Ukusuka Ekukhulekeleni Umbusi Ukuya Ekukhulekeleni Kweqiniso

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA U-ISAMU SUGIURA

Nakuba kwakusobala ngo-1945 ukuthi iJapane yayihlulwa eMpini Yezwe II, sasiqiniseka ukuthi i-kamikaze (“umoya ongokwaphezulu”) wawuyophephula futhi unqobe isitha. Elithi kamikaze libhekisela esiphephweni sango-1274 nesango-1281 ezonakalisa kabili imikhumbi yempi yabahlaseli abangamaMongol zayisusa ogwini lwaseJapane, ngaleyo ndlela zabaphoqelela ukuba bahoxe.

NGAKHO-KE, lapho uMbusi uHirohito, ngo-August 15, 1945, ememezela esizweni ukuthi amaJapane ayecele umaluju eMabuthweni Ahlangene, amathemba ekhulu lezigidi zabantu elalizinikezele kuye ashabalala. Ngaleso sikhathi ngangingumfanyana wesikole, futhi nawami amathemba ashabalala. ‘Uma umbusi engeyena uNkulunkulu ophilayo, ngubani onguye?’ ngizibuza. ‘Ubani okufanele ngithembele kuye?’

Nokho, empeleni ukunqotshwa kweJapane eMpini Yezwe II kwavula indlela ngami nezinkulungwane zabanye abantu baseJapane ukuba sifunde ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Ngaphambi kokuba ngixoxe ngoshintsho okwadingeka ngilwenze, ake ngininike umbono wendlela engakhuliswa ngayo ngokwenkolo.

Amathonya Angokwenkolo Angesikhathi Ngisemncane

Ngazalelwa edolobheni laseNagoya ngo-June 16, 1932, ngiwuthunjana ebafaneni abane. Ubaba wayesebenza njengomhloli wezokwakha wedolobha. Umama wayekholelwa ngobuqotho enkolweni yobuTenrikyo, ihlelo lobuShinto, futhi umfowethu oyizibulo wayeqeqeshwe ngokwenkolo ukuze afundise ubuTenrikyo. Mina nomama sasisondelene ngokukhethekile, futhi wayeya nami endaweni yomhlangano wokukhulekela.

Ngangifundiswe ukugebisa ikhanda bese ngithandaza. UbuTenrikyo babufundisa ukukholelwa kumdali obizwa ngokuthi u-Tenri O no Mikoto kanye nakonkulunkulu abayishumi abangaphansi kwakhe ngobukhulu. Amalungu ale nkolo ayephulukisa ngomoya futhi egcizelela ukukhonza abanye nokusakaza izinkolelo zawo.

Ngisewumfanyana, nganginelukuluku elukhulu lokwazi. Ngangimangazwa inyanga nezinkanyezi ezingenakubalwa esibhakabhakeni ebusuku, futhi ngizibuze ukuthi umkhathi uhamba ibanga elide kangakanani ngalé kwesibhakabhaka. Ngangikuthola kuthakazelisa ukubuka ukukhula kwezitshalo okuthiwa ama-eggplant kanye nokhukhamba owawutshalwe engadini encane egcekeni elingemuva. Ukubuka indalo kwaqinisa ukholo lwami kuNkulunkulu.

Iminyaka Yempi

Iminyaka engangifunda ngayo esikoleni esiphansi kusukela ngo-1939 kuya ku-1945 yaqondana nenkathi yeMpi Yezwe II. Ukukhulekela umbusi, okuyingxenye ebalulekile yobuShinto, kwakugcizelelwa emfundweni yethu yasesikoleni. Sasifundiswa i-shushin, eyayihilela ukuqeqeshwa ngokokuziphatha okwakukhuthaza ubuzwe nempi. Imikhosi yokuphakanyiswa kwefulege, ukuculwa kwengoma yesizwe, ukutadisha izinqumo zezemfundo ezakhishwa umbuso, nokuhlonipha isithombe sombusi konke kwakuyingxenye yenqubo yethu yesikole.

Sasiya nasendaweni engcwele yobuShinto yasendaweni esihlala kuyo siyocela kuNkulunkulu ukuba impi yombuso inqobe. Abafowethu ababili babekhonza ebuthweni lezempi. Ngenxa yemfundiso yenkolo enobuzwe, ngazijabulela izindaba zokuphumelela kwebutho lezempi laseJapane.

