Petameko lyomumvo 1940 nasha, aavali yandje oya li ya konakona Ombiimbeli nOonzapo dhaJehova. Ihe ekonakono ndyoka inali tsikila we, nonando ongawo meme okwa kala ha mono iifo yOshungolangelo nosho wo Penduka mo! Mo 1950, omwa ningwa oshigongi shopaigwana moNew York City, noyaandjetu otwa yi ko koshigongi shoka.

Nziya konima yaashono, omumwatate Lawrence Jeffries okwa tameke oku tu talela po. Okwa tameke okukonakona Ombiimbeli nangame. Petameko, kanda li tandi tsu kumwe naye kombinga yOonzapo dhaJehova sho ihaadhi kutha ombinga mopolotika dho ihadhi yi kiita. Onde mu lombwele kutya ngele omuntu kehe moAmerika okwa tindi okuya kiita, aatondi otaye ya mo moshilongo e taye shi kwata ko ashihe. Omumwatate Jeffries okwa tompathana nangaye neidhidhimiko a ti: “Sho to tala Jehova Kalunga ota ka ninga po shike ngele andola aantu ayehe moAmerika oya li haye mu longele, e taya ponokelwa kaatondi?” Oohapu ndhono a popi nosho wo dhilwe odha kwathele ndje ndi mone kutya etaloko lyandje olya li lya puka. Shono osha ningitha ndje ndi kale nda hala okwiilonga Ombiimbeli.

Onda li handi lesha iifo iikulu yOshungolangelo nosho wo Penduka mo! mbyoka meme a li a pungula mondunda yomevi. Mokweendela ko kwethimbo, onda ndhindhilike kutya onda li tandi ilongo oshili, onkee onda zimine okukonakona Ombiimbeli nomumwatate Jeffries. Onda tameke wo okukala handi yi kokugongala. Oshili oye ende tayi ningine momutima gwandje, nonda ningi omuuvithi gwonkundana ombwanawa. Omalalakano gandje oga lunduluka sho ndu uvu ko kutya “esiku enene lyOmuwa [olya li li] li popepi.” (Sef. 1:14) Kanda li we nda hala okuya kouniveesiti, pehala lyaashono, okukwathela yalwe yi ilonge oshili yOmbiimbeli.

Onda mana osikola momasiku 13 Juni 1956, nokonima yomasiku gatatu, onda ninginithwa poshigongi shoshikandjo. Kanda li ndi shi kutya Jehova ota ka pa ndje omayambeko ogendji, molwaashoka nda hogolola okulongitha onkalamwenyo yandje ndi ilonge nondi longe wo yalwe kombinga ye.

Konima yoomwedhi hamano sho nda ninginithwa, onda ningi omukokolindjila gwondjigilile. Okafo kUukalele wUukwaniilwa kaDesemba 1956 oka li ke na oshitopolwa shi na oshipalanyolo tashi ti: “Mbela ito vulu oku ka longa hoka ku na ompumbwe onene?” Oshinima shono onda li tandi vulu oku shi ninga. Onda li nda hala ndi ka kwathele koshitopolwa hoka ku na aauvithi aashona yonkundana ombwanawa.​—Mat. 24:14.

Onda tembukile koEdgefield, moSouth Carolina. Egongalo lyomoshitopolwa shono olya li owala li na aauvithi yane. Sho nda yi ko onda ningi omutitano. Otwa li hatu ningile okugongala komeho yondunda yomumwatate gumwe. Omwedhi kehe onda li handi longo oowili ethele miilonga yokuuvitha. Onda li handi kala ndi ipyakidhila tandi kwatele komeho iilonga mbyoka nokugandja iipopiwa megongalo. Shoka oshihokithi, sho nda tsikile okulonga iilonga mbyono, ondi ilongo oshindji kombinga yaJehova.

Omukulukadhi gumwe ngono nda li handi konakona naye Ombiimbeli, okwa li e na ehangano lyokuninga omafumviko moJohnston, okandoolopa ke li kokule kashona naampoka nda li handi zi. Okwa li a pe ndje iilonga yokulonga omalupita, nokwe tu pitike wo tu longithe ondunda onshona onga Oshinyanga shUukwaniilwa.

