NANGIKHULUMA liciniso, lelinani lelincane lebantfu labebalalele lenkhulumo yami nga-1957 alizange lingikhatsate. Phela ngingumuntfu lonemahloni kakhulu. Ecinisweni, ngalesikhatsi ngisemncane bengivamise kubhaca nakufika tivakashi ekhaya ngisho nobe ngitati.

Kungakumangalisa kuva kutsi tabelo tami letinyenti lengititfole enhlanganweni yaJehova betingiphocelela kutsi ngihlangane nebantfu labanyenti, lokufaka ekhatsi bangani kanye nalabo lengingabati. Nanobe kunjalo, bengisolo nginayo inkinga yekuba nemahloni kanye nekungatetsembi, ngako-ke ngeke ngitidvumise ngemphumelelo lengibe nayo ekufezeni tabelo tami. Esikhundleni saloko ngibonile kutsi siliciniso setsembiso saJehova lesitsi: “Ngitakucinisa ngikusite, ngiyakukubamba ngesandla sami sekudla lesilungile.” (Isa. 41:10) Kusekelwa bazalwane kungulenye yetindlela letiyinhloko Jehova langisite ngayo. Ase nginicocele ngalabanye balabazalwane, ngicale ngesikhatsi ngisengumntfwana.

Ngalelinye Lisontfo ekuseni ngabo-1940, Elsie Huntingford wefika ekhaya kitsi lebelisepulazini leliseningizimu nshonalanga ye-Ontario. Make wakhuluma naye emnyango, kantsi babe, lonemahloni njengami, bekahleli  nami ngekhatsi endlini futsi besibalalele. Babe bekacabanga kutsi Dzadze Huntingford bekangumuntfu lotsengisako nekutsi Make utawutsenga tintfo lesingatidzingi, ngako wasukuma waya emnyango watjela lodzadze kutsi siyabonga. Dzadze Huntingford wabuta watsi: “Ngeke nitsandze yini kufundzelwa liBhayibheli?” Babe wamphendvula watsi: “Yebo singakujabulela loko.”

Dzadze Huntingford wasivakashela ngesikhatsi lesikahle kakhulu. Batali bami bebangemalunga lashisekako elisontfo le-United Church of Canada kodvwa bebasandza kuncuma kungasayi kulo. Kungani? Kungobe ngasemnyango walelisontfo umfundisi bekavamise kubeka luhla lwalabo labanikelako abalandzelanise ngelizinga labanikela ngalo. Batali bami bebanemali lencane, ngako bebavamise kuba ngasekugcineni kuloluhla futsi bafundisi bebabacindzetela kutsi banikele kakhulu. Lomunye umfundisi wavuma kutsi akafundzisi tintfo latikholelwako, ngenca yekutsi bekangafuni kulahlekelwa ngumsebenti. Ngako-ke, salishiya lelisontfo kodvwa besisolo sifuna indlela lencono yekunakekela sidzingo setfu sekwati Nkulunkulu.

Njengobe umsebenti waBoFakazi BaJehova bewuvaliwe eCanada, Dzadze Huntingford bekasichubela sifundvo asebentisa liBhayibheli kuphela kanye nemaphuzu labekawabhale ebhukwini lakhe lelincane lelimnyama. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wabona kutsi besingeke sitjele tiphatsimandla, ngako wasiniketa tincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngemuva kwesifundvo ngasinye besivamise kufihla letincwadzi ngekucophelela lokukhulu. *

Ngetulu kwekuphikiswa kanye naletinye tinkinga, Dzadze Huntingford wachubeka atimisela kushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi. Kutimisela kwakhe kwangijabulisa kakhulu futsi kwangitsintsa kangangekutsi ngemukela liciniso. Ngemuva kwekutsi batali bami babhajatiswe babe BoFakazi BaJehova, nami ngatinikela kuNkulunkulu. Ngabhajatiswa ngaFebruary 27, 1949, ebhavini lebelisetjentiswa bafuyi kuze banatsise imfuyo yabo. Ngaleso sikhatsi bengineminyaka lengu-17 budzala. Ngemuva kwaloko bengitimisele kungenela umsebenti wasikhatsi sonkhe.

