INoville yilali encinci eneefama eziyi-9 kufutshane neBastogne, eBelgian Ardennes. Ndazalelwa kuloo lali ke nge-22 kaDisemba 1929. Ndincuma ndodwa xa ndicinga ngexesha endandisengumntwana ngalo ndikunye nabazali bam efama. Yonke imihla, mna nomninawa wam uRaymond sasisenga iinkomo ngezandla, sincedisa naxa kuvunwa. Elalini yethu sasimanyene, sincedisana sonke xa kufuneka kusetyenzwe.

Abazali bam, uEmile noAlice, babezinikele kwicawa yamaKatolika. Yonke imihla ngeeCawa babesiya eMthendelekweni. Kodwa malunga no-1939, kwafika oovulindlela ababesuka eNgilani, baza benzela utata umrhumo wemagazini iConsolation (ngoku ebizwa ngokuba nguVukani!). Utata wakhawuleza wabona ukuba zaziyinyani izinto ezazithethwa zezo magazini waza waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile. Wathi akuyeka ukuya eMthendelekweni, abamelwane bethu ababekade benobubele kuthi, abafuna nokumbona. Babemnyanzela ukuba angayeki ukuba ngumKatolika. Ngenxa yaloo nto kwakusibakho iingxoxo ezishushu.

Yayindikhathaza kakhulu into yokubona utata ephathwa kanje. Loo nto yandenza ndenza lo mthandazo kuthethwe ngawo ekuqaleni kweli nqaku, ndicela uThixo ukuba ancede utata. Ndavuya kakhulu xa abamelwane bethu babesiya beyeka ukumphatha kakubi utata. Ndaqiniseka nyhani ukuba uYehova ‘uyayimamela imithandazo.’

Nge-10 kaMeyi 1940, iJamani yamaNazi yahlasela iBelgium. Ngenxa yaloo nto abantu abaninzi baseBelgium balishiya ilizwe labo. Intsapho yasekhaya yabalekela kumazantsi eFransi. Endleleni  eya apho sasikhe sibe sengozini kuba amajoni aseJamani ayesilwa nawaseFransi.

Xa sabuyela kwifama yasekhaya, saqaphela ukuba izinto zethu ezininzi zibiwe. Kwakushiyeke nje inja yasekhaya, uBobbie. Ezi zinto zandenza ndazibuza, ‘Kutheni kukho iimfazwe, kusenzeka nezinto ezibuhlungu?’

Kwangelo xesha, kwakusikhuthaza kakhulu ukuza kubonwa nguMzalwan’ uEmile Schrantz, a owayengumdala novulindlela. Wasicacisela kakuhle esebenzisa iBhayibhile ukuba kutheni kusenzeka izinto ezibuhlungu. Waphendula neminye imibuzo endandinayo ngobomi. Ndaye ndamthanda kakhulu uYehova, ndaqiniseka nokuba unguThixo oluthando.

Kwanangaphambi kokuba iphele imfazwe, intsapho yasekhaya yayihlala ibonana nabazalwana noodade. NgoAgasti 1943, uMzalwan’ uJosé-Nicolas Minet waya kunikela intetho kwifama yasekhaya. Wasibuza, “Ngubani ofuna ukubhaptizwa?” Utata waphakamisa isandla, nam ndasiphakamisa. Sabhaptizwa kumlambo omncinci owawungakwifama yasekhaya.

NgoDisemba 1944, iJamani yalwa idabi layo elikhulu lokugqibela entshona Yurophu, elaziwa ngokuba yiBattle of the Bulge. Ekubeni sasihlala kufutshane naloo ndawo kwakusiliwa kuyo, kwafuneka sihlale ixesha elingangenyanga kwigumbi elingaphantsi. Ngeny’ imini, xa ndandiyokupha imfuyo ukutya, kwadutyulwa uphahla lwefama yasekhaya, lwawa. Elinye ijoni laseMerika elalikwisitali esasikufutshane nam landikhwaza lisithi, “Lala phantsi!” Ndabaleka ndaya kulo, ndafika ndalala phantsi. Landithwalisa umnqwazi walo ukuze ndikhuseleke.

Emva kwemfazwe, sakwazi ukuya kungena iintlanganiso kwibandla laseLiège, elalikumgama omalunga neekhilomitha eziyi-90 kumantla endawo esasihlala kuyo. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, saqalisa iqela elincinci eBastogne. Ndasebenza kwisebe lerhafu, ndatsho ndafumana ithuba lokufunda ezomthetho. Ekuhambeni kwexesha ndasebenza kwiofisi karhulumente esekuhlaleni. Ngo-1951 saba nendibano yesiphaluka encinci eBastogne. Kuloo ndibano kwakukho abantu abamalunga ne-100, omnye wabo inguvulindlela owayekhuthele kakhulu, uElly  Reuter. Ukuze abekho kuloo ndibano, wahamba iikhilomitha eziyi-50 ngebhayisekile. Kungabanga xesha lide emva kwaloo ndibano, sathandana saza sangeja. Ngelo xesha wayesand’ ukumenywa kwiSikolo SaseGiliyadi, eUnited States. Wabhalela ikomkhulu lehlabathi lamaNgqina KaYehova echaza isizathu sokuba engazukwazi ukusamkela eso simemo. UMzalwan’ uKnorr, owayekhokela abantu bakaYehova ngelo xesha, wamphendula wathi mhlawumbi ngenye imini uza kukwazi ukuya esikolweni nomyeni wakhe. NgoFebruwari 1953 satshata.

