Ndikuthokoza Yehova Kaamba ka Ana Anga Aamuna Asanu

YOSIMBIDWA NDI HELEN SAULSBERY

March 2, 1997, linali limodzi mwa masiku oipitsitsa m’moyo wanga. Anthu pafupifupi 600 achinansi ndi achibale anasonkhana ku Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A., pamaliro a mwamuna wanga wokondedwa, Dean. Iye anali mkulu wachikristu ndiponso woyang’anira wotsogoza wa mpingo wa Mboni za Yehova. Ndikamaganizira za zaka zathu zosangalatsa 40 zimene takhala muukwati, ndimayamikira kwambiri. Ndikudziŵa kuti Dean ndi wotetezedwa koposa, m’chikumbukiro cha Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse, Yehova, ndiponso kuti tidzamuona Dean m’tsogolo.

DEAN analoŵa usilikali m’gulu la nkhondo ya m’mwamba atamaliza sukulu mu 1950. Sanali munthu wokonda za chipembedzo ndipo ankaoneka kuti sankagwirizana nazo ziphunzitso za tchalitchi changa chapamtima cha nthaŵi imeneyo cha Katolika. Koma tinagwirizana kuti ana athu adzakhala Akatolika. Usiku uliwonse tinkagwada n’kumapemphera chamumtima. Ine ndinkapemphera pobwereza mapemphero anga achikatolika, ndipo Dean ankanena chilichonse chinam’dzera m’mutu. M’zaka zotsatirapo, ana athu aamuna asanu anabadwa: Bill; Jim; Dean Jr.; Joe; ndi Charlie.

Ndinali munthu wopita kutchalitchi mokhulupirika ndipo nthaŵi zonse ndinkawatenga anyamatawo. Koma ndinazindikira chinyengo cha tchalitchicho, makamaka chifukwa cha kuloŵerera kwake mu Nkhondo ya Vietnam. Malemu Kadinala Spellman anauza anthu amene ankatsutsa kuti dziko la United States likuchita zolondola kuti: “Ndidzachirikiza dziko langa basi, kaya lilakwe kaya lisalakwe.” Sindinalole kuti ana anga apite kunkhondo, ngakhale kuti tchalitchi changa chinailoŵerera. Komabe, ndinkapemphera kuti mwana wanga mmodzi yekha adzakhale wansembe ndi kuti mwamuna wanga adzakhale Mkatolika.

Kusintha Kwanga Maganizo

Loŵeruka lina madzulo ndinkacheza ndi anzanga ena achikatolika ndi wansembe wathu. Tinkamwa ndi kusangalala ndipo mmodzi wa amayiwo anafunsa wansembeyo kuti: “Bambo, kodi ndi tchimodi la kuimfa ngati pambuyo pa kusangalala kotereku, walephera kudzuka mmaŵa mwake ndi kupita ku Misa?”

“Iyayi,” anayankha. “Palibe cholakwa. Lachiŵiri usiku timachita Misa kunyumba ya wansembe. Choncho mungabwere ku Misa imeneyi ndi kukwaniritsa mbali yanu.”

Ndinali nditaphunzitsidwa kuyambira ndili mwana kuti tiyenera kupita ku Misa Lamlungu ngakhale zitavuta bwanji. Nditamutsutsa, anatukwana ndi kunena mwaukali kuti mkazi sayenera kutsutsa wansembe.

Ndinadzifunsa kuti; ‘Kuteroku ndinkapemphera kuti ana anga adzakhale otere?’ Ngakhale ndinkadziŵa kuti si ansembe onse amene anali otere, ndinayamba kukayikira.

M’kati mwa m’ma 1960, Mboni za Yehova zinatifikira ku Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ndipo pambuyo pake ku Newark, Delaware. Ngakhale kuti ndinkasirira changu chawo chachikristu, nthaŵi zonse ndinkangoti: “Pepani. Sindikufuna chifukwa ndine Mkatolika.”

Kenaka mmaŵa wina kukuzizira m’November 1970, Mbonizo zinabweranso. Zinafunsa funso lokhudza Baibulo ndi kuŵerenga Salmo 119:105: “Mawu anu ndiwo nyali ya ku mapazi anga, ndi kuunika kwa panjira panga.” Mawu amenewo anandilasa mtima. Ndikukumbukira kuti ndinayankhula chamumtima, ‘Baibulo! Mwina ndilo yankho lake, koma ndilibe ngakhale limodzi.’ Ndinali nditaphunzitsidwa kuti Akatolikafe sitinkafunika kukhala ndi Baibulo, chifukwa lingatisokoneze, ndi kuti Baibulo linali la ansembe kuti aziŵerenga ndi kulimasulira. Ndinkaganiza kuti ndine Mkatolika wokhulupirika chifukwa ndinalibe.

