Ngasekelwa Ukuthembela Kwami KuJehova

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGU-AGENOR DA PAIXÃO

Indodana yethu okwakuwukuphela kwayo, uPaul, yabulawa yisifo sokucinana kwemigudu yokuphefumula lapho inezinyanga ezingu-11 nje kuphela ubudala. Ezinyangeni ezintathu kamuva, ngo-August 15, 1945, umkami oyigugu wabulawa yi-pneumonia. Ngangineminyaka engu-28, futhi lamagalelo angishiya ngidabukile futhi ngicindezelekile. Nokho ukuthembela kuJehova nasezithembisweni zakhe kwangisekela. Ake ngilandise indlela engalithola ngayo leli themba.

KUSUKELA ekuzalweni kwami eSalvador, eBahia State, eBrazil, ngo-January 5, 1917, umama wangifundisa ukukhulekela “osanta” beSonto LamaKatolika. Wayeze asivuse ekuseni kakhulu nabafowethu ukuze sithandaze ndawonye. Nokho, abazali bami babeya nasezingxenyeni zesimiso se-candomblé, amasiko e-voodoo abantu baseBrazil abangama-Afrika. Ngangizihlonipha lezi zinkolelo, kodwa ngangingakwethembi lokho okubizwa ngokuthi osanta bamaKatolika noma i-candomblé. Okwakungidumaza kakhulu kwakuwubandlululo lobuhlanga olwaluboniswa kulezi zinkolo.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abafowethu ababili abadala baphuma ekhaya bayofuna umsebenzi. Kamuva ubaba wawushiya umkhaya. Ngakho lapho ngineminyaka engu-9 ubudala kwadingeka ngithole umsebenzi ukuze ngisize umama nodadewethu omncane. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-16 kamuva, izingxoxo engangiba nazo nomuntu esasisebenza naye efemini zabangela ushintsho ekuphileni kwami.

Ukuzuza Ukuthembela KuJehova

Ngahlangana noFernando Teles ngo-1942. Wayevame ukuthi kuyiphutha ukukhulekela “osanta.” (1 Korinte 10:14; 1 Johane 5:21) Ngaqale ngangamnaka nakancane. Kodwa ubuqotho bakhe nesithakazelo sakhe kubantu, kungakhathaliseki ibala labo, kwangikhanga, futhi ngalwazisa ulwazi lwakhe lweBhayibheli, ikakhulukazi lokho ayekusho ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nomhlaba oyipharadesi. (Isaya 9:6, 7; Daniyeli 2:44; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Ephawula isithakazelo enganginaso, wanginika iBhayibheli nezincwadi ezithile zeBhayibheli.

Emasontweni ambalwa kamuva, ngamukela isimemo sokuba khona esifundweni seBhayibheli sebandla. Iqembu lalifunda incwadi ethi Religion, eyayikhishwa yi-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ngasijabulela isifundo futhi ngaqala ukuba khona kuyo yonke imihlangano yebandla yoFakazi BakaJehova. Okwangihlaba umxhwele ngokukhethekile kwakuwukungabi bikho kobandlululo nendlela engamukelwa ngokushesha ngayo. Cishe ngaleso sikhathi ngaqala ukuqomisa uLindaura. Lapho ngikhuluma naye ngalokho engangikufunda, waqala ukuba khona kanye nami emihlanganweni.

Enye into eyangihlaba umxhwele emihlanganweni kwakuwukugcizelelwa komsebenzi wokushumayela. (Mathewu 24:14; IzEnzo 20:20) Ngesikhuthazo samaphayona, njengoba abashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele bebizwa kanjalo, ngaqala ukukhuluma nabanye ngokwethukela esitimeleni lapho ngiya futhi ngibuya emsebenzini. Uma ngithola othile onesithakazelo, ngangithatha ikheli lakhe bese ngimvakashela ukuze ngizame ukuhlakulela leso sithakazelo.

Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ukuthembela kwami kuJehova nasenhlanganweni ayisebenzisayo kwaqhubeka kukhula. Ngakho, ngemva kokulalela inkulumo yeBhayibheli ekhuluma ngokuzinikezela kobuKristu, ngabhapathizwa, e-Atlantic Ocean, ngo-April 19, 1943. Ngalo lolo suku, ngahlanganyela ngokokuqala ngqá enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu evamile.

