“Ngangizimisele Ukufela Umbusi”

1. “Isosha kumelwe lenze ukwethembeka kube yisibopho salo.

2. Isosha kumelwe lenze imikhuba emihle ibe indlela yalo yokuphila.

3. Isosha kumelwe libazise kakhulu ubuqhawe basempini.

4. Isosha kumelwe likubheke ngendlela ephakeme kakhulu ukulunga.

5. Isosha kumelwe liphile ukuphila okulula.”

LAMAPHUZU amahlanu ayeyimithetho yesifungo esasihloselwe ukufaka intshiseko kulabo ababesanda kubuthelwa eButhweni laseBukhosini laseJapane. Abaphathi abakhulu babefika nsuku zonke ukuze benze isosha ngalinye lisho ngekhanda lemithetho emihlanu ngaphansi kosongo lokushaywa ngesibhakela uma ingashiwongo kahle. Okwakugcizelelwa ngokukhethekile kwakuwukwethembeka ngokungaxegi kumbusi nasezweni.

Ngabuthwa ngo-1938, ngenkathi iJapane iphakathi empini yaseChina neJapane yango-1937-45. Ngaso sonke isikhathi, sasifakwa umqondo wokuthi impi yayingcwele futhi njengoba “isivunguvungu saphezulu” (ikamikaze) sasishanele abaseMongolia ngenkathi behlasela iJapane ekupheleni kwekhulu le-13 leminyaka, onkulunkulu, noma okami, baseJapane babeyosenza sinqobe.

Ngemva kokuqeqeshwa ngokomzimba “nangokomoya,” sathunyelwa empini ngo-1939. Abazali bami banginikeza ibhande elinezitishi eziyinkulungwane ukuba ngilibophe okhalweni. Lalenziwa ngokuba abantu abayinkulungwane abahlukahlukene bathunge isitishi ngentambo ebomvu njengomkhuleko wokunqoba nokuba ngibe nenhlanhla eqhubekayo njengesosha. Njengoba ngangilibangise eChina futhi ngivalelisa ezweni lakithi, nganginemizwelo ehlukahlukene. ‘Lokhu kungase kube ukulibona kwami okukugcina izwe lakithi,’ ngicabanga. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngangizimisele ukufela umbusi.

Izimo Ezimbi Kakhulu eChina

Phakathi noJuly 1939, ekushiseni okubabazekayo kwasezweni laseChina, sahlanganyela ekucoboshiseni abasele ekuhlaseleni kokuqala maphakathi neChina. Ngangihamba ngihlome ngaphelela ngesikhwama esigaxwa emahlombe esinesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-30 kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi ngibophe ibhande lami elinezitishi eziyinkulungwane. Ngasekupheleni kohambo losuku, olwalungamakhilomitha angaba ngu-40, ngangisuke sengihudula izinyawo zami ezibuhlungu zisindwa amabhuthi. Ngangichumbuza amapatshaza asezinyaweni zami ngensabula futhi ngiwafake impushana yesalicylic. Ubuhlungu babuthi abungihlanyise! Nokho ngaqhubeka nalokhu kuzizwisa ubuhlungu okunjalo kwaze kwaba yilapho lamapatshaza eqina futhi ngingasabuzwa obunye ubuhlungu.

Ukuhamba elangeni kwakungomisa kakhulu. Ngangikha amanzi anodaka emfudlaneni ngesitsha, ngifake impushana yokuwahlanza, bese ngicima ukoma. Noma yikuphi engikuphuzile ngokushesha kwakuba umjuluko, kumanzisa izingubo zami futhi kushiye amabala amhlophe kasawoti ezingutsheni zami. Ngokushesha ngalunywa futhi ngezwa ubuhlungu kuwo wonke umzimba. Ngolunye usuku ngakhumula izingubo zami zobusosha futhi ngathola izintwala zizichanasela zizalela nemicanda! Ngazichoba ngazinye ngazinye, kodwa yayingekho indlela yokuziqeda. Sonke sasinezintwala. Ngakho lapho sifika emfudlaneni, sangena phakathi ukuba sigeze. Wonke umuntu wayenamaqhutshana abomvu ngenxa yokulunywa yizintwala. Ngemva kokugeza, sacwilisa izingubo zethu zobusosha emanzini abilayo ukuze sizibulale lezintwala.

