Ndabalwa pa ntsiku 10 ya nthanda ya Maindza ya caka 1936 mu nzinda wa Wichita, ku Kansas, Estados Unidos. Tabalwa ana anai, mwa iwo nkulu ndine, pai wanga William na mai wanga Jean akhali atumiki akukhulupirika a Yahova. Pai wanga akhali servo de companhia, lero abale anacita ntundu unoyu wa basa asacemerwa mbveranisi wa akulu a mpingo. Mama apfundziswa undimomwene na mai wace, Emma Wagner. Yavu wanga apfundzisa undimomwene anthu azinji kuphatanizambo Gertrude Steele, adatumikira ninga misionaryo mu pyaka pizinji ku Porto Riko. * (Onani cidzindikiro.) Natenepa, ndikhali na anthu a pitsandzo pyadidi toera kuatowezera.

Ndisakumbuka ntsiku inango, ikhali n’Sabudu cakumaulo, ine na pai wanga tikhagawira mu nseu marevista a Ncenjezi na Consolação (yakuti cincino isacemerwa Despertai!) Ndikhali na pyaka pixanu pyakubalwa. Pa ndzidzi unoyu, dziko ikhadakhuyiwa kakamwe na Nkhondo Yaciwiri ya Dziko Yonsene. Ngakhale tenepo, pai wanga apitiriza kukhala wa unakatinakati. Dotoro unango wakuti akhadaledzera abwera mbatoma kusingirira pai wanga thangwi yakukhonda kwace kucita khundu mu nkhondo. Iye akhalonga kuti pai wanga ndi nyakugopa, pontho acita masasanyiro toera kukhonda kucita khundu ya nsoka wa anyankhondo. Dotoro aikha  cala cace pa nkhope ya pai wanga mbalonga: “Nyakugopa, thangwi yanji nkhabe kundimenya!” Ine ndagopa, mbwenye ndadzumatirwa kakamwe na pai wanga. Iye apitiriza kugawira marevista anthu akuti akhaona pyonsene pikhacitika. Buluka penepo, Dotoro unoyu pidaona iye nyankhondo unango mbakapita na penepo, iye akhuwa: “Cita pinthu kuna nyakugopa uyu!” Na kuona kuti iye akhadaledzera, nyankhondo ampanga: “Ndoko kunyumba kwako, nyam’mwera!” Uwiri wawo aenda. Ndingakumbuka pyenepi, ndisapereka takhuta kakamwe kuna Yahova thangwi yakupasa cipapo pai wanga. Pai wanga akhali na mbuto ziwiri zakucinga tsisi ku Wichita, pontho Dotoro unoyu akhali m’bodzi mwa anthu akuti akhacingisa tsisi pa mbuto zenezi!

Pikhali ine na pyaka pisere pyakubalwa, anyakubalanga agulisa nyumba yawo na mbuto zakucingira tsisi, mbamanga nyumba ing’ono. Buluka penepo taenda ku Colorado, cifupi na nzinda wa Grand Junction toera kutumikira mu cisa cikhafunika kakamwe amwazi mphangwa. Anyakubalanga akhatumikira ninga apainiya, mbwenye cakumaulo peno camacibese akhalima na kutsalakana pifuyo. Na ciphedzo ca Yahova pabodzi na phinga yawo, mpingo wakhazikiswa. Ntsiku 20 ya Khoni ya caka 1948, pai wanga andibatiza mu nkulo unango wakuti ukhali paphiri. Anango adatawira undimomwene abatizwambo, ninga Billie Nichols na nkazace. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi iye atumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa, pontho mwanace pabodzi na nkazace atumikirambo ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa.

Tikhacita uxamwali wadidi na anthu azinji akuti akhali akuphatika kakamwe m’basa ya Yahova, makamaka anthu a m’banja ya Steele—Don na Earlene, Dave na Julia, pabodzi na Si na Martha. Tikhakomerwa kakamwe na kucedza pya Bhibhlya na iwo, pyenepi pyakhuya kakamwe umaso wanga. Iwo andiphedza toera kuona kuti umaso wathu usakhala na cifuniro, pontho usakhala wakutsandzayisa kakamwe tingaikha Umambo pa mbuto yakutoma.

