Paul: Besijabule kakhulu! Bekungu-November 1985, futsi besiya esabelweni setfu sekucala sititfunywa telivangeli eLiberia, eNshonalanga ye-Africa. Indiza lebesihamba ngayo yema eSenegal. Anne watsi: “Ngemuva kweli-awa, sitawube sesifikile eLiberia!” Kwabese kuba nesimemetelo lesitsi: “Labaya eLiberia sicela behle. Kunebantfu lebatama kuketula umbuso, ngako angeke sikhone kuma khona.” Kwaphela emalanga langu-10 sihleli netitfunywa telivangeli eSenegal, futsi etindzabeni besiva ngemaloli lagcwele tidvumbu tebantfu, nekutsi hulumende bewungabavumeli bantfu kutsi baphume emakhaya abo nasekuhwalele, ngale kwaloko bebatawubulawa.

Anne: Asisibo bantfu labatsandza kuhamba. Ecinisweni, kusukela ngisemncane bengatiwa ngekutsi ngiyesaba. Ngesaba ngisho nekwewela umgwaco! Kodvwa besitimisele ngekuya esabelweni setfu.

Paul: Kungemakhilomitha langu-8 kusuka ekhaya uye ekhabo Anne, futsi besihlala enshonalanga yeNgilandi. Batali bami namake wa-Anne bebahlale basikhutsata kutsi sibe ngemahlahlandlela, ngako saba ngiwo nasicedza nje imfundvo lephakeme. Bajabula kakhulu ngekutsi sifuna kucitsa kuphila kwetfu senta umsebenti wasikhatsi sonkhe. Nangineminyaka lengu-19 ngaya eBethel, futsi Anne wangilandzela ngemuva kwekutsi sishade nga-1982.

Anne: Besiyitsandza iBethel, kodvwa bekusolo kusifiso setfu kuya lapho kunesidzingo lesikhulu khona sebamemeteli. EBethel besisebenta nalabanye labake baba titfunywa telivangeli. Ngako kusebenta nabo kwasenta saba sikhulu kakhulu lesifiso. Kwaphela iminyaka lemitsatfu sithantaza ngako njalo ebusuku. Ngako sajabula kakhulu nga-1985 ngesikhatsi sitfola simemo sekuya eklasini lesi-79 laseGileyadi! Sabelwa eLiberia, eNshonalanga ye-Africa.

Paul: Sagibela indiza yekucala lebeyivunyelwe kutsi iye eLiberia. Simo besishubile futsi besisolo sibekiwe sikhatsi sekungaphumi emakhaya entsambama. Bantfu bebesaba kangangekutsi nakwenteka kuba nemoto lebanga umsindvo, bekuba nesiphitsiphitsi etimakethe. Kuze sehlise umoya, besifundza Tihlabelelo ndzawonye njalo ebusuku. Kodvwa besisitsandza mbamba lesabelo setfu. Anne bekabelwe kutsi ente umsebenti wekushumayela futsi mine  bengisebenta eBethel kanye nemzalwane John Charuk. a Lwati lebekanalo kanye nekucondza kwakhe simo sebazalwane nabodzadze kwangisita ngafundza lokunyenti kuye.

Anne: Yini leyenta sasheshe sayitsandza kangaka iLiberia? Bazalwane betfu nabodzadze. Bebanelutsandvo, banebungani futsi betsembekile. Sasondzelana nabo; besebafana nemndeni wetfu lomusha. Teluleko tabo tacinisa kukholwa kwetfu. Kushumayela bekumnandzi kakhulu. Banikati bemakhaya bebangajabuli nawusheshe ubashiya! Bantfu bebacoca ngemibuto leseBhayibhelini etitaladini. Bewungavele nje uye kubo ufike ucoce nabo. Besinebantfu labanyenti lebesidadisha nabo liBhayibheli, kangangekutsi bekumatima kudadisha nabo bonkhe. Kushumayela kulendzawo bekumnandzi kakhulu!

Paul: Nga-1989 ngemuva kweminyaka lemine kunekuthula lokusezingeni lelitsite, kwaba nelushintjo lolwetfusako, kwaba nemphi kulelive. NgaJuly 2, 1990, emavukelambuso besekalawula indzawo lapho neBethel beyikhona khona. Kwaphela tinyanga letintsatfu singakhoni kuchumana nalabanye, lokufaka ekhatsi imindeni yetfu nendlunkhulu. Bekunesiphitsiphitsi yonkhe indzawo, kweswelakala kwekudla nekudlwengulwa. Letinkinga tachubeka iminyaka lengu-14 futsi lonkhe lelive latsintseka.

