Ibali Lobomi

UYehova Undinike “Amandla Angaphaya Koko Kuqhelekileyo”

NGOKUBALISWA NGUHELEN MARKS

Yayiyimini yehlobo, ligqats’ ubhobhoyi ngowe-1986. Yayindim kuphela owayelinde kwishedi yokuhlola impahla kwesinye sezikhululo zenqwelo-moya zaseYurophu ezingaxakekanga. Apha kwakuseTiranë, ikomkhulu laseAlbania, elalizichaza “njengelizwe lokuqala elingakholelwayo kubukho bukaThixo.”

NDINAMATHANDABUZO nexhala, ndabukela njengoko ijoni elixhobileyo laliqalisa ukuhlola umthwalo wam. Ukuba ndandinokwenza okanye ndithethe nantoni na eyayiza kulenza lindirhanele, ndandiya kugxothwa kwelo lizwe yaye abantu ababendilindile ngaphandle babeya kuvalelwa entolongweni okanye kwinkampu yamabanjwa asebenza nzima. Okuvuyisayo kukuba, ndakwazi ukulenza libe nobuhlobo ngakumbi elo joni ngokulinika itshungama namaqebengwana. Kodwa kwenzeka njani ukuba, ibhinqa eliphakathi kwiminyaka yama-60, libe kule meko? Yintoni eyayinokubangela ukuba ndincame ubomi obutofotofo ndizibeke esichengeni sokuzama ukuhambisela phambili izilangazelelo zoBukumkani kwindawo ekwakwesamele kakhulu kuyo iingcamango zikaMarx noLenin?

Intwazana Empilo Inkenenkene Nenemibuzo Emininzi

Kwiminyaka emibini emva kokuzalwa kwam ngowe-1920 eKrete, utata wabulawa yinyumoniya. UMama wayelihlwempu yaye engafundanga. Ndandingowokugqibela kubantwana abane, yaye ekubeni ndandigula yinyongo, ndandimpatshampatsha yaye ndinempilo enkenenkene. Abamelwane bacebisa umama ukuba asebenzise intwana awayenayo yobuncwane ekunyamekeleni ngokupheleleyo abantwana bakhe abathathu ababephilile aze andiyeke mna ndife. Ndiyavuya kuba engazange alamkele elo cebiso.

Ukuze aqiniseke ukuba umphefumlo kaTata wawuphumle ezulwini, uMama wayetyelela emangcwabeni ngokufuthi, encedwa ngumfundisi wamaOthodoki. Noko ke, ixabiso lolo ncedo lalixhomile. Ndisakhumbula ngenye imini yeKrismesi eyayibanda kakhulu evela emangcwabeni ehamba nam ndiqhaqhazela ecaleni kwakhe. Sasisandul’ ukunika umfundisi imalana yethu yokugqibela. Emva kokuphekela thina bantwana imifuno, waya kulala kwelinye igumbi, isisu sakhe sithe nca yindlala entywizisa iinyembezi ngenxa yokuphelelwa lithemba. Kwithuba elithile kamva, ndaqweba isibindi ndaya kumfundisi ndambuza ngesizathu sokufa kukaTata nesokuba kufuneke umama ahlawule umfundisi. Emanyonywana, waphendula wathi: “Uthatyathwe nguThixo. Kunjalo kobu bomi. Uza kumlibala.”

Kwakunzima ukunxulumanisa le mpendulo yakhe nomthandazo weNkosi, endandiwufunde esikolweni. Ndiwakhumbula kakuhle amazwi awo okuqala amnandi nanentsingiselo athi: “Bawo wethu osemazulwini, malingcwaliswe igama lakho. Mabufike ubukumkani bakho. Makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho nasemhlabeni, njengasezulwini.” (Mateyu 6:9, 10) Ukuba uThixo wayenenjongo yokuba kwenziwe ukuthanda kwakhe emhlabeni, yintoni eyayibangela sibandezeleke kangaka?

