Ukulindela KuYehova Ngomonde Ukususela Ebutsheni Bam

NGOKUBALISWA NGURUDOLF GRAICHEN

Ngesiquphe, kwenzeka intlekele entsatsheni yakowethu xa ndandineminyaka eli-12 kuphela ubudala. Okokuqala, utata waphoswa entolongweni. Emva koko mna nodadewethu sagxagxanyiswa sakhutshwa ekhaya sayokuhlaliswa nabantu esingabaziyo. Kamva, mna nomama sabanjwa ngamaGestapo. Ndaya entolongweni, yaye yena waphelela kwinkampu yoxinaniso.

OKO kulandelana kweziganeko kwakusisiqalo nje sexesha lentshutshiso eqatha endajamelana nayo ukususela ebutsheni bam njengomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova. AmaGestapo amaNazi awayedume kakubi neStasi yaseMpuma Jamani azama ukwaphula ingqibelelo yam kuThixo. Ngoku, emva kokuzahlulela kuye kangangeminyaka engama-50, ndinokuthetha oko kwatshiwo ngumdumisi esithi: “Kukaninzi bendibandezela kwasebuncinaneni bam: ababanga nakundithini noko.” (INdumiso 129:2) Hayi indlela endinombulelo ngayo kuYehova!

Ndazalwa ngoJuni 2, 1925, kwidolophana yaseLucka kufuphi neLeipzig, eJamani. Kwanangaphambi kokuba ndizalwe, abazali bam uAlfred noTeresa, bafumana inyaniso yeBhayibhile kwiimpapasho zaBafundi beBhayibhile, njengoko amaNgqina kaYehova ayesaziwa njalo ngelo xesha. Ndikhumbula ukuba yonke imihla ndandijonga imifanekiso yezinto ekuthethwa ngazo eBhayibhileni eyayixhonywe kwiindonga zasekhaya. Omnye umfanekiso wawubonisa ingcuka netakane, itakane lebhokhwe nehlosi, ithole lenkomo nengonyama—zonke ziseluxolweni, ziqhutywa yinkwenkwana. (Isaya 11:6-9) Imifanekiso enjalo yandishiya nomfanekiso-ngqondweni ongapheliyo.

Nanini na kunokwenzeka, abazali bam babendiquka kwimisebenzi yebandla. Ngokomzekelo, ngoFebruwari 1933, kwiintsuku nje ezimbalwa emva kokuba uHitler eqalisile ukulawula, i-“Photo-Drama of Creation”—neslides zayo, imifanekiso eshukumayo neentetho zayo ezirekhodiweyo—yaboniswa kwidolophana yethu. Hayi indlela endandivuya ngayo, inkwenkwe eneminyaka esixhenxe kuphela ubudala, ijikeleza edolophini ikhwele elorini ngasemva ibhengeza i-“Photo-Drama”! Ngesi nangezinye izihlandlo, abazalwana babendenza ndizive ndililungu elibalulekileyo lebandla phezu kwako nje ukuba mncinane kwam. Ngoko ukususela ebutsheni bam, ndafundiswa nguYehova ndaza ndaphenjelelwa liLizwi lakhe.

Ndafundiswa Ukukholosa NgoYehova

Ngenxa yokuba ngqongqo kobundilele bamaKristu, amaNgqina kaYehova akazange abandakanyeke kwiipolitiki zamaNazi. Ngenxa yoko, ngowe-1933 amaNazi aseka imithetho esithintelayo ukuba sishumayele, sibe neentlanganiso nokuba sifunde uncwadi lwethu lweBhayibhile. NgoSeptemba 1937 bonke abazalwana bebandla lethu, kuquka notata babanjwa ngamaGestapo. Oko kwandikhathaza kakhulu. Utata wagwetywa iminyaka emihlanu entolongweni.

Izinto zaqalisa ukuba nzima ekhaya. Kodwa ngokukhawuleza safunda ukukholosa ngoYehova. Ngenye imini xa ndandivela esikolweni, umama wayefunda IMboniselo. Wayefuna ukundenzela isidlo nje esikhawulezileyo sasemini, ngoko wabeka iphephancwadi phezu kwekhabhathi encinane. Emva kweso sidlo, ngoxa sasibuyisela izitya, kwankqonkqozwa ngamandla emnyango. Yayilipolisa elalifuna ukugqogqa indlu yethu likhangela uncwadi lweBhayibhile. Ndandingcangcazela luloyiko.

