Indaba Yokuphila
Uyajabula Lowo ONkulunkulu Wakhe UnguJehova
IXOXWA UTOM DIDUR
Ihholo lomphakathi lase liqashiwe. Kwakulindeleke abangaba ngu-300 emhlanganweni wesifunda wasePorcupine Plain, eSaskatchewan, eCanada. NgoLwesithathu laqala ukukhithika, ngoLwesihlanu kwase kunesiphepho esikhulu esineqhwa, kungabonakali ngisho. Izinga lokubanda lafika ku-40°C ngaphansi kwezingaqhwa. Kwakukhona abangu-28, kuhlanganise nezingane ezimbalwa. Lona kwakuwumhlangano wami wokuqala ngiwumbonisi wesifunda, futhi le nsizwa eyimi eyayineminyaka engu-25 ubudala yayethukile. Ngaphambi kokuba ngikuxoxele okwenzeka, ake ngilandise ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ngithole leli lungelo elikhethekile lenkonzo.
NGIYINGANE yesikhombisa kwezingu-8, zonke ezingabafana. Omdala kwakunguBill, bese kuba uMetro, uJohn, uFred, uMike, no-Alex. Ngo-1925 kwazalwa mina, uthunjana kwaba nguWally. Sasihlala ngasedolobhaneni lase-Ukraina, eManitoba, lapho abazali bami, uMichael no-Anna Didur, babenepulazi elincane khona. Ubaba wayesebenza kaloliwe benakekela ingxenye ethile kajantshi. Njengoba indlu yakwaloliwe eyayingakujantshi othé qekelele yayingeyinhle ukukhulisela kuyo umkhaya omkhulu, sahlala epulazini. Isikhathi esiningi ubaba wayengekho ekhaya, ngakho umama wahlalelwa umsebenzi wokusikhulisa. Wayehlale ahlale ahambe ayovakashela ubaba isonto noma ngaphezulu, kodwa waqiniseka ukuthi siyakufunda ukupheka, ukubhaka nokwenza imisebenzi yasekhaya. Futhi njengoba sasingamalungu eSonto LamaGreki LobuKatolika, umama wasifundisa sisebancane ukusho imithandazo ngekhanda nokwenza ezinye izinto zasesontweni.
Ukuthola Iqiniso LeBhayibheli
Isifiso sami sokuqonda iBhayibheli saphembeka ngisemusha. Umakhelwane, owayengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, wayevakasha njalo ekhaya ezofunda izindima zeBhayibheli eziphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu, i-Armagedoni, nezibusiso zezwe elisha. Umama wayengenaso nhlobo isithakazelo kulokho umakhelwane ayekusho, kodwa uMike no-Alex bakuthanda. Eqinisweni, lokho abakufunda kwabashukumisela ukuba benqabe inkonzo yempi ngenxa kanembeza phakathi nempi yezwe yesibili. Ngemva kwalokho uMike wathola isigwebo esifushane sasejele, u-Alex yena wathunyelwa ekamu lokufukuza e-Ontario. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uFred noWally nabo balamukela iqiniso. Nokho, abafowethu abathathu abadala bona abazange. Kwaba iminyaka ethile umama eliphikisa iqiniso kodwa kamuva wasimangaza sonke ngokuthatha uhlangothi lukaJehova. Wabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-83 ubudala. Washona eneminyaka engu-96. Nobaba washona eseqala ukulithanda iqiniso.
Lapho ngineminyaka engu-17 ubudala, ngaya eWinnipeg ngiyofuna umsebenzi futhi ngiyoba nabantu abangangisiza ngitadishe iBhayibheli. OFakazi BakaJehova babevinjelwe ngaleso sikhathi, kodwa imihlangano yayiqhutshwa njalo. Umhlangano wokuqala engaya kuwo wawusemzini womuntu. Njengoba ngakhuliswa ngokwenkolo yamaGreki ObuKatolika, kwangixaka lokho engaqale ngakuzwa. Nokho, kancane kancane ngaqonda ukuthi kungani ukuba nabefundisi kungqubuzana nemiBhalo nokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu engakwamukeli ukuthandazela kwabefundisi impi. (Isaya 2:4; Mathewu 23:8-10; Roma 12:17, 18) Ukuphila ePharadesi emhlabeni kwabonakala kuyinto engenzeka nenengqondo kakhulu kunokuhamba unomphela uye endaweni ekude.
Njengoba ngase ngiqiniseka ukuthi yiqiniso leli, ngazinikezela kuJehova ngabhapathizwa ngo-1942 eWinnipeg. Ngo-1943 ukuvinjelwa koFakazi BakaJehova eCanada kwasuswa, umsebenzi wokushumayela wathola umfutho. Nasenhliziyweni yami iqiniso leBhayibheli laliya ligxila kakhulu. Ngaba nelungelo lokukhonza njengenceku yebandla nelokuhlanganyela emikhankasweni yemihlangano yasobala nokusebenza insimu engabelwe. Ukuya emihlanganweni emikhulu yesigodi e-United States kwanezela kakhulu entuthukweni yami engokomoya.
Ukwandisa Inkonzo Yami KuJehova
Ngo-1950, ngabhalisa njengephayona, kwathi ngo-December walowo nyaka ngacelwa ukuba ngikhonze njengombonisi wesifunda. Ngaba nelungelo lokuqeqeshwa uCharlie Hepworth ngaseToronto, owayengumzalwane onokuhlangenwe nakho noqotho. Ngesonto lokugcina lokuqeqeshwa kwami, ngajabulela nokuba kanye nomfowethu u-Alex, owayesevele esemsebenzini wesifunda eWinnipeg.