Ndaphantse ndayifumana impendulo yaloo mbuzo ngowe-1929, xa uEmmanuel Lionoudakis, owayengumshumayeli wexesha elizeleyo wamaNgqina kaYehova, wayetyelele ekhaya.a Wathi umama akumbuza ukuba ufuna ntoni, akazange akhuphe nelimdaka uEmmanuel, kodwa wamnika iqweqwe lokunikela ubungqina. Wandinika elo qweqwe ukuba ndilifunde. Ekubeni ndandineminyaka esithoba kuphela ubudala, andizange ndiqonde nto kangako. Ecinga ukuba lo mshumayeli sisimumu, umama waphendula: “Owu torho! Akukwazi kuthetha, yaye mna andikwazi kufunda.” Emva koko wamkhokelela ngasemnyango.

Kwiminyaka embalwa kamva, ndayifumana impendulo. Umntakwethu, uEmmanuel Paterakis, wafumana incwadana ethi Baphi Na Abafi?, epapashwe ngamaNgqina kaYehova.b Ndathi ndakuyifunda, ndatsho ndakhululeka ndisakuva ukuba utata akathatyathwanga nguThixo. Ndafumanisa ukuba ukufa kubangelwa kukungafezeki kwabantu yaye utata ulindele ukuvuselwa ebomini kwiparadesi esemhlabeni.

“Le Ncwadi Ikulahlekisile!”

Inyaniso yeBhayibhile yawavula amehlo ethu. Safumana iBhayibhile endala kaTata saza saqalisa ukuyifundisisa, ngokufuthi sasihlala ecaleni komlilo siyifunde ngekhandlela. Ekubeni yayindim kuphela ibhinqa eliselula kuloo mmandla elalinomdla eBhayibhileni, ndandingaqukwa kwizinto ezazisenziwa liqela elincinane lamaNgqina asekuhlaleni. Kangangethuba elide—ngokunyanisekileyo nangona ndandiphazama—ndandikholelwa ukuba olu lunqulo lwamadoda kuphela.

Inzondelelo awayenayo umntakwethu ngomsebenzi wokushumayela yandikhuthaza. Kungekudala, amapolisa aqalisa ukuyibek’ esweni intsapho yakowethu, esityelela rhoqo nangaliphi na ixesha emini nasebusuku eze kuhlola uEmmanuel noncwadi. Ndisakhumbula kakuhle xa umfundisi weza kusicenga ukuba sibuyele ecaweni. Xa uEmmanuel wambonisa ngokusuka eBhayibhileni ukuba igama likaThixo nguYehova, umfundisi wahlutha iBhayibhile, waza walatha ngayo umntakwethu ebusweni ngendlela esongelayo, engxola wathi, “Le ncwadi ikulahlekisile!”

Ngowe-1940, wathi uEmmanuel akungavumi ukuya emkhosini, wabanjwa waza wathunyelwa edabini eAlbania. Asizange sikwazi ukuqhagamshelana naye yaye sasicinga ukuba ufile. Noko ke, kwiminyaka emibini kamva, singalindelanga, safumana ileta evela kuye esentolongweni. Wayesaphila! Esinye sezibhalo awazicaphulayo kuloo leta sabetheleleka engqondweni yam ukususela ngoko: “Ngokubhekisele kuYehova, amehlo akhe asingasinga emhlabeni wonke ukuba ababonise amandla abo bantliziyo ziphelele kuye.” (2 Kronike 16:9) Sasilufuna ngokwenene ukhuthazo olunjalo!

Elapho entolongweni, uEmmanuel wakwazi ukucela abazalwana abathile ukuba bandityelele. Ngoko nangoko, kwenziwa ilungiselelo lokuba kuqhutywe iintlanganiso zamaKristu ngokufihlakeleyo kwindlu ethile eyayikwifama engaphandle kwedolophu. Sasingazi ukuba kukho abantu abasijongileyo! Ngenye iCawa, sarhangqwa ngamapolisa axhobileyo. Asikhwelisa kwilori evulekileyo aza ajikeleza nathi edolophini. Ndisakhumbula abantu besigculela besenza intlekisa ngathi, kodwa uYehova ngomoya wakhe wasinika uxolo lwangaphakathi.

