‘Kusodza Anthu’ mu Belize
BELIZE ndi dziko laling’ono lokhala m’malo otentha pang’ono pakati pa Mexico ndi Guatemala. Kutali ndi malire ake akugombe, Caribbean ya mtundu wa mtambo wombuwira ikuwonekera yokhala ndi madontho a tizisumbu ta miyala ndi matanthwe otulukira kunja zimene zimapanga chochinga cha miyala chachitali koposa ku Western Hemisphere. Mbali yaikulu ya nthaka mphepete mwa gombe ndiyouma ndipo yosalala. Koma kumtunda cha kum’mwera, Mapiri a Maya amafika pa utali wa mamita 1,120. Chigawo chimenechi chomwe kale chinali ndi mapiri amitengo yambiri tsopano chiri ndi maphompho ambiri, mipata ya m’mtsinje, ndi mathithi okongola.
Poyambirira dzikoli linakhalidwa ndi Amaya, monga mmene mabwinja ambiri ndi zofukulidwa m’mainja zikuperekera umboni. M’ma 1600, linayamba kukhalidwa ndi amene anali olanda zinthu kwa anthu amzombo zapamadzi amene anasintha kukhala ocheka matabwa ndi odula mitengo ya muŵaŵa. Pambuyo pake, linakhala dziko lolamuliridwa ndi British Honduras. Linatenga ufulu wodzilamulira mu 1981.
Lerolino, Belize ali ndi chiŵerengero cha anthu pafupifupi 175,000. Liridi gulu la anthu osakanizana, lopangidwa ndi a Afro-Belize (Acreole), Amestizo, Amaya, Agarinagus (Acarib), Aasian, Azungu, ndi ena. Chifukwa cha mbiri yakumbuyo ya Belize ya Chibritain, Chingelezi ndicho chinenero chalamulo, ndi Chispanya kukhala chinenero chachikulu chachiŵiri. Chicreole nachonso chimalankhulidwa mofala, mofanana ndi Chimaya, Chigarifuna, ndi zinenero zina.
Chochinga cha miyalacho chautali wa makilomita 280, chokhala ndi miyala yake yapamadzi yowala, ndi mathanthwe osanjikana onga nsanja, ndi mapanga, chimasunga mitundumitundu ya zamoyo zam’nyanja zokoma kuziwona ndi kudya. Malo osodzako akutali ndi mtunda ameneŵa ali amodzi a chuma chachilengedwe chachikulu koposa cha dzikoli. Mofananamo, ndi kusiyanasiyana kokulira kwa anthu ndi miyambo, Belize watsimikizira kukhala malo ‘osodzako’ abwino kwambiri kwa awo ovomereza ku chiitano cha Yesu chakuti: “Tiyeni pambuyo panga, ndidzakusandutsani asodzi a anthu.”—Mateyu 4:19.
‘Kusodza’ Kuyambika
Munali mu 1923 pamene James Gordon, Mboni yobatizidwa mu 1918 mu Jamaica, anasamukira ku Belize. Iye anayamba kuponya khoka lake, kunena kwake titero, pakati pa anansi ake mkati ndi kuzungulira mudzi wa Bomba mu Boma la Belize. ‘Ziŵiya zake zosodzera’ zinaphatikizapo chola chachikulu cha muŵaŵa chokhala ndi mabuku, chonyamulidwa m’dzanja limodzi, ndi chiŵiya choseŵerera mawu ojambulidwa chonyamulidwa m’dzanja lina.
Chifupifupi 1931 Freida Johnson, minisitala wanthaŵi zonse wa ku Texas, anabwera ku Belize mkati mwa kuyendera kofalitsa mbiri yabwino m’maiko a ku Central America. Mkati mwa kukhalako kwake kwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi, anakambitsirana ndi wophika mkate wotchedwa Thaddius Hodgeson, amene nayenso anapereka chowonadi kwa wophika mkate mnzake, Arthur Randall. Mbale Hodgeson anapitirizabe ntchitoyo mpaka mu 1945 pamene amishonale oyamba kuphunzira pa Gileadi anafika, Charles Heyen ndi Elmer Ihrig.
