Chiyembekezo cha Moyo Wanga Wonse—Kusafa Konse
MONGA MOMWE YASIMBIDWIRA NDI HECTOR R. PRIEST
“Kansa imeneyi singachiritsike,” anatero dokotala. “Sitingakuthandizenso m’njira ina.” Kupima kumeneko kunachitidwa zaka zoposa khumi zapitazo. Komabe ndikusungabe chiyembekezo cha m’Baibulo cha kukhala ndi moyo kosatha padziko lapansi popanda kufa konse.—Yohane 11:26.
MAKOLO anga anali a Methodist achangu amene anali kupita kutchalitchi nthaŵi zonse m’tauni yaing’ono osati patali kwambiri ndi pafamu ya banja lathu. Ndinabadwira m’chigwa cha minda yambiri chokongola cha Wairarapa, pafupifupi makilomita 130 kumpoto koma chakummaŵa kwa Wellington, New Zealand. Kumeneko tinali kusangalala ndi mapiri okhala ndi chipale pamwamba pake, mitsinje ya m’mapiri ya madzi angwiro, zitunda zambiri, ndi zidikha zachonde.
M’tchalitchi cha Methodist, anatiphunzitsa kuti anthu onse abwino amapita kumwamba koma oipa amapita ku helo, malo a chizunzo cha moto. Sindinali kumvetsetsa chifukwa chimene Mulungu sanaikiretu anthu kumwamba pachiyambi pomwe ngati anafunadi kuti iwo azikhala kumeneko. Nthaŵi zonse ndinali kuwopa imfa ndipo ndinalikudabwa chifukwa chimene tifunikira kufa. Mu 1927, pamene ndinali ndi zaka 16, banja lathu linakumana ndi tsoka. Zimenezi ndizo zimene zinandichititsa kufunafuna mayankho a mafunso anga.
Kodi Nchifukwa Ninji Reg Anamwalira?
Pamene mbale wanga Reg anali ndi zaka 11, anadwala kwambiri. Dokotala sanathe kupeza chimene chinali cholakwika ndipo sanathe kumthandiza. Amayi anaitana mbusa wachimethodist. Iyeyo anapempherera Reg, koma zimenezi sizinathe kutonthoza Amayi. Kunena zoona, iwo anauza mbusayo kuti mapemphero ake sanagwire ntchito.
Pamene Reg anamwalira, Amayi anali kulankhula ndi aliyense poyesa kuthetsa ludzu lawo la mayankho oona onena za chifukwa chimene mwana wawo wamng’ono anafera. Pamene anali kulankhula ndi mwamuna wina wamalonda m’tauni, iwo anafunsa ngati anadziŵa zilizonse ponena za mkhalidwe wa akufa. Sanali kudziŵa kalikonse, koma anati: “Munthu wina anandisiyira buku limene mungalitenge.”
Amayi anapita nalo kunyumba bukulo nayamba kuliŵerenga. Sanathe kulekeza kuliŵerenga. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi malingaliro awo onse anasintha. Iwo anauza banja lawo kuti, “Ehe; chimenechi ndicho choonadi.” Bukulo linali la The Divine Plan of the Ages, voliyumu yoyamba ya Studies in the Scriptures. Poyamba ndinali kukayika ndipo ndinayesa kutsutsa za mmene bukulo linanenera za chifuniro cha Mlengi. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi kutsuta kwanga kunatha.
Kulandira Choonadi cha Baibulo
Ndinaganiza kuti, ‘Tangolingalirani kukhala ndi moyo kosatha, osadzafanso!’ Chiyembekezo chimenechi nchimene munthu angayembekezere kuchokera kwa Mulungu wachikondi. Dziko lapansi la paradaiso! Inde, zimenezi nzimene ndinali kufuna.
Pambuyo pa kuphunzira choonadi chodabwitsa chimenechi, Amayi ndi alongo ena achikristu ochokera ku Wellington—mlongo Thompson, mlongo Barton ndi mlongo Jones—nthaŵi zina anali kuchokapo kwa masiku angapo, kukafalitsa mbewu ya Ufumu konsekonse m’malo akumidzi. Ngakhale kuti Atate analibe mzimu waumishonale ngati wa Amayi, iwo anawachirikiza m’zochita zawo.
Ndinakhulupirira kuti chimenechi chinali choonadi, koma panapita nthaŵi ndikumangochita zochepa pa zikhulupiriro zanga. Mu 1935, ndinakwatira Rowena Corlett ndipo m’kupita kwa nthaŵi tinakhala ndi mwana wamkazi, Enid, ndi wamwamuna, Barry. Ndinali kugwira ntchito monga wogula zifuyo, ndikumagula zifuyo zikwizikwi kuchokera kwa alimi apafupi. Pamene alimi ameneŵa anayamba kulankhula za ndale, ndinkasangalala pamene ndinawauza kuti: “Palibe zoyesayesa zilizonse za anthuzi zimene zidzapambana. Ufumu wa Mulungu ndiwo boma lokha limene lidzapambana.”
