Navutse mu 1927, mvukira mu gasagara gatoyi kari hafi y’i Chicago, muri leta ya Illinois muri Amerika. Twavukana turi batanu: Jetha, Don, jewe, Karl, na Joy. Twese uko tugize umuryango, twari twiyemeje gukorera Yehova n’umutima wacu wose. Mushikanje Jetha yitavye ishure rya Gileyadi mu 1943, mu mugwi ugira kabiri. Don yagiye kuri Beteli y’i Brooklyn i New York mu 1944, Karl ajayo 1947, Joy na we ajayo 1951. Akarorero kabo keza be n’ak’abavyeyi banje, vyarankomeje cane.

Abavyeyi bacu barakunda gusoma Bibiliya kubera ko bakunda Imana, kandi natwe baratwigishije kuyikunda. Dawe yari umusoda. Ariko avuye ku rugamba mu Ntambara ya mbere y’isi yose i Buraya, yaje atacizigira amadini. Mawe yarakengurukiye Imana kubona dawe yagarutse impore, aca amubwira ati: «Karl, ingo tuje mu misa nka kera.» Dawe yamwishuye ati: «Ndaguherekezayo mugabo sininjira.» Mawe aca amubaza ati: «Ubuzwa n’iki kwinjira?» Dawe yishura ati: «Igihe nari ku rugamba, indongozi zo mw’idini rimwe zarashigikiye imigwi ibiri yari ishamiranye, zirahezagira abasoda n’ibirwanisho vyabo. Zimwe muri izo ndongozi zahezagira umugwi umwe, izindi zigahezagira uwundi. None Imana yari ishigikiye izo mpande zompi?»

Umusi umwe, igihe mawe yari yagiye gusenga, hari Ivyabona vya Yehova babiri batugendeye. Baciye baha dawe ibitabu bibiri vyakoreshwa mu kwiga Bibiliya vyitwa Umuco (mu congereza), bikaba vyaca irya n’ino ibivugwa mu gitabu c’Ivyahishuwe. Dawe yarabishimye, aca aravyakira. Mawe abonye ivyo bitabu, yaciye atangura kubisoma. Igihe kimwe, mawe yarabonye mu kinyamakuru co mu karere iwacu ubutumire bwasaba abavyipfuza kwiga Bibiliya bakoresheje vya bitabu vyitwa Umuco. Yaciye afata ingingo yo kwitaba ubwo butumire. Ashitseyo, yakiriwe n’umugore umwe ageze mu zabukuru. Mawe yaciye amwereka kimwe muri vya bitabu, aca amubaza ati: «Aha ni ho mwigira iki gitabu?» Uwo mugore yaciye amwishura ati: «Ego mwana, karibu.» Mu ndwi yakurikiye, mawe yaciye adutwara twese abana, kandi kuva ico gihe twama tujayo buri ndwi.

Umusi umwe kw’ikoraniro, umuhagarikizi yaransavye gusoma Zaburi 144:​15, ahavuga ko abasenga Yehova bahiriwe. Ico canditswe carankoze  ku mutima cokimwe n’ibindi vyanditswe bibiri, na vyo akaba ari 1 Timoteyo 1:11 ahavuga ko Yehova ari «Imana ihimbawe», be n’Abanyefeso 5:1 ahaturemesha «[kwigana] Imana.» Nahavuye nshika ku ciyumviro c’uko nkwiye kunezererwa ivyo nshoboye gukorera Umuremyi wanje vyose no kumukengurukira kuri iryo teka yanteye ryo kumukorera. Ivyo bintu bibiri ni vyo namye ngerageza gukora mu buzima bwanje.

Ishengero ryari hafi yacu, ryari i Chicago ku bilometero 32. Naho ari ukwo twarajayo, kandi nararushirije gutahura Bibiliya. Ndibuka ko igihe kimwe umuhagarikizi w’ikoraniro yatoye Jetha kugira yishure. Igihe yariko arishura, nibwiye nti: «Ivyo nari ndabizi, nk’ubu nabujijwe n’iki gukiriza?» Naciye ntangura kuza ndategura no gutanga inyishu. N’igihambaye kuruta, cokimwe n’abo tuvukana, nagumye ntera imbere mu vy’impwemu. Nabatijwe mu 1941.