Kwakushushu ngendlela engaqhelekanga ngaloo mini. Ngoko into yokuqala elayenzayo ipolisa kukukhulula umnqwazi walo lize liwubeke phezu kwetafile. Landula ke lagqogqa. Ngoxa lalikhangela ngaphantsi kwetafile, umnqwazi walo wawa. Ngoko ngokukhawuleza umama wathabatha loo mnqwazi waza wawubeka phezu kwekhabhathi kanye ngaphezu kwaloo Mboniselo! Eli polisa layigqogqisisa indlu yethu kodwa alizange lifumane kwanto iluncwadi. Kambe ke, alizange licinge ngokujonga ngaphantsi komnqwazi walo. Xa lalisele lilungele ukuhamba, ladumzela licela uxolo kumama ngoxa lalithabatha umnqwazi walo. Kwatsho kwee qabu uNoqolomba efile nje!

Amava anjalo andenza ndalungela iimvavanyo ezingakumbi nezinzima. Ngokomzekelo, esikolweni ndanyanzelwa ukuba ndibe lilungu lombutho oyiHitler Youth, apho abantwana babefundiswa indlela yokuziphatha emkhosini baze bahlohlwe ngentandabulumko yamaNazi. Abanye abafundisi-ntsapho babenosukelo lokubandakanya bonke abafundi. Umfundisi-ntsapho wam uHerr Schneider, umele ukuba waziva ekatyile, ngokungafaniyo nabanye abafundisi-ntsapho esikolweni, wayenomfundi omnye kuphela owayengafuni ukuzibandakanya noku. Yayindim loo mfundi.

Ngenye imini uHerr Schneider wayazisa yonke iklasi esithi: “Bafana, sonke ngomso siza kuba nohambo.” Bonke bakuvuyela oko. Wandula ke wongezelela esithi: “Nonke nifanele ninxibe isinxibo senu seHitler Youth ukuze xa sihamba ezitratweni, abantu babone ukuba nonke ningamakhwenkwe amahle kaHitler.” Ngentsasa elandelayo onke amakhwenkwe ayenxibe isinxibo sawo ngaphandle kwam. Umfundisi-ntsapho wandibizela ngaphambi kweklasi yonke waza wathi: “Jonga amanye amakhwenkwe uze uzijonge.” Wongezelela wathi: “Ndiyazi ukuba abazali bakho bangamahlwempu yaye abanamali yokukuthengela isinxibo, kodwa mandikubonise enye into.” Wandisondeza edesikeni yakhe, wavula idrowa, waza wathi: “Ndifuna ukukunika esi sinxibo sitsha kraca. Ngaba uyayibona indlela esihle ngayo?”

Kwakubhetele ukuba ndife kunokuba ndinxibe isinxibo samaNazi. Xa umfundisi-ntsapho wam wabona ukuba ndandingafuni ukusinxiba, waba nomsindo, yaye yonke iklasi yandigxibha. Sandula ke saqalisa uhambo lwethu kodwa wazama ukundifihla ngokundihambisa embindini wawo onke loo makhwenkwe ayenxibe isinxibo sawo. Noko ke, abantu abaninzi edolophini babendibona njengoko ndandahlukile kwabo ndifunda nabo. Wonke umntu wayesazi ukuba mna nabazali bam singamaNgqina kaYehova. Ndiyambulela uYehova ngokundomeleza ngokomoya ngoxa ndandiselula.

