Umlandvo Wekuphila

Bengetayelene Nebantfu Labadzala Labahlakaniphile

Njengobe Ilandziswa ngu-Elva Gjerde

Eminyakeni lengaba ngu-70 leyendlulile, kuphila kwami kwashintjwa sivakashi lebesite kubabe simkhutsata ngalokutsite. Kusukela ngalelolanga, banyenti bantfu labayishintjile indlela yami yekuphila. Njengobe bengenta loloshintjo, ngakhona nekwakha bungani lobuncono kunabo bonkhe. Ase ngichaze kutsi njani.

NGATALELWA eSydney, e-Australia, nga-1932. Batali bami bebakholelwa kuNkulunkulu kepha bebangayi esontfweni. Make wami bekangifundzisa kutsi Nkulunkulu uhlale angigadzile futsi alungele kungijezisa nangingalaleli. Loko kwangenta ngamesaba Nkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, bengilitsandza kakhulu liBhayibheli. Ngetimphelasontfo make wami lomkhulu bekasivakashela, futsi abefika angicocele tindzaba letimnandzi teliBhayibheli. Bengikutsandza kuvakashelwa nguye.

Ngesikhatsi ngiseminyakeni yekutfomba babe wami abetayele kufundza tincwadzi lebetifika namake atitfola kulomunye waboFakazi BaJehova. Abekutsandza kakhulu labekufundza kuleto tincwadzi tebuKhristu, waze wavuma nekutadisha liBhayibheli naboFakazi. Ngalelinye lilanga kusihlwa babe afundzelwa, wangibamba ngibalalela. Watsi asafuna kungicosha kutsi ngiyolala, lobabe lobekamvakashele watsi: “Mvumele Elva ahlale natsi.” Leso simemo saba kucala kwendlela yami lensha yekuphila nekwakha bungani naNkulunkulu weliciniso—Jehova.

Masinyane ngemuva kwaloko, mine nababe sacala kuya emihlanganweni yebuKhristu. Loko babe labekakufundza kwamenta washintja kuphila kwakhe. Wakhona nekulawula lulaka lwakhe. Loko kwabangela kutsi make nemnaketfu lomdzala, Frank bacale kuya emihlanganweni. a Sonkhe satfutfuka futsi ekugcineni sabhajatiswa saba boFakazi BaJehova. Kusukela lapho, banyenti bantfu labadzala labangisitile etigabeni letehlukene tekuphila kwami.

NANGIKHETSA UMSEBENTI

Ngesikhatsi ngiseminyakeni yekutfomba, bengibatsandza bantfu labakhulile basebandleni lakitsi. Lomunye wabo bekungu-Alice Place, longudzadze losakhulile futsi kunguye wekucala lowasivakashela emndenini wakitsi. Waba shengatsi sewungugogo wami. Alice wangicecesha emsebentini wekushumayela futsi wangikhutsata kutsi ngibhajatiswe. Ngatsi ngineminyaka lengu-15 budzala, ngabhajatiswa.

Ngabuye ngetayelana nalabanye lasebakhulile, boPercy naMadge [Margaret] Dunham labashadene. Kucitsa sikhatsi nabo kwalitsintsa kakhulu likusasa lami. Phela bengititsandza kakhulu tibalo futsi nje enhlitiyweni yami bengititjela kutsi ngitawuba nguthishela wato. BoPercy naMadge bebatitfunywa telivangeli eLatvia eminyakeni yabo-1930. Ngesikhatsi kuba neMphi Yelive yesibili eYurophu, babese  bamenywa kutsi bayewukhonta eBethel yase-Australia, leyasiseSydney. Percy naMadge bebangitsandza kakhulu. Bebacoca ngalokuhlangenwe nako kwabo lokunyenti labebakujabulele emsebentini wabo wetitfunywa telivangeli. Kwavele kwangicacela kutsi kufundzisa ngeliBhayibheli bekungaba mnandzi kakhulu kunekufundzisa tibalo. Ngako-ke, ngabese ngikhetsa kuba sitfunywa selivangeli.

BakaDunham bangikhutsata kutsi ngilungiselele umsebenti wetitfunywa telivangeli ngekutsi ngibe lihlahlandlela. Nga-1948, ngesikhatsi ngineminyaka lengu-16 budzala, ngaba ngulomunye webantfu labasha labalishumi lababa ngemahlahlandlela ebandleni lasekhaya eHurstville, eSydney.

