NDINOFARA kuti ndakarerwa nevabereki vechiKristu, Fred naEdna Molohan, avo vakandidzidzisa kuda Jehovha. Pandakaberekwa muna 1934 vakanga vava nemakore 20 vachishingaira seVadzidzi veBhaibheri (Zvapupu zvaJehovha). Mhuri yedu yaigara muParsons, guta diki riri kumaodzanyemba kwakadziva kumabvazuva kweKansas. Taipinda neungano yeikoko uye vakawanda vemuungano iyoyo vaiva vaKristu vakazodzwa. Mhuri yedu yaigara ichipinda misangano yeungano uye ichiparidza chokwadi cheShoko raMwari. Musi weMugovera masikati taiwanzoparidza mumugwagwa. Dzimwe nguva zvainetesa, asi baba vaigara vachienda nesu kunotitengera maice cream pataipedza.

Ungano yedu diki yaiva nendima yakakura iyo yaisanganisira mataundi madiki uyewo mapurazi akawanda aiva pedyo. Pataishanyira varimi, taiwanzochinjanisa mabhuku edu nemiriwo, mazai, kunyange nehuku mhenyu. Sezvo baba vaigara vapa mupiro wemabhuku acho, zvinhu izvi taizozvidya.

Vabereki vangu vakatenga giramufomu ravaishandisa pakuparidza. Ndaiva mudiki zvekuti ndaisakwanisa kurishandisa, asi ndainakidzwa nekubatsira baba naamai pavairidzira vanhu hurukuro dzaHama Rutherford. Izvi vaizviita pavaidzokera kunoona vanhu vacho kana kuti pavainodzidza navo Bhaibheri.

Baba vakaita kuti motokari yedu ya1936 yerudzi rweFord ive negudzanzwi rainge rakaiswa pamusoro payo. Motokari iyi yaibatsira chaizvo pakuparadzira mashoko eUmambo. Taiwanzotanga nekuridza mumhanzi kuti vanhu vatange kuteerera, uye taizoridza hurukuro yeBhaibheri yakarekodhwa. Paipera hurukuro yacho, taipa mabhuku vanhu vainge vafarira.

 Pataiva mutaundi diki reCherryvale, Kansas, mapurisa akaudza Baba kuti motokari yedu yaisabvumirwa kuti ive mupaki, umo maiva nevanhu vakawanda vainge vachizorora musi weSvondo, asi yaibvumirwa kunze. Baba havana kumboramba, saka vakaendesa motokari kumhiri kwemugwagwa pakatarisana nepaki yacho zvekuti vanhu vaiva mupaki vaikwanisa kunyatsonzwa uye baba vakaenderera mberi nepurogiramu yacho. Ndainakidzwa nekuva nababa nemukoma wangu Jerry panguva dzakadaro.

Makore ekuma1930 ava kunopera, takaita mishandirapamwe yekuti tipedze nekukurumidza ndima dzaiva nevanhu vaipikisa. Taimuka kunze kusati kwachena (sezvatakaita muJoplin, Missouri) uye taiisa chinyararire maturakiti netumabhuku pasi pemadhoo. Pataipedza, taizosangana kunze kweguta kuti tione kuti hapana here ainge asungwa nemapurisa.

Mumakore iwayo, tine imwe nzira yataishandisa pakuparidza yainakidza chaizvo. Taitenderera muguta takapfeka zvikwangwani zvemashoko ekuzivisa Umambo. Ndinoyeuka pane imwe nguva hama nehanzvadzi padzaitenderera mutaundi dzakapfeka zvikwangwani zvainge zvakanyorwa kuti “Chitendero Musungo uye Chinonyengera.” Vakafamba nemutaundi kwemakiromita anenge 1,6 ndokuzodzoka kumba kwedu. Zvinofadza kuti hapana akavamisa, asi vakatosangana nevakawanda vaifarira.

Mhuri yedu yaiwanzobva kuKansas ichienda kunopinda magungano kuTexas. Baba vaishandira kambani yezvitima yainzi Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (yaizivikanwawo seM-K-T, kana kuti Katy, Railroad), saka taikwira chitima tisingabhadhari pakuenda kumagungano uye pataishanyira hama dzedu. Hanzvadzi yaamai, Fred Wismar, nemudzimai wake, Eulalie, vaigara muguta reTemple, muTexas. Sekuru Fred vakadzidza chokwadi vachiri vadiki kumakore ekuma1900, vachibva vabhabhatidzwa, uye vaiudzawo hanzvadzi dzavo zvavaidzidza. Vaizivikanwa chaizvo nehama dzakawanda muTexas, mavakamboshumira semubatiri wenharaunda (ava kunzi mutariri wedunhu). Vaiva murume ane mutsa, anofara uye ndainakidzwa nekuva navo. Vaishingaira uye vaiva muenzaniso wakanaka kwandiri pandaiva mudiki.

