Choonadi cha Baibulo Ndinachiphunzira ku Romania

YOSIMBIDWA NDI GOLDIE ROMOCEAN

Mu 1970, ndinachezera achibale ku Romania nthaŵi yoyamba pazaka pafupifupi 50. Anthu ankalamulidwa ndi boma lopondereza lachikomyunizimu, ndipo nthaŵi zonse anali kundichenjeza kuti ndisamale zimene ndikunena. Ndiyeno, nditaimirira mu ofesi ina ya boma pamudzi wakwathu, ofesalayo anandikakamiza kutuluka m’dzikomo nthaŵi yomweyo. Ndisanafotokoze chifukwa chake, tandilolani ndikuuzeni mmene ndinaphunzirira choonadi cha Baibulo ku Romania.

NDINABADWA pa March 3, 1903, pamudzi wa Ortelec kumpoto koma chakumadzulo kwa Romania pafupi ndi tauni ya Zalău. Tinkakhala pamalo okongola. Madzi ndi mpweya zinali zoyera. Tinkadzilimira chakudya chathu ndipo sitinasoŵe kakuthupi kalikonse. Ndikali wamng’ono, dzikolo linali pamtendere.

Anthu anali okonda chipembedzo kwambiri. Ndipo, banja lathu linali la zipembedzo zitatu zosiyana. Agogo anga ena aakazi anali Akatolika Osunga Mwambo, enawo a Adiventisti, ndipo makolo anga anali a Baptisti. Popeza sindinavomerezane nazo zipembedzo zawo zonsezo, banja langa linkanena kuti ndidzakhala wokana Mulungu. ‘Ngati kuli Mulungu mmodzi,’ ndinalingalira motero, ‘kuyenera kukhalanso chipembedzo chimodzi basi​—osati zitatu m’banja limodzi.’

Zinthu zimene ndinaona m’chipembedzo zinandisokoneza kwambiri. Mwachitsanzo, wansembe ankapita kunyumba za anthu kukasonkhetsa ndalama za tchalitchi. Ngati anthuwo analibe ndalama zoti apereke, iye m’malo mwake ankatenga mabulangeti awo abwino koposa aubweya. M’tchalitchi Chakatolika, ndinaona agogo anga aakazi akugwada patsogolo pa chithunzi cha Mariya kuti apemphere. ‘Nkupemphereranji chithunzi?’ Ndinalingalira motero.

Nthaŵi Zamgwiremgwire

Atate anapita ku United States mu 1912 kuti akapeze ndalama zolipirira ngongole inayake. Posapita nthaŵi pambuyo pake nkhondo inaulika, ndipo amuna a pamudzi pathu anapita kunkhondoyo​—akazi, ana, ndi amuna okalamba okha ndiwo anakhala. Mudzi wathu unakhala pansi pa Hungary kwa kanthaŵi, komano asilikali a Romania anabwerera nalandanso mudziwo. Iwo anatilamula kuchoka nthaŵi yomweyo. Komabe, chifukwa cha kufulumira ndi kusokonezeka polonga katundu ndi ana m’ngolo ya ng’ombe, anandisiya kumbuyo. Komatu musadabwe chifukwa ndinali wamkulu pa ana asanu.

Ndinathamangira kwa mnansi wina, mwamuna wokalamba yemwe anatsala, ndipo anati: “Pita kunyumba. Ukhome zitseko zako, ndipo usatsegulire munthu aliyense.” Ndinalabadira mwamsanga. Nditamwa msuzi wa nyama ya nkhuku ndi kudya masamba a kabichi ovungamo zakudya zina mkati mwake zimene anasiya pochoka mofulumira, ndinagwada pafupi ndi bedi langa ndi kupemphera. Posapita nthaŵi ndinali mtulo tatikulu.

Pamene ndinatsegula maso anga, kunali kutacha, ndipo ndinati: “Aa, zikomo, Mulungu! Ndili moyo!” Makoma anali ndi ziboo za zipolopolo paliponse, popeza usiku wonse anali kulasa mfuti. Amayi atazindikira kuti sindinali nawo pamudzi wotsatira, anatumiza George Romocean wachichepereyo, amene anandipeza ndi kubwerera nane. Posapita nthaŵi tinabwerera kumudzi wakwathu ndi kuyambanso kukhala kumeneko.

