NIINZI chakapa kuti kube oobu? Mwiime ndimubuzye. Ndakazyalwa mu29 July 1929 alubo ndakakomenena kuBulacan iili kuPhilippines. Teetwakali azintu zyiingi pe nkaambo kwakali penzi lyamali. Kwakabuka nkondo chiindi nindakali mukubusi. Basilumamba bakuJapan bakaza kukuzoolwana chisi chaPhilippines. Nikuba boobo, teetwakiibona loko pe nkondo nkaambo twakali kukkala kule adolopo. Teetwakalikwe rediyo, TV naa mapepa twaambo nkinkaako, bantu bakali kweenda mbabo bakali kutubuzya kuti niinzi chilikuchitika.

Tuli 8 mumpuli yesu mpawo mebo ndili wachibili alubo nindakali aminyaka iili 8 banene asyanene bazyala baama bakanditola kuti ndikakkale aabo. Nikuba kuti twakali kunjila chikombelo chaKkatolika, pesi Syanene wakali kuyanda kumvwa zisyomwa abazimwi zikombelo nkinkaako, wakali kutambula mabbuku apandulula zyaBbayibbele ngibakali kumupa beenzinyina. Chimwi chiindi wakanditondeezya kabbuku katii Protection, Safety, akati Uncovered aBbayibbele zyakalembedwe mumulaka wachiTagalog. * Ndakali kukuyandisya kubala Bbayibbele, kapati bbuku lyaMatayo, Marko, Luka, alyaJohane. Eezi zyakapa kuti ndiyande kutobelezya Jesu.​—Joh. 10:27.

Nkondo yakamana mu1945. Mpawo bazyali bangu bakandikumbila kuti ndibweede kung’anda. Syaanene wakandizumizya. Nkinkaako ndakiinka.

MuDecember 1945, Bakamboni baJehova bakuAngat bakaza kukuzookambawukila kuchilawu nkundakali kukkala. Twakaswayigwa awumwi Kamboni, wakatupandulwida nzilyaamba Bbayibbele atala ‘amazuba aakumamanino.’ (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Wakatukumbila kuti tusike kuchiiyo chaBbayibbele chakali kuchitilwa kuchilawu chakali afwiifwi ankutwakali kukkala. Bazyali bangu teebakiinka pe pesi ime ndakiinka. Kwakasika bantu bali 20 mpawo bamwi bakali kubuzya mibuzyo.

Ndakayeeya kweenda nkaambo teendakali kuzimvwa pe nzibakali kwiiya. Pesi bakasaanguna kwiimba.  Lwiimbo oolo, lwakandinoneezya mpawo ndakakkala. Nikwakamana kwiimbwa akukomba bakatutamba kuti tuzoosike kumuswaangano kuAngat muNsondo yakali kutobela.

Twakeenda makkilomita aali 8 kuti tukasike kumuunzi wabaCruz kwakali kuchitilwa miswaangano. Chakandibotezya nchakuti bachikula bakaliwo akati kabantu bali50 bakali kupandulula twaambo tunikide tuli muBbayibbele. Bumwi buzuba nitwakamaninsya miswaangano, Mukwesu Damian Santos wakali mwiiminini wadolopo katanaba Kamboni wakanditamba kung’anda yakwe. Busiku oobo twakiizya zyiingi atala aBbayibbele.

Muchiindi eecho bantu biingi bakali kufwambaana kujata kasimpe kamuBbayibbele. Nitwakaba achiindi katunjila miswaangano bakwesu bakatubuzya kuti, “Mulayanda na kubbabbatizigwa?” Ndakabamvwila kuti “ Ndayanda.” Ndakali kuyanda kuba ‘muzike waMwaami Kristu.’ (Kol. 3:24) Twakaya kumulonga wakali afwiifwi alubo twakabbabbatizigwa katuli babili mu15 February 1946.

Mbukunga twakali twabbabbatizigwa, twakabona kuti twakeelede kutobelezya Jesu kwiinda mukukambawuka. Ndeende taakabotelwa pe anzindakasala wakandibuzya kuti, “Ulikuchijanina zintu zitali zyansayizi yako. Tazyaambi kuti mbutabbizigwe mumaanzi ngaweelela kukambawuka.” Pesi ndakamupandulwida kuti Leza uyanda kuti tukambawuke atala aBwaami bwakwe. (Mt. 24:14) Alubo ndakamubuzya kuti, “ndiyanda kuzuzikizya chikonke changu.” Nzizyo zyakapa kuti ndeende aambe majwi ngindaamba kumasaangunino. Wakali kuyanda kundikasya kuti ndikambawuke. Eezi nzizyo zyakapa kuti ndisale kusiya zintu zyoonse kuchitila kuti ndizuzikizye chipeekezyo changu chakukomba Leza.

BaCruz bakandibweza kuti ndikkale ambabo kuAngat. Bakatusungwaazya kuti tusaangune kupayona amwanaabo musimbi uutegwa Nora. Twakasaanguna kupayona mu1 November 1947. Nora wakakupayona kali kuli bumwi busena pesi mebo ndakapayona kandili kuAngat.

