KwiiPhilippines

Imithi yekhokhonathi, uhlaza oluyokozelayo, unxweme oluzaliswe yintlabathi emhlophe, neelwandle ezithi ndijonge—ezi ke zizinto iiPhilippines ezizidla ngazo. Eli chwebakazi lineziqithi ezimalunga nama-7 100, lidla ngokubizwa ngokuba siSacholo seeLwandle zaseMpuma. Eny’ into efik’ ithi chatha kobu buhle ngabantu abonwabileyo, abathandanayo nabangazivayo ngomdaniso nomculo. Xa unokutyelela ezi ziqithi, uya kubuya ungawuvali umlomo bububele nokubuk’ iindwendwe okuboniswa ngabantu abahle balapho.

Noko ke, kwabaninzi xa kuthethwa ngeePhilippines kuthi qatha enye into eyahlukileyo—intlekele. Usenokukhumbula impuphuma yeNtaba iPinatubo, eyatyekeza udaka olushushu olwazitshabalalisa kwathi nyaa iidolophu; okanye usenokukhumbula intlekele eyehla elwandle neyadubaduba uxolo lwehlabathi, ekwathi kuyo kwafa abantu abangamawakawaka xa iphenyane uDoña Paz langqubana nenqanawa eyayithwele ioli. Kangangokuba, iBelgium’s Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters yazichaza iiPhilippines njengeyona ndawo yeentlekele ehlabathini. Izaqhwithi, izikhukula, iinyikima neentaba-mlilo zixhaphakile apho. Xa ucinga nangobuhlwempu obugqubayo kwelo, uya kuba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni welizwe elihle kodwa elineengxaki zalo.

Kuzo zonke iiPhilippines, amaNgqina kaYehova axakekile esazisa inyaniso yeBhayibhile kubantu balapho abazizi-78 000 000. Akuyondlwan’ iyanetha ke oko. Ngaphandle kweentlekele ezingokwemvelo, ajamelene nocelomngeni lokufikelela abantu abakuninzi lwezo ziqithana nabakwimimandla ekwanti esezintabeni nasemahlathini. Nakuba kunjalo, ayaqhubeka nalo msebenzi. Abantu bakaYehova baye bakwazi ukunyamezela kuzo zonke iimeko ezahlukahlukeneyo abaye bajamelana nazo. Ngenxa yoko, baye basikelelwa nguYehova kulo msebenzi wokwenza abafundi.

Ngandlel’ ithile, amaNgqina akwiiPhilippines ayafana namaSirayeli amandulo awayenomnqweno wokubuyisela unqulo lokwenyaniso eYerusalem. Akhuthazwa ngamazwi kaNehemiya athi: “Uvuyo lukaYehova ligwiba lenu.” (Neh. 8:10) Nakuba ahlangabezana nocelomngeni, ngovuyo, amaSirayeli aqhubela phambili nomsebenzi wokukhuthaza unqulo lukaYehova. NjengamaSirayeli omhla kaNehemiya, amaNgqina kaYehova kuzo zonke iiPhilippines afundiswa iLizwi likaThixo. Nakuwo uvuyo lukaYehova luye lwaba ligwiba.

Ukukhanya Kokuqala Kwenyaniso

IiPhilippines zikhetheke ngento yokuba zizo kuphela ezinamaRoma Katolika amaninzi eAsia. Abemi beePhilippines babeneenkonzo zabo zomthonyama, kodwa ukulawulwa kwabo lilizwe laseSpeyin ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-300 kwabethelela iimfundiso zobuKatolika kubo. Nangona ukulawulwa kwabo yiUnited States kangangesiqingatha senkulungwane kwabenza baqhelana nezinye iinkolelo zonqulo, ubuKatolika busankqenkqeza phambili. Bamalunga nama-80 ekhulwini abantu abasabumelayo.

Ngowe-1912, uCharles T. Russell, uMfundi weBhayibhile wokuqala—njengoko amaNgqina kaYehova ayesaziwa njalo ngaphambili—wafika eManila ekukhenketho lokunikela iintetho ehlabathini lonke. NgoJanuwari 14, wanikela intetho eManila Grand Opera House eyayinomxholo othi “Baphi Abafileyo?” Bonke ababelapho banikwa uncwadi.

Kwatyalwa imbewu engakumbi yenyaniso yeBhayibhile ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1920 xa uMzalwan’ uWilliam Tinney owayevela eKhanada watyelela apho njengommeli wesibini waBafundi beBhayibhile. Wamisela iklasi yokufundisisa iBhayibhile. Ngenxa yempilo enkenenkene, kwanyanzeleka ukuba abuyele eKhanada, kodwa abemi beePhilippines abanomdla baqhubeka nale klasi yokufundisisa iBhayibhile. Uncwadi abaluthunyelelwa ngeposi lwayibethelela inyaniso ezintliziyweni zabantu balapho. Kwaqhubeka kunjalo de kwasebutsheni beminyaka yee-1930. Ngowe-1933 isigidimi senyaniso sasisasazwa kwiiPhilippines ngesikhululo sikanomathotholo iKZRM.

Kwangaloo nyaka mnye, uJoseph dos Santos waqalisa eHawaii uhambo lwakhe lokushumayela ehlabathini lonke. Wadlulela kwiiPhilippines, kodwa waphelel’ apho. UMzalwan’ udos Santos wanikwa imbopheleleko yokwalathisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani nokumisela iofisi yesebe apho. Loo ofisi yaqalisa ukusebenza ngoJuni 1, 1934. UMzalwan’ udos Santos, kwakunye nabantu balapho abanomdla wokukhonza uYehova, bathi bhukuqu kumsebenzi wokushumayela nokuhambisa uncwadi. Nangona babechaswa, ngowe-1938 kwabakho abavakalisi abali-121 kwelo, yaye abangama-47 kubo babengoovulindlela.

Nangona abaninzi babefundiswe ukuthetha isiNgesi ngabemi baseMerika, abazalwana bafumanisa ukuba abantu bayifunda lula iBhayibhile ngeelwimi zabo zomthonyama. Oku kwaba lucelomngeni kuba kuzo zonke iiPhilippines, zazimalunga nama-90 iilwimi neziyelelane ezazithethwa apho. Noko ke, kwenziwa iinzame zokuguqulela uncwadi kwezinye iilwimi ezithethwa kakhulu kwelo. Ngowe-1939 iofisi yesebe yakhupha le ngxelo: “Ngoku sirekhoda [iintetho zeBhayibhile] ngolwimi lwesiTagalog, yaye sijonge ekuzidlaleni kwizandisi-lizwi nakwiigramafoni ukuze kuzukiswe iNkosi.” Kwakhona yenza ingxelo ephathelele ukuguqulelwa kwencwadi ethi Riches kulwimi lwesiTagalog. Kwiminyaka emibini kamva, kwakusele kuguqulelwe iincwadana kwezinye iilwimi ezine eziphambili kwiiPhilippines, ngaloo ndlela abantu abaninzi batsho bakwazi ukusiqonda isigidimi soBukumkani kwelo lizwe.

Phakathi kwabo basamkelayo isigidimi senyaniso ngaloo minyaka yayinguFlorentino Quintos, owayengutitshala. Waqala ukwazi ngomsebenzi wabantu bakaYehova emva kokuba encokole nendoda eyayikho xa uMzalwan’ uRussell wanikela intetho eManila ngowe-1912. Ngowe-1936, uFlorentino wanikwa lelinye iNgqina likaYehova iincwadi ezimibalabala ezili-16 ezazixubusha iBhayibhile. Noko ke, ngenxa yokuxakeka kwakhe kumsebenzi wokuba ngutitshala kangangethuba elithile uFlorentino wayehombisile nje ngezi ncwadi engazifundi. Kwaqhambuka imfazwe, iJapan yahlasela kwelo, yaye imisebenzi emininzi eqhelekileyo yaphazamiseka. Ngoku uFlorentino walifumana ithuba lokufundisisa waza walixhakamfula. Kwithuba nje elingephi incwadi ethi Riches, ethi Enemies, nethi Salvation wazifunda wazigqiba. Wathi esafunda waphazanyiswa kukufuneka abaleke imikhosi yaseJapan, kodwa yona imbewu yenyaniso yayisele imilile kuye.

Kwabakho Inkqubela Ekhawulezileyo Nangona Kukho IMfazwe Yehlabathi

IMfazwe Yehlabathi II yeza nolunye ucelomngeni kubakhonzi bakaYehova abakwelo chwebakazi. Ekuqaleni kwaloo mfazwe kwakukho abavakalisi abangama-373 kwiiPhilippines. Nangona babeliqaqobana, baba nenkalipho baze babhetyebhetye ngeyona ndlela ngelokuzama ukukhuthaza unqulo olunyulu.

Abanye abazalwana baseManila bafudukela kwezinye iidolophana ezingqonge eso sixeko ukuze baqhubeke nomsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngenxa yemfazwe kwaba nzima ukuthunyelwa koncwadi lweBhayibhile, kodwa abazalwana bakwazi ukuhambisa uncwadi olwalugcinwe kumakhaya abazalwana ngaphambi kwemfazwe. Zithe zakuphela ezo ncwadi babhenela ekubolekiseni ngezabo iincwadi ebantwini.

USalvador Liwag, ititshala eyancama umsebenzi wayo ukuze ibe ngumvakalisi weendaba ezilungileyo, wayeseMindanao ukuqhambuka kwemfazwe. Yena nabanye abazalwana babalekela emahlathini nasezintabeni. Baqhubeka nemisebenzi yobuthixo belapho. Kwakufuneka belumke gqitha bangazuli kakhulu, kuba amajoni aseJapan ayesenokubabamba aze abasebenzise ngenkani kwiinkampu zawo. Kwangaxeshanye, amatsha-ntliziyo awayesilwa namaJapan ayedla ngokubarhanela aba bazalwana ngokuba baziintlola zeJapan.

Okumangalisayo kukuba, zazikwazi ukuqhutywa iindibano ezincinane nakuba kukho amajoni aseJapan. Kwaqhutywa indibano yesiphaluka eyayinabantu abaninzi eManila. Enye yaqhutyelwa eLingayen. Abahlali balapho bamangaliswa kukubona abantu basemzini begaleleka ngeelori, kodwa abazange baphazamise, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba loo ndibano iphumelele.

UYehova wawusikelela lo msebenzi, yaye amaNgqina anda. Abadumisi bakaYehova ababengama-373 ukuqala kwemfazwe bakhula baba ngaphezu kwama-2 000 kwiminyaka nje emine.

Uz’ ukhumbule ukuba uMzalwan’ udos Santos wabelwa ukuba alathise umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani kwiiPhilippines. NgoJanuwari 1942, wavalelwa kwinkampu yamajoni aseJapan eManila. Sekunjalo, naye akazange ayeke ukuba nenzondelelo. Wathi: “Ndashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kubo bonke endandinokubafikelela kuloo nkampu.” Kwakunzima kuloo nkampu kangangokuba abaninzi babulawa linxele likaKhetsekile. Ekuvalelweni kwakhe uMzalwan’ udos Santos, wayenobunzima obuziikhilogram ezingama-61, kodwa ekukhululweni kwakhe wayenobunzima obuziikhilogram ezingama-36 kuphela.

Abemi baseMerika bawakhulula amabanjwa ngowe-1945, baza bathi uMzalwan’ udos Santos makathunyelwe eHawaii, kodwa wala. Kwakutheni? Kaloku wayeyoliswa ngumsebenzi woBukumkani, yaye wayefuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuqinisekisa ukuba lo msebenzi uhambela phambili kwiiPhilippines. Ngaphezu koko, wayengekafiki umntu owayeza kungena ezihlangwini zakhe. UMzalwan’ udos Santos wathi: “Ndandizimisele ukuhlala de afike!” UHilarion Amores wathi ngoJoseph dos Santos: “Wayekhuthele yaye enomdla wokwanelisa iimfuno zokomoya zabazalwana.”

Ukufika Kwabavangeli Basemazweni

Abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines benza konke okusemandleni abo ngaphambi nasebudeni bemfazwe, nangona bengazange baqeqeshwe ngokukhethekileyo. Noko ke, akuzange kube kudala emva kwemfazwe, kwafika abantu beze kunceda. NgoJuni 14, 1947 kwafika uEarl Stewart, uVictor White, noLorenzo Alpiche ababephumelele eGiliyadi. Wada wabakho umntu owayeza kungena ezihlangwini zikaMzalwan’ udos Santos. Ngowe-1949, yena, inkosikazi kunye nabantwana bakhe babuyela eHawaii.

UMzalwan’ uStewart wamiselwa njengesicaka sesebe. Uninzi lwabanye abavangeli basemazweni abafika kuloo minyaka bathunyelwa entsimini. UVictor Amores, wakwiiPhilippines owathunyelwa eGiliyadi, uthi xa ethetha ngeengenelo zokuba nabavangeli basemazweni abaqeqeshwe eGiliyadi: “Basinceda gqitha ekwalathiseni umsebenzi. Abazalwana bafunda lukhulu kwaba baphumelele eGiliyadi. Kwabakho ulwando. Ngaphambi kowe-1975, sasinabavakalisi abamalunga nama-77 000, ngoxa ngowe-1946 sasingama-2 600 kuphela.” Emva kokuba kuqale kwafika abazalwana abathathu, kwafika nabanye abavangeli basemazweni, ekwakukho phakathi kwabo abakwaBrown nabakwaWillett, ababekhonza eCebu, kwakunye nabakwa-Anderson, ababesebenza eDavao. Kwafika nabakwaSteele, abakwaSmith, noMzalwan’ uHachtel noBruun. Ngowe-1951 kwafika uNeal Callaway. Kamva watshata udade walapho, uNenita, yaye bakhonza phantse kuzo zonke iiPhilippines de kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1985. Ngowe-1954 kwafika uDenton Hopkinson noRaymond Leach bevela kwelaseBritani, yaye basenegalelo nangoku kumsebenzi owenziwa kwiiPhilippines nakuba sekudlule iminyaka engama-48 belapho.

Asingobazalwana bamanye amazwe nabaphumelele eGiliyadi kuphela abaye baba negalelo ekwalathisweni, nakulwando lomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani kwiiPhilippines. Ngeminyaka yee-1950, nabazalwana bakwiiPhilippines bamenyelwa kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi, yaye phantse bonke babuya baya kukhonza kwilizwe labo. Abathathu bokuqala ukuya apho yayinguSalvador Liwag, uAdolfo Dionisio, noMacario Baswel. UVictor Amores, esithethe ngaye ngaphambilana, wasebenzisa uqeqesho awalufumanayo kumsebenzi wokuhambahamba naseBheteli. Kamva kwafuneka akhulise abantwana kodwa wabuyela kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Waba ngumveleli ohambahambayo waza waba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo kwiPhondo iLaguna, ekunye nowakwakhe uLolita, de waphakathi kwiminyaka yama-70.

Baqhubeka De Kwayiminyaka Yee-1970

Njengoko umsebenzi wawuqhubela phambili ngokukhawuleza, abavakalisi baqhubeka besanda de badlula kuma-77 000 ngowe-1975. Inkoliso yabakhonzi bakaYehova yahlala iqinile ngokomoya yaza yaqhubeka ikhonza uThixo ngokunyaniseka. Noko ke, abaninzi bayeka ukukhonza uYehova xa isiphelo sale nkqubo yezinto singazange sifike ngowe-1975. Ngowe-1979, inani labavakalisi lehla laya kutsho ngaphantsi kwama-59 000. UCornelio Cañete, owayekhonza njengomveleli wesiphaluka ngeminyaka yee-1970, wathi: “Abanye babhaptizwa nje ngenxa yokoyika owe-1975 baza bahlala enyanisweni iminyaka embalwa. Emva kowe-1975, bayishiya inyaniso.”

Noko ke, inkoliso yabo yayifuna nje ukukhuthazwa ukuze iqhubeke inembono efanelekileyo ngenkonzo yamaKristu. Ngoko iofisi yesebe yalungiselela ukuba kunikelwe iintetho ezikhethekileyo. Loo nto yabangela ukuba kungakhuthazwa nje kuphela abo bazimiseleyo, kodwa kuvuselelwe nabo babesele bepholile ukuba baphinde babe ngabadumisi bakaYehova abazimiseleyo. Abazalwana bancedwa baqonda ukuba babemele bamkhonze uThixo, kungekhona ngenxa yomhla othile, kodwa ngonaphakade. Nakuba abavakalisi boBukumkani bakha bancipha okwexeshana, kodwa ngoku bande ngendlela emangalisayo. Abo bangazange bavumele ukudana kubenze balibale ngokulunga kukaYehova baye basikelelwa ngokwenene!

Ukunikela Ubungqina Kwimimandla Ekwanti—Ezintabeni

Amawakawaka eziqithi ezibumba iiPhilippines agubungela ummandla oziikhilomitha ezili-1 850 ukusuka emantla ukuya emazantsi, kanti ukusuka empuma ukuya entshona agubungela ummandla oziikhilomitha ezili-1 100. Ezinye kwezi ziqithi azinabemi, yaye uninzi kuzo zizaliswe yimiwewe nemixawuka. Kulucelomngeni ke ukufikelela abantu abakwimimandla ekwanti ngolo hlobo.

Omnye waloo mimandla yiKalinga-Apayao. Kwimixawuka yoMbindi Cordillera ekwiintaba ezikumantla eLuzon, abantu bahlulahlulwe ngokwezizwe, iilwimi nezithethe zabo. Nangona ukunqunyulwa kweentloko zabantu kwapheliswayo ngenkulungwane yama-20, abemi bale mimandla baqhubeka bejongene ngezikhondo zamehlo, nto leyo eyayiphumela kwiingxwabangxwaba nokubulalana. UGeronimo Lastima wathi: “Ngaphambili, kwakunzima ukuthumela oovulindlela abakhethekileyo kuloo mimandla. Abantu balapho babebafun’ apho babekho abazalwana ngeenjongo zokubabulala.”

Into eyancedayo kukuthunyelwa koodade. UGeronimo wathi: “Babengawenzi nto amabhinqa. Ngokwemveli yalapho amabhinqa akenzakaliswa.” Oodade bakwazi ukubafundisa inyaniso abantu balapho. Kamva, abanye abemi balapho babhaptizwa baza baba ngoovulindlela. Babezazi kakuhle izithethe zabantu bakubo nto leyo eyabanceda bakwazi ukunikela ubungqina kubo. Loo nto iphumele ekubeni ezi ntaba zizaliswe “ngabazingeli”—ababezingela abathandi benyaniso. Ngeminyaka yee-1970, kwakukho iqaqobana lamaNgqina kulo lonke elaseKalinga-Apayao; kodwa sithethanje kukho iziphaluka ezibini.

Ngokufanayo, kummandla weentaba waseIfugao okufutshane apho, kwakungekho nokuba libe linye iNgqina ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1950. Kwabelwa oovulindlela abathe ngxi abathathu ukuba bashumayele kubantu balapho ababephahlwe ngamasimi erayisi. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, abantu balapho bayamkela inyaniso. Ngoku kuloo mmandla kukho amabandla ali-18 anabavakalisi abangama-315.

Kwiintaba ezisemantla zeAbra, kunzima ukufikelela iidolophana ezingekabi nawo amaNgqina. Omnye umveleli wesiphaluka owayezimisele ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kwimimandla ekwanti, wamema abanye abangama-34 ukuba bahambe naye ukuya kushumayela kummandla okufuphi neTineg. (IZe. 1:8) Ekubeni kungekho zithuthi zikawonke wonke, eli qela lathabatha iintsuku ezisixhenxe libetha ngezikaTshiwo ukunyusa ezo ntaba ukuze liye kufikelela kwiidolophana ezilishumi ezinemizi emalunga nama-250.

Lo mveleli wesiphaluka uthi: “Kwakungeyondlwan’ iyanetha ukuhamba kwezo ntaba uxhakazela yimithwalo. Kwezo ngokuhlwa zintandathu, ezine sazichitha silele empengempenge okanye ecaleni komlambo.” Kwakusele kudlule iminyaka emininzi kungasanikelwa bungqina kwezo dolophana. Kwenye yazo, badibana nendoda eyathi: “AmaNgqina kaYehova akha ashumayela kutata kwiminyaka engama-27 eyadlulayo. Wasixelela ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova athetha inyaniso.” Lilonke, eli qela lahambisa iincwadi ezingama-60, amaphephancwadi ali-186, iincwadana ezinemifanekiso ezingama-50 namaphecana angama-287, laza labonisa abaninzi indlela esiqhutywa ngayo isifundo seBhayibhile.

Ukushumayela Kweminye Imimandla Ekwanti

IPalawan sesona siqithi sikhulu kwiiPhilippines. Esi siqithi sithabatha umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-434. Njengoko imi bucala kwiziqithi ezinabemi abaninzi nezixakekileyo, iPalawan ihlala abantu bezizwe ezahlukeneyo kwanoonothwal’ impahlana. URaymond Leach owayekulungele ukwenza nawuphi na umsebenzi, wathunyelwa apho njengomveleli wesiphaluka. AmaNgqina ayelibathwana yaye kwakufuneka ahambe umgama omde. Uthi: “Ndandilapho ukususela ngowe-1955 ukusa kowe-1958, yaye kwakukho abavakalisi abali-14 kuphela kuyo yonke iPalawan. Ndabatyelela nje ngeeveki ezintlanu.”

Ukususela ngoko, kuye kwabakho ulwando, nangona zisekho iingxaki. UFebe Lota, ngoku osele ekwiminyaka engama-40, waqalisa ubuvulindlela obukhethekileyo ePalawan ngowe-1984. Ubalisa oko kwenzekayo xa wayeseDumaran: “Sasicinga ukuba sifike kwindlu yokugqibela. Sasingazi ukuba ukuphuma kwethu apho siza kudibana nenye!” Phakathi kweminquma sadibana nesibini esitshatileyo esasinyamekela imithi yekhokhonathi. Yaye okona kuvuyisayo kukuba sasinomdla eBhayibhileni!

Kwanyanzeleka ukuba esi sibini siwuncame umsebenzi kwimithi yekhokhonathi xa umphathi waso, ongumBhaptizi, wafumanisa ukuba sifundisisa namaNgqina. UFebe wavuya gqitha akuphinda abone umfazi ongomnye weso sibini kwakhona. UFebe uthi wayengabhaptizwanga nje kuphela, kodwa “wayekunye nathi kwintlanganiso yoovulindlela eyayiqhutywa kwindibano yesithili.” Hayi indlela ekuvuyisa ngayo ukubona iziqhamo ezihle zomsebenzi wakho!

Kwesinye isiqithi saseMindanao esikumazantsi eePhilippines, zininzi iindawo ezifikeleleka nzima. UNathan Ceballos, uye wakhonza apho njengomveleli ohambahambayo, ekunye nowakwakhe. Ngeeveki abangatyelelanga mabandla ngazo, babesenza umgudu wokushumayela kwimimandla ekwanti. Babedla ngokucela abanye abazalwana noodade ukuba bahambe nabo. Eli qela lakha lasebenzisa izithuthuthu ezili-19 ukuze lifikelele iidolophana eziliqela. Kwakungelula kwezo ndlela zinodaka yaye la maNgqina kwafuneka awele imilambo nemifula, uninzi kuyo olwalungenazibhulorho. Nangona abemi bezo ndawo babengenamali, banikela ngemitshayelo abayenze ngokwabo ngenxa yoxabiso ababenalo ngoncwadi ababeluphathelwe ngabazalwana. Khawube nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wabazalwana begoduka, izithuthuthu zithwele imitshayelo! UNathan uthi: “Sonke sagoduka sidiniwe, simdaka kodwa sizele luvuyo, sisazi ukuba senze ukuthanda kukaYehova.”

Ukusebenzisa Zonke Iindlela Zokushumayela Iindaba Ezilungileyo

Kule minyaka, intlangano kaYehova iye yakhuthaza abashumayeli boBukumkani ukuba basebenzise naliphi ithuba lokunikela ubungqina. Oku kuye kwaphumelela ngakumbi kwiindawo ezinabemi abaninzi kwelo lizwe. Izixeko ezikhulu njengeDavao, iCebu, noMbindi Manila, ziyafana nezinye izixeko ezikhulu ehlabathini, ezinentaphane yamashishini, iiofisi, izindlu eziqeshisayo nemizi ekhuselweyo. Kuye kwenziwa yiphi imigudu ukuze kufikelelwe abantu abakwezo ndawo?

IMakati yinxalenye yesiphaluka, ebekhonza kuso uMarlon Navarro ukuza kuthi ga ngoku. UMarlon, oselula owaphumelela kwiSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli, wasebenza nzima ukuze alungelelanise umsebenzi wokushumayela kwisithili esinamashishini eMakati, mmandla lowo owabelwe ukusetyenzwa ngamabandla amathathu. Kwakhethwa kwaza kwaqeqeshwa abazalwana noodade, uninzi lwabo olungoovulindlela ukuze bawusebenze ngokucokisekileyo lo mmandla. Kuqhutywa izifundo zeBhayibhile kwiindawo ezineevenkile ezininzi nakwiipaki ezikwesi sixeko; abanye kwabo kufundwa nabo iBhayibhile bayeza kwiintlanganiso.

UCory Santos nonyana wakhe uJeffrey bangoovulindlela. Bathanda ukuvukela kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina ezitratweni, maxa wambi beqalisa ngeye-6:00 kusasa. Ngelo xesha, badibana nabantu abasebenza ebusuku bephuma emsebenzini. Baye baqalisa nezifundo zeBhayibhile ngoxa benikela ubungqina ezitratweni. Abanye abadibene nabo kulo msebenzi sebede babhaptizwa.

Kanti nangaphandle kwezixeko, abavakalisi bebekhangela amathuba okunikela ubungqina kwabanye. UNorma Balmaceda, obenguvulindlela okhethekileyo ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-28, wathetha nebhinqa elalilinde intw’ ekhwelwayo. UNorma walibuza wathi: “Uya ngaphi na wethu?”

Elo bhinqa laphendula lathi: “Ndisaya kwiPhondo iQuirino.”

“Kusekhaya na apho?”

“Hay’ ke, umyeni wam ufuna sifudukele apho kuba kunzima aph’ eIfugao.”