Momvetsa chisoni, ndinamwerekera ndi fodya; ndinali kukhala ndi fodya pakamwa panga nthaŵi zonse. Posapita nthaŵi ndinadwala, ndipo ndinagonekedwa m’chipatala chifukwa cha m’mimba mopweteka kwambiri. Anandiuza kuti ndinali ndi gastroenteritis yaikulu kwambiri, yochititsidwa ndi kusuta kwanga fodya. Ngakhale kuti ndinasiya chizoloŵezicho, sichinali chachilendo kwa ine kulota kuti ndinali kusuta ndudu yosatha. Kumwerekera ndi fodya nkoipa kotani nanga!
Nditaleka kusuta fodya, ndinapanga kusintha kwina kwakukulu. Mu 1939, pamene ndinali ndi zaka 28, ndinabatizidwa mumtsinje wa Mangatai pafupi ndi panyumba pathu kumudzi. Robert Lazenby, amene pambuyo pake anadzakhala woyang’anira ntchito ya kulalikira mu New Zealand, anayenda ulendo kuchokera ku Wellington kudzapereka nkhani kunyumba kwathu ndi kundibatiza. Kuchokera pamenepo, ndinakhala Mboni ya Yehova yolimba.
Kulinganiza Ntchito Yolalikira
Nditabatizidwa ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anira mpingo wa Eketahuna. Mkazi wanga, Rowena, anali asanalandirebe choonadi cha Baibulo. Komabe, ndinamuuza kuti ndinali kudzaitana Alf Bryant kuchokera ku Pahiatua kuti adzandionetse mmene ndingachitire bwino umboni wa kunyumba ndi nyumba. Ndinafuna kuti ndilinganize ntchito yolalikira ndi kufola gawo lathu mwadongosolo.
Rowena anati: “Hector, ukapita kukalalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba, sundipeza pano. Ndikusiya. Thayo lako lili pano—panyumba ndi banja lako.”
Sindinadziŵe chochita. Mozengereza, ndinasintha zovala. ‘Ndiyenera kuchita zimenezi,’ ndinapitiriza kulingalira motero. ‘Moyo wanga udalira pa zimenezi, monganso moyo wa a mbanja langa.’ Motero ndinamtsimikizira Rowena kuti sindinali kufuna kumkhumudwitsa m’njira iliyonse. Ndinamuuza kuti ndimamkonda kwambiri, koma chifukwa chakuti dzina la Yehova ndi uchifumu wake, pamodzinso ndi moyo wathu, zinaloŵetsedwamo, ndinafunikira kulalikira m’njira imeneyi.
Ineyo ndi Alf tinapita pakhomo loyamba, ndipo anayambirira kulankhula. Komano ndinamlanda mawu m’makambitsiranowo, ndikumauza mwini nyumba kuti zimene zinachitika m’tsiku la Nowa nzofanana ndi zimene zikuchitika m’tsiku lathu ndi kuti tifunikira kuchitapo kanthu kuti tikhale otsimikizira ponena za chipulumutso chathu. (Mateyu 24:37-39) Ndinasiya timabuku tingapo pamenepo.
Pamene tinali kuchoka, Alf anati: “Kodi chidziŵitso chonse chija unachitenga kuti? Sufunikiranso ine. Pita wekha, ndipo tidzafola gawo limeneli kuŵirikiza kaŵiri.” Motero tinachita zimenezo.
Pamene tinali kubwerera kunyumba, sindinadziŵe zimene zinali kunyumba. Mondidabwitsa ndi mondisangalatsa, Rowena anali atatipangira kale tiyi. Pambuyo pa milungu iŵiri mkazi wanga anapita nane mu utumiki wapoyera nakhala chitsanzo chabwino chachangu chachikristu.
Pakati pa oyambirira kukhala Mboni za Yehova m’chigwa chathu cha minda panali Maud Manser, mwana wake wamwamuna William, ndi mwana wake wamkazi Ruby. Mwamuna wa Maud anali munthu waukali wa maonekedwe owopsa. Tsiku lina ineyo ndi Rowena tinafika pafamu pawo kudzatenga Maud kumka naye mu utumiki. William wachichepere anali atalinganiza kuti tigwiritsire ntchito galimoto lake, koma atate wake anali ndi malingaliro ena.