Kamuva, ngathunyelwa ekomkhulu lamasosha eShanghai futhi ngaba yisikhulu sokuholela esithathwe ebuthweni lezempi. Umsebenzi wami njengomholeli wawuwukugcina ama-akhawunti amasosha futhi nginakekele ibhokisi lezimali. Ngolunye usuku ngabona amaShayina amabili ayenza imisebenzi ephansi ezama ukubaleka nalo. Ngawaxwayisa, ngaqondisa isibhamu sami kuwo, ngase ngiyadubula. Womabili afela khona lapho. Kamuva ekuphileni lesisenzakalo sahlupha unembeza wami iminyaka eminingi.

Endleleni Eya ESingapore

Ekupheleni kuka-1941, sinazo zonke izinto, sayalwa ukuba sikhwele emkhunjini. Akushiwongo lutho ngokuthi sasiyaphi. Lapho sifika eHong Kong, kwalayishwa amabhayisekili, ombayimbayi, nezibhamu ezidubula kude. Sanikezwa izembozo zokuvikela ukuhishwa isisi nezingubo zamasosha zasehlobo, futhi saphindela olwandle. Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, satshelwa: ‘Sizolwa impi engokwesayensi enkulu ngendlela engakaze ibonwe. Qikelelani manje ukuba nibhalele imikhaya yenu amazwi okuvalelisa.’ Ngabhalela abazali bami amazwi okugcina, ngibacela ukuba bangixolele ngokungabenzeli lutho ukuze ngifeze umthwalo wami wemfanelo njengomntwana. Ngabatshela ukuthi ngangizonikela ukuphila kwami ngenxa yombusi futhi ngifela izwe lakithi.

Ekuseni kakhulu ngoDecember 8, 1941, ngosuku izindiza zaseJapane eziqhumisa amabhomu ezahlasela ngalo iPearl Harbor, sahlasela kusemnyama ogwini lwaseSifundazweni saseSongkhla, eThailand, sihlasela kanyekanye emoyeni nasolwandle kanye nasezweni.a Ulwandle lwaluthukuthele. Kwehliswa isitebhisi esenziwe ngezindophi emkhunjini omkhulu. Kwakumelwe sehle ngaso ibanga eliyizingxenye ezimbili kwezintathu zobude bese sigxumela esikejaneni sokuhlasela, esasiphonseka lena nalena njengecembe lesihlahla ngenxa yomoya. Futhi lokho sakwenza sitshethé izikhwama zethu ezisindayo! Isitha sahlasela ngamabhomu, kodwa ukuhlasela kwethu kwaphumelela. Ukuqhubeka kwethu sidlula emahlathini siya eSingapore kwaqalisa.

Njengomholeli, umsebenzi wami oyinhloko phakathi nalokho kuhlasela wawuwukulondoloza ukudla kwamasosha. Lokhu kwakufanele sikuthole endaweni esasikuyo, njengoba sasingeke sithembele kokuvela eJapane. Lokhu kwakusho ukuthi abaholeli kwakumelwe bahambe namasosha angaphambili, bazingele ukudla, futhi bakulondoloze ukuze sikusebenzise. Nakuba ngangingazizwa nginecala ngokwenza kanjalo ngalesosikhathi, kwakungahlukene nokuphanga okukhulu.