Eminyakeni lemine leyalandzela, ngaba lihlahlandlela emadolobheni lehlukene lamane, onkhe labekaseNew South Wales naseQueensland. Lomunye lebengimfundzela liBhayibheli bekunguBetty Law (nyalo sewakaRemnant). Betty abemdzala kunami ngeminyaka lemibili futsi abeyintfombatane lenemusa. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi saba ngemahlahlandlela ndzawonye edolobheni laseCowra, lebelingemakhilomitha langu-230 enshonalanga yaseSydney. Ngisho nobe saba ngemahlahlandlela ndzawonye sikhashana lesincane, nalamuhla solo sibangani.

Ngemuva kwekutsi ngitfole sabelo sekuba lihlahlandlela lelikhetsekile, ngaya eNarrandera, lidolobha lelingemakhilomitha langu-220 eningizimu-nshonalanga yeCowra. Lapho bengikanye naJoy Lennox (nyalo sewakaHunter), lobekalihlahlandlela lelikhutsele futsi naye amdzala kunami ngeminyaka lemibili. Bekungitsi sodvwa boFakazi kulelo dolobha. Sahlala naRay na-Esther Irons labashadene. Bona nendvodzana yabo nemadvodzakati abo lamatsatfu bebalitsandza liciniso. Emkhatsini weliviki Ray nendvodzana yakhe bebasebenta epulazini lelinetimvu futsi kulinywa nakolo. Esther nemadvodzakati akhe bona bebasebenta endlini yetivakashi lebeyicashiswa. Njalo ngemaSontfo mine naJoy besiphekela lomndeni waka-Irons kanye netivakashi tawo letinyenti kudla kwantsambama. Kwenta loyo msebenti bekubhadala incenye yemali yetfu yekucasha. Besitsi nasesicedzile kugeza titja, bese sifundza nabo sihloko lesifundvwako se-Sicongosekulindza sangalelo viki. Ray na-Esther kanye nebantfwana babo labane, balemukela liciniso futsi baba ngemalunga ekucala eLibandla laseNarrandera.

Nga-1951, ngaya emhlanganweni waboFakazi BaJehova eSydney. Kuloyo mhlangano ngaya emhlanganweni lokhetsekile wemahlahlandlela lafisa kuba titfunywa telivangeli. Bekunebantfu labangetulu kwa-300 kulomhlangano lobewubanjelwe ethendeni lelikhulu. Umzalwane Nathan Knorr waseBethel yaseBrooklyn, nguye lobekachuba lomhlangano futsi wasikhumbuta ngekuphutfuma kwekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi kuwo wonkhe umhlaba. Sawalalelisisa kahle onkhe emavi labekawasho. Linyenti lemahlahlandlela labekakhona kulowo mhlangano lacala kushumayela ngeMbuso eSouth Pacific nakuletinye tindzawo. Kwangijabulisa kakhulu kuba ngulomunye walabangu-17 base-Australia lowamenywa kutsi abe sekilasini lesi-19 leSikolwa saseGileyadi nga-1952. Ngatsi nje nangineminyaka lengu-20 budzala, umgomo wami wekuba sitfunywa selivangeli wafezeka.

BENGIDZINGA KUSHINTJA KUCABANGA KWAMI

Imfundvo kanye nebudlelwane lebengibutfola eGileyadi akuzange kungisite nje kuphela kutsi ngibe nelwati lolunyenti lweBhayibheli futsi ngicinise kukholwa kwami, kodvwa kwaphindze kwangisita ngatfutfukisa buntfu bami. Bengimncane futsi bengihlala ngifisa kutsi ngente tonkhe tintfo kahle futsi ngifuna nalabanye bente njalo. Leminye imibono yami beyicine kakhulu. Sibonelo saloku kutsi ngesikhatsi ngibona uMzalwane Knorr adlala ibhola nalamanye emalunga emndeni waseBethel, ngamangala kakhulu.

Labo labebasifundzisa eGileyadi—bonkhe bebangemadvodza lanekucondza futsi lanalokuhlangenwe  nako lokunyenti—babona kutsi loko kuyangimangalisa. Banginaka futsi bangisita kutsi ngilungise kucabanga kwami. Kancane kancane, ngacala kubona kutsi Jehova unguNkulunkulu lonelutsandvo nalokujabulelako lesikwentako akasuye umuntfu locinisa sandla nalofuna lokunyenti kitsi. Labanye lebengifundza nabo bangisita. Ngikhumbula lomunye dzadze atsi: “Elva, Jehova akasiphatseli luswati. Ngako-ke ungatenteli tintfo tibe lukhuni.” Emavi akhe lamelula ayitsintsa inhlitiyo yami.