Pikhali ine na pyaka khumi na pipfemba, Bud Hasty wakuti akhali xamwali wa banja yathu andiphemba toera kuenda katumikira pabodzi na iye ninga apainiya ku nterero kwa Estados Unidos. Muyang’aniri wa cisa atiphemba toera tiende ku nzinda wa Ruston, Louisiana, kweneku abale na alongo azinji akhadalimira kumwaza mphangwa. Iye alonga kuti tikhafunika kucita misonkhano masumana onsene, maseze pakhonde kubwera munthu. Tagumana mbuto toera kucitira misonkhano, mbatikhunganya pyonsene. Tikhacita misonkhano yonsene, mbwenye midzidzi inango ndife basi uwiri wathu tikhasonkhana. Mu ndzidzi ukhacita unango khundu yace, unango akhatawira mibvundzo yonsene. Khala khundu ikhaphataniza citsandzo, uwiri wathu tikhali pa platifomu nkhabepo munthu akhatibvesera! Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, mulongo unango wakugwesera atoma kubwera kasonkhana. Buluka penepo, abale na alongo anango akuti akhadalimira kumwaza mphangwa pabodzi na anyakupfundza Bhibhlya anango atomambo kufika pa misonkhano, pidapita ndzidzi wakucepa tadzakhala mpingo.

Ntsiku inango, Ine na Bud tacedza na nkulu wa Gereja ya Kristu. Nkulu unoyu wa Gereja alonga pya malemba anango akuti nee ndikhaadziwa mwadidi. Pyenepi pyandicitisa kunyerezera kakamwe, ndaona kuti ndikhafunika kupfundza kakamwe malemba. Pa sumana ibodzi, ndikhagona mwakudembuka kakamwe thangwi yakupfundza pinthu pikhadalonga iye. Pyenepi pyandiphedza toera kuwangisa uxamwali wanga na Yahova, mbandifuna kakamwe kugumana nkulu unango wa Gereja toera kucedza naye.

Pidapita ndzidzi ungasi, muyang’aniri wa cisa andiphemba toera kuenda ku El Dorado, Arkansas toera kuphedza mpingo wa kweneku. Pikhali ine kweneku, kazinji kene ndikhaenda ku Colorado kunalemberwa anthu toera kukhala anyankhondo. Ntsiku inango, ine ndikhali pabodzi na apainiya anango m’motokala, mbwenye motokala ukhali ife wacita cidengwa mbubodoka. Tamenyera ntokodzi m’bale unango, iye abwera mbatikwata toera kuenda kunyumba kwace, buluka penepo, taenda ku misonkhano. Kweneku kwacitwa cidziwiso ca  cidengwa cikhadatigwera, pontho abale atiphedza na kobiri. M’bale adatikwata agulisa motokala wanga na ntengo wa madolari akukwana 25.

Takwira motokala mbatienda ku Wichita. Xamwali wa banja yathu akhali kweneku, iye akhatumikira ninga mpainiya, akhacemerwa E. F. McCartney, ife kazinji kene tikhancemera Doc. Iye akhali na ana awiri a mamphasa, akhacemerwa Frank na Francis, iwo ndi axamwali anga a pantima. Iwo andigulisira motokala wawo wakale na kobiri yakukwana madolari 25, unoyu ndi ntengo udapaswa ine pidaguliswa motokala wanga. Unoyu ukhali ulendo wakutoma udadzindikira ine kuti Yahova andipasa cinthu cikhafuna ine, thangwi yakuikha Umambo pa mbuto yakutoma mu umaso wanga. Pa ulendo unoyu, McCartneys andipangiza mulongo Bethel Crane wakuti akhafuna kakamwe Yahova. Mai wace anacemerwa Ruth, mpainiya waphinga mu nzinda wa Wellington ku Kansas, apitiriza kutumikira ninga mpainiya mpaka pyaka pyakupiringana 90. Ine na Bethel nee tamala caka toera kumanga banja, mu caka 1958, tatoma kutumikira ninga apainiya ku El Dorado.

