Ine ndabalwa mu caka ca 1927, mu nzinda ung’ono dhuzi na Chicago, Illinois, E.U.A. Anyakubalanga akhali na ana axanu: Ine, Jetha, Don, Karl na Joy. Ife tikhali dzololo toera kucita pyonsene pikhakwanisa ife toera kutumikira Yahova. Jetha akurusari turma yaciwiri ya Xikola ya Jiliyadhi mu caka ca 1943. Abale anga anango atatu aenda katumikira ku Bheteli ya Brooklyn, Nova Iorque. Don, aenda mu caka ca 1944, Karl, aenda mu caka ca 1947, pontho Joy aenda mu caka ca 1951. Citsandzo cawo na ca anyakubalanga candiwangisa kakamwe.

Anyakubalanga akhaleri Bhibhlya, pontho akhafuna Mulungu. Iwo akhatipfundzisambo kufuna Mulungu. Mbwenye pakumala kumenya Nkhondo Yakutoma ya Dziko Yonsene Yapantsi, pai wanga nee akhakhulupirabve pya gereja. Mai wanga atsandzaya kakamwe thangwi pai nee aphiwa ku nkhondo, natenepa iye ampanga: “Karl, tende titome pontho kuenda ku gereja?” Buluka penepo pai wanga alonga: “Ine ndinaenda na iwe mpaka ku gereja, mbwenye nee ndinapitamo.” Mai wanga ambvundza: “Thangwi yanji nee munapita?” Pai atawira: “Mu ndzidzi wa nkhondo, atsogoleri a mauphemberi akuti akhali a gereja ibodzi ene, mbwenye a madziko akusiyana, akhacita phembero toera anyankhondo a dziko yawo awine. Kodi pyenepi pisabveka kuti Mulungu akhaphedza makhundu mawiri ene?”

Ntsiku inango, pikhali mai wanga ku gereja, Mboni za Yahova ziwiri zagogodza nsuwo wa nyumba yathu. Iwo apasa pai wanga mavolume mawiri a bukhu yakuti Light (Ceza), ikhalonga pya bukhu ya Apokalipse. Pai wanga akomerwa nawo mbaatambira. Buluka penepo, pidaona mai wanga mabukhu anewa, iye atoma kualeri. Ntsiku inango, mai wanga aona mphangwa mu jornali zakuti zikhacemera anthu toera apfundze Bhibhlya mukuphatisira mabukhu anewa. Buluka penepo mai wanga aenda. Pidafika iye pa mbuto ineyi, nkazi m’bodzi afungula nsuwo. Buluka penepo mai wanga ampangiza ibodzi mwa mabukhu anewa mbambvundza: “Imwe muli kupfundza bukhu iyi?” Nkazi atawira: “Inde, pitani.” Pa sumana idatowera, mai wanga akwata ine na abale anga mbatienda kweneko, buluka penepo tikhaenda masumana onsene.

Pa nsonkhano unango, nyakutsogolera nsonkhano andiphemba toera kuleri bukhu ya Masalmo 144:​15, inalonga kuti anyakutsandzaya ndi ale analambira Yahova. Ine ndakomerwa kakamwe na lemba ineyi, pontho ndakomerwa na lemba ya​​—⁠1 Timoti 1:​11, inalonga kuti Yahova ndi “Mulungu wakutsandzaya” na Aefesi 5:⁠1, inalonga kuti tisafunika kukhala ‘anyakutowezera Mulungu.’ Ine ndadzindikira kuti ndikhafunika kukhala wakutsandzaya thangwi yakutumikira ule adandicita, pontho ndikhafunika kupereka takhuta kuna iye thangwi ya mwai unoyu. Natenepa ine ndiri kuyesera kucita pinthu pyenepi piwiri mu umaso wanga.

