Indaba Yokuphila

Ukuphokophela Phambili Endleleni KaJehova Kusinika Amandla Nenjabulo

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGULUIGGI D. VALENTINO

“Nansi indlela; hambani ngayo,” kuyala uJehova. (Isaya 30:21) Ukulandela lesi seluleko bekulokhu kuwumgomo wami kusukela ngabhapathizwa eminyakeni engu-60 edlule. Lo mgomo ngangiwubekelwe abazali bami ababeyisibonelo, abathutha e-Italy bayozinza eCleveland, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., ngo-1921. Bafika lapho bakhulisa izingane ezintathu—umfowethu omdala uMike, udadewethu omncane uLydia nami.

ABAZALI bami bahlola izinkolo ezihlukahlukene kodwa bagcina bedelile bayeka. Ngolunye usuku ngo-1932, ubaba wayelalele uhlelo lomsakazo lwesiNtaliyane. Lwalusakazwa oFakazi BakaJehova, ubaba wakuthanda ayekuzwa. Wabhala ecela ukwaziswa okwengeziwe, kwase kufika uFakazi oyiNtaliyane owayevela endlunkulu yoFakazi BakaJehova eseBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngemva kwengxoxo emnandi eyaqhubeka kwaze kwaba sentathakusa, abazali bami bagculiseka ukuthi babethole inkolo yeqiniso.

Ubaba nomama baqala ukuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu futhi bamukela ababonisi abajikelezayo emzini wabo. Nakuba ngangiwumfanyana, la madoda ayengivumela ukuba ngihambe nawo emsebenzini wokushumayela, angenza ngacabanga ngokukhonza uJehova isikhathi esigcwele. Esinye salezo zivakashi kwakunguCarey W. Barber, manje oseyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova. Kungakabiphi, ngo-February 1941, ngabhapathizwa ngineminyaka engu-14 ubudala, kwathi ngo-1944, ngaqala ukukhonza njengephayona eCleveland. UMike noLydia nabo bayithatha indlela yeqiniso leBhayibheli. UMike wakhonza uJehova kwaze kwaba yilapho eshona, noLydia wahamba nomyeni wakhe, uHarold Weidner, iminyaka engu-28 enkonzweni yokujikeleza. Namuhla, bakhonza njengezikhonzi ezikhethekile zesikhathi esigcwele.

Ijele Lijulisa Ukuzimisela Kwami Ukuphokophela Phambili

Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1945, ngavalelwa eJele Likahulumeni LaseChillicothe, e-Ohio, ngenxa yokuthi unembeza wami oqeqeshwe yiBhayibheli wawungishukumisela ukuba ngenze ngokuvumelana no-Isaya 2:4, okhuluma ngokukhanda izinkemba zibe ngamakhuba. Ngesinye isikhathi, iziphathimandla zasejele zavumela iziboshwa ezingoFakazi ukuba zibe nezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezilinganiselwe ezinyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Nokho, oFakazi basebandleni eliseduze babesiza. Ngezinye izikhathi, babeqathaza izincwadi ezimbalwa esigangeni ngasejele. Ngakusasa ekuseni, lapho iziboshwa ziyiswa emisebenzini yazo, zazizifuna lezo zincwadi bese zithola indlela yokungena nazo ejele. Lapho ngifika ejele, savunyelwa ukuba nezincwadi ezengeziwe. Noma kunjalo, ngakufunda ngempela ukwazisa ukudla okungokomoya uJehova akulungiselelayo—isifundo engisasikhumbula njalo lapho ngithola INqabayokulinda noma i-Phaphama! entsha.

Nakuba savunyelwa ukuqhuba imihlangano yebandla ejele, abangebona oFakazi babengavunyelwe ukuba khona. Noma kunjalo, ezinye zezikhulu zasejele neziboshwa zazinyenya zibe khona, futhi abambalwa babo bamukela neqiniso imbala. (IzEnzo 16:30-34) Ukuhanjelwa nguMfoweth’ u-A. H. Macmillan kwakusinika induduzo enkulu. Wayesiqinisekisa njalo ukuthi isikhathi esasisichitha ejele sasingelona ize ngoba sasisiqeqeshela izabelo zesikhathi esizayo. Lowo mzalwane othandekayo owayesekhulile wangithinta inhliziyo, wajulisa nokuzimisela kwami ukuhamba endleleni kaJehova.

