Ngithole Izinto Eziningi Ezinhle

Njengoba ilandiswa u-Arthur Bonno

KWAKUNGO-1951. Mina nomkami u-Edith sasisemhlanganweni wesigodi lapho sizwa isaziso esithi kwakuzoba nomhlangano wabanesithakazelo senkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli.

Ngathi: “Woza siyozwa ukuthi kuthiwani!”

U-Edith waphendula: “Art, ngeke kulunge!”

“Ngiyakucela Edie, ake siyozwa nje.”

Ngemva komhlangano sonke esasikhona sanikezwa amafomu esicelo sokuya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi.

Ngamncenga: “Asiwagcwalise.”

“Hhayi-bo Art, imindeni yethu?”

Kwadlula cishe unyaka nengxenye ngemva kwalowo mhlangano, saya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi futhi sabelwa ukuyokhonza e-Ecuador, eNingizimu Melika.

Njengoba ungase ubone engxoxweni mina nomkami esaba nayo kulowo mhlangano, ungacishe ungichaze njengomuntu owayenethonya futhi ngikholelwa ukuthi akukho okungangehlula. U-Edith yena wayemnene futhi enesizotha. Wakhulela edolobheni elincane i-Elizabeth, elisePennsylvania, e-U.S.A., futhi engakaze aye kude nasekhaya noma ahlangane nabantu bakwamanye amazwe. Kwakunzima kuye ukushiya umkhaya wakubo. Noma kunjalo, wasamukela ngenhliziyo yonke lesi sabelo sokukhonza kwelinye izwe. Ngo-1954 safika e-Ecuador futhi besilokhu sikhonza lapha njengezithunywa zevangeli kuze kube manje. Kuyo yonke le minyaka silapha, siye sathola izinto eziningi ezinhle. Ungathanda yini ukwazi ezinye zazo?

Izinkumbulo Ezinhle

Isabelo sethu sokuqala sasisenhloko-dolobha, iQuito, ephakeme ngamamitha angaba ngu-2 850 ezintabeni zase-Andes. Kwasithatha izinsuku ezimbili sihamba ngesitimela nangeloli ukufika kuleyo ndawo sisuka edolobheni elingasogwini laseGuayaquil—uhambo manje oseluthatha imizuzu engu-30 ngendiza! Siyohlale siyikhumbula iminyaka emine esayichitha sikhonza eQuito. Ngo-1958, kwabe sekwenzeka enye into enhle: Samenyelwa ukuba siyojikeleza.

Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunezifunda ezincane ezimbili kuphela kulo lonke lelo zwe.  Ngakho, ngaphezu kokuhambela amabandla, sasibuye sichithe amasonto amaningana phakathi nonyaka sishumayela emadolobheni amancane amaNdiya ayengenabo oFakazi. Ngokuvamile sasihlala ezindlini ezakhiwe ngamatshe, ezaziba ikamelo elincane elingenamafasitela, elinombhede kuphela. Sasiphatha ibhokisi lokhuni esasifaka kulo isitofu sikaphalafini, ipani, amapuleti, indishi yokugeza, amashidi, inetha yomiyane, izingubo zokugqoka, amaphephandaba amadala nezinye izinto. Sasisebenzisa la maphephandaba ukuze sivale izimbobo ezindongeni ukuze amagundane angangeni kalula.

Nakuba lezo zindlu zazimnyama, sinezinkumbulo ezinhle zezingxoxo zasebusuku esasiba nazo sihlezi embhedeni, sidla ukudla okulula esasikupheke esitofini sethu sikaphalafini. Ukuba kwami umuntu onamawala kwakuvame ukungenza ngikhulume ngingacabanganga, ngakho ngezinye izikhathi umkami wayesebenzisa lezo zikhathi ezizolile ukuze angibonise izindlela ezingacunuli engingakhuluma ngazo nabafowethu esasibahambela. Ngangimlalela, futhi ukuhambela kwami amabandla kwakhuthaza kakhudlwana. Nalapho ngikhulume kabi ngomunye umuntu ngingacabanganga, umkami wayevele athule angahlanganyeli kuleyo ngxoxo. Ngafunda ngaleyo ndlela ukuba nombono omuhle ngabafowethu. Nokho, ezikhathini eziningi izingxoxo zethu zakusihlwa zazigxila emaphuzwini esiwafunde ezihlokweni ze-Nqabayokulinda nakokuhlangenwe nakho esasikuthole ensimini ngalolo suku. Futhi sasiba nokuhlangenwe nakho okuthakazelisa kakhulu.

Indlela Esathola Ngayo UCarlos

Edolobheni laseJipijapa, entshonalanga ye-Ecuador, sanikezwa igama lomuntu othakazelayo—satshelwa nje ukuthi uCarlos Mejía, sanganikwa kheli. Sahamba ekuseni singazi ukuthi sizoqalaphi ukumfuna, kodwa samane sangena indlela. Kwakudingeka sigege amaxhaphozi amaningi anodaka emigwaqweni ewubhuqu ngenxa yemvula enkulu eyayine ngayizolo. Ngangihamba phambili umkami engilandela lapho ngizwa ememeza kabuhlungu ethi, “Art!” Ngaphenduka ngambona ebishe odakeni olumnyama, lufika emadolweni. Kwakungeve kuhlekisa, futhi ngangiyohleka ngize ngibhuquze ukube ngangingabonanga ukuthi useyakhala.

