Ukuba Senza Ukuthanda KukaThixo, Akasayi Kuze Asishiye
Ngokubaliswa nguGrete Schmidt
NDAZALELWA eBudapest, eHungary, ngowe-1915. Kwakugquba imfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, ibe utata wayeseluqilimeni lomkhosi wamaOstriya namaHungary. Xa wafayo emva konyaka, uMama wabuyela kunye nam eYugoslavia, apho zazihlala khona izihlobo zakhe.
Ekubeni uMama engazange aphinde atshate, kwanyanzeleka ukuba afune umsebenzi, ngoko wayithi tyu emagxeni kadade wabo imbopheleleko yokundikhulisa. Umakazi wayenefama ekumgama omalunga neekhilomitha ezintlanu ukusuka kwisixeko saseMaribor esikumntla weYugoslavia. Apho ndachitha iminyaka emininzi yolonwabo, ndisoloko ndikhangele phambili kusuku lwangeCawa xa uMama wayeza kuza evela eMaribor ukuza kutyelela. Kwangaxeshanye, ndandikulangazelela ngokugqithiseleyo ukuba notata.
Ulwalamano NoBawo
Izalamane zam zazingamaKatolika, ibe ekubeni izulu nesihogo zinendima ebalulekileyo kunqulo lwamaKatolika, ingqondo yam yaqalisa ukubethabethana. Ndavakalelwa ndingalilungele ngokupheleleyo izulu, kodwa ndakwavakelelwa ndingembi ngokupheleleyo ukuba ndingagwetyelwa isihogo. Ndathetha ngale ngxaki naye wonke ubani, ukususela kumakhulu ukuya kumfundisi wale dolophana.
UMama wayengoyena ndandimkhathaza ngokungakumbi. Ngoko emva kweenyanga ezithile, wandinika incwadana ebhalwe ngolwimi lwaseSlovenia ethi, Bapina Abafileyo?, awayeyifumene edolophini. UMama yena wayengayifundanga, kodwa wayecinga ukuba yayisenokuyiphendula imibuzo yam.
Andizange ebomini bam bonke ndifunde nayiphi na impapasho ngokufuthi njengaloo ncwadana! Ayizange iphelele nje ekuphenduleni imibuzo yam emalunga nobomi nokufa kodwa yakwandibonisa indlela yokuba nolwalamano olusenyongweni noBawo wasezulwini. Ndaodola iincwadana ezintlanu ngenjongo yokuzisasaza phambi kwecawa.
Kwidolophana yethu amabhinqa ayesiya kwiinkonzo zecawa ngosuku lwangeCawa, kodwa amadoda ayehlala ngaphandle exoxa ngemicimbi yawo ayithandayo, imfuyo nezolimo. Ngaloo ndlela, ngoxa umfundisi wayeshumayela kumabhinqa ecaweni, ndandishumayela emadodeni ngaphandle. Ndandineminyaka eli-15 kuphela ubudala, ibe kuyabonakala ukuba ayeyivuyela inzondelelo yam yobutsha, kuba ayezihlawulela iincwadana, ibe umnikelo ndandiwusebenzisela ekufumaneni ezintsha.
Kungekudala umfundisi wawazi umsebenzi wam waza wathetha nomakazi. KwiCawa elandelayo, walumkisa ekwiqonga lokushumayela wenjenje: “Ngokuqinisekileyo, akukho namnye kwidolophana yethu ovaleke ngohlobo lokuba angade akholelwe kumabali oweshumi elivisayo.” Ngenxa yoko, wonk’ ubani kuloo dolophana wandijikela. Kwanomakazi wayedanile waza waxelela umama ukuba wayengasenakundigcina.
Ngokwenene ndaziva ndishiywe kwesinomhlwa, kodwa ngomthandazo kuYehova, ndafumana intuthuzelo ndaza ndazuza amandla kwakhona. Ndafudukela eMaribor nomama, ibe sasinethuba elimnandi gqitha kunye. Nangona wayengabelani nam kwiingenelo zokomoya, wayendivumela ukuba ndiye kwiintlanganiso zebandla elincinane elalilapho. NgoAgasti 15, 1931, ndafuzisela ukuzahlulela kwam kuThixo ngokubhaptizwa emanzini.
