Loo mfazwe yathatha phantse iminyaka emithathu, ibe yashiya abantu bonzakele emzimbeni, abanye bengasonwabanga. Notata ngomnye wabo. Wayesoloko engumntu okholelwa kuThixo, kodwa wakhathazeka kakhulu xa ebona abefundisi beecawe zamaKatolika nabo bekule mfazwe. Ngoko wagqiba ekubeni mna nobhuti wam singabhaptizwa kwiicawe zabo.

 Ngo-1950, ekhaya kwafika amaNgqina kaYehova amabini. Utata wawamamela waza wavuma ukuba amfundele iBhayibhile qho ngeveki. Ndandineminyaka eyi-14 ibe ndandikuthanda kakhulu ukudlala ibhola. Utata wayezama ukuba nam ndizifunde ezi ncwadi zishiywe ngamaNgqina kodwa ke ndandingazingeni mna. Ngenye imini ndibuya ebholeni, ndathi kumama “Mama, bakhona aba bantu bafundisa ngeBhayibhile namhlanje?” Yena wathi, “Ewe, basegumbini notata wakho.” Ndaphuma ndibaleka!

 Eyona nto yandichukumisayo kukuba, utata zange atyhafe ngenxa yokuba mna ndingazifuni izinto ezifundiswa yiBhayibhile. Wayeyithanda kakhulu inyaniso kangangokuba wade wabhaptizwa ngo-1953 waliNgqina likaYehova. Le nto yandenza ndanomdla kakhulu kangangokuba ndambuza imibuzo emininzi. Ibe ndazicelela iBhayibhile. Wacela omnye umfana owayeliNgqina, uMáximo Murcia ukuba andiqhubele isifundo seBhayibhile. Emva kweminyaka emibini xa ndandina-19, ndabhaptizwa kuMlambo ekuthiwa yiJarama, oseMpuma eMadrid.

 Ngo-1950, kwakunzima ukudibana nokushumayela kunye. ESpain kwakulawula uZwilakhe uFrancisco Franco, ibe wayefuna ukuba bonke abantu balapho babe ngamaKatolika. Ngenxa yaloo nto, amapolisa ayewaphatha kakubi amaNgqina kaYehova. Iintlanganiso sasizingenela emakhayeni abazalwana emfihlekweni, ibe sasizama ngandlela zonke ukuba singabhaqwa ngabamelwane ababenokusixela emapoliseni. Sasingayekanga nokushumayela, kodwa sasizama ngandlela zonke ukuba singabhaqwa kuba sasikhetha imizi emibini okanye emithathu size siye kwenye indawo. Abantu abaninzi babesimamela, kodwa abanye babengayithandi into esasishumayela ngayo.

 Ndikhumbula ndingena kwenye indlu yomfundisi wamaKatolika. Xa ndamchazela into esasishumayela ngayo, wathi: “Ngubani okuvumele ukuba wenze le nto? Uyayazi ukuba ndingakuxela emapoliseni?” Ndamchazela ukuba sasiyilindele into enjalo, ndaza ndathi: “Neentshaba zikaYesu zazikhe zazama ukumbamba. Ingasothusa ke thina into yokuba kwenzeke into efanayo kubalandeli bakhe?” Zange ayithande tu impendulo yam, kangangokuba wandibizela amapolisa. Nam ke ndakhawuleza ndahamba.

 Nangona kwakungelulanga, abavakalisi baseSpain bafumana abantu abaninzi abanomdla. Ngo-1956 ngoFebruwari, ndaba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo ndisena-19. a Singoovulindlela abaninzi sasibatsha singenamava, kodwa abavangeli basiqeqesha baza basikhuthaza. Ndathunyelwa ukuba ndiyokhonza kwindawo ekuthiwa kuseAlicante kunye nomnye uvulindlela osemtsha. Kulaa ndawo, kwakungazange kwashunyayelwa. Kwiinyanga nje ezimbalwa, saqalisa ukufundela abantu abaliqela, sihambisa neencwadi zethu eziliqela.

