Ekuqaleni koo-1940, abazali bam babefundiswa iBhayibhile ngamaNgqina KaYehova. Nangona bayekayo ukufunda, umama zange ayeke ukuzithatha iiMboniselo nooVukani! Ngo-1950, xa kwakukho indibano yezizwe ngezizwe eNew York, intsapho yasekhaya yaya.

Emva kwaloo ndibano, uMzalwan’ uLawrence Jeffries wayemane esiya ekhaya. Wazama ukundinceda ndifunde inyaniso. Ekuqaleni, ndandingayiginyi ncam into yokuba amaNgqina engazifaki kwiipolitiki, engayi nasemfazweni. Ndathi kuye ukuba wonke umntu eMerika wayengafuni ukuya emfazweni, iintshaba zethu zaziza kusihlasela zize zisilawule. UMzalwan’ uJeffries wathi: “Masithi bonke abantu baseMerika bebekhonza uYehova, ucinga ukuba ebenokwenza ntoni xa iintshaba zabo zibahlasela?” Le nto nezinye izinto awayezithetha, zandinceda ndabona ukuba bendirongo, ndatsho ndafuna ukufunda iBhayibhile.

Kwakuqengqeleka iiyure ndifunda eza magazini umama wayeman’ ezithatha kumaNgqina aze azigcine. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, ndabona ukuba yinyaniso le. Ngoko ndavuma ukufundiswa iBhayibhile nguMzalwan’ uJeffries. Ndandisiya qho nakwiintlanganiso. Ndayithanda into endandiyifundiswa, ndatsho ndangumshumayeli weendaba ezilungileyo. Ndathi ndakuqonda ukuba “imini enkulu kaYehova isondele,” zatshintsha izinto endandifuna ukuzenza ebomini. (Zef. 1:14) Ndandingasafuni ukuya eyunivesithi, kodwa eyona nto ndandiyifuna, kukunceda abantu bafunde inyaniso eseBhayibhileni.

Nge-13 kaJuni 1956, ndapasa ugrade 12. Emva kweentsuku ezintathu ndabhaptizwa kwindibano yesiphaluka. Zange ndicinge ukuba zininzi kangaka izinto ezintle aza kundenzela zona uYehova xa ndiphilela  ukufunda ngaye ndize ndifundise nabanye abantu.

Emva kweenyanga eziyi-6 ndibhaptiziwe, ndaba nguvulindlela othe ngxi. UBulungiseleli BoBukumkani besiNgesi bukaDisemba 1956, babunenqaku elithi “Can You Serve Where the Need Is Great?” Lalithetha nam. Ndandifuna ukunceda apho babembalwa abavakalisi beendaba ezilungileyo.​—Mat. 24:14.

Ndafudukela e-Edgefield, eSouth Carolina. Ibandla lalapho lalinabavakalisi abane qha. Mna ndaba ngowesihlanu. Iintlanganiso sasizingenela kwikhaya lomnye umzalwana. Ndandishumayela kangangeeyure eziyi-100 qho ngenyanga. Ndandixakeke kukukhokela kumsebenzi wokushumayela nokunikela iintetho. Ukwanda kwemisebenzi endandiyenza ebandleni kwandenza ndaya ndifunda ngoYehova.

Elinye ibhinqa endandilifundisa iBhayibhile lalinomasingcwabane eJohnston, idolophu eyayingekho kude kakhulu nalapho ndandihlala khona. Landinika umsebenzi owawungazukufuna ndisebenze yonke imihla, lasiboleka nendawo yokungenela iintlanganiso.

UMzalwan’ uJolly Jeffries, unyana womzalwana owandifundisa iBhayibhile, wemka eBrooklyn, eNew York, saza sangoovulindlela kunye. Sasihlala kwikharavan esasiyibolekwe ngomnye umzalwana.

Sasibhatalwa imali encinci apho sasisebenza khona, iidola ezimbini okanye ezintathu ngosuku. Ngenye imini ndathenga ukutya ngemali yam yokugqibela. Ndathi xa ndiphuma evenkileni, kweza enye indoda, yathi: “Uyawufuna umsebenzi? Ndiza kukubhatala idola ngeyure.” Wandinika umsebenzi weentsuku ezintathu wokuklina kwindawo ekwakusakhiwa kuyo. Ndabona ukuba uYehova undinceda ndikwazi ukuhlala e-Edgefield. Nangona ndandisamkela imali encinci, ndakwazi ukuya kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe eyayiseNew York ngo-1958.

Ngosuku lwesibini lwendibano, kwenzeka into endingasoze ndiyilibale. Ndadibana noRuby Wadlington, owayenguvulindlela othe ngxi eGallatin, eTennessee. Sobabini sasifuna ukuba ngabathunywa bevangeli. Ngoko saya kwintlanganiso yabantu abafuna ukuya kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi eyayikuloo ndibano. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, saqalisa ukubhalelana iileta. Emva koko, ndacelwa ukuba ndiye kunikela intetho yesidlangalala eGallatin. Ndamcela ngoko uRuby ukuba abe ngumfazi wam. Ndaya kukhonza kwibandla awayekhonza kulo saza satshata ngo-1959.

