Lapho Othile Ekubiza, Ingabe Uyasabela?
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUSHINICHI TOHARA
ENGXENYENI yokuqala yokuphila kwami, angizange ngimkhulekele uNkulunkulu, futhi angizange ngifune isiqondiso esivela kuye. Ugogo nomkhulu bafuduka eJapane baya eHawaii, futhi abazali bami babengamaBuddha. Babengashiseki kangako okholweni lwabo, ngakho njengoba ngangikhula angizange ngicabange kakhulu ngoNkulunkulu.
Khona-ke ngafunda ngokuziphendukela kwemvelo futhi ngaqala ukucabanga ngendlela okwakuwubuwula ngayo ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Nokho, njengoba imfundo yami yezwe yayithuthuka, izifundo zesayensi zangingenisa esifundweni sesayensi yezinkanyezi, isayensi yezinto zemvelo, nesayensi yezinto eziphilayo. Ebusuku ngangigqolozela isibhakabhaka futhi ngizibuze ukuthi zonke lezinkanyezi zaba khona kanjani laphaya. Izwi elinokungabaza ngaphakathi kimi laqala ukubuza: ‘Ingabe kungase kube khona uNkulunkulu olawula zonke lezizinto?’ Ngaqala ukuba nomuzwa wokuthi kumelwe ukuba kukhona Othile endaweni engabonakali. Inhliziyo yami yaqala ukubuza, ‘Ungubani loNkulunkulu?’
Ngemva kokuphothula esikoleni esiphakeme, ngazithola ngixinekile ngomsebenzi wami wokusebenzisa imishini yenkampane eyenza utshwala ngerayisi elibilisiwe, futhi angizange ngisaba naso isikhathi sokuzindla ngendaba kaNkulunkulu. Ngokushesha ngahlangana noMasako, owaba ngumkami ngo-1937, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sabusiswa ngabantwana abathathu. Yeka umngane othembekile nomama okhuthele uMasako aba nguye!
Manje njengoba ngase nginomkhaya, ngacabanga ngokungathi sína ngekusasa lethu. Ngaqala futhi ukuphumela ngaphandle ngigqolozele izinkanyezi. Ngangiqinisekile ukuthi wayekhona uNkulunkulu. Ngangingazi ukuthi wayengubani lowoNkulunkulu, noma kunjalo ngaqala ukumbiza. Ngokuphindaphindiwe nganginxusa: ‘Uma ukhona, ngicela usize umkhaya wami uthole indlela yokuphila ngenjabulo.’
Ekugcineni Isicelo Sami Saphendulwa
Kusukela ngomshado wethu besilokhu sihlala nabazali bami, kodwa ngo-1941 saqala ukuhlala sodwa eHilo, eHawaii. Ngemva nje kokuba sesizinzile ekhaya lethu elisha, amaJapane ahlasela iPearl Harbor, ngoDecember 7, 1941. Kwakuyisikhathi sokucindezeleka, futhi wonke umuntu wayekhathazekile ngekusasa.
Ngemva kwenyanga iPearl Harbor ihlaselwe, ngangicwebezelisa imoto yami lapho kusondela indoda kimi futhi inginikeza incwadi enesihloko esithi Children. Yathi igama layo nguRalph Garoutte, isikhonzi soFakazi BakaJehova. Angizange ngikuqonde lokho eyayikusho, kodwa nganginesithakazelo kuNkulunkulu, ngakho ngayamukela incwadi. Ngesonto elilandelayo, uRalph wabuya futhi wasikisela isifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya kimi. Nakuba ngangizwile ngeBhayibheli, lesi kwakuyisikhathi sokuqala ukuba ngilibone ngokoqobo. Ngasamukela isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi umkami nodadewabo omncane bahlanganyela.
Iqiniso lokuthi iBhayibheli laliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu langihlaba umxhwele ngempela. (2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) Ukuthi uJehova wayenenjongo kwakumangalisa ngisho nangokwengeziwe. WayenguMdali engangilokhu ngimfuna! (Isaya 45:18) Sajabula ukufunda ukuthi iPharadesi lokuqala elalahleka lalizobuyiselwa khona lapha emhlabeni, futhi singaba ingxenye yalo. (IsAmbulo 21:1-4) Isicelo sami kuNkulunkulu sase siphendulekile!
