Indaba Yokuphila

UJehova Uyisiphephelo Sami Namandla Ami

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA UMARCEL FILTEAU

“Uma ushada naye, kuzomelwe uye ejele.” Yilokho abantu abakusho kowesifazane engangihlela ukushada naye. Ake ngichaze ukuthi kungani basho kanjalo.

LAPHO ngizalwa ngo-1927, iQuebec isifunda saseCanada yayiyisizinda sobuKatolika. Ngemva kweminyaka engaba mine, uCécile Dufour, isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele soFakazi BakaJehova, waqala ukuza ekhaya edolobheni laseMontreal. Ngenxa yalokho, omakhelwane babevame ukumsongela. Eqinisweni, waboshwa futhi waphathwa kabi izikhathi eziningi ngenxa yokushumayela isigijimi seBhayibheli. Ngakho ngokushesha sakubona ukuba yiqiniso kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Niyoba izinto zokuzondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yegama lami.”—Mathewu 24:9.

Ngaleso sikhathi, abantu abaningi babekucabanga njengokungenakwenzeka ukuba umkhaya waseCanada okhuluma isiFulentshi ushiye inkolo yobuKatolika. Nakuba abazali bami bengazange babe oFakazi ababhapathiziwe, ngokushesha baphetha ngo4kuthi izimfundiso zeSonto LobuKatolika zazingavumelani neBhayibheli. Ngakho bakhuthaza izingane zabo ezingu-8 ukuba zifunde izincwadi ezinyatheliswa oFakazi, futhi babasekela labo abathatha isinyathelo sokumelela iqiniso leBhayibheli.

Ukuma Uqinile Ezikhathini Ezinzima

Ngo-1942, lapho ngangisesesikoleni, ngaqala ukuba nesithakazelo sangempela esifundweni seBhayibheli. Ngaleso sikhathi imisebenzi yoFakazi BakaJehova yayivinjelwe eCanada ngenxa yokuthi babelandela isibonelo samaKristu akuqala ngokungahileleki ezimpini zezizwe. (Isaya 2:4; Mathewu 26:52) Umfowethu omdala, uRoland, wafakwa ekamu lokusebenza kanzima ngenxa yokwenqaba ukuya empini phakathi nempi yezwe  eyayibhidlangile ngaleso sikhathi.

Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, ubaba wanginika incwadi yesiFulentshi eyayichaza indlela oFakazi baseJalimane ababehlupheka ngayo ngenxa yokwenqaba ukusekela imikhankaso yezempi ka-Adolph Hitler. * Ngashukumiseleka ukuba ngizihlanganise nabantu abanjalo abanesibindi abayizibonelo ezinhle zokugcina ubuqotho, futhi ngaqala ukuya emihlanganweni yoFakazi BakaJehova eyayiqhutshelwa ekhaya lothile. Ngokushesha ngamenywa ukuba ngihlanganyele emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngasamukela leso simemo, ngiqaphela kahle ukuthi ngangingase ngiboshwe futhi ngigqunywe ejele.

Ngemva kokuthandaza ngicele amandla, ngangqongqoza emnyango wokuqala. Intokazi enomusa yavula, futhi ngemva kokuzazisa, ngayifundela amazwi eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:16 athi: “Yonke imiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu futhi inenzuzo.”

“Ungathanda ukufunda okwengeziwe ngeBhayibheli?” ngibuza.

“Yebo,” kuphendula le ntokazi.

Ngakho ngayitshela ukuthi ngizoza nomngane wami olazi kangcono kunami iBhayibheli, futhi ngenza kanjalo ngesonto elilandelayo. Ngemva kwaleso sehlakalo, ngaqiniseka ngokwengeziwe, futhi ngafunda ukuthi inkonzo asiyenzi ngamandla ethu. Kunjengoba nje umphostoli uPawulu asho, siyenza ngosizo lukaJehova. Ngempela, kubalulekile ukuba siqaphele ukuthi “amandla angaphezu kwavamile . . . ngakaNkulunkulu [futhi akuwona avela] kithi.”—2 Korinte 4:7.

