Kusukela asemncane, babe wami-Arthur abemtsandza Nkulunkulu futsi afuna kuba ngumfundisi wase-Weseli. Nobe kunjalo, imigomo yakhe yashintja ngalesikhatsi acala kufundza tincwadzi tebaFundzi beliBhayibheli futsi wacala nekuya emihlanganweni yabo. Wabhajatiswa nga-1914 sekaneminyaka lengu-17 budzala. Ngemuva kwaloko, kwacala iMphi yeLive yekucala futsi watjelwa kutsi aye emphini. Ngesizatfu sekutsi abengafuni kuphatsa sibhamu, wagwetjwa tinyanga letilishumi ejele laseKingston Penitentiary e-Ontario, lese-Canada. Ngemuva kwekutsi akhululwe ejele, wabese ungenela umsebenti wasikhatsi sonkhe njengelihlahlandlela.

Nga-1926, Arthur Guest washada na-Hazel Wilkinson. Make wa-Hazel abefundze liBhayibheli nga-1908. Mine ngatalwa mhlaka-24 April 1931, ngaba wesibili kubantfwana labane. Umndeni wakitsi bewunake kakhulu kukhonta Jehova, futsi inhlonipho lejulile yababe ngeliBhayibheli yasisita sakhula silitsandza liVi laNkulunkulu. Besivamise kushumayela emtini ngemuti njengemndeni.—Imis. 20:20.

Nga-1939 kwacala iMphi yeLive yesibili, futsi ngemnyaka lowalandzela umsebenti wekushumayela waboFakazi baJehova e-Canada wavalwa. Tikolwa temphakatsi tenta imikhosi yekushisekela live labo futsi beyifaka ekhatsi kushayela ifulegi indesheni kanye nekuhlabela ingoma yesive. Mine nadzadzewetfu lomdzala Dorothy, besicoshwa eklasini nakunalemikhosi. Ngalelinye lilanga tishela wami wetama kuhlekisa ngami embikwalabanye bantfwana ngekutsi atsi ngiligwala. Nasekuphume sikolwa labanye bantfwana lebengifundza nabo bangishaya baze bangigicita phasi. Loko kuhlaselwa kwangicinisa, kwangenta ngatimisela kuhlale ngilalela ‘Nkulunkulu njengobe angumbusi kunekutsi ngilalele bantfu.’—Imis. 5:29.

Nga-July 1942 ngabhajatiswelwa ethangeni lebelisepulazini ngineminyaka lengu-11 budzala. Ngangikujabulela kuba lihlahlandlela lelisitako nakuvalwe tikolwa. Ngalomunye umnyaka ngahamba ngayosebenta nebazalwane labatsatfu  lebebashumayela bantfu labajuba tihlahla ensimini lebeyingasetjentwa njalo lesenyakatfo ne-Ontario.

Nga-May 1, 1949, ngaba lihlahlandlela lelivamile. Nga-December 1 ngamenywa kutsi ngibe lilunga lemndeni waseBethel e-Canada njengoba leligatja belenta umsebenti wekwakha. Ngabelwa kutsi ngisebente etikweni lekunyatselisa tincwadzi futsi ngafundza nekusebentisa umshini wekucondzisa emaphepha. Ngasebenta ebusuku emaviki lambalwa, sinyatselisa lipheshana lebelikhuluma ngekushushiswa kwebantfu baJehova e-Canada.

Kamuva, ngesikhatsi ngisebenta e-Service Department, ngacoca nemahlahlandlela lebekavakashele ligatja futsi lebekaye kuyokhonta e-Quebec, lapho bekunekuphikiswa lokukhulu khona. Lomunye waletivakashi bekungu-Mary Zazula wase-Edmonton e-Alberta. Ngesizatfu sekutsi yena nemnakabo lomdzala, Joe, bala kuyekela kutadisha liBhayibheli, batali babo lebebasenkholweni yema-Orthodox babacosha ekhaya. Nga-June 1951, bobabili babhajatiswa futsi ngemuva kwetinyanga letisitfupha bacala kuba ngemahlahlandlela. Kulencociswano ngajatjuliswa yindlela Mary lebekatsandza ngayo Nkulunkulu. Ngatsi enhlitiyweni yami, ‘Noma kungatsiwani, lona kubonakala ngatsi ngumfati wami wakusasa.’ Sashada ngemuva kwetinyanga letiyimfica, nga-January 30, 1954. Ngemuva kweliviki samenyelwa kuyoceceshelwa umsebenti wekuhambela emabandla futsi ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili leyalandzela sahamba sayokhonta esifundzeni lesisenyakatfo yase-Ontario.

