Abazali bam bemka e-Estonia ngeMfazwe Yehlabathi II bayokuhlala eJamani apho ndazalelwa khona. Emva kokuba ndizelwe balungiselela ukufudukela eCanada. Indlu yasekhaya yokuqala eyayikufutshane naseOttawa, eCanada, yayisisakhiwo nje esincinci ekwakuhlala neenkukhu kuso. Sasisokola kakhulu, kodwa noko sasiwatya amaqanda ekuseni.

Ngenye imini amaNgqina KaYehova afundela umama iSityhilelo 21:3, 4. Zavele zazehlela iinyembezi kuba wayithanda kakhulu into awayivayo. Yaya ikhula imbewu yenyaniso, loo nto yenza umama notata bakhawuleza babhaptizwa.

Abazali bam babengasazi kakuhle isingesi, kodwa babekukhuthalele ukukhonza uYehova. Phantse yonke iMigqibelo, utata wayedla ngokuya nam nodadewethu omncinci, uSylvia, entsimini, nokuba ebesebenza ubusuku bonke kwifektri yokunyibilikisa inickel eyayiseSudbury, eOntario. Qho ngeveki sasifunda iMboniselo sonke. Umama noTata bandenza ndamthanda uThixo. Loo nto yandenza ndanikela ubomi bam kuYehova ngo-1956 ndineminyaka eyi-10. Indlela ababemthanda ngayo uYehova yandinceda ndaqhubeka ndimkhonza ubomi bam bonke.

Emva kokuba ndipase u-10, yaya isehla indlela ekwakubaluleke ngayo kum ukukhonza uYehova. Ndandicinga ukuba xa ndinokuba nguvulindlela soze ndibe nemali eyaneleyo yokwenza laa nto ndandiyifuna ndiseyinkwenkwe, yokuhamba ngenqwelo-moya ndibuke amazwe. Ndafumana umsebenzi endandiwuthanda kakhulu wokudlala umculo kwisitishi serediyo. Ndandisebenza ebusuku, ngoko ndandiphoswa qho ziintlanganiso, neetshomi zam yayingabantu ababengamthandi uThixo. Kodwa ekugqibeleni isazela sam esiqeqeshwe ngeBhayibhile sandenza ndatshintsha.

Ndaya kuhlala eOshawa, eOntario. Apho ndadibana noRay Norman, udade wabo uLesli kunye nabanye oovulindlela. Bonke bandenza ndaziva ndisekhaya. Xa ndandibona indlela ababonwabe ngayo, ndatsho ndacinga ngento endandifuna ukuyenza ebomini bam. Bandikhuthaza ukuba ndibe nguvulindlela, ndanguye nyhani ngoSeptemba 1966. Kwakumnandi nyhani, kodwa kwakuseza kwenzeka izinto endandingazilindelanga nezaziza kutshintsha ubomi bam.

Xa ndandisesesikolweni ndafaka isicelo sokuya kwiBheteli eseToronto, eCanada. Ndabizwa sendinguvulindlela  ukuba ndiyokusebenza khona iminyaka eyi-4. Kodwa ndandimthanda nyhani uLesli, ngoko ndandisoyika ukuba ukuhamba kwam soze ndiphinde ndimbone. Emva kokwenza imithandazo emide ndavuma ukuya eBheteli, kodwa kwakubuhlungu ukushiya uLesli.

Umsebenzi wam eBheteli yayikukuhlamba iimpahla, ndaza ekuhambeni kwexesha ndangunobhala. Ngelo xesha uLesli waba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo eGatineau, eQuebec. Nandidla ngokuzibuza ukuba wenzani nokuba ndenza isigqibo esisiso na. Kwenzeka into endandingayilindelanga eyandivuyisa kakhulu ebomini bam. Ubhuti kaLesli, uRay, wabizwa eBheteli. Ukufika kwakhe sahlala kunye, loo nto yenza saphinda sakwazi ukuncokola noLesli. Satshata ngosuku lokugqibela lweminyaka eyi-4 ndiseBheteli, ngoFebruwari 27 1971.