Okwandenza ndabuhlungu gqitha kukuba, ngequbuliso uMama wagula waza wafa kwiiveki ezimbalwa kamva. Amazwi akhe okugqibela awawathetha kum asabethelelekile kwiinkumbulo zam: “Gretel, sithandwa sam, bambelela elukholweni lwakho. Ndiqinisekile ukuba luyinyaniso.” Emva kokufa kwakhe, kwakhona ndaziva ndishiywe enyanyeni ngeendlela evis’ ubuhlungu, ukanti ulwalamano lwam noBawo wethu wasezulwini lwandizimasa.
Isibini esasingenabantwana baso sandithabatha, ibe ndasebenza njengomqeshwa ongumfundi kwivenkile yokusik’ impahla eyayiphethwe yinkosikazi. Ndandime kakuhle kwicala lezinto eziphathekayo, kodwa umnqweno wentliziyo yam wawukukukhonza uThixo ixesha elizeleyo. Kwibandla lethu elincinane laseMaribor, sonke saseyisekile kukuba ixesha elisaseleyo lale nkqubo yezinto lalilifutshane. (1 Korinte 7:29) Ndamcela uYehova emfihlekweni kwimithandazo yam ukuba akumisele elinye ixesha ukungenelela kwakhe de ndigqibe ukuba ngumqeshwa ongumfundi. Ndagqiba ngoJuni 15, 1933, ibe ngosuku nje olulandelayo, ndalishiya ikhaya ukuze ndiqalise ubuvulindlela! Ngenxa yokuba ndandisemtsha—ndandineminyaka eli-17 kuphela ubudala—kwanabanye babazalwana bazama ukundalela, kodwa ndandizimisele.
Imihla Yokuqala Yokuba Nguvulindlela
Isabelo sam sokuqala sasiseZagreb, isixeko esinabemi abamalunga nama-200 000 engekude eMaribor. Eli bandla lalinabavakalisi abathandathu kuphela. Ndafunda lukhulu ngokusebenza noMzalwan’ uTuc̀ek, uvulindlela wokuqala ngqa eYugoslavia. Kamva, ndaba nguvulindlela ndodwa phantse unyaka. Noko ke, ngokuthe ngcembe, kwafika oovulindlela abangakumbi bevela eJamani, ekubeni umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuthe kutshanje wapheliswa apho ngurhulumente wamaNazi.
Ndanceda izibini eziliqela zoovulindlela ngokukhonza njengomguquleli wazo. Ukusebenza nala maKristu akhulileyo kwakungamava axabiseke gqitha kum. Ndakhula elwazini nasekuqondeni, ibe uxabiso lwam lwakhula ngokungaguquguqukiyo ngenxa yelungelo lokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani.
Ekuhambeni kwexesha, saba liqela elichukumisayo loovulindlela abangama-20 abakhonza kuMazwe aseBalkan. Ukubambisana kwethu ekuzabalazeleni ukwenza iLizwi likaThixo laziwe kwasenza samanyana, mntu ngamnye ekulungele ukunceda omnye xa eswele. Sonke sasishukunyiswa kukukhululeka okufunyanwa kuphela phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo. Le “ntambo yogqibelelo” ikhethekileyo, uthando, iyaqhubeka phakathi kwabo beli qela abasaphilayo namhlanje.—Kolose 3:14.
Ubomi bobuvulindlela buzaliswe ngamava yaye bukuxhobisela izinto ezininzi ngendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo njengamafu esibhakabhakeni. Saziva sityetyiswa ngamava axabisekileyo okwazi amazwe nabantu ebesikade singabazi, kuquka amasiko abo nendlela abaphila ngayo. Ngaphandle koko, saba namava endlela uYehova abakhathalela ngayo abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo, kanye njengokuba uPawulos esiqinisekisa kwabase-Efese 3:20: ‘Ngokokwamandla akhe asebenzayo ngaphakathi kwethu, wenza okungaphezu kweento zonke ngokugqithiseleyo, ngaphezu kwesikucelayo nesinokukuqiqa.’