Chikhumbo Changa cha Choonadi cha Baibulo

Amayi anali kufuna kuti ndibatizidwe monga Mbabutisti, koma sindinafune kutero chifukwa sindinakhulupirire kuti Mulungu wachikondi angatenthe anthu kosatha m’helo. Poyesa kufotokoza, Amayi anati: “Komatu ngati ndi oipa.” Koma ndinayankha kuti: “Ngati ndi oipa, zilibwino kuwapheratu, koma osati kuwazunza. Sindingazunze ndi galu yemwe kapena mphaka.”

Ndikukumbukira kuti tsiku lina lokongola m’ngululu, pamene ndinali ndi zaka 14 zakubadwa, Amayi anandituma kukadyetsera ng’ombe kumsipu. Pamene ndinagona paudzu m’mbali mwa mtsinje, wokhala ndi nkhalango tsidya linalo, ndinayang’ana kumwamba ndi kunena kuti: “Mulungu, ndikudziŵa kuti muliko; koma zipembedzo zonse zimenezi sindikuzikonda. Muyenera kuti muli ndi china chabwino.”

Ndikhulupiriradi kuti Mulungu anamva pemphero langa chifukwa chakuti m’chilimwe chimenecho mu 1917, Ophunzira Baibulo aŵiri (monga momwe ankatchera Mboni za Yehova nthaŵiyo) anabwera pamudzi pathu. Iwo anali akopotala, kapena kuti atumiki a nthaŵi zonse, ndipo anabwera ku Tchalitchi cha Baptisti msonkhano uli mkati.

Kufalikira kwa Choonadi cha Baibulo m’Romania

Zaka zoŵerengeka poyambapo, mu 1911, Carol Szabo ndi Josif Kiss, amene anakhala Ophunzira Baibulo ku United States, anabwerera ku Romania kukayambitsa choonadi cha Baibulo kumeneko. Iwo anapeza malo ku Tîrgu-Mureş, makilomita osaposa 160 kummwera koma chakummaŵa kwa mudzi wathu. Pazaka zochepa zokha, anthu mazana ambiri analabadira uthenga wa Ufumu nayamba utumiki wachikristu.​—Mateyu 24:14.

Chabwino, pamene Ophunzira Baibulo aŵiriwo achichepere anabwera kutchalitchi cha Baptisti cha m’mudzi mwathu mwa Ortelec, George Romocean, ngakhale anali ndi zaka zakubadwa 18 zokha, anali kuchititsa msonkhano ndipo anali kuyesa kulongosola tanthauzo la Aroma 12:1. Potsirizira pake, mmodzi wa akopotala achicheperewo anaimirira ndi kunena kuti: “Abale ndi mabwenzi, kodi mtumwi Paulo akufuna kutiuzanji pano?”

Nditamva zimenezo, ndinasangalala kwambiri! Ndinalingalira kuti, ‘Amunawa ayenera kuti akudziŵa kumasulira Baibulo.’ Koma opezekapo ambiri anafuula kuti: “Aneneri onyenga! Tikukudziŵani!” Kenako panakhala phokoso. Komano atate a George anaimirira ndi kunena kuti: “Khalani chete nonsenu! Kodi ndiwo mzimu wotani umenewu​—wa m’chipanda? Ngati amunawa ali ndi zina zake zotiuza ndipo inuyo simufuna kumva, ndikuwaitanira kunyumba kwanga. Aliyense wofuna kubwera ngwaufulu.”

Mosangalala, ndinathamangira kunyumba ndi kuuza Amayi zomwe zachitika. Ndinali mmodzi wa awo amene anafuna kupita kunyumba ya a Romocean. Nditaphunzira m’Baibulo madzulowo kuti kulibe helo wamoto ndi kuona m’Baibulo langalanga lachiromaniya dzina la Mulungu, Yehova, ndinakondwera bwanji! Akopotalawo analinganiza kuti Wophunzira Baibulo azibwera kunyumba ya a Romocean Sande iliyonse kudzatiphunzitsa. Chilimwe chotsatira, ndili ndi zaka 15 zakubadwa, ndinabatizidwa kusonyeza kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Yehova.

