Ukulindela UJehova Ngesineke Kusukela Ebusheni Bami Kuqhubeke

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGURUDOLF GRAICHEN

Njengombani, umkhaya wakithi wagaselwa usizi lapho ngineminyaka engu-12 kuphela. Okokuqala, ubaba wagqunywa ejele. Ngemva kwalokho, mina nodadewethu sasuswa ngenkani ekhaya sayohlaliswa nabantu esingabazi. Kamuva, mina nomama saboshwa amaGestapo. Ngaya ejele futhi yena wagcina esekamu lokuhlushwa.

LOLO chungechunge lwezenzakalo lwalumane luyisiqalo senkathi yoshushiso olunzima engabhekana nalo ebusheni bami njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. AmaGestapo amaNazi anedumela elibi nama-Stasi aseMpumalanga Jalimane azama ukuphula ubuqotho bami kuNkulunkulu. Manje, ngemva kweminyaka engu-50 yenkonzo yokuzinikezela kuye, ngingasho njengoba kwasho umhubi: “Bangihluphile kakhulu [kusukela ebusheni bami, NW] nokho abangahlulanga.” (IHubo 129:2) Yeka indlela engimbonga ngayo uJehova!

Ngazalwa ngo-June 2, 1925, edolobhaneni laseLucka eduze neLeipzig, eJalimane. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba ngizalwe, abazali bami, u-Alfred noTeresa, babeliqaphela iqiniso leBhayibheli ezincwadini zabaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngiyakhumbula nsuku zonke ngibuka imifanekiso yezenzakalo zeBhayibheli eyayilenga ezindongeni zasekhaya. Omunye umfanekiso wawubonisa impisi newundlu, izinyane nengwe, inkonyane nebhubesi—konke kunokuthula, kuqhutshwa umfanyana. (Isaya 11:6-9) Imifanekiso enjalo yagxila kimi.

Noma nini lapho kwakungenzeka khona, abazali bami babengihilela emisebenzini yebandla. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-February 1933, ngemva nje kwezinsuku ezimbalwa uHitler eqale ukubusa, i-“Photo-Drama of Creation”—enama-slide, imifanekiso enyakazayo nenkulumo eqoshiwe—yaboniswa edolobhaneni lethu. Yeka indlela engangijabule ngayo, umfanyana nje oneminyaka engu-7, ngihamba lonke idolobha ngigibele ngemuva elolini elincane ngiyingxenye yababemasha bememezela nge-“Photo-Drama”! Kulesi senzakalo nezinye, abafowethu babengenza ngizizwe ngiyilungu lebandla eliwusizo nakuba ngangisemncane. Ngakho, kusukela ngisemncane impela, ngafundiswa nguJehova futhi ngathonywa iZwi lakhe.

Ukuqeqeshelwa Ukuthembela KuJehova

Ngenxa yokuma okuqinile kokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu, oFakazi BakaJehova abazange bahileleke kwezombangazwe zamaNazi. Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-1933 amaNazi ashaya imithetho eyayisenqabela ukuba sishumayele, sihlangane, ngisho nokuba sifunde izincwadi zethu zeBhayibheli. Ngo-September 1937 bonke abazalwane ebandleni lakithi, kuhlanganise nobaba, baboshwa amaGestapo. Lokho kwangenza ngadabuka kakhulu. Ubaba wagwetshwa iminyaka emihlanu ejele.

Izinto zaba nzima kakhulu ekhaya. Kodwa ngokushesha safunda ukuthembela kuJehova. Ngolunye usuku lapho ngifika ekhaya ngivela esikoleni, umama wayefunda INqabayokulinda. Wayefuna ukungenzela ukudla kwasemini okulula, ngakho wabeka umagazini phezu kwekhabethe elincane. Ngemva kokudla, lapho sisaqoqa izitsha, kwangqongqozwa ngamandla emnyango. Kwakuyiphoyisa elalifuna ukuguduza indlu esasihlala kuyo lifuna izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ngethuka kakhulu.

