Ndakhala Ndikusangalala Kutumikira Yehova

M’chaka chotsatira, panaperekedwa chilengezo kubanja la Beteli kuti pankafunika anthu odzipereka kuti akatumikire kunthambi ya ku South Africa, kumene ankaikako mashini atsopano osindikizira mabuku. Ndinadzipereka kuti ndipite nawo ndipo ndinasangalala atandivomereza. Ndinasankhidwa pamodzi ndi abale enanso atatu amene ankatumikiranso pa Beteli ya ku Canada omwe ndi M’bale Dennis Leech, Bill McLellan komanso Ken Nordin. Tinauzidwa kuti tikakhala ku South Africa kwa nthawi yaitali.

Ndinaimbira foni mayi anga n’kuwauza kuti: “Amayi, ndili ndi nkhani yoti ndikuuzeni. Ndikupita ku South Africa!” Mayi anga anali munthu wosakonda kulankhula, koma anali munthu wachikhulupiriro cholimba ndipo ankakonda kwambiri Yehova. Iwo sanalankhule zambiri, koma ndinadziwa kuti anasangalala. Bambonso nawo sanatsutse zimene ndinasankha, ngakhale kuti onsewa anadandaula kuti ndikakhala kutali kwambiri.

TINAUYAMBA ULENDO WA KU SOUTH AFRICA

Poyamba tinapita ku Beteli ya ku Brooklyn ndipo tonse 4, tinaphunzitsidwa kwa miyezi itatu mmene tingagwiritsire ntchito mtundu wina wa mashini osindikizira mabuku. Kenako tinanyamuka ndipo tinakwera sitima yapamadzi yonyamula katundu yomwe inkapita ku Cape Town, ku South Africa. Apa n’kuti nditangokwanitsa kumene zaka 20. Tinanyamuka madzulo kuchokera ku Cape Town kupita ku Johannesburg pasitima yapamtunda ndipo unali ulendo wautali. Mmene kumacha tinafika pa tauni ina yaing’ono m’dera lina lachipululu lotchedwa Karoo. Kunja kunali fumbi komanso kunkatentha. Kenako tonse 4 tinasuzumira m’mawindo n’kuyamba kudzifunsa kuti kodi dera limeneli ndi lotani? Koma tikwanitsa kutumikira kuno? M’zaka zotsatira tinkabwera m’derali ndipo tinazindikira kuti timatauni take n’tokongola komanso anthu ake ankakonda mtendere.

M’zaka zoyamba ndinkagwiritsa ntchito mashini ena ovuta otchedwa Linotype, omwe ankasanja zilembo m’mizere posindikiza magazini a Nsanja ya Olonda ndi Galamukani! Ofesi ya nthambiyi inkasindikizanso magazini a zilankhulo za m’mayiko ena ambiri a mu Africa. Tinkasangalala kuti mashini atsopano amene anachititsa kuti tichoke kwathu ku Canada kupita ku South Africa, ankagwiritsidwa ntchito bwino kwambiri.

Kenako ndinayamba kugwira ntchito mu ofesi ya ku fakitale yomwe inkayang’anira zinthu zina zokhudza kusindikiza, kutumiza komanso kumasulira mabuku. Ndinkakhala wotanganidwa, koma ndinkasangalala kwambiri.

NDINAKWATIRA KOMANSO NDINAPATSIDWA UTUMIKI WATSOPANO

Mu 1968, ndinakwatirana ndi mpainiya wina dzina lake Laura Bowen, yemwe ankakhala pafupi ndi ku Beteli. Iye ankathandizanso pa ntchito yolemba zinthu zina ku Dipatimenti Yomasulira Mabuku. Pa nthawiyo, anthu amene angokwatira kumene sankapitiriza kukhala pa Beteli, choncho tinapemphedwa kukachita upainiya wapadera. Zimenezi zinandidetsa nkhawa pang’ono. Ndinali nditatumikira pa Beteli kwa zaka 10 ndipo tinkapatsidwa chakudya ndi pogona. Choncho ndinkadzifunsa kuti ndikakwanitsa bwanji kupeza zimenezi ndi ndalama imene apainiya apadera amalandira. Aliyense ankayenera kumalandira ndalama yokwana 25 rand pamwezi (yomwe nthawi imeneyo inali madola 35) ngati wakwanitsa maola omwe ankafunikira, maulendo obwereza komanso kugawira mabuku. Tinkafunika kugwiritsa ntchito ndalamayi pa zinthu monga kulipira lendi, chakudya, thiransipoti, thandizo la chipatala komanso zinthu zina.