Oko kwamvulela ithuba uNorma lokwabelana nalo ngeendaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani, obuya kucombulula iingxaki zoluntu. Bahlukana. Kwiminyaka kamva, kwindibano yesiphaluka, elo bhinqa leza kuNorma, limxelela ukuba lakha lathetha naye. Ngoku lalisele libhaptiziwe, ibe iintombi zalo ezimbini nomyeni walo babeqhutyelwa isifundo seBhayibhile.

Kwiofisi yesebe ekwisiXeko saseQuezon, abazalwana basebenzisa naliphi na ithuba ukuze banikele ubungqina. Ngokomzekelo, uFelix Salango waziwa ngokuba nenzondelelo yokushumayela kwabanye. Udla ngokuba nguvulindlela ongumncedani ngoxa ekhonza eBheteli. Ngowama-2000, ngoxa kwakusandiswa isakhiwo sokuhlala, uFelix wabona abakhi ababeqeshelwe ukwakha udonga lwaso olungaphandle. Waya kucela imvume yokuncokola nabo basebenzi kunonjineli ongumphathi wabo. UFelix uthi: “Emva kokuba benandiphe isidlo sabo sasemini, ndaya kwindawo ababesebenzela kuyo, apho lo nonjineli wayehlanganise abasebenzi abangaphezu kwe-100. Ndabachazela ngomsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova, ndaza ndabaxelela ukuba kufuneka ulwazi ukuze umntu asinde kwimbandezelo enkulu. Ndandiphethe ibhokisi eneencwadana ezinemifanekiso nenye ibhokisi eneencwadi ezithi Ulwazi. Ndabaxelela aba basebenzi ukuba xa benomdla wokufundisisa iLizwi likaThixo, banokuzifumanela enye yezo mpapasho.” Kwakhona uFelix wabachazela indlela oxhaswa ngayo umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova emhlabeni wonke waza wabeka ezi mpapasho nemvulophu ecaleni komthi wekhokhonathi. Uninzi lwaba basebenzi lwathabatha incwadi okanye incwadana enemifanekiso yaye baliqela kubo abafaka umnikelo kuloo mvulophu.

Abanye baba nomdla wokufundisisa, kuquka loo nonjineli wayebaphethe. UFelix wenza amalungiselelo okufundisisa kunye naye incwadana enemifanekiso ethi Yintoni UThixo Ayifunayo Kuthi? rhoqo ngeMivulo, ngooLwezithathu nangooLwezihlanu ngexesha lekhefu. Lo nonjineli wathi kuFelix: “Ndiyambalisela umfazi wam nabahlobo bam ngoko ndikufundayo.” Nabanye oononjineli ababini abasebenza apho bafuna ukufundisisa, nonogada walapho kwakunye nembinana yoonobhala balapho. Ewe, ukusebenzisa naliphi na ithuba olifumanayo lokunikela ubungqina kuyasikelelwa nguYehova.

Ukufika Kwabavangeli Basemazweni

Ukutyhubela iminyaka, abavangeli basemazweni abangama-69 abaqeqeshwe kakuhle baye bathunyelwa kwiiPhilippines ukuze bafak’ isandla kumsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani. Baye basebenzisa iindlela ezahlukeneyo ukuze baphumeze oku. UDenton Hopkinson noRaymond Leach, esithethe ngabo ngaphambilana, babethunyelwe kule ntsimi, kuqala njengabavangeli basemazweni baza kamva baba ngabaveleli abahambahambayo. Ekuhambeni kwethuba, babelwa ukusebenza kwiofisi yesebe yalapho.

Ngeminyaka yee-1970 kwathunyelwa iqela lababephumelele eGiliyadi ukuze bancedise kumsebenzi wokushicilela owawusandul’ ukuqaliswa. Phakathi kwabo kwakukho uRobert Pevy nowakwakhe uPatricia, ababekhe bakhonza eNgilani naseIreland. URobert waba luncedo kakhulu ekusekeni icandelo lokubhala kwiofisi yesebe ekwiiPhilippines. Wonke umntu wayethe rhubaxa ekuhambeni kwabo ngowe-1981 besiya kukhonza kwikomkhulu lehlabathi eliseBrooklyn, eNew York, eUnited States.

UDean noKaren Jacek bafika besuka kwelaseUnited States ngowe-1980, yaye emva kwethutyana befunda ulwimi lwesiTagalog eLaguna, bathunyelwa kwisebe lalapho. Emva kokufumana olunye uqeqesho ngowe-1983, baba luncedo kakhulu kubazalwana—ekuhlaleni nakwiziqithi eziselumelwaneni—bebafundisa ukusebenzisa inkqubo yekhompyutha eyenziwe ngamaNgqina kaYehova eye yanceda ekupapasheni uncwadi lweBhayibhile ngeelwimi zalapho.

UHubertus (uBert) noJeanine Hoefnagels baseNetherlands bagaleleka ngowe-1988. Kwakusele kumbovu ukuba isebe lalapho liqalise umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha. Ekubeni esi sibini sinamava okwakha isebe, noBert eqhelene nokusebenza ngoomatshini abakhulu, sacelwa ukuba sincedise kuloo msebenzi. UBert wasebenza ngaba matshini waza wafundisa nabanye. Uthi: “Zisuka nje, ndafundisa abazalwana balapho ukuqhuba iilori, oogandaganda ne-crane. Ekugqibeleni, saba neqela labantu abamalunga nama-20 ukuya kwabangama-25 ababekwazi ukusebenza ngoomatshini abakhulu.”

Ekuhambeni kwethuba, kwafika abanye abane ababephumelele eGiliyadi—uPeter noBeate Vehlen ababevela eJamani, noGary noTeresa Jeane Melton baseUnited States. NabakwaVehlen babeqhelene nokwakha amasebe, yaye bona abakwaMelton babekhonze kangangeminyaka emihlanu kwiBheteli yaseUnited States. Bonke baba negalelo ekwakheni elo sebe.

Kwiminyaka yangaphambilana, ngowe-1963, ikhaya lokugqibela labavangeli basemazweni lavalwa, ekubeni umsebenzi wokushumayela wawusenziwa ngoovulindlela abafanelekayo bakwiiPhilippines. Noko ke, ngowe-1991 iQumrhu Elilawulayo lenza amalungiselelo okuthumela abavangeli basemazweni abathandathu kuloo mmandla. Nangona babesele beqhele ukusebenza esebeni, aba bavangeli basemazweni babenokuba luncedo gqitha nasentsimini. Ngokomzekelo, uJeanine Hoefnagels waqalisa ubuvulindlela obukhethekileyo xa wayeneminyaka eli-18 ubudala. Ngoku wayenokusebenzisa amava nobuqhakraqhakra bakhe ekukhuthazeni abazalwana nabasandul’ ukufundelwa. Umyeni wakhe uBert, wakhankanya nezinye iingenelo. Wathi: “Ukuba nabavangeli basemazweni abasebenza kule ntsimi kunceda abantu baqonde ukuba umsebenzi wethu wenziwa ehlabathini lonke.” Ngelo xesha, abanye abavangeli basemazweni baye baqhubeka nokwalathisa umsebenzi kwakunye nezinye izabelo kwelo sebe.

IiPhilippines azikhange ziphelele ekwamkeleni abavangeli basemazweni kodwa ziye zakhupha abanye.

Abavangeli Basemazweni Bayaphuma

Ngoxa abavangeli basemazweni babesaqhubeka befika, kwathunyelwa abanye oovulindlela bakwiiPhilippines ukuba baye kwenza umsebenzi wobuvangeli basemazweni kwamanye amazwe. Nangona kusenokwenzeka ukuba oovulindlela balapho abazange baqeqeshwe eGiliyadi, kodwa babebaninzi ababenamava kubo. Ukususela kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi II, umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi wahambela phambili ngokukhawuleza gqitha kwiiPhilippines kunakumazwe aselumelwaneni. Ngenxa yoko, ukususela ngowe-1964, oovulindlela abafanelekayo bakwiiPhilippines baye bathunyelwa ukuba baye kukhonza njengabavangeli basemazweni kulo lonke elaseAsia nakwiziqithi zePasifiki. Abanye abathunyelwayo babezizibini ezitshatileyo, kodwa uninzi lwabo lwalungoovulindlela abangatshatanga ababesele beneminyaka elishumi nangaphezulu bekubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo. Phakathi kowe-2002, kwakusele kuthunyelwe abali-149 kumazwe ali-19 awahlukahlukeneyo. Abangama-74 kwabo basekwizabelo zabo. Ngoxa belindele ukulungiselelwa iincwadi zokundwendwela, aba bavangeli basemazweni basebenza kwisebe lalapho yaye baqeqeshelwa izabelo abaza kusebenza kuzo. Aba bavangeli basemazweni baye banegalelo elingakanani kumsebenzi wokushumayela kuyo yonke le minyaka, yaye luluphi ucelomngeni novuyo abaye bahlangabezana nalo?

URose Cagungao (ngoku onguEngler) noClara dela Cruz (ngoku onguElauria) baba ngabokuqala ukuthunyelwa kwelinye ilizwe. Bathunyelwa eThailand. Emva konyaka belapho, uAngelita Gavino waya kubancedisa. Kambe ke, njengabo bonke abavangeli basemazweni, kwaba lucelomngeni ukufunda ulwimi lwalapho. UAngelita uthi xa ebalisa ngokufunda kwakhe isiThai: “Kwiiveki ezimbalwa zokuqala, ndandiphelelwe ngamandla kuba yonke into ebhalwe kwiincwadi zalapho yayingathi ‘ngamarhoqololo,’ yaye kwakunzima ukuncokola ezintlanganisweni ngenxa yokungalwazi olo lwimi.” Kodwa bada balufunda, yaye bayaqhubeka nokulusebenzisa ukuze bancede abanye.

Emva kokuba kuthunyelwe loo mbinana, kwaqhutyekwa kuthunyelwa oovulindlela abazinikeleyo kumazwe awahlukahlukeneyo. UPorferio noEvangeline Jumuad bathunyelwa eKorea ngowe-1972. Balufunda balwazi kakuhle ulwimi lwalapho, yaye emva kweminyaka emibini enesiqingatha bengabavangeli basemazweni, abakwaJumuad bacelwa ukuba basebenze esiphalukeni.

Ngowe-1970, uSalvacion Regala (ngoku onguAye) wayephakathi koodade abasithoba bakwiiPhilippines abathunyelwa eHong Kong njengabavangeli basemazweni. Ucelomngeni lokuqala awajamelana nalo kukufunda ulwimi lwesiCanton. Ulwimi lwesiCanton luneemvakalo-zwi ezisithoba. Xa utshintsha imvakalo-zwi, iyatshintsha nentsingiselo yegama. USalvacion ukhumbula mhla wasokoliswa zezo mvakalo-zwi, xa wayexelela isifundo sakhe seBhayibhile ukuba baphumile kwindawo ababeyiqeshile “ngenxa yesiporho” wabe ebezama ukuthi baphume “ngenxa yokuxhoma kwerente.” Ekugqibeleni, walufunda olo lwimi. USalvacion uye wanceda abantu abangaphezu kwama-20 ukuba bafunde inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Ngoku ushumayela kubantu baseIndonesia abasebenza emakhitshini eHong Kong, ibe ngoku ufunda ulwimi lwabo.

URodolfo Asong, umzalwana onenzondelelo nobubele, wajamelana neemeko ezahluke ngokupheleleyo xa wayethunyelwe ePapua New Guinea ngowe-1979. Wazibhokoxa ekufundeni ulwimi lwalapho yaye ngendlela awayelwazi kakuhle ngayo, ngethutyana nje elingephi ekwelo, wasetyenziswa njengomveleli ohambahambayo. Noko ke, ukutyelela amabandla asePapua New Guinea kwakwahluke gqitha kunokwenjenjalo kwiiPhilippines. Uthi: “Ndafunda ukubheqa iphenyane elincinane elenziwe ngezinti ndimi ngeenyawo, kanye njengabantu bomgquba balapho.”

Xa ethetha ngeendibano, uRodolfo uthi: “Ngenxa yemigama emide nokunqaba kwezithuthi, sasiqhuba iindibano ezininzi ezincinane. Enye yezona ndibano zincinane ndakha ndaya kuzo, yaqhutyelwa kwidolophana yaseLarimea. Kwakukho abantu abalishumi kuphela apho.” Ngesinye isihlandlo, wamiselwa njengomveleli wendibano yesithili eyayikwidolophana yaseAgi. Uthi: “Ndandikwangusihlalo wendibano, ndinyamekela isebe leSandisi-lizwi neloKutya, ndisalathisa umdlalo yaye ndidlala indawo kaKumkani uDavide.” Wazinikela kakhulu kweso sabelo yaye kamva waba ngumvangeli wasemazweni kwiiSolomon Islands.

Ngowe-1982, uArturo Villasin, umzalwana obhetyebhetye waseLuzon, wathunyelwa kwiiSolomon Islands. Wakhonza njengomveleli wesiphaluka kwelo yaye wafumanisa ukuba iimeko zalapho azifani nezakwiiPhilippines. Kwakuye kufuneke kusetyenziswe inqwelo-moya encinane ukuze kufikelelwe ezinye iziqithi zalapho. Uthi: “Inqwelo-moya esasikhwele kuyo yakha yantlitheka, kodwa sasinda sonke. Kanti enye yaphants’ ukuntlitha icala lentaba ngenxa yokuba yayingabonakali kakuhle.” Xa wayethetha ngokutyelela amanye amabandla wathi: “Sasihamba kwiintshinyela zamahlathi, sinyuke iminqantsa emtyibilizi ukuze siye kufikelela kumabandla aphakathi kwabantu abahlala emahlathini nabanqula izinyanya.” UArturo wagula waza wafa ngesiquphe ngowama-2001, kodwa uya kusoloko ekhumbuleka njengomvangeli wasemazweni othembekileyo.

Maninzi amava afana nala avela kubazalwana noodade bakwiiPhilippines abathunyelwa njengabavangeli basemazweni kooma-Asia nakwiiPasifiki. Nakuba beye bajamelana nocelomngeni, aba bakhonzi bakaYehova bazinikeleyo baye banegalelo elivakalayo kumsebenzi wokushumayela kule mimandla.

Uvuyo Lokunceda Abanye Benze UYehova Igwiba Labo

Intsikelelo kaYehova ibangela uvuyo. (IMize. 10:22) UAdelieda Caletena, owathunyelwa eTaiwan ngowe-1974, uthi: “Ndonwabe gqitha kwaye ndiyambulela uYehova ngokusikelela umsebenzi esiwenzayo apha nangokundinika ilungelo lokuba yinxalenye yawo.”

UPaul noMarina Tabunigao, ngoku abakhonza kwiiMarshall Islands, bathi: “Siye sanceda abantu abangama-72 baba ngabakhonzi bakaYehova. Kusivuyisa gqitha ukwazi ukuba uninzi lwabo ngoku lukhonza njengabadala, izicaka zolungiselelo, oovulindlela abakhethekileyo, oovulindlela abathe ngxi nanjengabavakalisi bebandla abakhutheleyo.”

ULydia Pamplona, obekhonza ePapua New Guinea ukususela ngowe-1980, sele encede abantu abangama-84 bazahlulela baza babhaptizwa. Kutshanje ebesandul’ ukunikela ingxelo yokuba uqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile zamakhaya nabantu abali-16, uninzi lwabo ngoku olusele lusiza kwiintlanganiso. Amazwi akhe ashwankathela indlela uninzi lwabavangeli basemazweni oluvakalelwa ngayo: “Ndiyambulela uYehova ngobulungiseleli andiphathise bona. Ngamana angaqhubeka ebusikelela ubulungiseleli bethu, ukuze kuzukiswe igama lakhe.”

Amasebe awayethunyelelwe abavangeli basemazweni bakwiiPhilippines abuvuyela gqitha ubukho babo kwintsimi yawo. Isebe laseThailand labhala lathi: “Mhle umsebenzi owenziwa ngabavangeli basemazweni bakwiiPhilippines. Kuyo yonke le minyaka beseThailand bebengumzekelo omhle wokuthembeka. Nakuba bekhula ngeminyaka abayekeleli emsebenzini wabo. Bayayithanda iThailand nabantu bayo, yaye kusekhaya kubo apho. Sibamba ngazibini ngokusithumelela aba bavangeli basemazweni banenzondelelo.”

ISikolo Sobulungiseleli SoBukumkani Sixhobisa Abadala

Malunga nelo xesha linye lokuthunyelwa koovulindlela bakwiiPhilippines kwamanye amazwe, intlangano kaYehova yalungiselela ukuba kuqeqeshwe uninzi lwabazalwana abafanelekela ukuthwala iimbopheleleko kumabandla abakhonza kuwo. ISikolo Sobulungiseleli SoBukumkani saba yenye yeendlela eziphambili zokunikela olo qeqesho.

Iiklasi zaso zaqalisa ngowe-1961 yaye zazithabatha inyanga. UJack Redford, owayefundisa eGiliyadi nowathi kamva waba ngumvangeli wasemazweni eVietnam, wabelwa ukuba afundise kwesi sikolo kwiiPhilippines. Isikolo sokuqala saqhutyelwa kwiofisi yesebe yalapho ngolwimi lwesiNgesi.

Nangona abanye babesiqonda isiNgesi, kwafuneka kucingelwe nabanye ababethetha iilwimi neziyelelane ezisetyenziswa kwiiPhilippines. Uninzi lwabadala lwaluza kungenelwa xa esi sikolo siqhutywa ngeelwimi zabo. Ngenxa yoko, phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1960, esi sikolo saqhutywa ngeelwimi eziliqela. UCornelio Cañete ukhumbula xa wafumana isabelo sokufundisa kuzo zonke iiVisayan Islands naseMindanao. Encumile uthi: “Kwesi sikolo ndandifundisa ngeelwimi ezintathu: isiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, nesiSamar-Leyte.”

Ukutyhubela iminyaka, siye satshintshwa esi sikolo, kuquka indlela esicwangciswe ngayo. Kutshanje, esi sikolo siqhutywa ngempelaveki—esabadala sithabatha usuku olunesiqingatha kanti esezicaka zolungiselelo siba lusuku nje olunye. Noko ke, kusekho ucelomngeni lokufundisa ngeelwimi ezisibhozo kwesi sikolo. Abadala abazaziyo ezi lwimi bathunyelwa yiofisi yesebe ukuba baye kuqhuba izikolo zokuqeqesha abaveleli abahambahambayo. Bona ke, baqhuba izikolo zabadala bamabandla nezicaka zolungiselelo. Abadala abali-13 000 nezicaka zolungiselelo ezingama-8 000 baye bangenelwa gqitha kuqeqesho abalufumeneyo kwisikolo sokugqibela.

Ukuncedwa Koovulindlela

Kamva, noovulindlela baqalisa ukufumana uqeqesho olungakumbi. Ngowe-1978 kwaqhutywa iiklasi zokuqala zeSikolo Senkonzo Yobuvulindlela. Bonke ababengoovulindlela ngelo xesha, kuquka abakhethekileyo, babhaliswa kwezo klasi. Ukususela ngelo xesha, ngaphandle kwangowe-1979 nowe-1981, ezi klasi beziqhutywa nyaka ngamnye.

Oovulindlela bangenelwa gqitha kwesi sikolo, kodwa kwaba lucelomngeni kubo ukuya kufika apho. Abanye baye bancama iimali zabo ukuze bakwazi ukuya apho. Abanye kuye kwanyanzeleka banyamezele ukunqaba kwezinto zokuhamba.

Abo babesiya kwisikolo esasikwisixeko saseSantiago kwafuneka banyamezele iimeko ababengazilindelanga. URodolfo de Vera, ongumveleli wesiphaluka wathi: “Ngo-Oktobha 19, 1989, iSantiago, eseIsabela, ngequbuliso yahlaselwa sisivuthuvuthu senkanyamba esasinemimoya ebaleka ngesantya seekhilomitha ezingama-205 ngeyure. Ukuqalisa kweeklasi ngaloo ntsasa kwiHolo yoBukumkani, kwakukho nje umkhumezelo ongephi nomoya ongabhudli kangako, ngoko saqhubeka isikolo soovulindlela. Noko ke, yathand’ ukuqinisa le mimoya saza nesakhiwo saqalisa ukushukuma. Akuzange kube kudala, lothuleka uphahla. Sasifuna ukubaleka, kodwa sabona ukuba oko kuyingozi gqitha ngenxa yokuba izinto zaziphephetheka nomoya.” Nangona esi sakhiwo saqalisa ukudilika, wonke umntu waphuma engenawo nomkrwelo. Aba abazange basindiswe nguYehova nje kuphela kodwa bancedwa nangamacebiso akuVukani! okuba bazimele ngaphantsi kwetafile okanye idesika xa kusehla into elolo hlobo. UMzalwan’ ude Vera wathi: “Sazimela ngaphantsi kweetafile. Yathi yakudlula loo nkanyamba, sasala sigqunywe ngamasebe emithi namacangci ophahla, kodwa bonke abo basala esakhiweni ngaphantsi kwetafile baphuma bengenawo nomkrwelo.”

Nyaka ngamnye, ezi zikolo ziqhutywa ngeelwimi ezisixhenxe. Ukuza kuthi ga kunyaka wenkonzo wama-2002, kuqhutywe iiklasi ezingama-2 787 ebezinoovulindlela abangama-46 650 abaye basigqiba esi sikolo. Elinjani lona ukubalasela ilungiselelo lokunceda oovulindlela baphucule ubuchule babo baze bathembele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova njengoko beqhubeka ‘bekhanya njengezikhanyiso ehlabathini’!—Fil. 2:15.

Imigudu Yokuqala Eyenziwa Ekushicileleni NgeOffset

Wonke umsebenzi owenziwa entsimini nasemabandleni ubuya kuba nzima gqitha ngaphandle koncwadi lweBhayibhile olwenziwe ngokusemagqabini. Kwakusele kuyiminyaka eliqela uncwadi lwakwiiPhilippines lushicilelwa eBrooklyn. Noko ke, ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1970, kwakhiwa umzi-mveliso kwizakhiwo zesebe ezikwisiXeko saseQuezon. Kwafakelwa izixhobo zokushicilela ngeletterpress, ezifana nezaseBrooklyn. Oku kwabangela ukuba elo sebe likwazi ukuwashicilela ngokwalo onke loo maphephancwadi.

Kwelo shumi leminyaka, kwahla kwacaca ukuba ukushicilela ngeletterpress okwakusenziwa ngenkcenkce eshushu, kwakungasafunwa lishishini lokushicilela kuba ngoku lalifuna kusetyenziswe indlela yokushicilela ngeoffset. Ulwalathiso olwanikelwa likomkhulu lwabonisa ukuba nathi sasiza kulandela ekhondweni.

Ngowe-1980, elo sebe lathenga izixhobo zephototypesetting. Isebe laseMzantsi Afrika lalisele lifumene izixhobo ezikwafanayo ibe lafundisa elo lakwiiPhilippines. Le nkqubo yetypesetting incediswa yikhompyutha yayihambisana nomatshini wokushicilela omncinane owathengwa malunga nexesha elinye nayo.

Ngandlel’ ithile, ezi zixhobo zabanceda abazalwana bafunda ubuchule bokushicilela ngeoffset. UDavid Namoca, owayenolwazi lokuchwetheza ngeLinotype nokushicilela ngeletterpress, wafunda indlela yokusebenzisa izixhobo zephototypesetting. Abanye abazalwana bafunda indlela yokwenza amacwecwe okushicilela ngeoffset baza bafunda nokushicilela ngalo matshini mtsha. Ngenxa yoko, ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1980, eli sebe lalisele lisebenzisa inkqubo yeoffset ekushicileleni amaphephancwadi ngeelwimi ezazingashicilelwa kangako nezinye iinkupho zoBulungiseleli Bethu BoBukumkani.

Kwakhona ukutshintshela kwindlela yokushicilela ngeoffset kwabaqhelanisa nekhompyutha abazalwana ababeguqulela nababesebenza ngamaphephancwadi ngaphambi kokuba ashicilelwe. Ngokuhamba kwexesha, abazalwana baya beqhelana nalo msebenzi yaye babewenza kakuhle. Bada bakwazi ukuphucula umgangatho nenani lezinto ababezishicilela besebenzisa ezi ndlela. Enyanisweni, ngowe-1982 abazalwana babezimisele gqitha ukwenza inkqubela kangangokuba bashicilela iKingdom News No. 31, mpapasho leyo enemibala emine, besebenzisa umatshini weoffset oshicilela ngombala omnye. Iphepha lalijikeleziswa izihlandlo ezithandathu kulo matshini, ukuze lishicilele imibala emine kwelinye icala, nemibini kwelinye. Wawumkhulu wona loo msebenzi, yaye wawungekho mgangathweni kangako; kodwa wonke umntu wayanelisekile kukubona iKingdom News enemibala emine eshicilelwe ngezi zixhobo zethu.

Elo lungiselelo lalingamaqalela omsebenzi omkhulu owawuza kulandela, kodwa le nkqubo yephototypesetting neyokushicilela ngeoffset yayiza kutshintshwa njani incediswe yikhompyutha? Intlangano kaYehova yayinecebo, yaye isebe lakwiiPhilippines laliza kungenelwa kulo.

Intlangano KaYehova Ivelisa Inkqubo YeMEPS

IQumrhu Elilawulayo lagunyazisa ukuveliswa kwenkqubo yephototypesetting encediswa yikhompyutha eyayiza kuhlangabezana neemfuno ezikhethekileyo zokusasazwa kweendaba ezilungileyo ngeelwimi eziliqela. EBrooklyn kwaveliswa inkqubo yeMultilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS). Nangona izixhobo zokushicilela ezazisetyenziswa leli sebe okwethutyana ziye zaqhelanisa abazalwana nekhompyutha nokushicilela ngeoffset ngomlinganiselo othile, iMEPS yayiza kunceda elo sebe lakwiiPhilippines lihlabele mgama, lihambisane namanye amasebe asehlabathini.

