Ukwamukela Isiqondiso SikaJehova Ngenjabulo
NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGU-ULYSSES V. GLASS
Kwakuyisenzakalo esiyingqayizivele. Kwakunabafundi abangu-127 kuphela ababethweswa iziqu, kodwa kwakunezilaleli ezijabule ezingu-126 387, ezazivela emazweni ahlukahlukene. Kwakuwumkhosi wokuthweswa iziqu wekilasi lama-21 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, owawuseYankee Stadium, eNew York City, ngo-July 19, 1953. Kungani leso kwakuyisenzakalo esivelele ekuphileni kwami? Ake ngithi fáhla ngomlando wami.
NGAZALELWA eVincennes, e-Indiana, e-U.S.A., ngo-February 17, 1912, eminyakeni emibili ngaphambi kokuzalwa koMbuso kaMesiya, njengoba kuchazwe kusAmbulo 12:1-5. Onyakeni ongaphambi kwalowo, abazali bami babeqale ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngemiqulu ye-Studies in the Scriptures. Njalo ngeSonto ekuseni, ubaba wayefundela umkhaya enye yalezi zincwadi, bese sixoxa ngayo.
Umama wasebenzisa ayekufunda ukuze alolonge izingqondo zabantwana bakhe. Wayengumuntu okahle kakhulu—enomusa futhi ekulungele ukusiza abanye. Sasibane esasingabantabakhe, kodwa uthando lukamama lwaluhlanganisa nabanye abantwana bomakhelwane. Wayechitha isikhathi nathi. Wayekujabulela ukusitshela izindaba zeBhayibheli nokuhlabelela nathi.
Wayemema nabanye abahlukahlukene abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ukuba bazovakasha ekhaya. Babehlala usuku olulodwa noma ezimbili, ngokuvamile baqhubele imihlangano ekhaya futhi banikeze nezinkulumo. Sasibathanda kakhulu labo ababesebenzisa imifanekiso futhi besixoxela nezindaba. Ngolunye usuku ngo-1919, cishe ngemva konyaka kuphele impi yezwe yokuqala, umzalwane owayevakashile wakhuluma ngokuqondile nathi zingane. Waxoxa ngokuzahlukanisela—lokho manje esikubiza ngokufanele ngokuthi ukuzinikezela—futhi wasisiza ukuba siqonde indlela okukuthinta ngayo ukuphila kwethu. Kusihlwa ngalolo suku lapho sengiyolala, ngathandaza kuBaba wasezulwini ngamtshela ukuthi ngifuna ukumkhonza njalo.
Nokho, ngemva kuka-1922, leso sinqumo sasithibezwa ezinye izithakazelo ekuphileni. Sasihlale sithutha futhi lingekho ibandla labantu bakaJehova esasihlanganyela nalo. Ubaba wayengahlali ekhaya ngoba wayesebenza kwaloliwe. Sasingalifundi njalo iBhayibheli. Ngenza izifundo ezithile esikoleni ukuze ngibe ingcweti kwezokukhangisa futhi ngahlela ukuya eyunivesithi ephambili.
Ukulungisa Umbono Ngezinto Engiziphishekelayo Ekuphileni
Phakathi nawo-1930, izwe laphinda laphokophelela kwenye impi yomhlaba. Sase sihlala eCleveland, e-Ohio, lapho sivakashelwa omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Saqala ukucabangisisa ngalokho esasikufunde lapho sisakhula. Umfowethu omdala, uRussell, wayezimisele futhi wabhapathizwa kuqala. Mina ngangingenandaba kangako, kodwa ngo-February 3, 1936, ngabhapathizwa. Ukwazisa kwami ngalokho ukuzinikezela kuJehova okukuhilelayo kwakukhula, futhi ngangifunda ukwamukela isiqondiso sikaJehova. Ngawo lowo nyaka, odadewethu ababili, uKathryn noGertrude, nabo babhapathizwa. Sonke sangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona.
Nokho, lokho akusho ukuthi sasingacabangi ngalutho olunye. Ngalalela ngesikhulu isithakazelo lapho umkamfowethu engitshela ngentombazane enhle okuthiwa u-Ann “eyayimagange” kusukela yezwa ngeqiniso futhi eyayizoba khona emihlanganweni ekhaya. Ngaleso sikhathi u-Ann wayengunobhala wasenkantolo, futhi wabhapathizwa kungakapheli nonyaka. Ngangingazimisele ukushada, kodwa kwakusobala ukuthi u-Ann wayelithanda ngokuphelele iqiniso. Wayefuna ukungena shí enkonzweni kaJehova. Wayengazibuzi ukuthi, “Ingabe ngizophumelela?” Kunalokho, wayebuza ukuthi, “Iyiphi indlela engcono yokwenza lokhu?” Futhi wayezimisele ukulandelela. Leso simo sengqondo esihle sangikhanga. Ngaphandle kwalokho, wayenguphuma langa sikothe, futhi usenjalo namanje. Waba umkami, futhi ngokushesha sahlanganyela enkonzweni yobuphayona ndawonye.
