Ngemva Kweziphepho—Umsebenzi Wokutakula EFrance — Watchtower UMTAPO OKUYI-INTHANETHI

Ngemva Kweziphepho—Umsebenzi Wokutakula EFrance

NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! EFRANCE

UFRANÇOISE wavula umnyango eyolanda izinkuni zokubasa. “Angikukholelwanga engakubona,” ekhumbula. “Amanzi ayesezongena ngomnyango, futhi kwakuza igagasi elikhulu livela ngasesangweni lengadi.” Umyeni wakhe, uThierry, walanda iladi egalaji, ehamba emanzini ayesefika entanyeni. Umkhaya wonke wanyukela ekamelweni eliphezulu, lapho avula khona imbobo ophahleni. Bemanzi té futhi bethukile, lo mbhangqwana nabantwana bawo abathathu bahlala amahora amane belinde ukutakulwa. Ekugcineni, amaphoyisa aseFrance ayehamba ngendiza enophephela emhlane abathola futhi abathutha abayisa endaweni ephephile.

Ngenxa yesiwohlo semvula, imifula yayidla izindwani, yabhodloza izindonga ezivimba amanzi kanye namabhuloho. Amagagasi amanzi anodaka, ngezinye izikhathi eyengamamitha ayishumi ukuphakama, ayeshanela konke okwakuphambi kwawo. Kwafa abantu abangaphezu kuka-30 kulesi siphepho—bevaleleke ezimotweni zabo noma baminza besalele. Esinye isisulu esatakulwa safanisa lobo busuku obesabisayo bango-November “nesikhathi sesiphelo.” Sonke isifunda saseningizimu-ntshonalanga yeFrance—amadolobha namadolobhana angu-329—sachazwa njengendawo yenhlekelele.

Kwakuseza Okukhulu

Indawo eseningizimu-ntshonalanga yayisazama ukusimama lapho inhlekelele iphinde ihlasela. Umoya onamandla kuyi-Atlantic Ocean wabangela iziphepho ezinkulu. Ngo-December 26, 1999, isiphepho sokuqala sahlasela kulo lonke elasenyakatho yeFrance, futhi ngobusuku obulandelayo esesibili sabhubhisa eningizimu. Kwabikwa umoya ohamba ngesivinini esingamakhilomitha angu-200 ngehora. Ngokwemibiko kahulumeni, kwagcina okungenani ngekhulu le-17 ukuba kube nesiphepho esinjalo eFrance.

UHélène wayesenezinyanga ezingu-8 ekhulelwe lapho kuhlasela lesi siphepho. “Ngangethuke kabi,” ekhumbula. “Umyeni wami wayesendleleni eza ekhaya ehamba ngesithuthuthu, futhi ngangibona amagatsha ephephuka kuyo yonke indawo ngaphandle. Engqondweni umcabango wokuthi wayengasoze ayibone ingane yakhe wawulokhu ubelesele. Umyeni wami wayesanda kungena nje lapho amanzi eqala ukwenyuka endlini yethu. Kwadingeka ukuba siphume ngefasitela.”

Kwafa okungenani abangu-90 eFrance. Baminza noma bashaywa ama-tile ayesuka ophahleni, oshimula, noma izihlahla ezaziphephuka. Abanye abangamakhulukhulu babelimele kabi, kuhlanganise nedlanzana labatakuli abayizakhamuzi nabangamasosha. Lezi ziphepho zadlulela ngisho nasemazweni angomakhelwane, zabulala abantu abangaphezu kuka-40 eBrithani, eJalimane, eSpain naseSwitzerland.

Umphumela

Ezifundeni ezingu-96 eziphethe amaDolobha aseFrance, ezingu-69 zachazwa “njengezindawo zenhlekelele engokwemvelo.” Kulinganiselwa ukuthi kwenzeka umonakalo ongama-franc angu-70 000 000 000 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-74). Umonakalo owawudaleke emadolobheni athile, emadolobhaneni nasemachwebeni wawubakhumbuza inkundla yempi ababebukele. Imigwaqo nemizila yezitimela yayivalwe yizihlahla noma yizigxobo zikagesi ezaziwile. Kwaphephuka uphahla ezakhiweni, kwagingqika ogandaganda bokwakha, futhi izikebhe zaphonseka emtateni. Izinkulungwane zabalimi zalahlekelwa yindlela yokuziphilisa, njengoba izindawo zokugcina izithombo namasimu ezithelo kwakuqothuliwe.

