Yehova Wakhala Pobisalira Panga

YOSIMBIDWA NDI PENELOPE MAKRIS

Amayi anandichonderera mochokera pansi pa mtima kuti: “Msiye mwamuna wako; alongo ako adzakupezera wina wabwino.” Kodi nchifukwa ninji amayi anga achikondi anafuna kuti ndithetse ukwati wanga? Kodi nchiyani chimene chinawakhumudwitsa kwambiri choncho?

NDINABADWA mu 1897 m’mudzi waung’ono wa Ambelos, pachisumbu cha Greece cha Samos. Banja lathu linali ziŵalo zodzipereka za Tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox. Atate anamwalira kutangotsala pang’ono kuti ndibadwe, ndipo ineyo, Amayi, ndi alongo anga atatu tinafunikira kugwiritsa ntchito kuti tingopeza zofunikira pa umphaŵi wathu wadzaoneni wa m’nthaŵizo.

Nkhondo Yadziko I inaulika mu 1914, ndipo posapita nthaŵi anjiranga aŵiri analamulidwa kuti alembetse usilikali. Koma kuti apeŵe kuchita zimenezo, iwo anasamukira ku America, kusiya ine ndi mlongo wanga wina panyumba ndi Amayi. Patapita zaka zochepa, mu 1920, ndinakwatiwa ndi Dimitris, mphunzitsi wachinyamata wa m’mudzi mwathu.

Ulendo Wofunika

Posapita nthaŵi nditakwatiwa, amalume anabwera kudzatichezera kuchokera ku America. Anabwera ndi limodzi la mavoliyumu a Studies in the Scriptures, lolembedwa ndi Charles Taze Russell. Linali chofalitsa cha Ophunzira Baibulo, amene tsopano amadziŵika monga Mboni za Yehova.

Pamene Dimitris anatsegula bukulo, anaona nkhani imene ankaiganizira kuyambira pamene anali mwana, “Kodi nchiyani chimachitikira munthu atamwalira?” Kusukulu ya sekondale anali atafunsa katswiri wa zaumulungu wa Greek Orthodox ponena za nkhani imodzimodziyi koma sanalandire yankho lokhutiritsa. Mafotokozedwe omveka ndi otsatirika operekedwa m’bukulo anamkondweretsa kwambiri Dimitris kwakuti anapita kunyumba yogulitsiramo zakumwa ya pamudzipo, kumene amuna amacheza kaŵirikaŵiri m’Greece. Kumeneko anasimba zinthu za m’Baibulo zimene anaphunzira.

Kuima Kwathu Kumbali ya Choonadi cha Baibulo

Chapanthaŵi imeneyi​—kuchiyambi kwa ma 1920​—Greece anali mkati mwa nkhondo inanso. Dimitris anakakamizidwa kuloŵa usilikali ndi kutumizidwa ku Turkey, ku Asia Minor. Anavulazidwa ndipo anatumizidwa kunyumba. Atachira, ndinatsagana naye ku Smyrna, Asia Minor (tsopano Izmir, Turkey). Nkhondoyo itatha mwadzidzidzi mu 1922, tinathaŵa. Kwenikweni, tinathaŵa mwamwaŵi ndi bwato lowonongeka kwambiri kumka ku Samos. Titafika kunyumba, tinagwada ndi kuthokoza Mulungu​—Mulungu amene sitinali kumdziŵabe bwino.

Posapita nthaŵi Dimitris anapatsidwa ntchito yokaphunzitsa pasukulu ina ku Vathy, likulu la chisumbucho. Anapitiriza kuŵerenga mabuku a Ophunzira Baibulo, ndipo usiku wina mvula ikumagwa aŵiri a iwo anatichezera kuchokera ku chisumbu cha Chios. Anali atabwerera kuchokera ku America kudzatumikira monga akopotala, monga momwe ankatchera alaliki a nthaŵi zonse. Tinakhala nawo usikuwo, ndipo analankhula nafe za zinthu zambiri ponena za zifuno za Mulungu.

