Ndinabadwira ku Netherlands mu 1948. Chaka chotsatira, banja lathu linasamukira ku São Paulo, ku Brazil. Makolo anga anali odzipereka kwambiri kuchipembedzo chimene tinali, ndipo madzulo aliwonse tikamaliza kudya, tinkawerenga limodzi Baibulo monga banja. Tinasamukanso m’dziko limeneli mu 1959, koma pa nthawiyi tinapita ku United States ndipo tinkakhala ku Massachusetts.

Bambo ankagwira ntchito mwakhama kuti azisamalira banja lathu lomwe linali ndi ana 6. Iwo anagwirapo ntchito zosiyanasiyana monga yogulitsa katundu, yokonza misewu komanso yoimira kampani ina yandege pa nkhani zamalonda. Aliyense m’banja lathu anasangalala pamene bambo anapeza ntchito kukampani yandegeyi chifukwa tinali ndi mwayi woyenda m’madera ambiri.

Ndili kusekondale, nthawi zambiri ndinkadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi ndikadzakula ndizidzapanga chiyani?’ Anzanga ena anasankha kupita kuyunivesite, pomwe ena analowa usilikali. Ineyo sindinkaganiza n’komwe zoti ndingalowe usilikali chifukwa sindinkakonda zokangana kapena zomenyana. Ndiye ndinasankha kupita kuyunivesite. Koma pansi pamtima ndinkafuna kumathandiza anthu ena n’kumaganiza kuti zimenezi zingandithandize kukhala ndi moyo watanthauzo.

Ndili kuyunivesite, ndinasankha phunziro limene linkafotokoza zokhudza anthu popeza ndinkafunitsitsa kudziwa kuti moyo wathu unayamba bwanji. Tinkaphunzitsidwa kuti zinthu zinachita kusintha kuchokera ku zinthu zina ndipo tinkayembekezeredwa kuti tizikhulupirira zimenezo. Koma kwa ine mfundo zina sizinkamveka bwinobwino moti ndinkangofunika kuzikhulupirira m’chimbulimbuli, zomwe ndi zosemphananso kwambiri ndi sayansi yomwe imafuna kuti pakhale umboni wa zimene ukukhulupirirazo.

M’kalasi sitinkaphunzitsidwa mfundo za makhalidwe abwino. M’malomwake, nthawi zonse tinkangouzidwa kuti tizichita zonse zimene tingathe kuti tizikhoza bwino. Ndinkasangalala kuchita nawo maphwando komanso kugwiritsa ntchito mankhwala osokoneza bongo, koma chisangalalo chake sichinkakhalitsa. Ndinadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi ndikukhala moyo watanthauzo?’

Kenako ndinasamukira mumzinda wa Boston kumene ndinakayamba kuphunzira payunivesite ina. Kuti ndizipeza ndalama yolipirira sukuluyi, ndinkagwira ntchito pa nthawi ya tchuthi pamalo ena omwe ndinakumana koyamba ndi a Mboni za Yehova. Munthu wina amene ndinkagwira naye ntchito anandiuza za ulosi wopezeka m’chaputala 4 cha buku la Danieli wonena za “nthawi 7” ndipo anafotokoza kuti panopa tikukhala munthawi yamapeto yeniyeni. (Dan. 4:13-17) Ndinazindikira kuti ngati ndikanapitiriza kukambirana naye nkhani zimenezi n’kuzitengera kwambiri, ndiye kuti ndikanasintha moyo wanga. Choncho ndinkamupewa mnzangayu mmene ndingathere.

Kuyunivesiteko, ndinasankha maphunziro omwe akanandithandiza kuti ndikagwire ntchito yongodzipereka ku South America. Ndinkaona kuti ndikanakhala ndi moyo watanthauzo ndikanamathandiza ena pochita ntchito zachifundo. Koma kenako ndinayamba kukayikira kwambiri ngati zimenezi zingandithandizedi kukhala ndi moyo wa cholinga. Chifukwa chokhumudwa, titangotsekera ndinasiya kuphunzira kuyunivesite kuja.

Mu May 1970, ndinasamukira ku Amsterdam, ku Netherlands, kumene ndinkagwira ntchito kukampani yandege komwe bambo anga ankagwira kuja. Zimenezi zinachititsa kuti ndiziyenda kwambiri m’mayiko a ku Africa, America, Europe komanso ku Asia. Kenako ndinazindikira kuti m’mayiko onse omwe ndinayendawo, anthu ankakumana ndi mavuto aakulu ndipo palibe amene ankaoneka kuti angathetse mavutowo. Popeza ndinkafunitsitsa nditakwaniritsa chinachake chofunika pa moyo wanga, ndinaganiza zobwerera ku United States n’kukayambiranso kuphunzira payunivesite ya ku Boston ija.

