BENGINEMINYAKA lelishumi nakubili budzala ngesikhatsi ngibona kutsi nginentfo leligugu lengingayipha labanye. Sasikulomunye umhlangano wesifundza, ngesikhatsi lomunye umzalwane angibuta kutsi ngingatsandza yini kushumayela. Nome bengingazange sengishumayele, ngamphendvula ngatsi: “Yebo.” Saya ensimini, wanginiketa tincwajana letikhuluma ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu. Wase utsi: “Wena utawusebenta ngale kwemgwaco, mine ngitawusebenta ngalana.” Ngineluvalo, ngacala ngahamba umuti nemuti futsi ngamangala nangibona kutsi tonkhe tincwadzi setiphelile. Kwangicacela kutsi banyenti bantfu labebatifuna letincwadzi.

Ngatalwa nga-1923, endzaweni yaseChatham, leseKent eNgilandi, futsi ngakhulela endzaweni lapho khona bantfu labanyenti badvumatekile. IMphi Lenkhulu ayizange isigcwalise setsembiso sekwenta simo sekuphila sibe ncono emhlabeni. Batali bami nabo bebadvunyatwe bafundisi belisontfo leBaptist lebebaya kulo, lebebabonakala baticabangela bona kuphela. Ngesikhatsi ngineminyaka lecishe ibe yimfica budzala, make wacala kuya ehholeni lapho bekuhlangana khona i-“International Bible Students Association,” lapho bekuba “nemakilasi” nobe imihlangano yebantfu lababese babitwa ngekutsi BoFakazi BaJehova ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi. Munye walabodzadze lebebakhona abesifundzisa tifundvo teliBhayibheli asebentisa lona liBhayibheli kanye nencwadzi lebeyibitwa ngekutsi yi-“The Harp of God.” Ngakutsandza loko lebengikufundza.

Nangisengumfana, ngangikutsandza kucoca nebantfu ngibanikete litsemba ngisebentisa liVi laNkulunkulu. Nanobe bengivamise kuhamba ngedvwa nangiyoshumayela emtini nemuti, ngaphindze ngafundza kusebenta nalabanye nangishumayela. Nasi sibonelo, ngalelinye lilanga mine nalomunye umzalwane losakhulile besishova emabhayisikili etfu siya kuyoshumayela. Ngesikhatsi sihlangana nemfundisi, ngase ngitsi: “Nayiya imbuti.” Lomzalwane wemisa libhayisikili lakhe wase ucela kutsi sihlale elugodvweni. Watsi kimi: “Ngubani lokunike ligunya lekwehlulela kutsi labanye batimbuti? Tsine nawe asijatjuliswe kutjela bantfu tindzaba letimnandzi, bese kwehlulela sikushiyela kuJehova.” Kulawo malanga ngafundza lokunyenti ngenjabulo loyitfola nawupha labanye.​—Mat. 25:31-33; Imis. 20:35.

Lomunye umzalwane losakhulile wangifundzisa kutsi kute sijabule ngekupha labanye, kungahle kudzingeke sibeketele ngesineke. Umkakhe abengabatsandzi BoFakazi BaJehova. Ngalelinye lilanga lomzalwane wangimema kakhe kutsi siyokudla. Kodvwa umkakhe abetfukutsele agane lunwabu ngesizatfu sekutsi lomzalwane abesensimini ashumayela, ngako wavele wasijikijela  ngemakhambi elitiya. Kunekutsi amekhute, lomzalwane wavele wabutsa lamakhambi wawabuyisela endzaweni yawo. Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, lomzalwane wabusiseka ngobe umkakhe wabhajatiswa waba nguFakazi WaJehova.