Pambuyo pake Dimitris anandiuza kuti: “Penelope, ndaona kuti ichi ndicho choonadi, ndipo ndiyenera kuchitsatira. Zimenezi zikutanthauza kuti ndiyenera kuleka kuimba m’Tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox, ndi kuti ana a sukulu sindidzapita nawo ku tchalitchi.” Ngakhale kuti chidziŵitso chathu cha Yehova chinali chaching’ono, chikhumbo chathu cha kumtumikira chinali chachikulu. Chotero ndinayankha kuti: “Sindidzakhala chopinga kwa inu. Mungopita patsogolo.”

Anapitiriza koma mokayikira kuti: “Inde, koma ngati kachitidwe kathu kadziŵika, ntchito yanga idzandithera.”

“Musadere nkhaŵa,” ndinatero, “kodi anthu onse amapeza zofunikira mwa kugwira ntchito yophunzitsa? Ndife achichepere ndi olimba, ndipo ndi thandizo la Mulungu tingapeze ntchito ina.”

Panthaŵi ngati imeneyi tinamva kuti Wophunzira Baibulo wina​—nayenso kopotala​—anali atabwera ku Samos. Pamene tinamva kuti apolisi anakana kumpatsa chilolezo chakuti apereke nkhani yapoyera ya Baibulo, tinapita kukamfunafuna. Tinampeza m’sitolo akulankhula ndi akatswiri a zaumulungu aŵiri a Greek Orthodox. Atachita manyazi kuti analephera kuchirikiza zikhulupiriro zawo ndi Baibulo, akatswiriwo anachoka mosataya nthaŵi. Mwamuna wanga, pochita chidwi ndi chidziŵitso cha kopotalayo, anafunsa kuti: “Kodi mumakhoza bwanji kugwiritsira ntchito Baibulo mosavutika choncho?”

“Timaphunzira Baibulo mwadongosolo,” anayankha motero. Atatsegula chola chake, anatulutsa buku lophunziramo la Zeze wa Mulungu ndi kutisonyeza mogwiritsirira ntchito bukuli paphunziro lotero. Tinali ofunitsitsa kwambiri kuphunzira kwakuti ineyo ndi mwamuna wanga, kopotalayo, ndi amuna ena aŵiri tinatsagana ndi mwini sitoloyo kunyumba kwake nthaŵi yomweyo. Kopotalayo anapatsa aliyense wa ife kope la Zeze wa Mulungu, ndipo tinayamba kuphunzira pomwepo. Tinapitiriza phunziro lathu mpaka kupyola pakati pa usiku, ndiyeno pamene mbandakucha unayandikira, tinayamba kuphunzira nyimbo zimene Ophunzira Baibulo ankaimba.

Kuyambira nthaŵi imeneyo, ndinayamba kuphunzira Baibulo kwa maola angapo patsiku. Ophunzira Baibulo ochokera kunja anapitiriza kutibweretsera zothandizira kuphunzira Baibulo. Mu January 1926, ndinadzipatulira kwa Mulungu m’pemphero, ndikumaŵinda ndi mtima wonse kuti ndidzachita chifuniro chake. Pambuyo pake m’chilimwe chimenecho ineyo ndi mwamuna wanga tinasonyeza kudzipatulira kwathu mwa ubatizo wa m’madzi. Tinali ndi chikhumbo chachikulu cha kulankhula ndi ena ponena za zinthu zimene tinali kuphunzira, chotero tinayamba utumiki wa kukhomo ndi khomo ndi trakiti lakuti Message of Hope [Uthenga wa Chiyembekezo].

