Umkami uDanièle wayesenanzelele kudala okwasekusenzakala, yikho wanginyenyezela wathi, “Ungazihluphi ngokufonela amapholisa, kudala efikile!” Kwatheleka imota yafika yama phambi kwewotela. Sabotshwa kodwa izincwadi engangizithwele zasala ngoba ngasengizinike omunye umzalwane ngesikhathi umkami engitshela ngokufika kwamapholisa.

Ngesikhathi amapholisa esiqhuba esihambisa enkambeni, ngezwa ngithokoza enhliziyweni ngokuthi ngangilenkosikazi elesibindi futhi emthandayo uJehova. Sasihlala sincedisana lomkami. Kahle ngikuxoxele ukuthi kuyini okwakusenza sivakatshele emazweni lapho umsebenzi wokutshumayela owawungavunyelwa khona.

Ngazalwa ngo-1930 edolobheni elincane elithiwa yiCroix elisenyakatho yeFrance. Ngakithi sasingamaKatolika futhi sasikuthanda ukuya esontweni. Sasihamba kuMasi maviki wonke njalo ubaba wayethenjiwe esontweni. Kodwa ngathi sengizakuba leminyaka engu-14, kwenzakala okunye okwangivula amehlo ngabubona ubuzenzisi obabusenziwa esontweni.

IMpi Yomhlaba Yesibili yayisidla ubhedu futhi ilizwe leFrance laselithethwe ngamabutho eJalimane. Umphristi wesonto yethu wayehlala esikhuthaza ukuthi sisekele umbuso owawukhona ngalesosikhathi owawuqondiswa ngamaJalimane. Intshumayelo zakhe zazisitshiya simangele. Abantu abanengi eFrance babejayele ukulalela ngudlu uhlelo lwerediyo olwalusakaza indaba ezazikhitshwa ngamazwe ayesilwa lamaJalimane. Lathi sasilulalela. Ngelinye ilanga umphristi waphonguthi phendu, samuzwa sesithi sikuzakuba lomhlangano omkhulu wokuthokozela ukunqoba kwamazwe ayelwisana lamaJalimane okwakwenzakele ngoSeptember 1944. Lokhu kwangethusa kakhulu futhi kwenza ngangabathembi abafundisi ngenxa yobumenemene babo.

Impi yathi isanda kuphela ubaba watshona. Udadewethu omdala okuthiwa nguSimone wayesetshadile njalo esehlala eBelgium, ngakho kwasekumele nginakekele umama. Ngathola umsebenzi olemali efemu yamalembu. Umqhatshi wami lamadodana akhe babengamaKatolika azwayo. Lanxa izinto zazikhanya zingihambela kuhle enkampanini yabo, kwakusiza isilingo esikhulu.

Ngo-1953 udadewethu wasivakatshela. Njengoba wayesenguFakazi, saxoxa okunengi ngezimfundiso zesonto yamaKatolika. Wangichasisela esebenzisa iBhayibhili ukuthi imfundiso yesihogo, eyoButhathu bukaNkulunkulu leyokuthi umphefumulo kawufi ingamanga. Ngaqala ngamphikisa ngisithi uhlupho  lwakhe yikuthi kasebenzisi iBhayibhili lamaKatolika kodwa ngacina ngizibonela ukuthi ayekutsho kwakuliqiniso. Ngemva kwesikhathi wangiphathela omagazini okuthiwa yi-Nqabayokulinda ababebadala futhi ngangihlala ngibabala ngingakalali. Kwathi dlwe ngalibona iqiniso. Lanxa kunjalo, ngangisesaba ukuba nguFakazi kaJehova ngoba lokho kwakungangixotshisa umsebenzi.

Afuqana amalanga kwelekana izinyanga ngilifunda ngedwa iBhayibhili ngisebenzisa iNqabayokulinda. Ngelinye ilanga ngathi kahle ngiye eWolu yoMbuso. Engakubona lapho kwangithinta kwamancane ngoba abantu bakhona babelomusa. Ngaqala ukufunda iBhayibhili lomunye umzalwane futhi ngemva kwenyanga eziyisithupha ngabhabhathizwa ngoSeptember 1954. Kungakedluli isikhathi umama lomnawami labo baba ngoFakazi. Lokho kwangithokozisa kakhulu.

