Ukujabulisa UJehova Kuyiyonanto Engiyikhathalela Kakhulu
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUTHEODOROS NEROS
Umnyango wesitokisi engangikuso wavuleka, kwamemeza isikhulu samasosha: “Ubani uNeros?” Lapho ngiziveza, lathi: “Sukuma. Siyokubulala.” Lokho kwenzeka ekamu lezempi eKorinte, eGrisi, ngo-1952. Kungani ngangilengela egodini lokufa ngale ndlela? Ngaphambi kokuchaza lokho, ake nginithi fáhla ngesizinda sami.
CISHE ngo-1925, ubaba wathintwa ama-Bible Student (njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi). Ngokushesha waba omunye wawo futhi wadlulisela izinkolelo zakhe kubafowabo nodadewabo abangu-8, bonke balamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli. Nabazali bakhe balamukela. Kamuva, washada, kwase kuzalwa mina ngo-1929 e-Agrinio, eGrisi.
Yayingeve imibi leyo minyaka eGrisi! Kwaqale kwaba nobushiqela bukaJenene Metaxas. Kwabe sekugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II ngo-1939, futhi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho izwe lathathwa amaNazi. Izifo nendlala kwakudlangile. Izidumbu eziqumbile zazithuthwa ngamabhala amancane. Ububi obusezweni babucace bhá, nesidingo soMbuso kaNkulunkulu sisobala.
Ukuphila Kokukhonza Ngokuzinikela
Ngo-August 20, 1942, lapho sibuthene siyiqembu emhlanganweni ngaphandle kweThesalonika, umbonisi wethu owengamele wakhomba izindiza zempi zaseBrithani ezaziphonsa amabhomu phezu kwedolobha futhi wagcizelela indlela esasivikeleke ngayo ngokulalela ukunxusa kokuba “singakuyeki ukubuthana kwethu ndawonye.” (Heberu 10:25) Lapho, sahlangana ngasogwini lolwandle, futhi ngangiphakathi kwalabo ababezobhapathizwa. Lapho siphuma emanzini, sama ujenga, futhi abafowethu nodadewethu abangamaKristu bahlabelela ingoma ababesitusa ngayo ngesinqumo esasisenzile. Angisoze ngalukhohlwa lolo suku!
Ngemva nje kwalokho, ngenkathi mina nomunye umfana sikhuluma nabantu enkonzweni yethu yendlu ngendlu, saboshwa amaphoyisa asiyisa esiteshini sawo. Ukuze kugcizelelwe ukuthi sasibhekwa njengamaKhomanisi nokuthi umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela wawungavunyelwe, sashaywa sase sitshelwa: “UJehova uyafana noStalin, ziphukuphuku!”
Ngaleso sikhathi impi yombango yayibhidlangile eGrisi, futhi amaKhomanisi ayezondwa kakhulu. Ngakusasa sadluliswa phambi kwemizi yakithi siwudwendwe, siboshwe ngozankosi, njengokungathi siyizigelekeqe. Kodwa lokho akukhona ukuphela kovivinyo engabhekana nalo.
Ukuvivinywa Kokholo Esikoleni
Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1944, ngangisewumfana wesikole, futhi amaNazi ayesesekhona eThesalonika. Ngolunye usuku esikoleni, umpristi wenkolo yamaGreki yobu-Orthodox, owayenguprofesa wethu wezenkolo, wangitshela ukuthi ngangizothola isivivinyo sesifundo sangalolo suku. “Akayena umKristu Wobu-Orthodox,” kusho ezinye izingane.
“Uyini?” kubuza uprofesa.
“Ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova,” ngiphendula.
“Uyimpisi phakathi kwezimvu,” washo ememeza, engigxavula futhi engisakaza ngempama.
Ngacabanga: ‘Kungenzeka kanjani ukuba impisi ilunywe yimvu?’
Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa, cishe sasingu-350 sihlezi ematafuleni ethu alungiselelwe ukudla kwasemini. Umphathi wathi: “UNeros uzothandaza.” Ngasho umthandazo okuthiwa ‘uBaba Wethu,’ uJesu awufundisa abalandeli bakhe, njengoba ulotshwe kuMathewu 6:9-13. Umphathi akakuthandanga lokhu, ngakho wangibuza ethukuthele elapho ayehlezi khona etafuleni: “Kungani uthandaze kanjalo?”
