Wa Zaka Zana Koma Wolimbabe

MONGA MOMWE YASIMBIDWIRA NDI RALPH MITCHELL

Atate, mwamuna wa utali woyenera, anali mlaliki wa Methodist. Anali kusamukira ku matchalitchi osiyanasiyana zaka ziŵiri kapena zitatu zilizonse makamaka m’matauni ambiri aang’ono, kuphatikizapo Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A., kumene ndinabadwira mu February 1895. Motero ndinakula wodziŵa bwino za Dziko Lachikristu.

NDIKUKUMBUKIRA akunditsogoza monga kamnyamata kumka ku “mpando wa olira” pamisonkhano ya kutengeka maganizo kuti ndikadzazidwe ndi mzimu woyera​—kapena “kukapeza chipembedzo,” monga mmene anakutchera. Ndinauzidwa kuulula machimo anga, kusunga Malamulo Khumi, ndi kukhala wabwino. Motero kuti ndikapite kumwamba nditamwalira. ‘Chabwino,’ ndinatero mumtima, ‘Ndiganiza kuti ndidzapita ku helo chifukwa sindingakhale wabwino kwenikweni woti nkupita kumwamba.’ Ndinalingalira kuti akulu okha​—makamaka alaliki​—ndiwo amene anali kukhala mogwirizana ndi miyezo ya Baibulo.

Koma ndisanakwanitse ngakhale zaka 13, ndinayamba kuona chinyengo m’chipembedzo. Mwachitsanzo, atate anali kumana dala banja lawo ndalama zogulira zofunika kuti akalipire bishopu ndalama zambiri pamsonkhano wa atsogoleri a chipembedzo. Iwo anayembekezera kuti zimenezi zidzawathandizira kuikidwa kuti akhale woyang’anira pa tchalitchi chokulirapo. Ndikukumbukira mlaliki wina wa kumaloko amene analinso mlimi wa thonje. Anali wofunitsitsa kwambiri kupeza malo apamwamba, motero anagulitsa mabelo a thonje zana limodzi ndi kupita ku msonkhanowo ndi thumba lodzaza ndalama. Pamene kunaoneka kuti anthu anapereka ndalama zonse zimene anali nazo​—ambiri a iwo alaliki​—mlaliki wolima thonje ameneyu analumpha ndi kufuula kuti: “Kodi izi ndizo zokha zimene mukupatsa a bishopu anu? Pa mlaliki aliyense amene angadze ndi madola asanu, ine ndidzaikapo madola khumi!” Madola oposa chikwi chimodzi anaperekedwa, ndipo bishopu anaika mwamuna ameneyu kukhala mkulu woyang’anira atate. Sindinakhulupirire kuti kuikidwa kumeneku kunachokera kwa Mulungu. Kuyambira pamenepo ndinali wokayikira ponena za zinthu zilizonse za chipembedzo.

Pamene United States analoŵa mu nkhondo ya dziko yoyamba ndinalembedwa usilikali. Ndikukumbukira bwino lomwe kumva mlaliki wa gulu lankhondo akulalikira kwa ife asilikali ponena za kumenyera nkhondo dziko lathu mokhulupirika, ndipo zimenezi zinangokulitsa kuda kwanga chipembedzo. Zonulirapo zanga zinali kupulumuka, kumaliza maphunziro anga, ndiyeno kukwatira. Chipembedzo chinalibe malo m’zolinga zanga zamtsogolo.

Kusintha kwa Malingaliro

Mu 1922, ndinakondana ndi mtsikana wina wotchedwa Louise. Monga mmene zinalili, anali Mkatolika wodzipereka, ndipo pamene tinasankha zokwatirana, anafuna ukwati Wachikatolika. Koma sindinafune mwambo wachipembedzo wamtundu uliwonse, motero anavomera kuti tikakwatirirane panyumba ina yaboma mu New York City.

Pachiyambi tinalibe mikangano yachipembedzo. Ndinamfotokozera bwinobwino kuti ndinalibe chidaliro pachipembedzo ndi kuti tidzagwirizana malinga ngati sitinachitchule. Ndiyeno, pakati pa zaka za 1924 ndi 1937, tinakhala ndi ana​—motsatizanatsatizana, mpaka tinakhala ndi anyamata asanu ndi atsikana asanu! Louise anafuna kuti ana athu azipita kusukulu Yachikatolika. Sindinafune kuti iwo akhale ndi maphunziro achipembedzo a mtundu uliwonse, motero tinakangana za zimenezo.

