NGATALELWA eQueensland, e-Australia, nga-1955. Ngekushesha ngemuva kwaloko, make wami, Estelle, wacala kufundza liBhayibheli naBoFakazi BaJehova. Ngemuva kwemnyaka wabhajatiswa, futsi babe wami, Ron, waba nguFakazi ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-13 make abhajatisiwe. Mine ngabhajatiswa nga-1968 endzaweni lesemaphandleni aseQueensland.

Kusukela ngisengumfanyana, bengikutsandza kufundza, ngitsandza netilwimi letehlukene. Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nasihamba ngemoto nebatali bami, bengivame kuhlala ngemuva futsi ngifundze incwadzi. Bekubatfukutselisa kutsi angiyibuki indalo. Kutsandza kwami kufundza kwangisita kutsi ngiphase ngemalengiso esikolweni. Ngaze ngatfola nemihlomelo leminyenti ngesikhatsi ngisebangeni leliphakeme edolobheni laseGlenorchy, esihlengeni saseTasmania.

Ngaleso sikhatsi kwadzingeka kutsi ngitsatse sincumo lesibalulekile. Bengitawemukela yini umfundzate kute ngiye enyuvesi? Nanobe ngangititsandza tincwadzi nekufundza, kodvwa ngimbonga kakhulu make ngekungifundzisa kutsi ngitsandze Jehova ngetulu kwanobe yini lenye. (1 Khorinte 3:18, 19) Ngemvume yebatali bami, ngancuma kutsi ngekushesha nje nasengicedzile esikolweni ngibe  lihlahlandlela. Loko ngakwenta ngaJanuary 1971, ngesikhatsi ngineminyaka lengu-15 budzala.

Eminyakeni lesiphohlongo leyalandzela, ngaba nelilungelo lekuba lihlahlandlela eTasmania. Ngaleso sikhatsi, ngashada nentfombi lenhle yakhona, lenguJenny Alcock. Saba ngemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile iminyaka lemine emadolobheni lasemaphandleni aseSmithton naseQueenstown.

Nga-1978, mine nemfati wami saya emhlanganweni wetive lobewuse-Port Moresby, ePapua New Guinea. Ngisikhumbula kahle lesinye sitfunywa selivangeli sibeka inkhulumo ngelulwimi lwesiHiri Motu. Nanobe bengingakucondzi loko besikusho, ngakhumbula kutsi nami ngiyafuna kuba sitfunywa selivangeli, ngifundze lulwimi lolusha futsi ngikhutsate bazalwane ngekutsi ngibeke inkhulumo ngelulwimi lwabo. Ekugcineni ngabona kutsi ngingalusebentisa njani lutsandvo lwami ngelulwimi kute ngikhonte Jehova.

Nasibuyela ekhaya, samangala nasitfola simemo sekuba titfunywa telivangeli. NgaJanuary 1979 sefika esihlengeni saseFunafuti lesiseTuvalu. Kwakunebamemeteli labatsatfu nje kuphela lababhajatisiwe eTuvalu.

Kwakungasimelula kufundza lulwimi lwesiTuvalu. Incwadzi lebeyikhona ngalolo lwimi “kwakuLithestamente Lelisha” kuphela. Bekute tichazamagama nobe tifundvo tekufundza lolo lwimi, ngako sakhetsa kufundza emagama langu-10 kuya kulangu-20 onkhe malanga. Kodvwa sabona kutsi asiwutfoli kahle umcondvo longiwo wemagama lamanyenti lebesiwafundza. Esikhundleni sekutsi sitjele bantfu kutsi akukalungi kusebentisa emadimoni, besibatjela kutsi akukafaneli basebentise tikali netimboko. Kodvwa kwadzingeka kutsi sichubeke nekulifundza lolulwimi ngobe besesicalise tifundvo letinyenti teliBhayibheli. Ngemuva kweminyaka leminyenti, lomunye lesacala ngaye kumfundzela watsi: “Siyajabula kutsi nyalo seniyakhona kukhuluma lulwimi lwetfu. Ekucaleni besinganiva kutsi nitsini!”

Kodvwa kunalokutsite lokwasisita kutsi sisheshe silufundze lolulwimi. Njengobe kwakute indzawo lebesingacasha kuyo, kwadzingeka kutsi sihlale nemndeni waBoFakazi lowawukuleyondzawo. Kwakufanele sihlale sikhuluma siTuvalu, ngisho nasekhaya. Njengobe besekuphele iminyaka leminyenti singasikhulumi siNgisi, siTuvalu sase siba lulwimi lwetfu.