“Kungenxa yokuthi ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova,” kusho mina. Ezwa lokho, naye wangigxavula wangimukula ngempama. Kamuva ngalolo suku uthisha othile wangibizela ehhovisi lakhe wafike wathi kimi: “Wenze kahle, Neros, bambelela kulokho okukholelwayo, ungayeki.” Ngalobo busuku, ubaba wangikhuthaza ngala mazwi omphostoli uPawulu: “Bonke labo abafisa ukuphila ngokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ebuhlotsheni noKristu Jesu nabo futhi bayoshushiswa.”—2 Thimothewu 3:12.
Lapho ngiqeda esikoleni esiphakeme, kwadingeka ngikhethe engangizokwenza ekuphileni. Ngenxa yempi yombango eGrisi, kwadingeka ngibhekane nendaba yokungathathi hlangothi njengomKristu. (Isaya 2:4; Mathewu 26:52) Ekugcineni, ngasekuqaleni kuka-1952, ngagwetshwa iminyaka engu-20 ejele ngenxa yokwenqaba ukuya empini phakathi naleso sikhathi esasinzima emlandweni waseGrisi.
Ukungathathi Hlangothi Kwami NjengomKristu Kuyavivinywa
Lapho ngivalelwe ekamu lezempi eMesolóngion naseKorinte, ngaba nethuba lokuchazela abalawuli bebutho lezempi ukuthi unembeza wami oqeqeshwe yiBhayibheli wawungeke ungivumele ukuba ngibe yisosha ngisekele ezombangazwe. “Ngiyisosha likaJesu kakade,” ngichaza, ngikhomba kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 2:3. Lapho nginxuswa ukuba ngicabange kabusha, ngathi isinqumo sami ngangingasenzanga ngomzuzwana nje, kodwa ngangisenze ngemva kokucabanga ngokujulile futhi nginombono wokuzinikezela kwami kuNkulunkulu ukuba ngenze intando yakhe.
Ngenxa yalokho, kwadingeka ngenze umsebenzi wempoqo, kwadlula izinsuku ezingu-20 ngidla ngolunye usuku ngolunye ngingadli, futhi ngilala phansi kusemende esitokisini esasingaphansana kwemitha ububanzi namamitha amabili ubude. Futhi kulesi sitokisi ngangihlala nabanye oFakazi ababili! Kwakungalesi sikhathi, ngisekamu laseKorinte, lapho ngabizwa khona esitokisini ngiyobulawa.
Lapho silibangise endaweni engangizobulawelwa kuyo, iphoyisa labuza, “Awufuni kusho lutho?”
“Cha,” ngiphendula.
“Awuzukubabhalela abakini?”
“Cha,” ngiphendula futhi. “Bayazi kakade ukuthi ngingase ngibulawe lapha.”
Safika egcekeni, ngase ngitshelwa ukuba ngiyokuma ngifulathele udonga. Khona-ke, esikhundleni sokuba sitshele amasosha ukuba adubule, isikhulu sawo sathi: “Mngeniseni ngaphakathi.” Kwakumane kuwukubulawa-mbumbulu, okwakuhloselwe ukuvivinya ukuzimisela kwami.
Kamuva, ngathunyelwa esiqhinganeni saseMakrónisos, lapho ngangingavunyelwe khona ukuba nanoma iyiphi incwadi ngaphandle kweBhayibheli. KwakunoFakazi abangu-13 ababehlaliswa emzini omncane behlukanisiwe neziboshwa zobugebengu ezazicela ku-500. Nokho, sasishushumbiselwa izincwadi ngandlela-thile. Ngokwesibonelo, ngolunye usuku ngathunyelelwa ibhokisi le-loukoúmia (uswidi owawuthandwa). Abahloli babemagange ukuthola enye yale loukoúmia kangangokuthi abawunakanga umagazini INqabayokulinda owawufihlwe ngaphansi. “Amasosha adla i-loukoúmia, kodwa thina ‘sadla’ INqabayokulinda!” kusho omunye uFakazi.