Emahoreni ambalwa nje, umoya wenza umonakalo omkhulu emahlathini nasemapaki aseFrance, wabhubhisa amahlathi angamahektare ayizinkulungwane. I-National Forest Office yaseFrance ilinganisela ukuthi kwacekeleka phansi izihlahla eziyizigidi ezingu-300. Izihlahla eziningi eziphakeme ezase zinamakhulu eminyaka zikhona zasiphuka noma zanqamuka kuhle kwezinti zikamentshisi. Umoya wakhukhula wavula izikhala ezinkulu emahlathini ase-Aquitaine naseLorraine.

“Ngosuku olulandelayo ngemva kwesiphepho, ngaya emahlathini,” kusho uBernard, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova ongumqaphi wamahlathi. “Kwakumangalisa. Awukwazi ukungathinteki uma ubona umbukwane onjalo! Kule ndawo, cishe bangamaphesenti angu-80 ebandleni lakithi abathembele kuleli hlathi ukuze baziphilise. Abantu, ikakhulukazi asebekhulile, bashaqeke kakhulu.” EPalace of Versailles kwasiphuka izihlahla ezingu-10 000. “Kuyothatha amakhulu amabili eminyaka ukuba leli paki libuyele esimweni salo,” kukhononda omunye wabalimi abaphethe.

Njengoba kwakuwa izigxobo zikagesi, abantu abangaphezu kwengxenye eyodwa kweziyisithupha eFrance babengenawo ugesi wokukhanyisa ezindlini. Naphezu kwemizamo yobuqhawe yabezenkonzo yomphakathi, ngemva kwesiphepho kwaphela amasonto amabili amashumi ezinkulungwane zabantu engenawo ugesi noma izingcingo. Amanye amadolobhana azithola ehlukanisiwe. Imikhaya eyaphoqeleka ukuba iyokha amanzi emithonjeni futhi ikhanyise ngamakhandlela yazizwa sengathi iphila eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule hhayi onqenqemeni lwekhulu lama-21.

Izakhiwo zomphakathi, izinqaba noma izindlu zamasonto azizange zisinde kulesi siphepho. Kwadaleka umonakalo ezindlini zokukhulekela eziningana, kuhlanganise namaHholo OMbuso oFakazi BakaJehova angu-15. Kwezinye izindawo imihlangano yayiqhutshwa kukhanyiswe amakhandlela noma amalambu kaphalafini.

Cishe ingu-2 000 imikhaya yoFakazi BakaJehova eyalinyalelwa impahla yayo ngenxa yesiphepho, kusukela ekuwiseni izihlahla noma ama-tile ophahla emizini eyabhujiswa ngokuphelele lapho imifula idla izindwani. Kwalimala oFakazi abayidlanzana. Ngeshwa, endaweni yaseCharente, uFakazi oneminyaka engu-77 ubudala waminza, umkakhe owayengakwazi ukumsiza ebuka. Abanye basinda ngokulambisa. UGilbert, oneminyaka engu-70 ubudala, uyakhumbula: “Kuyamangalisa ukuthi angizange ngife. Umnyango wavuleka gengelezi, futhi amanzi angena ngomfutho. Kungakapholi maseko ngazithola sengisemanzini ayimitha nengxenye ukuphakama. Ngasizwa ukubambelela ekhabetheni lezingubo zokugqoka.”

Ukunikeza Usizo Oludingekayo

Iziphepho zabangela ubunye obungavamile eFrance nakulo lonke elaseYurophu. Iphephandaba i-Midi libre laphawula: “Kunezikhathi ezikuphoqa ukuba ubonise umusa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukwenza ngaphandle kokuhlela kusengaphambili, ngenxa yobungane, noma ngenxa kanembeza.”

