Ngatalwa eNetherlands nga-1948. Emnyakeni lolandzelako, umndeni wakitsi watfutsela eSão Paulo, eBrazil. Batali bami bebavame kuya esontfweni, futsi njalo ntsambama nasicedza kudla besifundza liBhayibheli singumndeni. Saphindze satfutsa nga-1959 saya eMelika, safike sahlala eMassachusetts.

Babe bekasebenta kamatima kuze anakekele umndeni wakitsi lobewunemalunga langu-8. Bekenta imisebenti leyehlukahlukene lefaka ekhatsi kutsengisa, kwakha imigwaco, nekusebenta enkapaneni yetindiza. Sonkhe sajabula nakatfola umsebenti enkapaneni yetindiza ngobe besivakasha kakhulu.

Nasengifundza libanga leliphakeme, bengivame kutibuta, ‘Ngitawentani nasengikhulile?’ Labanye bangani bami baya enyuvesi, kantsi labanye baya emasotjeni. Kodvwa bengingafuni kuya emasotjeni, ngoba bengingatsandzi kucabana nebantfu, ingasaphatfwa-ke yekulwa. Ngako ngakhetsa kuya enyuvesi kuze ngingayi emasotjeni. Kodvwa ngekhatsi, benginesifiso sekusita bantfu, ngobe bengicabanga kutsi loko kutakwenta kuphila kwami kube nenjongo.

Enyuvesi, bengenta sifundvo lebesikhuluma ngekuphila, ngoba bengifuna kwati kutsi kuphila kwavelaphi. Besifundziswa ngekutigucukela kwemvelo futsi bekulindzeleke kutsi semukele kutsi kuliciniso. Kodvwa letinye tintfo besichazelwa tona betite ingcondvo futsi bekudzingeka semukele intfo lete bufakazi, lokuyintfo lengavumelani nesayensi.

Besingafundziswa kutsi kufanele sitiphatse njani. Kunaloko, besifundziswa kutsi kufanele sente konkhe lesingakwenta kuze siphumelele etifundvweni tetfu. Bengikujabulela kuhamba ema-party nebangani bami nekusebentisa tidzakamiva letehlukene, kodvwa konkhe loku bekumane kungijabulise kwesikhashana. Bengitibuta, ‘Lemphilo lengiyiphilako inenjongo yini?’

Ngabese ngitfutsela eBoston futsi ngafundza enyuvesi yakhona. Kuze ngikhone kutibhadalela esikolweni, bekutsi nakuvalwe tikolwa ngisebente futsi kulapho langahlangana khona naFakazi waJehova kwekucala ngca. LoFakazi wangitjela ngesiphrofetho lesikhuluma ‘ngetikhatsi letingu-7’ lesikuDanyela sehluko 4 futsi wangichazela kutsi nyalo siphila emalangeni ekugcina. (Dan. 4:13-17) Ngasheshe ngabona kutsi nangingachubeka ngikhuluma naye ngeliBhayibheli, kutawudzingeka ngishintje indlela lengiphila ngayo. Ngako besengihlale ngimbalekela.

Nangisenyuvesi, ngenta tifundvo lebetitangisita kutsi ngente umsebenti wekuvolontiya eSouth America. Bengicabanga kutsi kwentela labanye tintfo letinhle bekutakwenta kuphila kwami kube nenjongo. Kodvwa ngabona kutsi ngisho naloko akukwenti kuphila kwami kube nenjongo. Ngenca yekutsi bengidvumatekile, satsi nasivala enyuvesi ngahamba siphelane.

NgaMay 1970, ngatfutsela e-Amsterdam, eNetherlands, kuze ngiyosebenta kulenkapane yetindiza lebekasebenta kuyo babe. Ngenca yalomsebenti, bengikhona kuvakasha etindzaweni letehlukahlukene, lokufaka ekhatsi emave, lase-Africa, lase-America, laseYurophu nalase-Asia. Ngasheshe ngabona kutsi ngisho ngingaya kuliphi live, onkhe anetinkinga letinkhulu futsi kubonakala shengatsi kute lokhona kuticatulula. Ngatimisela ngekufeza lokutsite ekuphileni, ngako ngancuma kubuyela eMelika ngaphindze ngafundza kulenyuvesi leseBoston.