Lalikhipha umkhov’etsheni. Ngakho into yokuqala leli phoyisa elayenza lakhumula isigqoko sokuzivikela lasibeka phezu kwetafula. Labe seliqhubeka liguduza. Lapho lisabheka ngaphansi kwetafula, isigqoko salo saqala ukushelela. Ngakho umama wasibamba ngokushesha wasibeka phezu kwekhabethe phezu kwayo kanye INqabayokulinda! Leli phoyisa laphequlula endlini esasihlala kuyo kodwa alitholanga neyodwa incwadi. Yiqiniso, alizange licabange ukubheka ngaphansi kwesigqoko salo. Lapho selilungele ukuhamba, lavungazela lixolisa kumama ngesikhathi lelulela isandla ngemva kwalo lithatha isigqoko salo. Yeka indlela engazizwa ngikhululeke ngayo!

Okuhlangenwe nakho okunjalo kwangilungiselela uvivinyo olunzima nakakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, esikoleni ngacindezelwa ukuba ngijoyine inhlangano okuthiwa i-Hitler Youth, lapho izingane zaziqeqeshelwa khona impi futhi zifundiswa ifilosofi yamaNazi. Abanye othisha babezibekele umgomo wokwenza bonke abafundi babo bahlanganyele. Uthisha owayengifundisa, uHerr Schneider, kumelwe ukuba wazizwa eyisehluleki ngokuphelele ngoba, ngokungefani nabanye othisha besikole sethu, wayesele ngomfundi oyedwa ukuba abe nabafundi abahlanganyela bonke. Ngangiyilowo mfundi.

Ngolunye usuku uHerr Schneider wamemezela kulo lonke ikilasi: “Bafana, kusasa sizohamba siyophola njengekilasi.” Wonke umuntu wawuthanda lowo mqondo. Wabe esenezela: “Nonke kufanele nigqoke iyunifomu yenu ye-Hitler Youth ukuze lapho simasha sidlula emigwaqweni, bonke babone ukuthi ningabafana abahle bakaHitler.” Ngosuku olulandelayo ekuseni bonke abafana bafika begqoke amayunifomu abo ngaphandle kwami. Uthisha wangibizela phambi kwekilasi wangicela: “Bheka abanye abafana bese uzibheka.” Wanezela: “Ngiyazi ukuthi abazali bakho bampofu futhi ngeke bakwazi ukukuthengela iyunifomu, kodwa ake ngikubonise okuthile.” Wangiyisa etafuleni lakhe, wavula ikhabethe, futhi wathi: “Ngifuna ukukunika leyunifomu entsha sha. Ingabe ayiyinhle?”

Ngangingamane ngife kunokuba ngigqoke iyunifomu yamaNazi. Lapho uthisha ebona ukuthi angizimisele ukuyigqoka, wathukuthela, futhi lonke ikilasi langibhavumulela. Wabe esehamba eyophola nathi kodwa ezama ukungifihla ngokungihambisa phakathi kwabo bonke abanye abafana abagqoke amayunifomu abo. Nokho, abantu abaningi edolobheni babengibona ngoba ngangihlukile kulabo engifunda nabo. Wonke umuntu wayazi ukuthi mina nabazali bami singoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokunginika amandla angokomoya adingekayo lapho ngisemncane.

Ushushiso Luyaqina

Ngolunye usuku ekuqaleni kuka-1938, mina nodadewethu sathathwa esikoleni sahanjiswa ngemoto yamaphoyisa sayiswa esikoleni sokuqondisa izigwegwe eStadtroda, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-80. Ngani? Izinkantolo zazinqume ukusisusa ethonyeni labazali bethu futhi zisiguqule sibe izingane zamaNazi. Ngokushesha isikhulu esiphethe esikoleni sokuqondisa izigwegwe saqaphela ukuthi mina nodadewethu sasihlonipha futhi silalela, nakuba sasiqinile ekumeni kwethu kokungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu. Umqondisi wahlabeka umxhwele kangangokuthi wafuna ukubonana nomama mathupha. Kwaphambukwa emthethweni, futhi umama wavunyelwa ukuba asivakashele. Mina nodadewethu nomama sasijabule kakhulu futhi sibonga uJehova ngokusinika ithuba lokuba ndawonye ukuze sikhuthazane usuku lonke. Sasilidinga ngempela.