M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, pafupifupi banja lonse la a Prodan ndi banja la a Romocean analandira choonadi cha Baibulo ndi kupatulira moyo wawo kwa Yehova. Ena ambiri a pamudzi pathu anateronso, kuphatikizapo mwamuna wina wachinyamata ndi mkazi wake amene poyamba nyumba yawo ndiyo inali tchalitchi cha Baptisti. Pambuyo pake anaisandutsa malo osonkhanirapo Ophunzira Baibulo pochita phunziro. Choonadi cha m’Malemba chinafalikira mwamsanga m’midzi yapafupi, ndipo podzafika 1920 munali ofalitsa Ufumu ngati 1,800 m’Romania!

Kupita ku United States

Tinali kufunitsitsa kuuzako atate, a Peter Prodan, zimene tinaphunzira. Koma, modabwitsa, tisanawalembere kalata, tinalandira kalata yawo yotiuza kuti akhala mtumiki wobatizidwa wa Yehova. Anaphunzira ndi Ophunzira Baibulo ku Akron, Ohio, ndipo anali kufuna kuti tonsefe tikakhale nawo ku United States. Komabe, Amayi anakana kuchoka ku Romania. Choncho, mu 1921, ndinagwiritsira ntchito ndalama zimene Atate ananditumizira, ndi kupita kukakhala nawo ku Akron. George Romocean ndi mchimwene wake anali atasamukira kale ku United States chaka chinacho.

Nditafika ndi chombo pa Ellis Island, New York, ofesala wa imigireshoni sanadziŵe kutembenuza dzina langa, Aurelia, m’Chingelezi, choncho anati: “Ndiwe Goldie.” Limenelo lakhala dzina langa kuyambira pamenepo. Posapita nthaŵi, pa May 1 1921, ineyo ndi George Romocean tinakwatirana. Pafupifupi chaka chimodzi pambuyo pake, Atate anabwerera ku Romania ndipo mu 1925 anabweretsa mng’ono wanga, Mary, ku Akron. Ndiyeno Atate anabwerera ku Romania kukakhala ndi Amayi ndi ena onse a m’banja.

Utumiki Wathu Woyamba mu United States

George anali mtumiki wa Yehova wokhulupirika ndi wodzipereka kwambiri. Kuchokera mu 1922 kufika mu 1932, tinadalitsidwa ndi ana aakazi anayi okongola​—Esther, Anne, Goldie Elizabeth, ndi Irene. Mpingo wachiromaniya unayambika mu Akron, ndipo poyamba tinkachitira misonkhano m’nyumba mwathu. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, patapita miyezi isanu ndi umodzi iliyonse nthumwi yochokera kumalikulu a dziko lonse a Ophunzira Baibulo ku Brooklyn, New York, inali kuchezera mpingo wathu ndi kukhala nafe.

Pamasiku ambiri a Sande tinkathera tsiku lonse m’ntchito yolalikira. Tinadzaza zola zathu zamabuku ndi kunyamula kamba, ndipo tinaika atsikana mu Model T Ford yathu, ndi kuthera tsikulo pakulalikira m’gawo lakumidzi. Kenako m’madzulo, tinkapezeka pa Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda. Atsikana athu anaikonda kwambiri ntchito yolalikira. Mu 1931, ndinaliko ku Columbus, Ohio, pamene Ophunzira Baibulo anatenga dzina lawo lowadziŵikitsalo la Mboni za Yehova.

Kuwongolera Kumene Ndinafunikira

Patapita zaka zingapo, ndinamkwiyira kwambiri Joseph F. Rutherford, yemwe anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society nthaŵiyo. Mboni ina yatsopano inaona monga Mbale Rutherford sanaichitire mwachilungamo, mwakusamvetsa vuto lake. Ndinaganiza kuti Mbale Rutherford analakwa. Ndiyeno, Sande ina mbale wanga Mary ndi mwamuna wake, Dan Pestrui, anabwera kudzatichezera. Titadya chakudya chamasana Dan anati: “Tiyeni tikonzeke tizipita kumsonkhano.”

“Sitimapitanso kumisonkhano,” ndinatero. “Ndife okwiya ndi Mbale Rutherford.”

