Indaba Yokuphila

Ukugcina Ukuphila Kulula Ukuze Sikhonze UJehova

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA UCLARA GERBER MOYER

Ngineminyaka engu-92 futhi angisakwazi ukuhamba, kodwa ngisenengqondo esangulukile nenkumbulo enhle. Yeka indlela engibonga ngayo ngokuba nelungelo lokukhonza uJehova kusukela ngisemncane! Ukuphila ukuphila okulula nokunga-minyanisiwe okuningi kuye kwanikela ngokungenakulinganiswa kuleyo ngcebo.

NGAZALWA ngo-August 18, 1907, e-Alliance, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., futhi ngiyizibulo ezinganeni ezinhlanu. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-8, isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele sabaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, safika ngebhayisikili epulazini lakithi lomkhiqizo wobisi. Sahlangana nomama, uLaura Gerber, emnyango sambuza ukuthi ingabe wayazi ukuthi kungani ububi buvunyelwe ukuba bube khona. Umama wayehlale ezibuza ngalokho.

Ngemva kokuxoxisana nobaba, owayengaphandle engobweni, umama wa-oda imiqulu eyisithupha ye-Studies in the Scriptures. Wayifunda ngenkuthalo futhi amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayewafunda amshukumisa ngokujulile. Wafunda uMqulu 6, owawuthi The New Creation, futhi wasiqonda ngokucacile isidingo sobhapathizo lobuKristu olwenziwa ngokucwiliswa. Engazi ukuthi wayezobathola kanjani abaFundi BeBhayibheli, wacela ukuba ubaba ambhapathize emfudlaneni wasepulazini, ngisho noma kwakuyinyanga emakhaza ka-March 1916.

Ngemva nje kwalokho, umama wabona ephephandabeni kumenyezelwa inkulumo eyayizoba seDaughters of Veterans Hall e-Alliance. Leyo nkulumo yayinesihloko esithi “Icebo Laphezulu Leminyaka.” Wasabela ngokushesha ngoba uMqulu 1 we-Studies in the Scriptures wawunesihloko esifana nesaleyo nkulumo. Kwaboshelwa ikalishi, futhi wonke umkhaya waya emhlanganweni okokuqala ngqá ngekalishi. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke saya emihlanganweni emakhaya abazalwane  ngeSonto nangoLwesithathu kusihlwa. Ngemva nje kwalokho, umama waphinde wabhapathizwa ummeleli webandla lobuKristu. Ubaba, owayehlala ematasa ngomsebenzi wasepulazini, wagcina esenesithakazelo sokutadisha iBhayibheli, futhi wabhapathizwa ngemva kweminyaka embalwa.

Ukuhlangana Nabaholayo

Ngo-June 10, 1917, uJ. F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, wavakashela e-Alliance ezokhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Kungani Izizwe Zilwa?” Ngangineminyaka engu-9 ubudala futhi ngaya kuleyo nkulumo nabazali bami nabafowethu ababili, uWillie noCharles. Kwaba nesixuku esikhulu esingaphezu kwekhulu. Ngemva kwenkulumo kaMfoweth’ uRutherford, iningi lalabo ababekhona lathatha isithombe ngaphandle kweColumbia Theater, lapho inkulumo yayinikelwa khona. Ngesonto elilandelayo, endaweni efanayo, u-A. H. Macmillan wanikeza inkulumo eyayinesihloko esithi “UMbuso KaNkulunkulu Ozayo.” Kwaba yilungelo ukuba laba bazalwane bavakashele idolobhana lakithi.

Imihlangano Yokuqala Ekhumbulekayo

Umhlangano omkhulu wokuqala engaya kuwo wawungo-1918 e-Atwater, e-Ohio, esebangeni elingamakhilomitha ambalwa ukusuka e-Alliance. Umama wabuza ummeleli weNhlangano lapho ukuthi ngangikhule ngokwanele yini ukuba ngingabhapathizwa. Nganginomuzwa wokuthi ngangenze ukuzinikezela okufanele kuNkulunkulu ukuba ngenze intando yakhe, ngakho ngavunyelwa ukuba ngibhapathizwe ngalolo suku emfudlaneni oseduze nensimu enkulu yama-apula. Ngashintsha izingubo zami etendeni abazalwane ababelakhele leyo njongo futhi ngabhapathizwa ngigqoke ingubo yokulala endala enendwangu eqinile.