Intshutshiso Iya Iba Qatha

Ngenye imini ebutsheni bowe-1938, mna nodadewethu sathatyathwa esikolweni sasiwa ngenqwelo-mafutha yamapolisa kwiziko lokuguqula izimilo eStadtroda, ekumgama omalunga neekhilomitha ezinokuba ngama-80. Kwakutheni? Iinkundla zagqiba kwelokuba zisisuse kwimpembelelo yabazali bethu zize zisenze abantwana bamaNazi. Kungekudala umntu owayephethe kweli ziko waphawula ukuba mna nodadewethu sasinentlonelo yaye sithobekile, nangona sasibambelele ngokuqinileyo kubundilele bethu bobuKristu. Umphathi wayechukumiseke kangangokuba wayefuna ukudibana nomama ubuso ngobuso. Kwenziwa ilungiselelo elingaqhelekanga, yaye umama wavunyelwa ukuba asityelele. Mna, udadewethu nomama savuya gqitha yaye sasinombulelo kuYehova ngokusinika ithuba lokuba kunye ukuze sikhuthazane imini yonke. Sasikufuna ngokwenene oko.

Sahlala kwelo ziko kangangeenyanga ezine. Emva koko sasiwa ePahna ukuya kuhlala nenye intsapho. Yayalelwa ukuba isigcine sikude nezalamane zethu. Umama wayengavunyelwa nokuba asityelele. Sekunjalo, ngezihlandlo nje ezimbalwa, wakwazi ukuqhagamshelana nathi. Kuloo mathuba ayenqongophele, umama wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze abethelele kuthi uzimiselo lokuhlala sithembekile kuYehova, enoba ziziphi iimeko okanye iimvavanyo aya kuzivumela.—1 Korinte 10:13.

Yaye iimvavanyo zafika. NgoDisemba 15, 1942, xa ndandineminyaka eli-17 kuphela ubudala, ndathatyathwa ngamaGestapo aza andifaka kwintolongo yaseGera. Kwisithuba esimalunga neveki kamva, nomama wabanjwa saza savalelwa kunye kuloo ntolongo. Ekubeni ndandiselula, iinkundla zazingenakundigweba. Ngoko mna nomama sachitha iinyanga ezintandathu entolongweni ekubeni iinkundla zazilindele ukuba ndibe neminyaka eli-18 ubudala. Kanye ngaloo mini endaba neminyaka eli-18 ubudala, mna nomama saya ematyaleni.

Ngaphambi kokuba ndiqonde ngoko kwakusenzeka, laliphelile. Ndandingazi ukuba ndandingasayi kuphinda ndimbone umama. Okokugqibela endikukhumbulayo kukumbona ehleli enkundleni esitulweni esimnyama esasenziwe ngomthi kanye ecaleni kwam. Safunyaniswa sobabini sinetyala. Ndagwetywa iminyaka emine entolongweni yaye umama unyaka onesiqingatha.

Ngaloo maxesha kwakukho amawaka amaNgqina kaYehova ezintolongweni nasezinkampini. Noko ke, ndasiwa entolongweni eStollberg, apho yayindim kuphela oliNgqina. Ndachitha ixesha elingaphezu konyaka ndivalelwe ndedwa, sekunjalo uYehova wayenam. Uthando endandiluhlakulele ngaye ndiselula lwalungundoqo wokuphumelela kwam ngokomoya.

NgoMeyi 9, 1945, emva kweminyaka emibini enesiqingatha ndisentolongweni, safumana iindaba ezimnandi—zokuba imfazwe yayiphelile! Ngaloo mini ndakhululwa entolongweni. Emva kokuhamba iikhilomitha ezili-110, ndafika ekhaya ndigula ngenxa yokudinwa nokulamba. Ndahlala iinyanga eziliqela ngaphambi kokuba ndibe sempilweni.

Kungekudala ndifikile, ndeva iindaba ezandixhwalekisa gqitha. Okokuqala ngomama. Emva kokuba wayesentolongweni kangangonyaka onesiqingatha, amaNazi afuna atyobele uxwebhu lokuyeka ukukhonza uYehova. Akazange avume. Ngoko amaGestapo amsa kwinkampu yoxinaniso yamabhinqa, eRavensbrück. Apho wabulawa sisifo seentwala ngaphambi nje kokuphela kwemfazwe. WayengumKristu okhaliphe gqitha—igorha lokwenene elinganikezeliyo. Ngamana uYehova angamkhumbula ngobubele.