Ukufa Esikhundleni Sokucela Umaluju

Phakathi nempi enzima eAlor Setar eduze nomngcele ophakathi kweThailand neMalaya, sathola inqolobane enkulu igcwele ukudla. Ngacabanga, ‘Lezindaba ezinhle kumelwe zithunyelwe eHhovisi Lomholeli emuva.’ Ngathatha imoto eyayiphucwe abaseBrithani, yashayelwa enye yamadoda ami. Sasihamba sijabule kwaze kwaba yilapho sifika ejikeni futhi sabona ihele lombayimbayi baseBrithani. Sasiye saduka futhi sazithola sibhekene namasosha angu-200 amaNdiya nawaseBrithani! Ingabe lokhu kwakuwukunqotshwa kwethu? Uma sasingeke sikwazi ukuphulukundlela, sasizophetha ngokuba abathunjwa abasehlazweni. Njengamasosha aseJapane, esikhundleni sokuphila ehlazweni njengeziboshwa zasempini, sancamela ukufa. Ngabeka ivolovolo lami enhlafunweni yomshayeli, futhi naye wabeka ummese wakhe esiswini sami. Ngamyala ukuba ashayele aqhubeke. Sadlula ngesivinini emvuleni yezinhlamvu. Nakuba sasingenamyocu, sasilahleke ngokuphelele. Safika lapho umgwaqo uphela khona, sayishiya imoto, futhi saqala ukufohla ehlathini. Sihlaselwa yizinyoka futhi sixoshwa yizitha, sazabalaza izinsuku eziningana ukuze sifike emabuthweni akithi. Lapho sifika sathola ukuthi kakade ayesebhale umbiko wokuthi sasibulewe empini.

EKuala Lumpur, eMalaya, sabona iziboshwa zasempini eziningi ezingezaseBrithani. Zazihluke kakhulu emasosheni aseJapane lawo umqondo wokuba yisiboshwa sasempini wawungathandeki futhi uyihlazo kuwo. AbaseBrithani babesenombono oqondile ngezinto futhi babethi ngolunye usuku itshe liyogaya ngomunye umhlathi. Asizange siwanake amazwi abo, njengoba sasiqhubekela phambili ngomfutho owengeziwe.

Ukuvinjezelwa KweSingapore

Ngokushesha sabhekana nesiqhingi saseSingapore. Ugu lwalugcwele iziqhumane ezingenakubalwa kanye nocingo olunameva. Ukudubula kwezibhamu zethu ezidubula kude okwakugxiliswe kwenye ingxenye yogu kwasiza ekuphembeni indlela, futhi sehla emkhunjini.

ISingapore iyisiqhingi esincane ngokuqhathaniswa, kodwa sekukonke, amasosha angu-160 000 alwela kuso. Njengoba sasiqhubekela phambili, sasikhutshwa izidumbu zozakwethu. AbaseBrithani babesaba ukuhlasela kwethu kwasebusuku. Amaqembu aseJapane okuzibulala amaKesshitai (Ukuzimisela Ukufa), ngalinye linamalungu cishe abe ishumi nambili, ayehlasela ngokushiyana ngezinkemba zawo. Lapho kucelwa izikhonzi zokuzithandela ezengeziwe, wonke umuntu wayeya phambili. Sasikubheka njengokuwudumo ukufela umbusi.

Ngenkathi siwela iJohor Strait sisuka eNhlonhlweni yaseMalay ngoFebruary 1942, sathola ukuthi isitha sasingaziqondisile ngakithi izikhali zaso esasiqhosha ngazo zeChangi, sicabanga ukuthi sasizoqhamuka ngasolwandle oluvulekile. Nokho, lapho sezibhekiswe ngakithina, kwakunzima ngempela ukubhekana nazo.

Amabhomu avela esitheni emba imigodi emikhulu emgwaqweni owawungaphambi kwethu, wenza ukuba kungenzeki ngamaloli amabutho ukuba aqhubekele phambili. Iziboshwa zasempini ezingaba yishumi zayalwa ukuba zime zizungeze umgodi. Iqembu labadubulayo linezibhamu ezingontuluntulu laziqondisa kuzo futhi ladubula. Ezinye iziboshwa ezingaba yishumi zayalwa ukuba ziphonse izidumbu emgodini futhi zizemboze ngomhlabathi. Ngemva kokudubula kwezibhamu ezingontuluntulu, nazo kwagcwaliswa ngazo imigodi elandelayo. Lenqubo yaqhubeka kwaze kwaba yilapho umgwaqo usugqibeke ngokuphelele. (Kubuhlungu manje uma ngikhumbula olunye lonya esalwenza, kodwa lwaluyingxenye engokoqobo yaleyompi eshaqisayo.) Ngalesosikhathi unembeza wami kwakusengathi ‘wawusushiswe uphawu,’ usulukhuni kangangokuba angithintekanga nakancú lapho ngibona lolunya.—1 Thimothewu 4:2.