Sahlala izinyanga ezingaba zine esikoleni sokuqondisa izigwegwe. Sabe sesiyohlaliswa nomkhaya othile ePahna. Wayalwa ukuba usigcine sikude nezihlobo zethu. Umama wayengavunyelwa ngisho nokuba avakashe. Nokho, ezikhathini ezimbalwa, wayithola indlela yokuxhumana nathi. Esebenzisa lawo mathuba ayivela kancane, umama wayenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuba agxilise kithi ukuzimisela ukuhlala sithembekile kuJehova, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yikuphi ukuvivinywa nezimo azivumelayo.—1 Korinte 10:13.

Futhi kwafika ukuvivinywa. Ngo-December 15, 1942, lapho ngineminyaka engu-17 nje kuphela, ngaboshwa amaGestapo angifaka ejele laseGera. Ngemva kwesikhathi esingaba isonto, umama naye waboshwa futhi wafakwa ejele engangikulo. Ngenxa yokuthi ngangisemncane, izinkantolo zazingenakungithethisa icala. Ngakho mina nomama sachitha izinyanga eziyisithupha ejele lapho izinkantolo zisalinde ukuba ngihlanganise iminyaka engu-18. Ngalo kanye usuku engaba neminyaka engu-18 ngalo, mina nomama sathethiswa icala.

Ngaphambi kokuba ngiqonde okwakwenzeka, icala lase liphelile. Ngangingazi ukuthi ngeke ngiphinde ngimbone umama. Ngikhumbula ukuthi ngagcina ukumbona ehlezi eduze kwami ebhentshini lokhuni elalinombala ofiphele enkantolo. Sobabili salahlwa icala. Ngagwetshwa iminyaka emine ejele futhi umama wagwetshwa unyaka owodwa nengxenye.

Ngalezo zinsuku kwakunezinkulungwane zoFakazi BakaJehova ezazigcinwe emajele nasemakamu. Nokho, ngathunyelwa ejele laseStollberg, lapho ngangiwukuphela kukaFakazi. Ngachitha isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka ngivalelwe ngedwa, kodwa uJehova wayenami. Uthando engangiluhlakulele ngaye ebusheni bami lwaluyisihluthulelo sokusinda kwami ngokomoya.

Ngo-May 9, 1945, ngemva kweminyaka emibili nengxenye ngisejele, sathola izindaba ezinhle—impi yayisiphelile! Ngakhululwa ngalolo suku. Ngemva kokuhamba amakhilomitha angu-110 ngezinyawo, ngafika ekhaya ngigula ngokoqobo ngenxa yokukhathala nendlala. Kwangithatha izinyanga eziningana ukuba ngilulame.

Lapho ngifika, ngashaqiswa izindaba ezibuhlungu kakhulu. Okokuqala ngokuphathelene nomama. Ngemva kokuba ebe sejele unyaka owodwa nengxenye, amaNazi amcela ukuba asayine iphepha lokulahla ukholo lwakhe kuJehova. Wenqaba. Ngakho amaGestapo amyisa ekamu lokuhlushwa labesifazane, eRavensbrück. Lapho, wabulawa i-typhus ngaphambi nje kokuba kuphele impi. WayengumKristu onesibindi kakhulu—ongakaze ayeke ukulwa kanzima. Kwangathi uJehova angamkhumbula ngomusa.