Nditabwerera kusukulu, posakhalitsa ndinazindikira kuti sindikupeza mayankho a mafunso anga okhudza moyo. Chifukwa chosowa chochita, ndinafunsa pulofesa wina kuti andipatse malangizo. Ndinadabwa kwambiri ndi zimene anandiyankha pomwe anati: “Ndiye n’chifukwa chiyani ukupitiriza kuphunzira? Osangosiya bwanji?” Malangizo amenewa anandisangalatsa moti sanachite kufunika kundiuza kawiri. Choncho ndinachoka kuyunivesiteko moti sindinabwererekonso.

Komabe ndinkaona kuti moyo wanga ulibe tanthauzo, ndiye ndinalowa m’gulu lina lomwe linkakana miyambo ya anthu ndipo linkaoneka kuti limalimbikitsa mtendere ndi chikondi. Ine ndi anzanga ena tinkayenda m’madera osiyanasiyana kuchokera ku United States mpaka kukafika ku Acapulco, ku Mexico. Tinkakhala ndi anthu amene amakana malamulo omwe anthu onse amatsatira ndipo zinkaoneka ngati akukhala moyo wabwino komanso wopanda nkhawa. Koma posakhalitsa ndinazindikira kuti moyo wa anthuwa sunali watanthauzo ndipo sunkathandiza munthu kukhala ndi chimwemwe chokhalitsa. Ndinaona kuti  anthu ambiri m’gululi anali achinyengo komanso osakhulupirika.

Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, ndinayamba kuganizira zimene ndinkalakalaka ndili wamng’ono. Ndinkafuna kudzakhala mtsogoleri wa oyendetsa sitima zapanyanja. Kuti zimenezi zitheke, ndinkafunika kukhala ndi boti langalanga. Popeza kuti mnzanga wina dzina lake Tom anali ndi zolinga ngati zanga, tinaganiza zomayenda limodzi kupita m’madera osiyanasiyana padzikoli. Ndinkafuna nditangopeza chilumba chinachake chokongola kumene ndingamakakhale popanda kumayendera malamulo ena aliwonse.

Ine ndi Tom tinapita ku Arenys de Mar, kufupi ndi ku Barcelona, m’dziko la Spain. Kumeneko tinagula boti lina lalitali mamita 9.4 lotchedwa Llygra. Kenako tinayamba kulikonza kuti likhale lotheka kuyenda nalo panyanja. Popeza kuti ulendo wathu sunali wofulumira kwambiri, tinaganiza zochotsa injini kuti tikhale ndi malo okwanira osungiramo madzi akumwa. Kuti tizitha kuima m’madoko ang’onoang’ono, tinaika zopalasira ziwiri zazitali mamita 5. Kenako tinauyamba ulendo wopita ku Seychelles, kudutsa panyanja ya Indian Ocean. Cholinga chathu chinali choti tidutse mphepete mwa nyanja kumadzulo kwa Africa mpaka kukafika ku Cape of Good Hope, m’dziko la South Africa. Tinkatsatira nyenyezi, kugwiritsa ntchito mapu komanso zipangizo zina kuti tilondole komwe tikupita. Zinkandichititsa chidwi kuona kuti tikutha kudziwa malo enieni omwe tili.

Pasanapite nthawi, tinazindikira kuti boti lathuli lomwe linali lakale, silinali labwino kuyenda nalo panyanja. Botili linali lobooka moti munkalowa madzi pafupifupi malita 22 pa ola limodzi. Monga mmene ndinafotokozera koyamba kuja, mphepo yamphamvu itayamba panyanjapo, ndinachita mantha ndipo kwa nthawi yoyamba pambuyo pa zaka zambiri, ndinapemphera n’kumulonjeza Mulungu kuti ngati ndingapulumuke ndikayesetsa kuti ndimudziwe. Kenako mphepo yamphamvu ija inasiya ndipo ndinatsimikiza mtima kukwaniritsa zomwe ndinalonjeza.

Tili pakati pa nyanja pomwepo, ndinayamba kuwerenga Baibulo. Tangoganizani mmene zinalili zochititsa chidwi kukhala pakatikati pa nyanja ya Mediterranean, kumtunda osamaoneka n’komwe, n’kumaona nsomba zamitundu yosiyanasiyana zikudumphadumpha m’nyanja. Usiku ndinkachita chidwi ndi nyenyezi zambirimbiri zomwe ndinkaona ndipo zimenezi zinandichititsa kutsimikiza kuti kuli Mulungu yemwe amaganizira anthu.