Mpingo ukhali dhuzi na panyumba pathu ukhali ku Chicago, nsindzo wa makilometru 32. Ngakhale tenepo, ife tikhaenda kasonkhana kweneko, pontho udziwisi wanga thangwi ya Bhibhlya wathimizirika. Ine ndisakumbuka ulendo unango udathonywa Jetha kuti atawire. Mu ndzidzi ukhatawira iye, ine ndanyerezera: ‘Ine ndikhaudziwa ntawiro unoyu. Ine ndikhafunika kulamusa manja anga toera kutawira.’ Buluka penepo ndatoma khunganyika mbanditawira pa misonkhano. Mbwenye cakufunika kakamwe ndi cakuti ine na abale anga tikhawangisa uxamwali wathu na Yahova. Natenepa ndabatizwa mu caka ca 1941.

Ine ndisakumbuka mwadidi nsonkhano wa gawo wa caka ca 1942, udacitika ku Cleveland, Ohio. Abale na alongo a mbuto zakupiringana 50 ku Estados Unidos abvesera nsonkhano unoyu mukuphatisira ntokodzi. Banja yathu na abale anango afikira dhuzi na mbuto ya nsonkhano wa gawo. Mu ndzidzi unoyu pakhacitika nkhondo Yaciwiri ya Dziko Yonsene Yapantsi, pontho kutcingwa kwa Mboni za Yahova kukhathimizirika kakamwe. Namasiku, abale akhaikha makaru awo n’khundu-n’khundu mbagasa maluju toera kumwanikira makhundu onsene a mbuto idafikira ife. Iwo abverana toera pakhale nyakuonera karu ibodzi na ibodzi masiku onsene. Mbapadaoneka pinthu pyakugopswa, abale anewa mbadaliza mabhuzina mbagasa maluju toera anyakutcinga akhonde ona mwadidi. Buluka penepo anango mbadaenda kaaphedza. Pidaona ine pyenepi, ndanyerezera: ‘Mbumba ya Yahova ndi yakukhunganyika mu pinthu pyonsene!’ Natenepa, ine ndagona mwadidi, pontho nee pacitika pinthu pyakunentsa.

Pidapita pyaka pingasi, mudatoma ine kunyerezera pidacitika pa nsonkhano unoyu wa gawo, ine ndabvesesa kuti mai wanga nee adzudzumika, pontho nee akhagopa. Iye akhanyindira mwakukwana Yahova na gulu yace. Ine nee ndinaduwala citsandzo cace cadidi.

Pidasala ntsiku zakucepa toera kucitika nsonkhano unoyu, mai wanga akhadatoma kutumikira ninga mpainiya wa ndzidzi onsene. Natenepa, iye abvesera mwadidi nkhani zikhalonga pya basa ya ndzidzi onsene. Pikhabwerera ife kunyumba, iye alonga: “Ine ndisafuna kakamwe kupitiriza kutumikira ninga mpainiya wa ndzidzi onsene, mbwenye nee ndinakwanisa kupitiriza kucita pyenepi mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene mbanditsalakana nyumba yathu ndekhene.” Buluka penepo, mai wanga atibvundza khala mbatidamphedza. Ife tatawira kuti tinamphedza. Buluka penepo, mama apasa mwana m’bodzi na m’bodzi kwartu ibodzi peno mawiri toera kuacenesa mbatidzati kudya matabixu. Natenepa ife tikhaenda kuxikola, pontho mai akhasala mbaonesesa mwadidi n’nyumba khala mwatsalakanwa mwadidi, buluka penepo mbaenda m’basa ya m’munda. Iye akhali na pizinji pyakucita; ngakhale tenepo akhatitsalakana mwadidi. Tingabwerera kuxikola tikhagumana mama ali kutidikhira toera kudya, ntsiku zinango tingabwerera kuxikola tikhaenda pabodzi m’basa ya m’munda. Pyenepi pikhatiphedza toera kubvesesa mwadidi umaso wa apainiya.

