“Ndine Pano; Munditumize Ine”

MONGA MOMWE YASIMBIDWIRA NDI WILFRED JOHN

Alonda achisilikali onyamula zida a ku Burma anatiukira kumbali zonse za mtsinjewo. Iwo anakhavulira m’madzi ofika m’chuuno natizungulira pansi pa mlatho wa pamsewu waukulu, mabenesi ndi mfuti zili chire.

INE ndi mnzanga tinachita mantha kwambiri. Kodi zinatanthauzanji? Ngakhale kuti sitinkamva chinenerocho, posakhalitsa tinamva uthengawo​—tinagwidwa. Titangovala mataulo okha m’chuuno, tinaperekezedwa mopanda ulemu ku polisi yapafupi ndi kufunsidwa ndi mkulu wolankhula Chingelezi.

Munali mu 1941, mkati mwa nkhondo yadziko yachiŵiri, ndipo tinaganiziridwa kukhala adani osokoneza zolinga zaboma. Pambuyo pofotokozera mkuluyo mokhutiritsa za ntchito yathu yolalikira Yachikristu, iye anatiuza kuti tinali ndimwaŵi kuti tinachokapo tili ndimoyo. Iye anatiuza kuti okaikiridwa ambiri amaphedwa osafunsidwa mafunso. Tinathokoza Yehova ndi kulabadira uphungu wa mkuluyo kuti mtsogolo sitiyenera kukhala pamilatho.

Kodi ndinaloŵa bwanji mumkhalidwe umenewo ku Burma (tsopano Myanmar)? Imani nkuuzeni zonse za moyo wanga.

Chosankha Chopangidwa Ndikali Wamng’ono

Ndinabadwira ku Wales mu 1917 ndipo pamsinkhu wazaka zisanu ndi chimodzi makolo anga ndi mng’ono wanga tinasamukira ku New Zealand, kumene ndinakulira pa famu yamkaka ya atate. Tsiku lina iwo anabweretsa mtolo wa mabuku akale omwe anagula ku shopu yogulitsa zinthu zakale. Pakati pamtolowo panali mavolyumu aŵiri a Studies in the Scriptures, ofalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Mabukuwa anakhala chuma chamtengo wapatali cha amayi anga, ndipo mofanana ndi Yunike, amake a Timoteo, iwo anakhomereza mwa ine chikhumbo chakugwiritsira ntchito unyamata wanga kutumikira zabwino za Ufumu wa Yehova.​—2 Timoteo 1:5.

Mu 1937 ndinayang’anizana ndi zosankha ziŵiri: kutenga famu yamkaka ya atate kapena kunena kwa Yehova monga momwe Yesaya mneneri wa Mulungu ananenera kuti, “Ndine pano; munditumize ine.” (Yesaya 6:8) Ndinali wachichepere, wathanzi labwino, ndipo wopanda mathayo ena alionse. Ndinalaŵa moyo wapafamu ndipo ndinasangalala nawo. Kumbali ina, ndinali ndisanayese kutumikira monga minisitala wanthaŵi zonse, kapena mpainiya. Kodi ndisankhenji​—kugwira ntchito pafamu kapena kutumikira monga mpainiya?

Okamba nkhani ochokera ku ofesi yanthambi ya Mboni za Yehova ku Australia anali magwero achilimbikitso. Iwo anachezera dera lathu mu New Zealand nandilimbikitsa kugwiritsira ntchito unyamata wanga kutumikira Mulungu. (Mlaliki 12:1) Ndinakambitsirana nkhaniyo ndi makolo anga, ndipo anavomereza nzeru yakuika chifuniro cha Mulungu patsogolo. Ndinalingaliranso mawu a Yesu Kristu mu Ulaliki wake wa pa Phiri akuti: ‘Muthange mwafuna ufumu ndi chilungamo [cha Mulungu], ndipo zonse zimenezo zidzawonjezedwa kwa inu.’​—Mateyu 6:33.

Ndinapanga chosankha changa! Popeza kuti panthaŵiyo kunalibe nthambi ya Mboni za Yehova ku New Zealand, ndinaitanidwa kukatumikira panthambi ya Australia ku Sydney. Chotero, mu 1937, ndinakwera sitima yapamadzi kupita ku Australia kukakhala minisitala wanthaŵi zonse wa Yehova Mulungu.