Chakuchiyambi kwa 1939 chinachake chinachitika chimene chinadzasintha malingaliro anga onse pa chipembedzo. Henry Webber ndi Harry Piatt, anthu aŵiri a Mboni za Yehova, anabwera kunyumba kwanga ku Roselle, New Jersey. Kunaonekera mwamsanga kuti anafuna kudzalankhula za nkhani imodzi imene ndinali wosakondweretsedwa kuikambitsirana ndi munthu​—chipembedzo. Chikhulupiriro changa chinali chikali chowonongedwa chifukwa chakuti alaliki a gulu lankhondo anati, ‘Menyerani nkhondo dziko lanu,’ pamene anthu achipembedzo kumudzi ankati, ‘Usaphe.’ Chinyengo chachikulu! Ndinalingalira kuti ndidzaongolera Mboni ziŵirizo. “Taimani ndikuuzeni kenakake,” ndinawauza motero. “Ngati chipembedzo chanu chili choona, ndiye kuti zina zonse nzonama. Ndipo ngakhale ngati kuli kwakuti chimodzi chokha cha zinazo chili choona, ndiye kuti zonse zinazi, kuphatikizapo chanu, nzonama. Payenera kukhala chipembedzo chimodzi chokha choona.” Ndinadabwa kwambiri kuona kuti anavomerezana nane!

Ndiyeno, anandipempha kutenga Baibulo langa ndi kulitsegula pa 1 Akorinto 1:10. Pamenepo ndinaŵerenga kuti: “Koma ndikudandaulirani inu, abale, mwa dzina la Ambuye wathu Yesu Kristu, kuti munene chimodzimodzi inu nonse, ndi kuti pasakhale malekano pakati pa inu; koma mumangike mumtima womwewo ndi m’chiweruziro chomwecho.” Lemba limeneli linandichititsa chidwi. Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, ndinali ndi mantha akuti amuna aŵiri ameneŵa anali kufuna kundiloŵetsa m’chipembedzo chotsata munthu cha mtundu wina wake. Komabe ndinali nditaphunzirapo kanthu kena​—kuti sipayenera kukhala magaŵano pakati pa Akristu. Ndinalinso ndi mafunso ena ambiri m’maganizo mwanga. Mwachitsanzo, Kodi nchiyani chimachitikira moyo pa imfa? Ndikanasangalala chotani nanga kukambitsirana nawo funsolo! Koma, ndinalingalira motero, zimenezo zingachititse kusamvana kwakukulu pa zachipembedzo m’nyumba mwathu.

Ndiyeno mmodzi wa amuna aŵiriwo anati: “Tingakonde kudzabweranso ndi kudzakambitsirananso nanu mlungu ukudzawu.” Ndinayesa kuwaletsa mochenjera, koma mkazi wanga analoŵererapo. “Ralph,” iye anatero, “anthuŵa akufuna kudziŵa kuti angabwerenso liti.” Zimenezi zinandidabwitsa, popeza kuti anali Mkatolika wamphamvu! Ngakhale zinali choncho, ndinalingalira kuti, ‘Mwinamwake tingapeze mfundo zina pa zimene tingagwirizane pa nkhani ya chipembedzo.’ Motero ndinavomera kuti Henry Webber ndi Harry Piatt adzabwerenso Lachisanu lotsatira.

Ndimo mmene ndinayambira kuphunzira Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova. Posakhalitsa pambuyo pa zimenezi, ndinaitanidwa kukapezeka pamsonkhano ku Madison Square Garden mu New York City. Ndikukumbukira mwatsatanetsatane nkhani ya Joseph F. Rutherford yakuti “Boma ndi Mtendere,” yokambidwa pa June 25, 1939. Ndinali mmodzi wa anthu 18,000 amene anapezekapo. Kwenikweni, anthu 75,000 anamvetsera nkhaniyo, mutaphatikizapo awo amene anaimvetsera pa ma radio-phone.

Komabe zinthu sizinayende mwamyaa. Otsatira a wansembe Wachikatolika Charles Coughlin anawopseza kusokoneza msonkhanowo, ndipo ndithudi, chapakatikati pa nkhani ya Mbale Rutherford, mazana a anthu okwiya anayamba kupanga phokoso ndi kumakuwa mawu osonkhezera anthu onga akuti, “Heil Hitler!” ndi akuti “Viva Franco!” Panali phokoso lalikulu kwakuti linamveka pa mafoni! Kunatenga mphindi 15 kuti akalinde atontholetse gululo. Nthaŵi yonseyi, Mbale Rutherford, mopanda mantha, anapitirizabe kulankhula pamene omvetsera anawomba m’manja mobwerezabwereza pomchirikiza.