Ngo-1958 kwaba lomhlangano wezizwe eNew York. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi umama watshona sekusele amaviki amalutshwana ukuthi umhlangano lo ufike. Ngathi sengivela emhlanganweni, ngananzelela ukuthi ngekhaya kwakungaselamuntu okumele ngimnakekele, yikho ngatshiya umsebenzi ngasengiqalisa ukuphayona. Ngemva kwesikhatshana ngathola intombi eyayikhuthele kakhulu enkonzweni okwakuthiwa nguDanièle Delie. Satshada ngoMay 1959.

UDanièle wayeqale ukuphayona emaphandleni endaweni okuthiwa yiBrittany. Indawo le yayikhatshana langakibo. Wayelesibindi sibili ngoba kulowomango amaKatolika ayezibambile futhi kwakumele ahambe ngebhayisikili edabula emaguswini. Sobabili sasikuthanda ukutshumayela ngoba sasisazi ukuthi ukuphela kwasekusondele. (Mat. 25:13) Ukuzinikela kwakhe kwenze senelisa ukuhlala iminyaka eminengi sisenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke.

Sathi silensukwana nje sitshadile sacelwa ukuthi siqalise umsebenzi wokuhambela amabandla. Kancane kancane sakujayela ukuphila singelazinto ezinengi. Ibandla lokuqala esafika kulo lalilabamemezeli abangu-14 njalo babengenelisi ukusigcina emizini yabo ngoba babezihluphekela. Yikho sasilala eWolu yoMbuso phezu kwabomatirasi esasibafaka eplathifomu. Lanxa sasivuka imihlubulo ibuhlungu, okuhle yikuthi sasilayo indawo yokulala.

Sasihlala silezinto ezinengi zokwenza kodwa umkami wawujayela masinya umsebenzi wokuhambela. Kwezinye izikhathi imihlangano yabadala yayiphonguvuka singayilindelanga, kodwa ngangimthola elokhu ethe kho emoteni engimelele futhi wayengakaze akhonone. Sahlala iminyaka emibili sihambela. Safunda ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi abatshadileyo bangafihlelani lutho njalo bancedisane kukho konke abakwenzayo.​—UmTshu. 4:9.

Ngo-1962 sabizwa eBrooklyn eNew York kukilasi yesi-37 yeSikolo SeGiliyadi esasizathatha izinyanga ezilitshumi. Sabona ukuthi sasiphiwe isibusiso esikhulu ngoba phakathi kwabafowethu labodadewethu abangu-100 ababebiziwe, kwakulabafundi abangu-26 kuphela ababetshadile. Angizikhohlwa izinto esazifunda kuMfowethu uFrederick Franz lo-Ulysses Glass kanye lo-Alexander H. Macmillan. Amadoda la ayelokholo oluqinileyo.

Ngezinyanga lezo safundiswa ukuba lelihlo elibukhali. Ngeminye iMgqibelo sasisithi singatshayisa esikolo  emini sibhodiswe eNew York sibuka indawo. Sasihamba sikwazi ukuthi ngoMvulo sizabhala umhloliso sisitsho esikubonileyo. Sasifika endlini sidinwe sifile kodwa umzalwane owayehamba lathi esitshengisa indawo wayesibuza imibuzo ukuze sikhumbule izinto ezazizaphuma emhlolisweni. Ngomunye uMgqibelo salibhoda salibhoda idolobho inyawo zaze zatshona esiswini. Sahanjiswa endaweni elemitshina yokubona izinto ezisemkhathini lapho esafunda khona ngamatshe awa evela emkhathini esiza emhlabeni. Safika lasemyuziyamu yokubukisa izinto zakudala lapho esabona khona imihlobo etshiyeneyo yezingwenya. Sathi sesifikile eBhetheli, umzalwane owayesiqhuba wabuza wathi, “Kanje sifunde ukuthi amatshe asemkhathini atshiyene njani?” UDanièle waphendula ngelodiniweyo wathi, “Okunye kulamazinyo amakhulu kulokunye!” Wayengasezwa lokuthi uthini umkami, esezikhumbulela ingwenya kuphela.