Kupirira Chitsutso Cholimba

Tsiku lina mkazi wina anandipempha kuti ndipite ku mapemphero a misa kutchalitchi chaching’ono cha Greek Orthodox. “Ndinaleka kulambira Mulungu m’njira imeneyo,” ndinafotokoza motero. “Tsopano ndimamlambira mumzimu ndi m’choonadi, monga momwe Baibulo limaphunzitsira.” (Yohane 4:23, 24) Anadabwa kwambiri ndipo analengeza kulikonse zimene zinachitika, akumaloŵetsamo ndi mwamuna wanga.

Pafupifupi aliyense anayamba kutsutsa. Kulibe kumene tinapeza mtendere​—kaya m’nyumba mwathu kapena kumisonkhano imene tinkachita ndi okondwerera ochepawo pachisumbupo. Atasonkhezeredwa ndi ansembe a Orthodox, khamu la anthu linasonkhana kunja kwa malo athu osonkhanira, akumaponya miyala ndi kutukwana.

Pamene tinali kugaŵira trakiti la Message of Hope, ana ambiri anatizinga akumakuwa kuti “A Zaka Chikwi” ndi maina ena onyoza. Antchito anzake a mwamuna wanga nawonso anayamba kumvutitsa. Chakumapeto kwa 1926 anamzenga mlandu, kuweruzidwa kuti sanali woyenerera kukhala mphunzitsi wa pasukulu ya boma, ndi kupatsidwa chilango cha masiku 15 m’ndende.

Pamene Amayi anamva za zimenezi, anandiuza kuti ndimsiye mwamuna wanga. “Imvani, amayi anga okondedwa,” ndinayankha motero, “mukudziŵa monga ndimadziŵira kuti ndimakukondani ndi kukulemekezani kwambiri. Koma sindingakuloleni kutichinga panjira ya kulambira kwathu Mulungu woona, Yehova.” Anapita kumudzi kwawo ali ogwiritsidwa mwala kwambiri.

Mu 1927 kunachitika msonkhano wa Ophunzira Baibulo ku Athens, ndipo Yehova anatitsegulira njira kuti tikapezekeko. Tinachita chidwi kwambiri ndipo tinalimbitsidwa mwauzimu mwa kusonkhana pamodzi ndi okhulupirira anzathu ambirimbiri. Titabwerera ku Samos, tinagaŵira makope 5,000 a trakiti la mutu wakuti A Testimony to the Rulers of the World [Umboni kwa Olamulira a Dziko] m’matauni ndi m’midzi ya pachisumbupo.

Chapanthaŵi imeneyo Dimitris anachotsedwa pantchito yake yophunzitsa, ndipo chifukwa cha kusatifuna, kupeza ntchito kunali kovuta kwambiri. Koma popeza ndinali kudziŵa kusoka zovala ndipo Dimitris anali katswiri wopaka utoto, tinakwanitsa kumapeza ndalama zokwanira zogulira zofunikira. Mu 1928 mwamuna wanga, limodzinso ndi abale achikristu enawo anayi ku Samos, anapatsidwa chilango cha miyezi iŵiri m’ndende chifukwa cha kulalikira uthenga wabwino. Pokhala Wophunzira Baibulo mmodzi yekha womasuka, ndinali kuwaperekera chakudya m’ndendemo.

Kulimbana ndi Matenda Aakulu

Panthaŵi ina ndinadwala tubercular spondylitis, matenda osadziŵika ovuta panthaŵiyo. Sindinali kufuna kudya ndipo ndinali kumva kutentha kwambiri kosalekeza. Machiritso ake anaphatikizapo kukutidwa m’pulasitala womata kuchokera m’khosi mwanga kufika m’ntchafu zanga. Kuti tikhale ndi ndalama, mwamuna wanga anagulitsa malo kotero kuti ndipitirize kulandira mankhwala. Povutika maganizo kwambiri, ndinapemphera kwa Mulungu masiku onse kaamba ka nyonga.

