Ukukhonza UJehova Njengomkhaya Onobunye

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGU-ANTONIO SANTOLERI

Ubaba wayeneminyaka engu-17 lapho esuka e-Italy ngo-1919. Wathuthela eBrazil efuna ukuphila okungcono. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, waba nendawo yokugundela izinwele edolobheni elincane elimaphakathi nezwe laseSão Paulo.

NGOLUNYE usuku ngo-1938, lapho ngineminyaka engu-7, ubaba wathola inguqulo yeBhayibheli i-Brasileira kwenye indoda eyeza kulendawo yakhe. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva umama wagula kakhulu futhi wahlala ekuleso simo kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. Nobaba wagula, ngakho sonke—umama, ubaba, udadewethu u-Ana, nami—sahamba sayohlala nezihlobo edolobheni laseSão Paulo.

Lapho ngisafunda esikoleni eSão Paulo, ngaba umfundi okhuthele, ikakhulukazi wezincwadi zomlando. Kwangihlaba umxhwele ukuthi iBhayibheli lalilokhu lithintwa kulezi zincwadi. Incwadi enendaba eqanjiwe, engangiyiboleke emtatsheni wezincwadi womphakathi waseSão Paulo, yayikhuluma ngeNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni izikhathi eziningana. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho nganquma khona ukuthola iBhayibheli ukuze ngizifundele leyo ntshumayelo. Ngacinga iBhayibheli elalitholwe ubaba eminyakeni ethile edlule futhi ekugcineni ngalithola ngaphansi ebhokisini lezimpahla, lapho lase lihlale khona iminyaka engu-7.

Umkhaya wakithi wawungamaKatolika, ngakho ngangingakaze ngikhuthazwe ukuba ngifunde iBhayibheli. Manje, ngazifundela ukubheka izahluko namavesi. Ngafunda ngenjabulo enkulu hhayi iNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni nje kuphela kodwa nayo yonke incwadi kaMathewu kanye nezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Okwangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu kwakuyindlela ezwakala iyiqiniso izimfundiso nezimangaliso zikaJesu ezazivezwe ngayo.

Lapho ngiqaphela indlela inkolo yamaKatolika eyayihluke ngayo kulokho engangikufunde eBhayibhelini, ngaqala ukuya eSontweni LaseHabe, futhi u-Ana wahamba nami. Nokho, ngangisalokhu ngizizwa ngintula enhliziyweni. Ngase ngineminyaka ngifuna uNkulunkulu ngentshiseko. (IzEnzo 17:27) Ngobunye ubusuku obabugcwele izinkanyezi, ngidumele, ngazibuza, ‘Kungani ngilapha? Iyini injongo yokuphila?’ Ngafuna indawo ethule ngemva kwegceke, ngaguqa, futhi ngathandaza ngathi, ‘Nkosi Nkulunkulu! Ungubani? Ngingakwazi kanjani?’ Impendulo yafika ngemva nje kwalokho.

Ukufunda Iqiniso LeBhayibheli

Ngolunye usuku ngo-1949, owesifazane osemusha weza kubaba njengoba ayehla enqoleni yasemgwaqweni. Wamhambisela omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Ubaba wenza isikhokhelo se-Nqabayokulinda wabe esemcela ukuba avakashe ekhaya, echaza ukuthi unezingane ezimbili ezisonta eSontweni LaseHabe. Phakathi nokuhambela kwalowo wesifazane, washiyela u-Ana incwadi ethi Children futhi waqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye. Kamuva ngahlanganyela kuleso sifundo.

Ngo-November 1950 saya emhlanganweni omkhulu woFakazi BakaJehova okokuqala ngqá. Lapho, kwakhululwa incwadi ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso,” futhi saqhubeka nesifundo sethu seBhayibheli sisebenzisa leyo ncwadi njengesiqondiso sethu. Ngemva nje kwalokho saqonda ukuthi sase silitholile iqiniso, futhi ngo-April 1951 sabhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova. Ubaba wazinikezela eminyakeni ethile kamuva futhi washona ethembekile kuNkulunkulu ngo-1982.