Nasisandza kufika, bantfu labanyenti bakhombisa kutsi bayalitsandza liciniso. Kodvwa yini lebesitayisebentisa kute sifundze nabo? Besite ngisho nayinye  incwadzi ngelulwimi lwabo. Bebatawuba naso njani sifundvo labatichubela sona? Nasebacale kuta emihlanganweni, bebatawuhlabela ngani, bebatatibeka njani tinkhulumo, futsi bebatayilungiselela njani imihlangano? Bebatawusitwa yini kute babhajatiswe? Labantfu labanetinhlitiyo leticotfo bebadzinga tincwadzi letibhalwe ngelulwimi lwabo kute bafundze ngaJehova. (1 Khorinte 14:9) Satibuta kutsi, ‘Kutawuke kwenteke yini kutsi sibe netincwadzi ngesiTuvalu, lokululwimi lolukhulunywa bantfu labangephansi kwa-15 000?’ Kuphendvula kwaJehova lemibuto kwasikhombisa tintfo letimbili: (1) Ufuna bantfu ‘labasetichingini letikhashane’ kutsi bafundze ngaye, nekutsi (2) ufuna labo live lelibatsatsa ‘njengalabamnene nalabatfobekile’ kutsi batfole sivikelo kuye.—Jeremiya 31:10; Zefaniya 3:12.

Nga-1980, lihhovisi leligatja lasinika umsebenti wekuhumusha tincwadzi ngesiTuvalu. Sawucala lomsebenti nanobe sasiva shengatsi asilwati kahle lolulwimi. (1 Khorinte 1:28, 29) Sacala ngekutsenga umshini lomdzala kuhulumende kute siprinte tincwadzi lebesitatisebentisa emihlanganweni yetfu. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, sahumusha incwadzi letsi “The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life” ngesiTuvalu, futsi sayiprinta ngalomshini. Ngisalikhumbula liphunga lelibi le-inki, kanye nekushisa lobekwenta kutsi kube matima kuprinta tonkhe letincwadzi. Ngaleso sikhatsi besite gesi.

Kwakulukhuni kuhumusha siTuvalu ngobe besingakhoni kubuka emagama kusichazamagama nome sicwaninge etincwadzini tesiTuvalu. Kodvwa ngalesinye sikhatsi lusito lebesiludzinga besilutfola ngaletinye tindlela. Ngalelinye lilanga ekuseni, ngeliphutsa ngashayela lomunye mkhulu lobekangabatsandzi BoFakazi. Lomkhulu lobekake waba nguthishela wangikhumbuta kutsi singaphindzi site ekhaya lakhe. Ngemuva kwaloko watsi: “Kunye nje lengifuna kukutjela kona, kutsi indlela lenihumusha ngayo ayiketayeleki elulwimini lwesiTuvalu.” Ngabuta nalabanye futsi ngatfola kutsi abecinisile. Ngako senta lushintjo kute sitfutfukise indlela lesasihumusha ngayo. Kwangimangalisa kutsi Jehova wasisita  asebentisa umuntfu longabatsandzi BoFakazi, kodvwa lobekatifundza tincwadzi tetfu.

Kwekucala lesakuhumusha futsi sakunika bantfu kwakusimemo seSikhumbuto. Ngemuva kwaloko saba ne-Kingdom News No. 30, leyakhululwa ngesikhatsi lesifanako neyesiNgisi. Kwasijabulisa kakhulu kutsi besesinika bantfu lokutsite lokubhalwe ngelulwimi lwabo. Ngemuva kwesikhatsi, saba netincwajana kanye netincwadzi ngesiTuvalu. Nga-1983, ligatja lase-Australia lacala kuprinta Sicongosekulindza ngesiTuvalu. Lomagazini wawunemakhasi langu-24 futsi wawuphuma njalo ngemuva kwetinyanga letintsatfu. Bantfu baseTuvalu batijabulela yini letincwadzi nabomagazini? Yebo batijabulela ngobe bayakutsandza kufundza. Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nasikhulula incwadzi lensha, umsakato wesive wawuyimemetela etindzabeni, futsi ngalesinye sikhatsi kwakukhulunywa ngayo lize liyewushona. *—Fundza umbhalo longentansi.

Wawentiwa njani umsebenti wekuhumusha? Besicala ngekubhalela ephepheni. Besibese sibhala ngemshini sikulungise loko lesikubhalile tikhatsi letinyenti ngaphambi kwekutsi sikutfumele egatjeni lelise-Australia. Nanobe bebangalucondzi lolulwimi, bodzadze lababili labasegatjeni bebabhalela lomsebenti kungcondvomshini. Kodvwa ngesizatfu sekutsi bebawubhala kabili baphindze bacatsanise umehluko kungcondvomshini, loko bekubenta banciphise kwenta emaphutsa. Ligatja belitihlela kahle letincwadzi, lokusho kutsi belibese lihlanganisa loko lokubhaliwe lifake netitfombe. Belibese lisitfumelela ngeliposi lencwadzi lehlelwe kahle. Sasiyihlola siphindze siyitfumele egatjeni kute ishicilelwe.

