TSIKU lina mu 1970 ndinagonekedwa m’chipatala china ku Pennsylvania m’dziko la United States. Pa nthawiyo ndinali msilikali wa zaka 20 ndipo ndinapezeka ndi matenda oopsa. Pakapita mphindi 30 zilizonse, nesi ankabwera kudzayeza BP yanga chifukwa inkatsika kwambiri. Ine ndi nesiyo sitinkasiyana zaka zambiri ndipo ankaoneka kuti akundidera nkhawa kwambiri. Ndinamufunsa kuti: “Ndiye kuti simunaonepo munthu akufa?” Nditatero nkhope yake inasintha n’kundiyankha kuti: “Ayi sindinaonepo.”

Apa matenda anga anafika pakayakaya. Koma mwina ndikufotokozereni za moyo wanga kuti mudziwe zimene zinachititsa kuti ndipezeke m’chipatalachi.

Ndinagwidwa ndi matenda oopsawa ku Vietnam pamene ndinkagwira ntchito yothandiza asilikali ovulala ku nkhondo. Ndinkasangalala ndi ntchitoyo ndipo ndinkafuna kuti ndidzaiphunzire n’kumachita opaleshoni anthu. Ndinafika ku Vietnam mu July 1969. Sabata yoyamba sindinayambe ntchito koma ndinkangophunzira zina ndi zina kutinso ndizolowere kaye nyengo ndiponso nthawi ya dzikolo.

Kenako ndinayamba ntchito ku dipatimenti ina ya chipatala cha asilikali a dziko la United States, kumtsinje wa Mekong pafupi ndi dera la Dong Tam. Pa nthawiyi, ndege zankhondo zambiri zodzaza ndi asilikali ovulala zinkafika. Popeza ndinkakonda ntchitoyo ndinkafunitsitsa kuthandiza mwamsanga asilikali ovulala. Asilikaliwo ankawathandizira m’zipatala zopangidwa ndi makalavani okhala ndi makina oziziritsira mpweya. M’zipatalazi munalibe malo ambiri ndipo madokotala opanga opaleshoni ndi manesi ankapanikizana momwemo. Tsiku lina ndinaona matumba akuda omwe sanatsitsidwe mundege ndipo ndinauzidwa kuti munali ziwalo za asilikali omwe anafa ndi mabomba ku nkhondo. Izi n’zimene ndinaona pa nthawi ya nkhondo.

Ndili mnyamata ndinkadziwa pang’ono zimene a Mboni za Yehova amaphunzitsa. Mayi anga ankaphunzira Baibulo ndi a Mboni ndipo ndinkasangalala kukhala nawo, koma mayi angawo sanapitirize. Ndiyeno nthawi ina ndikuyenda ndi bambo anga ondipeza, tinadutsa pafupi ndi Nyumba ya Ufumu. Kenako ndinawafunsa kuti: “Kodi nyumba iyo mumachitika zotani?” Bambowo anayankha kuti: “Usadzayerekeze kucheza ndi anthu amenewo.” Ndinamvera zimene anandiuza chifukwa ndinkawadalira kwambiri. Ndiyeno kuyambira nthawi imeneyo, ndinasiya kukumana ndi a Mboni za Yehova.

Nditabwerako ku Vietnam ndinkafuna kudziwa Mulungu. Ndinali nditakhudzidwa kwambiri ndi zinthu zoopsa zimene ndinaona ku nkhondo. Ndinkaona kuti panalibe amene ankadziwa zinthu zomwe zinkachitika ku Vietnam. Ndimakumbukira anthu akuchita zionetsero chifukwa chokwiya ndi nkhondoyo. Anthuwo ankanena kuti asilikali a dziko la United States amapha ana osalakwa.

Pofuna kuti ndidziwe Mulungu ndinayamba kulowa matchalitchi osiyanasiyana. Kuyambira ndili mwana ndinkakonda Mulungu koma zomwe ndinkamva m’matchalitchimo sizinkandigwira mtima. Tsiku lina Lamlungu mu February 1971, ndinapita ku Nyumba ya Ufumu ya Mboni za Yehova ku Florida.

