INO ndakalijana buti mubukkale oobu? Amuleke ndipandulule. Ndakazyalwa mu July 29, 1929, alimwi ndakakomenena mumunzi uuli mucooko ca Bulacan mu Philippines. Nokuba kuti cakali ciindi mali naakatazya kujana, buumi okuya bwakali buuba-uba. Nkondo yakatalika ciindi nondakali mukubusi. Basikalumamba bana Japan bakanjila mucisi ca Philippines. Nokuba boobo, munzi wesu wakali kulamfwu kapati, aboobo tiitwakanyonganizyigwa abasikalumamba cacigaminina. Tiitwakajisi wailesi, cipeku-peku, alimwi amiteende; aboobo, makani ajatikizya nkondo twakali kwaamvwa buyo mubantu.

Ndakali wabili kuzyalwa akati kabana ibali lusele, alimwi bakaapa bazyala bamaama bakandibweza kuti nditalike kukkala ambabo ciindi nondakajisi myaka yakuzyalwa iili lusele. Nokuba kuti twakali kunjila cikombelo ca Katolika, basyaanene kunyina mbobakabede kujatikizya makani aabukombi alimwi bakali kutambula mabbuku aacikombelo cili coonse kuzwa kubalongwe. Ndiliyeeyede kuti bakanditondezya tubbuku twakuti Protection, Safety, a Uncovered twamu mwaambo waci Tagalog, * kubikkilizya a Bbaibbele. Ndakali kukukkomanina kubala Bbaibbele, kwaambisya mabbuku one aa Makani Mabotu. Kucita boobo kwakapa kuti ndiyande kutobela cikozyanyo ca Jesu.—Joh. 10:27.

Bana Japan bakazwa mu 1945. Aciindi eeco, bazyali bangu bakandilomba kuti ndijokele kuŋanda. Basyaanene bakandaambila kuti nduunke. Aboobo ndakaunka.

Nokwakainda ciindi cisyoonto, mu December 1945, Bakamboni ba Jehova bakaboola kuzyookambauka mumunzi wesu kuzwa mudolopo lya Angat. Kamboni omwe mudaala wakaboola kuŋanda yesu alimwi wakapandulula ncolyaamba Bbaibbele kujatikizya “mazuba aamamanino.” (2Tim. 3:1-5) Wakatutamba kuti tukajanike kuciiyo ca Bbaibbele kumunzi wakali afwaafwi. Bazyali bangu tiibakaunka, pele mebo ndakaunka. Bantu babalilwa ku 20 bakajanika, alimwi bamwi bakali kubuzya mibuzyo yamu Bbaibbele.

Akaambo kakuti mubwini tiindakali kuzimvwisya zintu zyoonse nzyobakali kwaamba, ndakayeeya kuti  nduunke. Nokuba boobo, aciindi ncomunya eeco, bakatalika kwiimba nyimbo ya Bwami. Lwiimbo oolo lwakandinjila ncobeni mumoyo, aboobo ndakakkala. Nolwakamana lwiimbo amupailo, toonse twakatambwa kuti tukajanike kumuswaangano mu Angat Munsondo mvwiki yakali kutobela.

Bunji bwesu twakeenda musinzo uulampa makkilomita aabalilwa ku 8 kutegwa tusike kuŋanda yamuswaangano yamukwasyi waba Cruz. Ndakakkomana kapati kuti nobaba bana baniini ibakajanika akati kabantu bali 50 bakali kutola lubazu mumibandi yamu Bbaibbele miyumu. Nokwakainda miswaangano iili mboibede, Mukwesu Damian Santos, mupainiya uucembeede ciindi cimwi iwakali mweendelezi wadolopo wakandaambila kuti nditapiluki. Busiku oobo twakabandika kwaciindi cilamfwu makani aamu Bbaibbele.

Mumazuba aayo, bunji bwesu twakali kufwambaana kubweza ntaamu mbotwazyizyibila buyo njiisyo zyantalisyo zyakasimpe kamu Bbaibbele. Nokwakainda buyo miswaangano misyoonto, bakwesu bakandibuzya abamwi kuti, “Sena mulayanda kubbapatizyigwa?” Mpoonya ndakaingula kuti, “Inzya, ndilayanda.” Ndakalizyi kuti ndakali kuyanda ‘kubelekela Simalelo, Kristo.’ (Kol. 3:24) Twakaunka kumulonga wakali afwaafwi, eelyo twakabbapatizyigwa katuli tobilo mu February 15, 1946.

