NDABALWA mu caka 1926 ku Crooksville, Ohio, mu Estados Unidos. Baba na Mama nee akhali mu uphemberi, mbwenye iwo akhapanga ife anawo asere toera kuenda ku gereja. Ndikhaenda ku Gereja ya Metodista. Pikhali ine na pyaka 14, ntsogoleri andipasa muoni thangwi yakukhonda djomba Madimingu onsene mu caka ceneci.

Pa ndzidzi unoyu, nyakuendekana unango anacemerwa Margaret Walker, wakuti ndi m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova, atoma kucedzera mai wanga, mbalonga na iye thangwi ya Bhibhlya. Ntsiku inango, ndatonga kukhala pabodzi na iwo. Mama anyerezera kuti mbidadzudzumisa pfundziro yace, natenepa, iye andipanga toera kubuluka n’nyumba. Mbwenye ine ndapitiriza kuyesera kubvesera makani awo. Pakumala kucita maulendo mazinji, Margaret andibvundza: “Kodi usadziwa dzina ya Mulungu?” Ine ndatawira: “Anthu onsene asadziwa kuti—ndi Mulungu.” Iye alonga: “Kwata Bhibhlya yako, fungula pa Masalmo 83:18.” Ine ndacita pyenepi, mbandidzindikira kuti dzina ya Mulungu ndi Yahova. Buluka penepo, ndaenda mwakucimbiza kuna axamwali anga, mbandiapanga: “Mungafika kunyumba masikuano, onani m’Bhibhlya lemba ya Masalmo 83:18 toera kuona dzina ya Mulungu.” Munakwanisa  kulonga kuti munjira ineyi ndatoma kupereka umboni.

Ndapfundza Bhibhlya mbandibatizwa mu caka 1941. Pidapita ndzidzi wakucepa, ndaphembwa toera kutsogolera pfundziro ya bukhu ya mpingo. Ndawangisa mama pabodzi na abale anga toera agumanike, onsene atoma kugumanika pa pfundziro ya bukhu ya mpingo ikhatsogolera ine. Mbwenye baba nee akhapangiza cifuno.

Ndatambira miyai mizinji yakutumikira m’mpingo, pontho ndacita mbuto yanga yakukoyera mabukhu Acikristu. Ntsiku inango, baba athonya mabukhu anga mbalonga: “Ukuona pinthu pire pyonsene? Ndisafuna pibuluke n’nyumba ino pabodzi na iwe.” Ndabuluka panyumba, mbandigumana nyumba cifupi na Zanesville, ku Ohio, mbwenye ndikhaenda kunyumba kazinji kene toera kuwangisa acibale anga.

Baba akhayesera kupingiza mama toera akhonde kuenda ku misonkhano. Midzidzi inango angaona mama mbabuluka, baba akhanthamangira, mbambweza mu kunkwewa mpaka n’nyumba. Mbwenye iye akhabuluka na nsuwo unango, mbaenda kumisonkhano. Ine ndapanga mama: “Lekani kudzudzumika. Iye anadzaneta kukuthamangirani.” Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, baba asiya kunkhondesa, natenepa, mama akhagumanika pa misonkhano mwakukhonda pingizwa.

Pidatoma Xikola Ya Utumiki Wa Mulungu mu caka 1943, ndatoma kucita nkhani m’mpingo wathu. Uphungu ukhatambira ine pakumala kucita makhundu anga pa xikola, wandiphedza toera kuthimizira maluso anga akulonga.

Nkati mwa Nkhondo Yaciwiri Ya Dziko Yonsene mu caka 1944, ndacemerwa toera kucita basa ya unyankhondo. Ndaendeswa ku Fort Hayes ku Columbus, Ohio, ndadingwa ungumi, mbandilemba formularyo. Ine ndapanga akadamu a anyankhondo kuti nee mbidakhala nyankhondo. Iwo andisiya mbandienda kunyumba. Pidapita ntsiku zingasi, nkadamu unango wa anyankhondo abwera panyumba yanga mbandipanga: “Corwin Robison, ndatumwa toera kudzakumanga.”

Pidapita masumana mawiri, pa thando yakutonga miseru, nyakutonga miseru alonga: “Mbidakhala ndine, mbidatonga kuti ukhale nkaidi mu umaso wako onsene. Uli na mafala toera kulonga?” Ine ndatawira: “Wakulemedzwa, ine ndikhafunika kuoniwa ninga ntumiki wauphemberi. Misuwo yonsene ndi guwa yanga, pontho ndamwaza mphangwa zadidi za Umambo kwa anthu azinji.” Nyakutonga miseru apanga nsoka wa atongi: “Imwe nee muli pano toera kutonga kuti mphale uyu ndi ntumiki wauphemberi peno nkhabe. Mbwenye muli pano toera kutonga khala iye asafunika kucita basa ya unyankhondo peno nkhabe.” Mbazidzati kupita mphindi 30, nsoka wa anyakutonga wabwerera na cisankhulo cidacita iwo. Nyakutonga miseru alonga kuti ndisafunika kumala pyaka pixanu nkaidi ya ku Ashland, Kentucky.

