NgoJuni 1970, ndandilaliswe kwisibhedlele sasePennsylvania, eMerika. Ndandilijoni elineminyaka eyi-20 ndigula kakhulu. Unesi wayendihlola igazi rhoqo emva kwesiqingatha seyure. Lo nesi owayemdadlana kum, wayebonakala ekhathazekile. Njengoko imeko yam yayisiba maxongo, ndathi kuye, “Ndiyakubona ukuba zange wambona umntu ofileyo.” Ubuso bakhe buphatshile, wathi, “Ewe, zange ndambona.” Yayingathi andizuphila, kodwa ndim lo ndisaphila. Makhe ndinithele gqaba gqaba ngobomi bam.

Ndagula xa ndandisebenza kwigumbi lokutyanda kwimfazwe yaseVietnam. Ndandikuthanda ukunceda abagulayo nabonzakeleyo, ndinosukelo lokuba ngugqirha wotyando. Ndafika eVietnam ngoJulayi 1969. Njengawo onke amajoni afikayo, ndanikwa ithuba elingangeveki lokuba ndiqhelane nexesha nemozulu yale ndawo.

Ndandabelwe ukusebenza kwisibhedlele samajoni esiseMekong Delta. Iinqwelo-ntaka ezininzi zazisizisa amajoni onzakeleyo kwesi sibhedlele. Ndandilithanda ilizwe lam yaye ndikuthanda ukusebenza, ngoko ndandifuna ukunceda amajoni akuthi. La majoni onzakeleyo ayelungiselelwa ukunyangwa aze athunyelwe kumagunjana enziwe ngamacangci ekwakutyandelwa kuwo. Oogqirha ababini kunye noonesi ababini babesenza konke okusemandleni ukusindisa ubomi bawo. Ndaqaphela ukuba kukho iingxowa ezimnyama ezinkulu ezazingothulwa kwiinqwelo-ntaka. Ndaxelelwa ukuba kwezo ngxowa kwakukho amalungu omzimba amajoni awayeqhushunjiswe edabini. Le yeyona nto yandothusayo ngemfazwe.

Ndaqala ukuva inyaniso kumaNgqina kaYehova ndisemncinci. Umama wayefundelwa, kodwa akazange ade abhaptizwe. Sekunjalo, ndandikuthanda ukuya kwezo zifundo. Ngenye imini, mna notata owayetshate nomama sadlula ngakwiHolo YoBukumkani. Ndambuza, “Kuphi apha tata?” Wandiphendula wathi, “Ungaze usondele kwaba bantu!” Kuba ndandimthanda kwaye  ndimthemba, ndamthobela ndaza ndayeka ukuzidibanisa namaNgqina kaYehova.

Noko ke, ukubuya kwam eVietnam, zabuya engqondweni izinto ezibuhlungu ezazenzekile. Ngenxa yezinto endazibonayo ebudeni bemfazwe, ndandingenazo iimvakalelo. Kwakubonakala ukuba kwakungekho mntu uyiqondayo into eyayisenzeka eVietnam. Ndikhumbula ndisiva abaqhankqalazi besithi amajoni aseMerika ngababulali babantwana ngenxa yeengxelo zokuba kwakubulewe abantwana abamsulwa. Zonke ezi zinto zandenza ndaziva ndidinga ulwalamano noThixo.

Ekukhangeleni kwam uThixo, ndaqalisa ukuya kwiicawa ezahlukeneyo. Ndandimthanda uThixo, kodwa andizange ndiyithande into endayibonayo kwezo cawa. Ekugqibeleni, ndaya kwiHolo YoBukumkani eseDelray Beach, eFlorida. Iintlanganiso zam zokuqala zazingeCawa ngoFebruwari 1971.

