Pomwe lidapita gole la 1940, abereki wangu adayamba kupfunza Bibliya na Mboni za Yahova. Iwo alibe kudzapitiriza kupfunzako, koma mai wangu adapitiriza kumbatambira marevista ya Ntsanza ya Mulindiri na Mukani!. Mu 1950, mu mzinda wa Nova Iorque mudacitika mtsonkhano wa madziko, ndipo tidayendambo ku mtsonkhanoyo.

Pomwe padapita nthawe yakucepa, m’bale Lawrence Jeffries adayamba kumbabwera ku mui kwathu. Iye adayezera kumbandipfunzisa Bibliya. Pakuyamba, inepano ndikhawona ninga kuti bzinthu bzinango bzomwe akhalewa bzikhali lini bwino. Ndikhambawona ninga kuti Mboni za Yahova zikhaphonya kusaya kupitira nkhani za ndale na kusaya kuyenda ku nkhondo. Ndikhakumbuka kuti wanthu ku América kuno akalamba kuyenda ku nkhondo anyamadulanthaka angabwere acidzapamba dziko lentse lino. Tsono m’bale Jeffries adandibvunza kuti: “Kodi ukukumbuka kuti Mulungu angadacita ciyani bzingadakhala kuti wanthu wentse ku América kuno ambamutumikira tsono anyamadulanthaka wawo abwera kuti adzacite nawo nkhondo?” Bzomwe m’baleyu adafotokoza pa nkhaniyi na pa nkhani zinango bzidandithandiza kuwona kuti bzomwe ndikhakumbuka bzire bzikhalibe msolo. Ndipopa ndidayamba kufuna kupfunza Bibliya.

Ndidadzayamba kumbawerenga kwene-kwene marevista ya Ntsanza ya Mulindiri na Mukani! yakale-kale yomwe mai wangu akhadayakoya. Pa nthawe imweyire, ndidazindikira kuti ndikhawerenga bzinthu bzacadidi, ndipopa ndidabvuma kuti m’bale Jeffries ambandipfunzise Bibliya. Ndipo ndidayambambo kumbayenda ku mitsonkhano sumana zentse. Ndidayamba kukomedwa na bzomwe ndikhapfunzabzo ndipo ndidakhala mpalizi wa mafala yabwino ya Umambo. Pomwe ndidadziwa kuti “ntsiku ikulu ya Yahova iri pafupi,” bzomwe ndikhafuna kucita pa moyo wangu bzidacinja kwene-kwene. (Sofoniya 1:14) Ndiribe kudzafuna pomwe kuyenda ku universidade, koma ndidafuna kuthandiza wanthu winango kupfunza cadidi.

Pa ntsiku ya 13 Junho, 1956, ndidamaliza kupfunza. Ndipo pomwe padapita ntsiku zitatu, ndidabatizidwa pa mtsonkhano wa dera. Ndidawona kuti ningadakhala  na bzisimbo bzizinji ningadaphatisa basa moyo wangu pakupfunza na kupfunzisa wanthu winango bza Yahova.

Pomwe ndidabatizidwa, padapita minyezi 6 ndipo ndidayamba kucita upainiya bwakukhazikika. Utumiki Bwathu bwa Umambo bwa mu Dezembro, 1956 (Cingerezi) bukhana nkhani yakuti “Kodi Imwepo Mungakwanise Kukatumikira Komwe Kukufunikira Apalizi Azinji?” Ndidawona kuti ningadakwanisa kucita bzimwebzi, thangwe ndikhafuna kale kukapalizira komwe kukhafunikira apalizi azinji.  —  Mateu 24:14.

Ndidayenda ku mzinda wa Edgefield, ku Carolina do Sul. Gwere la kumweko likhana apalizi anai basi. Pomwe inepano ndidafika, tidakwana axanu. Tikhambacitira mitsonkhano pa sala mu nyumba ya m’bale. Ndikhamala maora 100 ndikupalizira mwezi uli-wentse. Ndikhambakhala na bzinthu bzizinji bzakucita thangwe ndikhambatsogolera basa lakupalizira na kumbakonzekerambo nkhani kuti ndizifotokoze pa mitsonkhano. Ndipo pomwe ndikhacita bzinthu bzizinji, ndikhapfunzambo bzinthu bzizinji pakulewa bza Yahova.

Mkazi m’bodzi mamsiwa omwe tikhapfunza naye Bibliya akhana casa mortuária mu mzinda wa Johnston, pafupi na komwe tikhakhala. Nthawe zinango iye akhambandipasa basa kuti ndicite. Ndipo adabvumiza kuti timbaphatise basa nyumba yace kuti timbacitire mitsonkhano.