Dan anaika manja ake kumbuyo namayendayenda kumbuyo ndi kutsogolo, kenako nanena: “Kodi munali kumdziŵa Mbale Rutherford pamene munabatizidwa?”

“Sindinali kumdziŵa,” ndinayankha motero. “Mukudziŵa kuti ndinabatizidwira ku Romania.”

“Kodi nchifukwa ninji munabatizidwa?” anafunsa motero.

Ndipo ndinayankha kuti: “Chifukwa ndinaphunzira kuti Yehova ndiye Mulungu woona, ndipo ndinafuna kupatulira moyo wanga ndi kumtumikira.”

“Musayese kuiŵala zimenezo!” anayankha motero. “Bwanji Mbale Rutherford atasiya choonadi, kodi mungachisiye inunso?”

“Kutalitali!” Ndinatero. Zimenezo zinandithandiza kuzindikira ndipo ndinati: “Aliyense akonzeke tizipita kumsonkhano.” Ndipo sitinaleke kuyambira pamenepo. Ndinayamikira kwambiri Yehova kaamba ka kuwongolera kwachikondi kwa mlamu wanga!

Kukwanitsa m’Nyengo ya Kugwa kwa Chuma

M’Nyengo ya Kugwa kwa Chuma m’ma 1930, zinthu zinali zovuta. Tsiku lina George anafika kunyumba kuchokera kuntchito ali wachisoni kwambiri, nandiuza kuti amchotsa ntchito m’fakitale yopanga mphira. “Usade nkhaŵa,” ndinatero, “tili ndi Atate wolemera kumwamba, ndipo sadzatilekerera.”

Tsiku lomwelo George anakumana ndi mnzake amene anali ndi dengu lalikulu la bowa. George atadziŵa kumene mnzake anauzula, anabwera kunyumba ndi bowa wambiri. Ndiyeno anathera $3.00 yathu yomaliza pa toikamo bowawo. “Wachitiranji zimenezi,” ndinafunsa, “pamene tili ndi asungwana ofunikira mkaka?”

“Usade nkhaŵa,” anayankha motero, “ingochita zimene ndinena.” Milungu ingapo yotsatira, tinali ndi fakitale yaing’ono m’nyumba mwathu, kutsuka bowa ndi kuulongedza. Tinaugulitsa kumalesitiranti apamwamba ndipo tinkapita kunyumba ndi madola 30 mpaka 40 patsiku, ndalama zambiri kwa ife nthaŵiyo. Mwini munda amene anatiloleza kuzula bowa m’munda mwake ananena kuti anakhala pamalopo zaka 25 ndipo sanaonepo bowa wambiri chonchi. Posapita nthaŵi fakitale yopanga mphira inamuitananso George kukayamba ntchito.

Kusunga Chikhulupiriro Chathu

Mu 1943 tinasamukira ku Los Angeles, California, ndipo zaka zinayi pambuyo pake tinakhazikika mu Elsinore. Tinatsegula golosale kumeneko, ndipo tonse m’banja lathu tinkasinthana kugwira ntchito mmenemo. Nthaŵiyo, Elsinore inali tauni yaing’ono chabe yokhala ndi anthu ngati 2,000, ndipo tinali kuyenda makilomita 30 kumka kutauni ina kumisonkhano yathu yachikristu. Ndinakondwera kwambiri kuona mpingo waung’ono ukupangidwa mu Elsinore mu 1950! Tsopano muli mipingo 13 m’dera limodzimodzilo.

Mu 1950 mwana wathu Goldie Elizabeth (amene ambiri amamdziŵa kuti Beth tsopano) anamaliza maphunziro a Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower ku South Lansing, New York, ndipo anamtumiza ku Venezuela monga mmishonale. Mu 1955 mwana wathu wamng’ono pa onse, Irene, anakondwera kuti mwamuna wake anapemphedwa kutumikira monga mtumiki woyendayenda m’ntchito yadera. Ndiyeno mu 1961, ataloŵa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu ku South Lansing, New York, anawatumiza ku Thailand. Nthaŵi zina ndinali kufuna kwambiri kuwaona ana angawo kwakuti ndinkalira, komano ndinali kuganizira kuti, ‘Ndi zimenetu ndinafuna kuti azichita.’ Choncho ndinkanyamula chola changa chamabuku ndi kupita m’ntchito yolalikira. Nthaŵi zonse ndinali kubwerera kunyumba wachimwemwe.