 Ngenxa yaloo nto, abantu bawubona lo msebenzi sasiwenza. Emva kweenyanga ezimbalwa siseAlicante, amapolisa asibamba aza athatha neeBhayibhile zethu. Asivalela etrongweni iintsuku eziyi-33, emva koko sayokhululwa eMadrid. Ndandingaqondi ukuba kanti oko kuvalelwa, kwakundibonisa nje izinto eziseza kwenzeka.

 Xa ndandina-21, kwathiwa mandiye emkhosini. Kwakufuneka ndiye kwindawo eyayihlala abantu abasemkhosini eNador. Ngelo xesha, iNador yayiyidolophu yabantu baseSpain ekumntla Morocco. Apho, ndandime phambi koyena mntu uphetheyo, ndithetha naye ngembeko. Ndandimchazela ukuba andizukwazi ukuya emkhosini ibe andizukwazi nokuyinxiba iyunifom yabo. Abantu basemkhosini bandisa kwitrongo yaseRostrogordo eyayiseMelilla, ukuze ndilinde ukuxoxwa kwetyala lam enkundleni.

 Ngaphambi kokuba lixoxwe ityala lam, umphathi womkhosi waseSpain owayeseMorocco wathi amajoni mawandibethe de nditshintshe isigqibo sam. Ngenxa yaloo nto ndandithukwa, ndibethwa ngemvubu imizuzu eyi-20, ndikhatywa de ndingakwazi nokuthini. Kuba wayengoniliseki, umphathi wayendinyathela entloko ngesihlangu sakhe sasemkhosini, ayeke kuphela xa ndisopha. Emva koko ndandisiwa eofisini yakhe, apho wayendingxolisa esithi: “Ungacingi ndigqibile ngawe. Ndiza kwenza le nto yonke imihla!” Wayalela oonogadi ukuba bandivalele kweyona ndawo ingaphantsi etrongweni. Apho kwakumnyama, kumdaka ibe ndandivele ndiphelelwe lithemba.

 Ndisazicinga nangoku ezo ntsuku xa ndandilala phantsi, intloko igcwele igazi kukopha. Ndandingenazinto zininzi, ndinengubo nje encinci endandisombatha ngayo kukho neempuku ezimane zingena kwakuloo ndawo. Inye qha into endandinokuyenza, kukuthandaza kuYehova ndicela ukuba andinike amandla ndikwazi ukunyamezela. Ndandingayeki tu ukuthandaza kuloo ndawo yayimnyama ibanda nokubanda. b

 Ngosuku olulandelayo ndaphinda ndabethwa, kodwa ngoku ndandibethwa lipolisa. Umphathi wayebukele kuba wayefuna ukuqiniseka ukuba ndibethwa ngale ndlela ayifunayo. Xa nditheth’ inyani, ndandingaqinisekanga ukuba ndiza kukwazi ukuyinyamezela le ndlela ndandiphethwe ngayo. Ngobo busuku, ndamcenga uYehova ukuba andincede.

 Ngosuku lwesithathu, ndaphinda ndabizelwa eofisini yomphathi. Ndandisoyika ukuba ndizophinda ndibethwe. Njengokuba ndandisiya eofisini yakhe, aph’ endleleni ndandithandaza kuYehova. Ndandilindwe nguDon Esteban, c ongunobhala wasemkhosini. Wayeze kuqalisa ukuxoxwa kwetyala lam.

 Xa uDon Esteban wabona iibhandeji entloko, wandibuza ukuba kwenzeke ntoni. Ndandingafuni ukumxelela yonke into kuba ndandisoyika ukuba ndingaphindwe ndibethwe, kodwa ndamchazela inyani. Esakuva yonke le nto, uDon Esteban wathi: “Andinokwazi ukwenza ityala lakho lingaxoxwa enkundleni. Kodwa ndiyakuqinisekisa ukuba akho mntu uza kuphinda akubethe.”

