Indaba Yokuphila

Ukuphila Okwanelisayo Naphezu Kosizi

ILANDISWA U-AUDREY HYDE

Uma ngicabanga ngeminyaka engaphezu kwengu-63 ngisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele—engu-59 yayo ngisendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova—ngingasho ngithi ukuphila kwami kuye kwaba okwanelisayo. Kuyiqiniso kona ukuthi kwangizwisa ubuhlungu ukubona umyeni wami wokuqala edliwa kancane kancane umdlavuza nokubona owesibili naye ezwa iminjunju yesifo i-Alzheimer. Kodwa ake nginixoxele ukuthi ngiye ngakwazi kanjani ukuhlala ngijabule naphezu kwalolu sizi.

NGAKHULELA epulazini eliseduze kwedolobhana laseHaxtun emathafeni asenyakatho-mpumalanga yeColorado, eduze komngcele weNebraska. Ngingowesihlanu ezinganeni eziyisithupha zika-Orille noNina Mock. URussell, uWayne, uClara no-Ardis bazalwa phakathi kuka-1913 no-1920, mina ngazalwa ngonyaka olandelayo. UCurtis wazalwa ngo-1925.

Ngo-1913, umama waba ngumFundi WeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sonke ekhaya saba oFakazi.

Ukuphila Okwakhayo Emathafeni

Ubaba wayeyithanda intuthuko. Sasikhanyisa ngogesi kuzo zonke izakhiwo epulazini, okwakuyinto eyayingavamile impela ngaleso sikhathi. Sasijabulela nezinto eziningi zasepulazini—amaqanda ezinkukhu, ubisi, ukhilimu, ibhotela esasilenza ngobisi lwezinkomo ezazifuyiwe ekhaya. Sasilima ngamahhashi, sitshala ama-strawberry, amazambane kanye nommbila.

Ubaba wayekholelwa ukuthi sonke thina zingane kufanele sifunde ukusebenza. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba ngingene esikoleni,  ngafundiswa ukusebenza emasimini. Ngikhumbula ngezinye izinsuku ehlobo, sihlakula izindima ezinde engadini yasekhaya ilanga likhiph’ umkhovu etsheni. Ngangiye ngizibuze, ngithi: ‘Kazi ngizoyiqeda yini le ndima?’ Izithukuthuku zazigobhoza okwamanzi nezinyosi ngapha zingintinyela. Ngezinye izikhathi, ngangiye ngizidabukele ngoba ezinye izingane zazingasebenzi kanzima njengathi. Nokho, eqinisweni, uma ngibheka emuva ngiseyingane, ngiyaye ngibonge ngokuthi sakufundiswa ukusebenza.

Sonke sasabelwa imisebenzi. U-Ardis wayezisenga kahle izinkomo kunami, ngakho umsebenzi wami kwakuwukuhlanza izitebele, ngikhipha umquba. Noma kunjalo, sasincokola sidlale nemidlalo. Mina no-Ardis sasidlala ibhola eqenjini lendawo. Sasidlala ezingxenyeni ezihlukene kuleli qembu lebhola.

Isibhakabhaka esicwathile ebusuku sasiba sihle kakhulu kule ndawo yakithi engamathafa. Izinkulungwane zezinkanyezi zazingikhumbuza uMdali wethu, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngisho nalapho ngiseyingane, ngangicabanga ngeHubo 147:4, elithi: “[UJehova] ubala izinkanyezi; zonke uzibiza ngamagama azo.” Ezinsukwini eziningi ngalezo zikhathi zasebusuku, inja yasekhaya, uJudge, yayifike icamele ethangeni lami ingihlalise. Ngezikhathi zantambama ngangivame ukuhlala emphemeni ongaphambi komnyango wasekhaya ngibuke ngokwazisa amasimu aluhlaza kakolweni njengoba enyakaziswa umoya ovunguzayo, okwakuwenza abukeke njengesiliva ekukhanyeni kwelanga.

Isibonelo Esihle Sikamama

Umama wayengunkosikazi ozinikele ngempela. Ubaba wayesazisa kakhulu isikhundla sakhe sobubaba, ngakho umama wasifundisa ukuba simhloniphe. Ngo-1939 naye waba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Nakuba ubaba ayesisebenzisa kanzima engasitotosi, sasazi kahle ukuthi uyasithanda. Izikhathi eziningi ebusika wayebophela amahhashi asigibelise esihlibhini bese sihamba eqhweni. Yeka ukuthi sasikujabulela kanjani ukucwazimula kweqhwa!