Futhi kwakunezindaba eziphathelene nomfowethu omdala, uWerner, ongazange azinikezele kuJehova. Wayejoyine ibutho lezempi laseJalimane futhi wabulawa eRussia. Kuthiwani ngobaba? Wabuya ekhaya, kodwa ngokudabukisayo, wayengomunye woFakazi abambalwa kakhulu abasayina iphepha elinedumela elibi lokulahla ukholo lwabo. Lapho ngimbona, wayebonakala ekhwantabele futhi ephazamisekile engqondweni.—2 Petru 2:20.

Isikhashana Somsebenzi Ongokomoya Wentshiseko

Ngo-March 10, 1946, ngaya emhlanganweni okokuqala ngemva kwempi eLeipzig. Yeka injabulo eyaba khona lapho kumenyezelwa ukuthi kwakuzoba nobhapathizo ngalolo suku! Nakuba ngase ngineminyaka eminingi nganikezela ukuphila kwami kuJehova, lelo kwakuyithuba lami lokuqala lokuba ngibhapathizwe. Angisoze ngalukhohlwa lolo suku.

Ngo-March 1, 1947, ngemva kokuphayona inyanga eyodwa, ngamenyelwa eBethel eMagdeburg. Amahhovisi eNhlangano ayecekelwe phansi ngokubhonjwa. Yeka ilungelo okwakuyilo ukusiza emsebenzini wokulungisa! Ngemva kwalelo hlobo ngabelwa ukuyosebenza edolobheni laseWittenberge njengephayona elikhethekile. Ngezinye izinyanga ngasebenza amahora angaphezu kuka-200 ngishumayela kwabanye ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuthi ngangikujabulele kanjani ukukhululeka futhi—kungenampi, kungenashushiso, kungenamajele!

Ngokudabukisayo, leyo nkululeko ayizange ithathe isikhathi eside. Ngemva kwempi iJalimane yahlukana phakathi, futhi indawo engangihlala kuyo yawela ngaphansi kokulawula kwamaKhomanisi. Ngo-September 1950 amaphoyisa omshoshaphansi aseMpumalanga Jalimane, ayaziwa ngokuthi ama-Stasi, aqala ukubopha abafowethu ngesu. Amacala engangibekwe wona ayemangaza. Ngasolwa ngokuba impimpi kahulumeni waseMelika. Ngathunyelwa ejele lama-Stasi elibi kunawo wonke ezweni, eBrandenburg.

Ukusekela Kwabafowethu Abangokomoya

Lapho, ama-Stasi ayengangivumeli ukuba ngilale emini. Ayebe esengiphenya ubusuku bonke. Ngemva kokuhlushwa ngalendlela izinsuku ezimbalwa, izinto zaba zimbi kakhulu. Ngolunye usuku ekuseni, kunokuba ngibuyiselwe esitokisini engangikuso, angiyisa kuyi-U-Boot Zellen enedumela elibi (eyaziwa ngokuthi izitokisi eziwumkhumbi-ngwenya ngenxa yokuba kwazo ngaphansi). Avula umnyango wensimbi omdala nogqwalile athi ngingene ngaphakathi. Kwakudingeka ngeqe indawo ephakeme emnyango. Lapho ngibeka unyawo lwami phansi, ngaqaphela ukuthi kwakugcwele amanzi. Umnyango owawunswininiza kabuhlungu wagaklazwa, wavalwa. Kwakungenakukhanya futhi kungenafasitela. Kumnyama bhuqe.

Ngenxa yamanzi ayengamasentimitha amaningana phansi, ngangingakwazi ukuhlala, ukucambalala noma ukulala. Ngemva kokulinda isikhathi eside, ngabuye ngathathwa ngayophenywa ngokwengeziwe ngaphansi kokukhanya okunamandla. Angazi ukuthi yikuphi okwakukubi kakhulu—ukuma emanzini usuku lonke endaweni emnyama bhuqe noma ukukhuthazelela amalambu ahlabayo aqondiswe ngqó kimi ubusuku bonke.