Anne: Labanye bantfu bakuletinye tive bebalwa futsi babulale labanye bantfu bakuletinye tive. Bantfu labahlomile labagcoke timphahla ngendlela lengakavami, bebahambahamba etitaladini, bangene emakhaya ebantfu batitsatsele nobe yini labayifunako. Labanye bebatsi kubulala bantfu kufana “nekuhlaba tinkhukhu.” Bantfu lebebalwa bebavala imigwaco futsi bebavame kubulala bantfu labafuna kwendlula, ngemuva kwaloko babeke sidvumbu etikwalesinye tibe yindvundvuma. Loku bekwenteka ngisho naseceleni kwaseBethel. Kwabulawa naboFakazi labetsembekile, lokufaka ekhatsi titfunywa telivangeli letimbili.

BoFakazi babeka kuphila kwabo engotini ngekutsi bafihle bazalwane babo nabodzadze labanguletive lebetifunwa kamatima kuze tibulawe. Titfunywa telivangeli nemalunga aseBethel nabo benta lokufanako. EBethel, labanye boFakazi lebebakhosele khona bebalala etindlini letingephasi kantsi labanye bebahlala natsi etindlini letingetulu. Endlini yetfu besihlala nemndeni lonemalunga langu-7.

Paul: Onkhe malanga, labantfu labahlomile bebetama kungena kuze babone kutsi kute yini bantfu lebesibabhacisile. Besiba nalabane labagadzile: babili bebema efasitelweni, kantsi labanye lababili bebema egedeni. Nangabe lalababili labasegedeni  babeka tandla tabo ngembili, bekusho kutsi konkhe kuhamba kahle. Kodvwa nabatibuyisa ngemuva bekusho kutsi labantfu baneludlame, ngako laba labasefasitelweni bebagijima bayobhacisa bazalwane betfu nabodzadze.

Anne: Ngemuva kwemaviki lamanyenti, lelinye licembu lalabantfu labahlomile nalabatfukutsele langena. Ngatikhiyela nalomunye dzadze lakugezelwa khona, futsi bekunelikhabethe, ngekhatsi kulo kunendzawo yekubhaca. Lodzadze wangena khona. Labantfu bebangilandzele nangikhuphuka titebhisi, futsi bebahlome ngetibhamu. Bashaya umnyango kamatima. Paul wabancenga watsi: “Umkami usasebentisa indlu lencane.” Nangivala lapho lodzadze bekabhace khona kwaba nemsindvo futsi kwadzingeka kutsi ngibuyisele tintfo kulamashelufa futsi naloko kwatsatsa sikhatsi. Bengikhatsateke ngekutsi labantfu batangibuta kutsi ngentani, ngako bengichachatela kusukela enhloko kuya elutwaneni. Bengitibuta kutsi ngitawuvula njani lomnyango? Ngashaya umthantazo lomncane ngincenga Jehova kutsi angisite. Ngabese ngivula umnyango futsi ngababingelela kwaba ngatsi kute lokwentekile. Munye wabo wangifuca, wangena futsi wakhipha konkhe lebekukulelikhabethe. Wamangala kakhulu kutsi akatfolanga lutfo. Yena kanye nalelicembu lebekanalo babese bayosesha nakuleletinye tindlu, kodvwa nalapho abatfolanga lutfo.

Paul: Kwaphela tinyanga sinekudla lokuncane kakhulu. Kodvwa besinato tintfo lebetisisita kutsi sihlale sinebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Besiba nekukhonta kwasekuseni onkhe malanga, futsi sonkhe besijabula ngemandla lebekusinika wona.

Besati kutsi nasingaphuma siyofuna kudla nemanti, besingeke sikhone kubavikela labo lebebabhacile futsi bebangabulawa. Etikhatsini letinyenti, Jehova bekasinika loko lesikudzingako ngesikhatsi lesikahle nangendlela lemangalisako. Bekahlale atinakekela tidzingo tetfu futsi wasisita kutsi singesabi kakhulu.

Simo kulelive besiya siba sibi kakhulu, kodvwa liciniso lasiniketa litsemba. Bazalwane betfu nabodzadze kwadzingeka babaleke tikhatsi letinyenti kuze basindzise kuphila kwabo, kodvwa bebahlala bacinisa kukholwa kwabo futsi behlise umoya nanobe timo betimatima. Labanye batsi kubeketelela letimo letimatima “bekubalungiselela kuhlupheka lokukhulu.” Labadzala belibandla labanesibindzi nebazalwane labasebasha labanesibindzi benta konkhe lokusemandleni abo kuze basite bazalwane nabodzadze. Bazalwane nabodzadze lebebabalekele kuletinye tindzawo bebafike basitane futsi bashumayele kuleto tindzawo. Bebasebentisa nobe yini lebebayitfola emahlatsini kuze bakhe emaHholwa eMbuso futsi babe nemihlangano. Lemihlangano beyibakhutsata kakhulu kulesikhatsi lesicindzetelako futsi kushumayela bekubasita kutsi bakhone kubhekana nalesimo. Nabamikiselwa kudla, timphahla naletinye tintfo, linyenti labo belicela tikhwama tekushumayela kunetimphahla. Loko kwasitsintsa kakhulu. Bantfu lebebeva buhlungu futsi betfukile  bebatilalela tindzaba letimnandzi. Bebamangala kubona indlela boFakazi lebebajabule ngayo futsi banelitsemba. Bebafana nekukhanya kulelive lelimnyama. (Mat. 5:14-16) Umdlandla wabo wenta kutsi ngisho nalabanye lebebanebudlova bagcine sebabazalwane betfu.