Nokho, ngumama owasifundisa ukuba sithande uNkulunkulu nokuba sihloniphe iBhayibheli. Safunda ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu nguJehova nokuthi unguMthombo wokuphila. (IHubo 36:9; 83:18) Safunda nokuthi akazange asinikeze iziqondiso ukuze asincishe injabulo, kodwa wasinikeza zona ukuze zisizuzise. (Isaya 48:17) Umama wayehlala egcizelela ukuthi sinomsebenzi okhethekile okufanele siwenze. Safunda ukuthi uJesu wathi kubalandeli bakhe: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Mathewu 24:14.

Ngalezo nsuku ngisakhula, kwakuye kuthi lapho  ngibuya esikoleni umama engekho endlini, ngihambe ngiyomfuna. Ngesinye isikhathi, ngineminyaka ecishe ibe yisithupha noma isikhombisa, ngamthola esesitebeleni. Laqala ukuyidliva. Njengoba sasisegunjini eliphezulu lokubeka utshani, ngambuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu useletha omunye uZamcolo yini. Wangiqinisekisa engitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wathembisa ukuthi ngeke aphinde abhubhise umhlaba ngoZamcolo. Ngikhumbula nangezinye izikhathi eziningi ngibalekela egunjini elingaphansi ngiyocasha khona, njengoba kwakuvamile ukuba kube neziphepho.

Umama waqala ukushumayela ngingakazalwa nokuzalwa. Kukhona iqembu elalihlangana ekhaya, futhi bonke babenethemba lokuphila noKristu emazulwini. Nakuba ukushumayela endlini ngendlu kwakunzima kumama, uthando lwakhe ngoNkulunkulu lwalumenza anqobe ukwesaba. Wahlala ethembekile kwaze kwaba yilapho eseshona, ngo-November 24, 1969, eneminyaka engu-84 ubudala. Ngamhlebela endlebeni, ngathi: “Mama, manje usuyohlala ezulwini nalabo obaziyo.” Yeka ukuthi ngajabula kanjani ngokuthi ngakwazi ukuba kanye nomama ngalolo suku nokuthi ngakwazi ukumtshela indlela engiqiniseke ngayo ngethemba analo! Wanyenyeza wathi: “Aze amnandi lawo mazwi akho.”

Saqala Ukushumayela

Ngo-1939, uRussell waba iphayona, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova bebabiza kanjalo abashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele. Waphayona e-Oklahoma naseNebraska kwaze kwaba ngo-1944 lapho esebizwa ukuba azokhonza endlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova (okuthiwa iBethel), eBrooklyn, eNew York. Mina ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-September 20, 1941, ngakhonza ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene eColorado, eKansas naseNebraska. Kwakumnandi ngaleyo minyaka ngiphayona, futhi lokho kwakungengenxa nje yokuthi ngangisiza abanye abantu ukuba bafunde ngoJehova kodwa kwakunangenxa yokuthi ngafunda ukuthembela kuye.

Cishe ngesikhathi uRussell aqala ngaso ukuphayona, uWayne wayesekolishi ogwini olusempumalanga, kodwa ngaphambi kwalokho waqale wasebenza okwesikhashana. Kamuva wabizwa eBethel. Wakhonza isikhashana eKingdom Farm, eduze kwase-Ithaca, eNew York. Lapho, kwakulinywa ukudla komkhaya omncane wakulelo pulazi nokwezisebenzi ezingaba ngu-200 zaseBethel yaseBrooklyn. UWayne wasebenzisa amakhono akhe nolwazi ayenalo enkonzweni kaJehova kwaze kwaba yilapho eseshona ngo-1988.

Udadewethu u-Ardis washada noJames Kern, bathola izingane ezinhlanu. Washona ngo-1997. Omunye udadewethu, uClara, usalokhu ethembekile nanamuhla kuJehova, ngiyaye ngimvakashele namanje emzini wakhe eColorado ngezinsuku zami zeholidi. Umfowethu omncane, uCurtis, waya eBethel yaseBrooklyn ngawo-1940. Wayeshayela iloli eyisa izinto ezihlukahlukene kanye nemikhiqizo eKingdom Farm noma ezithutha kusuka khona. Wahlala engashadile waze washona ngo-1971.