Tsiku limenelo ndinalandira kwa Mbonizo buku lothandiza kuphunzira Baibulo lotchedwa Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya. Ndinaliŵerenga mlungu womwewo ndipo ndinadziŵiratu kuti ndapeza choonadi basi! Mbonizo zitabweranso, zinabwera ndi mabaibulo aŵiri, lina linali lachikatolika. Ndinadabwa kuona kuti malemba amene anagwidwa mawu m’buku lija analimonso m’Baibulo lachikatolikalo. Pamenepa m’pamene anayamba kuphunzira nane Baibulo mokhazikika panyumba, ndipo ndinapita patsogolo. Ndiyeno ndinabatizidwa mu August 1972, pamodzi ndi mkulu wanga Sally, amenenso anali atayamba kuphunzira Baibulo.

Mwamuna wanga, Dean, sankandiletsa, koma ankangodabwa kuti ndikuchita chidwi ndi chipembedzo chosakhala Chikatolika. Nthaŵi zonse ankamvetsera ndi kumaonetsetsa. Poyamba, ndinkayankhula mokalipa ndikafuna kuti anyamatawo amvetsere. Koma ndinaphunzira kuti Baibulo limalangiza kuti tisakhale ndi “mkwiyo, ndi chiwawa, ndi mwano.” (Aefeso 4:​31, 32) Ndiponso, ana sitimawaphunzitsa mwa kuwalalatira. Tsiku lina ndinamva mwamuna wanga akuuza amayi ake za Mboni za Yehova. Iye anati: “Amayi, anthu ameneŵa amachitadi zimene amalalikira!” Sipanatenge nthaŵi, ndipo iye anavomera kuyamba phunziro la Baibulo. Dean anakhala Mboni yobatizidwa mu January 1975.

Kuphunzitsa Ana Athu Asanu

Pamene ndinayamba kupita ku Nyumba ya Ufumu, ndinkaganiza kuti misonkhano imakhala nthaŵi yaitali kwambiri kotero kuti ana anga sakanakwanitsa. Choncho ndinkangowasiya kunyumba ndi atate awo. Ndinkamva bwino komanso wopepukidwa kupita ndekha. Koma kenaka, potchulapo za utali wa misonkhano yachikristu, wokamba nkhani wina kumsonkhano kwathu anafunsa kuti: “Kodi munayamba mwaganizapo za nthaŵi imene ana anu amatha kukhala akuonera wailesi yakanema?” Ndi zimene ana anga anali kuchita panthaŵiyo! Ndiye ndinaganiza, ‘Sindidzalolanso zimenezi ayi! Azibwera nane limodzi!’ Mwamuna wanga anavomera kuti anyamatawo azipita nane, ndipo m’kupita kwa nthaŵi nayenso anayamba kupita.

Kusonkhana mokhazikika kunachititsa banja lathu kulongosoka ndi kukhazikika bwino. Panalinso zina zambiri. Ine ndi Dean tinkayesetsa kukhala makolo olera bwino ana kuposa kale, kumavomereza tikalakwa ndi kumatsatiradi malangizo a Baibulo. Sitinkalola kuchita zinthu mosiyana. Chimene chinali cholondola kwa mwamuna wanga ndi ine chinalinso cholondola kwa ana athu. Kupita kuulaliki mokhazikika kunali lamulo.

Pa zosangulutsa, mafilimu achiwawa ndi ophunzitsa khalidwe loipa sankaloledwa. Nthaŵi zonse tinkasangalala pamodzi monga banja, tinkachita maseŵera monga skating, (kuyenda pa nsapato za matayala) bowling (kugenda ndi kampira) miniature golf (maseŵera oyerekezera gofu) kupita ku mapaki oseŵerako, kuchita timaphwando, ndipo pa Lachisanu usiku tinkadyera pamodzi mkate wa pizza. Ndipo Dean anali ndi chikondi monga mutu wa banja lathu. Nthaŵi yonse imene tinali okwatirana, tinkadziŵa kuti zinthu ziyenera kumatero.​—⁠Aefeso 5:​22, 23.

Pamene ndinayamba kuphunzira ndi Mboni za Yehova mu 1970, Billy anali ndi zaka 12, Jimmy 11, Dean Jr., 9, Joe 7, ndipo Charlie 2. Iwo anali atazoloŵera kale kupita kutchalitchi, koma tsopano ankaphunzira Baibulo. Zinkatisangalatsa. Ndinkawauza kuti: “Onani! Taonani ichi! Tabwerani kuno!” Ndiye , ndipo mosangalala tinkakambirana chinachake chimene chinali chatsopano kwa ife. Mwa kuphunzira kwathu Baibulo, umboni woposa ena onse padziko, anyamatawo ankaphunzira kukonda Yehova ndi kuona kuti iyenso monga Mulungu komanso Mlengi wawo akuyang’ana zochita zawo​—⁠simakolo awo okha ayi.