Sathola ikhophi yencwadi ethi INkolo Isenzeleni Isintu? eyayisanda kukhululwa, sayihunyushelwa uFakazi owayeyisiboshwa owayesazi isiNgisi. Sasifunda ne-Nqabayokulinda ndawonye, siqhuba imihlangano yethu ngasese. Ijele sasilibheka njengesikole, ithuba lokuqinisa ingokomoya lethu. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, sasijabula ngoba sasazi ukuthi inkambo yethu yobuqotho yayimjabulisa uJehova.
Ijele lokugcina engavalelwa kulo laliseTýrintha empumalanga yePelopónnisos. Lapho ngaphawula unogada owayebhekisisa lapho ngiqhubela esinye isiboshwa isifundo seBhayibheli. Yeka indlela engamangala ngayo lapho ngihlangana nalowo nogada ngemva kweminyaka eThesalonika! Ngaleso sikhathi wayesenguFakazi. Kamuva, enye yezingane zakhe yayiswa ejele, hhayi njengonogada kodwa njengesiboshwa. Yayiboshelwe isizathu esifanayo naleso engangiboshelwe sona.
Ukuvuselela Inkuthalo Ngemva Kokukhululwa
Ngadonsa iminyaka emithathu kuphela yesigwebo esasikade siyiminyaka engu-20 ekuqaleni. Ngemva kokukhululwa nganquma ukuyohlala e-Athens. Nokho, ngokushesha ngahlatshwa ukugula kohlobo oluthile lwezibhobo futhi ngaphoqeleka ukuba ngiphindele eThesalonika. Kwaphela izinyanga ezimbili ngilele phansi. Kamuva ngahlangana nentombazane enhle okuthiwa uKoula, futhi sashada ngo-December 1959. Ngo-1962 waqala ukukhonza njengephayona, njengoba zibizwa kanjalo izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezingoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu ngakwazi ukumjoyina emsebenzini wokuphayona.
Ngo-January wango-1965, sabelwa emsebenzini wesifunda, sivakashela amabandla ukuze siwaqinise ngokomoya. Ngalelo hlobo saba nanelungelo lokuya emhlanganweni omkhulu wesigodi ngokokuqala ngqá, owawuseVienna, e-Austria. Wawungafani naleyo esasiba nayo eGrisi lapho kwakudingeka khona sihlangane ngasese ehlathini ngenxa yokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wethu. Ngasekupheleni kuka-1965, samenyelwa ukuyosebenza ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova e-Athens. Nokho, ngenxa yezinkinga zempilo zezinye zezihlobo zami, kwadingeka siphindele eThesalonika ngo-1967.
Ngenkathi sinakekela imithwalo yemfanelo yomkhaya, saqhubeka simatasa kakhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela ivangeli. Kwake kwathi ngikhuluma nokayise uKostas, ngamchazela ubuhle benhlangano kaNkulunkulu nothando, ubunye nokulalela uNkulunkulu okukuyo. Wathi, “Lezi zinto bezingaba zinhle kakhulu ukube nje uNkulunkulu ukhona.” Wasamukela isicelo sami sokuba sihlole ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona yini noma cha. Ngakhuluma ngokuthi sasizoya emhlanganweni wezizwe woFakazi BakaJehova eNuremberg, eJalimane, ngo-August 1969. Wabuza ukuthi wayengahamba yini nathi, futhi nomngane wakhe u-Alekos, naye owayefunda nathi iBhayibheli, wafuna ukuya.
Umhlangano waseNuremberg wawuwumbukwane omangalisayo! Wawuqhutshelwa kubhazabhaza wenkundla uHitler ayehalalisele kuyo ukunqoba kwakhe empini. Inani eliphakeme kakhulu lababekhona laba ngaphezu kuka-150 000 futhi umoya kaJehova wawubonakala kukho konke okwakwenzeka. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho bobabili uKostas no-Alekos babhapathizwa. Bobabili manje bakhonza njengabadala abangamaKristu, nemikhaya yabo ingoFakazi.