Bengingabata kuvele ngingenele umsebenti wekuba lihlahlandlela. Ngasebenta sikhashana ebhange nakulelinye lihhovisi ngobe bengititjele kutsi kudzingeka ngitfole imali letsite kuze ngitisekele  nasengilihlahlandlela. Njengemuntfu lomusha lote lokuhlangenwe nako, leyo mali bengiyidlabhatisa. Ngako lomunye umzalwane, libito lakhe lelinguTed Sargent wangikhutsata kutsi ngibe nesibindzi futsi ngibe nekukholwa kuJehova. (1 Khr. 28:10) Ngenca yeseluleko sakhe lesinemusa, ngacala kuba lihlahlandlela ngaNovember 1951. Ngaleso sikhatsi benginemali lengemadola langu-40 nje kuphela, nelibhayisikili kanye neliputumende. Kodvwa ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi Jehova bekatinakekela tidzingo tami. Ngijabula kakhulu ngekutsi Ted wangikhutsata kutsi ngingenele umsebenti wekuba lihlahlandlela. Loko kwaholela etibusisweni letinyenti.

Ngalobunye busuku nga-August 1952, ngatfola lucingo loluvela eToronto. Lihhovisi leligatja laBoFakazi BaJehova leliseCanada langicela kutsi ngite ngitewucala kusebenta eBethel ngaSeptember. Nanobe nganginemahloni futsi ngingakake sengivakashe eBethel, bengijabulile ngobe lamanye emahlahlandlela bekake angicocela ngetintfo letijabulisako ngemsebenti waseBethel. Ngavele ngativa ngisekhaya.

Ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili ngifikile eBethel, ngavala sikhala saBill Yacos ngaba yinceku yelibandla, (nyalo lebitwa ngekutsi ngumchumanisi wesigungu salabadzala) kulelinye lemabandla aseToronto. Bengineminyaka lengu-23 nje kuphela budzala, futsi bengitiva ngingumfana wasemapulazini, ngingawufaneli lomsebenti. Kodvwa ngekutfobeka nangelutsandvo, uMzalwane Yacos wangikhombisa loko lobekufanele ngikwente, naJehova wangisita kakhulu.

UMzalwane Yacos bekamfishane, asidudla, amoyitela njalo futsi abatsandza bantfu. Bekabatsandza bazalwane futsi nabo bebamtsandza. Bekabavakashela njalo emakhaya abo hhayi nabanetinkinga nje kuphela. Bill Yacos wangikhutsata kutsi ngente lokufanako futsi ngisebentelane kahle nebazalwane nabodzadze ensimini. Watsi kimi: “Ken, khombisa bazalwane kutsi uyabatsandza. Loko kutawenta kutsi ungawaboni emaphutsa lamanyenti labawentako.”

Jehova wangisita kakhulu kusukela ngaJanuary 1957. Ngaleyo nyanga ngashada na-Evelyn, lobekaphotfule ekilasini lesi-14 leSikolwa saseGileyadi. Ngesikhatsi sisengakashadi, bekabelwe esifundzeni saseQuebec lesinebantfu labakhuluma siFulentji. Ngaleso sikhatsi, iQuebec beyilawulwa Lisontfo LemaRoma Katolika. Ngako Evelyn abeshumayela ensimini lematima kakhulu kodvwa wachubeka nesabelo sakhe ngekwetsembeka futsi wabambelela kuJehova.

