Ndakazyalwa mu1935 kuDarlaston iili muBlack Country kuEngland. Ndawu eeyi yakapegwa zina lyakuti Black Country akaambo kabusi bwakali kuuntumuka kuzwa kumakkampani apanga zintu. Nindakali aaminyaka iisika ku4, bazyali bangu bakasaanguna kwiiya Bbayibbele aBakamboni baJehova. Nindakasaanguna kuba mukubusi, ndakabona kuti zintu nzindakali kwiiya kakali kasimpe, nkinkaako ndakabbabbatizigwa mu1952 kandili aaminyaka iili 16.

Aachiindi eecho, ndakasaanguna kuyiisigwa kupanga zintu ali iimwi kkampani mpati, yakali kupanga zibelesyo zyamaboko azimwi zipanzi zyamoota. Mpawo mukuya kwachiindi ndakasaanguna kuyiisigwa kuba sekkilitali wakkampani. Mulimu ooyu ndakali kuuyanda loko.

Kuli chintu chiyandikana nchindakeelede kusala chiindi mulangizi wabbazu nakandikumbila kuti ndikachitisye Chiiyo chaBbuku chaMbungano chakali kuchitwa aakati kamviki kumbungano yakulindiswe yaWillenhall. Pesi teendakazi pe kuti ndilasala zili nkaambo aachiindi eecho, ndakali kunjila aambungano zibili. Aakati kamviki, ndakali kunjila aambungano yakali aafwiifwi ankundakali kubelekela kuBromsgrove, pesi kayili kule amakkilomita aali 32 kuzwa kung’anda. Kumamanino aamviki, nindakali kubweeda kung’anda kubazyali bangu, ndakali kunjila ambungano yakulindiswe yaWillenhall.

Akaambo kakuti ndakali aachiyandisyo chakugwasilizya mbunga yaJehova, ndakasala kweendelana ambaakandibuzya mulangizi wabbazu, nikuba kuti kuchita oobo kwakali kuyoopa kuti ndisiye mulimu ngundakali kuyandisya loko. Kuzumizya Jehova kuti alulamike nzila yangu, kwakajula mweenya wakuti ndipone buumi bubotezya loko alubo tandilisoli pe.

Nindakali kunjila aambungano yaBromsgrove, ndakaswaana umwi musimbi, pwapwapwa lyamwana, , wakasimide mubukombi uutegwa Anne. Twakachada mu1957 alubo katulaamwi twakajana zilongezyo ziswaanizya kuba mapayona aachiindi choonse, mapayona aayandikana, kunjila mumulimu wakweendeenda akubelekela kuBbeteli. Kubelekaamwi  aAnne mumulimu wachiindi choonse kulikupa kuti ndibotelwe loko mubuumi.

Mu1966, lumweemwe lwakatusika kumakosi nitwakatambwa kuyoonjila kkilasi yachi42 yaGiliyadi. Nitwakagilajuweta, twakakumbilwa kuti tukabelekele kuMalawi, kubantu bamuAfrica bazibidwe aakuba aamoyo mubotu akaambo kakuba aaluzyalo akubatambula kabotu beenzu. Pesi teetwakazi pe kuti tuyookkala nkuko kwachiindi chifwiifwi.

Twakasika kuMalawi mu1 February 1967. Twakasaanguna kwiiya mulaka kwamweezi mpawo twazoosaanguna mulimu wesu wabbooma. Twakali kweenda aamoota iitegwa Kaiser Jeep, bamwi njibakali kubonaanga ileenda ndawu zyoonse, nikuba kuzubuka milonga. Pesi nzibakali kuyeeyela teenzizyo pe, moota eeyo yakali kukonzya biyo kuzubuka milonga yakaalamaanzi mache. Chimwi chiindi, twakali kukkala mumaanda aabwizu, aakali kuyanda kusinkwa aapepa achiluli, kuchitila kuti maanzi atazuzi. Mulimu wabumishinali twakawusaanguna aabuyumu-yumu pesi twakali kuuyanda.

MuApril twakazoobona kuti zintu zyakali kuzoobija muMalawi., Ndakamvwa mweendelezi wakuMalawi Dr. Hastings Banda kalikwaambuula murediyo atala aBakamboni. Wakaamba kuti Bakamboni baJehova teebakali kubbadala mitelo akuti bakali kupambanisya mfulumende. Makani aaya akali aakubeja. Toonse twakalizi kuti kaambo kakaliwo kakali kakuti teetwakali kutola lubazu muli zyapolitikisi, akuti teetwakali kuula tukkaadi twamapaati.

