Saqiniswa Ukuze Sibhekane Nokuvivinywa Okungaphambili

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA U-EDWARD MICHALEC

Umphathi wamaphoyisa aseWharton, eTexas, e-U.S.A., wayethukuthele egane unwabu. Engiyisa ejele okwesine, wamemeza: “Kungani ungalaleli imithetho?”

Ngaphendula ngokushesha: “Nginelungelo eliphelele lokwenza lokhu.” Lokhu kwamthukuthelisa ngisho nakakhulu, futhi waqala ukungishaya ngesiqobolo. Amanye amaphoyisa ahlanganyela, engishaya ngezidunu zezibhamu zawo.

LOKHO kwenzeka eminyakeni engaba ngu-60 edlule. Lapho ngibheka emuva, ngiyabona ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa izimo ezinjalo ukuze angiqeqeshele ukubhekana nenselele yokuba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova ababili kuphela eBolivia, izwe laseNingizimu Melika elilingana neFrance. Okuhlangenwe nakho kwami kungase kukusize ubone indlela uJehova angakuqinisa ngayo lapho ubhekana nokuvivinywa okuhlukahlukene.

Emuva ngo-1936, lapho ngisebenza endaweni yokulungisa imisakazo eBoling, eTexas, ngezwa uhlelo lomsakazo lwenkulumo kaJoseph F. Rutherford, ngaleso sikhathi owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Inkulumo yakhe yayikhuluma ngezibusiso eziyolethwa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu esintwini esilalelayo. Yangikhanga ngempela. (Mathewu 6:9, 10; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Kamuva ngathola ezinye izincwadi zikaRutherford emtatsheni wethu wezincwadi futhi ngaqala ukuzifunda.

Usingamama wami washaqeka ngenxa yesithakazelo enganginaso kulokho akubiza ngokuthi “izincwadi zenkolo ezindala.” Wazifihla futhi wasongela ngokuzishisa. Lapho ngibhalela i-Watch Tower Society ngicela isikhokhelo se-Nqabayokulinda ne-Golden Age, igama lokuqala le-Phaphama!, iNhlangano yacela uWilliam Harper, weBandla LaseWharton elalisanda kumiswa, ukuba angivakashele. Ngokushesha, mina, nosingamama wami, nomfowethu, kanye nomfowethu omncane ngamzali munye, sonke sase sifunda iBhayibheli noMfoweth’ uHarper. Ngokushesha, sonke sabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova ngobhapathizo lwamanzi.

Ngo-1938, uShield Toutjian, ummeleli ojikelezayo weNhlangano, wavakasha ekhaya eBoling futhi wanikeza inkulumo yeBhayibheli. Igumbi lezivakashi laligcwele—abantu babeme ngisho naseminyango yamanye amagumbi. UMfoweth’uToutjian wakhuluma ngokukhuthazela komprofethi uJeremiya ekushumayeleni kubantu bosuku lwakhe naphezu kokuphikisa kwabo. (Jeremiya 1:19; 6:10; 15:15, 20; 20:8) Ngezinkulumo ezinjalo, uJehova wayesiqinisela ukuvivinywa esasizobhekana nakho.

Isinqumo Nemiphumela Yaso

Ngokushesha ngaqaphela ukuthi kwakufanele ngenze isinqumo. Ngaphambidlana, ngangifundele ezamabhizinisi futhi ngangifuna ukuvelela kuzo. Nganginebhizinisi lokuthengisa nokulungisa imisakazo futhi ngisebenzela inkampani yezingcingo efaka izintambo zezingcingo. Kodwa manje ngaqala ukuqaphela ukuthi impumelelo yangempela ekuphileni ihilela ukuthokozisa uMdali wethu, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngakho ngavala ibhizinisi lami futhi ngalungisa umahamba nendlwana. Ngo-January 1, 1939, ngase ngijoyine iqembu lamaphayona, izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele, eduze naseThree Rivers, eKarnes County, eTexas.

