Navukiye mu gisagara ca Kebeke, mu ntara yo muri Kanada yitwa Kebeke ikoresha ururimi rw’igifaransa. Abavyeyi banje, ari bo Louis na Zélia, barankunda cane. Dawe yari umuntu avuga make kandi akunda gusoma ibitabu. Narakunda cane ibijanye no kwandika, akaba ari co gituma nipfuza kuzoba umumenyeshamakuru.

Igihe nari mfise nk’imyaka 12, umwe mu bakorana na dawe yitwa Rodolphe Soucy be n’umugenzi wiwe, baraje muhira iwacu. Bari Ivyabona vya Yehova. Nta vyinshi nari nzi ku Vyabona kandi sinitaho ivy’idini ryabo. Mugabo narakozwe ku mutima n’ukuntu batwishuye ibibazo mu buryo bwumvikana bakoresheje Bibiliya. Abavyeyi banje na bo nyene vyarabakoze ku mutima, ku buryo twaciye twemera kwiga Bibiliya.

Ico gihe, niga kw’ishure ry’abagatolika. Rimwe na rimwe, narayagira abanyeshure twigana ivyo nariko ndiga muri Bibiliya. Abigisha bacu b’abapatiri bahavuye babimenya. Aho kumpinyuza bakoresheje Ivyanditswe, umwe muri bo yanyagirije imbere y’ishure ryose ko ndi umugumutsi. Naho vyampagaritse umutima, vyaravuyemwo ivyiza kuko vyatumye mbona yuko inyigisho z’ivy’idini zigishwa kuri iryo shure zari zinyuranye na Bibiliya. Naciye mbona ko nkwiye kuva kuri iryo shure. Abavyeyi banje baranyemereye ko noja ku rindi shure.

Naho nagumye niga Bibiliya, naratevye gutera imbere kubera ko natinya kwamamaza inzu ku nzu. Idini rya gatolika ni ryo ryari ryiganje, kandi ryararwanya cane igikorwa cacu co kwamamaza. Uwitwa Maurice Duplessis, akaba yari umushikiranganji wa mbere wa Kebeke, yanama rimwe  n’idini rya gatolika. Yarashigikiye imigwi y’abagumutsi yakubaguye Ivyabona yongera irabagabako ibitero. Mu vy’ukuri, kwamamaza ico gihe vyasaba umutima rugabo.

Umuvukanyi yamfashije gutsinda ubwoba yari John Rae, akaba yari yasohotse Ishure rya Gileyadi mu mugwi ugira icenda. Yari umuntu azi utuntu n’utundi, yitonda, atishira hejuru kandi ashikirana n’abandi. Naho yampa impanuro gake, akarorero keza kiwe nakigiyeko vyinshi. Kubera ko John atari azi neza igifaransa, akenshi twarajana mu ndimiro maze nkamufasha. Gukorana na we vyahavuye bituma mfata ingingo yo kuba Icabona ca Yehova. Nabatijwe ku wa 26 Rusama 1951, hakaba hari haciye imyaka cumi ntanguye kwiga ukuri.

Ishengero ryacu ritoyi ryo mu gisagara ca Kebeke, ahanini ryari rigizwe n’abatsimvyi. Akarorero kabo keza karatumye nkora ubutsimvyi. Ico gihe, twamamaza inzu ku nzu dukoresheje Bibiliya gusa. Kubera ko tutakoresha ibitabu, twarihatira gukoresha neza Ivyanditswe. Naciye rero ngira akigoro ko kumenya imirongo yo muri Bibiliya kugira ngo nshingire intahe ukuri. Ariko rero, abenshi baranka no gusoma Bibiliya iyo ari yo yose itaba ifise ikimenyetso cerekana ko yemewe n’idini rya Gatolika.

Mu 1952, narubakanye na mushiki wacu w’umwizigirwa twari kumwe mw’ishengero yitwa Simone Patry. Twaciye twimukira i Montréal, maze haciye umwaka twubakanye turibaruka agakobwa kitwa Lise. Naho namaze igihe gitoyi narahagaritse ubutsimvyi imbere y’uko twubakana, twe na Simone twaragerageje kuguma tworoheje ubuzima kugira dufashe ishengero bimwe bishitse.

Imyaka cumi yaraheze ntarasubira kuzirikana ibijanye no gusubira gukora ubutsimvyi. Mu 1962, naritavye ishure ry’Ubusuku bw’Ubwami rigenewe abakurambere ryamaze ukwezi ribera kuri Beteli yo muri Kanada. Mu cumba, twabana n’umuvukanyi yitwa Camille Ouellette. Umwete yari afitiye igikorwa co kwamamaza warankoze ku mutima, na canecane kubera ko yari afise umuryango. Ico gihe, muri Kebeke ntivyari bimenyerewe ko umuntu afise abana akora ubutsimvyi. Mugabo, uwo mugambi nyene ni wo Camille yari afise. Igihe cose twamaranye yarandemesheje kuzirikana ku kuntu ivyanje vyifashe. Haciye amezi makeyi gusa, narabonye ko vyoshoboka yuko  nsubira gukora ubutsimvyi. Naho hari abaneguye iyo ngingo, nagumye nizigira ko Yehova yohezagiye utwigoro twanje two kwagura umurimo.

