu etha po. Konima yaashoka, onda yi metangakwiita lyaAmerika, nonda li nda tuminwa kOndowishi. Manga tandi longele hoka, aakwatelikomeho yetu oya tumine ndje kedheulo lyopombanda lyuukwiita, taya dhiladhila kutya otandi vulu okukala omuwiliki. Oya li ya hala ndi lalakanene okulonga muukwiita, ihe kanda li ndi na we ehalo lyokukala omukwiita. Onkene sho nda kala mo uule woomvula mbali, onda zi mo miilonga mbyoka mo 1956. Omathimbo hamale, onda yi metangakwiita limwe lya yooloka ko noonkondo kwaandyoka.

Manga inaandi ilonga oshili, onda li ndi na edhiladhilo lya puka kombinga yankene omulumentu gwolela a tya. Onda li nda nwethwa mo nayi koomuvi nokaantu yopomudhingoloko. Onda li handi dhiladhila kutya aalumentu mboka hayu uvitha kaye shi aalumentu lela. Ihe onda tameke okwiilonga iinima mbyoka ya lundulula onkalamwenyo yandje. Esiku limwe manga nda li tandi hingi etukutuku lyandje etiligane mondoolopa, aakadhona yaali oya ganeke ndje. Onda li ndi ya shi. Oya li aamwayina aashona yomulumentu ngoka a hokana omumwamemekadhona omukuluntu. Oya li Oonzapo dhaJehova. Oya pele ndje nale Oshungolangelo no-Awake! ihe onda li ndi wete Oshungolangelo ondhigu unene kungame oku yi uva ko. Ihe oshikando shika, oya hiya ndje ndi ye kEkonakono lyEmbo lyEgongalo, pokugongala mpoka hapu kala aantu aashona, haku ningilwa maandjawo. Onde ya lombwele kutya otandi ke shi dhiladhila manga. Oya pula ndje tayi imemeha ya ti: “Oshili ngaa?” Onda ti: “Eeno, oshili.”

Onda li ngaa tandi ipe uusama sho nda ningi euvaneko ndyoka, ihe kanda li nda hala okukala inaandi li gwanitha po. Onkee ano, ongulohi ndjoka onda yi ndi ka gongale. Shoka sha li sha fuula ndje noonkondo, aanona. Onda li nda kumwa unene, sho ye shi oshindji kombinga yOmbiimbeli. Konima yomimvo adhihe ndhoka nda kala tandi yi kongeleka nameme, onda kala owala ndi shi kashona kombinga yOmbiimbeli. Ihe ngashingeyi onda li nda tokola ndi ilonge oshindji. Onkee ano, onda zimine ndi yi konakone. Tango, ondi ilongo kutya edhina lyaKalunga Omunankondoadhihe, oJehova. Manga inaandi tameka okukonakona, sho nda li nda pula meme kombinga yOonzapo dhaJehova, okwa ti: “Ohadhi longele omulumentu gumwe omukokele gwedhina Jehova.” Ihe ngashingeyi onda li ndi wete tandi tonata!

Onda ningi ehumokomeho meendelelo, oshoka onda li nda wete kutya onda mona oshili. Konima yuule woomwedhi omugoyi ndhoka nda kala tandi gongala, onda ninginithwa muMaalitsa mo 1957. Etaloko lyandje kombinga yonkalamwenyo olya lunduluka. Uuna tandi dhiladhila kombinga yiikala yandje yonale, onda pandula sho ndi ilonga shoka Ombiimbeli tayi ti kombinga yankene omulumentu gwolela a tya. Jesus okwa li omulumentu  a gwanenena. Okwa li e na omukumo nosho wo oonkondo okuyelekanitha ‘nomulumentu’ kehe. Nonando ongawo, ka li a kutha ombinga mokukondja, ihe okwa li a “monithwa iihuna,” ngaashi sha li sha hunganekwa. (Jes. 53:2, 7) Ondi ilongo kutya omulanduli gwaJesus gwashili “oku na okukala . . . e na olukeno naayehe.” — 2 Tim. 2:24.