Mu 1966 mwamuna wanga wokondedwa, George, anadwala stroko. Beth, amene anabwerako ku Venezuela chifukwa cha matenda, anathandiza kumsamalira. George anamwalira chaka chotsatira, ndipo ndinatonthozedwa ndi choonadi chakuti anakhalabe wokhulupirika kwa Yehova ndipo analandira mfupo yake yakumwamba. Pambuyo pake Beth anapita ku Spain kukatumikira kumene kunali kusoŵa kwakukulu kwa alaliki a Ufumu. Mwana wanga wamkulu pa onse, Esther, anadwala kansa ndipo anamwalira mu 1977, ndipo mu 1984, Anne anamwalira ndi leukemia. Aliyense anali mtumiki wokhulupirika wa Yehova moyo wake wonse.

Pamene Anne anamwalira, Beth ndi Irene anali atabwerako kumagawo awo olalikira a kunja kwa dziko. Iwo anathandiza kusamalira abale awo, ndipo tonsefe tinamva chisoni chachikulu. Patapita nthaŵi ndinauza atsikana anga kuti: “Chonchi basi! Tatonthoza ena ndi malonjezo abwino kwambiri a Baibulo. Tsopano ifenso titonthozedwe. Satana akufuna kutilanda chimwemwe chathu cha kutumikira Yehova, koma sitidzamlola.”

Banja Lathu Lokhulupirika ku Romania

Ineyo ndi mbale wanga Mary tinapanga ulendo wokumbukikawo wokachezera banja lathu ku Romania mu 1970. Mng’ono wathu wina anamwalira, koma tinatha kuchezera mlongo wathu John ndi mbale wathu Lodovica, amene ankakhalabe pamudzi wa Ortelec. Podzafika nthaŵi ya kucheza kwathuko, Amayi ndi Atate anali atamwalira, ali okhulupirikabe kwa Yehova. Ambiri anatiuza kuti Atate anali mzati mumpingo. Ngakhale ena a adzukulu tubzi awo ku Romania ndi Mboni tsopano. Tinachezeranso achibale ambiri a ku banja la mwamuna wanga amene anachirimikabe m’choonadi cha Baibulo.

Mu 1970, Romania anali mu ulamuliro wa boma lankhanza lachikomyunizimu la Nicolae Ceauşescu, ndipo Mboni za Yehova zinali kuzunzidwa moopsa. Mwana wamwamuna wa John mlongo wanga, Flore, limodzinso ndi achibale anga ena, anathera zaka zambiri m’misasa yachibalo chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo chachikristu, monganso mbale wa mwamuna wanga, Gábor Romocean. Ndiye chifukwa chake pamene anatipatsira makalata opita kumalikulu a Mboni za Yehova ku New York, abale athu a ku Romania anati mitima yawo sidzakhala pansi mpaka atamva kuti tinatulukamo bwino m’dzikomo!

Titazindikira kuti masiku anatha a makalata athu oyendera, tinapita ku ofesi ya boma ku Ortelec. Anali masana a Lachisanu, ndipo panali ofesala mmodzi yekha pantchito. Atadziŵa amene tinali kuchezera ndi kuti mwana wa mlongo wathu analipo mumsasa wachibalo, iye anati: “Azimayi, chokani muno!”

“Koma kulibe sitima imene ikunyamuka lero,” anayankha motero mbale wanga.

“Zilibe kanthu zimenezo,” anatero mofulumira. “Muyende pabasi. Pasitima. Pagalimoto. Pansi. Inu mungochoka muno mosataya nthaŵi!”

Pamene tinali kutuluka, anatiitananso natiuza kuti sitima ya asilikali yosakhala pandandanda inali kubwera pa 6:00 p.m. Chinalidi chitsogozo cha Mulungu chotani nanga! Pasitima ya masiku onse, zikalata zathu zikanasanthulidwa mobwerezabwereza, koma popeza sitima imeneyi inatenga asilikali ndipo ifeyo ndife anthu wamba okha amene analimo, palibe amene anafuna kuona zikalata zathu zoyendera. Mwina anaganiza kuti tinali agogo a asilikali ena.