Mna noLesli sathunyelwa kwibandla lesiFrentshi eQuebec. Kwiminyaka embalwa silapho, ndafumana umsebenzi endandingawulindelanga wokuba ngumveleli wesiphaluka ndineminyaka eyi-28. Ndaziva ndimncinci kakhulu futhi ndingawufanelekeli lo msebenzi, kodwa ndakhuthazwa yinto ethethwa nguYeremiya 1:7, 8. Yena uLesli waba kwingozi yemoto kaninzi, nto leyo eyenza kwanzima nokulala. Sasiza kuwenza njani ke umsebenzi wesiphaluka? Sekunjalo yena wathi, “Ukuba uYehova uthi masenze into, ngaba asimele sizame ukuyenza?” Savuma ukuwenza lo msebenzi saza sawenza iminyaka eyi-17 sonwabile.

Xa ndandingumveleli wesiphaluka ndandixakeke kakhulu, ndingenalo nexesha lokuba kunye noLesli. Kwafuneka ndifunde esinye isifundo. Ngenye intsasa yangoMvulo kwankqonkqozwa emnyango. Xa sivula kwakungekho mntu, kukho ibhaskithi eyayinelaphu letafile, iziqhamo, itshizi, izonka, ibhotile yewayini, iiglasi nephetshana elalingabhalwanga ukuba lisuka kubani elalisithi “Yisa umfazi wakho kwipicnic.” Loo mini yayintle nelanga liphumile. Kodwa ndamxelela uLesli ukuba asinakukwazi ukuhamba kuba kufuneka ndilungiselele iintetho. Wasiqonda isizathu kodwa waba buhlungu. Xa ndandihlala etafileni ndiza kulungiselela, ndatyiwa sisazela. Ndacinga ngamaEfese 5:25, 28. Ngaba le nto ithethwa nguYehova apha indikhuthaza ukuba ndicingele indlela aziva ngayo umfazi wam? Ndathandaza, emva koko ndathi kuye “Masihambe,” wavuya kakhulu. Sakhwela imoto saya kwindawo entle engasemlanjeni, safika apho sondlala ilaphu saza savuyela ukuphinda sibe nexesha lokonwaba kunye. Neentetho zam ndakwazi ukuzilungiselela.

Umsebenzi wethu wesiphaluka wawumkhulu futhi siwuvuyela. Sasityelela amabandla ukusuka eBritish Columbia ukuya kutsho eNewfoundland. Kwakusenzeka laa nto ndandiyifuna ndisemncinci, yokuhamba amazwe. Ndandicinga ngokuya kwiSikolo SaseGiliyadi kodwa ndandingenamdla wokuba ngumthunywa wevangeli. Kwakubonakala ngathi abathunywa bevangeli ngabantu abakhethekileyo, ndabe mna ndizibona ndingafaneleki. Ngaphandle  kwaloo nto, ndandisoyika ukuba singathunyelwa kwilizwe laseAfrika ekukho isifo nemfazwe kulo. Kwakumnandi kule ndawo ndandikuyo.

Ngo-1992 xa amaNgqina kaYehova aphinda avunyelwa ukuba ashumayele kumazwe awayephantsi kweSoviet Union, sacelwa ukuba siyokuba ngabathunywa bevangeli e-Estonia. Sasingasilindelanga tu ke eso sicelo, kodwa sathandaza. Nangoku saphinda sacinga, ‘Ukuba uYehova uthi masenze into, ngaba asimele sizame ukuyenza?’ Savuma, ndabe ndisithi ngaphakathi, ‘noko asisiwa eAfrika.’

Ngoko nangoko saqalisa ukufunda ulwimi lwase-Estonia. Kwiinyanga ezimbalwa silapho sacelwa ukuba senze umsebenzi wesiphaluka. Sasiza kutyelela amabandla ayi-46 namaqela akumazwe amathathu akwiiBaltic naseKaliningrad, eRashiya. Loo nto yayithetha ukuba kwakuza kufuneka sifunde isiLatvia, isiLithuania, nesiRashiya. Kwakunzima. Kodwa abazalwana noodade babevuyela le nto sizama ukufunda iilwimi zabo futhi babesinceda. Ngo-1999 kwavulwa iofisi yesebe e-Estonia ndaza ndacelwa ukuba ndibe kwikomiti yesebe kunye noToomas Edur, uLembit Reile noTommi Kauko.