Sasiwa kwenye idolophu saza savalelwa kwizisele ezimnyama nezimdaka. Indlu yangasese yesisele endandivalelwe kuso yayiyi-emele engavalwanga eyayichithwa kanye ngosuku. Ndagwetywa iinyanga ezisibhozo entolongweni ngenxa yokuba ndandigqalwa “njengomfundisi” welo qela. Noko ke, umzalwana othile owayesentolongweni wenza ilungiselelo lokuba igqwetha lakhe lisincede kwelo tyala, yaye labangela ukuba sikhululwe.

Ubomi Obutsha

Akukhululwa uEmmanuel entolongweni, waqalisa ukutyelela amabandla aseAthens njengomveleli ohambahambayo. Ndafudukela apho ngowe-1947. Ekugqibeleni, ndadibana neqela elikhulu lamaNgqina—yayingengomadoda kuphela kodwa namabhinqa nabantwana. Ekugqibeleni, ngoJulayi 1947, ndafuzisela uzahlulelo lwam kuYehova ngokubhaptizwa emanzini. Ndandisoloko ndinqwenela ukuba ngumvangeli wasemazweni ndaza ndaqalisa ukuya kwisikolo sasebusuku ukuze ndifunde isiNgesi. Ngowe-1950, ndaba nguvulindlela. UMama waza kuhlala nam, yaye naye wayamkela inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Waqhubeka engomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova de wafa kwiminyaka engama-34 kamva.

Kwangaloo nyaka mnye, ndadibana noJohn Marks (Markopoulos), indoda yaseUnited States eyayihlonelwa kakhulu neyayizixabisa izinto zokomoya. UJohn wazalelwa kumzantsi weAlbania, yaye emva kokufudukela eUnited States, waba ngomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova. Ngowe-1950, wayeseGrisi ezama ukufumana incwadi yokundwendwela eAlbania—ngelo xesha, abantu abavela ngaphandle babengavunyelwa ukungena kwelo lizwe elalilawulwa ngamaKomanisi awayengqongqo. Nangona uJohn wayegqibele ukubona intsapho yakhe ngowe-1936, akazange avunyelwe ukungena eAlbania. Ndachukumiseka yinzondelelo evuthayo awayenayo ngenkonzo kaYehova nothando olunzulu awayenalo ngabazalwana. Satshata ngoAprili 3, 1953. Emva koko safudukela kwikhaya lethu elitsha eNew Jersey, eUnited States.

Ukuze sizixhase ngoxa sishumayela ixesha elizeleyo, mna noJohn sasineshishini elincinane kunxweme lwaseNew Jersey, siphekela abalobi isidlo sakusasa. Sasisebenza ehlotyeni kuphela, sasiqalisa ngesifingo ukusa ngentsimbi ye-9:00 kusasa. Ngokuphila ubomi obulula nokubeka imisebenzi yokomoya kwindawo yokuqala, sakwazi ukuchitha ixesha elininzi kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Ebudeni beminyaka, sasicelwa ukuba sifudukele kwiidolophu ezahlukahlukeneyo ababefuneka kakhulu abashumayeli kuzo. Ngoncedo lukaYehova, sanceda abantu abanomdla, samisa amabandla, saza sancedisa ekwakheni iiHolo zoBukumkani.

