YINI leyangenta ngaba kulesimo? Asengicale ngekuchaza umlandvo wami. Ngatalwa nga-July 29, 1929 futsi ngakhulela esifundzeni saseBulacan ePhilippines. Kuphila lapho bekumelula ngenca yekutsi besite tintfo letinyenti ngobe umnotfo bewehlile. Nangisemusha kwaba nemphi kulelive. Libutfo laseJapan lahlasela live lakitsi. Noma kunjalo, loko akuzange kusitsintse ngalokucondzile ngenca yekutsi indzawo besihlala kuyo beyikhashane nelidolobha. Besite umsakato, i-TV, kanye nemaphephandzaba, ngako tindzaba letimayelana nemphi besiticocelwa bantfu.

Ekhaya kunebantfwana labangu-8 futsi mine ngiwesibili. Nangineminyaka lengu-8 bogogo namkhulu bangitsatsa kute ngiyohlala nabo. Ngisho noma bebangemaKatolika, mkhulu bekete inkinga ngaletinye tinkholo futsi bekatitsatsa tincwadzi tenkholo lebekatitfola kubangani bakhe. Ngikhumbula angikhombisa tincwadzi letitsi Protection, Safety, kanye naletsi Uncovered lebetibhalwe ngelulwimi lwesiTagalog, * kanye neliBhayibheli. Bengikujabulela kulifundza ikakhulukati emaVangeli lamane. Loko kwangenta ngafuna kulingisa sibonelo saJesu.​—Joh. 10:27.

Kuhlasela kwelibutfo laseJapan kwaphela nga-1945. Ngaleso sikhatsi, batali bami bangicela kutsi ngibuye ekhaya. Mkhulu wangincenga kutsi ngihambe, futsi ngavuma.

Ekupheleni kwa-December 1945, licembu laBoFakazi BaJehova lebelisuka e-Angat belishumayela endzaweni yakitsi. Lomunye Fakazi lomdzala wefika ekhaya futsi wasichazela ngaloko lokushiwo liBhayibheli mayelana ‘nemalanga ekugcina.’ (2 Thim. 3:1-5) Wasimema kutsi site sitofundza liBhayibheli endzaweni lebeyisedvute nasekhaya. Mine ngaya kepha batali bami abazange baye. Bekunebantfu labacishe babe ngu-20 futsi labanye babo bebabuta imibuto lemayelana neliBhayibheli.

Ngenca yekutsi bengingakuva mbamba loko lebebakhuluma ngako, ngabese ngincuma kuhamba.  Noma kunjalo, ngaleso sikhatsi babese bahlabela ingoma yeMbuso. Lengoma yangijabulisa kakhulu ngako ngabese ngiyahlala. Ngemuva kwengoma nemthantazo, sonkhe samenywa kutsi siye emhlanganweni lebewutawuba ngeliSontfo lelilandzelako e-Angat.

Kute siye kulomhlangano lebewusekhaya laka-Cruz, labanyenti betfu bahamba emakhilomitha langaba ngu-8 futsi sesisokhe besingu-50. Ngamangala nangibona kutsi ngisho nebantfwana labancane bebaphendvula nakukhulunywa ngetindzaba letijulile letiseBhayibhelini. Ngemuva kwemihlangano leminyenti, umzalwane Damian Santos lebekalihlahlandlela lelikhulile futsi lebekangumphatsi welidolobha asengakabi lihlahlandlela, wangicela kutsi ngiyolala kakhe. Sacoca ngeliBhayibheli cishe busuku bonkhe.

Ngalawo malanga, labanyenti betfu basheshe bawemukela emaciniso lasisekelo laseBhayibhelini. Ngemuva kwemihlangano lembalwa, bazalwane basibuta batsi: “Niyafuna yini kubhajatiswa?” Ngaphendvula ngatsi: “Yebo ngiyafuna.” Bengati kutsi ngifuna ‘kusebentela iNkhosi, lenguKhristu.’ (Khol. 3:24) Nga-February 15, 1946 mine nalomunye lebesihamba naye sabhajatiswa emfuleni lodvutane.

Njengobe besesingemaKhristu labhajatisiwe, sabona kutsi bekufanele silingise Jesu ngekutsi siwente njalo umsebenti wekushumayela. Babe akazange ajabule ngekutsi besengishumayela futsi watsi: “Usemncane kakhulu kutsi ungashumayela. Ngaphandle kwaloko, kubhajatiswa akusho kutsi songumfundisi.” Ngamchazela kutsi kuyintsandvo yaNkulunkulu kutsi sishumayele tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso. (Mat. 24:14) Ngachubeka ngatsi: “Kufanele ngisifeze sifungo lengisente kuNkulunkulu.” Kungaleso sikhatsi lapho khona babe asho lamavi ekungisongela lasekucaleni kwalesihloko. Ecinisweni bekafuna kungiyekelisa kushumayela. Loko kwangenta ngacala kutidzela kute ngifinyelele imigomo yekukhonta Nkulunkulu.