Sasikhuluma nabo bonke abantu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bangobani ngalamaqiniso esasisanda kuwathola. Abazali bami babecabanga ukuthi sasihlanya, kodwa lokho akuzange kusenze siyeke. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu zesifundo seBhayibheli esijulile, ngoApril 19, 1942, mina nomkami sabhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwethu kuNkulunkulu wethu uJehova. Udadewabo kaMasako omncane uYoshi nomyeni wakhe, uJerry, ngalesosikhathi owayesehlanganyela esifundweni sethu seBhayibheli, babhapathizwa kanye nathi. Sasinolwazi olulinganiselwe kuphela lwemiBhalo eNgcwele, kodwa lwalwanele ukusishukumisela ukuba sifune ukukhonza uNkulunkulu.
Njengoba impi yezwe yesibili yayisabambene, ngacabanga ukuthi isiphelo salesimiso sase siseduze kakhulu, futhi mina nomkami sezwa isidingo sokuxwayisa abantu ngalokhu. AbakwaGaroutte babeyisibonelo sethu kulokhu. Bobabili uRalph nomkakhe babekhonza njengamaphayona, izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngaqhathanisa isimo sethu naleso sikaRalph. Wayenomfazi nabantwana abane. Nganginomfazi nabantwana abathathu kuphela. Uma ayengakwazi ukukwenza, nami kumelwe ngikwazi ukukwenza. Ngakho ngenyanga elandela ubhapathizo lwethu, safaka isicelo senkonzo yamaphayona.
Ngisho nangaphambi kokwamukelwa njengephayona, ngaphisana ngazo zonke izinto ezingadingekile, kuhlanganise nesiginci sami sensimbi, umtshingo, neviolin. Ngangikade ngiwushisekela kakhulu umculo, kodwa ngalahla yonke into ngaphandle kogubhu lwami oluncane olufuthwayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umsebenzi wami enkampaneni eyenza utshwala ngerayisi elibilisiwe awuzange usabonakala ukhanga. (Filipi 3:8) Ngakha umahamba-nendlwana futhi ngalindela ukubona ukuthi uJehova wayezoziphendula yini izicelo zami zokuba angisebenzise. Akuzange kudingeke ukuba ngilinde isikhathi eside. Kusukela ngoJune 1, 1942, samukelwa njengamaphayona. Saqonda ngqó ekukhonzeni uJehova isikhathi esigcwele futhi asikaze sizisole ngalesosinqumo.
Ukuphayona EHawaii
Sikanye nabakwaGaroutte, sahlanganisa iHawaii, iBig Island, kuhlanganise neKona, indawo yekhofi eyaziwayo, neKau. Ngalezozinsuku sasisebenza ngephonograph. Yayisinda kakhulu, kodwa sasisebancane futhi sinamandla. Ngakho, siphethe iphonograph ngesandla esisodwa nesikhwama sezincwadi ngesinye, salandela noma yimiphi imikhondo eyayingase isiholele kubantu ababengalalela emasimini ekhofi, emapulazini, nakuzo zonke ezinye izindawo. Khona-ke, ngemva kokuhlanganisa sonke isiqhingi, sabelwa eKohala eBig Island. IKohala yayiyipulazi elincane lomoba, elalihlalwa amaCaucasian, amaFilipino, amaShayina, amaHawaiian, amaJapane, namaPutukezi. Iqembu ngalinye lalinamasiko alo, imibono, izinto elizithandayo, nezinkolo.
Lapho sengiqale ukuphayona, angizange ngiphinde ngenze umsebenzi wokuziphilisa. Isikhathi esithile saphila ngemali engangiyigcinile, futhi uma kwakuba khona isidingo, ngangihamba ngiyobamba izinhlanzi ngokuzijoja ngomkhonto. Ngokumangalisayo, ngaso sonke isikhathi ngangibuyela ekhaya ngiphethe izinhlanzi ezimbalwa. Sasibutha imifino yasendle nemifino eyayimila endleleni futhi leyomifino yayihlobisa amapuleti ethu ngesikhathi sokudla kwakusihlwa. Ngenza uhavini ngegogogo elenziwe lasebenza ngogesi, futhi uMasako wafunda ukubhaka isinkwa. Kwakuyisinkwa esingcono kunazo zonke engake ngazidla.