Ihwaniro ryabereye i Cleveland, muri Ohio mu 1942 sinzopfa ndaryibagiye. Iryo hwaniro ryariko rirakurikiranwa biciye kuri telefone n’abantu bari mu bibanza birenga 50 muri Amerika. Umuryango wacu washikiye mu mahema abavukanyi bari bubatse irya n’ino y’ico kibanza. Intambara ya kabiri y’isi yose ntiyari bwarangire, kandi Ivyabona vya Yehova baguma barushiriza guhamwa. Mw’ijoro, narabonye imigwi y’abavukanyi baparitse imiduga yabo irya n’ino y’ayo mahema, amatara y’iyo miduga araba hirya. Bari bumvikanye ko muri buri muduga hararamwo umuntu kugira acunge umutekano mw’ijoro. Abo bavukanyi babonye abaje kutudurumbanya, bari guca bakiriza rimwe amatara maremare kugira babahume amaso, bagaca bavuza n’amasoni y’imiduga. Abandi na bo bari guca baza biruka gutabara. Nibwiye nti: «Emwe, abasavyi ba Yehova bama biteguriye ikintu cose!» Kubera ko umutekano wari ucunzwe neza, naciye niryamira nk’akanyana, kandi nta caduhungabanije.

Mu myaka yakurikiye, nibutse ivyabaye kuri iryo hwaniro, nasanze mawe atigeze ahagarika umutima canke ngo agire ubwoba. Yarizigira Yehova n’ishirahamwe ryiwe aherejeko. Sinzokwigera nibagira akarorero kiwe keza.

Hasigaye igihe gito ngo iryo hwaniro ribe, mawe yarabaye umutsimvyi asanzwe. Igihe rero twari kw’ihwaniro, yarumviriza yitonze insiguro zavuga ibijanye n’umurimo w’igihe cose. Turiko turataha, yavuze ati: «Nari gushima kubandanya ubutsimvyi, ariko ntivyokunda ko ndabifatanya n’ibikorwa vyo muhira.» Yaciye rero atubaza nimba twomufasha, natwe turavyemera. Umwe wese muri twebwe rero, yaciye amuha icumba kimwe canke bibiri yoza arakorera isuku imbere y’uko tunywa icayi co mu gitondo. Tumaze kuja kw’ishure, yabanza gusuzuma ko ibintu vyose bitunganije neza mu nzu, agaca aja mu ndimiro. Naho yari afise ibikorwa vyinshi, ntiyigera yirengagiza abana biwe. Igihe cose twaba tuje gufungura ivya sasita canke tuvuye kw’ishure, yama ari ho ari. Hari igihe twajana mu ndimiro tuvuye kw’ishure, ivyo bikaba vyaradufashije gutahura igikorwa c’abatsimvyi.

Natanguye ubutsimvyi mfise imyaka 16. Naho dawe atari bwabe Icabona, yarashimishwa n’iterambere ryanje. Umusi umwe ku mugoroba, naramubwiye ko maze gukora uko nshoboye kwose,  mugabo ko ata nyigisho ya Bibiliya ndaronka. Naciye mara akanya mpoze, nca ndamubaza nti: «Woshima ko ndakwigisha Bibiliya?» Yariyumviriye akanya gato, maze anyishura ati: «Nta ngorane.» Emwe, inyigisho ya mbere ya Bibiliya naronse yari dawe. Iyumvire nawe iryo teka!

Twiga mu gitabu «Ukuri kuzokugira uwidegemvya.» Uko twabandanya kwiga, nasanze dawe yariko aramfasha kuba umwigishwa n’umwigisha mwiza. Nk’akarorero, umusi umwe ku mugoroba duhejeje gusoma ingingo, yavuze ati: «Ndabona ivyo iki gitabu kivuga, ariko none wemezwa n’iki ko kivuga ukuri?» Ico kibazo nta co nari niteguriye. Naciye rero ndamubwira nti: «Uyu mwanya ntavyo nshoboye kugusigurira, ariko nitwasubira kwiga nzoba mfise inyishu.» Kandi ni ko vyagenze. Nararonse ivyanditswe bishigikira ico ciyumviro twariko turaganirako. Kuva ico gihe, narize kuza ndagira ubushakashatsi kugira ntegure neza ivyo twiga. Ivyo vyaradufashije twe na dawe gutera imbere mu vy’impwemu. Yarashize mu ngiro ivyo yariko ariga, maze abatizwa mu 1952.

Navuye muhira mfise imyaka 17. Muri ico kiringo, Jetha a yarabaye umumisiyonari, Don na we aba Umunyabeteli. Bompi barakunda igikorwa bashinzwe kandi vyarandemesha cane. Naciye rero nsaba kuja muri Beteli no kwitaba ishure rya Gileyadi, nca ndabirekera mu maboko ya Yehova. Murazi ivyakurikiye? Naciye ntumirwa kuri Beteli mu 1946.

Uko imyaka yagenda irarengana, narashinzwe ibikorwa bitandukanye kuri Beteli, ivyo bikaba vyaratumye niga ibintu vyinshi bishasha. Mu myaka 75 maze kuri Beteli, narize ibijanye no guteranya ibitabu, ibijanye n’ikigega be n’ibijanye no kugura ibintu no kubirungika. Ariko ikiruta vyose, ndaryoherwa n’inyigisho z’ivy’impwemu Beteli ituronsa biciye ku gusenga kwo mu gitondo no ku zindi nsiguro zishingiye kuri Bibiliya.