Mkhalidwe wake unali woipa. Ndinapempha Rowena kugwira khanda lathu, Enid. Ndinaloŵa m’galimoto la William ndi kutuluka nalo m’galaja mwamsanga pamene a Manser anathamanga kukayesa kutseka chitseko cha galajayo tisanatuluke. Koma analephera. Titayenda mtunda pang’ono m’kanjira kokatulukira mumsewu waukulu, tinaima, ndipo ndinatuluka m’galimoto kukakumana ndi a Manser okwiya. Ndinawauza kuti: “Tikupita kuutumiki wakumunda, ndipo akazi anu akupita nafe.” Ndinawachonderera, ndipo ukali wawo unatsika. Ndikamakumbukira zimenezo, ndimalingalira kuti bwenzi ndikanachitira mwina, koma pambuyo pake iwo anakhala oyanja kwambiri Mboni za Yehova, ngakhale kuti iwowo sanakhalepo Mboni.
M’zakazo panali anthu a Yehova oŵerengeka okha. Ndipo tinasangalaladi ndi kupindula ndi kuchezeredwa ndi atumiki a nthaŵi yonse amene anakhala nafe pa famu yathu. Alendo ameneŵa anaphatikizapo Adrian Thompson ndi mlongo wake Molly, aŵiri onsewo amene analoŵa makalasi oyambirira a Sukulu ya Baibulo ya Gileadi ya Watchtower ya amishonale natumikira m’magawo achilendo ku Japan ndi Pakistan.
Zokumana Nazo za m’Nthaŵi ya Nkhondo
Mu September 1939, Nkhondo ya Dziko II inayamba, ndipo mu October 1940, boma la New Zealand linaletsa ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova. Abale athu achikristu ambiri anaperekedwa ku mabwalo amilandu a m’dziko lino. Ena anaponyedwa m’ndende nasiyanitsidwa ndi akazi awo ndi ana. Pamene nkhondoyo inali mkati, ngakhale kuti tinali ndi famu ya mkaka, ndinalingalira kuti mwina adzandiitana kukaloŵa usilikali. Ndiyeno chilengezo chinaperekedwa chakuti palibe m’chikumbe aliyense adzatengedwa kukaloŵa usilikali.
Ineyo ndi Rowena tinapitiriza utumiki wathu wachikristu, aliyense wa ife akumathera maola oposa 60 pamwezi m’ntchito yolalikira. Mkati mwa nthaŵi imeneyi, ndinali ndi mwaŵi wakuthandiza Mboni zachichepere zimene zinali kusunga uchete wawo wachikristu. Ndinawaimira m’mabwalo a milandu a ku Wellington, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, ndi Masterton. Nthaŵi zambiri pa bungwe la oweruza panali kukhala mtsogoleri wachipembedzo, ndipo chinali chokondweretsa kuvumbula kuchirikiza kwawo nkhondo kosakhala kwachikristu.—1 Yohane 3:10-12.
Usiku wina pamene ineyo ndi Rowena tinali kuphunzira Nsanja ya Olonda, atekitivi anatiloŵerera. Kufufuza kwawo kunavumbula mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo m’nyumba mwathu. “Mutha kupita nazo kundende zimenezi,” anatiuza motero. Pamene atekitivi analoŵa m’galimoto lawo kuti azipita, anapeza kuti mabuleki anali atagwira ndipo galimoto silinathe kuyenda. William Manser anathandiza kukonza galimotolo, ndipo anthuwo sanabwerenso.
Mkati mwa chiletso, tinali kubisa mabuku athu ofotokoza Baibulo m’nyumba ina yokhala kumalekezero a famu yathu. Pakati pausiku, ndinkapita ku ofesi yanthambi ya New Zealand ndi kudzaza galimoto langa ndi mabuku. Ndiyeno ndinkawabweretsa kunyumba ndi kuwasunga m’nyumba imeneyo ya pafamu. Usiku wina pamene ndinafika panthambi kudzatenga mtokoma wobisa, mwadzidzidzi pamalo ponsepo panaŵala! Apolisi anafuula kuti: “Takugwira!” Koma modabwitsa, anandisiya popanda kundivutitsa kwambiri.
Mu 1949, ineyo ndi Rowena tinagulitsa famuyo ndi kusankha kuchita upainiya mpaka ndalama zathu zitatha. Tinasamukira kunyumba ina ku Masterton ndi kuchita upainiya ndi mpingo wa Masterton. M’zaka ziŵiri mpingo wa Featherston unapangidwa ndi ofalitsa okangalika 24, ndipo ndinatumikira monga woyang’anira wotsogoza. Ndiyeno, mu 1953, ndinapatsidwa mwaŵi wopita ku United States kukapezeka pamsonkhano wa mitundu yonse wa Mboni za Yehova wa masiku asanu ndi atatu ku Yankee Stadium mu New York City. Rowena sanathe kupita nane chifukwa anafunikira kusamalira mwana wathu, Enid, amene anadwala matenda a cerebral palsy.
