Kutumikira Pansi pa Dzanja la Yehova Lachikondi

YOSIMBIDWA NDI LAMBROS ZOUMBOS

Ndinayang’anizana ndi chosankha chovuta: kuvomereza pempho la atate wanga aang’ono kuti ndikhale manijala wa bizinesi yawo yaikulu kwambiri​—mwakutero ndikuthetsa mavuto andalama a banja langa​—kapena kukhala mtumiki wanthaŵi yonse wa Yehova Mulungu. Tandilolani ndifotokoze zinthu zimene zinasonkhezera chosankha chimene ndinapanga pomalizira.

NDINABADWIRA m’tauni ya Volos, Greece, mu 1919. Atate anga ankagulitsa zovala za amuna, ndipo tinali ndi chuma. Koma chifukwa cha kugwa kwachuma kwa kumapeto a ma 1920, chuma cha Atate chinatha ndipo anataikiridwa malonda awo. Ndinamva chisoni nthaŵi zonse pamene ndinaona nkhope yothedwa nzeru ya atate.

Kwakanthaŵi banja langa linali muumphaŵi wadzaoneni. Tsiku lililonse ndinkachoka kusukulu patatsala ola limodzi kuti tiŵeruke kukaima pamzere wolandira phoso. Komabe, ngakhale kuti tinali muumphaŵi tinali ndi moyo wabwino wa banja. Ndinkafuna kudzakhala dokotala, koma mu uchichepere wangawo ndinaleka sukulu ndi kuyamba kugwira ntchito kuti ndithandize kusamalira banja lathu.

Ndiyeno, mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko II, Ajeremani ndi Ataliyana analanda Greece, ndipo munali njala yaikulu. Nthaŵi zambiri ndinaona mabwenzi anga ndi odziŵana nawo ena akumwalira ndi njala m’makwalala​—chinthu chowopsa chimene sindidzaiŵala konse! Panthaŵi ina, banja lathu linakhala masiku 40 popanda buledi, chakudya chachikulu m’Greece. Kuti tipulumuke, ineyo ndi mkulu wanga tinapita ku midzi yapafupi ndi kupeza mbatata za kachewere kwa mabwenzi ndi achibale.

Matenda Akhala Dalitso

Kuchiyambi kwa 1944, ndinadwala kwambiri matenda a chibayo. Mkati mwa kukhala kwanga m’chipatala kwa miyezi itatu, mbale wanga wina anandibweretsera timabuku tiŵiri nati: “Timeneti utiŵerenge; ndikhulupirira kuti udzatikonda.” Timabukuto, Who Is God? ndi Protection, tinafalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Nditatiŵerenga, ndinauzako odwala anzanga zimene tinkanena.

Nditatuluka m’chipatala, ndinayamba kugwirizana ndi Mpingo wa Volos wa Mboni za Yehova. Komabe, kwa mwezi umodzi, anandibindikiritsa m’nyumba mwanga monga wodwalira kunyumba, ndipo kuyambira pa maola asanu ndi limodzi kufikira pa maola asanu ndi atatu tsiku lililonse, ndinkaŵerenga makope akale a Nsanja ya Olonda, limodzinso ndi zofalitsa zina zofalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Society. Chotero, ndinakula mwauzimu mofulumirapo.

Kutsala Nenene Kufa

Tsiku lina chapakati pa 1944, ndinali nditakhala pa benchi ya m’paki m’Volos. Mwadzidzidzi gulu lothandizira magulu ankhondo limene linkachirikiza kuloŵerera kwa gulu lankhondo la German linazinga malowo ndi kumanga aliyense amene anali pamenepo. Pafupifupi 24 a ife anatitsogolera m’makwalala kupita ku malikulu a Gestapo, amene anali m’nyumba yosungiramo fodya.

Pambuyo pa mphindi zingapo, ndinamva winawake akuitana dzina langa ndi la uja amene ndinali kulankhula naye m’paki. Ofesala wina wankhondo wachigiriki anatiitana natiuza kuti pamene mmodzi wa achibale anga anationa titatengedwa ndi asilikali, anamuuza kuti ndife Mboni za Yehova. Ndiyeno ofesala wachigirikiyo anatiuza kuti tinali aufulu kupita kunyumba, natipatsa khadi lake lalamulo loti tigwiritsire ntchito ngati timangidwanso mwangozi.