Ngemva kwalokho, umsebenzi wokushumayela waba ingxenye evamile yokuphila kwami, ngokufanayo nangokuboshwa nokugqunywa ejele. Akumangalisi ukuthi ingoduso yami yatshelwa ukuthi, “Uma ushada naye, kuzomelwe uye ejele”! Nokho, izehlakalo ezinjalo zazingenzima ngempela. Kwakuvame ukuthi ngemva kokuchitha ubusuku ejele, uFakazi esikanye naye asikhiphe ngebheyili.

Izinqumo Ezibalulekile

Ngo-April 1943, ngazinikezela kuJehova futhi ngabonakalisa lokho ngobhapathizo lwamanzi. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-August 1944, ngaya okokuqala emhlanganweni wesigodi omkhulu, eBuffalo, eNew York, e-U.S.A., ngaphesheya nje komngcele waseCanada. Ababekhona babengu-25 000, futhi isimiso sashukumisa isifiso sami sokuba iphayona, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zoFakazi BakaJehova zibizwa kanjalo. Ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova eCanada kwaqedwa ngo-May 1945, futhi ngaqala ukuphayona ngenyanga elandelayo.

Nokho, njengoba ngangihlanganyela ngokwengeziwe enkonzweni, ngaboshwa kaninginingi futhi. Ngesinye isikhathi ngafakwa esitokisini sinye  noMike Miller, osenesikhathi eside eyisikhonzi sikaJehova esithembekile. Sahlala phansi kusimende saxoxa. Ingxoxo yethu engokomoya eyakhayo yangiqinisa kakhulu. Nokho, ngemva kwalokho, ngafikelwa omunye umbuzo engqondweni, ‘Bekuzoba njani ukube besibe nokungezwani futhi singakhulumisani?’ Isikhathi engasichitha nalo mfowethu othandekayo ejele sangifundisa esinye sezifundo ezinhle kakhulu ekuphileni kwami—siyabadinga abafowethu, ngakho kufanele sithethelelane futhi sibonisane umusa. Ngale kwalokho, njengoba umphostoli uPawulu abhala: “Uma niqhubeka nilumana futhi nishwabadelana, xwayani ukuba ningaqothulani.”—Galathiya 5:15.

Ngo-September 1945, ngamenyelwa ukuyokhonza ehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society eToronto, eCanada, esilibiza ngokuthi iBethel. Isimiso esingokomoya salapho sasakha ngempela futhi siqinisa ukholo. Ngonyaka olandelayo, ngabelwa ukuyosebenza epulazini laseBethel, elisebangeni lamakhilomitha angaba ngu-40 ukuya enyakatho yehhovisi legatsha. Lapho ngikha ama-strawberry no-Anne Wolynec owayesemusha, angigcinanga ngokuqaphela ubuhle bakhe bangaphandle kodwa ngaqaphela nothando nentshiseko ayenayo ngoJehova. Kwakheka ubuhlobo, futhi sashada ngo-January 1947.

Saphayona eLondon, e-Ontario iminyaka emibili nengxenye eyalandela, futhi ngemva kwalokho saphayona eCape Breton Island, lapho sasiza khona ekumiseni ibandla. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-1949, samenyelwa ekilasini le-14 leWatchtower Bible School of Gilead, lapho saqeqeshelwa ukuba izithunywa zevangeli.

Umsebenzi Wokuba Izithunywa Zevangeli EQuebec

Abafundi baseCanada abathweswa iziqu emakilasini andulele aseGileyadi bababelwa ukuyoqalisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eQuebec. Ngo-1950, nathi kanye nabanye abangu-25 bekilasi le-14 saya khona. Umsebenzi owengeziwe wezithunywa zevangeli walwenza lwadlanga ushushiso nokuhlaselwa ngobudlova yizixuku ezazishoshozelwa abaholi beSonto LamaRoma Katolika.

Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbili sifike esabelweni sethu sokuqala edolobheni laseRouyn, u-Anne waboshwa wafakwa ngemuva emotweni yamaphoyisa. Wayesiqabuka isehlakalo esinjalo, njengoba ayevela edolobhaneni elisesifundeni saseManitoba, eCanada, lapho ayengavamile ukubona iphoyisa. Njengokulindelekile, wethuka futhi wakhumbula amazwi athi, “Uma ushada naye, kuzomelwe uye ejele.” Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba ahambe, amaphoyisa angithola nami angifaka emotweni kanye no-Anne. Wamemeza: “Ngaze ngajabula ukukubona!” Nokho, wayezole ngendlela emangalisayo, wathi, “Phela, kwenzeka okufanayo nakubaphostoli ngenxa yokushumayela ngoJesu.” (IzEnzo 4:1-3; 5:17, 18) Kamuva ngalolo suku sadedelwa ngebheyili.

Cishe ngemva konyaka kwenzeke leso sehlakalo, lapho sisenkonzweni yendlu ngendlu esabelweni sethu esisha eMontreal, ngezwa umsindo ezansi nomgwaqo futhi ngabona isixuku esithukuthele sijikijela amatshe. Lapho ngiya ngiyosiza u-Anne nalowo ayehamba naye, kwafika amaphoyisa. Kunokuba abophe amalungu aleso sixuku, abopha u-Anne nalowo ayehamba naye! Lapho esejele, u-Anne wakhumbuza oFakazi abasha ukuthi babebhekana nokugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJesu athi: “Niyoba izinto zokuzondwa abantu bonke ngenxa yegama lami.”—Mathewu 10:22.

Esikhathini esithile, kwakunamacala angaba ngu-1 700 ayebekwe oFakazi BakaJehova eQuebec ayesazothethwa. Ngokuvamile sasimangalelwa ngokusakaza izincwadi ezivukela umbuso noma ngokusakaza izincwadi ngaphandle kwemvume. Ngenxa yalokho, uMnyango Wezomthetho we-Watch Tower Society wamangalela uhulumeni waseQuebec. Ngemva kwempi engokomthetho yeminyaka eminingi, uJehova wasinika ukunqoba okukhulu izikhathi ezimbili eNkantolo Ephakeme yaseCanada. Ngo-December 1950, kwesulwa ukumangalelwa kwethu ngokuthi izincwadi zethu zivukela umbuso, futhi ngo-October 1953, lagunyazwa ilungelo lethu lokusakaza izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngaphandle kwemvume. Ngakho sabona ngokucace kakhulu ukuthi ngempela uJehova uyindawo ‘yesiphephelo sethu namandla ethu; ufunyaniswa elusizo impela ekuhluphekeni.’—IHubo 46:1.

Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi inani loFakazi eQuebec  liye landa lisuka ku-356 ngo-1945, lapho ngiqala ukuphayona, laya ngaphezu kuka-24 000 namuhla! Ngempela kuye kwaba njengoba isiprofetho seBhayibheli sabikezela: “Asikho isikhali esenzelwa wena esiyakuphumelela, nalo lonke ulimi olukuvukelayo luyakwahlulelwa.”—Isaya 54:17.

Umsebenzi Wethu EFrance

Ngo-September 1959, mina no-Anne samenyelwa ukuyokhonza eBethel eParis, eFrance lapho ngabelwa khona ukwengamela umsebenzi wokunyathelisa. Kuze kube yisikhathi sokufika kwethu ngo-January 1960, umsebenzi wokunyathelisa wawenziwa inkampani ethile. Njengoba INqabayokulinda yayivinjelwe eFrance ngaleso sikhathi, inyanga ngayinye sasinyathelisa umagazini usesimweni sencwajana yamakhasi angu-64. Leyo ncwajana yayibizwa ngokuthi i-Interior Bulletin of Jehovah’s Witnesses futhi yayinezihloko ezizofundwa emabandleni ngaleyo nyanga. Kusukela ngo-1960 kuya ku-1967, inani lalabo ababehlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela eFrance lanyuka lisuka ku-15 439 laya ku-26 250.