Chaka chotsatira, mkati mwa kuchezetsa kwa N. H. Knorr, amene panthaŵiyo anali prezidenti wa Watch Tower Society limodzi ndi wachiŵiri wake F. W. Franz, ofesi ya nthambi inakhazikitsidwa kumeneko. Kuyambira panthaŵiyo “khoka” lakhala likuponyedwa m’mbali zonse za Belize, ndipo ntchito yakula mosalekeza. Chiŵerengero cha okhala ndi phande ‘m’kusodza anthu’ chinafika pa chiŵerengero chapamwamba cha 844 mu 1989.
‘Kuponya Khoka’ m’Munda
Lerolino, Mzinda wa Belize ndi matauni ena akugwiridwamo ntchito mokhazikika ndi awo olalikira mbiri yabwino ya Ufumu, koma midzi yozungulira yambiri ndi macay (zisumbu) sakutero. Zinalinso tero ku San Pedro, pa Ambergris Cay, kufikira zaka zoŵerengeka zapita.
Kwazaka zambiri, kukumana ndi chowonadi kokha kumene nzika za ku San Pedro zinakhala nako kunali pamene Mboni zochokera kumtunda zinapitako kukacheza mwachidule. Mbonizo zinasiira anthu okondwerera mabuku a Baibulo, koma sankakhoza kutsatira chikondwererocho chifukwa chakuti anafunikira kubwerera kumtunda. Pambuyo pake, banja la anayi linabwera ku Belize kudzatumikira kumene chosoŵa chinali chokulira. Iwo anadzipereka mwaufulu kusamukira pa chisumbucho ngakhale kuti anafunikira kukhala m’galimoto la zamaseŵera kufikira atamanga nyumba. Koma ‘kusodzako’ kunali kwabwino. Iwo anayambitsa maphunziro a Baibulo ambiri, ndipo lerolino pali “asodzi a anthu” oposa 20 pa chisumbupo. Mu September 1986, ndi thandizo la Mboni zochokera ku dziko lonselo, anamanga Nyumba Yaufumu yawoyawo kothera kwa mlungu umodzi wokha.
Gawo la nthambiyo limaphatikizaponso midzi ina ya Amaya yapatalipali kum’mwera kwa Boma la Toledo, kumene zinenero za Ketchi ndi Maya Mopan zimalankhulidwa. Kamodzi pa chaka, mkati mwa chirimwe pamene anthu akhoza kudutsa mitsinje ndi mapiri, gulu la Mboni linali kumachezera midzi imeneyi. Atabereka kumbuyo zonse zimene anafunikira, anayenda pansi kupita ku midziyo, kukachitira umboni kwa nzikazo, ndi kukafikiranso aja amene anasonyeza chikondwerero.
Pa ‘ulendo wina wamthengo’ wapachaka woterowo mu 1968, abale anachezera mudzi wa Crique Sarco. Msungwana wachichepere anapeza kope la bukhu la Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya, limene mbale analigwetsa mosadziŵa. Iye akukumbukira zotsatirapo zake.
“Bukhulo linali lamtengo wapatali kwa ine, koma ndinkangoyang’ana pa zithunzithunzi zoŵerengeka, ndipo sindinaliŵerenge konse. Kuchezetsa kwapachaka kumene abale anakupanga kwa atate wanga kunakhomereza dzina la Yehova m’maganizo anga, ndipo ndinadziŵa kuti Iye ali ndi gulu. Pamene ndinayamba sukulu yapamwamba mu tauni la Punta Gorda, funso linabwera tsiku lina m’kalasi: Kodi dzina la Mulungu ndani? Pamene ndinayankha kuti, ‘Yehova,’ ndinapatsidwa ‘chilango cha nthaŵi yomweyo’ (kugwetsedwa magiledi kusanu kuwonjezerapo ndi ntchito yachibalo, yonga kusesa m’chimbudzi). Kenaka wansembe anandiitana ndikundiuza kuti ndisakabwerezenso kugwiritsira ntchito dzinalo kupanda apo ndidzapitikitsidwa pa sukulu. Pa chimenecho ndinachoka pa sukulu modzifunira ndi kusabwereranso.