Emasontweni amabili kamuva, ngo-May 5, mina noLindaura sashada. Khona-ke, ngo-August 1943, wabhapathizwa emhlanganweni wokuqala oFakazi BakaJehova ababa nawo edolobheni laseSalvador. INcwadi Yonyaka YoFakazi BakaJehova ka-1973 yesiNgisi yathi ngalowo mhlangano: “Izenzo zabefundisi zaphumelela ukuvimbela inkulumo yeningi eSalvador, kodwa kwakungemva kokuba kwenziwe ukukhangisa okuhle okuningi.” Ubufakazi besiqondiso sikaJehova naphezu koshushiso olunzima baqinisa ukuthembela kwami kuye.

Njengoba ngilandisile ekuqaleni, eminyakeni emibili nje ngemva kokubhapathizwa kukaLindaura—ezinyangeni ezintathu ngemva kokushona kwendodana yethu—umkami engangimthanda washona. Wayeneminyaka engu-22 kuphela. Kodwa ukuthembela kwami kuJehova kwangisekela phakathi nalezo zinyanga ezazinzima.

Ukuqiniswa Ukukhuthala Ngokomoya

Ngo-1946, ngemva konyaka ngilahlekelwe umkami nendodana yami, ngamiswa njengenceku yesifundo seBhayibheli ebandleni okwakuwukuphela kwalo eSalvador ngaleso sikhathi. Ngawo lowo nyaka kwaqala iSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini emabandleni aseBrazil, futhi ngaba umqhubi wesikole wokuqala ezweni laseBahia. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-October 1946, kwaba noMhlangano Ongokwasezulwini “Wezizwe Ezijabulayo” edolobheni laseSão Paulo. Umqashi wami engase ngimsebenzele iminyaka eyishumi wathi wayengidinga futhi wangicindezela ukuba ngingahambi. Nokho, ngemva kokumchazela ukuthi ukuya kulomhlangano kwakuyosho okukhulu kangakanani kimi, ngomusa wangipha isipho futhi wangifisela izilokotho ezinhle ohambweni.

Izingxenye zesimiso somhlangano eMunicipal Theater yaseSão Paulo zaziqhutshwa ngesiPutukezi—ulimi lwaseBrazil—nangesiHungary, isiJalimane, isiNgisi, isiPolishi nesiRashiya. Kulowo mhlangano kwakhululwa umagazini i-Phaphama! ngesiPutukezi. Lomhlangano wangishukumisa kakhulu—babengaba ngu-1 700 ababelalele inkulumo yeningi—kangangokuthi ngagcwalisa isicelo sokuqala ukuphayona ngo-November 1, 1946.

Ngaleso sikhathi sasiyisebenzisa kakhulu igilamafoni emsebenzini wethu wokuphayona. Sasivame kakhulu ukudlalela abaninikhaya inkulumo ethi “Isivikelo.” Kamuva, sasithi: “Ukuze sizivikele esitheni esingabonakali, kufanele sinamathele kumngane naye ongabonakali. UJehova ungumngane wethu omkhulu futhi unamandla kakhulu kunesitha sethu, uSathane. Ngakho kudingeka sinamathele ngokuseduze kuJehova ukuze sivikeleke kuye.” Sasibe sesihambisa incwajana ethi Isivikelo, eyayinikeza ukwaziswa okwengeziwe.

Ngangisaphayone isikhathi esingaphansi konyaka lapho ngithola isimemo sokuba ngizokhonza njengephayona elikhethekile eBandleni LaseCarioca eRio de Janeiro. Ngezinye izikhathi sasibhekana nokuphikiswa okunzima lapho. Engangiphayona naye, u-Ivan Brenner, ngesinye isikhathi wahlaselwa umninikhaya ngokoqobo. Omakhelwane babiza amaphoyisa, futhi sathathwa sonke sayiswa esiteshini samaphoyisa.

