Ngazalwa ngoDisemba 22, 1929, eNoville, indawo esemaphandleni enamapulazi angu-9 eduze kwaseBastogne, eBelgian Ardennes. Nginezinkumbulo ezimnandi zalokho okwakwenzeka ngesikhathi ngiseyingane sihlala epulazini nabazali bami. Mina nomfowethu omncane uRaymond sasisenga izinkomo nsuku zonke, sisiza nangokuvuna. Kwakunobumbano olukhulu emaphandleni esasihlala kuwo, sonke sasisizana.

Abazali bami, u-Emile no-Alice, babengamaKatolika ashisekayo. Babeya eMiseni njalo ngamaSonto. Nokho, ngawo-1939, kwafika amaphayona avela eNgilandi eza lapho esasihlala khona acela ukunika ubaba umagazini ofika njalo i-Consolation (manje obizwa ngokuthi i-Phaphama!). Ngokushesha ubaba wabona ukuthi lokho ayekufunda komagazini kwakuyiqiniso, wabe eseqala ukufunda iBhayibheli. Lapho eyeka ukuya eMiseni, omakhelwane bethu ababekade benobungani baqala ukulwisana naye bemphikisa. Bacindezela ubaba ukuba aqhubeke engumKatolika, okwaholela ezingxoxweni eziningi ezishubile.

Kwakungiphatha kabi kakhulu ukubona ubaba ecindezelwa ngale ndlela. Lokho kwangenza ngancenga uNkulunkulu ukuba asize ubaba ngaloya mthandazo engikhulume ngawo ekuqaleni kwalesi sihloko. Ngajabula kakhulu lapho omakhelwane bethu beyeka ukuphikisa ubaba. Lokho kwangiqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova ‘uyayilalela imithandazo.’

AmaNazi aseJalimane ahlasela iBelgium ngoMeyi 10, 1940, okwenza ukuba abantu abaningi babaleke. Umndeni wakithi wabalekela eningizimu yeFrance. Njengoba sasihamba, ngezinye izikhathi sasizithola sisengozini ngenxa yokuthi amasosha aseJalimane ayelwa namasosha aseFrance.

 Lapho sibuya epulazini lethu, sathola ukuthi izinto zethu eziningi zazintshontshiwe. Inja yethu uBobbie kuphela eyeza yazosihlangabeza. Izinto ezinjengalezo zangenza ngazibuza, ‘Kungani kunezimpi nokuhlupheka?’

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwasikhuthaza kakhulu ukuvakashelwa uMfoweth’ u-Emile Schrantz, a umdala oyiphayona elithembekile. Esebenzisa iBhayibheli wachaza ngokucacile ukuthi kungani sihlupheka, waphendula neminye imibuzo enganginayo ngokuphila. Ngaba nobuhlobo obuseduze kakhulu noJehova, ngaqiniseka ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onothando.

Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba impi iphele, umndeni wakithi wawukwazi ukuxhumana njalo nabafowethu. Ngo-Agasti 1943, uMfoweth’ uJosé-Nicolas Minet wasivakashela epulazini lethu ezosibekela inkulumo. Wasibuza, “Ubani ofuna ukubhapathizwa?” Ubaba waphakamisa isandla, nami ngasiphakamisa. Sabhapathizelwa emfuleni omncane eduze kwepulazi lethu.

NgoDisemba 1944 amasosha aseJalimane aqala ukuhlasela kwawo okukhulu kokugcina eMpini Yezwe II, ehlasela intshonalanga yeYurophu—le mpi yaziwa ngokuthi impi yaseBulge. Sasihlala eduze kwalapho okwakunempi khona futhi kwadingeka sihlale egunjini elingaphansi kwendlu isikhathi esingangenyanga. Ngolunye usuku ngaphuma ngiyophakela izilwane, izinhlamvu zombayimbayi zadubula ipulazi, kwasuka uphahla lwendlu yezilwane. Isosha laseMelika elalisesitebeleni eduze kwalapho engangikhona lamemeza lathi, “Lala phansi!” Ngabaleka ngalala eduze kwalo, labeka isigqoko salo ekhanda lami ukuze lingivikele.

Ngemva kwempi, sakwazi ukuxhumana njalo nabafowethu nodadewethu basebandleni laseLiège, eliqhele ngamakhilomitha acishe abe ngu-90. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, sakwazi ukumisa iqembu elincane labafundi eBastogne. Ngaqala ukusebenza ebhizinisini lentela, ngaba nethuba lokufundela ukuba ummeli. Kamuva ngasebenza ehhovisi likahulumeni. Ngo-1951 sahlela umhlangano wesigodi omncane (owawubizwa ngokuthi umhlangano wesifunda) eBastogne. Lowo mhlangano wawunabantu abangaba yikhulu, kubo kwakukhona nodade  oyiphayona oshiseka kakhulu, u-Elly Reuter. Wahamba ngebhayisikili amakhilomitha angu-50 ukuze abe khona kuwo. Ngokushesha sathandana sabe sesithembisana umshado. U-Elly wayethole isimemo sokuya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi e-United States. Wabhalela indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke echaza ukuthi kungani ayenomuzwa wokuthi ngeke akwazi ukusamukela leso simemo. UMfoweth’ uKnorr, owayehola abantu bakaJehova ngaleso sikhathi, ngomusa wamphendula wathi mhlawumbe ngelinye ilanga uyoya eGileyadi nomyeni wakhe. Sashada ngoFebhuwari 1953.