Ekugcineni, izithunywa zevangeli eziningi zabelwa kwezinye izindawo, ezinye emazweni ase-Afrika akhuluma isiFulentshi futhi ezinye zabuyiselwa eQuebec. Njengoba u-Anne ayengaphilile kahle futhi kudingeka ahlinzwe, sabuyela eQuebec. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu yokwelashwa, impilo ka-Anne yabuyela esimweni sayo. Ngabe sengabelwa emsebenzini wokujikeleza, ngihambela amabandla ahlukahlukene isonto ngalinye ngiwakhuthaza ngokomoya.

Umsebenzi Wezithunywa Zevangeli E-Afrika

Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa, ngo-1981, sajabula ukuthola isabelo esisha sokuba yizithunywa zevangeli eZaire, manje eyiDemocratic Republic of Congo. Abantu balapho babempofu futhi babebhekene nobunzima obuningi. Lapho sifika, kwakunoFakazi abangu-25 753, kodwa namuhla lelo nani liye landa laba ngaphezu kuka-113 000, futhi baba ngu-446 362 ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu ngo-1999!

Ngo-1984 sathola kuhulumeni indawo yokwakha ihhovisi legatsha elisha engamahektare angaba ngu-200. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-December 1985, kwaba nomhlangano wezizwe enhloko-dolobha iKinshasa, futhi kwaba nezihambeli ezingu-32 000 ezivela emazweni amaningi omhlaba. Ngemva kwalokho, ukuphikiswa okwakushoshozelwa abefundisi kwaphazamisa umsebenzi wethu eZaire. Ngo-March 12, 1986, abazalwane abanomthwalo wemfanelo banikwa incwadi eyayithi inhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova yaseZaire yayingekho emthethweni. Lokhu kuvinjelwa kwawo wonke umsebenzi wethu kwasayinelwa yilowo owayengumongameli walelo zwe, uMobutu Sese Seko ongasekho.

Ngenxa yalezo zehlakalo ezazingazelelwe, kwadingeka sisebenzise iseluleko seBhayibheli esithi: “Oqondileyo uyabona ububi, acashe.” (IzAga 22:3) Sathola izindlela zokuthola iphepha, uyinki, ifilimu, izingqwembe zokunyathelisa namakhemikhali ngaphandle kwezwe ukuze sinyathelise izincwadi zethu eKinshasa. Sasungula nesimiso sethu sokusakaza izincwadi. Lapho sesihlelekile, isimiso sethu sasebenza kangcono kunenkonzo kahulumeni yeposi!

Kwaboshwa izinkulungwane zoFakazi, futhi abaningi bahlushwa ngonya. Nokho, bama beqinile ngaphansi kwempatho enjalo, belondoloza ukwethembeka kwabo, ngaphandle kwabambalwa nje. Nami ngaboshwa futhi ngazibona izimo ezimbi ngokwesabekayo abazalwane ababhekana nazo emajele. Kaningi, sasicindezelwa ngazo zonke izindlela amaphoyisa omshoshaphansi kanye nayiziphathimandla, kodwa uJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi wayesenzela indlela yokuphuma.—2 Korinte 4:8.

Sasifihle amabhokisi angaba ngu-3 000 ezincwadi egunjini lokugcina impahla likasomabhizinisi othile. Nokho, ekugcineni esinye sezisebenzi zakhe sazisa amaphoyisa omshoshaphansi, futhi ambopha lowo somabhizinisi. Endleleni eya ejele, bahlangana nami ngisemotweni. Lowo somabhizinisi wawatshela ukuthi kwakuyimi engangenze naye ilungiselelo lokubeka izincwadi. Amaphoyisa ama futhi angibuza ngakho, engisola ngokubeka izincwadi ezingekho emthethweni egunjini lokugcina impahla lale ndoda.

