“BABE,” “MKHULU,” “MALUME.” Lena yindlela bantfu labasebasha labanyenti lebangibita ngayo eBethel. Ngiyayitsandza lendlela labangibita ngayo ngoba sengineminyaka lengu-89 budzala. Lamagama labangibita ngawo ngiwatsatsa njengalesinye setibusiso taJehova, njengoba sengimkhonte iminyaka lengu-72 emsebentini wasikhatsi sonkhe. Ngenca yekutsi senginesikhatsi lesidze ngikhonta Jehova, ngiyakhona kukhutsata labasebasha ngitsi: ‘Umsebenti wenu utawubusiswa yingci nje nangabe ningavumeli tandla tenu kutsi tiphumule.’​—2 Khr. 15:7, NW.

Batali bami besuka e-Ukraine batfutsela e-Canada. Bafike bahlala edolobheni lokutsiwa yi-Rossburn lesesifundzeni sase-Manitoba. Make watala bafana labangu-8 nemantfombatana langu-8, bekute emaphahla, mine bengiwesi-14. Babe bekalitsandza liBhayibheli futsi bekasifundzela lona njalo ngeliSontfo ekuseni, kodvwa inkholo bekayitsatsa njengendlela yekwenta imali futsi ayitsatsa njengentfo yekudlala, waze watsi: “Ngiyatibuta kutsi ngubani lobekabhadala Jesu kute afundzise futsi ashumayele?”

Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi bantfwana bakitsi labasiphohlongo, lokubafana labane nemantfombatane lamane balemukela liciniso. Sisi wami Rose waba lihlahlandlela waze washona. Nasekatawufa, wakhutsata wonkhe muntfu kutsi afundze liVi laNkulunkulu, futsi waze watsi “Ngifuna kunibona nonkhe eveni lelisha.” Ted, umnaketfu lomdzala bekangumfundisi loshumayela ngesihogo semlilo. Njalo ngelisontfo ekuseni bekashumayela emsakatweni atjela bantfu kutsi batawusha siphelane esihogweni semlilo. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi, waba yinceku yaJehova leyetsembekile nalekhutsele.

Ngalelinye lilanga nga-June 1944 ngatsi nangibuya esikolweni ngakhandza incwajana lebeyinesihloko lesitsi “The Coming World Regeneration” * etafuleni lasekhaya. Ngacale ngafundza likhasi lekucala, ngafundza lesibili, ngemuva kwaloko ngehluleka kuyivala lencwadzi. Ngemuva kwekutsi sengifundze yonkhe lencwadzi ngabese ngenta sincumo sekukhonta Jehova ngendlela Jesu labemkhonta ngayo.

Yefika njani lencwadzi etafuleni lasekhaya? Steve umnaketfu lomdzala watsi lencwadzi yefika nabo babe lababili lebebahamba batsengisa tincwadzi  netincwajana. Watsi: “Lencwadzi itsengwe ngimi ngoba beyibita emasenti lasihlanu nje kuphela.” Labobabe baphindze babuya ngeliSontfo lelilandzelako. Basitjela kutsi baBoFakazi BaJehova nekutsi basebentisa liBhayibheli kute baphendvule imibuto lokungenteka bantfu bayibute. Sakujabulela kakhulu loko ngoba safundziswa kutsi sihloniphe liVi laNkulunkulu. Labobabe basitjela nekutsi bekutawuba nemhlangano lomkhulu e-Winnipeg lapho sisi wami Elsie bekahlala khona. Nami ngaya kuloyo mhlangano.

Ngashova libhayisikili lami emakhilomitha langu-320 ngiya e-Winnipeg kodvwa ngema endleleni edolobheni lase-Kelwood lapho laBoFakazi lababili lebebasivakashele bebahlala khona. Kulawo malanga, ngaya emhlanganweni welibandla futsi ngulapho ngafundza khona kutsi liyini vele libandla. Ngaphindze ngabona kutsi bonkhe bantfu lokufaka ekhatsi, emadvodza, bafati nalabasha kufanele bashumayele umuti ngemuti, njengobe Jesu enta.

E-Winnipeg ngahlangana nabhuti wami lomdzala naye lebekete emhlanganweni esuka enyakatfo ye-Ontario. Ngelilanga lekucala lalomhlangano, kwaphuma simemetelo sekutsi kutawuba nelubhabhatiso. Mine naJack sabona kuncono kutsi sibhajatiswe. Sobabili besitimisele kuba ngemahlahlandlela lavamile ngemuva kwekubhajatiswa. Jack wavele waba lihlahlandlela lelivamile ngemuva nje kwalowo mhlangano. Ngesizatfu sekutsi bengineminyaka lengu-16 budzala kwadzingeka kutsi ngibuyele esikolweni, kodvwa emnyakeni lowalandzela nami ngaba lihlahlandlela lelivamile.

