“BABA,” “PAPA,” “MALUME.” Yileyo indlela abasebasha abaningi abajwayele ukungibiza ngayo eBethel. Njengoba ngineminyaka engu-89, ngiyakuthanda ukubizwa kanjalo. Ngibheka la magama amnandi engibizwa ngawo njengomvuzo ovela kuJehova ngenxa yokumkhonza iminyaka engu-72 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngokwalokho engikubonile enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu, ngiyakwazi ukuqinisekisa laba abasebasha ngokusuka enhliziyweni, ngithi kubo, ‘Umsebenzi wenu uyovuzwa—uma ningavumeli izandla zenu ziyethe.’—2 IziKr. 15:7.

Abazali bami bathuthela e-Ukraine besuka eCanada. Bafike bahlala edolobheni laseRossburn esifundazweni saseManitoba. Umama wami onothando wazala abafana abangu-8 namantombazane angu-8, akekho kithi oyiwele—mina ngiyingane yesi-14. Ubaba wayelithanda iBhayibheli futhi wayesifundela lona njalo ekuseni ngeSonto, kodwa wayebheka inkolo njengento ephuca abantu izimali zabo, wayevame ukuzidlalela athi, “Kazi ubani owayekhokhela uJesu ukuze ashumayele futhi afundise?”

Abafowethu abane nodadewethu abane ngokuhamba kwesikhathi balamukela iqiniso. Udadewethu uRose waphayona kwaze kwaba yilapho eshona. Wachitha izinsuku zakhe zokugcina ekhuthaza wonke umuntu ukuba afunde iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ethi, “Ngifuna ukunibona ezweni elisha.” Umfowethu omdala, ekuqaleni wayeshumayela ngesihogo somlilo. Njalo ngeSonto ekuseni wayeshumayela emsakazweni, ekhuluma ngentshiseko etshela izilaleli zakhe ukuthi izoni zizosha phakade esihogweni somlilo. Kamuva, waba inceku kaJehova ethembekile neshisekayo.

Ngolunye usuku ngoJuni 1944 lapho ngibuya ekhaya ngivela esikoleni, ngathola incwajana eyayinesihloko esithi The Coming World Regeneration * iphezu kwetafula lokudlela lasekhaya. Ngafunda ikhasi lokuqala, ngadlulela kwelesibili, angikwazanga ukuyibeka phansi leyo ncwadi. Lapho ngiqeda ukuyifunda, ngase nginqumile—ngifuna ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela uJesu enza ngayo.

Le ncwajana yayifike kanjani etafuleni lasekhaya? Umfowethu omdala uSteve wangitshela ukuthi kufike amadoda amabili “athengisa” izincwadi nezincwajana. Nakhu akusho, “Ngithenge eyodwa ngoba  ibibiza amasenti amahlanu kuphela.” La madoda abuya ngeSonto elilandelayo. Asitshela ukuthi angoFakazi BakaJehova nokuthi asebenzisa iBhayibheli ukuze aphendule imibuzo abantu abangase babe nayo. Sakuthanda lokho ngoba abazali bethu babesifundise ukuhlonipha iZwi likaNkulunkulu. La madoda amabili asitshela nokuthi oFakazi babezoba nomhlangano maduze eWinnipeg, idolobha okwakuhlala kulo udadewethu u-Elsie. Nganquma ukuya kulowo mhlangano.

Ngahamba ngebhayisikili lami amakhilomitha angaba ngu-320 ngaya eWinnipeg kodwa ngachitha isikhathi edolobheni laseKelwood lapho okwakuhlala khona la madoda amabili angoFakazi ayevakashe ekhaya. Ngesikhathi ngilapho, ngaya emhlanganweni webandla futhi ngafunda ukuthi liyini ibandla. Ngaqaphela nokuthi yonke indoda, owesifazane kanye nentsha kufanele ifundise endlini ngendlu njengoba uJesu enza.

EWinnipeg ngahlangana nomfowethu omdala uJack owayelibangise emhlanganweni esuka enyakatho ye-Ontario. Ngosuku lokuqala lomhlangano, isikhulumi samemezela ukuthi kuzoba nobhapathizo. Mina noJack sanquma ukubhapathizwa kulowo mhlangano. Sobabili sasizimisele ukukhonza njengamaphayona ngemva nje kokubhapathizwa. UJack wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngemva nje komhlangano. Mina ngangineminyaka engu-16 futhi kwakudingeka ngibuyele esikoleni kodwa ngonyaka olandelayo nami ngaba yiphayona elivamile.

