Ifa Elingavamile LamaKristu

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUBLOSSOM BRANDT

Lalikhithika eSan Antonio, eTexas, ngo-January 17, 1923, usuku engazalwa ngalo. Kwakumakhaza ngaphandle, kodwa ngamukelwa izandla ezifudumele zabazali abanothando abangamaKristu, uJudge noHelen Norris. Ngokwezinkumbulo zami zakudala kakhulu, konke abazali bami ababekwenza kwakugxile ekukhulekeleni kwabo uJehova uNkulunkulu.

NGO-1910 lapho uMama eneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili, abazali bakhe bathuthela epulazini elingaphandle kwe-Alvin, eTexas besuka ngasePittsburgh, ePennsylvania. Lapho bajabulela ukufunda amaqiniso eBhayibheli kumakhelwane. UMama wachitha iminyaka yokugcina yokuphila kwakhe efuna ukuvusa isithakazelo sabantu ethembeni loMbuso. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1912 ngemva kokuba umkhaya uthuthele eHouston, eTexas.

UMama nabazali bakhe bahlangana okokuqala noCharles T. Russell, umongameli wokuqala we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, lapho evakashele ibandla lakubo eHouston. Ngokuvamile lomkhaya wawamukela ekhaya lawo abameleli beNhlangano abajikelezayo, ngalesosikhathi ababebizwa ngokuthi ama-pilgrim. Eminyakeni embalwa kamuva, uMama kanye nabazali bakhe bathuthela eChicago, e-Illinois, futhi uMfoweth’ uRussell wayezovakashela ibandla lalapho.

Ngo-1918, uGogo wangenwa umkhuhlane waseSpain, futhi ngenxa yethonya lawo elenza impilo yakhe yaba buthakathaka, odokotela batusa ukuba ahlale endaweni enesimo sezulu esifudumele. Njengoba uMkhulu ayesebenzela inkampani yezitimela yakwaPullman, ngo-1919 wathola imvume yokuphindela eTexas. Lapho, eSan Antonio, uMama wahlangana nelungu lebandla eliselisha, elishisekayo okuthiwa uJudge Norris. Bakhangana zisuka nje, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bashada, futhi uJudge waba ubaba wami.

Ubaba Ufunda Iqiniso LeBhayibheli

UJudge (uMahluleli) wanikwa leligama lakhe elingavamile lapho ezalwa. Lapho uyise embona okokuqala, wathi: “Lomntwana uzothe njengomahluleli,” futhi lelo kwaba yigama lakhe. Ngo-1917, lapho uBaba eneminyaka engu-16, wanikezwa amapheshana anesihloko esithi Where Are the Dead? nesithi What Is the Soul? ayenyatheliswa yi-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Umkhulu wayefe eminyakeni emibili ngaphambili, futhi lamapheshana amnikeza izimpendulo ayezifuna ngesimo sabafileyo. Ngokushesha kamuva waqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi.

Ngokushesha uBaba wafuna ukuhlanganyela emisebenzini yebandla. Wathola insimu lapho ayengashumayela khona, futhi ekuphumeni kwesikole wayegibela ibhayisikili lakhe aye lapho ukuze ayohambisa amapheshana. Wagxila ngokugcwele ekuhlanganyeleni ithemba loMbuso nabanye, futhi ngo-March 24, 1918, wabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova ngobhapathizo lwamanzi.

Ngonyaka owalandela lapho uMama ethuthela eSan Antonio, uBaba wakhangwa ngokushesha yilokho akubiza ngokuthi “ukumomotheka okuhle  kakhulu namehlo aluhlaza ukuwedlula wonke” ake wawabona. Ngokushesha bakwenza kwaziwa ukuthi babefuna ukushada, kodwa kwaba nzima ngabo ukuba benze abazali bakaMama bavume. Nokho, ngo-April 15, 1921, bashada. Bobabili babenomgomo wenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele.

Ukuqalisa Kwangaphambili Enkonzweni

Lapho uMama noBaba bematasa belungiselela ukuba khona emhlanganweni wesigodi waseCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1922, bathola ukuthi uMama wayekhulelwe. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuzalwa kwami, lapho uBaba eneminyaka engu-22 kuphela, wamiswa njengomqondisi wenkonzo webandla. Lokhu kwasho ukuthi kwase kumelwe enze wonke amalungiselelo enkonzo yasensimini. Emasontweni ambalwa nje ngemva kokuzalwa kwami, uMama wahamba nami waya enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Eqinisweni, ugogo nomkhulu nabo babethanda ukuhamba nami lapho beya enkonzweni.