INagoya yayiyisikhungo semboni yezindiza yaseJapane, ngakho yayiyindawo eyinhloko eyayihlaselwa lapho iButho Lezomoya Lase-United States ligadla ngamandla. Emini, izindiza zamabhomu ezingama-B-29 Superfortress zazindiza ngendlela ehlelekile phezu kwedolobha ebangeni elingamamitha angaba ngu-9 000, iwise amakhulukhulu amabhomu ezindaweni ezinalezi zimboni. Ebusuku amalambu acingayo ayebona izindiza zamabhomu ezazehle zaba sebangeni lamamitha angu-1 300. Ukuhlasela okuphindaphindiwe kwezindiza ngamabhomu athungelayo kwabangela amakloba omlilo ezindaweni ezinezindlu. INagoya iyodwa yahlaselwa izindiza izikhathi ezingu-54 phakathi nezinyanga ezingu-9 zokugcina zempi, kwaphumela ekuhluphekeni okukhulu nasekufeni kwabangaphezu kuka-7 700.

Ngalesi sikhathi, imikhumbi yempi yase iqale ukuhlasela ngethala lamabhomu amadolobha ayishumi asogwini, futhi abantu babethi amabutho ase-United States ayengase ehlele ngaseTokyo. Abesifazane nabafanyana babeqeqeshelwa ukulwa ngemikhonto yoqalo ukuze bavikele izwe. Isiqubulo sethu sasithi “Ichioku Sougyokusai,” okusho ukuthi “Kungamane kufe izigidi eziyikhulu kunokucela umaluju.”

Ngo-August 7, 1945, isihloko esigqamile sephephandaba sabika: “Kuphonswe Uhlobo Olusha Lwebhomu EHiroshima.” Ezinsukwini ezimbili kamuva, kwaphonswa elinye eNagasaki. Lawa kwakungamabhomu e-athomu, futhi kamuva satshelwa ukuthi esehlangene ayebulale abantu abangaphezu kuka-300 000. Khona-ke, ngo-August 15, ekupheleni kokuqeqeshwa ngezibhamu zokhuni, sezwa inkulumo yombusi amemezela kuyo ukucela umaluju kweJapane. Sasiqiniseka ukuthi sasizophumelela, kodwa manje sase sikhungathekile!

Ukuvela Kwethemba Elisha

Lapho amabutho aseMelika eqala ukuthatha izwe, saya silamukela iqiniso lokuthi i-United States yayinqobile empini. EJapane kwaqalwa umbuso wentando yeningi kanye nomthetho-sisekelo omusha owawuqinisekisa inkululeko yokukhulekela. Izimo zokuphila zazinzima, ukudla kuyindlala, futhi ngo-1946 ubaba washona ngenxa yokungondleki kahle.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, isiNgisi saqala ukufundiswa esikoleni engangifunda kuso, futhi isiteshi somsakazo i-NHK saqala uhlelo lwengxoxo yesiNgisi. Kwaphela iminyaka emihlanu ngilulalela nsuku zonke lolu hlelo olwaludumile, nginencwadi yokufunda eduze. Lokhu kwangenza ngaba nesifiso sokuya e-United States ngolunye usuku. Ngenxa yokudunyazwa inkolo yobuShinto neyobuBuddha, ngaqala ukucabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu lalingase litholakale ezinkolweni zaseNtshonalanga.

Ekuqaleni kuka-April, 1951, ngahlangana noGrace Gregory, isithunywa sevangeli se-Watch Tower Society. Wayemi phambi kwesiteshi sesitimela saseNagoya ehambisa ikhophi yesiNgisi ye-Nqabayokulinda nencwajana yesiJapane enesihloko esisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ukuthobeka kwakhe kokwenza lo msebenzi kwangihlaba umxhwele. Ngakuthatha kokubili ayekuhambisa futhi ngasamukela ngokushesha isifundo seBhayibheli asisikisela. Ngathembisa ukuya lapho ehlala khona ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva ukuze sifunde iBhayibheli.

