Ndakaberekwa muna 1927, mune rimwe taundi riri pedyo neChicago, muIllinois, kuU.S.A. Baba naamai vangu vaiva nevana vashanu vanoti Jetha, Don, inini, Karl, naJoy. Tese taida chaizvo kushumira Jehovha nemweya wese. Hanzvadzi yangu Jetha akapinda kirasi yechipiri yechikoro cheGiriyedhi muna 1943. Don akaenda kuBheteri kuBrooklyn, New York, muna 1944. Karl akazoendawo muna 1947 uye Joy muna 1951. Ndakakurudzirwa chaizvo nemuenzaniso wavo wakanaka pamwe chete newevabereki vangu.

Baba naamai vangu vainakidzwa nekuverenga Bhaibheri, vaida Mwari uye vakaitawo kuti isu sevana tidewo Mwari. Asi baba vakanga vasisafariri zvechechi pavakabva kuHondo yeNyika I iyo yairwiwa muEurope. Amai vakafara chaizvo kuti baba vakanga vadzoka vari vapenyu, saka vakati kwavari: “Karl, handeika kuchechi sezvataimboita.” Baba vakapindura vachiti: “Ndichakuperekedza hangu, asi handisi kuzopinda.” Amai vakabvunza kuti: “Ko nei?” Baba vakati: “Pandaiva kuhondo, vafundisi vechechi imwe chete vaikomborera masoja airwisana uye zvombo zvawo. Saka Mwari akanga ari kumativi acho ese here?”

Pava paya, amai vari kuchechi, Zvapupu zvaJehovha zviviri zvakauya pamba pedu. Zvakapa baba mabhuku maviri ekudzidza Bhaibheri ainzi Light, ayo aitaura nezvebhuku raZvakazarurwa. Baba vakafarira zvavakanzwa uye vakabva vatambira mabhuku acho. Amai pavakangoona mabhuku aya vakabva vatanga kuaverenga. Rimwe zuva vakaona chiziviso mune rimwe pepanhau chekukoka vanhu vanofarira kuchidzidzo cheBhaibheri pachishandiswa mabhuku akanzi Light. Amai vakasarudza kuenda ikoko. Pavakasvika, mumwe mukadzi wechikuru akavatambira. Amai vakasimudza rimwe remabhuku aya vachibva vabvunza kuti, “Ndipo pari kudzidzirwa mabhuku aya here?” Mukadzi wacho akabva avapindura achiti: Ehe, mwanangu, pinda hako.” Vhiki rakatevera, amai vakaenda nesu vana, uye kubvira ipapo hatina kuzomborega kuenda.

Pane mumwe musangano, aiitisa musangano wacho akandikumbira kuti ndiverenge Pisarema 144:​15, iyo inotaura kuti vaya vanoshumira Jehovha vanofara. Ndakafarira vhesi iyoyo chaizvo uyewo ndine mamwe maviri andakafarirawo. Yekutanga yacho  ndi1 Timoti 1:​11, iyo inoti Jehovha ‘ndiMwari anofara,’ uye yechipiri ndiVaEfeso 5:​1, iyo inotikurudzira kuti tive “vatevedzeri vaMwari.” Mavhesi iwayo akandidzidzisa chimwe chokwadi chinokosha chaizvo muupenyu hwangu chekuti ndinofanira kufadzwa nezvandinokwanisa kuitira Musiki wangu uye kumutenda neropafadzo iyoyo yekumushumira.

Ungano yaiva pedyo nesu yaiva kure nemakiromita 32 iri kuChicago. Asi taigara tichipinda misangano, uye ruzivo rwangu rweBhaibheri rwakaramba rwuchiwedzera. Ndinoyeuka pane imwe nguva hanzvadzi yangu Jetha achipindura pamisangano. Paaipa mhinduro yake, ndakafunga kuti: ‘Zvaari kutaura izvi ndinozviziva. Dai ndatosimudzawo ruoko rwangu kuti ndipindure.’ Saka ndakatanga kugadzirira mhinduro dzandaizopa pamisangano uye kupindurawo. Chinotonyanya kukosha ndechekuti takaramba tichikura panyaya dzekunamata, pamwe chete nevana vemumba medu. Ndakazobhabhatidzwa muna 1941.

Handifi ndakakanganwa gungano ra1942 rakaitwa muCleveland, kuOhio. Vanhu vaiva munzvimbo dzinopfuura 50 muUnited States vakakwanisa kuteerera gungano iri raitepfenyurwa pachishandiswa mafoni. Mhuri yedu yaigara mumatende panzvimbo yaiva pedyo nepaiitirwa gungano racho. Hondo Yenyika II yakanga iri kutsviriridza uye Zvapupu zvaJehovha zvakanga zviri kuwedzera kutambudzwa. Manheru ndakaona mapoka ehama akapaka mota dzawo dzakafuratira matende aiva nevanhu. Vese vakawirirana kuti mumota imwe neimwe maizofanira kunge muine munhu anenge akarinda usiku hwese. Kana paine zvaizoitika hama dzaizobatidza maIight emota dzavo dzichiitira kuti vaya vaida kutirwisa vasaona zvakanaka. Hama dzacho dzaizofanira kuridza huta dzemota kuitira kuti vamwe vauyewo kuzovabatsira. Ndakangoti, ‘Vanhu vaJehovha vakagadzirira zvese!’ Izvozvo zvakaita kuti ndirare zvakanaka, ndisina chekutya uye hapana kana chakamboitika husiku hwacho.