Ukujabula Enkonzweni Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Ngo-January 1954, lapho ngiseneminyaka engu-22 kuphela, ngamukelwa ukuba ngikhonze ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova, elibizwa ngokuthi iBethel. Lapho ngifika, ngamangala ukuthola ukuthi umuntu owayengidlula ngeminyaka emibili nje, uRichard Mucha, wayengumbonisi wegatsha. Ngo-1955, lapho kuphakama isidingo sezinceku ezijikelezayo, njengoba ababonisi abajikelezayo babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, ngaba phakathi kwamadoda amahlanu amenywa ukuba ahlanganyele kulenkonzo.

Isabelo sami sasisezweni laseRio Grande do Sul. Kwakunamabandla oFakazi BakaJehova angu-8 nje kuphela lapho ngiqala, kodwa phakathi nezinyanga ezingu-18 kwamiswa amabandla amasha amabili namaqembu angawodwa angu-20. Kulendawo namuhla, kunezifunda ezingu-15 zoFakazi BakaJehova, ngasinye sinamabandla angaba ngu-20! Ekupheleni kuka-1956, ngaziswa ukuthi isifunda engangikuso sasihlukaniswe saba izifunda ezine ezincane ezazizokhonzwa izinceku ezijikelezayo ezine. Ngaleso sikhathi ngacelwa ukuba ngibuyele eBethel ukuze ngithole isabelo esisha.

Ngamangala futhi ngajabula lapho ngabelwa ukuba inceku yesigodi, isikhonzi esijikelezayo esikhonza izifunda eziningana, enyakatho yeBrazil. Ngaleso sikhathi iBrazil yayinezikhonzi ezingoFakazi BakaJehova ezingu-12 000, futhi kwakunezigodi ezimbili kulelozwe. URichard Wuttke wayekhonza eningizimu, futhi mina ngaba sesigodini esisenyakatho. EBethel sasifundiswe ukusebenzisa umshini wokudlala amafilimu ukuze sibonise amafilimu enziwe oFakazi BakaJehova, ethi The New World Society in Action nethi The Happiness of the New World Society.

Ngalezo zinsuku ukuhamba kwakuhluke kakhulu. Wayengekho koFakazi owayenemoto, ngakho ngangihamba ngesikebhe esigwedlwayo, ikalishi lezinkabi, ihhashi, inqola, iloli, futhi ngahamba kanye ngendiza. Kwakuthakazelisa ukundiza phezu kwehlathi lase-Amazon uyothi cababa eSantarém, idolobha eliphakathi kweBelém esesizalweni se-Amazon neManaus, inhloko-dolobha yeZwe lase-Amazonas. Ngaleso sikhathi izinceku zezigodi zazinemihlangano embalwa okwakumelwe ziyikhonze, ngakho ngangichitha esiningi sesikhathi sami ngibonisa amafilimu eNhlangano. Emadolobheni amakhulu, kwakuza amakhulukhulu abantu.

Okwangihlaba umxhwele kakhulu enyakatho yeBrazil kwakuyisifunda sase-Amazon. Lapho ngikhonza kuleyo ndawo ngo-April 1957, uMfula i-Amazon nemingenela yawo kwagcwala kwaphuphuma. Ngaba nelungelo lokubonisa elinye lamafilimu ehlathini, ngichaye isihenqo sokuzenzela phakathi kwemithi emibili. Ugesi wokudlalisa umshini wamafilimu wawuvela enjinini yesikebhe esasimiswe ngehange emfuleni oseduze. Kwakuyifilimu yokuqala iningi lalezi zibukeli elake layibona.

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho ngabuyela enkonzweni yaseBethel, futhi ngonyaka olandelayo, ngo-1958, ngaba nelungelo lokuba seMhlanganweni Wezizwe WoFakazi BakaJehova “Wentando Yaphezulu” owaba ingqopha-mlando, owawuseNew York City. Izihambeli ezivela emazweni angu-123 zaziphakathi kwabantu abangu-253 922 ababegcwalise iYankee Stadium nePolo Grounds eyayiseduze ngosuku lokugcina lwalowo mhlangano wezinsuku ezingu-8.

Ukujabulela Izinguquko Ekuphileni Kwami

Ngemva nje kokuba ngibuyele eBethel, ngajwayelana noClara Berndt, futhi ngo-March 1959 sashada. Sabelwa emsebenzini wokujikeleza ezweni laseBahia, lapho sakhonza khona isikhathi esingangonyaka. Mina noClara sisakhumbula ngenjabulo ukuthobeka, umoya wokungenisa izihambi, intshiseko, nothando lwabazalwane balapho; babempofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo kodwa becebile ngezithelo zoMbuso. Sabe sesishintshelwa eZweni laseSão Paulo. Sasilapho, ngo-1960, ngenkathi umkami ekhulelwa, futhi kudingeka ukuba siyeke inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele.