Sifiso sami sekunika labanye litsemba lesikhatsi lesitako sachubeka sikhula, ngako ngaMarch 1940, mine namake sabhajatiswa endzaweni yaseDover. Ngangineminyaka lelishumi nesitfupha ngaSeptember 1939, ngesikhatsi iBrithani neJalimane tiya emphini. NgaJune 1940, ngangime embikwendlu yakitsi ngibuka tinkhulungwane temasotja latfuke kakhulu tendlula ngemaloli. Abesindze eMphini yaseDunkirk. Angilibonanga litsemba emehlweni awo, ngafisa kuwatjela ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu. Ngasekupheleni kwaloyo mnyaka, kwacala kubhonjwa kwelive laseBrithani. Busuku ngabunye, bengibukela tindiza temasotja emphi aseJalimane tindizela endzaweni yakitsi. Besiva umsindvo wemabhomu aphuma etindizeni awela phansi, asenta sishaywe luvalo lolukhulu. Nasivuka ekuseni, bekwenteka sikhandze kutsi tindlu letinyenti tibhidlikile. Kwangicacela kakhulu kutsi litsemba lami sibili langesikhatsi lesitako, nguMbuso waNkulunkulu.

Mbambambamba lemphilo lebeyingiletsela injabulo, ngayicala nga-1941. Bengisolo ngisebentela iRoyal Dockyard eChatham ngiceceshelwa umsebenti wekwakha kanye nekulungisa imikhumbi, lobekungumsebenti lotsandvwa kakhulu futsi bewunetinzuzo letinhle kakhulu. Bantfu baJehova besekunesikhatsi bacondza kutsi emaKhristu akukafaneli aye emphini ayokulwa. Nga-1941, kwasicacela kutsi akukafaneli sisebente etinkapaneni letakha tintfo letisetjentiswa emphini. (Joh. 18:36) Njengobe kulendzawo bengisebenta kuyo bekwakhiwa imikhumbi lemikhulu lehamba ngaphansi kwemanti, ngabona kutsi sesikhatsi sekutsi ngiwuyekele lomsebenti futsi ngicalise kushumayela sikhatsi sonkhe. Sabelo sekucala lengasitfola sasiseCirencester, lokwakulidolobha lelihle leliseCotswolds.

Nangihlanganisa iminyaka lengu-18, ngaboshwa tinyanga letiyimfica ngesizatfu sekwala kungenela imphi. Ngetfuka kakhulu nakuvalwa umnyango welijele futsi sengisele ngedvwa. Akuphelanga malanga mangakhi bogadzi naletinye tiboshwa bangibuta kutsi ngiboshelweni, futsi ngakujabulela kubachazela ngetinkholelo tami.

Ngemuva kwekukhululwa kwami, ngacelwa kutsi ngihambe naLeonard Smith * siyoshumayela emadolobheni lehlukene endzaweni yangakitsi iKent. Kusukela nga-1944, tindiza temphi letatingashayelwa bantfu letingetulu kwenkhulungwane, tatiwela eKent kanye nemabhomu letatiwetfwele. Letindiza betihamba ngetulu kwalapho besihlala khona, emkhatsini wencenye yeYurophu lebeseyincotjwe ngemaNazi, tiya eLondon. Letindiza  letinemabhomu lebetingashayelwa ngumuntfu betibitwa ngekutsi ngema-doodlebugs. Bekwetfusa kakhulu, ngobe nawungasawuva umsindvo wendiza, ngalokuvamile, bewati kutsi ngeke kuphele mizuzu mingakhi ungakayiva iwa bese iyachuma. Besichubela umndeni lonababe namake kanye nebantfwana labatsatfu, sifundvo seliBhayibheli. Ngalesinye sikhatsi, besifundzela ngaphansi kwelitafula lensimbi lebelakhelwe kuvikela lomndeni nakwenteka lendlu ibhidlika. Wonkhe loyo mndeni wagcine ubhajatisiwe.

Naseyiphelile imphi, ngaba lihlahlandlela iminyaka lemibili eningizimu ye-Ireland. Besingati kutsi i-Ireland yehluke kangaka kuneNgilandi. Besihamba umuti nemuti sicela indzawo yekulala, sibatjela kutsi sititfunywa telivangeli futsi siniketa bantfu bomagazini etitaladini. Kulelive lebelibuswa yinkholo yemaKatolika, lebesikusho kwakubonakala “kubulima.” Ngesikhatsi lenye indvodza ifuna kusiphatsa ngeludlame, ngayibika ephoyiseni lelaphendvula latsi kimi: “Wena vele bewulindzeleni?” Besingati kutsi labafundisi bebaneligunya lelingaka kulabantfu. Bacoshisa bantfu emisebentini ngesizatfu sekutsi bemukele tincwadzi tetfu, natsi futsi bebasicoshisa etindzaweni lesasicashe kuto.