“Ninayo eyodwa yalezo zincwadi?” ngibuza.

 “Ngokuqinisekile,” ephendula.

“Ngingayibona?” ngicela.

Anginika ikhophi, ngabe sengiwabonisa ikhasi langaphakathi, elithi: “Inyatheliswe E-United States of America Yi-Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society.”

“Lokhu enikuphethe impahla yaseMelika, akuyona eyaseZaire,” ngiwakhumbuza. “Uhulumeni wenu uvimbele inhlangano engokomthetho yoFakazi BakaJehova yaseZaire hhayi i-Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of the United States. Ngakho kufanele niqaphele kakhulu ukuthi nenzani ngalezi zincwadi.”

Ngavunyelwa ukuba ngihambe ngoba ayengenawo umyalo wenkantolo wokuba ngiboshwe. Ngalobo busuku, sathatha amaloli amabili saya nawo kulelo gumbi lokugcina impahla, sathatha zonke izincwadi. Lapho iziphathimandla zifika ngakusasa, zathukuthela kakhulu lapho zithola leyo ndawo ingenalutho. Ngaleso sikhathi, base befuna mina ngoba base benomyalo wenkantolo wokungibopha. Bangithola, futhi ngenxa yokuthi babengenayo imoto, ngaziyela ngemoto yami ejele! Omunye uFakazi wahamba nami ukuze athathe imoto yami ngaphambi kokuba bayithathe.

Ngemva kokuphenywa ngemibuzo amahora angu-8, banquma ukungixosha kuleli zwe. Kodwa ngababonisa ikhophi yencwadi eyayivela kuhulumeni eyayiqinisekisa ukumiswa kwami ukuba ngithengise impahla yenhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova yaseZaire eyase ivinjelwe. Ngaleyo ndlela ngavunyelwa ukuba ngiqhubeke nomsebenzi wami eBethel.

Ngemva kweminyaka emine ngikhonza ngaphansi kokucindezela kokuvinjelwa komsebenzi eZaire, ngaba nezilonda ezophayo esiswini ezazisongela ukuphila. Kwanqunywa ukuba ngihambe ngiyokwelasha eNingizimu Afrika, lapho igatsha langinakekela kahle ngaze ngalulama. Ngemva kokukhonza eZaire iminyaka engu-8, ekhumbulekayo nejabulisa ngempela, sathuthela egatsheni laseNingizimu Afrika ngo-1989. Ngo-1998 sabuyela ezweni lakithi futhi kusukela lapho siye sakhonza eBethel yaseCanada futhi.

Ngiyabonga Ngokukhonza

Lapho ngibheka emuva eminyakeni engu-54 ngisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, ngiyabonga ngokuthi ngiye ngasebenzisa amandla ami obusha enkonzweni eyigugu kaJehova. Nakuba u-Anne kuye kwadingeka akhuthazelele izimo eziningi ezivivinyayo, akazange akhononde kodwa uye wayisekela kakhulu yonke imisebenzi yethu. Sobabili siye saba nelungelo lokusiza abaningi ukuba bazi uJehova futhi abaningi babo manje basenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Kuyajabulisa kakhulu ukubona ezinye zezingane zabo ngisho nabazukulu babo bekhonza uNkulunkulu wethu omkhulu, uJehova!

Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi akukho lutho ezintweni ezinganikezwa izwe olungaqhathaniswa namalungelo nezibusiso uJehova aye wasinika zona. Yiqiniso, siye sakhuthazelela izilingo eziningi, kodwa zonke ziye zasiza ekwakheni ukholo lwethu nokwethembela kwethu kuJehova. Ngempela uye waba inqaba yamandla, indawo yesiphephelo, nosizo olutholakala ngokushesha ngesikhathi sokucindezeleka.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 26]

Siphayona ndawonye ngo-1947; ngino-Anne namuhla

[Isithombe ekhasini 29]

Abantu esahlangana nabo eZaire babelithanda iqiniso leBhayibheli