Izikhathi eziningana ayesongela ngokungidubula. Ngemva kobusuku obuthile bokuphenywa, ngolunye usuku ekuseni ngavakashelwa isikhulu sebutho lezempi laseRussia. Ngaba nethuba lokusitshela ukuthi ama-Stasi amaJalimane ayengiphatha kabi kakhulu kunendlela amaGestapo amaNazi angiphatha ngayo. Ngasitshela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babengathathi hlangothi ngaphansi kukahulumeni wamaNazi futhi babengathathi hlangothi nangaphansi kukahulumeni wamaKhomanisi futhi asizange sigaxeke kwezombangazwe noma kuphi emhlabeni wonke. Ngathi, ngokuphambene, abaningi abayizikhulu zama-Stasi babengamalungu e-Hitler Youth, lapho okungenzeka bafunda khona indlela yokushushisa ngonya abantu abangenacala. Njengoba ngangikhuluma, umzimba wami wawuqhuqha ngenxa yamakhaza, indlala nokukhathala.

Ngokumangalisayo, lesi sikhulu saseRussia asizange singithukuthelele. Kunalokho, sangimbathisa ingubo futhi sangiphatha ngomusa. Ngemva nje kokuvakasha kwaso, ngabuyiselwa esitokisini esingcono. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa, ngadluliselwa ezinkantolo zamaJalimane. Lapho lingakathethwa icala lami, ngajabulela ilungelo elihle lokuhlanganyela isitokisi nabanye oFakazi abahlanu. Ngemva kokukhuthazelela ukuphathwa ngonya okukhulu, yeka ukuthi ngakuthola kuqabula kanjani ukuba nabafowethu abangokomoya!—IHubo 133:1.

Enkantolo ngatholwa nginecala lokuba inhloli futhi ngagwetshwa iminyaka emine ejele lokuqondisa izigwegwe. Lokho kwakubhekwa njengesigwebo esincane. Abanye babafowethu bagwetshwa iminyaka engaphezu kweyishumi. Ngathunyelwa ejele lokuqondisa izigwegwe elaliqashwe kakhulu. Ngicabanga ukuthi ngisho negundane lalingakwazi ukuchusha lingene noma liphume kulelo jele—laliqashwe kakhulu. Nokho, ngosizo lukaJehova abafowethu abathile abanesibindi bakwazi ukungenisa iBhayibheli eliphelele ngomshoshaphansi. Lahlukaniswa laba izincwadi ezincane futhi lahanjiswa kubafowethu ababeyiziboshwa.

Sasikwenza kanjani lokhu? Kwakunzima kakhulu. Ukuphela kwesikhathi esasibonana ngaso kwakuyilapho siyiswa ezindaweni zokugeza njalo ngemva kwamasonto amabili. Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho ngisageza, omunye umfowethu wangihlebela ukuthi wayethukuse amakhasi athile eBhayibheli ethawuleni lakhe. Ngemva kokugeza kwakumelwe ngithathe ithawula lakhe esikhundleni selami.

Omunye wonogada wambona lomzalwane engihlebela futhi wamshaya kanzima ngomshiza. Kwadingeka ngithathe ithawula ngokushesha bese ngingena phakathi kwezinye iziboshwa. Ngiyabonga ukuthi angizange ngibanjwe nalawo makhasi eBhayibheli. Uma kwakungabanga njalo, isimiso sethu sokondliwa ngokomoya sasiyoba sengozini. Sabhekana nezimo eziningi ezinjalo. Njalo iBhayibheli sasilifunda ngokufihla futhi sisengozini enkulu. Amazwi omphostoli uPetru athi, “Hlalani nisangulukile, lindani,” ayefaneleka kakhulu.—1 Petru 5:8.

Ngesizathu esithile, iziphathimandla zanquma ukushintsha abanye bethu ngokuphindaphindiwe besuswa kwelinye ijele lokuqondisa izigwegwe bayiswe kwelinye. Esikhathini esiyiminyaka emine, ngashintshelwa emajele okuqondisa izigwegwe ahlukahlukene angaba yishumi. Noma kunjalo, ngangikwazi njalo ukuthola abafowethu. Ngangibathanda kakhulu bonke laba bafowethu, futhi ngangibashiya ngokudabuka okukhulu njalo lapho ngishintshwa.

