Ukukhonza UThixo Onokuthenjwa

Ngokubaliswa NguKimon Progakis

Kwakuyingokuhlwa eyayiqhaqhazelisa amazinyo yowe-1955. Mna nenkosikazi yam uGiannoula saqalisa ukuxhalaba kuba unyana wethu owayeneminyaka eli-18 ubudala, uGeorge, wayengekabuyi kwivenkilana awayesebenza kuyo. Ngequbuliso, kwankqonkqoza ipolisa emnyango. Lathi: “Unyana wenu ugilwe yinqwelo-mafutha ngoxa ebegoduka ngebhayisikile yakhe, yaye ufile.” Landula ke lasondela laza lasebeza lisithi: “Baza kuthi kuni ubulewe yingozi, kodwa ndifung’ uma, ugetyengiwe.” Umfundisi wasekuhlaleni kunye nezinye iinkokeli zomkhosi babenze iyelenqe lokumbulala.

NGALOO minyaka, xa iGrisi yayisazikhoth’ amanxeba emfazwe nobunzima, kwakuyingozi ukuba liNgqina likaYehova. Ndandilazi kakuhle igunya leCawa yobuOthodoki yamaGrike nemibutho yomkhosi kuba ndandibe lilungu elikhutheleyo lazo iminyaka engaphezu kweli-15. Makhe ndinibalisele ngeziganeko ezakhokelela kule ntlekele eyehla kwintsapho yethu kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-40 eyadlulayo.

Ukukhula EGrisi

Ndazalwa ngowe-1902 yintsapho yezigwili eyayihlala kwidolophana ekufutshane nedolophu yaseChalcis, eGrisi. Utata wayephambili kwezobupolitika zasekuhlaleni, yaye intsapho yakowethu yayingamalungu azinikeleyo eCawa yobuOthodoki yamaGrike. Ndaba ngumfundi onenzondelelo weencwadi zobupolitika nezonqulo ngexesha inkoliso yabantu belizwe lakowethu babengafundanga.

Ubuhlwempu nokungabikho kokusesikweni okwakukho ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yama-20 kwandenza ndanqwenela ihlabathi elineemeko ezibhetele. Ndandicinga ukuba unqulo lwalumele lukwazi ukuphucula imeko elusizi yabantu belizwe lakowethu. Ngenxa yokuluthanda kwam unqulo, iinkokeli zedolophana endandihlala kuyo zandicela ukuba ndibe ngumfundisi wecawa yobuOthodoki yamaGrike yasekuhlaleni. Noko ke, nangona ndandikhe ndatyelela imizi yoonongendi emininzi ndaza ndaxubusha kakhulu noobhishopu kunye nabaphathi bemizi yoonongendi, andizange ndizive ndikulungele ukuyamkela loo mbopheleleko.

Ukubandakanyeka Kwimfazwe Yamakhaya

Kwiminyaka ethile emva koko, ngoAprili wowe-1941, amaNazi athabatha ulawulo eGrisi. Oku kwaba sisiqalo sexesha elibi lokubulawa kwabantu, indlala, ukuhluthwa amalungelo nokubandezeleka okungathethekiyo kwabantu. Kwakugquba umzabalazo wemvukelo, ibe ndangenela elinye lamaqela emikhosi yemvukelo awayesilwa namajoni amaNazi. Ngenxa yoko, ikhaya lam latshiswa izihlandlo eziliqela, ndadutyulwa, ibe nezivuno zam zatshatyalaliswa. Ekuqaleni kowe-1943 mna nentsapho yakowethu sasingenacebo limbi ngaphandle kokubalekela kwiintaba ezinemixawuka. Sahlala apho de lwaphela ulawulo lwamaJamani ngo-Oktobha wowe-1944.

Imfazwe yangaphakathi yezobupolitika neyamakhaya yagquba emva kokumka kwamaJamani. Iqela lomkhosi womzabalazo endandililungu lalo laba ngomnye wemikhosi eyayiphambili kuloo mfazwe yamakhaya. Nangona iingcamango zobuKomanisi zokusesikweni, ukulingana kwabantu nobuqabane zazinomtsalane kum, ekugqibeleni izibakala zayo zandishiya ndidideke ngokupheleleyo. Ekubeni ndandikwisikhundla esiphezulu kweli qela, ndazibonela ngokwam ukuba igunya liyabonakalisa abantu. Phezu kwazo nje iimfundiso neengcamango ezibonakala zintle, ukuzingca nokungafezeki kuyazonakalisa ezona njongo zintle zobupolitika.