Phakathi nokuphenywa, lomninikhaya owayethukuthele eqhuma wasimangalela ngokuphazamisa ukuthula. Umphathi wamaphoyisa wamyala ukuba athule. Khona-ke lomphathi wamaphoyisa waphendukela kithi futhi ngomoya ophansi wathi sasikhululekile ukuhamba. Wamgcina ummangaleli wethu futhi wambeka icala lokuhlasela. Izimo ezinjengalezo zasekela ukuthembela kwami kuJehova.

Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele Eyandisiwe

Ngo-July 1, 1949, ngajabula kakhulu lapho ngimenyelwa ukuzokhonza eBethel, njengoba isikhungo esiyinhloko soFakazi BakaJehova kunoma yiliphi izwe sibizwa kanjalo. IBethel yaseBrazil yayiseseku-330 Licínio Cardoso Street eRio de Janeiro. Ngaleso sikhathi, umkhaya waseBethel uwonke wawunamalungu angu-17 kuphela. Okwesikhashana ngahlanganyela eBandleni Lase-Engenho de Dentro elalikuleyo ndawo, kodwa kamuva ngabelwa njengombonisi owengamele ebandleni okwakuwukuphela kwalo eBelford Roxo, idolobha elingamakhilomitha ambalwa ukusuka eRio de Janeiro.

Izimpelasonto zazimatasa kakhulu. Njalo ngoMgqibelo ngangiya eBelford Roxo ngesitimela, ngihlanganyele enkonzweni yasensimini ntambama, bese ngiya eSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini naseMhlanganweni Wenkonzo kusihlwa. Ngangilala emizini yabazalwane bese ngihlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini ngakusasa ekuseni. Ngaleyo ntambama ngangiba khona enkulumweni yeBhayibheli yeningi naseSifundweni Se-Nqabayokulinda bese ngibuyela eBethel cishe seligamenxe ihora lesi-9 ebusuku. Namuhla kunamabandla angu-18 eBelford Roxo.

Ngo-1954, ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nengxenye ngilandela leso simiso, ngabelwa emuva eRio de Janeiro njengombonisi owengamele eBandleni LaseSão Cristóvão. Eminyakeni eyishumi eyalandela, ngakhonza kulelo bandla.

Izabelo Zami ZaseBethel

Isabelo sami sokuqala eBethel kwakuwukwakha igalaji lemoto yeNhlangano okwakuwukuphela kwayo, iveni eyi-Dodge ka-1949 eyayifekethiswa ngelithi uShokoledi ngenxa yombala wayo onsundu. Lapho leli galaji seliphelile, ngabelwa ukusebenza ekhishini, lapho ngahlala khona iminyaka emithathu. Khona-ke ngashintshelwa eMnyangweni We-Job Press, okuyilapho sengisebenze khona iminyaka engaphezu kuka-40 manje.

Imishini eminingi yokunyathelisa esasinayo yayingamasekeni. Ngokwesibonelo, iminyaka eminingi sasinomshini wokunyathelisa omdala wohlobo lwe-flatbed esasiwuteketisa ngokuthi uSara, wethiwe ngomka-Abrahama. Wawususetshenziswe iminyaka eminingi efektri yasendlunkulu ye-Watch Tower Society eseBrooklyn, eNew York. Khona-ke ngawo-1950, wathunyelwa eBrazil. Lapha, njengomka-Abrahama, usumdala waveza izithelo—ezazingomagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!

Kungimangaza njalo ukwanda kwenani lezincwadi ezikhishwa endaweni yokunyathelisa yaseBrazil. Phakathi nawo wonke unyaka ka-1953, sanyathelisa omagazini abangu-324 400, kodwa njengamanje kukhiqizwa abangaphezu kwezigidi ezintathu inyanga ngayinye!

Izakhiwo ZaseBethel Yethu

Bekujabulisa kuyo yonke leminyaka ukubona ukwanda kwezakhiwo zeBethel yethu eBrazil. Ngo-1952 sakha ifektri enezitezi ezimbili ngemva kwekhaya lethu eRio de Janeiro. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-1968, iBethel yathuthelwa esakhiweni esisha edolobheni laseSão Paulo. Lapho singena kuso, yonke into yayibonakala inkulu futhi ivulekile emkhayeni wethu waseBethel owawunamalungu angu-42. Ngempela sasicabanga ukuthi lesi sakhiwo sasizobhekana nakho konke ukwanda kwesikhathi esizayo. Nokho, ngo-1971 kwakhiwa izakhiwo ezimbili zokunezela ezinezitezi ezinhlanu, futhi kwathengwa ifektri esasincikene nayo, yashintshwa futhi yaxhunywa kulezi zakhiwo. Kodwa ngeminyaka embalwa, ukwanda okuqhubekayo kwabamemezeli boMbuso—sadlula inani elingu-100 000 ngo-1975—kwafuna indawo eyengeziwe.