Lapho ngineminyaka emibili nje kuphela, abazali bami bathuthela eDallas, eTexas, futhi eminyakeni emithathu kamuva baqalisa inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona. Ebusuku babelala embhedeni omncane ophathwayo eduze komgwaqo futhi mina bengilalisa esihlalweni semoto sangemuva. Eqinisweni, ngicabanga ukuthi lokhu kwakujabulisa, kodwa kwakhanya ngokushesha ukuthi babengakulungele ukuphila njengamaphayona ngalesosikhathi. Ngakho uBaba waqalisa ibhizinisi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, wakha inqodlana elungiselela ukuphinde aqale ukuphayona.

Ngaphambi kokuba ngiqalise esikoleni, uMama wangifundisa ukufunda nokubhala, futhi ngangazi uhla lwezinombolo eziphindaphindwayo ukusukela kweyokuqala kuya kweyesine. Ngaso sonke isikhathi wayegxile ekungisizeni ukuba ngifunde. Wayengimisa esihlalweni eduze kwakhe ukuze ngisule izitsha njengoba yena ezigeza, futhi wayengifundisa ukukhumbula imibhalo nokuhlabelela izingoma zoMbuso, noma izihlabelelo njengoba sasizibiza kanjalo ngalesosikhathi.

Ukukhonza UNkulunkulu Nabazali Bami

Ngo-1931 sonke saba khona emhlanganweni wesigodi ovusa amadlingozi owawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, lapho samukela khona igama elithi OFakazi BakaJehova. Nakuba ngangineminyaka eyisishiyagalombili kuphela, ngacabanga ukuthi kwakuyigama elihle kunawo wonke kwengake ngawezwa. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba siphindele ekhaya, ibhizinisi likaBaba lashiswa umlilo, futhi uBaba noMama bakuthatha lokhu “njengentando yeNkosi” yokuba baqale ukuphayona futhi. Ngakho, ekuqaleni kwehlobo lika-1932, sajabulela iminyaka eminingi enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

Abazali bami baphayona enkabeni yeTexas ukuze bahlale eduze kwabazali bakaMama, ababeseSan Antonio. Ukushintsha kwezabelo kwadinga ukuba ngishintshe izikole kaningi. Ngezinye izikhathi abangane abangacabangi babethi, “Kungani ningazinzi futhi nibe nekhaya lalengane,” njengokungathi nganginganakekelwa kahle. Kodwa ngicabanga ukuthi ukuphila kwethu kwakuthakazelisa nokuthi ngangisiza uBaba noMama enkonzweni yabo. Empeleni, ngangiqeqeshelwa futhi ngilungiselelwa lokho kamuva okwakuyoba indlela yami siqu yokuphila.

Kwase kuyizinyanga eziningi ngitshela uBaba noMama ukuthi ngangifuna ukubhapathizwa, futhi babevame ukukhuluma nami ngakho. Babefuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi ngangazi yini ukuthi isinqumo sami singesingathi sína kangakanani. Ngo-December 31, 1934, lwafika usuku lwalesenzakalo esibaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwami. Nokho, ngobusuku obandulelayo, uBaba waqiniseka ukuthi ngangiye kuJehova ngomthandazo. Khona-ke, wenza into enhle. Wathi sonke siguqe, futhi wathandaza. Watshela uJehova ukuthi wayejabule kakhulu ngesinqumo sentombazanyana yakhe sokunikezela ukuphila kwayo kuYe. Ungaqiniseka ukuthi, kuyo yonke iminyaka eminingi ezayo, angisoze ngabukhohlwa lobobusuku!

Ukuqeqeshwa Ugogo Nomkhulu

Phakathi kuka-1928 no-1938, ngachitha isikhathi esiningi ngivakashela ugogo nomkhulu eSan Antonio. Ukuphila nabo kwakufana kakhulu nokuphila nabazali bami. Ugogo wayeyi-colporteur, njengoba amaphayona ayebizwa kanjalo, futhi kamuva waba yiphayona lesikhashana. Umkhulu wamiswa njengephayona ngo-December 1929, ngakho inkonzo yasensimini yayiwumsebenzi ovamile wansuku zonke.