Tsopano ndinali wofunitsitsadi kudziŵa. Kodi nchifukwa ninji wansembe Wachikatolika angasonkhezere udani waukulu chotere pa Mboni za Yehova? Ndinaona kuti munali kenakake mu zimene Rutherford anali kulalikira​—kenakake kamene atsogoleri achipembedzo sanafune anthu onga ine kukamva. Motero ndinapitirizabe kuphunzira Baibulo ndi kupita patsogolo. Potsirizira pake, mu October 1939, ndinasonyeza kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Yehova mwa ubatizo wa m’madzi. Ena a ana anga anabatizidwa chaka chotsatirapo, ndi mkazi wanga, Louise, anabatizidwa mu 1941.

Kuyang’anizana ndi Ziyeso

Mwamsanga nditalandira choonadi, amayi anga anamwalira, ndipo ndinayenera kubwerera ku North Carolina ku maliro awo. Ndinalingalira kuti sindingapezeke pa zochitika za maliro zimene zidzachitikira m’tchalitchi cha Methodist. Motero ndinaimbira foni atate ndisananyamuke ulendo ndi kuwapempha kusunga bokosi lamaliro panyumba ya chisoni. Anavomera, koma pamene ndinafika kumeneko, iwo anali paulendo wawo wopita ku tchalitchi, kumene anaganizadi kuti ndikagwirizana nawo.

Ayi, sindinatero, ndipo zimenezi zinachititsa kusamvana kwakukulu m’banja lathu. Ngakhale kuti ine ndi mlongo wanga Edna tinali mabwenzi apafupi kwambiri, pambuyo pa maliro a Amayi iye anakana kulankhula nane. Ndinalemba makalata, koma sanayankhe. Nthaŵi ya chilimwe iliyonse pamene Edna anafika ku New York kudzapezeka pa maphunziro a aphunzitsi pa City College, ndinayesa kukamuona. Koma anakana kundiona, akumanena kuti anali wotanganitsidwa. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi ndinaleka, popeza kunaoneka ngati kuti ndinali kum’nyong’onya. Panapita zaka zambiri osamvanso za iye.

Chifukwa cha kukana kwawo kuchitira suluti mbendera, asanu ndi mmodzi a ana anga anathamangitsidwa pasukulu mu 1941, monga mmene zinalili kwa ana ena ambiri mu United States ndi Canada. Kuti akhale ndi maphunziro ofunika mwalamulo, Mboni zinalinganiza sukulu za iwo eni zotchedwa kuti Sukulu za Ufumu. Imene kale inali hotela ku Lakewood, New Jersey, ndiyo imene inali malo a sukulu imene ana anga anapitako. Nyumba ya Ufumu inali chipinda choyamba pansi, pamodzi ndi kalasi la sukulu, mophikira, ndi modyera. Malo ogona atsikana anali pa chipinda chachiŵiri pamwamba ndi a anyamata pa chipinda chachitatu pamwamba. Inali sukulu yabwino. Ana ambiri amene anali kugona pamenepo anali kupita kunyumba pa kutha kwa milungu pokha. Aja amene anali kuchokera kutali kwambiri anali kupita kunyumba pa kutha kwa mlungu wachiŵiri uliwonse.

Kuyambira m’zaka zanga zoyambirira m’choonadi, ndinali ndi chikhumbo chachikulu cha kukhala mpainiya, monga mmene alaliki anthaŵi yonse a Mboni za Yehova amatchedwera. Pamsonkhano wa mu 1941 ku St. Louis, Missouri, mbale wina pa programu anasimba za mmene ankachitira upainiya akumalera ana 12. Ndinalingalira kuti, ‘Ngati angachite upainiya ndi ana 12, ndikhoza kuchita upainiya ndi ana 10.’ Komabe, mikhalidwe yanga sinandilole kuyamba kuchita upainiya mpaka zaka 19 pambuyo pake. Potsirizira pake, pa October 1, 1960, ndinatha kuyamba kutumikira Yehova monga mpainiya wokhazikika.