Kwakhona kwakukho nezinye iindaba ngomkhuluwa wam, uWerner, ongazange azahlulele kuYehova. Waba lilungu lomkhosi waseJamani yaye wabulawa eRashiya. Kuthekani ngobawo? Wafika ekhaya, kodwa okubuhlungu kukuba, wayengomnye waloo maNgqina ambalwa awayetyobele uxwebhu lokurhoxa elukholweni lwawo. Xa ndaya kumbona, wabonakala ethe khunubembe yaye ephazamisekile engqondweni.—2 Petros 2:20.

Ixesha Elifutshane Lenzondelelo Ngomsebenzi Wokomoya

NgoMatshi 10, 1946, ndaya kwindibano yokuqala eyabakho emva kwemfazwe eLeipzig. Hayi indlela endavuya ngayo xa ndeva ukuba leyo yayiyimini yobhaptizo! Nangona ndandahlulele ubomi bam kuYehova kwiminyaka emininzi ngaphambili, eli yayilithuba lam lokuqala lokuba ndibhaptizwe. Andisokuze ndiyilibale loo mini.

NgoMatshi 1, 1947, emva kokuba ndibe nguvulindlela kangangenyanga enye, ndamenyelwa eBheteli eMagdeburg. Iiofisi zoMbutho zazonakaliswe gqitha ziziqhushumbisi. Elinjani ilungelo lokuncedisa emsebenzini wokulungisa umonakalo! Emva kwelo hlobo ndabelwa ukuba ndibe nguvulindlela okhethekileyo kwisixeko saseWittenberge. Ngezinye iinyanga ndandichitha iiyure ezingaphezu kwama-200 kumsebenzi wokushumayela kwabanye ngeendaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo. Hayi indlela endavuya ngayo xa ndakhululekayo kwakhona—kungekho mfazwe, ndingasatshutshiswa kwaye ndingekho ntolongweni!

Okubuhlungu kukuba, loo nkululeko ayizange ithabathe thuba lide. Emva kwemfazwe iJamani yayahlulwe kubini, yaye indawo endandihlala kuyo yaba phantsi kwamaKomanisi. NgoSeptemba 1950 abacuphi baseMpuma Jamani, abaziwa ngokuba yiStasi, baqalisa ukubamba abazalwana ngendlela echuliweyo. Izityholo endandibekwa zona zazingekho ngqiqweni. Ndandityholwa ngokuba yintlola karhulumente waseMerika. Ndathunyelwa kweyona ntolongo kunzima kuyo yeStasi kwelo lizwe, eBrandenburg.

Inkxaso Evela Kubazalwana Bam Bokomoya

Apho amaStasi ayengandivumeli ukuba ndilale emini. Emva koko ayendincina ubusuku bonke. Emva kokuthuthunjiswa ngale ndlela iintsuku eziliqela, izinto zaba mbi ngakumbi. Ngenye intsasa, kunokundibuyisela kwisisele sam, andithabatha andisa kwenye yezona zisele zinezothe iU-Boot Zellen (eyayisaziwa ngokuba zizisele eziyinkwili ngenxa yendawo ezikuyo ezantsi kuvimba). Avula ucango oludala, nolunomhlwa aza athi mandingene. Kwafuneka nditsibe umgubasi ophakamileyo. Xa ndangenisa unyawo, ndafumanisa ukuba umgangatho wawuzele amanzi. Ucango lwavalwa ngamandla lusitsho ngengxolo eyoyikekayo. Kwakungekho sibane yaye kungekho nafestile. Kwakumnyama thsu.

Ngenxa yamanzi athe gabhu emgangathweni kangangeesentimitha eziliqela, ndandingenakuhlala phantsi, ndingenakungqengqa okanye ndilale. Emva kokuba ndilinde oko kwakungathi lixesha elingenasiphelo, ndathatyathwa kwakhona ndafakwa phantsi kwezibane ezikhanya gqitha ukuze ndincinwe. Andikwazi okona kwakukubi—ukuma emanzini imini yonke ebumnyameni okanye ukunyamezela izibane ezikhanya gqitha ezijongiswe ngqo kum ubusuku bonke.