Lapho sisemhlanganweni wobuKristu eHonolulu ngo-1943, uDonald Haslett owayengumbonisi wegatsha eHawaii ngalesosikhathi, wasimema ukuba sithuthele lapho futhi sihlale ekamelweni elincane elalakhiwe phezu kwegalaji leWatch Tower Society. Ngabelwa ukuba ngihlanze isakhiwo segatsha futhi ngajabulela iminyaka emihlanu elandelayo yobuphayona ngilapho.
Ubizo Olungalindelekile
Ngo-1943 sezwa ukuthi iNhlangano yayisungule isikole sokuqeqeshela izithunywa zevangeli inkonzo yakwamanye amazwe. Yeka ukuthi sasingathanda kangakanani ukuba khona! Nokho, imikhaya enabantwana yayingamenywa, ngakho asizange sikucabangele ngokwengeziwe. Nokho, ngo-1947, uMzalwan’ uHaslett wasitshela ukuthi iNhlangano yayifuna ukwazi ukuthi ayekhona yini amaHawaiian ayezimisele ukungenela inkonzo yakwamanye amazwe eJapane. Wasibuza ukuthi sasicabangani, futhi njengoIsaya, ngathi: “Ngithume mina.” (Isaya 6:8) Umkami wazizwa ngendlela efanayo. Asizange singabaze ukusabela obizweni lukaJehova.
Ngakho samenywa ukuba sibe khona eWatchtower Bible School of Gilead sizoqeqeshwa njengezithunywa zevangeli. Lesimemo sahlanganisa abantwana bethu abancane abathathu. Abanye abahlanu, uDonald noMabel Haslett, uJerry noYoshi Toma, noElsie Tanigawa, nabo bamenywa, futhi ndawonye sabhekisa amabombo ethu eNew York ngobusika bango-1948.
Sanqamula izwekazi ngebhasi. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu sisebhasini, sonke sasikhathele, futhi uMzalwan’ uHaslett wasikisela ukuthi sihlabe ikhefu futhi sihlale ehhotela ubusuku bonke. Lapho sehla ebhasini, kwasondela indoda kithi futhi yamemeza: “Japs! Ngisayothatha isibhamu sami ekhaya ngizowadubula!”
“Abawona amaJapane,” kwasho uMzalwan’ uHaslett. “BangamaHawaiian. Ingabe awuwuboni umehluko?” Ukuphawula kwakhe okucatshangwe ngokushesha kwasisindisa.
Ingabe ngempela sasiyingxenye yekilasi leshumi nanye laseGilead? Kwabonakala kuyiphupho elimangalisayo. Nokho, ukuba kwalo ngokoqobo, kwaba sobala ngokushesha. Ekilasini lethu, uNathan H. Knorr, ngalesosikhathi owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society, wayekhethe abafundi abangu-25 ukuba baqeqeshelwe inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli eJapane. Njengoba ngangingowesizukulwane samaJapane futhi ngisikhuluma kancane isiJapane, ngabelwa ukuba ngifundise leliqembu labafundi lolulimi. Njengoba ngangingachwepheshile olimini, lokhu kwakungelula; kodwa ngandlela-thile sonke saphumelela!
Ngalesosikhathi indodana yethu, uLoy, yayineminyaka eyishumi ubudala, futhi amadodakazi ethu, uThelma noSally, ayeneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili neyisithupha. Lapho sisesikoleni, kwakwenzekani kubo? Nabo babeya esikoleni! Ibhasi lalibalanda ekuseni futhi libalethe ekhaya ntambama. Lapho abantwana befika ekhaya bevela esikoleni, uLoy wayesebenza nabazalwane epulazini leNhlangano, futhi uThelma noSally babesebenza elondolo besonga amaduku.
Ukuvumelanisa Ingqondo Nesimo Esingaziwa
Lapho sithweswa iziqu eGilead ngoAugust 1, 1948, sase sijahe ukuya esabelweni sethu. UMzalwan’ uHaslett wahamba kuqala ukuze ayofuna indawo yokuhlala yezithunywa zevangeli. Ekugcineni, wathola indlu enezitezi ezimbili eTokyo, futhi ngoAugust 20, 1949, umkhaya wethu wathuthela ekhaya lethu lesikhathi esizayo.