Isifiso Sami—Inkonzo YaseBethel

Abafowethu abadala baya kuqala kunami eBethel, futhi nami ngangifisa ukuyokhonza  khona. Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi isibonelo sabo esihle yisona esenza ukuba ngibizwe. Ukulalela umama exoxa ngomlando wenhlangano kaNkulunkulu nokuzibonela ngawami ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli eziphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina kwangenza ngafisa ukuyokhonza eBethel. Ngafunga kuJehova emthandazweni ngathi uma ayengangivumela ngikhonze eBethel, ngangiyoqhubeka ngikhonza khona ngize ngiyeke kuphela lapho sekudingeka ukuba ngiyofeza ezinye izibopho zobuKristu.

Ngafika eBethel ngo-June 20, 1945, ngabelwa ukuba ngihlanze izindlu. Njalo ngosuku ngangendlula imibhede engu-26 ngihlanze izindlu ezingu-13, kanye namaphaseji, izitebhisi namawindi. Lo msebenzi wawunzima. Nsuku zonke lapho ngisebenza ngangiye ngizitshele, ngithi, ‘Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ukhathele, kodwa-ke useBethel, indlu kaNkulunkulu!’

Ukushada NoNathan Knorr

Kusukela ngawo-1920, izikhonzi zaseBethel ezazifuna ukushada zazicelwa ukuba ziphume eBethel ziyokhonza kwezinye izici zenkonzo yoMbuso. Kodwa ekuqaleni kwawo-1950, imibhanqwana embalwa eyayisinesikhathi eside ikhonza eBethel yavunyelwa ukuba ishade bese iyaqhubeka ihlala khona. Ngakho lapho uNathan H. Knorr, ngaleso sikhathi owayehola emsebenzini woMbuso emhlabeni wonke, ebonisa ukuthi uyangithanda, ngathi enhliziyweni yami, ‘Nangu-ke umuntu ozohlala eBethel!’

UNathan wayenemisebenzi eminingi njengoba ayengamele umsebenzi womhlaba wonke woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho waba qotho kimi, wangitshela izizathu eziningi zokuthi kungani kufanele ngicabangisise ngaphambi kokuba ngivume ukushada naye. Ngaleso sikhathi, wayehamba kakhulu evakashela amagatsha oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke, ngokuvamile ehamba amasonto amaningi. Ngakho wachaza ukuthi sasizokwehlukana isikhathi eside.

Lapho ngiseyintombazanyana ngiziphuphela nje, ngangiye ngithi ngizoshada entwasahlobo bese ngiya eziqhingini zasePacific eHawaii eholidini langemva komshado. Kodwa ngokuphambene, sashada ebusika, ngo-January 31, 1953, iholidi lethu langemva komshado lona salichithela eNew Jersey ngalowo Mgqibelo ntambama nangeSonto. NgoMsombuluko saqala ukusebenza. Kwathi ngesonto elilandela lelo, salithatha ngempela-ke manje iholidi langemva komshado, elathatha isonto lonke.

Umngane Ozikhandlayo

UNathan wafika eBethel ngo-1923 eneminyaka engu-18 ubudala. Wathola ukuqeqeshwa okuwusizo komakad’ ebona abanjengoJoseph F. Rutherford, owayehola emsebenzini woFakazi, noRobert J. Martin, umphathi wendawo yokunyathelisa. Lapho uMzalwan’ uMartin eshona ngo-September 1932, uNathan waba umphathi wendawo yokunyathelisa. Ngonyaka  olandelayo, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wahamba noNathan lapho evakashela amagatsha oFakazi BakaJehova eYurophu. Ngo-January 1942 ngesikhathi uMzalwan’ uRutherford eshona, uNathan wamiswa ukuba engamele umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke.

UNathan wayeyithanda intuthuko, ngaso sonke isikhathi ekuhlelela kusengaphambili ukwanda kwesikhathi esizayo. Abanye babethi lokhu akukuhle, njengoba kwakucatshangwa ukuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto kwase kusemnyango. Eqinisweni, omunye owabona isimiso sikaNathan somsebenzi ayewuhlelile wambuza: “Kusho ukuthini konke lokhu, Mzalwan’ uKnorr? Awusenalo yini ukholo?” Wamphendula: “Yebo, ngisenalo, kodwa uma ukuphela kungafiki ngokushesha njengoba sikulindele, siyobe simi ngomumo.”