Mu 1964, twe na Simone twaragenywe kuba abatsimvyi badasanzwe mu gisagara cacu c’amavukiro ca Kebeke, tukaba twahamaze imyaka itari mike tuhakorera. Ico gihe, ibintu vyariko birarushiriza kumera neza mu bijanye no kwamamaza naho hari hakiriho abaturwanya.

Umusi umwe, ku wa gatandatu ku muhingamo, narafashwe ndi i Sainte-Marie, agasagara gatoya kari hafi y’igisagara ca Kebeke. Umutegetsi umwe yaranjanye ku biro vy’igipolisi baca barampfunga banyagiriza ngo ndiko ndamamaza inzu ku nzu ntabifitiye uruhusha. Mu nyuma, nararengukijwe imbere y’umucamanza yari ateye ubwoba yitwa Baillargeon. Igihe yambaza uwombereye umushingwamanza, namubwiye ko ari uwitwa Glen How, * akaba yari umuvukanyi w’umushingwamanza yari azwi cane. Yaciye ambwira ashavuye ati: “Ntibishoboka. Uwo sindamwemera.” Uwo muvukanyi Glen yari azwi ko yari umushingwamanza karuhariwe mu kuburanira Ivyabona. Hadaciye igihe, sentare yaciye imenyesha ko urubanza rwanje rufuswe.

Kuba igikorwa cacu cararwanywa muri Kebeke, vyaranatuma tutaronka ibibanza bibereye twokota ku bw’amakoraniro. Ahantu honyene ishengero ryacu ritoya ryashobora kuronka yari igaraje ishaje kandi ikanye cane. Kugira ngo turonke ubushuhe na bukeya mu gihe c’imbeho nyinshi yo mu rushana, twakoresha icuma gitoyi catanga ubushuhe budashemeye. Imbere y’uko dutangura amakoraniro, akenshi twabanza kumara amasaha nk’angahe iruhande yaco tuganira ku vyabonywe biremesha.

Birashimishije kubona ingene igikorwa co kwamamaza cagiye kiratera imbere uko imyaka yagiye irarengana. Mu myaka ya 1960, mu karere kagizwe n’igisagara ca Kebeke, Côte-Nord be na Gaspé, harangwa amashengero makeyi gusa kandi matomato. Ariko ubu, amashengero ari muri utwo turere ni menshi cane, kandi abavukanyi bikoraniriza mu Ngoro z’Ubwami nziza utoraba.

Mu 1970, twe na Simone twaratewe agateka ko kugendera amashengero. Mu 1973 na ho, naragenywe kuba umucungezi w’intara. Muri iyo myaka, narigiye vyinshi ku bavukanyi bazi utuntu n’utundi, nka Laurier Saumur * na David Splane, * bompi bakaba bari abacungezi b’ingenzi. Buri gihe iteraniro riheze, twe na Splane twarahanahana ivyiyumviro vy’ukuntu tworyohora ingene twigisha. Ndibuka ko igihe kimwe yambwiye ati: “Léonce, nakunze cane insiguro yawe isozera. Yari nziza, mugabo iyaba ari jewe nari kuyikuramwo insiguro zitatu.” Mu bisanzwe, insiguro zanje naziremereza ibintu vyinshi. Nari nkeneye kwiga guca make.

 Abacungezi b’intara bari bafise ibanga ryo kuremesha abacungezi b’imizunguruko. Ariko rero, abamamaji benshi bo muri Kebeke bari banzi cane. Igihe naba nagendeye umucungezi w’umuzunguruko, akenshi baripfuza ko twokorana. Naho nahimbarwa no gukorana na bo, vyaratuma ntaronkera umwanya ukwiye umucungezi w’umuzunguruko. Igihe kimwe, hari umucungezi w’umuzunguruko yanyibukije ati: “Guha umwanya abavukanyi ni vyiza, mugabo ntiwibagire yuko iyi ndwi ari rwanje. Na jewe ndakeneye indemesho.” Ukwo kuntu yankebuye vyaramfashije kurushiriza kugira uburimbane.

Ikibabaje, mu 1976 narashikiwe n’ikintu c’agacavutu. Umukenyezi wanje nikundira Simone yarafashwe n’indwara ikomeye aca arapfa. Umutima wiwe wo kwitanga be n’ukuntu yakunda Yehova vyaratumye ambera umufasha mwiza cane. Kwama nja mu ndimiro vyaramfashije kwihanganira intuntu, kandi ndakengurukira Yehova kuba yaranshigikiye muri ico gihe kigoye. Haheze igihe narubakanye na Carolyn Elliott, akaba yari umutsimvyi w’umunyamwete avuga icongereza yitanze akaza gukorera i Kebeke kuko hari inkenero. Carolyn ni umuntu ashikirana kandi yitwararika abandi, na canecane abantu bavuga make canke bafise irungu. Mu vy’ukuri, yarambereye kirumara mu gikorwa co kugendera amashengero.