Ngo-September ka-1919, mina nabazali bami sagibela isitimela saya eSandusky, e-Ohio, eLake Erie. Lapho sagibela isikebhe, futhi ngemva kwesikhashana, safika eCedar Point lapho kwakuzoqhutshelwa khona umhlangano wethu omkhulu okhumbulekayo. Lapho sehla esikebheni, kwakunendawo encane yokudla kwasemini ngasogwini. Ngathola i-hamburger, eyayiwukudla okuphambili ngempela kimi ngalezo zinsuku. Yayimnandi kakhulu! Inani eliphakeme lababa khona kulowo mhlangano wethu wezinsuku ezingu-8 lalingu-7 000. Sasingekho isimiso se-sound sezikhulumi, ngakho kwadingeka ngilalelisise.

Kulo mhlangano kwakhululwa umagazini owumngane we-Nqabayokulinda, i-Golden Age (manje oyi-Phaphama!). Ukuze ngibe khona kulowo mhlangano, ngaphutha ngesonto lokuqala esikoleni, kodwa kwakuwufanele ngempela umzamo. ICedar Point yayiyindawo yeholide, futhi endaweni yokudlela yakhona kwakunabapheki ababelungiselela izihambeli ukudla. Kodwa ngesizathu esithile, abapheki noweta bahamba bashiya imisebenzi yabo, ngakho kwavela abazalwane abanolwazi lokupheka balungiselela izihambeli ukudla. Amashumi eminyaka ngemva kwalokho, abantu bakaJehova bazilungisela ukudla emihlanganweni yosuku olulodwa nemikhulu.

Saphinde saba nelungelo lokubuyela eCedar Point ngo-September ka-1922 emhlanganweni wezinsuku ezingu-9 owawunabangaphezu kuka-18 000 ababa khona. Yilapho lapho uMfoweth’ Rutherford anikeza isikhuthazo sokuthi, “Memezelani, memezelani, memezelani iNkosi nombuso wayo.” Nokho, inkonzo yami yayiqale eminyakeni eminingana ngaphambi kwalokho, ngokusakaza amapheshana ne-Golden Age.

Ukwazisa Inkonzo

Ekuqaleni kuka-1918, ngahlanganyela ekuhambiseni ipheshana elithi The Fall of Babylon emapulazini angomakhelwane. Ngenxa yamakhaza, sasishisisa itshe elibushelelezi esitofini sezinkuni ekhaya bese sihamba nalo ekalishini ukuze sifudumeze izinyawo zethu. Sasigqoka amajazi amakhulu nezigqoko, ngoba ikalishi lalinophahla namakhethini emaceleni kodwa lingenayo i-heater. Kodwa lezo kwakuyizikhathi ezijabulisayo.

Ngo-1920 kwenziwa incwajana ekhethekile esamagazini ye-The Finished Mystery okuthiwa i-ZG. * Mina nabazali bami saya e-Alliance nale ncwajana. Ngalezo zinsuku sonke sasingena ngabanye endlini ngendlu, ngakho ngakhuphukela ngokwesaba emphemeni okwakuhleli kuwo abantu abaningana. Ngemva kokubeka isigijimi, omunye wesifazane wathi: “Waze wanikeza inkulumo emnandi emfushane,”  wabe eseyamukela incwajana. Ngahambisa ama-ZG angu-13 ngalolo suku, okwakungokokuqala ngqá ngibeka isigijimi esijana nesihleliwe endlini ngendlu.

Lapho ngisebangeni lesikhombisa, umama wangenwa isifo sofuba futhi walala phansi isikhathi esingaphezu kwenyanga. Udadewethu onguthumbu, uHazel, wayesewusana, ngakho ngayeka isikole ukuze ngisize emsebenzini wasepulazini nginakekele nezingane. Yize kunjalo, umkhaya wakithi walibheka njengelibalulekile iqiniso leBhayibheli futhi sasiya njalo kuyo yonke imihlangano yebandla.

Ngo-1928 eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu, wonke owayekhona wanikwa ipheshana elalinesihloko esithi “Where Are the Nine?” Lalihlaziya uLuka 17:11-19, lapho iBhayibheli lithi uyedwa kuphela kwabayishumi ababenochoko ababephulukisiwe owambonga ngokuthobeka uJesu ngalokho kuphulukisa ngokuyisimangaliso. Lokho kwayithinta inhliziyo yami. Ngazibuza, ‘Mina nginokwazisa okungakanani?’