Xa ndandineminyaka eyi-23 ndaba sisicaka sebandla (ngoku esibizwa ngokuba ngumnxibelelanisi wequmrhu labadala) eGallatin. Xa uMzalwan’ uCharles Thompson wayeqala ukuba ngumveleli wesiphaluka, ibandla lethu laba lelokuqala ukutyelelwa nguye. Nangona wayenamava, wacela ndimxelele indlela endicinga ukuba bangancedwa ngayo abazalwana noodade, efuna ukwazi nendlela  abanye abaveleli beziphaluka abaye bawancede ngayo amabandla. Into endayifundayo kuye kukuba, xa ndiza kwenza isigqibo ndimele ndibuze ukuze ndazi yonke into endimele ndiyazi.

NgoMeyi 1964, ndamenywa ukuba ndiye kwiSikolo Sobulungiseli SoBukumkani esasiza kuthatha inyanga enye eSouth Lansing, eNew York. Abazalwana ababefundisa kwesi sikolo bandinceda ndakufuna nyhani ukufunda nezinye izinto ngoYehova nokusondela kuye.

NgoJanuwari 1965, sinoRuby sacelwa ukuba sibe kumsebenzi wesiphaluka. Sasisikhulu nyhani isiphaluka sethu sokuqala, sisuka kwidolophu yaseTennessee, iKnoxville, size siphantse ukuyokufika eRichmond, eseVirginia. Sasityelela namabandla aseNorth Carolina, eKentucky, naseWest Virginia. Ndandityelela amabandla abazalwana abamnyama kuphela, kuba kumzantsi weUnited States, abantu abamnyama nabamhlophe babengavumelekanga ukuba nentlanganiso kunye. Abazalwana noodade babesokola, loo nto yasifundisa ukubapha izinto esinazo abanye. Umzalwana ekwakukudala engumveleli wesiphaluka wandifundisa into ebalulekileyo. Wathi: “Xa ufika ebandleni, ungabi ngumphathi kubazalwana noodade kodwa yiba ngumzalwana wabo. Uza kukwazi ukubanceda kuphela xa ubenza babone ukuba ungumzalwana wabo.”

Xa sasityelele elinye ibandla elincinci, uRuby waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile nelinye ibhinqa elalinomntwana owayenonyaka. Kwakungekho mntu owayenokulifundisa kwelo bandla, ngoko uRuby waqhubeka elifundisa ngokulibhalela iileta. Xa saphinda satyelela, eli bhinqa lalibakho kuzo zonke iintlanganiso. Kwafika oodade ababini abangoovulindlela abakhethekileyo baza baqhubeka belifundisa. Zange kudlule xesha lide, labhaptizwa eli bhinqa. Emva kweminyaka eyi-30 xa sasikwiBheteli yasePatterson ngo-1995, omnye udade owayesemtsha weza kuRuby wancokola naye. Lo dade yayingumntwana wela bhinqa uRuby wayelifundisa iBhayibhile. Yena nomyeni wakhe babekwiklasi ye-100 yesikolo saseGiliyadi.

Isiphaluka sethu sesibini sasisecentral Florida. Ngelo xesha sasiyidinga imoto, ngoko sathenga eyayingekho duru. Kodwa kwiveki nje yokuqala yonakala injini. Sasingenayo nemali yokuyilungisa. Kodwa ndathetha nomnye umzalwana endandicinga ukuba angasinceda. Wathuma omnye wabantu ababemsebenzela ukuba ayilungise. Lo mzalwana zange afune nesenti emdaka. Wasuka wathi, “Ungazikhathazi.” Endaweni yokuba sibhatale, yaba nguye osipha imali! Le nto yasibonisa indlela uYehova abakhathalela ngayo abakhonzi bakhe. Yasikhumbuza nokuba simele sibe nezandla ezivulekileyo.

Sasisithi xa sityelele ibandla, sihlale kwikhaya lomKristu. Ngenxa yaloo nto, saba nabahlobo abaninzi. Kwelinye ikhaya esasifikele kulo ndashiya ingxelo yebandla ndingagqibanga ukuyibhala kumatshini wokutayipa. Ndathi xa ndibuya ngorhatya ndafika unyana walapho owayeneminyaka eyi-3 ecofe amaqhosha kwabhaleka amarhoqololo kuloo ngxelo. Kwadlula iminyaka ndimhleka ngenxa yaloo nto.

Ngo-1971, ndafumana ileta eyayisithi mandibe ngumveleli wesithili eNew York. Yasothusa nyhani! Kaloku ndandineminyaka eyi-34 qha xa sasisiya apho. Abazalwana noodade bandamkela ngezandla ezishushu kuba ndandingumveleli wokuqala omnyama kwisithili sabo.

