Ndakazyalwa mu 1927 mudolopo nsyoonto afwaafwi a Chicago, Illinois, ku U.S.A. Bazyali bangu bakajisi bana bosanwe, nkokuti Jetha, Don, mebo, Karl, alimwi a Joy. Toonse twakalikanzide kubelekela Jehova camoyo woonse. Ba Jetha bakatambwa kukkilasi yabili yacikolo ca Gileadi mu 1943. Ba Don bakaunka kuyoobelekela a Beteli ku Brooklyn, New York, mu 1944, ba Karl mu 1947, mpoonya ba Joy bakaunka mu 1951. Cikozyanyo cabo cibotu alimwi acabazyali bangu cakandikulwaizya kapati.

Bazyali besu boonse bobilo bakali kubala Bbaibbele alimwi bakali kumuyanda kapati Leza akutuyiisya kuti andiswe tobana katumuyanda. Nokuba boobo, Bataata bakaleka kuzisyoma zikombelo ciindi nobakamana kubeleka mulimo wabusikalumamba mu Europe lya Nkondo Yakusaanguna Yanyika Yoonse. Baama bakamulumba Leza akaambo kakuti bataata bakaboola kuŋanda kuzwa kunkondo kabali baumi. Aboobo bakabaambila kuti: “Ba Karl, atuunke kucikombelo mbuli mbotwakali kucita kaindi.” Kumane Bataata bakaingula kuti: “Ndilamusindikila, pele mebo tandikanjili pe.” Baama bakabuzya kuti: “Nkaambo nzi?” Bataata bakaingula kuti: “Lyankondo, basololi bazikombelo ibakali kuzulilwa kucikombelo comwe bakali kulongezya basikalumamba ibakali kulwana. Sena Leza wakali kukonzya kuba kumabazu oonse obilo?”

Aciindi cimbi, Baama kabali kucikombelo, Bakamboni ba Jehova bobilo bakatuswaya aŋanda. Bakaabila Bataata mabbuku obilo aakali kwiitwa kuti Light, alo aakali kubandika bbuku lya Ciyubunuzyo. Bataata bakaakkomanina mabbuku aayo, aboobo bakazumina kwaabweza. Baama mbobakaabonena buyo mabbuku aayo, bakatalika kwaabala. Kumane bumwi buzuba, bakabona aakalembedwe munyuzipepa kutamba baabo ibakajisi luyandisisyo kuti batalike kwiiya Bbaibbele kwiinda mukubelesya mabbuku aaya aakali kwiitwa kuti Light. Aboobo bakasala kuunka. Lino nobakasika ooko, mukaintu umwi iwakacembeede wakajalula mulyango. Kabajisi bbuku limwi mumaanza, Baama bakabuzya kuti: “Sena mpawaano mpomuyiisyila mabbuku aaya?” Mukaintu ooyo wakaingula kuti: “Inzya basa, amunjile.” Nsondo yakatobela, Baama bakatutolelezya tobana, kumane kuzwa waawo, twakatalika kuunka nsondo ansondo.

Lyamuswaangano umwi, iwakali kusololela wakandilomba kuti ndibale lugwalo lwa Intembauzyo 144:​15, lwalo lwaamba kuti aabo bamukomba Jehova balikkomene.  Lugwalo oolu lwakandikkomanisya kapati antoomwe alwa 1 Timoteyo 1:​11, ilwaamba kuti Jehova ngu “Leza uukkomene,” alimwi alwa Baefeso 5:​1, ilutukulwaizya ‘kwiiya Leza.’ Ndakabona kuti ndakeelede kukkomana kubelekela Mulengi wangu alimwi akuti ndeelede kumulumba akaambo kacoolwe eeci. Eezyo nzyezintu zyobilo nzyondasolekesya kucita mubuumi bwangu boonse.