Tsiku lotsatira tinamva kuti Ajeremani anapha ambiri a aja amene anamangidwa pobwezera kuphedwa kwa asilikali aŵiri achijeremani ndi ankhondo achigiriki amene ankamenyana nawo. Kuwonjezera pa kupulumutsidwa ku imfa, pachochitika chimenecho ndinadziŵa kufunika kwa uchete wachikristu.

M’chilimwe cha 1944, ndinasonyeza kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Yehova mwa ubatizo wa m’madzi. Pangululu yotsatirapo, Mboni zinapanga makonzedwe akuti ndigwirizane ndi Mpingo wa Sklithro m’mapiri, kumene ndingachiriretu. Nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeni imene inatsatira kutha kwa kuloŵerera kwa Ajeremani inali kumenyedwa m’Greece. Zinali motero kuti pamudzi pamene ndinkakhala panali ngati msasa wa magulu azigaŵenga. Wansembe wakumaloko ndi mwamuna wina waukali anandineneza kuti ndinali kazitape wa magulu ankhondo a boma nandifunsa mafunso m’khoti ya milandu ya asilikali auchigaŵenga yodzipangira.

Pabwalo loyerekezera khotilo panali mtsogoleri wa magulu ankhondo a zigaŵenga a kuderalo. Nditamaliza kufotokoza chifukwa chimene ndinali kukhalira m’mudzimo ndi kusonyeza kuti monga Mkristu, ndinalibiretu mbali iliyonse m’nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeniyo, mtsogoleriyo anauza enawo kuti: “Ngati aliyense akhudza munthuyu, adzaonana ndi ine!”

Pambuyo pake ndinabwerera ku tauni yakwathu ya Volos ndili wolimba kwambiri m’chikhulupiriro kuposa m’thanzi langa lakuthupi.

Kupita Patsogolo Kwauzimu

Mwamsanga pambuyo pake ndinaikidwa kukhala mtumiki wa maakaunti mumpingo wa kumaloko. Ngakhale kuti panali zovuta zochititsidwa ndi nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeniyo​—kuphatikizapo kumangidwa kwa abale ambiri chifukwa cha kupatsidwa milandu ya kutembenuza anthu kosonkhezeredwa ndi atsogoleri achipembedzo​—kukhala ndi phande mu utumiki wachikristu kunadzetsa chimwemwe chachikulu kwa ineyo ndi mpingo wonse.

Ndiyeno, kuchiyambi kwa 1947, woyang’anira woyendayenda wa Mboni za Yehova anatichezera. Ulendo umenewu unali woyamba kuchokera pamene Nkhondo Yadziko II inatha. Panthaŵiyo mpingo wathu wopita patsogolo mu Volos unagaŵidwa kukhala iŵiri, ndipo ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anira wotsogoza wa umodzi wa mipingoyo. Mabungwe othandizira asilikali ndi autundu panthaŵiyo ankawopseza anthu. Atsogoleri a chipembedzo anagwiritsira ntchito mkhalidwe umenewo. Anachititsa akuluakulu a boma kuda Mboni za Yehova mwa kufalitsa mphekesera yonama yakuti tinali achikomyunizimu kapena ochirikiza magulu otengeka ofuna kusintha zinthu.

Kumangidwa ndi Kuponyedwa m’Ndende

Mkati mwa 1947, anandimanga pafupifupi nthaŵi khumi ndipo ndinali ndi milandu itatu yamkhoti. Nthaŵi zonse anali kundichotsera mlandu. Mu ngululu ya 1948, anandipatsa chilango cha kukhala m’ndende kwa miyezi inayi chifukwa cha kutembenuza anthu. Ndinachita ukaidi wake m’ndende ya Volos. Panthaŵiyi chiŵerengero cha olengeza Ufumu mumpingo wathu chinaŵirikiza kaŵiri, ndipo chisangalalo ndi chimwemwe zinadzaza mitima ya abale.

Mu October 1948, pamene ndinali kuchititsa msonkhano ndi ena asanu ndi aŵiri amene ankatsogolera mumpingo wathu, apolisi asanu analoŵa m’nyumbamo ndi kutimanga atatiloza mfuti. Anatipereka ku polisi popanda kufotokoza chifukwa chotimangira, ndipo kumeneko anatimenya. Ndinamenyedwa kumaso ndi wapolisi wina amene anali wamaseŵero ankhonya. Ndiyeno anatiponya m’ndende.

