Nkati mwa pyaka 1940, anyakubala anga akhapfundza Bhibhlya na Mboni za Yahova. Pfundziro ineyi nee yapitiriza, mbwenye mai wanga akhapitiriza kutambira marevista a Ncenjezi na Lamukani! Mu caka ca 1950, ku Nzinda wa Nova York kwacitwa nsonkhano wa gawo unacemerwa abale na alongo a madziko anango, pontho banja yathu yaendambo ku nsonkhano unoyu.

Pakumala kwa nsonkhano unoyu, M’bale Lawrence Jeffries atoma kucedza na ife thangwi ya Bhibhlya. Iye ayesera kundiphedza toera kupfundza undimomwene. Pakutoma, ine ndikhaona kuti Mboni za Yahova zikhafunika kucita nanthu pinthu pya ndale na kuenda kunkhondo. Ine ndapanga M’bale Lawrence kuti anthu onsene mu dziko ya Amerika angakhonda kuenda kunkhondo, anyamalwa anabwera mbakwata dziko yonsene. Iye anditawira mwakukhurudzika: “Kodi iwe usaona kuti Yahova mbadacitanji anthu onsene mu dziko ya Amerika mbadantumikira buluka penepo anyamalwa mbabwera toera kumenya nkhondo?” Pidandipanga iye ntsiku ineyi na ntsiku zinango, pyandiphedza toera kuona kuti manyerezero anga akhali akuphonyeka, pontho pyenepi pyandicitisa kufuna kakamwe kupfundza undimomwene wa Bhibhlya.

Ine ndikhaleri mu ndzidzi uzinji marevista a Ncenjezi na Lamukani! akhakoya mai wanga. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, ine ndadzindikira kuti pikhapfundza ine ndi undimomwene, natenepa ndatawira kupfundza Bhibhlya na M’bale Jeffries. Kusiyapo pyenepi, ine ndatoma kugumanika pa misonkhano mwakukhonda phonya. Ine ndikhakomerwa kakamwe na pikhapfundza ine, natenepa ndatoma kutumikira ninga m’mwazi mphangwa. Ine ndacinja cifuno canga pidabvesesa ine kuti ‘ntsiku ikulu ya Yahova iri dhuzi.’ (Sof. 1:14) Natenepa ine nee ndikhafunabve kuenda ku universidhadhe, mbwenye ndikhafuna kuphedza anthu anango toera apfundze undimomwene wa Bhibhlya.

Ine ndamalisa kupfundza xikola sekundarya ntsiku 13 ya Junho ya caka ca 1956, pontho pidapita ntsiku zitatu  ndabatizwa pa nsonkhano wa cisa. Ine nee ndikhadziwa kuti mbandidakhala na nkhombo zizinji kakamwe za Yahova thangwi yakutawira kupfundza undimomwene na kupfundzisambo anango undimomwene unoyu.

Pidapita miyezi mitanthatu pakumala kubatizwa, ine ndatoma kutumikira ninga mpainiya wa ndzidzi onsene. Utumiki wa Umambo wa Dezembro wa caka ca 1956 ukhali na nsolo wakuti “Kodi Imwe Munakwanisa Kutumikira ku Mbuto Yakuti Iri na Amwazi Mphangwa Akucepa?” Ine mbandidakwanisa kucita pyenepi thangwi ndikhafuna kuphedzera ku mbuto ikhali na amwazi mphangwa akucepa.—Mat. 24:14.

Ine ndafuluka mbandienda ku Edgefield, Carolina do Sul. Mpingo unoyu ukhali basi ene na amwazi mphangwa anai. Pidafika ine, ife tadzakhala amwazi mphangwa axanu. Ife tikhacita misonkhano n’nyumba mwa m’bale unango. Miyezi yonsene ine ndikhacita maora 100 mu utumiki. Ine ndikhali wakuphatika na kutsogolera basa ya m’munda na kucita nkhani pa misonkhano ya mpingo. Pyakutsandzayisa ndi pyakuti mu ndzidzi ukhacita ine kakamwe mabasa anewa, ndikhapfundzambo pizinji thangwi ya Yahova.

Nkazi unango akhapfundzisa ine Bhibhlya akhali na nyumba inatsalakana pya ciliro ku nzinda wa Johnston. Mwakukoma ntima, iye andipasa basa toera kuphata ntsiku zingasi pa sumana, pontho atitawirisa kuphatisira nyumba yace inango toera ticitire misonkhano.