Ndinadzifunsa kuti, ‘Kodi ndikalandira ntchito yotani?’ Komabe, kodi zimenezo zinali nkanthu? Kwenikwenidi, ndinanena kwa Yehova kuti, ‘Ndine pano. Mundigwiritsire ntchito kulikonse kumene mufuna.’ Kwa zaka ziŵiri ndinathandizira kupanga ma phonograph amene ankagwiritsiridwa ntchito masiku amenewo ndi Mboni za Yehova kuseŵerera eninyumba nkhani za Baibulo zojambulidwa. Komabe, ntchito imene ndinaphunzitsidwa kwakukulu panthambipo inali kusamalira malo ofikira mabuku.

Kupita ku Singapore

Mu 1939, ndinalandira gawo lopita ku Far East​—kukatumikira pa malo ofikira katundu a Sosaite ku Singapore. Malo ofikira katunduwo anatumikira monga maziko olandirira ndi kutumizira mabuku kuchokera ku Australia, Briteni, ndi United States kupita ku maiko ambiri ku Asia.

Singapore unali mzinda wokhala ndi anthu olankhula zinenero zambiri kumene anthu a Kum’maŵa ndi ku Ulaya anasakanizana. Chinenero cha Chimalay chinali njira yofala yolankhulirana, ndipo kuti tilalikire kukhomo ndi khomo, alendofe tinafunikira kuchiphunzira. Tidali ndi makadi aumboni m’zinenero zambiri. Pamakadiwa panasindikizidwa ulaliki wachidule wa uthenga Waufumu.

Poyamba ndinaloŵeza kadi laumboni la Chimalay ndiyeno ndinawonjezera mpambo wanga wa mawu m’chinenero chimenecho. Koma tinanyamulanso mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo a m’zinenero zina zambiri. Mwachitsanzo, kwa anthu a ku India tinali ndi mabuku a Chibengali, Chigujarati, Chihindi, Chimalayalam, Chitamil, ndi Chiurdu. Kukumana ndi anthu a zinenero zambiri zotero kunali kwachilendo kwa ine.

Ndimakumbukira bwino kwambiri chilengezo chochititsa mantha cha mu September 1939, kulengezedwa kwa nkhondo ku Ulaya. Tinaganiza kuti, ‘Kodi ikakula ndi kufika ku Far East?’ Kwa ine inawonekera kukhala chiyambi cha Armagedo​—ndinalingalira kuti yafika panthaŵi yake yeniyeni! Ndinadzimva kukhala wokhutira kuti ndinali kugwiritsira ntchito mokwana ndi moyenerera unyamata wanga.

Kuwonjezera pa ntchito yanga pamalo ofikira katunduwo, ndinali ndi phande lokwanira m’misonkhano yampingo ndi uminisitala wakumunda. Ndinali kuchititsa maphunziro Abaibulo, ndipo anthu ena anavomereza nadzipereka ku ubatizo wa m’madzi. Iwo anaperekedwa ku gombe lapafupi namizidwa m’madzi ofunda a doko la Singapore. Tinalingalira zochita msonkhano, ndipo tinapereka ziitano mwachinsinsi kwa anthu okondwerera. Mosangalatsa, anthu 25 anafika pa umene panthaŵiyo tinaulingalira kukhala msonkhano wathu womaliza Armagedo isanafike.

Kulankhulana pakati pa nthambi za Sosaite kunachepetsedwa kwambiri ndi nkhondoyo. Mwachitsanzo, pamalo athu olandirira katundu a ku Singapore tinalandira chidziŵitso chachidule chakuti apainiya atatu Achijeremani akafika ku Singapore panthaŵi ina pasitima yapamadzi yosatchulidwa dzina ndipo anali paulendo wopita ku gawo losatchulidwa. Milungu ingapo pambuyo pake iwo anafika ndipo tinakhala limodzi kwa maola khumi osangalatsa. Ngakhale kuti chinenero ndicho chinali vuto, tinakhoza kumva kuti gawo lawo logaŵiridwa linali Shanghai.

Gawo Langa Lopita ku Shanghai

Chaka chimodzi pambuyo pake nanenso ndinalandira gawo la kukatumikira ku Shanghai. Sindinapatsidwe keyala ya msewu, kokha nambala ya ku positi ofesi. Pambuyo pofunsidwa kotheratu ku positi ofesiko, ndinafotokoza mowakhutiritsa amene ndili kwakuti ndinapatsidwa keyala yakunyumba ya Sosaite. Komabe, munthu Wachitchaina amene amakhalamo anandiuza kuti nthambiyo inasamuka, ndipo sanasiye keyala ya kumene inasamukira.