Mmaŵa mwake tinafika ku Timisoara, ndipo mothandizidwa ndi bwenzi la wachibale wina, tinatha kutenga zikalata zathu. Tsiku lotsatira tinali kunja kwa dzikolo. Tinabwera kunyumba ndi zikumbutso zambiri zachikondi ndi zosaiŵalika za abale ndi alongo athu achikristu okhulupirika a ku Romania.

Pazaka zotsatira ulendo wathu wa ku Romania, sitinamve zambiri kuchokera kuseri kwa Iron Curtain ponena za ntchito yolalikira. Komabe, tinali ndi chidaliro chakuti abale ndi alongo athu achikristu adzakhalabe okhulupirika kwa Mulungu wathu​—zivute zitani. Ndipo ndithudi iwo atero! Tinasangalala kwambiri chotani nanga kumva kuti Mboni za Yehova zinaloledwa mwalamulo monga gulu lachipembedzo ku Romania mu April 1990! M’chilimwe chotsatira tinasangalala ndi malipoti a misonkhano yaikulu imene inachitika ku Romania. Eetu, oposa 34,000 anapezekapo m’mizinda isanu ndi itatu, ndipo 2,260 anabatizidwa! Tsopano kuli oposa 35,000 amene akukhala ndi phande m’ntchito yolalikira ku Romania, ndipo chaka chatha 86,034 anapezeka pa Chikumbutso cha Imfa ya Kristu.

Choonadi Nchamtengo Wapatalibe kwa Ine

Ndinadzaleka kudya zizindikiro pa Chikumbutso zaka zingapo. Ndinaona abale oyenerera kwambiri amene sanali kudya, ndipo ndinalingalira kuti: ‘Yehova angandipatsirenji mwaŵi wa kukhala woloŵa mnzake wa Mwana wake kumwamba pamene ena ndi alankhuli abwino chonchi?’ Koma pamene sindinadye, ndinasokonezeka kwambiri. Zinali monga ndinali kukana kena kake. Pambuyo pa kuphunzira kwambiri ndi mapembedzero a pemphero, ndinayambanso kudya. Mtendere wanga ndi chimwemwe zinabweranso, ndipo sizinandichokenso.

Ngakhale sindithanso kuona koti ndingaŵerenge, masiku onse ndimamvetsera matepi a Baibulo ndi a magazini a Nsanja ya Olonda ndi Galamukani! Ndiponso ndikupitirizabe kukhala ndi phande m’ntchito yolalikira. Nthaŵi zambiri ndimagaŵira magazini pakati pa 60 ndi 100 mwezi uliwonse, koma pamene tinali ndi mkupiti wapadera wa magazini a Galamukani! April wathayo, ndinagaŵira 323. Mothandizidwa ndi ana anga, ndimathanso kuchita mbali za m’Sukulu Yautumiki Wateokratiki. Ndili wachimwemwe kuti ndikupitirizabe kulimbikitsa ena. Pafupifupi aliyense m’Nyumba ya Ufumu amanditcha Agogo.

Ndikamakumbukira zaka pafupifupi 79 za utumiki wodzipatulira kwa Yehova, ndimamthokoza tsiku lililonse kuti wandilola kudziŵa choonadi chake chamtengo wapatalichi ndi kugwiritsira ntchito moyo wanga mu utumiki wake. Ndikuthokoza kwambiri kuti ndakhala moyo kufikira kuona kukwaniritsidwa kwa maulosi abwino kwambiri a Baibulo amene ananeneratu za kusonkhanitsa onga nkhosa a Mulungu m’masiku ano otsiriza.​—Yesaya 60:22; Zekariya 8:23.

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Mbale wanga Mary ndi Atate amene aimirirawo, ndi ine, George, ndi ana athu Esther ndi Anne

[Chithunzi patsamba 24]

Ndi ana anga aakazi Beth ndi Irene ndi mwamuna wa Irene ndi anyamata awo aŵiri, onse amene akutumikira Yehova mokhulupirika