Muna 1941 mhuri yedu yakaenda nechitima kugungano guru rakaitirwa kuSt. Louis, Missouri. Vechidiki vese vakanzi vagare pamwe chete pedyo nechikuva kuti vanzwe hurukuro yaHama Rutherford yaiti “Vana vaMambo.” Pakapera hurukuro yavo, Hama Rutherford nevamwe vaivabatsira vakapa mumwe nemumwe wedu bhuku idzva rainzi Vana, uye takafara chaizvo patakarigamuchira. Paiva nevechidiki vaipfuura 15 000 vakawana bhuku iri.

Muna April 1943 takanakidzwa negungano raiva nemusoro wekuti “Call to Action” rakaitirwa muCoffeyville, Kansas. Chikoro chaMwari Choushumiri chitsva, icho chaizoitwa muungano dzese chakatangwa uye pakabudiswa kabhuku kaiva nezvidzidzo 52 kaizoshandiswa pachikoro chacho.  Mumwedzi yakatevera ndakapa hurukuro yangu yekutanga yevadzidzi. Gungano iroro raikosha kwandiri nekuti ndipo pandakabhabhatidzwa pamwe chete nevamwewo mudziva raiva nemvura inotonhora raiva papurazi raiva pedyo.

Ndakapedza chikoro muna 1951 uye ndaifanira kusarudza zvandaizoita neupenyu hwangu. Chido changu chaiva chekushumira paBheteri, sezvakamboitwa nasekuru Jerry, saka ndakanyora fomu rekukumbira basa racho ndokuritumira kuhofisi yeBrooklyn. Chisarudzo ichi chakandibatsira chaizvo panyaya dzekunamata. Munguva pfupi, ndakashevedzwa kuti nditange basa repaBheteri musi wa10 March 1952.

Ndaivawo nechido chekushanda munzvimbo yaiprindwa mabhuku nemagazini. Zvisinei, ndakapiwa basa rekushanda sahweta uye pava paya ndakazoshanda mukicheni. Kushanda mukicheni kwainakidza uye ndakadzidza zvakawanda. Saka handina kumbobvira ndakashanda munoprindwa mabhuku. Zvisinei, purogiramu yevanhu vaishanda mukicheni yainge yakandinakira nekuti yaindiwanisa nguva yekuti ndidzidze ndiri ndega muraibhurari yepaBheteri panguva dzebasa. Izvi zvakandibatsira kuti ndikure pakunamata uye ndive nekutenda kwakasimba. Zvakaitawo kuti nditsunge kushumira Jehovha paBheteri chero bedzi ndakanga ndichiri kukwanisa. Sekuru Jerry vakanga vabva paBheteri muna 1949 vachibva varoora Patricia, asi vaigara pedyo muBrooklyn. Vaigara vachindibatsira uye vaindikurudzira mumakore angu ekutanga epaBheteri.

Ndichangosvika paBheteri, pakatanga kutsvagwa dzimwe hama dzaizova vakurukuri vepaBheteri. Hama idzi dzainzi dziende kuungano dzaiva makiromita anenge 322 zvichidzika kubva muBrooklyn dzichinopa hurukuro uye kushanda neungano dzacho muushumiri. Ndakawanawo ropafadzo yekuva pakati pehama idzi. Ndakatanga kushanyira ungano ndichipa hurukuro dzavose asi ndaitya. Panguva iyoyo hurukuro yavose yaiitwa kweawa. Ndaiwanzoenda kuungano dzacho nechitima. Ndinonyatsoyeuka mumwe musi mugore ra1954 iri Svondo masikati, kuchitonhora, pandakakwira chitima ndakananga kuNew York kuti ndisvike kuBheteri manheru. Asi kwakanaya mvura yaiva nemhepo yakasimba nesinou. Pane zvakakanganisika pamainjini echitima chacho zvekuti akanga asisadhonzi zvakanaka. Chitima chakazosvika pachiteshi muNew York City kuma5 mangwanani musi weMuvhuro. Ndakazokwira chitima chinofamba nepasi chaienda kuBrooklyn. Ndakabva ndangonanga kukicheni kwandaishandira. Ndakanonoka uye ndainge ndakaneta chaizvo sezvo ndakanga ndisina kurara usiku hwese. Asi izvozvo zvakanga zvisina basa nekuti kushumira hama uye kusangana neshamwari itsva dzakawanda kwaifadza chaizvo.