NgoFebruary 15, 1942, isikhulu esinesikhundla esiphakeme saseBrithani siphethe ifulege elimhlophe seza ngakithina sinamadoda aso ambalwa. “Lona uJenene Percival!” kumemeza isosha esasikanye nalo. ‘Siphumelele!’ Ngisho ngenhliziyo. Umkhuzi omkhulu wamabutho aseBrithani eMalaya wayecela umaluju. Ngikhumbula kahle ngibona lomcimbi oqopha umlando. Ukuthembela kwami emandleni onkulunkulu baseJapane bakudala kwaqina.

Ngemva kokunqoba iSingapore, ngathunyelwa ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene, kuhlanganise naseNew Guinea. Khona-ke, ngo-1943, ngathola umyalo wokuba ngiphindele eJapane. Ngajabula kakhulu ngomcabango wokuphinde ngibone abazali bami. Nokho, umkhumbi wethu kwakudingeka ulinde ngenxa yemikhumbi-ngwenya yesitha. Ngalesosikhathi igagasi lempi lase lisijikela. Ngakhumbula lokho iziboshwa zasempini zaseBrithani ezazikusho kithi eKuala Lumpur. Yebo, itshe lase ligaya ngomunye umhlathi.

Ukubona Inhlekelele EHiroshima

Lapho ekugcineni ngifika eJapane, ngahlanganisa izandla zami ngenza umkhuleko wokubonga konkulunkulu nakuBuddha. ‘Kumelwe ukuba bekungamandla avikelayo ebhande elinezitishi eziyinkulungwane nawonkulunkulu basendulo okwakungivikele,’ ngicabanga. Njengoba sasikhululwa, umkhuzi wamabutho kulesosikhungo wasiyala ukuba sibe nabantwana. “Uma ningeke nibe nomkhaya,” esho, “aninawo umoya wokushisekela izwe lakini.” Ukuze ngifeze lokhu kuthunywa, ngazimisela ukuba ngishade. Isihlobo sangilungiselela umshado, futhi ngathatha uHatsuko njengomkami ngoDecember 1943.

Ngangisebenza njengonogada wasejele emaphethelweni aseHiroshima ngenkathi ibhomu leathomu liqhuma kulelodolobha ngoAugust 6, 1945. Othile kwakumelwe ayosiza labo ababesencithakalweni. “Uma kukhona kini othandayo ukuya enomoya wokuthi akukhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani, sizani nibuthane ndawonye,” kunxusa umphathi wami. Nakuba umkami wayekhulelwe umntwana wethu wokuqala, ukucabanga kwami okuqeqeshwe empini kwangiqhubezela ukuba ngihambe. Sathola izindwangu zokubopha ekhanda ezinomfanekiso welanga eliphumayo phakathi nendawo nombhalo othi Kesshitai.

Ukuthunywa kwethu kwakuwukutakula iziboshwa ejele laseHiroshima. Njengoba sasiya lapho, sadlula imifula eyayigcwele izidumbu. Njengoba babengakwazi ukumela ukushisa okwakubangelwe ukuqhuma, abantu babeziphonse emfuleni. Lapho sifika ejele, sanikeza iziboshwa usizo lokuqala futhi sazithatha ngeloli saziyisa esibhedlela. Engangingazange ngikuqaphele wukuthi uKatsuo Miura, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova owayelondoloze ukungathathi-hlangothi kwakhe kobuKristu eJapane phakathi nempi, wayekulelojele ngalesosikhathi ngenxa yenkolo yakhe.