Abazalwana ababini bakwiiPhilippines bekunye namakhosikazi abo bamenyelwa eWallkill, eNew York. Aba bazalwana bafundiswa indlela yokulungisa iikhompyutha ezisebenza ngeMEPS kwanendlela ezisebenza ngayo ezi nkqubo. Esinye isibini, uFlorizel Nuico nowakwakhe, sachitha ixesha elithile eBrooklyn, apho uMzalwan’ uNuico wafunda indlela yokusebenzisa umatshini wokushicilela oyi-M.A.N. Isebe lakwiiPhilippines lalifuna kanye oku ukuze likwazi ukuba nenkqubela ekusebenziseni oomatshini bokushicilela abasebenza ngekhompyutha.

Ngowe-1983 kwafika umatshini wokushicilela oyi-M.A.N. kwiiPhilippines. ULionel Dingle osuka kwisebe laseOstreliya wancedisa ekuwudibaniseni. UMzalwan’ uNuico waqalisa ukufundisa abazalwana balapho oko wayekufunde eBrooklyn. Ekupheleni kowe-1983, kwashicilelwa amaphephancwadi okuqala kulo matshini. Noko ke, le nkqubo yokushicilela yayingekasebenzi ngokupheleleyo, ngoko kangangexesha elithile, amaphephancwadi ayeshicilelwa ngokusebenzisa inkcenkce eshushu neoffset.

Kodwa ke, kwakusele kumbovu ukuba igqitywe le nkqubo. Ikhompyutha yokuqala esebenza ngeMEPS yaqala ukufika ekupheleni kowe-1983, yaye abazalwana ababini ababeqeqeshwe eWallkill baqalisa ukufundisa abanye indlela yokusebenzisa nokulungisa izixhobo zeMEPS. Akuzange kube lithuba elide, waqalisa lo msebenzi. Abasebenzi abaninzi baseBheteli bafundiswa ngokupheleleyo indlela yokusebenzisa le nkqubo ekuguquleleni, ekushicileleni ngephototypesetting, nasekulungiseni iikhompyutha. Into eyenza kube nzima ukuqeqesha abantu kwiiPhilippines, ziilwimi zalapho ezininzi. IMboniselo iyodwa nje iguqulelwa ngeelwimi ezisixhenxe, ngaphandle kwesiNgesi. Inkqubo yeMEPS yayilungele ukufeza loo msebenzi kanye.

Kwabakho uphuculo olukhulu kumgangatho weempapasho ezishicilelwayo. Xa ethetha ngabo bashicilelayo, uCesar Castellano osebenza kumzi-mveliso, uthi: “Abazalwana bethu abaninzi ngabasezifama. Abanye babengenalo ulwazi lobugcisa. Kuchulumancisa gqitha ukubona indlela uYehova awusebenzisa ngayo umoya wakhe ukuze ushukumise abazalwana ukuba benze izinto ezininzi, kuquka umsebenzi wokushicilela.” Abazalwana bafunda ubuchule obungakumbi, baza abavakalisi entsimini bafumana iimpapasho ezinomtsalane ngakumbi. Kodwa kukho enye inkalo eyayibaluleke ngakumbi—eyokomoya—eyaveliswa yile nkqubela yenziwayo kubugcisa bokushicilela.

Ukuveliswa Kokutya Kokomoya Ngaxeshanye

Xa amaphephancwadi akwiiPhilippines ayeshicilelwa eBrooklyn, kwakudlula iinyanga ezintandathu nangaphezulu ngaphambi kokuba inkcazelo ekumaphephancwadi esiNgesi ifumaneke ngeelwimi zakwiiPhilippines. Nangona amaphephancwadi ayeguqulelwa kwalapho, ukuthunyelwa kwawo ngenqanawa kwakuthabatha ixesha elide. Xa amaphephancwadi ayeshicilelwa kwiiPhilippines ngeminyaka yee-1970, kwakusongeka ixesha elininzi, sekunjalo inkcazelo ekuwo yayiba semva ngeenyanga ezintandathu kuleyo yesiNgesi. Abazalwana abaninzi bakwiiPhilippines bazibuza oku, ‘Ngaba bekungayi kuba mnandi ukufumana amaphephancwadi ethu ngaxeshanye nawesiNgesi?’ Oko kwakubonakala ngathi liphupha kangangeminyaka emininzi.

Noko ke, ukufika kweMEPS nokuphuculwa kwenkqubo yokushicilela, kwabangela ukuba oko kwakubonakala ngathi liphupha kwenzeke. IQumrhu Elilawulayo laqonda ukuba ukufundisisa umbandela ofanayo ngaxeshanye kwakubamanyanisa ngokwenene bonke abantu bakaYehova. Oku kwenziwa, yaye ukususela ngoJanuwari 1986, IMboniselo yafumaneka ngaxeshanye neyesiNgesi ngeelwimi zalapho ezine: isiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, isi-Iloko, nesiTagalog. Kungekudala nezinye iilwimi zalandela. Hayi indlela abamangaliswa ngayo abantu ababekho kwiindibano zowe-1988 kukufumana incwadi ethi ISityhilelo—Incopho Yaso Ezukileyo Isondele! ngeelwimi ezintathu zalapho ngaxeshanye neyesiNgesi! Abazalwana babevuya gqitha—kungekuphela nje ngenxa yokuba noncwadi olukumgangatho ophezulu abanokuluhambisela abo banomdla, kodwa nokuze bafumane ukudla kokomoya ngaxeshanye nabo bonke abazalwana abasehlabathini lonke.

Le nkqubela ekushicilelweni kweempapasho zethu yafika ngexesha lezidubedube kwezinye iindawo zelizwe. Ezi mpapasho zagxininisa imfuneko yokuba bonke bathembele kuYehova.

Ukuqubisana Komkhosi Nabavukeli

Amaqela abavukeli anda kwiindawo ezininzi kwiminyaka yee-1980. Abanye babo babehambisana neqela lamaKomanisi. Ukuqubisana kwaba bavukeli kunye nemikhosi karhulumente kwaba yinto eqhelekileyo. Ngokufuthi oku kungquzulana kwakuvavanya ukuthembela kwabazalwana kuYehova.

Kwenye ingingqi ekwakukho kuyo ibandla elinabavakalisi abangama-62, ngenye intsasa abazalwana babona abavukeli nabezomkhosi belungele ukulwa. Kwakukho nabazalwana ababehlala kufutshane nalapho. Omnye kwaba bazalwana waya kubavukeli, omnye waya kumkhosi karhulumente. Bacela ukuba bangalweli apho ngenxa yokuba abahlali babeza kuchaphazeleka. Basikhaba ngaw’ omane eso sicelo. Ngenxa yokuba babengenandlela yakubaleka, abazalwana baya kwiHolo yoBukumkani. Omnye umdala wathandaza ngokuvakalayo kangangokuba nemikhosi karhulumente yawuva ingaphandle. Xa abazalwana bavula amehlo, bafumanisa ukuba la macala omabini asuke nje anyamalala, engakhange alwe. Aba bazalwana babeqinisekile ukuba babekhuselwe nguYehova.

UDionisio Carpentero, ekunye nowakwakhe, ebengumveleli ohambahambayo kangangeminyaka eli-16. Usakhumbula oko kwenzeka kunyaka wokuqala xa wayengumveleli wesiphaluka, kwiphondo laseNegros Oriental, kumzantsi wombindi weePhilippines. Ubalisa athi: “Satyelela iBandla laseLinantuyan. Savuya gqitha kuba ngoLwesithathu kwafika abavakalisi abangama-40 beze kusincedisa entsimini. Kodwa sasingazi ukuba sakhelw’ umkhanya ngabavukeli. Babezimele kufuphi neHolo yoBukumkani. Abane kubo baya kwikhaya esasifikele kulo ngentsimbi yesi-4:00 emva kwemini bebuzisa ngathi. Umdala owayelapho wabachazela ukuba ndingumveleli wesiphaluka yaye ndityelela ibandla labo rhoqo emva kweenyanga ezintandathu.”

Kucacile ukuba, abo bavukeli abazange bakukholelwe oko. Kunoko, babekrokrela ukuba uDionisio wayelijoni yaye banyanzela lo mdala ukuba eze naye ukuze bambulale. Lo mdala waphendula ngelithi mababulale yena kuqala. Emva koko wahamba.

UDionisio uhlabela mgama esithi: “Izinja zakhonkotha ubusuku bonke, nto leyo eyayibonisa ukuba kwakukho abavukeli. Sathandaza izihlandlo ezine ngobo busuku, sicela ulwalathiso lukaYehova. Emva koko, kwatsho imvulakazi enkulu, nangona lalibalele. Loo madoda ayefuna ukusibulala emka.”

Emva kwentlanganiso ngeCawa, uDionisio waxelela abadala ukuba yena nowakwakhe babeza kuya kwibandla elilandelayo. Kodwa, kwakuza kufuneka bagqithe kwindawo ababezimele kuyo abavukeli. UDionisio uthi: “Omnye wabo bavukeli wayekrobe ngefestile. Sade samxelela ukuba siyahamba. Sekunjalo, ngentsimbi yesi-8:00 ngorhatya, aba bavukeli baya kusikhangela kwiHolo yoBukumkani. Omnye umdala wabaxelela ukuba simkile yaye sidlule kuloo ndawo babezimele kuyo. Into emangalisayo kukuba, abazange basibone. Oku kwasifundisa ukuba sithembele ngoYehova yaye sibe nenkalipho xa sijamelene nobunzima.” UDionisio nomfazi wakhe basaqhubeka ngovuyo nenkonzo yabo.

Maxa wambi, olo ngquzulwano lwenza kube nzima ukunikela ubungqina. Ukuba akulumkanga wawusenokuzibona sele ugaxeleka kolo ngquzulwano. Noko ke, ngezinye izihlandlo amalungu athile aloo maqela ayebalumkisa abazalwana ngongquzulwano oluza kubakho. Ngoko ke, abazalwana babekhetha indawo ezolileyo ukuze bakwazi ukunikela ubungqina de kuphele olo ngquzulwano. Kodwa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani uyaqhubeka, yaye abazalwana baye bafunda ukuthembela ngoYehova.

Ubundilele Buyavavanywa

UYesu wathi ngokuphathelele abalandeli bakhe: “Abayonxalenye yehlabathi, kanye njengoko nam ndingeyonxalenye yehlabathi.” (Yoh. 17:14) Njengakwamanye amazwe, amaNgqina kaYehova akwiiPhilippines akabi nanxaxheba kwezobupolitika nakungquzulwano lwehlabathi. ‘Akalithabathi ikrele’; kunoko, azibeke phantsi izixhobo aza azabalazela ukuba noxolo njengoko efundiswa nguYehova. (Mat. 26:52; Isa. 2:4) Ubundilele bawo baziwa kuzo zonke iiPhilippines, yaye bonke abantu bayazi ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova akanabungozi. Noko ke, maxa wambi kuye kwafuneka ukuba abakhonzi bakaYehova babonise ngokucacileyo icala abami kulo. Oku kuye kwabakhusela.

UWilfredo Arellano, ongumveleli ohambahambayo, unamava okusebenza kwimimandla eyahlukahlukeneyo, ezolileyo nengazolanga kangako. Ngowe-1988 watyelela ibandla elikumazantsi ombindi weePhilippines. Apho abazalwana babenyanzelwa ngabavukeli ukuba bathelele ekuvukeleni urhulumente. Kodwa bona bala ngokupheleleyo ukwenjenjalo.

UWilfredo ubalisa oko kwenzekayo: “Ebudeni bokutyelela kwam, imikhosi karhulumente yayisihla inyuka kufutshane nentsimi yelo bandla. Yayifuna ukugaya umkhosi wokulwa nabavukeli. Kwintlanganiso kunye nabameli bakarhulumente, abazalwana banikwa ithuba lokuchaza isizathu sokuba bangabatheleli abavukeli okanye umkhosi karhulumente. Nangona abemi basekuhlaleni babesichasa, bona abameli bakarhulumente babesihlonela.”

UWilfredo uchaza oko kwalandelayo kamva: “Xa omnye umzalwana wayebuyela kwifama yakhe emva kwentlanganiso, wadibana neqela elixhobileyo lihamba namabanjwa amabini avalwe amehlo. Wabuzwa enoba wayeyile na kwintlanganiso karhulumente, yaye waphendula ngokunyaniseka wathi sele evela kuyo. Loo madoda axhobileyo ambuza enoba wakha waya kusini na emkhosini, wabe engazange aye, ibe wawachazela ngobundilele bakhe. Ngoko ke, amyeka wagoduka. Emva kwemizuzu embalwa, weva izithonga ezibini waza waqonda ukuba kwakubulawa laa mabanjwa mabini ayevalwe amehlo.”

Ngeminyaka yee-1970 nasebutsheni beyee-1980, umthetho wakwiiPhilippines wanyanzelisa ukuba bonke abemi balapho bavote. Ababengavumi ukwenjenjalo babephoswa ngaphaya kwezitshixo. Oku kwavulela abantu bakaYehova ithuba lokubonisa ukunyaniseka kwabo kuThixo. Njengabazalwana babo abangamaKristu ehlabathini lonke, abakhonzi bakaYehova bakwiiPhilippines baye bahlala bengoondilele kwezobupolitika, yaye ‘bengeyonxalenye yehlabathi.’—Yoh. 17:16.

Emva kokumiselwa komnye urhulumente ngowe-1986, imithetho yelo lizwe yahlaziywa, waza wapheliswa lowo wawunyanzelisa ukuba kuvotwe. Oku kwenza kwalula kubazalwana. Noko ke, abaninzi bajamelana nezinye iimvavanyo, ingakumbi abo babehamba isikolo.

‘Ukungafundi Imfazwe’

UIrene Garcia wakhulela kumbindi weLuzon kwiphondo lasePampanga. Wajamelana nengxaki olusenayo nangoku ulutsha oluninzi. Abo bakwisikolo samabanga aphakamileyo, kufuneka baqeqeshelwe umkhosi. Noko ke, abafundi abangamaNgqina kaYehova baye bagqiba kwelokuba abanakubandakanyeka ekufundeni iindlela zokulwa. Okokuqala, uIrene wathandaza kuYehova ecela uncedo. Emva koko, ecinga ngamaHebhere amathathu anyanisekileyo awayephila ngexesha lomprofeti uDaniyeli, waya kumqeqeshi wabo waza wacela ukuba yena abekelwe bucala angaqeqeshwa. (Dan., isahl. 3) Nangona umqeqeshi wakhe wayengasiqondi kakuhle isizathu soko, wambulela ngokumnika loo nkcazelo. Noko ke, wamluleka ngelokuba wayeza kufumana amanqaku aphantsi ukuba akalungeneli olo qeqesho. UIrene waphendula wathi: “Kulungile. Ndiza kwenza konke okusemandleni am kwezinye izifundo.” Wanikwa omnye umsebenzi awayenokuwenza endaweni yolo qeqesho lwasemkhosini. Wathi: “Oko kwabangela ukuba nabanye abantwana bamaNgqina bangabi nangxaki yokufakwa kolo qeqesho, yaye sekunjalo ndaba phakathi kwabalishumi abaphumelela emagqabini.”

Asingabo bonke abaqeqeshi bomkhosi ababavumelayo abantwana ukuba bangangeni. Abanye abaqeqeshi baye babangela ukuba abafundi bangaziphumeleli izifundo zabo. Nangona kunjalo, ukunamathela kwimigaqo kaYehova kuye kwafundisa amawakawaka olutsha isifundo esibalulekileyo sokuba: Ukubumela ngokuqinileyo uBukumkani bukaYehova nokuhlala ungundilele kwimicimbi yehlabathi kukwenza ukhuselwe uze usikelelwe nguYehova.—IMize. 29:25.

Ukwanda Kwenani Leendibano

Ngoku makhe sithethe ngeendibano zokomoya zabantu bakaYehova. Zisoloko zizizihlandlo zovuyo. Ekubeni amaNgqina ayembalwa kwelo lizwe ngaphambi kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II, kwakungekho zindibano zinkulu de kwasemva kwemfazwe. Noko ke, kwenziwa iinzame zokukhuthaza abazalwana ukuba babe nazo. Eneneni, Incwadi Yonyaka yowe-1941 yanikela ingxelo ngendibano eyayiseManila ngoMatshi 1940.

Khumbula ukuba uJoseph dos Santos wayevalelwe entolongweni ngamaJapan. Ekugqibeleni wakhululwa yimikhosi yaseMerika ekuqaleni kowe-1945. Wayenomdla gqitha kwimpilo-ntle yokomoya yabazalwana, uninzi lwabo olwalusafika entlanganweni. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okubanceda ukuba bafunde indlela yokufundisa abanye inyaniso yeZibhalo ngokuphumelelayo, ngokubaqhubela izifundo zeBhayibhile emakhayeni abo. Indibano yezizwe eyayiseLingayen, ePangasinan, ekupheleni kowe-1945 yayiyenye indlela yokwenza oku. Kwabakho abantu abangama-4 000, nto leyo eyayibonisa umdla ababenawo abantu ngelo xesha. Hayi indlela esasivuyisa ngayo eso sihlandlo, ingakumbi njengokuba kwakungasekho mfazwe!

Ukususela ngoko, inani labantu ababesiza ezindibanweni landa ngokuthe ngcembe njengoko lalisanda nenani labavakalisi. Kwiminyaka eli-17 kamva, loo ma-4 000 aba ngama-39 652. Emva koko, iindibano zange ziqhutyelwe kwindawo nje enye, kodwa zaqhutyelwa kwezisixhenxe. Kwakhona emva kweminyaka eli-15 (ngowe-1977), inani labantu ababeze kwiindibano zesithili laya kutsho ngaphaya kwe-100 000. Ngelo xesha, kwaqhutywa iindibano ezingama-20 kulo lonke elo lizwe. Kwiminyaka esibhozo kamva, kweza abantu abangaphezu kwama-200 000, yaye ngowe-1997 abo babeze kwiindibano zesithili babengaphezu kwama-300 000. Ngonyaka wama-2002, kwakucetywe ukuba kuqhutywe iindibano ezingama-63, elona nani lakhe laba likhulu ezimbalini. Ukuthabatha uhambo kwezo ziqithi kulucelomngeni yaye maxa wambi kubiza imali eninzi. Ukuqhuba iindibano kwiindawo ezininzi kuzenza zibe kufutshane, kuze kube lula ngabazalwana ukuya kuzo. Ngenxa yoko, baninzi abangenelwayo kwezi ndibano zokomoya.

UYehova Uyayisikelela Imizamo Yokubakho

Kwakungelula ukuya ezindibanweni. Ngowe-1947, abazalwana abakumantla elo lizwe, bakhwela amaphenyane amabini behla ngoMlambo iAbra besiya kwindibano yesiphaluka yaseVigan, eselunxwemeni. Bakuba befikile elunxwemeni, bawaphula baza bawathengisa loo maphenyane ukuze bathenge amatikiti ababeza kukhwela ngawo ibhasi xa begoduka, emva kwendibano. Babephethe iingxowa ezinkulu zerayisi, iinyanda zeenkuni, iinkuko, abantwana abaninzi, yaye bezele luncumo njengoko ucwangciso lwaluqhubeka. Bakwazi ukuzinyamekela iintswelo zabo, ngenxa yokuba babenerayisi, iinkuni, nendawo yokubasela.

Ngowe-1983 iqela elivela kwiBandla laseCaburan kumazantsi eePhilippines kwiphondo laseDavao del Sur lahamba iintsuku ezintathu linqumla iintaba lisiya kwisikhululo sezikhitshane. Lathabatha olunye usuku likhwele isikhitshane lisiya kwisixeko eyayiza kuqhutyelwa kuso indibano. Lalivakalelwa kukuba ukumanyana kwalo nabanye kuloo Ndibano YeSithili “Yomanyano LoBukumkani” kwakuwufanele umgudu neendleko.

Ngowe-1989, enye intsapho enabantwana ababini, omnye oneminyaka emibini nomnye oneminyaka emine, yahamba iikhilomitha ezimalunga nama-70 ukusuka kwidolophu yase-El Nido esePalawan ukuya kwindibano yesiphaluka. Yathabatha iintsuku ezimbini ihamba emahlathini kwindlela eyayingacacanga kakuhle. Endleleni yatyiwa ziincukuthu. Enye into eyabangela ubunzima obungakumbi, kukuba kwakusina ebudeni bezo ntsuku zombini. Yayiwela imilambo nemilanjana emininzi, yaye kwakungekho zibhulorho. Phezu kwabo nje obo bunzima, le ntsapho yafika ikhuselekile. Hayi indlela eyakuvuyela ngayo ukuba kunye nabazalwana apho!

Kwezinye iindawo, kunzima ukuba iintsapho ziye ezindibanweni ngenxa yokungabi namali yaneleyo. URamon Rodriguez wajamelana naloo ngxaki ngowe-1984. Yena nentsapho yakhe bahlala kwiSiqithi iPolillo, esingakwimpuma yonxweme lweLuzon. URamon ungumlobi. Kwakusele nje iveki enye ngaphambi kwendibano, kodwa intsapho yakhe enamalungu asixhenxe yayinemali enokulingana omnye nje kuphela kubo. Bayithandazela kuYehova le meko, emva koko uRamon nonyana wakhe oneminyaka eli-12 ubudala bahamba baya kuloba. Bakhwela iphenyane besiya elwandle baza bathoba iminatha yabo kodwa abazange babambise nto. Emva kwethuba, unyana wakhe wacebisa ukuba baye kuloba kufuphi nasekhaya. Xa bafika apho baphinda bazama. URamon uthi: “Sasingalindelanga kubambisa nto, kodwa sabambisa iintlanzi ezininzi kangangokuba zazalisa iphenyane lethu.” Babebambise iintlanzi ezinobunzima obungaphezu kweekhilogram ezingama-500! Emva kokuba intsapho yakwaRodriguez ithengise ezo ntlanzi, yakwazi ukufumana imali eyaneleyo yokuya endibanweni.

Kubusuku obulandelayo, abanye abazalwana ababefuna ukuya endibanweni nabo bathoba iminatha kwakuloo ndawo inye baza babambisa iintlanzi ezinobunzima obuziikhilogram ezili-100. URamon wongezelela ngelithi: “Abanye abalobi abangengawo amaNgqina abaphosa iminatha yabo ngaxeshanye bamangaliswa kuba abazange babambise nenye intlanzi. Bathi: ‘UThixo wabo ubasikelele ngenxa yokuba beza kuya endibanweni.’” Kangangezihlandlo eziliqela, iintsapho zamaNgqina akwiiPhilippines, ziye zafunda ukuba, ukubeka izinto zokomoya kuqala ebomini nokwenza ngokuvisisana nemithandazo yazo, kuzisa uvuyo nentsikelelo kaYehova.

Iindibano Ezibalaseleyo

Ehlabathini lonke abantu bakaYehova baneenkumbulo ezintle ngeendibano. Nabo abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines bavakalelwa ngaloo ndlela. Nangona luxabisekile lonke ucwangciso lwendibano, olunye luba nentsingiselo ekhethekileyo luze luzichukumise ngokunzulu iintliziyo neengqondo zabantu. Maxa wambi, kubakho iindibano zezizwe ngezizwe, apho abavangeli basemazweni babuyela kumazwe abazalelwe kuwo baze babelane nabo bakhoyo ngamava abaye bawafumana.

Njengoko kuye kwaphawulwa ngaphambili, kukho abazalwana noodade abaliqela bakwiiPhilippines abakhonza njengabavangeli basemazweni kwamanye amazwe nakwiziqithi zaseAsia. Kwizihlandlo eziliqela, ehlabathini lonke amaNgqina aye anikela ngemali enceda abavangeli basemazweni ukuba bafumane iindibano kumazwe abazalelwe kuwo. Nabo abavangeli basemazweni bakwiiPhilippines baye bangenelwa kweli lungiselelo lothando. Ngowe-1983, owe-1988, owe-1993, nowe-1998, abaninzi bancedwa ukuba babuyele kwiiPhilippines ukuze banandiphe iindibano bekunye neentsapho nabahlobo babo. Iingxelo ezisusela kowe-1988 zibonisa ukuba abavangeli basemazweni abangama-54 abakhonza kumazwe ali-12 babuyela kwiiPhilippines ukuze banandiphe iindibano apho. Ngelo xesha, bebonke aba bangama-54 babenomlinganiselo weminyaka engama-24 bekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Bonke bawanandipha gqitha amagqabaza namava abawafumana kolo cwangciso.

Abanye bazikhumbula ezo ndibano ngenxa yeziganeko ezaqhubekayo kuzo nokuzimisela kwabazalwana ukuqhubela phambili nangona kwakukho ubunzima. Ngokomzekelo, ngaphambi nje kowe-1986 kwiNdibano YeSithili “Yoxolo Lobuthixo” eyaqhutyelwa eSurigao, eMindanao, inkanyamba yahlasela eso sixeko ngemimoya eyayihamba ngesantya seekhilomitha ezili-150 ngeyure. Uphahla lwebala lemidlalo lwawa. Kwakungekho mbane kweso sixeko, yaye wabuya emva kwendibano. Amanzi kwakufuneka aye kukhiwa kwisithuba esingangeekhilomitha ezintandathu. Loo nto ayizange iwenze amaNgqina angahlanganisani. Abazalwana baqokelela izixhobo ezazisele eqongeni baza bazifaka kwigumbi lomthambo elalikufuphi nelo bala lemidlalo. Baqesha umatshini wokwenza ukuba izibane, isandisi-lizwi nesikhenkcisi zisebenze. Nangona kwakulindelwe abantu abangama-5 000, kwabakho incopho yabantu abangama-9 932 kuloo ndibano! Ngokuqinisekileyo la maKristu ayekwazi ukumelana nazo zonke iintlobo zemozulu.

Iindibano zezizwe ngezizwe azilibaleki. IQumrhu Elilawulayo lenza amalungiselelo okuqhutywa kweendibano zezizwe ngezizwe eManila ngowe-1991 nangowe-1993. Iindwendwe ezazize kwezo ndibano azikalityalwa nangoku kweso sixeko. Hayi indlela okwaba lukhuthazo ngayo oku kubazalwana noodade bakwiiPhilippines, abaninzi kubo abangenamali yokutyelela kwamanye amazwe! (Roma 1:12) Iindwendwe ezazivela kwamanye amazwe zachukunyiswa gqitha kukwamkelwa ngobubele ngabazalwana bakwiiPhilippines. Esinye isibini saseUnited States sabhala: “Sinibulela ngokukhethekileyo ngokusamkela kwenu ngobubele. Niye nasanga sonke ngothando!”