Lapho ngihlala phansi esitimeleni futhi ngiqala ukufunda INqabayokulinda, ngakhangwa igama lokuqala elithi “Jehova” esihlokweni sokuqala. Ngangingakaze ngilibone lelo gama ngaphambili. Ngangingalindele ukulithola esichazamazwini esincane sesiNgisi nesiJapane engangisiphethe, kodwa lalikhona! “UJehova . . . , uNkulunkulu weBhayibheli.” Manje ngase ngiqala ukuzwa ngoNkulunkulu wobuKristu!

Kulokho kuhambela kwami kokuqala ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli, ngezwa ngenkulumo yeBhayibheli eyayizonikezwa emasontweni ambalwa kamuva uNathan H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ngaleso sikhathi. Wayevakashele eJapane nonobhala wakhe, uMilton Henschel, futhi wayezokuza eNagoya. Nakuba ulwazi lwami lweBhayibheli lwalulinganiselwe, ngayijabulela kakhulu leyo nkulumo, kanye nokuhlangana nezithunywa zevangeli nabanye ababekhona.

Esikhathini esingaba izinyanga ezimbili, ekutadisheni kwami noGrace ngathola amaqiniso ayisisekelo ngokuphathelene noJehova, uJesu Kristu, isihlengo, uSathane uDeveli, i-Armagedoni nomhlaba oyiPharadesi. Izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zaziyilo kanye uhlobo lomyalezo engangilufuna. Ngaqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni yebandla ngesikhathi engaqala ngaso ukutadisha. Ngangisithanda isimo sobungane esasikhona kule mihlangano, lapho izithunywa zevangeli zazihlangana khona ngokukhululekile nabantu baseJapane futhi zihlala nathi kuma-tatami (amacansi).

Ngo-October 1951, umhlangano wesifunda wokuqala eJapane waqhutshelwa eHholo Lomphakathi LaseNakanoshima edolobheni lase-Osaka. Kulo lonke elaseJapane kwakunoFakazi abangaphansi kuka-300; kodwa kwaba nabangaba ngu-300 emhlanganweni, kuhlanganise nezithunywa zevangeli ezazithi azibe ngu-50. Nami imbala ngaba nengxenye encane esimisweni. Engakubona nengakuzwa kwangihlaba umxhwele kangangokuthi nganquma enhliziyweni yami ukukhonza uJehova ukuphila kwami konke. Ngosuku olulandelayo, ngabhapathizwa emanzini antukuntuku asendaweni yokugeza yomphakathi eyayiseduze.

Injabulo Yenkonzo Yokuphayona

Ngangifuna ukuba iphayona, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zoFakazi BakaJehova zibizwa kanjalo, kodwa ngangizizwa futhi nginesibopho sokusiza ekunakekeleni umkhaya wakithi. Lapho sengiqunge isibindi ngatshela umqashi wami ngesifiso sami, ngamangala lapho ngimuzwa ethi: “Ngingakujabulela ukubambisana nawe uma lokho kuyokwenza ujabule.” Ngakwazi ukusebenza izinsuku ezimbili kuphela ngesonto futhi ngakwazi ukuqhubeka ngisiza umama ngezindleko zomkhaya. Ngazizwa ngifana nenyoni ekhululwe ekhejini.

Lapho izimo ziya ziba ngcono, ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-August 1, 1954, endaweni engemuva kwesiteshi saseNagoya, okuwuhambo lwemizuzu embalwa ukusuka endaweni engahlangana kuyo noGrace okokuqala. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, ngathola isabelo sokuyokhonza njengephayona elikhethekile eBeppu, okuyidolobha elisesiqhingini saseKyushu esisentshonalanga. UTsutomu Miura wabelwa ukusebenza nami.a Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakungekho bandla loFakazi BakaJehova kuso sonke leso siqhingi, kodwa manje kunamakhulukhulu amabandla, ahlukaniswe aba izifunda ezingu-22!