Ngo-September 1939, kwaqubuka iMpi Yezwe II eYurophu. Abaphikisi basebenzisa lesi simo ukuze banyundele oFakazi BakaJehova. Bathi singabasekeli besitha, noma izimpimpi zeMibuso ye-Axis. Abaningi bakukholelwa lokhu kumangalelwa ngamanga futhi baqala ukusikhathaza. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1940, ngavalelwa ejele izikhathi eziyisishiyagalolunye noma eziyishumi, kuhlanganise nesikhathi engikhulume ngaso ekuqaleni lapho umphathi wamaphoyisa nezisebenzi zakhe bengibhambabula kabi. Kwadingeka ngithole ukwelashwa ngemva kwalokho.

Yena lomphathi wamaphoyisa kamuva wahoxa ekugwebeni indoda ethile eyayinecala lokugembula ngokungemthetho uma yayingamenzela umusa—lendoda enezikhwepha, eyayisebenza embonini kawoyela, kwakufanele ingishaye. Ngenxa yalokho, ngolunye usuku lapho ngihambisa umagazini emgwaqweni, lendoda yangihlasela ngeketanga! Kwavela amaphoyisa, kodwa kunokuba ayibophe, abopha mina! Kamuva, umhlaseli wami wangitshela isizathu esamenza wangihlasela ngingenacala futhi waxolisa.

Izifundo Ezafundwa Ngovivinyo

Ukubhekana nokuvivinywa okunjalo empeleni kwaqinisa ukholo lwami kuNkulunkulu. Phakathi kokunye, angikhumbuli ngizwa ubuhlungu lapho ngishaywa, kodwa ngiyakukhumbula ukuzola nokuthula engangiba nakho kamuva. (IzEnzo 5:40-42) Ngakho, ngafunda ukwenza njengoba umphostoli uPawulu ayala: “Masethabeni lapho sisezinsizini, njengoba sazi ukuthi usizi luveza ukukhuthazela.” (Roma 5:3) Kamuva, lapho ngicabanga ngokushaywa kwami, kwangenza ngazimisela ngosizo lukaJehova ukuba ngingavumeli amanxusa kaSathane angithulise.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngafunda esinye isifundo esibalulekile. Amazwi ami angenasu okuthi, “Nginelungelo eliphelele lokwenza lokhu,” yiwona ayecasule umphathi wamaphoyisa. Kamuva, waphinda weza kimi, ethukuthele ngoba oFakazi abahileleki empini. (Isaya 2:4) Ezama ukungichukuluza, wabuza: “Uma ubungabuthelwa ukuyolwela izwe lakini, ubungavuma?”

Njengoba ngase ngifunde ukuba nesu lokungacunuli, ngaphendula: “Uma ngiqiniseka ukuthi kuyintando kaJehova, ngokuqinisekile bengingavuma.” Leyo mpendulo yadambisa intukuthelo yakhe, futhi akubanga nalutho kamuva.

Ukuqeqeshelwa Umsebenzi Wakho Konke Ukuphila Kwami

Inkathi evelele ekuphileni kwami kwakuwukuya ekilasini lesithathu le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, ngo-1944. Lesi sikole sinikeza izifundo zezinyanga ezinhlanu zokuqeqeshelwa umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli. Ngaphambi kokuba ngiye kulesi sikole, ngangisaba ukukhuluma phambi kwezilaleli. Kodwa ukunikeza izinkulumo njalo phambi kwabafundi abangaba yikhulu, ngokuvamile ngaphandle enkundleni evulekile, kwangisiza ngempela. Umqeqeshi wethu wokukhuluma obala, uMaxwell Friend, wayengenela futhi amemeze: “Mfoweth’uMichalec, angikuzwa!” Lokhu kwangenza ngaqaphela ukuthi eqinisweni nganginephimbo elinamandla.

