Yakataurwa naElva Gjerde

Makore angada kusvika 70 adarika, mumwe munhu akatishanyira akakumbira baba vangu kuti vaite chimwe chinhu chakazochinja upenyu hwangu. Kubvira musi iwoyo wandisingakanganwi, pane vamwewo vakaumba upenyu hwangu zvikuru. Izvi zvakaita kuti ndizova neimwe shamwari yandinokoshesa kupfuura dzimwe dzose. Regai nditsanangure.

NDAKABEREKERWA muSydney, kuAustralia muna 1932 nevabereki vaitenda kuti Mwari ariko asi vasingaendi kuchechi. Amai vakandidzidzisa kuti Mwari aigara akanditarisa, akagadzirira kundiranga kana ndaita misikanzwa. Ndaibva ndaona Mwari seanotyisa. Asi ndainakidzwa nenyaya dzemuBhaibheri. Pataishanyirwa naamaiguru kupera kwevhiki vaindiudza nyaya dzinonakidza dzomuBhaibheri. Ndaigara ndichitarisira kushanya kwavo.

Pandaiyaruka, baba vaiverenga mamwe mabhuku akanga apiwa amai nemumwe mukadzi wechikuru aiva mumwe weZvapupu zvaJehovha. Vakanakidzwa zvikuru nezvavakaverenga mumabhuku iwayo echiKristu zvokuti vakabvuma kudzidza Bhaibheri neZvapupu. Mamwe manheru baba vangu vachidzidza Bhaibheri, vakandiona ndichiteerera ndakahwanda. Vakanga vava kuda kundidzinga kuti ndinorara, aivadzidzisa akabva ati, “Madii kungomurega agarewo patiri kudzidza?” Apa ndipo pakatanga kuchinja upenyu hwangu uye ndopandakatanga kuvawo noushamwari naJehovha Mwari.

Pasina nguva ini nababa takatanga kupinda misangano yechiKristu. Zvavaidzidza zvakaita kuti vachinje upenyu hwavo. Vakatotanga kudzora hasha dzavo. Izvi zvakaita kuti amai naFrank, hanzvadzi yangu vatange kupinda misangano. * Tose takafambira mberi pakunamata uye takazobhabhatidzwa seZvapupu zvaJehovha. Kubvira panguva iyi, pane vanhu vechikuru vakawanda vakandikurudzira muupenyu hwangu.

PAKUSARUDZA BASA

Pandaikura ndaishamwaridzana nevanhu vakura vemuungano yedu. Mumwe wacho ndiAlice Place, hanzvadzi yechikuru yakatanga kuparidzira mhuri yedu. Vaiita saambuya vangu chaivo. Vakandidzidzisa kuparidza uye vakandikurudzira kuti ndive nechinangwa chokubhabhatidzwa. Ndava nemakore 15, ndakazadzisa chinangwa ichi.

Ndaivawo shamwari yeimwe mhuri yechikuru, murume nemudzimai, Percy naMadge [Margaret] Dunham. Vakandibatsira pane zvakawanda zvandakazoita muupenyu. Ndaifarira masvomhu uye ndaida chaizvo kuzova mudzidzisi wemasvomhu. Percy naMadge vakanga vambova mamishinari kuLatvia mumakore ekuma1930. Pakatanga Hondo Yenyika  II muEurope, vakakokwa kuzoshanda paBheteri remuAustralia riri muguta reSydney. Percy naMadge vaindida chaizvo. Vairondedzera nyaya dzakawanda dzinonakidza dzavakasangana nadzo vari mamishinari. Ndakabva ndangozvionera kuti kudzidzisa Bhaibheri kwaizoita kuti ndifare pane kudzidzisa masvomhu. Saka ndakasarudza kuti ndizova mumishinari.

Mhuri yekwaDunham yakandibatsira kugadzirira kuzova mumishinari nokupayona. Saka muna 1948 ndava nemakore 16, ndakabatana nevamwe vechiduku gumi vaipayona muungano yedu muHurstville, kuSydney.