Ngaphambi kokuba sifike eJapane, ngangilokhu ngicabanga ngalelizwe elisempumalanga. Ngangicabanga ngokwethembeka kwabantu baseJapane kubaholi abangabantu nasenkosini. AmaJapane amaningi ayedela ukuphila kwawo ngenxa yalababusi abangabantu. Phakathi nempi yezwe yesibili, abashayeli bendiza ethwala iziqhumane bafela inkosi yabo ngokuqondisa indiza yabo phezu kukashimula womkhumbi wempi wesitha. Ngikhumbula ngicabanga ukuthi uma abantu baseJapane bethembeke kangako emakhosini angabantu, yini ababeyoyenza uma sebethole iNkosi yeqiniso, uJehova?
Lapho sifika eJapane, kwakukhona izithunywa zevangeli eziyisikhombisa kuphela nabamemezeli abambalwa kulo lonke izwe. Sonke saqala ukusebenza, futhi ngalwela ukuthuthukisa ulwazi lwami lolimi futhi ngakwazi ukuqalisa izifundo zeBhayibheli nabaningi ababebiza uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo. Iningi lalabobafundi beBhayibheli bokuqala liye laqhubeka lithembekile kwaze kwaba yilolusuku.
Inkonzo Yezithunywa Zevangeli Kanye Nabantwana Bethu
Sasingaphumelela kanjani enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli sinabantwana abancane abathathu okwakumelwe sibanakekele? Nokho, uJehova wayengamandla angemva kwakho konke. Sasithola imali encane eyimbuyiselo evela eNhlanganweni, futhi uMasako wayenzela abantwana izingubo zokugqoka. Ngaphezu kwalokho sasithola usizo oluvela kubazali bami.
Ngemva kokuba esephumelele esikoleni esiphakeme, uLoy wakhonza egatsheni laseJapane leWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society isikhathi esithile. Nokho, ngenxa yezinkinga zempilo, wanquma ukubuyela eHawaii ukuze ayolashwa. Njengamanje yena nomkakhe bakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka eCalifornia. Umshado wakhe uphumele ekubusisweni kwethu ngabazukulu abane abathembekile. Bonke babhapathiziwe, futhi oyedwa, kanye nomkakhe, ukhonza eBethel yaseBrooklyn, indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova.
Amadodakazi ami, uThelma noSally, amiswa njengezithunywa zevangeli lapho esekhulile. Njengamanje uThelma ukhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli edolobheni laseToyama. USally washada noMzalwane oyisithunywa sevangeli, uRon Trost, futhi bebekhonza eJapane njengezithunywa zevangeli ezijikelezayo iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-25.
Ukusuka Enyakatho Ngiya Eningizimu
Ngemva kokuchitha iminyaka emibili eTokyo, sathunyelwa eOsaka iminyaka emibili. Isabelo sethu esilandelayo sasiyisa enyakatho eSendai, lapho sakhonza khona iminyaka engaba yisithupha. Leyominyaka siseSendai yasilolongela izabelo zasesiqhingini saseJapane esiseduze nenyakatho, iHokkaido. KwakuseHokkaido lapho amadodakazi ethu amiswa khona njengezithunywa zevangeli. Kwakulapho futhi okwafuneka khona ukuba sijwayelane namazinga okubanda asebusika ngezinye izikhathi ayeba ngaphansi kwezingaqhwa. Lolu kwakuwushintsho olukhulu ngemva kokuba seHawaii eshisayo!
Khona-ke, ngolunye usuku kwezwakala ubizo olusha ezindlebeni zami ngencwadi evela eNhlanganweni. Yayingicela ukuba ngivule ihhovisi legatsha eOkinawa, eyayisengaphansi kokulawula kweU.S. Ukusuka esiqongweni esibandayo saseJapane esisenyakatho ukuya endaweni manje eyisifunda saseJapane eduze neningizimu kwakuzoletha inselele enkulu. Yini engangizoyenza? Nakuba ngangizizwa ngingafanelekile, ngafika eOkinawa ngoNovember 1965 ngiphelezelwa njengenhlala-yenza umkami othembekile. Ingabe ukuphila eOkinawa kwakuyofana nokuphila eJapane? Kuthiwani ngezinkolelo? Ingabe abantu babeyosabela esigijimini sikaJehova sensindiso?