Ukusikhathalela kukaYehova ngokunothando kwabonakaliswa xa uMzalwan’ uHonegger wasityelelayo evela eSwitzerland waza waphawula ukuba kwakufuneka ukuba sihambe umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-40 ukuya kufikelela kwiidolophana ezikude ezikufutshane neZagreb. Waphawula ukuba siyazikhulula izihlangu zethu size sizixwaye emagxeni ethu nje sakuba sisishiyile isixeko ukuze silondoloze iisoli. Ngoko wasithengela iibhayisikile ezili-12, nakubeni, njengoko watshoyo kamva, wachithela yonk’ imali yakhe kuzo! Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova uyazishukumisa iintliziyo zabathe tye. Iibhayisikile, njengesipho esivela ezulwini, zakhonza njengamaqabane ethu athembekileyo ebudeni beminyaka engama-25 yenkonzo yobuvulindlela.
Ngenye imini, mna, uWilli noElisabeth Wilke safika kwidolophana enkudlwana noko yaseCroatia, apho ngamnye wethu wayesebenza yedwa—ukusuka kwimimandla emelene naloo dolophana ukuya kumbindi wayo. Sasihambisa incwadana ethi Umlawuli Olungileyo, eyayinomfanekiso kaYesu Kristu kwiphepha elinomxholo. Unyaka nje ngaphambi koko, ngowe-1934, ukumkani waseYugoslavia, uAlexander, wayebulewe, ibe unyana wakhe uPeter wayeza kungena ezihlangwini zakhe. Noko ke, abemi bedolophu babekhetha ukuzilawula kunolawulo lokumkani ovela eSerbia (emazantsi eYugoslavia).
Emva kweeyure ezimbini sishumayela, imikhwazo enengxolo yayivakala ivela kumbindi wedolophana. Apho, mna noMzalwan’ uWilke safumana uDade uWilke engqongwe liqela lamadoda nabafazi abamalunga nama-20, bambi bexhobe ngamarhengqa, abanye bexakekile betshisa iincwadana zethu. UDade uWilke wayengakwazi ukuluthetha kakuhle ulwimi lwalapho ukuba angaphelisa ukungamthembi kwabemi baloo dolophana.
Ndakhala ndisithi, “Manene namanenekazi, nenza ntoni?”
“Asimfuni uKumkani uPeter!” baphendula phantse ngazwinye.
Ndaphendula ndathi, “Nathi ngokukwanjalo.”
Bemangalisiwe, aba bantu balatha kumfanekiso okwincwadana baza babuza, “Ke kutheni nimpapasha nje?” Babebhidanise uYesu Kristu noKumkani uPeter!
Ukungaqondani kwalungiswa, ibe sanikela ubungqina obucokisekileyo ngokuphathelele uKumkani uYesu Kristu. Bambi ababezitshisile iincwadana zabo ngoku babefuna ezintsha. Sayishiya loo dolophana sonwabile, sivakalelwa kukuba isandla sikaYehova esikhuselayo sasinathi.
Kamva sakwandisela eBosnia ukushumayela kwethu, inxalenye ekumbindi weYugoslavia. Apho, phantse isiqingatha sabantu sasingamaSilamsi, ibe kwakhona sasijamelene namasiko amatsha kwaneenkolelo ezininzi. Kwezo dolophana, abantu abazange balibone ibhinqa likhwele ibhayisikile, ngoko ukufika kwethu kwakukokuthile okubangel’ ivuso, kuvuselela ukufun’ ukwazi. Iinkokeli zonqulo zasasaza ulurhe lokuba ibhinqa elikhwele ibhayisikile lizisa ilishwa kuloo dolophana. Emva koko sasizishiya ngaphandle kwale dolophana iibhayisikile zethu size singene ngeenyawo.