Ukunceda Abazalwana Bethu Abasweleyo

Noko ke, kungekudala kwavuleka ithuba elichulumancisayo. Abazalwana abaneembopheleleko babefuna ukuqalisa ukuqhagamshelana namanye amaKristu akumazwe aseBalkan, apho umsebenzi wethu wawuvaliwe. Kangangeminyaka, amaNgqina kaYehova akuloo mazwe ayehlukanisiwe nabanye abazalwana ehlabathini lonke, efumana ukutya okuncinane kokomoya okanye angakufumani konke konke, yaye ayejamelene nenkcaso ekrakra. Inkoliso yawo yayijongwe ngeliso elibukhali, yaye amaninzi ayesentolongweni okanye kwiinkampu zamabanjwa ekusetyenzwa nzima kuzo. Ayefuna iimpapasho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni, ulwalathiso nokhuthazo ngokungxamisekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, omnye umyalezo esawufumanayo uvela eAlbania, owawubhalwe ngendlela engenakuqondakala nakubani na wawusithi: “Sithandazeleni eNkosini. Uncwadi luyahluthwa kwindlu ngendlu. Abasivumeli ukuba sifundisise. Abantu abathathu babanjiwe.”

Ngaloo ndlela, ngoNovemba 1960 saqalisa uhambo lweenyanga ezintandathu ukuze sityelele amanye aloo mazwe. Ngokucacileyo, sasifuna “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo,” isibindi esivela kuThixo, inkalipho nobulumko bokuphumeza uthumo lwethu. (2 Korinte 4:7) Saqala eAlbania. Sathenga inqwelo-mafutha eParis saza sanduluka. Ukufika kwethu eRome, nguJohn yedwa owafumana incwadi yokundwendwela eAlbania. Kwafuneka ndidlule ndiye eAthens, eGrisi, ndimlinde apho.

UJohn wangena eAlbania ngasekupheleni kukaFebruwari 1961 waza wahlala apho de kwasekupheleni kukaMatshi. ETiranë, wadibana nabazalwana abangama-30. Hayi indlela abavuya ngayo emva kokufumana uncwadi nokhuthazo ababelufuna ngamandla! Babengazange batyelelwe ngumntu ovela ngaphandle kangangeminyaka engama-24.

UJohn wachukumiseka kakhulu yingqibelelo nonyamezelo lwabo bazalwana. Wafumanisa ukuba abaninzi baphulukana nemisebenzi yabo yempangelo yaye bavalelwa ngenxa yokungathabathi nxaxheba kwimicimbi karhulumente wobuKomanisi. Wachukumiseka nangakumbi xa abazalwana ababini abakwiminyaka yama-80 ubudala bamnika umnikelo omalunga nee-R1 700 ukuze kuxhaswe umsebenzi wokushumayela. Bawuqokelela loo mnikelo kangangeminyaka, kwimali encinane yabo yomhlala-phantsi ababeyifumana kurhulumente.

Usuku lokugqibela lukaJohn eAlbania, lwalungoMatshi 30, 1961—usuku lweSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaYesu. UJohn wanikela intetho yeSikhumbuzo kubantu abangama-37. Ekupheleni kwentetho, ngokukhawuleza abazalwana bakhupha uJohn ngomnyango ongasemva baza bamhambisa ngenqwelo-mafutha bamsa kwizibuko laseDurrës, apho wayeza kukhwela inqanawa yaseTurkey, yabarhwebi, eyayisiya ePiraiévs (ePiraeus), eGrisi.

Ndavuya ndakumbona ebuya ephilile. Saqhubeka nohambo lwethu oluyingozi. Uhambo lwethu lwaya kusifikisa kwamanye amazwe amathathu aseBalkan apho umsebenzi wethu wawuvaliwe—ekubeni sasithwele uncwadi lweBhayibhile, oomatshini bokuchwetheza nezinye izinto, sasisengozini. Saba nelungelo lokudibana nabanye babazalwana noodade abanyanisekileyo, ababekulungele ukubeka esichengeni, imisebenzi yabo yempangelo, inkululeko kwanobomi babo ngenxa kaYehova. Inzondelelo yabo nothando lwabo olunyanisekileyo lwasikhuthaza kakhulu. Savuyiswa nakukuba uYehova wayebanika “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo.”

Emva kohambo lwethu olwaba yimpumelelo, sabuyela eUnited States. Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo, saqhubeka sisebenzisa iindlela ezahlukahlukeneyo sizama ukuthumela uncwadi eAlbania nokufumana iingxelo eziphathelele umsebenzi wabazalwana bethu.