Twakabona kuti mbuli Banakristo babbapatizyidwe, twakeelede kukambauka lyoonse ikwiiya Jesu. Kucita boobu tiikwakabakkomanisya bataata, ibakaamba kuti, “Ucili mwana kutalika kukambauka. Alimwi buya, kubbila mumulonga takukupi kuba mukambausi.” Ndakapandulula kuti nkuyanda kwa Leza kuti katukambauka makani mabotu aa Bwami bwa Leza. (Mt. 24:14) Ndakayungizya kwiinda mukwaamba kuti, “Ndiyanda kuzuzikizya cikonke cangu kuli Leza.” Nceciindi bataata nobakaamba majwi aakukonga ngondaamba kumatalikilo. Inzya, bakaliyandide ncobeni kundilesya kukambauka. Eeci ncecintu cakacitika icakapa kuti ndisiye zintu zyoonse ciindi cakusaanguna akulibikkila mbaakani zyakumuuya.

Mukwasyi waba Cruz wakanditamba kuti nditalike kukkala ambabo mu Angat. Abalo bakandikulwaizya mebo antoomwe amwanaabo musimbi muniini, Nora, kuti tulilembye mulimo wabupainiya. Toonse tobilo twakatalika mulimo wesu wabupainiya mu November 1, 1947. Ba Nora bakali kubelekela mudolopo limwi, ciindi mebo nondakazumanana kugwasyilizya mulimo wakukambauka mu Angat.

Mumwaka watatu wabupainiya bwangu, ba Earl Stewart, mukwesu kuzwa kuofesi yamutabi, wakapa makani kubantu bainda ku 500 mubusena bwabanamaleya bwakali mu Angat. Wakaambaula mu Chingisi, mpoonya ndakaamba mubufwaafwi makani aakwe muci Tagalog. Cikolo ndakaiya buyo kwamyaka iili ciloba, pele bamayi besu bakali kubelesya Chingisi ciindi coonse. Cimwi icakandigwasya kuyaambele mumwaambo wa Chingisi ncakuti twakajisi buyo mabbuku masyoonto aamba zyamu Bbaibbele mumwaambo waci Tagalog. Aboobo bunji bwangawo ndakali kwaiya mu Chingisi. Akaambo kaceeci, ndakacizyiba Chingisi asyoonto cakuti ndakacikonzya kwaasandulula makani aayo alimwi aamwi akatobela mumiswaangano imwi.

Mubuzuba mbondakasandulula makani aa Mukwesu Stewart, wakaambila mbungano kuti ofesi yamutabi yakali kuyanda kutamba mupainiya omwe mukwesu naa bobilo kuya ku Beteli. Bakali kuyandika kutegwa bakagwasyilizye ciindi bamisyinali nobakali kumuswaangano wakuti Theocracy’s Increase Assembly (Muswaangano Wakuyungizyigwa Kwabantu Beendelezyegwa a Leza) iwakacitikila ku New York, U.S.A mu 1950. Ndakali umwi wabakwesu bakatambwa. Alimwi ndakasiya zintu nzyondakazyibide zyoonse, aciindi aawa kwakali kuya kugwasya milimo yaku Beteli.

Ndakasika ku Beteli mu June 19, 1950, akutalika mulimo wangu mupya. Beteli yakali ŋanda mpati yakaindi iyakazingulukidwe amasamu mapati abusena busika kumahekele obilo acisela. Kwakali bakwesu babalilwa ku 12 ibatakakwete ibakali kubeleka ookuya. Mafwumofwumo kapati, ndakali kugwasyilizya muncikini. Mpoonya kuzwa ciindi cakuma 9 koloko, ndakali kubelekela muwasyilwa zisani akuziccisa. Kumazuba akwalo mbondakali kubeleka oobo. Noliba leelyo bamisyinali nobakapiluka kuzwa kumuswaangano wamasi, ndakazumanana kubelekela a Beteli. Ndakali kuvwunga mamagazini kutegwa atumwe, kulanganya mamagazini aakulembya, alimwi akubelekela kuŋanda yakutambwida beenzu; ndakali kubeleka kufwumbwa mulimo ngondaambilwa.