Satsho sazi amaNgqina amaninzi awayegxothelwe eSiberia ngaphambi kokuba sifike. Ngoxa ayephethwe kakubi etrongweni futhi ekude neentsapho zawo, zange abe nenzondo. Ahlala evuya ekukhuthalele nokushumayela. Le nto yasifundisa ukuba sinokukwazi ukunyamezela size sonwabe naxa iimeko zinzima.

Iminyaka emininzi sasisebenza nzima singaziphi nexesha elingako lokuphumla. ULesli waqalisa ukudinwa ngokugqithiseleyo. Zange sikhawuleze siyiqonde ukuba oku kudinwa kwakubangelwa sisigulo ekuthiwa yifibromyalgia. Le nto yasenza sayicingisisa kakhulu into yokubuyela eCanada. Xa samenyelwa kwisikolo sabazalwana abakwikomiti yesebe esasisePatterson, eNew York, eU.S.A., ndacinga ukuba asinakukwazi ukuya. Kodwa emva kokuba sithandaze kakhulu, savuma. UYehova wasisikelela isigqibo esasenzayo. Kaloku uLesli walufumana xa sasikweso sikolo unyango awayeludinga. Satsho sakwazi ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wethu.

Ngenye ingokuhlwa ngo-2008 sise-Estonia, ndafowunelwa ngumzalwana owayekwikomkhulu lehlabathi esithi sicelwa ukuba siye kukhonza eCongo. Ndothuka kakhulu, eyona nto yandothusa kakhulu kukuba kwakufuneka ndiphendule ngosuku olulandelayo. Zange ndimxelele ngoko nangoko uLesli kuba ndandisazi ukuba wayengasoze alale ngobo busuku. Kodwa yaba ndim ongalaliyo, ndixelela uYehova ngezinto ezindenza ixhala ngokuya eAfrika.

Ngosuku olulandelayo ndamxelela uLesli, sathi “NguYehova osithuma eAfrika. Sazi njani ukuba asizukukwazi ukukhonza khona futhi akuzukuba mnandi singakhange sizame?” Ngoko emva kweminyaka eyi-16 sise-Estonia, sakhwela inqwelo-moya eya eKinshasa, eCongo. Iofisi yesebe lalapho yayinegadi entle futhi iphole kamnandi. Enye yezinto zokuqala  uLesli awazixhoma kwigumbi lethu yayilikhadi awayeligcine oko semka eCanada. Kulo kwakubhalwe amagama athi “Yonwaba apho ukhoyo.” Emva kokuba sidibene nabazalwana noodade, saqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile, seva nendlela ekumnandi ngayo ukuba ngumthunywa wevangeli, saya sikuvuyela ukusebenzela uYehova. Ekuhambeni kwexesha saba nenyhweba yokutyelela amasebe akwamanye amazwe ayi-13 aseAfrika. Satsho safunda izinto ezininzi ngabantu abangafaniyo balapho. Ela xhala ndandinalo ekuqaleni lalingasekho. Sambulela uYehova ngokusithumela eAfrika.

Xa sasifika eCongo sanikwa ukutya okwahlukahlukeneyo esasingakuqhelanga nendandicinga ukuba soze sikwazi ukukutya. Okunye koko kutya sasicinga ukuba asizukukuthanda. Kodwa sathi sakubona ukuba abazalwana bayakuthanda, nathi sakuzama saza sakuthanda.

Saya kwiindawo ezikwimpuma yeli lizwe ukuze sikhuthaze abazalwana, sibanike nezinto ababezidinga. Kwezi ndawo kwakukho amaqela abavukeli ababehlasela iilali, bephatha kakubi abafazi nabantwana. Abazalwana abaninzi babengenazinto zingako. Sekunjalo, indlela ababeqiniseke ngayo ngovuko, indlela ababemthanda ngayo uYehova nendlela ababenyaniseke ngayo kwintlangano yakhe yasikhuthaza kakhulu. Yasenza sacinga ukuba kutheni sikhonza uYehova saza saluqinisa ukholo lwethu kuye. Abanye abazalwana babengasenamizi, bengasenako nokutya ababekulimile. Le nto yandenza ndakhumbula ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova kuba izinto umntu anazo zinokuphela ngokuqhwanyaza kweliso. Nangona babeneengxaki ezinzima, abazalwana noodade babengafane bakhalaze. Indlela ababezijonga ngayo iingxaki ababenazo yasikhuthaza ukuba sibe nesibindi kwiingxaki zempilo esinazo nezinye.