Eluhambeni Ngokufuthi, Ezingozini

Yahamba iminyaka, yaye ekufeni kukaJohn ngowe1981, eneminyaka engama-76, ndasala ndedwa. Umtshana wam, uEvangelia, nomyeni wakhe, uGeorge Orphanides, ngobubele bandithabatha bahlala nam, yaye baye bandinyamekela baza bandinceda nangezinye iindlela ukususela ngoko. Nabo baye bazibonela inkxaso kaYehova ngoxa babekhonza eSudan ngexesha umsebenzi owawuvaliwe apho.c

Ekugqibeleni, kwenziwa ilinge elitsha lokuqhagamshelana nabazalwana bethu baseAlbania. Ekubeni izizalwana zomyeni wam zazihlala apho, ndabuzwa enoba ndandikulungele kusini na ukuya kwelo lizwe. Kakade ndandikulungele!

Emva kokuzama ngokuphindaphindiweyo kangangeenyanga eziliqela, ngoMeyi 1986, ndayifumana incwadi yokundwendwela kwindlu yozakuzo yaseAlbania, eAthens. Amalungu endlu yozakuzo andilumkisa ngokungqongqo ukuba ukuba kunokwenzeka nantoni na, ndingalindeli kufumana luncedo luvela ngaphandle. Xa ndaya kuthenga itikiti lenqwelo-moya lokuya eAlbania kummeli othengisa amatikiti, wothuka. Ndingafuni ukuvumela uloyiko ukuba lundiphazamise, ngoko nangoko ndakhwela kwinqwelo-moya ekuphela kwayo esuka eAthens eya eTiranë veki nganye. Kuloo nqwelo-moya kwakukho abemi baseAlbania abathathu abasele bekhulile, ababeye eGrisi ukuze bafumane unyango.

Ngokukhawuleza nje emva kokuba inqwelo-moya ifikile apho, ndangena kwishedi eyayingenabantu eyayisetyenziswa njengeofisi yokuhlola impahla. Umninawa womyeni wam nodade wabo, nangona babengengawo amaNgqina kaYehova, babekulungele ukundinceda ndifumane abazalwana basekuhlaleni abambalwa. Ngokuvumelana nomthetho, kwakufuneka bazise umphathi wasekuhlaleni ngokufika kwam. Ngenxa yoko, amapolisa ayendibek’ esweni. Ngaloo ndlela, izalamane zam zacebisa ukuba ndihlale ekhayeni lazo zize zona zindikhangelele abazalwana ababini ababehlala eTiranë zibazise kum.

Ngelo xesha, abazalwana abazahluleleyo ababesaziwa kulo lonke elaseAlbania, babesithoba. Ukuvalwa komsebenzi kangangeminyaka emininzi, intshutshiso nokubekw’ esweni ngamapolisa kwabangela ukuba balumke kakhulu. Inkangeleko yobuso babo yayibonisa ukuba akukho mntu bamthembayo. Emva kokubona ukuba aba bazalwana babini bathembekile, into yokuqala abayibuzayo bathi: “Ziphi iiMboniselo?” Kangangeminyaka, babeneencwadi ezimbini ezindala—bengenayo neBhayibhile.

Bayichaza ngokubanzi indlela urhulumente awayebaphethe ngenkohlakalo ngayo. Babalisa ngomzalwana othile othandekayo owayezimisele ukuba ngundilele kwimicimbi yezobupolitika ebudeni bovoto. Ekubeni yonke into yayilawulwa nguRhulumente, oko kwathetha ukuba intsapho yakhe ayizukusifumana isixa sayo sokutya. Abantwana bakhe abatshatileyo neentsapho zabo babeza kuvalelwa entolongweni, nangona babengenanto yakwenza neenkolelo zakhe zonqulo. Kwafunyanwa ingxelo yokuba amalungu entsapho yalo mzalwana, ngenxa yoloyiko, ambulala kubusuku obungaphambi kokuba kuvotwe, isidumbu sakhe basifaka emthonjeni, baza bathi uye woyika waza wazibulala.