Pambuyo pake ofesala wamkulu anandiitanira ku ofesi yake. Pamene ndinatsegula chitseko, anandiponyera botolo la inki, limene linandiphonya ndi kusweka pakhoma. Anachita zimenezi poyesa kundiwopseza. Ndiyeno anandipatsa pepala ndi cholembera nati: “Ulembe maina a Mboni za Yehova zonse mu Volos, ndi kubweretsa mpambowo mmaŵa. Ngati sutero, ukudziŵa zimene zidzakuchitikira!”

Sindinayankhe, koma nditabwerera m’ndendemo, ineyo ndi abale enawo tinapemphera kwa Yehova. Ndinalemba dzina langa lokha papepalalo ndikuyembekezera kuti andiitanenso. Koma sindinamvenso zina kuchokera kwa ofesalayo. Mu usikuwo, magulu ankhondo a adani anali atabwera, ndipo iyeyo anatsogolera anthu ake kuti amenyane nawo. M’kumenyana kumene kunatsatira, anavulala kwambiri, ndipo umodzi wa miyendo yake unayenera kudulidwa. M’kupita kwanthaŵi, anazenga mlandu wathu, ndipo anatipatsa mlandu wa kuchita msonkhano mopanda lamulo. Asanu ndi aŵiri tonsefe anatipatsa chiweruzo cha kukhala m’ndende zaka zisanu.

Popeza ndinakana kupita ku Misa ya pa Sande m’ndende, anandibindikiritsa kwandekha. Patsiku lachitatu, ndinapempha kulankhula ndi mkulu wa ndende. “Chonde tandilolani ndilankhule,” ndinatero kwa iye, “kukuoneka kukhala kopanda nzeru kulanga munthu amene ali wofunitsitsa kuthera zaka zisanu m’ndende chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chake.” Anaganizira mwakuya ponena za zimenezo, ndipo pomalizira anati: “Kuyambira maŵa, uzigwira nane ntchito mu ofesi mwanga muno.”

M’kupita kwanthaŵi, ndinapatsidwa ntchito monga wothandiza dokotala m’ndende. Chifukwa cha zimenezo, ndinaphunzira zambiri ponena za kuchiritsa matenda, chinthu chimene chakhala chofunika kwambiri m’zaka zamtsogolo. Pamene ndinali m’ndende, ndinali ndi mipata yambiri yolalikira, ndipo anthu atatu anachitapo kanthu nakhala Mboni za Yehova.

Nditatumikira m’ndende kwa zaka pafupifupi zinayi, pomalizira pake mu 1952 anandimasula kuti aone ngati ndidzapitiriza ndi makhalidwe abwino. Pambuyo pake, ndinayenera kuonekera m’khoti ku Corinth pankhani ya uchete. (Yesaya 2:4) Kumeneko anandisunga kwa nthaŵi yaifupi m’ndende ya asilikali, ndipo nkhanza zina zinayambanso. Maofesala ena anakonza njira zatsopano za kuwopseza kwawo, akumati: “Ndidzachotsa mtima wako ndi kuudula nthulinthuli ndi chimpeni,” kapena kuti, “Usayembekezere imfa ya mwamsanga ndi zipolopolo zisanu ndi chimodzi zokha.”

Chiyeso Chamtundu Wina

Komabe, posapita nthaŵi ndinabwerera kunyumba, ndikumatumikiranso ndi mpingo wa Volos ndi kumagwira ntchito yamaola ochepa. Tsiku lina, ndinalandira kalata kuchokera ku ofesi yanthambi ya Watch Tower Society ku Athens, yondiitana kukaphunzitsidwa kwa milungu iŵiri ndi kuyamba kuchezera mipingo ya Mboni za Yehova monga woyang’anira dera. Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, bambo anga ena aang’ono, amene analibe mwana ndipo anali ndi bizinesi yaikulu kwambiri, anandipempha kuyang’anira katundu wawo. Banja langa linali muumphaŵibe, ndipo ntchito imeneyi ikanathetsa mavuto awo achuma.

Ndinapita kukaonana ndi atate wanga aang’ono kuti ndikawathokoze kaamba ka pempho lawo, koma ndinawauza kuti ndinasankha kulandira ntchito yapadera mu utumiki wachikristu. Atamva zimenezo anaimirira, nandipenyetsetsa, ndi kutuluka m’chipindamo mwamsanga. Analoŵanso ndi mphatso yaufulu ya ndalama zimene zinathandiza banja langa kwa miyezi ingapo. Iwo anati: “Tatenga izi, ndipo uzigwiritsire ntchito monga mmene ungafunire.” Kufikira lerolino, sinditha kufotokoza malingaliro amene ndinali nawo panthaŵiyo. Kunali ngati kuti ndinamva mawu a Yehova akuti, ‘Wapanga chosankha chabwino. Ine ndili ndi iwe.’