Ngokushesha ngemva kweziphepho, kwamiswa amakomiti okunikeza usizo oFakazi BakaJehova ukuze asize amalungu amabandla endawo kanye nabanye ababethintekile kule nhlekelele. AmaKomiti Okwakha Esifunda, ngokuvamile asetshenziselwa ukwakha amaHholo OMbuso, ahlela amaqembu ezisebenzi zokuzithandela. Ngemva kwesiphepho sango-November eningizimu-ntshonalanga, oFakazi abangu-3 000 bahlanganyela emsebenzini wokuhlenga nokuhlanza, besiza izisulu ukuba zikhiphe udaka namanzi okwakungene emizini yazo. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingoFakazi zafika kuqala kwamanye amadolobhana. OFakazi bahlanza izakhiwo zomphakathi, njengezikole, amahhovisi eposi, amahholo omphakathi, amakhaya asebekhulile, ngisho namathuna. Ezimweni eziningi babesebenzisana nezinhlangano ezinika usizo.

Bonke banikezwa usizo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi banaziphi izinkolelo ezingokwenkolo. “Sasiza umpristi wendawo. Sahlanza indlu engaphansi yomuzi wakhe,” kuphawula omunye uFakazi. Ekhuluma ngabanye abathola usizo loFakazi, wanezela: “Abantu babesibheka njengokungathi sasehle ezulwini sizobasiza.” Esinye isiphathimandla sathi: “Lokhu ungase ukubheke njengendlela yabo yokufunda iVangeli futhi basize umakhelwane wabo. Ngicabanga ukuthi labo abafika babephila ngokuvumelana neVangeli nenkolo yabo.” Isisebenzi sokuzithandela esinguFakazi sathi: “Inhliziyo yakho ikushukumisela ukuba uze uzosiza kanjena. Kujabulisa ngempela ukwenzela omakhelwane bethu okuthile.”

Ngemva kwesiphepho esahlasela kabili ngo-December, kwaphela izinsuku imikhaya eminingi yoFakazi BakaJehova ingakwazi ukuxhumana nabafowabo abangamaKristu. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwababonisi abajikelezayo nabadala bendawo, kwahlelwa ukuba kunikezwe usizo. Ngezinye izikhathi imigwaqo evalekile nezigxobo zocingo eziwile zazikwenza kube nzima ukuya kubangane okuyibanga nje elingatheni ukuya lapho behlala khona. Ukuze basize amalungu ebandla labo elingalodwa, abanye oFakazi babenqamula ngezinyawo noma ngamabhayisikili emahlathini acekeleke phansi, naphezu kwengozi eyayingabehlela yokuba izihlahla ziwele phezu kwabo. Nalapha futhi, izisebenzi zokuzithandela zasebenza kanzima zihlanza izikole, imitapo yezincwadi, izindawo zokuhlala zesikhashana namakhaya omakhelwane futhi zivula izindlela ezinqamula emahlathini ezazivalekile.

Ukwakha “Umoya Wothando”

Izisulu eziningi zale nhlekelele, ikakhulukazi izingane ezisencane nasebekhulile, zashaqeka ngenxa yalesi senzakalo. Labo abalahlekelwa amakhaya abo noma abathandekayo babo bayodinga isikhathi nokusekela okukhulu komkhaya nabangane ukuze bavuselele ukuphila kwabo. Ngemva kwezikhukhula endaweni yase-Aude, uDkt. Gabriel Cottin, wekomiti yesimo esiphuthumayo yezokwelapha okungokwengqondo, waphawula: “Noma ikuphi ukusekela kwabantu benhlangano yenkolo isisulu esikuyo kuwusizo kakhulu.”

OFakazi BakaJehova babheka ukunikeza usizo olunjalo njengesibopho sikanembeza nesingokomBhalo. ‘Makungabikho ukuhlukana emzimbeni [womphakathi wamaKristu eqiniso],’ kusho umphostoli uPawulu. ‘Amalungu awo kumelwe anakekelane ngokufanayo. Futhi uma ilungu elilodwa lihlupheka, wonke amanye amalungu ahlupheka kanye nalo.’—1 Korinte 12:25, 26.