Umsebenti wekuhumusha sewutfutfuke kakhulu! Nyalo bahumushi babhala umsebenti wabo kungcondvomshini baphindze bawulungise khona. Ngalokuvamile tincwadzi tihlelwa ngumuntfu losendzaweni lefanako nalapho bahumushi basebentela khona. Ngemuva kwaloko, bahumushi batfumela umsebenti wabo nge-Internet emagatjeni lawushicilelako. Sekute sidzingo sekutsi umuntfu aye eposini sekwephutile kute atfumele umsebenti ngeliposi.

Njengobe iminyaka ichubeka, mine naJenny sanikwa imisebenti leminyenti etincenyeni letehlukahlukene tasePacific. Nasisuka eTuvalu satfunyelwa egatjeni laseSamoa nga-1985. Nasifika lapho sasita ekuhumusheni lulwimi lwesiSamoa, lwesiTonga, lwesiTokelau kanye nelulwimi lwesiTuvalu. * (Fundza umbhalo longentansi.) Ngemuva kwaloko, nga-1996 saya ehhovisini laseFiji lapho sasita khona emsebentini wekuhumusha lulwimi lwesiFiji, lwesiKiribati, lwesiNauru, lwesiRotuma nelwesiTuvalu.

Iyangimangalisa indlela bahumushi labawutsandza ngayo umsebenti wabo nanobe umatima futsi ukhatsalisana. NjengaJehova, labazalwane nabodzadze labetsembekile bafuna bantfu kutsi beve tindzaba letimnandzi ngelulwimi labalumunya. (Sembulo 14:6) Nasi sibonelo: Ngesikhatsi kusahlelwa kutsi kucale kuhunyushwa Sicongosekulindza ngesiTonga, ngakhuluma nabo bonkhe labadzala bemabandla eTonga futsi ngababuta kutsi ngubani longaceceshelwa  kutsi abe ngumhumushi. Lomunye walabazalwane lobekasebenta kahle angumakhenikha, watsi utawuyekela emsebentini ngelilanga lelilandzelako kute acale kuba ngumhumushi. Kwangikhutsata kukholwa kwakhe lokucinile njengobe abenemndeni futsi angati kutsi utayitfola njani imali leyenele kute awunakekele. Kodvwa Jehova wamnakekela yena nemndeni wakhe, futsi kwaphela iminyaka leminyenti solo angumhumushi.

Njengalabahumushi, emalunga eSigungu Lesibusako akukhatsalela kakhulu kukhicitwa kwetincwadzi ngato tonkhe tilwimi, ngisho naletikhulunywa bantfu labambalwa. Sibonelo saloko kutsi kwake kwaphakama umbuto lotsi kufanele yini siTuvalu sichubeke nekuhunyushwa. Kwangikhutsata kakhulu kufundza imphendvulo yeSigungu Lesibusako letsi: “Asisiboni sizatfu lesinganenta niyekele kuhumusha lulwimi lwesiTuvalu. Nanobe insimu yesiTuvalu ingaba yincane nayicatsaniswa nalamanye emacembu etilwimi, bantfu labakhuluma siTuvalu kufanele beve tindzaba letimnandzi ngelulwimi lwabo.”

Nga-2003, mine naJenny sesuka eHhovisini Lekuhumusha lelisegatjeni laseFiji, satfunyelwa eMsebentini Wekuhumusha ePatterson, eNew York. Liphupho lami lafezeka! Saba yincenye yelicembu lelisita ekuhunyushweni kwetincwadzi tetfu ngetilwimi letinyenti. Kuleminyaka lecishe ibe mibili siseMsebentini Wekuhumusha, sanikwa umsebenti wekucecesha emacembu ebahumushi emaveni lamanyenti.

Asengiphindze ngibuyele kulomhlangano lobalulekile lengikhulume ngawo ekucaleni. Ngemnyaka wa-2000, Sigungu Lesibusako sabona kutsi emacembu ekuhumusha emhlabeni wonkhe bekadzinga lusito kute ente umsebenti wawo. Bahumushi labanyenti bebangakase bakufundzela kuhumusha. Ngemuva kwaloyo mhlangano neKomidini Yekubhala, Sigungu Lesibusako sancuma kutsi bonkhe bahumushi emhlabeni wonkhe baceceshwe. Ngako bahumushi bebatawufundziswa kutsi bangakucondza njani loko lokushiwo siNgisi, kutsi bangaticatulula njani tinkinga labahlangabetana nato nabahumusha nekutsi bangasebentisana njani njengelicembu.