Xa ndandingena kwiHolo YoBukumkani, intetho yesidlangalala yayiphela, ngoko ndahlala ukuze ndimamele iSifundo SeMboniselo. Andisawukhumbuli umxholo welo nqaku, kodwa ndikhumbula ndibukele abantwana betyhila izibhalo kwiiBhayibhile zabo. Ndayithanda gqitha loo nto! Ndahlala phantsi nje ndabukela. Ekuphumeni kwam, umzalwana owayemalunga neminyaka eyi-80 ubudala weza kum. Igama lakhe yayinguJim Gardner. Wandinika incwadi ethi Inyaniso Ekhokelela Kubomi Obungunaphakade waza wandibuza, “Ndingakupha le ncwadi?” Ndathi ewe, yaye sagqiba ukuba siqalise ukufunda ngentsasa yangoLwesine.

Emva kweentlanganiso ngeCawa, kwafuneka ndiye emsebenzini. Ndandisebenza kwisibhedlele saseBoca Raton, eFlorida, yaye ndandiza kungena ngo-11 ebusuku, nditshayise ngo-7 ekuseni. Sasingaxakekanga ngobo busuku, ngoko ndakwazi ukuyifunda le ncwadi. Omnye unesi wohlutha le ncwadi kum, wayijonga ngaphandle, waza wandinkqangisa efuna ukwazi ukuba ndandiza kuba liNgqina likaYehova na. Ndayihlutha nam loo ncwadi ndaza ndamxelela ukuba noxa ndandisandul’ ukuyiqala le ncwadi, ndandikufuna ukuba liNgqina. Wandiyeka, yaye ndayigqiba loo ncwadi ngobo busuku.

Xa sasiza kufunda okokuqala noMzalwan’ uGardner, ndambuza, “Siza kufunda ntoni?” Waphendula wathi, “Laa ncwadi bendikunike yona.” Ndathi, “Sendiyigqibile nje.” Ethetha ngobubele, uMzalwan’ uGardner wathi, “Makhe sijonge isahluko sokuqala.” Ndothuswa kukubona izinto ezininzi endandiziphosile. Wandicela ukuba ndijonge izibhalo ezininzi kwiBhayibhile yam eyayiyiKing James Version. Ekugqibeleni ndandifunda ngoThixo wenene, uYehova. Ngaloo ntsasa uJim wafunda kunye nam izahluko ezithathu zencwadi ethi Inyaniso. Emva koko, sasifunda izahluko ezithathu ntsasa nganye ngooLwezine. Kwakuba mnandi kakhulu kwezo zifundo. Kwakulilungelo kum ukufundiswa ngumthanjiswa owayemazi uCharles T. Russell!

 Emva kweeveki ezimbalwa ndifundelwa, ndakufanelekela ukuya entsimini. Ukushumayela kwindlu ngendlu kwakungelula, kodwa uJim wandinceda ukuba ndehlis’ ixhala. (IZenzo 20:20) Wandinceda ndayithanda intsimi. Kum, ukushumayela lelona lungelo likhulu endinalo. Kundivuyisa kakhulu ukuba ngumsebénzi olidlelane kaThixo.—1 Korinte 3:9.

Ngoku makhe ndinixelele ngento ebalulekileyo kum, uthando endandinalo kuqala ngoYehova. (ISityhilelo 2:4) Lundincede ndanyamezela iingcinga ezibuhlungu zemfazwe nezinye iingxaki ezininzi.—Isaya 65:17.

Ngo-1971, ndagxothwa kwindlu endandiyinikwe ngabazali bam. Ngoba? Utata owayendikhulisa wayengafuni Ngqina kuloo ndlu! Ndandingenamali ininzi ngelo xesha. Isibhedlele sasindibhatala emva kweeveki ezimbini, yaye ndandisandul’ ukusebenzisa imali eninzi ekuthengeni impahla yentsimi kuba ndandifuna ukummela kakuhle uYehova. Ndandinemadlana endandiyigcine ebhankini, kodwa yayikwidolophu yasekhaya eMichigan. Ngoko kwafuneka ndilale emotweni yam iintsuku ezimbalwa. Ndandihlamba ndize ndisheve kwizindlu zangasese zeegaraji.