Paul: Bekuhle kudzingeka sihambe kulelive. Kwadzingeka sihambe sikhashana tikhatsi letintsatfu, futsi sahamba umnyaka wonkhe kabili. Lomunye dzadze lositfunywa selivangeli wayichaza kahle indlela lebesitiva ngayo nakatsi: “EGileyadi, safundziswa kutsi sibatsandze bazalwane nabodzadze lesitawubatfola esabelweni, futsi nguloko lesakwenta. Ngako kubashiya bakulesimo bekungatsi tinhlitiyo tetfu tidzatjulwa ekhatsi!” Kodvwa lokujabulisako kutsi besikhona kusita bazalwane nabodzadze baseLiberia sisemaveni labomakhelwane.

Anne: NgaMay 1996, mine naPaul kanye nalabanye lababili sahamba ngemoto yenhlangano siyigcwalise emaphepha labalulekile lamayelana neligatja. Besifuna kuya endzaweni lephephile lengemakhilomitha langu-16 kusuka lapho besikhona khona. Kusenjalo, lendzawo lebesikuyo yahlaselwa. Emasotja latfukutsele adubula emoyeni, akhipha mine kanye nalalabanye lababili kulemoto, futsi ahamba naPaul. Sema simangele. Satsi sisesangene, sabona Paul eta ngakitsi endlula sicumbi sebantfu futsi aphuma ingati enhloko. Setfuka kakhulu ngobe besicabanga kutsi bamdubulile, kodvwa sabese siyabona kutsi kube bekunjalo ngabe akakhoni kuhamba! Lomunye walabantfu labahlomile bekamlimete nakasamfucela ngephandle kwalemoto. Sabonga kakhulu kutsi bekalimele kancane.

Bekuneloli yemasotja ahulumende lebeyigcwele bantfu labetfukile futsi beseyilungela kuhamba. Sancuma kuhamba ngayo, kodvwa ngenca yekutsi besekute sikhala, sabambelela kuyo singephandle futsi bekute lokungako lebesingabambelela kuko. Lomshayeli wayisusa ngelitubane lelisetulu futsi saphose sawa. Samcela kutsi eme, kodvwa bekesaba kakhulu. Ngandlelatsite safika lapho besiya khona, kodvwa wonkhe umtimba bewulele insindze futsi sichachatela ngenca yekwesaba.

Paul: Sabukana emehlweni sigcoke timphahla letingcolile, letidzabukile futsi simangele kutsi sisindze njani. Salala ebaleni eceleni kwe-helicopter lebeyitimbobombobo ngenca yetinhlavu futsi bekungatsi itawehlukana ekhatsi. Ngakusasa sahamba ngayo saya eSierra Leone. Sajabula kakhulu ngekutsi sisaphila, kodvwa besikhatsateke kakhulu ngebazalwane betfu nabodzadze.

Anne: Sefika siphephile eBethel leseFreetown, eSierra Leone, futsi bazalwane basinakekela kahle. Kodvwa ngabese ngicala kukhumbula tintfo lebetenteke eLiberia. Onkhe malanga emini bengihlale ngesaba kutsi kutawenteka intfo lembi kakhulu futsi bengingakhoni kucabanga kahle. Ebusuku bengivame kuvuka ngifomile, ngichachatela futsi ngesaba kutsi kutawenteka intfo lembi. Bekumatima nekuphefumula. Paul bekangibamba athantaze nami. Besihlabela tingoma teMbuso kuze kuphele lokuchachatela. Bengiva ngatsi ngiyahlanya futsi bengibona ngatsi ngeke ngisakhona kuchubeka ngisitfunywa selivangeli.