Omumvo gwa landula ko, 1958, onda tameke okukokola ondjila. Nziya konima yaashono, onda li ndi na okweetha po uukokolindjila uule wokathimbo. Omolwashike mbela? Onda li nda tokola okuhokana Gloria, gumwe gwomaakadhona yaali mbeyaka ya hiyile ndje kekonakono lyembo lyegongalo. Inandi ipa nando uusama, omolwetokolo ndyoka nda ninga. Gloria okwa li enzuna nosho e li natango. Kungame, okwa fa okawe ka hoka ka dhenga mbanda, nonda nyanyukwa sho nde mu hokana. Gloria ne mu kuthile ko kashona kombinga ye mwene:

“Otwa valwa tu li 17. Meme okwa li Onzapo ondhiginini. Okwa si sho ndi na omimvo 14. Ethimbo ndyoka olyo tate a tameke okukonakona. Molwaashono Meme okwa adhika a sa, Tate okwa ningi elongekidho nomukuluntusikola, opo ngame nomumwamemekadhona omukuluntu, ngoka a adhika e li mondondo 12, tu ninge omalufo gokuya kosikola. Otwa li hatu ningi omalufo, opo gumwe a sile oshimpwiyu aanona megumbo nokulongekidha uulalelo, manga Tate ta zi kiilonga. Omukuluntusikola okwe tu pitike tu ninge ngawo sigo omumwameme a mana osikola. Otwa konakona Ombiimbeli nomaukwanegumbo gaali gOonzapo, naamwameme ye li 11 nda kwatelwa mo, otwa ningi Oonzapo dhaJehova. Onda kala tandi tyapula uukalele, nonando onda li ndi na ohoni. Samuel okwa kwathela ndje lela uule womimvo kaandi kale ndi na ohoni.”

Ngame naGloria otwa hokana muFebuluali mo 1959. Otwa kala tatu nyanyukilwa okukokola ondjila pamwe. MuJuli momumvo ogwo tuu ngoka, otu udhithile koBetel, oshoka otwa kala twa halelela oku ka longa koombelewa dhetu oonene muuyuni awuhe. Omumwatate Simon Kraker, oye a li e tu pulapula. Okwa li e tu lombwele kutya moBetel itamu taambwa aaihokani pethimbo mpoka. Nonando ongawo, inatu kanitha ehalo lyetu lyoku ka longa koBetel, ihe osha li sha kutha ethimbo ele, opo tu ye ko.

Otwa li twa nyolele koombelewa oonene, tatu pula tu tuminwe tu ka longele hoka ku na ompumbwe onene. Otwa yamukula kutya otatu ka longela koPine Bluff moArkansas. Pethimbo mpoka, moPine Bluff omwa li owala omagongalo gaali, limwe olyaatiligane nekwawo olyaaluudhe. Onkene otwa li twa tuminwa kegongalo lyaaluudhe, moka mwa li owala aauvithi 14 lwaampono.

Otashi vulika wu kumwe kutya omolwashike momagongalo gOonzapo dhaJehova mwa li hamu ningwa okatongo. Eyamukulo olyo kutya pethimbo ndyoka katwa li tu na shoka tatu vulu okuninga po. Opwa li oompango ndhoka tadhi indike aantu yomihoko dha yoolokathana ya kale mumwe nopwa li wo hapu longwa omiyonena. Momahala ogendji, aamwatate oya li ye na etompelo ewanawa lyokutila okukala pamwe, oshoka ngele oye shi ningi, Oshinyanga shUukwaniilwa shawo osha li tashi ka hanagulwa po. Shoka osha li hashi ningwa shili. Ngele aamwatate aaluudhe oyu uvithile megumbo lyomutiligane, oya li haya mangwa po nenge tashi vulika ya dhengwe. Onkee ano, opo tu tsikile niilonga yetu yokuuvitha, otwa li hatu vulika koompango ndhoka, tu na einekelo kutya iinima otayi ka lundulukila kuuwanawa.

Sho twa kala tatu uvitha, otwa li twa taalelwa komashongo. Uuna tatu uvithile moshitopolwa shoka shi na aaluudhe, omathimbo gamwe ohatu haluka owala twa konkola pegumbo lyiilumbu. Otwa li hatu dhiladhila nziya kutya natu ya leshele enyolo lyontumba nenge natu ya pe owala ombili e tatu pula komeho. Momahala gamwe, pethimbo ndyoka osho sha li ngawo.