Kwizihlandlo ezininzi andisongela ngokundidubula. Emva kokuncinwa iintsuku eziliqela ngobusuku, ngenye intsasa ndatyelelwa ligosa eliphakamileyo lomkhosi waseRashiya. Ndaba nethuba lokulixelela ukuba iStasi yaseJamani yayindiphethe kakubi nangaphezu kwamaGestapo amaNazi. Ndalixelela ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova akazange athabathe cala kurhulumente wamaNazi yaye ayengathabathi cala nakurhulumente wobuKomanisi nokuba asizange singenelele kwezobupolitika naphi na emhlabeni. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, ndathi, abaninzi ababengamagosa eStasi ngoku babengamalungu ombutho weHitler Youth, apho bafunda indlela yokuthuthumbisa baze babulale abantu abamsulwa. Njengoko ndandithetha, umzimba wam wawungcangcazela kukugodola, kukulamba nakukudinwa.

Okumangalisayo kukuba, umphathi wamajoni waseRashiya akazange abe nomsindo. Kunoko, wandambathisa ngengubo waza wandiphatha ngobubele. Kungekudala emva kotyelelo lwakhe, ndabuyiselwa kwisisele esibhetele. Kwiintsuku ezimbalwa kamva, ndasiwa ezinkundleni zaseJamani. Ngoxa ndandisalinde ukuxoxwa kwetyala lam, ndanandipha ilungelo lokuhlala namanye amaNgqina amahlanu esiseleni. Emva kokunyamezela loo mpatho yenkohlakalo, hayi indlela endakufumanisa kuhlaziya ngayo ukunxulumana nabazalwana bam bokomoya!—INdumiso 133:1.

Enkundleni ndafunyaniswa ndinetyala lokuba yintlola ndaza ndagwetywa iminyaka emine entolongweni. Oko kwakugqalwa njengesigwebo esincinane. Abanye abazalwana bagwetywa ngaphezu kweminyaka elishumi. Ndasiwa kwintolongo ekhuseleke kakhulu. Ndicinga ukuba kwakungenakurhubuluza nempuku ingene okanye iphume kuloo ntolongo—yayinqabiseke ngokwenene. Sekunjalo, ngoncedo lukaYehova abanye abazalwana abakhaliphileyo bakwazi ukuthubelezisa iBhayibhile iphelele. Yathatyathwa yaza yahlulwa yaziincwadi ezahlukahlukeneyo yanikwa abazalwana ababengamabanjwa.

Sakwenza njani oko? Kwakunzima. Ekuphela kwexesha esasidibana ngalo kwakuxa sasisisiwa kwiindawo zokuhlamba rhoqo emva kweeveki ezimbini. Ngesinye isihlandlo, ngoxa ndandihlamba, umzalwana wandisebezela esithi ufihle amaphepha eBhayibhile kwitawuli yakhe. Emva kokuba ndigqibile ukuhlamba kwakufuneka ndithabathe itawuli yakhe kuneyam.

Omnye wabalindi wabona umzalwana endihlebela waza wambetha kanobom ngenduku yamapolisa. Ngokukhawuleza kwafuneka ndithabathe itawuli ndize ndingene phakathi kwamanye amabanjwa. Endikubulelayo kukuba andizange ndibhaqwe namaphepha eBhayibhile. Kungenjalo ilungiselelo lethu lokondliwa ngokomoya laliza kuba lonakalisiwe. Sajamelana namanye amava anjalo. Ufundisiso lwethu lweBhayibhile lwalusoloko lusenziwa emfihlakalweni yaye sizibeka engozini enkulu. Amazwi ompostile uPetros athi, “Gcinani iingqiqo zenu, lindani,” ngokwenene ayefanelekile.—1 Petros 5:8.

Ngenxa yezizathu ezithile, abasemagunyeni bagqiba kwelokuba basithumele kwiintolongo ezahlukahlukeneyo ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Kwiminyaka emine, ndatshintshatshintsha iintolongo ezinokuba lishumi. Sekunjalo, ndandisoloko ndikwazi ukubafumana abazalwana. Uthando lwam ngaba bazalwana lwakhula, yaye kwakuba buhlungu kum ngalo lonke ixesha xa ndibashiya kuba nditshintshwa.