Njengoba umsebenti wekushumayela bewandza ngekushesha kwaba nesidzingo setitfunywa telivangeli. Sacabanga kutsi njengobe sikhona kubeketelela busika lobushubisa umnkantja base-Canada kanye netimbuzulwane letiba khona ehlobo, singakhona kuphila noma ngabe ngukuphi lasingabelwa khona. Nga-July 1956, saphotfula eklasini lesi-27 lasesikolweni sase-Gileyadi futsi nga-November bese sisesabelweni setfu e-Brazil.

Nasifika egatjeni lase-Brazil sacala kufundza lulwimi lwesi-Putukezi. Ngesikhatsi sesifundzile indlela yekubingelela kanye nendlela lemfishane yekuhambisa magazini, sase sicala kushumayela. Nakwenteka umnikati welikhaya akutsandza loko lesimfundzisa kona, besibese sifundza imiBhalo lechaza kutsi kutawuba njani kuphila nasesibuswa nguMbuso waNkulunkulu. Ngelilanga letfu lekucala sisensimini, lomunye wesifazane walalelisisa, ngako ngase ngimfundzela Sembulo 21:3, 4. Ngesizatfu sekutsi umtimba wami bowusengakakujwayeli lokushisa lokunesivuvu, ngashayeka phasi futsi lenkinga beyisetawuchubeka.

Besabelwe kutsi sibe titfunywa telivangeli edolobheni lase-Campos, nyalo leselinemabandla langu-15. Ngesikhatsi sifika, bekunelicembu linye kulelidolobha  kanye nelikhaya letitfunywa telivangeli lobekuhlala kulo bodzadze labane, lokubo-Esther Tracy, Ramona Bauer, Luiza Schwarz naLorraine Brookes (nyalo losawaka-Wallen). Umsebenti wami kulelikhaya bewukuwasha timphahla nekutfota tinkhuni. Ngalobunye busuku bangeMsombuluko sicedza kufundza Sicongosekulindza, kwefika sivakashi lebesingakasigadzi. Umfati wami bekacambalele kusofa futsi besisacoca ngekutsi lilanga lihambe njani. Nakatsi uphakamisa inhloko emcamelweni, kwatsi chamu inyoka leyabanga siphitsiphitsi kwaze kwaba ngulapho ngiyibulala.

Ngemva kwemnyaka solo ngifundza siPutukezi, ngase ngiba ngumbonisi wesigodzi. Besiphila imphilo lemelula endzaweni yasemakhaya, besite nagesi, silala emacasini futsi sihamba ngelihhashi nangenkalishi. Nangabe sisemkhankhasweni wekushumayela ensimini lengasetjentwa njalo, besihamba ngesitimela nasiya edolobheni lelingasetintsabeni futsi besicasha likamelo nasikuleyo ndzawo. Ligatja lasitfumelela bomagazini labangu-800 kute sibasebentise emsebentini wekushumayela. Bekudzingeka kutsi sihambe kanyenti siye eposini kuyolandza lamabhokisi alabomagazini site nabo lapho besihlala khona.