Ngawo lowo nyaka, mina no-Elly saya emhlanganweni owawunesihloko esithi Umphakathi Wezwe Elisha, owawuseYankee Stadium, eNew York. Ngesikhathi silapho, ngahlangana nomzalwane owangithembisa umsebenzi okahle, wangicela nokuba ngithuthele e-United States. Ngemva kokuthandaza kuJehova ngale ndaba, mina no-Elly sanquma ukungawamukeli lowo msebenzi, sabuyela eBelgium ukuze siyosiza iqembu elincane labamemezeli abangu-10 eBastogne. Ngonyaka olandelayo sajabula kakhulu lapho kuzalwa umfanyana wethu, uSerge. Ngokudabukisayo, ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisikhombisa, uSerge wagula washona. Sathandaza kuJehova samtshela ngobuhlungu obukhulu esasibuzwa, futhi lasiqinisa ithemba lovuko eliqinisekisiwe.

Ngo-Okthoba 1961, ngathola umsebenzi engangizosebenza kuwo izinsuku ezithile, owawuzongivumela ukuba ngiphayone. Nokho, ngalo lolo suku, ngathola ucingo oluvela kumuntu owayekhonza egatsheni laseBelgium. Wangibuza ukuthi ngingakwazi yini ukukhonza njengenceku yesifunda (manje ebizwa ngokuthi umbonisi wesigodi). Ngambuza, “Ngeke yini sikwazi ukuqale sibe amaphayona ngaphambi kokuba samukele lesi sabelo?” Abazalwane bathi singakwazi. Ngemva kokuphayona izinyanga ezingu-8, saqala umsebenzi wokujikeleza ngoSepthemba 1962.

Ngemva kweminyaka emibili senza umsebenzi wokujikeleza, samenywa ukuba siyokhonza eBethel eBrussels. Saqala ukukhonza khona ngo-Okthoba 1964. Sathola izibusiso eziningi esabelweni sethu esisha. Ngemva kwesikhashana nje sivakashelwe uMfoweth’ Knorr eBethel ngo-1965, ngamangala lapho ngimiswa njengenceku yegatsha. Kamuva, mina no-Elly samenyelwa ekilasini lesi-41 leSikole SaseGileyadi. Amazwi uMfoweth’ uKnorr awasho eminyakeni engu-13 edlule agcwaliseka! Ngemva kokwethweswa iziqu, sabuyela eBethel yaseBelgium.

Eminyakeni edlule, ngibe nelungelo lokusebenzisa ulwazi enginalo kwezomthetho ukuze ngilwele ilungelo labantu bakaJehova lokukhonza uJehova ngenkululeko eYurophu nakwezinye izindawo. (Fil. 1:7) Lokhu kungenze ngasebenza neziphathimandla zasemazweni angaphezu kuka-55 lapho umsebenzi wethu ubekelwe khona imingcele noma uvinjelwe khona. Kunokuveza ulwazi enginalo kwezomthetho kulezo ziphathimandla, lapho ngizethula ngangithi, “ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu.”  Ngangihlale ngithandaza ngicela isiqondiso kuJehova, ngiqaphela ukuthi “inhliziyo yenkosi [noma yomahluleli] injengemifudlana yamanzi esandleni sikaJehova. Uyiqondisa noma kuphi lapho ethanda khona.”—IzAga 21:1.

Enye into eyenzeka engingasoze ngayikhohlwa ingxoxo engaba nayo nelungu lasePhalamende YaseYurophu. Ngase ngicele izikhathi eziningana ukukhuluma nalo, ekugcineni lavuma ukuba sihlangane. Lathi kimi, “ngizokunika imizuzu emihlanu kuphela.” Ngabheka phansi ngathandaza. Leli lungu lasephalamende lithukile langibuza ukuthi ngenzani. Ngaphakamisa ikhanda ngathi, “bengibonga uNkulunkulu ngoba ungomunye wezikhonzi zakhe.” Langibuza, “Usho ukuthini?” Ngalibonisa eyabaseRoma 13:4. LalingumProthestani, ngakho leli vesi eliseBhayibhelini lalithinta. Kwabe sekwenzekani? Sakhuluma imizuzu engu-30, ingxoxo yethu yahamba kahle kakhulu. Laze lasho nokuthi liyawuhlonipha umsebenzi owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova.

Eminyakeni edlule, abantu bakaJehova balwe izimpi eziningi ezinkantolo eYurophu ezimayelana nokungathathi hlangothi kwamaKristu, ezimayelana nokuthi ingane izohlala nobani, ukukhokhwa kwentela nokunye okuningi. Kube ilungelo kimi ukuthi ngisize kwamaningi alamacala nokuzibonela mathupha indlela uJehova asisize ngayo sawanqoba. OFakazi BakaJehova banqobe amacala angaphezu kuka-140 eNkantolo YaseYurophu Yamalungelo Abantu!