Mu 1952, ndakakkomana kutambula lugwalo lwakutambwa kunjila Cikolo ca Gileadi canamba 20 antoomwe abamwi ibali cisambomwe kuzwa mu Philippines. Bunji bwazintu nzyotwakabona alimwi  izyakatucitikila mu United States zyakali zipya kulindiswe. Masimpe, zyakaliindene kapati azintu nzyondakazyi kukanzi kesu kasyoonto.

Mucikozyanyo, twakaiya mbokubelesyegwa zibelesyo zyamagesi azibelesyo zimbi nzyotwatakazyi kabotu. Alimwi, mbobuca kwakaliindene ncobeni! Mafwumofwumo bumwi buzuba ndakazwa anze akubona kutuba anze ikwakali kuboneka kabotu. Cakali ciindi cakusaanguna kubona caanda. Mpoonya ndakamvwa kwatontola—kutontola kapati!

Nokuba boobo, kucinca ooko ndakaleka kukubikkila maano kayi ndakalikkomene alwiiyo lubotu ku Gileadi. Bamayi bakali kubelesya nzila zyakuyiisya zigwasya. Twakaiya kuvwuntauzya kabotu alimwi akubala. Lwiiyo kucikolo ca Gileadi lwakandigwasya kapati kuyaambele kumuuya.

Nondakamanizya lwiiyo, ndakatumwa kuyoobeleka mulimo wabupainiya waalubazu kwakaindi kaniini mu Bronx mu New York City. Aboobo mu July 1953, ndakacikonzya kujanika kumuswaangano iwakajisi mutwe wakuti New World Society, iwakacitikila mudolopo syoonto ilili mudolopo pati lya New York City. Nowakamana muswaangano, ndakajokela kumulimo wangu ku Philippines.

Bakwesu kuofesi yamutabi bakaamba kuti, “Lino ulaunka mumulimo wabbazu.” Eeco cakali kukonzya kundipa coolwe cipya cakwiitobela ncobeni mikondo ya Kristo, walo iwakeenda mumadolopo mapati amasyoonto aakali kulamfwu kutegwa agwasye mbelele zya Jehova. (1Pet. 2:21). Ndakatumwa kuyoobelekela mubbazu yakajisi cibeela cipati mu Luzon mpoili akati, insumbu iinda kukomena mu Philippines. Yakali kubikkilizya azyooko zya Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, alimwi a Zambales. Kutegwa ndiswaye madolopo aamwi, ndakeelede kwiinda mu Malundu aakatazya amu Sierra Madre. Kwakanyina myootokala iinyamuna bantu kuya kumasena aayo. Akaambo kaceeci, ndakeelede kulomba banamutekenya bamatilaki kutegwa ndikkale atala amasamu ngobakali kunyamuna mumatilaki aabo mapati. Kanji-kanji bakali kundizumizya, pele tiiyakali nzila mbotu yakweendela.

Bunji bwambungano zyakali zisyoonto-syoonto alimwi zipya. Aboobo bakwesu bakali kulumba ciindi nondakali kubagwasya kweendelezya miswaangano alimwi amulimo wamumuunda cabunkutwe.

Nokwakainda ciindi ndakalonzyegwa kuyoobelekela kubbazu lyakali kucijatikizya cooko coonse ca Bicol. Bunji bwatubunga mucooko eeci twakali kulamfwu kwalo bapainiya baalubazu nkobakali kukambaukila muzilawo zipya. Aŋanda imwi, cimbuzi cakaliko cilikke cakali cilindi icakabikkidwe zisamu zyobile buyo zyakulyatila. Ciindi nondakalyata azisamu, zyakanyikila mucilindi, andime ndakanyikilizya. Cakanditolela ciindi kutegwa ndilisalazye alimwi akutalika kubamba cakulya camafwumofwumo!