Ngenye imini ngoxa ndandisalala emotweni, ndaphuma emsebenzini ndaya kwiHolo YoBukumkani kwiiyure ezimbalwa ngaphambi kwengxubusho yentsimi. Njengoko ndandihleli emva kweholo, kungekho mntu undibonayo, zabuya engqondweni izinto ezazenzeke eVietnam. Yayingathi ndiyaliva ivumba lezidumbu ezitshileyo, ndibubona nobo butyadidi begazi, ibe ndanyukelwa zizibilini. Ezindlebeni zam kwakunkenteza amazwi abafana, kungathi ndiyababona bendicenga  besithi: “Andizukufa phofu? Andizukufa phofu?” Ndandisazi ukuba baza kufa, kodwa ndandizama ukubathuthuzela ndize ndibaqhathe ndithi yonke into iza kulunga. Njengoko ndandihleli apho, ndandingazi nokuba mandithini yintlungu.

Ndathandaza kuYehova ndilila iinyembezi. (INdumiso 56:8) Ndaqalisa ukucinga ngamandla ngovuko. Kulapho ndaqonda khona ukuba eli lithemba elihle ngokwenene! UYehova uza kubavusa abo bafana, baze bafumane ithuba lokumazi. Uvuko luza kuphelisa intlungu nokubandezeleka esiye sajamelana nako. (IZenzo 24:15) Xa ndayiqonda loo nto, ndaya ndimthanda uYehova. Andikayilibali nanamhlanje loo mini. Ukususela ngoko, nanini na ndinengxaki, ndizama kangangoko ukukhumbula uthando endandinalo kuqala ngoYehova.

Abantu benza izinto ezimbi emfazweni, ibe nam ndazenza. Kodwa ndiye ndancedwa kukucamngca ngezibhalo ezibini endizithanda kunene. Esokuqala siSityhilelo 12:10, 11, esithi uMtyholi akoyiswa ngokushumayela kwethu kuphela, kodwa nangegazi likaYesu. Esesibini ngamaGalati 2:20, andikhumbuza ukuba uYesu wafela mna. Ngenxa yedini lentlawulelo likaKristu, uYehova undixolele ngezinto endizenzileyo. Ngoku isazela sam sicocekile yaye ndinomnqweno ongathethekiyo wokwazisa abanye ngoThixo wethu onenceba, uYehova.—Hebhere 9:14.

Xa ndicinga ngezinto ezindehleleyo ebomini, kuyacaca ukuba uYehova ebesoloko endinyamekela. Ngokomzekelo, ngosuku uJim awafumanisa ngalo ukuba ndilala emotweni, wandazisa kudade owayerentisa ngamagumbi. Ndiqinisekile ukuba uYehova wasebenzisa uJim nalo dade ukuze ndibe nekhaya elihle. UYehova unobubele! Uyabanyamekela abanquli bakhe abathembekileyo.

NgoMeyi 1971, kwafuneka ndiye eMichigan. Ngaphambi kokuba ndimke eFlorida, ndazalisa imoto yam ngeencwadi, ndangen’ endleleni. Ndathi ndiphuma kwiphondo elilandelayo laseGeorgia, ndabe ndizihambise zonke ezo ncwadi. Ndandishumayela ngenzondelelo iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani kuzo zonke iindawo endandisiya kuzo. Ndandishumayela ezintolongweni kwaye ndihambisa amaphecana kumadoda akwizindlu zangasese ezikwiindawo zokuphumla. Ndikhe ndizibuze ukuba akakho na kwabo bantu owayifundayo inyaniso.—1 Korinte 3:6, 7.

Ndimele ndiyivume into yokuba ukuqala kwam ukufunda inyaniso, ndandingasoloko ndithetha kakuhle, ingakumbi kwintsapho yam. Ngamanye amaxesha ndandixabela. Ndibathanda kakhulu abantakwethu, uJohn noRon, ngoko xa ndandishumayela kubo, ndandizama ukubanyanzela ukuba bazamkele iinkolelo zam ezintsha. Kamva, kwafuneka ndixolise. Kodwa ndiyaqhubeka ndithandazela ukuba bayamkele inyaniso. Ukususela ngoko, uYehova undincedile ukuba ndithethe kakuhle xa ndishumayela naxa ndifundisa.—Kolose 4:6.