Nindakaba aminyaka iitatu kandilikupayona, Mukwesu Earl Stewart wakazwa kumutabi wakapa nkani kumuswaangano wakali kuchitilwa kuAngat alubo kwakali bantu bali 500. Wakali kwaambuula Chikuwa mpawo naakamaninsya ndakiifwiinsya mumulaka wachiTagalog. Nikuba kuti teendakasika kule pe mulizyakwiiya pesi ndakakonzya kutolekela nkaambo bayiisi bangu bakali kubelesya Chikuwa chiindi nindakachili kuchikolo. Alubo chimwi chakandigwasya nkuti mabbuku aambunga taakali kujanika pe mumulaka wachiTagalog. Nkinkaako, ndakali kwaabala muChikuwa. Eezi zyakapa kuti ndikonzye kutolekela nkani eeyi azimwi zyakatobela.

Nwaakamana muswaangano, Mukwesu Stewart wakatubuzya kuti kwakali kuyandikana bakwesu mapayona babili kuti bayinke kuBbeteli. Bakwesu aaba bakali kuyakugwasilizya mulimu nkaambo mamishinali bakeelede kuyoonjila muswaangano wakachitwa mu1950 wakali amutwe uti Theocracy’s Increase kuNew York, U.S.A. Ndakali umwi wakatambwa. Chiindi eechi, ndakasiya busena mbundakazibilide kuti ndikagwasilizye kuBbeteli.

Ndakatambwa kuBbeteli mu19 June 1950 mpawo ndakasaanguna mulimu mupya. Kwakali ng’anda mpati yakali yachiindi yakali kubelesegwa kuti ibe muunzi waBbeteli alubo busena oobu bwakali kusika kuma ekka aabili achisela. Kwakali bakwesu bache bakatakwete bakali kubelekela kuBbeteli. Chifumo-fumo ndakali kugwasilizya kudipatimenti lyakujika. Kuzwa kuma 9 kuseeni ndakali kubeleka kudipatimenti lyakuwacha zigogo akuzi-ayina. Mbundakali kubeleka nikuba sikati. Ndakiinkilila kunembo kandibeleka kuBbeteli nikuba chiindi mamishinali nibakaboola kuzwa kumuswaangano. Ndakali kubeleka kupekka mamagazini ayanda kutumizigwa akwaatumizya kubantu bakaalembela alubo ndakali kutambula bantu bakali kuswaya kuBbeteli. Ndakali kuchita milimu yoonse njindakali kupegwa.

Ndakatambwa kuchikolo chakuGilead mumunyaka wa1952 kandili abamwi bali 6 bakali kuzwa kuPhilippines alubo kkilasi yesu yakali yachi20. Zintu zyiingi nzitwakabona kuUnited States zyakali zipya kulindiswe alimwi zyakali kutugambya. Buumi kuUnited States bwakasiyene kule abuumi mbundakali kupona kulindiswe.

 Muchikozyano, twakeelede kwiiya mbutukonzya kubelesya imwi minchina azimwi zibelesyo zyakali zipya kulindiswe. Alubo bwiime bwakunze bwakasiyene kule abwakulindiswe! Limwi zuba kuseeni ndakajana aanze kakutuba bu. Kwakali kusaanguna kubona chaanda mubuumi bwangu. Kwakali kutontola loko!

Nikuba kuti zintu zyoonse zyakali zipya pesi nzindakali kwiiya zyakali kupa kuti nditabikkili maanu kuzintu nzindatakazibilide. Bayiisi besu, bakali kuyiisya munzila imvwisisika. Bakatuyiisya mbutukonzya kuyanduulisisya akujana zyiingi chiindi nituli kubala. Chikolo chakuGilead chakandigwasya kuti ndisime mubukombi.

Nindakamaninsya chikolo chakuGilead ndakabeleka kandili payona uyandikana kwachiindi chifwiifwi kuBronx iili kuNew York City. MuJuly 1953 ndakanjila muswaangano wakali amutwe uti New World Society wakachitilwa kuNew York City. Nwakamana muswaangano ndakabweeda kuPhilippines.

Bakwesu bakuwofesi yamutabi bakandibuzya kuti, “Lino uyooba mulangizi wabbazu.” Eezi zyakali kuyoondipa mweenya wakutobelezya mikondo yaKristu, wakali kuswaya myuunzi yakali kule kuti akagwasye mbelele zyaJehova. (1 Pet. 2:21) Ndakaba mulangizi wabbazu kuLuzon kasuwa kapati kali kuPhilippines. Eezi zyakali kuswaanizya kusika kumasena ali mbuli kuBulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac akuZambales. Kuti ndiswaye amwi madolopo ndakali kwiinda muzilundu zyakuSierra Madre kakuteendeki pe akaambo kamabwe. Makkombi amabbasi taakali kusika pe nkundakeelede kwiinka nkinkaako ndakali kukumbila kumadilayiva amagonyeti kuti ndikkale ajulu azisamu nzibakali kususa. Bakali kundizuminina nikuba kuti kwakali kukonzya kundinjizya mumapenzi.