Kuchezeredwa Kodabwitsa

Mu 1975, ndinalandira foni kuchokera kwa mlongo wanga Edna. Tsopano ndinali ndi zaka 80, ndipo ndinali ndisanamuone kapena kumva liwu lake kwa zaka 20. Iye anali kuimbira foni ali ku bwalo la ndege, ndipo anandipempha kuti ndikawatenge iye ndi mwamuna wake. Kunali kosangalatsa kuonanso Edna, koma chodabwitsa chachikulu chinalinkudzabe. Popita kunyumba, mwamuna wake anati, “Muli ndi wotembenuzidwa.” Sindinadziŵe zimene anatanthauza. Pamene tinafika kunyumba, ananenanso kuti, “Muli ndi wotembenuzidwa pano.” Mkazi wanga anazindikira nthaŵi yomweyo. Akumatembenukira kwa mlongo wanga, anafunsa kuti, “Edna, kodi ndiwe Mboni?” “Indedi ndine Mboni,” Edna anayankha.

Kodi Edna analandira bwanji choonadi? Eya, mu 1972, poyesayesa kukonza unansi wathu wowonongeka, ndinamtumizira mphatso ya sabusikripishoni ya Nsanja ya Olonda. Chaka chimodzi pambuyo pake, Edna anadzadwala ndipo anali wobindikira m’nyumba mwake. Magaziniwo anali akali pa desiki lake m’zikuto zake. Pofuna kudziŵa za mkati mwake Edna anatsegula amodzi ndi kuyamba kuŵerenga. Atamaliza magaziniwo, analingalira kuti, ‘Chimenechi ndicho choonadi!’ Pamene Mboni za Yehova zinafika panyumba pake, anali ataŵerenga mulu wonse wa magazini a Nsanja ya Olonda. Iye anavomera phunziro la Baibulo, ndipo m’kupita kwa nthaŵi anakhala Mboni ya Yehova.

Kuchita ndi Kutayikiridwa

M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, mkazi wanga Louise, anagwidwa ndi matenda a shuga, ndipo matendawo anakula mpaka anamwalira mu 1979, ali ndi zaka 82. Pamene Louise anamwalira, mbali yanga imodzi inamwaliranso. Zinthu zanga zonse zinaimitsidwa. Sindinadziŵe chochita. Ndinalibe zolinga za mtsogolo, ndipo ndinafunitsitsa chilimbikitso. Woyang’anira woyendayenda, Richard Smith, anandilimbikitsa kupitiriza upainiya wanga. Ndinaona kuti chitonthozo changa chachikulu chinachokera pa kulimbikitsa ena amene anatayikiridwa ndi okondedwa awo mu imfa.

Watch Tower Society inali kulinganiza ulendo wokaona malo ku Israyeli mu 1979, motero ndinalembetsa. Ulendo umenewu unali chitsitsimulo chachikulu kwa ine, ndipo pamene ndinabwerera kwathu, ndinayambanso kugwira ntchito mu utumiki waupainiya. Chaka chilichonse kuyambira pamenepo, ndaipanga kukhala ntchito yanga kukathandiza ku gawo losafoledwa kapena losafoledwa kaŵirikaŵiri m’mbali ina ya dzikoli. Mosasamala kanthu za ukalamba wanga, ndili wokhozabe kudzipereka kaamba ka mwaŵi umenewu.

Ndikulingalira kuti mkati mwa zakazi, ndakhala ndi chimwemwe cha kuthandiza anthu pafupifupi 50 kuloŵa pa njira ya ku moyo. Ana anga ambiri ali m’choonadi. Ana anga aakazi aŵiri akutumikira monga apainiya okhazikika. Mwana wanga wina wamkazi, Louise Blanton, akutumikira pa malikulu a Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn, New York, ndi mwamuna wake, George, ndipo mwana wanga wina wamwamuna watumikira monga mkulu kwa zaka zambiri.

Zoonadi, chifukwa cha kupanda ungwiro kwa choloŵa kuchokera kwa makolo athu oyamba, tonsefe timadwala ndi kufa. (Aroma 5:12) Ndithudi moyo wanga sunakhale wopanda zopweteka. Pali pano ndikudwala arthritis ku mwendo wanga wamanzere. Nthaŵi zina umandisoŵetsa mtendere kwambiri, koma sunandiletse kukhala wokangalika. Ndipo ndikupemphera kuti usadzandiletse. Ndikufuna kupitirizabe. Chikhumbo changa chachikulu ndicho kupitiriza mu utumiki waupainiya mpaka mapeto, ndikumachita zonse zimene ndingathe kudziŵikitsa dzina la Yehova ndi zifuno zake.

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

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