Ekubeni ngoku uncwadi lwethu lwaluvaliwe, ngokufuthi abakwantsasana babesibamba. Ngokuqhelekileyo, saxelelwa ukuba siphume siphele kwelo phondo. Abakwantsasana ababini babeza kusipheleka ukuya emdeni, umgama osusela kwiikhilomitha ezingama-50 ukuya kwezili-100. Bamangaliswa kukuba sasiziinkweli ezinjalo zeebhayisikile, sikwazi ukuhambisana nabo phezu kwaso nje isibakala sokuba sasithwele zonke iimpahla zethu noncwadi nesitovu esincinane separafini. Aba baphahli bethu babesoloko bevuyiswa kukufumana indlu yabahambi ekufutshane nendlela, ibe ngokufuthi babesimema ukuze sifumane into ethile eselwayo okanye kwanesidlo. Sasizinandipha ezi zihlandlo, njengoko ngenxa yomxhesho wethu omncinane wemali sasingakwazi ukuthenga ezo zidlo zongezelelekileyo. Kambe ke, salisebenzisa eli thuba ukuze sibaxelele ngethemba lethu, ibe ngokufuthi babedla ngokuzamkela iimpapasho zethu “ezalelweyo.” Kamva, sahlukana kakuhle.
Kwafika unyaka we-1936. Sasishumayela eSerbia xa kwafika iindaba zokuba indibano yezizwe ngezizwe yayiza kuqhutyelwa eLucerne, eSwitzerland, ngoSeptemba. Uduladula okhethekileyo wayeza kuhamba esuka eMaribor, kodwa oko kwakuziikhilomitha ezingama-700 ukusuka apho sasikhona—uhambo olude ngebhayisikile! Sekunjalo, saqalisa ukugcina imali yethu ibe, kamva kuloo nyaka, sathabatha uhambo.
Sasidla ngokucela imvume kubantu beefama ukuze silalise kwizindlu zabo zefula kunokuhlawulela igumbi kwindlu yabahambi. Kusasa, sasibuza ukuba sasingaluthenga na ubisi kubo, kodwa ngokuqhelekileyo babesinika ngesisa ibe maxa wambi bongezelele ngesidlo sakusasa esipheleleyo. Sasisenzelwa ububele bobuntu obugqithiseleyo, ibe oku kwahlala kuyinxalenye eyonwabisayo yeenkumbulo zethu zobuvulindlela.
Ngaphambi kokuba sinduluke eMaribor ukuya eLucerne, kwafika oovulindlela abangakumbi bevela eJamani. Phakathi kwabo kwakukho uAlfred Schmidt, owayekhonze kangangeminyaka esibhozo kwiBheteli yaseMagdeburg, eJamani. Unyaka kamva ndaba ngumkakhe.
Phantse bonke oovulindlela baseYugoslavia bakwazi ukuya kwindibano eyayiseLucerne. Yayiyindibano yokuqala endaya kuyo, ibe ndandidideke ingqondo luthando nenkathalo eyabonakaliswa ngabazalwana baseSwitzerland, ngaphandle kokuchukunyiswa bubuhle besixeko saseLucerne. Andizange ndazi ukuba kwiminyaka engama-20 kamva, ndandiza kuba nguvulindlela apho!
Ukusebenza Phantsi Kwemiqathango
Sivela kwiSwitzerland entle sisiya eYugoslavia, kungekudala saqalisa ukuba namava entshutshiso yokwenene. Sabanjwa saza savalelwa kwintolongo enkulu yaseBelgrade. Umzalwana owayenembopheleleko yomsebenzi waseYugoslavia wacela imvume yokusityelela, kodwa akazange avunyelwe. Noko ke, wathetha nomlindi wentolongo ngelizwi eliphakame kangangokuba sibe nokumva, ibe sona ngokwaso isandi selizwi lakhe sasilukhuthazo olugqithiseleyo kuthi.
Emva kweentsuku ezimbalwa, sathatyathwa sikhonkxiwe sasiwa kumda waseHungary; uncwadi nemali yethu zazithinjiwe. Ngaloo ndlela, safika eBudapest singenayo nesent’ emdaka, kodwa sineentwala ezininzi ezijinga kuthi njengesikhumbuzo sentolongo. Kungekudala sadibana nabanye oovulindlela saza sabelana nabo emsebenzini wokushumayela apha.
Yonke iMivulo thina boovulindlela baseBudapest sasidibana kwiTurkish bath, ibe ngoxa sinyamekela imizimba yethu, abazalwana noodade ngokwahlukahlukeneyo babenandipha ‘ukuvuselelana ngokholo lomnye nomnye.’ (Roma 1:12) Kwakhona ukuhlanganisana rhoqo kwakunceda ekukhangeleni ukuba akungebi kukho ubani ogulayo okanye obanjiweyo kusini na.