Kodvwa ngisho nobe sengibuyele esikolweni, ngasheshe ngabona kutsi bengingatitfoli timphendvulo lebengitifuna ngekuphila. Njengobe bengingati kutsi ngenteni, ngacela professor wami kutsi angeluleke. Ngamangala ngesikhatsi atsi: “Ufundzelani, yekela lokufundza.” Akudzingekanga angitjele kwesibili. Ngako ngahamba ngangasabuki emuva.

Ngenca yekutsi kuphila kwami bekusolo kute injongo, ngatihlanganisa nelicembu lebelibonakala shengatsi likhutsata kuthula nelutsandvo. Mine nebangani bami besihamba sicela bantfu basigibelise sisuka eMelika saze sayofika e-Acapulco, eMexico. Sahlala nebantfu lebebatentela labakufunako, futsi bebabonakala shengatsi bete tinkinga nobe lokubakhatsatako. Kodvwa njengobe bengihlala nabo, ngasheshe ngabona kutsi kuphila kwabo bekute injongo, futsi injabulo yabo beyiyesikhashana. Kunaloko, ngabona kutsi labanyenti babo bebangaketsembeki.

Ngaleso sikhatsi, ngacala kucabanga ngaloko bengifuna kukwenta ngesikhatsi ngisemncane. Bengifuna kuhamba elwandle ngibe ngukaputeni. Kuze ngikhone kukwenta loko, bekufanele ngibe nesikebhe. Ngenca yekutsi umngani wami Tom bekafuna kwenta intfo lefanako, sancuma kuhamba elwandle kanyekanye. Bengifuna kutfola sichingi lesihle lapho khona bengitawufike ngiphile ngendlela lengifuna ngayo.

Mine naTom saya e-Arenys de Mar, dvutane neBarcelona, eSpain. Safike satsenga sikebhe lesingemamitha langu-9.4 lesibitwa ngekutsi nguLlygra. Sacala kusakha kabusha kuze sikhone kuhamba ngaso elwandle. Njengobe besingakajaki kufika lapho besiya khona, sakhipha injini yaso, sabese sifaka emanti ekunatsa esikhaleni sayo. Kuze sikhone kuhamba ngalesikebhe, satsenga tindvuku letimbili tekugwedla letingemamitha lasihlanu budze. Ekugcineni, salucala luhambo lwetfu saya eSeychelles, e-Indian Ocean. Besititjele kutsi sitawugudla inshonalanga ye-Africa, sihambe ngase-Cape of Good Hope, eSouth Africa. Sasebentisa tinkhanyenti, emabalave, tincwadzi naletinye tintfo kuze singalahleki. Bengimangala kutsi besikhona kubona kutsi sesikuphi.

Ngekushesha, sabona kutsi lesikebhe besingakakulungeli kuhamba elwandle. Besingenisa emanti langaba ngemalitha langu-22 ngeli-awa! Njengobe ngishito ekucaleni, kwabese kuba nesiphepho futsi ngesaba, ngathantaza kwekucala ngca ngemuva kweminyaka leminyenti, ngetsembisa Nkulunkulu kutsi nasingasindza ngitawetama kumati. Lesiphepho saphela futsi ngasigcina setsembiso sami.

Ngacala kufundza liBhayibheli ngesikhatsi siselwandle. Cabanga nje kutsi bekumnandzi kanjani ngihleti esikebheni sami ekhatsi nekhatsi neLwandle iMedithera, futsi ngibona tinhlobohlobo tetinhlanti nalapho kubonaka ngatsi kugcina khona lwandle. Ebusuku bengijabula kakhulu nangibona i-Milky Way, futsi ngenca yaloko bengiciniseka kakhulu kutsi ukhona Nkulunkulu lonendzaba nebantfu.

Ngemuva kwemaviki siselwandle, sefika esikhumulweni semikhumbi e-Alicante, eSpain, lapho sefike setama khona kutsengisa sikebhe setfu kuze sitsenge lesincono. Kodvwa akuzange kube melula kutfola umuntfu lobekatawutsenga sikebhe setfu lesidzala, lesite injini nalesingenisa emanti. Leso bekusikhatsi lesikahle sekutsi ngifundze liBhayibheli lami.