Kwemakore mana akazotevera, ndakapayona ndiri mumamwe maguta mana ari kuNew South Wales nekuQueensland. Mumwe wevanhu vandakatanga kudzidza navo Bhaibheri ndiBetty Law (ava kunzi Betty Remnant). Betty aiva musikana ane mutsa uye aiva mukuru kwandiri nemakore maviri. Takazopayona tose muguta reCowra riri makiromita 230 kumavirira kweSydney. Kunyange zvazvo takapayona tose kwenguva pfupi, ini naBetty tichiri shamwari.

Pandakagadzwa sapiyona chaiye, ndakatamira kuNarrandera, guta riri kure nemakiromita 220 nechekumavirira kweCowra. Ndakanga ndava kupayona naJoy Lennox (ava kunzi Joy Hunter), piyona aishingaira aiva mukuru kwandiri nemakore maviri zvakare. Ndisu chete taiva Zvapupu muguta iri. Ini naJoy taigara neimwe mhuri yaiva neushamwari, Ray Irons nemudzimai wake Esther. Ivo nemwanakomana wavo nevanasikana vatatu vaifarira chokwadi. Ray nemwanakomana wake vaishanda papurazi raichengetwa makwai uye rairimwa gorosi raiva kunze kweguta, Esther nevasikana vachishanda paimba yavaipa vanhu pokurara nokuvabikira. Musi weSvondo woga woga, ini naJoy taibikira mhuri yaRay uye vanhurume vangasvika 12 vaishanda basa rakaoma kuzvitima. Kana tavaitira basa iri vaizotidzikisira mari yerendi. Pataipedza kusuka nokutsvaira, tainakidzwa nokudzidza nemhuri yaRay chidzidzo chevhiki nevhiki cheNharireyomurindi. Ray naEsther nevana vavo vana vakazova Zvapupu uye ndivo vakatanga Ungano yeNarrandera.

Muna 1951, ndakapinda gungano reZvapupu zvaJehovha muSydney. Ndiko kwandakapinda musangano unokosha wemapiyona aida kuita basa roumishinari. Vanopfuura 300 vakapinda musangano uyu wakaitirwa mutende guru. Nathan Knorr akabva kuBheteri rekuBrooklyn, akataura zvakajeka kuti basa rokuendesa mashoko akanaka kumativi ose enyika rinofanira kukurumidza kuitwa. Takaisa shoko rimwe nerimwe raakataura muhana. Mapiyona akawanda aivapo akazonotanga ndima itsva achiita basa roUmambo kuSouth Pacific nedzimwe nzvimbo. Ndakafara chaizvo kuva mumwe wevanhu 17 vokuAustralia vakakokwa kuzopinda kirasi yechi19 yechikoro cheGiriyedhi muna 1952. Chido changu chokuva mumishinari chakazadziswa ndiine makore 20 chete!

PANDAIFANIRA KUGADZIRISWA MAFUNGIRO ANGU

Chikoro cheGiriyedhi chakawedzera ruzivo rwangu rweBhaibheri, chakasimbisa kutenda kwangu, uyewo chakaita kuti ndivandudze unhu hwangu. Ndaiva muduku uye ndaizviisira mitemo yakakwirira zvichiita kuti ndifunge kuti hapana anofanira kukanganisa. Dzimwe nguva maonero angu aisava pakati nepakati. Somuenzaniso, zvakandinetsa pandakaona Hama Knorr vachitamba bhora nevashandi vechiduku vepaBheteri.

Varayiridzi vokuGiriyedhi, avo vainzwisisa uye vainge vagara nebasa, vanofanira kunge vakaona kuti pane zvaindinetsa. Vaindifarira uye vakandibatsira kuti ndigadzirise mafungiro angu. Ndakazotanga kuona Jehovha saMwari ane rudo uye anoonga  zvatinoita, asingatiomesere. Vamwe vandaidzidza navo vakandibatsirawo. Ndinoyeuka mumwe wavo achitaura kuti: “Elva, Jehovha haangogari akatarisa zvatinokanganisa kuti atirange. Usanyanya kuzviomesera!” Mashoko ake aakataura asingavanze akandibaya mwoyo.