Podzandiona, achibale ankapitiriza kusonkhezera chitsutso. Amayi ananena kuti tinali m’mavuto onsewa chifukwa chakuti tinasintha chipembedzo chathu. Pokhala wosakhoza kuyenda, ndinanyoŵetsa mtsamiro wanga ndi misozi pamene ndinali kuchonderera Atate wathu wakumwamba kuti andipatse kuleza mtima ndi kulimba mtima kuti ndipirire.

Pathebulo langa lokhala pambali pa kama, ndinali kusungirapo Baibulo langa ndi timabuku ndi matrakiti ambiri kaamba ka alendo. Linali dalitso kuti misonkhano ya mpingo wathu waung’ono inali kuchitikira m’nyumba mwathu; nthaŵi zonse ndinali kulandira chilimbikitso chauzimu. Tinagulitsanso malo ena kuti tilipirire machiritso a dokotala wa ku Athens.

Zimenezo zitangochitika, woyang’anira woyendayenda anatichezera. Anachita chisoni kwambiri pondiona ndili mumkhalidwewu ndi Dimitris wosakhala pantchito. Mwachifundo anatithandiza kupanga makonzedwe akuti tikakhale ku Mytilene pachisumbu cha Lesbos. Tinasamukira kumeneko mu 1934, ndipo Dimitris anatha kupeza ntchito. Kumeneko tinapezanso abale ndi alongo achikristu abwino kwambiri amene anandisamalira pa kudwala kwanga. Pang’onopang’ono, patapita zaka zisanu za kulandira mankhwala, ndinakhaliratu bwino.

Komabe, mu 1946, Nkhondo Yadziko II itangotha, ndinadwalanso kwambiri, tsopano anali matenda a tubercular peritonitis. Ndinadwala kwa miyezi isanu ndikumamva kutentha kwambiri ndi kupweteka kwakukulu. Koma, monga pachiyambi, sindinaleke kulankhula za Yehova kwa odzandiona. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, ndinakhalanso bwino.

Kuchita Upainiya Mosasamala Kanthu za Chitsutso

Chitsutso chosatha chinali mkhalidwe wa Mboni za Yehova m’Greece m’zaka za pambuyo pa nkhondo. Tinagwidwa nthaŵi zambirimbiri pamene tinali kuchita utumiki wa kunyumba ndi nyumba. Mwamuna wanga anakhala m’ndende pafupifupi chaka chimodzi kuika masiku onse pamodzi. Poyamba utumiki, kaŵirikaŵiri tinali kukonzekera kukagona ku polisi titagwidwa. Komabe Yehova sanatisiye konse. Nthaŵi zonse anatipatsa kulimba mtima ndi nyonga yofunikira kuti tipirire.

Cha m’ma 1940, ndinaŵerenga mu Informant (tsopano Utumiki Wathu Waufumu) za makonzedwe a kuchita upainiya wa pakanthaŵi. Ndinasankha kuyesa kugaŵanamo m’mbali imeneyi ya utumiki imene inkafuna kuthera maola 75 mu utumiki pamwezi. Chifukwa cha chimenecho, maulendo anga obwereza ndi maphunziro a Baibulo anawonjezereka​—panthaŵi ina ndinali kuchititsa maphunziro 17 mlungu ndi mlungu. Ndinapanganso njira ya magazini m’gawo la malonda la Mytilene, mmene nthaŵi zonse ndinali kugaŵira makope pafupifupi 300 a Nsanja ya Olonda ndi Galamukani! m’masitolo, m’maofesi, ndi m’mabanki.

Pamene woyang’anira woyendayenda anatumikira mpingo wathu mu 1964, anati: “Mlongo Penelope, pa Cholembapo cha Wofalitsa chanu ndinaona kuti mukukhala ndi zotulukapo zabwino kwambiri mu utumiki wanu. Bwanji simudzaza fomu kuti muchite upainiya wokhazikika?” Ndidzamyamikira nthaŵi zonse pondilimbikitsa; utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse wandipatsa chimwemwe kwa zaka zoposa makumi atatu.