Nditalowa ndinapeza nkhani ya onse ili kumapeto, kenako phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda linayamba. Sindikumbukira bwinobwino zimene zinkaphunziridwa, koma ndimangokumbukira kuona ana akutsegula Mabaibulo awo. Zinandichititsa chidwi kwambiri. Ndinayesetsa kumvetsera mwatcheru paphunzirolo. Titamaliza m’bale wina wa zaka za m’ma 80 dzina lake Jim Gardner anandipeza. Iye anandionetsa buku lakuti Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya ndipo anandifunsa kuti: “Kodi buku ili ungalikonde?” Kenako tinagwirizana kuti Lachinayi adzayambe kundiphunzitsa Baibulo.

Usiku wa tsikulo ndinkagwira ntchito pachipatala china ku Florida. Ndinkagwira ntchito m’chipinda chothandizira anthu ovulala kwambiri. Ndinayamba 11 koloko ya usiku kuweruka 7 koloko m’mawa. Usiku umenewo sikunabwere matenda ambiri choncho ndinapeza mpata wowerenga buku la Coonadi lija. Ndiyeno nesi wina anangotulukira n’kulanda bukulo. Atayang’anitsitsa chikuto chake ananena mokwiya kuti: “Iwe zoona ukufuna kukhala m’gulu limeneli?” Ndinamulanda bukulo n’kumuyankha kuti: “Ndawerenga kale hafu ya bukuli ndipo ndikuona kuti ndikhaladi m’gululi.” Zitatero anangondisiya ndipo ndinapitiriza kuliwerenga.

M’bale Gardner atafika kuti adzandiphunzitse ndinamufunsa kuti: “Ndiye mundiphunzitsa chiyani?” Poyankha anati: “Buku lija ndinakupatsa lija.” Ndiyeno ine ndinati: “Ndaliwerengatu n’kulimaliza.” Kenako m’baleyo mokoma mtima ananena kuti: “Chabwino. Ndiye tidzangokambirana mutu woyamba wokhawu.” Titayamba kuphunzira ndinazindikira kuti mfundo zambiri ndinkangozidutsa osazimvetsa. Tinawerenga malemba ambiri m’Baibulo langa. Apa tsopano ndinaona kuti ndayamba kuphunzira za Mulungu weniweni dzina lake Yehova. Tsiku limenelo ndinaphunzira mitu itatu ndi M’bale Gardner koma ndinkangomutchula kuti Jim. Ndiyeno Lamlungu lililonse ndinkaphunzira naye mitu itatu. Ndinkasangalala kwambiri ndi phunzirolo. Ndimaona kuti unali mwayi waukulu kuphunzitsidwa ndi m’bale wodzozedwayu yemwe ankadziwana ndi Charles T. Russell.

Patangopita milungu yochepa, ndinavomerezedwa kukhala wofalitsa. Jim ankandithandiza zinthu zambiri. Anandiuza zimene ndingachite kuti ndizilalikira bwinobwino kunyumba ndi nyumba. (Mac. 20:20) Ndinayamba kukonda kwambiri kulalikira chifukwa choti ankayenda nane mu utumiki. Mpaka pano ndimakonda kwambiri utumiki podziwa kuti ndimakhala wantchito mnzake wa Mulungu.—1 Akor. 3:9.

Tsopano ndikufuna ndikufotokozereni mmene ndinayambira kukonda kwambiri Yehova. (Chiv. 2:4) Chikondi chimenechi chandithandiza kuiwalako zinthu zoopsa zokhudza nkhondo komanso mavuto ena.—Yes. 65:17.

Sindiiwala zimene zinachitika tsiku lina mu 1971. Bambo anga ondipeza aja anali atandithamangitsa kunyumba chifukwa choti sankafuna kukhala ndi wa Mboni za Yehova. Pa nthawiyo ndinali ndi ndalama zochepa kwambiri. Zimene ndinalandira kuchipatala kuja ndinali nditagulira zovala zoti ndizivala mu utumiki podziwa kuti ndikuimira Yehova. Ndinali ndi ndalama zina zimene ndinasunga koma zinali kubanki yakutali kwambiri ku Michigan. Choncho kwa masiku angapo ndinkangogona m’galimoto yanga. Ndinkasamba komanso kumeta ndevu m’mabafa a pamalo ogulitsira mafuta a galimoto.