Sanquma ukuthuthela endaweni esezweni laseSanta Catarina, lapho umkami azalelwa khona. Indodana yethu, uGerson, yaba izibulo ezinganeni zethu ezinhlanu. Yalandelwa uGilson ngo-1962, uTalita ngo-1965, uTárcio ngo-1969, noJanice ngo-1974. Ngosizo lukaJehova neseluleko esihle asinikezayo, siye sakwazi ukubhekana nenselele yokuzikhulisa “ngesiyalo nangokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova.”—Efesu 6:4.

Sibheka ngayinye yezingane zethu njengeyigugu. Umhubi wayiveza kahle kakhulu imizwa yethu: “Bheka, abantwana bayifa elivela kuJehova.” (IHubo 127:3) Naphezu kwezinkinga, siye sanakekela izingane zethu njengoba besingenza nganoma iliphi “ifa elivela kuJehova,” sikhumbula imiyalo etholakala eZwini lakhe. Imivuzo iye yaba miningi. Kwasinika injabulo engachazeki lapho zonhlanu ngokulandelana kwazo, ngokuhlukene, nangokuzinqumela zizwakalisa isifiso sazo sokubhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwazo kuJehova.—UmShumayeli 12:1.

Lokho Okwakhethwa Izingane Zethu

Sachichima injabulo lapho uGerson, ngemva nje kokuphothula isifundo se-data processing, ethi ufuna ukuyokhonza eBethel, ngaleyo ndlela ekhetha inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele kunomsebenzi wokuziphilisa ayewufundele. Nokho ekuqaleni ukuphila kwaseBethel kwakungelula kuGerson. Ngemva kokumvakashela lapho enezinyanga ezine nje kuphela eseBethel, ngathinteka ngenxa yokudabuka okwakubonakala ebusweni bakhe lapho sesihamba. Esibukweni semoto yethu esibonisa ngemuva, ngambona esibhekile kwaze kwaba yilapho sidlula ijika lokuqala lomgwaqo. Amehlo ami ayegcwele izinyembezi kangangokuba kwadingeka ngime eceleni komgwaqo ngaphambi kokuba siqhubeke nohambo lwethu lwamakhilomitha angu-700 siya ekhaya.

UGerson wagcina eseyithanda ngempela iBethel. Ngemva kokuba ebe lapho iminyaka ecishe ibe isithupha, washada noHeidi Besser, futhi bakhonza ndawonye eBethel eminye iminyaka emibili. UHeidi wabe esekhulelwa, futhi kwadingeka bahambe. Indodakazi yabo, uCintia, manje eneminyaka eyisithupha, ihamba nabo emisebenzini yabo yoMbuso.

Ngemva nje kokuba sivakashele uGerson eBethel, uGilson, owayesanda kuqeda unyaka wokuqala esifundweni sezamabhizinisi, naye wathi ufuna ukuyokhonza lapho. Wayehlele ukuphinde aqhubeke nesifundo sakhe sezamabhizinisi ngemva kokuba ekhonze unyaka eBethel. Kodwa wakushintsha ayekuhlelile, futhi wahlala enkonzweni yaseBethel. Ngo-1988 washada noVivian Gonçalves, iphayona, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zibizwa kanjalo. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, bebelokhu bekhonza ndawonye eBethel.

Injabulo yethu yaqhubeka lapho ingane yethu yesithathu, uTalita, ikhetha ukungenela inkonzo yamaphayona ngo-1986 ngemva kokuthatha isifundo sokudweba amapulani okwakha. Eminyakeni emithathu kamuva nayo yamukelwa eBethel. Ngo-1991 yashada noJosé Cozzi, owayesekhonze eBethel iminyaka eyishumi. Bayaqhubeka belapho njengombhangqwana oshadile.

Mina nomkami saphinde sajabula lapho uTárcio, olandelayo ohlwini, ephinda amazwi afanayo esase siwezwe izikhathi ezintathu kakade, “Baba, ngifuna ukuya eBethel.” Isicelo sakhe samukelwa, futhi ngo-1991 naye waqala inkonzo yaseBethel, ahlale ekuyona kwaze kwaba ngo-1995. Siyajabula ngokuthi wasebenzisa ubungqabavu bakhe bobusha ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso kaJehova ngalendlela iminyaka engaphezu kwemithathu.