Esinye isifiso esikhulu sikaNathan sasiwukuba amise isikole sezithunywa zevangeli. Ngakho, ngo-February 1, 1943, kwavulwa isikole sezithunywa zevangeli epulazini elikhulu lapho umfowethu uWayne ayesebenza khona ngaleso sikhathi. Nakuba kulesi sikole kwakunezifundo ezijiyile zeBhayibheli ezazithatha cishe izinyanga ezinhlanu, uNathan wayeqiniseka ukuthi abafundi banezinto ezithile abazilibazisa ngazo. Sisasanda kuvulwa lesi sikole wayedlala ibhola, kodwa kamuva wayeka ngoba esaba ukuthi uzolimala abese engakwazi ukuya emihlanganweni yesigodi eyayiba sehlobo. Kunalokho, wakhetha ukuba ngunompempe. Abafundi babejabula lapho eyephula ingcaca imithetho yemidlalo enzelela abafundi bakwamanye amazwe.

Ukuhamba NoNathan

Ekugcineni, ngaqala ukuhamba noNathan siya ezindaweni ezikude. Ngangikujabulela ukuxoxa ngokuhlangenwe nakho nezisebenzi zokuzithandela zasemagatsheni kanye nezithunywa zevangeli. Ngakwazi ukuzibonela mathupha uthando nokuzinikela kwazo, futhi ngafunda ngenqubo yazo nangezimo zasemazweni ezabelwa kuwo. Kuyo yonke le minyaka eminingi bengilokhu ngithola izincwadi ezivela kwabathile bebonga ngalokho kuvakasha.

Uma ngicabanga ngalezo zikhathi zokuhamba noNathan, ngiye ngikhumbule izinto eziningi ezenzeka. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi sisePoland, odade ababili babehlebezelana phambi kwami. Ngababuza, “Kungani nihlebezelana?” Baxolisa, babe sebechaza ukuthi babejwayele ukuhlebezelana lapho umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova usavinjelwe ePoland, futhi imizi yabo ifakwe imishini ebamba umsindo ukuze babalalele uma bexoxa.

UDad’ u-Adach wayengomunye wabaningi ababekhonza ePoland ngesikhathi oFakazi bevinjelwe. Wayenezinwele ezisontekile ezilengela esiphongweni. Ngesinye isikhathi waziphakamisa wayesengitshengisa inkamba beyibuza yesibazi sengozi ayeyigqenywe umuntu owayebashushisa. Ngashaqeka lapho ngizibonela mathupha imiphumela yokuphathwa ngonya okwakudingeka abazalwane nodadewethu bakukhuthazelele.

Enye indawo engiyithanda kakhulu elandela iBethel, indawo yaseHawaii. Ngikhumbula omunye umhlangano wesigodi owawulapho edolobheni laseHilo ngo-1957. Kwakuyisenzakalo esikhulu, inani lababekhona ledlula inani labo bonke oFakazi bendawo. Umphathi wedolobha waze wanika uNathan izihluthulelo zedolobha. Abantu abaningi beza bezosamukela, besigaxa imigexo yezimbali.

Omunye umhlangano wesigodi owawumnandi wawuseNuremberg, eJalimane, ngo-1955, uqhutshelwa enkundleni ayemashela kuyo amabutho kaHitler. Kwakuyinto eyaziwayo ukuthi uHitler wafunga wagomela ethi uzobabhuqa nyá abantu bakaJehova eJalimane, kodwa manje le nkundla yayigcwele phama oFakazi BakaJehova! Ngehluleka ukubamba izinyembezi. Indawo yesikhulumi yayinkulu inengemuva elinezinsika ezinkulu ezingu-144. Ngangisesiteji ngakho ngangikwazi ukusibuka kahle isixuku sezithameli  ezingaphezu kuka-107 000. Indawo esemuva yayiqhele kakhulu esiteji kangangokuthi kwakunzima ukubona abahlezi lé ekugcineni.

Lapho, sakwazi ukubona ubuqotho babazalwane baseJalimane namandla abawanikwa uJehova ngesikhathi beshushiswa amaNazi. Lokho kwaqinisa ukuzimisela kwethu ukuba sethembeke kuJehova nokuba sihlale siqotho kuye. UNathan wabeka inkulumo yokuphetha, kwase kuthi ekupheleni kwayo waphakamisa isandla evalelisa izilaleli. Ngokushesha nazo zaphephezelisa amaduku azo zivalelisa. Kwakungathi insimu enhle yezimbali.