Ngaqala ukuphayona kanye noStan Nicolson eSouris idolobha laseManitoba. Ngokushesha ngafunda ukuthi izinto azihambi kahle ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho uphayona. Saphelelwa yimali kodwa saqhubeka sishumayela. Ngesinye isikhathi ngemva kokushumayela usuku lonke saphindela endlini silambile futhi singenamali. Samangala kabi lapho sithola isaka elikhulu lokudla emnyango wendlu yethu! Kuze kube namuhla, asazi ukuthi ubani owalibeka lapho. Kusihlwa ngalolo suku sadla njengamakhosi. Yeka umvuzo esawuthola ngokungavumeli izandla zethu ziyethe! Empeleni, ekupheleni kwaleyo nyanga, ngangiqala ukukhuluphala ngaleya ndlela ekuphileni kwami.

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, sabelwa edolobheni laseGilbert Plains eliqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-240 eningizimu yeSouris. Ngalezo zinsuku, ibandla ngalinye lalineshadi elikhulu elisendaweni yesikhulumi elalibonisa indlela ibandla elisebenze ngayo ensimini inyanga ngayinye. Ngesikhathi izinga lokushumayela lehlile, ngabeka inkulumo ebandleni ukuze ngikhuthaze abazalwane nodade ukuba bathuthukise. Ngemva kwaleyo nkulumo, udade osekhulile oyiphayona, owayenomyeni ongahlanganyeli, ehlengezela izinyembezi, wathi kimi: “Ngizamile, kodwa angikwazanga ukwenza okungaphezu kwalokho engikwezile.” Nami ngabe sengikhala ngaxolisa.

Njengoba kwakunjalo ngami, umzalwane osemusha kalula nje angenza amaphutha angamenza azizwe edikibele. Kodwa ngiye ngabona ukuthi esikhundleni sokuvumela izandla ziyethe, kungcono ukufunda emaphutheni akho futhi uzikhumbule lezo zifundo njengoba uqhubeka nokuphila. Uyovuzwa ngomzamo owenzayo wokubonisa ukholo.

Ngesikhathi ngineminyaka engu-21, ngaba nelungelo lokuya ekilasini lesi-14 leSikole SaseGileyadi, engaphothula kuso ngoFebhuwari 1950! Cishe amaphesenti angu-25 alabo ababesekilasini bathunyelwa esifundeni saseQuebec eCanada okukhulunywa kuso isiFulentshi, okuyindawo oFakazi ababeshushiswa kakhulu kuyo. Ngabelwa edolobheni laseVal-d’Or okumbiwa kulo igolide. Ngolunye usuku, sahamba sayoshumayela njengeqembu edolobheni eliseduzane laseVal-Senneville. Umfundisi wendawo wathembisa ukusilimaza uma singahambi kuleyo ndawo ngokushesha. Lokho kusongelwa kwaholela ecaleni lasenkantolo engangingummangali kulo. Umfundisi wahlawuliswa. *

Leso senzakalo neziningi ezifana naso ezalandela, zaba yingxenye “Yempi YaseQuebec.” Sekuphele iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-300 isifunda saseQuebec silawulwa yiSonto LamaRoma Katolika. Abefundisi kanye nabezombusazwe ababebambisene nabo babashushisa oFakazi BakaJehova. Kwakungesona isikhathi esilula futhi sasimbalwa, kodwa asizange sivumele  izandla zethu ziyethe. Abantu baseQuebec ababenezinhliziyo eziqotho basabela. Ngaba nelungelo lokufundela abantu abaningana abalamukela iqiniso. Ngafundela nomndeni owawunamalungu ayishumi. Wonke lowo mndeni waqala ukukhonza uJehova. Isibonelo sawo sesibindi sakhuthaza abanye ukuba balishiye iSonto LamaKatolika. Saqhubeka sishumayela futhi ekugcineni sayinqoba impi!

Ngo-1956, ngabelwa ukuba ngiyokhonza eHaiti. Izithunywa zevangeli eziningi ezazisanda kufika lapho zaziba nobunzima bokufunda ulimi lwesiFulentshi, kodwa abantu babelalela. UStanley Boggus owayeyisithunywa sevangeli wathi, “Kuyasimangaza ukuthi abantu benza konke okusemandleni ukuze basisize sifunde ulimi lwendawo.” Ekuqaleni, akubanga nzima kakhulu ngoba ngangisifundile isiFulentshi eQuebec. Kodwa ngokushesha saqaphela ukuthi abazalwane abaningi bendawo babekhuluma kuphela isiHaitian Creole. Ngakho ukuze siphumelele njengezithunywa zevangeli, kwakudingeka sifunde ulimi lwendawo. Sakwenza lokho futhi sathola imiphumela emihle.