Ekugqibeleni ndathunyelwa eLeipzig, yaye kulapho ndakhululwa khona entolongweni. Umgcini-mabanjwa owandikhululayo akazange athi ndihambe kakuhle, kodwa kunoko, wathi, “Siza kubonana kwakhona kungekudala.” Ingqondo yakhe ekhohlakeleyo yayifuna ndibuyele entolongweni kwakhona. Ngokufuthi ndandicinga ngeNdumiso 124:2, 3, apho ithi: “Koko uYehova ebengakuthi ekusukeleni kwabantu phezulu kuthi, bange beba basiginya sihleli, ekuvutheni komsindo wabo kuthi.”

UYehova Uyabahlangula Abakhonzi Bakhe Abanyanisekileyo

Ngoku ndandikhululekile kwakhona. Udadewethu oliwele lam, uRuth, noDade Herta Schlensog babesesangweni bendilindile. Ebudeni bayo yonke le minyaka ndisentolongweni, uHerta wayendithumelela ipasile yokutya nyanga zonke. Ngenene ndikholelwa kwelokuba ngaphandle kwazo zonke ezo pasile zincinane, ngendandifele entolongweni. Ngamana uYehova angamkhumbula ngobubele.

Emva kokuba ndikhululiwe, uYehova uye wandisikelela ngamalungelo amaninzi enkonzo. Ndaphinda ndakhonza njengovulindlela okhethekileyo, eGronau, eJamani, nanjengomveleli wesiphaluka kummandla weeNtaba zaseJamani. Kamva ndamenyelwa kwiklasi yama-31 kwiSikolo seBhayibhile seWatchtower saseGiliyadi sabavangeli basemazweni. Uthweso-zidanga lwethu lwaqhutyelwa eYankee Stadium ebudeni bendibano yezizwe ngezizwe yamaNgqina kaYehova ngowe-1958. Ndaba nelungelo lokwabelana nesihlwele esikhulu sabazalwana noodade ngamanye amava endandinawo.

Emva kothweso-zidanga ndaya eChile ukuze ndikhonze njengomvangeli wasemazweni. Apho ndakhonza kwakhona njengomveleli wesiphaluka, kumazantsi eChile—ngokoqobo ndasiwa ekupheleni komhlaba. Ngowe-1962, ndatshata uPatsy Beutnagel, umvangeli wasemazweni othandekayo waseSan Antonio, eTexas, eUnited States. Ndinandiphe iminyaka emininzi yenkonzo kuYehova ndikunye naye.

Kwiminyaka yam yobomi engaphezu kwama-70, ndiye ndanamathuba amaninzi onwabisayo ndawonye neenkxwaleko ezininzi. Umdumisi wathi: “Buninzi ububi obulihlelayo ilungisa, ke uYehova ulihlangula kubo bonke.” (INdumiso 34:19) Ngowe-1963, ngoxa ndandiseseChile, mna noPatsy sajamelana nokufa okulusizi kwentombazana yethu iselusana. Kamva, uPatsy wagula kakhulu, yaye safudukela eTexas. Xa wayeneminyaka engama-43 kuphela ubudala, wafa kalusizi. Ngokufuthi ndiyathandaza kuYehova ukuze amkhumbule ngobubele umfazi wam endimthandayo.

Ngoku, nangona ndigula yaye sendikhulile, ndinandipha ilungelo lokukhonza njengovulindlela othe ngxi nokuba ngumdala eBrady, eTexas. Liyinene elokuba, ubomi abukhange bube lula, yaye kusenokubakho ezinye iimvavanyo endimele ndijamelane nazo. Noko ke, njengomdumisi ndingathi: “Thixo undifundisile kwasebuncinaneni bam; unangoku ndiyayixela imisebenzi yakho ebalulekileyo.”—INdumiso 71:17.

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]

(1) Ngoku ndikhonza njengomdala nanjengovulindlela, (2) ndikunye noPatsy, ngaphambi nje kokuba sitshate, (3) ndiseklasini kaHerr Schneider, (4) umama, uTeresa, owafa eRavensbrück