Sabese siyabona kutsi nasifika endzaweni bekuncono kakhulu kutsi sihambe ngemabhayisikili etfu siyoshumayela kulenye indzawo lekhashane nalapho besilala khona, lapho kunemfundisi longasati. Ekugcineni, sasingabashumayela bantfu bendzawo lesilala kuyo. Endzaweni yaseKilkenny, bekunelijaha lesasifundza nalo liBhayibheli katsatfu ngeliviki nanobe bekunesicuku sebantfu labaneludlame. Bengikujabulela kakhulu kufundzisa bantfu liciniso leliseBhayibhelini, ngako ngafaka sicelo sekuceceshwa eSikolweni SeliBhayibheli SaseGileyadi.

Ngemuva kwetinyanga letisihlanu siseNew York, mine kanye nalabanye bazalwane labatsatfu lesaphotfula kanye nabo eGileyadi, satfunyelwa etichingini letincane taseLwandle LwaseCaribbean. Sasuka eDolobheni laseNew York ngaNovember 1948, sigibele umkhumbi losebenta ngemaseyili lobewungemamitha langu-18 budze futsi ubitwa ngekutsi yi-Sibia. Bengingazange sengihambe ngemkhumbi, ngako bengijabulile. Lomunye lebesinaye, Gust Maki, abengukapteni lonelikhono wemikhumbi. Wasifundzisa lokutsite mayelana nemkhumbi, njengekuphakamisa nekwehlisa emaseyili lehlukene, kukwati kulandzela libalave lelihambisana nelithulusi lelicondzisa imikhumbi kanye nekuvika umoya. Ngelikhono, Gust wawucondzisa umkhumbi emalanga langu-30 nanobe bekunetiphepho letiyingoti, sate sayofika eBahamas.

Ngemuva kwetinyanga letimbalwa sishumayela kuletichingi letincane taseBahamas, saphindze sahamba ngemkhumbi saya eTichingini iLeeward kanye neWindward, letingemakhilomitha langu-800 kusuka etichingini taseVirgin letisedvute nePuerto Rico tichubeke tite ticishe tiyewufika eTrinidad. Kwaphela iminyaka lesihlanu sishumayela etichingini letikhashane lapho kute khona BoFakazi. Ngalesinye sikhatsi bekuphela emaviki singakhoni kutfumela nobe kutfola liposi. Kepha bekusijabulisa kakhulu kusakata livi laJehova kubantfu bakuleto tichingi.​—Jer. 31:10.

Kufika kwetfu ngaselusentseni lwelwandle, bekwenta bonkhe bantfu bendzawo baphume babutsanele lapho kufikela khona imikhumbi kute babone kutsi sibobani. Labanye babo bebacala kubona sikebhe futsi bacala nekubona umlungu. Labantfu bendzawo bebanebungani futsi bayitsandza inkholo, neliBhayibheli bebalati kahle. Esikhatsini lesinyenti bebasipha tinhlanti, emakotapeni nemantongomane. Lapho besihlala  khona beyiyincane indzawo yekulala, yekupheka neyekuwasha timphahla, kodvwa besikhona kuphila.

Bantfu besibavakashela emini sibe nabo lilanga lonkhe. Besivamise kubamemela enkhulumeni yeliBhayibheli. Bese kutsi nakuhwalala sishaye insimbi yemkhumbi. Bekujabulisa kakhulu kubona takhamuti tifika. Tibane tabo letikhanyiswa ngemafutsa betivele tifane netinkhanyeti letinhle njengobe bewukela esikebheni. Ngaletinye tikhatsi bekufika bantfu labangaba likhulu, bahlale kuze kube mnyama kakhulu basibuta imibuto. Bebakujabulela kuhlabela, ngako besibabhalela emagama etingoma teMbuso bese siyabanika. Njengobe tsine sasiyihola ingoma, nabo bebahlabela natsi futsi emaphimbo abo abehlangana kamnandzi. Bekuba tikhatsi letijabulisa mbamba!