Mumakore akatevera pandaifunga nezvegungano iroro, ndakaona kuti amai vangu havana kumboratidza kutya kana kunetseka. Vainyatsovimba naJehovha nesangano rake. Handimbofi ndakakanganwa muenzaniso wavo wakanaka iwoyo.

Gungano iri parakaitwa, amai vangu vakanga vachangotanga upiyona hwenguva dzese. Saka vainyatsoteerera paipiwa hurukuro dzaitaura nezvebasa renguva yakazara. Pataiva munzira kudzokera kumba, amai vakati, “Ndinoda chaizvo kuramba ndichipayona asi handifungi kuti ndingazvikwanisa uku ndichiita mabasa ese epamba.” Saka vakatikumbira kuti tivabatsire. Takabvuma, saka mangwanani ega ega mumwe nemumwe wedu aipiwa paaifanira kuchenesa tisati tadya. Pataibuda tichienda kuchikoro, vaisara vachitarisa kuti imba yese yachena here vozobuda vachienda muushumiri. Vaiva nezvakawanda zvekuita asi vaiwanira vana vavo nguva. Pataidzoka kumba kuzodya uye pataidzoka kubva kuchikoro taivaona varipo. Dzimwe nguva tabva kuchikoro taibuda navo muushumiri uye izvozvo zvakatibatsira kunzwisisa chinonzi kupayona.

Ndakatanga kupayona ndiine makore 16. Kunyange zvazvo baba vakanga vasati vava Chapupu, vaida kuziva kuti zvinhu zvaindifambira sei muushumiri. Mumwe musi ndakavaudza kuti pasinei nekushanda kwandaiita nesimba, ndakanga ndisati ndawana chidzidzo cheBhaibheri. Ndakambonyarara ndichibva ndavabvunza kuti, “Mungada here kudzidza neni Bhaibheri?” Vakambonyarara vachifunga ndokubva  vati, “Hapana chakaipa mwanangu.” Saka baba vangu ndivo vaiva mudzidzi wangu weBhaibheri wekutanga. Chaiva chikomborero chaicho kudzidza navo!

Takadzidza bhuku rinonzi “Zvokwadi Ichakusunungurai.” Chidzidzo chedu zvachaienderera mberi ndakatoona kuti baba vangu vaitondibatsira kuti ndikwanise kunyatsodzidza Bhaibheri uye kuridzidzisawo vamwe. Semuenzaniso, mumwe musi tapedza kuverenga imwe ndima, vakati: “Ndaona zvataurwa nebhuku apa, asi iwewe unozviziva sei kuti bhuku riri kutaura chokwadi?” Ndakanga ndisina kugadzirira kupindura mubvunzo iwoyo, saka ndakavaudza kuti: “Handikwanisi hangu kukutsanangurirai izvezvi, asi patichadzidzazve, ndichange ndava nemhinduro.” Uye ndizvo chaizvo zvandakaita. Ndakawana mavhesi akandibatsira kutsanangura pfungwa yacho. Kubvira ipapo, ndakanga ndava kukwanisa kugadzirira zvidzidzo zvedu uye ndakadzidza kutsvakurudza. Izvozvo zvakabatsira ini nababa vangu kuti tikure pakunamata. Baba vakashandisa zvinhu zvavaidzidza uye vakabhabhatidzwa muna 1952.

Ndakabva pamba ndiine makore 17. Panguva iyoyo, Jetha a akava mumishinari, uye Don akatanga kushanda paBheteri. Vese vaida chaizvo mabasa avaiita uye izvozvo zvakandikurudzira chaizvo. Saka ndakanyorera kuti ndishandewo paBheteri uye ndipinde chikoro cheGiriyedhi ndichibva ndamirira kuti ndione kuti Jehovha aida kuti ndishumire ndiri kupi. Chii chakazoitika? Ndakakokwa kuti ndishande paBheteri muna 1946.

Nekufamba kwanga kuchiita makore, ndakaita mabasa akasiyana-siyana paBheteri, saka ndakadzidza zvinhu zvitsva zvakawanda. Mumakore 75 andashanda paBheteri, ndakadzidziswa kuprinda mabhuku uye kuita zveakaunzi. Ndakadzidzawo kuti zvinhu zvinodiwa paBheteri zvinotengwa sei kubva kune dzimwe nyika uye kuti zvimwe zvinhu zvinotumirwa sei kune dzimwe nyika. Asi chikuru kupfuura zvese, ndinonakidzwa chaizvo nekudzidziswa kwatinoitwa paBheteri pakunamata kwemangwanani uyewo patinopiwa hurukuro dzeBhaibheri.