Masumana mawiri akutoma ndikhali nkaidi ku Columbus, Ohio, ndaikhwa mu cela ntsiku yakutoma. Ndaphembera kuna Yahova: “Nee ndinakwanisa kukhala mu cela mu pyaka pixanu. Ine nkhabe dziwa pinafuna ine kucita.”

Pa ntsiku yaciwiri, anyakuonera kaidi andibulusa. Ndaenda mpaka kuna nyankaidi unango wakulapha,  ndakhala na iye mbatiyang’ana kunja na pa janela. Iye andibvundza: “Thangwi yanji uli muno? Ine ndantawira: “Ndine m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova.” Iye alonga: “Ndiwe Mboni? Mphapo thangwi yanji uli pano?” Ine ndantawira: “Mboni za Yahova nkhabe kwenda kunkhondo toera kupha anthu.” Iye alonga: “Akuikha nkaidi thangwi iwe nkhabe funa kupha anthu. Iwo asaikha anango nkaidi thangwi yakupha anthu. Kodi pyenepi pisabveka? Ine ndantawira: “Nkhabe, nee pisabveka.”

Iye alonga: “Ndamala pyaka 15 mu kaidi inango, mwenemu ndaleri mabukhu anu mangasi.” Ndacita phembero mbandilonga: “Yahova, ndiphedzeni toera mamuna uyu anditsidzikize.” Mamuna unoyu akhacemerwa Paulu, pa ndzidzi unoyu, iye alonga: “M’bodzi mwa anthu anewa angakusosa, ndipange. Ndinadziwa pinafuna ine kuncita.” Natenepa, pikhali ine mwenemu, ndikhabverana mwadidi na anyankaidi akukwana 50.

Pidandicinja akadamu a kaidi mbandienda ku Ashland, ndagumana abale azinji akukola mwauzimu. Kukhala na iwo kwaphedza ine na anango toera kupitiriza kukhala akuwanga mwauzimu. Iwo atisankhula toera kuleri Bhibhlya pa sumana, pontho tikakhunganyika mibvundzo na matawiro a misonkhano ikhacemerwa Abelhas da Bíblia. Ife tikhali mu cela ikulu yakuti ikhali na matalimba nkhundu mwa mapfufu. Mwenemu mukhali na m’bale wakuti akhatsogolera basa yakumwaza mphangwa. Iye akhandipanga: “Robison, ndiwe unafuna kutsalakana talimba iyi na iyi. Munthu onsene anapaswa talimba ineyi ndi cisa cako. Usafunika kupereka umboni kuna iye mbadzati kubuluka pano.” Ineyi ndi njira ikhaphatisira ife toera kumwaza mphangwa.

Nkhondo Yaciwiri Ya Dziko Yonsene yamala mu caka 1945, mbwenye ndapitiriza kukhala nkaidi. Ndikhadzudzumika na acibale anga, thangwi baba akhadandipanga kuti: “Ndingakubulusa pano, ndinakwanisa kutsalakana onsene.” Pidabuluswa ine nkaidi, ndagumana pinthu pyakutsandzayisa. Mwakukhonda tsalakana mipingizo ya baba, anthu anomwe a m’banja mwathu akhasonkhana, pontho m’bale wanga m’bodzi wa nkazi akhadabatizwa.

Nkhondo ya ku Koreya yatoma mu caka 1950. Ndapangwa pontho toera kuenda kunkhondo mbandienda ku Fort Hayes. Pakumala kudingwa ungumi wanga, nkadamu wa anyankhondo andipanga: “Ndiwe m’bodzi wa anthu ali na ungumi wadidi kakamwe mu nsoka wako.” Ine ndantawira: “Mphyadidi, mbwenye ine nkhabe kukhala nyankhondo.” Ndalonga mafala a lemba ya 2 Timoti 2:3, mbandimpanga: “Ine ndine nyankhondo wa Kristu.” Takhala cete mphindi zingasi, buluka penepo iye alonga: “Ndoko pyako.”

 Buluka penepo, ndagumanika pa nsonkhano unacitirwa ale anafuna kutumikira ku Bheteli pa nsonkhano wa gawo udacitwa ku Cincinnati, Ohio. M’bale Milton Henschel alonga kuti m’bale angafuna kuphata basa ya Umambo mwaphinga, gulu inakwanisa kumphatisira ku Bheteli. Ndacita phembo toera kutumikira ku Bheteli mbanditawirwa. Ndatoma kutumikira ku Bheteli ya ku Brooklyn mu nthanda ya Malimwe ya caka 1954. Ndiri pa Bheteli kutomera mu caka ceneci.

Cipo ndasowa basa toera kucita pa Bheteli. Mu pyaka pizinji ndaphata basa na ntcini m’mbuto inadhindwa mabukhu na mu ofesi, pontho ndaphata basa yakusasanya mitcini na yakutsalakana makandiado. Ndatumikirambo pa Nyumba za Misonkhano mu Nzinda wa Nova York.