Ukunambitha Izwe Elisha Kusengaphambili

Lapho uMfoweth’uKnorr ephinda evakashela eJapane ngo-April 1956, wangicela ukuba ngifunde ngokuzwakalayo izigaba ezimbalwa kuyi-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi. Angizange ngitshelwe ukuthi kungani, kodwa ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, ngathola incwadi eyayingimemela ekilasini lama-29 leSikole SaseGileyadi sezithunywa zevangeli. Ngakho ngo-November walowo nyaka, ngathatha uhambo oluthakazelisayo lokuya e-United States olwafeza iphupho lami okwase kunesikhathi eside nginalo. Ukuhlala nokusebenza izinyanga ezithile nomkhaya omkhulu waseBethel yaseBrooklyn kwaqinisa ukholo lwami enhlanganweni kaJehova ebonakalayo.

Ngo-February 1957, uMfoweth’uKnorr wasihambisa singabafundi abathathu wasiyisa emagcekeni eSikole SaseGileyadi eNingizimu Lansing, engxenyeni esenyakatho neNew York. Ezinyangeni ezinhlanu ezalandela ngiseSikoleni SaseGileyadi, njengoba ngangifundiswa iZwi likaJehova futhi ngihlala endaweni enhle nabafundi enganginabo, nganambitha kusengaphambili umhlaba oyiPharadesi. Abafundi abayishumi kwabangu-103, kuhlanganise nami, babelwa ukuyosebenza eJapane.

Ukwazisa Izabelo Zami

KwakunoFakazi abangaba ngu-860 eJapane lapho ngibuyela khona ngo-October 1957. Ngabelwa umsebenzi wokujikeleza njengombonisi wesifunda, kodwa u-Adrian Thompson waqale wangiqeqeshela lo msebenzi izinsuku ezimbalwa eNagoya. Isifunda engangabelwe sona sasihlanganisa indawo esuka eShimizu, eduze neNtaba iFuji, ukuya esiQhingini saseShikoku, kuhlanganise namadolobha amakhulu njengeKyoto, i-Osaka, iKobe neHiroshima.

Ngo-1961, ngabelwa ukuba umbonisi wesigodi. Lokhu kwakuhlanganisa ukuhamba ukusuka esiqhingini esineqhwa saseHokkaido enyakatho ukuya esiqhingini sase-Okinawa esisogwini lwendawo eshisayo kuze kuyofika ngalé kweziqhingi zase-Ishigaki eziseduze naseTaiwan, okuyibanga elingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-3 000.

Khona-ke, ngo-1963, ngamenyelwa ezifundweni zezinyanga eziyishumi zeSikole SaseGileyadi eBethel yaseBrooklyn. Phakathi nalezo zifundo, uMfoweth’uKnorr wagcizelela ukubaluleka kokuba nesimo sengqondo esifanele ngemisebenzi esiyabelwe. Wathi ukuhlanza izindlu zangasese kwakuyisabelo esibaluleke ngendlela efanayo nokusebenza ehhovisi. Wathi uma izindlu zangasese zingahlanzekile, wonke umkhaya waseBethel nomsebenzi wawo kuyothinteka. Kamuva, ingxenye yomsebenzi wami eBethel eJapane kwakuwukuhlanza izindlu zangasese, futhi ngasikhumbula leso seluleko.

Ngemva kokubuyela eJapane, ngabuye ngabelwa umsebenzi wokujikeleza. Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa, ngo-1966, ngashada noJunko Iwasaki, iphayona elikhethekile elalikhonza edolobheni laseMatsue. ULloyd Barry, owayengumbonisi wegatsha laseJapane ngaleso sikhathi, wanikeza inkulumo yomshado ethinta inhliziyo. UJunko wabe esehlanganyela nami emsebenzini wokujikeleza.

Isabelo sethu sashintsha ngo-1968 lapho ngibizelwa ehhovisi legatsha eTokyo ukuba ngiyokwenza umsebenzi wokuhumusha. Ngenxa yokuntuleka kwendawo yokuhlala, ngangiya khona njalo ekuseni ngisuka eSumida Ward, eTokyo, futhi uJunko wayekhonza njengephayona elikhethekile ebandleni lendawo. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwase kudingeka izakhiwo zegatsha ezinkudlwana. Ngakho, ngo-1970 kwathengwa indawo eNumazu, engekude neNtaba iFuji. Lapho, kwakhiwa ifektri enezitezi ezintathu nesakhiwo sokuhlala. Ngaphambi kokuba umsebenzi wokwakha uqalwe, izindlu eziningana kule ndawo zasetshenziselwa iSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso, esiqeqesha ababonisi bamabandla. Ngaba nelungelo lokufundisa kuleso sikole, futhi uJunko wayelungisela abafundi ukudla. Kwakuthakazelisa ukubona amakhulukhulu amadoda angamaKristu eqeqeshelwa inkonzo ngendlela ekhethekile.