Eyona nto yandothusa ngokukhethekileyo yayikukuba kumacala ahlukahlukeneyo ale mbambano yamakhaya, abefundisi bamaOthodoki babethabatha izixhobo baye kubulala abanye abantu bonqulo lwabo! Ndazibuza oku, ‘Aba befundisi bangathini ukuthi bamela uYesu Kristu, owalumkisa ngelithi: “Bonke abo bathabatha ikrele baya kutshabalala ngekrele”?’—Mateyu 26:52.

Ebudeni bemfazwe yamakhaya ngowe-1946, ndandizimele kufutshane nedolophu yaseLamia, kumbindi weGrisi. Iimpahla zam zazingamadlavu, ngoko ndagqiba kwelokuba ndizifihle ngokuguqula inkangeleko yam ndize ndiye kumntu othunga iimpahla esixekweni ukuze andenzele iimpahla ezintsha. Kwakukho ingxubusho eshushu ekufikeni kwam, ibe kungekudala ndazibona sendihlomla nam, kungekhona ngezobupolitika, kodwa ngombandela endandiwuthanda kwakudala, unqulo. Bakuphawula iimbono zam ezazibonakalisa ukuba ndinolwazi, ababebukele bathi mandiye kuthetha ‘nonjingalwazi wezakwalizwi’ othile. Bengaphozisanga maseko, baya kumlanda.

Ukufumana Idinga Elinokuthenjwa

Kwingxubusho eyalandelayo, lo “njingalwazi” wandibuza ukuba ndandizifumana phi ezi zinto ndizithethayo. Ndaphendula: “KooBawo Abangcwele nakwiBhunga Leenkokeli Zonqulo.” Kunokuba andiphikise, wavula iBhayibhile yakhe encinane kuMateyu 23:9, 10, waza wandicela ukuba ndifunde amazwi kaYesu athi: “Ngaphezu koko, ningabizi nabani na ngokuthi nguyihlo emhlabeni, kuba mnye uYihlo, Lowo wasezulwini. Ningabizwa nangokuthi ‘iinkokeli,’ kuba inye iNkokeli yenu, uKristu.”

Kwaqala kwathi qwenge kum! Ndabona ukuba le ndoda ithetha inyaniso. Xa yazichaza njengeNgqina likaYehova, ndacela uncwadi endandinokulufunda. Yandiphathela incwadi ethi Light, exubusha ngencwadi yeBhayibhile yeSityhilelo, ibe ndaya nayo kwindawo endandizimela kuyo. Amarhamncwa ekubhekiselwa kuwo kwincwadi yeSityhilelo ayeyimfihlelo kangangexesha elide kum, kodwa ngoku ndafunda ukuba ayemela imibutho yezobupolitika ekhoyo kule nkulungwane yethu yama-20. Ndaqalisa ukuqonda ukuba iBhayibhile inentsingiselo eluncedo kumaxesha ethu nokuba ndandinokuyifundisisa ndize ndivisisanise ubomi bam neenyaniso zayo.

Ukubanjwa Nokuvalelwa Entolongweni

Kamsinya emva koko, amajoni ambonzeleka kwindawo endandizimele kuyo aza andibamba. Ndaphoswa kwesimnyama isisele. Ekubeni ndandisisaphuli-mthetho esasifunwa kangangexesha elithile, ndandilindele ukubulawa. Esiseleni sam, ndatyelelwa lelaa Ngqina ndandithethe nalo ngaphambili. Landikhuthaza ukuba ndikholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova, ibe ndenjenjalo. Isigwebo sam yaba kukuthunyelwa elubhacweni iinyanga ezintandathu kwisiqithi seAegean i-Ikaria.

Ekufikeni kwam, andizange ndizazise njengeKomanisi, kodwa ndazazisa njengeNgqina likaYehova. Abanye ababeyifundile inyaniso yeBhayibhile babelapho elubhacweni, ngoko ndabafuna ndaza ndabafumana, ibe rhoqo sasifunda iBhayibhile kunye. Bandinceda ukuze ndifumane ulwazi olongezelelekileyo lweZibhalo yaye ndimazi ngakumbi uThixo wethu onokuthenjwa, uYehova.