Umkhulu wayengiphakamisa ebusuku futhi angifundise amagama ezinkanyezi. Wayengisholo izinkondlo ayezikhumbula ngekhanda. Ngiye ngahamba  naye izikhathi eziningi ngezitimela zakwaPullmans lapho esasebenzela uloliwe. Wayengumuntu engangiphendukela kuye ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho nginenkinga; wayengiduduza futhi angisule izinyembezi. Nokho, lapho ngijeziswa ngenxa yokuganga futhi ngiya kuye ngifuna ukuba angiduduze, wayemane nje asho kalula (amazwi engangingawaqondi ngalesosikhathi, kodwa ashiwo ngokucacile): “S’thandwa, indlela yesoni inzima kakhulu.”

Iminyaka Yokushushiswa

Ngo-1939, kwaqala iMpi Yezwe II, futhi abantu bakaJehova babhekana noshushiso nobudlova bezixuku. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1939, uMama wayegula kakhulu futhi ekugcineni kwadingeka ukuba ahlinzwe, ngakho saphindela eSan Antonio.

Kwakubuthana izixuku njengoba sasenza umsebenzi kamagazini emigwaqweni yaseSan Antonio. Kodwa isonto ngalinye, sasiba lapho njengomkhaya, ngamunye wayema endaweni ayeyabelwe. Ngangivame ukubukela lapho bedonsa uBaba bemyisa esiteshini samaphoyisa.

UBaba wazama ukuqhubeka ephayona ngisho nakuba kwakudingeka ukuba uMama ayeke. Nokho, wayengatholi imali eyanele lapho ebamba amatoho, ngakho kwadingeka ukuba naye ayeke. Ngaqeda isikole ngo-1939, futhi nami ngokufanayo ngasebenza.

 Igama likaBaba elithi Judge (Mahluleli) labonakala liwusizo phakathi naleyominyaka. Ngokwesibonelo, iqembu lofakazi lahamba layonikeza ubufakazi edolobheni elingasenyakatho nje yeSan Antonio, futhi iphoyisa lesifunda laqala ukubavalela bonke. Lalibophe cishe abangu-35, kuhlanganise umkhulu nogogo. Bathumela umyalezo kuBaba, futhi wangena emotweni walibangisa khona. Wangena ehhovisi lephoyisa lesifunda futhi wathi: “NginguMahlulel’ uNorris ovela eSan Antonio.”

“Yebo Mnumzane, Mahluleli, yini engingakwenzela yona?” kubuza iphoyisa lesifunda.

“Ngizele ukuzolungisa indaba yokukhipha labantu ejele,” kuphendula uBaba. Kulokho leliphoyisa lesifunda labavumela ukuba bahambe ngaphandle kokukhokha inhlawulo—futhi alibuzanga eminye imibuzo!

UBaba wayekuthanda ukufakaza ezakhiweni eziyinhloko zamahhovisi edolobha, futhi wayethanda ngokukhethekile ukuvakashela abahluleli nabameli. Wayetshela owamukela izingcingo nezihambi: “NginguMahlulel’ uNorris, futhi ngizobona uMahluleli Zibanibani.”

Khona-ke, lapho ehlangana nomahluleli, ngaso sonke isikhathi wayeqala ngokuthi: “Manje, ngaphambi kokuba ngikhulume ngenjongo yokuhambela kwami, ngifuna ukuchaza ukuthi benginguMahluleli isikhathi esingaphezu kwesakho. Bengingumahluleli kukho konke ukuphila kwami.” Futhi kamuva wayechaza indlela athola ngayo igama lakhe. Lokhu kwakuba isingeniso sobungane, futhi wahlakulela ubuhlobo obuningi obuhle nabahluleli ngalezozinsuku.

Ukubonga Ngesiqondiso Sabazali

Ngangiphakathi kwaleyominyaka yesiyaluyalu yokweva eshumini elinambili, futhi ngiyazi ukuthi uBaba noMama babehlala bekhathazekile njengoba babebheka futhi bezibuza ukuthi kazi ngangizokwenzani ngokulandelayo. Njengoba bonke abantwana benza, izikhathi eziningi ngangivivinya uBaba noMama, ngicela ukwenza okuthile noma ukuya endaweni ethile nakuba ngangazi kusengaphambili ukuthi impendulo iyoba ucha. Ngezinye izikhathi ngangikhala. Empeleni, ngangiyodumala kakhulu ukuba babeke bathi: “Hamba, yenza okufunayo. Asinandaba nawe.”