Chokumana Nacho Chodzetsa Mfupo

Ku Mytilene kuli malo ena oyandikana nawo otchedwa Langada okhala ndi anthu ambiri, kumene kunkakhala othaŵa kwawo achigiriki. Tinkapeŵa kupita kukhomo ndi khomo kumeneko chifukwa cha kutsutsidwa ndi otengeka maganizo. Komabe, pamene mwamuna wanga anali m’ndende, ndinali kudutsa m’dera limeneli kuti ndikamuone. Tsiku lina lamvula mkazi wina anandiitana kuti ndiloŵe m’nyumba mwake kuti afunse chifukwa chake mwamuna wanga anali m’ndende. Ndinafotokoza kuti chinali chifukwa cha kulalikira uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu ndi kuti anali kuvutika monga momwenso Kristu anavutikira.

M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, mkazi winanso analinganiza kuti ndidzaime panyumba pake. Pamene ndinafika ndinapeza kuti anali ataitana akazi 12 onse pamodzi. Ndinadziŵa kuti padzakhala chitsutso, chotero ndinapemphera kwa Mulungu kuti andipatse nzeru ndi kulimba mtima kuti ndiyang’anizane ndi chilichonse chimene chidzaoneka. Akaziwo anali ndi mafunso ambiri, ndipo ena anatsutsa, koma ndinatha kupereka mayankho a m’Malemba. Pamene ndinanyamuka kuti ndidzimka, mkaziyo mwini nyumba anandipempha kuti ndidzabwerenso tsiku lotsatira. Ndinalandira chiitanocho mokondwera. Pamene ineyo ndi mnzanga tinafika tsiku lotsatira, tinapeza akaziwo akuyembekeza.

Pambuyo pake makambitsirano athu a Malemba anapitiriza mokhazikika, ndipo maphunziro a Baibulo ambiri anayambidwa. Angapo a akaziwo anapita patsogolo m’chidziŵitso cholongosoka, ndipo mabanja awo anachitanso chimodzimodzi. Gulu limeneli pambuyo pake ndilo linali chiyambi cha mpingo wa Mboni za Yehova watsopano ku Mytilene.

Yehova Wakhala Wabwino kwa Ine

M’zaka zonsezi Yehova wadalitsa zoyesayesa zanga ndi za mwamuna wanga za kutumikira Iye. Mboni zingapo zimenezo za pa Samos m’ma 1920 zawonjezeka kukhala mipingo iŵiri ndi gulu limodzi lokhala ndi ofalitsa pafupifupi 130. Ndipo pachisumbu cha Lesbos, pali mipingo inayi ndi magulu asanu amene ali ndi olengeza Ufumu 430. Mwamuna wanga analengeza Ufumu wa Mulungu mwachangu mpaka imfa yake mu 1977. Ndi mwaŵi waukulu chotani nanga kuona aja amene tinathandiza ali achangube mu utumiki! Inde, pamodzi ndi ana awo, adzukulu, ndi adzukulu tubzi, iwo akupanga khamu lalikulu lolambira Yehova mogwirizana!

Moyo wanga wa utumiki wachikristu, umene uli ndi utali wa zaka 70 tsopano, wakhala wovuta. Komabe Yehova wakhala pothaŵirapo posayerekezereka. Chifukwa cha kukalamba ndi matenda, ndimangokhala m’chipinda ndipo sindingathe kulalikira kwambiri. Koma, monga momwe wamasalmo anachitira, ndimanena kwa Yehova kuti: “[Ndinu, NW] pothawirapo panga ndi linga langa; Mulungu wanga, amene ndimkhulupirira.”​—Salmo 91:2.

(Mlongo Makris anamwalira pamene nkhaniyi inali kukonzedwa. Anali ndi chiyembekezo chakumwamba.)

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Ndi mwamuna wake mu 1955

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Mlongo Makris akanakhala ndi zaka 100 mu January 1997