Sasibuziqhelisa kancinane izinto ezintsha ezisingqongileyo xa, emva kweenyanga ezintandathu, imvume yethu yokuba ngabemi baseHungary yaphelelwayo. Ngelo thuba, mna noAlfred sasitshatile. Ngoku safumana imiyalelo yokufumana imvume yokuhlala eBulgaria. Isibini esingoovulindlela apho sasigxothiwe, ibe iincwadana ezingamawaka alishumi ababeziodile zazisele zikwigumbi elincinane lokushicilela eliseSofia. Uncwadi lwesi sibini lwalutshiswe esidlangalaleni, ngoko sasilwazi uhlobo lwempatho esasifanele siyilindele.
Ekugqibeleni sayifumana imvume yokuhlala iinyanga ezintathu eBulgaria. Sasidlula eYugoslavia ebusuku, ibe umzalwana onokuthenjwa wayesihlangabeza kwisikhululo esasimchazele ngaso kwangaphambili enemali yokuthenga iincwadana. Ekugqibeleni, safika ngokukhuselekileyo eSofia saza safumana igumbi elifanelekileyo.
ISofia yayisisixeko sanamhla esinabemi abamalunga nama-300 000, kodwa kwakungekho maNgqina apho. Usuku emva kokufika kwethu, saya kwigumbi lokushicilela. Umninilo wayevile ngokuvalwa koncwadi lwethu nokugxothwa kwesibini esasiodole iincwadana, ngoko xa wevayo ukuba sasize kuthenga zona, waphantse wasiwola. Sazipakisha ezi ncwadana kwizingxobo ezingenanto saza saqhuba sidlula abakwantsasana abaliqela, abo, endivuyayo ukuthi, babengenakukuva ukubetha kweentliziyo zethu okukhawulezileyo!
Ingxaki yethu elandelayo yayiyindawo yokugcina ezi ncwadana nendlela yokuhambisa eso sixa sikhulu kangako ngeenyanga nje ezintathu kuphela. Ngokwenene ndandiboyika ubuninzi bezo ncwadana! Ndandingazange ndizibone ezininzi kangako. Kodwa kwakhona uYehova waba nguMncedi wethu. Saba nempumelelo egqithiseleyo, sihambisa ukuya kutsho kwezili-140 ngosuku, ibe kwiiveki ezimbalwa, uMzalwana noDad’ uWilke bafika ukuza kusinceda.
Noko ke, ngenye imini, izinto zaphantse zahamba kakubi. Ndandishumayela kummandla wezoshishino apho kucango ngalunye kwakukho icwecwe ekubhalwe kulo amagama ooGqirha. Emva kweeyure ezimalunga nesibini, ndadibana nenene elikhulileyo elandiphicothayo ngokungandithembi. Landibuza enoba ndandizazi na apho ndandikhona.
Ndaphendula ndathi, “Andisigqibi ncam ukuba kanye kanye sisakhiwo santoni esi, kodwa ndiphawule ukuba onke amagqwetha abekekileyo kubonakala edibanise iiofisi zawo apha.”
Laphendula lathi, “UkuBulungiseleli beSebe leZekhaya.”
Nangona intliziyo yam yaphantse ukuma, ndaphendula ngokuzolileyo: “Ewe, yiyo le nto onke la manene ebenobuhlobo kangaka kum!” Le ntetho yasithambisa isimo salo sengqondo, ibe layibuyisela kum incwadi yam yokundwendwela emva kokuyijonga ngokucokisekileyo. Ndemka apho ndikhululekile, ndimbulela uYehova ngenkuselo yakhe.
Ekugqibeleni, zonke iincwadana zazihanjisiwe, ibe lwafika usuku lokuba silishiye “ilizwe leeroses,” iBulgaria. Kwakunzima ukushiya abantu abanobubele ngolo hlobo, kodwa iinkumbulo zabo zabetheleleka ngokunzulu ezintliziyweni zethu.