Patapita milungu ingapo titayenda panyanja, tinafika padoko lina lotchedwa Alicante, ku Spain, kumene tinayamba kutsatsa boti lija n’cholinga choti tigule lina labwino. N’zosadabwitsa kuti zinali zovuta kupeza munthu yemwe angatigule boti lomwe linali lakale, lopanda injini komanso lobooka. Komabe zimenezi zinandipatsa mwayi kuti ndipitirize kuwerenga Baibulo langa.

Pamene ndinkaliwerenga kwambiri Baibuloli, m’pamenenso ndinayamba kuliona monga buku lamalangizo omwe angatithandize kukhala osangalala. Ndinachita chidwi ndi mmene Baibulo linkafotokozera momveka bwino pa nkhani yokhala ndi makhalidwe abwino. Ndiye ndinkadabwa kuti n’chifukwa chiyani anthu ambiri omwe amati ndi Akhristu, kuphatikizapo ineyo, sititsatira zimene limanenazi?

Ndinatsimikiza mtima kuti ndisinthe moyo wanga, choncho ndinasiya kugwiritsa ntchito mankhwala osokoneza bongo. Ndinaganiza kuti payenera kukhala anthu enaake omwe amatsatira mfundo za m’Baibulo ndipo ndinkafunitsitsa nditakumana nawo. Kachiwirinso ndinapemphera kwa Mulungu kuti andithandize kuwapeza anthu amenewa.

Ndinkaona kuti ndiyenera kufufuza chipembedzo chilichonse pachokha kuti ndipeze chipembedzo choona. Ndikamayenda m’misewu ya ku Alicante, ndinkaona nyumba zambiri zopemphereramo. Koma chifukwa chakuti zambiri mwa nyumbazi zinkakhala ndi zifaniziro, ndinadziwiratu kuti sizingakhale zipembedzo zoona.

Lamlungu lina masana, ndinakhala mphepete mwa phiri loyang’anizana ndi doko ndipo ndinkawerenga lemba la Yakobo 2:1-5, lomwe limanena kuti n’kulakwa kumakondera anthu olemera. Ndikubwerera komwe kunali boti lathu kuja, ndinadutsa malo ena omwe ankaoneka ngati opemphereramo, pali chikwangwani chakuti: “Nyumba ya Ufumu ya Mboni za Yehova.”

Ndinaganiza kuti, ‘Bwanji ndiwayese anthu amenewa? Ndione mmene andilandirire.’ Ndiye ndinakalowa m’Nyumba ya Ufumuyo ndilibe nsapato, ndili ndi ndevu komanso nditavala jinzi yobookabooka. Wolandira alendo anandipatsa malo okhala pafupi ndi mayi wina wachikulire yemwe mokoma mtima ankandithandiza kupeza mavesi omwe wokamba nkhani ankatchula. Misonkhano itatha, ndinadabwa kwambiri ndi kukoma mtima kwa anthu omwe ankabwera kudzandipatsa moni. Bambo wina anandiitanira kunyumba kwake kuti tikakambirane zambiri. Koma chifukwa choti ndinali ndisanamalize kuwerenga Baibulo, ndinamuuza kuti, “Ndidzakuuzani ndikakonzeka.” Pasanapite nthawi, ndinayamba kumapezeka pamisonkhano yonse.

Patapita milungu ingapo, ndinapita kunyumba kwa bambo uja ndipo anayankha mafunso anga okhudza Baibulo. Pambuyo pa mlungu umodzi, bambo uja anandipatsa chikwama chodzaza ndi zovala zabwino kwambiri. Anandiuza kuti mwiniwake wa zovalazo anali atamangidwa chifukwa chomvera lamulo la m’Baibulo lakuti tizikondana komanso tisamamenye nawo nkhondo. (Yes. 2:4; Yoh. 13:34, 35) Tsopano ndinatsimikiza kuti ndinali nditapeza anthu omwe ankatsatira mfundo zomveka bwino za m’Baibulo za makhalidwe abwino. Cholinga changa sichinalinso kufunafuna chilumba chokongola, koma kuphunzira Baibulo kuti ndilimvetse bwino. Choncho ndinabwerera ku Netherlands.

Zinanditengera masiku 4 kuti ndikafike mumzinda wa Groningen ku Netherlands. Kumeneko ndinkafunika kupeza ntchito kuti ndizipeza zofunika pa moyo. Nditafunsira ntchito pamalo ena omwe ankapangapo zaukalipentala, anandipatsa fomu yomwe inali ndi malo omwe ndinkafunika kulembapo chipembedzo changa. Ndinalemba kuti, “Mboni za Yehova.” Mwiniwake wapamalopo ataona zimenezi, ndinaona kuti nkhope yake inasintha. Iye anandiuza kuti, “Ndidzakuitana.” Koma sanandiitanenso.