Tisanaphunzire choonadi cha Baibulo, tinatenga ngongole zambiri. Kuti tibweze zina mwa ndalama zimenezi, tinagulitsa nyumba yathu ndi kupeza nyumba ya lendi. Ndiponso tinagulitsa galimoto yathu yatsopano ndi kugula ina yakale. Tinayesetsa kukhala moyo wosafuna zambiri. Izi zinanditheketsa kukhala panyumba ndi anyamatawo m’malo mopeza ntchito. Tinalingalira kuti ana athu anafunikira mayi wa pakhomo. Izinso zinandithandiza kuchita utumiki wachikristu kwa nthaŵi yaitali anawo akakhala kusukulu. Mpaka ndinakhala mpainiya (mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse) m’September 1983. N’zoona, anyamata athu sanali ndi zinthu zapamwamba, komabe sanalingalire kuti akumanidwa. Aliyense wa iwo anapita kusukulu yophunzitsa ntchito za manja ndipo anaphunzira ntchito monga ulimi, kupala matabwa, kukonza galimoto, ndi luso la zojambula. Choncho anali otha kudzisunga pa okha.

Nthaŵi zambiri ndinkaganiza za moyo wathu wabanja ndipo ndinkayankhula ndekha, ‘Ndikuona kuti ndife limodzi la mabanja achimwemwe koposa padziko lapansi, ngakhale kuti tili ndi zinthu zochepa zakuthupi.’ Posakhalitsa, Dean anayamba kukalimira maudindo mumpingo, ndipo anyamatawo anateronso. Mu 1982 Dean anaikidwa kukhala mkulu wachikristu. Patatha zaka zisanu ndi zitatu, mu 1990, mwana wathu woyamba Bill, anaikidwa kukhala mkulu. Kenako Joe anaikidwanso chaka chomwecho, Dean Jr. mu 1991, Charlie mu 1992, ndipo Jim mu 1993.

Ndikudziŵa kuti pali zinthu zina zimene tinachita molakwa monga makolo, ndipo sikwapafupi kukumbukira zolondola zonse zimene tinachita. Ana anga atafunsidwa ndi mnzathu zimene amakumbukira za nthaŵi imene anayamba Chikristu ndiponso kuti kwenikweni ndi mapulinsipulo ati a m’Baibulo amene anaphunzira adakali aang’ono amene anawapangitsa kutha kuyenera kukhala akulu. Mayankho awo amandikhudza mtima.

Mayankho a Ana Anga

Bill: “Zimene tinaphunzira pa Aroma 12:​9-​12 zinakhazikika kwambiri m’maganizo anga. Mbali yake imati: ‘M’chikondano cha anzanu wina ndi mnzake mukondane ndi chikondi chenicheni; mutsogolerane ndi kuchitira wina mnzake ulemu. . . . Khalani achangu mumzimu. . . . Kondwerani m’chiyembekezo.’ Makolo anga ankatha kusonyeza zimene kukonda anthu kumatanthauza. Aliyense ankatha kuona kuti kusonyeza chikondi ena kunkawasangalatsa. Mkhalidwe wachikondiwu umene unali kunyumba kwathu ndiwo unapangitsa choonadi cha Baibulo kuzikika m’maganizo athu. Ndi umene unatithandiza kugwiritsa choonadi. Makolo anga ankakonda choonadi cha Baibulo kotheratu. Chifukwa cha zimenezi, sikunali kovuta kwa ine kukonda choonadi, ndipo sikunandivutepo kupitiriza.”

Jim: “Limodzi mwa mapulinsipulo aakulu kwambiri limene limandifika m’maganizo ndi la pa Mateyu 5:​37: ‘Koma manenedwe anu akhale, inde, inde; iyayi, iyayi; ndipo chowonjezedwa pa izo chichokera kwa woipayo.’ Ine ndi abale anga tinkadziŵa zimene makolo athu ankafuna kuti tizichita, ndipo tinawaona iwo monga chitsanzo chenicheni cha momwe Akristu ayenera kukhalira. Pa uŵiri wawo ankagwirizana nthaŵi zonse. Sankakangana. Ngati mwina anasemphanako maganizo, anyamatafe sitinazidziŵe. Anali ogwirizana, ndipo zimenezo zinatisonkhezera ife kwambiri. Sitinafune kuwakhumudwitsa amayi ndi atate ndipo makamaka, Yehova.”