MuSeptember, twakabona amwi makani munyuzipepa akali kwaamba kuti mweendelezi wanyika wakali watamikizya bakombima kuti balikupambanisya nyika. Kumuswaangano wazyapolitikisi, mweendelezi waMalawi wakaambilizya kuti mfulumende yakwe yakali kuyoobikka mulawu chakufwambaana, uukasya Bakamboni baJehova.  Mulawu ooyo wakasaanguna kubeleka mu20 October 1967. Kalitanalampa, mapolisa abalupati-pati balanga mapepa aabantu banjila munyika, bakasika kuwofesi yamutabi kuti bazoowujale akugwisya mamishinali muMalawi.

Nikwakayinda mazuba aatatu katuli mujele, twakatolwa kunyika yakali kweendelezegwa aaBritain iitegwa Mauritius. Pesi balupati-pati bakuMauritius teebakatuzumizya pe kuti tukkale munyika yabo. Nkinkaako, bakwesu bakasala kuti tukabelekele kuRhodesia (lino yiitwa kuti Zimbabwe). Nitwakasika, twakaswaana walupati-pati uulangania mapepa aabantu banjila munyika ulaalunya. Wakatukasya kuti tunjile kaamba kuti: “Mwaandwa kuMalawi, mwaandwa kuMauritius mpawo lino mwaza ookuno akaambo kakuti mwabona kuti kukkalika.” Anne wakasaanguna kulila. Kwakali mbuli kuti taakwe wakachili kutuyanda pe. Aachiindi eecho, teendakachili kuyanda kulanga musule pe, ndakali kuyanda kwiinka kulindiswe kuEngland. Pesi kumamanino, balupati-pati aabo bakatuzumizya kuti tulale kwabusiku bumwi kuwofesi yamutabi mpawo nibwacha tukalipote kumawofesi aabo mapati. Twakali twamaninwa pesi twakasiya zintu zyoonse zyakali kutukataazya mumaboko aaJehova. Mubuzuba bwakatobela sikati, twakatambula makani ngitwakatali kuyeeyela pe aakuti tukkale katuli beenzu muZimbabwe. Tandizoolubi pe mbundakalimvwa mubuzuba oobo. Ndakaba aachoonzyo chakuti Jehova wakali kululamika nzila yesu.

Kuwofesi yamutabi wakuZimbabwe, ndakakumbilwa kuti ndibeleke muDipatimenti yaMulimu, kandichita milimu iigwasya Malawi aMozambique. Bakwesu bakuMalawi bakali kupenzegwa chalunya. Umwi mulimu ngundakali kuchita wakali wakusandulula malipoti akali kutumizigwa aabalangizi bamabazu bakuMalawi. Limwi zuba goko kandili kumaninsizya kusandulula imwi lipoti, ndakalila nindakabala atala ambubakali kupenzegwa bakwesu abachizi. * Nikuba oobo, kusyomeka kwabo, lusyomo lwabo, akulisimya nkubakali kuchita, zyakandisungwaazya loko.—2 Kor. 6:4, 5.

Twakachita zyoonse nzitwakali kukonzya kuti tubape chakulya chamubukombi bakwesu bakali kuMalawi abaabo bakali bachijila kuMozambique. Basanduluzi bamulaka wachiChichewa, imulaka wambuulwa aabantu biingi kuMalawi, bakalongela kupulazi lyawumwi mukwesu kuZimbabwe. Mukwesu ooyo wakabayakila maanda awofesi yakubelesya. Bakazumanana kuchita mulimu wabo uuyandikana wakusandulula mabbuku aapandulula Bbayibbele.

Twakachita mabambe aakuti balangizi bamabazu bakuMalawi banjile muswaangano wabbooma wachiChichewa munyaka amunyaka kuZimbabwe. Kabali nkuko, bakali kujana mapepa aankani zyamuswaangano wabbooma. Nibakali kubweeda kuMalawi, bakali kwaabana aabamwi bakwesu bakuMalawi. Umwi munyaka nibakasika kuZimbabwe, twakachita mabambe akuti kube Chikolo Chamulimu waBwaami kuchitila kuti chisungwaazye balangizi bamabazu aaba.