M’bale Jolly Jeffries, omwe ni mwana wa m’bale omwe adandipfunzisa Bibliya, adacoka ku Brooklyn, mu mzinda wa Nova Iorque, acibwera kudzacita nande pabodzi upainiya. Ifepano tikhakhala mu kanyumba kang’ono komwe m’bale munango adatipasa kuti tibakakhale.

Bzikhanesa kugumana basa ku Carolina do Sul. Ndipo tikacita madjolidjo tikhapasidwa madola mawiri ayai matatu pa ntsiku. Ntsiku ibodzi tikhadandosala na kobiri yakucepa ndipo ndidatenga kobiriyo ndicigula cakudya pa banka. Pomwe ndidacoka pa bankapo, mwamuna m’bodzi adandifenderera ndipo adandibvunza kuti: “Kodi ukufuna madjolidjo? Nin’kupagali dola ibodzi pa ora.” Ndidamala ntsiku zitatu ndikucita madjolidjo ya kumbapsaira pa mbuto yomwe iye akhaphatira basa. Bzimwebzi bzidalatiza kuti Yahova akhandithandiza kuti ndipitirize kutumikira ku Edgefield. Tsono, mu 1958 ndidayenda ku mtsonkhano wa madziko omwe udacitikira mu mzinda wa Nova Iorque.

Pa ntsiku yaciwiri ya mtsonkhanoyo, pa moyo wangu padacitika cinthu cabwino kwene-kwene. Ndidadziwana na Ruby Wadlington, omwe akhalimbo mpainiya wakukhazikika mu gwere la Gallatin, mu cigawo ca Tennessee. Tentsenefe tikhafuna kukhala amisiyonario, ndipopa tidayenda ku mtsonkhano wa omwe akhafuna kupita Xikola ya Jileyade. Pomwe mtsonkhanoyo udamala, tidayamba kumbaceza mwa kumbanemberana matsamba. Pomwe padapita nthawe, ndidacemeredwa kuti ndikafotokoze nkhani ya wentse mu gwere la Gallatin. Pomwe ndidayenda kukafotokoza nkhaniyo ndidakamubvunziriratu. Ndadzacoka gwere langu ndiciyenda kukatumikira mu gwere la Ruby, ndipo ifepano tidalowolana mu 1959.

Pomwe ndikhana magole 23, ndidakhala mtumiki wa gwere, omwe ntsiku zino ambadziwika na dzina lakuti nyakubveranisa bungwe la akulu ku Gallatin. Gwere lathu lidakhala lakuyamba kuzungiridwa na  m’bale Charles Thompson pomwe iye adakhala nyakunyang’anira dera. Iye akhadziwa bzinthu bzizinji; koma adandibvunza kuti adziwe bzomwe abale na mpfumakazi akhafunikira na bzomwe anyakunyang’anira dera winango adacita kuti awathandize. Bzimwebzi bzidandithandiza kuwona kuti mpsakufunika kuyamba kubvunza pomwe ukanati kucita cinthu kuti udziwe bzomwe ungacite.

Mu Maio 1964, ndidacemeredwa kuti ndikapite Xikola ya Utumiki bwa Umambo ku South Lansing, mu mzinda wa Nova Iorque. M’bale omwe akhacitisa xikolayi adandilimbikisa kumbapfunza bzinthu bzizinji pakulewa bza Yahova na kukhala munthu wakukhwima mwauzimu.

Mu Janeiro, 1965, mthambi idatiuza kuti ndikhale nyakunyang’anira dera kuti timbazungire magwere pabodzi na Ruby. Magwere yomwe tidauzidwa kuti timbazungire yakhali m’bzigawo bzizinji kwene-kwene. Kuyambira ku Knoxville, Tennessee, Virginia na pafupi na Richmond. Ndipo tidauzidwa kuti timbazungirembo magwere ya ku Carolina do Norte, Kentucky na West Virginia. Ifepano tikhambazungira magwere ya asenzi yokha thangwe pa nthawe imweyire kunyantsi kwa Estados Unidos malamulo ya boma yakhaletsa kuti azungu na asenzi ambacitire mitsonkhano yawo pabodzi. Abale omwe tikhazungirawo akhali wakusauka ndipo ifepano tikhafunika kumbawathandizambo pa bzinthu bzomwe akhasaya. Nyakunyang’anira dera m’bodzi omwe adamala nthawe ikulu akucita basa limweri adandiuza cinthu cakufunika kwene-kwene. Iye adati: “Ukambazungira gwere, leka kukhala ninga patrau wa abalewo, koma khala m’bale wawo. Iwepo un’dzakwanisa kuwathandiza bwino akambawona kuti ndiwe m’bale wawo.”