Mbungano iyakali afwaafwi yakali ku Chicago, makkilomita aali 32. Nokuba boobo, twakali kuunka alimwi luzyibo lwangu lwamu Bbaibbele lwakayungizyika. Ndilayeeya cimwi ciindi iwakali kusololela wakatondeka ba Jetha kuti baingule. Nondakali kuswiilila bwiinguzi bwabo, ndakalyaambauzya kuti: ‘Oobo mbobwiinguzi mbondali kuyeeya. Anu nindatambikide buyo kutegwa kandiingula.’ Akaambo kaceeci ndakatalika kulibambila bwiinguzi. Ciinda zyoonse, ndakaba acilongwe ciyumu a Jehova mbuli banabokwesu. Aboobo ndakabbapatizyigwa mu 1941.

Ndilauyeeya kapati muswaangano wacooko wamu 1942 ku Cleveland, Ohio. Mukwasyi wesu wakali kukkala mumatente amikwasyi imwi afwaafwi abusena aakali kucitilwa muswaangano. Kumane, bakwesu abacizyi mumadolopo aambi aayinda ku 50 mu United States bakali kuswiilila kupulogilamu aafooni. Nkondo Yabili Yanyika Yoonse yakacilibbebbede alimwi Bakamboni ba Jehova bakacili kupenzyegwa kapati. Kumangolezya, ndakali kubona tubunga twabakwesu ibakali kupakiŋa myoota yabo kumwi malaiti aamyoota kaalangide kulubazu lumbi. Boonse bakazuminana kuti moota imwi aimwi kaijisi muntu mukati uugatela busiku boonse. Ikuti kwalibonya kuti kuli penzi liyanda kuba, bakwesu ibakali mumyoota bakeelede kuyasya malaiti aamyoota kutegwa babatowe basikunyonganya alimwi akulizya bbelo. Mpoonya bamwi bakali kukonzya kuunka kutegwa bagwasye. Ndakalyaambauzya kuti, ‘Bantu ba Jehova balilibambilide kabotu kujatikizya cintu cili coonse icikonzya kucitika!’ Cikkomanisya ncakuti, kunyina cintu cili coonse cibyaabi icakacitika. Alimwi akaambo kakuti ndakali kulimvwa kukwabililwa, ndakali kucikonzya koona.

Nondakali kuzinzibala kuyeeya muswaangano wacooko ooyo kakwiindide myaka iili mbwiibede, ndakazyiba kuti baama kunyina nobakali kulibilika naa kuyoowa. Bakali kumusyoma cakumaninina Jehova ambunga yakwe. Kunyina nondiyoociluba cikozyanyo cabo cibotu.

Kakusyeede asyoonto kuti muswaangano ooyo ucitike, Baama bakaba bapainiya baciindi coonse. Aboobo bakalibikkilide kapati maano kumakani aakali kwaamba kujatikizya mulimo waciindi coonse. Notwakali munzila kuunka kuŋanda, bakaamba kuti: “Ndilayanda kuzumanana abupainiya, pele inga tiindacikonzya kuzumanana kumwi kandilanganya ŋanda.” Kumane bakatubuzya naa inga twabagwasyilizya. Twakazumina, aboobo bakatupa umwi aumwi wesu luumu yomwe naa obilo ngotwakeelede kunoosalazya katutanalya cakulya cakuseeni. Mpoonya twaunka kucikolo, bakali kubona masimpe kuti muŋanda muli kabotu kabatanaunka mumulimo wakukambauka. Bakajisi bubi kapati, pele kunyina nobakali kutulekelezya tobana. Twaboola kucakulya camasyikati alimwi anotwakotoka, bakali kutubikkila maano kapati. Mazuba aamwi twazwa kucikolo, twakali kuunka ambabo mumulimo wakukambauka, calo icakatugwasya kumvwisya ncocaamba kuba mupainiya.

Ndakatalika bupainiya kandijisi myaka iili 16. Nokuba kuti aciindi eeci Bataata tiibakaningaba Bakamboni, bakali kukkomana kumvwa mbondakali kucita mumulimo wakukambauka. Mangolezya amwi, ndakabaambila kuti nokuba kuti ndilasoleka canguzu, kunyina muntu ngondakajana iwakali kuyanda kwiiya Bbaibbele. Nondakamana kuumuna kwakaindi kaniini, ndakababuzya kuti: “Sena inga mwayanda kunakwiiya andime?” Bakaumuna kwakaindi kaniini, mpoonya bakaingula kuti: “Inzya, taakwe cikonzya kundilesya kucita boobo.” Aboobo, bataata ncecakali ciiyo cangu ca Bbaibbele cakusaanguna. Eelo kaka eeci cakali coolwe cilibedelede!