Ngamdonsa, kodwa izicathulo zakhe zasala odakeni. Buqamama kwakunomfanyana nentombazanyana ababesibuka, ngase ngithi kubo, “Uma ningangikhiphela lezi zicathulo odakeni ngizonipha imali.” Zazikhipha ngokuphazima kweso kodwa u-Edie wayesedinga indawo ayengageza kuyo. Unina walezi zingane naye wayebukele futhi wasibizela kwakhe, wafike wasiza umkami ukuba ageze izinyawo ngesikhathi izingane zigeza izicathulo. Singakahambi, kwenzeka into enhle. Satshela lo mama ukuthi sifuna umlisa okuthiwa uCarlos Mejía. Emangele, wathi, “Umyeni wami lowo.” Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi saqala isifundo seBhayibheli futhi wonke amalungu alo mkhaya agcina ebhapathiziwe. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, uCarlos, umkakhe nezingane zabo ezimbili baba amaphayona akhethekile.

Uhambo Olunezinselele—Umoya Omuhle Wokungenisa Izihambi

Emsebenzini wokujikeleza kwakunezinselele. Sasihamba ngamabhasi, izitimela, amaloli, izikebhe zokhuni nangezindiza ezincane. Ngesinye isikhathi sahambisana noJohn McLenachan owayengumbonisi wesigodi, nomkakhe uDorothy, sayoshumayela emizaneni yabadobi eduze komngcele waseColombia. Sahamba ngesikebhe sokhuni esasinenjini engaphandle. Kweza oshaka ababengangesikebhe sethu batshuza eduze kwethu! Ngisho nomshayeli ongumakadebona esasihamba naye wethuka lapho ebona oshaka abakhulu ngaleya ndlela, wajikisa isikebhe masinyane wasiyisa ngasogwini.

Nokho, izinselele esasibhekana nazo emsebenzini wokujikeleza zazingelutho uma ziqhathaniswa  nenjabulo esasiyithola. Zasinika ithuba lokwazi abazalwane abahle abanomoya wokungenisa izihambi. Ezikhathini eziningi imikhaya esasihlala nayo yayiphikelela ukuthi thina sidle kathathu ngosuku kuyilapho yona idla kanye, noma isilalise embhedeni okuwukuphela kwawo bese yona ilala phansi. Umkami wayevame ukuthi, “Laba bafowethu nodadewethu bangisiza ukuba ngibone ukuthi zimbalwa kangakanani izinto esizidinga ngempela ekuphileni.”

“Asifuni Ukuzigodla”

Ngo-1960 kwenzeka enye into enhle kithi—samenywa ukuba siyokhonza ehhovisi legatsha eGuayaquil. Ngesikhathi ngenza umsebenzi wasehhovisi u-Edith wayephuma insimu nebandla eliseduze. Angikaze ngizicabange ngisebenza ehhovisi futhi ngangizizwa ngingafaneleki, kodwa njengoba amaHebheru 13:21 ebonisa, uNkulunkulu usihlomisa ‘ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle ukuba senze intando yakhe.’ Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, ngamenyelwa esikoleni saseGileyadi izinyanga eziyishumi esasizoqhutshelwa eBethel eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngaleso sikhathi, amakhosikazi kwakudingeka asale ezabelweni zawo. Umkami wathola incwadi eyayivela eBrooklyn. Wacelwa ukuba acabangisise ukuthi uyavuma yini ukuhlala ngaphandle komyeni wakhe izinyanga eziyishumi.

U-Edith waphendula: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi lokhu ngeke neze kube lula kunoma ubani, kodwa siyazi ukuthi ngokuqinisekile uJehova uzosisiza ukuba sibhekane nanoma ibuphi ubunzima esingase sibhekane nabo. . . . Asifuni ukuzigodla kunoma imaphi amalungelo esingase siwanikezwe nakunoma iliphi ithuba lokukufanelekela kangcono ukufeza imithwalo yethu yemfanelo.” Ngesikhathi ngiseBrooklyn, umkami wayengibhalela masonto onke.

Ukukhonza Namanye AmaKristu Athembekile

Ngenxa yezinkinga zempilo, mina no-Edith sabuyela eQuito ngo-1966, lapho saphinde sakhonza khona njengezithunywa zevangeli nabafowethu nodadewethu bendawo. Yeka ukuthi babengabagcini bobuqotho abahle kanjani!