Hari n’ivyo nigiye kuri mutoyi wanje Karl, akaba yaje kuri Beteli mu 1947. Yariyigisha cane Ijambo ry’Imana, kandi akaryigisha neza. Umusi umwe naramusavye ngo amfashe gutegura insiguro nari nahawe. Namubwiye ko nari negeranije amakuru menshi ariko ko ntabona ingene noyatondeka neza. Yaramfashije kumenya ico nokora mu kumbaza ikibazo kimwe gusa. Yambajije ati: «Joe, umutwe w’insiguro yawe uvuga ngw’iki?» Naciye mbona ico ashatse kuvuga. Nari nkwiye gukoresha gusa amakuru ajanye n’uwo mutwe, ibindi nkavyihoza. Ico cigwa sinigeze ndacibagira.

Kugira ngo umurimo wo kuri Beteli uturyohere, turakwiye kugira umwete mu ndimiro kuko bituma  twibonera ibintu bituremesha. Kimwe mu vyo nibuka neza, ni icabaye umusi umwe ku mugoroba i Bronx mu gisagara ca New York. Jewe n’umuvukanyi twari kumwe, twaragendeye umukenyezi umwe yigeze kwakira Umunara w’Inderetsi na Be maso! Twaridondoye, duca tuvuga duti: «Kuri uyu mugoroba turiko turafasha abantu kumenya ibintu ngirakamaro dusanga muri Bibiliya.» Yaciye yishura ati: «Nimba ari ibijanye na Bibiliya, karibu.» Twarasomye ivyanditswe bitari bike bijanye n’Ubwami bw’Imana be n’isi nshasha igiye kuza, twongera turabiganirako. Biboneka ko vyamukoze ku mutima cane, kuko yaciye atumira abagenzi biwe batari bake ngo bazoze kwifatanya natwe mu ndwi yakurikiye. We n’umugabo wiwe, bahavuye baba abasavyi ba Yehova b’abizigirwa.

Naronse uwo twubakana haciye nk’imyaka 10 ndiko ndamurondera. None ni igiki camfashije kuronka umukenyezi abereye? Narasenze Yehova nongera ndazirikana ku vyo twokora tumaze kwubakana.

Inyuma y’ihwaniro ryo mu 1953 ryabereye i Yankee Stadium narahuye n’umudada yitwa Mary Aniol. We na mushikanje Jetha bari basohotse ishure rya Gileyadi mu mugwi ugira kabiri, baca babarungika gukorana ubumisiyonari. Mary yarambwiye n’umunezero mwinshi ibijanye n’igikorwa ciwe c’ubumisiyonari mu mazinga ya Karayibe be n’inyigisho za Bibiliya yari amaze imyaka ayobora. Uko twarushiriza kumenyana, ni ko twasanze dufise imigambi imwe y’ivy’impwemu. Urukundo rwacu rwararushirije gukomera duca twubakana muri Ndamukiza 1955. Mu bihe bitandukanye, Mary yarambereye ingabire iva kuri Yehova n’akarorero nokwigana. Yarahimbarirwa igikorwa cose ashinzwe. Yarakora cane, akitwararika abandi vy’ukuri, kandi akama ashira ivy’Ubwami mu kibanza ca mbere. (Mat. 6:33) Twamaze imyaka itatu mu gikorwa co kugendera amashengero maze mu 1958, dutumirwa kuri Beteli.

Mary naramwigiyeko vyinshi. Nk’akarorero, tucubakana twafashe ingingo yo kuza turasomera hamwe Bibiliya, nk’imirongo 15 icarimwe. Umwe muri twebwe ahejeje gusoma igice kanaka, twaca tukiganirako tukaraba n’ingene twoshira mu ngiro ivyo twasomye. Mary yarakunda kumbwira ibintu yigiye mw’ishure rya Gileyadi no mu gikorwa c’ubumisiyonari. Ivyo biyago twagirana vyaratumye ndushiriza kuryohora insiguro nashikiriza no kumenya ingene noza ndaremesha abadada.—Imig. 25:11.

Umukenyezi wanje nikundira Mary yapfuye mu 2013. Si je nzobona isi nshasha iraje ngo nsubire kumubona! Mu kurindira, niyemeje kuguma niga no kwizigira Yehova n’umutima wanje wose. (Imig. 3:​5, 6) Kwiyumvira ibintu abasavyi ba Yehova bazokora mw’isi nshasha, birampoza kandi bikampa umunezero. Nta nkeka ko ico gihe, wa Mwigisha wacu ahambaye azotwigisha ibintu vyinshi bishasha natwe tukamenya ibintu vyinshi bimwerekeye. Emwe, simbona ingene nomukengurukira kubera ibintu vyose yanyigishije gushika ubu, be no kubera ubuntu buhebuje yangaragarije mu bihe bitandukanye.