Ukuthola Umngane

IMpi Yezwe II yaphela, sadedelwa ejele, ngaphindela ekuphayoneni, inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Kodwa ngo-1947, ubaba washona. Ukuze ngondle umkhaya wakithi, ngaqala ukwenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa futhi ngaqeqeshelwa ukubhucunga (massaging)—okuyikhono elaliyongisiza esikhathini esinzima esabhekana naso mina nomkami eminyakeni engaba ngu-30 kamuva. Awubheke sengigijimela phambili. Ake ngiqale ngikuxoxele ngomkami.

Ngolunye usuku ntambama ngo-1949 ngiseHholo LoMbuso, kwakhala ucingo. Ngalubamba ngase ngizwa izwi elimtoti lithi: “Igama lami nginguChristine Genchur. Ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngithuthele lapha eCleveland ukuze ngizothola umsebenzi, kodwa ngifuna ibandla engingahlanganyela kulo.” IHholo lethu LoMbuso lalikude nendawo ayehlala kuyo, kodwa ngangilithandile izwi lakhe, ngakho ngamyalela indlela eza ehholo lethu ngase ngimkhuthaza ukuba afike ngalelo Sonto—usuku engangizobe nginikeza ngalo inkulumo yeningi. NgeSonto, ngafika kuqala kunawo wonke umuntu eHholo LoMbuso, kodwa akufikanga dade engingamazi. Phakathi nenkulumo, ngangilokhu ngijeqeza ngasemnyango, kodwa akungenanga muntu. Ngakusasa ngamshayela ucingo, wathi wayengakawazi amabhasi ukuthi ahamba kanjani. Ngakho ngasikisela ukuba sibonane ukuze ngimchazele kangcono izinto.

Ngathola ukuthi abazali bakhe, ababesuka eCzechoslovakia, babeqale ukuhlanganyela nabaFundi BeBhayibheli ngemva kokufunda incwajana ethi Where Are the Dead? Abazali bakhe babebhapathizwe ngo-1935. Ngo-1938, ubaba kaChristine wayebe yinceku yebandla (manje ebizwa ngombonisi owengamele) ebandleni loFakazi BakaJehova laseClymer, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A., kwase kuthi ngo-1947, uChristine wabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-16 ubudala. Akuphelanga sikhathi, ngazifela ngalo dade omuhle nothambekele ezintweni ezingokomoya. Sashada ngo-June 24, 1950, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi uChristine uye waba ngumngane wami othembekile, ohlale ezimisele ukubeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala. Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokuthi lo mngane onamakhono amahle wavuma ukuhlanganisa ukuphila kwakhe nokwami.—IzAga 31:10.

Into Eyasimangaza Kakhulu

Ngo-November 1, 1951, saqala ukuphayona ndawonye. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, emhlanganweni owawuseToledo, e-Ohio, uMfoweth’ uHugo Riemer no-Albert Schroeder bakhuluma neqembu lamaphayona ayenesithakazelo enkonzweni yezithunywa zevangeli. Nathi sasilapho. Sakhuthazwa ukuba siqhubeke siphayona eCleveland, kodwa ngenyanga elandelayo, kwenzeka into eyasimangaza kakhulu—samenywa ukuba size ekilasini lama-23 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, elalizoqala ngo-February 1954!

Lapho sihamba ngemoto siya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, ngaleso sikhathi esasiseSouth Lansing, eNew York, uChristine wayenovalo kangangokuthi wayelokhu ethi kimi, “Nciphisa ijubane!” Ngathi, “Christine, uma sinciphisa leli jubane, sizoma.” Nokho, ngemva kokungena emagcekeni esikole, sasheshe sazizwa sikhululekile. UMfoweth’ uKnorr wasamukela njengeqembu labafundi wayesesibonisa indawo. Wachaza nokuthi singawonga kanjani amanzi nogesi, egcizelela ukuthi ukonga kuyinto enhle lapho sinakekela izithakazelo zoMbuso. Leso seluleko sanamathela ezingqondweni zethu. Sisaphila ngaso namanje.