Evelyn wachubeka anamatsele ngekwetsembeka kimi. (Ef. 5:31) Ecinisweni, kwetsembeka kwakhe kwavivinywa ngekushesha nje nasicedza kushada. Besihlele kuyovakashela eFlorida, eMelika, kodvwa ngelilanga langemuva kwemshado wetfu, ligatja langicela kutsi ngiye emhlanganweni lobewutawutsatsa liviki eBethel yaseCanada. Kona lomhlangano bewushayisana neluhlelo lwetfu kodvwa mine na-Evelyn besifuna kwenta nome ngabe yini Jehova layicela kitsi. Ngako-ke asizange sisaya eholidini letfu langemuva kwemshado. Emkhatsini walelo viki, Evelyn abeshumayela ensimini lesedvute neligatja. Nanobe lensimi beyehluke kakhulu kunaleyo yaseQuebec, wabeketela.

 Ekupheleni kwaleloviki, ngamangala kakhulu ngesikhatsi ngabelwa kutsi ngibe ngumbonisi wesifundza enyakatfo ye-Ontario. Bengisandza kushada, ngineminyaka lengu-25 budzala futsi bengite lwati lolungako, kodvwa-ke sahamba ngobe besetsembele kuJehova. Ekhatsi nebusika baseCanada, sagibela sitimela lesihamba busuku bonkhe sikanye nebabonisi labajikeletako labanyenti labanalokuhlangenwe nako lebebabuyela etabelweni tabo. Basikhutsata kakhulu! Lomunye umzalwane waze watsi asisebentise indzawo yekulala labetibekele yona kute singahlali busuku bonkhe etitulweni tesitimela. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, ngemuva nje kwemalanga langu-15 sishadile, savakashela licembu lelincane laseHornepayne, njengobe ngishito ekucaleni.

Bekukunyenti lobekusetawushintja ekuphileni kwami na-Evelyn. Ngesikhatsi ngingumbonisi wesigodzi ngasekupheleni kwa-1960, ngamenywa kutsi ngiye ekilasini lesi-36 leSikolwa saseGileyadi eBrooklyn, New York, lebelitawutsatsa tinyanga letilishumi kusukela ekucaleni kwaFebruary 1961. Ngajabula kakhulu, kodvwa kwangivisa buhlungu kutsi Evelyn yena abengakamenywa. Esikhundleni saloko, njengalabanye bafati lebebasesimeni lesifana nesakhe wacelwa kutsi abhale incwadzi asho kutsi ukulungele kutsi ngimshiye tinyanga letingaba lishumi. Evelyn wakhala kodvwa savumelana ngekutsi ngiye kulesikolwa futsi wajabula ngekuceceshwa lokulusito lebengitakutfola eGileyadi.

Ngesikhatsi ngisesesikolweni, Evelyn abekhonta egatjeni laseCanada. Watfola lilungelo lelikhulu lekuhlala endlini yinye nadzadze lobekagcotjiwe, Margaret Lovell. Ecinisweni mine na-Evelyn besikhumbulana kakhulu. Nanobe kunjalo, ngelusito lwaJehova sakhona kutetayela tabelo tetfu tesikhashana. Ngatsintseka kakhulu ngekutsi Evelyn abekulungele kudzela sikhatsi setfu sekuba ndzawonye kute sikhone kusetjentiswa kakhulu nguJehova nenhlangano yakhe.

Ngemuva kwekutsi sengibe seGileyadi tinyanga letingaba tintsatfu, uMzalwane Nathan Knorr, lobekahola umsebenti lowentiwa emhlabeni wonkhe, wangicela intfo lebengingakayicabangi. Wangibuta kutsi ngingavuma yini kushiya Sikolwa saseGileyadi futsi ngibuyele eCanada kute ngifundzise sikhashana eSikolweni Semsebenti WeMbuso lebesichutjelwa egatjeni. UMzalwane Knorr wangitjela kutsi angikaphoceleleki kusemukela lesabelo. Nangifuna, bengingachubeka ngicedze imfundvo yaseSikolweni saseGileyadi bese mhlawumbe ngabelwa emsebentini wetitfunywa telivangeli. Waphindze watsi nangabe ngikhetsa kubuyela eCanada, bekungenteka ngingasaphindzi ngimenyelwe eGileyadi futsi bekungenteka ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi ngabelwe kutsi ngibuyele ensimini. Wakushiyela kimi kutsi ngente sincumo nasengikhulume nemfati wami.