Ubuhlwempu baloo maKristu babubangel’ usizi kakhulu. Ukanti, ndathi ndakuzama ukunika ngamnye wawo iidola ezingama-20, ala athi, “Sifuna ukutya kokomoya kuphela.” Abo bazalwana bathandekayo baphila phantsi kolawulo lukarhulumente onguzwilakhe owaphumelelayo ukubethelela ezingqondweni zabemi balapho abaninzi ukuba bangabukholelwa ubukho bukaThixo. Kodwa ukholo nozimiselo lwabo lwalomelele ngokufanayo nolwawo onke amaNgqina akwezinye iindawo. Kwiiveki ezimbini emva kokuba ndimkile eAlbania, ndaqonda ngokwenene ukuba uYehova uyakwazi ukunika abantu “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo,” kwanaphantsi kwezona meko zinzima.

Kwakhona ndaba nelungelo lokutyelela eAlbania ngowe-1989 nangowe-1991. Njengoko inkululeko yokuthetha neyonqulo yabakho ngokuthe ngcembe kwelo lizwe, inani labanquli bakaYehova landa ngokukhawuleza. Iqaqobana lamaKristu azahluleleyo elalikho ngowe-1986 liye landa laya kutsho kubavakalisi abakhutheleyo abangama-2 200. Phakathi kwabo kukho uMelpo, udade bomyeni wam. Ngaba sinokuthandabuza ukuba uYehova uye walisikelela elo qela labakhonzi abathembekileyo?

Ndiye Ndaphila Ubomi Obanelisayo Ngenxa Yamandla Avela KuYehova

Xa ndikhangela emva, ndiqinisekile ukuba umsebenzi wethu—owam noJohn—awukhange ube lilize. Amandla ethu obutsha siye sawasebenzisa ngeyona ndlela iyingenelo. Umsebenzi wethu kubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo uye wanentsingiselo ngaphezu kwayo nantoni na eyenye engesasiyenzile. Ndivuya kakhulu ngenxa yabantu abaninzi abathandekayo esiye sabanceda bafunda inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Ngoku, njengoko iminyaka sele ihambile kum, ndikhuthaza ngokunyanisekileyo abaselula ukuba ‘bakhumbule uMdali wabo Ozukileyo ngemihla yobutsha babo.’—INtshumayeli 12:1.

Nangona ndineminyaka engama-81 ubudala, ndisakwazi ukukhonza njengomvakalisi weendaba ezilungileyo ixesha elizeleyo. Ndivuka kwakusasa ndize ndinikele ubungqina ebantwini abakwizikhululo zebhasi, kwiindawo zokumisa iinqwelo-mafutha, ezitratweni, ezivenkileni nakwiipaki. Iingxaki zokwaluphala zenza ubomi bube nzima ngoku, kodwa abazalwana noodade wethu bokomoya abanothando—intsapho yam enkulu yokomoya—nentsapho yomtshana wam, baye bandixhasa kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwako konke, ndiye ndafunda ukuba ‘amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo ngakaThixo, asingowethu.’—2 Korinte 4:7.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 25]

Ngasentla: (Kwicala elingasekhohlo ekugqibeleni) nguJohn, ndim (phakathi), ndikunye nomntakwethu uEmmanuel ngasekhohlo kwam nomama ngasekhohlo kwakhe, kunye neqela lamalungu aseBheteli, eAthens, ngowe-1950

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 25]

Ngasekhohlo: Ndim noJohn kwishishini lethu kunxweme lwaseNew Jersey, ngowe-1956

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 26]

Indibano yesithili eTiranë, eAlbania, ngowe-1995

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 26]

Isakhiwo saseBheteli, eTiranë, eAlbania. Sagqitywa ngowe-1996

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 26]

Ngasentla: inqaku “leMboniselo” yowe-1940 elaguqulelwa kulwimi lwaseAlbania ngokufihlakeleyo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 26]

Ndikunye nomtshana wam uEvangelia Orphanides (ngasekunene) nomyeni wakhe, uGeorge