Umndeni wakaCruz wangicela kutsi ngiyohlala nawo e-Angat. Lomndeni waphindze wakhutsata mine naNora indvodzakati yawo lencane kutsi sibe ngemahlahlandlela. Sobabili sacala kuba ngemahlahlandlela nga-November 1, 1947. Nora waba lihlahlandlela kulelinye lidolobha futsi nami ngachubeka ngenta umsebenti wekushumayela e-Angat.

Nasekuphele iminyaka lemitsatfu ngilihlahlandlela, kwefika umzalwane Earl Stewart lobekavela ehhovisini leligatja futsi wetfula inkhulumo leyalalewa bantfu labangu-500 endzaweni lephitsitelako yase-Angat. Wayetfula ngesiNgisi futsi ngemuva kwaloko ngabese ngibuketa loko lebekakushito ngelulwimi lwesiTagalog. Bengifundze esikolweni iminyaka lesikhombisa nje kuphela, futsi bothishela betfu bebavamise kusebentisa siNgisi. Lokunye lokwangisita kutsi ngisati kahle siNgisi kutsi betitincane tincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini lebetibhalwe ngesi-Tagalog. Ngako tincwadzi letinyenti bengitifundza ngesiNgisi. Loko kwangenta ngakhona kuhumusha lenkhulumo kanye naletinye ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi.

Ngesikhatsi ngihumusha, uMzalwane Stewart watjela libandla kutsi lihhovisi leligatja belifuna kumema bazalwane lababili labangemahlahlandlela kutsi bayosebenta eBethel. Labazalwane bebayosita njengobe titfunywa telivangeli batiye emhlanganweni lobewunesihloko lesitsi Theocracy’s Increase lebewuseNew York, e-U.S.A, nga-1950. Bengingulomunye webazalwane lebebamenywe kusi baye eBethel. Ngaphindze ngadzela konkhe kute ngiyosita eBethel.

Ngafika eBethel nga-June 19, 1950 futsi ngacala kwenta umsebenti lebengabelwe wona. IBethel bekuyindlu lendzala letungeletwe tihlahla letinkhulu endzaweni lengu-1 hector. Bekunebazalwane labacishe babe ngu-12 lebebasebenta lapho. Bengivame kuvuka ngiyosita ekhishini, bese kutsi nga-9 ngiyo-ayina timphahla. Nantsambama bengenta lokufanako. Ngachubeka ngisebenta eBethel ngisho noma titfunywa telivangeli setibuyile emhlanganweni wetive. Bengipakisha bomagazini lebebatawutfunyelwa, ngenta ema-oda ngiphindze ngisebenta emnyango wekwemukela bantfu. Bengenta konkhe lengicelwa kutsi ngikwente.

Nga-1952 mine kanye nalabanye bazalwane basePhilippines labasitfupha sajabula nasitfola simemo sekuya eklasini lesi-20 esikolweni saseGileyadi. Tintfo letinyenti lesatibona nalesatenta eMelika besingatati futsi betitinsha kitsi. Ecinisweni bekwehlukile kuloko lebengikwati endzaweni lengakhulela kuyo.

 Nasi sibonelo, bekumele sifundze indlela yekusebentisa tintfo tagesi kanye naletinye tintfo lebesingakatetayeli. Simo selitulu besehlukile. Ngalelinye lilanga ngatsi ngiyaphuma ngabona kugcwele intfo lemhlophe ngephandle. Bengicala kubona sitfwatfwa, futsi bekubandza kakhulu!

Noma kunjalo, loku bekungasho lutfo njengobe besikujabulela kakhulu kuceceshwa eGileyadi. Labasiceceshako bebasebentisa tindlela tekufundzisa letiphumelelako. Safundziswa indlela lekahle yekucwaninga kanye nekudadisha. Kuceceshwa lengakutfola eGileyadi kwangisita kutsi ngitfutfukise buhlobo bami naNkulunkulu.

Ngemuva kwekuba sengiphotfulile, ngabelwa kutsi ngiyoba lihlahlandlela lelikhetsekile kwesikhashana eBronx, eNew York City. Ngako nga-July 1953 ngaya emhlanganweni lobewunesihloko lesitsi “New World Society” lebewukulelidolobha. Ngemuva kwalomhlangano ngabese ngibuyela esabelweni sami ePhilippines.

Bazalwane basehhovisini leligatja batsi: “Nyalo sewutawenta umsebenti wekujikeleta.” Loko kwanginiketa litfuba lelihle lekulandzela iNkhosi leyaya emadolobheni lakhashane kute isite timvu taJehova. (1 Phet. 2:21) Ngabelwa kutsi ngiye endzaweni lenkhulu yaseLuzon lokusichingi lesikhulu kunato tonkhe ePhilippines. Lendzawo beyihlanganisa sifundza saseBulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, naseZambales. Kute ngivakashele lamanye emadolobha, bekufanele ngendlule etintsabeni taseSierra Madre. Bekute kwekuhamba lebekufika kuleto tindzawo, ngako ngacela bashayeli bemaloli kutsi ngihlale etikwetigodvo lebebatilayisha. Bebavamise kungivumela, kepha bekungasimnandzi kuhlala lapho.

