Ukukhonza UYehova Bekusoloko Kuyinto Endiyithandayo

Kubalisa uFred Rusk

Ndithe ndiselula, ndaqonda ukuba uDavide wayenyanisile xa wathi kwiNdumiso 27:10: “Nokuba ubawo noma bangandishiya, ke yena uYehova uya kundithabatha.” Makhe ndityebise ukuba yenzeka njani le nto ndiyithethayo.

NDIKHULELE kwifama yomqhaphu katatomkhulu eyayiseGeorgia, eUnited States ngeXesha Lokudodobala Okukhulu Kwezoqoqosho ngeminyaka yee-1930. Utata, owayesaxhelwe kukusweleka kukamama nomntakwethu owayeseyimveku, wandishiya notatomkhulu, naye owayeswelekelwe ngumfazi, waza waya kusebenza kwisixeko esikude. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, wenza amalinge okuba ndiye kuhlala naye, kodwa onke awa phantsi.

Yayiziintombi ezindala zikatatomkhulu ezazijongene nelo khaya. Nakuba yena wayengeyondoda ithanda izinto zonqulo, iintombi zakhe zazizimisele kunqulo lweBhaptizi yaseMazantsi. Zandithembisa ngokundibetha xa ndingayi enkonzweni Cawa nganye. Ngoko, icawa andizange ndiyithande kwasebuncinaneni bam. Kodwa ke, into endandiyithanda sisikolo nezemidlalo.

Utyelelo Olwatshintsha Ubomi Bam

Kuthe ke ngenye injikalanga ngowe-1941, xa ndandineminyaka eli-15 ubudala, apho ekhaya kwafika indoda esele iliqina ihamba nenkosikazi yayo. Kwathiwa ke, lo “ngumalume wakho uTalmadge Rusk.” Ndandiqala ngqa ukuva ngaye kodwa ndafumanisa ukuba yena nenkosikazi yakhe bangamaNgqina kaYehova. Wasixelela ngenjongo kaThixo yokuba abantu bahlale emhlabeni ngonaphakade, nto leyo eyayahluke kwaphela kuleyo sasiyixelelwa ecaweni. Abaninzi kwintsapho yakowethu bakugatya oko babekuthetha, bekujongela phantsi. Kwathiwa bangaphindi beze apho ekhaya. Noko ke, udabawo uMary, owayendishiya ngeminyaka emithathu kuphela ubudala, wayamkela iBhayibhile kunye neempapasho zokuyicacisa

UMary wakhawuleza waqiniseka ukuba uyifumene eyona nyaniso yeBhayibhile waza wabhaptizwa ngowe-1942 waba liNgqina likaYehova. Kanti wawev’ esiqwini amazwi kaYesu athi “Iintshaba zomntu ziya kuba ngabantu bendlu yakhe.” (Mat. 10:34-36) Intsapho yakowethu yachasa ngokukrakra. Usisi wakhe, owayetshotsh’ entla kwezobupolitika, wapheka iyelenqe nosodolophu yaye uMalume uTalmadge wazibona sele ebanjwa. Watyatyekwa izityholo zokuthengisa ngokungekho mthwethweni nangaphandle kweempepha. Wavalelwa.

Iphephandaba ledolophu yakowethu lathi, usodolophu, owayekwayijaji wathi xa wayethetha nenkundla yesixeko: “Iincwadi ezisasazwa yile ndoda . . . ziyingozi kanye oku kwetyhefu.” Umalume wafaka isibheno waza walitola elo tyala, kodwa wakhe wahlala iintsuku ezilishumi ngoxa wayesalinde isibheno.

Indlela Awandinceda Ngayo Udabawo UMary

Ngaphezu kokuba wathetha nam ngeenkolelo awayesandul’ ukufunda ngazo, uMary washumayela nakubamelwane. Ndakha ndahamba naye eye kuqhubela enye indoda eyayinencwadi ethi The New World isifundo seBhayibhile.a Inkosikazi yayo yasixelela ukuba umyeni wayo akazange alale efunda loo ncwadi. Nangona ndandingafuni ukungena nantoni na enonqulo phakathi, into endayifunda apho yanditsala gqitha. Noko ke, ayizange ibe ziimfundiso zeBhayibhile ubukhulu becala ezandenza ndaqonda ukuba amaNgqina angabantu bakaThixo. Yindlela awayephethwe ngayo eyandenza ndaqonda oko.

Ngokomzekelo, kwathi ngenye imini sivela kuhlakula intsimi yeetumato, sinoMary safumanisa kwindawo yokutshisa izinto ukuba oodadewabo batshise iincwadi zakhe, igramafoni namacwecwe anesigidimi seBhayibhile. Ndandinomsindo gqitha kodwa ndaphendulwa ngendelelo ngusisi kaMary owathi, “Ngeny’ imini uya kuze usibulele ngale nto siyenzileyo.”