Udade othile othembekile wayenomyeni ongakholwa owayevame ukumshaya. Ngolunye usuku, kuyihora lesithupha ekuseni, othile wasishayela ucingo esitshela ukuthi lo dade usephinde washaywa. Ngaphuthuma ngaya endlini yalo dade. Lapho ngimbona, angizange ngikukholwe engakubona. Wayelele embhedeni, emabokoboko. Umyeni wakhe wayemshaye ngenduku yomshanelo yaze yanqamuka. Kamuva ngalolo suku lapho ngiphindela, ngamthola esekhaya umyeni wakhe futhi ngamtshela ukuthi le nto ayenzile iwubugwala. Waxolisa kakhulu.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, ngase ngingcono futhi saphindela emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Elinye lamadolobha ayesesifundeni sethu kwakuyi-Ibarra. Lapho sihambele lelo dolobha ngasekupheleni kwawo-1950 kwakunoFakazi ababili kuphela, omunye eyisithunywa sevangeli nomunye engumzalwane wendawo.  Ngakho sasibheke phambili ekuboneni abamemezeli abaningi abasha abase beyingxenye yebandla.

Emhlanganweni wethu wokuqala, uMfoweth’ uRodrigo Vaca waya esiteji wanikeza inkulumo eyayihlanganisa nengxoxo nezilaleli. Kwakuthi lapho ebuza umbuzo, esikhundleni sokuthi abakhona baphakamise izandla, babememeza bathi “Yo, yo!” (okusho ukuthi “Mina, mina!”). Sabhekana no-Edith simangele. Ngazibuza, ‘Kwenzekani lapha?’ Kamuva sathola ukuthi uMfoweth’ uVaca wayeyimpumputhe kodwa wayekwazi ukuzwa amazwi amalungu ebandla lapho ememeza. Ungumalusi ozazi kahle izimvu zakhe! Lokhu kwasikhumbuza amazwi kaJesu akhuluma ngoMalusi Omuhle ozazi kahle izimvu zakhe nazo ezimaziyo akuJohane 10:3, 4, 14. Namuhla e-Ibarra kunamabandla ayisithupha eSpanishi, elilodwa lesiQuichua nelilodwa lolimi lwezandla. UMfoweth’ uVaca usaqhubeka ekhonza ngokwethembeka njengomdala nephayona elikhethekile. *

Ngiyabonga Ngobuhle BukaJehova

Ngo-1974, sabona obunye ubuhle bukaJehova lapho sicelwa ukuba sibuyele eBethel, lapho ngaphinde ngabelwa ukuba ngisebenze ehhovisi futhi kamuva ngamiswa njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha. U-Edith waqale wasebenza ekhishini, kamuva wasebenza ehhovisi lapho esasebenza khona namanje njengomhleli weposi.

Phakathi nayo yonke le minyaka, siye sajabulela ukwamukela izithunywa zevangeli eziningi eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi, ezizuzisa amabandla ezikhonza kuwo ngokuvuthwa nangentshiseko yazo. Sikhuthazwa nayizinkulungwane zabafowethu nodadewethu abeza lapha bevela emazweni angaphezu kwangu-30. Yeka indlela umoya wabo wokuzidela osihlaba umxhwele ngayo! Abanye baye bathengisa imizi yabo namabhizinisi ukuze bazokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona yabamemezeli boMbuso. Bathenga izimoto ukuze bayoshumayela ezindaweni eziqhele kakhulu, bamise amabandla amasha futhi basize ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMbuso. Kunodade abaningi abangashadile abeza bevela kwamanye amazwe bezophayona lapha—abeve bekhuthele futhi beshiseka.

Ngempela, kule minyaka eminingi ngikhonza uNkulunkulu, ngithole izinto eziningi ezinhle. Into enkulu kunazo zonke, ubuhlobo bami noJehova. Ngiyambonga uJehova nangokungipha “umsizi.” (Gen. 2:18) Lapho ngicabanga ngeminyaka engu-69 sishadile, ngikhumbula amazwi asencwadini yezAga 18:22, athi: “Ingabe umuntu uthole umfazi omuhle? Uthole into enhle.” Bekulokhu kuyinjabulo enkulu ukukhonza no-Edith. Ungisize ngezindlela eziningi. Uye wazibonakalisa futhi eyindodakazi enothando kunina. Kusukela ngesikhathi esafika ngaso e-Ecuador, umkami ubelokhu embhalela unina masonto onke kwaze kwaba yilapho eshona ngo-1990, eneminyaka engu-97.

Manje sengineminyaka engu-90 ubudala futhi u-Edith unengu-89. Siyazisa kakhulu injabulo esibe nayo yokusiza abantu abangaba ngu-70 ukuba bazi uJehova. Ngokuqinisekile siyajabula ukuthi sawagcwalisa amafomu ezicelo zaseGileyadi eminyakeni engu-60 edlule. Leso sinqumo saholela ekuphileni okugcwele izinto eziningi ezinhle.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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SiseNew York, eYankee Stadium nezinye izithunywa zevangeli esasinazo esikoleni saseGileyadi, ngo-1958

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Sivakashele umkhaya woFakazi ngesikhathi sijikeleza, ngo-1959

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Sisegatsheni lase-Ecuador, ngo-2002