Tsiku lina ndinafika pa Nyumba ya Ufumu kutatsala maola angapo kuti msonkhano wokonzekera utumiki uyambe. Ndinali nditangoweruka kumene ku ntchito. Ndiye ndinakhala ndekha kuseri kwa Nyumba ya Ufumu. Ndili kumeneko ndinayamba kukumbukira zinthu zoopsa za kunkhondo zija monga fungo la anthu opsa ndi moto komanso anthu ovulala koopsa. Ndinkakumbukira anthu akundidandaulira kuti, “Koma ndichira ine? Kodi sindifa?” Pa nthawiyo, ndinkadziwa kuti afa ndithu koma ndinkawalimbikitsa osawauza kuti afa. Ndinavutika kwambiri mumtima chifukwa chokumbukira zonsezi.

Ndinapemphera kwa Yehova uku misozi ili mbwembwembwe. (Sal. 56:8) Kenako ndinayamba kuganizira zoti akufa adzauka. Mfundo imeneyi inandikhazika mtima pansi. Ndinazindikira kuti Yehova adzathetsa mavuto onse komanso adzatiiwalitsa zinthu zoopsa zimene anthufe taona pa moyo wathu. Mulungu adzaukitsa anthu amene anaphedwa ku nkhondowa ndipo adzawapatsa mwayi wophunzira Mawu ake. (Mac. 24:15) Zimene zinachitika pa tsikuli sindidzaziiwala chifukwa zinandipangitsa kuti ndiyambe kukonda Yehova ndi mtima wanga wonse. Kuyambira nthawi imeneyo, ndimayesetsa kuti ndikakumana ndi mavuto ndizikumbukira chikondi changa choyamba kwa Yehova.

Ku nkhondo anthu amachita zinthu zoopsa ndipo nanenso ndinachita nawo. Koma ndimalimbikitsidwa kwambiri ndikamaganizira malemba awiri. Loyamba la Chivumbulutso 12:10, 11 limene limasonyeza kuti Mdyerekezi amagonjetsedwa ndi magazi a Mwanawankhosa ndiponso mawu a umboni wathu. Lachiwiri ndi Agalatiya 2:20 ndipo limasonyeza kuti Khristu Yesu anandifera. Yehova amandiona kudzera m’magazi a Yesu ndipo anandikhululukira zimene ndinachita. Kudziwa zimenezi kwandithandiza kukhala ndi chikumbumtima choyera ndiponso zandilimbikitsa kuthandiza anthu ena kudziwa Mulungu wathu wachikondi Yehova.—Aheb. 9:14.

Ndikaganizira zimene zandichitikira pa moyo wanga ndimaona kuti Yehova wandikomera mtima kwambiri. Mwachitsanzo, Jim atangodziwa kuti ndikugona m’galimoto, anakambirana ndi mlongo wina amene anali ndi nyumba za lendi. Ndikukhulupirira kuti Yehova ndi amene anathandiza kuti mlongoyo andipezere malo. Yehova ndi wabwino kwambiri ndipo amasamalira atumiki ake.

Mu May 1971, ndinapita ku Michigan kukachita zinazake. Ndisanachoke ku Florida, ndinadzaza galimoto yanga ndi mabuku kenako ndinauyamba ulendo. Ndinalalikira mwakhama m’madera onse amene ndinkadutsa. Ndinagawira mabuku ambiri kundende zina ndiponso pamalo ena ambiri. Ndinagawa mabuku onse ndisanapite patali. Sindikudziwa ngati mbewu zimene ndinafesa pa nthawiyo zinamera n’kukula.—1 Akor. 3:6, 7.