Ndi chivomerezo cha banja langa, ndinapita ku Athens mu December 1953. Ngakhale kuti amayi okha ndi amene anakhala Mboni, am’banja lathu enanso sanatsutse ntchito yanga yachikristu. Pamene ndinapita ku ofesi yanthambi ku Athens, chinthu chinanso chosangalatsa chinkandiyembekezera. Kunali telegalamu kuchokera kwa mlongo wanga wam’ng’ono, yondiuza kuti nkhondo ya Atate ya zaka ziŵiri yakuti azilandira thandizo la ndalama la boma patsikulo inatha bwino. Ndikanapemphanso chiyani? Ndinamva monga ngati ndinali ndi mapiko, wokonzekera kuuluka m’mwamba mu utumiki wa Yehova!

Kukhala Wosamala

M’zaka zanga zoyambirira za m’ntchito ya m’dera, ndinayenera kusamala kwambiri chifukwa Mboni za Yehova zinali kuzunzidwa kowopsa ndi akuluakulu achipembedzo ndi andale. Pochezera abale athu achikristu, makamaka aja omwe ankakhala m’matauni ndi m’midzi yaing’ono ndinkayenda usiku kwa maola ambiri. Abalewo, amene anali pangozi ya kumangidwa, ankakumana ndi kundiyembekezera modekha kuti ndifike. Mmene maulendowo anatilimbikitsira tonsefe nanga!​—Aroma 1:11, 12.

Kuti ndipeŵe kudziŵika, nthaŵi zina ndinkadzizimbaitsa. Nthaŵi ina, ndinavala ngati mbusa wa zifuyo kuti ndidutse malo ofufuzira a pamsewu kuti ndikafike kumene abale anasonkhana amene ankafunikiradi kuŵetedwa mwauzimu. Pachochitika china, mu 1955, ineyo ndi mboni inzanga tinakhala ngati ogulitsa adyo kuti apolisi asatikayikire. Ntchito yathu inali ya kukalankhula ndi abale ena achikristu amene anafooka m’tauni yaing’ono ya Árgos Orestikón.

Tinayala malonda athu mumsika wa m’tauniyo. Komabe, mnyamata wina wapolisi amene anali kulonda malowo anatikayikira, ndipo nthaŵi iliyonse akamadutsa, anatiyang’anitsitsa mwachidwi. Pomalizira pake, anandiuza kuti: “Simukuoneka ngati wogulitsa adyo.” Pamenepo, asungwana atatu anafika nafuna kugula adyo. Nditaloza pa zinthu zanga, ndinati: “Mnyamata wapolisiyu amadya adyo ngati ameneyu, ndipo tangoonani mmene alili wamphamvu ndi wokongola!” Asungwanawo anayang’ana wapolisiyo naseka. Iyenso anamwetulira nachokapo.

Pamene anapita ndinagwiritsira ntchito mpatawo kupita kusitolo kumene abale athu ankagwira ntchito monga osoka zovala. Ndinapempha mmodzi wa iwo kusokerera batani limene ndinadula pajekete langa. Pamene anali kuchita zimenezi, ndinaŵerama ndi kunong’ona kuti: “Ndachokera ku ofesi yanthambi kudzakuonani.” Poyamba abalewo anawopa, popeza sanakumanepo ndi Mboni zinzawo kwa zaka zambiri. Ndinawalimbikitsa kwambiri monga mmene ndikanathera ndi kupanga makonzedwe a kukumana nawo pambuyo pake kumanda a m’tauniyo kuti tikakambitsirane zowonjezereka. Chosangalatsa nchakuti, ulendowo unali wolimbikitsa, ndipo anakhalanso achangu mu utumiki wachikristu.