“Emahoreni ambalwa ngemva kwesiphepho, abazalwane nodade abambalwa abangamaKristu bafika emzini wethu bezosiza ngokuhlanza,” kusho uHélène, okukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni, manje osengumama womntwana wentombazane ophile sáka. “Ngisho noFakazi ababethintekile ngenxa yesiphepho nabo beza bezosisiza. Usizo lwaluluhle kakhulu—kwakungenakuzigodla futhi kwakusuka enhliziyweni!”

U-Odette, umuzi wakhe owacekeleka phansi ngenxa yesiphepho, wathi ngoFakazi ahlanganyela nabo: “Banginika induduzo enkulu. Anginawo amazwi okuchaza indlela engizizwa ngayo. Ngithinteke inhliziyo ngakho konke abangenzela kona.” Omunye wachaza indlela abaningi ababezizwa ngayo lapho ebabaza ngokwazisa: “Ngempela sinomoya wothando!”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 18, 19]

“IGAGASI ELIMNYAMA”

Phakathi nenyanga ka-December, ngaphambi nje kweziphepho, umkhumbi u-Erika wazika olwandle olwalunamandla ebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-50 ukusuka ogwini olungasempumalanga yeFrance, kwachitheka uwoyela ongamathani angu-10 000 emanzini. Ugu lolwandle olungamakhilomitha angu-400 ukusuka eBrittany kuya eVendée lwangcola. Isiphepho senza ukuba le nhlekelele ibe yimbi nakakhulu ngokusakaza uwoyela yonke indawo, okwandisa ukungcola, futhi kwenza kwaba nzima kakhulu ukuwukhuculula. Kwafika izinkulungwane zezisebenzi zokuzithandela, abancane nabadala, zivela kulo lonke elaseFrance zizosiza ekuhlanzeni uwoyela ematsheni nasesihlabathini.

Le ngozi iye yabangela ukungcola okukhulu olwandle. Izimboni zama-oyster nezimbaza ziye zalimala kakhulu. Ngokwezazi zezinyoni, kuye kwafa okungenani izinyoni zasolwandle ezingu-400 000—ama-puffin, ama-grebe, ama-gannet, futhi ikakhulukazi nama-guillemot. Lelo nani liphindwe izikhathi eziyishumi kunenani lezinyoni ezafa ngemva kokucwila komkhumbi i-Amoco Cadiz eBrittany ngo-March 1978. NgaIeso sikhathi sasebusika izinyoni eziningi zazisogwini lwaseFrance zifuduké zisuka eNgilandi, e-Ireland naseScotland. Umqondisi we-Rochefort Bird Protection League waphawula: “Lena yinhlekelele yokuchitheka kukawoyela. Yimbi kunazo zonke ezake zaba khona. . . . Sinovalo lokuthi imihlambi yezinyoni eziyivelakancane iyoncipha kakhulu ngesibalo noma iphele nyá ogwini lwaseFrance.”

[Umthombo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Amakhulukhulu atakulwa ngendiza enophephela emhlane, njengalapha eCuxac d’Aude

[Umthombo]

B.I.M.

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Phakathi kwezingadi zomvini ezonakala, kunomzila wesitimela owonakele ongeke uphinde usebenze

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B.I.M.

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Amakhulukhulu ezimoto ezibotokile ayethé chíthi saka kuyo yonke indawo

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

EVilledaigne le ndoda yavaleleka amahora angu-7

[Umthombo]

J.-M Colombier

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Esifundeni saseCreuse izihlahla zikaphayini zaziphuka njengezinti zikamentshisi

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[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Ezingadini zePalace of Versailles kuphela, kwawa izihlahla ezingu-10 000

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[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo, eSaint-Pierre-sur-Dives, eNormandy

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[Izithombe ekhasini 18]

Amaqembu oFakazi BakaJehova ahlanza ikhaya labakhulile eLa Redorte (ngenhla) nehholo lomphakathi laseRaissac d’Aude (kwesokunene)