NDAKAZYALWA mu 1926 mu Crooksville, Ohio, mucisi ca United States. Bataata a Bamaama tiibakali bakombi, pele bakatuyiisya swebo tobana ibali lusele kuti katuunka ku cikombelo. Ndakali kukomba kucikombelo ca Methodist. Ciindi nondakali amyaka yakuzyalwa iili 14, musololi wacikombelo wakandipa bulumbu akaambo kakuti ndakali kuunka kucikombelo Nsondo a Nsondo mwaka woonse.

Aciindi eeco, simukoboma umwi utegwa Margaret Walker, umwi wa Bakamboni ba Jehova, wakatalika kuswaya bamaama akubandika ambabo zyamu Bbaibbele. Bumwi buzuba, ndakayeeya kubasangana. Bamaama bakayeeya kuti ndilabanyonganya nobaiya, aboobo bakandaambila kuti ndizwe anze. Pele ndakazumanana kusoleka kuswiilila kumibandi yabo. Ba Margaret nobakaswaya bamaama kwaziindi zili mbozibede, bakandibuzya kuti, “Sena ulilizyi zina lya Leza?” Ndakaamba kuti, “Bantu boonse balizyi kuti ngu Leza.” Bakaamba kuti, “Bweza Bbaibbele lyako ubale lugwalo lwa Intembauzyo 83:18.” Ndakabala, mpoonya ndakazyiba kuti zina lya Leza ngu Jehova. Ndakazuza kuunka kubalongwe bangu akubaambila kuti: “Mwaunka kuŋanda, mukabale mu Bbaibbele lugwalo lwa Intembauzyo 83:18 mukabone zina lya Leza.” Inga mwaamba kuti ndakatalika kukambauka mpoonya-mpoonya.

Ndakaiya Bbaibbele akubbapatizyigwa mu 1941. Tiilyakalampa kuzwa nondakabbapatizyigwa, ndakaambilwa kunoosololela ciiyo cabbuku cambungano. Ndakakulwaizya bamaama abanabokwesu kuti kabajanika, alimwi boonse bakatalika kujanika kuciiyo cabbuku cambungano ncondakali kusololela. Pele bataata tiibakajisi luyandisisyo.

Ndakapegwa mikuli minji mumbungano, alimwi ndakaba amabbuku manji aakamwaigwa a Bakamboni ba Jehova. Bumwi buzuba, bataata bakatondeka mabbuku aangu akwaamba kuti: “Wazibona zintu zyoonse eezyo? Ndiyanda kuti zizwe muŋanda oomuno, alimwi inga waunka anzizyo.” Ndakazwa aŋanda akuyookkala kufwaafwi a Zanesville, Ohio, pele ndakali kuunka kuŋanda ciindi aciindi kutegwa ndikayumye-yumye mukwasyi wangu.

Bataata bakasoleka kulesya bamaama kujanika kumiswaangano. Zimwi ziindi bamaama nobakali kuunka kumiswaangano, bataata bakali kubatandila akubakwela kubapilusya muŋanda. Pele bamaama bakali kutija akuzwa anze kubelesya mulyango umbi. Ndakaambila bamaama kuti: “Mutalibiliki pe. Bayookatala kumutandila.”  Mukuya kwaciindi, bataata bakaleka kubakasya bamaama, mpoonya bakatalika kujanika kumiswaangano cakwaanguluka.

Ciindi Cikolo Camulimo Weendelezyegwa a Leza nocakatalika mu 1943, ndakatalika kupa makani aabasicikolo mumbungano mondakabede. Lulayo ndondakali kutambula ndamana kupa makani mucikolo lwakandigwasya kuba mwaambi mubotu.