Kwanyanzeleka ukuba uMary emke kowabo ngowe-1943 kuba wala ukuyeka ukumela ukholo lwakhe yaye wayengafuni kuyeka ukushumayela kubamelwane. Ngelo xesha, kwandivuyisa gqitha ukufunda ukuba uThixo akaneli nje ukuba negama elinguYehova, kodwa unothando novelwano yaye akatshisi bantu kwisihogo somlilo. Kanti ndafunda ukuba uYehova unentlangano enothando nangona ndandingekayi kwiintlanganiso.

Kwathi ngenye imini ndicheba ingca, kwedlula enye imoto ithe chu yaye enye yamadoda amabini awayekhwele kuyo yandibuza ukuba andinguye na uFred. Ndisakufumanisa ukuba angamaNgqina, ndathi kuwo, “Mandikhwele nani ndiye kukhangela indawo ekhuselekileyo sithethe.” Ayethunyelwe nguMary ukuba aze kundibona. Enye yaloo madoda yayinguShield Toutjian, umlungiseleli ohambahambayo owandikhuthazayo waza wandinika ulwalathiso lokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Inkcaso yentsapho yajika yajoliswa kum njengoko ndandikhusela iinkolelo zamaNgqina kaYehova.

UMary wandibhalela eseVirginia, apho wayefudukele khona, esithi ukuba ndizimisele ukukhonza uYehova, ndingaya kuhlala naye. Ngoko nangoko ndagqiba kwelokuba ndihambe. Ngenye ingokuhlwa yangoLwesihlanu ngo-Oktobha 1943, ndafaka izinto ezibalulekileyo ebhokisini ndaza ndayibophelela kumthi omgama kunasekhaya. NgoMgqibelo, ndayithatha loo bhokisi ndaza ndabuyela nayo kwikhaya lommelwane, ukusuka apho ndakhwela ndaya edolophini. Ndaya kwisixeko saseRoanoke, ndafika uMary ekwikhaya likaEdna Fowlkes.

Ndakhula Ngokomoya, Ndabhaptizwa Ndaza Ndaya EBheteli

UEdna wayeliNgqina elithanjisiweyo elinovelwano—uLidiya wale mihla—owayeqeshe indlu enkulu, wafaka uDabawo uMary, umfazi womntakwabo Edna, kwakunye neentombi zakhe ezimbini. Ezi ntombi—uGladys noGrace Gregory—bathi kamva baba ngabavangeli basemazweni. Sithethanje uGladys, sele ekwiminyaka engama-90 ubudala, yaye ukhonza ngokuthembeka kwisebe laseJapan.

Ngoxa ndandihlala kwaEdna, ndandisiya rhoqo kwiintlanganiso yaye ndandiqeqeshwa kubulungiseleli. Ukufunda iLizwi likaThixo nokuya kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu ngokukhululekileyo kwawanelisa gqitha umdla endandinawo ngezinto zokomoya. NgoJuni 14, 1944, ndabhaptizwa. UMary neentombi zakwaGregory baba ngoovulindlela baza banikwa isabelo kumantla eVirginia. Apho baba negalelo ekusekweni kwebandla eLeesburg. Ebutsheni bowe-1946, ndaba nguvulindlela kwilizwe elalimelene nelo babekulo. Ngehlobo laloo nyaka ndahamba nabo ukuya kwindibano yesithili engalibalekiyo eyayiseCleveland, eOhio, ngoAgasti 4-11.

Kuloo ndibano, uNathan Knorr, owayekhokela entlanganweni, wachaza indlela eyayiza kwandiswa ngayo iBheteli yaseBrooklyn. Phakathi kwezinye izinto kwakuza kwakhiwa indawo entsha yokuhlala kuze kwandiswe isakhiwo sokushicilela. Kwakufuneka abazalwana abaninzi abaselula. Ndagqiba kwelokuba ndiza kumkhonza apho uYehova. Ngoko ndafaka isicelo yaye kwiinyanga nje ezimbalwa, ngoDisemba 1, 1946, ndaya eBheteli.

Malunga nonyaka emva koko, umveleli wendawo yokushicilela, uMax Larson, waya kwindawo endandisebenzela kuyo kwiSebe Lokuthumela Uncwadi. Wandixelela ukuba ndabelwe kwiSebe Lenkonzo. Kweso sabelo, ndafunda lukhulu ngendlela yokusebenzisa imigaqo yeBhayibhile nomsebenzi wentlangano kaThixo, ingakumbi ngoxa ndandisebenza noT.J. (uBud) Sullivan, umveleli welo sebe.

