Inyaniso ndayithanda ndisemncinci. Ndandifuna ukuzinikela kuYehova ndize ndibhaptizwe. Nyhani ke xa ndandina-13 ndabhaptizwa. Xa ndandina-14, umzalwana uHelge Linck a wandibuza ukuba andifuni na ukuba nguvulindlela. Loo mini andikayilibali nangoku. Abazali bam babekhe baba ngoovulindlela abangabancedani, kodwa ndandingayazi ukuba kunjani ukuba nguvulindlela othe ngxi. Into endayibuzwa ngumzalwana uLinck yandenza ndafuna ukumenzela nezinye izinto uYehova.

 Ngo-1974, e-Ethiopia kwabakho iingxaki zeepolitiki, ibe loo nto yabangela ukuba kubanjwe abantu, bebulawa ibe kusenzeka izinto ezimbi. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, sasingakwazi ukushumayela kwindlu ngendlu ibe kwakufuneka sidibane singamaqela amancinci. Abazali bethu basinceda sahlala siyilungele intshutshiso engakumbi. Imigaqo yeBhayibhile yasinceda saqonda ukuba kuthetha ukuthini ukungathathi cala. Safunda nokuba uYehova uza kusinceda sazi ukuba sithini xa sibuzwa imibuzo. Sabona nokuba ngamanye amaxesha kusenokufuneka sithule.—Mateyu 10:19; 27:12, 14.

 Emva kokugqiba isikolo, ndasebenza kwindawo yeePleyini yase-Ethiopia. Ngenye imini xa ndandifika emsebenzini, abantu endandisebenza nabo babevuyisana nam, kuba babesithi ndikhethiwe ukuze ndikhokele xa kubhiyozelwa urhulumente. Ndakhawuleza ndaxelela umphathi wam ukuba andinakukwazi kuba andithathi cala kwizinto zelizwe.

 Ngemini elandelayo, xa ndandisemsebenzini, ndabona amadoda exwaye imipu emikhulu esiza ngakwindawo endandisebenzela kuyo. Ndacinga ukuba inoba bazobamba umntu ozama ukubaleka aye kwelinye ilizwe, kodwa basuka bakhomba kum! Ndandizibuza ukuba ndenzeni? Ndathi ndisazisebenzela, usuku lwam lwatshintsha nje kanjalo.

 Amajoni andifaka kwenye indlu aza andibuza imibuzo iiyure ezininzi. Ayesithi, “Ngubani obhatala amaNgqina kaYehova? Ngaba usebenzela umbutho olwela inkululeko? Ngaba wena okanye utata wakho nisebenzela urhulumente waseMerika?” UYehova wandinceda ndazola, nangona lento yayinokundoyikisa.—Filipi 4:6, 7.

 Emva koko, la majoni andisa emzini owawenziwe indawo yokuvalela abantu. Andifaka kwigumbi elalinamabhinqa ayi-15 awayebanjelwe iipolitiki.

 Ngobo busuku, ndalala phantsi ndinxibe iimpahla zasemsebenzini, ndicinga ukuba abazali bam nabantwana basekhaya inoba banestres. Babesazi ukuba ndivalelwe, kodwa bengayazi ukuba ndivalelwe phi. Ndacela uYehova ukuba ancede intsapho yam yazi ukuba ndiphi.

 Ndathi xa ndivuka ngosuku olulandelayo, ndabona unogada endimaziyo. Wothuka xa endibona wathi, “Aster, ufuna ntoni apha?” Ndamcenga ukuba aye ekhaya aze axelele abazali bam ukuba ndiphi. Kwangolo suku, abazali bam bandithumelela ukutya neempahla. Lo nogada wayebaxelele ukuba ndiphi. Ndabona ukuba uYehova uwuphendule umthandazo wam! Loo nto yandiqinisekisa ukuba ukunye nam.

 Ndandingavumelekanga ukuba ndibe neBhayibhile okanye ezinye iincwadi zethu. Nentsapho yam kunye nabahlobo babengavumelekanga ukuba baze kundibona. Kodwa, uYehova wandiqinisa esebenzisa aba bantu ndandivalelwe nabo. Yonke imihla ndandibashumayeza, ibe babevuya kakhulu kukwazi inyani ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Babesoloko besithi: “Thina silwela urhulumente wabantu, kodwa wena ulwela okaThixo. Ungaze uyeke, nokuba bafuna ukukubulala!”

 Ngamanye amaxesha oonogada babedla ngokubuza amabanjwa imibuzo baze bawabethe. Ngenye imini ngoo-11 ebusuku babiza mna. Sathi xa sifika kwigumbi ababebuza imibuzo kulo, bandityhola ngezinto ezininzi. Babesithi mna andimxhasi urhulumente. Xa ndandingafuni ukuthetha izinto zepolitiki, oonogada ababini bandibetha. Le nto babeyenza qho. Ndandingayeki ukuthandaza kuYehova, ibe ndayiva indlela awayendixhasa ngayo.