Mumakore angu ekutanga paBheteri, ndakakokwa kuti ndivewo nezvekuita pazvikamu zvaibudiswa panhepfenyuro yeWBBR. Mastudio acho aiva munhurikidzwa yechipiri pa124 Columbia Heights. Ndaivawo pakati pevanhu vaiva papurogiramu yeChidzidzo cheBhaibheri yaitepfenyurwa vhiki yega yega. Hama A. H. Macmillan, avo vakanga vava nenguva refu vari paBheteri, vaigara varipo pamapurogiramu aya eparedhiyo. Vaizivikanwa saHama Mac, uye vakaratidza muenzaniso wakanaka kwatiri isu hama dzechidiki dzaiva paBheteri panyaya yekutsungirira pakushumira Jehovha.

Muna 1958, basa rangu rakachinja uye ndakatanga kuita basa rine chekuita neChikoro cheGiriyedhi. Basa rangu raiva rekubatsira vainge vapedza kudzidza kuti vawane mavhiza uye kuronga kuti varume nevakadzi ava vaishingaira vaizofamba sei. Kufamba nendege kwaidhura chaizvo panguva iyoyo, saka paingova nevashoma vaienda nendege. Vakawanda vaienda kuAfrica uye kuFar East vaienda nengarava. Nekufamba kwemakore, mari yendege yakazodzika uye mamishinari akawanda akanga ava kuenda nendege.

Basa rangu rakawedzera muna 1960. Ndakanga ndava kuronga kuti vanhu vachafamba sei kubva kuUnited States kuenda kuEurope kuti vapinde magungano enyika dzakawanda a1961. Ndakakwira ndege yaibva muNew York ichienda kuHamburg, Germany kuti ndipinde rimwe remagungano aya. Pakapera gungano, ini nedzimwe hama nhatu dzaiva paBheteri takahaya motokari uye takabva kuGermany tichienda kuItaly, kuhofisi yebazi yaiva muRome. Tichibva ikoko takapfuura nemuPyrenees Mountains tichienda kuFrance, uye kuSpain, uko kwairambidzwa basa redu rekuparidza. Takakwanisa kupa hama dzedu dzaiva muBarcelona mabhuku ainge akaputirwa sezvipo. Takafara chaizvo patakaonana nadzo. Takazoenda kuAmsterdam, ndokukwira ndege tichidzokera kuNew York.

Muna 1962, ndakapiwa basa rekuronga kuti hama nehanzvadzi dzaizoenda sei kumagungano enyika dzakawanda aiitwa munyika dzakasiyana-siyana. Gungano iri rakaitwa muna 1963 uye raiva nemusoro waiti “Everlasting Good News.” Pakaitwa urongwa hwekuti vanhu 583 vapinde magungano acho muEurope, Asia, uye muSouth Pacific, vozopedzisa nekuenda kuHonolulu, Hawaii, uye kuPasadena, California. Vaizoendawo kuLebanon neJordan kuti vanodzidza nezvenzvimbo dzinotaurwa muBhaibheri. Dhipatimendi redu repaBheteri raironga kuti vanhu vachafamba sei uye kuti vachagara kupi uye raiitawo kuti vawane mavhiza ekupinda munyika dzakasiyana-siyana dzavaienda.

Gore ra1963 raikosha chaizvo kwandiri. Musi wa29 June, ndakachata naLila Rogers anobva kuMissouri, uyo akanga ava nemakore matatu achishumira paBheteri. Pashure pevhiki tachata, ini naLila takabatana nevamwe parwendo rwekuenda kuGreece, Egypt, neLebanon. Takabva nendege muBeirut takananga kuJordan. Sezvo basa redu rainge rakabhanwa muJordan uye tainge taudzwa kuti Zvapupu zvaJehovha zvaisapiwa mavhiza ekupinda munyika yacho, tainetseka kuti chii chichaitika patichasvika. Takafara uye takashamisika patakasvika tichiona boka revanhu vainge vakamira panhandare yendege vaine chikwangwani chainge chakanzi, “Titambire Zvapupu zvaJehovha”! Uye takafara chaizvo kuzvionera tega nzvimbo dzinotaurwa muBhaibheri. Takaenda kunzvimbo dzaimbogarwa nevanhu vanotaurwa muBhaibheri, kwakaparidzirwa naJesu nevadzidzi vake, uye kwakatangira chiKristu kupararira pasi rese.—Mab. 13:47.