Ngowe-1947, xa isigwebo sam saphelayo, ndabizwa kwiofisi yomtshutshisi. Wandixelela ukuba wayechukumisekile yihambo yam waza wathi ndandinokusebenzisa igama lakhe njengelomntu ekwakunokubuzwa kuye ukuba ndandinokuthunyelwa elubhacweni kwakhona. Ekufikeni kwam eAthens, apho intsapho yayifudukele khona ngelo xesha, ndaqalisa ukunxulumana nebandla lamaNgqina kaYehova ndaza kungekudala ndabhaptizwa ndifuzisela uzahlulelo lwam kuYehova.

Ukubanjelwa Ukuguqula Abantu

Kangangamashumi eminyaka, urhulumente waseGrisi wayewatshutshisa amaNgqina kaYehova esebenzisa imithetho yowe-1938 nowe-1939 eyayisalela ukuguqulwa kwabantu. Ngaloo ndlela, ukususela ngowe-1938 ukusa kowe-1992, amaNgqina abanjwa izihlandlo ezili-19 147 eGrisi, ibe iinkundla zawisa izigwebo ezenza isimbuku seminyaka engama-753, ibe engama-593 kuloo minyaka ayitsala entolongweni. Mna ndabanjwa izihlandlo ezingaphezu kwama-40 ngenxa yokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo, ibe ndahlala isimbuku seenyanga ezingama-27 kwiintolongo ezahlukahlukeneyo.

Ngesinye isihlandlo ndabanjwa ngenxa yeleta endandiyibhalele umfundisi wecawa yobuOthodoki yamaGrike eChalcis. Ngowe-1955, amabandla amaNgqina kaYehova ayebongozwa ukuba athumele incwadana ethi Ubugqoboka Okanye ubuKrestu—Bubuphi obulu-“Khanyiso lwe-Lizwe”? kubo bonke abefundisi. Omnye wabefundisi abaphambili endandimbhalele wandimangalela esithi ndizama ukumguqula. Ebudeni bokuchotshelwa kwelo tyala, igqwetha elaliliNgqina kunye negqwetha lasekuhlaleni landithethelela ngobuchule, licacisa imbopheleleko yamaKristu okwenyaniso yokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo.—Mateyu 24:14.

Ijaji eyayongamele elo tyala yabuza iarchimandrite (indwalutho yecawa ekwisikhundla esingaphantsi kobhishophu) oku: “Ukhe wayifunda na loo leta naloo ncwadana?”

Yaphendula ngomsindo isithi: “Hayi, ndiye ndazikrazula ndaza ndazilahla emva nje kokuba ndivule imvulophu!”

“Ke ngoku utsho njani ukuba le ndoda ibikuguqula?” yabuza yatsho ijaji eyayongamele elo tyala.

Emva koko igqwetha lethu lachaza imizekelo yoonjingalwazi nabanye abantu abanikela ngezixa zeencwadi kwimizi yogcino-zincwadi. Labuza: “Ngaba unokuthi abo bantu babezama ukuguqula abanye?”

Kwacaca ukuba lo msebenzi wawungathethi kuguqula abanye. Ndambulela uYehova xa ndeva isigqibo sejaji esithi: “Awunatyala.”

Ukufa Konyana Wam

Nonyana wam uGeorge wayesoloko ephethwe kakubi, ngokufuthi ngabefundisi bamaOthodoki. Naye wabanjwa izihlandlo eziliqela ngenxa yenzondelelo yakhe yobutsha yokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo. Ekugqibeleni, abachasi bagqiba kwelokuba bamshenxise baze, kwangaxeshanye, bathumele isilumkiso sokusoyikisa ukuze siyeke ukushumayela.

Ipolisa elalizise umphanga kaGeorge kwikhaya lethu lathi abefundisi basekuhlaleni becawa yobuOthodoki yamaGrike nezinye iinkokeli zomkhosi babenze iyelenqe lokumbulala unyana wethu. “Iingozi” ezinjalo zazixhaphakile ebudeni baloo maxesha anzima. Phezu kwayo nje intlungu eyabangelwa kukufa kwakhe, ukuzimisela kwethu ukuhlala siwukhuthalele umsebenzi wokushumayela nokukholosa ngoYehova komelezwa.