Ngemuva kwekuphotfula eGileyadi, mine nalabanye labane lebengifundza nabo satfunyelwa eNamibia, e-Afrika. Masinyane nje sasesichuba tifundvo teliBhayibheli letingu-80. Bengiyitsandza kakhulu iNamibia kanye nekuba sitfunywa selivangeli, kodvwa besengitsandzana nalomunye lebengifundza naye eGileyadi lobekatfunyelwe eSwitzerland. Ngahlala eNamibia umnyaka munye ngabese ngiya eSwitzerland. Ngemuva kwekutsi sishade, bengihamba nendvodza yami njengobe beyingumbonisi wesifundza.

NANGISENKINGENI LENKHULU

Ngemuva kwekuba semsebentini wekujikeleta iminyaka lesihlanu, samenywa kutsi siyewukhonta eBethel yaseSwitzerland. Kulowo mndeni waseBethel, bengikujabulela kuba nalabanye bazalwane nabodzadze labavutsiwe.

Masinyane ngemuva kwaloko, ngeva indzaba leshwacisa lugogo. Ngeva kutsi indvodza yami beyingaketsembeki kimi nakuJehova. Yabese iyahamba iyangishiya futsi loko kwangivisa buhlungu kakhulu. Bengingeke ngikhone kusimela lesimo ngaphandle kwekusekelwa ngelutsandvo bangani bami lasebakhulile bemndeni waseBethel. Bebangilalela nangidzinga kukhuluma futsi bangivumele ngiphumule nakunesidzingo sekwenta njalo. Emavi abo ladvudvutako netento tabo temusa tangicinisa ngalesikhatsi ngisebuhlungwini futsi kwangisita kutsi ngisondzele kakhulu kuJehova.

Ngaphindze ngakhumbula nemavi lashiwo ngulabanye labakhulile nabo labebake balingwa. Lawo mavi abefaka ekhatsi lashiwo nguMadge Dunham, lowake wangitjela kutsi: “Elva, njengobe ukhonta Jehova, utawuhlangabetana nekulingwa lokunyenti kodvwa lokutawuba matima kakhulu kutawube kuvela kubantfu lobatsandzako. Ngako-ke nawulingwa, ubosondzela kuJehova. Ukhumbule kutsi ukhonta yena hhayi bantfu labanesono.” Leseluleko saMadge besingisita kakhulu etikhatsini letimatima. Ngatimisela kungavumeli kutsi emaphutsa endvodza yami angehlukanise naJehova.

Njengobe sikhatsi sichubeka, ngakhetsa kubuyela e-Australia kute ngibe lihlahlandlela ngihlala nemndeni wakitsi. Njengobe bengihamba ngemkhumbi ngiya ekhaya, ngajabulela kucoca ngeliBhayibheli nalabanye lebengigibele nabo. Kulelicembu lebantfu lebengicoca nalo, bekunendvodza lebeyibindzile yaseNorway libito layo kungu-Arne Gjerde. Wakutsandza labekakuva. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi wavakashela mine nemndeni wakitsi eSydney. Watfutfuka masinyane ekukhonteni Jehova futsi walemukela liciniso. Nga-1963, mine na-Arne sashada futsi ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili saba nendvodzana lenguGary.

NANGIBHEKENE NALOKUNYE KULAHLEKELWA

Mine na-Arne nendvodzana yetfu Gary besijabula emndenini wetfu. Masinyane Arne wengeta emakamelo endlu lebesihlala kuyo kute sihlale nebatali bami labesebakhulile. Noko ngemuva kweminyaka lesitfupha sishadile, saba nalenye inkinga. Kwatfolakala kutsi Arne unekhensa ebucosheni. Bengimvakashela onkhe emalanga esibhedlela ngesikhatsi  elashwa. Njengobe sikhatsi sichubeka abeba ncono, kodvwa simo sakhe sagcine sisibi waze wafa luhlangotsi. Bangitjela kutsi utawuphila nje emaviki lambalwa. Nobe kunjalo, Arne welulama. Wagcina asabuyele ekhaya lapho ngamnakekela khona waze waphila. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wakhona kutihambela futsi wachubeka nekuba ngulomdzala ebandleni. Njengobe abehlala ajabulile futsi atsandza kuhleka, kwaba melula ngaye kutsi elulame nekutsi nami ngimnakekele.