Twakali kwiiya bbuku lyakuti “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Mbotwakali kuyaabwiiya, ndakabona kuti Bataata bakali kundigwasya kuba sikwiiya Bbaibbele mubotu alimwi akucikonzya kubayiisya kabotu bamwi. Mucikozyanyo, mangolezya amwi notwakamana kubala muncali, bakaamba kuti: “Ndakabona kaambo kali mubbuku. Pele ino uzyi buti kuti ncolyaamba bbuku eeli cililuzi?” Tiindakalibambilide kubaingula, aboobo ndakaamba kuti: “Calino inga tiindamwiingula, pele twaakwiiya ciindi ciboola ndinoojisi bwiinguzi.” Oobo mbondakacita. Ndakajana tupango itwakali kwaamba makani ngotwakali kubandika. Kuzwa waawo, ndakaiya mbokuvwuntauzyigwa ciindi nondakali kulibambila ciiyo. Eeci cakapa kuti ndikomene kumuuya alimwi cakabagwasya abalo bataata. Bakali kuzibelesya nzyobakali kwiiya, aboobo bakabbapatizyigwa mu 1952.

Ndakazwa aŋanda nondakajisi myaka iili 17. Ba Jetha a bakaba bamisyinali, mpoonya ba Don bakaba bamukwasyi wa Beteli. Boonse bobilo bakali kuukkomanina mulimo wabo calo icakandikulwaizya kapati. Aboobo ndakalembela kuyoobelekela ku Beteli alimwi akunjila Cikolo ca Gileadi akusiya zyoonse mumaanza aa Jehova. Ncinzi cakazwa mpawo? Ndakatambwa kuyoobelekela ku Beteli mu 1946.

Mumyaka yoonse yainda, ndali kupegwa milimo yiindene-indene, aboobo ndakaiya zintu zinji zipya. Mumyaka yoonse iili 75 njondabeleka a Beteli, ndakaiya mbokusimbwa mabbuku alimwi amulimo wamaakkaunti. Kunze lyaboobo, ndakaiya mbokuulwa zintu nzyotuyandika a Beteli alimwi ambokutumwa zintu kumasena aambi. Pele kwiinda zyoonse, ndilalukkomanina lwiiyo ndotutambula a Beteli kwiinda mumapulogilamu aakumuuya aakukomba kwamafwumofwumo alimwi amumapulogilamu aambi.

Ndakaiya akumusyoonto wangu Karl, walo iwakaboola ku Beteli mu 1947. Wakali sikwiiya Bbaibbele mubotu alimwi wakali mwiiyi uucibwene. Aciindi cimwi, ndakalomba kuti andigwasye kulibambila makani ngondakapedwe. Ndakamwaambila kuti ndakajana twaambo tunji, pele tiindakazyi mbondikonzya kutubelesya. Wakandigwasya kwiinda mukundibuzya mubuzyo omwe buyo wakuti: “Ba Joel, ino makani aanu ajisi mutwe nzi?” Cakufwambaana ndakakabona  kaambo. Ndakeelede buyo kubelesya twaambo itwakali kwaamba mutwe wamakani aangu, ikutali twaambo tumbi. Tiindakaciluba ciiyo ncondakaiya.