Ukuqeqeshwa Okuyigugu Njengamaphayona
Njengamaphayona safunda imfihlo yokwaneliswa lapho siswele nalapho sinenala. (Filipi 4:11-13) Ngolunye usuku sekuzokuhlwa, sasingenakho ukudla. Sasinozuka nje kuphela. Saya esitolo senyama, futhi ngabuza umthengisi ngathi, “Ungasidayisela inyama kazuka?” Wasibheka wabe esesisikela amaqatha amane. Ngiyaqiniseka leyo nyama yayibiza ngaphezu kukazuka, futhi sadla sasutha.
Sasivame ukuhlangabezana nokuphikiswa okukhulu enkonzweni yethu. Edolobhaneni elithile eduze kwaseSyracuse, eNew York, sasihambisa amapheshana emgwaqweni siphethe nezingqwembe ezimemezela inkulumo yeningi ekhethekile. Abalisa ababili abayizidlakela bangibhozomela bangishaya. Omunye wayeyiphoyisa, kodwa wayengayigqokile inyufomu, futhi akazange avume ukungibonisa ibheji lakhe. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwavela uGrant Suiter waseBethel yaseBrooklyn wathi sizoya esiteshini samaphoyisa siyolungisa lolu daba. Khona-ke washayela ucingo ehhovisi leNhlangano eBrooklyn, futhi sobabili sayalwa ukuba siphinde siphume ngalolo suku nezingqwembe namapheshana ukuze kutholakale ubufakazi. Njengoba kwakulindelekile, saboshwa. Nokho, lapho sitshela amaphoyisa ukuthi sasizowamangalela enkantolo ngenxa yokusibopha singenacala, asikhulula sahamba.
Ngakusasa, isigejane sentsha eyizichwensi sangena endaweni yethu yomhlangano sishoshozelwa umpristi, futhi amaphoyisa athula angenza lutho. Lezi zichwensi zabanga umsindo ngemiphini ye-baseball, zawisa ezinye izilaleli ezihlalweni eziphezulu, zagibela esiteji zaphakamisa ifulege laseMelika futhi zamemeza zithi “Lishayeleni indesheni! Lishayeleni indesheni!” Khona-ke zabe seziqala ukuhlabelela ingoma ethi “Beer Barrel Polka.” Zawuhlakaza lowo mhlangano. Sasizibonela mathupha ukuthi uJesu wayesho ukuthini lapho ethi: “Ngenxa yokuthi aniyona ingxenye yezwe, kodwa nginikhethile kulelizwe, ngenxa yalokhu izwe liyanizonda.”—Johane 15:19.
Eqinisweni, leyo nkulumo yeningi yayiwumbhalo wenkulumo kaJ. F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi. Mina no-Ann sahlala kulelo dolobhana izinsuku ezimbalwa futhi savakashela abantu ukuze sibanike ithuba lokulalela le nkulumo emakhaya abo. Abambalwa bakujabulela lokho.
Ukuvuma Ukuyokhonza Kwelinye Izwe
Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwavuleka imikhakha emisha yenkonzo. Umfoweth’ uRussell, nomkakhe uDorothy, bamenyelwa ekilasini lokuqala leSikole SaseGileyadi, ngo-1943, base bethunyelwa eCuba njengezithunywa zevangeli. Udadewethu uKathryn wayesekilasini lesine. Naye wabelwa eCuba. Kamuva wabelwa eDominican Republic, futhi ekugcineni ePuerto Rico. Kuthiwani ngami no-Ann?
Lapho sizwa ngeSikole SaseGileyadi nokuthi iNhlangano yayifuna ukuthumela izithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe, saba nomuzwa wokuthi sifuna ukuyokhonza kwelinye izwe. Ekuqaleni, sasicabanga ukuzihambela nje ngokwethu, mhlawumbe siye eMexico. Kodwa-ke sanquma ukuthi kungaba ngcono ukulinda ukuba iNhlangano isabele indawo ngemva kokuya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi. Saqaphela ukuthi leli kwakuyilungiselelo elisetshenziswa uJehova.