Kwangaloo nyaka, saya KwiNdibano Yebutho Lehlabathi Elitsha eyayiseYankee Stadium, eNew York. Kuloo ndibano ndadibana nomzalwana owandinika umsebenzi obhatala kakuhle, wathi mandiye kuhlala eUnited States. Emva kokuba siyithandazele le nto, mna noElly sagqiba ekubeni ndingawamkeli loo msebenzi. Sabuyela eBelgium sayokuncedisa kwiqela elincinci laseBastogne, elalinabavakalisi abamalunga ne-10. Ngonyaka olandelayo safumana usana oluyinkwenkwe, uSerge. Emva kweenyanga eziyi-7 ezelwe, kwenzeka into ebuhlungu; wagula, waza wasweleka. Saxelela uYehova ngaloo ntlungu sasinayo, saza saqiniswa lithemba lovuko.

Ngo-Oktobha 1961 ndafumana umsebenzi weentsuku ezithile owawuza kundenza ndikwazi ukuba nguvulindlela. Kwangaloo mini, ndafowunelwa sisicaka sesebe laseBelgium. Sandibuza ukuba ndingakwazi na ukuba sisicaka sesiphaluka (ekuthiwa ngumveleli wesiphaluka ngoku). Ndasibuza ndathi: “Asinakuqala sibe ngoovulindlela?” Kwavunywa. Saba ngoovulindlela iinyanga eziyi-8, saza saqalisa umsebenzi wesiphaluka ngoSeptemba 1962.

Kunyaka wesibini sikumsebenzi wesiphaluka, samenywa ukuba siye kukhonza kwiBheteli yaseBrussels. Saqalisa ukukhonza khona ngo-Oktobha 1964. Zininzi iindlela esasikelelwa ngazo kwesi sabelo sitsha. Ngo-1965, kungabanga xesha lide uMzalwan’ uKnorr eze eBheteli, ndothuka ndakucelwa ukuba ndibe sisicaka sesebe. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, mna noElly samenywa kwiklasi ye-41 yeSikolo SaseGiliyadi. Kwenzeka laa nto yayithethwe nguMzalwan’ uKnorr kwiminyaka eyi-13 eyadlulayo. Emva kokuba siphumelele kwiklasi yaseGiliyadi, sabuyela kwiBheteli yaseBelgium.

Kangangeminyaka ndiye ndasebenzisa ulwazi endinalo ngezomthetho, ukuze ndikhusele ilungelo esinalo lokukhonza ngokukhululekileyo eYurophu nakwezinye iindawo. (Fil. 1:7) Le nto indenze ndakwazi ukuthetha nabasemagunyeni abakumazwe angaphezu kwayi-55, ovaliweyo kuwo umsebenzi wethu okanye obekelwe imithetho. Xa ndithetha nabo bendiye ndithi “ndingumntu kaThixo,” kunokuba ndithi ndiligqwetha. Bendisoloko ndicela uYehova andikhokele, ndisazi ukuba “intliziyo kakumkani [okanye eyejaji] injengomsinga wamanzi  esandleni sikaYehova. Uyisa apho athanda ukuyisa khona.”​—IMize. 21:1.

Enye into endingasoze ndiyilibale kuxa ndandithetha nenye indoda eyayisebenza kwiPalamente YaseYurophu. Ndandicele kaninzi ukuthetha nayo, kodwa ekugqibeleni yavuma. Yathi, “Ndiza kukunika imizuzu eyi-5 qha, ungagqithi nangomzuzu.” Ndathoba intloko ndathandaza. Yothukile le ndoda, yandibuza ukuba ndenza ntoni. Ndaphakamisa intloko, ndathi, “Ndibulela uThixo kuba ungomnye wabantu abamsebenzelayo.” Yandibuza yathi, “Uthetha ukuthini?” Ndayibonisa amaRoma 13:4. Kuba yayingumProtestanti, yayiqhelene neBhayibhile futhi iyihlonipha, ngoko yaba nomdla wokundimamela. Kwenzeka ntoni? Izinto zahamba kakuhle kakhulu kuloo ntlanganiso yethu eyathatha imizuzu eyi-30. Yade yathi iyawuhlonipha umsebenzi esiwenzayo.

Kangangeminyaka, abantu bakaYehova bebengena bephuma kwiinkundla zaseYurophu ukuze bakhusele amalungelo abo kwizinto ezifana nokungathathi cala, ukukhulisa abantwana, irhafu nezinye izinto. Kuye kwandivuyisa nyhani ukubona indlela uYehova ebesinceda ngayo siphumelele kuloo matyala. AmaNgqina KaYehova sele ephumelele kumatyala angaphezu kwe-140 kwiNkundla YaseYurophu Elwela Amalungelo Abantu.