Kutegwa katukkomene a Beteli, tweelede kutola lubazu cakumaninina mumulimo wakukambauka calo cikonzya kupa kuti tukulwaizyigwe. Cintu cimwi icikulwaizya, cakacitika kumangolezya amwi ku Bronx mu New York City. Mebo amukwesu umwi twakaswaya mukaintu umwi walo musyule iwakazumina kupegwa Ngazi Yamulindizi alimwi a Sinsimuka! Twakalizyibya kwiinda mukwaamba kuti: “Sunu mangolezya tuyaabugwasya bantu kwiiya zintu zigwasya kuzwa mu Bbaibbele.” Mukaintu ooyo wakaamba kuti: “Ikuti naa zijatikizya Bbaibbele, amunjile.” Twakabala akubandika magwalo aali mbwaabede aamba kujatikizya Bwami bwa Leza alimwi anyika mpya njotulangila. Kulibonya kuti eeci cakamukkomanisya kapati, nkaambo nsondo yakatobela wakaita balongwe bakwe bali mbobabede kuti bakatusangane. Walo alimwi amukwasyi wakwe, bakaba babelesi ba Jehova basyomeka.

Ndakali kulangaula mukaintu wakukwata kwamyaka iibalilwa ku 10, mpoonya ndakamujana. Ncinzi cakandigwasya kujana mukaintu weelela? Ndakali kupaila kuli Jehova alimwi akuzinzibala kuyeeya nzyondakali kuyanda kucita antoomwe abakaintu bangu twamana kukwatana.

Nowakainda muswaangano wacooko wamu 1953 ku Yankee Stadium, ndakazyibana amucizyi wazina lya Mary Aniol. Ba Mary antoomwe aba Jetha mucizyi wangu, bakali antoomwe mukkilasi yabili yacikolo ca Gileadi alimwi bakali kubeleka limwi mumulimo wabumisyinali. Caluyandisisyo, ba Mary bakali kundaambila kujatikizya mulimo wabo wabumisyinali ku Caribbean alimwi aziiyo zya Bbaibbele nzyobasololela kwamyaka njobakali kubelekela mumo. Mbotwakali kuyaabuzyibana, twakabona kuti twakajisi mbaakani zyakumuuya zikozyenye. Luyando lwesu lwakakomena, aboobo twakakwatana mu April 1955. Ba Mary bakali cipego kuzwa kuli Jehova munzila zinji alimwi bakali cikozyanyo cibotu cakutobela. Bakalikkomene mumulimo uuli woonse ngobakali kupegwa. Bakali kubeleka canguzu, kubabikkila kapati maano bamwi alimwi lyoonse bakali kubikka ziyandika zya Bwami mubusena bwakusaanguna. (Mt. 6:33) Twakabeleka mumulimo wamubbazu kwamyaka yotatwe mpoonya mu 1958, twakatambwa kuyoobelekela ku Beteli mbuli banabukwetene.

Ndakaiya zinji kuzwa kuli ba Mary. Mucikozyanyo, kumatalikilo aacikwati cesu, twakasala kunoobala Bbaibbele antoomwe. Twakali kubala tupango tuli 15 buzuba abuzuba. Umwi akati kesu amana kubala cibeela cimwi, twakali kubandika nzila mbotukonzya kutubelesya twaambo ooto mubuumi bwesu. Bunji bwaziindi, ba Mary bakali kundaambila zintu nzyobakaiya ku Gileadi naa mumulimo wabumisyinali. Nzyondakaiya kulimbabo zyakandigwasya kapati akupa kuti ndiyaambele mbondakali kupa makani alimwi ambondakali kukukulwaizya bacizyi.—Tus. 25:11.

Bakaintu bangu ba Mary bakafwa mu 2013. Pele ndilangila kumbele kuyoobonana ambabo munyika mpya. Calino, ndilikanzide kuzumanana kwiiya alimwi akusyoma Jehova amoyo wangu woonse. (Tus. 3:​5, 6) Ndilakkomana alimwi akukulwaizyigwa ndayeeya zintu bantu ba Jehova nzyobayoocita munyika mpya. Tacidoonekwi buya kuti eeco ciyoobikkilizya akwiiya zintu zipya kuzwa ku Mwiiyi wesu Mupati alimwi azintu zimwi zijatikizya nguwe. Ndilamulumba kapati Jehova akaambo kazintu zyoonse nzyaandiyiisya alimwi azintu zibotu zyoonse nzyaandicitila.