Xa ndandingumveleli wesithili, ndandisiba nentetho qho ngempela-veki kwindibano yesiphaluka. Abaveleli beziphaluka abaninzi babenamava kunam. Omnye wabo yayingumzalwana owanikela intetho yokubhaptizwa kwam. Kanti omnye yayinguMzalwan’ uTheodore Jaracz, owaba kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo. Kwakukho nabazalwana abaninzi abanamava nababekhonza kwiBheteli yaseBrooklyn. Ndandiyibulela nyhani into yokuba aba bazalwana beye bandenza ndakhululeka. Ndazibonela ukuba bangabalusi abanothando, abathembele kwiLizwi likaThixo nabayixhasayo intlangano Yakhe. Kuba babethobekile, zange kube nzima kum ukuba ngumveleli wesithili.

Ngo-1974 iQumrhu Elilawulayo lacela abanye abaveleli beziphaluka ukuba babe ngabaveleli bezithili,  ndaza mna ndabuyela kumsebenzi wesiphaluka. Kodwa ngoku ndandiza kuya kwisiphaluka esasiseSouth Carolina. Ngelo xesha abazalwana abamnyama nabamhlophe babevumelekile ukukhonza kunye futhi yabavuyisa nyhani loo nto.

Ngasekupheleni kuka-1976, ndacelwa ukuba ndiye kukhonza kwisiphaluka saseGeorgia, esasiphakathi kweAtlanta neColumbus. Ndikhumbula kakuhle ndinikela intetho yomngcwabo wabantwana abayi-5, abasweleka emva kokuba abanye abantu betshise ikhaya labo. Yena umama wabo wenzakala waza walaliswa esibhedlele. Ayemaninzi amaNgqina KaYehova angabantu abamnyama nabamhlophe awayemane esiya kweso sibhedlele eyokuthuthuzela abo bazali. Ndayibona kakuhle indlela ababethandana ngayo abazalwana noodade. Ukubavela ngale ndlela abantu bakaThixo, kungabanceda banyamezele nezona ngxaki zinzima.

Ngo-1977, sacelwa ukuba siyokuncedisa iinyanga ezimbalwa kumsebenzi owawusenziwa kwiBheteli yaseBrooklyn. Ngaphambi nje kokuba ugqitywe lo msebenzi, abazalwana ababini beQumrhu Elilawulayo basicela ukuba siqhubeke sisebenza eBheteli sinoRuby. Savuma.

Ndaba kwiSebe Lenkonzo kangangeminyaka eyi-24. Apho omnye umsebenzi odla ngokwenziwa ngabazalwana kukuphendula imibuzo enzima. Ekuhambeni kweminyaka, iQumrhu Elilawulayo liye lakhupha imiyalelo ehambelana nemigaqo yeBhayibhile. Loo miyalelo inceda iSebe Lenkonzo likwazi ukuphendula imibuzo, liqeqeshe abaveleli beziphaluka, abadala noovulindlela. Ukuqeqeshwa ngale ndlela kuncede abaninzi banokholo oluqinileyo. Loo nto iyenze yomelela intlangano kaYehova.

Ukususela ngo-1995 ukuya kutsho ngo-2018, ndandityelela iiofisi zamasebe ahlukahlukeneyo, ndingummeli wekomkhulu lehlabathi lamaNgqina kaYehova, ekwakukade kusithiwa ngumveleli otyelela amasebe. Ndandikhuthaza abazalwana abakwiiKomiti Zamasebe, abasebenza eBheteli nabathunywa bevangeli, ndize ndibancede nakwiingxaki ababenazo. SinoRuby sasikhuthazeka kakhulu xa abazalwana noodade besibalisela izinto eziye zenzeka kubo. Ngokomzekelo, ngo-2000 saya eRwanda. Kwasichukumisa nyhani ukuva indlela abanyamezela ngayo abazalwana noodade neNtsapho YaseBheteli xa kwakubulawa abantu abaninzi ngo-1994. Abaninzi kubo baswelekelwa ngabantu ababathandayo. Ngaphezu kwezinto ababezinyamezele, zange bayeke ukuba nokholo, ukuba nethemba nokuvuya.

Ngoku sineminyaka engaphezu kweyi-80. Sekudlule iminyaka eyi-20 ndikwiKomiti Yesebe laseUnited States. Zange ndiye eyunivesithi kodwa ndifundiswe ngeyona ndlela isemagqabini nguYehova nentlangano yakhe. Le nto indincede ndakwazi ukufundisa abanye inyaniso eseBhayibhileni enokubanceda ngonaphakade. (2 Kor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:2) Ndiyibonile indlela umyalezo weBhayibhile obancede ngayo abantu baphucula ubomi babo baza bangabahlobo boMdali wabo. (Yak. 4:8) SinoRuby sisabakhuthaza abanye ukuba bayixabise inyhweba abanayo yokufunda ngoYehova nokufundisa abanye inyaniso eseBhayibhileni. Le yeyona nyhweba inkulu anokuyifumana umntu okhonza uYehova!