Omumwatate Jolly Jeffries, omwanamati gwomumwatate ngoka a li ha konakona nangame, okwa tembuka moBrooklyn shaNew York, e teya kungame notwa tameke okukokola ondjila naye. Otwa li hatu zi mokakalafana okashona hoka twa li twa pewa komumwatate gumwe tu ka longithe.

Aaniilonga oya li haya futwa ondjambi onshona koshitopolwa shokUumbugantu. Otwa li owala hatu futwa oodola mbali nenge ndatu mesiku. Oshikando shimwe, onda li nda longitha po uushakashaka wandje mboka nda li ndi na ndi lande iikulya mokasitola kamwe. Sho nda zi mo, omulumentu gumwe okwe ya pungame e ta pula ndje ta ti: “Ino hala iilonga? Otandi ke ku futa odola yimwe mowili.” Okwa li a pe ndje ndi longe omasiku gatatu moshiwike tandi opaleke pehala limwe lya li tali tungwa. Onda li lela ndi shi iwetele kutya Jehova oye a li ta kwathele ndje ndi kale moEdgefield. Onda li wo nda vulu okuya koshigongi shopaigwana shono sha li sha ningwa mo 1958 moNew York City.

Esiku etiyali lyoshigongi, opwa li pwa ningwa oshinima shi ikalekelwa. Onda tsakanene naRuby Wadlington ngoka a li ta longo e li omukokolindjila gwondjigilile muGallatin, moTennessee. Molwaashoka atuhe otwa li twa hala okuninga aatumwa, otwa li twa kala pomutumba gwaGilead poshigongi shoka. Lwanima, otwa tameke okunyolelathana. Onda li nda hiywa ndi ka gandje oshipopiwa shomontaneho kegongalo Gallatin. Onda longitha ompito ndjoka ndi mu pule tu hokane. Onda tembukile kegongalo moka Ruby a li, notwa hokana mo 1959.

Sho ndi na omimvo 23, onda li nda langekwa po ndi li omupiya gwegongalo (ngashingeyi hi ithanwa omuunganeki gwolutu lwaakuluntugongalo) megongalo lyaGallatin. Egongalo lyetu ndyoka olyo lya li lya talelwa po tango komumwatate Charles Thompson, sho opo a langekwa po e li omutonatelishikandjo. Okwa li lela e na owino, ihe okwa li a pula ndje omaetopo kombinga yaashoka aamwatate ya li ya pumbwa, nankene aatonatelishikandjo yalwe ya ungaunga nomagongalo. Onda li ndi ilongo kuye kutya oshiwanawa okupula omapulo nokumona uuyelele awuhe mboka wa kwatela  mo moshinima shontumba manga omuntu inaa ninga omatokolo.

MuMei 1964, onda li nda hiywa ndi ka hite Osikola yUukalele wUukwaniilwa ndjono ya li ya ningilwa moSouth Lansing, moNew York. Osikola ndjoka oya li hayi kwata omwedhi gumwe. Aamwatate mbono ya li taya kwatele komeho osikola ndjono, oya ningitha ndje ndi kale nda hala okwiilonga oshindji kombinga yaJehova nokuhedha popepi naye.

MuJanuali 1965, oshitayimbelewa osha li she tu pula naRuby tu ye miilonga yuutonatelishikandjo. Oshitopolwa shoka twa li twa pewa tu kale hatu talele po, osha li oshinene sha kwatela mo oshitopolwa shaKnoxville, Tennessee, konyala noshaRichmond, moVirginia. Otwa li hatu talele po omagongalo ngono ge li moNorth Carolina, Kentucky nosho wo moWest Virginia. Onda li owala handi talele po omagongalo gaaluudhe, molwaashoka pethimbo ndyoka moAmerika lyokuumbugantu omwa li lela mu na okatongo, onkee aaluudhe kaya li ya pitikwa okugongala pamwe naatiligane. Aamwatate oya li ya hepa, notwa li twa ilongo okutopolelathana okashona hoka tu na naamboka ye na ompumbwe. Omumwatate gumwe ngoka a kala omutonatelishikandjo ethimbo ele okwa li e tu longo oshiilongomwa sha simana. Okwa ti: “Uuna to talele po egongalo lyontumba, ino kala wa fa omuhona. Aamwatate oto ka vula owala okuya kwathela ngele oyu uvite kutya ngoye omumwahe.”