Ngowe-1993, kwasetyenziswa amabala emidlalo amathathu aseManila, yaye nanini na ilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo linikela intetho, la mabala mathathu ayenxityelelaniswa ngeentambo zomnxeba. Hayi indlela ezavuya ngayo iindwendwe xa kwakhululwa INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha YeZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike ngesiTagalog! Omnye udade oselula wathi: “Ndandingakwazi ukuzibamba yimincili. Ndandisoloko ndikhangele phambili ekufumaneni INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha ngesiTagalog. Hayi indlela endamangaliswa ngayo ndakuyifumana!”

Ngowe-1998 izinto zatshintsha. Ngowe-1958, iiPhilippines zaziqala ukucelwa ukuba zithumele iindwendwe kwamanye amazwe. Ngoko ke, abali-107 baya kwindibano eyayikuNxweme oluseNtshona lwaseUnited States. NgoSeptemba, abanye abangama-35 baye baba nelungelo lokuya kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe eKorea. Ezo ndibano ziye zaba negalelo elibaluleke kakhulu ekufundiseni nasekumanyaniseni abantu bakaYehova kwanasekuncedeni bonke ukuba bakholose ngoYehova.

Ngoku makhe sinikele ingqalelo kumsebenzi wasentsimini. Kuye kwenziwa njani oko kwilizwe elineelwimi ezininzi kangaka?

Ukudlulisela Iindaba Ezilungileyo Ngeelwimi Ezininzi

Njengoko kuchaziwe ngaphambili, ngokuqhelekileyo kulula ukuba abantu bayifunde ngolwimi lwabo inyaniso. Oku kulucelomngeni kwiiPhilippines ngenxa yeelwimi ezininzi ezithethwa apho. Noko ke, amaNgqina kaYehova aye azama ukubanelisa abantu ngokunikela ubungqina kubo ngolwimi lwabo nangokulungiselela uncwadi lweBhayibhile ngeelwimi ezininzi.

Ngokuqhelekileyo, kudla ngokunikelwa ubungqina kwiqela elithile ngabo baluthethayo olo lwimi. Kwezinye iimeko apho embalwa amaNgqina alwaziyo olo lwimi, abavakalisi noovulindlela abanenzondelelo baye bazama ukulufunda olo lwimi. Ngale ndlela, baye baxelisa umpostile uPawulos, oye waba “zizinto zonke kubantu bazo zonke iintlobo.”—1 Kor. 9:22.

Nangona iiPhilippines zililizwe lesine elisebenzisa isiNgesi njengolwimi olusemthethweni, olo asilolwimi lomthonyama oluthethwa luninzi lwabantu balapho. IsiNgesi asifundwa ngabo bonke abantu balapho, ngoko kufuneka iimpapasho zibekho ngeelwimi ezininzi zakwiiPhilippines. Kangangeminyaka, amaNgqina kaYehova aye aguqulela iimpapasho zeBhayibhile ubuncinane ngeelwimi ezili-17 zalapho. Abanye baneencwadana ezinemifanekiso ngolwimi olunye okanye ezimbini—njengesiTausug, ulwimi lwamaSilamsi asemazantsi, okanye isi-Ibanag, ulwimi oluthethwa liqela nje elincinane elihlala kumantla elo lizwe. Ubukhulu becala, abantu baqonda yaye bathetha olunye kwiilwimi zalapho ezisixhenxe ezisemthethweni. IMboniselo iguqulelwa ize ishicilelwe ngezi lwimi. Ngaloo ndlela, ucwangciso lokomoya kwiiHolo zoBukumkani okanye kwiindibano lunikelwa ngezi lwimi.

Kwiminyaka yakutshanje, urhulumente uye wakhuthaza abantu ukuba basebenzise ulwimi lwakwiiPhilippines, oluphantse lufane nesiTagalog. Imiphumo yoku iye yabonakala kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana. Baye banda ngokuphawulekayo abantu abathetha ulwimi lwakwiiPhilippines kwakunye noncwadi olushicilelwa ngolo lwimi, ngoxa kuye akwabakho mahluko ungako okanye kwabakho ukwehla ekusetyenzisweni kwezinye iilwimi. Oku kubonakala kumanani okushicilelwa kweMboniselo. Ngowe-1980, kwashicilelwa imibhalo engama-29 667 yenkupho nganye ngesiTagalog. Ngonyaka wama-2000, elo nani laphindaphindeka kane, laya kutsho kwi-125 100 ngokwenkupho. Ebudeni belo xesha, kwabakho utshintsho oluncinane kwezesiNgesi nolwando olungephi kwezinye iilwimi zakwiiPhilippines.

Intsapho YaseBheteli Ixhasa Umsebenzi Wasentsimini

Abalungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo abamalunga nama-380 bakhonza kwiofisi yesebe yamaNgqina kaYehova kwisiXeko saseQuezon, esikuMbindi Manila. Abangama-69 baguqulela baze bahlole iimpazamo kwiimpapasho zeelwimi zalapho. Kutshanje abanye babo baye bagqiba ukuguqulela iZibhalo zesiHebhere zeNguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha ngeelwimi ezintathu: isiCebuano, isi-Iloko nesiTagalog. Ukususela ekukhululweni kweZibhalo zesiGrike zale Bhayibhile ngowe-1993, abazalwana bebekhangele phambili ekufumaneni INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha epheleleyo. Hayi indlela abavuya ngayo ekukhululweni kwayo ngesiTagalog kwindibano yesithili yowama-2000! Kungekudala kwalandela eyesiCebuano neyesi-Iloko. Ngoku amakhulu amawaka abantu entsimini ayangenelwa yile nguqulelo yeZibhalo Ezingcwele icacileyo nechanileyo.

Amalungu entsapho yaseBheteli kwiiPhilippines aneemvelaphi ezahlukahlukeneyo yaye athetha iilwimi neziyelelane ezahlukeneyo ezingama-28. Ngaloo ndlela, baninzi abakufanelekelayo ukuguqulela iimpapasho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni. Noko ke, ukuguqulela kuyinxalenye nje encinane yomsebenzi owenziwa eBheteli.

Abasebenzi bokuzithandela baseBheteli benza imisebenzi eyahlukahlukeneyo exhasa owona msebenzi ubalulekileyo wokushumayela. Abanye abazalwana bashicilela amaphephancwadi nolunye uncwadi. Kwakhona abasebenzi bokuzithandela bayaluthutha baluse kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo eLuzon. Abaninzi benza eminye imisebenzi kwiKhaya laseBheteli, njengokupheka, ukucoca, ukulungisa izinto, njalo njalo. Abanye basebenza kwiSebe Lenkonzo, apho bafumana baze bathumele iileta ngeelwimi ezininzi ukuze bancede amabandla, abaveleli abahambahambayo, nabakhonzi bexesha elizeleyo abasentsimini. Unokuyithelekelela indlela ezininzi ngayo iileta ezivela kumabandla angama-3 500 akuzo zonke ezo ziqithi!

Ukususela oko kwamiselwa iofisi yesebe okokuqala ngowe-1934 ukusa phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1970, umsebenzi wawusonganyelwa sisicaka, okanye umveleli wesebe. Emva kokuba uJoseph dos Santos ebuyele eHawaii, uEarl Stewart, umvangeli wasemazweni ovela eKhanada, wasingatha loo mbopheleleko kangangeminyaka eli-13. Abanye abazalwana ababini bakhonza ixesha nje elifutshane emva koko. Kwandula ke, ngowe-1966, uDenton Hopkinson, owafika ngowe-1954, wamiselwa njengomveleli wesebe. Wakhonza ngokuthembeka kweso sabelo kangangeminyaka elishumi de intlangano kaYehova yabona kufanelekile ukwenza ilungiselelo elitsha lokonganyelwa kwamasebe ehlabathini lonke.

Ngokuvisisana nolwalathiso olwanikwa amasebe ehlabathini lonke, ngoFebruwari 1976 yayekwa inkqubo yokonganyelwa komsebenzi ngumntu nje omnye kwaza kwasekwa iKomiti Yesebe. Eli qela lamadoda afanelekayo elisebenza phantsi kolwalathiso lweQumrhu Elilawulayo laliza kuba nembopheleleko yokwenza izigqibo ngomsebenzi owenziwa entsimini nakwiofisi yesebe. Ekuqaleni, iKomiti Yesebe kwiiPhilippines yayinamalungu amahlanu. Kamva, ekubeni inkoliso yamalungu okuqala ekomiti yayingabavangeli basemazweni, kwabonakala kububulumko ukuquka nabazalwana bakwiiPhilippines. Ngoko amalungu ekomiti anda aba sixhenxe.

Iingenelo zeli lungiselelo leKomiti Yesebe zabonakala ngokukhawuleza. UDenton Hopkinson, ngoku okhonza njengomalathisi weKomiti Yesebe, uthi: “Xa ujonga emva, unokubona isizathu sokuba olu tshintsho lwalulolobulumko yaye lusexesheni. Ngenxa yomsebenzi omninzi nokwanda kwentlangano, umntu nje omnye wayengenakukwazi ukuzithwala zonke iimbopheleleko. Ngoku ziye zabelwa nabanye abantu.”

IMizekeliso 15:22 ithi: “Ngobuninzi babacebisi kukho okufezwayo.” Ukucebisana nabanye kwenza ukuba kufikelelwe kwizigqibo zobulumko. IKomiti Yesebe yakwiiPhilippines isebenzisa loo mgaqo. Ukususela ekumiselweni kukaMzalwan’ uHopkinson njengomveleli wesebe, inani labo bakhonza eBheteli liye laphindaphindeka kalishumi, yaye kukwanjalo nangomsebenzi. Ngoku iKomiti Yesebe inamalungu amahlanu akhonze uYehova kangangexesha elide. Ngokomlinganiselo, ngamnye kubo ubekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-50. Ngokuqinisekileyo amava abo aye aba luncedo njengoko umsebenzi usanda kakhulu kuzo zonke ezo ziqithi ngokolwalathiso lukaYehova. IKomiti Yesebe nayo yonke intsapho yaseBheteli ikugqala njengelungelo elikhulu ukuxhasa lo msebenzi.

Ukusa Inyaniso Kuzo “Zonke Iintlobo Zabantu”

Ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela kuvisisana ngokwenene nokuthanda kukaThixo kokuba “zonke iintlobo zabantu zisindiswe zize zifikelele elwazini oluchanileyo lwenyaniso.” (1 Tim. 2:4) Ziziphi “iintlobo” zabantu eziye zancedwa ngabashumayeli abanenzondelelo kwiiPhilippines?

Ngalo lonke ixesha uMarlon wayesiba senkathazweni. Kwidolophana awayehlala kuyo wayesaziwa njengomntu onemikhuba emininzi: ukutshaya, ukunxila, ukusebenzisa iziyobisi, nokuba nezinxulumani ezibi. Xa kwafika amaNgqina, umama kaMarlon waba nomdla kwisigidimi soBukumkani. Oovulindlela babehamba kwiindlela ezinothuli nezinodaka besiya kumqhubela isifundo. Ekuqaleni uMarlon wayengenamdla wokuhlala aphulaphule kweso sifundo kodwa wayemana edlula xa siqhutywa. Noko ke, abazalwana ababeqhubela unina isifundo babonisa umdla kuye. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, akazange aqalise nje ukufunda kodwa wazicheba neenwele zakhe ezifika esinqeni ngaphambi kokuba aye kwintlanganiso yokuqala kwiHolo yoBukumkani. Wenza inkqubela ngokukhawuleza, yaye abantu babemangalisiwe yindlela obatshintsha ngayo ubomi bakhe. Ngoku uMarlon ukhonza njengomlungiseleli wexesha elizeleyo, efundisa abanye abantu inyaniso. Yintoni eyamshukumisela ukuba amkele inyaniso? Uthi kukuzingisa koovulindlela ababefundela unina okwamenza waqonda ukuba babenenyaniso.

Abanye basenokubonakala bengelulo uhlobo lwabantu abathambekele ekuyamkeleni inyaniso. Sekunjalo, abavakalisi beendaba ezilungileyo ababagwebi abantu kusengaphambili kodwa babanika ithuba lokuba bazive. Kwesinye isiqithana saseMarinduque, omnye uvulindlela okhethekileyo wanikela ubungqina kwenye indlu. Akuba egqibile, wabuza enoba ukho kusini na omnye umntu ohlala apho. Umninimzi waphendula wathi ukho umntu ohlala kumgangatho ongaphezulu kodwa wongezelela ngelithi: “Ungazikhathazi ngokuya kuye; uyathanda ukuba nomsindo yaye ukhohlakele.” Noko ke, loo vulindlela wavakalelwa kukuba loo mntu wayefanele anikwe ithuba lokusiva isigidimi soBukumkani. Xa lo vulindlela waya kunkqonkqoza endlwini yaloo mntu, kwaba ngathi wayemlindile. Encumile, wacela ukumqhubela isifundo seBhayibhile sekhaya sesisa. Wamangaliswa kukubona uCarlos ekuvuyela ukwamkela incwadi awamnika yona. Waqalisa isifundo seBhayibhile naye nowakwakhe.

Wathi xa ephinda etyelela loo vulindlela, uCarlos wamchazela ukuba yena nenkosikazi yakhe baneengxaki ibe ukhe wazama nokuzibulala. Xa lo vulindlela wayetyelele kumgangatho ongezantsi, uCarlos wayephulaphule, ibe weva xa lo mninimzi wathi kulo vulindlela makangayi kuye. Esakuyiva loo nto, wathandazela ukuba lo vulindlela angaliphulaphuli elo cebiso, aze enyukele kubo kuba mhlawumbi leyo yayiyimpendulo yomthandazo wabo wokuba noxolo lwengqondo. Ukufundisisa kwabo iBhayibhile ngokwenene kwabazisela olo xolo. Bobabini babhaptizwa ngaxeshanye, yaye ngoku inkosikazi kaCarlos inguvulindlela othe ngxi.

Enye indoda, egama linguVictor, yayiqhelene neemfundiso zobuBhuda nezobuKatolika. Yaqalisa ukuzibuza ngesizathu sokuba kubekho iinkonzo ezininzi kangaka ehlabathini. Yaqala ngokuziphandela inyaniso. Emva kokuhlolisisa ubuSilamsi, ubuHindu, ubuShinto, ubuConfucius, ingcamango yendaleko, nezinye iintanda-bulumko, ayizange yaneliswe yiyo nanye kuzo. Kolo phando lwayo, yafumanisa ukuba yiBhayibhile kuphela eneziprofeto ezichanileyo. Ngenxa yoko, yaqhubeka iphanda eBhayibhileni. Njengoko babehlolisisa iZibhalo, yona nentombi eyayithandana nayo, uMaribel bagqiba kwelokuba uBathathu Emnye, isihogo somlilo, nentlambululo-miphefumlo ziimfundiso zobuxoki. Sekunjalo, babengekaneliseki.

Emva kwexesha elithile etshate noMaribel, uVictor wathetha nelinye iNgqina, waza wafumanisa indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukusebenzisa igama likaThixo. Emva kokuba eye wafunda ngegama likaYehova eBhayibhileni, ngokukhawuleza uVictor waqalisa ukulisebenzisa xa ethandaza. Kungekudala waqalisa ukubakho kwiintlanganiso ezikwiHolo yoBukumkani yaye wenza inkqubela ngokukhawuleza ngokomoya. Yena noMaribel babhaptizwa ngoMeyi 1989, yaye sithethanje uVictor ukhonza njengomveleli ohambahambayo, owakha amabandla.

Oovulindlela baye banceda abantu abaneengxaki ezahlukeneyo. UPrimitiva Lacasandile, onguvulindlela okhethekileyo kumazantsi eLuzon, waqalisa isifundo seBhayibhile nesinye isibini esihlala kuloo dolophana. Sasinabantwana ababini. Sasingathathi ntweni ngokwezimali. Ngenye imini, kwathi xa uPrimitiva wafikayo eze kuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile, wothuka akalibala akubona oyena mntwana mdala walapho exhonywe ngengxowa apho endlwini, ekhala. UPrimitiva uthi: “Unina wayeletshezisa imela sele eza kumbulala lo mntwana. Ndamnqanda ndaza ndambuza isizathu sokuba afune ukwenjenjalo. Lo mama wathi kungenxa yemeko yabo emandundu yezoqoqosho.” UPrimitiva wababonisa oko kuthethwa yiBhayibhile ngengxaki abakuyo, nto leyo eyasindisa ubomi balo mntwana. Baqhubeka nesifundo seBhayibhile baza baqalisa ukubakho kwiintlanganiso, nakuba kwakufuneka bahambe kangangeekhilomitha ezisibhozo ukuze baye kufika kwindawo ekuqhutyelwa kuyo iintlanganiso. Esi sibini senza inkqubela saza sabhaptizwa, yaye sithethanje umyeni ngumdala ebandleni. UPrimitiva uthi: “Laa mntwana waphants’ ukubulawa ngoku nguvulindlela othe ngxi. Ngokwenene, umsebenzi uYehova awawunika abakhonzi bakhe usindisa ubomi ngoku nakwikamva.”

Ukukhonza Kwiindawo Ezinemfuneko Enkulu

Isemininzi imimandla eneqaqobana labavakalisi boBukumkani. Bakho oovulindlela nabavakalisi abaye bazinikela ukuze baye kushumayela kwezi ndawo. UPascual noMaria Tatoy babengoovulindlela abathe ngxi. Bavuma ukuhamba noAngelito Balboa, onguvulindlela okhethekileyo, ukuze bamncedise ekushumayeleni kwiiCoron Islands, ezingakwintshona yeePhilippines. Ukuze bazixhase, uPascual wayeloba nomnye umzalwana, kanti yena uMaria wayethengisa izimuncumuncu azenze ngerayisi.

Ekufikeni kwakhe ezokutyelela, umveleli wesiphaluka wakhankanya esinye isiqithi esasinemfuneko enkulu, iCulion. Kule ndawo kwakukho ummandla ohlala abantu abaneqhenqa, yaye kwakukho abavakalisi abane nje kuphela. Wacela abakwaTatoy ukuba baye apho. UPascual noMaria bavuma, yaye uYehova uye wayisikelela imigudu yabo. Kungokunje abo bavakalisi bane baseCulion baye banda baba ngamabandla amabini.

Phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1970, abantu abaninzi ababehlala kumaphenyane balinikel’ umva elaseVietnam. Uninzi lwabo lwaya kutshona kwiiPhilippines. Kangangethuba elimalunga neminyaka engama-20, bekukho iinkampu zeembacu kwelo. Kwakukho inkampu enkulu nakwiPalawan Island. Abanye abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines bavuma ukwabelana naba bantu ngenyaniso. Omnye umzalwana othetha ulwimi lwaseVietnam wasuka kwelaseUnited States eze kuncedisa kwelo. Bambi bayamkela inyaniso kuloo nkampu. Abanye abafunda ngegama likaYehova nangamaNgqina akhe bafudukela kwezinye iindawo.

Imimandla emininzi ekwanti yakwiiPhilippines inoovulindlela abakhethekileyo. Ngalo lonke ixesha besiya kwimimandla ethe qelele, bahamba nabanye abavakalisi noovulindlela. UNorma Balmaceda usibalisela ngokusebenza kwakhe kwiphondo laseIfugao elikummandla weentaba. Uthi: “Sasidla ngokuhamba ngeMivulo, siphethe iibhegi zethu zokushumayela ezizele luncwadi, iimpahla zethu, nokutya—esasiza kukusebenzisa de kube kusasa ngoMgqibelo. Emva kwemini, sasibuya ukuza kunandipha iintlanganiso zebandla.”

Amanye amabandla aye alungiselele ukuba kubekho amaphulo okushumayela, ingakumbi xa imozulu intle. Ahamba iintsuku eziliqela okanye kangangeveki esiya kwimimandla esemaphandleni. UNicanor Evangelista, ngoku okhonza eBheteli, uthi xa ebalisa ngoko kwakusenzeka esasebenza kuloo mimandla: “Emaphandleni, kulisiko lakwiiPhilippines ukuba xa abantu benomdla, bathi: ‘Ungalala apha. Ungapheka nokupheka.’ Maxa wambi oovulindlela babedla ngokufundisisa iBhayibhile nabo banomdla de kube sezinzulwini zobusuku kuba babefumana indawo yokulala kwalapho.”

Ama-Aeta Afunda Inyaniso

Ngelokuzama ukunikela ubungqina kuzo zonke iindidi zabantu, abakhonzi bakaYehova baye baqhagamshelana nama-Aeta, okanye amaNegrito, njengoko ekwabizwa njalo. Ama-Aeta agqalwa njengabemi bomthonyama bakwiiPhilippines. Ambalwa wona, yaye akusoloko kulula ukuqhagamshelana nawo. Oku kubangelwa kukuba angoonothwal’ impahlana abahlala kumahlathi asezintabeni, ephila ngokubamb’ iinyamakazi okanye atye iziqhamo nemifuno yasendle. Zikho izinto afana ngazo neePygmies zaseAfrika, enobude nje obungaphantsi kweesentimitha ezili-150, emnyama ngebala, yaye eneenwele eziphotheneyo. Amanye sel’ ede aphila njengabany’ abantu, kanti amanye akhe izindlu ezisisigxina kufutshane nabanye abantu. Uninzi lwawo lwalufudula luhlala kwiintaba ezingqonge iMount Pinatubo, kodwa kwanyanzeleka ukuba achith’ iintente apho ngenxa yentaba-mlilo enkulu eyabakho apho.

Elinye iqela lamaNegrito lihlala kwiPanay Island, ekumbindi weePhilippines. ULodibico Eno nentsapho yakhe bangama-Aeta ahlala kuloo ngingqi. Ukusebenzisa imigaqo yeBhayibhile kwazisa iinguqu ezininzi kuLodibico. Uthi: “Ngaphambili ndandinemikhuba emininzi: ndandihlafuna itshu, nditshaya, ndisela, ndingcakaza nokungcakaza. Ndandinguye nomayitshe. Intsapho yam yayingonwabanga. Ukuba ndandingahlukananga naloo mikhuba, mhlawumbi ngesendifile. Ngoku ndicocekile. Amazinyo am awayegqolile, ngoku amhlophe qhwa. Ndingumdala ebandleni. NguYehova uThixo oye wandisikelela ngezi zinto.” Kanye njengale ntsapho yama-Aeta, nabantu abasuka kwezinye izizwana baye bafumana inkululeko ngenxa yokulandela iindlela zikaYehova.—Yoh. 8:32.

Ukuzisa Inkululeko Kwabo Bangakhululekanga

Abanye abantu abaye bancedwa ngabo basezintolongweni. Ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1950, amaNgqina kaYehova aye enza imizamo ekhethekileyo ukuze atyelele amabanjwa. Amaninzi kuwo aye ancedwa ayibona inyaniso.

Esengumfana, uSofronio Haincadto wayengumvukeli-mbuso. Wabanjwa waza wagwetywa iminyaka emithandathu entolongweni. Ngoxa wayekwiNtolongo iNew Bilibid yaseLuzon, waphawula ukuba kukho ibanjwa elingayiyo kwinkonzo eyayiqhutyelwa entolongweni. Wafumanisa ukuba le ndoda sele ingomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova. Loo nto yabangela ukuba mihla le baxubushe ngeBhayibhile. USofronio uthi: “Ndeyiseka kukuba le nto kudala ndiyilwela ayinakuzisa utshintsho lokwenene kwibutho labantu.” Wafunda ukuba buBukumkani bukaThixo kuphela obunokuzisa utshintsho olufunekayo. Encedwa ngabazalwana bebandla elikufutshane apho, uSofronio wenza inkqubela yokomoya waza wabhaptizelwa apho entolongweni kwiqula lokunkcenkceshela izityalo.

Emva kokuba egqibe isigwebo sakhe, uSofronio waba nguvulindlela othe ngxi, waza kamva waba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo. Ngoxa ekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo, uSofronio wanceda abantu abamalunga ne-15 bamkela indlela yenyaniso. Esakuba etshatile, waba nabantwana abathandathu. Ngoku abathathu kwabo bantwana bakwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo, omnye wabo ngumveleli wesiphaluka. Ngowe-1995, ababini koonyana bakhe bebekwiSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli. Ngokwenene, inyaniso iye yamkhulula uSofronio, intsapho yakhe, kwanabo aye wabanceda.

Oovulindlela abakhethekileyo bebeshumayela kumabanjwa akwiziko lezoluleko eliseIwahig, ePalawan, yaye bada bavunyelwa ukuba bakhe iHolo yoBukumkani encinane phakathi kwelo ziko. Eny’ indoda yayibanjelwe ukutshisa nokuphanga izinto zabantu, kwakunye nokubulala abantu abaliqela. Yathi yakuncedwa ukuba isebenzise oko ikufunde kwincwadi ethi Unokuphila Ngonaphakade KwiParadisi Esemhlabeni, yenza olungathethekiyo lona utshintsho!

Emva kokuvalelwa ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-23, yachazelwa ukuba kwakusekumbovu ukuba ikhululwe. Yachaza ukuba yayikhangele phambili ekubeni kunye namalungu entsapho yayo emva kokuvalelwa ixesha elide kangako. Noko ke, ngendlela eyayineentloni kwaye imoyika ngayo, intsapho yayo yathumela isijoli esithi: “Uncede ungabuyel’ apha.” Yayingayazi indlela iLizwi likaThixo elalibutshintshe ngokumangalisayo ngayo ubomi bale ndoda. Hayi indlela eyothuka ngayo loo ntsapho xa lo mKristu uzolileyo nonoxolo wabuyela kwidolophu yakowabo!