Odhoshili kutya otwa li tu na okulonga iilonga yomboloto nuudhiginini tu ikwathele, sho tatu kokola ondjila. Iilonga mbyoka twa li hatu longo unene, oya li hayi futu oodola ndatu dhaAmerika mesiku. Gloria okwa li ha longo unene iilonga yomomagumbo. Megumbo limwe, onda li nda pitikwa ndi mu kwathele, opo a mane nziya. Otwa li twa pewa omwiha gwiikulya iitalala, notwe yi li manga inaatu ya kegumbo. Megumbo lilwe, oshiwike kehe Gloria okwa li ha kangula. Ngame onda li handi longo molugumbo, handi yogo omakende nohandi longo wo iilonga yilwe. Megumbo limwe lyoshilumbu, onda li nda yogo omakende kombanda, omanga Gloria e ga yogo meni. Molwaashono osha li she tu pula esiku alihe, otwa li twa pewa omwiha. Gloria okwa lile megumbo, ihe ina lila pamwe nuukwanegumbo mboka, omanga ngame nda lile pondje mongalashe. Shoka kasha li omukundu kungame. Omwiha ogwa li tagu shata. Oya li aantu aawanawa, ihe oya li owala ya nwethwa mo kaantu yomomudhingoloko. Otandi dhimbulukwa  oshikando shimwe sho twa yi pomahooli. Konima sho twa nwetha ohauto yetu, onda pula gumwe gwomaalongi yaampoka ngele Gloria ota vulu okulongitha okandjugo. Omulumentu ngoka okwa tala ndje noshipala sha lula, e ta ti: “Oka pata.”

Otwa li wo hatu tyapula pamwe naamwatate, notwa li tu hole uukalele. Sho opo twa thiki moPine Bluff, otwa kala hatu zi megumbo lyomumwatate gumwe, ngoka a li omupiya gwegongalo pethimbo mpoka. Omukulukadhi gwe ka li Onzapo, na Gloria okwa tameke okukonakona naye Ombiimbeli. Konima yokathimbo, onda tameke okukonakona nomwanakadhona gwawo pamwe nomusamane gwe. Omukulukadhi nomwanakadhona ayehe oya tokola okulongela Jehova e taya ninginithwa.

Otwa li tu na ookuume aawanawa megongalo lyaatiligane. Oya li haye tu hiya tu ka lye pamwe nayo uulalelo, ihe oya li haye shi ningi momilema, opo kaaya monike. Ehangano lyedhina Ku Klux Klan (KKK), ndyoka lya li hali humitha komeho uukwamuhoko nomiyonena, olya li lya pimbila. Otandi dhimbulukwa nda tala omulumentu a kuutumba pondje yosheelo shegumbo lye muusiku wo-Halloween, a zala onguwo ontokele yi na egala, ngaashi naanaa mboka yomehangano lyo-KKK haya zala. Nonando ongawo, shoka kasha li shi imbi aamwatate yu ulike olukeno. Oshikando shimwe pethimbo lyothinge, otwa li twa pumbwa iimaliwa tu ye koshigongi shoshitopolwa. Omumwatate gumwe okwa zimine a lande po ohauto yetu yoFoota yomo 1950, opo tu vule okuya. Konima yomwedhi, esiku limwe otwa li twa vulwa konima sho tu uvitha egumbo negumbo nokuninga omakonakonombiimbeli getu moshanga shomutenya. Otwa li twa kumwa, oshoka sho twe ya kegumbo, otwa adha po ohauto yetu ndjoka twa landitha po. Pekende lyokomeho opwa li pu na okambapila ka nyolwa: “Ohauto yeni oyo ndjoka, onde yi mu pa omagano. Omumwaho.”

Onda li ndu ulukilwa natango olukeno ndwoka itaandi dhimbwa nando. Mo 1962, onda li nda hiywa ndi ka hite Osikola yUukalele wUukwaniilwa koSouth Lansing, moNew York. Olya li edheulo lyomwedhi aguhe, lyaakuluntugongalo nolyaatonatelishikandjo. Pethimbo nda hiywa, onda adhika kaandi na iilonga niimaliwa. Nonando ongawo, onda li nda pulwapulwa kehangano lyoongodhi dhokopaala, opo ya kute ndje. Ando oya kutile ndje, ando onda ka kala omuluudhe gwotango miilonga moka. Pehulilo, oya lombwele ndje kutya otaya ka kuta ndje. Mbela onda li tandi ka ninga po shike? Kanda li ndi na iimaliwa yokuya koNew York. Oshili onda li nda dhiladhila kutya hwepo owala ndi ye miilonga mbyoka, pehala lyokuya kosikola. Onkee ano, sho nda li pokunyolela koBetel ontumwafo kutya itandi yi kosikola, opwa holoka oshinima kaandi na siku ndi shi dhimbwe.