Oshikando shimwe manga tatu talele po egongalo limwe eshona, Ruby okwa tameke ekonakonombiimbeli nomukiintu gumwe omugundjuka a li e na okanona kokakadhona komumvo gumwe. Megongalo mono sho mwa li kaa mu na gumwe ta vulu okukonakona naye Ombiimbeli, Ruby okwa kala he shi ningi okupitila moku mu nyolela oontumwafo. Oshikando sha ka landula ko sho twe ya tu talele po egongalo ndyono, omukiintu ngono okwa li e ya kokugongala kehe. Sho megongalo mono mwe ke ya aamwameme yaali aakokolindjila yi ikalekelwa, oya tameke okukonakona naye Ombiimbeli, na nziya okwa ninginithwa. Konima yomimvo 30, mo 1995 moBetel ya Patterson, omumwameme gumwe omugundjuka okwe ya a popye naRuby. Omumwameme ngono okwa li lye? Omwanakadhona gwomukulukadhi ngoka a li a konakona naRuby. Ye nomusamane gwe oya li ye ya kOsikola yaGilead yongundu onti-100.

Oshitopolwa shetu oshitiyali shoka twa ka kala hatu talele po, osha li pondingandinga yaFlorida. Pethimbo ndyoka otwa li twa pumbwa ohauto, onkee otwa landa yimwe kondando ombwanawa. Nonando ongawo, moshiwike shotango opomba yayo yomeya kaya li we tayi longo nawa. Ihe katwa li tu na iimaliwa yoku yi pangelitha. Onkee onda dhengele omumwatate gumwe ngono nda li te dhiladhila kutya ota vulu oku tu kwathela. Omumwatate ngono okwa pula omuniilonga gwe gumwe a pangele ohauto yetu, nomumwatate ine tu pula nando othilinga. Okwa ti owala: “Inamu pumbwa okufuta sha.” Okwe tu pe nokuli omagano giimaliwa! Shono osha li lela oshiholelwa oshiwanawa shankene Jehova ha sile aapiya ye oshimpwiyu. Oshinima shono oshe tu dhimbulukitha kutya natse otu na okukala hatu kamununa omake getu.

Oshikando kehe tatu talele po egongalo lyontumba, otwa li hatu zi momagumbo gaamwatate. Shono ngawo, oshe tu ningitha tu mone ookuume aawanawa. Esiku limwe, onda thigile olopota yandje meshina lyokutopatopa inaayi pwa yegongalo limwe. Sho nda ka galuka kongulohi, onda adha okamati kamwe komimvo ndatu komegumbo limwe mono twa li hatu zi ki ikwatela ko ke yi mane. Onda kala handi ka yolo uule womimvo odhindji.

Mo 1971, onda li nda yakula ontumwafo tayi lombwele ndje ndi ka ninge omutonateli gwoshitopolwa shaNew York City. Otwa li twa kumwa lela! Sho twa tembukile kondoolopa ndjoka, onda li ndi na owala omimvo 34. Aamwatate oya taamba ndje ko lela nomaako agehe, ndi li omutonateli gwawo gwotango gwoshitopolwa omuluudhe.

Ndi li ongomutonateli gwoshitopolwa, onda li ndi hole okulonga aantu kombinga yaJehova mehuliloshiwike kehe poshigongi shoshikandjo. Oyendji yomaatonatelishikandjo oya li ye na owino oyindji ye vule ndje. Gumwe gwomuyo, oye a li a gandja oshipopiwa shandje sheninginitho. Omumwatate gulwe oTheodore Jaracz, ngoka lwanima a ka ninga oshilyo shOlutuwiliki. Opwa li pu na aamwatate oyendji ye na owino mboka ya li haya longo moBetel yaBrooklyn. Onda li nda pandula noonkondo aatonatelishikandjo nosho wo aamwatate yomoBetel sho ya ningitha ndje ndi kale nda manguluka. Onde shi imonene kutya aamwatate mboka oya li aasita aanahole, mboka yi inekela Oohapu dhaKalunga nohaya yambidhidha ehangano lyaJehova nuudhiginini. Eifupipiko lyawo olyo lya li lya kwathele ndje ndi longe nuupu ndi li omutonateli gwoshitopolwa.

Mo 1974, Olutuwiliki olwa li lwa langeke po aatonatelishikandjo yamwe ya ninge aatonateli yoshitopolwa, nangame onda shuna ishewe miilonga yuutonatelishikandjo, nopethimbo ndyoka onda ka longela koshitopolwa shaSouth Carolina. Pethimbo ndyono omagongalo gaaluudhe nogaatiligane ngoka ge li kuumbugantu waAmerika kaga li we ga topoka, noshinima shono osha li lela sha nyanyudha aamwatate.