‘Kodi ndikachitanji tsopano?’ ndinalingalira motero. Ndinapereka pemphero lakachetechete kaamba ka chitsogozo. Pamene ndinatukula mutu, ndinawona amuna atatu, otalikirapo kuposa anthu onse ndipo amawonekedwe osiyana. Iwo anawonekadi ngati Ajeremani atatu aja amene anaima ku Singapore kwa maola ochepa aja. Mwamsanga ndinaima patsogolo pawo.

“Pepani,” ndinadodoma motenthedwa maganizo. Iwo anaima nandiyang’ana modabwa. “Singapore. Mboni za Yehova. Kodi mukundikumbukira?” ndinafunsa tero.

Pambuyo pa mphindi zoŵerengeka, iwo anayankha kuti: “Ja! Ja! Ja!” Tinakupatirana kwambiri, ndipo misozi yachimwemwe inatsika m’masaya mwanga. Kodi zinatheka bwanji kuti pakati pa anthu mamiliyoni ambiri amuna atatuwo adutse pamalowo panthaŵi imeneyo? Ndinangoti, “Zikomo, Yehova.” Mabanja atatu Achitchaina, Ajeremani atatuwo, ndi ineyo tinali Mboni zokha m’Shanghai panthaŵiyo.

Kupita ku Hong Kong Kenaka ku Burma

Nditatumikira ku Shanghai kwa miyezi yoŵerengeka, ndinatumizidwa ku Hong Kong. Pamene yemwe anayenera kukhala mpainiya mnzanga wochokera ku Australia analephera kufika, ndinakhala ndekha, Mboni yokha m’dzikolo. Kachiŵirinso, ndinayenera kudzikumbutsa kuti ndinanena kwa Yehova kuti, “Ndine pano; munditumize ine.”

Kwakukulukulu ntchito yanga inalunjikitsidwa kwa anthu a ku Tchaina olankhula Chingelezi, komabe ndinapeza mavuto kuloŵa pazipata za nyumbazo, popeza kuti antchito okhala pazipatazo ankalankhula Chitchaina chokha. Chotero ndinaphunzira Chitchaina pang’ono m’malankhulidwe aŵiri ofala. Zinagwira ntchito! Ndinkafikira alonda, kupereka kadi la ntchito yanga, kulankhula mawu ochepa m’Chitchaina, ndiyeno kaŵirikaŵiri ankandilola kuloŵa.

Panthaŵi ina pamene ndinachezera sukulu, ndinatsatira dongosolo limeneli poyesayesa kulankhula ndi hedimasitala. Mphunzitsi wamng’ono anadzandilandira pakhonde. Ndinamtsatira kudutsa makalasi angapo, kuyankha moni waulemu wa anawo, ndipo ndinakonzekera kusonyezedwa kwa hedimasitalayo. Mphunzitsiyo anagogoda, natsegula chitseko, napatukira kumbali, nandiuza kuloŵa mkati. Ndinadabwa kwambiri powona kuti anandiperekeza mwaulemu kuchimbudzi! Zinawoneka kuti Chitchaina changa chinamvedwa molakwa, ndipo monga momwe hedimasitalayo anandiuzira pambuyo pake, ndinalingaliridwa molakwa kukhala woyendera mapaipi amadzi ndi zimbudzi.

Pambuyo pogwira ntchito kwa miyezi inayi, ndinauzidwa ndi apolisi a ku Hong Kong kuti ntchito yathu yolalikira inaletsedwa ndipo ndikafunikira kuleka kulalikira, apo phuluzi ndikathamangitsidwa m’dzikomo. Ndinasankha kuthamangitsidwa m’dziko popeza kuti mwaŵi wolalikira kwinakwake unali ukalipo. Ndili ku Hong Kong, ndinagaŵira mabuku 462 ndi kuthandiza anthu ena aŵiri kugaŵanamo muuminisitala.

Kuchokera ku Hong Kong, ndinagaŵiridwa ku Burma. Ndinachita upainiya kumeneko ndi kuthandiza kugwira ntchito pamalo ofikira katundu ku Rangoon (tsopano Yangon). Chimodzi cha zokumana nazo zosangalatsa kwambiri chinali chakulalikira m’matauni ndi m’midzi yomwazikana m’mphepete mwa msewu wochokera ku Rangoon kumka ku Mandalay ndi kupyola tauni yakumalire a Tchaina ya Lashio. Ine ndi mpainiya mnzangayo tinalimbikira kulalikira kwa anthu olankhula Chingelezi, kupeza masabusikripishoni mazana ambiri a Consolation (tsopano magazini ya Galamukani!). Mwatsoka, msewu umenewu wochokera ku Rangoon kupita ku Mandalay unadzadziŵika monga Burma Road, njira imene zida zankhondo za Amereka zinali kudzera kumka ku Tchaina.