Mu 1944, noyakali kulwanwa Nkondo Yabili Yanyika Yoonse, ndakalaililwa kunjila mulimo wabusikalumamba. Ndakaunka kuyoolibonya ku Fort Hayes mu Columbus, Ohio, akupimwa, akulemba mafoomu. Alimwi ndakaambila bapati-pati bamfwulumende kuti tandikonzyi kuba sikalumamba. Bakandileka kuti nduunke kuŋanda. Pele nokwakainda mazuba masyoonto, mupati-pati wamfwulumende umwi wakasika kuŋanda akundaambila kuti, “Corwin Robison, ndijisi pepa ilitondezya kuti weelede kwaangwa.”

Nokwakainda nsondo zyobilo, mubetesi wamunkuta wakati: “Nondalijisi nguzu, nondakwaanga kuti mane ukafwide muntolongo. Sena kuli ncoyanda kwaamba?” Ndakavwiila kuti: “Nomulemekwa, ndayelede kubalilwa akati kabaiminizi bacikombelo. Ndilaunka mumaanda oonse kukambauka, alimwi ndabakambaukila bantu banji makani mabotu aa Bwami.” Mubetesi wamunkuta wakaambila basinkuta kuti: “Tiimwaboolela kusala naa musankwa ooyu mwiiminizi wacikombelo naa pe. Mwaboolela kuti mwaambe naa wakalisikide kuzootondezyegwa zyakucita izijatikizya mulimo wabusikalumamba naa taakwe naakasikide.” Muciindi buyo cisyoonto citasiki akumaminiti aali 30, basinkuta bakaamba kuti ndakajisi mulandu. Mubetesi wakandibeteka kuti ndaangwe myaka yosanwe muntolongo yaku Ashland, Kentucky.

Nsondo zyobilo zyakusaanguna ndakali muntolongo ku Columbus, Ohio, alimwi ndakakkala ndelikke mukaanda mobakandibikkide buzuba bwakusaanguna. Ndakapaila kuli Jehova kuti: “Tandiyandi kukkala mukaanda aaka myaka yosanwe. Tandizyi cakucita.”

Buzuba bwakatobela basikugatela bakandigusya. Ndakaunkila mwaange umwi mulamfwu, iwakajisi makkuko mapati, akwiima kumwi katulanga awindo. Wakandibuzya kuti: “Ino wakaangilwa nzi, okafwaafwi?” Ndakaamba kuti: “Ndili umwi wa Bakamboni ba Jehova.” Wakati: “Uli Kamboni? Ino nkaambo nzi ncoli kokuno?” Ndakati: “Bakamboni ba Jehova tabaunki kunkondo akujaya bantu.” Wakati: “Bakakwaanga akaambo kakuti toyandi kujaya bantu. Bantu bamwi balabaanga akaambo kakuti bajaya bantu. Sena cilapanga maano?” Ndakati: “Peepe, tacipangi maano.”

Mpoonya wakati: “Kwamyaka iili 15 ndakali muntolongo iimbi, nkondakali kubala mabbuku aanu amwi.” Ciindi nondakamvwa boobo, ndakapaila kuti: “Jehova, kondigwasya kuti muntu ooyu abe kulubazu lwangu.” Aciindi eeco, mwaange ooyu iwakali kwiitwa kuti Paul, wakati: “Kuti naa umwi akati kabasankwa aaba akujate, ukwiile buyo. Ndilizyi  cakubacita.” Aboobo, nondakacili muntolongo eeyi, taakwe nobakali kundikatazya baange ibali 50 mbotwakali limwi.

Ciindi bapati-pati bantolongo nobakandilonzya kuntolongo yaku Ashland, ndakajana bakwesu bamwi bakasimide ibakali muntolongo eeyi. Bakandigwasya mebo antoomwe abakwesu bambi kuti tuzumanane kuba acilongwe ciyumu a Jehova. Bakali kutupa zibeela zyakubala Bbaibbele nsondo ansondo, alimwi twakali kulibambila mibuzyo abwiinguzi bwamiswaangano njotwakali kwiita kuti Bible Bees. Twakali kukkala muntolongo iyakajisi malo mumbali aabwaanda. Kwakali mukwesu iwakali kulanganya cilawo cesu. Wakali kundaambila kuti: “Robison, weelede kunookambaukila muntu woona abulo oobu aboobu. Kufwumbwa muntu woona abulo oobo ncilawo cako. Weelede kusinizya kuti wamukambaukila katanazwa.” Oobu mbowakali kweendelezyegwa kabotu-kabotu mulimo wakukambauka.