Ngemva kokuba uNathan H. Knorr, owayengumongameli wesikole ngaleso sikhathi, ememezele ukuthi isabelo sami sobuthunywa bevangeli kwakuyiBolivia, ngikhumbula engiluleka: “Uyothola abantu abaningi abathobekile lapho. Yiba nothando, isineke, futhi ubacabangele.” Ngenxa yokuthi iMpi Yezwe II yayisadlangile, kwadingeka sithi ukulinda ngaphambi kokuba siye ezabelweni zethu. Ekugcineni, ngo-October 25, 1945, mina noHarold Morris—engangifunda naye ekilasini—safika e-El Alto Airport, ngaphandle nje kwaseLa Paz, inhloko-dolobha yaseBolivia. Ngakho saba ukuphela koFakazi ababili ezweni lesithathu ngobukhulu eNingizimu Melika.

Sathathwa ibhasi esikhumulweni sezindiza, esingamamitha angu-4100 ngaphezu kogu lolwandle, ukuya enhloko-dolobha, eLa Paz, eyakhiwe phansi esigodini esiwudedangendlale. Kwakuyinselele ukuzivumelanisa nokuphila endaweni engamakhilomitha angaphezu kwamathathu ngaphezu kogu lolwandle.

Iziqalo Ezincane, Ezinesiyaluyalu

Saqala ngokushesha ukuvakashela abantu endlini ngendlu. Babenomusa nesineke kithi njengoba sasibhidilisha iSpanishi. Ngokushesha ngamunye wethu wayeseqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya zamasonto onke ezingu-18 kuya kwezingu-20. Ezinyangeni eziyisithupha kamuva, ngo-April 16, 1946, iqembu elincane, elinenjabulo lahlanganyela nathi emkhosini waminyaka yonke wokufa kukaKristu. Ngemva nje kwalokho, kwafika abanye abane bevela eGileyadi, kuhlanganise no-Elizabeth Hollins, kamuva owaba umkami.

Mina noMfoweth’uMorris ngokushesha saqala ukuvakashela amanye amadolobha, kuhlanganise neCochabamba ne-Oruro, ngaleso sikhathi okwakuyidolobha lesibili nelesithathu ngobukhulu eBolivia. Lapho ngibikela uMfoweth’uKnorr ngesithakazelo esasithola nezincwadi zeBhayibheli esazihambisa, wasikisela ukuba sivakashele lamadolobha njalo cishe ezinyangeni ezintathu ukuze sisize labo ababonisa isithakazelo. Iningi lalaba bantu abanobungane, abangenisa izihambi kamuva laba oFakazi BakaJehova.

Njengoba iMpi Yezwe II yayiphele onyakeni owandulele, iBolivia yayinezibhelu zezombangazwe. Imibango yezombangazwe nokwesaba ukuqubuka kabusha kwamaNazi eNingizimu Melika kwabangela ukubhikisha okukhulu emigwaqweni nokubulawa kwabantu. Phakathi nehlobo lika-1946, kwabulawa umongameli wezwe, futhi isidumbu sakhe salengiswa esigxotsheni sikagesi esibhekene nesigodlo sikamongameli. Ngezinye izikhathi, ubudlova babenza abantu bangakwazi ngisho nokuphuma emakhaya abo.

Lapho ngolunye usuku u-Elizabeth edlula esikhungweni semakethe ngebhasi, wabona izinsizwa ezintathu zilenga ezigxotsheni. Eshaqekile, wabubula. Umgibeli ayehamba naye wathi: “Uma ungakuthandi lokho okubonayo, ungakubuki.” Izenzakalo ezinjalo zagcizelela kithi isidingo sokuncika ngokuphelele kuJehova.

Nokho, phakathi nalesi siyaluyalu, iqiniso leBhayibheli lalikhula ezinhliziyweni zabathobekile. Ngo-September 1946, kwamiswa ihhovisi legatsha eLa Paz, futhi ngamiswa njengombonisi walo. Indlu eqashiwe ihhovisi elalikuyo yayisebenza futhi njengekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, lapho kumiswa ibandla lokuqala eBolivia, yona leyondlu yasebenza njengendawo yethu yemihlangano.