Emabandla lamanyenti abesemasha futsi abenebantfu labambalwa. Ngako bazalwane bebajabula nangibasita bahlele imihlangano kanye nensimu ngendlela lephumelelako.

Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngayiswa esigodzini lebesihlanganisa sifundza saseBicol. Kulesigodzi bekunemacembu labekabelwe emahlahlandlela lakhetsekile kutsi ayokhonta ensimini lengazange seyisentjetwe. Kulelinye likhaya indlu yangasese bekungumgodzi lonetingondvo letimbili emkhatsini nje kuphela. Ngatsi nangetama kuhamba kuto, tagcumkela kulomgodzi futsi nami ngawela kuwo. Kwangitsatsa sikhatsi kutsi ngigeze futsi ngilungise kudla kwasekuseni.

Ngaleso sikhatsi ngacala kucabanga ngaNora lowacala kuba lihlahlandlela eBulacan. Besekalihlahlandlela lelikhetsekile edolobheni laseDumaguete futsi ngaya kuyomvakashela. Ngemuva kwaloko sacala kutsandzana futsi sashada nga-1956. Ngeliviki lekucala sishadile savakashela libandla lebelisesichingini saseRapu Rapu. Besicanca tintsaba ndzawonye futsi sihamba emabanga lamadze, kodvwa satfola injabulo  lenkhulu nasikhonta bazalwane labebasendzaweni lekhashane.

Nasekutawuphela iminyaka lengu-4 senta umsebenti wekujikeleta, samenywa kutsi siyokhonta ehhovisini leligatja. Sacala kusebenta khona nga-January 1960. Njengobe sikhatsi sihamba, ngifundze lokunyenti ngekusebenta nebazalwane labenta imisebenti lematima futsi naNora wenta imisebenti leminyenti eBethel.

Kulesikhatsi lengisicitse eBethel, ngitfole sibusiso sekubona kwandza lokumangalisako ePhilippines. Nangisandza kufika eBethel futsi ngisengakashadi, bekunebamemeteli labacishe babe ngu-10 000 kulo lonkhe lelive. Kepha nyalo sekunebamemeteli labangetulu kwa-200 000 ePhilippines kanye nemakhulu etisebenti taseBethel letisekela umsebenti lobalulekile wekushumayela.

Njengoba umsebenti bewuchubeka wandza, kwabese kudzingeka indzawo lenkhulu. Sigungu Lesibusako sasicela kutsi sifune indzawo lenkhulu lapho singakha khona i-Bethel lensha. Mine kanye nembonisi welihhovisi lekunyatselisa besihamba indlu ngendlu kulamakhaya laseceleni kweBethel sifuna longasitsengisela indzawo yakhe. Kute lobekafuna kuyitsengisa, futsi lenye indvodza yaze yatsi: “EmaShayina awatsengisi, atsenga kuphela.”

Noma kunjalo, ngalelinye lilanga lomunye umnikati wendzawo wasibuta kutsi siyafuna yini kutsenga indzawo yakhe ngoba besekaya eMelika. Loko kwenta kutsi nalabanye banikati betindzawo bafune kusitsengisela futsi loko kwasimangalisa kakhulu. Lomunye wancuma kusitsengisela indzawo yakhe waphindze wakhutsata nabomakhelwane bakhe kutsi bente lokufanako. Saphindze sakhona nekutsenga lendzawo yalendvodza leyatsi: “EmaShayina awatsengisi.” Ngesikhashana lesincane indzawo yaseBethel bese iyinkhulu kakhulu. Ngiyaciniseka kutsi nguloko Nkulunkulu Jehova bekafuna kutsi kwenteke.

Nga-1950 bengimncane kunabo bonkhe eBethel, kodvwa nyalo mine nemkami sibadzala kunabo bonkhe. Angitisoli ngekulandzela iNkhosi nome ngukuphi lapho beyitsi angiye khona. Kuliciniso kutsi batali bami bangicosha ekhaya labo, kodvwa Jehova ungiphe umndeni lomkhulu wemaKhristu lengikanye nawo. Angingabati nakancane kutsi Jehova usinika konkhe lesikudzingako kunoma ngabe ngusiphi sabelo lesinikwa sona. Mine naNora simbonga kakhulu Jehova ngato tonkhe tintfo lasinike tona futsi sikhutsata nalabanye kutsi bamlinge.—Mal. 3:10.

Jesu wake wamema Matewu umtselisi lobekabitwa ngekutsi nguLevi watsi: “Bani ngumlandzeli wami.” Yini Matewu layenta? “Washiya tonkhe tintfo, wasukuma wamlandzela.” (Luk. 5:27, 28) Nami ngatfola ematfuba lafanako futsi ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni ngikhutsata labanye kutsi bente lokufananako kuze nabo batitfolele tibusiso letinyenti.