Anyakubala athu atikuza pakati pa anthu akuti akhatumikira Yahova mwakukhulupirika. Pidamala ife kunyerezera pitsandzo pyawo, ine na Bethel tatonga kuperekeka toera kucita basa yonsene mu gulu ya Yahova. Takhazikiswa ninga apainiya akupambulika mu nzinda wa Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Buluka penepo, mu caka 1962 tatsandzaya kakamwe pidatambira ife ncemerero wa kuenda ku Nova York toera kugumanika pa turma 37 ya Gileade. Takomerwa kakamwe na kudziwa kuti tikhali mu turma ibodzi ene na Don Steele. Pakumala kwa xikola, taphembwa toera kuenda katumikira ku nzinda wa Nairóbi, ku Keniya. Tatsukwala kakamwe pidabuluka ife ku Nova York. Mbwenye pidaona ife abale pa thando ya ndeka, kutsukwala kwathu kwamala.

Mwakukhonda dembuka, takomerwa kakamwe na kutumikira ku Keniya. Chris na Mary Kanaiya akhali anyakupfundza athu akutoma adatawira undimomwene. Iwo asapitiriza kutumikira Yahova mwakukhulupirika m’basa ya ndzidzi onsene ku Keniya. Caka cidatowera, taphembwa toera kuenda katumikira mu nzinda wa Kampala ku Uganda. Ndife  adatoma kutumikira ninga amisionaryo mu dziko ineyi. Unoyu ukhali ndzidzi wadidi kakamwe, thangwi athu azinji akhafuna kupfundza Bhibhlya, azinji a iwo adzakhala abale athu. Pidamala ife pyaka pitatu na hafu ku Afrika, tabwerera ku Estados Unidos toera kutsalakana banja. Ntsiku idabuluka ife ku Afrika takhala pontho akutsukwala, mbwenye pa ulendo unoyu kutsukwala kwace kukhali kukulu kakamwe kupiringana pidabuluka ife ku Nova York. Tikhafuna kakamwe anthu a ku Afrika, pontho tikhafuna kubwererako pontho na ntsiku yace.

Taenda kakhala ku nkwiriro kwa Colorado, anyakubalanga akakhala kweneku. Pidapita ndzidzi ungasi, mwanathu wakutoma wankazi anacemerwa Kimberly abalwa, pontho pidapita nthanda 17 takhala na mwana unango wankazi anacemerwa Stephany. Basa idatambira ife ninga anyakubala tikhaiona kukhala yakufunika kakamwe. Tawangisira kakamwe toera kupfundzisa undimomwene anathu. Tikhafuna kutowezera pitsandzo pyadidi pya anthu adakhala na ife. Tikhadziwa kuti mbapidanentsa. Maseze ticite pyonsene pinakwanisa ife toera kukhala citsandzo cadidi kuna ana, iwo anakwanisa kusankhula kutumikira Yahova peno nkhabe. M’bale wanga wang’ono na m’bodzi mwa abale anga acikazi asiya undimomwene. Mbwenye ndisadikhira kuti na ciphedzo ca Yahova, anatowezerambo pitsandzo pyadidi pidakhala na iwo mu umaso wawo.

Tikhakomerwa kakamwe na kukuza anathu, pontho ndzidzi onsene tikhayesera kucita pinthu ninga banja. Nakuti tikakhala cifupi na nzinda wa Aspen, Colorado, unai wathu tapfundza ku esquiar toera kucita pinthu pabodzi. Mu ndzidzi ukhakwira ife phiri tikhabandza mwai unoyu toera kucedza na anathu. Tikhakomerwa na kumanga nsasa, pontho tikhacedza makani adidi mu ndzidzi ukhaotha ife moto. Maseze akhali anang’ono, iwo akhacita mibvundzo ninga iyi: “Kodi ndinadzacitanji ndingakula?” na “Ndinasankhula tani mamuna wadidi toera kumanga naye banja?” Tacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ife toera kupfundzisa anathu kufuna Yahova. Kazinji kene tikhawangisa anathu toera kupita m’basa ya ndzidzi onsene na kumanga banja na munthu wakuti ali na cifuno cibodzi cene. Tayesera kuaphedza kubvesesa kuti si pyadidi tayu kumanga banja mwakucimbiza. Kazinji kene tikhaapanga kuti: “Dikhirani pang’ono mpaka mukwanirise pyaka 23.”