Ngo-1946 saqala nokuba nezinkulumo zeningi. Kwatholakala ihholo loMtapo Wezincwadi KaMasipala eLa Paz, elasetshenziselwa inkulumo yokuqala. Indoda ethile enobungane yaseYugoslavia eyayifunda nathi yafaka isikhangiso esikhokhelwayo ephephandabeni lendawo ukuze imemezele inkulumo. Ihholo laligcwele phama. Njengoba ngangisasibhidilisha iSpanishi, ngangesaba ngempela ukunikeza leyo nkulumo. Kodwa ngosizo lukaJehova umhlangano waba yimpumelelo. Ngenxa yalokho, leyo kwaba inkulumo yokuqala ochungechungeni lwezinkulumo ezine esaba nazo kuleli hholo.

Ngo-1947 sathola ezinye izithunywa zevangeli eziyisithupha zaseGileyadi, kanye nezinye ezine ngo-1948. Amakhaya esasiwaqashile ayengenazo izinto zesimanje noma zokunethezeka. Ngaphandle kokuba matasa ngesimiso sobuthunywa bevangeli, thina zithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ekugcineni kwadingeka sibambe amatoho ukuze sithole imali yokushintsha izingubo zethu zokugqoka ezigugile. Ukuhambela amadolobha ahlukahlukene nakho kwakuyinselele. Ngokuvamile, ngangidabula phakathi kwezintaba ezinamakhaza ngigibele ngemuva elolini elivulekile. Kodwa uJehova waqhubeka esinikeza isikhuthazo esiqinisayo ngenhlangano yakhe.

Ngo-March 1949, uMfoweth’uKnorr nonobhala wakhe, uMilton Henschel, bafika bevela eNew York futhi bavakashela amakhaya ethu amathathu ezithunywa zevangeli, eLa Paz, eCochabamba, nase-Oruro. Yeka indlela okwakukhuthaza ngayo ukuzwa ngokwanda okukhulu emazweni amaningi nangeKhaya LaseBethel elisha nendawo yokunyathelisa okwakwakhiwa endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn! UMfoweth’uKnorr wasikisela ukuba sakhe ikhaya lethu neHholo LoMbuso enkabeni yeLa Paz. Wasitshela nokuthi kwakusazothunyelwa ezinye izithunywa zevangeli.

Ngasekupheleni kuka-1949, saba nomhlangano wethu wesifunda wokuqala, edolobheni lase-Oruro. Kwakukhuthaza kubafowethu nodadewethu abaningi abasha abangamaKristu ukuhlangana ndawonye ngokokuqala ngqá. Ngaleso sikhathi, iBolivia yayisifinyelele inani elisha labamemezeli boMbuso abangu-48 futhi yayinamabandla amathathu.

Umngane Wami Othembekile

Ngenxa yokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli iminyaka eminingi ndawonye, mina no-Elizabeth sazana kangcono futhi sathandana. Ekugcineni, ngo-1953, sashada. Njengami, wayeqale enkonzweni yamaphayona ngo-January 1939. Leyo minyaka yokuqala yokuphayona yayinzima nakuye. Ngenxa yomsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela ngesibindi, naye wayeke wagqunywa ejele, wamashiswa emgwaqweni njengesigebengu esivamile.

U-Elizabeth uyavuma ukuthi wayesaba lapho ehlanganyela ekumasheni futhi ethwele izingqwembe ezifundeka kanje: “Inkolo Iwugibe Nesife.” Kodwa wenza lokho inhlangano kaJehova eyayisiyale ukuba sikwenze ngaleso sikhathi. Njengoba asho, wayekwenzela uJehova. Lokho okuhlangenwe nakho kwamqinisela ukuvivinywa akukhuthazelela phakathi naleyo minyaka yokuqala eBolivia.