Ukwazi ukuthi ngangingenakubathonya ukuba bashintshe izindinganiso zabo kwanginika umuzwa wokulondeka. Eqinisweni, lokhu kwakwenza kwaba lula ngami lapho enye intsha isikisela ukuzilibazisa okungahlakaniphile, ngoba ngangithi: “Ubaba akanakungivumela ukuba ngihambe.” Lapho ngineminyaka engu-16, uBaba waqikelela ukuthi ngifunda ukushayela nokuthi ngithola izincwadi zami zokushayela. Futhi, cishe ngalesikhathi wanginikeza isihluthulelo sendlu. Kwangihlaba umxhwele ukuthi wayengethemba. Ngazizwa ngikhulile, futhi kwanginika umuzwa wokuba nomthwalo wemfanelo nesifiso sokubenza baqhubeke bengithemba.

Ngalezozinsuku kwakungenazeluleko eziningi ezazinikezwa ngokuphathelene nomshado, kodwa uBaba wayelazi iBhayibheli nalokho elalikusho ngokushada ‘eNkosini kuphela.’ (1 Korinte 7:39) Wakwenza kwacaca kimi ukuthi uma ngingake ngilinge ngimemele umfana wezwe ekhaya ukuba azobona abazali bami, noma ngicabangele ngisho nokuphola naye, wayezodumazeka kakhulu. Ngangazi ukuthi wayeqinisile, ngoba ngangiyibonile injabulo nobunye emshadweni wabo ngoba bashada ‘eNkosini.’

Ngo-1941, lapho ngineminyaka engu-18, ngacabanga ukuthi ngangithandana nensizwa ethile ebandleni. Yayiyiphayona futhi ifundela ukuba ummeli. Ngangijabule. Lapho sitshela abazali bami ukuthi sasifuna ukushada, esikhundleni sokuba benqabe noma bangakukhuthazi, bamane bathi: “Sithanda ukunxusa into eyodwa kuwe, Blossom. Sinomuzwa wokuthi usemncane kakhulu, futhi sithanda ukukucela ukuba ulinde unyaka owodwa. Uma ngempela nithandana, unyaka owodwa ngeke wenze mehluko.”

Ngibonga kakhulu ngokuthi ngasilalela lesoseluleko esihlakaniphile. Phakathi nonyaka, ngavuthwa kakhudlwana futhi ngabona ukuthi lensizwa yayingenazo izimfanelo ezaziyoyenza ibe umngane omuhle womshado. Ekugcineni yashiya inhlangano, futhi ngaphunyuka kulokho okwakuyokuba inhlekelele ekuphileni kwami. Yeka indlela okujabulisa ngayo ukuba nabazali abahlakaniphile abakwahlulela kwabo kungathenjelwa kukho!

Umshado Nomsebenzi Wokujikeleza

Ebusika bango-1946, ngemva kokuba ngichithe iminyaka eyisithupha ngiphayona futhi ngibamba amatoho, kwangena eHholo lethu LoMbuso insizwa enhle ukudlula zonke engake ngahlangana nazo. UGene Brandt wayabelwe ukuba abe umsizi wenceku yethu yesifunda ehambela abazalwane, njengoba umbonisi wesifunda ayebizwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi. Sakhangana, futhi ngo-August 5, 1947, sashada.

Ngokushesha, uBaba noGene bavula ibhizinisi le-accounting. Kodwa uBaba watshela uGene: “Mzukwana lelibhizinisi lisivimbela ukuba siye emhlanganweni noma esabelweni esingokwaseZulwini, ngiyolivala ngokuphelele.” UJehova wawubusisa lombono ongokomoya, futhi ibhizinisi liye lasinikeza izidingo zethu ezanele zezinto ezibonakalayo futhi lasivumela ukuba sibe nesikhathi sokuphayona. UBaba noGene babengosomabhizinisi abahle, futhi sasiyoceba kalula, kodwa lokhu kwakungewona neze umgomo wabo.

Ngo-1954, uGene wamenyelwa emsebenzini wesifunda, okwasho ushintsho olukhulu ekuphileni kwethu. Babeyosabela kanjani abazali bami? Nalapha futhi, babengazikhathaleli bona ngokwabo kodwa izithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nenhlalakahle engokomoya yabantwana babo. Abakaze  bathi kithi: “Kungani ningasiletheli abazukulu?” Kunalokho, babehlala bethi: “Yini esingayenza ukuze sinisize enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele?”