Tinatumizidwa ku kagulu kena kakufupi ndi mzinda wa Durban, mphepete mwa nyanja ya Indian Ocean. Kuderali kunali amwenye ambiri amene anali mbadwa za anthu omwe anatengedwa ku India kuti adzagwire ntchito m’minda ya nzimbe m’zaka za m’ma 1800. Pa nthawiyi, iwo anali atayamba kugwira ntchito zina. Komabe sanasiye zinthu zokhudza chikhalidwe chawo komanso zakudya zomwe amathiramo zokometsera zosiyanasiyana. Iwo ankalankhula Chingelezi zomwe zinachititsa kuti tisamavutike kuwalalikira.

Apainiya apadera ankayenera kupereka maola 150 pamwezi. Choncho ine ndi Laura tinakonza zoti tilalikire kwa maola 6 patsiku loyamba. Tsiku limenelo kunja kunkatentha kwambiri. Pa nthawiyo n’kuti tilibe phunziro la Baibulo kapena ulendo wobwereza. Choncho tinkayenera kulalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba kwa maola onse 6. Titayenda kwa kanthawi ndinayang’ana wotchi ndipo ndinazindikira kuti tinali titalalikira kwa maminitsi 40 okha basi. Ndinadzifunsa kuti, koma tikwanitsa utumiki umenewu?

Kenako tinayamba kumakonzekera bwino. Tsiku lililonse tinkanyamula chakudya chopepuka komanso tinkaika supu kapena khofi m’fulasiki. Ndiye tikafuna kupuma, tinkangoimika galimoto yathu pansi pa mtengo ndipo nthawi zina pankabwera tiana tokongola ta amwenye tomwe tinkachita nafe chidwi kwambiri. Pasanapite masiku ambiri, tinazindikira kuti tikangolalikira kwa maola awiri kapena atatu, kwinako nthawi inkafulumira.

Kunena zoona, tinasangalala kuthandiza anthu a m’derali omwe amalandira bwino alendo, kudziwa choonadi cha m’Baibulo. Tinaona kuti anthu achimwenyewa anali aulemu, okoma mtima komanso okonda Mulungu. Amwenye ambiri a Chihindu ankamvetsera bwino uthenga wathu. Iwo ankasangalala kuphunzira zokhudza Yehova, Yesu, Baibulo, dziko latsopano lamtendere komanso zokhudza kuuka kwa akufa. Patatha chaka chimodzi tinali ndi maphunziro a Baibulo 20. Tsiku lililonse tinkadya ndi banja limodzi mwa mabanja amene tinkaphunzira nawo ndipo tinkasangalala kwambiri.

Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, tinapatsidwa utumiki woyang’anira dera ndipo tinkachezera mipingo yomwe inali mphepete mwa nyanja yokongola ya Indian Ocean. Mlungu uliwonse tinkakhala alendo m’nyumba za abale pamene tinkalalikira ndi ofalitsa m’mipingo komanso kuwalimbikitsa. Tinkangokhala ngati anthu a m’banja lawo ndipo tinkasangalala ndi ana awo komanso nyama zimene ankaweta. Tinachita utumikiwu ka zaka ziwiri. Kenako mwadzidzidzi tinalandira foni kuchokera ku ofesi ya nthambi. M’bale amene anaimba foniyo anatiuza kuti, “Tikufuna kuti mubwererenso ku Beteli.” Ndiye ndinamuyankha kuti, “Ifetu tikusangalala kwambiri kutumikira kuno.” Komabe tinali ofunitsitsa kukatumikira kulikonse kumene tikanatumizidwa.

TINABWERERA KU BETELI

Titafika ku Beteli, ndinkatumikira mu m’Dipatimenti ya Utumiki, ndipo ndinali ndi mwayi wotumikira ndi abale odziwa zambiri. M’masiku amenewo, woyang’anira dera akachezera mpingo ankatumiza lipoti ku ofesi ya nthambi ndipo abale ku ofesi ankalembera mpingowo kalata. Cholinga cha makalatawa chinali kulimbikitsa abale kumipingoyo komanso kuwapatsa malangizo amene ankafunikira. Choncho abale amene ankagwira ntchito ngati masekilitale anali ndi ntchito yaikulu yomasulira malipoti amene alembedwa ndi oyang’anira madera kuchoka mu Chikhosa, Chizulu, komanso zilankhulo zina kupita m’Chingelezi ndiponso kumasulira makalata a Chingelezi amene ofesi ya nthambi yalemba. Ndinkayamikira kwambiri omasulira akhamawa omwe ankandithandizanso kudziwa mavuto omwe abale athu achikuda ankakumana nawo.