Ngenye intambama, ngathola incwadi yocingo ephuthumayo. Umama wayelaliswe esibhedlela futhi kwakungalindelwe ukuba aphile. Ngathatha isitimela esishesha kakhulu esiya eNagoya futhi ngaphuthuma esibhedlela. Wayengezwa lutho, kodwa ngahlala eduze kombhede wakhe ubusuku bonke. Umama washona ekuseni kakhulu. Lapho ngiphindela eNumazu, ngangingenakuzibamba izinyembezi lapho ngikhumbula izikhathi ezinzima ayeye wabhekana nazo ekuphileni nendlela ayengithanda ngayo. Uma uJehova ethanda, ngiyophinde ngimbone ngovuko.

Ngokushesha izakhiwo zaseNumazu zazingasasaneli. Ngakho kwathengwa indawo engamahektare angu-7 e-Ebina City, futhi ukwakhiwa kwezakhiwo zegatsha elisha kwaqala ngo-1978. Manje kuyo yonke leyo ndawo sekwakhiwe ifektri nezakhiwo zokuhlala kanye neHholo Lomhlangano elihlalisa abantu abangaphezu kuka-2 800. Izakhiwo ezinezelwe muva nje, ezihlanganisa izakhiwo ezimbili zokuhlala ezinezitezi ezingu-13 nesakhiwo esinezitezi ezinhlanu esihlanganisa indawo yokupaka izimoto nesakhiwo sezinkonzo ezihlukahlukene, zaqedwa ekuqaleni kwalo nyaka. Manje umkhaya wethu waseBethel unamalungu angaba ngu-530, kodwa izakhiwo ezandisiwe zizosivumela ukuba sihlalise amalungu angaba ngu-900.

Izizathu Eziningi Zokujabula

Kuye kwathakazelisa ukubona isiprofetho seBhayibheli sigcwaliseka, yebo, ukubona ‘ophansi ekhula eba-yisizwe esinamandla.’ (Isaya 60:22) Ngikhumbula omunye wabafowethu emuva ngo-1951 engibuza, “KunoFakazi abangaki eJapane?”

“Bangaba ngu-260,” ngiphendula.

“Bangako kuphela?” ebuza ngezwi elilulazayo.

Ngiyakhumbula ngicabanga, ‘Kuzobonakala ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ukuthi bangaki uJehova azobadonsela ekukhulekeleni kwakhe kuleli lizwe lobuShinto nobuBuddha.’ Futhi uJehova uye waphendula! Namuhla, ayisekho insimu engabelwe okusamelwe kushunyayelwe kuyo eJapane, futhi inani labakhulekeli beqiniso liye lakhula laba ngaphezu kuka-222 000 emabandleni angu-3 800!

Iminyaka engu-44 edlule yokuphila kwami enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele—engu-32 nginomkami onothando—iye yaba ejabulisa ngokukhethekile. Kwengu-25 yaleyo minyaka, ngiye ngakhonza eMnyangweni Wokuhumusha eBethel. Ngo-September 1979, ngamenyelwa nokuba ngibe ilungu lekomiti yegatsha yoFakazi BakaJehova eJapane.

Kuye kwaba yilungelo nesibusiso ukuba nengxenye encane ekusizeni abantu abaqotho nabathanda ukuthula ukuba bakhulekele uJehova. Abaningi baye benza njengoba nje ngenza—bayeka ukudumisa umbusi bakhulekela owukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Ngifisa ngobuqotho ukusiza abaningi ngokwengeziwe ukuba beze ohlangothini lukaJehova olunqobayo futhi bazuze ukuphila okungapheli emhlabeni omusha onokuthula.—IsAmbulo 22:17.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Imfundo yasesikoleni yayigxile ekukhulekeleni umbusi

[Umthombo]

The Mainichi Newspapers

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ENew York noMfoweth’uFranz

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Nginomkami, uJunko

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Emsebenzini eMnyangweni Wokuhumusha