Patakapedza chikoro cheGiriyedhi, takatumirwa kuNamibia, muAfrica, tiri vashanu. Pasina nguva takanga tava kuitisa zvidzidzo zveBhaibheri 80. Ndaida zvokugara muNamibia uye upenyu hweumishinari, asi ndakanga ndava kudanana nemumwe wandakadzidza naye kuGiriyedhi akanga atumirwa kuSwitzerland. Ndapedza gore ndiri kuNamibia, ndakazoenda kwaiva nemudiwa wangu kuSwitzerland. Patakaroorana, ndakabatana nemurume wangu mubasa romudunhu.

PANDAKASANGANA NEDAMBUDZIKO

Tashumira kwemakore mashanu mubasa remudunhu, takazokokwa kuti tishande paBheteri muSwitzerland. Tava paBheteri, ndakafara zvikuru kuva pakati pehama nehanzvadzi dzakawanda dzakura uye dzakasimba pakunamata.

Pasina nguva pane zvakaitika zvakandishungurudza chaizvo. Ndakazoziva kuti murume wangu anga asina kuvimbika kwandiri uye kuna Jehovha. Akabva andisiya. Akandibaya panyama nhete! Handizivi kuti ndaizokunda sei kunetseka kwandaiita kudai shamwari dzangu dzakura dzepaBheteri dzisina kundisimbisa uye kundiratidza rudo. Vainditeerera pandaitaura uye vaindirega ndichizorora panguva yandaida kumbova ndoga. Mashoko avo ainyaradza uye mutsa wavo zvakandibatsira kuti ndiwedzere kuswedera pedyo naJehovha panguva iyi yandairwadziwa zvikuru.

Ndakayeukawo mashoko andakange ndamboudzwa nevakura vakachenjera vakanga vambosanganawo nemiedzo. Aisanganisira mashoko akataurwa naMadge Dunham. Akambondiudza kuti, “Elva, muupenyu hwako hwokushumira Jehovha uchasangana nemiedzo yakawanda, asi miedzo yakaomesesa inogona kubva kune vari pamwoyo chaivo. Paunotarisana nemiedzo iyoyo, swedera pedyo naJehovha. Yeuka kuti uri kushandira Mwari kwete vanhu vane chivi!” Mashoko aMadge akandisimbisa munhamo nemumatambudziko. Ndakatsidza kuti ndaisazobvumira kukanganisa kwomurume wangu kuchindiparadzanisa naJehovha.

Ndakazosarudza kudzokera kuAustralia kunopayona ndiri pedyo nevemumhuri mangu. Pandaiva mungarava ndichidzokera kumba, ndakanakidzwa nokukurukura Bhaibheri neboka randaifamba naro. Muboka iri maiva nemumwe murume ainge akazvinyararira zvake wekuNorway anonzi Arne Gjerde. Akafarira mashoko aakanzwa. Arne akazoshanyira ini nemhuri yangu kuguta reSydney. Akafambira mberi pakunamata akava Chapupu. Takazoroorana muna 1963, uye makore maviri akazotevera takava nemwanakomana wedu wokutanga Gary.

PANDAKASANGANA NEIMWEZVE NHAMO

Ini naArne naGary tainakidzwa neupenyu mumhuri yedu. Pasina nguva Arne akawedzera makamuri eimba yedu kuti tigare nevabereki vangu vakanga vakura. Zvisinei kwapera makore matanhatu taroorana, takasangana nerimwe dambudziko. Arne akabatwa nechirwere chekenza yemuuropi. Ndainomuona muchipatara mazuva ose paairapwa nemichina inobudisa mwaranzi, izvo zvakatora nguva yakareba. Akamboita seakanga ava nani, asi akazorwarisa akapedzisira aoma rutivi. Ndakaudzwa  kuti akanga asarirwa nemavhiki mashoma kuti afe. Zvisinei, Arne haana kufa. Akazodzoka kumba uye ndakamupepa kusvikira anaya. Papera chinguva, akazogonawo kufamba uye akaenderera mberi nebasa rake semukuru muungano. Aifara uye aigaroita zvinosetsa zvokuti zvakamubatsira kuti apore uye zvaindiitirawo nyore kumupepa.