Nga-1962, Sikolwa seMsebenti weMbuso sebazalwane nabodzadze labatitfunywa telivangeli besiba setindzaweni letehlukahlukene e-Brazil. Tinyanga letisitfupha bengabelwe kutsi ngiyochuba leso sikolwa futsi bengingahambi naMary. Ngafundzisa emaklasi lase-Manaus, e-Belém, e-Fortaleza, e-Recife, nase-Salvador. Ngabelwa kutsi ngilungiselele umhlangano wesifundza ehholeni lebelidvumile letemculo wemintjingo e-Manaus. Timvula lebetinetikhukhula tasishiya site emanti lahlobile lokwenta kutsi sibete tindzawo letikahle tekudlela nasisemhlanganweni. (Ngaleto tikhatsi, kudla bekusaphekwa emihlanganweni.) Ngakhuluma nebenkambu yemasotja, futsi umphatsi wakhona ngemusa wasiletsela emanti lasichuba wonkhe lomhlangano futsi watfuma emasotja kutsi asiletsele emathende lamabili lamakhulu lesaphekela kuwo futsi sadlela khona.

Kuleto tinyanga letisitfupha, Mary bekashumayela esifundzeni semabhizinisi esiPutukezi, lapho bantfu bakhona bebahlala bacabanga nje ngemali. Bekangakhoni ngisho nekucoca ngisho nemuntfu munye ngeliBhayibheli, ngako waze watsi kulabanye labebakhonta e-Bethel, “I-Portugal yindzawo yekugcina emhlabeni lengingafisa kuhlala kuyo.” Asikukholwanga lesakutfola ngemva kwaloko! Kungakapheli sikhatsi lesinganani, satfola incwadzi lesimemela kutsi siyokhonta e-Portugal. Ngaleso sikhatsi umsebenti wekushumayela bewumisiwe kulelolive, kodvwa sasemukela leso simemo ngisho noma Mary abesamangele.

Sefika e-Lisbon, lesePortugal nga-August-1964. Bazalwane betfu ngibo bebahlaselwa kakhulu ngumshoshaphansi wemaphoyisa langemaPutukezi  (PIDE). Ngesizatfu saloko, sakubona kukuhlakanipha kutsi kube bete bantfu labasihlangabetako futsi kuphindze kubebete Fakazi wendzawo lesihlela kuhlangana naye. Sahlala endlini yekwemukela tihambi njengobe besisalindze imvume yekuhlala kulelive. Ngemva kwekutsi sesititfolile tincwadzi temvume yekuhlala, sase sicasha indlu. NgaJanuary 1965, sakhona kuchumana neligatja. Sajabula kakhulu ngalelilanga siya kwekucala emhlanganweni ngemva kwetinyanga letisihlanu!

Satfola kutsi onkhe malanga emaphoyisa abegudvuta emakhaya ebazalwane betfu. Ngesizatfu sekutsi emaHholo eMbuso bekavaliwe, imihlangano beyichutjelwa emakhaya ebazalwane. BoFakazi labanyenti bayiswa enkantolo kute bayophenywa. Bazalwane bebaphatfwa ngesihluku kute nje bavete emabito alabo lebebachuba imihlangano. Ngenca yaloko, bazalwane bagcina sebatibita ngemagama abo kuphela, njengekutsi José noma Paulo, esikhundleni sekutibita ngetibongo tabo. Ngako natsi senta lokufanako.

Kunakekela bazalwane ngemfundvo levela kuNkulunkulu bekuyintfo lebalulekile kakhulu kitsi. Umsebenti waMary bekukubhala tihloko te-Sicongosekulindza lesifundvwako naletinye tincwadzi ngemshini we-stencils lebewubitwa ngekutsi yi-mimeograph.

NgaJune 1966 kwaba nelicala lelikhulu lebelitekelwa enkantolo yaseLisbon. Libandla lonkhe lase-Feijó lebelinemalunga langu-49 laboshelwa kuya emhlanganweni lobewungekho emtsetfweni lobewubanjelwe ekhaya lemzalwane. Ngabaceceshela indlela yekuphendvula imibuto ngekutsi ngitente umshushisi. Besati kutsi lelicala belitawusidla, kodvwa besati kutsi ngalolunye luhlangotsi loko bekutasiniketa litfuba lekumelela liciniso. Ummeli wetfu waphetsa ngekucaphuna emavi lasikhutsato aGamaliyeli wangelikhulu lekucala. (Imis. 5:33-39) Letindzaba talelicala tagcwala yonkhe indzawo kutsi labazalwane nabodzadze labangu-49 bagwetjwa emalanga langu-45 kuya etinyangeni letisihlanu nehhafu. Siyajabula ngekutsi lommeli wetfu lobekanisibindzi wavuma kufundzelwa liBhayibheli futsi asengakafi bekabakhona emihlanganweni.