Nditabwerera ku New Zealand, ndinayamba kugwira ntchito yolembedwa. Tinabwereranso kumpingo wa Masterton, kumene ndinaikidwa kukhala woyang’anira wotsogoza. Panthaŵi imeneyi William Manser anagula Little Theater ku Masterton, ndipo imeneyi inakhala Nyumba ya Ufumu yoyamba mu Wairarapa. M’ma 1950, mpingo wathu unapita bwino patsogolo mwauzimu ndi kuwonjezereka. Motero, pamene woyang’anira dera anafika, kaŵirikaŵiri anali kusonkhezera okhwima kusamukira ku mbali zina za dzikoli kukathandizira ntchito yolalikira kumeneko, ndipo ambiri anachita zimenezo.
Banja lathu linakhalabe mu Masterton, ndipo m’zaka makumi zotsatirapo, sindinali chabe ndi mwaŵi mumpingo koma ndinasangalalanso ndi magawo pamisonkhano yamdzikolo ndi ya mitundu yonse yomwe. Mwachangu Rowena anakhala ndi phande mu utumiki wakumunda, akumathandiza ena mosalekeza kuchita chimodzimodzi.
Kupirira Ziyeso za Chikhulupiriro
Monga ndanenera poyamba, mu 1985, ndinapimidwa ndi kupezedwa ndi kansa yosachiritsika. Mmene ineyo, mkazi wanga wokhulupirika, Rowena, pamodzinso ndi ana athu, tinafunira nanga kukhala pakati pa mamiliyoni amene ali ndi moyo tsopano amene sadzafa konse! Koma madokotala ananditumiza kunyumba kukamwalira. Komabe, choyamba, anandifunsa mmene ndinaonera kupimidwako.
“Ndidzakhalabe wabata ndi kukhalabe ndi chiyembekezo,” ndinayankha motero. Indedi, mwambi wa Baibulo unakhala chitonthozo changa: “Mtima wabwino ndi moyo wa thupi.”—Miyambo 14:30.
Akatswiri a kansa anatamanda uphungu wa Baibulowo. “Malingaliro amenewo ali 90 peresenti ya kuchiza odwala kansa,” iwo anatero. Iwo anavomerezanso kuti ndipatsidwe mankhwala mwa radiation kwa milungu isanu ndi iŵiri. Mwamwaŵi ndinachira kansayo.
Mkati mwa nthaŵi yovuta imeneyi, ndinakanthidwa nkhonya yopweteka. Mkazi wanga wokongola ndi wokhulupirika anadwala matenda ochucha mwazi mu ubongo [brain hemorrhage] ndi kumwalira. Ndinapeza chitonthozo m’zitsanzo za anthu okhulupirika olembedwa m’Malemba ndi mmene Yehova anathetsera mavuto awo pamene anasungabe umphumphu wawo. Motero, ndinakhalabe ndi chiyembekezo changa cha dziko latsopano.—Aroma 15:4.
Ngakhale kuti zinali choncho, ndinachitabe tondovi ndipo ndinafuna kuleka kutumikira monga mkulu. Abale akumaloko anandilimbikitsa mpaka ndinakhalanso ndi mphamvu yakupitiriza. Motero ndakhoza kutumikira mosalekeza monga mkulu wachikristu ndi woyang’anira kwa zaka 57 zapitazi.
Kuyang’ana Kutsogolo ndi Chiyembekezo
Kutumikira Yehova m’zaka zonsezi kwakhala mwaŵi wosayerekezereka. Ha, mmene madalitso achulukira nanga! Kukuoneka ngati kuti sikale kwambiri, monga wazaka 16, pamene ndinamva amayi akunena kuti: “Ehe; chimenechi ndicho choonadi!” Amayi anakhalabe Mboni yokhulupirika ndi yachangu mpaka panthaŵi ya imfa yawo mu 1979, pamene anali ndi zaka zoposa 100. Mwana wawo wamkazi ndi ana awo aamuna asanu ndi mmodzi anakhalanso Mboni zokhulupirika.
Chikhumbo changa champhamvu ndicho kukhala ndi moyo ndi kuona kuyeretsedwa kwa dzina la Yehova pa chitonzo chonse. Kodi ndidzaonadi chiyembekezo changa cha kusafa konse chikukwaniritsidwa? Zoonadi, zimenezo zidzadziŵika mtsogolo. Komabe, ndili ndi chidaliro chakuti ambiri, inde, mamiliyoni m’kupita kwa nthaŵi adzakhala ndi dalitso limenelo. Motero malinga ngati ndikhalabe ndi moyo, ndidzasungabe chiyembekezo cha kukhala pakati pa awo amene sadzafa konse.—Yohane 11:26.
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Amayi
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Ine, mkazi wanga ndi ana anga