Njengoba izinto zase zihamba kahle ekhaya futhi ngiphile kahle futhi kungekho lutho olwalungangivimbela, nganquma ukuhamba ekhaya, ngingenele inkonzo yobuphayona, njengoba inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ibizwa kanjalo. Abazali bami bangikhuthaza ukuba ngenze kanjalo. Ngakho, mina nengangisebenza naye, u-Agnes Aleta, sathola isabelo, futhi ngo-August 28, 1928, sagibela isitimela ngo-9 ebusuku. Ngamunye wethu wayenepotimende elilodwa vó nesikhwanyana sokuphatha izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Esiteshini, odadewethu nabazali bami, kuhlanganise nathi ngokwethu, sasikhala. Ngangicabanga ukuthi ngangingasophinde ngibabone, ngoba sasikholelwa ukuthi i-Armagedoni yayiseduze. Ngakusasa ekuseni, safika esabelweni sethu eBrooksville, eKentucky.

Saqasha igumbi elincane endlini yezihambi futhi sathenga amathini e-spaghetti sazenzela namasemeshi. Usuku ngalunye sasiphuma sishone ohlangothini oluhlukile, sisebenza sodwa, sihambisela abaninikhaya izincwadi ezinhlanu ngomnikelo ka-R1,98. Kancane kancane salihlanganisa lelo dolobha, sihlangana nabantu abaningi abanesithakazelo sangempela eBhayibhelini.

Cishe ngezinyanga ezintathu, sase sihambele wonke umuntu eBrooksville nasezindaweni ezizungezile kanye nase-Augusta. Ngakho saqhubeka sayosebenza edolobheni laseMaysville, eParis naseRichmond. Phakathi neminyaka emithathu eyalandela, sahlanganisa izifundazwe eziningi eKentucky lapho kwakungekho mabandla khona. Sasivame ukusizwa abangane namalungu emikhaya yethu avela e-Ohio ayeza futhi ehlanganyela nathi enkonzweni isonto elilodwa noma ngaphezulu ngesikhathi esisodwa.

Eminye Imihlangano Ekhumbulekayo

Umhlangano waseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-July 24-30, 1931, ukhumbuleka ngempela. Yilowo okwamenyezelwa kuwo ukuthi sase sizokwaziwa ngegama elisekelwe eBhayibhelini elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. (Isaya 43:12) Ngaphambi kwalokho, lapho abantu besibuza ukuthi sasingabayiphi inkolo, sasithi singama-“International Bible Student [Abafundi BeBhayibheli Bomhlaba Wonke].” Kodwa lokho kwakungasehlukanisi kahle, ngoba kwakunabafundi beBhayibheli abaningi abasemaqenjini ezinye izinkolo ezihlukahlukene.

Engangisebenza naye, u-Agnes, wayeseshadile, futhi ngase ngingedwa; ngakho ngajabula kakhulu lapho kumenyezelwa ukuthi labo abafuna iphayona abazosebenza nalo kufanele baye endaweni ethile. Lapho, ngahlangana noBertha no-Elsie Garty noBessie Ensminger. Babenezimoto ezimbili futhi befuna udade wesine oyiphayona owayezosebenza nabo. Sahamba sonke lapho sisuka kulowo mhlangano, nakuba sasingakaze sibonane ngaphambili.

Ehlobo sasisebenza kulo lonke elasePennsylvania. Kube sekuthi lapho kusondela ubusika, sicele izabelo ezintsha zasemazweni afudumele aseningizimu eNyakatho Carolina, eVirginia naseMaryland. Entwasahlobo sasibuyela enyakatho. Kwakuwumkhuba wamaphayona ngaleso sikhathi. Ngo-1934, uJohn Booth noRudolph Abbuhl, ababenza okufanayo, bahamba noRalph Moyer nomfowabo omncane uWillard ukuya eHazard, eKentucky.

Ngase ngihlangene noRalph izikhathi eziningana, futhi sajwayelana kangcono emhlanganweni omkhulu waseWashington, D.C., wango-May 30–June 3, 1935. Mina noRalph sasihleli ndawonye emphemeni lapho kunikezwa inkulumo ekhuluma ‘ngesixuku esikhulu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9-14) Kuze kube yileso sikhathi sasikholelwa ukuthi abesixuku esikhulu kwakungamalungu esigaba sasezulwini angathembekile njenge-144 000. (IsAmbulo 14:1-3) Ngakho ngangingafuni ukuba ngomunye wabo!