Ukukholelwa Konkulunkulu Kuyalahleka

Esontweni elilodwa kamuva kwakumelwe ngiye eHhovisi Lomholeli weQembu Lonjiniyela eHiroshima. Njengoba ngangiya emotweni eyayizongithatha, isikole sakuleyondawo sakhipha isimemezelo esikhethekile ngesikhulisa-zwi somphakathi. Kwakungokokuqala ngqá ukuba izwi loMbusi uHirohito lizwakale emsakazweni. Ngema futhi ngalalela isimemezelo sakhe. Amehlo ami ahlengezela izinyembezi futhi zehlela ezihlathini. Ngezwa sengathi ngangithathelwe wonke amandla. Wathi ‘wayezokhuthazelela lokho okungenakukhuthazelelwa.’ Wayezozithoba futhi azinikele eMabuthweni Amazwe Asizanayo! Lelogama elingathetheleleki “lokuzinikela” liphuma emlonyeni wombusi ongunkulunkulu!

Umoya “waphezulu” awuzange uheleze, futhi iJapane, izwe “laphezulu,” lalehluliwe. Ukuthembela kwami kumbusi nasezweni kwashabalala. Izinsuku zedlula ngingenanjongo nathemba. Ngicabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso wayengekho phakathi konkulunkulu engangiye ngakholelwa kubo, ngazama izinkolo ezihlukahlukene. Nokho, zonke zazizitika ebugovwini, ziqokomisa ukwelapha ngokuthandazela nokuhahela inzuzo. Ngaphetha sengizisungulele olwami uhlobo lwenkolo. Ngaphetha ngokuthi umgomo wangempela ekuphileni, wawuwukubonisa komuntu uthando lukamakhelwane ngemisebenzi yakhe. Njengoba ngangisebenza ngamabhayisekili, ngazama ukuthengisa amabhayisekili ohlobo oluphambili ngemali ekahle nokunikeza inkonzo yokuwakhanda ngokushesha ngendlela yomusa. Umsebenzi wathatha indawo yonkulunkulu enhliziyweni yami.

Ukuthola UNkulunkulu Weqiniso

Ekuqaleni kuka-1959, ngenkathi ngisebenza esitolo sami, umbhanqwana othile wangivakashela futhi wanginika omagazini beNqabayokulinda nePhaphama! WawungoFakazi BakaJehova, futhi wabuya ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa uzongikhuthaza ukuba ngitadishe iBhayibheli. Njengoba ngangilokhu ngifuna ukwazi okwengeziwe ngoNkulunkulu, ngavuma ngaphandle kokuthandabuza. Ngamema nomkami ukuba ahlanganyele kulesosifundo samasonto onke.

Ekugcineni, ngaqala ukubona ukuthi ngangikholelwa kokuthile okungenasisindo. Manje ngaqala ukubona ukungabi nangqondo kokuzinikela kwami ngobuqotho kothile owayengekho esimweni sokunikeza insindiso. IHubo 146, amavesi 3 no-4, lashanela konke ukunamathela kwami kumbusi okwakukhona enhliziyweni yami. Lifundeka kanje: “Ningethembi ezikhulwini nasendodaneni yomuntu okungekho kuyo ukusiza. Umoya wakhe uyaphuma, yena abuyele emhlabathini wakhe; ngalona lolosuku amacebo akhe ayaphela.” Ukwethembeka okungenamingcele engangikunikeze umbusi nezwe phakathi nempi manje kwase kuqondiswe kuMbusi omkhulu weNdawo Yonke noMsunguli wokuphila, uJehova uNkulunkulu.