Pomwe tikhazungira gwere libodzi, lomwe likhali ling’ono, Ruby adayamba kupfunzisa Bibliya mkazi m’bodzi omwe akhana mwana wace wacikazi omwe akhana gole libodzi. Pa nthawe imweyire, mu gweremo mukhalibe munthu omwe angadakwanisa kupfunzisa mkazi ule, ndipopa Ruby adapitiriza kumbamupfunzisa mwa kumbacita kunemberana matsamba. Pomwe tidadzazungira pomwe gwere limwelire tidadziwa kuti mkazi ule akhabwera ku mitsonkhano sumana zentse. Pomwe padapita nthawe, apainiya awiri wakupambulika adayenda kukatumikira mu mzinda umweule ndipo iwo adapitiriza kupfunza Bibliya na mkazi ule. Pomwe padapita nthawe pang’ono, iye adabatizidwa. Pomwe tikhali pa Beteli ya ku Patterson, mu 1995, tingati, pomwe padapita magole 30 kucokera nthawe imweyire, mtsikana m’bodzi adayamba kuceza na Ruby. Iye akhali mwana wa mkazi omwe Ruby adayamba kupfunza naye Bibliya ule. Mtsikanayo pabodzi na bayace akhali anyakupfunza wa turma 100 ya Xikola ya Jileyade.

Tidadzacinjidwa ticiyenda kukazungira magwere ya pakati pa mzinda wa Florida. Pa nthawe imweyire tikhafuna karo. Ndipopa tidagula karoyo, ndipo tidaigula mwakufewera kwene-kwene. Tsono, pa sumana yakuyambirira yomwe tidafamba nayo, karoyo idadzongeka. Ifepano tikhalibe kobiri kuti tiikonzese. Ndipopa ndidaligaliri m’bale m’bodzi kuti atithandize. Nyabasa m’bodzi wa m’baleyo adakonza karo yathuyo ndipo alibe kutitcadja kobiri. Iye adalewa kuti: “Lekani kupagali.” Ndipo iye adatipasambo kobiri! Bzimwebzire bzidandithandiza kuwona kuti Yahova ambathandiza atumiki wace. Ndipo bzidandithandizambo kuwona kufunika kwa kumbathandiza wanthu winango.

Pomwe tikhambazungira magwere, tikhambafikira m’mii mwa abale. Ndipopa ndidakhala na axamwali azinji. Ntsiku ibodzi, ndidasiya tsamba la relatoriyo ya gwere pa makina yangu yakunembera. Pomwe ndidabwerera kumaulo, ndidadzawona kuti mwana wa pa mui pale, omwe akhana magole matatu, akhadatinya-tinya mabutau ya makinayo. Ndipo ndikhafunika kunemba papsa relatoriyoyo. Ndikhambaseka naye mwa kumbamukumbusa nkhani imweyi.

Mu 1971, ndidatambira tsamba lakutiuza kuti ndikhale nyakunyang’anira cigawo mu mzinda wa Nova Iorque. Inepano ndikhadikhirira lini bzimwebzi! Pomwe tidafika mu mzindayo, ndikhana magole 34 yokha. Tsono abale adatitambira na manja mawiri.

Pa basa limweri, ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene kupfunzisa bza Yahova sumana iri-yentse pa mtsonkhano wa dera. Anyakunyang’anira dera azinji akhadziwa bzinthu bzizinji kuposa inepano. M’bodzi wa iwo akhali m’bale omwe adafotokoza nkhani ya ubatizo pa ntsiku yomwe ndidabatizidwa. Ndipo pakhanambo m’bale Theodore Jaracz, omwe adadzakatumikira m’Bungwe Lakutonga. Pakhana abalembo winango azinji omwe akhadziwa bzinthu bzizinji omwe akhatumikira pa Beteli ku Brooklyn. Ndikhakomedwa kwene-kwene thangwe rakuti anyakunyang’anira derawa pabodzi na abale omwe akhatumikira pa Beteli akhandicitisa kubzibva bwino. Ndidawona na maso yangu kuti abusa walufoyiwa akhambakhulupira kwene-kwene Fala la Mulungu ndipo akhambathandizira gulu la Mulungu  mwakukhulupirika. Kubzicepesa kwawo kudacitisa kuti basa lomwe ndikhacita likhale lakusaya kunesa.

Mu 1974, Bungwe Lakutonga lidasankhula anyakunyang’anira dera winango kuti akhale anyakunyang’anira cigawo. Ndipo inepano ndidauzidwa kuti ndikhale pomwe nyakunyang’anira dera, koma ulendo bumwebu ndidayenda kukatumikira ku Carolina do Sul. Kuyambira nthawe imweyire, abale omwe mbasenzi na azungu adayamba kumbatsonkhana pabodzi, ndipo iwo adakomedwa kwene-kwene na bzimwebzi.