 Emva kweenyanga ezintathu, kweza omnye unogada waza wandixelela ukuba ndingagoduka. Nangona ndandothukile ibe ndivuya, ndandinayo indawo ebuhlungu kancinci kuba kwakumnandi ukushumayela ngoBukumkani etrongweni.

 Emva kweenyanga ezimbalwa ndikhululiwe, kwafika amajoni aza abamba bonke abantwana basekhaya abancinci. Ngelo xesha mna ndandingekho sekhaya. Kwabanjwa oodade wethu ababini nobhuti wam omnye. Ndaqonda ukuba mandiyokuhlala kwelinye ilizwe. Nangona kwakunzima ukuphinda ndishiye intsapho yam, umama wathi mandithembe uYehova ndiqine. Emva koko, ndaya eUnited States. Kwangobo busuku, amajoni aya ekhaya kuba esithi ayokundibamba. Athi xa efika ndingekho, ayokundikhangela kwindawo yeePleyini. Kodwa afika sele ndihambile.

 Ndathi xa ndifika eMaryland ndafika uHaywood noJoan Ward, bendilindile. Aba ngabavangeli ababefundela abazali bam. Babenentombi ekuthiwa nguCyndi. Emva kweenyanga eziyi-5, ndaba nguvulindlela. UCyndi wayenguvulindlela, ibe sasisebenza sobabini. Sasikonwabela nyhani ukushumayela.

 Ngo-1979, ndaya kubona iBheteli yaseNew York ndaza ndadibana noWesley Parker. Ndabuthanda ubuntu bakhe nokuba wayefuna ukusebenzela uYehova ngeendlela ezininzi. Ngo-1981, satshata ibe ndaya kukhonza naye kwiBheteli yaseWallkill, eNew York. Ndandisebenza kumasebe okuklina ndaza emva koko ndasebenza kumasebe eeKhompyutha. Ukusebenza eBheteli kwandinika ithuba lokukhonza uYehova ngexesha lam lonke. Ndabazi bhetele abazalwana noodade ibe baba ngabahlobo bam.

 Kodwa e-Ethiopia, abantu basekhaya babesatshutshiswa ibe loo nto yayindikhathaza. Abantwaba basekhaya abathathu babesesetrongweni. b Yonke imihla umama kwakufuneka enze ukutya akuse kubo kuba etrongweni babenganikwa kutya.

 Ngelo xesha linzima, uYehova wayesoloko eyindawo yam yokubalekela. Nentsapho yaseBheteli yayisoloko indithuthuzela ibe indixhasa. (Marko 10:29, 30) Ngenye imini umzalwana uJohn Booth wathi kum: “Sikuvuyela kakhulu ukusebenza nawe apha eBheteli. Ubungazukuba lapha ukuba uYehova ebengakusikeleli.” c Loo mazwi andenza ndaqiniseka ukuba uYehova wasisikelela isigqibo sam sokuhamba e-Ethiopia ndaza ndaqiniseka nokuba uza kuyinceda intsapho yam.

 NgoJanuwari 1989, safumanisa ukuba ndikhulelwe. Ekuqaleni sothuka kakhulu! Kodwa emva kweentsuku ezimbalwa saye savuya. Sazibuza ukuba siza kuba ngabazali abanjani, siza kuhlala phi, nokuba siza kuzixhasa njani emva kokuphuma eBheteli.

 Nge-15 ka-Aprili 1989, sapakisha saza sahamba saya eOregon. Sasizimisele ukuqhubeka sikwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo singoovulindlela. Kodwa, kwathi kungekudalanga sifikile, abahlobo bethu basixelela ukuba kuza kuba nzima kuthi ukuba ngoovulindlela. Inyani kukuba sasingenazinto zininzi ibe sasiza kuba nomntana. Sasiza kwenza njani? Kwathi kusenjalo, satyelelwa ngumveleli wesiphaluka wethu, umzalwana uGuy Pierce, kunye nomfazi wakhe, uPenny. d Basikhuthaza ukuba senze ngohlobo ebesicebe ngalo. Ngoko saqalisa ukuba ngoovulindlela, sithembe uYehova ukuba uza kusinceda. (Malaki 3:10) Saqhubeka singoovulindlela nasemva konyana wethu wokuqala, uLemuel, nowesibini uJadon.

 Kwakumnandi kakhulu ukuba ngoovulindlela oonyana bethu besebancinci. Kwasinceda sanamathuba amaninzi okucacisela abamelwane noonyana bethu inyaniso. (Duteronomi 11:19) Kodwa emva kokuba sifumene unyana wethu wesithathu uJapheth, kwanyanzeleka ukuba sikhe siyeke ukuba ngoovulindlela.—Mika 6:8.