Esiku limwe, omumwameme gumwe gwomegongalo lyetu, ngoka omusamane gwe kaa li Onzapo, okwa konkola pegumbo lyetu ongula onene, e ta pe ndje ekutu. Mekutu moka iimaliwa ongoye owala to ti opuwo! Omumwameme ngoka pamwe noyana, oya kala nokupenduka ongula onene taya yi momapya, opo ya ka helele nokulikola omundele nelalakano ya mone iimaliwa ya gwana, opo ndi vule okuya koNew York. Omumwameme ngoka okwa ti: “Inda kosikola wu ki ilonge oshindji ngaashi to vulu, e to ya wu tu longe!” Lwanima, onda pula ehangano lyoongodhi ngele otandi vulu okutameka  iilonga konima yiiwike itano, nonando hasho lya li lyu uvaneka. Olya yamukula lya ti: “Ahowe!” Ihe shoka kasha li sha tulitha ndje omutse kepepe. Onda li nda ninga nale etokolo lyandje. Onda pandula, sho inaandi ya miilonga mbyoka.

Mpaka otapu landula oohapu dhaGloria, nkene ta dhimbulukwa ethimbo twa li moPine Bluff: “Onda li ndi hole oshitopolwa shetu! Onda li ndi na aakonakonimbiimbeli 15 okuuka po 20. Onkee, otwa li hatu uvitha egumbo negumbo ethimbo lyongula nokonima opo nee tatu yi kaakonakoni yetu, nomathimbo gamwe otwa li hatu kala muukalele sigo opo 11 guusiku. Uukalele otwa li hatu wu tyapula! Ando osha li tashi vulika, ando oshinakugwanithwa shoka osho tu na natango. Odhoshili kutya kanda li nando nda hala oshinakugwanithwa shetu shi lunduluke tu ye miilonga yuutonatelishikandjo, ihe Jehova osho a li e tu dhiladhilila.” Iilonga mbyoka oyo e ke tu pa shili.

Manga twa li tatu kokola ondjila moPine Bluff, otu udhithile muukokolindjila wi ikalekelwa. Otwa li lela twa hala mo, oshoka omutonatelishikandjo gwetu okwa li a hala tu ka kwathele megongalo lyomoTexas tu li aakokolindjila yi ikalekelwa. Edhiladhilo ndyoka otwa li twe li hokwa. Onkee ano, otwa li twa tegelele nokutegelela, tu na einekelo kutya Ehangano otali tu yamukula, ihe ohatu ka tya ngaa ngeyi mokaketha ketu kamu nasha. Hugunina, esiku limwe osho twa adha mo ontumwafo, notwa li twa pewa oshinakugwanithwa shokukala aatonateli aayendi. Shoka osha ningwa muJanuali mo 1965. Omumwatate Leon Weaver, ngoka ngashingeyi omuunganeki gwomOkomitiye yOshitayimbelewa moAmerika, okwa li a langekwa po e li omutonatelishikandjo pethimbo mpoka.

Onda li nda tila okukala omutonatelishikandjo. Omumvo gumwe manga inaandi pewa oshinakugwanithwa shoka, omutonateli gwoshitopolwa gwedhina James A. Thompson, Jr., okwa li a tala ngele onda gwana ngaa okuya miilonga mbyoka. Okwa li a kwathele ndje nombili mpoka nda pumbwa okuninga omalunduluko, ta lombwele ndje ontseyo ndjoka omutonatelishikandjo omwaanawa a pumbwa. Konima sho nda kala mo okathimbo muutonatelishikandjo, onda dhimbulukwa kutya omayele ngoka nda pewele oga pumbiwa shili. Konima sho nda langekwa po, omumwatate Thompson oye a li omutonateli gwoshitopolwa nda longa naye tango. Ondi ilonga oshindji komumwatate ngoka omudhiginini.

Pethimbo lyonale, aatonatelishikandjo oya li haya pewa owala edheulo eshona. Uule woshiwike, onda li nda yi pamwe nomutonatelishikandjo, sho a ka talela po egongalo limwe, ndi tale nkene ta longo. Opo nduno, oshiwike sha ka landula ko, sho nda ka talela po egongalo ekwawo, okwa tala nkene tandi longo. Okwa pe ndje omaetopo gontumba nokupukulula ndje. Ihe konima yaashoka, otwa kala hatu longo otse atuke naGloria. Otandi dhimbulukwa tandi pula Gloria tandi ti: “Omumwatate ngoka ote tu thigi po shili?” Mokweendela ko kwethimbo, onda dhimbulula oshinima sha simana.  Onda mono kutya otapu ka kala aluhe aamwatate mboka taya vulu oku tu kwathela, ngele otwe etha ye tu kwathele. Otandi pandula ekwatho ndyoka nda pewa kaamwatate mboka ya kwathela ndje ye na owino oyindji. Aamwatate mboka ongaashi J. R. Brown, omutonateli omweendi naFred Rusk ngoka e li oshilyo shaBetel.

