NGACEDZA sikolo nebantfu lengangena nabo. Cishe besatana sonkhe ngemagama kulelidolobha.

Lidolobha lakitsi beligcwele emasimu futsi bekulinywa kakhulu umbila. Ngatalwa ngesikhatsi babe asebenta emasimini alomunye umlimi wendzawo. Ngesikhatsi ngiseminyakeni yekutfomba ngafundza kushayela sigulumba ngaphindze ngafundza nalamanye emakhono ekulima.

Nangitalwa, babe bekaneminyaka lengu-56, kani make bekaneminyaka lengu-35. Babe bekayindvodza lengumcemane, anemandla, asebenta kamatima futsi wasifundzisa sonkhe kutsi sikutsandze kusebenta. Bekahola imali lencane kepha bekasakhele indlu, asitsengela timphahla kanye nekudla futsi bekahlala asinakekela. Washona aneminyaka lengu-93 kantsi make washona aneminyaka lengu-86. Bobabili bebangamkhonti Jehova. Kunabhuti wami losabe ngulomdzala welibandla lowetsembekile kusukela kwacala lilungiselelo lekubekwa kwalabadzala belibandla ngabo-1970.

Make bekakholwa kakhulu. Bekaya natsi esontfweni lema-Baptist njalo ngelisontfo. Ngacala kuva ngemfundziso yamtsatfu amunye nangineminyaka lengu-12. Ngabuta make kutsi: “Kwenteka njani kutsi Jesu abeyiNdvodzana futsi abe nguBabe ngekhatsi lesifanako?” Ngiyakhumbula angiphendvula atsi: “Mntfwanami, kute lowatiko futsi ngeke sikhone kukucondza.” Bekulukhuni mbamba kutsi ngiyicondze lemfundziso. Noma kunjalo nangineminyaka lengu-14 ngabhajatiswa kulelinye lisontfo lebelidvutane futsi bangicwilisa katsatfu.

Nangisesikolweni lesiphakeme benginemngani lebekadlala umdlalo wesibhakela futsi wangincenga kutsi nami ngiwungenele. Ngako ngajoyina licembu lemdlalo wesibhakela lelibitwa ngekutsi yi-Golden Gloves. Bengingakwati kulwa ngako ngayekela emva kwesikhashana. Ngabese ngiba lisotja laseMelika futsi ngemva kwesikhatsi bangiyisa eJalimane. Nangisasebenta lapho baphatsi bami bangiyisa esikolweni semasotja ngobe bebacabanga kutsi nginelikhono lekuhola bantfu. Bebafuna kutsi ngitimisele kuba lisotja. Bengingakutsandzi kuba lisotja, ngako nga-1956 ngayekela nangicedza kuceceshwa iminyaka lemibili. Ngemva kwesikhashana ngajoyina lelinye libutfo lelehluke kakhulu.

Ngisengakawati emaciniso benginembono longasiwo wekutsi indvodza sibili kufanele ibe ngumuntfu lonjani. Bengikukholelwa loko lebengikubukela kuma-movie kanye nalebengikubona kubantfu lebengiphila nabo. Ngako bengicabanga kutsi emadvodza labeshumayela bekangasiwo emadvodza sibili. Ngacala kufundza tintfo letashintja kuphila kwami. Ngalelinye lilanga bengishayela imoto yami ledulile futsi labanye bosisi lababili bangimisa. Bekubosisi basibali wami futsi bebaBoFakazi BaJehova. Bebake bangipha magazini Sicongosekulindza ne-Phaphama! kodvwa bekulukhuni kuyicondza. Ngalelolanga bangimema kutsi ngiye eSifundvweni Sencwadzi Selibandla lapho bekudadishwa khona liBhayibheli futsi kucocwe ngalo. Ngabatjela kutsi ngisayocabanga. Bamoyitela base bangibuta kutsi: “Uyetsembisa yini kutsi utawufika?” Ngatsi: “Ngiyanetsembisa.”