Ukuya ERio

Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba siphothulile, ngo-December 10, 1954, sagibela indiza eNew York City ebandayo, sijabulela ukuya esabelweni sethu esisha saseRio de Janeiro enelanga elibalele, eBrazil. Sasihamba noPeter noBillie Carrbello, izithunywa zevangeli esasikanye nazo. Lolu hambo lwendiza lwaluzothatha amahora angu-24, kuhlanganise nokuma ePuerto Rico, eVenezuela naseBelém esenyakatho yeBrazil. Nokho, ngenxa yokuhlupha kwenjini yendiza, iRio de Janeiro saze sayibona phansi ngemva kwamahora angu-36. Yeka indlela eyayiyinhle ngayo! Izibani zedolobha zazicwazimula njengamadayimane asamlilo kukhaphethi omnyama, unyezi osasiliva ubenyezela emanzini aseGuanabara Bay.

Esikhumulweni sezindiza sasilindelwe yidlanzana lamalungu omkhaya waseBethel. Ngemva kokusamukela ngokufudumele, asithatha asiyisa ehhovisi legatsha ngezimoto, kwathi cishe ngehora lesithathu ekuseni sangena ezingutsheni. Ngemva kwamahora ambalwa, insimbi yokuvuka yasikhumbuza ukuthi usuku lwethu lokuqala njengezithunywa zevangeli lwase luqalile!

Isifundo Esasifunda Ngokushesha

Ngokushesha safunda isifundo esibalulekile. Sasisemzini womkhaya woFakazi ebusuku. Lapho sesifuna ukuhamba siphindele egatsheni ngezinyawo, umninikhaya wenqaba wathi, “Cha, anikwazi ukuhamba; liyana izulu,” wazama ukuphikelela ethi masilale. Ngathi: “Nalapho sivela khona liyana izulu,” ngisho ngihleka ngingakunaki akushoyo. Saphuma sahamba.

Ngenxa yezintaba ezizungeze iRio, amanzi emvula aqoqana ngokushesha ageleze ehlele edolobheni, ngokuvamile akhe izikhukhula. Kungakabiphi sase sihamba emanzini afika emadolweni. Ngasegatsheni, imigwaqo yayisiphenduke imifula edla izindwani, amanzi esefika esifubeni. Safika eBethel simanzi té. Ngakusasa, uChristine wayengazizwa neze kahle, waqunjwa phansi yi-typhoid fever, kwaphela isikhathi eside engenamandla. Kwakusobala ukuthi, njengoba sasiyizithunywa zevangeli ezazisafika, kwakufanele ngabe sisilalelile iseluleko soFakazi bendawo, bona abase beyazi indawo.

Izinyathelo Zokuqala Emsebenzini Wezithunywa Zevangeli Nowokujikeleza

Ngemva kwalesi siqalo esingemnandi, saqala inkonzo yethu yasensimini ngokuzimisela. Noma ubani esasihlangana naye sasimfundela intshumayelo yesiPutukezi, futhi kwakubonakala sengathi sithuthuka cishe ngezinga elifanayo. Umninikhaya othile wayefike athi kuChristine, “Ngiyakuzwa wena, kodwa lona angimuzwa,” ekhomba mina. Omunye afike athi kimi, “Ngiyakuzwa wena, hhayi lo.” Noma kunjalo, sajabula ukuthola izikhokhelo ze-Nqabayokulinda ezingaphezu kwekhulu ngalawo masonto ambalwa okuqala. Eqinisweni, abantu abaningi esasibafundela iBhayibheli babhapathizwa phakathi nonyaka wethu wokuqala siseBrazil, okwasinambithisa ukuthi sasizothela kangakanani lesi sabelo sezithunywa zevangeli.

Phakathi nawo-1950, amabandla amaningi eBrazil ayengabatholi ababonisi besifunda abawahambela njalo ngenxa yokusweleka kwabazalwane abafanelekayo. Ngakho, nakuba ngangisalufunda ulimi, ngingakanikezi nenkulumo yeningi ngesiPutukezi, ngabelwa emsebenzini wesifunda esifundeni saseSão Paulo ngo-1956.