Ndinewo zvandakadzidza kubva kune munin’ina wangu, Karl, uyo akauya kuzoshanda paBheteri muna 1947. Ainyatsodzidza Bhaibheri uye aigona kuridzidzisawo vamwe. Pane imwe nguva ndakamukumbira kuti andibatsire nehurukuro yandakanga ndapiwa. Ndakamuudza kuti ndakanga ndatsvakurudza zvinhu zvakawanda asi ndaishaya kuti ndozvishandisa sei. Akandibatsira kuti ndione zvekuita paakangondibvunza mubvunzo mumwe chete wekuti, “Joel, musoro wehurukuro yako uri kumboti chii?” Ndakabva ndakurumidza kubata zvaaitaura ndaifanira kungoshandisa zvinhu zvinotsanangura musoro wehurukuro yangu, zvimwe zvese ndosiyana nazvo. Handimbofi ndakakanganwa chidzidzo ichocho.

 Kuti tifare paBheteri, tinofanira kunyatsoita basa rekuparidza nekuti izvozvo zvinoita kuti tiwane zvinhu zvinotikurudzira. Ndinoyeuka mumwe musi, zuva rovira tichiparidza muBronx kuNew York City. Ini neimwe hama takaenda pamba pemumwe mukadzi akanga ambobvuma kupiwa magazini yeNharireyomurindi neMukai! Takamuudza kuti taiva vanaani uye takataurawo kuti, “Manheru ano tiri kubatsira vanhu kuti vadzidze zvinhu zvinokurudzira kubva muBhaibheri.” Mukadzi wacho akapindura kuti, “Kana zviri zveBhaibheri, pindai henyu.” Takaverenga tikakurukura mavhesi akati kuti anotaura nezvezvichaitwa neUmambo hwaMwari munyika itsva iri kuuya. Mukadzi wacho anofanira kunge akafara chaizvo nekuti vhiki rakatevera, akanga atoshevedza dzimwe shamwari dzake kuti dzivepo. Mukadzi wacho nemurume wake vakazova vashumiri vaJehovha vakatendeka.

Ndakanga ndava nemakore 10 ndichitsvaga munhu wekuroorana naye pandakazoonana nemudzimai wangu. Chii chakandibatsira kuwana mudzimai akanaka? Ndainyengetera ndichifunga nezvemubvunzo wekuti, ‘Zvii zvandinoda kuzoita kana ndaroora?’

Pashure pegungano ra1953 rakaitirwa muYankee Stadium, ndakaonana neimwe hanzvadzi yainzi Mary Aniol. Iye nehanzvadzi yangu Jetha vakapinda kirasi yechipiri yechikoro cheGiriyedhi, uye vaishanda pamwe chete semamishinari. Mary akandiudza nezvebasa rake reumishinari raaiita kuzvitsuwa zveCaribbean uye nezvevanhu vaainge adzidza navo Bhaibheri makore akanga adarika. Paaindiudza izvi, ainyatsoratidza kuti aida chaizvo basa rake. Patakaramba tichizivana takaona kuti taiva nezvinangwa zvekunamata zvakafanana. Rudo rwedu rwakaramba rwuchikura, uye takachata muna April 1955. Mary akaratidza kuti aiva chipo chinobva kuna Jehovha uye muenzaniso wekutevedzera munzira dzakawanda. Aifara kuita chero basa raainge apiwa, aishanda nesimba, aiva nehanya nevamwe uye nguva dzese aiisa zvinhu zvine chekuita neUmambo pekutanga. (Mat. 6:33) Takaita basa remudunhu kwemakore matatu uye muna 1958, takashevedzwa kuti tishande paBheteri.

Ndakadzidza zvakawanda kubva kuna Mary. Semuenzaniso, tichangochata takasarudza kuti tiverenge Bhaibheri tese, mavhesi 15 zuva rega rega. Pashure pekunge mumwe wedu averenga mavhesi acho, taitaura zvatainge tadzidza, tokurukura kuti tingazvishandisa sei muupenyu hwedu. Kakawanda Mary aindiudza zvaakanga adzidza kuchikoro cheGiriyedhi kana kuti paaiita basa rake reumishinari. Kukurukura ikoko kwataiita kwakaita kuti ndinzwisise zvinhu zvakawanda uye kwakandibatsira kuti ndivandudze hurukuro dzangu uye kuti ndikwanise kukurudzira hanzvadzi.—Zvir. 25:11.

Mudzimai wangu Mary akafa muna 2013. Ndinotarisira chaizvo kuzomuonazve munyika itsva! Asi pari zvino ndine chido chakasimba chekuramba ndichidzidza, ndichivimba naJehovha nemwoyo wangu wese. (Zvir. 3:​5, 6) Ndinonyaradzwa uye ndinofara pandinofunga zvichaitwa nevanhu vaJehovha munyika itsva. Izvozvo zvichasanganisira kudzidziswa zvinhu zvitsva naJehovha uye kudzidza zvinhu zvitsva nezveMurayiridzi wedu Mukuru! Ndinoshaya mashoko ekumutenda, nekundidzidzisa kwaakaita kusvika pandasvika uye nenyasha dzaakandiratidza munzira dzakawanda.