Ukuze siqhubeke sisiza abafowethu, sathola imvume eNdikimbeni Ebusayo yokuhumushela INqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi olimini lwesiHaitian Creole. Ezweni lonke baba baningi abantu abeza emihlanganweni yebandla. Kwakukhona abamemezeli abangu-99 ngo-1950, kodwa lelo nani landa kakhulu, maphakathi nawo-1960 kwase kunabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-800. Ngaleso sikhathi ngathola isabelo sokuyokhonza eBethel. Ngo-1961, ngajabulela ukuhlangayela ekuqhubeni iSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso. Saqeqesha abadala abangu-40 namaphayona akhethekile. Emhlanganweni owawungoJanuwari 1962, sakhuthaza abazalwane bendawo abafanelekayo ukuba bandise inkonzo yabo futhi abanye bamiswa njengamaphayona akhethekile. Lokhu kwenzeka ngesikhathi esikahle kakhulu ngoba kwakusondela ukuphikiswa.

NgoJanuwari 23, 1962, ngemva nje komhlangano, sisehhovisi legatsha mina no-Andrew D’Amico owayeyisithunywa sevangeli saboshwa futhi kwathathwa sonke isitoko se-Phaphama! kaJanuwari 8, 1962 (yesiFulentshi). Le-Phaphama! yayicaphune amaphephandaba esiFulentshi ayebike ukuthi ukuthakatha  (voodoo) kuyenziwa eHaiti. Abantu abathile abakuthandanga lokho bathi leso sihloko sibhalwe yithi egatsheni. Ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa, izithunywa zevangeli zaxoshwa kulelo zwe. * Kodwa abazalwane bendawo ababeqeqeshiwe baqhubeka benza umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu. Namuhla ngijabula nabo ngokukhuthazela kwabo nendlela ukholo lwabo oluye lwaqina ngayo. Manje bane-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele ngesiHaitian Creole—okuyinto esasingacabangi ukuthi ingenzeka.

Ngemva kokukhonza eHaiti, ngabelwa ukuba ngiyokhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli eCentral African Republic. Kamuva ngaba nelungelo lokukhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo ngemva kwalokho ngaba umbonisi wegatsha.

Ngalezo zinsuku, amaHholo OMbuso ayakhiwa ngendlela elula kakhulu. Ngafunda ukulanda utshani ehlathini nokufulela indlu ngotshani. Kwakubahlekisa abadlula ngendlela ukungibona ngifunda ukwenza lo msebenzi. Kwakhuthaza nabazalwane ukuba babe nesandla kakhudlwana ekwakhiweni nasekunakekelweni kwamaHholo OMbuso. Abaholi benkolo babesihleka ngoba amasonto abo ayefulelwe ngothayela kanti thina sasifulela ngotshani. Lokho akuzange kusiqede amandla, saqhubeka sakha amaHholo OMbuso afulelwe ngotshani. Bayeka ukuhlekisa ngathi lapho isivunguvungu esinamandla sihlasela eBangui, okuyinhloko dolobha yakulelo zwe. Isivunguvungu saphephula uphahla lukathayela esontweni lwayophonseka emgwaqeni omkhulu. Utshani esasifulele ngabo emaHholo OMbuso abuzange bunyakaze. Ukuze unakekelwe kangcono umsebenzi woMbuso, sakha ihhovisi legatsha elisha kanye nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli ngezinyanga ezinhlanu nje kuphela. *

Ngo-1976 umsebenzi woMbuso wavinjelwa eCentral African Republic ngabe sengabelwa e-N’Djamena inhloko dolobha yaseChad izwe elingumakhelwane. Okuhle ukuthi ngahlangana noHappy, iphayona elikhethekile elishisekayo elidabuka eCameroon. Sashada ngo-Ephreli 1, 1978. Ngayo leyo nyanga, kwagqashuka impi yombango okwabangela ukuba sibalekele eningizimu yezwe kanye nabanye abaningi. Lapho leyo mpi iphela, sabuyela emuva sathola ukuthi umuzi wethu uyisigodlo seqembu elilwayo. Izincwadi zethu zazingasekho kuhlanganise nengubo yomshado kaHappy kanye nezipho esaziphiwa ngesikhathi sishada. Kodwa asizange sivumele izandla zethu ziyethe. Saqhubeka sisekelana futhi sibheke phambili emsebenzini owengeziwe.

Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, umsebenzi wethu wavunyelwa eCentral African Republic. Saphindela khona futhi ngaba umbonisi ojikelezayo. Ikhaya lethu kwakuwumahamba nendlwana owawunombhede ogoqwayo, isigubhu esifaka amalitha angu-200 amanzi, i-gas yesiqandisi kanye ne-gas yokupheka. Ukuhamba kwakunzima. Ngesinye isikhathi sihamba savinjwa ezitobhini zamaphoyisa ezingaba ngu-117.

Amazinga okushisa ayevame ukukhuphuka afike ku-50°C. Emihlanganweni, ngezinye izikhathi kwakunzima ukuthola amanzi anele ukuze kubhapathizwe abantu. Ngakho abazalwane babemba emifuleni eyomile futhi kancane kancane baqongelela amanzi anele okubhapathiza ayevame ukufakwa kubhavu omkhulu.

Ngo-1980 sathunyelwa eNigeria. Kulelo zwe sachitha iminyaka emibili nesigamu sisiza ngamalungiselelo okwakhiwa kwegatsha elisha. Abazalwane babethenge isakhiwo sokugcina izinto esinezitezi ezimbili esasizobhidlizwa bese kwakhiwa kuleyo ndawo. Ngolunye usuku ekuseni, ngakhuphuka ngaya phezulu esakhiweni ukuze ngisize ngokubhidlizwa kwaso. Emini ngaqala ukwehla ngendlela engangikhuphuke ngayo. Kodwa njengoba ezinye izinto zase ziqaqiwe, ngathi ngiyanyathela kanti akusekho lutho, ngabe sengiwela phansi ngisuka phezulu. Ngangilimele kakhulu, kodwa ngemva kokwenza ama-X-rays nokuhlolwa, udokotela wathi kuHappy: “Ungakhathazeki. Udonseke imisipha embalwa kodwa uzolulama ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa.”

 Ngo-1986 salibangisa eCôte d’Ivoire lapho engakhonza khona njengombonisi ojikelezayo. Lo msebenzi wasihambisa saze safika eBurkina Faso, izwe elingumakhelwane. Angikaze ngicabange ukuthi ngiyogcina ngihlala eBurkina Faso.

Ngasuka eCanada ngo-1956, kodwa ngo-2003 ngemva kweminyaka engu-47 ngaya eBethel yaseCanada ngihamba noHappy. Amaphepha ayethi siyizakhamuzi zaseCanada, kodwa sasinomuzwa wokuthi singabase-Afrika.

Ngakho ngo-2007, ngineminyaka engu-79 saphinde sathuthela e-Afrika. Sabelwa eBurkina Faso lapho engakhonza khona njengelungu leKomiti Yezwe. Lelo hhovisi kamuva laba ihhovisi lokuhumusha elingaphansi kwegatsha laseBenin, kwathi ngo-Agasti 2013 sabelwa ukuyokhonza eBethel yaseBenin.

Naphezu kwempilo engeyinhle, inkonzo ngisayithanda kakhulu. Phakathi neminyaka emithathu edlule, ngisizwa abadala nawumkami engimthandayo, ngiye ngajabulela ukubona abantu ababili engibafundelayo uGédéon noFrégis bebhapathizwa. Manje bakhonza uJehova ngentshiseko.

Kwathi kusenjalo, mina nomkami sathunyelwa egatsheni laseNingizimu Afrika, lapho engafika nganakekelwa khona ngokwempilo. INingizimu Afrika yizwe lesikhombisa e-Afrika engaba nelungelo lokukhonza kulo. Kwathi ngo-Okthoba 2017 sathola isibusiso esibabazekayo. Sakwazi ukwethamela ukunikezelwa kwendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eWarwick, eNew York. Leso kwakuyisenzakalo esingasoze sasikhohlwa!

INcwadi Yonyaka Ka-1994 yesiNgisi ekhasini 225 yathi: “Nina nonke eniye nakhuthazela iminyaka eminingi nenza umsebenzi wokushumayela, siyanikhuthaza: ‘Yibani nesibindi futhi ningavumeli izandla zenu ziyethe, ngoba ukhona umvuzo womsebenzi wenu.’—2 IziKr. 15:7.” Mina noHappy sizimisele ukulalela lesi sikhuthazo futhi sikhuthaze nabanye ukuba benze okufanayo.