Ekugcineni ngayiswa eLeipzig, futhi lapho ngakhululwa ejele. Unogada wasejele owangikhulula akazange angivalelise kodwa kunalokho wathi, “Sizophinde sikubone maduze nje.” Ingqondo yakhe embi yayingifuna phakathi ejele futhi. Ngivame ukucabanga ngeHubo 124:2, 3, lapho lithi: “Uma uJehova ebengenathi, lapho abantu besivukela, ngabe sebesigwinyile ekuvutheni kolaka lwabo kithina.”

UJehova Uyazikhulula Izinceku Zakhe Ezithembekile

Manje ngase ngikhululekile futhi. Udadewethu engiyiwele naye, uRuth, noDade Herta Schlensog babesesangweni bengilindile. Phakathi nayo yonke leminyaka ngisejele, uHerta wayengithumelela iphakeshana elinokudla njalo ngenyanga. Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngaphandle kwalawo maphakeshana, ngabe ngafela ejele. Kwangathi uJehova angamkhumbula ngomusa.

Kusukela esikhathini engakhululwa ngaso, uJehova uye wangibusisa ngamalungelo amaningi enkonzo. Ngaphinde ngakhonza njengephayona elikhethekile, eGronau, eJalimane nanjengombonisi ojikelezayo eGerman Alps. Kamuva ngamenywa ukuba ngibhalise ekilasini lama-31 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead lezithunywa zevangeli. Sathweswa iziqu eYankee Stadium emhlanganweni wezizwe woFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1958. Ngaba nelungelo lokukhuluma nesixuku esikhulu sabafowethu nodadewethu ngilandisa okunye kwalokho engabhekana nakho.

Ngemva kokuthweswa iziqu ngaya eChile ngiyokhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli. Lapho, ngaphinde ngakhonza njengombonisi wesifunda, engxenyeni eseningizimu yeChile—ngathunyelwa emikhawulweni yomhlaba ngokoqobo. Ngo-1962, ngashada noPatsy Beutnagel, isithunywa sevangeli esithandekayo saseSan Antonio, eTexas, e-U.S.A. Ngajabulela iminyaka eminingi emnandi enkonzweni kaJehova nginaye.

Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-70 yokuphila kwami, ngiye ngaba nezikhathi eziningi ezimnandi neziningi zosizi. Umhubi wathi: “Ziningi izinhlupheko zolungileyo, kepha uJehova uyamkhulula kuzo zonke.” (IHubo 34:19) Ngo-1963, lapho siseseChile, mina noPatsy sashonelwa indodakazi yethu eyayisencane ngendlela edabukisayo. Kamuva, uPatsy wagula kakhulu, futhi sathuthela eTexas. Lapho eneminyaka engu-43 kuphela, naye washona, ngaphansi kwezimo ezidabukisayo. Ngivame ukuthandazela ukuba uJehova amkhumbule ngomusa umkami othandekayo.

Manje, nakuba sengixhwalile futhi ngikhulile, ngijabulela ilungelo lokukhonza njengephayona elivamile nanjengomdala eBrady, eTexas. Yiqiniso, ukuphila akuzange kube lula ngaso sonke isikhathi, futhi kungase kube nolunye uvivinyo engisazobhekana nalo. Nokho, njengomhubi ngingathi: “Nkulunkulu, ungifundisile kwasebusheni bami; ngizilandile izimangaliso zakho kuze kube-manje.”—IHubo 71:17.

[Izithombe ekhasini 23]

(1) Namuhla ngikhonza njengomdala nanjengephayona, (2) nginoPatsy, ngaphambi nje komshado wethu, (3) ekilasini likaHerr Schneider, (4) umama, uTeresa, owashonela eRavensbrück