Ulwalamano lwam noYehova luya kusoloko lusiza kuqala ebomini bam. Kodwa, kukho nabanye abantu endibathanda kakhulu, ngakumbi umfazi wam, uSusan. Ndandisoloko ndifuna umfazi oya kundinceda ndiqhubeke ndikhonza uYehova. USusan ngumfazi ozimiseleyo nomthanda kakhulu uYehova. Ngenye imini sisathandana, ndiye kumbona kowabo eRhode Island. Wayehleli kwiveranda, efunda iMboniselo ephethe neBhayibhile yakhe. Into eyandichukumisayo kukuba wayezijonga zonke izibhalo, noxa wayengafundi nqaku elaliza  kuxutyushwa. Ndabona ukuba ulwalamano lwakhe noYehova lwalubalulekile kuye. Satshata ngoDisemba 1971. Ndiyayibulela into yokuba nomfazi ondixhasa kangaka. Into endiyixabisa kakhulu kukuba nakuba endithanda, uthanda uYehova nangakumbi.

UYehova usiphe oonyana ababini abahle, uJesse noPaul. Njengoko bekhula, uYehova ebebakhokela. (1 Samuweli 3:19) Nabo baye baba nolwalamano noYehova, ibe loo nto isenza sonwabe kakhulu. Bobabini baye bakhonza uYehova ixesha elizeleyo iminyaka engaphezu kweyi-20. Yaye baqhubeka bemkhonza kuba baye bakhumbula uthando ababenalo kuqala ngaye. Ndinebhongo nangeembelukazi ezimbini ezingoomolokazana bam, uStephanie noRacquel, endibajonga njengeentombi zam. Ndinombulelo kuba oonyana bam betshate nabafazi abamthanda ngeentliziyo zabo zonke uYehova nabasebenzise ubomi babo ukuze bamkhonze.—Efese 6:6.

Ndakhonza iminyaka eyi-16 eRhode Island, apho ndenza abahlobo abaninzi. Ndisabakhumbula abadala abakhutheleyo endandikhonza nabo. Ndibabulela kakhulu abaveleli abahambahambayo abandincedayo. Kuye kwalilungelo ukukhonza uYehova kunye namadoda aye agcina uthando awayenalo kuqala ngaye. Ngo-1987, safudukela eNorth Carolina, indawo eyayifuna  abavakalisi boBukumkani abangakumbi, ibe nalapho senza izihlobo ezininzi. *—Jonga umbhalo osemazantsi.

NgoAgasti 2002, sinoSusan samkela isimemo sokuba ngamalungu eBheteli yaseMerika esePatterson. Ndasebenza kwiSebe Lenkonzo, yaye uSusan wasebenza kwelokuhlamba impahla, msebenzi lowo wayewuthanda! NgoAgasti 2005, ndafumana ilungelo lokuba lilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo. Ndaziva ndingakufanelekeli ukwenza esi sabelo sitsha. NoSusan wayeyoyika imbopheleleko, umsebenzi, nokuhambahamba okwakubandakanyekile. Zange wakuthanda ukuhamba ngenqwelo-moya; kodwa, sihlala sihamba ngayo. Amacebiso amahle asuka kubafazi bamanye amalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo aye amnceda kakhulu. Amenze wazimisela ukundixhasa, yaye ndiyamthanda ngenxa yaloo nto!

Kwiofisi yam kukho iifoto ezininzi ezintle ezindikhumbuza ngobomi obumnandi endibuphilileyo. Ndiye ndafumana iintsikelelo ezininzi ngokwenza konke okusemandleni ukukhumbula uthando endandinalo kuqala ngoYehova!