Kwiminyaka yoo-1990 umsebenzi wethu wawubekelwe imithetho eCuba. Ngoko ndasebenza noMzalwan’ uPhilip Brumley, owayesuka kwikomkhulu lehlabathi, noMzalwan’ uValter Farneti waseItaly, ukuze sincede abazalwana noodade baseCuba bakhonze uYehova bekhululekile. Ndabhalela kwindlu yozakuzo yaseCuba eyayiseBelgium, ndaza ndadibana negosa elalijongene nesicelo sethu. Kwiintlanganiso zethu zokuqala zange sikwazi ukuzilungisa izinto awayengaziqondi kakuhle urhulumente, nezamenza wawubekela imithetho umsebenzi wethu.

Sathetha noYehova, emva koko sacela ukuthumela iiBhayibhile eziyi-5 000 eCuba. Kwavunywa. Zafika ezo Bhayibhile eCuba, zanikwa abazalwana noodade. Loo nto yasenza saqonda ukuba uYehova uyayisikelela imizamo yethu. Saphinda sacela ukuthumela ezinye iiBhayibhile eziyi-27 500. Neso isicelo samkelwa. Kwandivuyisa kakhulu ukunceda abazalwana noodade baseCuba baneeBhayibhile zabo.

Ndiye kaninzi eCuba ndisiya kuthethelela abantu bakaYehova ukuze umsebenzi wethu ube semthethweni ngokupheleleyo. Elo xesha landenza ndavana namagosa amaninzi karhulumente.

Ngo-1994 abantu abangaphezu kwe-1 000 000 babulawa kabuhlungu kwimfazwe yobuhlanga eyayiseRwanda. Okubuhlungu kukuba kwabo bantu kwakukho nabanye abazalwana noodade. Ngoko nangoko kwacelwa iqela labazalwana ukuba liye kunceda abazalwana noodade balapho, lize libanike izinto abazidingayo.

Ukufika kweqela lethu kwikomkhulu iKigali, iofisi yokuguqulela nendawo eyayigcina iincwadi zazidlavuzwe ziimbumbulu. Sabaliselwa izinto ezininzi ezibuhlungu ngabazalwana noodade ababulawa ngamabhozo. Sabaliselwa nangabazalwana noodade abaninzi ababenceda abantu. Ngokomzekelo, sadibana nomzalwana owayefihlwe emngxunyeni iintsuku eziyi-28 yintsapho yamaNgqina engamaHutu. Kwintlanganiso esasinayo eKigali, sathuthuzela saza sakhuthaza abazalwana noodade abangaphezu kwe-900.

Emva koko saya eZaire (ngoku eyiDemocratic Republic of the Congo), siye kukhangela amaNgqina amaninzi aseRwanda awayebalekele kwiinkampu zeembacu ezazikufutshane nedolophu iGoma. Sasingawafumani, ngoko sathandaza sicela uYehova asibonise ukuba aphi. Emva koko, sabona umntu esiza ngakuthi, sambuza ukuba likhona na iNgqina LikaYehova alaziyo. Wathi: “Ewe, ndililo, ndinganisa kwikomiti yokunceda.” Emva kokuba sibe nentlanganiso ekhuthazayo nabazalwana abakwikomiti yokunceda, saya kubantu ababaleke eRwanda abamalunga ne-1 600 ukuze sibathuthuzele size sibakhuthaze. Sabafundela neleta eyayisuka kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo. Bavuya kakhulu abazalwana noodade bakuva amazwi athi: “Sisoloko sinithandazela. Siyazi ukuba uYehova akasoze anishiye.” Lalinyanisile iQumrhu Elilawulayo. Ngoku eRwanda kukho amaNgqina angaphezu kwe-30 000 akhonza uYehova evuya.

Ngo-2011 ndaswelekelwa sisithandwa sam uElly, emva kweminyaka ephantse ibe yi-58 sitshatile. Ndathandaza ndixelela uYehova ngentlungu yam, waza wandithuthuzela. Enye into eyandithuthuzelayo kukuxelela abamelwane bam iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani.

Ngoku ndikwiminyaka yee-90 kodwa ndisashumayela qho ngeveki. Kuyandivuyisa nokuncedisa kwiSebe Lezomthetho elilapha kwisebe laseBelgium, ukubalisela abanye ngezinto ezenzeke kum, nokukhuthaza abazalwana noodade abasebatsha abakhonza eBheteli.

Ndaqala ukuthandaza kuYehova kwiminyaka emalunga neyi-84 edlulileyo. Eso yaba sisiqalo sobomi obuvuyisayo obundenze ndaya ndimthanda. Ndimbulela kakhulu uYehova kuba kubo bonke ubomi bam ebehlala eyimamela imithandazo yam.​—INdu. 66:19. b