 Nyhani ke, zange kuphinde kubekho mntu undibethayo etrongweni. Andikayazi nangoku ento eyenza uDon Esteban afike ngala mini. Eyona nto ndiyaziyo kukuba imithandazo yam yaphendulwa ngeyona ndlela imangalisayo. Ngelona xesha lalinzima ebomini bam, ndayibona kakuhle indlela uYehova awandisindisa ngayo nokuba zange andivumele nditshutshiwe ngendlela endandingazukwazi ukuyinyamezela. (1 Korinte 10:13) Lathi lixoxwa elo tyala, ndabe ndimthembe ngokupheleleyo uYehova.

 Enkundleni, ndagwetywa iminyaka eyi-19 etrongweni. Emva koko kongezwa iminyaka emithathu kuba kusithiwa “andithobeli.” Emva kweenyanga eziyi-15 ndiseMorocco, ndathunyelwa kwitrongo yaseOcaña. Ayikudanga neMadrid, ibe ndandizovalelwa khona de siphele isigwebo sam. Ukutshintshwa kwam ndisiwe kwenye itrongo, yayiyintsikelelo evela kuYehova. Ndlela le kwakubhetele ngayo, yayingathi ndiseparadesi xa ndikuthelekisa netrongo yaseRostrogordo. Ndandinebhedi namashiti . Emva kwexesha, ndanikwa umsebenzi wokujongana neencwadi zemali zasetrongweni. Kodwa ukuhlala ixesha elide etrongweni, kunokukwenza uzive uwedwa. Eyona nto yayinzima kum, yayikukungadibani nabazalwana noodade.

 Abazali bam babedla ngokuzondibona, kodwa ndandidinga nolunye ukhuthazo. Ndeva nokuba kukho abanye abazalwana abangavumanga ukuya emkhosini kubazali bam. Ngoko ndathandaza kuYehova ndimcela ukuba kuze noba mnye kubo, kule trongo ndandikuyo. UYehova waphinda wayiphendula imithandazo yam, ngendlela endandingazange ndiyilindile. Kungagqithanga xesha lide, kwafika abazalwana abathathu abanyaniseke kakhulu kuYehova—uAlberto Contijoch, uFrancisco Díaz, noAntonio Sánchez. Nabo beza kuvalelwa kwitrongo yaseOcaña. Ndavuya nyhani kuba emva kweminyaka emine ndivalelwe ndodwa etrongweni, ndade ndafumana ukhuthazo kubazalwana endandivalelwe nabo. Sasifunda kunye, size sishumayele nakumanye amabanjwa.

 Ngo-1964 ndade ndakhululwa etrongweni. Njengokuba ndandiza kuvalelwa iminyaka eyi-22, yacuthwa yayiminyaka eyi-6 nehafu. Kwangala mini ndandikhululwa ngayo etrongweni, ndaya kwiintlanganiso. Nangona kwafuneka ndisebenzise imali yam encinci ukuze ndikhwele ndiye eMadrid, ndafika kanye xa ziza kuqala iintlanganiso. Kwakumnandi nyhani ukuphinda ndidibane nabanye abazalwana! Kodwa ikhona nenye into endandifuna ukuyenza ngokukhawuleza. Ndandifuna ukuqala apho ndandiyeke khona ukuba nguvulindlela. Nangona amaNgqina kaYehova ayesaphethwe kakubi ngamapolisa, abantu abaninzi babenomdla ibe wawumkhulu umsebenzi ekwakufuneka siwenze.

 Ngelo xesha ndadibana noMercedes—owayengudade osemtsha nokhutheleyo, enguvulindlela okhethekileyo. Wayethobekile, efuna ukushumayela kuye wonke umntu. Enye into endandiyithanda ngaye kukuba wayenobubele, futhi ekuthanda ukupha. Sathandana ke, saza satshata emva konyaka. Ndisikelelwe nyhani ngokufumana umfazi onjengoMercedes.

 Emva kweenyanga ezimbalwa sitshatile, saba ngabaveleli abahambahambayo. Sasisiya kumabandla ohlukahlukeneyo qho ngeveki, size sibe kunye nabazalwana noodade kwiintlanganiso nasentsimini. Kwabakho amabandla aliqela eSpain, ibe abazalwana noodade babedinga ukukhuthazwa nokuncedwa. Ndaba nethuba lokumane ndiyosebenza kwiofisi yamaNgqina kaYehova eyayingaziwa ngabantu abaninzi eBarcelona.