Kwenzeka enye into esasingayilindelanga. Sathunyelwa kwisebe laseHong Kong. Zange sakhe sayicinga nokuyicinga into yokuya kuhlala eAsia. Kodwa kuba sasiyibonile indlela uYehova ebesinceda ngayo kuyo yonke eminye imisebenzi, savuma. Ngo-2013 semka sinyembezana, sishiya abahlobo nobuhle beAfrika, singazi ukuba silindelwe yintoni apho siya khona.

 Izinto zazitshintshe kakhulu kuba ngoku sasihlala kwidolophu enkulu yaseHong Kong, eyayiphithizela abantu abasuka kuwo onke amazwe ehlabathi. Kwakunzima ukufunda isiTshayina. Kodwa abazalwana basamkela, nokutya kwakhona kwakumnandi. Umsebenzi wawusiba mninzi kodwa wona umhlaba wawusiba duru. Ngoko iQumrhu Elilawulayo lagqiba ekubeni lithengise imihlaba nezakhiwo ezininzi zesebe. Kungekudalanga emva koko, ngo-2015 safudukela eSouth Korea apho sisakhonza khona nangoku. Nalapha kuye kwafuneka sifunde olunye ulwimi olunzima, isiKorea. Kodwa nangona singekakwazi kakuhle ukuluthetha sikhuthazwa kukuba abazalwana noodade bathi siyazama ukuluthetha.

Akukho lula ukuba nabahlobo abatsha, kodwa sabona ukuba xa sinokumema abantu ukuba beze kuthi endlini sinokukhawuleza sibazi. Siye sabona ukuba zininzi izinto abafana ngazo abazalwana noodade kunezo bahluke ngazo, nokuba uYehova usenze ngendlela emangalisayo kuba siyakwazi ukuba nobubele kubahlobo bethu abaninzi nokubathanda.​—2 Kor. 6:11.

Siye sabona ukuba kufuneka abantu sibamkele njengoYehova, sijonge nezinto ezibonisa ukuba uyasithanda futhi uyasikhokela. Nanini na siziva sityhafile okanye sithandabuza ukuba abazalwana noodade bayasithanda, siphinda sifunde iileta namakhadi avela kubahlobo bethu. Ngokuqinisekileyo siyibonile indlela uYehova ayiphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu, nto leyo esenze asatyhafa, saqiniseka nokuba uyasithanda.

Kuyo yonke le minyaka, mna noLesli siye sabona ukubaluleka kokuzipha ixesha lokuba kunye nokuba sesixakeke kangakanani. Siye saqonda nokuba kutheni kufuneka sizihleke, ngokukodwa xa sizama ukufunda olunye ulwimi. Qho ebusuku siye sizame ukucinga ngento eye yasonwabisa size simbulele uYehova ngayo.

Ndandicinga ukuba soze ndibe ngumthunywa wevangeli okanye ndiyokuhlala kwelinye ilizwe. Kodwa ndiye ndafunda ukuba ayikho into umntu angenakuyenza xa encedwa nguYehova. Ndicinga ngento eyathethwa ngumprofeti uYeremiya esithi: “Owu Yehova undiqhathile.” (Yer. 20:7) Wenze izinto ezininzi ebesingazilindelanga, wasisikelela nangeendlela ebesingakhange sazicinga, kude kwenzeka nento ekwakukudala ndiyifuna ndisengumntwana, ukuhamba ngenqwelo moya. Siye sahamba ngenqwelo moya sisiya kumazwe amaninzi kunalawo ndandifuna ukuya kuwo ndiseyinkwenkwe, sityelela amasebe kumazwekazi amahlanu. NoLesli ndimbulela kakhulu ngokuba eye wavuma ukuba kunye nam kuyo yonke le misebenzi bendiyenza.

Sihlala sizikhumbuza ukuba yonke le nto siyenzela bani nokuba kutheni siyenza nje. Iintsikelelo esizifumanayo ngoku zisibonisa indlela ekuza kuba mnandi ngayo ukuphila ngonaphakade xa uYehova ‘eza kusivula isandla sakhe aze anelise umnqweno wayo yonke into ephilayo.’​—INdu. 145:16.