Ukunceda Abanye Bakholose NgoYehova

Phakathi kweminyaka yee-1960, umfazi wam nabantwana babedla ngokuchitha iinyanga zasehlotyeni kwidolophana eselunxwemeni yaseSkala Oropos, malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-50 ukusuka eAthens. Ngelo xesha, kwakungekho maNgqina apho, ngoko sasinikela ubungqina obungacwangciswanga kubamelwane. Abanye abalimi basekuhlaleni baba nomdla. Ekubeni amadoda ayesebenza iiyure ezininzi kumasimi awo ebudeni bemini, sasiwaqhubela izifundo zeBhayibhile ebusuku, ibe amaninzi aba ngamaNgqina.

Sibona indlela uYehova ayisikelela ngayo imigudu yethu, kangangeminyaka eli-15, sasisiya apho veki nganye ukuze siqhube izifundo zeBhayibhile nabanomdla. Baphantse babe ngama-30 abantu esafundisisa nabo abenza inkqubela de babhaptizwa. Ekuqaleni, kwayilwa iqela lesifundo, ibe ndabelwa ukuba ndiqhube iintlanganiso apho. Kamva elo qela laba libandla, ibe namhlanje amaNgqina angaphezu kwekhulu ahlala apho ayila iBandla laseMalakasa. Sivuyiswa kukuba abantu abane kwabo siye sabanceda ngoku bakhonza njengabalungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo.

Ilifa Elityebileyo

Kamsinya emva kokuba ndahlulele ubomi bam kuYehova, umfazi wam waqalisa ukwenza inkqubela ngokomoya waza wabhaptizwa. Ebudeni bexesha elinzima lentshutshiso, ukholo lwakhe lwahlala lomelele ibe wagcina ingqibelelo yakhe yomelele yaye ingagungqi. Akazange akhalaze ngobunzima obuninzi esasingena kubo ngenxa yokubanjwa kwam rhoqo.

Ukutyhubela loo minyaka, sasiqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile ezininzi kunye, ibe wanceda abantu abaninzi ngenxa yokuncokola kwakhe ngomdla nangokukhululeka. Ndithetha nje, unomzila wamaphephancwadi wabantu abaninzi abashiyela IMboniselo noVukani! ngokuthe rhoqo.

Ubukhulu becala ngenxa yenkxaso yeqabane lam elinothando, abantwana bethu abathathu abasaphilayo kunye neentsapho zabo, eziquka abazukulwana abathandathu nabantwana babo abane, bonke bakhuthele enkonzweni kaYehova. Nangona bengakhange bajamelane nentshutshiso kunye nenkcaso ekrakra mna nenkosikazi yam esajamelana nayo, baye bakholosa ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova, ibe bayaqhubeka behamba ngeendlela zakhe. Hayi indlela ekuya kuba luvuyo ngayo ukuphinda sibonane noGeorge esimthandayo eluvukweni!

Ukuzimisela Ukukholosa NgoYehova

Ebudeni bayo yonke le minyaka, ndiye ndawubona umoya kaYehova usebenza ebantwini bakhe. Intlangano yakhe ekhokelwa ngumoya iye yandinceda ndabona ukuba asinakukholosa ngemigudu yabantu. Izithembiso zabo ngekamva elilunge ngakumbi zililize, ibe eneneni zingamampunge.—INdumiso 146:3, 4.

Phezu kwako nje ukwaluphala neengxaki zam zempilo, amehlo am ajoliswe kubunyaniso bethemba loBukumkani. Ndibuhlungu ngokwenene ngeminyaka endayichitha ndizinikele kunqulo lobuxoki nasekuzameni ukuzisa iimeko ezibhetele ngezobupolitika. Ukuba bendinokubuqala ekuqaleni ubomi bam, ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo bendiya kukhetha ukukhonza uYehova, uThixo onokuthenjwa.

(Kutshanje uKimon Progakis uye walala ukufa. Ebenethemba lokuphila emhlabeni.)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 26]

Ifoto yakutshanje kaKimon nenkosikazi yakhe, uGiannoula