Njengoba ibandla lokuqala esalihambela lase lineminyaka emibili lingahanjelwa ngumbonisi wesifunda, wonke umuntu wayelindele lukhulu enkulumweni yeningi. Lapho ngilungiselela leyo nkulumo, ngasika izigaba ezithile ezihlokweni ze-Nqabayokulinda yesiPutukezi ngazinamathisela ephepheni. Ngalelo Sonto, iHholo LoMbuso laligcwele liphuphuma. Abantu babehlezi ngisho nasesiteji, bonke belindele lesi senzakalo esikhulu. Inkulumo, noma mangithi ukufundwa kwayo, kwaqala. Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile ngangiphakamisa ikhanda futhi kungimangaze ukubona ukuthi kwakungekho noyedwa onyakazayo, ngisho nezingane. Bonke babethe njó kimi. Ngacabanga: ‘Hheshi bo, Valentino, sesithuthukile isiPutukezi sakho! Bonke laba bantu bakulalele.’ Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, lapho ngiphinda ngihambela lelo bandla, umzalwane owayekhona kulokho kuhambela kokuqala wathi: “Usayikhumbula leya nkulumo yeningi owayinikeza? Asizwanga ngisho noluncane kuyo.” Ngavuma ukuthi nami ngangingayiqondi ingxenye enkulu yaleya nkulumo.

Kulowo nyaka wokuqala sisemsebenzini wesifunda, ngangimfunda njalo uZakariya 4:6. Amazwi athi, “Kungabi ngamandla, kepha kube ngomoya wami,” ayengikhumbuza ukuthi umoya kaJehova wawuwukuphela kwesizathu esasenza umsebenzi woMbuso uqhubekele phambili. Futhi waqhubeka naphezu kokulinganiselwa kwethu okwakusobala.

Izinselele Nezibusiso

Umsebenzi wesifunda wawuhilela ukudabula izinkangala sisisitheka nomshini wokuthayipha, amabhokisi ezincwadi namapotimende ezingubo nawezincwadi. Ngokuhlakanipha, uChristine wabhala izinombolo emithwalweni yethu ukuze singashiyi lutho lapho siphuthuma ibhasi elilandelayo. Kwakungeyona into engavamile ukuhamba amahora angu-15 ngebhasi emgwaqweni wobhuqu size siyofika lapho siya khona. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakusiphuzelisa unwele, njengalapho amabhasi amabili ephambana ewela ibhuloho elintengayo, edlulana eduze kangangokuthi wawungaxhawula umuntu ekwelinye ibhasi.

Ngo-1961 saqala ukukhonza emsebenzini wesigodi, sihambela izifunda ngezifunda esikhundleni samabandla ngamabandla. Izinsuku ezithile ngesonto, sasibonisa amabhayisikobho enziwa yinhlangano kaJehova—njalo siba sendaweni ehlukile. Ngokuvamile kwakudingeka senze izinto ngokushesha ukuze sihlakaniphele abefundisi bendawo, ababezama ukuvimbela le mibukiso. Kwelinye idolobhana, umpristi waphoqa umnikazi wehholo elithile ukuba esule isivumelwano esase sisenze naye. Ngemva kokufuna izinsuku eziningi, sayithola enye indawo, kodwa sangatshela muntu, saqhubeka simemela wonke umuntu endaweni yokuqala. Ngaphambi kokuba isimiso siqale, uChristine waya kulelo hholo wafike walayela labo ababefuna ukubukela ibhayisikobho indlela eya endaweni entsha. Ngalobo busuku, baba ngu-150 abantu ababona ibhayisikobho, eyayinesihloko esifanelekayo esithi The New World Society in Action.

Nakuba umsebenzi wokujikeleza ezindaweni ezicezile wawukhandla ngezinye izikhathi, abazalwane abathobekile ababehlala kuzo babekwazisa kakhulu ukuhambela kwethu futhi besivulela ngomusa amakhaya abo angadle ngakuhloba kangangokuthi sasimbonga njalo uJehova ngokuba nabo. Ukwakha ubungane nabo kwaphumela ezibusisweni ezijabulisayo kithi. (IzAga 19:17; Hagayi 2:7) Ngakho-ke, sadabuka kakhulu ngokuthi lapho sesikhonze iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-21 eBrazil, sayeka ukukhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli!