Muri Nzero 1978, narasabwe kwigisha Ishure ry’umurimo w’abatsimvyi rya mbere i Kebeke. Narahagaritse umutima kubera yuko ivyigwa vyari bishasha kuri jewe, nk’uko vyari no ku banyeshure. Ariko igishimishije, ni uko ishure rya mbere nigishije ryarimwo abatsimvyi benshi bazi utuntu n’utundi. Naho nari umwigisha, narabigiyeko vyinshi.

Mu nyuma, mu 1978 nyene, ku kibuga c’inkino c’i Montréal harabereye ihwaniro mpuzamakungu ryavuga ngo “Ukwizera kudatsindwa.” Ni ryo ryabaye ihwaniro rinini cane kuruta ayandi yose yari amaze kubera i Kebeke, rikaba ryitabwe n’abantu barenga 80.000. Ico gihe nakoreye mu Rwego  rujejwe gutanga amakuru. Naravuganye n’abamenyeshamakuru benshi, kandi narahimbawe n’uko banditse ibintu vyinshi vyiza ku bitwerekeye. Amasaha yose ivyo bimenyeshamakuru vyakoresheje bishikiriza ibiganiro twagiranye, haba ku maradiyo canke ku mateleviziyo, yararenze 20. Vyongeye, barasohoye ibiganiro vyinshi cane mu binyamakuru. Emwe, iyo yari intahe ikomeye.

Mu 1996 narashikiwe n’ihinduka rikomeye. Kuva mbatizwa nakorera muri Kebeke, ahavugwa igifaransa. Ariko muri uwo mwaka nagenywe kuba umucungezi w’intara i Toronto, mu mizunguruko yakoresha icongereza. Nabona ko ntazobishobora, kandi naratinya ko ntoshoboye gutanga neza insiguro mu congereza kuko ntari ndakizi neza. Nari nkeneye gusenga Yehova kenshi no kurushiriza kumwihekako.

Ariko ntereje amaso inyuma, ndashobora kuvuga yuko imyaka ibiri namaze nkorera i Toronto yampimbaye cane. Carolyn abigiranye ukwihangana yaramfashije kurushiriza kuvuga neza icongereza, kandi n’abavukanyi baranshigikiye bongera barandemesha. Ntitwatevye kuronka abandi bagenzi bashasha.

Buri wa gatanu ku mugoroba, akenshi naramara nk’isaha imwe namamaza inzu ku nzu naho wasanga mfise ibikorwa vyinshi bijanye no gutegura iteraniro. Bamwe bashobora kuba baribaza igituma naja mu ndimiro kandi nari mfise ibikorwa vyinshi bindindiriye. Ariko jewe nabona ko kuyaga n’abantu mu ndimiro vyandemesha cane. Eka n’ubu, igihe cose ngiye mu ndimiro ntaha numva nezerewe.

Mu 1998, twe na Carolyn twaragenywe kuba abatsimvyi badasanzwe i Montréal. Mu mabanga nagiye ndazezwa mu myaka itari mike, harimwo gutunganya amasekeza adasanzwe yo kwamamaza ku mugaragaro be no gukorana n’ibimenyeshamakuru kugira mbeshuze ibinyoma abantu bavuga ku Vyabona vya Yehova. Ubu twe na Carolyn tubwira ubutumwa abanyamahanga baba baherutse kwimukira muri Kanada, kandi akenshi baba bipfuza kumenya vyinshi ku vyerekeye Bibiliya.

Iyo nzirikanye imyaka 68 mbaye umusavyi wa Yehova yabatijwe, ndabona ko nahezagiwe vy’ukuri. Kuba narize gukunda igikorwa co mu ndimiro no gufasha benshi kumenya ukuri, vyaratumye ngira umunezero mwinshi. Umukobwa wanje Lise be n’umugabo wiwe barabaye abatsimvyi basanzwe igihe abana babo bari bamaze gukura. Kubona yarabandanije kugira umwete mu ndimiro birampimbara cane. Ndakengurukira canecane abakirisu bagenzanje bampaye uburorero bwiza be n’impanuro ziranga ubukerebutsi, vyamfashije gutera imbere mu vy’impwemu no kurangura ibikorwa bitandukanye mw’ishirahamwe. Narabonye ko kugira tugume turi intahemuka mu gikorwa dushingwa, bishoboka gusa ari uko twihetse ku bushobozi bw’impwemu nyeranda ya Yehova. (Zab. 51:11) Nguma nkengurukira Yehova kuba yaranteye agateka kadasanzwe ko guhaya izina ryiwe!​—Zab. 54:6.