“Kukumana kwanga ndi chowonadi kotsatira kunali zaka zambiri pambuyo pake pamene ndinali wokwatiwa ndikumakhala mu Corozal Town kumpoto. Ndinawona kachidutswa ka pepala kakuwuluka m’mphepo, ndinakatola, kupeza kuti chinali chikuto cha kabukhu kakuti Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Question of Blood. Ndinapereka ndemanga kwa bwenzi langa kuti ichi chinali chimodzi cha zikhulupiriro za Mboni chimene sindinavomereze. Iye anati mwina tsiku lina ndidzavomerezana nawo. Tsiku lotsatira, mbale wina anabwera nati anamva kuti ndinali wokondweretsedwa kuphunzira Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova. Ngakhale ndinamuuza kuti sindinafune konse, iye analongosola kuti sizikatenga nthaŵi, motero ndinavomera. Pomalizira pake, bukhu la Coonadi limene ndinalikonda kwa zaka zisanu ndi zitatu linagwiritsiridwa ntchito!
“Mosapita nthaŵi, apongozi anga anayamba kusonkhezera mwamuna wanga kuletsa phunziro langa. Kenaka tinasamukira ku mudzi wakutali, ndipo ndinaleka kuwonana ndi Mboni. Pomalizira pake, mlongo anandifikira ali mu uminisitala wa kunyumba ndi nyumba, ndipo ndinayambanso phunziro langa. Mwamuna wanga anachita zonse zimene akanatha kuchita kuti asokoneze phunzirolo. Iye ankaledzera, kupanga phokoso, kundithamangitsa m’nyumba, kapena kundiwopsya kukhala ndi mkazi wina. Koma ndinachirimika ndi kudalira mokulira pa Yehova m’pemphero. Zaka ziŵiri zapita Yehova anayankha pemphero langa moposa kutalitali pa ziyembekezo zanga.
“Tsiku lina mwamuna wanga anabwera kunyumba ndi nkhope yokwalauka, ndipo anangopitirira kukagona. Pambuyo pake tsikulo ananena kuti, ‘Nanenso ndikufuna kuphunzira Baibulo!’ Kusintha kumeneko kunandidzetsera chisangalalo chachikulu komanso ndi mkwiyo wa banja lake. ‘Kusintha chipembedzo kuli ngati kusintha makolo,’ anamuuza tero, ‘chotero sulinso mwana wathu!’ Popeza kuti tsopano mwamuna wanga ndi ine tinagwirizana, tinapita patsogolo mofulumira. Pa December 5, 1987, tinabatizidwa pa Tsiku la Msonkhano Wapadera woyamba kwa ife.”
Ndimmene ziriri kuti “nsomba” zikugwidwa ngakhale m’malo akumidzi a Belize. Broshuwa ya Sangalalani ndi Moyo pa Dziko Lapansi Kosatha! yatembenuzidwa mu Chiketchi m’chiyembekezo chakuti ambiri m’midzi imeneyi angathandizidwe kulandira mbiri yabwino. Awo amene apulumutsidwa ku madzi oipitsidwa a dongosolo la Satana akusangalala ndi madzi a chowonadi oyera oti mbee m’paradaiso wauzimu wa Yehova.
Mwachitsanzo, mwamuna wachichepere mu Belize City anaphunzira za miyezo yoyera ya Mboni za Yehova kuchokera m’Baibulo. Iye analeka kumwerekera kwake m’chamba ndi mankhwala ena ogodomalitsa nabatizidwa. Mwamsanga pambuyo pake, anakhala “msodzi wa anthu” wanthaŵi zonse. Iye alinso ndi mwaŵi wokhala mtumiki wotumikira mumpingo wake. Mazana ena athandizidwa kuyeretsa miyoyo yawo mwa kupangitsa maukwati awo kukhala alamulo ndi kuwalembetsa ku boma. Ena ambiri aphunzitsidwa kuŵerenga ndi kulemba kotero kuti akhoze kudziphunzirira Mawu a Mulungu. Chotero ntchito yophunzitsa ya Mboni za Yehova mu Belize siikukhutiritsa zosowa zauzimu zokha za anthu komanso kubweretsa zotulukapo zina zaphindu ku chitaganyacho.