Pa nthawi imeneyo, ku South Africa kunali ulamuliro watsankho. Mtundu uliwonse unkakhala ndi dera lake lokhala, choncho sizinkatheka kuti anthu amitundu yosiyana azichezerana. Abale athu achikuda ankalankhula zinenero zawo komanso kulalikira ndi kusonkhana m’mipingo ya zinenero zawo.

Sindinkadziwana ndi abale ambiri achikuda chifukwa nthawi zonse mipingo imene ndinkapatsidwa kuti ndikayendere inali ya Chingelezi. Koma tsopano ndinali ndi mwayi wodziwa miyambo ndi zikhalidwe za abale achikudawa. Ndinadziwa mavuto amene abale ankakumana nawo polimbana ndi miyambo yamakolo komanso zikhulupiriro zachipembedzo. Abalewo anali olimba mtima chifukwa ankakana kuchita nawo miyambo yosemphana ndi Malemba. Ndiponso ankatsutsidwa kwambiri ndi achibale komanso anthu a m’mudzi mwawo chifukwa chokana kuchita nawo zinthu zokhudzana ndi kukhulupirira mizimu. M’madera a kumidzi anthu anali osauka kwambiri. Ambiri anali anthu oti sanaphunzire mokwanira kapenanso sanapite kusukulu n’komwe, koma ankalemekeza Baibulo.

Ndinali ndi mwayi wothandiza nawo pa milandu ina ya kukhoti yokhudza ufulu wathu wa kulambira komanso kusalowerera ndale. Zinali zolimbikitsa kwambiri kuona kukhulupirika komanso kulimba mtima kwa ana a Mboni. Iwo ankachotsedwa sukulu chifukwa chokana kuchita nawo mapemphero komanso kuimba nyimbo ya fuko.

M’dziko lina laling’ono lomwe pa nthawiyo linkatchedwa Swaziland, abale anakumananso ndi vuto lina. Mfumu Sobhuza II itamwalira, anthu onse m’dzikolo ankafunika kuchita nawo miyambo ina ya maliro. Amuna ankafunika kumeta mipala ndipo akazi ankafunika kuyepula tsitsi lawo. Abale ndi alongo athu ambiri anazunzidwa chifukwa chokana kuchita nawo miyambo yokhudza kulambira makolo amene anamwalira. Kukhulupirika kwawo kwa Yehova kunatilimbikitsa kwambiri. Tinaphunzira zambiri pa nkhani yokhala wokhulupirika, wopirira komanso woleza mtima kuchokera kwa abale athu a ku Africa ndipo zimenezi zinalimbitsa chikhulupiriro chathu.

NDINABWERERANSO KOSINDIKIZA MABUKU

Mu 1981, ndinabwerera kosindikiza mabuku n’cholinga choti ndikathandize pa njira zogwiritsa ntchito makompyuta posindikiza. Imeneyitu inali nthawi yosangalatsa kwambiri chifukwa njira zogwiritsa ntchito posindikiza zinkapita patsogolo. Kampani ina inabweretsa mashini atsopano ku ofesi ya nthambi kuti tiwayese kwaulere. Zimenezi zinachititsa kuti tichotse mashini 9 akale, a mtundu wa Linotype n’kuika mashini 5 ooneka ngati makompyuta komanso makina atsopano osindikizira. Zimenezi zinathandiza kuti ntchito yosindikizayi iziyenda mofulumira kwambiri.

Kugwiritsa ntchito makompyuta kunathandiza kuti tipeze pulogalamu yatsopano yotchedwa MEPS, yothandiza pokonza mmene mabuku ndi magazini a ziyankhulo zosiyanasiyana azionekera akasindikizidwa. Kunena zoona, luso lopanga komanso kugwiritsa ntchito zinthu zamakono linali litapita patsogolo kuchokera pamene ine ndi anzanga a ku Beteli ya ku Canada tinabwera ndi mashini a Linotype ku South Africa. (Yes. 60:17) Pofika pa nthawiyi, tonsefe tinali titakwatira apainiya omwe ankakonda kwambiri Yehova. Ine ndi Bill tinali tikutumikirabe pa Beteli pomwe Ken ndi Dennis anali ndi ana ndipo ankakhala chapafupi.