Ngatisola ngekwetsembisa kutsi ngitawuya, kepha bekufanele ngisigcine setsembiso sami. Ngako ngaya ngalelolanga. Ngamangala nangibona kutsi bantfwana balati kangaka liBhayibheli! Nanobe besiya esontfweni njalo ngemasontfo, bekukuncane kakhulu lebengikwati ngeliBhayibheli. Bengifisa kwati lokwengetiwe, ngako ngavuma kudadisha nabo liBhayibheli. Ngekushesha ngafundza kutsi ligama laNkulunkulu nguJehova. Eminyakeni leyengcile bengike ngabuta make mayelana naBoFakazi BaJehova, futsi waphendvula watsi: “BoFakazi bakhonta lomunye mkhulu lobitwa ngekutsi nguJehova.” Kodvwa besengibona ngatsi emehlo ami ayavuleka!

Ngenca yekutsi besengilati liciniso, ngatfutfuka ngekushesha. Ngemuva kwetinyanga letingu-9 ngabhajatiswa nga-March 1957. Indlela lengibuka ngayo tintfo yashintja. Ngiyajabula kutsi ngafundza kutsi lifundzisani liBhayibheli ngekuba  yindvodza sibili. Jesu bekete sono. Bekanemandla lamakhulu kwendlula nobe nguyiphi indvodza. Noma kunjalo, akazange sekalwe namuntfu, kodvwa njengobe bekubiketelwe, wavumela bantfu kutsi ‘bamhluphe.’ (Isa. 53:2, 7) Ngafundza kutsi umlandzeli waJesu sibili kufanele abe “nemusa kubo bonkhe.”​—2 Thim. 2:24.

Nga-1958 ngaba lihlahlandlela. Kodvwa kwadzingeka ngiyekele kwesikhashana. Kungani? Ngashada naGloria lobekangulomunye walamantfombatana langimemela esifundvweni. Angikaze ngatisola ngesincumo lengasenta. Gloria bekaligugu kakhulu kimi futsi usengilo nanyalo. Kimi ufanana nelidayimane. Ngijabula kakhulu ngekutsi ngashada naye! Ase asicocele kafishane ngemlandvo wakhe.

“Ekhaya satalwa saba ngu-17. Make bekasikhonti saJehova lesetsembekile. Washona nangineminyaka lengu-14 futsi ngulapho babe acala khona kudadisha liBhayibheli. Nasekashonile make, babe wakhuluma nemphatsi wesikolwa kutsi mine nasisi wami singayi onkhe malanga esikolweni kepha sishintjane. Sisi wami lomdzala bekenta umnyaka wakhe wekugcina esikolweni. Loko bekusenta sikhone kunakekela bantfwana bakitsi labancane siphindze sipheke nekudla lesitakudla ntsambama ngesikhatsi babe abuya emsebentini. Umphatsi wesikolwa wavuma kutsi sishintjane waze sisi wami wacedza sikolwa. Imindeni lemibili leBoFakazi beyifundza natsi liBhayibheli futsi mine nalabanye bantfwana bakitsi labangu-10 saba BoFakazi BaJehova. Bengikutsandza kakhulu kuya ensimini ngisho noma benginemahloni. Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka Sam bekasolo angisita kakhulu.”

Mine naGloria sashada ngaFebruary 1959. Sobabili besikujabulela kuba ngemahlahlandlela. NgaJuly safaka ticelo tekuya eBethel ngoba besifisa kuyokhonta endlunkhulu yemhlaba wonkhe. Umzalwane Simon Kraker wacoca natsi. Wasichazela kutsi ngaleso sikhatsi ticelo talabashadene betingemukelwa eBethel. Besisolo sinesifiso sekuya, kodvwa bekutawutsatsa sikhatsi lesidze.

Sabhalela endlunkhulu sacela kuyokhonta endzaweni lenesidzingo lesikhulu. Sabelwa kutsi siyokhonta ePine Bluff, e-Arkansas. Ngaleso sikhatsi bekunemabandla lamabili kuphela ePine Bluff​—linye lebantfu labamhlophe futsi lelinye belilebantfu labamnyama. Sabelwa kutsi siye ebandleni lalabamnyama futsi belinebamemeteli labangu-14 kuphela.