Kunena zoona, nditangophunzira kumene sindinkalankhula mosamala, makamaka kwa achibale anga. Ndinkakonda kwambiri Yehova moti ndinkawalalikira mwamphamvu komanso mosawaganizira kwambiri. Ndimakonda kwambiri azichimwene anga awiri John ndi Ron, moti ndinkawauza uthengawu mokhala ngati kuwakakamiza. Koma kenako ndinawapepesa. Ndimawapemphererabe kuti adzaphunzire za Yehova. Kuyambira nthawiyi, Yehova wandithandiza kuchita zinthu moganizira ena pamene ndikulalikira.—Akol. 4:6.

Ndimakonda kwambiri Yehova koma pali anthu enanso amene ndimawakonda. Ndimakonda kwambiri mkazi wanga Susan. Ndinkadziwa kuti ndikufunikira mnzanga woti azindithandiza pa utumiki wanga. Mkazi wanga amakonda kutumikira Yehova. Nthawi inayake tili pa chibwenzi ndinapita kwawo ndipo ndinamupeza atakhala pakhonde. Iye ankawerenga Nsanja ya Olonda ndipo analinso ndi Baibulo. Ndinachita chidwi kwambiri chifukwa iye ankawerenga nkhani yoti si yophunziridwa ndipo ankawerenga malemba ake. Ndinadziwiratu kuti amakonda Yehova. Tinakwatirana mu December 1971. Ndimasangalala kwambiri chifukwa nthawi zonse wakhala akundithandiza. Iye amandikonda koma chomwe chimandisangalatsa n’chakuti amakonda Yehova kuposa ineyo.

Tili ndi ana awiri aamuna ndipo wina ndi Jesse, wina ndi Paul. Yehova wakhala akuwathandiza. (1 Sam. 3:19) Ine ndi Susan timasangalala kwambiri chifukwa ana athuwa amakonda kwambiri Yehova. Akumutumikirabe chifukwa amakumbukiranso chikondi chawo choyamba. Onse akhala akuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse kwa zaka zoposa 20. Ndimakondanso apongozi anga awiri, Stephanie ndi Racquel, ndipo ndimawaona ngati ana anga. Kunena zoona, ana anga awiri anakwatira akazi okonda Yehova ndi mtima wonse.—Aef. 6:6.

Nditabatizidwa ndinatumikira ku Rhode Island kwa zaka 16 ndipo ndinali ndi anzanga ambiri. Sindiiwala akulu ochita zinthu mwakhama amene ndinkatumikira nawo. Ndimathokozanso oyang’anira madera ambirimbiri amene akhala akundilimbikitsa. Ndimasangalala kutumikira ndi anthu amene akhala akuyesetsabe kukonda Yehova. Mu 1987, tinasamukira ku North Carolina kumene kunali ofalitsa ochepa. Kumeneko ndinapezanso anzanga ambiri. a

Mu August 2002, ine ndi Susan tinaitanidwa kuti tikatumikire ku Beteli ya ku United States. Ine ndinali mu Dipatimenti ya Utumiki ndipo Susan anali mu dipatimenti yochapa zovala. Mkazi wanga ankasangalala ndi utumikiwu. Mu August 2005, ndinayamba kutumikira m’Bungwe Lolamulira. Ndimayamikira kwambiri utumiki umenewu. Koma mkazi wanga ankandidera nkhawa chifukwa cha kuchuluka kwa ntchito ndiponso ndinkafunika kumayenda kwambiri. Iye sakonda ulendo wa pandege komabe timayenda kwambiri. Susan amathokoza kwambiri zimene akazi a abale a m’Bungwe Lolamulira amanena ndipo zimenezi zamulimbikitsa kuti apitirizebe kundithandiza pa utumiki wanga. Zimenezi zimandipangitsa kuti ndizimukonda kwambiri.

Mu ofesi yanga ndili ndi zithunzi zambiri ndipo zimandikumbutsa zinthu zosiyanasiyana. Zimandikumbutsa zinthu zosangalatsa zimene zachitika pa moyo wanga. Ndadalitsidwa kwambiri chifukwa chokumbukira mmene ndinkakondera Yehova poyamba.