Dean: “Miyambo 15:1 amati ‘Mayankhidwe ofatsa abweza mkwiyo; koma mawu oŵaŵitsa aputa msunamo.’ Atate anali wodekha. Sindikukumbukira ngati ndinakanganapo nawo​—⁠ngakhale pamene ndinali wachinyamata. Iwo anali wofatsa nthaŵi zonse ngakhale atakwiya. Nthaŵi zina ndikalakwa ankandilanga mwakundiuza kuti ndisatuluke kuchipinda kwanga. Kapena kundilanda ufulu wochita zinthu zina zake, koma sitinkakangana. Sikuti anali Atate wathu chabe ayi. Koma analinso bwenzi lathu, ndipo ife sitinkafuna kuwakhumudwitsa.”

Joe: “Pa 2 Akorinto 10:​5, Baibulo limanenapo za ‘kugonjetsa ganizo lonse ku kumvera kwa Kristu.’ Kunyumba kwathu tinkaphunzitsidwa kukhala omvera miyezo ndi malangizo a Yehova. Choonadi chinali moyo wathu komanso kupita ku misonkhano. Maganizo ochita chinthu china pa usiku umene timakhala ndi misonkhano ali maganizo achilendo kwambiri kwa ine. Utumiki wachikristu unali chizoloŵezi chathu​—⁠sitimachita kuganizira ngati tipite kapena sitipita. Mabwenzi athu ankapezeka ku Nyumba ya Ufumu. Panalibe chifukwa chomakawafuna kwina. Palibe chilichonse chimene atate angachitire ana ake choposa kuwaika pa njira ya kumoyo!”

Charlie: “Miyambo 1:7 amandigwira mtima kwambiri. Amati: ‘Kuopa Yehova ndiko chiyambi cha kudziŵa; opusa anyoza nzeru ndi mwambo.’ Makolo anga anatithandiza kuzindikira kuti Yehova ndi weniweni ndi kumvetsetsa kufunika kokhala ndi mantha ndi chikondi pa iye. Ankatithandiza kulingalira bwino, mwa kunena kuti: ‘Osachita izi kokha chifukwa choti ifeyo tikukuletsani. Inuyo panokha mukuona bwanji? Mukuganiza kuti Yehova amamva bwanji akaona zimenezi? Nanga mukuganiza kuti Satana amamva bwanji?’

“Zimenezi zimatithandiza kuona pamene pagona nkhaniyo. Atate ndi amayi sakanatha kumakhala nafe nthaŵi zonse. Akanangotha kukhomereza choonadi cha Baibulo m’mitima ndi maganizo athu. Tinkakhala tokha kusukulu, kuntchito, ndi kwa mabwenzi. Kuopa Yehova koyenera kumeneku kunatithandiza kwambiri​—⁠ndipo kukuterobe mpaka lero.

“Chinanso, kaŵirikaŵiri amayi ankakamba za utumiki wawo wa upainiya ndiponso nkhani zosangalatsa za zimene ankakumana nazo. Nthaŵi zonse ankayamikira utumiki umenewu kwambiri, ndipo zimenezi zinatikhudza ife modabwitsa kwambiri. Tinayamba kukonda anthu monga momwe iwo ankachitira, ndipo tinayamba kuzindikira kuti ulaliki wa kukhomo ndi khomo ungakhale wosangalatsa.”

Chifukwa Choyamikira

Ana anga ndi okwatira, ndipo ndili ndi apongozi asanu abwino kwambiri, onse akutumikira Yehova mokhulupirika. Ndipo ndadalitsidwanso ndi anyamata ena asanu​—⁠inde, zidzukulu zisanu! Onse akukula akuphunzitsidwa kuopa Yehova ndi kuika Ufumu mosasunthika patsogolo m’moyo wawo. Tikungopemphera kuti tsiku lina nawonso adzakhale akulu, monga momwe atate awo alili ndi momwenso agogo awo analili.

Pasanathe masiku ambiri Dean atamwalira, m’modzi mwa ana anga anandilembera kuti: “Ndidzawasoŵadi atate wanga, chifukwa tsopano akugona. Kuŵaŵa konse kwatha. Kuvutika konse kwatha. Maopaleshoni onse kulibenso, nsingano zosokera thupi, ndi mapaipi owadyetsera​—⁠mtendere wokha basi. Sindinatsazikane nawo asanamwalire. Si nthaŵi zonse kuti zinthu zimachitika mmene wakonzera. Chimene ndinganene n’chakuti ndikuchita zinthu zofunikira kuti ndisadzalephere kudzakumana nawonso n’kudzawalonjera!”

Ndikuthokoza Yehova kwambiri kaamba ka mwamuna wanga amene amandikonda ndiponso chiyembekezo chosakayikitsa cha chiukiriro! (Yohane 5:​28, 29) Ndipo ndikumuthokozanso kwambiri kaamba ka ana anga aamuna asanu!

[Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Helen Saulsbery ndi banja lake lero