EMandaluyong, ekuMbindi Manila, kukho eyona ntolongo inkulu yamabhinqa. Kangangeminyaka emininzi, amaNgqina kaYehova ebengafane avunyelwe ukuba angene kwesi sakhiwo. Noko ke, yonke loo nto yatshintsha xa elinye ibhinqa elalisele lifundisisa iBhayibhile latshintshelwa kule ntolongo. Abasemagunyeni apho bathi lifanele liye kwezinye iinkonzo ezilapho, kodwa lala kwema ngalo, lisithi lifuna ukuya kunqulo lwamaNgqina kaYehova kuphela. Abasemagunyeni bavuma baza bawavumela amaNgqina ukuba atyelele apho veki nganye. Ukususela ngelo xesha, kuye kwabhaptizwa amabhinqa aliqela apho, yaye ibandla elikufutshane apho liqhuba iSifundo seMboniselo nezinye iintlanganiso ukuze kungenelwe amabanjwa anomdla angamabhinqa.

Ngokwenene, isigidimi senyaniso siye sazisa inkululeko engathethekiyo kwabo bankolonkoloza emva kwezitshixo. Nabo baxabisekile kuYehova, ibe abantu bakhe bayakuvuyela ukuba negalelo ekubancedeni.

Abakhonzi Abangamagqala Bayaqhubeka

Omnye umzekeliso weBhayibhile uthi: “Isithsaba sokuhomba zizimvi xa sifunyanwa endleleni yobulungisa.” (IMize. 16:31) Ewe, hayi indlela ekubukeka ngayo ukubona abo baye benza uvuyo lukaYehova igwiba labo ukutyhubela iminyaka!

Intlangano yobuthixo yayisakhula kwiiPhilippines ngaphambi kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II. Bambalwa kakhulu abantu abaye bakhonza ixesha elide kangako. Yiyo le nto kukhuthaza ukuva ngoLeodegario Barlaan. Ebekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo ukususela ngowe-1938. Yena namaqabane akhe babephiliswa ubomi bentshontsho ngamaJapan ebudeni bemfazwe, kodwa abazange bayeke ukushumayela. Emva kwemfazwe yena nomfazi wakhe uNatividad baqhubeka nenkonzo yexesha elizeleyo, baza ekugqibeleni bacelwa ukuba bangenele umsebenzi wesiphaluka nowesithili. Kamva, bakhonza njengoovulindlela abakhethekileyo abagulayo kwiphondo lasePangasinan. UNatividad wasweleka ngowama-2000, kodwa uLeodegario usaqhubeka nesabelo sakhe. Ukuzimisela kwakhe ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wokushumayela kulukhuthazo kumntu wonke.

Umsebenzi wamaNgqina waba nolwando olukhulu emva kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II. Baninzi abafunda inyaniso ngelo xesha, yaye basakhonza nangoku. Ngokomzekelo, ebudeni bemfazwe uPacifico Pantas wafunda iimpapasho zeBhayibhile zabamelwane bakhe abangamaNgqina. Uthi: “Ndaqalisa ukuya ezintlanganisweni. Ndandula ke ndabhalisela ubuvulindlela obuqhelekileyo [ngoku, ekuthiwa buthe ngxi], kodwa ke ndandingekabhaptizwa. Ndacelwa ukuba ndibhaptizwe, yaye ndenjenjalo.” Kwakungowe-1946 ke ngoko. UPacifico waba nguvulindlela kwiindawo ezininzi zelo lizwe. Wanikwa namanye amalungelo. Uthi: “Ndamenywa kwiklasi ye-16 yaseGiliyadi ndaza ndaya kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe yowe-1950 kwisiXeko saseNew York. Emva kokuba ndiphumelele apho, ndaba ngumveleli wesiphaluka eMinnesota nakuMntla Dakota, eUnited States ndaza ndabuyela kwiiPhilippines njengomveleli wesithili kwilizwe elikumazantsi oMlambo iPasig, ukususela eManila ukuya kutsho eMindanao.”

Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo, uMzalwan’ uPantas wafumana izabelo ezahlukahlukeneyo eBheteli nanjengomveleli ohambahambayo. Emva koko uPacifico watshata ngowe-1963. Benomfazi wakhe baba nabantwana, yaye kwafuneka bakhulise intsapho yabo. Baqhubeka bekhonza uYehova ngoxa bekhulisa le ntsapho, yaye bobathathu abantwana babo bakhula bengabadumisi bakaYehova. Sithethanje bobathathu bangabadala, yaye omnye wabo uphumelele kwiSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli. Omnye ukhonza eBheteli. Nakuba sele ekhulile ngeminyaka, uMzalwan’ uPantas usenefuthe elihle ebandleni.

IiHolo Ezifanelekele Unqulo LukaYehova

Abantu bakaYehova basandul’ ukuba nazo iiHolo zoBukumkani abanqulela kuzo kwiiPhilippines. Kangangeminyaka emininzi, inkoliso ibihlanganisana kumakhaya abazalwana. Kakade ke, kwanakwinkulungwane yokuqala, amaKristu ayehlanganisana emakhayeni. (Roma 16:5) Noko ke, njengoko amabandla ala maxesha ayesanda, kwafuneka ukuba kwakhiwe iindawo ezinokwanela abantu abaninzi.

UDavid Ledbetter wathi: “Kwakunzima kwabaninzi ngenxa yokungabi nazintsiba. KwanakuMbindi Manila, esisixeko esikhulu, kwakwakhiwe iHolo yoBukumkani enye kuphela kwisiza sebandla. Zonke ezinye iiHolo zoBukumkani, zazingakhiwanga kwiziza zebandla.” Abazalwana babesamkela imivuzo ephantsi kakhulu kangangokuba kwakungekho bandla linokukwazi ukuthenga umhlaba.

Ngoko babesebenzisa nasiphi na isakhiwo esifumanekayo. Babenikela ngokukhululekileyo ngazo naziphi na iindawo abanokukwazi ukunikela ngazo. Ngokomzekelo, uDenton Hopkinson ukhumbula uSantos Capistrano, omnye umzalwana waseManila owanikela ngomgangatho wesibini womzi wakhe ukuba usetyenziswe njengeHolo yoBukumkani kangangeminyaka emalunga nama-40. UMzalwan’ uHopkinson utyatyadula enjenje: “Emva kokusweleka kwenkosikazi kaMzalwan’ uCapistrano, abantwana bahlala kumgangatho ongezantsi. IHolo yoBukumkani yayikumgangatho ophezulu, ibe wayenegunjana nje lokulala, kunye nekhitshi ecaleni. Icandelo elikhulu lomgangatho wesibini laliyiHolo yoBukumkani. Kusenokubonakala ngathi yonke le nto yayimsokolisa, kodwa wayanelisekile. Bonke abazalwana babenomoya ofanayo.”

Ekugqibeleni, kwaba lula ngamabandla ukufumana iziza zokwakha iiHolo zoBukumkani. Ixabiso lemali yalapho ipeso lenyuka, ngokunjalo nemivuzo ngeminyaka yee-1980, nto leyo eyenza kwalula ukuboleka imali. Ngenxa yoko, amabandla aliqela akwazi ukufumana imali-mboleko.

Emva koko, ilungiselelo lothando elaqaliswa liQumrhu Elilawulayo latshintsha into eninzi. EUnited States naseKhanada, kwenziwa isaziso ngokusekwa kweNgxowa-mali yeeHolo zoBukumkani yaye akuzange kube kudala emva koko neePhilippines zaxhamla kule mali yayinikelwe ngenjongo yokwakhiwa kweeHolo zoBukumkani. Eli lungiselelo lihambisana nomgaqo ‘wokubakho kokulingana’ lenza kwalula ukufumana imali-mboleko. (2 Kor. 8:14, 15) Izinto zaqhuba kakuhle ngokuthe ngcembe, kodwa ukuphumelela kweli lungiselelo kwakhuthaza nabanye abazalwana abakwezinye iindawo ukuba benze unako nako ukuze bakwazi ukufumana iiHolo zoBukumkani.

Eli lungiselelo lenza olungathethekiyo lona utshintsho! Icandelo elijongene nemali-mboleko yeeHolo zoBukumkani kwiofisi yesebe linikela le ngxelo: “IiHolo zoBukumkani eziye zakhiwa, zingaphezu kwe-1 200 zizonke. Ngokuqinisekileyo yonke le nto iye yanegalelo kulo lonke eli.” Nangona ekuqaleni imali eninzi yayivela kwamanye amazwe, nabazalwana bakwiiPhilippines banikela inkxaso kweli lungiselelo ekugqibeleni. Ithetha ngeli lungiselelo, iofisi yesebe ithi: “Sekuyiminyaka eliqela ngoku, ukwakhiwa kwazo zonke iiHolo zoBukumkani kuxhaswa ngokubuyiswa kwemali-mboleko nangeminikelo yabazalwana bakwiiPhilippines. Oku kubonisa ukuba nemimandla etsala nzima kwezoqoqosho, inokungenelwa kwimali ebekelwe bucala.”

Ngoku maninzi amabandla aneeHolo zoBukumkani. Amalunga nama-3 500 amabandla akwelo lizwe, kodwa asekho lawo angekabi nazo iindawo zawo zokuhlanganisana. Noko ke, amalunga nama-500 kula mabandla anabavakalisi abangaphantsi kwe-15 ibe akanakukwazi ukuyibuyisa imali-mboleko yokwakha iiHolo zoBukumkani. Ngoko, kutshanje kuye kwakhuthazwa ukuba amabandla adityaniswe nto leyo eyenza kube lula ukuba neeHolo zoBukumkani.

Uhlengahlengiso Ekuqhutyweni Kweentlanganiso

Amanye amabandla, anazo nangenazo iiHolo zoBukumkani, akwimimandla ekwanti. Abazalwana bahamba iiyure ezimbini, ezine, okanye ezingakumbi kwimimandla esemagqagaleni, besiya kwindawo abahlanganisana kuyo. Ngenxa yoko, kweminye imimandla kunzima ukuhlanganisana ngaphezu kwesihlandlo esinye ngeveki. Ngoko ke, amaninzi kula mabandla ayeziqhuba ngosuku olunye zonke iintlanganiso zawo ngaphandle kweSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla. Abazalwana babesiza bezilungiselele zone ezi ntlanganiso. Babeziphathela isidlo sasemini. Ngale ndlela, babewuhamba kanye kuphela ngeveki loo mgama mde wokuya ezintlanganisweni, baze eminye imisebenzi, enjengokuya kwinkonzo yasentsimini, bayenze ngezinye iintsuku kwiindawo abahlala kuzo.

Ebudeni beminyaka yee-1980, eli lungiselelo lanwenwela kumabandla angekho kwanti kangako, kwanakulawo asezixekweni. Mhlawumbi ukutsala nzima kwezoqoqosho kwabangela ukuba abanye bafune iindlela zokonga imali. Ukuya iintsuku ezimbalwa kwiintlanganiso kwakubanceda bangahlawuli imali eninzi. Abanye abazalwana babefuna nje into eza kulungela bona, besebenzisa elinye ixesha kwizinto zobuqu, ezinjengemfundo okanye umsebenzi wengqesho.

Amabandla amaninzi aqalisa ukuqhuba iintlanganiso ezine ngemini enye, yaye amanye ayede aziqhube zontlanu! Noko ke, oku kwakuthetha ukuba amabandla akwiiPhilippines ayeyilahla ngokuyilahla indlela yokwenza izinto yoninzi lwabantu bakaYehova ehlabathini, abaqhuba iintlanganiso ngeentsuku ezintathu ezahlukeneyo zeveki. Ngandlel’ ithile abazalwana babengalungelelananga. Xa wayetyelele ngowe-1991, umveleli wecandelo waxelelwa ngale nto. Yena waxelela iQumrhu Elilawulayo. Laza lona lathi: “Asiqondi ukuba kufanelekile oko ngaphandle kwakwiimeko ezinyanzelisayo.” Kwaqala kwachazelwa abazalwana abasezixekweni, kwaza kwalandeliswa ngabo basemaphandleni.

Kwachazwa ukuba ngaphandle nje kokuba iintlanganiso kufuneka ziqhutywe ngendlela enye ehlabathini lonke, amabandla anokungenelwa ngakumbi xa eqhuba iintlanganiso ngeentsuku ezahlukeneyo kunokuzinyakathisa zonke kwiiyure ezintathu ezinesiqingatha ukuya kwezine. Olo cwangciso lwalunzima kakhulu ebantwaneni nasebantwini abasandul’ ukuba nomdla. Ngoku nabadala banokukwazi ukunikela iintetho ezikumgangatho ophezulu xa oko bekwenza kwintlanganiso enye okanye ezimbini kunakwiintlanganiso ezininzi.

Amabandla alwamkela njani olo lwalathiso? Uninzi lwawo lwalwamkela ngomoya omhle olo lwalathiso, lwaza lwakhawuleza lwenza uhlengahlengiso kwiintlanganiso zaphakathi evekini. Ngoku, ngaphandle kwamabandla akwanti, amabandla amaninzi anandipha inkqubo elungeleleneyo yokomoya veki nganye.

IiHolo ZeNdibano

Kangangeminyaka emininzi, iindibano zesiphaluka beziqhutyelwa kumabala emidlalo esikolo, kumagumbi okwenza imithambo, kwiindawo zemidyarho, okanye kwezinye izakhiwo zikawonke wonke. Nakuba kwakungelula, abazalwana babewaxabisa la mathuba obudlelane obuhlaziyayo.

Kanye njengeeHolo zoBukumkani, ukufumana iiHolo zeNdibano kwakungeyondlwan’ iyanetha. Nakule nkalo eyona nto yayingumqobo yayikukutsala nzima ngokwezoqoqosho. Nangona kunjalo, iziphaluka ezininzi zazikulangazelela ngamandla ukuba neendawo zazo zokuhlanganisana. Ngenxa yoko, kuye kwakhiwa iiHolo zeNdibano eziliqela ezingabizi mali kangako. Ezi holo zinokusetyenziswa sisiphaluka esinye okanye ezibini kuphela, kungekhona iqela leziphaluka njengakwamanye amazwe. Ngokuqhelekileyo emaphandleni, iziza kwakunikelwa ngazo okanye zithengwe ngamaxabiso afikelelekayo. Ngoko abazalwana babeqokelela iminikelo baze bakhe isakhiwo esingabizi mali ingako—ngokuqhelekileyo isakhiwo esivulekileyo emacaleni esinophahla nje lokukhusela abaphulaphuli, esinomgangatho wekonkile, iqonga eliphakamileyo nezihlalo.

KuMbindi Manila, kwakungelula kwaukwenjenjalo ngenxa yamaxabiso eziza axhomileyo kwakunye nemali eyayifuneka ukuze kwakhiwe indawo efanele eso sixeko. Amabandla akule ngingqi anikela ukuze axhase lo msebenzi, kodwa imali eyafumaneka apho yayinganelanga nkqu nokuthenga umhlaba! Ebudeni beminyaka yee-1970, eyee-1980, nenxalenye enkulu yee-1990, kuMbindi Manila iindibano beziqhutyelwa ezikolweni, kumabala emidlalo nakwiindawo ezinjengezo.

Ngelo xesha, inani lamabandla neziphaluka zoMbindi Manila laqhubeka lisanda, nto leyo eyazenza zafuneka ngamandla iiHolo zeNdibano. Kwaphunyw’ iphulo lokufuna umhlaba ofanelekileyo. Kwathunyelwa iileta emabandleni, echazelwa ngelungelo analo lokuxhasa lo msebenzi ngezimali. Ngowe-1992 kwafunyanwa umhlaba omalunga neehektare ezi-6, kufutshane nesithili saseLagro, esikwincam ekumantla oMbindi Manila.

Amabandla akuMbindi Manila awuxhasa lo msebenzi ngokuthumela iminikelo kwakunye nabasebenzi bokuzithandela. Kwafika abasebenzi bamazwe ngamazwe ukuza kufak’ isandla kulo msebenzi. Omnye wabo, uRoss Pratt waseNew Zealand, uthi: “NgoMatshi 1997, iBrooklyn yasikhulula ukuba siqalise. Owona msebenzi mkhulu sasiwenza apho kukulungisa umhlaba, yaye umhlaba ongangama-29 000 eekyubhiki mitha wasuswa apho, kulungiselelwa ukwakha. Kwakukho abasebenzi abasisigxina abangama-50 ukusa kwabangama-60. Le Holo yeNdibano yagqitywa ngoNovemba 1998.” Emva koko yanikezelwa. Ekubeni le holo yayakhelwe ukuthwala abantu abali-12 000, kunokuqhutyelwa neendibano zesithili kuyo. Ukuvuleka kwale Holo yeNdibano emacaleni kwakusenza ukuba kungene impepho epholileyo ngoxa abantu bephulaphule ucwangciso ngaphakathi. Iziphaluka ezili-16 ezikuMbindi Manila nakwiindawo eziwungqongileyo ngoku zinandipha ucwangciso lokomoya kule holo.

Izakhiwo Zesebe Ezingakumbi

Njengoko lalisanda inani lamabandla neziphaluka kuloo mmandla, umsebenzi wesebe nawo wakhula. Ngowe-1980 kwakukho abavakalisi abamalunga nama-60 000 apho. Akuzange kudlule neminyaka elishumi, iiPhilippines zaphakathi kwamazwe asele enabavakalisi abangaphezu kwe-100 000. Kwangelo xesha, intsapho yaseBheteli yakhula isuka kubantu abali-102 ukusa kwabali-150. Noko ke, kwanasebutsheni beminyaka yee-1980 indawo yayincinane kakhulu kwiofisi yesebe. Kwakufuneka iindawo zokuhlala ezingakumbi.

IQumrhu Elilawulayo layalela ukuba kufunwe izakhiwo ezingakumbi. UFelix Fajardo usibalisela oko kwenzekayo: “Sangena kwindlu ngendlu sikhangela enoba kwakungekho sakhiwo sithengiswayo kusini na kufutshane neBheteli. Abantu bakwiiPhilippines kwanabo bangamaTshayina basixelela phandle ukuba bona abazithengisi izakhiwo zabo. Enye indoda eyayinesakhiwo yalikhupha latsola elokuba: ‘Thina maTshayina asithengisi. Siyathenga qha. Soz’ usibone sithengisa.’” Ngoko, ngokwelo xesha, kwakubonakala kungekho sakhiwo sithengiswayo kufutshane neofisi yesebe.

Kwakhangelwa isakhiwo nakwezinye iindawo. Ukuba kwakunyanzeleka, iofisi yesebe yayiza kufuduswa kweso sixeko. Kwafunyanwa iziza eziliqela kumaphondo akufutshane. IQumrhu Elilawulayo laba nomdla okhethekileyo kwisiza esikhulu esikufutshane neSan Pedro, eLaguna, esasithengiswa ngomnye umzalwana ngexabiso elifikelelekayo. Kwafumaneka imvume yokusithenga. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okwakha iiofisi, iKhaya laseBheteli kwanomzi-mveliso kweso siza. Noko ke, njengoko ixesha lihamba, kwabonakala ukuba yayingekokuthanda kukaYehova ukuba kufudukelwe apho. Zazingekho iimfonomfono, iindlela zazimbi, yaye kwakungakhuselekanga apho. Kwahla kwacaca ukuba esi siza sasingeyondawo ifanelekileyo yokwakha isebe. Ngoko satshintshwa saba yifama eyayiza kwanelisa iimfuno zentsapho yaseBheteli. Sekunjalo, ayizange ilunge ingxaki yokufuna indawo engakumbi yokwakha iofisi yesebe.

Ukutshintsha kwezinto ngephanyazo kwabonisa ukuba uYehova wayesalathisa izinto. UFelix uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ngesiquphe, omnye ummelwane wethu okufutshane wathi: ‘Siyayithengisa indawo yethu—izizikwemitha ezili-1 000. Singanithengisela yona.’ Ngoko iQumrhu Elilawulayo lagunyazisa ukuba siyithenge. Sasicinga ukuba kwanele, kodwa xa sathumela iiplani zokwakha kwikomkhulu lehlabathi, kwathiwa: ‘Khanikhe nikhangele nenye indawo. Kufuneka engakumbi.’

“Kanye emva koko, kwathi gqi ugqirha nelinye igqwetha besithi: ‘Singanithengisela indawo yethu.’ Nale indawo yayizizikwemitha ezili-1 000. Kuthe kusenjalo, nelinye ibhinqa elalinomhlaba omalunga nehektare kufutshane nathi lafuna ukusithengisela wona. Lawuthengisa ngexabiso elihle kakhulu. Sasicinga ukuba noko sesinomhlaba owaneleyo. Kodwa ikomkhulu lathi: ‘Khanikhe nizame omnye.’”

Sithe singalindelanga kwee gqi olunye uncedo. Laa gqirha nelaa gqwetha babesithengisele umhlaba wabo, baya kwabanye abamelwane baza babeyisela ukuba basithengisele nezabo iindawo. Ngamnye kubo wathengisela iofisi yesebe indawo yakhe. Emva kokuba sele kuthengwe phantse yonke imihlaba ekufutshane apho, kwaphinda kwathunyelwa esinye isicelo kwikomkhulu. Laphinda laphendula lathi: “Kusafuneka enye indawo.” Abazalwana bazibuza ukuba: ‘Siza kuyifumana phi ke ngoku enye? Akukho ndawo singayithenganga ekufutshane nathi.’

Ngeli xesha, kwafika umnxeba owawuthetha ngendawo yalaa somashishini wayethe, “Thina maTshayina asithengisi.” Ngoku yayithengiswa! UFelix uthi: “SinoMzalwan’ uLeach safumanisa ukuba wayengekho omnye umntu owayenomdla kule ndawo. Ngoko sayifumana ngexabiso elihle kakhulu. Kuyacaca ukuba uYehova wayefak’ isandla koku.” Kongezelelwa enye ihektare yomhlaba, laza ekugqibeleni ikomkhulu lathi: “Hay’ ke ninendawo eyaneleyo, ningaqalisa ngamalungiselelo okwakha.”

Lahamb’ ixesha, zatshintsha neemeko, yaye kwacaca ukuba ifama yaseSan Pedro yayingaseyomfuneko. Ukutya okuninzi kokondla intsapho yaseBheteli kwakunokuthengwa ngamaxabiso aphantsi kuneendleko zokukuvelisa efama. Ngoko kwagqitywa kwelokuba ithengiswe. Ngowe-1991 le fama yayisele iyeyomnye umntu. Imali eyafunyanwayo emva kokuba ithengisiwe yasetyenziselwa ukuhlawula iindleko zokwakhiwa kwesebe elitsha.

Ukwakhiwa Kwesebe Elitsha

Indawo yeofisi yesebe yayiwuphindaphinda kathathu umhlaba oyihektare owathengwa ngowe-1947. IOfisi Yobunjineli Yengingqi kwisebe laseJapan lamaNgqina kaYehova yanceda ekuzobeni iiplani, yaye umsebenzi wokulungiswa kwesiza waqalisa phakathi kowe-1988. Ezinye izakhiwo zamaplanga ezidala kwafuneka zidilizwe. Phakathi kwezi zakhiwo zitsha kwakuza kubakho indawo yokuhlala enemigangatho eli-11 kwakunye nomzi-mveliso omkhulu onemigangatho emi-2. Kwakweso siza kwakuza kubakho neHolo yoBukumkani.

Ngaphandle kokuncediswa ngabo babephumelele eGiliyadi, kwakukho abazalwana noodade abamalunga nama-300 abavela kumazwe amahlanu abancedisa ekwakheni njengabakhonzi bamazwe ngamazwe bexesha elizeleyo nabexeshana. Abamelwane bethu bamangaliswa kukubona abantu abasuka kwamanye amazwe beze kuncedisa. Abazange bawuvale umlomo xa beva ukuba uninzi lwaba bantu lwaluzizele ngemali yalo! Abazalwana noodade basekuhlaleni baba negalelo kumanyano lwezizwe ngezizwe.

Kanye njengasekufunyanweni kwale ndawo, ulwalathiso lukaYehova lwabonakala njengoko umsebenzi wokwakha wawuqhubeka. Ngokomzekelo, yayinye kuphela inkampani kwiiPhilippines eyayisenza uphahla olwalufuneka kwezo zakhiwo. Noko ke, iodolo yesebe yayiyeyama-301 kuludwe lwabo babeodole kuloo nkampani! Abazalwana benza amalungiselelo okuthetha nesekela-mphathi laloo nkampani, baza balichazela ngendlela esiwenza ngayo umsebenzi wethu wokuzithandela. Abaphathi bale nkampani badibanis’ iintloko, baza basamkela isicelo sabazalwana, yaye iodolo yabo yaba yeyokuqala kolo ludwe. Kanye emva kokuba olo phahla luzisiwe, abasebenzi baloo nkampani bagwayimba.

Inyambalala yabazalwana ababenegalelo ekwakhiweni kwesebe, yabonisa umoya omhle gqitha. Veki nganye kwakusiza amatsha-ntliziyo amalunga nama-600 evela kumabandla akufuphi. Enyanisweni, inxalenye emalunga nama-30 ekhulwini yalo msebenzi yenziwa ngamatsha-ntliziyo.

Kwasetyenziswa iindlela zokwakha ezikumgangatho ophezulu. Ekubeni iziqithi zakwiiPhilippines zithandwa ziinyikima, abazalwana ababesenza amalungiselelo okwakha baqinisekisa ukuba esi sakhiwo sinemigangatho eli-11, sinokukwazi ukumelana neenyikima ezinamandla. Hayi indlela ezi zakhiwo zikumgangatho ophezulu ezazahluke ngayo kwezo zazakhiwe ngeminyaka yee-1920! Ezidala zadilizwa kwaza kwakhiwa ezitsha.

Ekugqibeleni, ngoAprili 13, 1991, eli sebe lanikezelwa. Babeli-1 718 abantu ababephulaphule intetho yonikezelo kaJohn Barr weQumrhu Elilawulayo. Kolu cwangciso kwamenywa abazalwana noodade ababekhonza uYehova ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-40 kuquka neendwendwe ezisuka kumazwe alishumi. Ngemini elandelayo, abangama-78 501 bafumana ucwangciso olwakhayo ngokomoya olwadluliselwa ngeentambo zomnxeba kwiindawo ezintandathu zelo chwebakazi.