Ube yini umphumela wako konkhe lokuceceshwa? Indlela yekuhumusha seyitfutfukile. Netincwadzi tetfu setihunyushwa ngetilwimi letinyenti kunasesikhatsini lesendlulile. Nga-1979, nasinikwa umsebenti wekuba titfunywa telivangeli, Sicongosekulindza besitfolakala ngetilwimi letingu-82 nje kuphela. Nanobe kunjalo, etilwimini letinyenti Sicongosekulindza besiphuma ngemuva kwetinyanga letimbalwa sesiphumile sesiNgisi. Kodvwa nyalo Sicongosekulindza sesihunyushwa ngetilwimi letingetulu kwa-240, futsi kuletinyenti tato siphuma ngesikhatsi lesifanako nesesiNgisi. Lamuhla, bantfu bangafundza tincwadzi letifundzisa ngeliciniso lelivela eBhayibhelini ngetilwimi letingetulu kwa-700. Eminyakeni leminyenti leyendlulile loku bekubonakala kungeke kwenteke.

Nga-2004, Sigungu Lesibusako sakubona kubalulekile kutsi i-New World Translation itfolakale ngetilwimi letinyenti ngekushesha. Ngenca yaleso sincumo, nyalo bantfu labanyenti bangafundza i-New World Translation ngetilwimi tabo. Kusukela nga-2014, leliBhayibheli lilonkhe nobe liyincenye selitfolakala ngetilwimi letingu-128, letihlanganisa leto letikhulunywa eNingizimu nePacific.

 Lenye yetintfo letijabulisako lengiyikhumbulako ngumhlangano lowaba seTuvalu nga-2011. Bese kuphele tinyanga letinyenti kunesomiso lesikhulu kulelive. Ngako bazalwane bebacabanga kutsi lomhlangano kutawudzingeka ungasabi khona. Kodvwa lokujabulisako kutsi ngentsambama lesafika ngayo, imvula yacala kuyitsela. Ngako saba nawo umhlangano! Kwaba lilungelo kimi kukhulula Lihumusho Lemhlaba Lomusha LemiBhalo YemaKhristu YesiGriki ngesiTuvalu. Nanobe kunebazalwane labambalwa labakhuluma lolulwimi, kodvwa nabo basitfola sipho lesihle lesivela kuJehova. Ngemuva kwemhlangano, laphindze lana kakhulu. Ngako bonkhe bantfu lebebakhona besebawatfolile emanti ekuphila nemanti lamanyenti emvula!

Lokubuhlungu kutsi umfati wami Jenny abesashonile, abulewe ngumdlavuza nga-2009, ngemuva kwekulwisana nawo iminyaka lelishumi. Besesineminyaka lengu-35 sishadile. Nasekavusiwe, utawujabula kakhulu nakeva kutsi kwakhululwa liBhayibheli ngesiTuvalu.

Jehova ungibusise ngalomunye umfati lomuhle, Loraini Sikivou. Loraini naJenny bebasebenta kanye kanye eBethel yaseFiji futsi Loraini naye bekangumhumushi. Ngako ngaphindze ngaba nemfati lokhonta Jehova ngekwetsembeka kanye nami futsi lotsandza lulwimi njengami.

Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka, ngiyibonile indlela Babe wetfu lonelutsandvo Jehova latinakekela ngayo tidzingo tebantfu bato tonkhe tilwimi, ngisho nobe lulwimi lwabo lukhulunywa bantfu labambalwa. (Tihlabelelo 49:1-3) Ngiyibonile indlela bantfu labajabula ngayo nabatfola tincwadzi kwekucala ngca ngelulwimi lwabo nobe nabahlabela badvumisa Jehova ngelulwimi labalumunya. Etikhatsini letifanana naleti, ngicabanga ngelutsandvo lolukhulu Jehova lanalo ngatsi. (Imisebenti 2:8, 11) Ngisawakhumbula kahle emavi lashiwo nguSaulo Teasi, longumzalwane losakhulile waseTuvalu. Ngemuva kwekuhlabela ingoma yeMbuso kwekucala ngelulwimi lwakhe, watsi: “Kufanele utjele Sigungu Lesibusako kutsi letingoma timnandzi ngesiTuvalu kwendlula siNgisi.”

NgaSeptember 2005, ngamangala nangitfola lilungelo lekuba lilunga leSigungu Lesibusako saBoFakazi BaJehova. Nanobe ngingasahumushi, ngiyambonga Jehova kutsi ungivumele ngachubeka nekusekela umsebenti wekuhumusha emhlabeni wonkhe. Kuyangijabulisa kwati kutsi Jehova unendzaba netidzingo tabo bonkhe bantfu bakhe, ngisho nalabo labasetihlengeni letikhashane letisekhatsi neLwandle iPacific. Kungako umhlabeli atsi: “[Jehova] uyabusa, umhlaba awujabule netichingi tonkhe tijabule.”—Tihlabelelo 97:1.