Ndisakomerwa na mabasa auzimu pa Bheteli, ninga kudinga lemba ya ntsiku, pfundziro ya Ncenjezi, na kumwaza mphangwa pabodzi na mpingo. Munganyerezera pyenepi, ndi pinthu pyakuti banja yonsene ya Mboni za Yahova isafunika kupicita mwakukhonda phonya. Anyakubala angadinga lemba ya ntsiku pabodzi na anawo, kucita Kulambira kwa Banja mwakukhonda phonya, kucita khundu mwakukwana m’misonkhano ya m’mpingo na kumwaza mphangwa zadidi mwaphinga, anthu onsene pa banja anakhala akuwanga mwauzimu.

Ndakhala na axamwali azinji pa Bheteli na m’mpingo. Anango a iwo ndi Akristu akudzodzwa akuti atambira muoni wawo wakuenda kudzulu. Anango nee akhali akudzodzwa. Mbwenye atumiki onsene a Yahova—kuphataniza ale anatumikira ku Bheteli ndi akusowa ungwiro. Ndingakhonda bverana na m’bale, ndzidzi onsene ndisayesera kukhazikisa ntendere. Ndisanyerezera lemba ya Mateo 5:23, 24 toera kuona kuti tinatsalakana tani kuphonyana kwathu. Mphyakunentsa kuphemba kulekererwa, mbwenye cipo ndaona kale kuphonyana na xamwali wanga mbakupitiriza ndingamala kuphemba kulekererwa.

Thangwi yakugwesera, cincino pisandinentsa kumwaza mphangwa nyumba na nyumba, mbwenye nee ndisabwerera nduli. Ndapfundza pang’ono Cixina Mandarin, natenepa, ndisakomerwa kumwaza mphangwa m’miseu kuna anthu analonga Cixina. Ntsiku zinango namacibese ndisagawira marevista 30 peno 40 kuna anthu anapangiza cifuno.

 Ndacita ulendo wakubwereza ku Xina! Ntsiku inango, ntsikana m’bodzi andimwetulira mu ndzidzi ukhagawira iye matsamba akudziwisa mbuto inaguliswa misapo. Ine ndam’mwetulirambo mbandimpasa Ncenjezi na Despertai! mu Cixina. Iye aakwata mbandipanga kuti dzina yace ndi Katie. Buluka penepo, ndzidzi onsene angandiona, akhabwera toera kucedza na ine. Ndampfundzisa madzina a misapo na masamba mu Cingerezi, pontho iye akhabwerezera mafala akhalonga ine. Ndanfokotozerambo malemba a Bhibhlya, mbatawira bukhu Bhibhlya Isapfundzisanji. Pidapita masumana mangasi, nee ndamuonabve.

Pidapita nthanda zingasi, ntsikana unango wakuti akhagawira matsamba akudziwisa malonda atawira marevista adampasa ine. Sumana idatowera, iye andipasa ntokodzi wace wa m’manja, mbalonga: “Longani na munthu wakuti ali ku Xina.” Ine ndalonga: “Nkhabe munthu anadziwa ine ku Xina.” Mbwenye iye andikakamiza, natenepa, ndakwata ntokodzi, mbandilonga: “Alo, ndine Robison.” Munthu adamenya ntokodzi alonga: “Robby, ndine Katie. Ndabwerera ku Xina.” Ine ndalonga: “Ku Xina?” Katie atawira: “Inde. Robby, musandziwa ntsikana adakupasani ntokodzi? Ndi m’bale wanga. Imwe mwandipfundzisa pinthu pizinji pyadidi. Ndaphata miyendo, mpfundzisenimbo munjira idandipfundzisira imwe.” Ine ndalonga: “Katie, ndinacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ine. Ndakhuta na kundidziwisa mbuto inagumanika iwe.” Mwakukhonda dembuka, ndacedza na m’bale wace Katie mu ndzidzi wakumalisa. Mwakukhonda tsalakana mbuto inagumanika atsikana anewa awiri, ndisakhulupira kuti iwo apfundza pizinji thangwi ya Yahova.

Ndisatumikira Yahova mu pyaka 73, pontho ndisatsandzaya thangwi iye andiphedza toera kupitiriza kupangiza unakatinakati na kukhala wakukhulupirika nkaidi. Abale anga acimuna na acikazi andipanga kuti akhala na cipapo pidapirira ine mu ndzidzi ukhatcingwa ine na baba mbandikhonda kubwerera nduli. Mama na abale anga atanthatu abatizwa. Baba akhadacinja pang’ono makhaliro ace, iye agumanika kangasi pa misonkhano mbadzati kulowa.

Mulungu angafuna, acibale anga na axamwali anga adafa anadzakhala pontho na umaso mu dziko ipswa. Nyerezerani kutsandzaya kunadzakhala na ife mu ndzidzi unafuna kulambira ife Yahova kwenda na kwenda na anyakufunika athu! *