Kungenteka uyatibuta kutsi kungani BoFakazi BaJehova bebahlukanisa bememeteli labamnyama nalabamhlophe. Sizatfu besikutsi kuncane kakhulu lobekungentiwa ngaleso sikhatsi. Bekunemitsetfo leyenta kube licala kutsi bantfu bebuve lobehlukene bahlangane ndzawonye, futsi ngaleso sikhatsi bekugcwele budlova. Etindzaweni letinyenti bazalwane bebesaba kutsi liHholwa labo leMbuso litawushiswa nangabe kuhlangana bazalwane labanebuve lobehlukene. Loku bekwenteka mbamba. Nangabe BoFakazi bashumayela umuti ngemuti endzaweni yalabamhlophe bebangaboshwa noma bashaywe. Ngako besilalela umtsetfo kute sikhone kushumayela, futsi besetsemba kutsi lesimo sitawuba ncono.

Ngaletinye tikhatsi bekuba matima kushumayela. Nasishumayela endzaweni lenebantfu labamnyama bekwenteka sinconcotse endlini yemuntfu lomhlophe. Bekufanele sikhetse kutsi sitawusho inshumayelo lemfishane yini noma sivele sicolise bese siyahamba. Loku bekuhlale kwenteka.

Njengobe besingemahlahlandlela, bekufanele sisebente kamatima kuze sitisekele. Besivame kuhola emadola lamatsatfu ngelilanga. Gloria bekenta imisebenti yasendlini. Kulelinye likhaya bangivumela kutsi ngimsite kute asheshe acedze imisebenti yakhe. Bebahlale basentela kudla kwasemini ngaphambi kwekutsi sihambe. Njalo ngeliviki, Gloria beka-ayina timphahla talomunye umndeni. Mine bengisebenta ejalidini, ngiwasha emafasitelo futsi ngenta naleminye imisebenti yasekhaya. Nasisebenta kulelinye likhaya lalabamhlophe, sawasha emafasitelo futsi Gloria bekawawasha ngekhatsi mine ngiwawasha ngaphandle. Sasebenta lilanga lonkhe, ngako basentela kudla kwasemini. Gloria wadla yedvwa ngekhatsi endlini, kodvwa  mine ngadlela ngaphandle egaraji. Bengite inkinga futsi lokudla bekumnandzi kakhulu. Lomndeni wasiphatsa kahle ngisho noma bantfu bakuleyondzawo bebanelubandlululo. Ngikhumbula ngalelinye lilanga siyowetsa imoto egaraji. Lona lowasetsela bekamhlophe. Nasekayetsile, ngacela kutsi umkami asebentise indlu yangasese. Wavele nje wangibuka kabi wase utsi: “Kukhiyiwe.”

Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi sajabulela tikhatsi letimnandzi nebazalwane futsi besiwutsandza umsebenti wekushumayela. Nasifika ePine Bluff sahlala nalomunye umzalwane lebekabitwa ngekutsi yinceku yelibandla. Umkakhe bekangesuye Fakazi futsi Gloria wafundza naye liBhayibheli. Mine ngafundzela indvodzakati yabo kanye nemkhwenyana wabo. Lomake kanye nendvodzakati yakhe bakhetsa kukhonta Jehova futsi babhajatiswa.

Besinebangani ebandleni lalabamhlophe. Bebavame kusimema kutsi sitodla nabo, kodvwa besivame kuya kubo nasekumnyama kute bantfu bangasiboni. Ngaleso sikhatsi inhlangano lebeyikhutsata lubandlululo nebudlova lebeyibitwa ngekutsi yiKu Klux Klan (KKK) beyinemandla lamakhulu. Ngalobunye busuku ngabona lenye indvodza ihleti kuvurandi, igcoke njengemalunga eKKK. Kodvwa loko akuzange kubavimbe bazalwane kutsi basiphatse kahle. Ngalelinye lilanga besidzinga imali yekuya emhlanganweni wesifundza futsi lomunye umzalwane wavuma kutsenga imoto yetfu kuze sitokhona kuya. Ngalelinye lilanga, sabuya ensimini sidziniwe njengobe bekushisa futsi besekuphele inyanga sibuya emhlanganweni. Samangala nasibona imoto yetfu ipakwe embikwendlu yetfu! Sabona liphepha efasitelweni layo libhalwe kutsi: “Lemoto isipho lenginipha sona. Ngimi umzalwane wenu.”