Ine ndatoma kutumikira ninga mpainiya pikhali ine na pyaka 16 pyakubalwa. Maseze pai wanga nee akhali Mboni wa Yahova, iye akhafuna kudziwa kuti utumiki wanga ukhafamba tani. Ntsiku inango namasiku, ine ndapanga pai wanga kuti maseze ndikhawangisira kakamwe, nee ndikhakwanisa kutomesa pfundziro ya Bhibhlya. Buluka penepo ndambvundza: “Musafuna kupfundza Bhibhlya na ine?” Iye atoma kunyerezera mbalonga: “Ine nee ndiri na mathangwi toera kukhonda.” Natenepa, pai wanga akhali nyakupfundza wanga wakutoma. Unoyu ukhali mwai ukulu kakamwe.

Ife tikhapfundza bukhu yakuti “A Verdade Vos Tor­nará Livres.” Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, ine ndabvesesa kuti pai wanga akhandiphedza toera kukhala mpfundzisi wadidi wa Bhibhlya na kupfundza mwadidi Bhibhlya. Mwacitsandzo, ntsiku inango pakucita pfundziro pidamala ife kuleri ndima, iye alonga: “Ine ndabvesesa pinalonga bukhu ineyi. Mbwenye iwe usadziwa tani kuti pinalonga iyo ndi pyandimomwene?” Ine nee ndikhali wakukhunganyika toera kutawira mbvundzo unoyu, natenepa ndantawira: “Ine nee ndinakwanisa kukufokotozerani cincino, mbwenye mpaka ntsiku inafuna ife kupfundza pontho, ndinagumana ntawiro.” Mwandimomwene ndagumana ntawiro. Ine ndagumana mavesi akhapangiza kuti pikhapfundza ife pikhali pyandimomwene. Kutomera ntsiku ineyi, ine ndapfundza kufufudza na kukhunganyika mwadidi pfundziro yathu. Pyenepi pyandiphedza toera kuthambaruka mwauzimu, pontho pyaphedzambo pai wanga. Pai atoma kuphatisira pikhapfundza iye, mbabatizwa mu caka ca 1952.

Ine ndabuluka panyumba pikhali ine na pyaka 17. Jetha, a adzakhala misionaryo, pontho Don akhatumikira pa Bheteli. Iwo akhakomerwa kakamwe na mabasa awo, pontho pyenepi pikhandiwangisa kakamwe. Natenepa, ine ndaprenxeri petisau toera kuenda ku Bheteli na petisau ya Xikola ya Jiliyadhi mbandisiya pyonsene m’manja mwa Yahova. Buluka penepo ndacemerwa ku Bheteli mu caka ca 1946.

Mu pyaka 75 pidatumikira ine ku Bheteli, ndaphata mabasa akusiyanasiyana pontho ndapfundza mabasa mazinji kakamwe. Mwacitsandzo, ndapfundza basa yakudhinda mabukhu na yakutsalakana kobiri. Ndapfundzambo kugula pinthu pikhafunika pa Bheteli na kutumiza pinthu m’madziko anango. Mbwenye cinthu cakufunika kakamwe kuna ine ndi njira idandiphedza Bheteli toera kuthambaruka mwauzimu kubulukira mu programu ya adoração matinal na nkhani zinacitirwa banja ya Bheteli.

Ine ndapfundzambo pizinji kakamwe na m’bale wanga wang’ono anacemerwa Karl, adabwera pa Bheteli mu caka ca 1947. Iye akhali nyakupfundza wadidi, pontho akhapfundzisa mwadidi kakamwe Bhibhlya. Ntsiku inango, ine ndamphemba toera andiphedze khunganyika nkhani yanga. Ine ndampanga kuti ndafufudza maningi, mbwenye nee ndisadziwa kuti  ndinaphatisira tani pinthu pyenepi. Buluka penepo iye andibvundza: “Joel, ndi upi nsolo wa nkhani?” Ine ndabvesesa mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene kuti ndikhafunika kuphatisira pinthu pidafufudza ine toera kubvekesa nsolo wa nkhani. Ine nee ndisaduwala ciphedzo ceneci.