Kwemakore 55, Lila ari kutsigira mabasa ese atinoita. Takakwanisa kushanyira nyika yeSpain nePortugal kanoverengeka basa redu parainge rakabhanwa munyika idzodzo. Taikurudzira hama nehanzvadzi uye taidzipa mabhuku nezvimwe zvinhu zvadzaida. Takatokwanisawo kushanyira kunyange dzimwe hama dzaiva mujeri muCádiz, Spain. Ndakafara chaizvo kuti ndakakwanisa kupa hurukuro ndichidzikurudzira.

 Kubva muna 1963, yange iri ropafadzo yakakura kuti ndibatsirewo pakuronga nzendo dzekuenda kumagungano enyika dzakawanda kuAfrica, Australia, Central neSouth America, Europe, kuFar East, Hawaii, New Zealand, uye Puerto Rico. Ini naLila takapinda magungano akawanda atisingambokanganwi, kusanganisira rakaitwa muna 1989 kuWarsaw, Poland. Hama dzakawanda dzekuRussia dzakakwanisa kupinda gungano guru iroro. Iri raiva gungano radzo rekutanga. Hama nehanzvadzi dzakawanda dzatakasangana nadzo dzakanga dzaita makore dziri mumajeri muSoviet Union pamusana pezvadzinotenda.

Yaiva ropafadzo yakakura kushanyira mahofisi emapazi enyika dzakasiyana-siyana uye kukurudzira mhuri dzeBheteri nemamishinari. Patakaita basa iri kekupedzisira tichishanyira hofisi yebazi yeSouth Korea, takakwanisa kuona hama dzedu 50 pane rimwe jeri riri muSuwon. Hama dzacho dzese dzairatidza mafungiro akanaka uye dzaitarisira kuzoitazve basa reushumiri. Kuvaona kwakatikurudzira zvikuru.—VaR. 1:11, 12.

Ndakaona kuti Jehovha anokomborera sei vanhu vake nekuita kuti vawedzere. Pandakabhabhatidzwa muna 1943, paiva nevaparidzi vanenge 100 000, asi iye zvino pava nevaparidzi vanopfuura 8 000 000 vari kushumira Jehovha munyika 240. Izvi zviri kunyanya kubva pabasa guru riri kuitwa nevakapinda Chikoro cheGiriyedhi. Ndakafara chaizvo kushanda nemamishinari iwayo kwemakore uye kuvabatsira kuti vakwanise kuenda kunyika dzavakanzi vaende.

Ndinofara kuti pandaiva mudiki ndakasarudza kuwedzera ushumiri hwangu nekunyorera kuita basa repaBheteri. Jehovha akakomborera chaizvo zvese zvandakaita. Ini naLila takavawo neropafadzo yekuparidza neungano dzemuBrooklyn, umo matakawana shamwari dzakawanda.

Ndichiri kushumira paBheteri ndichitsigirwa naLila zuva rega rega. Kunyange zvazvo ndava nemakore anopfuura 84, ndichiri kukwanisa kushanda uye ndinobatsira pakupindura, pakufambisa uye pakuchengeta tsamba dzebazi.

Zvinofadza chaizvo kuva musangano raJehovha rakanaka uye kuona musiyano mukuru uri pakati pevaya vanoshumira Jehovha nevaya vasingamushumiri. Tinowedzera kunzwisisa mashoko ari pana Maraki 3:18, ekuti: “Muchaonazve kusiyana kwomunhu akarurama nomunhu akaipa, kwouya anoshumira Mwari nouya asina kumushumira.” Zuva rimwe nerimwe, tinoona kuti nyika yaSatani iri kuwedzera kuipa, uye yakazara nevanhu vasina tariro nemufaro muupenyu. Asi vaya vanoda uye vanoshumira Jehovha vanofara, kunyange munguva dzino dzakaoma, uye vane tariro yakajeka yeramangwana. Tine ropafadzo yakakura yekuparadzira mashoko akanaka eUmambo. (Mat. 24:14) Pasina nguva Umambo hwaMwari huchabvisa nyika ino yakaipa hwounza paradhiso. Takamirira nemwoyo wese kuti zuva iroro risvike. Munhu wese achange ari panyika achava neutano hwakanaka nemufaro uye achararama nekusingaperi.