Kunalesinye sento semusa lengingeke ngisikhohlwe. Nga-1962 ngamenywa kutsi ngiye Esikolweni Semsebenti Wembuso lebesiseSouth Lansing eNew York. Lesikolwa besitawutsatsa inyanga yonkhe futsi besentelwe kucecesha bazalwane labaholako emabandleni, babonisi betifundza nebetigodzi. Nangitfola lesimemo bengingasebenti futsi bengite imali. Noma kunjalo lenye inkapani yetincingo ePine Bluff beyingetsembise umsebenti. Nayingicasha bekutawuba kwekucala kutsi umuntfu lomnyama asebente lapho. Ekugcineni bangicasha. Bengitawenta njani? Bengite imali yekuya eNew York. Ngacabanga kuwemukela lomsebenti futsi ngisale simemo sekuya esikolweni. Nangilungela kubhala incwadzi yekungasemukeli lesimemo, kwenteka intfo lengingayuze ngiyikhohlwe.

Ekuseni ngalelinye lilanga kwefika dzadze wasebandleni lebekanemyeni longesuye Fakazi futsi wanginiketa imvilopho lebeyigcwele imali. Kuze ngitfole imali yekuya eNew York, yena nebantfwana bakhe labancane bebavuka ekuseni kakhulu bayohlakula futsi bavune kotini. Lodzadze watsi:  “Hamba uye esikolweni ufundze lokunyenti, bese uyabuya utosifundzisa.” Ngabese ngicela kulenkapani kutsi ngicale kusebenta ngemuva kwemaviki lasihlanu. Abazange bavume, kodvwa bengite inkinga. Besengivele ngincumile futsi ngiyajabula kutsi angizange ngiwemukele lomsebenti!

Nakakhumbula sikhatsi lasicitsa ePine Bluff, Gloria utsi: “Bengiyitsandza kakhulu insimu yalapho. Bengichuba tifundvo teliBhayibheli letingu-15 kuya ku-20. Ekuseni besishumayela emtini ngemuti bese sichuba tifundvo teliBhayibheli futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi besicedza nga-11 ebusuku. Bekumnandzi kakhulu! Bengitawujabula kakhulu kube sachubeka kuleyo nsimu. Bengingafuni mbamba kutsi sishintje sabelo setfu futsi sivakashele emabandla, kepha kunalokutsite Jehova bekasilungiselele kona.”

Nasingemahlahlandlela ePine Bluff, safaka ticelo tekuba ngemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile. Besetsemba kutsi ticelo tetfu titawemukelwa ngobe umbonisi wetfu wesigodzi bekafise kutsi siyosita kulelinye libandla laseTexas, sibe ngemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile. Loko bekutasijabulisa kakhulu. Ngako salindza, kepha kute incwadzi lesayitfola lebuya enhlanganweni. Nga-January 1965 satfola incwadzi lebeyisitjela kutsi sabelwe kuvakashela emabandla! Umzalwane Leon Weaver wabelwa kutsi naye abe ngumbonisi wesigodzi futsi nyalo sengumchumanisi weKomidi Yeligatja laseMelika.

Kwangetfusa kutsi sengitawuba ngumbonisi wesigodzi. Kusesele umnyaka kutsi ngibe ngumbonisi wesigodzi, umzalwane James A. Thompson lobekangumbonisi wesifundza wangihlola kutsi ngiyafaneleka yini. Ngemusa wangichazela kutsi ngukuphi lapho ngingatfutfukisa khona, wangitjela nangemakhono lokufanele ngibe nawo kute ngibe ngumbonisi wesigodzi lokahle. Kungakapheli sikhatsi lesidze ngingumbonisi wesigodzi ngabona kutsi seluleko sakhe bengisidzinga. Umzalwane Thompson waba ngumbonisi wesifundza wekucala lengasebenta naye. Kunyenti kakhulu lengakufundza kulomzalwane lowetsembekile.