Mine naStan Nicolson saba ngemahlahlandlela lavamile edolobheni laseSouris esifundzeni saseManitoba. Ngekushesha nje ngabona kutsi kuba lihlahlandlela akusimelula ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi. Saphelelwa yimali kodvwa sachubeka nemsebenti wetfu. Ngalelinye lilanga sabuya ensimini site ngisho senti, sifile yindlala. Samangala kakhulu nasikhandza lisaka lelikhulu lekudla libekwe emnyango! Nalamuhla solo asati kutsi lelisaka lalibekwe ngubani emnyango. Ngalelolanga sadla sashaya sentfwala. Kungalilahli litsemba kwasenta satfola tibusiso letinyenti! Kuleyo nyanga ngakhuluphala ngendlela lebengingakaze ngikhuluphale ngayo.

Ngemuva kwetinyanga letimbalwa, sabelwa kutsi siye edolobheni laseGilbert Plains lelingemakhilomitha langu-240 kusuka enyakatfo yaseSouris. Ngaleto tikhatsi, libandla ngalinye beliba nelishadi endzaweni yesikhulumi lebelikhombisa tindzawo lebekufanele kushunyayelwe kuto inyanga nenyanga. Ngalesikhatsi lizinga lekushumayela selehlile kulenye inyanga, ngetfula inkhulumo ebandleni lebeyikhutsata bazalwane nabodzadze kutsi basibone sidzingo sekutfutfukisa. Ngemuva kwemhlangano, lomunye dzadze lokhulile lebekalihlahlandlela futsi lobekanendvodza lengasuye Fakazi, wakhuluma nami ngalenkhulumo agcwele tinyembeti emehlweni, watsi: “Kona ngiyetama, kodvwa angikhoni kwenta ngendlela lengifisa ngayo.” Nami ngavele ngakhala futsi ngacolisa kuye.

Njengobe bekwenteka nakimi, kulula kutsi bazalwane lebasebasha nalabasenemandla bente emaphutsa lafana nalelami bese bayatisola ngaloko. Ngafundza kutsi akukafaneli ngivumele emaphutsa angicedze emandla, kunaloko kufanele ngifundze kuwo. Kwenta umsebenti ngekwetsembeka kusiletsela tibusiso.

Nangineminyaka lengu-21 budzala ngaba nelilungelo lelikhulu lekuba seklasini lesi-14 leSikolwa sase-Gileyadi lelaphotfula nga-February 1950! Labayikota kuleliklasi batfunyelwa esifundzeni saseQuebec eCanada lapho kukhulunywa khona siFulentji, futsi boFakazi bebahlushwa kakhulu lapho. Ngabelwa kutsi ngiye eVal-d’Or, lokulidolobha lakugujwa khona ligolide. Ngalelinye lilanga, licembu letfu laya kuyoshumayela eVal-Senneville. Umphristi wakulendzawo wasisongela ngekusiphatsa kabuhlungu nangabe singahambi ngekushesha kulendzawo. Lomphristi ngammangalela enkantolo ngalokusisongela, futsi wahlawuliswa. *

Lesehlakalo kanye naletinye letinjengaso taba yincenye “Yekuhlushwa E-Quebec.” Lesifundza saseQuebec  sasiphetfwe liSontfo lemaRoma Katolika iminyaka lengetulu kwa-300. Baholi benkholo kanye nemalunga epolitiki labekabambisene nabo, bashushisa BoFakazi BaJehova. Leto tikhatsi betimatima kakhulu, futsi besimbalwa, kodvwa asizange sivumele tandla tetfu kutsi tiphumule. Bantfu baseQuebec labanetinhlitiyo letinhle balemukela liciniso. Ngatfola litfuba lekufundza nebantfu labanyenti labemukela liciniso. Bengiphindze ngifundza nemndeni lonemalunga langu-10. Wonkhe lomndeni wakhonta Jehova. Sibonelo sabo lesihle sekuba nesibindzi senta nalabanye balishiya liSontfo lemaKatolika. Sachubeka sishumayela kwaze kwaphela lokuhlushwa.