Nokho, kwakusenokuthile okwakusinda njengetshe enhliziyweni yami. Kwakuyicala legazi engangibe nalo ezimpini zaseChina—futhi ikakhulukazi eSingapore. Umuntu onezandla ezigcwele igazi njengami wayengamkhonza kanjani uMbusi omkhulu weNdawo Yonke? Lenkinga yaxazululeka ngo-1960, ngenkathi kunomhlangano wesifunda eIwakuni, lapho sasihlala khona. Sanika isithunywa sevangeli uAdrian Thompson nomkakhe, uNorrine, indawo yokuhlala njengoba ayevakashele lelodolobha ukuba engamele lowomhlangano. Ngasebenzisa lelothuba ukuba ngizwakalise ukukhathazeka kwami okujulile ngokulandisa ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwami kwaseSingapore. “Ngiye ngaba necala legazi elikhulu. Ingabe ngiyafaneleka ukuba ngithole ukuvunyelwa kwaphezulu?” ngimbuza. Kulokho wamane wathi: “Uhamba endleleni yesikhulu esingumRoma sekhulu lokuqala leminyaka uKorneliyu.” Amazwi akhe asusa ukungabaza kokugcina enganginakho, futhi ngabhapathizwa ngosuku olulandelayo kanye nomkami.—IzEnzo 10:1-48.

Injabulo Yokukhonza UNkulunkulu Ophezukonke Ngokwethembeka

Yeka injabulo okuyiyo ukukwazi ukukhonza uMuntu Omkhulu Kakhulu endaweni yonke, uJehova, obedlula bonke onkulunkulu engiye ngabakhonza! Futhi yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukukwazi ukuhlanganyela empini engokomoya njengesosha likaJesu Kristu! (2 Thimothewu 2:3) Ngaqalisa ukubonisa ukwethembeka kwami kuNkulunkulu emkhayeni wakithi. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba sengibhapathiziwe, ngezwa ubaba ethi kumama: ‘UTomiji akasafuni ukwenza izenzo zokukhulekela ealtare lobuBuddha, futhi akasafuni ukwenza izinkonzo zesikhumbuzo ethuneni lomkhaya wethu.’ Uyabona, abaseJapane bakubheka njengokubonakaliswa kothando lapho abantwana benza izinkonzo zesikhumbuzo zaminyaka yonke ukuze bahloniphe abazali babo. Ukuzwa amazwi kababa kwangiqhubezela ukuba ngihlanganyele iqiniso kanye naye. Watadisha iBhayibheli kanye nami futhi wabhapathizwa entwasahlobo yango-1961, kanye nendodakazi yami uEiko nendodana yami uAkinobu. UMasako, indodakazi yami enguthunjana, yalandela isibonelo sabo. Umama wayenenkolo yakhe futhi akazange avume ukutadisha ekuqaleni, kodwa ngemva kweminyaka eminingana naye wahlanganyela ekungikhonzeni uJehova.

Ngo-1975, ngahlanganyela nomkami enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele njengephayona elivamile. Kusukela lapho, ngiye ngakwazi ukukhonza njengesosha likaJesu Kristu phambili ebandleni kunasempini. Uma ngizizwa ngikhathele, ngikhumbula intshiseko enganginayo ekukhonzeni umbusi nezwe futhi ngizitshele, ‘Uma ngakhonza umbusi nezwe ngokuzinikela okungako, ngingakwenza kanjani okungaphansi kwalokho lapho ngikhonza uMbusi omkhulu weNdawo Yonke?’ Futhi ngibe sengithola amandla amasha okuqhubeka. (Isaya 40:29-31) Angisakhonzi muntu ngaphansi kokucindezela kwemithetho emihlanu yesifungo, kodwa sengikhonza uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uJehova, ngokuzinikela okusuka enhliziyweni okusekelwe olwazini oluqondile. Ufanelwe ukwethembeka kwethu komphefumulo wonke.—Njengoba ilandiswa nguTomiji Hironaka.

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UTomiji Hironaka ngesikhathi sempi

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Izisebenzi zomphakathi zicisha umlilo empini yaseSingapore

Ukuzinikela kukaJenene Percival kumaJapane

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The Bettmann Archive

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IHiroshima ngemva kokuwa kwebhomu leathomu ngo-1945

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USAF photo

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Mina nomkami nencwadi eyaguqula ukuphila kwethu—iBhayibheli