Nokufamba kwemakore, muna 1986 Arne akarwarisa zvakare. Panguva iyi vabereki vangu vakanga vafa, saka takatamira kunzvimbo inoyevedza yeBlue Mountains iri kunze kweSydney, pedyo neshamwari dzedu. Gary akazoroora hanzvadzi yakanaka, yakasimba pakunamata, inonzi Karin, uye vakatikumbira kuti tigare navo. Papera mwedzi mishomanana, tose takazotamira kune imwe imba yaiva pedyo nekwataigara.

Mumwedzi 18 yokupedzisira youpenyu hwake, Arne aigara akangorara uye aifanira kugara achipepwa. Sezvo ndakanga ndava kuswera ndiri pamba, ndaidzidza Bhaibheri nemabhuku anoritsanangura kwemaawa maviri pazuva. Panguva idzi dzandaidzidza, ndakawana mazano akawanda aindibatsira kukunda matambudziko angu. Vanhu vakura vomuungano vaindiratidza rudo nokundishanyira, uye vamwe vavo vakanga vatombosanganawo nemiedzo yakaita seyangu. Izvi zvaindikurudzira zvikuru! Arne akazofa muna April 2003 aine tariro yakasimba murumuko.

MUTSIGIRI ANOPFUURA VOSE

Pandaiva muduku ndaingoda kuti zvinhu zvindifambire zvakanaka. Asi ndakazoziva kuti upenyu hauwanzoite maererano nezvatinenge tichitarisira. Ndakawana makomborero akawanda asi ndakatsungirirawo matambudziko maviri—kusiyiwa nemurume wokutanga uye kufirwa newechipiri pashure pokunge arwara. Munguva yose iyi, ndakatungamirirwa uye ndakanyaradzwa nevanhu vakasiyana-siyana. Nanhasi “Akakwegura Pamazuva,” Jehovha Mwari ndiye achiri kunditsigira zvakanyanya. (Dhan. 7:9) Mazano ake akaita kuti ndivandudze unhu hwangu uye akandibatsira kubudirira mubasa rangu roumishinari. Pandinosangana nematambudziko, ‘mutsa worudo waJehovha, unoramba uchinditsigira uye kunyaradza kwake kunorezva mweya wangu.’ (Pis. 94:18, 19) Ndakafarirawo kutsigirwa nekuratidzwa rudo nevemumhuri uye ‘neshamwari dzechokwadi dzinoberekerwa kubatsira pakunenge kuine kutambudzika.’ (Zvir. 17:17) Vakawanda vacho vaiva vanhu vakura vakachenjera.

Jobho akabvunza kuti, “Hapana here uchenjeri pakati pevakura nokunzwisisa mukuwanda kwemazuva?” (Job. 12:12) Ndichifunga zvakaitika muupenyu hwangu, ndinopindura kuti huripo. Mazano andakawana kubva kune vakura vakachenjera akandibatsira, kundinyaradza kwavakaita kwakandisimbisa, uye kushamwaridzana navo kwakavandudza upenyu hwangu. Ndinotenda zvikuru kuti ndakava neushamwari navo.

Iye zvino ndakurawo, ndava nemakore 80. Zvandakasangana nazvo zvinoita kuti ndizive manzwiro anoita vakwegura zvakanyanya uye ndizive zvavanoda. Ndichiri kungoda kuvashanyira nokuvabatsira. Ndinofarirawo kushamwaridzana nevaduku. Zvinokurudzira kuvaona vachishanda nesimba uye chido chavainacho chinotoita kuti ude kuvatevedzerawo. Pandinoona vechiduku vachitsvaka mazano kwandiri, ndinofara kuvabatsira.

[Mashoko Omuzasi]

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 14]

Pandaipayona naJoy Lennox kuNarrandera

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 15]

Elva aine vamwe vemumhuri yeBheteri rekuSwitzerland muna 1960

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 16]

Pandaipepa Arne achirwara