Pehulilo lyomumvo 1976, onda pewa oshikandjo shaGeorgia shi li pokati kaAtlanta naColumbus. Otandi dhimbulukwa nawa esiku limwe nda gandjele oshipopiwa shefumviko shaanona yatano aaluudhe mboka ya li ya dhipagelwa megumbo lyawo ndyoka lya li lya tomekwa omulilo kongangala. Yina yawo okwa li a kwatelwa moombete, molwaashoka okwa li e ehamekwa. Oonzapo dhaJehova, aaluudhe naatiligane, oya kala taya mbomboloka yu uka koshipangelo ya ka hekeleke aavali yaanona mboka. Onda li nda mono lela kutya aamwatate oye holathane shili. Ohole ya tya ngawo ohayi vulu okukwathela aapiya yaKalunga yi idhidhimikile oonkalo oondhigu noonkondo.

Mo 1977, otwa li twa pulwa tse naRuby tu ye koBetel yaBrooklyn tu ka kwathele moproyeka yimwe uule woomwedhi oonshona. Sho oproyeka ndjono yi li pokupwa, aamwatate yaali iilyo yOlutuwiliki oya yi momutumba natse noye tu pula ngele otatu vulu okukalelela moBetel. Otwa taamba ko ehiyo ndyoka.

Onda longa mOshikondo shIilonga omimvo 24, mono aamwatate haya ungaunga nomapulo omadhigu. Muule womimvo, Olutuwiliki olwa kala nokugandja uuyelele wu li metsokumwe nomakotampango gOmbiimbeli. Uuyelele mbono ihawu longithwa owala okuyamukula omapulo, ihe owo wo hawu longithwa mokudheula aatonatelishikandjo, aakuluntugongalo naakokolindjila. Uuyelele mboka hawu longithwa medheulo ndyono, owa kwathela aantu oyendji ya ninge Aakriste ya pyokoka. Shimwe ishewe, owa koleka ehangano lyaJehova.

Okuza mo 1995 sigo 2018, onda kala tandi talele po iitayimbelewa ya yoolokathana ndi li omukalelipo gwoombelewa dhetu oonene, ngoka a li nale hi ithanwa omukalelipo gwoshitayimbelewa. Onda li handi yi momutumba nOokomitiye dhIitayimbelewa, Aabetel nosho wo aatumwa ndi ya tse omukumo noku ya kwathela nomaupyakadhi kehe ye na. Tse naRuby otwa li lela hatu tsuwa omukumo kiimoniwa yaamwatate naamwameme mboka. Pashiholelwa, mo 2000 otwa li twa ka talela po koRwanda. Otwa li twa gumwa noonkondo okuuva aamwatate nosho wo uukwanegumbo waBetel moshilongo moka, nkene ya li ya hupu pethimbo lyomadhipago gakiinahenda mo 1994. Oyendji oya li ya silwa aaholike yawo. Nonando oya pita monkalo ndjoka, aamwatate mboka oya li ye na eitaalo, etegameno, noya li ya nyanyukwa.

Ngashingeyi otu na omimvo 80 nasha. Uule womimvo 20 onda kala tandi longo ndi li oshilyo shOkomitiye yOshitayimbelewa moBetel yaAmerika. Inandi longwa nando okouniveesiti ya sha, ihe onda pewa elongo lya dhenga mbanda kuJehova nokehangano lye. Elongo ndino olya kwathela ndje ndi kale handi longo yalwe oshili yOmbiimbeli ndjoka tayi vulu oku ya etela uuwanawa sigo aluhe. (2 Kor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:2) Onda mona nkene etumwalaka lyOmbiimbeli lya kwathela aantu ya hwepopaleke oonkalamwenyo dhawo nokupanga uukuume nOmushiti gwawo. (Jak. 4:8) Ngame naRuby ohatu ningi ngaashi tatu vulu tu tsikile okutsa yalwe omukumo ya kale ye hole uuthembahenda wawo wokwiilonga kombinga yaJehova nokulonga yalwe oshili yOmbiimbeli, uuthembahenda mboka wa dhenga mbanda omupiya gwaJehova kehe ta vulu okukala e hole!