Nga-1956 ngatfunyelwa e-Haiti kutsi ngiyokhonta khona. Titfunywa telivangeli letinyenti letifikako bekumatima ngato kufundza siFulentji kodvwa bantfu bebalalela. Stanley Boggus lositfunywa selivangeli watsi: “Sajabula kubona indlela bantfu lababetimisela ngayo kute basisite sikhone kukhuluma.” Ekucaleni angizange ngibe nenkinga kakhulu ngoba bengisifundzile siFulentji e-Quebec. Kepha ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi satfola kutsi bazalwane balapho bebakhuluma siCreole sase-Haiti. Ngako-ke, kuze siphumelele bekudzingeka kutsi sifundze lulwimi lwabo. Salufundza lolulwimi futsi imetamo yetfu yaba nemiphumela lemihle.

Kute sichubeke sisita bazalwane, Sigungu Lesibusako sasinika imvume yekuhumusha Sicongosekulindza naletinye tincwadzi ngelulwimi lwesiCreole. Linani lebantfu lebebaya emihlanganweni lakhula ngekushesha eveni lonkhe. Nga-1950 bamemeteli lebebakhona ngaleso sikhatsi e-Haiti bebangu-99, kodvwa nga-1960 lelinani lakhula laba ngetulu kwa-800! Ngaleso sikhatsi ngacelwa kutsi ngiyokhonta e-Bethel. Nga-1961 ngajabulela kutfola litfuba lekuchuba Sikolwa Semsebenti SeMbuso. Sacecesha labadzala bemabandla labangu-40 kanye nemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile. Emhlanganweni wesifundza lobewunga-January 1962 sakhutsata bazalwane balapho kutsi batfutfukise umsebenti wabo wekushumayela futsi labanye baba ngemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile. Loko kwenteka ngesikhatsi lesikahle ngoba kuphikiswa besekutawucala ngekushesha.

Nakusandza kuphela umhlangano wesifundza wa-January 23, 1962, mine na-Andrew D’Amico  lobekasitfunywa selivangeli saboshwa sisehhovisini leligatja, kwatsatfwa nesitoko se-Phaphama! ya-January 8, 1962 yesiFulentji. Le-Phaphama beyicaphune loko bekubhalwe ephephandzabeni lesiFulentji lebelibike kutsi kwentiwa imilingo eHaiti. Labanye abazange bayitsandze lendzaba baze basola nekutsi ligatja ngilo leliyibhalile. Ngemuva kwemaviki lambalwa, titfunywa telivangeli tacoshwa eHaiti. * Kodvwa bazalwane balapho bachubeka kahle nemsebenti lebebaceceshelwe wona. Lamuhla ngijabula kanye nabo nangibona indlela lababeketela ngayo nendlela lesebatfutfuke ngayo ekukhonteni Jehova. Futsi nyalo sebaze bane-Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha LemiBhalo Lengcwele ngelulwimi lwesiCreole saseHaiti lobekuyintfo lebesingacabangi kutsi siyoke sibe nayo.

Ngemuva kwekukhonta eHaiti, ngatfunyelwa e-Central African Republic. Kamuva ngatfola lilungelo lekuba ngumbonisi lojikeletako, futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngaba ngumbonisi weligatja.

Ngaleso sikhatsi emaHholwa eMbuso lamanyenti bekangasimahle. Ngafundza kugawula tintfungo ehlatsini nekufulela luphahla. Bantfu labendlulako bebamangala nabangibona ngetama kwenta lemisebenti lemisha ekuphileni kwami. Loku kwabakhutsata kakhulu nebazalwane labanesandla ekwakheni nasekulungiseni emaHholwa abo eMbuso. Bafundisi bebahlekisa ngatsi ngoba bebaneluphahla loluhle lwemathayela kantsi lwetfu belute emathayela. Sachubeka nekutakhela emaHholwa etfu eMbuso lafulelwe ngetjani. Kuhlekwa kwaphela nya ngalesikhatsi siphepho sihlasela inhlokodolobha i-Bangui. Saphephula luphahla lwemathayela lwalelinye lisontfo sayolulahlela emgwacweni. Kodvwa luphahla lweliHholwa letfu leMbuso aluzange luphephuke! Kute siwunake kahle umsebenti weMbuso, sakha lihhovisi leligatja lelisha nelikhaya letitfunywa telivangeli ngetinyanga letisihlanu nje kuphela. *

Nga-1976, umsebenti weMbuso wavalwa eCentral African Republic, mine ngabese ngitfunyelwa eChad futsi ngahlala enhlokodolobha lebitwa ngekutsi yi-N’Djamena. Ngahlangana naHappy lebekalihlahlandlela lelikhutsele asuka eCameroon. Sashada nga-April 1, 1978. Kuyo leyo nyanga kwesuka imphi futsi linyenti letfu labalekela eningizimu yalelo live. Kwatsi nasekuphele lemphi, sakhandza kutsi indlu yetfu bese iyindlunkhulu yemasotja. Kwatsatfwa tincwadzi tetfu, ingubo yaHappy yemshado kanye naletinye tipho tetfu temshado. Kodvwa asizange sivumele tandla tetfu tiphumule. Besitsandzana futsi sachubeka nemsebenti wetfu wekushumayela.

Ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili, umsebenti wetfu eCentral African Republic waphindze wavunyelwa. Sabuyela khona sakhonta njengebabonisi labajikeletako. Likhaya letfu bekungumahamba nendlwana lebeyinembhedze logocwako kanye nemgcoma longafaka emanti langemalitha langu-200 nefriji kanye nesitofu se-handy gas. Kuhamba bekulukhuni. Kulolunye nje luhambo lwetfu samiswa ngemaphoyisa tikhatsi lebetingaba ngu-117 siseshwa.

Emazinga ekushisa bekakhuphuka afike ku-50°C. Ngaletinye tikhatsi bekuba matima kutfola emanti lenele elubhabhatiso emihlanganweni. Ngako labazalwane bebaya emifuleni leshile bagubhe esihlabatsini kuze batotfola emanti lenele elubhabhatiso, njengoba bantfu bebabhajatiselwa emgconyeni.

Nga-1980 sabelwa kutsi siye eNigeria. Safike sahlala iminyaka lemibili nehhafu sisita ekwenteni emalungiselelo ekwakha ligatja lelisha. Bazalwane batsenga sakhiwo lesisitezi basichacha kahle kuze basebentise letintfo lebesakhiwe ngato. Ngalelinye lilanga ngagibela ngaya etulu kulesakhiwo kuze ngiyochacha khona. Emini ngetama kwehla ngendlela lebengenyuke ngayo. Ngenca yekutsi letinye tintfo lengatisebentisa nangikhuphuka tasetichachiwe, ngatsi ngiyanyatsela nasengehla, nganyatsela emoyeni, ngawa bhu phasi.  Bekubonakala ngatsi simo lebengikuso besimatima kakhulu, kodvwa nangibuya kuma-X-ray nasekucilongweni, dokotela watsi kuHappy: “Ungakhatsateki. Udzabuke nje imisipha lembalwa futsi utawelulama ngemuva kwemaviki lambalwa.”

Nga-1986 saya eCôte d’Ivoire lapho safike senta khona umsebenti wekujikeleta. Saphindze saya eveni lelingumakhelwane iBurkina Faso. Bengingacabangi kutsi kutawufike sitawufike sihlale sikhatsi eBurkina.

Ngahamba eCanada nga-1956, ngaphindze ngabuya eBethel nga-2003, ngaleso sikhatsi besenginaHappy. Nanobe besinebuve baseCanada kodvwa besisolo sitiva sibase-Afrika.

Nga-2007, nangineminyaka lengu-79 budzala, saphindze sabuyela e-Afrika! Sacelwa kutsi siyokhonta eBurkina Faso, lapho ngaba lilunga leKomidi Yelive. Lelihhovisi lase liyashintjwa laba lihhovisi lekuhumusha ngaphasi kweligatja laseBenin, futsi nga-August 2013, sacelwa kutsi siyokhonta eBethel leseBenin.

Nyalo senginetinkinga temphilo, kodvwa solo ngiyawutsandza umsebenti wekushumayela. Kuleminyaka lemitsatfu leyengcile, ngekusitwa bazalwane labadzala ebandleni kanye nekusekelwa ngumkami, ngajabulela kubona lababili lebengibafundzela, Gédéon naFrégis babhajatiswa. Nyalo bakhonta Jehova ngekutimisela.

Mine nemkami sabese sitfunyelwa egatjeni laseNingizimu Afrika lapho umndeni waseBethel wafike wasinakekela njengobe mine bengigula. INingizimu Afrika live lesikhombisa lengike ngakhonta kuwo e-Afrika. Kwase kutsi nga-October 2017 satfola sibusiso lesihle kakhulu. Samenywa kutsi sibe khona nakuniketelwa indlunkhulu yemhlaba wonkhe leseWarwick, eNew York. Asiyuze sisikhohlwe leso sikhatsi lesimnandzi lesaba naso!

Incwadi Yonyaka yanga-1994 ekhasini 255 itsi: “Kubo bonkhe labacinisela emsebentini labawentela Jehova iminyaka leminyenti, siyabakhutsata sitsi: ‘Banini nesibindzi futsi ningavumeli tandla tenu tiphumule, ngobe umsebenti wenu utakuba nemvuzo.’​—2 Khr. 15:7, NW.” Mine naHappy sitimisele kulalela lesikhutsato futsi sicinise labanye kutsi nabo bente intfo lefanako.