Mu kutowezera citsandzo ca anyakubala athu, tikhacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ife toera kugumanika pa misonkhano na kuenda na banja mu utumiki mwakukhonda phonya. Tikhacemerambo abale na alongo akuti akhali m’basa ya ndzidzi yonsene toera kukhala panyumba pathu. Pontho, kazinji kene tikhalonga munjira yadidi kakamwe pya basa ya umisionaryo. Tikhadikhira kuti ntsiku ibodzi unai wathu mbatidaenda pabodzi ku Afrika. Anapiana athu akhafuna kakamwe kucita ulendo unoyu.

Tikhacita kulambira kwa banja mwakukhonda phonya. Tikhabandza ndzidzi unoyu toera kuyesera makhaliro akuti panango mbadaoneka kuxikola, anathu akhasangazira kutawira mibvundzo ninga Mboni ya Yahova. Munjira ineyi, iwo akhapfundza kubulukira mu kusendzeka, pyenepi pyaacitisa kukhala na cinyindiro. Mu ndzidzi ukhakula iwo, midzidzi inango akhadungunya thangwi yakucita kulambira kwa banja. Ntsiku inango ine ndatsukwala  kakamwe, mbandiapanga toera kuenda m’makwartu mwawo, ndalonga kuti nee tinapfundzabve. Iwo atsukwala kakamwe mbatoma kulira, mbalonga kuti asafuna kupfundza. Buluka penepo, tadzindikira kuti tikhakwanisa kuaphedza toera kukomerwa na kupfundza pya Yahova. Iwo apitiriza kufuna kupfundza. Ife tikhasiya anathu toera akhale akusudzuka toera alonge pyonsene pikhafuna iwo. Pikhali pyakunentsa midzidzi inango kuabvesera mbakalonga kuti nee asatawira pipfundziso pya Bhibhlya. Mbwenye udidi wace ndi wakuti tadzindikira pikhanyerezera iwo. Pidamala ife kupfundza mwacidikhodikho pabodzi, iwo atoma kuphedzera midida ya Yahova.

Pyaka pyenepi pyapita mwakucimbiza kakamwe! Thangwi ya ciphedzo pabodzi na pitsogolero pya gulu, tacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ife toera kupfundzisa anathu kufuna Yahova. Pikhali pyakutsandzayisa kakamwe kuona anathu awiri kutonga kutumikira ninga apainiya pidamala iwo kupfundza kuxikola ya sekundarya. Iwo apfundza kucita mabasa toera kuphedzeka m’basa ya upainiya. Iwo pabodzi na alongo awiri aenda ku nzinda wa Cleveland ku Tennessee toera kuphedzera basa yakumwaza mphangwa. Tikhaatsuwa kakamwe, mbwenye tikhatsandzaya thangwi yakusankhula kwawo kukhala m’basa ya ndzidzi onsene. Nakuti anathu akhadabuluka panyumba, ine na Bethel tatoma pontho kutumikira ninga apainiya. Pyenepi pyacitisa kuti mukupita kwa ndzidzi titumikire ninga nyakuphedzera wa muyang’aniri wa cisa na kuphedzera basa yakutsalakana misonkhano ya gawo na ya cisa.

Mbadzati kuenda ku Tennessee, anathu aenda kaona Bheteli ya Londres ku Inglatera. Kweneku, Stephany wakuti akhali na pyaka 19 mu ndzidzi unoyu, adziwana na mphale anacemerwa Paul Norton wakuti asatumikira ku Bheteli. Pa ulendo unango, Kimberly adziwana na Brian Llewellyn wakuti akhaphata pabodzi na Paul. Stephany amanga banja na Paul pikhali iye na pyaka 23 pyakubalwa. Pontho caka cidatowera, Kimberly amangambo banja na Brian, mbwenye iye akhali na pyaka 25. Mwandimomwene, iwo adikhira mpaka kukwanirisa pyaka 23 pyakubalwa. Tatsandzaya kakamwe thangwi iwo amanga banja na atumiki akukhulupirika a Yahova.