Nkondo Yabili Yanyika Yoonse yakamana mu 1945, pele kuzwa kuciindi eeci ndakakkala muntolongo kwaciindi cili mbocibede. Ndakali kulibilika kujatikizya mukwasyi wangu nkaambo bataata bakandaambide kuti: “Ikuti yebo ndakutanda, inga canduubila-ubila kuli baaba bambi.” Nondakaangununwa, ndakagambwa kapati. Ibali ciloba mumukwasyi wangu bakali kujanika kumiswaangano alimwi mucizyi wangu umwi wakali bbapatizyidwe, nokuba kuti bakali kukazyigwa abataata.

Noyakatalika nkondo yaku Korea mu 1950, ndakaambilwa kunjila mulimo wabusikalumamba ciindi cabili. Ndakaambilwa kuunka ku Fort Hayes alimwi. Nobakamana kundilanga-langa, mupati wantolongo wakandaambila kuti: “Nduwe wabainda mukabunga kanu.” Ndakati: “Eeco cili buyo kabotu, pele tandikoonjila mulimo wabusikalumaba.” Ndakazubulula majwi aalembedwe mulugwalo lwa 2 Timoteyo 2:3 akwaamba kuti: “Ndilikale sikalumamba wa Kristo.” Naakaumuna kwaciindi cilamfwu, wakati: “Inga waunka.”

Tiilyakalampa kuzwa leelyo, kumuswaangano wacooko iwakacitika ku Cincinnati, Ohio, ndakajanika kumuswaangano wabaabo ibakali kuyanda kulembela mulimo waku Bbeteli. Mukwesu Milton Henschel wakatwaambila kuti ku Beteli kwakali kuyandika bakwesu ibakali kuyanda kubelekela Bwami canguzu. Ndakalembela mulimo waku Bbeteli akutambulwa. Ndakatalika kubeleka ku Brooklyn mu August 1954, alimwi ndalikubeleka ku Bbeteli kuzwa mumwaka ooyu.

Lyoonse ndalikuba amilimo minji yakubeleka a Bbeteli. Kwamyaka minji, ndakali kubelekela kumatanki aakali kuumpa maanzi mobakali kusimbila mabbuku alimwi akumatanki aakali mumaofesi, ndakali kubelesya mincini alimwi ndakali kubamba maloko. Alimwi ndakali kubelekela mu Maanda Aakucitila Miswaangano Mipati mu New York City.

Ndilaakkomanina mapulogilamu aaliko a Bbeteli mbuli kukomba kwamafwumofwumo alimwi a Ciiyo ca Ngazi Yamulindizi camukwasyi wa Bbeteli, kubikkilizya akukambauka antoomwe ambungano. Kuti mwayeeya, zintu eezyi nzyezintu mukwasyi uuli woonse wa Bakamboni ba Jehova nzyoweelede kunoocita lyoonse. Ciindi bazyali abana nobalanga-langa lugwalo lwabuzuba antoomwe, nobacita Kukomba Kwamumukwasyi lyoonse, nobatola lubazu lyamiswaangano yambungano,  alimwi nobali basungu mumulimo wakukambauka makani mabotu, boonse mumukwasyi balalangilwa kuzumanana kuba acilongwe ciyumu a Jehova.

Ndaba abalongwe banji a Bbeteli alimwi amumbungano. Bamwi bakali bananike alimwi bakaunka kujulu. Bamwi tiibakali bananike. Pele babelesi ba Jehova boonse tabalondokede pe, kubikkilizya abamukwasyi wa Bbeteli. Kuti naa ndazwangana amukwesu, lyoonse ndilasoleka kubamba luumuno. Ndiyeeya zilembedwe mulugwalo lwa Matayo 5:23, 24 alimwi anzyotweelede kucita kuti naa twazwangana. Tacili cuubauba kwaamba kuti: “Amundijatile,” pele mazwanga manji alamana kwiinda mukwaamba boobu.