Cakali ciindi nondakali kubeleka mulimo ooyu nondakatalika kuyeeya kujatikizya ba Nora, balo bakatalikide kale kucita bupainiya ku Bulacan. Lino aciindi eeci, bakali bapainiya baalubazu mudolopo lya Dumaguete, eelyo ndakaunka kuyoobaswaya. Kuzwa waawo, twakali kulembelana kwaciindi cili mocibede, mpoonya mu 1956, twakakwatana. Mvwiki yakusaanguna kuzwa notwakakwatana twakaswaya mbungano yakali Munsumbu ya Rapu Rapu. Okuya twakali kutanta  malundu alimwi akweenda kapati, pele cakali kukkomanisya kaka mbuli banabukwetene kugwasya bakwesu bakali mumasena malamfwu!

Nokwakainda myaka iitandila ku yone katubeleka mumulimo wakweendeenda antoomwe, twakatambula lugwalo lwakututamba kuyoobelekela kuofesi yamutabi. Aboobo, twakatalika kubeleka mulimo wesu a Beteli mu January 1960. Mukuya kwaciindi, ndakaiya zinji kuzwa mukubeleka antoomwe abakwesu bakali kulanganya mikuli mipati, alimwi ba Nora bakali kubeleka milimo iindene-indene a Beteli.

Kweelena ambondizyibona zintu a Beteli, ndalongezyegwa kulibonena kukomena kwakumuuya mu Philippines. Ciindi cakusaanguna nondakaboola a Beteli kandili muniini, kanditakwete, kwakali basikumwaya babalilwa ku 10,000 cisi coonse. Pele lino basikumwaya balainda ku 200,000 mu Philippines, kuli myaanda-myaanda yabamukwasyi wa Beteli ibabeleka kugwasya mulimo uyandika kapati wakukambauka.

Mumyaka mulimo nowakali kuyaabukomena, mayake a Beteli akaceya. Ba Kabunga Keendelezya bakatwaambila kuti tuyandaule busena bwakuti kuyakwe mayake mapya, mapati. Mebo amulangizi wacibeela cakusimba twakaunka kuŋanda aŋanda mubusena bwakali munsi-munsi amutabi ooko bama Chinese banji nkobakali kukkala. Twakali kubuzya naa kuli uuli woonse uukonzya kuulisya busena bwakwe. Pele kunyina wakali kuulisya, alimwi buya mwini wabusena umwi wakatwaambila kuti: “Bama Chinese tabaulisyi. Swebo tuula buya.”

Nokuba boobo, bumwi buzuba cakutayeeyela mwini wabusena wakabuzya kuti naa inga twayanda kuula cibeela canyika yakwe, wakali kulongela ku United States. Eeci cakapa kuti kucitike zinji cakuccililana cakuti cakali kukatazya akusyoma. Aumwi wakali kukkala mubusena oobo wakayeeya kuti aulisye awalo, alimwi wakakulwaizya bamwi ibakali kukkala munsi lyakwe kuti abalo baulisye. Alimwi buya twakabuula abusena bwamwaalumi iwakaambide kuti “Bama Chinese tabaulisyi.” Mukaindi kasyoonto buyo, busena bwamutabi bwakakomena ziindi zyotatwe akwiinda. Ndilisinizyide kuti Jehova Leza wakaliyandide kuti eeci cicitike.

Kaindi mu 1950, ndime ndakali musyoonto akati kabanamukwasyi wa Beteli. Pele lino bakaintu bangu andime ndendiswe twiinda kukomena. Tanduuside pe akaambo kakutobela Kristo kufwumbwa nkwaandaambila kutonzya. Masimpe, bazyali bangu bakanditanda muŋanda yabo, pele Jehova wandipa mukwasyi mupati wabasyomima. Tandidooneki naaceya kuti Jehova ulatupa zyoonse nzyotuyandika, kufwumbwa naa tubeleka mulimo nzi. Ba Nora andime tulamulumba kapati Jehova akaambo kazintu zibotu nzyaatucitila, alimwi tulabakulwaizya bamwi kumulabila Jehova.—Mal. 3:10.

Aciindi cimwi Jesu wakatamba simutelo wazina lya Matayo Levi, wakaamba kuti: “Koba sikunditobela.” Ino wakaingula buti? “Wakasiya zintu zyoonse, wakanyamuka akutalika kumutobela [Jesu].” (Lk. 5:27, 28) Mbubwenya buyo andime ndakajisi zyoolwe zili boobu, alimwi kuzwa ansi amoyo ndilabaambila bamwi kucita mbubwenya kutegwa bajane zilongezyo zinji.