Ngaleso sikhatsi bekukuncane kakhulu kuceceshwa lebekutfolwa babonisi besigodzi. Ngahamba nalomunye umbonisi wesigodzi nakavakashele lelinye libandla futsi nganaka indlela lebekenta ngayo. Ngeliviki lelilandzelako wahamba nami kute abone indlela lebengenta ngayo nangivakashele lelinye libandla. Wangeluleka futsi wangitjela tintfo lebetingangisita. Ngemuva kwaloko ngabese ngiyatichubekela. Ngikhumbula ngibuta Gloria kutsi: “Yini ngatsi lomzalwane usheshe wahamba?”  Noma kunjalo, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngafundza kutsi kuhlale kunebazalwane labakulungele kukusita, nangabe nje ubavumela kutsi bakusite. Ngisalujabulela lusito lengalutfola kumzalwane J.  R. Brown lebekangumbonisi wesigodzi kanye nakumzalwane Fred Rusk lebekalilunga lemndeni waseBethel.

Ngaleso sikhatsi bekugcwele lubandlululo. Ngalelinye lilanga inhlangano yeKKK beyishuca lapho besivakashele khona, edolobheni lelibitwa ngekutsi yiTennessee. Ngalelinye lilanga sibuya ensimini saya kuyotsenga kudla e-restaurant. Nangiya endlini lencane, lenye indvodza lebeyitfukutsele yangibuka kabi yase iyangilandzela. Kodvwa lomunye umzalwane lomhlophe lobekabukeka anemandla kunatsi kanye nalendvodza lebeyitfukutsele weta kitsi. Lomzalwane wangibuta kutsi: “Konkhe kusahamba kahle mzalwane Herd?” Lendvodza yahamba ngekushesha, ingakayisebentisi indlu lencane. Kuleminyaka leyendlulile ngibonile kutsi lubandlululo alubangelwa libala lesikhumba, kodvwa lubangelwa sono lesasitfola ku-Adamu. Ngaphindze ngafundza nekutsi bazalwane babanaketfu ngisho noma banelibala lesikhumba lelehlukile, futsi bangakufela nangabe kudzingeka.

Ngaba ngumbonisi wesigodzi iminyaka lengu-12 futsi ngaba ngumbonisi wesifundza iminyaka lengu-21. Kuleyo minyaka besijabule kakhulu futsi kunyenti lesakufundza. Kunalelinye lilungelo lebesitalijabulela. Nga-August 1997 samenywa kutsi siyosebenta eBethel leseMelika, ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-38 sifake sicelo. Sacala kusebenta ngenyanga lelandzelako. Bengicabanga kutsi bazalwane bebafuna ngisebente sikhashana, kodvwa akubanga njalo.

Ngacala ngasebenta eHhovisini Lemsebenti futsi kunyenti kakhulu lengakufundza. Kulelihhovisi, bazalwane bebatfola imibuto lematima lebeyivela etigungwini talabadzala kanye nakubabonisi betigodzi kulo lonkhe lelive. Ngajabula ngendlela bebangibeketelela futsi bangicecesha ngayo. Ngabona kutsi kunyenti lebengingachubeka ngikufundza kubo.

Siyayitsandza imphilo yaseBethel. Sisheshe sivuke futsi loko kubaluleke kakhulu nawuseBethel. Cishe ngemuva kwemnyaka, ngaba ngumsiti eKomidini Yemsebenti yeSigungu Lesibusako saBoFakazi BaJehova. Nga-1999 ngaba lilunga leSigungu Lesibusako. Kunyenti kakhulu lengikufundzile kulesabelo, kodvwa lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi inhloko yelibandla lebuKhristu nguJesu Khristu hhayi lomunye umuntfu.

Nangicabanga ngalokwenteke ekuphileni kwami, ngihle ngitiva ngendlela umphrofethi Amose labetiva ngayo. Jehova wamnaka lomelusi lobekatfobekile lobekangumlimi wemakhiwa, lebekukudla kwebantfu labaphuyile kuphela. Nkulunkulu wakhetsa Amose kutsi abe ngumphrofethi futsi wambusisa kakhulu kulesabelo. (Amo. 7:14, 15) Ngalokufanako, nami Jehova wanginaka nanobe bengiyindvodzana yemlimi lophuyile waseLiberty, e-Indiana futsi wangibusisa kakhulu ngendlela lengachazeki. (Taga 10:22) Ngiyabona kutsi nanobe ekucaleni imphilo yami beyingajabulisi, kodvwa nyalo ngijabula kakhulu.