Ntchito pa ofesi ya nthambi zinkawonjezereka. Mabuku othandiza pophunzira Baibulo ankamasuliridwa komanso kusindikizidwa m’zilankhulo zambiri ndipo ankatumizidwa ku maofesi a nthambi a mayiko ena. Choncho panafunika kuti pamangidwenso ofesi ya nthambi yatsopano. Abale anamanga ofesiyi m’dera lina lokongola kumadzulo kwa mzinda wa Johannesburg, ndipo inaperekedwa mu 1987. Ndinasangalala kugwira nawo ntchito yomwe inkawonjezerekayo komanso kutumikira mu Komiti ya Nthambi ku South Africa kwa zaka zambiri.

TINAPATSIDWA UTUMIKI WINANSO WATSOPANO

Ndinadabwa kwambiri mu 2001 pomwe ndinaitanidwa kuti ndikatumikire mu Komiti ya Nthambi ya ku United States, yomwe inali itangokhazikitsidwa kumene. Ngakhale kuti tinadandaula kusiya ntchito yathu komanso anzathu ku South Africa, tinasangalala kuti tikakhala mbali ya banja la Beteli ku United States.

Komabe tinkada nkhawa kuti titalikirana ndi mayi ake a Laura omwe pa nthawiyi anali achikulire. Sitikanatha kuwachitira zambiri tili ku New York, koma achemwali ake atatu a Laura anadzipereka kuti aziwasamalira komanso kuwathandiza kupeza zinthu zofunika. Iwo ananena kuti, “Ifeyo sitingathe kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse, koma tikamasamalira mayi, zithandiza kuti inuyo mupitirize utumiki wanu.” Timawayamikira kwambiri chifukwa cha zimenezi.

Pa nthawi yofananayo, mchimwene wanga ndi mkazi wake, omwe ankakhala ku Toronto, ku Canada, ankasamalira mayi anga omwe anali amasiye. Iwo anali atakhala nawo kwa zaka zoposa 20. Timawathokoza kwambiri chifukwa chowakonda komanso kuwasamalira mpaka pomwe anamwalira titangofika kumene ku New York. Ndi mwayi waukulu kukhala ndi achibale omwe ndi okonzeka kusintha zinthu zina pa moyo wawo n’cholinga choti asamalire makolo achikulire, zomwe nthawi zina zingakhale zovuta.

Kwa zaka zingapo, utumiki wanga ku United States unali wokhudzana ndi kuthandiza pa ntchito yosindikiza mabuku yomwe masiku ano ikugwiridwa mwamakono komanso m’njira yosavuta. Chaposachedwapa, ndakhala ndikugwira ntchito m’Dipatimenti Yogula Zinthu. Kunena zoona, zakhala zosangalatsa pa zaka 20 zapitazi kutumikira pa ofesi ya nthambi yaikulu chonchi yomwe ili ndi abale ndi alongo 5,000 otumikira pa Beteli komanso pafupifupi 2,000 omwe amayendera.

Zaka 60 zapitazo, sindinkaganiza kuti ndingadzafike pamene ndilipa. Laura wakhala akundithandiza ndi mtima wonse pa zaka zonsezi. Ndakhala moyo wabwino kwambiri. Timayamikira chifukwa cha mautumiki osiyanasiyana amene takhala tikuchita komanso anthu osangalatsa omwe takhala tikugwira nawo ntchito, kuphatikizaponso a m’ma ofesi a nthambi osiyanasiyana omwe tinayendera. Popeza panopa ndili ndi zaka zoposa 80, sindichita zambiri chifukwa pali abale ambiri achinyamata omwe aphunzitsidwa ntchito zosiyanasiyana.

Wolemba masalimo anati: “Wodala ndi mtundu umene Mulungu wawo ndi Yehova.” (Sal. 33:12) Zimenezitu ndi zoona. Ndimayamikira kwambiri kuti ndakhala ndi mwayi wotumikira Yehova limodzi ndi anthu ake achimwemwe.