NgaDecember 1966 ngaba ngumbonisi weligatja futsi ngacitsa iminyaka leminyenti ngibuke tindzaba letiphatselene nemtsetfo. Kwasungulwa umtsetfo locinile wekutsi BoFakazi BaJehova babe nenkhululeko yekukhonta Jehova ngaphandle kwekuhlushwa. (Fil. 1:7) Nga-December 18, 1974 satfola lilungelo lekukhonta lelisemtsetfweni. Umzalwane Nathan Knorr naFrederick Franz lebebavela endlunkhulu, basivakashela e-Portugal kute batojabula natsi emhlanganweni lobewubanjelwe e-Oporto nase-Lisbon lebeyinebantfu labangu-46 870.

Jehova wavula ematfuba ekutsi kwandze emasimu lashunyayelwako etindzaweni lapho kunebantfu  labakhuluma siPutukezi khona, letifaka ekhatsi i-Azores, i-Cape Verde, i-Madeira, kanye ne-São Tomé ne-Príncipe. Nga-1988 ligatja lakhuliswa ngesizatfu sekutsi bese kunekwandza lokukhulu. Kulowo mnyaka nga-April 23, uMzalwane Milton Henschel wetfula inkhulumo yekunikelwa kwetakhiwo letinsha taleligatja embikwesicuku sebantfu labangu-45 522 lebebakhona. Bekujabulisa kakhulu kuba nebazalwane nabodzadze labangu-20 lebebakhonta njengetitfunywa telivangeli e-Portugal kuloyo mcimbi lobewuyincophamlandvo.

Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka sikhonta kulelive, budlelwane lobuhle lesibe nabo nebazalwane labetsembekile busikhutsate kakhulu. Ngafundza sifundvo lesihle kakhulu kuMzalwane Theodore Jaracz nangisebenta naye ngesikhatsi bavakashele ligatja letfu. Ngaleso sikhatsi, ligatja letfu belibhekene nenkinga lematima futsi emalunga eLikomidi Eligatja bekente konkhe lokusemandleni alo ngaleyo nkinga. UMzalwane Jaracz wabakhutsata watsi: “Nyalo sikhatsi sekutsi sivumele umoya longcwele kutsi usebente.” Eminyakeni leminyenti leyengcile ngesikhatsi sivakashele e-Brooklyn, mine nemkami, Mary sajabulela kuba ndzawonye neMzalwane Franz kanye nalabanye bazalwane. Ngesikhatsi uMzalwane Franz acelwa kutsi asho emavi ekuphetsa ngetintfo latijabulele emsebentini waJehova kuyo yonkhe leminyaka amkhonta, watsi: “Seluleko lenginganinika sona kutsi: Hlalani nisenhlanganweni yaJehova lebonakalako kukuhle nome kumatima. Ngiyo kuphela leyenta umsebenti Jesu latjela bafundzi bakhe kutsi bawente, wekutsi bashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu!”

Mine nemfati wami sikujabulele kwenta njalo. Sihlale sikhumbula loko lebekwenteka nasivakashele emagatja. Lokuvakasha kwasinika litfuba lekukhombisa kutsi siyajabula ngemsebenti lowentiwa bantfu labasha nalabadzala labetsembekile futsi besibakhutsata kutsi bachubeke bajabulela lilungelo lelikhetsekile lekukhonta Jehova.

Iminyaka seyihambile nje impela, futsi sobabili sesiseminyakeni lengetulu kwa-80 budzala. Mary ukhutsatelela tinkinga letinyenti temphilo. (2 Khor. 12:9) Tinkinga lesibhekene nato ticinise kukholwa kwetfu futsi tasisita sakhona kutimisela kugcina bucotfo betfu. Nasibuka kuphila kwetfu, siyavuma kutsi siwubonile umusa waJehova lomangalisako ngetindlela letinyenti naletehlukene. *