Anathu atipanga kuti citsandzo cathu cadidi na ca anyakubala athu pyaphedza toera kubvera mafala adalonga Yezu akuti ‘pakutoma sakani Umambo,’ maseze tikhali na kobiri yakucepa. (Mateo 6:33) Mu nthanda ya Bwinja ya caka 1998, Paul na Stephany aphembwa toera kuenda kuxikola ya Gileade, turma 105, buluka penepo, aphembwa toera kuenda katumikira ku Malawi, Afrika. Mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene, Brian na Kimberly aphembwa toera aenda katumikira ku Bheteli ya Londres, mbwenye mukupita kwa ndzidzi acinjwa toera kuenda katumikira ku Bheteli ya ku Malawi. Ife tikhali akutsandzaya kakamwe thangwi anathu aphatisira umaso wawo munjira yadidi kakamwe.

Mu nthanda ya Thongwe ya caka 2001, ndamenyerwa ntokodzi ninga mudalonga ine pakutoma. M’bale Marais, wakuti ndi muyang’aniri wa Basa Yakuthumburuza alonga kuti abale akhacita masasanyiro a kursu toera kuphedza athumburuzi pa dziko yonsene toera kubvesesa mwadidi Cingerezi. Maseze ndikhali na pyaka 64 pyakubalwa, iwo akhafuna kundipfundzisa toera ndikhale m’bodzi wa apfundzisi. Ine na Bethel tacita phembero thangwi ya pyenepi, pontho tacedza na anyakubala athu toera tidziwe maonero awo. Ngakhale iwo akhali akugwesera, pontho akhafuna ciphedzo cathu, iwo akhafuna kuti tiende. Ndamenyera pontho ntokodzi m’bale mbandimpanga kuti tinakomerwa kakamwe kutambira basa ineyi yakutsandzayisa.

Buluka penepo mama adzindikira kuti akhali na utenda wa câncer. Ine ndaapanga kuti mbitidakhala toera pabodzi na nyamainga wanga anacemerwa Linda tiatsalakane. Mama akhonda mbalonga: “Utenda wanga unatekera kakamwe ungakhonda kuenda.” Nyamainga wanga akhanyerezerambo pibodzi pyene. Tapereka takhuta kakamwe thangwi yakuperekeka kwawo, pontho thangwi ya ciphedzo ca abale na alongo a pacisa. Pidapita ntsiku ibodzi pidaenda ife ku Centro Educacional da Torre de Vigia, ku  Patterson, Linda andimenyera ntokodzi mbatipanga kuti Mama alowa. Ife tacita pidatiphemba iwo, tikhali akuphatika kakamwe na basa yathu ipswa.

Takomerwa kakamwe na kudziwa kuti pakutoma mbatidaenda katumikira ku Bheteli ya Malawi, thangwi anathu na amunawo akhatumikira kweneku. Pikhali pyakutsandzayisa kukhala pontho pabodzi. Buluka penepo, tacitisa kursu ku Zimbabwe na ku Zambiya. Pidamala ife kucitisa kursu mu pyaka pitatu na hafu, tabwerera ku Malawi toera kulemba nyatwa zidatamba abale na alongo mu ndzidzi ukhatcingwa iwo thangwi ya unakatinakati Wacikristu. *—Onani cidzindikiro capantsi.

Mu caka 2005 tatsukwala pontho thangwi tikhafunika kubuluka mu Afrika. Tabwerera ku nzinda wa Basalt, Colorado, kweneko ine na Bethel tapitiriza kutumikira ninga apainiya. Mu caka 2006 Brian na Kimberly abwera dzakhala cifupi na nyumba yathu toera kukuza anawo awiri acikazi, Mackenzie na Elizabeth. Paul na Stephany asapitiriza kutumikira ku Malawi, kweneko Paul asatumikira ninga m’bodzi wa Komiti ya Filiali. Cincino ndiri na pyaka cifupi na 80 pyakubalwa, ndisakomerwa kakamwe na kuona abale apswa adatumikira na ine mbakatsalakana mabasa akhacita ine. Toera kuphedza anathu na adzukulu athu, tawangisira toera kutowezera citsandzo cadidi cidapangiza anango kuna ife. Pyenepi pisatitsandzayisa kakamwe.