M’bale Jolly Jeffries, mwana wa m’bale akhandipfundzisa Bhibhlya, abwera buluka ku Brooklyn, Nova York, toera kudzakhala na ine, pontho tikhatumikira pabodzi ninga apainiya. Ife tikhakhala n’nyumba ing’ono idatipasa m’bale unango.

Anthu akhaphata basa ku Carolina do Sul akhatambira kobiri yakucepa kakamwe. Ife tikhatambira madholari mawiri peno matatu pa ntsiku. Ntsiku inango, ine ndikhadaphatisira kobiri yakucepa ikhali na ine, pontho nee ndikhali na kobiri inango toera kugula cakudya pa nsika. Mu ndzidzi ukhabwerera ine, mamuna unango andifendedzera cifupi mbandibvundza: “Iwe usafuna basa? Ine ndinakulipa dholari ibodzi pa ndzidzi onsene unaphata iwe basa.” Iye andipasa basa ya ntsiku zitatu toera kucenesa mbuto ikhamangwa nyumba. Pyenepi pyapangiza pakweca kuti Yahova akhandiphedza toera ndipitirize kutumikira ku Edgefield. Mbwenye mu caka ca 1958, ine ndaenda pontho ku nsonkhano wa gawo unacemerwa abale na alongo a madziko anango ku Nzinda wa Nova York.

Pa ntsiku yaciwiri ya nsonkhano unoyu pacitika cinthu cakutsandzayisa kakamwe. Ine ndadziwana na mulongo Ruby Wadlington, akhatumikira ninga mpainiya wa ndzidzi onsene ku Gallatin, Tennessee. Nakuti uwiri wathu tikhafuna kutumikira ninga amisionaryo, ife tagumanikambo pa nsonkhano wa ale anafuna kuenda ku xikola ya Jiliyadhi udacitwa pa nsonkhano unoyu. Buluka penepo, ife tatoma kulemberana matsamba. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi, ine ndaphembwa toera kuenda kacita nkhani ya pakweca ku Gallatin. Ine ndabandza mwai unoyu toera kuphemba Ruby kuti amange banja na ine. Buluka penepo, ine ndaenda katumikira ku mpingo wa Ruby, pontho ife tamanga banja mu caka ca 1959.

Pikhali ine na pyaka 23 pyakubalwa, ndakhazikiswa ninga ntumiki wa mpingo (cincino asacemerwa mbveranisi wa nsoka wa akulu a mpingo) ku Gallatin. Mpingo wathu ukhali wakutoma kucedzerwa na m’bale Charles Thompson pidamala iye kukhazikiswa ninga muyang’aniri  wa cisa. Iye akhali m’bale wa maluso kakamwe; ngakhale tenepo, iye andiphemba maonero toera kudziwa pinthu pinafuna abale na alongo, pontho toera kudziwa kuti ayang’aniri a cisa anango asatsalakana tani pinthu pyenepi. Natenepa, ine ndapfundza na iye kuti ndi pyadidi kubvundzisa toera kudziwa pinthu pyonsene mbatidzati kucita pisankhulo.

Mwezi wa Maio wa caka ca 1964, ine ndacemerwa Kuxikola ya Utumiki wa Umambo ya mwezi ubodzi ku South Lansing, Nova York. Abale akhapfundzisa pa xikola ineyi andiphedza toera kupfundza pizinji thangwi ya Yahova na kuwangisa uxamwali wanga na iye.

Ine ndaphembwa toera nditome kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa pabodzi na nkazanga Ruby mwezi wa Janeiro wa caka ca 1965. Cisa cidatoma ife kutumikira cikhali cikulu kakamwe. Ico cikhatoma ku Knoxville, Tennessee, mpaka ku Richmond, Virgínia. Pontho cisa ceneci cikhaphataniza mipingo ya ku Carolina do Norte, Kentucky na Virgínia Ocidental. Ine ndikhacedzera basi ene mipingo ya akafiri thangwi mu ndzidzi unoyu mitemo ya ku sul kwa dziko ya Estados Unidos, nee ikhatawirisa kuti akafiri asonkhane pabodzi na azungu. Abale na alongo akhali akutcerenga, pontho ife tikhaapasambo pinthu pyakucepa pikhali na ife. Muyang’aniri wa cisa unango wakuti acedzera mipingo mu ndzidzi uzinji andipanga cinthu cakufunika kakamwe: “Ungacedzera mipingo, leka kukhala ninga patrau wa abale na alongo. Iwe unakwanisa kuaphedza mwadidi khala iwo asakuona ninga m’bale wawo.”