 Sabona ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo esimele siyenze njengabazali kukufundisa oonyana bethu ukuba bamazi kakuhle uYehova, nokubanceda ukuba babe nobuhlobo naye. Ukuze sikwazi ukuyenza le nto, senza unqulo lwentsapho lwaba yinto abayithanda kakhulu. Xa babebancinci, sasifunda kunye nabo incwadi ethi Funda Kumfundisi Omkhulu nethi Incwadi Yam Yamabali EBhayibhile. Amanye amabali saside siwenze nokuwenza. Kuba yayindim kuphela ibhinqa endlini, xa sasisenza ibali likaIzebhele, yayiba ndim uIzebhele. Oonyana bam babekuthanda ukwenza ngathi bayandityhala esofeni baze bazenze izinja ezindityayo. Enye into umyeni wam awayeyenza ngaphandle konqulo lwentsapho, kukubaqhubela isifundo oonyana bethu.

 Oonyana bethu sasibathanda, sibahoyile ibe sasisoloko sithandazela ukuba sihlale sivana. Njengokuba babekhula sasibafundisa ukwenza izinto, njengokuklina, ukuvasa izitya, neempahla. Sabafundisa nokupheka.

 Kwakungafundi bona qha, nathi zikhona izinto esazifundayo. Ngamanye amaxesha sasikhe sizibaxe izinto sithethe izinto ezihlabayo koonyana bethu okanye kuthi sobabini. Ngaloo maxesha, sasizithoba size sixolise.

 Kwikhaya lethu sasisoloko simema abazalwana noodade basebandleni, abazalwana baseBheteli, abavangeli, abaveleli kunye nabo bakhonza kwindawo enendingeko. (Roma 12:13) Xa sikunye nabantu esibamemileyo, abantwana sasingabahlalisi kwelinye igumbi apho baza kudlala khona. Babehlala nathi sincokole nabo. Amaxesha amaninzi, abantwana bethu yayiba ngabo abakhumbula kakuhle iincoko esasiye saba nazo ukogqitha mna nomyeni wam.

 Mna nomyeni wam sasebenza nzima ukuze siqiniseke ukuba siyakonwabela ukukhonza uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, sasiye sibeke imali size sicebe kakuhle ukuze sikwazi ukuba nexesha lokuya kubona amanye amazwe. Qho sihambile, sasiye siqiniseke ukuba siza kuyobona iBheteli yalapho, siye kwiintlanganiso size siyookushumayela. Saye sayixabisa nyhani intlangano kaYehova esemhlabeni wonke, saza sasondelelana njengentsapho.

 Saqaphela ukuba kwindawo esasihlala kuyo babebaninzi abantu abathetha iSpanish, kodwa sasingashumayeli qho kubo. Ngoko xa oonyana bethu babesebancinci, sabuza umzalwana uPierce ukuba singayokhonza na kwibandla leSpanish. Wancuma kakhulu wathi, “Xa uloba iintlanzi, uya apho zifumaneka khona.” Yasikhuthaza kakhulu loo nto, kangangokuba saya kukhonza kwibandla leSpanish elaliseWoodburn, eOregon. Kwakumnandi kakhulu kuba sanceda izifundo zeBhayibhile ezininzi zasondela kuYehova, abanye babhaptizwa ibe kwakhula neqela leSpanish elalilincinci lade lalibandla.

 Ekuhambeni kwexesha, umyeni wam waphelelwa ngumsebenzi. Wafumana omnye eCalifornia kwaza kwanyanzeleka ukuba siyokuhlala apho. Emva kweminyaka emibini, mna noonyana bam ababini uLemuel noJadon, saqalisa ukuba ngoovulindlela. Ngo-2007, ndaya kwiSikolo Soovulindlela kunye nabo. Kwakumnandi kakhulu. Kungagqithanga xesha lide emva kwesikolo soovulindlela, saye saqaphela ukuba kukho abantu abaninzi abathetha isiArabhu kwindawo esasishumayela kuyo. Emva kokukhonza iminyaka eyi-13 kwibandla leSpanish, sagqiba ekubeni siyokukhonza kwibandla lesiArabhu. Siye sakwazi ukushumayela kubantu abaninzi abahlala apha abasithethayo nakwabo bakwamanye amazwe xa kukho iphulo elikhethekileyo. Sisaqhubeka sikhonza njengoovulindlela kwintsimi yabantu abathetha isiArabhu eSan Diego, eCalifornia.

 Umyeni wam uWesley unothando ibe uwenza kakuhle kakhulu umsebenzi wokuba yintloko yethu. Uyihlonipha kakhulu intlangano kaYehova. Zange wathetha nto imbi ngeBheteli okanye ngendlela ezenziwa ngayo izinto ebandleni. Kodwa usoloko ethetha izinto ezakhayo. Sithandaza kunye ibe usoloko endithandazela. Imithandazo yakhe xa kukho iingxaki isoloko indithuthuzela ibe indinceda ndizole.

 Sikonwabele kakhulu ukuba kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo, sakhulisa intsapho, ibe sakhonza kumabandla anendingeko. Siye sabona ukuba uYehova ubasikelela nyhani abo bambeka kuqala, ibe asizange sadinga nto. (INdumiso 37:25) Ndiqinisekile ukuba ndenza isigqibo esihle kakhulu ngokukhetha ukuphilela uYehova ubomi bam bonke.—INdumiso 84:10.