Ngaqala ukufundela owesifazane owayenesithakazelo. Umyeni wakhe wathi ufuna ukuhlola izinkolelo zethu, futhi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho wasazisa ukuthi wayememe uMnu. Sakkos othile, isazi senkolo yamaGreki Obu-Orthodox, ukuze kube nenkulumo-mpikiswano. Lo myeni wayefuna ukusibuza imibuzo ethile sobabili. UMnu. Sakkos wafika, ehamba nompristi. Le ndoda esasiyivakashele yaqala ngokuthi, “Okokuqala, ngizothanda ukuba uMnu. Sakkos aphendule imibuzo emithathu.”
Iphakamise inguqulo yeBhayibheli esasikade siyisebenzisa ezingxoxweni zethu, le ndoda yabuza, “Umbuzo wokuqala: Ingabe leli yiBhayibheli langempela, noma yiBhayibheli loFakazi?” UMnu. Sakkos waphendula wathi liyinguqulo egunyaziwe, futhi wachaza oFakazi BakaJehova ngokuthi “abathandi beBhayibheli.”
Le ndoda yaqhubeka yabuza, “Umbuzo wesibili: Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova bangabantu abanokuziphatha okuhle?” Empeleni, yayifuna ukwazi ukuthi baluhlobo luni lwabantu laba bantu umkakhe ayeseqale ukuzihlanganisa nabo. Lesi sazi senkolo saphendula sathi bangabantu abanokuziphatha okuhle isibili.
“Umbuzo wesithathu,” le ndoda iqhubeka, “Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova bayaholelwa?” “Cha,” kuphendula isazi senkolo.
“Sengizitholile izimpendulo zemibuzo yami, futhi senginqumile,” kuphetha le ndoda. Ngemva kwalokho yaqhubeka nesifundo sayo seBhayibheli futhi ngokushesha yabhapathizwa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova.
Ukuphila Okucebile Nokuvuzayo
Ngo-January 1976 ngaqala futhi ukukhonza njengombonisi wesifunda. Eminyakeni engaba yisithupha kamuva, ngaba nelungelo lokuhlanganyela ekuholeni ohlotsheni olusha lokushumayela eGrisi—ukufakaza emgwaqweni. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-October 1991, mina nomkami saqala ukhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, kwadingeka ngihlinzwe inhliziyo kuxhunyelelwe imithambo yegazi kane, engijabulayo ngokuthi kwaphumelela. Manje nginempilo enhle, futhi ngiye ngakwazi ukuphinde ngithathe umsebenzi wokushumayela isikhathi esigcwele. Futhi ngikhonza njengomdala kwelinye lamabandla aseThesalonika, futhi ngisebenza neKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela yendawo ekusizeni abadinga ukwelashwa.
Lapho ngibheka emuva ekuphileni kwami, ngiqaphela indlela okuye kwanelisa ngayo ukwenza lokho okujabulisa uBaba wethu osezulwini. Ngiyajabula ngokuthi kudala ngamukela lesi simemo esikhangayo: “Ndodana yami, hlakanipha, uthokozise inhliziyo yami ukuba ngiphendule ongisolayo.” (IzAga 27:11) Ngempela kungenza ngijabule ukubona ukwanda kwenani labantu abaqotho abangena enhlanganweni kaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Ukuhlanganyela ekukhululeni abantu ngeqiniso leBhayibheli futhi kanjalo bavulekelwe yithuba lokuphila okungunaphakade ezweni elisha lokulunga kuyilungelo ngempela!—Johane 8:32; 2 Petru 3:13.
Njalo sizama ukukhuthaza izinceku zikaJehova ezisezincane ukuba zizibekele umgomo wenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, zinikele ngesikhathi namandla azo kuye. Ngempela, ukuthembela kuJehova nokuthola injabulo enkulu ekuthokoziseni inhliziyo yakhe kuwukuphila okwanelisa kunakho konke umuntu angaba nakho!—IzAga 3:5; UmShumayeli 12:1.
[Izithombe ekhasini 21]
(Kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla)
Ngikhonza ekhishini laseBethel ngo-1965
Nginikeza inkulumo ngo-1970 lapho umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela uvinjelwe
Nginomkami ngo-1959
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Nginomkami, uKoula