Samenyelwa ekilasini lesine leSikole SaseGileyadi. Kodwa ngaphambi nje kokuba ikilasi liqale, uN. H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi, waqaphela ukuthi u-Ann wayenokulinganiselwa ngenxa yokuba novendle eseyingane. Wakhuluma nami ngalesi simo futhi wanquma ukuthi kwakungeke kube ukuhlakanipha ukusithumela kwelinye izwe siyokhonza khona.
Cishe eminyakeni emibili kamuva, lapho ngisematasa nomsebenzi wokulungiselela umhlangano wesigodi, ngaphinde ngahlangana noMfoweth’ uKnorr futhi wangibuza ukuthi sasisengathanda yini ukuya eGileyadi. Wangitshela ukuthi sasingeke sinikezwe isabelo sakwelinye izwe; kunokuthile ayefuna sikwenze. Ngakho lapho kubhaliswa ikilasi lesi-9 ngo-February 26, 1947, nathi safakwa ohlwini lwabafundi.
Asisoze sazikhohlwa lezo zinsuku esazichitha eGileyadi. Izifundo zazicebile ngokomoya. Sathola abangane bokuphila konke. Kodwa ukuhlanganyela kwami kulesi sikole kwadlulela ngalé kwalokho.
Ukusebenza EWashington NaseGileyadi
ISikole SaseGileyadi sasisanda kuvulwa. Uhulumeni wase-United States wayengazazi kahle izinhloso zalesi sikole, ngakho kwakuphakama imibuzo eminingi. INhlangano yayifuna ukuba nommeleli eWashington, D.C. Sathunyelwa lapho ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ngemva kokuthola iziqu eGileyadi. Ngangizosiza ngokuthola ama-visa alabo ababevela kwamanye amazwe bemenyelwe eGileyadi nokuthola izincwadi zomthetho ukuze abathweswa iziqu bathunyelwe kwamanye amazwe emsebenzini wobuthunywa bevangeli. Ezinye iziphathimandla zaziqonda futhi ziwusizo kakhulu. Ezinye zazingabathandi neze oFakazi. Ezinye ezazinemibono eqinile yezombangazwe zazigomela ngokuthi sasibandakanyeka emaqenjini ezaziwabheka njengangathandeki.
Indoda ethile engangena ehhovisi layo yasigxeka kakhulu ngoba asilishayeli ifulege indesheni noma siye empini. Ngemva kokusigxeka kwayo isikhathi esithile, ekugcineni ngathi: “Ngingathanda ukuba wazi, futhi uyazi, ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abalwi nanoma ubani emhlabeni. Asihlanganyeli ezindabeni zezwe. Asihlanganyeli ezimpini nakwezombangazwe zalo. Asithathi hlangothi ngokuphelele. Sesizinqobile kakade izinkinga eninazo; sinobunye enhlanganweni yethu. . . . Manje, nifuna senzeni? Nifuna sisebenzise indlela yenu yokwenza izinto silahle eyethu?” Ngemva kwalokho, yathula yathi dú.
Kwabekwa izinsuku ezimbili ngesonto zokwenza umsebenzi emahhovisi kahulumeni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sasikhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile. Ngaleso sikhathi, lokhu kwakuhilela ukuchitha amahora angu-175 enkonzweni yasensimini inyanga ngayinye (kamuva ashintshwa aba amahora angu-140), ngakho sasivame ukuba senkonzweni kuze kuhlwe. Sasikujabulela. Sasiqhuba izifundo eziningi ezinhle nemikhaya ehlukahlukene, futhi yathuthuka kahle. Mina no-Ann sanquma ukuba singabi nazo izingane, kodwa ngomqondo ongokomoya, asitholanga nje izingane kodwa ngisho nabazukulu nezingane zabazukulu. Yeka indlela abasilethela ngayo injabulo enhliziyweni!
Ngasekupheleni kuka-1948, ngathola esinye isabelo. UMfoweth’ uKnorr wachaza ukuthi uMfoweth’ uSchroeder, ongumbhalisi nomunye wothisha eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, wayezoba matasa ngomunye umsebenzi obalulekile, ngakho ngacelwa ukuba ngifundise amakilasi aseGileyadi uma kudingekile. Nginexhala, mina no-Ann safika eGileyadi, eSouth Lansing, eNew York, ngo-December 18. Ekuqaleni, sasichitha amasonto ambalwa kuphela eGileyadi, bese sibuyela eWashington. Kodwa-ke, ekugcineni ngase ngichitha isikhathi esiningi eGileyadi kunaseWashington.