Izabelo Ezihlukahlukene

Eminyakeni embalwa ngemva kokushada kwethu, sachitha isikhathi esiningi emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Sasingavakasheli amabandla amane kuphela eBolivia kodwa wonke amaqembu angawodwa abantu abathakazelayo kanye nawo wonke amadolobhana ayenezakhamuzi ezingaphezu kuka-4000. Injongo yethu kwakuwukuvusa nokuhlakulela noma isiphi isithakazelo eqinisweni leBhayibheli kubantu abahlala kulezo zindawo. Kwakuvusa amadlingozi ukubona ukuthi maphakathi nawo-1960, kwakunamabandla cishe kuwo wonke amadolobhana esasiwavakashele eminyakeni engaba yishumi ngaphambi kwalokho.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, nganginezinkinga zempilo ezazishubiswa ukuphakama kwendawo yaseLa Paz. Ngakho ngo-1957 omunye umfowethu wathatha umthwalo wemfanelo wokwengamela igatsha, futhi mina no-Elizabeth sabelwa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eCochabamba, idolobha elisesigodini esiphansi. Emhlanganweni wethu wokuqala, kwakunezithunywa zevangeli ezimbalwa, kodwa kwakungekho noyedwa womdabu waseBolivia. Lapho sihamba eCochabamba eminyakeni engu-15 kamuva, ngo-1972, kwase kunamabandla amabili. Manje kunamabandla angu-35 esigodini saseCochabamba, nabamemezeli boMbuso abangaphezu kuka-2600!

Ngo-1972 sathunyelwa eSanta Cruz enezindawo ezishisayo. Sisahlala khona lapha emagunjini ambalwa angaphezu kweHholo LoMbuso. Lapho sifika, iSanta Cruz nayo yayinamabandla amabili, kodwa manje asengaphezu kwangu-45, anabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-3600 abahlanganyela enkonzweni yobuKristu.

Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi siye sahlala esabelweni sethu sezithunywa zevangeli kuleminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 ukuze sibone ukubuthwa kwabantu bakaJehova abangaba ngu-12 300 kulelizwe! Ngempela kuye kwasijabulisa ukukhonza laba abathandekayo.

Ukuphila Okujabulisayo Kokukhonza Abanye

Ngaphambi kokuba ngithathe isabelo sami sezithunywa zevangeli, umluleki wezomthetho we-Watch Tower Society, uHayden C. Covington, naye owayedabuka eTexas, wathi: “Ed, eTexas sasinendawo enkulu sikhululekile. Kodwa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli, uyominyana nabanye. Kuyosho ukwenza izinguquko.” Wayeqinisile. Ukuphila ndawonye nabanye kuyinselele, kodwa kungenye yezinselele eziningi isithunywa sevangeli esingumKristu esibhekana nazo.

Ngakho uma ucabangela ukuthutha ekhaya ukuze uyokhonza uJehova kwenye indawo, khumbula ukuthi ukuphila komlandeli weqiniso kaKristu ukukhonza abanye. (Mathewu 20:28) Ngakho-ke, isithunywa sevangeli kufanele sizilungiselele ngokwengqondo ukwamukela ukuphila kokuzidela. Abanye bangase bacabange ukuthi bayozuza ukuvelela. Mhlawumbe kunjalo—lapho bevalelisa kubangane nezihlobo ekhaya. Kodwa lokho kuyaphela lapho umuntu efika edolobhaneni noma edolobheni elimpofu eliyoba isabelo sakhe. Yisiphi iseluleko engingasinikeza?

Lapho uhlangabezana nobunzima, njengezinkinga zempilo, imizwa yokuhlukana nomkhaya wakini, noma mhlawumbe ubunzima bokusebenzelana nabafowenu abangamaKristu esabelweni okuso, kwamukele konke lokhu njengengxenye yokuqeqeshwa kwakho. Uma wenza kanjalo, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uyovuzwa, njengoba umphostoli uPetru abhala: “Ngemva kokuba senihluphekile isikhathi esincane, uNkulunkulu wawo wonke umusa ongafanelwe . . . uyoqedela ukuqeqeshwa kwenu, uyonenza niqine, uyonenza nibe namandla.”—1 Petru 5:10.

U-Edward Michalec washona ngo-July 7, 1996, lapho kusaqedelwa lesi sihloko ukuze sinyatheliswe.

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

EBolivia ngo-1947

[Isithombe ekhasini 20, 21]

Ngokuvamile amakilasi okukhuluma obala ayeqhutshelwa ngaphandle,

njengoba kuboniswe kulesi sithombe sakamuva senkundla evulekile eGileyadi

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Nginomkami