Pidacedzera ife mpingo unango ung’ono, Ruby atomesa pfundziro ya Bhibhlya na ntsikana unango wakuti akhali na mwana wa caka cibodzi. Nakuti nee pakhali na munthu wakuti mbadapitiriza kupfundza naye, Ruby apitiriza kupfundza na ntsikana unoyu mukuphatisira matsamba. Pidaenda ife pontho kacedzera mpingo unoyu, ntsikana unoyu akhagumanika pa misonkhano yonsene. Mu ndzidzi udaenda alongo awiri katumikira ninga apainiya akupambulika pa mpingo unoyu, iwo apitiriza kupfundza na ntsikana unoyu, pontho mukupita kwa ndzidzi iye abatizwa. Pakupita pyaka 30, mu caka ca 1995, pa Bheteli ya Patterson, ntsikana unango afendedzera Ruby toera kucedza naye. Ntsikana unoyu akhali mwana wa nkazi adapfundza Bhibhlya na Ruby. Ntsikana unoyu pabodzi na mamunace akhakurusari Xikola ya Jiliyadhi, turma 100.

Cisa caciwiri cidacedzera ife cikhali ca Florida Central. Mu ndzidzi unoyu ife tikhafunika kukhala na karu, natenepa tagula ibodzi na ntengo wadidi kakamwe. Mbwenye sumana ibodzi ene cinthu cibodzi cagudjuka pa motori wa karu. Ife nee tikhali na kobiri inango toera kuusasanyisa. Ine ndamenyera ntokodzi m’bale akhanyerezera ine kuti mbadatiphedza. Iye apanga anyabasa ace toera kusasanya karu ineyi, pontho nee aphemba kulipwa kobiri. Basi ene andipanga kuti “iwe nee usafunika kundilipa kobiri.” Kusiyapo pyenepi, iye andipasa kobiri ninga muoni. Ceneci cikhali cibodzi mwa pitsandzo pyadidi kakamwe pinapangiza kuti Yahova asatsalakana atumiki ace. Pontho pyenepi pyatikumbusa kuti tisafunikambo kupasa anango mwakudzala manja.

Mipingo yonsene ikhacedzera ife, tikhafikira m’manyumba mwa abale. Na thangwi ineyi, ife takhala na axamwali azinji adidi. Ntsiku inango, ine ndikhaphatisira thapulesi toera kulemba lipoti ya mpingo ukhacedzera ife, mbwenye mbandidzati malisa kulemba, ine ndabuluka pang’ono. Pidabwerera ine namaulo, ndagumana kuti mwana wa pyaka pitatu wa pa banja ineyi idafikira ife, afudza pinthu pikhadalemba ine. Mu pyaka pizinji ine ndisaseka ndingakumbuka pinthu pidacita mwana unoyu.

Mu caka ca 1971, ndatambira tsamba toera nditome kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa gawo ku Nzinda wa Nova York. Ife tadzumatirwa kakamwe na pyenepi. Mu ndzidzi udafuluka ife mbatienda kweneko, basi ene ndikhali na pyaka 34 pyakubalwa. Abale anditambira mwadidi kakamwe, pontho ukhali ulendo wakutoma kuna iwo kucedzerwa na muyang’aniri wa gawo wakuti akhali kafiri.

Mu ndzidzi ukhatumikira ine ninga muyang’aniri wa gawo, ndikhakomewa kakamwe na kucita nkhani pakumala kwa sumana konsene pa nsonkhano wa cisa. Azinji mwa ayang’aniri a cisa akhali a maluso kakamwe kupiringana ine. M’bodzi wa iwo ndiye adacita nkhani ya ubatizo pa ntsiku idabatizwa ine. Unango ndi m’bale Theodore Jaracz, wakuti mukupita kwa ndzidzi adzakhala m’bodzi wa Mathubo Akutonga. Kusiyapo abale anewa, pakhali na abale anango amaluso kakamwe akhatumikira pa Bheteli ya Brooklyn. Ine ndikhapereka takhuta kakamwe kuna ayang’aniri a cisa anewa na abale anango akhatumikira pa Bheteli thangwi iwo akhandicitisa kukhala wakusudzuka. Ine ndakwanisa kuona kuti abale anewa akhali akumbizi aufuni, pontho akhanyindira Mafala a Mulungu na kuphedzera gulu yace mwakukhulupirika. Kucepeseka kwawo kwandiphedza toera pikhonde kukhala pyakunentsa kuna ine kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa gawo.

Mu caka ca 1974, Mathubo Akutonga akhazikisa abale anango akhatumikira ninga ayang’aniri a cisa toera atumikire ninga ayang’aniri a gawo, pontho ine ndikhafunika kutoma pontho kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa ku Carolina do Sul. Pikhali pyakutsandzayisa kakamwe thangwi pa ndzidzi unoyu, abale na alongo a mipingo ya akafiri na azungu akhatawiriswa kusonkhana pabodzi, pontho pyenepi pyaatsandzayisa kakamwe.