Ngemuva kwekuchuba tifundvo teliBhayibheli, labanye lesifundza nabo bebafuna kwendlulela natsi emindenini lelandzelako kute nabo bahlanganyele kulesifundvo. Nanobe bekufanele sihambe ngemuva kwemaviki lambalwa sikuleyo ndzawo, besivamise kucela labo lasebatfutfukile kutsi bachubeke bafundza nalalabanye size sibuye. Bekujabulisa kakhulu kubona indlela labatitsatsa njengaletibaluleke ngayo tabelo tabo.

Lamuhla linyenti laletichingi selaba tindzawo letiphitsitelako tetivakashi, kepha kadzeni bekutindzawo lebetinemanti laluhlata, tinesihlabatsi kanye netihlahla telusundvu. Ebusuku besivamise kusuka kulesinye sichingi siye kulesinye. Njengobe sihamba ngesikebhe, tinhlanti lokutsiwa tinhlengetfwa tatihambisana natsi eceleni kwesikebhe, kuvakala umsinjwana welingembili lesikebhe lidzabula lamanti ekhatsi. Inyeti beyikhanya etikwalolwandle bese ilwenta lubonakale lunembala lolisiliva losuka lapho sihamba khona uze uyofika lapho kuphela khona emanti.

Ngemuva kweminyaka lesihlanu sishumayela kuletichingi, sasuka saya ePuerto Rico kute siyoshintjisa lomkhumbi weliseyila lebesihamba ngawo, siwushintjise ngemkhumbi lohamba ngenjini. Nasifika lapho, ngahlangana nalenye intfombatane lenhle, lesitfunywa selivangeli lokutsiwa nguMaxine Boyd futsi ngatsandzana nayo. Abengumshumayeli wetindzaba letimnandzi futsi abekhutsele kusukela ebuntfwaneni. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi waba sitfunywa selivangeli eDominican Republic kwaze kwaba ngulapho acoshwa kulelo live nguhulumende wemaKatolika, nga-1950. Njengobe bengifike ngihamba ngemkhumbi, bengitfole imvume yekuhlala ePuerto Rico inyanga yinye kuphela. Ngekushesha bekufanele ngitfutsele kuletinye tichingi futsi ngihlale khona iminyaka lembalwa. Ngako ngatsi enhlitiyweni yami: ‘Ronald, nangabe uyifuna lentfombatana, kufanele usheshe.’ Ngemuva kwemaviki lamatsatfu setsembisana umshado, futsi sashada ngemuva kwemaviki lasitfupha. Sabese sabelwa kuba titfunywa telivangeli ePuerto Rico, futsi kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi besisolo sihlala khona.

Nga-1956 sacala kuhambela emabandla senta umsebenti wekujikeleta. Bazalwane labanyenti lebesibahambela bebeswele, kodvwa besikutsandza kubavakashela. Nasi sibonelo: Kulenye indzawo lesePotala Pastillo bekunemindeni lemibili yaBoFakazi lebeyinebantfwana labanyenti futsi besivama kubadlalela imintjingo. Ngabuta lenye yalamatfombatanyana lokutsiwa nguHilda kutsi iyafuna yini kuhamba natsi nasiyoshumayela. Yatsi: “Yebo kodvwa angeke ngikhone. Ngite ticatfulo.” Ngako samtsengela ticatfulo futsi sahamba naye nasiyoshumayela. Ngemuva kweminyaka leminyenti, mine naMaxine savakashela eBethel leseBrooklyn nga-1972, futsi lomunye dzadze lobekacedza kuphotfula eSikolweni saseGileyadi weta kitsi. Besekufanele aye esabelweni sakhe e-Ecuador, futsi watsi kitsi: “Nisangibona mine? Nginguleya ntfombatanyana yasePastillo lebeyite ticatfulo.” BekunguHilda! Sajabula kakhulu sadzimate sakhala!

Nga-1960 sacelwa kutsi siyokhonta egatjeni lasePuerto Rico lebelisendlini lenetitezi letimbili eSanturce, San Juan. Ekucaleni bekungimi naLennart Johnson lebesenta umsebenti lomnyenti. Yena nemkakhe bebaBoFakazi BaJehova bekucala eDominican Republic, futsi befika ePuerto Rico nga-1957. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Maxine abesetikweni letimali tabomagazini futsi abetfola ticelo tabo letingetulu kwenkhulungwane ngeliviki. Abekujabulela kwenta lomsebenti ngobe abecabanga ngabo bonkhe bantfu labatawutfola imfundvo levela kuNkulunkulu.