MuFebruary 1975, ndakaswaya Bakamboni bakuMalawi bakali bachijila kumakkeempu akuMozambique. Bakwesu aaba bakali kweendezyania aambunga nkaambo bakali kubelesya mabambe mapya aakuti kube kabunga kabaalu. Baalu bapya bakali kuchita milimu myiingi yabukombi iiswaanizya kupa nkani zyabantu boonse, kuzulwida mukwaambuuzyania atala alugwalo lwabuzuba, kuchitisya chiiyo chaNgaziyakulinda niiba miswaangano yamabazu. Bakali babamba makkeempu mbuli kuti bali aamuswaangano wabbooma. Bakali aadipatimenti lyakusalazya, dipatimenti lyakwaaba chakulya adipatimenti lyakulinda. Bakwesu aabo basyomeka bakakonzya kuchita zintu zyiingi, nkaambo bakali kugwasigwa aJehova. Eezi zyakandisungwaazya loko.

Kuma1970, wofesi yamutabi yakuZambia yakasaanguna kulangania mulimu wakuMalawi. Nikuba oobo, ndakali kukkala kandibayeeya bakwesu bakuMalawi akubakombela mbuli mbubakali kuchita kuli bamwi. Mbukunga ndakali muKkomiti yaMutabi waZimbabwe, kwaziindi zyiingi twakali kuchita miswaangano abayiminini bamawofesi mapati abamwi bakwesu bakuMalawi, South Africa aZambia. Chiindi choonse, twakali kwaambuuzyania  atala amubuzyo wakuti: “Nziizili zimwi nzitukonzya kuchita kuti tugwasye bakwesu bakuMalawi?”

Mukuya kwachiindi, kupenzegwa kwakali kuyabucheya. Bakwesu bakali bachijila kuli zimwi nyika, bakali basaanguna kubweeda kuMalawi mbichaani-mbichaani pesi aabo bakasyeede muMalawi teebakachili kupenzegwa loko pe. Nyika zyakali aafwiifwi aMalawi zyakazumizya mulimu waBakamboni baJehova. Mu1991, Mozambique anjiyo yakazumizya mulimu wesu. Pesi twakali kulibuzya kuti, ‘Ani Bakamboni baJehova kuMalawi bazoozumizigwa lili kuti bachite milimu yabo kabaangunukide?’

Zintu zyakachincha muMalawi mpawo mu1993 mfulumende yakazumizya Bakamboni baJehova kuti bachite mulimu wabo. Limwi zuba kandili kwaambuula aawumwi mumishinali, wakandibuzya kuti, “Lino ulabweeda na kuMalawi?” Aachiindi eecho, ndakali aaminyaka iili 59, nkinkaako ndakamusandula kuti, “Peepe, ndakomena.” Nikuba oobo, mubuzuba mbuboobo, twakatambula lugwalo lwakali kuzwa kuKabunga Keendelezya, lwakali kutukumbila kuti tubweede kuMalawi.

Twakali kuuyanda mulimu wesu kuZimbabwe. Teekwakali kuuba pe kuya kuMalawi. Twakali twasimpa miyanda muZimbabwe alubo twakali twaba aabeenzuma biingi. BamuKabunga Keendelezya bakatubuzya kuti, kuti katuyanda tulakonzya kukkala muZimbabwe. Eezi zyakali kwaamba kuti twakali kukonzya kusala zyakali kuyandwa aamyoyo yesu, akukkala muZimbabwe. Pesi ndakayeeya atala aAbbrahamu aSara kuti bakasiya muunzi wabo mubotu kabali bachembaala akaambo kakuti bakali kuyanda kuswiilila Jehova.—Matl. 12:1-5.

Twakasala kutobela malayilile aakali azwa kumbunga yaJehova. Nkinkaako, twakabweeda kuMalawi mu1 February 1995, kakuli kwayinda minyaka iili 28 kuzwa nitwakakulyatide. Kwakapangwa Kkomiti yaMutabi,yakali aabakwesu batatu, baswaanizya ndime abamwi bakwesu babili. Twakabeleka changuzu kuti tubusilizye mulimu waBakamboni baJehova muMalawi.