Nangichubeka ngilifundza, ngabona kutsi liyincwadzi leneticondziso letingasisita sijabule. Yangichaza indlela liBhayibheli lelikubeka ngayo ngalokucacile kutsi singaphila njani ngendlela lehlantekile, futsi ngatibuta kutsi kungani bantfu labanyenti, lokufaka ekhatsi nami, behluleka kwenta loko lelikushoko kodvwa babe batsi bangemaKhristu.

Bengitimisele kushintja indlela lebengiphila ngayo, ngako ngayekela kusebentisa tidzakamiva. Bengicabanga kutsi kuyobe bakhona bantfu labaphila ngetimiso teliBhayibheli tekutiphatsa futsi bengifuna kuhlangana nabo. Ngaphindze ngathantaza, ngacela Nkulunkulu kutsi angisite ngibatfole.

Bekunengcondvo kimi kuhlola onkhe emasontfo kuze kube ngulapho ngitfola inkholo yeliciniso.  Nangihamba etitaladini e-Alicante, bengibona emasontfo lamanyenti. Kodvwa ngenca yekutsi linyenti lawo belinetitfombe, bekumelula kubona kutsi awekho enkholweni yeliciniso.

Ngalelinye lilanga ngeLisontfo ntsambama, bengihleti endzaweni lephakeme, futsi bengibona esikhumulweni semikhumbi, bengifundza Jakobe 2:1-5, lowecwayisa ngekutsatsa labanjingile njengalabancono. Nangibuyela esikebheni, ngendlula lesinye sakhiwo lebesibonakala siyindzawo yekukhontela Nkulunkulu lebesineluphawu lolubhalwe kutsi: “LiHholwa LeMbuso LaBoFakazi BaJehova.”

Ngatsi: ‘Ase ngibalinge, ngibone kutsi batangiphatsa njani.’ Ngako ngangena eHholweni leMbuso ngihamba ngetinyawo, nginesilevu lesikhulu futsi ngigcoke libhuluko lelidzabukile. Lowemukela bantfu wangihlalisa eceleni kwalomunye gogo lowangisita kuze ngitfole emavesi lebekashiwo sikhulumi. Nakuphela imihlangano, ngamangala ngobe bonkhe labeta kutongibingelela bebanemusa. Lomunye babe wangimemela ekhaya lakhe kuze sicoce, kodvwa ngenca yekutsi bengingakacedzi kufundza liBhayibheli, ngatsi kuye: “Ngitakutjela nase ngikulungele.” Nanobe kunjalo, bengiya kuyo yonkhe imihlangano.

Ngemuva kwemaviki lambalwa, ngamvakashela lobabe ekhaya lakhe, futsi wayiphendvula imibuto lebenginayo ngeliBhayibheli. Ngemuva kweliviki, wangipha sikhwama lebesigcwele timphahla letinhle. Wangitjela kutsi umnikati waletimphahla bekasejele ngenca yekulalela umyalo lotsi sitsandzane nalotsi singasayifundzi imphi. (Isa. 2:4; Joh. 13:34, 35) Nyalo besengiciniseka kutsi sengibatfolile labantfu lebengibafuna, bantfu labalalela timiso teliBhayibheli letimayelana nekutiphatsa! Umgomo wami bewungasasiko kutfola sichingi lesihle, kodvwa bese kukudadisha liBhayibheli kuze ngilicondze kahle. Ngako ngabuyela eNetherlands.

Kwangitsatsa emalanga lamane kufika edolobheni lokutsiwa yiGroningen, eNetherlands. Nangifika lapho, kwadzingeka ngitfole umsebenti kuze ngitinakekele. Ngacela umsebenti kulenye indzawo yekubata, futsi nganikwa lifomu lebelibuta kutsi ngikholwa kuphi. Ngabhala ngatsi, “NginguFakazi waJehova.” Ngesikhatsi lomnikati afundza lelifomu, washintja ebusweni. Watsi: “Ngitakushayela.” Kodvwa akazange.