Kuphampha kwa gole la 1976, ndidauzidwa kuti ndikatumikire ku Georgia m’magwere yomwe yali mphimpha ya pakati pa Atlanta na Columbus. Ndikukumbukira nthawe inango pomwe ndidafotokoza nkhani ya nkhawa ya wana axanu asenzi omwe adafa pomwe wanthu winango adatentha nyumba yawo na moto. Mai wawo akhali baxa ku xipitali thangwe akhadapwetekeka kwene-kwene. Abale na mpfumakazi zizinji, azungu na asenzi kubodzi, akhayenda kukawona abereki wa wanawo ku xipitaliko. Pa nthawe imweyire ndidawona lufoyi lacadidi la abale na mpfumakazi. Lufoyi lomwe liripo pakati pa wanthu wa Mulungu limbatithandiza pa nthawe zakunesa.

Mu 1977, tidakumbiridwa kuti tikatumikire ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn minyezi yakucepa kuti tikathandizire basa linango. Pomwe tidamaliza basalo, abale awiri wa m’Bungwe Lakutonga adaceza nande ndipo adandibvunza penu inepano na Ruby tikhafuna kupitiriza kutumikira pa Beteli. Ifepano tidabvuma.

Ndidamala magole 24 ndikutumikira mu Depatimenti ya Utumiki. Mu depatimenti imweyi, nthawe zinango abale ambafunika kutawira mibvunzo yakunesa kwene-kwene. Magole yentseneya ndakwanisa kuwona Bungwe Lakutonga likutipasa malango mwakuphatisa basa nfundo za m’Bibliya. Malango yomwe akhatipasayo tikhayaphatisa basa pa kutawira mibvunzo na kupfunzisa anyakunyang’anira dera, akulu wa gwere na apainiya. Bzinthu bzomwe abale amwewa ambapfunza bzimbathandiza abale na mpfumakazi kukhala wakukhwima mwauzimu. Ndipo bzimwebzi bzimbalimbisa kwene-kwene gulu la Yahova.

Kuyambira mu 1995 mpaka mu 2018, ndidazungira mthambi zakusiyana-siyana thangwe ndikhali nyakuimira likulu lathu la pa dziko lentse, omwe kale-kale akhacemeredwa nyakuzungira mthambi zakusiyana-siyana. Pa maulendo yamweya, inepano ndikhambacita mitsonkhano na abale wa m’Komiti za Mthambi, abale wa pa Beteli na amisiyonario kuti ndiwalimbikise na kuwathandiza pa nkhani zomwe akufunikira thandizo. Tsono inepano na Ruby ndife omwe tikhalimbikisidwa na bzomwe abalewo akhatifotokozera. Mu gole la 2000, tidazungira dziko la Ruanda. Ifepano tidabva ntsisi kwene-kwene pomwe abale adatifotokozera bzomwe bzidacitikira abale omwe akhatumikira pa Beteli na abale winango mu 1994, pa nthawe ya nkhondo ya pa ubale yomwe ikhacita mu dzikomo. Abale wathu azinji adaphedwa adzinza wawo. Tsono napo kuti abalewa adagumana na mabvuto yentseya, iwo adalatiza kuti akhana cikhulupiro, akhana cidikhiro ndipo akhapitiriza kukhala wakukondwa.

Tsapano tina magole yakupitirira 80. Ndipo ndamala magole 20 ndikutumikira mu Komiti ya Mthambi ya ku Estados Unidos kuno. N’cadidi kuti ndiribe kudzayenda ku universidade; koma ndidapfunzisidwa bzinthu bzizinji na Yahova pabodzi na gulu lace. Bzomwe ndidapfunzabzi bzidandithandiza kuti ndipfunzisembo wanthu winango cadidi ca m’Bibliya, comwe cin’dzawapasa phindu lakusaya kumala. (2 Akolinto 3:5; 2 Timotio 2:2) Ndidakwanisa kuwona cadidi ca m’Bibliya cikuthandiza wanthu kucinja moyo wawo acikhala pa xamwali bwakulimba na Yahova omwe ni Mulengi wawo. (Tiyago 4:8) Inepano na Ruby tin’pitiriza kulimbikisa wanthu winango kuti ambalemekeze mwayi omwe anawo wakupfunza na kupfunzisambo wanthu winango bza Yahova. Umweyu ni mwayi ukulu kwene-kwene kwa atumiki wentse wa Yahova!