Njengobe Evelyn abesavele angitjelile kutsi utiva njani ngetabelo tenhlangano, ngekushesha ngavele ngatjela uMzalwane Knorr ngatsi: “Singakujabulela kwenta nome yini inhlangano yaJehova lefuna siyente.” Besihlale sititjela kutsi kufanele siye nome ngukuphi lapho inhlangano yaJehova isabela khona, kungayi ngekutsi yini lesiyitsandzako.

Ngako nga-April 1961, ngahamba eBrooklyn  ngabuyela eCanada kute ngiyewufundzisa eSikolweni Semsebenti WeMbuso. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi saba ngemalunga emndeni waseBethel. Ngingakalindzeli, ngatfola simemo sekuya ekilasini lesi-40 laseGileyadi lebelitawucala nga-1965. Kwaphindze kwadzingeka kutsi Evelyn abhale incwadzi avume kutsi ngimshiye. Kodvwa ngemuva kwemaviki lambalwa, sajabula kakhulu ngemuva kwekutsi naye atfole simemo sekuya nami kulesikolwa.

Nasesifikile eSikolweni saseGileyadi, uMzalwane Knorr wasitjela kutsi bafundzi lababhalise emakilasini esiFulentji, njengatsi, bebatawutfunyelwa e-Afrika. Kodvwa ngelilanga letfu lekutfola ticu taseGileyadi sabelwa kutsi sibuyele eCanada! Ngabekwa kutsi ngibe ngumbonisi weligatja (nyalo lobitwa ngekutsi ngumchumanisi weKomidi Yeligatja). Njengobe bengineminyaka lengu-34 nje kuphela, ngakhumbuta uMzalwane Knorr ngatsi: “Ngisemncane kakhulu.” Kodvwa wangikhutsata kakhulu. Kusukela ekucaleni, ngetama kubuta kubazalwane baseBethel labadzala kunami nalabanalokuhlangenwe nako lokunyenti ngaphambi kwekutsi ngente tincumo letinkhulu.

Kukhonta eBethel kunginike ematfuba lamanyenti ekufundza kulabanye. Ngiyawahlonipha emalunga eKomidi Yeligatja futsi ngiwatsatsa njengalasibonelo kimi. Ngifundze lokunyenti kubazalwane nabodzadze labanyenti labangemaKhristu, labancane nalabadzala, lesihlangene nabo kuleligatja nasemabandleni lahlukahlukene lesikhonte kuwo.

Kukhonta eBethel kuphindze kwanginika litfuba lekutsi ngifundzise labanye futsi ngicinise kukholwa kwabo. Umphostoli Pawula watjela Thimothi watsi: “Chubeka etintfweni lowatifundza.” Waphindze watsi: “Tintfo lowativa kimi letasekelwa bofakazi labanyenti, tiphatsise emadvodza letsembekile, nawo latakufanela kahle kufundzisa labanye.” (2 Thim. 2:2; 3:14) Ngaletinye tikhatsi lamanye emaKhristu angibuta kutsi ngutiphi tifundvo lengitifundzile kuleminyaka lengu-57 lengiyicitse emsebentini waseBethel. Ngivele ngiphendvule kamelula ngitsi: “Hlale ukulungele kwenta loko inhlangano yaJehova lefuna ukwente, futsi wetsembele kuJehova kute akusite.”

Kufika kwami eBethel ngiselijaha lelinemahloni futsi lelite lwati lolungako, ngatsi yintfo leyenteke itolo nje. Kodvwa kuyo yonkhe leminyaka, Jehova ‘abesolo abambe sandla sami sangesekudla.’ Abesolo angisita ngemusa lebengiwuboniswa bazalwane kanye nelusito lwabo, futsi abengicinisekisa atsi: “Ungesabi, ngitakusita.”—Isa. 41:13.