Kwakuphakathi nalesi sikhathi-ke, njengoba ngichaze ekuqaleni, lapho ikilasi lama-21 laseGileyadi lathweswa khona iziqu eYankee Stadium eNew York. Ngakho njengomunye wothisha, ngaba nelungelo lokuhlanganyela kuleso simiso sokuthweswa iziqu.
Ukukhonza Endlunkulu Yomhlaba Wonke
Ngo-February 12, 1955, sathola esinye isabelo senkonzo. Saba amalungu omkhaya waseBethel endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Kodwa lokho kwakusho ukuthini? Ngokuyisisekelo, kwakusho ukuzimisela ukwenza noma yini esabelwa yona, sihlanganyele emisebenzini eyayidinga ukuba sibambisane nabanye. Yiqiniso, sasiye sakwenza lokho ngaphambili, kodwa manje sasiyoba ingxenye yeqembu elikhudlwana—umkhaya wasendlunkulu eBethel. Sasamukela ngenjabulo lesi sabelo esisha njengobufakazi besiqondiso sikaJehova.
Ingxenye enkulu yomsebenzi wami yayiphathelene nezindaba ezihilela abezindaba. Ngenxa yokufuna izindaba eziyihaba nangenxa yokuthola ukwaziswa emithonjeni esibandlululayo, abezindaba babebhale izinto ezimbi ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Sazama ukulungisa leso simo.
UMfoweth’ uKnorr wayefuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi sonke sinomsebenzi omningi, ngakho sasinezinye futhi izabelo. Ezinye zazidinga ikhono lami njengengcweti yokukhangisa. Ezinye zazihilela isiteshi somsakazo seNhlangano, i-WBBR. Sasisebenza nangezithombe zebhayisikobho ezazikhiqizwa yiNhlangano. Izifundo zaseGileyadi zazihlanganisa nomlando ongokwasezulwini, kodwa manje kwakunemisebenzi ehlukahlukene yokujwayelanisa abantu bakaJehova nemininingwane yomlando wenhlangano engokwasezulwini yanamuhla nokwenza lokhu kwaziswa kutholakale emphakathini. Esinye isici sokuqeqeshwa eGileyadi sasihlanganisa nokukhuluma obala, futhi kwakumelwe kwenziwe umsebenzi ukuze abazalwane emabandleni bathole imfundo eyisisekelo yokukhuluma obala. Ngakho wawumkhulu umsebenzi.
Ukuzinza EGileyadi
Ngo-1961, njengoba ukuqeqeshwa kwababonisi abajikelezayo namalungu amagatsha kwakusondela, iSikole SaseGileyadi sathuthelwa eBrooklyn, endlunkulu ye-Watch Tower Society. Ngaphindela ekilasini—kulokhu ngingaseyena uthisha obambele kodwa sengiyilungu eligcwele leqembu lothisha. Yeka ilungelo! Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi iSikole SaseGileyadi siyisipho esivela kuJehova, isipho esiye sazuzisa yonke inhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo.
Amakilasi aseGileyadi ayeqhutshelwa eBrooklyn ayenamathuba abafundi bangaphambili ababengazange bawathole. Kwakunothisha abaningi abayizivakashi, ubudlelwane neNdikimba Ebusayo kanye nomkhaya waseBethel wasendlunkulu. Abafundi babeqeqeshwa nangezinqubo zasehhovisi, imisebenzi yekhaya laseBethel nasemikhakheni ehlukahlukene yomsebenzi wasefektri.
Njengoba iminyaka yayiqhubeka, inani labafundi lalishintshashintsha, kanjalo nenani lothisha. Indawo yesikole nayo yashintsha kaningana. Manje sisendaweni enhle ePatterson, eNew York.
Ukusebenza Nabafundi
Kuye kwajabulisa kakhulu ukufundisa laba bafundi! Laba abantu abasha abangenasithakazelo sokwenza izinto zalesi simiso esidala. Bashiya imikhaya yakubo, abangane, imizi yabo nabantu abakhuluma ulimi lwabo. Isimo sezulu, ukudla—konke okunye kuyohluka. Abazi ngisho nanokuthi basuke bezothunyelwa kuliphi izwe, kodwa umgomo wabo ukuba izithunywa zevangeli. Abantu abanjalo abakudingi ukuphoqelelwa.