Toera kukhala akutsandzaya pa Bheteli, tisafunika kucita pyonsene pinakwanisa ife m’basa yakumwaza mphangwa, pontho pyenepi pinatiwangisa kakamwe. Ine ndisakumbuka ulendo unango udaenda ife kacita ulendo wakubwereza nkazi unango adatambira marevista athu A Sentinela na Despertai! ku Bronx, Nova Iorque. Ife tatomesa tenepa makani athu: “Masiku ano, tiri kuphedza anthu toera kupfundza Bhibhlya.” Iye atawira: “Khala ndi thangwi ya Bhibhlya, pitani.” Ife taleri malemba mazinji, pontho tacedza thangwi ya Mulungu na dziko ipswa. Iye adzumatirwa kakamwe, buluka penepo acemera axamwali ace azinji toera kukhala na ife pa sumana idatowera. Iye na mamunace adzakhala atumiki akukhulupirika a Yahova.

Ine ndikhasaka munthu toera kumanga naye banja mu pyaka 10 mbandidzati kudziwana na nkazanga. Musadziwa ninji pidandiphedza toera kugumana nkazi wadidi? Ine ndacita phembero, buluka penepo ndabvundzika: “Ndinacitanji ndingamala kumanga banja?”

Pidamala nsonkhano wa gawo mu caka ca 1953, ku estadio Yankee, ine ndadziwana na mulongo Mary Aniol. Iye akurusari Xikola ya Jiliyadhi pabodzi na Jetha, pontho akhatumikira pabodzi ninga amisionaryo. Mary akhandipanga mwakutsandzaya thangwi ya basa yace ya umisionaryo ku Caribe na mapfundziro a Bhibhlya akhacitisa iye. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, ufuni wathu kuna unango na ndzace ukhakula. Ife tamanga banja mwezi wa Abril mu caka ca 1955. Kazinji kene, ndikhaona kuti Mary ndi muoni udandipasa Yahova, pontho akhandipfundzisa pinthu pyakufunika. Iye akhatsandzaya na mabasa onsene akhapaswa iye, akhawangisira, akhatsalakana anango, pontho akhaikha Umambo wa Yahova pa mbuto yakutoma. (Mat. 6:​33). Ine ndatumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa pabodzi na nkazanga pyaka pitatu. Pontho mu caka ca 1958 tacemerwa toera katumikira ku Bheteli.

Ine ndapfundza pizinji na nkazanga Mary. Mwacitsandzo, pidamanga ife banja tasankhula kuleri Bhibhlya pabodzi. Ife tikhaleri mavesi 15 pa ulendo ubodzi na ubodzi. Tingamala kuleri khundu ibodzi na ibodzi, tikhacedza pidaleri ife, pontho tikhaona kuti tinapiphatisira tani. Mary kazinji kene akhandipanga pinthu pidapfundza iye ku Jiliyadhi na m’basa yace ya umisionaryo. Pidapfundza ine kubulukira kwa iye pyandiphedza toera kucita mwadidi nkhani na kudziwa kuwangisa mwadidi alongo.​​—⁠Mis. 25:⁠11.

Nkazanga Mary alowa mu caka ca 2013. Ine ndisafuna kakamwe kumuona pontho mu dziko ipswa! Mu ndzidzi unadikhira ine pyenepi, ndinapitiriza kupfundziswa na Yahova na kun’nyindira na ntima wanga onsene. (Mis. 3:​5, 6) Kunyerezera pinthu pinafuna cita mbumba ya Yahova mu dziko ipswa kusandibalangaza na kunditsandzayisa. Mwakukhonda penula, ife tinadzapfunza pinthu pizinji kakamwe pipswa na Mpfundzisi wathu Wankulu. Ndisapereka takhuta kakamwe kuna Yahova thangwi ya pyonsene pidandipfundzisa iye mpaka lero na kukoma ntima kukulu kunapangiza iye kuna ine.