Ngawo-1990, ngasebenza noMfoweth’ uPhilip Brumley, wasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke, noMfoweth’ uValter Farneti, wase-Italy, ukuze sisize abafowethu nodadewethu baseCuba bathole inkululeko ethe xaxa ekukhonzeni uJehova, ngenxa yokuthi umsebenzi wethu wawubekelwe imingcele. Ngabhalela inxusa laseCuba eliseBelgium, ngabe sengihlangana nesiphathimandla esasikhethwe ukuba sisingathe isicelo sethu. Emihlanganweni yokuqala esaba nayo, asikwazanga ukuxazulula ukungaboni ngaso linye okwabangela ukuba uhulumeni abekele umsebenzi wethu imingcele.

Ngemva kokuthandaza kuJehova sicela isiqondiso sakhe, sacela imvume yokuthumela amaBhayibheli angu-5 000 eCuba futhi sayithola. AmaBhayibheli afika ngokuphepha, athunyelwa kubafowethu, ngakho saphetha ngokuthi uJehova wayeyibusisa imizamo yethu. Sabe sesicela imvume yokuthumela amanye amaBhayibheli angu-27 500. Saphinde sayithola imvume. Kwangijabulisa kakhulu ukusiza abafowethu nodadewethu abathandekayo baseCuba ukuba babe namaBhayibheli athi bona.

Sengiye eCuba izikhathi eziningana ukuze  ngiyosiza ekuthuthukiseni izindaba ezingokomthetho ezithinta umsebenzi wethu. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, ngikwazile ukuba nobuhlobo obuhle neziphathimandla zikahulumeni eziningi.

Ngo-1994 abantu abangamaTutsi abangaphezu kuka-1 000 000 babulawa ekuqothulweni kohlanga eRwanda. Ngokudabukisayo, abanye babafowethu nodadewethu nabo babulawa. Ngokushesha iqembu labazalwane lacelwa ukuba lihlele ukuba kusizwe abafowethu nodadewethu ngezinto abazidingayo.

Lapho iqembu lethu lifika eKigali, inhloko-dolobha, sathola ihhovisi lokuhumusha nendawo yokugcina izincwadi kugcwele izimbobo zezinhlamvu zezibhamu. Sezwa izindaba eziningi ezibuhlungu zabafowethu nodadewethu ababulawa ngocelemba. Kodwa sezwa nangezindaba zamaKristu ayebonisana uthando. Ngokwesibonelo, sahlangana nomzalwane ongumTutsi owayecashe emgodini izinsuku ezingu-28, evikelwe umndeni woFakazi ongamaHutu. Ngesikhathi sinomhlangano eKigali, saduduza futhi sakhuthaza abafowethu nodadewethu abangaphezu kuka-900.

Sabe sesiwela umngcele saya eZaire (manje eyaziwa ngokuthi i-Democratic Republic of the Congo) ukuze siyocinga oFakazi baseRwanda abaningi ababebalekele emakamu ababaleki aseduze kwedolobha laseGoma. Asikwazanga ukubathola, ngakho sathandaza, sicela uJehova asiholele kubo. Sabe sesibona othile eza ngakithi, sambuza ukuthi bakhona yini oFakazi BakaJehova abaziyo. Waphendula wathi “Yebo, nginguFakazi. Ngingathanda ukuniyisa ekomitini yokunikeza usizo.” Ngemva komhlangano okhuthazayo esaba nawo nekomiti yokunikeza usizo, sahlangana nababaleki abangaba ngu-1 600 ukuze sibakhuthaze futhi sibaduduze. Sabafundela nencwadi evela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo. Abafowethu nodadewethu bathinteka kakhulu lapho bezwa isiqinisekiso esithi: “Sihlale sinithandazela. Siyazi ukuthi uJehova ngeke anishiye.” Ayeyiqiniso ngempela amazwi eNdikimba Ebusayo. Namuhla, bangaphezu kuka-30 000 oFakazi abakhonza uJehova ngenjabulo nangobunye eRwanda!

Ngemva kokuba sesishade iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-58, ngo-2011 umkami engimthandayo u-Elly washona. UJehova wangiduduza njengoba ngangithandaza ngimtshela indlela engangilusizi ngayo. Kwangiduduza nokuxoxela omakhelwane bami izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.

Nakuba sengiyihlanganisile iminyaka engu-90, ngisaya enkonzweni yasensimini isonto ngalinye. Ngiyajabula nangokuthi ngisiza uMnyango Wezomthetho lapha egatsheni laseBelgium, ngisiza abanye ngolwazi enginalo futhi ngikhuthaza abasebasha emndenini waseBethel.

Eminyakeni engaba ngu-84 edlule, ngathandaza kuJehova okokuqala ngqa ekuphileni kwami. Leso kwakuyisiqalo sohambo olumnandi olungenze ngasondelana nakakhulu noJehova. Ngibonga kakhulu ngokuthi ekuphileni kwami konke uJehova uyilalelile imithandazo yami.—IHu. 66:19. b