Lapho sifika, kwakunabamemezeli abangaphansi kuka-200 eOkinawa. Manje kunabangaphezu kuka-2 000. Ekuqaleni, ngesinye isikhathi ngangiba umbonisi wesifunda futhi ngesinye ngibe umbonisi wegatsha. Ukujikeleza zonke lezoziqhingi kwangisiza ukuba ngakhe ubungane obuseduze nabazalwane lapho, futhi ngikubheka njengelungelo ukuthi ngiye ngabakhonza.
Ingabe Sasingenankinga?
Umsebenzi wethu wezithunywa zevangeli awuzange neze uhlale ungenazinkinga. Lapho siseholidini eUnited States ngo-1968, uMasako wagula futhi kwadingeka ukuba ahlinzwe. Kwakhishwa isimila emathunjini akhe futhi ngemva kwalokho walulama ngokuphawulekayo. Sasingenawo umshwalense wezokwelapha, futhi sasikhathazekile ngokuthi mhlawumbe sasingeke sikwazi ukubuyela esabelweni sethu. Nokho, kwasimangalisa kakhulu ukuthi abangane esikholwa nabo banakekela yonke into.
Ngokuqondene nami, manje ngiphila nezinkinga ezibangelwa isifo sikashukela. Nakuba ngingeyona impumputhe, ukubona kwami kuthikamezeke kakhulu. Kodwa ngomusa kaJehova wothando, ngiyakwazi ukuzondla njalo ngokomoya ngokulalela amakhasethi eWatchtower neAwake! Abafowethu nodadewethu engikholwa nabo bayasiza futhi ngokungifundela izincwadi ezihlukahlukene.
Ngangingaqhubeka kanjani nginikeza izinkulumo zeningi nginamehlo alufifi? Ekuqaleni ngangiziqopha izinkulumo zami futhi ngizidlale ngomshini okhulisa izwi kuyilapho mina ngilingisa ngezandla. Nokho, ngemva kokusikisela kwendodakazi yami, ngathuthuka kulokhu. Manje ngiqopha izinkulumo zami ngesiqopha-mazwi esincane futhi ngizinikeze kuyilapho ngilalele ngesidlali makhasethi esifakwa ezindlebeni inkulumo yami eqoshwe kusengaphambili.
Noma nini lapho sibhekene nezinkinga zangempela, asikaze sihluleke ukubiza uJehova. Ekugcineni, izibusiso ezazilethwa ukuxazulula kukaJehova izinkinga ngaso sonke isikhathi zazibonakala zinkulu kunalokho izinkinga ngokwazo ezazibonakala ziyikho. Ukuqhubeka enkonzweni yakhe ukuphela kwendlela esingabonisa ngayo ukubonga kwethu.
Ngemva kweminyaka engu-23 siseOkinawa, saphinda sabelwa esifundazweni esifanayo esasikhonze kuso lapho sifika okokuqala eJapane. Ihhovisi leNhlangano eliyinhloko nekhaya layo elikhulu lezithunywa zevangeli kusesizeni sokuqala esasinalesiya sakhiwo esinezitezi ezimbili eTokyo, esathengwa uMzalwan’ uHaslett eminyakeni eminingi edlule.
Ngaphandle kwami noMasako, abangu-11 ezihlotsheni zethu manje bakhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli eJapane. Sonke sikubheka njengelungelo ukuthi siye sabona ukwanda okuye kwalethwa uJehova kulelizwe eligcwele izinkolelo zobuBuddha nobuShinto. Umsebenzi eJapane uqale kancane, kodwa amandla kaJehova aye akha ‘isizwe’ sabamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abangaphezu kuka-167 000.—Isaya 60:22.
Lapho ngibiza uNkulunkulu, wasabela. Lapho engimema, ngasabela ngokuqondile. Mina nomkami sinomuzwa wokuthi siye senza kuphela lokho okufanele ngabe sikwenzile. Kuthiwani ngawe? Lapho uMdali wakho ekubiza, ingabe uyasabela?
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AbakwaTohara nabanye beqembu labo lamaphayona eHawaii, ngo-1942
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Abantwana bakwaTohara beseGilead ngo-1948
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Bejabulile ngokuthi baye basabela obizweni, uShinichi noMasako Tohara sebeqede iminyaka engu-43 emsebenzini wezithunywa zevangeli