 Ngo-1967, urhulumente wakhupha umthetho othi wonke umntu waseSpain angazikhethela inkonzo ayifunayo. Ngenxa yaloo nto, satsho sakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wethu ngokukhululekileyo. Emva koko ngo-1970, amaNgqina kaYehova afumana imvume ngokusemthethweni. Ekugqibeleni, sasikwazi ukudibana sikhululekile, saneeHolo ZoBukumkani neofisi yesebe.

 Ngo-1971, mna nomfazi wam samenywa ukuba siyokukhonza kwibheteli entsha eBarcelona. Kodwa emva konyaka, umfazi wam wakhulelwa waza wazala intombi yethu entle uAbigail. Ngenxa yaloo nto, kwafuneka siyeke ukusebenza eBheteli size senze omnye umsebenzi, wokukhulisa intombi yethu.

 Xa intombi yethu uAbigail yayisele igqithile kwiminyaka eyi-10, iofisi yesebe yasicela ukuba siphinde sibe ngabaveleli abahambahambayo. Ngokwesiqhelo, sathandaza saza sacela namacebiso kubazalwana abanamava. Omnye umdala wathi: “Jesús, ukuba bafuna ukuba uphinde ube ngumveleli, vuma mfondini.” Ngoko saqalisa ukuphinda senze umsebenzi osivuyisayo. Ekuqaleni, sasityelela amabandla akufutshane ukuze sikwazi ukuqhubeka sikhulisa intombi yethu. Ekuhambeni kwexesha yakhula saza nathi sakwazi ukutyelela amabandla akwezinye iindawo.

 Saba ngabaveleli abahambahambayo iminyaka eyi-23. Ndandonwabe nyhani, kuba ndaba nethuba lokukhuthaza abasebatsha ngokubabalisela amava am. Ngamanye amaxesha xa ndandifundisa kwizikolo zabadala noovulindlela, sasiye sihlale kwibheteli yaseMadrid. Eyona nto ibangela umdla kukuba le bheteli ikufuphi ngeekhilomitha nje ezintathu kuMlambo ekuthiwa yiJarama—endabhaptizelwa kuwo ngo-1955. Ndandingayilindelanga tu into yokuba kwiminyaka emininzi ndiza kuphinde ndibuyele apha, ukuze ndincede abazalwana noodade abasebatsha, bamsebenzele nangezinye iindlela uYehova.

 Ngoku, oko singoovulindlela abakhethekileyo ukususela ngo-2013. Xa ndithetha inyani, bekunzima ukuyeka ukuba ngumveleli ohambahambayo ndize ndibe nguvulindlela, kodwa ke ibisisigqibo esihle eso. Ngoku ndineengxaki zempilo, kangangokuba ndenziwe utyando entliziyweni. Kula maxesha anzima kuye kwafuneka ndimthembe kakhulu uYehova, ibe uye waqhubeka endinceda. Ibe bendisoloko ndikunye nomfazi wam iminyaka eyi-56, obesoloko endixhasa kuyo yonke imisebenzi ebendiyenzela uYehova.

 Ndisamane ndizicinga nangoku iintsuku endandifundisa ngazo kwizikolo zentlangano. Ndisenawo nombono wabafundi ababekwezo klasi. Indlela ababezimisele ngayo, indikhumbuza indlela endandikhuthele ngayo nam xa ndandiqala ukuba kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ewe kona kuye kwafuneka ndinyamezele izinto ezininzi ezinzima, kodwa zikhona nezinto ezininzi ezintle eziye zenzeka. Iingxaki zindifundise izinto ezibalulekileyo. Eyona nto ibaluleke kakhulu endiyifundileyo kukuba ndingaze ndithembele kumandla am. Iingxaki zam zindinike ithuba lokuba ndibone indlela uYehova anamandla ngayo. Nam ndincedwe ngalo mandla, naxa kwakunzima kakhulu ebomini bam.—Filipi 4:13.