UJehova Wasibonisa Indlela Lapho Sisekuhluphekeni

Ngo-1975, uChristine wahlinzwa. Sabuyela emsebenzini wokujikeleza, kodwa impilo kaChristine yaba yimbi nakakhulu. Kwabonakala kungcono ukuba sibuyele e-United States ukuze athole ukwelashwa. Ngo-April 1976, safika eLong Beach, eCalifornia, sahlala nomama. Ngemva kokuhlala phesheya amashumi amabili eminyaka, savele sadinga nje ukuthi sizosisingatha kanjani lesi simo. Ngaqala ukubhucunga (massaging) abantu, imali engangiyithola kulowo msebenzi yakwazi ukusondla. Uhulumeni wesifunda saseCalifornia wanikeza uChristine indawo esibhedlela, kodwa lapho wayezizwa eba buthaka nakakhulu usuku ngalunye ngoba odokotela babenqaba ukumelapha ngaphandle kokumfaka igazi. Sikhathazeke kakhulu, sanxusa uJehova ukuba asiqondise.

Ngolunye usuku ngisenkonzweni yasensimini ntambama, ngabona ihhovisi likadokotela, ngavele ngangena kulo. Nakuba udokotela ayesezohamba, wangamukela ehhovisi lakhe, saxoxa amahora amabili. Wabe esethi: “Ngiyawazisa umsebenzi wenu njengezithunywa zevangeli. Ngizomelapha umkakho ngaphandle kokunikhokhisa, futhi angizukumfaka igazi.” Angizikholwanga izindlebe zami.

Lo dokotela onomusa, engathola ukuthi wayenguchwepheshe ohlonishwayo, wathumela uChristine esibhedlela ayesebenza kuso, impilo kaChristine yaba ngcono ngokushesha lapho esenakekelwa yilo dokotela onekhono. Yeka indlela esabonga ngayo ngokuthi uJehova wayesibonise indlela kuleso sikhathi esinzima!

Izabelo Ezintsha

Lapho amandla kaChristine ebuya, sakhonza njengamaphayona futhi sajabulela ukusiza abantu abaningi eLong Beach ukuba babe ngabakhulekeli bakaJehova. Ngo-1982 sacelwa ukuba senze umsebenzi wesifunda e-United States. Sasimbonga nsuku zonke uJehova ngokuphinda asisebenzise emsebenzini wokujikeleza—uhlobo lwenkonzo esasiluthanda. Sakhonza eCalifornia sabe sesiya eNew England, lapho isifunda sasihlanganisa namabandla athile esiPutukezi. Kamuva isifunda sahlanganisa neBermuda.

Ngemva kweminyaka emine eqabulayo, sathola esinye isabelo. Samenywa ukuba siyokhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile nomaphi lapho sifuna khona. Nakuba kwakusidabukisa ukuyeka umsebenzi wokujikeleza, sasizimisele ukuphokophela phambili esabelweni sethu esisha. Kodwa kuphi nendawo? Sisesemsebenzini wokujikeleza, ngangiphawule ukuthi ibandla lesiPutukezi laseNew Bedford, eMassachusetts, lalidinga usizo—ngakho salibangisa eNew Bedford.

Lapho sifika, ibandla lasamukela ngomcimbi omkhulu. Yeka indlela lokho okwasenza sazizwa samukeleke ngayo! Sahlengezela izinyembezi. Umbhangqwana osemusha owawunabantwana ababili wasingenisa ngomusa endlini yawo kuze kube yilapho sithola eyethu indawo yokuhlala. Lesi sabelo samaphayona akhethekile uJehova wasibusisa ngaphezu kwalokho esasikulindele ngempela. Kusukela ngo-1986 siye sasiza abantu abangaba ngu-40 kuleli dolobhana ukuba babe ngoFakazi. Bawumkhaya wethu ongokomoya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngiye ngajabulela ukubona abazalwane abahlanu bendawo bekhula beba ngabelusi bomhlambi abanakekelayo. Kuye kwaba njengokukhonza esabelweni esithelayo sezithunywa zevangeli.

Uma sibheka emuva, siyajabula ngokuthi siye sakhonza uJehova kusukela ebusheni nangokuthi siye senza iqiniso laba yindlela yethu yokuphila. Kuyavunywa, ukuguga nokugula kuyasikhinyabeza manje, kodwa ukuphokophela phambili endleleni kaJehova kusasinika amandla nenjabulo.

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Lapho sisanda kufika eRio de Janeiro

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Umkhaya wethu ongokomoya eNew Bedford, eMassachusetts