Eminyakeni leyalandzela nga-1986, simo sakhe semphilo saphindze saba sibi kakhulu. Ngaleso sikhatsi batali bami besebashonile, ngako-ke satfutsela endzaweni lenhle lebitwa ngekutsi yiBlue Mountains lebeyingephandle kweSydney. Loko kwasenta saba dvutane nebangani betfu. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi Gary washada naKarin, futsi basicela kutsi sihlale nabo. Etinyangeni letimbalwa letalandzela, sonkhe satfutsela kulomuti lomusha lobewungekho khashane nalapho besihlala khona na-Arne.

Etinyangeni letingu-18 tekugcina tekuphila kwakhe, Arne abesagula kakhulu futsi asadzinga kuhlale anakekelwa. Njengobe besengihlala ngisendlini, ngangicitsa ema-awa lamabili ngelilanga ngitadisha liBhayibheli netincwadzi letisekelwe kulo. Njengobe bengitadisha, ngatfola letinye teluleko letihlakaniphile tekubhekana nesimo lengangikuso. Labakhululile basebandleni nabo bebangivakashela—labanye babo bebake baba sesimeni lesifananako. Kuvakashelwa ngibo bekungijabulisa. Arne washona nga-April 2003, anelitsemba leluvuko.

LOKWANGISITA KAKHULU

Ngesikhatsi ngisesemncane, bengihlale nginembono lobanti wekwenta tintfo. Kodvwa ngatfola kutsi kuphila akubi njengobe sikucabanga ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi. Ngijabulele tibusiso letinyenti ngaphindze ngakhutsatelela buhlungu lobukabili—kulahlekelwa ngumuntfu lebengishade naye ngekungetsembeki nalomunye ngekugula. Ekuphileni kwami ngitfole sicondziso nendvudvuto etindzaweni letehlukene. Kusekelwa lokukhulu lebengikutfola bekuvela kuNkulunkulu Jehova “Lophila Phakadze Naphakadze.” (Dan. 7:9) Sicondziso sakhe sisakhile similo sami futsi singente ngajabulela lokuhlangenwe nako lokunyenti emsebentini wetitfunywa telivangeli. Ngesikhatsi kuvela tinkinga, ‘Simakadze wangisekela ngemusa wakhe, ngabuye ngema futsi. Nekudvudvuta kwakhe kwatfokotisa umphefumulo wami.’ (Hla. 94:18, 19) Ngijabulele lutsandvo nekusekelwa lebengikutfola emndenini wakitsi ‘nakubangani labatalelwe kutsi setfwalisane nabo tinhlupheko.’ (Taga 17:17) Labanyenti balaba bekubantfu labakhulile nalabahlakaniphile.

Jobe wabuta: “Kuhlakanipha akutfolakali yini kulabadzala? Imphilo lendze ayikuletsi yini kucondza?” (Jobe 12:12) Nangibuka emuva ekuphileni kwami ngingaphendvula ngitsi yebo. Sikhutsato salabakhulile singisitile, kungidvudvuta kwabo kwangicinisa nebungani babo benta kuphila kwami kwaba ncono. Ngiyajabula ngekutsi bengisondzelene nabo.

Nyalo ngineminyaka lengu-80 futsi nami sengingulokhulile. Lokuhlangenwe nako kwami kungente ngaba neluvelo kakhulu kulabanye labadzala. Ngisatsandza kubavakashela kute ngibasite. Kodvwa ngiyakujabulela nekuba nalabo labasebasha ngeminyaka. Emandla abo nenshisekelo yabo kuyakhutsata. Nangibona kutsi laba labasebasha beta kimi kute batfole sicondziso nobe lusito, ngiyakujabulela kubasita.

[Umbhalo longentansi]

[Sitfombe ekhasini 14]

Ngalesikhatsi ngilihlahlandlela naJoy Lennox eNarrandera

[Sitfombe ekhasini 15]

Elva akanye nemalunga emndeni waseBethel nga-1960

[Sitfombe ekhasini 16]

Ngesikhatsi nginakekela Arne nakagula