Kunkhomo kwa caka ca 1976, ine ndapangwa toera kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa ku Georgia, pakati pa Atlanta na Columbus. Ine ndisakumbuka nkhani ya ciliro idacita ine ya ana axanu akafiri adaphiwa na bhomba idaponya anthu anango panyumba pawo. Mai wawo akhadaenda kunyumba ya ungumi mbakhala kweneko ntsiku zingasi thangwi akhadaphekeka kakamwe na bhomba ineyi. Abale na alongo azinji, akafiri na azungu akhaenda kunyumba ya ungumi toera kabalangaza anyakubala anewa. Ine ndakwanisa kuona kuti abale anewa akhafunana kakamwe. Kufunana kweneku kusaphedza atumiki a Mulungu toera akwanise kupirira angathimbana na nyatwa.

Mu caka ca 1977, ife tacemerwa toera kacita basa inango miyezi mingasi ku Bheteli ya Brooklyn. Pikhali ife cifupi na kumalisa basa ineyi, abale awiri a Mathubo Akutonga acedza na ife mbatibvundza khala tisafuna kupitiriza kutumikira pa Bheteli. Ife tatawira kupitiriza kutumikira pa Bheteli.

Mu pyaka 24, ine ndisaphata basa mu Dhepartamentu ya Basa, pontho abale anaphata basa mu dhepartamentu ineyi kazinji kene asatawira mibvundzo yakunentsa kakamwe. Mu pyaka pizinji, Mathubo Akutonga asapereka pitsogolero pyakubverana na midida ya Bhibhlya. Pitsogolero pyenepi pisaphedza abale anaphata basa mu dhepartamentu ya basa toera kutawira mibvundzo, pontho pisaphatisirwambo toera kupfundzisa ayang’aniri a cisa, akulu a mpingo na apainiya. Kusiyapo pyenepi, pitsogolero pyenepi pisaphatisirwa toera kuphedza abale na alongo azinji kuti athambaruke mwauzimu. Pontho pyenepi pisacitisa kuti gulu ya Yahova ikhale yakuwanga.

Kutomera mu caka ca 1995 mpaka 2018, ine ndacedzera mabheteli mazinji ninga muimiriri wa ofesi ikulu ya Mboni za Yahova, wakuti kale akhacemerwa nyakucedzera maofesi a filiali. M’maulendo anewa, ine ndikhacedza na abale a Makomiti a Mafiliali, abale na alongo anatumikira pa Bheteli na amisionaryo toera kuawangisa na kuaphedza mu pinthu pinanentseka na iwo. Abale na alongo anewa akhatipanga pinthu pidaacitikira mu umaso wawo, pontho pyenepi pikhatiwangisa kakamwe. Mwacitsandzo, pidacedzera ife Bheteli ya ku Ruwanda mu caka ca 2000, ife tatsukwala kakamwe thangwi yakubva nyatwa zidathimbana na abale na alongo akhatumikira pa Bheteli mu ndzidzi udaphiwa anthu azinji pa nkhondo idacitika mu caka ca 1994. Azinji mwa iwo aferwa na anyakufunika awo. Mbwenye mwakukhonda tsalakana pinthu pidaacitikira, iwo akhapitiriza kukhala akukhulupirika, na cidikhiro, pontho akutsandzaya.

Cincino ife tiri na pyaka pyakupiringana 80 pyakubalwa. Pontho ine ndisatumikira ninga m’bodzi wa Komiti ya Filiali ya ku Estados Unidos mu pyaka 20. Ine nee ndapfundza ku universidhadhe, mbwenye Yahova andipfundzisa pinthu pizinji kakamwe pabodzi na gulu yace. Pyenepi pyandiphedza toera ndikhale wakuthema kupfundzisa anango undimomwene wa Bhibhlya wakuti unakwanisa kuaphedza kwenda na kwenda. (2 Akor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:2) Ine ndaona kuti mphangwa za m’Bhibhlya zaphedza tani anthu toera kucinja makhaliro awo mbakhala na uxamwali wakuwanga na Nciti wawo. (Tiya. 4:8) Ine na Ruby tisacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ife toera kupitiriza kuphedza anango kuti akomerwe na mwai wakupfundza thangwi ya Yahova na kupfundzisa anango undimomwene wa Bhibhlya, thangwi unoyu ndi mwai ukulu kakamwe wakuti ntumiki wa Yahova anakwanisa kukhala nawo.