Abazalwana BakwiiPhilippines Baba Ngabakhonzi Bamazwe Ngamazwe

Ngexesha lokwakhiwa kwesebe, abakhonzi abavela kumazwe ngamazwe bafundisa abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines ubuchule ababenabo. UHubertus Hoefnagels, owaqeqesha abanye, uthi: “Uninzi lwabazalwana balapho lwaluzimisele gqitha, yaye lwalukulungele ukusebenzisa oko lwakufundayo.” Loo nto yabangela ukuba, xa umsebenzi wokwakha ugqitywa kwiiPhilippines, abanye kwaba bazalwana baqeqeshiweyo baphuma njengabakhonzi bamazwe ngamazwe ukuya kuncedisa ekwakhiweni kwamanye amasebe, ingakumbi kuMzantsi-mpuma Asia.

Phakathi kwabo kwakukho uJoel Moral, wePhondo laseQuezon. Waqala ukubakho xa kwakusakhiwa isebe eManila, ezimisele ukusebenza njengetsha-ntliziyo iveki nje ibe nye. Noko ke, waba luncedo gqitha kangangokuba wacelwa ukuba akhe ahlale. Nangona wayengenamava kangako ekwakheni, ukuncedisa ekwakhiweni kwesebe kwamnceda wakhawuleza wafumana ubuchule ngokufunda kubakhonzi bamazwe ngamazwe.

Kwanangaphambi kokuba kugqitywe ukwakhiwa kwesebe lakwiiPhilippines, kwafuneka abantu ababeza kuncedisa ekwakheni isebe elitsha eThailand. UJoel uthi: “Ndingalindelanga, ndacelwa ukuba ndiye eThailand. Amava endawafumana ekwakheni kwiiPhilippines aba luncedo gqitha kumsebenzi wamazwe ngamazwe.” Wachitha ngaphezu konyaka encedisa kwisakhiwo saseThailand.

UJoshua noSara Espiritu babonana xa kwakusakhiwa isebe lakwiiPhilippines. Batshata nje emva kokunikezelwa kweli sebe, baze bazibekela usukelo lokuba ngabakhonzi bamazwe ngamazwe. Emva kweenyanga nje ezimbalwa bacelwa ukuba baye kusebenza kwizakhiwo ezikwamanye amazwe. Ukususela ngelo xesha baye bakhonza kumazwe amahlanu: amathathu ingawaseAsia kanti amabini ingawaseAfrika. UJoshua uthi xa esibalisela ngobomi bakhe ngoxa wayekwiiPhilippines: “Safunda izinto ezininzi ngoxa sasisebenza nabazalwana abavela kwamanye amazwe. Ngoku sasinokufundisa nabanye ezo zinto sasizifundile.” Xa bathunyelwa kwamanye amazwe, bathi kubazalwana basekuhlaleni: “Asihlelanga apha. Nini abaza kuqhubeka nalo msebenzi.” Ngokuphathelele usukelo lwakhe lokuya kwamanye amazwe, uthi: “Asiyelanga nje ukuya kusebenza apho, kodwa eyona nto ingamandla kukufundisa abazalwana.”

Kambe ke, ukuya kwamanye amazwe kufuna umntu abe bhetyebhetye. UJerry Ayura wathunyelwa kwiindawo ezininzi, kuquka iThailand, iNtshona Samoa, neZimbabwe. Uthi: “Ndafumanisa into yokuba uYehova usebenzisa abantu bazo zonke iimvelaphi. Siyabathanda kuba noYehova uyabathanda.” Hayi indlela abonwabe ngayo aba bazalwana bakwiiPhilippines ngenxa yegalelo abanalo kumsebenzi kaYehova owenziwa kumazwe ngamazwe!

Izixholoxholo Aziwuphazamisi Lo Msebenzi

Ukwenza uvuyo lukaYehova igwiba lakho kubandakanya ukuqhubeka uthembekile kuye kwanangamaxesha anzima. Abakhonzi bakaYehova bakwiiPhilippines baye banamathuba amaninzi okubonisa oku.

Nangona imfazwe yaphelayo ngoJanuwari 17, 1981, zaqhubeka zona izixholoxholo kuyo yonke iminyaka yee-1980. NgoFebruwari 1986 kwangena omnye urhulumente. Noko ke, ukutshintsha korhulumente akuzange kuluchaphazele uxolo lwalapho, kanti namabandla akwiindawo “Ezazinomzabalazo Wolawulo” aqhubeka neentlanganiso nokushumayela ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa. Ngoxa babedlula kuloo ndawo ‘Yomzabalazo Wolawulo,’ abavakalisi babona abefundisi noonongendi bephakathi kwezihlwele beziphembelela.

Lo rhulumente wayesandul’ ukungena wakhawuleza wenza utshintsho kwizinto ezithile. Sekunjalo, izixholoxholo azizange ziphele. Kwiminyaka emithathu yokulawula kwalo rhulumente, kwabakho amalinge amaninzi okumbhukuqa, uninzi lwawo lubandakanya uphalazo-gazi. Ngesinye isihlandlo ngoxa kwakusakhiwa isebe, abo babesebenza esakhiweni bamangaliswa xa baphosa amehlo kweso sixeko baza babona amajoni avukelayo eqhushumbisa inkampu yawo yomkhosi. Ezi yayiziziganeko nje ezidlulayo, kodwa zabangela ukuba amanye amabandla aye kuhlanganisana kwiiHolo zoBukumkani ezikwiindawo ezikhuseleke ngakumbi.

Ungquzulwano phakathi kwamajoni karhulumente neminye imikhosi luye lwaqhubeka kangangeminyaka emininzi kwezinye iindawo zaseMindanao. Ngoxa beqhubeka nokushumayela, abazalwana kuye kwafuneka balumke baze bathembele kuYehova. URenato Dungog, ophumelele kwiSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli nongumveleli wesiphaluka oselula xa kungoku, wayekhonza kummandla osoloko unezidubedube. Ngesinye isihlandlo, ngoxa uRenato wayelindele isikhephe, elinye ijoni lambuza lathi: “Uyaphi?”

URenato wathi: “Ndingumlungiseleli ohambahambayo wamaNgqina kaYehova. Ndityelela abazalwana kabini ngonyaka ukuze ndibomeleze ndize ndishumayele kunye nabo.”

Eli joni laphindisa ngelithi: “UThixo umele ukuba unawe, kungenjalo ngewufile.” Ngoko nakuba kukho iingxushungxushu, abazalwana bayaqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo, bethembele kuYehova, yaye bayahlonelwa ngenxa yoko.

Ukuphindela Ezinkundleni Ngenxa Yokungakhahleli Iflegi

Nokuthembeka kolutsha kuThixo kuye kwavavanywa. NgoJuni 11, 1955, uMongameli Ramon Magsaysay wongezelela umthetho kwiRepublic Act No. 1265, ogunyazisa bonke abantwana abakwizikolo zikarhulumente nezabucala ukuba bakhahlele iflegi yakwiiPhilippines. Abantwana bamaNgqina kaYehova bala ukwenjenjalo ngenxa yesazela, kanye njengabo bonke abanye abantwana bamaNgqina ehlabathini lonke. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Nangona beyihlonela iflegi yelo lizwe, isazela sabo asibavumeli ukuba bazinikele ekunquleni nantoni na. Xa abantwana bakwaGerona eMasbate bagxothwayo esikolweni ngenxa yokungavumi ukukhahlela iflegi, oko kwabangela ukuba kufakwe isimangalo esasiwa kwiNkundla Ephakamileyo yakwiiPhilippines ngowe-1959. Noko ke, inkundla ayizange iyise so imbono yonqulo yamaNgqina kaYehova. Yema ngelithi iflegi “asingomfanekiso uqingqiweyo” yaye “ayinanto yakwenza ngokupheleleyo nonqulo.” Ngaloo ndlela, le nkundla yayisele iyithabathela kuyo indima yokuchaza oko kunento yokwenza nonqulo noko kungenanto yakwenza nalo.

Kambe ke, oko akuzange kuzitshintshe iinkolelo zamaNgqina. Abazalwana babambelela ngokuqinileyo kwimigaqo yeZibhalo. Abakho amagingxigingxi emva kokuba inkundla ikhuphe isigqibo, nangona engazange abangele ubunzima njengoko abanye babelindele.

Umbandela wokukhahlela iflegi awuzange uphinde ube yingxaki de isigqibo senkundla safakwa kuMthetho Wezolawulo wowe-1987. Emva koko, ngowe-1990, abantwana abaliqela bamaNgqina kaYehova eCebu banikw’ uphum’ aphele esikolweni. Intsumpa yezikolo yawunyanzelisa lo mthetho. Kwagxothwa abantwana abangakumbi.

Oku kugxothwa kwabantwana kwaphuma ezindabeni. Ngoko ikomiti yamalungelo abantu yaba nomdla kwaba bantwana babebandezwa imfundo. Kwabonakala ngathi izinto zazingasafani nangowe-1959. Ngaba ngoku lalisele lifikile ixesha likaYehova lokubhenca le nto? UErnesto Morales, owayengumdala eCebu ngelo xesha, wathi: “Abahleli, iintatheli zamaphephandaba, abahlohli, nabanye, basibongoza ukuba siwuse enkundleni lo mbandela.” Kwaqhagamshelwana neCandelo Lezomthetho lesebe kwakunye nekomkhulu lehlabathi. Saphuma ke isigqibo sokuba usiwe enkundleni lo mbandela.

Noko ke, iNkundla Yamatyala Yenqila, ilandelwa yiNkundla Yezibheno, ayizange iwusingathe kakuhle lo mbandela. Ezi nkundla zazingakulungelanga ukumelana nesigqibo seNkundla Ephakamileyo esenziwa eGerona ngowe-1959. Ekuphela kwendlela yokucombulula le nyewe yaba kukuyibuyisela kwiNkundla Ephakamileyo. Ngaba yayiza kuvuma ukulichophela eli tyala? Ewe iNkundla Ephakamileyo yavuma ukulichophela! UFelino Ganal, igqwetha eliliNgqina, lakumela ngeenyawo ukusa lo mbandela kweyona nkundla iphakamileyo. Kwiintsuku nje ezimbalwa, iNkundla Ephakamileyo yakhupha izwi lokuba bonke abo bantwana babegxothiwe babuyiselwe ezikolweni, ngoxa ityala lalisaxoxwa.

Ukuxoxwa kwetyala kwahlabela mgama. Emva kokuba uphononongwe kakuhle wonke lo mbandela, iNkundla Ephakamileyo yarhoxa kwisigqibo sayo sowe-1959, yaza yathi abantwana bamaNgqina kaYehova banelungelo lokungayikhahleli iflegi, bangasenzi isibhambathiso sokuzinikela, baze bangawuculi umhobe wesizwe. Le nkundla yathi: “Ukunyanzeliswa kwabantwana ukuba bakhahlele iflegi, . . . begrogriswa . . . ngokugxothwa esikolweni, kungqubana ngokupheleleyo nezazela zabantu bakwiiPhilippines abakholelwa ngamandla kuXwebhu Lwamalungelo Abantu olubaqinisekisa ngenkululeko yokuthetha neyonqulo.” Kwakhona inkundla yalikhupha latsola elokuba ukugxotha amaNgqina kaYehova ezikolweni kwakuya “kuwahlutha ilungelo lawo . . . , elivisisana noMgaqo-siseko wowe-1987 wokufunda ngokukhululekileyo.” IManila Chronicle yathi: “INkundla Ephakamileyo ilungisa okungekho sikweni obekuqhubeka kangangeminyaka engama-35 nxamnye namaNgqina kaYehova.”

Abo babengavumelani nesi sigqibo bacela ukuba likhe liphinde lihlolwe eli tyala, kodwa ngoDisemba 29, 1995 iNkundla Ephakamileyo yasikhaba eso sicelo. Saba siyema ke ngolo hlobo eso sigqibo. Olunjani lona uloyiso kubantu bakaYehova!

Umsebenzi Uyaqhubeka Nakuba Kukho Iintlekele

Njengoko kubonisiwe ekuqaleni kwale ngxelo, iiPhilippines zisoloko zithwaxwa ziintlekele. Makhe sihlolisise ezinye iintlekele eziye zehlela abazalwana.

Iinyikima: Ekubeni ezi ziqithi zimi kwindawo ekudibana kuyo umaleko womhlaba, eli lizwe liyathandwa ziinyikima. Enye incwadi ithi ubuncinane zintlanu iinyikima ezenzeka kule ndawo mihla le, ezininzi zazo ziba kukushukuma nje komhlaba okungephi. Uninzi lwezo nyikima aluphazamisani nezinto eziphilayo, kodwa maxa wambi, zikho ezidala umonakalo ongathethekiyo.

Ngeyama-4:26 emva kwemini, ngoJulayi 16, 1990, enye yezo nyikima zingathethekiyo yahlasela iCabanatuan, isixeko esikumbindi weLuzon. IPhondo iBenguet nalo lantlithwa kanobom. Kwadilika izikolo neehotele eziliqela, nto leyo eyabulala abantu abaninzi.

Kanye ngelo xesha, uJulio Tabios, owayengumveleli wesithili, wayehamba nowakwakhe, besiya kwindibano yesiphaluka kummandla osezintabeni waseBenguet. Umzalwana owayesiya kuthengisa imifuno eBaguio wabakhwelisa kwilori yakhe. Emva kokuba bedlule kuloo majiko-jiko asezintabeni, bafika kwindlela exinene kangangokuba, kwakufuneka baqale balinde kudlule iinqwelo-mafutha eziza ngaphambili. Kanye ngelo xesha, kothuleka amatye phezulu entabeni. Bahla babona ukuba le yinyikima enkulu. UJulio uthi: “Lo mzalwana wakwazi ukuyibuyisa umva ilori yakhe de waya kufika kwindawo ephangaleleyo, ekwathi emva koko kwathi zinzi ilitye elikhulu kanye kwindawo esasisuka kuyo. Sasivuya gqitha kuba sisindile. Kwimizuzu emva koko, waphinda washukuma umhlaba, yaye sabona ilitye elikhulu lishukuma, ngathi liyadanisa.” Awohloka amacala entaba.

Indlela yayivalwe kukuphihlika komhlaba. Ekuphela kwendlela ababenokufikelela ngayo kwindawo enendibano okanye nakweyiphi na indawo, yayikukunqumla entabeni ngeenyawo. Ngokuhlwa, balala kwikhaya lomnye umntu onobuhlobo. Ngosuku olulandelayo, benyusa loo ntaba iphakamileyo ukuze baye kufika apho baya khona. Kwindlela eya apho, baqhagamshelana nabazalwana abaliqela ababenceda abanye bahlangabezane nemiphumo yenyikima. Ekugqibeleni, emva kokuba benyuke loo ntaba iyingozi, bafika eNaguey, ndawo leyo ekwakuza kuqhutyelwa kuyo indibano. UJulio uthi: “Zehla iinyembezi zovuyo kubazalwana xa babesibona ekubeni babengasasilindelanga ukuba siza kufika! Nangona sasidinwe siyimfe, kwasihlaziya ukubona abazalwana noodade abonwabileyo beze kusamkela.” Nakuba kwakukho inyikima, abaninzi benza unako nako wokubakho, bebonisa ubunzulu boxabiso lwabo ngezinto zokomoya.

Khumbula ukuba ngelo xesha kwakusakhiwa izakhiwo ezitsha zesebe. Nangona isakhiwo sokuhlala sasingekagqitywa, inyikima yowe-1990 yaba yindlela yokuqala yokuvavanya eso sakhiwo. Oko kushukuma kwesakhiwo kwabanyusel’ izibilini abasebenzi baseBheteli, kodwa eso sakhiwo sema siqinile saza samelana naloo nyikima njengoko sasakhelwe loo njongo.

Izikhukula: Ngenxa yokufuma kwalapho, ixhaphakile imvula kwiindawo ezininzi zeli lizwe. Imimandla ethile izizisulu zezikhukula. Xa egqabaza ngokusebenza kummandla ololo hlobo, uLeonardo Gameng, obekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo kangangeminyaka engama-46, uthi: “Sasigxampuza kangangeekhilomitha ezintathu eludakeni olwalufikelela emadolweni.” UJuliana Angelo, ukhonze njengovulindlela kwimimandla ekwiphondo lasePampanga elithwaxwa ziinyikima. Uthi: “Ukuze sifikelele abantu abanomdla ngesigidimi soBukumkani, sasikhwela kumaphenyane amancinane abheqwayo. Umzalwana obheqayo wayefanele anikele ingqalelo ekhethekileyo ukuze aphephe imithi eneenyoka, ezihleli nje zilindele ukuwela kwiphenyane.” UCorazon Gallardo, obenguvulindlela okhethekileyo ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1960, wachitha iminyaka emininzi kwimimandla yasePampanga. Maxa wambi, lalingabikho iphenyane anokulikhwela, yaye ukhumbula ukuba kwakunyanzeleka agxampuze kumanzi amaninzi awayephantse afikelele emagxeni. Kunzima kunjalo, uyaqhubeka enesimo sengqondo esihle. Ufunde ukuzivumelanisa neemeko nokuthembela kuYehova, esazi ukuba akasayi kuze abashiye abanyanisekileyo bakhe.

Ukususela oko udaka lweNtaba iPinatubo lwathi lwazalisa imimandla emininzi esemazantsi, izikhukula ziye zaxhaphaka ePampanga ngenxa yokuba amanzi ehlela kwezinye iindawo. UGeneroso Canlas ongumveleli wesiphaluka apho uthi, maxa wambi kuye kufuneke banxibe iibhutsi, okanye babethe ngezikaTshiwo xa besiya kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Noko ke, abazalwana bayaqhubeka nomsebenzi nakuba kukho loo magingxigingxi.

Apho izikhukula ziqatsele khona nalapho zenza umonakalo omkhulu khona, amaNgqina kaYehova ayancedana aze ancede nabangengomaNgqina. Xa loo nto yenzeka eDavao del Norte, ekumazantsi eePhilippines, oosodolophu balapho baluxabisa gqitha olo ncedo kangangokuba babhala uxwebhu olubonisa oko.

Iintaba-mlilo: Zininzi iintaba-mlilo ezaqhambuka kwiiPhilippines, kodwa leyo yenzeka kwiNtaba iPinatubo yagungqisa ihlabathi. NgoJuni 1991 kwaqhambuka enye intaba-mlilo enelifu elimile okwekhowa. Lalingathi litshon’ emini. Abanye babecinga ukuba iqalile iArmagedon. Uthuthu lwaya ngasentshona de lwaya kufika eKhambodiya. Ngexeshana nje, iNtaba iPinatubo yalephuza udaka olusisi-6,65 samawaka ezigidi zeekyubhik’ mitha. Loo mfumba yothuthu yabhodloza izakhiwo. Into eninzi yolo daka, yadiliza izindlu yaza yazigqumelela ezinye. Olo daka ludibene nothuthu lwenza umonakalo ongathethekiyo kwiiHolo zoBukumkani nakumakhaya abazalwana. UJulius Aguilar, owayenguvulindlela othe ngxi eTarlac ngelo xesha, uthi: “Umzi wethu wangcwabeka eluthuthwini.” Yonke loo ntsapho kwanyanzeleka ukuba ifuduke.

UPedro Oandasan wayengumveleli wesiphaluka kuloo mmandla. Uthi: “Abazalwana abazange balutyeshele unqulo nenkonzo yabo kuYehova. Umlinganiselo wabantu ababesiza ezintlanganisweni wawuba ngaphezu kwe-100 ekhulwini. Ngaphezu koko, olu daka aluzange lulwenze nto uthando lwabazalwana ngomsebenzi wokushumayela. Saqhubeka sishumayela kubantu ababebhacile kwanakwiindawo ezazithwaxwe yintlekele.”

Iintlekele ezinjengezi zivelisa amathuba okubonisa uthando lobuKristu. Ebudeni nasemva kogqabhuko-dubulo lweNtaba iPinatubo, abazalwana bancedisana kwimizamo yokusaba kuloo ndawo. Ngokukhawuleza iofisi yesebe yathumela ilori eyayithwele irayisi, ekwathi emva kokuba yothuliwe, le lori yasetyenziselwa ukuthutha abazalwana abakwiidolophu ezachaphazelekayo. Besakuva ngale mfuneko, abazalwana baseManila bakhawuleza bathumela imali neempahla. EBetis, ekwiPhondo lasePampanga, abazalwana abaselula babumba iqela elaliza kunceda amaxhoba. Phakathi kwabantu abancedwayo, kwakukho ibhinqa elinomdla elalinomyeni oyichasileyo inyaniso. Xa aba bazalwana baselula bancedisayo ekwakheni indlu yesi sibini, lo myeni wachukumiseka gqitha koko kangangokuba sithethanje uliNgqina!

Izaqhwithi: Kuzo zonke izinto ezisisiphazamiso kwelo, izaqhwithi, okanye iinkanyamba, zibangela umonakalo ongathethekiyo. Ngokomlinganiselo, zimalunga nama-20 izaqhwithi ezithwaxa elo chwebakazi nyaka ngamnye. Ezo nkqwithela ziyahluka, kodwa zidla ngokuba nemimoya ebhudla ngamandla neemvula ezinkulu. Ezi ziphango zidla ngokuba zikhulu kangangokude zitshabalalise izakhiwo. Ukongezelela, izaqhwithi zitshabalalisa izityalo, nto leyo echaphazela indlela yokuziphilisa kwabalimi.

Izindlu namasimi amaNgqina aye onakaliswa ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Okumangalisayo kukuba, abazalwana bathatha apho bebeyeke khona baze baqhubeke besiya phambili. Kweminye imimandla yelo lizwe, izaqhwithi zixhaphake gqitha kangangokuba sezide zaqheleka. Kuyancomeka ukuba abazalwana baye bafunda ukujamelana nezo ngxaki zemihla ngemihla. (Mat. 6:34) Kambe ke, xa abazalwana abakwimimandla ekufutshane besiva ukuba kukho abantu abasweleyo, bathumela ukutya nemali yokubanceda ngokuzithandela. Maxa wambi, emva kweenkqwithela ezingathethekiyo, abaveleli abahambahambayo baqhagamshelana neofisi yesebe, eye ikuvuyele ukwenza amalungiselelo oncedo.

Ukuhambisa Uncwadi LweBhayibhile

Ngenxa yokuba iiPhilippines zililizwe elizaliswe ziziqithi, bekusoloko kulucelomngeni ukuthunyelwa koncwadi emabandleni lukwimeko entle nangexesha elililo. Kangangeminyaka emininzi, beluthunyelwa ngeposi. Noko ke, IMboniselo noBulungiseleli Bethu BoBukumkani bebudla ngokungafiki ngaphambi kwexesha lokuba busetyenziswe kwiintlanganiso.

UJehu Amolo, osebenza kwiCandelo Lokuthunyelwa Koncwadi kwisebe lalapho, uthetha ngoko kwatshintsha izinto. Uthi: “Ngaphandle nje kweengxaki zokulibaziseka kokuhanjiswa koncwadi, ngowe-1997 amaxabiso eposi antinga.” Njengoko kwakufuneka kuthunyelwe amaphephancwadi angama-360 000 emva kweeveki ezimbini, kwakufuneka imali eninzi gqitha.

Kwafakwa isicelo kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo sokuba uncwadi lwethu luhanjiswe ngabazalwana abakhonza kwelo sebe. Eso sicelo savunywa, emva kokuhlolisiswa ngenyameko. Ngoku iilori ziphuma ngokuthe ngqo kwisebe laseLuzon. Noko ke, ekubeni eminye imimandla yahlulahlulwe ngamanzi, eli sebe lisebenzisa inkqubo ethembekileyo yokuthumela iibhokisi ukuze lithumele amaphephancwadi noncwadi ngephenyane, kwiindawo ezithile kulo lonke elo chwebakazi. Ukusuka kwezi ndawo, abaqhubi bathutha loo mithwalo ngeelori bayise apho imele iye khona. Xa abaqhubi bekude namakhaya abo, bengakrikrizi abazalwana bayabamkela emakhayeni abo ukuze baphumle ngokwaneleyo ngaphambi kokuba baqhubeke nohambo.

Ngaphandle nje kokuncipha kweendleko, abazalwana bayakuvuyela ukufumana iimpapasho abazifunayo ngexesha elililo, yaye zikwimeko entle. Enye ingenelo abayifumanayo yeyokuba baziva besondele entlanganweni ngenxa yokusoloko bedibana nabazalwana abavela esebeni. Abaninzi bakhuthazwa kukubona nje ilori idlula inombhalo othi Watch Tower.

Ngandlel’ ithile eli lungiselelo liye lanikela ubungqina obungakumbi. Ngokomzekelo, abazalwana ababezise uncwadi bafika kukho izikhukula eBicol, ekumazantsi eLuzon. Kuhola wendlela walapho, izithuthi zazivalelwe ngamanzi amaninzi. Kwenzeka ukuba ilori ethwele uncwadi imise phambi kwendlu yomzalwana. Yathi yakuyibona loo ntsapho, yathi kubaqhubi: “Khaningene nifumane into eya ethunjini yaye ningahlala de zidlule izikhukula.”

Abaqhubi abangengomaNgqina babengazi ukuba babeya kutya ntoni baze balale phi. Bathi bakubona oko kwakusenzeka, babuza abaqhubi baseBheteli: “Ngaba niyabazi aba bantu?”

Aba bazalwana baphendula ngelithi: “Ngabazalwana bethu bokomoya.”

Baza aba baqhubi bathi: “Yindlela ayiyo leyo amaNgqina! Nakuba kungekudala nisazana, niyathembana.”

Ngaphandle Kwemida Yelo

Ngoku makhe siphos’ iliso nje kancinane ngaphandle kwelo nakwabanye abantu bakwiiPhilippines abahlala kwezinye iindawo. Ebudeni bokubalasela koBukhosi baseBritani, kwakudla ngokuthiwa “abutshonelwa langa.” Ngoku abanye bathi: “IiPhilippines azitshonelwa langa.” Nangona iiPhilippines zililizwana nje, abantu abaphuma kuzo bathe saa ehlabathini lonke. Ngenxa yomsebenzi okanye ezinye nje izizathu amakhulu amawaka abantu bakwiiPhilippines bakwamanye amazwe. Oku kuye kwabanceda njani abanye babo ukuba bafunde inyaniso yeBhayibhile? Abo babesele bengamaNgqina baye babanceda njani abanye?