 Abaningi bamangala lapho uMfoweth’ uRutherford echaza ukuthi abesixuku esikhulu bayisigaba sasemhlabeni sabathembekile abasinde e-Armagedoni. Wabe esecela bonke abesixuku esikhulu ukuba basukume. Angizange ngisukume, kodwa uRalph wasukuma. Kamuva, izinto zakhanya ngokwengeziwe engqondweni yami, ngakho u-1935 waba unyaka wokugcina engahlanganyela ngawo izifanekiselo zesinkwa newayini eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. Nokho, umama waqhubeka ehlanganyela kwaze kwaba sekushoneni kwakhe ngo-November 1957.

Engangizosebenza Naye Njalo

Mina noRalph saqhubeka sibhalelana. Ngangikhonza eLake Placid, eNew York, futhi yena esePennsylvania. Ngo-1936 wakha umahamba-nendlwana omncane ayengawudonsa ngemoto yakhe. Wawususa ePottstown, ePennsylvania, wawuyisa eNewark, eNew Jersey, enzela umhlangano owawuzoqhutshelwa lapho ngo-October 16-18. Ngemva kwesimiso ngokunye ukuhlwa, abaningana bethu maphayona sahamba sayobona umahamba-nendlwana kaRalph omusha. Mina naye sasimi ngaphakathi kumahamba-nendlwana, eduze nosinki owakhelwe kuwo lapho engibuza, “Uyawuthanda lo mahamba-nendlwana?”

Lapho ngivuma ngekhanda, wabuza, “Uyafuna ukuhlala kuwo?”

“Yebo,” ngivuma, wabe esengiqabula ngothando ngendlela engingasoze ngayikhohlwa. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa, sathola imvume yokushada. Ngo-October 19, ngosuku lwangemva komhlangano, saya eBrooklyn, sabuka isakhiwo sokunyathelisa se-Watch Tower Society. Sabe sesicela isabelo sensimu. UGrant Suiter wayephethe insimu, ngakho wabuza ukuthi ngubani owayezoyisebenza. URalph wathi, “Yithina uma singakwazi ukushada.”

“Uma ningabuya ngo-5 ntambama, singakuhlela,” kuphendula uMfoweth’ uSuiter. Ngakho ngalokho kuhlwa sashada ekhaya likaFakazi othile eBrooklyn Heights. Sadla isidlo nabangane abathile endaweni yokudlela yalapho sabe sesigibela izinto zokuhamba zomphakathi siya kumahamba-nendlwana kaRalph eNewark, eNew Jersey.

Ngemva nje kwalokho, sabe sesisendleleni silibangise eHeathsville, eVirginia, esabelweni sethu sokuphayona sokuqala sindawonye. Sasebenza eSifundazweni saseNorthumberland, sabe sesidlulela esifundazweni saseFulton nesaseFranklin, ePennsylvania. Ngo-1939, uRalph wamenyelwa emsebenzini we-zone esasizojikeleza amabandla amaningana kuwo. Sakhonza amabandla asezweni laseTennessee. Ngonyaka olandelayo kwazalwa indodana yethu, u-Allen, futhi ngo-1941 umsebenzi we-zone wayekwa. Sabe sesabelwa eMarion, eVirginia, njengamaphayona akhethekile. Ngalezo zinsuku, lokho kwakusho ukusebenza amahora angu-200 ngenyanga enkonzweni.

Ukwenza Ushintsho

Ngo-1943, ngakubona kudingeka ukuyeka inkonzo yokuba iphayona elikhethekile. Ukuhlala kumahamba-nendlwana omncane, nginakekele umntwana, ngilungise ukudla, ngenze sonke sihlale sinezingubo ezihlanzekile nokusebenza amahora angaba ngu-60 enkonzweni inyanga ngayinye  kwakuwukuphela kwengangingakwenza. Kodwa uRalph waqhubeka eyiphayona elikhethekile.

Saphindela e-Alliance, e-Ohio, ngo-1945, sathengisa umahamba-nendlwana owawube ikhaya lethu iminyaka engu-9, sabe sesihlala endlini yasepulazini nabazali bami. Kwakulapho, emphemeni wangaphambili, lapho indodakazi yethu, uRebekah, yazalelwa khona. URalph wasebenza ingxenye yesikhathi emsebenzini wokuziphilisa edolobheni futhi waqhubeka eyiphayona elivamile. Mina ngangisebenza epulazini futhi ngenza engingakwenza ukumsiza aqhubeke ephayona. Nakuba umkhaya wakithi wawufuna ukusinika isiza nendlu mahhala, uRalph wakwenqaba. Wayefuna ukuqhubeka engabophekile ukuze siphishekele izithakazelo zoMbuso ngokugcwele.