Chakali chilongezyo chipati kubona Jehova kali kupa kuti mulimu wesu ukomene. Namba yabasikupupulula yakatanta loko nkaambo mu1993 bakali kusika ku30 000 pesi mu1998 bakali bayinda ku42 000. * BamuKabunga Keendelezya bakazumizya kuti kuyakwe wofesi yamutabi mpya, yakali kuyookonzya kuulangania kabotu mulimu mupati wakali waba. Twakajana busena bupati ama-ekka aali 30 kuLilongwe mpawo ndakasalwa kuti ndibe mukkomiti yamayake aayo.

 Mukwesu Guy Pierce wakapa nkani yakupeda mayake aaya mapya muMay 2001. Bakwesu abachizi bayinda ku2 000 bamuMalawi bakakonzya kunjila muswaangano ooyu. Biingi babo bakali baba aaminyaka yiinda ku40 kababbabbatizidwe. Bakwesu abachizi aaba basyomeka bakalisimya kwaminyaka myiingi kumapenzi mayumu ngibakali kuswaana chiindi mulimu wesu nwaakakasidwe. Bakali kufwaba kuzintu zyakumubili pesi bakalinotede kuzintu zyabukombi. Aachiindi eechi, bakali kubotelwa kweendeenda kabali kubona Bbeteli lyabo pya. Kufumbwa nkubakali kweendeendela aaBbeteli, bakali kwiimba miimbo aBwaami mumulaka wabo, eezi zyakapa kuti zintu zyoonse zyakali kuchitwa aamuswaangano ooyu zinoneezye loko. Twakabona Jehova mbaakalongezya bakwesu abachizi aaba basyomeka kuti balisimye kumasunko ngibakali kuswaana.

Naakamana kuyakwa mawofesi aamutabi, ndakabotelwa kutambula chilongezyo chakupeda Maanda aaBwaami kuli Jehova. Mbungano zyiingi zyakuMalawi zyakagwasigwa loko amabambe aakuyakwa kwaMaanda aaBwaami kumasena alabakwesu bali aamali nche. Kakutanaba mabambe aaya, zimwi mbungano zyakali kunjila miswaangano mumasheedi akavumbidwe aabwizu alubo akali aazibumbili zyakukkala zilamfu. Lino bakwesu bakabeleka changuzu kuti bawumpe zitina nzibakalikuuma kuti bayake mayake mapya aakukombela. Nikuba oobo, bayandisya zyuuno zyamabbenchi, nkaambo kuli kaambyo nkibayandisya kakuti, Kuti twakkala kabotu, umwi ulakonzya kukkwana aawa.

Ndakabotelwa lubo kubona Jehova kalikugwasya bantu bakwe kuti basime mubukombi. Bakwesu bachikomena bamuAfrica bakali kulipeda kuchita milimu yabukombi akuzumina kuyiisigwa aaJehova. Bamwi bakatambula mikuli mipati kuBbeteli amumbungano. Mbungano zyakasima loko akaambo kabalangizi bamabazu bapya bakali basalwa, biingi babo bakalikwete. Bakwesu aaba abanakazi babo bakasala kubelekela Jehova mumulimu wachiindi choonse. Bakalipeda kutaba aabana nikuba kuti mundawu mubakkala zyakali kukonzya kupa kuti baswaanane aabuyumu-yumu ikapati kuzwa kuli bamumpuli.

Nindakaba aaminyaka iili 52 kandibelekela kuAfrica, ndakasaanguna kuchiswa. BamuKabunga Keendelezya bakazuminana aakusala kwakali kwachitwa aaKkomiti yaMutabi kuti tukabelekele kuBritain. Zyakatuchisa loko kusiya mulimu ngutwakali kuyanda loko pesi mpuli yaBbeteli yakuBritain ilikutulangania kabotu nikuba kuti twachembaala.

Ndili aachoonzyo chakuti ndakasala kabotu kwiinda mukuzumizya Jehova kuti alulamike nzila yangu. Kaansinga ndakasyoma maanu aangu, ngwani uuzi kuti nkuwakali kuyoonditola mulimu ngundakali ndasala kumasaangunino . Jehova wakalizizi zyoonse zyakali kuyandikana kuti ‘ndilulamike nzila zyangu.’ (Tus. 3:5, 6) Nindakachili uuchikula, ndakali kubotelwa kwiiya atala amulimu ngundakali kuchita mukkampani iilya mpati. Pesi mbunga yaJehova iili munyika yoonse yakandipa mulimu wakapa kuti ndikkutisikane loko. Kubelekela Jehova kulikupa kuti ndibotelwe loko mubuumi.