Njalo lapho ngiya ekilasini, bekulokhu kuwumgomo wami ukwenza abafundi bakhululeke. Akekho umuntu ofunda kahle uma ethukile engakhululekile. Yebo, ngangiwuthisha, kodwa ngangazi ukuthi kunjani ukuba umfundi. Nami ngangike ngahlala kulezo zihlalo. Yiqiniso, babezikhandla ekutadisheni futhi befunda izinto eziningi eGileyadi, kodwa ngangifisa futhi ukuthi bakujabulele lokho.
Ngangazi ukuthi lapho beya ezabelweni zabo, babeyodinga izinto ezithile ukuze baphumelele. Babedinga ukholo oluqinile. Babedinga ukuzithoba—okukhulu. Kwakuyodingeka bafunde ukusebenzelana nabanye, ukwamukela izimo, ukuthethelela ngokukhululekile. Kwakuyodingeka baqhubeke behlakulela izithelo zomoya. Kwakudingeka nokuba bathande abantu futhi bathande umsebenzi ababethunywe ukuba bawenze. Lezo izinto engangizama njalo ukuzigcizelela kubafundi lapho beseGileyadi.
Angazi ngempela ukuthi bangaki abafundi esengibafundisile. Kodwa ngiyazi ukuthi ngizizwa kanjani ngabo. Ngemva kokuchitha nabo izinyanga ezinhlanu ekilasini, ngangiye ngibathande kakhulu. Khona-ke, lapho sengibabona begibela esiteji beyolanda iziqu zabo, ngangisuke ngazi ukuthi babeziphothule ngempumelelo izifundo nokuthi ngokushesha bazovalelisa. Kwakuba njengokuvalelisa ingxenye yomkhaya wami. Wawungahlala kanjani ungabathandi abantu abazimisele ukuzinikela futhi benze umsebenzi owawuzokwenziwa yile ntsha?
Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, lapho bebuya bezovakasha, ngibezwa belandisa ngenjabulo abayithola enkonzweni futhi ngibone ukuthi basaqhubeka esabelweni sabo, benza lokho abaqeqeshelwe ukukwenza. Lokho kungenza ngizizwe kanjani? Kuyangijabulisa ngempela.
Ukubheka Esikhathini Esizayo
Amehlo awasaboni kahle, futhi lokho kuyakhungathekisa. Angisakwazi ukufundisa ekilasini laseGileyadi. Ekuqaleni, kwakunzima ukuvumelana nalesi simo, kodwa kukho konke ukuphila ngiye ngafunda ukwamukela izimo futhi ngibhekane nazo. Ngivame ukucabanga ngomphostoli uPawulu kanye ‘neva lakhe enyameni.’ Kathathu uPawulu wathandazela ukuba lolo sizi luphele, kodwa iNkosi yathi kuye: “Umusa wami ongafanelwe ukwanele; ngoba amandla ami enziwa aphelele ebuthakathakeni.” (2 Korinte 12:7-10) UPawulu waqhubeka ephila nalo. Uma aphumelela, kufanele ngizame. Nakuba ngingasafundisi ekilasini, ngiyajabula ngokuthi ngisababona njalo abafundi abangenayo nabaphumayo. Ngezinye izikhathi ngiyaxoxa nabo, futhi kuyangijabulisa ukucabanga ngomoya omuhle abawubonisayo.
Kuhle kakhulu ukucabanga ngalokho isikhathi esizayo esikuphethe. Kubekwa isisekelo manje. IGileyadi iye yaba nendima ebalulekile. Ngalé kosizi olukhulu, lapho kuvulwa imiqulu okubhekiselwe kuyo kusAmbulo 20:12, kuyoba neminyaka eyinkulungwane yokufundiswa ngokujulile ngezindlela zikaJehova. (Isaya 11:9) Kodwa ngeke kugcine lapho. Lokho kumane nje kuyisiqalo. Njengoba siyophila phakade, kuningi esiyokufunda ngoJehova nesiyokwenza njengoba sibona izinjongo zakhe zifezeka. Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyozigcwalisa zonke izithembiso ezinhle azenzile, futhi ngifisa ukuba ngibe lapho ukuze ngihlanganyele ekwamukeleni iziqondiso uJehova ayosinika zona ngaleso sikhathi.
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Ukuthweswa iziqu zaseGileyadi eYankee Stadium, eNew York, ngo-1953
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UGertrude, yimina, uKathryn noRussell
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Ngisebenza noN. H. Knorr (ongasekugcineni kwesobunxele) noM. G. Henschel ekuhleleleni umhlangano wesigodi
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Esiteshini sokusakaza se-WBBR
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Ekilasini eGileyadi
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Ngino-Ann muva nje