Lino cilandikatazya kapati kukambauka kuŋanda aŋanda nkaambo ndacembaala, pele tandileki pe. Ndakaiya asyoonto mwaambo waci Mandarin Chinese alimwi ndilakukkomanina kukambaukila bama Chinese mumigwagwa. Zimwi ziindi mafwumofwumo inga ndilamwaya mamagazini aali 30 naa 40 kubantu ibajisi luyandisisyo.

Mane buya ndakacita nyendo yakupilukila kucisi ca China! Bumwi buzuba, musimbi umwi mubotu wakandimwetela-mwetela ciindi naakali kupa tupepa twakutamba bantu kuti baule micelo njobakali kusambala. Ndakamumwetela akumupa Ngazi Yamulindizi alimwi a Sinsimuka! muci Chinese. Wakaabweza mamagazini akundaambila kuti zina lyakwe wakali Katie. Kuzwa waawo, kufwumbwa buyo andibona, Katie wakali kuboola kuti aambaule andime. Ndakamuyiisya mazina aamicelo amazina aazisyumani mu Chingisi, mpoonya walo wakali kwiinduluka kwaamba mabala ndamana kwaamba. Alimwi ndakamupandulwida magwalo aamu Bbaibbele, alimwi wakatambula bbuku lya Bbaibbele Ncoliyiisya. Pele nokwakainda nsondo zili mbozibede, wakaleka kuboneka.

Nokwakainda myezi iili mbwiibede, ndakamwaya mamagazini kumusimbi uumbi iwakali kupa tupepa twakutamba bantu kuti baule zintu nzyobakali kusambala, wakaatambula mamagazini aayo. Nsondo yakatobela wakanditambikizya fooni yakwe akundaambila kuti: “Amwaambaule a China.” Ndakati: “Taakwe ngondizyi ku China.” Pele wakazumanana, aboobo ndakaitambula fooni yakwe akwaamba kuti: “Halo, ndime Robison.” Muntu ngondakali kwaambaula anguwe wakati: “Ba Robby, ndime Katie. Ndakapiluka ku China.” Ndakati, “China?” Katie wakaingula kuti, “Inzya. Ba Robby, sena mulimuzyi musimbi ooyo iwamutambikizya fooni? Mucizyi wangu. Mwakandiyiisya zintu zinji zibotu. Ndakomba kaka kuti awalo mumuyiisye mbubwenya mbomwakandiyiisya.” Ndakati: “Katie, ndilasoleka kusika mpondigolela. Ndalumba kundizyibya nkobede.” Tiilyakalampa kuzwa waawo, ndakabandika amucizyi wa Katie ciindi camamanino. Kufwumbwa nkobabede basimbi aaba bobilo, ndipailila kuti baiye zinji kujatikizya Jehova.

Ndabelekela Jehova myaka iili 73, alimwi ndilikkomene kuti wakandigwasya kuzumanana kutatola lubazu mutwaambo twacisi alimwi akuzumanana kusyomeka nondakali muntolongo. Alimwi banabokwesu bandaambila kuti bakakulwaizyigwa ciindi nondakaliyumya kukukazyigwa abataata muciindi cakuleka. Mukuyakwaciindi, bamaama alimwi abanabokwesu ibali cisambomwe, basankwa abasimbi bakabbapatizyigwa. Nobaba bataata bakazikucinca asyoonto mbobakali kuzilanga zintu, alimwi bakali kujanika kumiswaangano imwi kabatanafwa.

Kuti kakuli kuyanda kwa Leza, banamukwasyi alimwi abalongwe ibakafwa bayoobusyigwa kuti bakapone alimwi munyika mpya. Amuyeeye buyo lukkomano ndotunoojisi twanookomba Jehova antoomwe abaabo mbotuyanda! *—Amubone bupanduluzi buyungizyidwe.