Kupeza Mnzanga Wokhulupirika

Mu 1956, zaka zitatu nditayamba ntchito yoyendayenda, ndinakumana ndi Niki, msungwana wachikristu amene anali kukonda kwambiri ntchito yolalikira nafunitsitsa kwambiri kuthera moyo wake mu utumiki wanthaŵi yonse. Tinakondana ndi kukwatirana mu June 1957. Ndinali kudzifunsa ngati Niki adzakwanitsa ntchito yoyendayenda pansi pa mikhalidwe yowopsa kwambiri imene inaliko panthaŵiyo kwa Mboni za Yehova m’Greece. Ndi thandizo la Yehova iye anakwanitsa, motero akumakhala mkazi woyamba kutsagana ndi mwamuna wake m’ntchito yadera m’Greece.

Kwa zaka khumi tinapitiriza pamodzi m’ntchito yoyendayenda, tikumatumikira mipingo yambiri m’Greece. Nthaŵi zambiri tinavala modzizimbaitsa ndipo, titanyamula masutikesi kuyenda usiku kwa maola ambiri kuti tifike pampingo. Ngakhale kuti tinakumana ndi chitsutso chachikulu, tinasangalala kudzionera tokha kuwonjezereka kwa chiŵerengero chapadera cha Mboni.

Utumiki wa pa Beteli

Mu January 1967, ineyo ndi Niki tinaitanidwa kukatumikira pa Beteli, monga mmene amatchera ofesi yanthambi ya Mboni za Yehova. Chiitanocho chinatidabwitsa tonse aŵirife, koma tinachilandira, tikumakhulupirira kuti Yehova ndiye akuyendetsa zinthu. M’kupita kwanthaŵi, tinadziŵadi kuti ulidi mwaŵi waukulu kutumikira pamalo ameneŵa a ntchito ya teokrase.

Miyezi itatu titaloŵa utumiki wa pa Beteli, kagulu ka asilikali kanalanda ulamuliro, ndipo Mboni za Yehova zinafunikira kupitirizabe ntchito yawo m’njira yobisa kwambiri. Tinayamba kukumana m’timagulu tating’ono, kuchita misonkhano yathu yadera m’nkhalango, kulalikira mochenjera, ndi kusindikiza ndi kufalitsa mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo mobisa. Sikunali kovuta kuzoloŵera mikhalidwe imeneyi, popeza tinangobwereza njira zopitirizira ntchito zathu zimene tinali titazigwiritsira ntchito m’zaka zakumbuyo. Ngakhale kuti panali ziletso, chiŵerengero cha Mboni chinakwera kuchokera pa osakwanira 11,000 mu 1967 kufika pa oposa 17,000 mu 1974.

Pambuyo pazaka pafupifupi 30 mu utumiki wa pa Beteli, ineyo ndi Niki tikupitirizabe kusangalala ndi madalitso athu auzimu, ngakhale kuti pali kudwala ndi kukalamba. Kwa zaka zoposa khumi, tinkakhala panthambi imene inali mu Kartali Street ku Athens. Mu 1979 nthambi ina inapatuliridwa ku Marousi, mlaga wa Athens. Koma chiyambire 1991 takhala ndi nthambi yaikulu yatsopano ku Eleona, makilomita 60 kumpoto kwa Athens. Kunoko ndimatumikira m’chipatala chathu cha Beteli, kumene maphunziro amene ndinalandira monga wothandiza dokotala wandende akhaladi ofunika kwambiri.

M’zaka zanga zoposa makumi anayi mu utumiki wanthaŵi yonse, ineyo ndazindikira choonadi cha lonjezo la Yehova monga Yeremiya lakuti: “Adzamenyana ndi iwe; koma sadzakuposa; chifukwa ine ndili ndi iwe, ati Yehova, kukulanditsa.” (Yeremiya 1:19) Inde, ineyo ndi Niki tasangalala ndi chikho chosefukira chamadalitso ochokera kwa Yehova. Nthaŵi zonse timasangalala ndi chisamaliro chake chachikondi ndi chisomo chake.

Chilimbikitso changa kwa achichepere omwe ali m’gulu la Yehova ndicho cha kukhala mu utumiki wanthaŵi yonse. Mwa njira imeneyi angalandire chiitano cha Yehova cha kumuyesa ngati adzakwaniritsadi lonjezo lake la ‘kutsegula mazenera a kumwamba, ndi kutsanulira madalitso akuti adzasoŵeka malo akuwalandira.’ (Malaki 3:10) Kuchokera m’zokumana nazo zanga, ndikukutsimikizirani achicheperenu kuti Yehova adzadalitsadi nonsenu amene mumamdalira kotheratu.

[Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Lambros Zoumbos ndi mkazi wake, Niki