Ngemva kwesikolo samangala kakhulu sitshelwa ukuthi sesizakuyakhonza egatsheni laseFrance. Sikhonze khona okweminyaka edlula 53. Ngo-1976 ngaba ngumhleli weKhomithi Yegatsha futhi ngaphiwa lomsebenzi wokuvakatshela amazwe ase-Africa lamanye ase-Asia lapho umsebenzi wokutshumayela ongavunyelwa khona. Yikho okwasenza safika eGabon lapho okwenzakala khona lokho engikhulume ngakho ekuqaliseni. Ngangingacabangi ukuthi ngingenelisa ukwenza imisebenzi emikhulu kangaka kodwa inkosikazi yami yanginceda kakhulu ukuthi ngenze loba yini ebengicelwa ukuthi ngiyenze.

Impilo yeBhetheli sayithanda kusukela ngelanga esafika ngalo. Njengoba uDanièle wayefunde isiKhiwa okwenyanga ezinhlanu engakayi eGiliyadi, waphiwa umsebenzi wokuba ngumhumutshi. Lanxa ukusebenza eBhetheli kumnandi, okunye okwakusithokozisa kakhulu yikuhlala sitshiseka ebandleni. Kangilikhohlwa ilanga esatshayisa khona ekutshumayeleni ebusuku sidinwe singazazi kodwa sithabile ngoba abantu esasifunda labo babethuthuka. Kodwa izinto zantshintsha singalindelanga. Umkami waqalisa ukugula futhi lokho kwenza ukuthi ehluleke ukuqhubeka esenza okunengi enkonzweni lanxa wayelaso isifiso.

Ngo-1993 wabanjwa imvukuzane yebele. Wahlinzwa futhi welatshwa langezinye izindlela ezazimtshiya engasathandi lutho. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-15 waphinda wabanjwa enye imvukuzane eyayibuhlungu kakhulu kuleyakuqala. Welatshwa waba ngcono, waseqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi wakhe wokuhumutsha ngoba wayewuthanda kakhulu.

Lanxa umkhuhlane wawumbambile umkami, sasingakaze sikucabange ukusuka eBhetheli. Loba kunjalo, ukugulela eBhetheli kunzima, ikakhulu nxa abanye bengakwazi ukuthi lunganani uhlupho ophakathi kwalo. (Zaga. 14:13) Langesikhathi uDanièle eseleminyaka edlula 70 wawungeke ukholwe ukuthi uyagula ngenxa yokuthi wayehlala ebobotheka futhi emuhle njengelanga liphuma. Wayengatshoni ekhala ngomkhuhlane wakhe kodwa wayehlala encedisa abanye. Wayesazi ukuthi ukulalela abanye nxa bemtshela inhlupho zabo kuyabasiza. (Zaga. 17:17) Umkami wayengaziboni angathi useyingcitshi yokweluleka abanye, kodwa wanceda odade abanengi ukuthi bangayesabi imvukuzane.

Kwasekumele sibekezelele lezinye inhlupho esasesiphakathi kwazo. Ngokuya kwesikhathi umkami wayengasenelisi ukusebenza amalanga wonke, yikho wazama ukudinga ezinye indlela ayengangincedisa  ngazo. Eminyakeni yonke le sitshadile kunengi ayekwenza ukuze angisekele futhi lokho kwenza ngenelisa ukuba ngumhleli weKhomithi Yegatsha okweminyaka engu-37. Nsuku zonke emini wayejayele ukulungisa ukudla ukuze sidlele endlini yethu sizikwejisele.​—Zaga. 18:22.