Uthumbu, uJanice, wazinqumela ukukhonza uJehova futhi wabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-13. Lapho esafunda esikoleni, wakhonza njengephayona elisizayo unyaka owodwa. Kwabe sekuthi, ngo-September 1, 1993, waqala ukuba iphayona elivamile ebandleni lakithi lapha edolobheni laseGaspar.

Indlela Yokuphumelela

Iyini imfihlo yokugcina umkhaya unobunye ekukhulekeleni uJehova? Angikholelwa ukuthi kunendlela ethile ewumlingo. UJehova uye wanikeza iseluleko eZwini lakhe abazali abangamaKristu okumelwe basilandele, ngakho lonke udumo kufanele luye kuye ngenxa yemiphumela emihle esiye sayijabulela. Samane nje sazama ukulandela iziqondiso zakhe. (IzAga 22:6) Zonke izingane zethu zinokuthambekela okungokomzwelo kwabantu baseLatin America ezikuthole kimi nesimo samaJalimane sokwenza izinqumo ezinengqondo ezisithole kunina. Kodwa into ebaluleke kunazo zonke eziyithole kithi ifa elingokomoya.

Ukuphila kwethu kwasekhaya kwakugxile ezithakazelweni zoMbuso. Kwakungelula ukugcina lezi zithakazelo ziza kuqala. Ngokwesibonelo, sasinenkinga yokulondoloza isimiso sesifundo seBhayibheli somkhaya sasikhathi sonke, noma kunjalo asizange siphele amandla. Kusukela zisezincane, ingane ngayinye sasiya nayo emihlanganweni yobuKristu kanye nasemihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu. Kwakuba ukugula noma okunye okuphuthumayo kuphela okwakusivimbela ekubeni khona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho zisencane, izingane zethu zazihamba nathi enkonzweni yobuKristu.

Lapho zineminyaka ecishe ibe yishumi, zaqala ukunikeza izinkulumo eSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. Sazisiza ukuba zilungiselele izinkulumo zazo zokuqala, sizikhuthaza ukuba zisebenzise uhlaka kunenkulumo efundwayo. Kamuva, ngayinye yazilungiselela ngokwayo inkulumo. Futhi, lapho zineminyaka ephakathi kweyishumi neyishumi nambili, ngayinye yaqala ukuhlanganyela njalo enkonzweni. Lena kwakuwukuphela kwendlela yokuphila ezaziyazi.

Umkami, uClara, waba nendima ebalulekile ekukhuliseni izingane zethu. Njalo ebusuku, lapho zisezincane kakhulu—lapho ingane ibamba njengesiponji konke ekufundiswayo—uClara wayezifundela indaba yeBhayibheli futhi athandaze nengane ngayinye. Wayisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo incwadi ethi Ukusuka EPharadesi Elilahlekile Ukuya EPharadesi Elizuziwe, Ukulalela UMfundisi OMkhulu, nethi INcwadi Yami Yezindaba ZeBhayibheli.a Lapho esetholakala, sasebenzisa nosizo lwamakhasethi alalelwayo nawe-video alungiselelwa oFakazi BakaJehova.

Okuhlangenwe nakho kwethu njengabazali abangamaKristu kuqinisekisa ukuthi izingane zidinga ukunakekelwa kwansuku zonke. Uthando olujulile, isithakazelo somuntu siqu, nesikhathi esiningi kuphakathi kwezidingo eziyisisekelo zezingane. Asizange sikubheke njengomthwalo wethu wemfanelo njengabazali ukwanelisa lezi zidingo ngangokusemandleni ethu nje kuphela kodwa sathola injabulo enkulu ngokwenza kanjalo.

Ngempela, abazali bayakujabulela ukubona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi eHubo 127:3-5: “Bheka, abantwana bayifa elivela kuJehova, isithelo sesisu singumvuzo. Njengemicibisholo esandleni seqhawe banjalo abantwana bobusha. Ibusisiwe indoda emgodla wayo ugcwele bona.” Ukukhonza uJehova njengomkhaya onobunye ngempela kuye kwasenza sajabula!

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

U-Antonio Santoleri nomkhaya wakhe