Ngakho lapho usuku lokuba sihambe lufika, kwakunamazwi ayisikhuthazo nokujabula kuphela ngelungelo lethu elikhulu. Abazange basenze sibe nomuzwa wokuthi siyabashiya kodwa babesisekela ngokugcwele ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ngemva kokuba sesihambile, bazigcina bematasa emsebenzini wokuphayona eminye iminyaka eyishumi. UBaba wamiswa njengombonisi wedolobha laseSan Antonio, okuyisikhundla aba kuso iminyaka engu-30. Wajabulela ukubona ukwanda kusukela ebandleni elilodwa kulelidolobha ngawo-1920 kuya kwangu-71 ngaphambi kokuba afe ngo-1991.

Ukuphila kwami noGene bekugcwele injabulo. Saba nenjabulo ecebile yokukhonza abazalwane bethu nodade abathandekayo emazweni angaphezu kuka-31, futhi mhlawumbe okuphawuleka kunakho konke, ilungelo lokuba khona ekilasini lama-29 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead ngo-1957. Ngemva kwalokho saphindela emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Ngo-1984, ngemva kweminyaka engu-30 sisemsebenzini wesifunda nowesigodi, ngomusa iNhlangano yanika uGene isabelo sesifunda saseSan Antonio, njengoba abazali bethu base beneminyaka engaphezu kuka-80 ubudala futhi benempilo ebuthakathaka.

Ukunakekela Abazali

Kwakusengunyaka nengxenye nje ngemva kokuba siphindele eSan Antonio lapho uMama aba sesimweni esingesibi kakhulu sokulahlekelwa yingqondo futhi wafa. Kwenzeka ngokushesha kangangokuba angikwazanga ukusho ezinye zezinto engangifuna ukuzisho kuye. Lokhu kwangifundisa ukuba ngikhulume kakhulu noBaba. Ngemva kokuba eshade iminyaka engu-65, wayemkhumbula kakhulu uMama, kodwa sasikhona ukuze simnikeze uthando nokusekela.

Isibonelo sikaBaba sakho konke ukuphila kwakhe sokuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu, ukutadisha, nenkonzo saqhubeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. Wayekuthanda ukufunda. Njengoba kwakufanele abe yedwa lapho sisenkonzweni, ngangifika ekhaya futhi ngibuze, “Ingabe ubunesizungu?” Ubematasa efunda futhi etadisha, kangangokuba wayengazange acabange ngisho nokucabanga ngesizungu.

Kwakunomunye umkhuba esawulondoloza kukho konke ukuphila. Ngaso sonke isikhathi ubaba wayegcizelele ukuthi umkhaya udle ndawonye, ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi sokudla kwasekuseni lapho sekucatshangelwe umBhalo wetekisi losuku ngalunye. Ngangingavunyelwe ukuba ngihambe ekhaya lingenziwanga. Ngezinye izikhathi ngangithi: “Kodwa Baba, ngizofika sekwephuzile esikoleni (noma emsebenzini).”

UBaba wayethi: “Akulona itekisi elikwenza wephuze; awuvukanga ngesikhathi.” Futhi kwakumelwe ngihlale futhi ngilizwe. Wayeqikelela ukuthi lesibonelo esihle sihlala sikhona kwaze kwaba sezinsukwini zokugcina zokuphila kwakhe. Leli elinye ifa angishiyela lona.

UBaba wahlala ephapheme engqondweni kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. Okwenza kwaba lula kakhudlwana ukumnakekela ukuthi akakaze abe umuntu osheshe acasuke noma akhononde. Oh, ngezinye izikhathi wayekhuluma ngesifo sakhe sokuqaqamba kwamathambo, kodwa ngangimkhumbuza ukuthi okwakumphethe ngempela “ubu-Adamu,” futhi wayehleka. Njengoba mina noGene sasihleli eduze kwakhe, uBaba wafa ngokuthula ekuseni ngo-November 30, 1991.

Manje ngineminyaka engaphezu kuka-70 ubudala futhi ngisazuza esibonelweni esihle sabazali bami abanothando abangamaKristu. Futhi kungumthandazo wami oqotho ukuthi ngiyobonakalisa ukwazisa kwami okugcwele ngalelifa ngokulisebenzisa ngokufanelekile phakathi nayo yonke iminyaka esazolandela.—IHubo 71:17, 18.

[Isithombe ekhasini 5]

Mina noMama

[Izithombe ekhasini 7]

1. Umhlangano wesigodi wokuqala ngqa engaba khona kuwo: ESan Marcos, eTexas, ngo-September 1923

2. Umhlangano wesigodi wokugcina uBaba aba kuwo: EFort Worth, eTexas, ngo-June 1991 (UBaba uhleli)

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

UGene noBlossom Brandt