Sisathi sibubonile ubunzima, uDanièle wabanjwa imvukuzane okwesithathu. Lokho kwasiqeda amandla. Waqala futhi ukwelatshwa ngemitshina eyayitshiya umzimba wakhe ubuthakathaka okokuthi kwezinye izikhathi wayesehluleka lokuhamba. Kwangizwisa ubuhlungu ukubona umkami owayengumhumutshi oyingcitshi esewadinga awaswele amabala nxa ekhuluma. Loba kunjalo, kazange athwale imikhono ekhanda kodwa wahlala elethemba lokuthi uzaba ngcono.

Kwakungathi lisitshonele emini, kodwa saqhubeka sithandaza kuJehova silethemba lokuthi kasoze avumele ukuthi sibe phakathi kohlupho esingeke senelise ukulubekezelela. (1 Khor. 10:13) Sasihlala simbonga ngokusincedisa esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe, abafowethu labodadewethu kanye labazalwane abanakekela abagulayo eBhetheli.

Zikhathi zonke sasicela uJehova ukuthi asiqondise nxa sikhetha indlela zokwelatshwa. Sake saphelelwa ngamacebo, kungaselandlela umkami ayengelatshwa ngayo. Udokotela owayeseleminyaka engu-23 emelapha wayengasazwisisi ukuthi kuyini okwasekusenza uDanièle aqaleke nxa angenziwa i-chemotherapy. Wayeseswele ukuthi enzeni ngoba wayejayele ukumelapha ngayo. Sezwa angathi umhlaba usihlanekele njalo sasingazi ukuthi kuzaphetha ngani. Sisaphithene amakhanda omunye udokotela wemvukuzane wavuma ukusincedisa. Sabona ukuthi uJehova wayesesinike indlela yokuphunyuka ukuze senelise ukumelana lohlupho esasikulo.

Okwasinceda ukuthi silwisane lenhlupho zethu yikungazikhathazi ngokuthi kusasa kuzavuka kunjani. UJesu wathi ‘usuku ngalunye lulohlupho lwalo olwaneleyo.’ (Mat. 6:34) Okunye okwasisizayo yikuhlala sizihlekela futhi silethemba lokuthi izinto zizalunga. Ngikhumbula ngelinye ilanga sixoxa loDanièle ngokuthi wayesehlale inyanga ezimbili engazange ayekwelatshwa. Wangikhangela ebobotheka wathi, “Lokhe ngazalwayo angikaze ngizizwe ngiqine kangaka!” (Zaga. 17:22) Wayekukholisa ukuhlala ephrakthiza ingoma zoMbuso ezintsha ehlabela ngelizwi eliphezulu lanxa umzimba wawususala.

Indlela ayelwamukele ngayo uhlupho lwakhe yanginceda ukuthi ngenelise ukuphila lendubo zami. Okweminyaka yonke le engu-57 sitshadile, umkami wayengenzela konke, engafuni lokungitshengisa ukuthi amaqanda aphekwa njani! Yikho wathi esegula kakhulu, kwasekumele ngifunde ukugezisa imiganu lokuwatsha kanye lokupheka. Aphela amankomitsho endlini ngiwabulala kodwa angizisoli ngoba ngangifuna ukuthokozisa isithandwa sami. *

Ubunzima esedlule kubo ngenxa yokugula lokuguga bungifundise izinto ezinengi. Okokuqala, ngifunde ukuthi akumelanga uswele isikhathi sokutshengisa umkakho ukuthi uyamthanda. Kufanele uyisebenzise kuhle iminyaka yenu yobutsha futhi umthande okwempilo yakho yonke. (UmTshu. 9:9) Okwesibili, akumelanga sikhathazeke kakhulu ngezinto ezincane ngoba lokho kungenza singazinanzeleli izibusiso uJehova asipha zona nsuku zonke.​—Zaga. 15:15.

Nxa ngicabanga ngeminyaka yonke le mina lomkami sisenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke, ngizwa inhliziyo yami ichelesa futhi kangithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova usibusise ngendlela ebesingayilindelanga. Ngiyathokoza njengomhubi owahlabela wathi: ‘INkosi ingiphathe ngomusa.’​—Hubo. 116:7, The Holy Bible in Ndebele.