Olunye uhambo engingasoze ngalulibala, olwaluya ePortugal ngo-December 1974. Sasisemhlanganweni wokuqala woFakazi eLisbon ngemva kokuvunyelwa ngokusemthethweni komsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Wawusuvalwe iminyaka engu-50! Nakuba kwakunabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-14 000 kulelo zwe ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunabangaphezu kuka-46 000 kuyo yomibili imihlangano eyaqhutshwa lapho. Ngagcwala izinyembezi emehlweni lapho abazalwane bethi: “Akusadingeki ukuba sicashe manje. Sikhululekile.”

Kusukela ngesikhathi engangihamba ngaso noNathan kuze kube yinamuhla, ngiyakuthanda ukufakaza ngokwethukela—ezindizeni, ezitolo zokudlela—nokufakaza emgwaqweni. Ngihlala ngihlomile ngezincwadi. Ngesinye isikhathi silinde indiza eyayiphuzile ukufika, owesifazane othile wangibuza ukuthi ngisebenzaphi. Lokho kwenza ukuba ngixoxe naye nabanye ababeseduze kwethu ababelalele. Inkonzo yaseBethel nomsebenzi wami wokushumayela kuye kwangigcina ngimatasa futhi ngijabule kakhulu.

Ukugula Namazwi Okuvalelisa

Ngo-1976, uNathan waphathwa umdlavuza, ngakho mina nomkhaya waseBethel, samsiza ukuba akwazi ukubhekana nalesi sifo. Naphezu kwempilo yakhe ebuthaka, sasikwazi ukumemela endlini yethu abantu abahlukahlukene abavela emazweni amaningi abasebenza kwamanye amahhovisi egatsha, ababezoqeqeshwa eBrooklyn. Ngikhumbula sivakashelwe uDon no-Earlene Steele, uLloyd noMelba Barry, uDouglas noMary Guest, uMartin noGertrud Poetzinger, uPryce Hughes nabanye abaningi. Ngokuvamile babesixoxela izinto ezenzeka emazweni akubo. Zaziye zingihlabe umxhwele ngokukhethekile izindaba eziphathelene nokuqina kwabazalwane bethu lapho bevinjelwe.

Lapho uNathan ebona ukuthi usezoshona, wanginikeza izeluleko ezinhle ukuze zingisize ngibhekane nokuba umfelokazi. Wathi: “Besihleli ngokujabula emshadweni wethu. Abantu abaningi abayitholi neze le njabulo.” Okwakwenza umshado wethu ujabulise ukuthi uNathan wayengumuntu okwaziyo ukucabangela omunye umuntu. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho sihlangana nabantu abahlukahlukene emazweni esihambele kuwo, wayevame ukuthi: “Audrey, uma ngezinye izikhathi ngingakwazisi amagama abantu esihlangana nabo, ubokwazi-ke ukuthi ngisuke ngiwakhohliwe.” Ngajabula kakhulu ngokuthi wayengazisile ngalokho ngaphambili.

UNathan wangikhumbuza: “Ngemva kokufa, ithemba lethu liyogcwaliseka ngokuqinisekile, futhi ngeke kusadingeka ukuba sizwe ubuhlungu.” Ngemva kwalokho wangikhuthaza, wathi: “Bheka phambili, ngoba yilapho lapho umvuzo wakho ukhona. Ungahlali ucabangana nezinto esezadlula—nakuba zona izinkumbulo ziyohlala zikhona. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uzolulama. Ungathukutheli uzidabukele. Jabula ngokuthi uzijabulele lezi zibusiso. Ngemva kwesikhashana, uyothola ukuthi lezo zinkumbulo zikulethela injabulo. Inkumbulo iyisipho kithi esivela kuNkulunkulu.” Wanezela: “Hlala umatasa—zama ukusebenzisa isikhathi esiningi sokuphila kwakho wenzela abanye izinto. Lokho kuyokusiza ukuba uthole injabulo ekuphileni.” Ekugcineni, ngo-June 8, 1977, uNathan wayiqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.

Ukushada NoGlenn Hyde

UNathan wayethé mangikhethe phakathi kokuhlala ngicabanga ngezinto esezadlula noma ngizakhele ukuphila okusha. Ngakho ngo-1978,  sengishintshelwé eWatchtower Farms eWallkill, eNew York, ngashada noGlenn Hyde, igeza lomuntu othulayo futhi onomoya ophansi. Ngaphambi kokuba abe nguFakazi, wayesebuthweni lemikhumbi yempi lapho i-United States ilwa neJapane.