Uukwamuhoko owa li tawu dhana onkandangala pethimbo mpoka. Oshikando shimwe, aantu yomehangano lyo-KKK oya li ye li mekanka mondoolopa yi li moshitopolwa shaTennessee. Otandi dhimbulukwa oshikando shimwe tatu uvitha naauvithi ooyakwetu, e tatu ka thuwa po pehala limwe lyokulila. Pehala mpoka onda yi kokandjugo, nomulumentu gumwe a kenyata koshipala a thanekwa iinima kolutu, okwa li a landulile ndje mo. Ihe omumwatate gumwe oshilumbu, e tu vule atuhe molutu tse nomulumentu ngoka, naye okwe ya mo. Okwa pula ndje a ti: “Omumwatate Herd, ayihe oyi li ngaa nawa?” Omulumentu ngoka okwa zi mo meendelelo mokandjugo inee ka longitha. Uule womimvo, onde shi mona kutya shoka hashi etitha uukwamuhoko kashi shi olwaala lwomuntu, ihe uulunde mboka atuheni twa thigululeni kuAdam. Ondi ilonga wo kutya ngele omuntu omumwatate, omumwatate owala nonando oku kale e na olwaala lwa tya ngiini. Ota vulu wo okwiigandja a se, omolwoye.

Otwa kala aatonateli aayendi uule womimvo 33, omanga omimvo 21 twa kala aatonateli yoshitopolwa. Momimvo ndhoka, otwa kala nokulalekwa nuuyamba notwa mona mo iimoniwa oyindji tayi tsu omukumo. Nonando ongawo, komeho okwa li natango eyambeko lye tu tegelela. MuAuguste mo 1997, ondjodhi yetu yokulonga moBetel, oya ningi yoshili. Otwa li twa hiywa tu ka longe koBetel yaAmerika. Shoka osha li sha ningwa konima yomimvo 38 okuza pethimbo sho tu udhithile moBetel oshikando shotango. Omwedhi gwa ka landula ko, otwa tameke okulonga moBetel. Onda li ndi shi aamwatate mboka taya kwatele komeho moBetel, oya hala owala ndi kwathele uule wokathimbo, ihe iinima hasho ye ke enda ngawo.

Oshinakugwanithwa shandje shotango moBetel, osha li shokulonga mOshikondo shIilonga. Onda li ndi ilongo mo oshindji. Aamwatate moshikondo shoka ohayu ungaunga nomapulo ogendji ga kitakana notaga ningitha omuntu a dhiladhile muule, ga za kolutu lwaakuluntugongalo nokaatonatelishikandjo muuyuni awuhe. Onda pandula, sho aamwatate ya li ya kwathele nokudheula ndje neidhidhimiko. Ando onda li natango handi longo moshikondo shoka, ando natango otandi ilongo oshindji kuyo.

Ngame naGloria otu hole iilonga yaBetel. Atuhe otwa za tu hole okupenduka ongula onene aluhe, naashoka oshe tu kwathela moBetel. Konima yomumvo lwaampono, onda tameke okukwathela mOkomitiye yIilonga yOlutuwiliki lwOonzapo dhaJehova. Mo 1999, onda langekwa po ndi li oshilyo shOlutuwiliki. Ondi ilonga oshindji moshinakugwanithwa shoka. Shoka ndi ilonga mo unene, osho kutya omutse gwegongalo lyopaKriste, oJesus Kristus ihe hamuntu gwontumba.

Okutala konakuziwa yandje, omathimbo gamwe ohandi kala ndu uvite ngaashi omuhunganeki Amos. Jehova okwa li a ndhindhilike eifupipiko lyaAmos ngoka a li omusita gwoonzi nomutsiki gwomikwiyu. Oonkwiyu iikulya mbyoka ya li ya talika ko yoohepele. Kalunga okwa li a langeka po Amos a kale omuhunganeki, nokwe mu yambeke, omolwoshinakugwanithwa shoka. (Amos 7:14, 15) Sha faathana, Jehova okwa ndhindhilike ndje mo, omwanamati gwomunafaalama ohepele moLiberty, Indiana, e ta yambeke ndje. Omayambeko ngoka itandi vulu nokuli oku ga yalula. (Omayel. 10:22) Odhoshili kutya onda za nda hepa painiwe, ihe pehulilo onda yambapala pambepo noonkondo, shi vulithe pwaashoka nda li nda dhiladhila!