URicardo Malicsi wayesebenza kwiinkonzo zohlangulo kwizikhululo zeenqwelo-moya. Njengoko umsebenzi wakhe wawumthumela kumazwe ngamazwe, yena nomfazi wakhe basebenzisa eli thuba ukuze basasaze iindaba ezilungileyo kumazwe awayeneqaqobana labavakalisi. Enyanisweni, kwinxalenye yala mazwe, umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuphantsi kwemiqathango. Ngoxa babekwiindawo ezinjengeBangladesh, i-Iran, iTanzania, neUganda, bakuvuyela gqitha ukunceda abaliqela ukuze bazi ngoYehova. Kwezinye iimeko baba negalelo ekumiseleni amabandla. Amanye amazwe abasebenza baza bashumayela kuwo yiLaos, iMyanmar, neSomalia. Loo nto bayenza kangangeminyaka engama-28, de uRicardo wadl’ umhlala-phantsi. Hayi indlela abonwabe ngayo ngenxa yegalelo elihle abaye banalo ekusasazweni kweendaba ezilungileyo kwimimandla ethe qelele!

Xa babesiya kusebenza kwamanye amazwe, abanye bemka bengengomaNgqina kwiiPhilippines, kodwa bafika kwezo ndawo bafumana inyaniso. URowena, owayengumKatolika, waqala waya kusebenza kuMbindi Mpuma. Elapho, waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile. Kamva, wafumana umsebenzi eHong Kong, apho amawakawaka abantu bakwiiPhilippines bancedisa emakhayeni abantu. Uthi: “Busuku ngabunye, ndandithandaza kuThixo ukuba ancede andithumelele abantu abafanelekileyo ababeza kundikhokelela kuBukumkani bukaThixo.” Loo mthandazo waphendulwa xa abavangeli basemazweni ababini, uJohn noCarlina Porter, batyelela uRowena baza bamnceda ekufundisiseni iBhayibhile. URowena wabhalela isebe lakwiiPhilippines waza walichazela ngemeko yakhe ekwacela nokuba kubekho umntu oza kuxelela umyeni wakhe ngesigidimi seBhayibhile, njengoko wayesekwiiPhilippines.

Ngoku abantu bakwiiPhilippines abaye balinikela umva elo, bazalise amanye amazwe. Ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1900, elaseHawaii lalifuna abantu bokusebenza emasimini. Uninzi lwabantu bakwiiPhilippines lwasabela kolo bizo. Phakathi kwabantu bokuqala ukwamkela inyaniso eHawaii yayingabantu bakwiiPhilippines. Sithethanje, kukho amabandla alishumi antetho isisi-Iloko nelinye elintetho isisiTagalog eHawaii.

Kanti amawakawaka abantu bakwiiPhilippines bahlala eUnited States. Kukho namaNgqina aliqela phakathi kwabo. Ibandla lokuqala labantu bakwiiPhilippines apho lasekwa eStockton, eKhalifoniya, ngowe-1976. Isebe laseUnited States lithi: “Ibandla labantu bakwiiPhilippines liye lenza inkqubela entle, kangangokuba ngoSeptemba 3, 1996, kwasekwa isiphaluka sokuqala sabantu bakwiiPhilippines.” Ngonyaka wenkonzo wama-2002, kwakukho amabandla angama-37 abantu bakwiiPhilippines anabavakalisi abangama-2 500 abasebenza phantsi kolwalathiso lwesebe laseUnited States. Kukwakho namabandla okanye amaqela antetho isisiTagalog eAlaska, eAustria, eGuam, eItali, eJamani, eKhanada, eOstreliya, naseSaipan.

Nangona aba bantu bakwiiPhilippines bekwamanye amazwe, ukufumana kwabo ukutya kokomoya kuxhomekeke kwigalelo labazalwana bakwiiPhilippines, ekubeni zonke iimpapasho zeelwimi zakwiiPhilippines ziguqulelwa kwisebe lalapho eManila. Ukongezelela, kwamanye amazwe aquka iGuam, iHawaii, neUnited States, zibakho iindibano ngolwimi lwesi-Iloko okanye isiTagalog. Zonke iimpapasho eziguqulelweyo ezilungiselelwe ezi ndibano, kuquka iikhasethi ezirekhodiweyo zomdlalo, zivela kwiiPhilippines.

Ukushumayela Kubantu Abathetha Ezinye Iilwimi

Kuye kwanikelwa ubungqina obuhle phantse kubo bonke abantu abathetha iilwimi zomthonyama zalapho nabahlala kwezo ziqithi. Noko ke, kwiminyaka yakutshanje kuye kwenziwa umgudu wokufikelela abo bangazange bafumane bungqina bucokisekileyo.—Roma 15:20, 21.

Kangangeminyaka emininzi bekukho amabandla ambalwa antetho isisiNgesi kwiiPhilippines. Nangona abantu bakwiiPhilippines benomnconwana wokwazi isiNgesi, uninzi lwabo lunobunzima ekusithetheni. Sekunjalo, kwakukho imfuneko yokuqhutywa kweentlanganiso ngesiNgesi kwezinye iindawo. Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1960, abazalwana bayiphawula le ngxaki kufutshane neClark Air Base ePampanga. Oodade abanabayeni abangamajoni aseUnited States ababehlala apho, babengalwazi ulwimi lwasekuhlaleni. Abazalwana benza amalungiselelo okuba kuqhutywe iintlanganiso ngesiNgesi, yaye zaba yingenelo gqitha kwabo babehlala kuloo mmandla kangangeminyaka eliqela.

Kwavela ingxaki efanayo kuMbindi Manila. Kwakukho udade waseMerika owayehlala apho ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1970 nasebutsheni beminyaka yee-1980. UPacifico Pantas, ongumdala kwibandla elintetho isisiTagalog, uthi: “Ndandimvel’ usizi kuba wayebakho rhoqo kwiintlanganiso kodwa engangenelwa kangako kuzo.” Akuzange kube kudala, kwafika nabanye abantu baseMerika kwelo bandla. Kwacetyiswa ukuba intetho yesidlangalala neSifundo seMboniselo ziqhutywe ngesiNgesi. Lenziwa elo lungiselelo, kwakhokela uMzalwan’ uPantas. Ekugqibeleni kongezelelwa nezinye iintlanganiso yaye kwacelwa nabanye ukuba bancedise. UDavid noJosie Ledbetter, ababekhonza kwisebe lalapho basamkela eso simemo. Kuye kwakho ulwando oluncomekayo ukutyhubela iminyaka, yaye elo qaqobana liye landa laba ngamabandla amabini antetho isisiNgesi.

Ukubakho kwamabandla antetho isisiNgesi kuye kwayingenelo kuninzi lwabantu. Omnye wabo nguMonica waseKhalifoniya. Waqalisa eselapho ukufundisisa iBhayibhile namaNgqina kaYehova. Abazali bakhe—abangamaKatolika azijule nofele—babechase ngokukrakra. Bagqiba kwelokuba bathumele uMonica kwindawo enamaKatolika amaninzi kwiiPhilippines. Unina wampheleka uMonica ukuya eManila waza wamshiya kuninakhulu owayengumKatolika, ngaphandle kweempepha zokundwendwela. Kwanokuba uMonica wayenokufumana ibandla, wayengenakukwazi ukuqhubeka nokufundisisa kwakhe, ekubeni wayengazi nowathwethwa ngesiTagalog, kuba wayekhulele eUnited States. Noko ke, udade owayemfundela eKhalifoniya watsalel’ umnxeba uJosie Ledbetter ukuze aqinisekise ukuba uMonica uyatyelelwa. UJosie wamxelela ukuba sele likho ibandla elintetho isisiNgesi. Kaloku wayefuna loo nto kanye uMonica! UJosie uthi: “Kwiinyanga ezintandathu ‘zokugxothelwa’ kukaMonica kwiiPhilippines, wabhaptizwa. Kwiiveki ezimbini emva kokuba uMonica ebhaptiziwe, unina wathi: ‘Nazi iimpepha zakho zokundwendwela. Ungagoduka.’ UMonica wayesele eliNgqina.” Hayi indlela awayenombulelo ngayo bubukho bebandla elintetho isisiNgesi!

Kuye kwakho nenye ingenelo. Abanye baye bafikelela neminye imimandla ekungazange kushunyayelwe kuyo. Kukho imimandla ekuMbindi Manila ehlala abantu abazizigwili, yaye uninzi lwabo luthetha isiNgesi. Ngenxa yoko, isiNgesi siye sanceda ekuvuleni indlela eya kule mimandla.

Kwakhona kuye kwenziwa umgudu wokuqalisa ukushumayela kwintsimi entetho isisiTshayina. Phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1970, kwaqaliswa iqela lesifundo sencwadi ngesiTshayina. Eso sifundo sencwadi sasiqhutyelwa kwivenkile ethengisa izihlangu kaCristina Go. Noko ke, eli qela lalilincinane gqitha yaye lalisafuna ukuncedwa.

UElizabeth Leach, oweza kwiiPhilippines emva kokuba etshate noRaymond Leach, wayekhonza eHong Kong kangangeminyaka eli-16. Ulwazi lukaElizabeth ngesiCanton nokunceda abantu abantetho isisiTshayina ukuba bafunde inyaniso lwaba luncedo gqitha. Malunga nelo xesha, uEsther Atanacio (ngoku, onguEsther So) wayengomnye woovulindlela abakhethekileyo ababini ababelwa kuloo mmandla. UEsther uthi: “Ukuqala kwethu ukusebenza kuloo mmandla, abantu babengazi nto ngamaNgqina kaYehova.” Noko ke, ngokuthe ngcembe abantu abantetho isisiTshayina eManila bafunda ngegama nabantu bakaYehova.

Nangona aba vulindlela babelwazi ulwimi lwesiCanton, kwafuneka bafunde esinye isiyelelane, ekubeni isiTshayina esisetyenziswa eManila isisiFujian. UChing Cheung Chua, umfana owayesemtsha enyanisweni, waqalisa ukunxulumana nelo qela. Ngenxa yokuba wayesazi isiFujian, wayetolika kwiintlanganiso.

Eli qela laya likhula. NgoAgasti 1984 kwasekwa ibandla elincinane. Luseluninzi ucelomngeni, kodwa abo bancedisa apho bakugqala kuluvuyo ukushumayela kuloo mmandla, ekwakunganikelwa bungqina bucokisekileyo kuwo ngaphambili.

Kwanabo Bazizithulu “Bayeva”

Ngokuhamba kwexesha, kwabonakala ikukuthanda kukaYehova ukuba kunikelwe ingqalelo nakolunye ulwimi nentsimi—leyo yabantu abazizithulu. De kwaba sebutsheni beminyaka yee-1990, kwiiPhilippines kwakungekho lungiselelo lokunceda abantu abazizithulu bafunde ngoYehova. Ngoxa babembalwa abantu abazizithulu kumabandla alapho, yayikho imbinana eyayineemeko ezikhethekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, uManuel Runio, omama wakhe wayeliNgqina, wancedwa ukuba afunde inyaniso yeBhayibhile ngokuqhutyelwa isifundo ngomnye udade ngokubhala ephepheni. Wabhaptizwa ngowe-1976. Kwisiqithi iCebu, uLorna noLuz abangamawele, nababezizithulu beva isigidimi seBhayibhile ngomalume wabo owayeyimfama. Ingenzeka njani into yokuba uvulindlela oyimfama afundise abantu abazizithulu? Kwakubakho umntu omncedisayo ekusebenziseni imifanekiso. Kwakhona, umzala wakhe, wayekuchaza ngezandla oko wayekuthetha ukuze eve la mawele, ekubeni engazange ayifunde intetho yezandla. Omabini abhaptizwa ngowe-1985. Noko ke, iimeko ezinjalo zinqabe gqitha.

Zininzi iziganeko ezakhokelela ekuvulekeni kwale ntsimi. Xa abavangeli basemazweni uDean noKaren Jacek babefumana uqeqesho kwiBheteli yaseBrooklyn phakathi kowe-1993, abazalwana abasebenza kwiSebe Lokuguqulela babuza ngamanyathelo awayethatyathwa ukuze kuncedwe abazizithulu kwiiPhilippines. Omnye udade oselula kwiiPhilippines wabhalisa kwiklasi yentetho yezandla, ukuze akwazi ukufunda indlela yokunxibelelana nomhlobo wakhe osisithulu, owayelilungu lentsapho yamaNgqina. Kwakhona, uLiza Presnillo namaqabane akhe angoovulindlela eNavotas, ekuMbindi Manila, badibana nabantu abazizithulu kwintsimi yabo kodwa babengakwazi ukunxibelelana nabo. Aba vulindlela babefuna ukufunda intetho yezandla ukuze bakwazi ukushumayela isigidimi soBukumkani kubantu abazizithulu.

Isebe lalapho lafumanisa ukuba uAna Liza Acebedo, onguvulindlela othe ngxi eManila, wayesebenza kwisikolo sabantu abazizithulu yaye wayengomnye wamaNgqina ambalwa akwiiPhilippines, awayenolwazi oluthe chatha lwentetho yezandla. Wabuzwa oku: “Ngaba ungakuvuyela ukufundisa abanye abasebenzi baseBheteli intetho yezandla?”

Wavuma! Naye wayesoloko ezibuza ukuba kungashunyayelwa njani kubo bonke abantu abazizithulu. Kwaqaliswa iklasi eyayinabasebenzi baseBheteli noovulindlela abathe ngxi basekuhlaleni. Oodade baseNavotas babesele bebhalisele izifundo zentetho yezandla yaye baqhubeka nokuyifunda.

Lo msebenzi wahambela phambili ngokukhawuleza. Kwiinyanga nje ezintandathu, kwaqaliswa ukusetyenziswa kwentetho yezandla kumabandla amathathu akuMbindi Manila. Ngowe-1994 kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuguqulelwa kweendibano kwintetho yezandla. Olona sukelo luphambili lwalukukunceda abantwana abazizithulu abazalwa ngamaNgqina. Abaliqela kubo babephakathi kwabokuqala ukubhaptizwa. UManuel Runio, owayekuthanda ukuya kwiintlanganiso kangangeminyaka emininzi nangona zazingaguqulelwa kwintetho yezandla, wangenelwa gqitha kweli lungiselelo litsha.

Akuzange kube kudala, nezinye iindawo kwelo lizwe zafuna ukuncediswa. ULiza Presnillo neqabane lakhe elinguvulindlela bathunyelwa eOlongapo ukuya kusebenza njengoovulindlela abakhethekileyo bexeshana kwintsimi yabantu abazizithulu. Kwancedwa abantu abaninzi apho. Phakathi kowama-2002, kuye kwasekwa amaqela entetho yezandla kwimimandla engama-20 engaphandle kweManila. Eyona nto yabalaselayo yaba kukumiselwa kweBandla Lentetho Yezandla lokuqala kuMbindi Manila ngoAprili 1999. UJoel Acebes, ngoku ongumdala kwelo bandla nongomnye wabasebenzi baseBheteli ababekwiklasi yokuqala yentetho yezandla, uthi: “Sikuvuyela gqitha ukusetyenziswa nguYehova kulo msebenzi ubaluleke kangaka.” Ewe, nabo bazizithulu “bayasiva” isigidimi soBukumkani. Ukubona inkqubela kwintsimi ebekukade kungashunyayelwa kuyo kuvuyisa ngokwenene.

Kufuneka Izakhiwo Ezikhulu Ngakumbi

Njengoko kukho imimandla emitsha ekuye kwashunyayelwa kuyo ebudeni beminyaka yee-1990, naleyo kudala isetyenzwa ngokucokisekileyo, abavakalisi nabo basandul’ ukunxulumana nala mabandla baye banda ngokuthe ngcembe. Kuye kwafuneka amaphephancwadi angakumbi, kanti kuye kwaguqulelwa iincwadi neencwadana ezinemifanekiso ngeelwimi zakwiiPhilippines ngendlela ekungazange kwenzeke ngayo ngaphambili. Oko kuye kwaphumela ekwandeni okuphawulekayo kwabasebenzi besebe—abashicilelayo, abaguqulelayo, nabahlol’ iimpazamo nabo banikela ezinye iinkonzo eziyimfuneko kubazalwana namabandla. Akuzange kube kudala emva kokuba izakhiwo zokuhlala zigqityiwe ngowe-1991, zazala. Zazakhelwe ukuhlala abantu abangama-250. Ngowe-1999, amalungu entsapho yaseBheteli aba ngama-350.

Wawusekho umhlaba wokwakha kwalapho esebeni, ngoko iQumrhu Elilawulayo lagunyazisa ukwakhiwa kwesinye isakhiwo sokuhlala, esasifana twatse neso sagqitywa ngowe-1991. Lo msebenzi waqaliswa ngowe-1999 waza wagqitywa ngasekupheleni kowama-2001. Yayisekho enye indawo kwesi sakhiwo eyayisenokwanela abanye abantu abangakumbi. Kukho indawo engakumbi yeeofisi, eyayiyimfuneko gqitha ekuhlangabezaneni neemfuno zomsebenzi owandayo entsimini. Ezinye izakhiwo ezongezelelwayo apho ziquka indawo yokuhlamba impahla, igumbi leSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli, kwakunye nethala leencwadi. Abazalwana noodade basekuhlaleni abangamachule nezicaka zamazwe ngamazwe, bancedisa intsapho yaseBheteli okwethutyana ukuze ugqitywe lo msebenzi. Emva kokuba sigqityiwe isakhiwo esitsha, la matsha-ntliziyo asala ngenjongo yokulungisa isakhiwo esasigqitywe ngowe-1991. Mninzi umsebenzi owenziwayo kweso sakhiwo, kodwa usenziwa ngenjongo enye—eyokwakha izakhiwo eziya kuxhasa umsebenzi wokusasazwa kwenyaniso yeBhayibhile enik’ ubomi.

ISikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli Siyayifeza Le Mfuneko

Xa kwasekwa iSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli eUnited States ngowe-1987, abazalwana abaninzi bakwiiPhilippines baqalisa ukuqiqa ngelithi, ‘Ngaba kuya kuze kwenzeke ukuba thina silufumane olo qeqesho?’ Umbuzo wabo waphenduleka ngowe-1993. Kwenziwa isaziso sokuba eso sikolo sasiza kuqalisa kwiiPhilippines kunyaka olandelayo. Abazalwana abafanelekayo abanamava kwizinto zentlangano njengabadala okanye izicaka zolungiselelo babeza kufumana uqeqesho olongezelelekileyo kweso sikolo. Amakhulukhulu abazalwana afaka izicelo zokuya apho.

Abazalwana ababini abahambahambayo nomnye umvangeli wasemazweni baqeqeshelwa ukuhlohla kweso sikolo. Iklasi yokuqala yaqala ngoJanuwari 1994. Abo baye bafumana olu qeqesho baye bakufanelekela ngakumbi ukukhonza abazalwana babo emabandleni. Elinye ibandla lathi xa lalibhala ngomnye owaphumelela kwesi sikolo okweli bandla: “Kukho utshintsho olukhulu ngoku kwindlela azisingatha ngayo izabelo zakhe kwiintlanganiso kunangaphambi kokuba aye kwesi sikolo.”

Abafundi abaninzi bancama izinto eziphathekayo ukuze bangenelwe kolu qeqesho lokomoya. URonald Moleño wayeqeqeshwe njengengcaphephe yezemichiza. Wamenyelwa kwesi sikolo, kodwa malunga nelo xesha, inkampani ethile yathi ingamqesha ize imhlawule umvuzo oncumisayo, imnike indlu, i-inshorensi, kwakunye nezinye iingenelo. URonald wacingisisa ngala malungelo mabini waza wakhetha eli lokomoya. Waphumelela kwiklasi ye-18 waza waqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe njengovulindlela. URonald ebesandul’ ukwabelwa ukuba abe ngumvangeli wasemazweni ePapua New Guinea.

UWilson Tepait kwafuneka enze isigqibo emva kokuphumelela kwakhe kwiklasi yokuqala. Wayesebenza kamnandi njengomfundisi-ntsapho, kodwa wanikwa isabelo sokuba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo apho imfuneko inkulu khona. Uthi: “Ndandikunandipha gqitha ukuba ngumfundisi-ntsapho, kodwa ndandisazi ukuba izilangazelelo zoBukumkani zimele zibe kwindawo yokuqala ebomini bam.” Walamkela ilungelo lokukhonza njengovulindlela okhethekileyo waza wabona indlela uYehova awayisikelela ngayo inkonzo yakhe kuloo ntsimi. Ngoku uWilson ungumveleli wesithili kumazantsi eePhilippines.

Abafundi abaninzi kwesi sikolo basuka kwiiPhilippines. Noko ke, iQumrhu Elilawulayo lenza amalungiselelo okuba kuze nabafundi abasuka kumazwe aseAsia. Amazwe athumele abafundi ngala: iHong Kong, i-Indonesia, iKhambodiya, iMalaysia, iNepal, iSri Lanka, neThailand. Abanye kwaba bafundi basuka kumazwe apho umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova uphantsi kwemiqathango. Ukufundiswa njengeqela kuye kwabakhuthaza gqitha aba bafundi. UAnibal Zamora owayengumhlohli apho uthi: “Abafundi abavela kumazwe apho umsebenzi uphantsi kwemiqathango baye babalisa indlela abaye bathembela ngayo kuYehova phantsi kwazo zonke iimeko. Oku kuye kwabomeleza abafundi bakwiiPhilippines.” Kweliny’ icala, abafundi abavela kwamanye amazwe baye babona indlela abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines abazimisele ngayo ukukhonza uYehova ebunzimeni nangona bengathathi ntweni.

UNidhu David, ongumfundi ovela eSri Lanka, wathi: “Ezo ziinkumbulo ezimnandi endingasokuze ndizilibale. Zonke ezo nyanga zimbini sasiqeqeshwa nguYehova uThixo. Kwakumnandi ngeyona ndlela!”

Esi sikolo siqhutyelwa phakathi esebeni. Abafundi abangenelwa nje kwezo zifundo bazilungiselelweyo kuphela, kodwa bazibonela ngawabo amehlo indlela olungelelaniswa ngayo umsebenzi kwelo sebe. Ukunxulumana kwabo nabazalwana noodade abathanda izinto zokomoya eBheteli kubamisele umzekelo omhle wokholo. Kwakhona, abazalwana abasuka kumazwe anabavakalisi abambalwa okanye anomsebenzi obekelwe imiqathango baba nomfanekiso obanzi wendlela esebenza ngayo intlangano.

Ngoku, abangama-922 baye baphumelela kwiiklasi ezingama-35. KwabakwiiPhilippines abaphumeleleyo, ngoku abangama-75 bangabaveleli abahambahambayo yaye abangakumbi bangabaveleli besiphaluka ababambelayo kwiziphaluka ezili-193 kuzo zonke ezo ziqithi. Abathandathu bakhonza eBheteli, yaye abalishumi bangabavangeli basemazweni ePapua New Guinea naseMicronesia. Abangamakhulukhulu bakhonza njengoovulindlela abathe ngxi kwimimandla yakwamawabo okanye apho imfuneko inkulu khona. Kwiminyaka nje esibhozo esi sikolo siqalile, bangaphezu kwama-65 000 abaye babhaptizwa kwelo lizwe. Ubuvulindlela buyathandwa apho, yaye kukho ulwando kumabandla alapho. Lizicacele elokuba aba bazalwana baye bakusebenzisa oko bakufunde esikolweni, nto leyo eye yakhokelela kulwando.

Inkqubela-phambili

Kusetyenzwe gqitha kwezi ziqithi. Abazalwana abanenzondelelo abakhonza kumabandla amalunga nama-3 500 baxakekile ekuvakaliseni iindaba ezilungileyo eziphathelele oyena rhulumente ubalaseleyo, uBukumkani bukaThixo.

Kutshanje kuye kwanikelwa iingxelo ezintle kakhulu. Kangangeenyanga ezisixhenxe zokugqibela zonyaka wenkonzo wama-2002, nganye kuzo bekufikelelwa incopho entsha yabavakalisi. Ngenyanga ka-Agasti, kwakukho abali-142 124 abasa isigidimi soBukumkani kwabanye. Igama nenjongo kaYehova ziye zasasazwa kubantu abakuninzi lwezo ziqithi. Abakhonzi bakaYehova apho benza okufana noko kwaxelwa kwangaphambili kuIsaya 24:15: ‘Baye balizukisa igama likaYehova kwiziqithi zolwandle.’

Phakathi kwaba bashumayeli banenzondelelo kukho amawakawaka oovulindlela abathe ngxi. Ngowe-1950, kwakukho oovulindlela abangama-307 nje kuphela, kodwa ngasekupheleni kuka-Aprili 2002, bekukho abangama-21 793. Xa kudityaniswa aba vulindlela kunye noovulindlela abakhethekileyo abangama-386 nababengabancedani abali-15 458 ebudeni baloo nyanga, bebonke baba ngama-37 637, okanye ama-27 ekhulwini abo bonke abavakalisi. Abaninzi baye babonisa ukuba bafuna ukungenela izintlu zabakhonzi bakaThixo bexesha elizeleyo. Ebudeni bonyaka wenkonzo wama-2002, kuye kwamkelwa izicelo zoovulindlela abathe ngxi ezingama-5 638.

Konke oku kuye kwaba neziqhamo ezihle. Amawakawaka abantu ayasabela. NgoMatshi 2002 ababeze eSikhumbuzweni babengama-430 010. Nyanga nganye kuqhutywa izifundo zeBhayibhile ezimalunga ne-100 000. Ebudeni bonyaka wenkonzo wama-2002, kuye kwabhaptizwa abafundi abatsha abangama-6 892. Ngowe-1948, iNgqina elinye lalijongene nabantu abangama-5 359 kwelo lizwe. Kodwa sithethanje lilinye lijongene nabantu abangama-549. Ngoxa uYehova esalivulile ithuba, likho ithemba lokuba amawakawaka angakumbi anokuba yinxalenye yabadumisi bakaYehova kwezo ziqithi zolwandle.

Ukuzimisela Ukuqhubeka

Xa uC. T. Russell wayetyelele apho ngowe-1912, ikho imbewu yenyaniso eyatyalwayo kwiiPhilippines. Ngokuthe ngcembe, le mbewu yamila. Yathwala isiqhamo esihle njengoko abanye babemela inyaniso “ngexesha elilungileyo nangexesha lenkathazo.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Ingakumbi ukususela ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II, kwabakho ulwando olukhulu, kuba sithethanje kukho amashumi amawaka abadumisi bakaYehova abanenzondelelo. Basebenza ngovuyo bezukisa igama likaThixo kunye nezigidi ezithandathu ezibumba amabandla abantu bakaYehova ehlabathini lonke.