Ndinafika pamalo enanso azaukalipentala, ndipo ndinafunsa mwini wapamalopo ngati akufuna  wantchito. Anandifunsa kuti ndimuonetse mapepala a maphunziro anga komanso a ntchito zimene ndagwirapo m’mbuyomo. Ndinamuuza kuti ndinagwirapo ntchito yokonza boti lamatabwa. Ndinadabwa atandiuza kuti, “Ukhoza kuyamba masana ano, koma tigwirizane chinthu chimodzi. Sindikufuna kuti uyambitse zosokoneza pamalo ano chifukwa ndine wa Mboni za Yehova ndipo ndimatsatira mfundo za m’Baibulo.” Ndinamuyang’ana modabwa ndipo ndinamuuza kuti, “Inensotu!” N’zosadabwitsa kuti popeza ndinali ndi tsitsi lalitali komanso ndevu anandiuza kuti, “Ndiye ndiziphunzira nawe Baibulo.” Ndinasangalala kwambiri ndi zimenezi. Tsopano ndinamvetsa chifukwa chimene mwiniwake wa malo oyamba aja sanandiitanenso. Yehova anali akuyankha mapemphero anga. (Sal. 37:4) Ndinagwira ntchito pamalo a m’baleyu kwa chaka chimodzi ndipo panthawiyi ankaphunzira nane Baibulo. Pambuyo pake ndinabatizidwa mu January 1974.

Patapita mwezi umodzi, ndinayamba upainiya umene wandithandiza kukhala ndi moyo wokhutiritsa. M’mwezi wotsatira, ndinasamukira ku Amsterdam kuti ndikathandize kagulu ka Chisipanishi komwe kanali katangokhazikitsidwa kumene. Zinali zosangalatsa kwambiri kuchititsa maphunziro a Baibulo mu Chisipanishi komanso Chipwitikizi. Mu May 1975, ndinaikidwa kukhala mpainiya wapadera.

Tsiku lina, mlongo wina yemwe anali mpainiya wapadera, dzina lake Ineke, anabwera kumisonkhano yathu ndi wophunzira Baibulo wake wa ku Bolivia kuti adzadziwane ndi abale ndi alongo olankhula Chisipanishi. Ine ndi Ineke tinaganiza zoti tidziwane bwino moti tinkalemberana makalata ndipo pasanapite nthawi, tinaona kuti tinali ndi zolinga zofanana. Tinakwatirana mu 1976 ndipo tinapitiriza kutumikira monga apainiya apadera mpaka mu 1982, pamene tinaitanidwa kukalowa kalasi nambala 73 ya Sukulu ya Giliyadi. Tinasangalala kwambiri titatumizidwa kukatumikira kum’mawa kwa Africa ndipo kwa zaka 5 tinatumikira ku Mombasa, m’dziko la Kenya. Mu 1987, tinatumizidwa ku Tanzania komwe tsopano ntchito yathu siinalinso yoletsedwa. Tinakhala kumeneko zaka 26 ndipo kenako tinabwereranso ku Kenya.

Kuthandiza anthu odzichepetsa kuphunzira choonadi cha m’Baibulo kwachititsa kuti tikhale ndi moyo watanthauzo. Mwachitsanzo, munthu woyamba kuphunzira naye Baibulo ku Mombasa ndinakumana naye pochita ulaliki wa m’malo opezeka anthu ambiri. Nditamupatsa magazini awiri anandifunsa kuti, “Ndiye ndikamaliza kuwerenga amenewa nditani?” Mlungu wotsatira, tinayamba kuphunzira Baibulo pogwiritsa ntchito buku lakuti Mungathe Kukhala ndi Moyo Kosatha m’Paradaiso pa Dziko Lapansi, lomwe linali litangotuluka kumene m’Chiswahili. Patangotha chaka chimodzi anabatizidwa ndipo kenako anayamba upainiya wokhazikika. Kuchokera nthawi imeneyi, iye ndi mkazi wake athandiza anthu pafupifupi 100 kuti adzipereke kwa Yehova n’kubatizidwa.

Nditamvetsa cholinga cha moyo kwa nthawi yoyamba, ndinamva ngati wamalonda woyendayenda uja, yemwe anapeza ngale yamtengo wapatali ndipo sanafune kuisiya. (Mat. 13:45, 46) Ndinkafunitsitsa kugwiritsa ntchito moyo wanga pothandiza ena kudziwa cholinga cha moyo. Ine ndi mkazi wanga wokondedwa, tadzionera tokha mmene Yehova amadalitsira anthu ake powathandiza kukhala ndi moyo watanthauzo.