Utata wandityelela kaninzi eBheteli. Kamva kubomi bakhe wayesele eluthanda unqulo. Kutyelelo lwakhe lokugqibela, ngowe-1965, wathi, “Ungandityelela, kodwa mna andinakuze ndiphinde ndize kukubona apha.” Ndamtyelela izihlandlo ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba asweleke. Wayeqinisekile ukuba uza kuya ezulwini. Ndiyathemba ukuba ukwinkumbulo kaYehova, yaye ukuba kunjalo, xa kuvuswa abantu akasayi kuba kwindawo awayecinga ukuba uza kuba kuyo, kodwa uza kuba lapha emhlabeni, enethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade kwiParadesi ehlaziyiweyo.

Ezinye Iindibano Nolwakhiwo Olungalibalekiyo

Iindibano bezisoloko iziziganeko ezibalulekileyo ezindincede ndakhula ngokomoya. Ezandinceda nangakumbi zezo zezizwe ngezizwe ezaziqhutyelwa eYankee Stadium eNew York ngowe-1950. Ebudeni bolunye ucwangciso ngowe-1958, iYankee Stadium nePolo Grounds zazizele ntli ngabantu abangama-253 922 abavela kumazwe ali-123. Kuloo ndibano kwenzeka isiganeko endingasoze ndisilibale. Ngoxa ndandincedisa kwiofisi yendibano, uMzalwan’ uKnorr weza kum ekhawulezile. Wathi: “Fred, “ndilibele ukwabela umzalwana oza kuthetha nabo bonke oovulindlela abasele bekwiholo yokutyela ekufutshane apha. Akunakukhawuleza ubanike intetho emnandi oza kuhamba uyicinga njengoko usiya kubo?” Ndathandaza andayeka de ndaya kufika apho ndingasakwazi nokuphefumla.

Njengoko inani lamabandla lalisanda ngendlela emangalisayo kwiSixeko saseNew York ngeminyaka yee-1950 neyee-1960, iindawo ezaziqeshwa zize zenziwe iiHolo ZoBukumkani zazingasaneli. Ngoko ukususela ngowe-1970 ukuya kutsho ngowe-1990, eManhattan kwathengwa izakhiwo ezithathu zaza zatshintshwa ukuze zibe ziindawo zokuhlanganisana ezifanelekileyo. Ndaba ngusihlalo weekomiti zokwakha kwezi holo yaye ndinezinto ezininzi ezintle endizikhumbulayo ngendlela uYehova aye wawasikelela ngokuyintabalala ngayo amabandla awayesebenza kunye ukuze axhase ngezimali ukugqitywa kwezi zakhiwo ezisaqhubeka ziziindawo zonqulo oluyinyaniso.

Ubomi Bam Batshintsha

Kwathi ngenye imini ngowe-1957, ngoxa ndandihamba kwipaki ephakathi kweKhaya LaseBheteli nendawo yokushicilela, kwanetha. Phambi kwam kwakuhamba intombi entle eyayisandul’ ukufika eBheteli. Yayingenayo iambrela, ngoko ndacela ukuba ingene kweyam. Ndaqala ngoko ukwazana noMarjorie, yaye okoko satshatayo ngowe-1960, besihamba kunye ngovuyo kwinkonzo kaYehova, kushushu kunetha. Besigqiba iminyaka engama-50 sitshatile ngoSeptemba 2010.

Sathi sifika nje sivela kutshata, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wandixelela ukuba ndabelwe njengomhlohli kwiSikolo SaseGiliyadi. Yayililungelo elikhetheke ngokwenene elo! Ukususela ngowe-1961 ukuya kutsho ngowe-1965, iiklasi ezintlanu ezinde, ubukhulu becala ezazinamalungu esebe awayefumana uqeqesho olukhethekileyo kwindlela yokulawula isebe. Ekuqaleni kowe-1965, iiklasi zaphinda zathatha iinyanga ezintlanu, yaye zaphinda zagxininisa ekuqeqesheni abathunywa bevangeli.

Ngowe-1972, ndatshintshwa kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi kwathiwa mandibe ngumveleli weSebe Lembalelwano. Ukuphanda ngenjongo yokuphendula imibuzo nokucombulula iingxaki ezininzi kuye kwandinceda ndaziqonda kakuhle iimfundiso zeLizwi likaThixo nokusebenzisa imigaqo ephakamileyo yoThixo wethu ekuncedeni abanye.

Kwathi ke, ngowe-1987, ndabelwa kwisebe elitsha elibizwa ngokuba liSebe Lenkcazelo Yezibhedlele. Kwalungiselelwa iiklasi zokufundisa abadala ngeeKomiti Zokunxibelelana Nezibhedlele nendlela yokuthetha noogqirha, iijaji noonontlalontle ukuze kuxutyushwe ukuma kwethu okusekelwe eZibhalweni ngokuphathelele igazi. Ingxaki enkulu yayikukuba oogqirha babetofela igazi kubantwana bamaNgqina ngenkani, ubukhulu becala befumana umyalelo wokwenjenjalo enkundleni.