Njengoko le ngxelo sele ibonisile, ubungasoloko ulula lo msebenzi. Nakuba loo mmandla uyintombazana, ukufikelela abemi bamawakawaka eziqithi kuye kwavavanya inkalipho yabavakalisi boBukumkani. Abanye baye bajamelana neelwandle ezilwayo ukuze bafikelele imimandla ekwanti yelo lizwe. Abaninzi banqumla kumahlathi ashinyeneyo asezintabeni ukuze bafikelele ababumvu. Nangona iziqithi zakwiiPhilippines ziye zathwaxwa kanobom ziintlekele—iinyikima, izikhukula, izaqhwithi neentaba-mlilo—oku akukhange kuwuthintele umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova azimiseleyo.

Afana namaSirayeli awabuyela kwilizwe lawo ukuze abuyisele unqulo lokwenyaniso. Ajamelana neengxaki ezininzi, kodwa uvuyo lukaYehova lwaba ligwiba lawo. Nanamhlanje, amaNgqina kaYehova aye abonisa inkalipho aza athembela kuThixo. Ayazi ukuba uYehova unawo, yaye akholelwa kumazwi eNdumiso 121:7 athi: “UYehova uya kukulinda entlekeleni yonke. Uya kuwulinda umphefumlo wakho.” Exhaswa nguYehova, akhangele phambili ekuncedeni abantu abaninzi kangangoko kunokwenzeka, ngaphambi kokuba iphele le nkqubo. Emva koko, akhangele phambili ekufundiseni izigidi ngezigidi zabavusiweyo kuwo wonke umhlaba, kuquka ezi ziqithi zingama-7 100. Ngoko ubuhle beparadesi kweli lizwe buya kuqaqamba, buze buzise indumiso kuMdali.

Okwangoku, amaNgqina kaYehova azimisele ukuqhubela phambili, ethembele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova ukuba asikelele umsebenzi wawo. Azimisele ukuvisisanisa ubomi bawo namazwi omprofeti kaThixo athi: “Mabanike uYehova uzuko, naseziqithini mabaxele indumiso yakhe.”—Isa. 42:12.

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 232]

“UThixo umele ukuba unawe, kungenjalo ngewufile”

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 153]

Ukuhlwayelwa Kwembewu Yokuqala Yenyaniso

UCharles T. Russell namahlakani akhe batyelela kwiiPhilippines ngowe-1912. Nangona babengabokuqala ukuthunyelwa likomkhulu laseBrooklyn ukuya kutyelela apho, iingxelo zibonisa ukuba bakho abanye aBafundi beBhayibhile ababesele befundisa inyaniso yeBhayibhile kwiiPhilippines. ULouise Bell, waseUnited States, wabhala wathi:

“Ngowe-1908 mna nomyeni wam saya kwiiPhilippines njengootitshala. Yayisithi sedwa abaseMerika kwidolophu yaseSibalom. Saodola amaphecana eBhayibhile angamakhulukhulu eekhilogram eBrooklyn. Athunyelwa ngenqanawa ukusuka eNew York ukusa eSan Francisco, enjenjeya ukunqumla iPasifiki esinge eManila, apho afika akhweliswa kwiphenyane elijikeleza ezo ziqithi esinge eSibalom.

“Sasiwasasaza loo maphecana kubantu balapho size sithethe nabo nanini na kuvela ithuba. Sasingayibhali ingxelo yeeyure okanye uncwadi esiluhambisileyo. Nangona abantu balapho babengamaKatolika, abaninzi babekuvuyela ukusiphulaphula. Sasingootitshala abafumene uqeqesho kwezonyango, kodwa owona msebenzi wawubaluleke ngakumbi kuthi kukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo.

“Sasibetha ngezikaTshiwo okanye siphalise amahashe kwezo ndlela zingentle. Sasikhe silale kumgangatho owenziwe ngembambosi size sityele esityeni esinye intlanzi nerayisi.

“Xa uPastor Russell watyelela eManila ngowe-1912, samthumelela ucingo.”

UDade Bell wayekho xa uMzalwan’ uRussell wayenikela intetho ethi “Baphi Abafileyo?” kwiManila Grand Opera House

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 156]

Amavandlakanya NgeePhilippines

Ukuma komhlaba: Kukho iziqithi ezimalunga nama-7 100 ezimalunga nama-300 000 ezikwekhilomitha zizonke. Ezi ziqithi zigubungela ummandla oziikhilomitha ezili-1 850 ukusuka emantla ukuya emazantsi, kanti ukusuka empuma ukuya entshona zigubungela ummandla oziikhilomitha ezili-1 125. Azilingani—esona sikhulu singaphezulu kuhle kunePortugal ngoxa esona sincinane singaveli nakancinane xa amaza emakhulu.

Abantu balapho: Ubukhulu becala ngama-Malay, nangona bekho abasinqe sabo siseTshayina, eSpeyin, okanye eMerika.

Ulwimi lwabo: Phakathi kweelwimi ezininzi ezithethwa kwiiPhilippines, isiBicol, isiCebuano, isiHiligaynon, isi-Iloko, isiPangasinan, isiSamar-Leyte, nesiTagalog zezona zithethwa kakhulu. IsiNgesi nesiPilipino zezona lwimi ziqhelekileyo nezisemthethweni. Ubukhulu becala isiPilipino sithathwe kwisiTagalog.

Indlela abazixhasa ngayo: Uninzi lwabo luhlala ezixekweni, kodwa ubukhulu becala abo bahlala emaphandleni, ngabalimi okanye abalobi. Phakathi kwezinto ezilinywa kakhulu kwelo, yirayisi, iswekile, iibhanana, iikhokhonathi kunye namapayina.

Ukutya kwabo: Ngokuqhelekileyo batya irayisi. Enye into abayithanda kakhulu yintlanzi, nemifuno kuquka neziqhamo ezikhula kwiitropiki.

Imozulu: Eli lizwe lishushu, yaye amaqondo obushushu ayafana kuzo zonke ezo ziqithi. Ixhaphakile imvula kwelo.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 161, 162]

Udliwano-ndlebe NoHilarion Amores

Wazalwa: 1920

Wabhaptizwa: 1943

Ingxelo ngobomi: Wayifunda inyaniso ngexesha lokuhlasela kwamajoni aseJapan ngeMfazwe Yehlabathi II. Ngelo xesha ayesembalwa amaNgqina kwelo lizwe.

Ndabhaptizwa ebudeni bemfazwe, ngexesha kwakusavumelekile ukuba abazalwana bashumayele kwindlu ngendlu. Noko ke, kwafuneka silumke kuba abantu babewukrokrela umsebenzi wethu. Kwada kwafuneka sibalekele emaphandleni, kodwa ngowe-1945 sabuyela eManila.

Ngelo xesha, ndandinelungelo lokuguqulela IMboniselo ngesiTagalog. Ndandisebenza de kubethe intsimbi yesibini ekuseni. Emva kokuba ndigqibile ukuyiguqulela, yayikhutshelwa ize ithunyelwe kumaqela awahlukeneyo amaNgqina. Kwakufuneka sizincame, kodwa sasichulumanca kuba abazalwana babenyanyekelwa ngokomoya.

Kuyo yonke le minyaka ndisenyanisweni, ndiye ndabona ukuba uYehova unenceba. Uyabanyamekela abantu bakhe, ngokomoya nangokwezinto eziphathekayo. Ndikhumbula uncedo olwathunyelwa kwiiPhilippines emva kwemfazwe. Kaloku, azinganganto iibhulukhwe, izihlangu nezinye iimpahla ezanikwa abantu! Oovulindlela abaninzi abafumana izinto apho, bazixabisa gqitha kangangokuba bazibhokoxa ngakumbi kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ngokwenene, uYehova uyabanyamekela abantu bakhe, ebanika oko bakusweleyo.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 173, 174]

Umvangeli Wasemazweni Othandekayo

UNeal Callaway

Wazalwa: 1926

Wabhaptizwa: 1941

Ingxelo ngobomi: Wazalelwa kwintsapho yamaNgqina, yaye esakuphumelela kwisikolo samabanga aphakamileyo waqalisa ubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo. Wamenywa kwiklasi ye-12 yeSikolo saseGiliyadi; wathunyelwa kwiiPhilippines, apho wafika waba ngumveleli ohambahambayo.

UNeal Callaway wayengumvangeli wasemazweni onenzondelelo, ethandwa gqitha ngabazalwana. Njengoko umsebenzi woBukumkani wawuyeyona nto iphambili kuye, esoloko onwabile kwangaxeshanye, ayikho indawo angazange asebenze kuyo kwelo lizwe. Uthi xa esibalisela ngesabelo sakhe njengomveleli ohambahambayo.

“Sasikhe sichithe iiyure ezimbini sinyusa iinduli ukuze sifike kuloo mmandla siza kushumayela kuwo, maxa wambi sihamba sicula iingoma zoBukumkani. Ukuhamba singabantu abali-15 ukusa kwabangama-20 sikrozile yaye sicula, kwakundenza ndonwabe ngeyona ndlela kuba ndiye ndasamkela esi sabelo sokukhonza kwilizwe lasemzini.

“Ukufundisa abantu basemaphandleni ngeLizwi likaThixo, ukubona aba bantu bathobekileyo behleli phantsi, bephulaphule yonke into ethethwayo, uze xa uphinda utyelela ubabone bekwiHolo yoBukumkani—oku kwakundenza ndifune ukuzibhokoxa ngamandla ndixelela abanye ngoBukumkani bukaThixo.”

UNeal watshata noNenita, udade waseMindoro, yaye bakhonza kunye ngokuthembeka de kwasekufeni kukaNeal ngowe-1985. Abazalwana bakwiiPhilippines baseneenkumbulo ezintle ngaye. Omnye wathi: “Ebeyindoda ke uMzalwan’ uCallaway, ekwazi nokuqhubana nabazalwana. Ebebhetyebhetye naphantsi kwaziphi na iimeko.”a

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 177]

Udliwano-ndlebe NoInelda Salvador

Wazalwa: 1931

Wabhaptizwa: 1949

Ingxelo ngobomi: Wathunyelwa njengomvangeli wasemazweni eThailand ngoMatshi 1967.

Ingqondo yam yayibethabethana xa ndeva ukuba ndandiza kuthunyelwa njengomvangeli wasemazweni eThailand. Ndandivuya, ndididekile, yaye ndinemibuzo emininzi engqondweni.

Ndafika apha ngoMatshi 30, 1967. Ndandingaluqhelanga ulwimi lwalapha. Lulwimi olunemvakalo-zwi ephantsi, ephakathi nephezulu. Kwakunzima ukufunda olo lwimi, kodwa abazalwana basekuhlaleni nabasemazweni bandinceda gqitha.

Ukususela ngowe-1967 ukusa kowe-1987 ndandiseSukhumwit. Emva koko ndabelwa ukuba ndiye kwelinye ibandla. Kwakunzima gqitha ukushiya abazalwana noodade endandisebenze nabo kangangama-20 eminyaka. Ndavakalelwa ngaloo ndlela xa ndatshintshelwa eThon Buri. Noko ke, konke oku kuxhomekeke kwisimo sengqondo umntu anaso. Emva kokuchitha iminyaka eli-12 eThon Buri, ndabuyela eSukhumwit ngowe-1999. Abanye abavangeli basemazweni bathi kwakufana nokungathi ndibuyela ekhaya. Kodwa kum, naliphi na ibandla endabelwe kulo liba likhaya lam.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 178]

Iinkumbulo Zokufunda Ulwimi Olutsha

UBenito noElizabeth Gundayao

Ingxelo ngobomi: UBenito, ekunye nowakwakhe uElizabeth, babekhonza esiphalukeni kwiiPhilippines. Ngowe-1980 baya kukhonza njengabavangeli basemazweni eHong Kong. Kwelo baye banceda abantu abangama-53 bafunda inyaniso.

Ukufunda ulwimi lwesiCanton kwakunzima gqitha kuthi thina bantu bangazi nowathethwa ngesiTshayina. Enyanisweni kufuneka umgudu, ukuzimisela nokuthobeka ukuze uphumelele.

Ngenye imini ndandizama ukuthi, “Ndisaya emarikeni.” NgesiCanton ndavakala ndisithi, “Ndisaya emgqubeni weenkuku.” Xa wayesentsimini, echwayitile umfazi wam wathi, “Ewe, ndiyamazi,” ebhekisela komnye udade owayeqhelene nomninimzi. Kodwa ngendlela awakubeka ngayo wayevakala esithi, “Ewe, ndiyamtya.” Wothuka akalibala umninimzi! Siwaxabisa gqitha amava esiwafumene kwintsimi yesiTshayina.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 181, 182]

Udliwano-ndlebe NoLydia Pamplona

Wazalwa: 1944

Wabhaptizwa: 1954

Ingxelo ngobomi: Emva kokuba nguvulindlela kwiiPhilippines, wathunyelwa ukuba aye kukhonza ePapua New Guinea ngowe-1980. Uncede abantu abangaphezu kwama-84 bafunda inyaniso.

Ndavuy’ okomntwana ukufumana kwam eso sabelo kuba kwakukudala ndinqwenela ukuya kukhonza kwindawo enemfuneko enkulu. Kanti ndandinalo nexhala kuba ndandiza kuqala ukushiya intsapho yakowethu. Ndandingazi nto kangako ngePapua New Guinea, yaye namarhe endandidla ngokuweva xa kubaliswa andixhalabisa nangakumbi. Umama wandomeleza ngelithi: “UYehova uThixo uya kusinyamekela enoba siphi na, ukuba senza ukuthanda kwakhe.” Ndabhala incwadi ebonisa ukuba ndiyasamkela eso sabelo.

Ndafik’ apho abazalwana beziimvuzemvuze bububele, nabantu balapho benobuhlobo. Ndandihambisa iincwadi namaphephancwadi amaninzi nyanga nganye, ngaphezu kokuba ndandisenza kwiiPhilippines. Kodwa ulwimi nezithethe zalapho zazingafani nezo ndandikhulele kuzo. Ndazixelela ukuba: ‘Ndakukhonza apha kangangeminyaka nje embalwa, ndize ndigoduke ndiye kuba nguvulindlela kunye noMama.’

Kuthe emva kokufunda iilwimi ezimbini ezithethwa kakhulu kwelo nokuqhelana nezithethe zalapho, ndaqala ndabazi kakuhle abantu balapho. Kuyo yonke le minyaka engaphezu kwama-20 ndilapha, ndiye ndanelungelo lokufundisa abaninzi inyaniso, kanti abanye ndiye ndabafundisa ukulesa nokubhala ukuze bakwazi ukufunda kakuhle baze bayenze inyaniso ibe yeyabo. Zonke ezi ntsikelelo kwakunye nezinye, ziye zandenza ndaziva ndisekhaya ePapua New Guinea. UYehova ethanda, ndingakuvuyela ukusebenza kwinkonzo yakhe de athi ugqityiwe umsebenzi okanye de liphele ixesha lam apha.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 191, 192]

Udliwano-ndlebe NoFilemon Damaso

Wazalwa: 1932

Wabhaptizwa: 1951

Ingxelo ngobomi: Waqalisa inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo ngowe-1953. Kamva watshata waza waba ngumveleli wesiphaluka. Emva kokuba ekhulise abantwana, ekunye nenkosikazi waqhubeka nenkonzo yexesha elizeleyo njengovulindlela okhethekileyo. Usaqhubeka ephumeza izabelo ezahlukeneyo kwiiVisayan Islands naseMindanao.

Ngeminyaka yee-1960 kwabakho amagingxigingxi awayenza yanzima inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ukutya kwakunqabile ngenxa yesibetho seempuku, ezazitshabalalisa umbona nerayisi. Sasingasakwazi ukushumayela ezidolophini ngenxa yokuba iimpahla nezihlangu zethu zazingamadlavu.

Ngoko xa sasisiya emasimini, ezintabeni nakwiidolophu ezikude—ubukhulu becala sasihamba singanxibanga zihlangu. Ndaphantse andayinikela intetho yam kwindibano yesiphaluka ngenxa yokuba ndingenazimpahla zifanelekileyo. Noko ke, ngobubele umveleli wesithili sethu, uMzalwan’ uBernardino, wandiboleka ihempe yakhe, yaye ndakwazi ukunikela loo ntetho. Kambe ke, abaninzi babetsala nzima gqitha ngokwezinto eziphathekayo kunokuba sasinjalo. Ngenxa yokuzimisela kwethu ukunyamezela, sasikelelwa nguYehova.

Ngowe-1982, sajamelana neemvavanyo ngenxa yobundilele. Abantu baseMindanao, babethanda ukuvukela urhulumente. Ngenxa yokuba ndandiqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile nabo babetshotsh’ entla kule mvukelo, amajoni karhulumente athi “ndingumhlohli” waba banxaxhi. Noko ke, elinye igosa laseburhulumenteni lawachazela ukuba oko sikufundisayo kuphuma eBhayibhileni yaye akunanto yakwenza nezobupolitika.

Kwangaxeshanye, ndandijongwa kakubi ngaba bavukeli ngenxa yokuba, ndaqala ndashumayela kusodolophu nakwigosa lenkampu yomkhosi. Kodwa abazange basenze nto kuba umphathi waba bavukeli endandifundisisa naye wasithethelela.

Kangangamashumi eminyaka, uYehova uye wasinceda samelana namagingxigingxi neemvavanyo. Siyambulela uYehova ngenxa yokusenzela inceba nokusikhusela!—IMize. 18:10; 29:25.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 217, 218]

Udliwano-ndlebe NoPacifico Pantas

Wazalwa: 1926

Wabhaptizwa: 1946

Ingxelo ngobomi: Waphumelela kwiklasi yaseGiliyadi ye-16 ngowe-1951. Ngoku ungumdala kwisiXeko saseQuezon.

Ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini, kwiphondo laseLaguna, sasinabamelwane abangamaNgqina kaYehova. Bathi ndingazifunda zonke iincwadi ababenazo kwithala labo. Ndazinandipha zonke ezi ncwadi: ethi Creation, Vindication, Reconciliation, Religion, Enemies, nethi Children, nezinye ezingakumbi. Xa imikhosi yaseJapan yatshisa idolophu yethu, sahlukana nala maNgqina, kodwa ndaphinda ndadibana nawo kwisithuba esingaphezu konyaka emva koko eManila. Ndaqalisa ukuya kwiintlanganiso, ndaza ndakubhaptizwa, ndasebenza neqela loovulindlela. Sabelwa kulo lonke iphondo laseTayabas, elathi kamva labizwa ngokuba yiQuezon. Sasisebenza kwiidolophu ngeedolophu, yaye sasilala kwiibhasi ezingahambiyo, kumakhaya abantu abanomdla nakwezinye iindawo ezifana nezo.

Sathi sakufika eMauban, iqela labanqolobi lagqogqa loo dolophu. Sasilala kumgangatho wesibini weholo yaloo dolophu. Savuswa lolo qhushululu. Kwakubonakala ngathi amapolisa akumgangatho ongaphantsi kwalowo ayevingcelwe. Sasiweva eyilahla phantsi imipu yawo.

Aba phuma-silwe baya kwimigangatho engaphezulu. Omnye kubo wasithi phanya phanya ngetotshi ebusweni ebuza: “Ningoobani?” Sazilalisa. Waphinda wabuza wathi: “Anizontlola zamapolisa akwiiPhilippines?”

“Akunjalo mhlekazi,” saphendula ngelitshoyo.

Wathi: “Kodwa ninxibe iimpahla ezimdaka ngebala.”

Sabachazela ukuba ezi mpahla siziphiwe nokuba izihlangu esizinxibileyo sazithunyelelwa ngabazalwana bethu baseMerika.

Umphathi wabo wathi: “Kulungile ke, kodwa ndiza kuzithatha zona izihlangu.” Ndazikhulula ke izihlangu zam. Wathi ufuna nebhulukhwe yam. Akuzange kube kudala sonke saba sele simi ngeebhulukhwe zangaphantsi. Sancedwa kukuba sasinempahla esasiyigcine kufutshane nalapho. Eneneni, sasivuya kuba babesithathele ezi mpahla. Ngaphandle koko, bonke abantu baloo dolophu babeza kucinga ukuba siziintlola zabo balwayo!

Sathenga izihlangu zeplanga, sabuyela eManila, saza ke saqhubeka nomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela kwiiVisayan Islands.

UMzalwan’ uPantas waba kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo waza wasisicaka sabazalwana (ngoku esibizwa ngokuba ngumveleli wesiphaluka) ngaphambi kokuya kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi. Ekubuyeleni kwakhe kwiiPhilippines, wakhonza njengomveleli wesithili nakwiofisi yesebe ngaphambi kokuba abe nentsapho.

[Isicangca/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 168, 169]

IIPHILIPPINES—ULUHLU LWEZIGANEKO

1908: ABafundi beBhayibhile ababini baseUnited States baqalisa ukunikela ubungqina kwidolophu yaseSibalom.

1910

1912: UCharles T. Russell unikela intetho eManila Grand Opera House.

1934: Kumiselwa iofisi yesebe. Kupapashwa incwadana ethi Escape to the Kingdom ngesiTagalog.

1940

1947: Kufika abokuqala abaphumelele eGiliyadi.

1961: Kuqalisa iiklasi zeSikolo Sobulungiseleli SoBukumkani.

1964: Kuthunyelwa oovulindlela bokuqala bakwiiPhilippines ukuya kukhonza njengabavangeli basemazweni kumazwe aselumelwaneni.

1970

1978: Kuqalisa iiklasi zeSikolo Senkonzo Yobuvulindlela.

1991: Kugqitywa kuze kunikezelwe izakhiwo ezitsha zesebe. Kugqabhuka iNtaba iPinatubo.

1993: Kukhutshwa INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha YeZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike ngesiTagalog.

2000

2000: Kukhutshwa INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha epheleleyo ngesiTagalog.

2002: Kukho abavakalisi abakhutheleyo abangama- 142 124 kwiiPhilippines.

[Igrafu]

(Yiya kwimpapasho)

Isimbuku Sabavakalisi

Isimbuku Soovulindlela

150 000

100 000

50 000

1940 1970 2000

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 199]

(Yiya kwimpapasho)

Isicangca Esibonisa Ukwanda Kwenani Labeza Kwiindibano ZeSithili (1948-99)

350 000

300 000

250 000

200 000

150 000

100 000

50 000

0

1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 1999

[Iimaphu ezikwiphepha 157]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

PHILIPPINES

Vigan

Baguio

LUZON

Lingayen

Cabanatuan

Mt. Pinatubo

Olongapo

Quezon City

MANILA

MINDORO

VISAYAN ISLANDS

Masbate

CEBU

MINDANAO

Surigao

Davao

PALAWAN

El Nido

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 150]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 154]

UCharles T. Russell noWilliam Hall ngoxa babetyelele kwiiPhilippines ngowe-1912

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 159]

UJoseph dos Santos, oboniswe apha kunye nowakwakhe, uRosario, ngowe-1948, waqhubeka engumvakalisi woBukumkani onenzondelelo nakuba wavalelwa waza waphathwa ngenkohlakalo iminyaka emithathu ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 163]

Abazalwana bokuqala bakwiiPhilippines abathunyelwa kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi: nguAdolfo Dionisio, uSalvador Liwag, noMacario Baswel

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 164]

Ukunyuka iintaba besiya kushumayela

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 183]

Amawakawaka oovulindlela aye angenelwa kwiSikolo Sobuvulindlela

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 186]

I-“phototypesetting” encediswa yikhompyutha yaqala ukusetyenziswa ngowe-1980

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 189]

Iindaba ezilungileyo zenziwa zifumaneke ngeelwimi eziliqela zakwiiPhilippines

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 199]

INdibano Yezizwe Ngezizwe “Yemfundiso Yobuthixo” yowe-1993

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 199]

Ubhaptizo kwiNdibano YeSithili “Yabadumisi Abanovuyo” yowe-1995

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 200]

Abavangeli basemazweni bakwiiPhilippines ababeze kutyelela ngexesha lendibano

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 202]

Kwiindibano zesithili zowe-1993, kwakhululwa “INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha YeZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike” ngesiTagalog

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 204]

Ukuguqulela iBhayibhile ngoncedo lweekhompyutha

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 205]

Uvulindlela onemincili ufumana “INguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha” epheleleyo ngolwimi lwakhe

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 207]

IKomiti Yesebe, ukusuka ekhohlo ukuya ekunene: (abahleli phantsi) uDenton Hopkinson, uFelix Salango; (abemileyo) uFelix Fajardo, uDavid Ledbetter, noRaymond Leach

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 211]

Iimbacu ezininzi zaseVietnam zafunda inyaniso ngoxa zazikwiiPhilippines

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 215]

UNatividad noLeodegario Barlaan ngamnye kubo uchithe ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-60 kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 222, 223]

IiHolo zoBukumkani ezakhiwe kwiminyaka yakutshanje

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 224]

IHolo yeNdibano ekuMbindi Manila (ngasentla) nezinye iiHolo zeNdibano ezingaphandle kweManila

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 228]

Ekhohlo: UJohn Barr unikela intetho ebudeni bokunikezelwa kwesebe ngowe-1991

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 228]

Ngezantsi: Izakhiwo zesebe ngowe-1991

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 235]

Uloyiso lwamaNgqina kaYehova lwakhutshwa emaphepheni

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 236]

Iinyikima, iintaba-mlilo, nezikhukula zibangela iingxaki, kodwa abavakalisi abazimiseleyo baqhubeka nokushumayela

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 246]

Oovulindlela abanenzondelelo baye bafunda intetho yezandla ukuze bancede abazizithulu bangenelwe ngokomoya

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 246]

Abafundi bekunye nabahlohli kwiklasi yokuqala yeSikolo Senkonzo Yobuvulindlela sentetho yezandla kwelo lizwe, ebutsheni bowama-2002

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 251]

Iklasi yama-27 yeSikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli kwiiPhilippines