Kulenye indzawo lakubatwa khona, ngabuta umnikati walendzawo kutsi uyaludzinga yini lusito. Wacela titifiketi tami nemaphepha lakhombisa kutsi ngike ngasebenta kuphi. Ngamchazela kutsi  bengike ngalungisa sikebhe lesakhiwe ngelugodvo. Ngamangala ngesikhatsi atsi: “Ungacala kusebenta lamuhla entsambama, kodvwa kunye lengifuna ungentele kona. Angifuni ungibangele tinkinga ngobe nginguFakazi waJehova futsi ngiphila ngekuvumelana netimiso teliBhayibheli.” Ngambuka ngimangele, ngatsi: “Nami nginguye!” Ngenca yekutsi benginetinwele letindze nesilevu lesikhulu, watsi: “Ngitawudadisha nawe-ke liBhayibheli!” Ngavuma. Ngabese ngiyabona kutsi kungani lona lengacala kuye angazange angishayele. Jehova bekaphendvula umthantazo wami. (Hla. 37:4) Ngasebenta kalomzalwane umnyaka munye. Kuleso sikhatsi, wadadisha nami liBhayibheli, ngemuva kwaloko ngabhajatiswa ngaJanuary 1974.

Ngemuva kwenyanga ngaba lihlahlandlela, futsi lomsebenti wangenta ngajabula kakhulu. Ngenyanga lelandzelako ngatfutsela e-Amsterdam kuze ngiyosita licembu leSpanish lebelisandza kusungulwa. Ngakujabulela kakhulu kudadisha liBhayibheli nebantfu lebebakhuluma Spanish nesiPutukezi! NgaMay 1975, ngacelwa kutsi ngibe lihlahlandlela lelikhetsekile.

Ngalelinye lilanga, lomunye dzadze lobekalihlahlandlela lelikhetsekile lokutsiwa ngu-Ineke, weta emihlanganweni yetfu naloyo bekadadisha naye liBhayibheli waseBolivia kuze atometfula kitsi. Mine na-Ineke sancuma kwatana kancono ngekubhalelana tincwadzi, futsi ngekushesha sabona kutsi besinemigomo lefanako. Sashada nga-1976 futsi sachubeka singemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile kwaze kwaba ngu-1982 ngesikhatsi sicelwa kutsi siye eklasini lesi-73 laseGileyadi. Samangala saphindze sajabula ngesikhatsi sicelwa kutsi siye eMphumalanga ne-Africa, futsi sakhonta iminyaka lesihlanu eMombasa, eKenya! Nga-1987, satfunyelwa eTanzania, lapho umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela besewuvunyelwe khona. Sahlala lapho iminyaka lengu-26, sabese sibuyela eKenya.

Kusita bantfu kutsi bafundze liciniso leliseBhayibhelini, kwente kuphila kwami kwaba nenjongo. Sibonelo nje, umuntfu wekucala lengadadisha naye liBhayibheli eMombasa bekuyindvodza lengahlangana nayo ngesikhatsi ngishumayela etindzaweni tawonkhe wonkhe. Ngemuva kwekuyinika bomagazini lababili, yatsi: “Nasengicedzile kubafundza, ngitawubese ngentani?” Ngeliviki lelilandzelako, sacala kudadisha liBhayibheli sisebentisa incwadzi letsi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni, lebeyisandza kukhululwa ngesiSwahili. Ngemuva kwemnyaka yabhajatiswa futsi yaba lihlahlandlela lelivamile. Yona nemkayo sebasite bantfu labangaba ngu-100 kutsi batinikele kuJehova futsi babhajatiswe.

Ngesikhatsi ngicala kucondza injongo yekuphila, ngativa njengemtsengisi lohamba etindzaweni letehlukene lowatfola litje leliligugu futsi lebekangafuni kutsi limlahlekele. (Mat. 13:45, 46) Bengifuna kusita labanye kutsi batfole injongo ekuphileni. Mine nemkami sitibonele indlela Jehova lababusisa ngayo bantfu ngekuphila lokunenjongo.