UGlenn wayekumkhumbi-ngwenya okuthiwa i-PT (patrol torpedo) esebenza egunjini lenjini. Umsindo wenjini wenza ukuba angezwa kahle ezindlebeni. Ngemva kwempi, wayengumcimi womlilo. Kwaphela iminyaka elokhu ephupha kabi ngenxa yezinto ayezibone ngesikhathi sempi. Wafunda iqiniso leBhayibheli kunobhala wakhe, owafakaza kuye ngokwethukela.

Kamuva, ngo-1968, uGlenn wabizwa eBethel ukuba azosebenza emnyango wabacishi bomlilo eBrooklyn. Kwathi lapho iWatchtower Farms ithola isicima-mlilo, washintshelwa lapho, ngo-1975. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waphathwa isifo i-Alzheimer. Ngemva kweminyaka eyishumi sishadile, uGlenn washona.

Ngangizobhekana kanjani nalesi simo? Aphinde angiduduza amazwi okuhlakanipha uNathan angishiya nawo lapho esebona ukuthi usezoshona. Ngangiwafunda njalo lawo mazwi ayengibhalele wona mayelana nokubhekana nokuba umfelokazi. Ngiye ngiwacobelele nabanye abashonelwe abantu abashade nabo, futhi abaduduza ngempela la mazwi kaNathan eseluleko. Yebo, kuyasiza ukuqhubeka ubheke phambili njengoba nje angikhuthaza ukuba ngenze kanjalo.

Ubuzalwane Obuyigugu

Okuye kwenza ukuba ukuphila kwami kujabulise futhi kwanelise ngokukhethekile—abangane abathandekayo abasemkhayeni waseBethel. Omunye wabo okhethekile ngu-Esther Lopez, owathweswa iziqu ngo-1944 ekilasini lesithathu le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Wabuyela eBrooklyn ngo-February 1950 eyohumusha izincwadi zethu zeBhayibheli ngolimi lweSpanishi. Ezikhathini eziningi lapho uNathan ehambile, u-Esther wayeba nguyena mngane oseduze nami. Naye futhi useWatchtower Farms. Njengoba eseneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-90 ubudala, impilo yakhe isibuthaka ngakho unakekelwa esibhedlela sethu.

Abasaphila emkhayeni wakithi nguRussell noClara kuphela. URussell uneminyaka engaphezu kuka-90 ubudala futhi ukhonza ngokwethembeka eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Wayephakathi kwabokuqala abavunyelwa ukuba bahlale eBethel ngemva kokushada. Ngo-1952, washada noJean Larson ayekhonza naye eBethel. Umfowabo kaJean uMax weza eBethel ngo-1939, kwathi ngo-1942 waba umbonisi wendawo yokunyathelisa elandela uNathan. UMax usaqhubeka enza eminingi yemisebenzi yokuhola eBethel, kuhlanganise nokusiza ekunakekeleni umkakhe othandekayo, uHelen, ohlushwa isifo okuthiwa i-multiple sclerosis.

Uma ngicabanga ngeminyaka engu-63 ngisenkonzweni kaJehova yesikhathi esigcwele, ngingasho ngithi ukuphila kwami kuye kwaba okwanelisayo. IBethel iye yaba ikhaya lami, futhi ngisaqhubeka ngikhonza khona ngenhliziyo ejabulayo. Ngibonga abazali bami ngokugxilisa kithi ukubaluleka komsebenzi nesifiso sokukhonza uJehova. Kodwa okwenza ukuphila kwanelise ngempela ubuzalwane bethu obuhle nethemba lokuphila nabazalwane nodade epharadesi emhlabeni, sikhonza phakade uMdali wethu Omkhulu, ongukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova.

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Abazali bami ngosuku lwabo lomshado ngo-June 1912

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Ukusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: uRussell, uWayne, uClara, u-Ardis, bese kuba yimi kanye noCurtis ngo-1927

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Ngimi phakathi kukaFrances noBarbara McNaught, ngesikhathi sisaphayona ngo-1944

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EBethel ngo-1951. Ukusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: Yimi, u-Esther Lopez nomkamfowethu, uJean

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NginoNathan nabazali bakhe

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NginoNathan ngo-1955

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NginoNathan eHawaii

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Nginomyeni wami wesibili, uGlenn