Xa oogqirha becetyiswa ngezinye iindlela ezingasebenzisi gazi, ngokuqhelekileyo babedla ngokuphendula ngelithi ezo ndlela azifumaneki okanye bathi zibiza imali eninzi kakhulu. Ugqirha othanda ukuthetha loo nto ndandidla ngokuthi kuye, “Ndicela ukukubamba isandla.” Xa evuma, bendiye ndithi, “Yhazi, unenye yezona ndlela zibhetele kunokusebenzisa igazi.” Oku kunconywa kuye kumkhumbuze into ayazi kakuhle—le yokuba ukuyisebenzisa kakuhle incakuba yokutyanda kwenza igazi lingaphumi kakhulu.

Kula mashumi mabini eminyaka, uYehova uye wayisikelela ngokuyintabalala le migudu yokufundisa oogqirha neejaji. Izimo zabo zengqondo ziye zatshintsha ngokuphawulekayo emva kokuba bekuqonde kakuhle ukuma kwethu. Baye bafunda ukuba uphando lwezamayeza lungqina ukuba ukusebenzisa ezinye iindlela ezingasebenzisi gazi kuluncedo yaye baninzi oogqirha abanentsebenziswano kwakunye nezibhedlele anokuthi umguli athunyelwe kuzo.

Ukususela ngowe-1996, sinoMarjorie besikhonza kwiZiko Lemfundo LeWatchtower elisePatterson, eNew York, elimalunga neekhilomitha ezili-110 kumantla eBrooklyn. Apha ndisebenze kancinane kwiSebe Lenkonzo yaye kangangethuba elithile ndahlohla amalungu esebe nabaveleli abahambahambayo. Kule minyaka ili-12 idluleyo, bendingumveleli kwiSebe Lembalelwano, eliye ladluliselwa eBrooklyn ePatterson.

Ucelomngeni Lokukhula

Ukunyamekela amalungelo enkonzo yaseBheteli kunzima kakhulu kuba ngoku ndiphakathi kwiminyaka engama-80 ubudala. Bendilwisana nomhlaza ngaphezu kweminyaka elishumi. Ndivakalelwa kanye njengoHezekiya, owongezelwa iminyaka yakhe yobomi nguYehova. (Isa. 38:5) Nomfazi wam ukhathazwa yimpilo, yaye ndiyamncedisa njengoko naye ephethwe sisifo seAlzheimer. UMarjorie ebesoloko engumlungiseleli kaYehova okhutheleyo, efundisa abaselula, engumncedi othembekileyo neqabane elinyanisekileyo kum. Ebesoloko ekuthanda ukufunda iBhayibhile yaye efundisa kakuhle ngayo, yaye abantwana bakhe abaninzi bokomoya basaqhagamshelana nathi.

Udabawo uMary uye wasweleka ngoMatshi 2010 eneminyaka engama-87 ubudala. Ebenkqenkqeza phambili njengomfundisi weLizwi likaThixo yaye uye wanceda abanye balumela unqulo lokwenyaniso. Uchithe iminyaka emininzi ekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ndimbulela gqitha ngegalelo abe nalo ekundincedeni ndifunde inyaniso yeLizwi likaThixo ndibe njengaye, umkhonzi kaThixo wethu onothando uYehova. UMary ungcwatywe ecaleni komyeni wakhe, owakha wangumthunywa wevangeli kwaSirayeli. Ndiqinisekile uYehova uyabakhumbula yaye balindele uvuko.

Xa ndijonga emva kule minyaka ingama-67 ndikhonza uYehova, ndiyambulela ngentabalala yeentsikelelo endiye ndazifumana. Bekundivuyisa ukwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova! Ndithembele kububele bakhe obungasifanelanga, yaye ndithembele ngokupheleleyo kwesi sithembiso soNyana wakhe: “Wonk’ ubani oshiye izindlu okanye abantakwabo okanye oodade okanye uyise okanye unina okanye abantwana okanye imihlaba ngenxa yegama lam uya kwamkela izihlandlo ezininzi ngakumbi yaye uya kudla ilifa ubomi obungunaphakade.”—Mat. 19:29.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

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Ndikwifama katatomkhulu yomqhaphu eGeorgia, eUnited States, ngowe-1928

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Udabawo uMary noMalume uTalmadge

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UMary, uGladys, noGrace

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Apha ndandibhaptizwa, ngoJuni 14, 1944

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NdikwiSebe Lenkonzo eBheteli

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Ndikunye noMary kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe ngowe-1958 eYankee Stadium

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]

Ndim noMarjorie ukutshata kwethu

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]

Sikunye ngowama-2008