Kukoka Khoka
Pamenepo ophunzira a Yesu anatsatira malangizo ake ndi kuponya khoka lawo kumbali ina ya bwato lawo. Monga chotulukapo, “analibenso mphamvu yakulikoka chifukwa cha kuchuluka nsomba.” (Yohane 21:6) Mofananamo, chivomerezo ku mbiri yabwino nchachikulu kwakuti Mboni m’Belize zikuchipeza kukhala chitokoso kusamalira khamu lomabwera m’gulu.
Pali chosoŵa chachikulu kaamba ka abale ofikapo kuti atenge chitsogozo m’mipingo. Pa avareji, pali mkulu mmodzi kapena aŵiri mumpingo uliwonse. Kenaka, pali chitokoso cha kufikira mbali zonse za dzikolo ndi mbiri yabwino pa maziko okhazikika. Malo ambiri angafikiridwe ndi misewu, koma chifukwa cha kusoŵeka kwa zoyendera, nchovuta kwa Mboni kukulitsa chikondwerero chopezedwa kapena kwa anthu okondwerera kupita ku misonkhano mokhazikika. Kuyenda pansi kapena kugwiritsira ntchito mwadiya kudakali njira yokha yogwira ntchito yofikira malo ena akutali.
Mboni m’Belize zimakhalanso ndi vuto m’kupeza malo okwanira kaamba ka misonkhano yawo yampingo ya mlungu ndi mlungu ndi misonkhano ya pachaka yadera ndi yachigawo. Chiwonkhetso cha opezekapo pa Misonkhano Yachigawo ya “Khulupirirani Yehova” ya 1987 chinaposa 2,200, chifupifupi nthaŵi zitatu chiŵerengero cha ofalitsa m’dzikolo. Kaamba ka misonkhano imeneyo, abalewo anamanga msasa wa pakanthaŵi pamalo apafupi ndi Ladyville. Tsopano, akuyang’ana pa kuthekera kwa kumanga Holo Yosonkhaniramo yanthaŵi yonse pamalopo.
Pamene kuli kwakuti chitokosocho nchachikulu, Mbonizo zikuvomereza ku icho motenthedwa maganizo. Iwo asonyeza chimenechi mwa kuwonjezera mbali zawo mu utumiki wakumunda. Mu 1979 ofalitsawo pa avareji, anathera maola 8.3 mwezi uliwonse m’ntchito yolalikira. Tsopano iwo akutha avareji ya maola 11.3 mwezi uliwonse. Pakhalanso chiwonjezeko chabwino m’mathayo a upainiya. Mu 1979 panali avareji ya apainiya othandizira 10 ndi okhazikika 12 mwezi uliwonse. Tsopano pali apainiya othandizira 51 ndi okhazikika 42 mwezi uliwonse, azaka zakubadwa zochokera pa 14 mpaka 74.
Ziyembekezo za kufutukuka nzazikulu, kudziŵira pa chiŵerengero cha opezekapo chosangalatsa pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Kristu chochitidwa pa March 22, 1989. Abale anagwira ntchito zolimba kuitana anthu okondwerera. Chotulukapo? Chiwonkhetso cha opezekapo 3,834—choposa pa kuŵirikiza kanayi chiŵerengero chapamwamba cha ofalitsa! Kunali kochititsa nthumanzi kuwona magulu ambiri a mitundu—Acreole, Amestizo, Amaya, Azungu, Achinese, Alebanese, ndi ena—akusakanizana mwa njira imeneyi.
Kuwonjezerapo, ofalitsa 844 m’dzikolo akuchititsa maphunziro Abaibulo apanyumba oposa chikwi chimodzi. Mwakupitirizabe kuyang’ana ku Mutu wa mpingo, Yesu Kristu, kaamba ka chitsogozo, enanso ambiri m’Belize mosakaikira adzavomereza ku chiitano cha kukhala “asodzi a anthu.”
[Mapu patsamba 22]
(Onani m’magazini yeniyeni kuti mumvetse izi)
GULF OF MEXICO
MEXICO
BELIZE
Belize City
Punta Gorda
GUATEMALA
GULF OF HONDURAS
[Zithunzi pamasamba 24, 25
Kumanga Nyumba Yaufumu mu San Pedro, Ambergris Cay