Ngo-1950 sathuthela ePottstown, ePennsylvania, futhi saqasha indlu ngo-R25 ngenyanga. Phakathi neminyaka engu-30 eyalandela, imali yokuqasha yakhuphuka yaba ngu-R75 kuphela. Saba nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova wayesisiza ukuba sigcine ukuphila kwethu kulula. (Mathewu 6:31-33) URalph wayesebenza njengomgundi wezinwele izinsuku ezintathu ngesonto. Njalo ngesonto sasitadisha iBhayibheli nezingane zethu ezimbili, siya emihlanganweni yebandla futhi sishumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso njengomkhaya. URalph wakhonza njengombonisi owengamele webandla lendawo. Ngokugcina ukuphila kwethu kulula, sakwazi ukwenza okuningi enkonzweni kaJehova.

Ukulahlekelwa Umngane Wami Othandekayo

Ngo-May 17, 1981, sasihleli eHholo LoMbuso silalele inkulumo yeningi. URalph wazizwa engaphilile kahle, waya ngemuva ehholo, futhi wacela umlindi ukuba angilethele ipheshana elalithi wayeya ekhaya. Lokhu kwakungafani noRalph kangangokuthi ngacela othile ukuba angise ekhaya ngaso leso sikhathi. URalph wabulawa isifo sohlangothi (stroke) esibi kakhulu kungakapheli nehora. Lapho kuphela isifundo se-Nqabayokulinda ngalolo suku ekuseni, ebandleni kwenziwa isaziso sokuthi wayengasekho.

URalph wayesesebenze amahora angu-50 kakade enkonzweni ngaleyo nyanga. Inkonzo yakhe yesikhathi esigcwele yokuphayona yayithathe iminyaka engaphezu kuka-46. Wayeqhube izifundo zeBhayibheli nabantu abangaphezu kwekhulu abagcina bengoFakazi BakaJehova ababhapathiziwe. Izibusiso ezingokomoya esazithola zazikudlula kude noma yikuphi ukuzidela esakwenza phakathi nayo yonke leyo minyaka.

Ngiyajabula Ngamalungelo Ami

Iminyaka engu-18 edlule, ngiye ngahlala ngedwa, ngaya emihlanganweni, ngashumayela kwabanye ngendlela engingakwazi ngayo futhi ngatadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Manje ngihlala ekhaya lasebekhulile abathathe umhlalaphansi. Nginempahla embalwa yasendlini futhi ngikhetha ukungabi nayo ithelevishini. Kodwa ukuphila kwami kumatasa futhi kucebile ngokomoya. Abazali bami nabafowethu ababili bathembeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwabo, futhi odadewethu ababili baqhubeka ngokwethembeka endleleni yeqiniso.

Ngiyajabula ukuthi indodana yami, u-Allen, ikhonza njengomdala ongumKristu. Sekuyiminyaka eminingi ifaka isimiso se-sound samaHholo OMbuso namaHholo Omhlangano futhi iye yasebenza ekufakeni isimiso se-sound emihlanganweni yasehlobo. Umkayo uyinceku ethembekile kaNkulunkulu futhi amadodana abo amabili akhonza njengabadala. Indodakazi yami, uRebekah Karres, iye yasebenza iminyaka engaphezu kuka-35 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, kuhlanganise neminyaka emine endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn. Yona nomyeni wayo baye basebenza iminyaka engu-25 edlule emsebenzini wokujikeleza ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene ze-United States.

UJesu wathi uMbuso unjengengcebo efihliwe engatholwa. (Mathewu 13:44) Ngiyabonga ngokuthi umkhaya wakithi wayithola eminyakeni eminingi kangaka edlule le ngcebo. Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukubheka emuva eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-80 yenkonzo yokuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu—ngaphandle kokuzisola! Uma ngingaphinde ngiphile ukuphila kwami, bengingakuphila ngendlela efanayo futhi ngoba, ngempela, ‘umusa kaNkulunkulu umnandi kunokuphila.’—IHubo 63:3.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Sezwa inkulumo kaMfoweth’ uRutherford ngo-1917 e-Alliance, e-Ohio

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

NginoRalph phambi kukamahamba-nendlwana awakha

[Isithombe ekhasini 24]

Nginezingane zami ezimbili namuhla