Ngiyawutsandza umsebenti waseBethel ngobe uyindlela yekupha. Kodvwa nawo unetinsayeya. Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi kunemhlangano wetive wekucala nga-1967 ePuerto Rico, benginemsebenti lomnyenti kakhulu lobekufanele ngiwente. Nathan Knorr, kamuva lowaba ngumholi waBoFakazi BaJehova, weta ePuerto Rico. Ngeliphutsa abecabanga kutsi ngalile kulungisa tintfo tekuhamba tetitfunywa telivangeli lebetivakashile, nanobe  bengikwentile loko. Ngako, wangiyala kamatima ngekutsi kufanele ngihleleke futsi watsi udvumatekile ngaloko lengikwentile. Angizange ngiphikisane naye kodvwa ngabona shengatsi bengingakehlulelwa kahle futsi ngakhubeka sikhashana. Nobe kunjalo, ngalelinye lilanga mine naMaxine sabona uMzalwane Knorr, futsi wasimemela endlini yakhe, wasiphekela kudla.

NasisePuerto Rico, sasivame kuvakashela umndeni wakitsi loseNgilandi. Babe akazenge abenguFakazi ngesikhatsi mine naMake siba ngibo. Kodvwa, ngesikhatsi tikhulumi lebetivela eBethel tivakashile, make abevame kutimema kutsi tihlale natsi ekhaya. Babe wabona indlela lababonisi baseBethel labebatfobeke ngayo futsi wabona kutsi bebehlukile kubafundisi lebebamcansulile eminyakeni leyendlulile. Ekugcineni, nga-1962 wabhajatiswa waba nguFakazi waJehova.

Umkami lengimtsandzako, Maxine, washona nga-2011. Ngibheke phambili ekumboneni nakavuswa. Loko kungijabulisa kakhulu nangicabanga ngako. Ngesikhatsi sisendzawonye iminyaka lengu-58, mine naMaxine sabona bantfu baJehova ePuerto Rico bandza besuka ku-650 baya-26 000! Kwatsi nga-2013 ligatja lasePuerto Rico lahlanganiswa nelaseMelika, futsi ngacelwa kutsi ngiyokhonta eWallkill, New York. Ngemuva kwaminyaka lengu-60 ngikulesichingi, ngativa shengatsi nami sengingumuntfu wemdzabu wakuleyo ndzawo. Kodvwa besesifikile sikhatsi sekutsi ngihambe.

Ngisakujabulela kukhonta Nkulunkulu ngiseBethel. Nyalo sengineminyaka lengetulu kwa-90 futsi umsebenti wami kukhutsata lamanye emalunga emndeni waseBethel njengobe ngingumelusi. Bake bangitjela kutsi sengivakashele langetulu kwa-600 kusukela ngefika eWallkill. Labanye labeta kimi bavamise kufuna kucoca nami ngetindzaba tabo nobe tinkinga temndeni. Kantsi labanye bacela seluleko sekutsi bangaphumelela njani emsebentini wabo waseBethel. Labo labasandza kushada bacela kutsi ngibabonise ngemshado. Labanye bacelwe kutsi babuyele ensimini. Ngiye ngibalalelisise nabakhuluma futsi nakufaneleka ngivamise kubatjela kutsi: “‘Nkulunkulu utsandza umuntfu lopha ajabulile.’ Ngako jabula emsebentini wakho ngobe wentela Jehova.”​—2 Khor. 9:7.

Insayeya yekuba ngumuntfu lojabulako eBethel iyafanana nakuyo yonkhe indzawo: Kufanele unakisise kutsi kungani umsebenti wakho ubalulekile. Konkhe lesikwentako eBethel kungumsebenti longcwele. Kufaka sandla ekusiteni ‘sisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile’ kute silungiselele kudla lokuvela kuNkulunkulu lokuya kubazalwane emhlabeni wonkhe. (Mat. 24:45) Noma kuphi lapho sikhonta khona Jehova, sinematfuba ekumdvumisa. Ngako asikujabulele loko lasicela kutsi sikwente ngobe “Nkulunkulu utsandza umuntfu lopha ajabulile.