Mbungano zyiingi zyakali abantu bache alubo zimwi zyakali zipya. Nkinkaako bakwesu bakali kubotelwa chiindi nindakali kubagwasya kuchitisya miswaangano akuya kukukambawuka.

Mukuya kwachiindi ndakazoochinchilwa kubbazu lyakuBicol. Bbazu eeli lyakali atubunga twakatalisigwa amapayona aayandikana bakali kuyabukambawuka kumasena atakwe Bakamboni. Nindakasika kuli umwi muunzi, bakali kubelesya chimbuzi chadindi chakabikkidwe zisamu zibili zyakulyatilila. Nindakalyatilila aazisamu eezyo zyakawida mudindi andime twakabutolana. Eezi zyakapa kuti ndinonoke kuya kukunywa tii nkaambo ndakachili kusamba!

Chiindi nindakasika kuBulacan ndakasaanguna kuyeeya Nora nkaambo nkwaakasaangunina kupayona. Achiindi eechi wakali payona uyandikana kuDumaguete mpawo ndakamuswaya nkuko. Kuzwa waawo twakasaanguna kuyandana mpawo mu1956 twakachada. Mviki nitwakazwa kuchada twakaswaya mbungano iili kukasuwa kali kuRapu Rapu. Nikuba kuti twakali kweenda musinzo mulamfu katuli kutanta zilundu  pesi twakali kubotelwa kuswaya bakwesu abachizi kandili amukayintu wangu!

Nikwakiinda minyaka iine katuli mumulimu wabbazu twakatambwa kuti tukabelekele kuBbeteli. Kuzwa muJanuary 1960 twakali kubelekela kuBbeteli. Kwaminyaka miingi yakiinda, ndakaba achilongezyo chakubeleka abakwesu bali amikuli mipati mumbunga alubo Nora wakali kubeleka kumadipatimenti asiyene-siyene aBbeteli.

Kuzwa nindakali aBbeteli ndakabotelwa kubona kuyungizya kwaBakamboni kuPhilippines. Chiindi nindakatalika kubelekela kuBbeteli kandili mukubusi, kwakali basikupupulula bali10 000 muchisi choonse chakuPhilippines. Pesi lino kuli basikupupulula biinda ku200 000 alubo kuli bantu biingi loko babeleka kuBbeteli kabasumpula mulimu wakukambawuka.

Mbukunga mulimu wakali wavula, eezi zyakapa kuti kuyandikane kuti kuyakwe amwi maanda aBbeteli. BamuKabunga Keendelezya bakatubuzya kuti tuyanduule busena mputwakali kukonzya kuyakila ng’anda mpati. Ime amukwesu wakali kudipatimenti lyakupulinta twakabuzya-buzya maChina bakali kukkala afwiifwi aBbeteli kuti kuli wakali kuuzya ng’anda na. Teetwakiijana pe alubo umwi mwaalumi wakatubuzya kuti: “MaChina tabawuzyi pe pesi balawula.”

Chakutayeeyela, umwi mwaalumi wakatubuzya kuti wakali kuuzya ng’anda yakwe nkaambo wakali kuyanda kulongela kuUnited States. Zyakachitika kuzwa waawo zyakatuyumya mate munkanwa. Umwi wakali kukkala afwiifwi wakatuuzizya ng’anda yakwe alubo wakasungwaazya bamwi kuti batuuzizye. Nikuba mwaalumi wakatubuzya kuti “MaChina tabawuzyi pe,” wakazootuuzizya ng’anda yakwe. Muchiindi chiniini, kwakayungizigwa amwi maanda aBbeteli. Ndakabona kuti Jehova nguwe wakatugwasya kuti tuzwidilile.

Mu1950, ndime ndakali muniini aBbeteli. Pesi lino ime amukayintu wangu ndiswe bapati kuli boonse. Tandilisoli pe akaambo kakusala kutobela Kristu kufumbwa nkwandibuzya kuti ndiinke. Nikuba kuti bazyali bangu bakandaanda pesi Jehova wakandipa mpuli mpati yabakombima. Ndakabona kuti Jehova utupa zintu ziyandikana chiindi choonse kufumbwa mulimu ngutumubelekela. Ime aNora tulamulumba Jehova akaambo kazipo nzyatupede alubo tusungwaazya bamwi kuti basunke Jehova kuti babone na takobalongezya.​—Malk. 3:10.

Jesu wakaambila simutelo Matayo kuti: “Ndicilila.” Wakachita biyeni Matayo? ‘Wakasiya zyoonse, wakanyampuka akuchilila Jesu.’ (Lk. 5:27, 28) Mbundakachita alubo ndisungwaazya bamwi kuti bachite oobo kuchitila kuti babone zilongezyo Jehova nzyakonzya kubapa.