Angiyuze ngikukhohlwe loko lokwase kuyenteka. Ngaleloviki satfola bomagazini lababili. Munye bekuyi-Phaphama! yaJune 8, 1996. Beyinesihloko lesitsi “Ukubhekana Nokushaywa Uvalo.” Sangisita ngakucondza lebekwenteka kimi. Wesibili beku-Sicongosekulindza saMay 15, 1996, lebesinesihloko lesitsi “Bawatholaphi Amandla Abanawo?” Le-Sicongosekulindza besinesitfombe selivivane lelilimele. Sachaza kutsi njengobe livivane lichubeka lidla futsi lindiza nanobe timphiko talo tilimele kamatima, natsi Jehova usinika umoya wakhe kuze sichubeke sisita labanye ngisho nobe silimele emoyeni. Letihloko tanginika emandla ngesikhatsi lebengiwadzinga ngaso. (Mat. 24:45) Ngafuna nalabanye bomagazini labanetihloko letifana nato futsi ngababeka ndzawonye. Loko kwangisita kakhulu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, kwabese kuyehla lokukhatsateka lebekubangelwa nguletintfo betentekile.

Paul: Njalo nasibuyela ekhaya eLiberia, besijabula kakhulu. Ngasekupheleni kwa-2004 besesicitse  iminyaka lengaba ngu-20 sikulesabelo. Imphi beseyiphelile. Bazalwane bebahlela kwakha kuleligatja. Kodvwa kwatsi kusenjalo, sanikwa sabelo lesisha.

Loko kwasivivinya kakhulu. Besesisondzelene kakhulu nalomndeni wetfu lomusha, ngako besingakhona njani nje kubashiya? Kodvwa ngenca yekutsi besishiye imindeni yetfu saya eGileyadi, sabona kutsi kuvumela Jehova asicondzise kunetibusiso, ngako savuma. Sabelwa eGhana, live lelingumakhelwane.

Anne: Sakhala nasihamba eLiberia. Samangala ngesikhatsi lomunye umzalwane losakhulile futsi lohlakaniphile lokutsiwa nguFrank atsi: “Nibokhohlwa ngatsi!” Wabese uyachaza: “Siyati kutsi angeke nize nisikhohlwe, kodvwa kufanele nibatsandze ngenhlitiyo yenu yonkhe bazalwane nabodzadze baseGhana. Lesabelo sivela kuJehova, ngako kufanele nibanakekele bazalwane nabodzadze balapho.” Lamavi asicinisa njengobe besesitawubhekana nenkinga yekucalela phasi sakhe bangani labasha eveni lasingatiwa khona bantfu labanyenti futsi tintfo takhona letinyenti titinsha kitsi.

Paul: Nobe kunjalo, sasheshe sabatsandza bazalwane nabodzadze eGhana. BekunaboFakazi labanyenti kulelive! Safundza lokunyenti esibonelweni sabo sekwetsembeka nekuba nekukholwa kwabo lokucinile. Ngemuva kwekuba seGhana iminyaka lengu-13, satfola lesinye sabelo lesisha. Sabelwa eMphumalanga ye-Africa, egatjeni laseKenya. Nanobe besibakhumbula bangani betfu kulamave lebesabelwe kuwo, naseKenya safike satfola labanye bangani ngekushesha. NjengaseLiberia naseGhana, nalaKenya mnyenti umsebenti lokufanele wentiwe.

Anne: Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka, ngibhekene netimo letingente ngesaba kakhulu. Nangabe sihlala endzaweni leyingoti nobe sibhekene nesimo lesimatima, loko kungasenta sigule futsi sesabe kakhulu siphindze sikhatsateke. Asivikelwa ngalokusimangaliso kuletintfo. Njalo nangiva kuchuma sibhamu, ngiva ngihlanjulukelwa sisu futsi ngesabe kakhulu. Kodvwa ngifundze kwetsembela kuloko Jehova lasinika kona kuze asicinise, lokufaka ekhatsi kusekelwa bazalwane betfu nabodzadze. Ngibonile nekutsi nasichubeka sidadisha liBhayibheli, sithantaza, siya emihlanganweni futsi sishumayela, Jehova uyasisita kutsi sihlale esabelweni setfu.

Paul: Labanye bangabuta: “Uyasitsandza yini sabelo sakho?” Emave mahle, kodvwa simo singashintja futsi abe yingoti. Ngako, yini lesiyitsandza kakhulu kunemave? Bazalwane betfu nabodzadze labaligugu, labangumndeni wetfu. Nanobe sikhule ngetindlela letingafani, kodvwa sicabanga ngendlela lefanako. Besicabanga kutsi sitfunyelwe kutobakhutsata, kodvwa liciniso kutsi ngibo labasicinisile.

Njalo nasitfutsela kulenye indzawo sibona simangaliso: lokubazalwane betfu nabodzadze. Nangabe nje siseyincenye yelibandla, sinemndeni nelikhaya. Siyaciniseka kutsi nasichubeka setsembela kuJehova, utasicinisa, kuye ngetidzingo tetfu.​—Fil. 4:13.