Ekubeni sasineencwadi zokundwendwela zaseJamani, sakwazi ukubuyela eYugoslavia, kodwa sanikwa ithuba elifutshane kuphela lokuhlala. Emva koko, ukuze sibaleke ukubanjwa, kwanyanzeleka ukuba silale kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo ubusuku ngabunye. Sahlala ngale ndlela kangangeenyanga ezintandathu. Ngoko, ebudeni besiqingatha sokugqibela sowe-1938, safumana ileta evela kwiofisi yoMbutho yaseBern, eSwitzerland, isiyalela ukuba sizame ukuza eSwitzerland. Umkhosi wamaNazi wawusele uyithimbile iOstriya, ibe amandla obupolitika ayekhula. Enyanisweni, urhulumente waseYugoslavia wayesele ethumele abanye boovulindlela baseJamani kumaNazi.
Ngoko mna nomyeni wam sahamba ngeendlela ezahlukeneyo ukuya eSwitzerland, uAlfred ngendlela eya eItali ndaza mna ndahamba ngetyhubela iOstriya. Sadibana ngokuvuyisayo saza sabelwa ukusebenza kwifama yoMbutho, iChanélaz, ibe kamva kwiBheteli yaseBern. La yayingamava amatsha ngokupheleleyo kum. Ngoku kwakufuneka ndifunde ukugcina indlu ngendlela yaseSwitzerland, ibe ndayixabisa intlangano kaYehova ngaphezulu kunanini na ngaphambili.
Amandla KaYehova Azimasayo
Emva kokukhonza eBheteli ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II nasemva kwayo, ngowe-1952 mna noAlfred kwakhona sangenela umsebenzi wobuvulindlela, umsebenzi owabuxonxayo ubomi bethu. Asizange sibe nabo abantwana abangabethu, kodwa ekuhambeni kweminyaka, siye safumana amazwi amaninzi othando avela kubantwana bethu bokomoya. Ngokomzekelo, ngoFebruwari 1975 safumana le leta imfutshane ilandelayo:
“Ndikhumbula mhla indoda esisilumko, eneenwele ezingwevu yatyelela umyaleli olukhuni weCawa Yobuvangeli waza wamqhubela isifundo seBhayibhile. Ngokuzibamba nangomoya ogxekayo, mna nentsapho yakowethu savuma saza ngoko sahlolisisa ngongoma nganye kanye njengamaBhereya, de kwanyanzeleka ukuba sivume ukuba nisizisele inyaniso. . . . Olunjani uhlobo loBawo onobubele uYehova uThixo ngokwenene alulo! Yena makadunyiswe abongwe aze abulelwe ngabo bonke ububele nenceba yakhe. Kodwa sifuna ukunibulela nani, Alfred noGretel othandekayo, ngokusuka emazantsi eentliziyo zethu, ngomonde onyamekileyo enawubonakalisayo kuthi. Wanga uYehova anganisikelela ngokutyebileyo ngako oko. Sinethemba elinyanisekileyo lokuba nathi uya kusinika amandla okunyamezela.”
NgoNovemba 1975 umyeni wam uAlfred wafa ngequbuliso ngokuhlaselwa yintliziyo. Kangangeminyaka engama-38 sasikhonze uYehova kunye, sinyamezela amahla-ndinyuka obuvulindlela. Oku kwenza ukuba ulwalamano lwethu lube lolusondeleyo. Phofu ke, ngenxa yokufa kwakhe la ngcinga yokungabi nto yanto neyokushiywa kwesinomhlwa yandichwechwela kwakhona. Kodwa ngokumenza igwiba uYehova, ndathuthuzeleka kwakhona.
Ulwalamano lwam noBawo wethu wasezulwini luye lwandizimasa ukutyhubela iminyaka engaphezu kwama-53 kwinkonzo yakhe yexesha elizeleyo. Ibe uluvo lwam luyaqhubeka lulolo lukaYesu Kristu: “Andindedwa, ngokuba uBawo unam.”—Yohane 16:32.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
UAlfred noFrieda Tuc̀ek kubuvulindlela eYugoslavia bexhobe ngokupheleleyo, ngowe-1937
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 25]
UAlfred noGrete Schmidt bengoovulindlela eMostar, icandelo lamaSilamsi aseYugoslavia, ngowe-1938