Kaŵirikaŵiri kuyenda m’fumbi lofika mu akakolo kunatipangitsa kufuna kusamba. Zimenezi zinatsogolera ku chochitika chosimbidwa kuchiyambi kwa nkhaniyi, paja pamene tinagwidwa tikusamba mumtsinje kunsi kwa mlatho. Mwamsanga pambuyo pake zochitika zankhondo ndi matenda zinatikakamiza kubwerera ku Rangoon. Ndinakhoza kukhalabe ku Burma mpaka 1943, pamene kukula kwa nkhondo kunandikakamiza kubwerera ku Australia.

Kubwerera ku Australia

Panthaŵiyo, ntchito za Mboni za Yehova zinali zoletsedwa mu Australia. Komabe, chiletsocho chinachotsedwa msanga, ndipo m’kupita kwanthaŵi ndinaitanidwanso kukagwira ntchito paofesi yanthambi. Pambuyo pake, mu 1947, ndinakwatira Betty Moss, yemwe ankagwira ntchito pa nthambi ya Sosaite ku Australia. Amayi ndi atate a Betty anali apainiya, ndipo analimbikitsa onse aŵiri iye ndi mchimwene wake Bill kupanga upainiya kukhala ntchito yawo. Betty anayamba upainiya tsiku limene anamaliza sukulu, pamsinkhu wa zaka 14. Ndinalingalira kuti tingachite bwino pamodzi, popeza kuti nayenso, ananenadi kwa Yehova kuti, “Ndine pano; munditumize ine.”

Titakwatirana kwa chaka chimodzi, ndinaitanidwa m’ntchito yadera, kuchezera mipingo ya Mboni za Yehova. Kugwira ntchito m’midzi ya Australia kunalidi chitokoso chenicheni. Kaŵirikaŵiri madzi osefukira anachititsa kayendedwe kukhala kovuta, makamaka pamisewu yamatope amakande oterera. Kutentha kwa m’chilimwe kunafika 43 digiri Celsius mumthunzi. Pokhala m’mahema achilona, tinapeza chilimwe kukhala chotentha kwadzawoneni ndipo chisanu chinali chozizira koposa.

Kunali kosangalatsa kutumikira monga woyang’anira chigawo pamene mu Australia munali zigawo ziŵiri zokha. Donald MacLean anatumikira chigawo chimodzi, ndi ine chinacho. Ndiyeno tinkasinthana zigawo. Nkokondweretsa kuŵerenga za mipingo imene ili kumalo amene tinatumikirako. Mbewu za chowonadi cha Baibulo zameradi ndi kubala!

Kubwerera Kumene Zonse Zinayambira

Mu 1961, ndinali ndi mwaŵi wakupezekapo pa kalasi loyamba la sukulu yaumishonale ya Gileadi pambuyo posamutsidwira ku Brooklyn, New York. Kumbuyoko ndinalandira ziitano za kukapezekapo pasukuluyo koma ndinalephera chifukwa cha matenda. Pamapeto pa kosi yamiyezi khumiyo, ndinapemphedwa kulandira New Zealand monga gawo langa.

Chotero kuyambira January 1962, ine ndi Betty takhala kuno ku New Zealand, limodzi la maiko a kum’mwera kwadziko. Kaŵirikaŵiri limatchedwa imodzi ya ngale za Pacific. Mwateokratiki, kwakhala kosangalatsa kutumikira ponse paŵiri m’ntchito ya m’dera ndi chigawo. Kwa zaka 14 zapitazi, kuyambira April 1979, takhala tikugwira ntchito pa ofesi yanthambi ya New Zealand.

Tsopano ine ndi Betty tili m’zaka zathu za m’ma 70, ndipo tonse pamodzi tili ndi zaka zokwanira 116 zautumiki Waufumu wanthaŵi zonse wosalekeza. Betty anayamba upainiya mu January 1933, ndipo ine mu April 1937. Tasangalala kwambiri kuwona ana ndi adzukulu athu auzimu akuchita zimene tinachita tili achichepere, kulabadira uphungu wa Mlaliki 12:1 wakuti: “Ukumbukirenso Mlengi wako masiku a unyamata wako.”

Takhala ndi mwaŵi wotani nanga kuthera pafupifupi moyo wathu wonse kulalikira mbiri yabwino ya Ufumu wa Mulungu ndi kupanga ophunzira, monga momwe Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu analamulira! (Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Tili achimwemwe kwambiri kuti tinayankha chiitano cha Mulungu monga momwe anachitira mneneri Yesaya kalelo kuti, “Ndine pano; munditumize ine.”