Ngakho-ke, kwakhiwa izakhiwo ezintsha endaweni engaba amakhilomitha angu-140 ukusuka eSão Paulo eduze nedolobhana laseCesário Lange. Ngo-1980 umkhaya wethu waseBethel owawunamalungu angu-170 wathuthelwa kulezi zakhiwo ezintsha. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi umsebenzi woMbuso uye wakhula ngokuphawulekayo. Njengamanje sinabangaphezu kuka-410 000 abahlanganyela njalo emsebenzini wokushumayela eBrazil! Ukuze kunakekelwe izidingo ezingokomoya zabo bonke laba bamemezeli boMbuso, kuye kwadingeka siqhubeke sakha amafektri amasha okunyathelisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli nezakhiwo ezintsha zokuhlala ukuze sihlalise izisebenzi zokuzithandela zaseBethel. Njengamanje sinamalungu aseBethel angaba ngu-1 100!

Amalungelo Engiwazisayo

Inkonzo yaseBethel ngiyibheka njengelungelo eliyigugu. Ngakho, nakuba eminyakeni yangaphambili ngake ngacabanga ukuphinde ngishade, ngakhetha ukugxila ngokuphelele emalungelweni ami eBethel nasemsebenzini wokushumayela. Lapha, ngiye ngajabulela ukukhonza nabasha abaningi kakhulu endaweni yokunyathelisa nokubaqeqesha ezabelweni zabo. Ngiye ngazama ukusebenzelana nabo njengokungathi bangamadodana ami. Intshiseko nokungabi nabugovu kwabo kuye kwaba umthombo wesikhuthazo esikhulu kimi.

Elinye ilungelo kuye kwaba elokujabulela ukuhlalisana nabantu abakahle engangihlala nabo endlini kuyo yonke leminyaka. Yiqiniso, ngezinye izikhathi ukungafani kobuntu kuye kwaba inselele. Nokho ngafunda ukungalindeli ukuphelela kwabanye. Ngiye ngazama ukugwema ukukhulisa izinto ezingasho lutho noma ukuzicabangela ngokweqile. Ukuhleka amaphutha ami siqu kuye kwangisiza ukuba ngibekezelele awabanye.

Elinye ilungelo eliyigugu engalijabulela kwakungelokuba semihlanganweni yezizwe emikhulu e-United States. Omunye wayo kwakuwuMhlangano “Wezindaba Ezinhle Zaphakade,” owawuseYankee Stadium, eNew York, ngo-1963, omunye kwakuwuMhlangano Wezizwe “Wokuthula Emhlabeni” owawusendaweni efanayo ngo-1969. Ngenkathi ngilapho, ngajabulela ukuvakashela endlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova eyayiseduze eBrooklyn, eNew York!

Kwaba yilungelo kimi nokuhlanganyela—sishintshana nabanye—ekwengameleni ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni komkhaya waseBethel iminyaka eyishumi. Noma kunjalo, ilungelo elikhulu kunawo wonke, eliye langilethela injabulo enkulu nesikhuthazo, ngelokuyisa isigijimi soMbuso kubantu abanhliziyo ziqotho, njengoba nje neNkosi yethu, uJesu Kristu, yenza.

Eminyakeni yamuva ngiye ngabhekana nenselele yokuphila ne-Parkinson’s disease. Ukunakekela kothando kwabazalwane nodade esibhedlela esincane saseBethel kuye kwaba umthombo wosizo nenduduzo eqhubekayo kimi. Ngokuqiniseka okugcwele, ngithandaza kuJehova ukuba anginike amandla okuqhubeka ngenza okusemandleni ami ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.

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Igatsha laseBrazil lapho ngihlala khona manje

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Nginomkami, owashona ngo-1945