Angisoze ngawukhohlwa umhlangano wami wokuqala wesifunda, ochazwe ekuqaleni. Njengoba ungalindela, ngangikhathazekile ngokuthi iyozala nkomoni. Kodwa-ke, umbonisi wethu wesigodi, uMfoweth’uJack Nathan, wasigcina simatasa futhi sijabule sonke. Safingqa isimiso somhlangano nezikhulumi ezazikhona. Sadedelana sixoxa okuhlangenwe nakho, siprakthiza izintshumayelo zendlu ngendlu, ukwenza izimpindelo, senza nemiboniso yokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya. Sacula izingoma zoMbuso. Ukudla kwakukuningi. Cishe njalo ngemva kwamahora amabili, sasiphuza ikhofi sidle uphayi. Abanye babelala emabhentshini nasendaweni yesikhulumi, abanye balale phansi. NgeSonto isiphepho sase sidambadambile, saba ngu-96 enkulumweni yeningi. Lesi senzakalo sangifundisa ukubekezela ezimweni ezinzima.
Isabelo sesifunda esilandelayo engasithola sangiyisa enyakatho ye-Alberta, eBritish Columbia, naseYukon Territory, ezweni lelanga elikhanya phakathi kwamabili. Ukuhamba nge-Alaska Highway emahhelekehle usuka eDawson Creek, eBritish Columbia, uya eWhitehorse, eYukon (okuyibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-1 477), ube ushumayela endleleni kwakudinga ukukhuthazela nokuqapha. Izikhukhula zeqhwa, izintaba ezishelelayo, nokungaboni ngenxa yeqhwa eliphephukayo kwakuyinselele ngempela.
Kwangimangaza ukubona indlela iqiniso elangena lajula ngayo eNyakatho Ekude. Ngesinye isikhathi, mina noWalter Lewkowicz saya endlwaneni enganakekile eseduze neLower Post, eBritish Columbia, eceleni kwe-Alaska Highway ngasemngceleni weYukon Territory. Sasazi ukuthi ukhona umuntu ohlala kule ndlwana ngoba sasibona ukukhanya kulokolokoza efasiteleni elincane. Kwakungaba ngo-9 kusihlwa, safike sangqongqoza. Kwamemeza izwi lendoda lathi asingene, sangena. Samangala kabi ukubona ikhehla lenebe embhedeni walo oyisitezi lifunda umagazini INqabayokulinda! Empeleni, laliphethe umagazini wamuva kunalowo esasiwuhambisa. Lachaza ukuthi iposi lilithola ngendiza. Njengoba sase sinezinsuku ezingaphezu kwezingu-8 singekho ebandleni, sasingakabatholi omagazini bamuva. Leli khehla lazichaza lathi linguFred Berg, futhi yize lase lineminyaka eminingana linesikhokhelo, laliqala ukuhanjelwa oFakazi BakaJehova. UFred wasilalisa kwakhe ngalobo busuku. Sakwazi ukuxoxa naye ngamaqiniso amaningi emiBhalo nokuhlela ukuba abanye oFakazi ababedlula njalo kuleyo ndawo bamvakashele.
Kwaphela iminyaka ethile ngikhonza izifunda ezintathu ezincane. Zazisuka eGrande Prairie, e-Alberta, empumalanga zize ziyofika eKodiak, e-Alaska, entshonalanga, okuyibanga elingamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-3 500.
Ngajabula ukubona ukuthi ezindaweni ezicezile, njenganoma yikuphi nje, umusa kaJehova ongafanelwe ufinyelela bonke abantu nokuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu ushukumisa izingqondo nezinhliziyo zalabo abathambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okuphakade. Omunye wabantu abanjalo kwakunguHenry Lepine waseDawson City, eYukon, manje ebizwa ngeDawson. UHenry wayehlala endaweni ethé qekelele. Empeleni, wayeseneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60 engakaze aphume kuleyo ndawo yezimayini zegolide. Nokho, umoya kaJehova washukumisa leli khehla elineminyaka engu-84 ubudala ukuba lihambe amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-1 600 liye e-Anchorage emhlanganweni wesifunda, yize lalingakaze liye emhlanganweni webandla. Lasijabulela kakhulu isimiso nobudlelwane. Ngemva kokuphindela eDawson City, uHenry waqhubeka ethembekile waze washona. Abaningi ababemazi uHenry babedinga nje ukuthi yini le esuse leli khehla phansi lathatha uhambo olude kangaka. Lelo lukuluku ladonsa nabanye abantu abambalwa asebekhulile bamukela iqiniso. Ngakho, ngendlela esakugwegwesa, uHenry wakwazi ukunikeza ubufakazi obuhle.
Ukuthola Umusa KaJehova Ongafanelwe
Ngo-1955, ngajabula lapho ngimenyelwa ekilasini lama-26 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Lokhu kuqeqeshwa kwaqinisa ukholo lwami futhi kwangisiza ngasondela nakakhulu kuJehova. Ngemva kokuphothula, ngabelwa ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi wesifunda eCanada.
Ngakhonza esifundeni sase-Ontario cishe unyaka. Ngabe sengiphinda ngabelwa eNyakatho enhle. Ungathi ngiyayibona imigwaqo ephahlwe izindawo ezinhle egudla amachibi acwazimulayo nezinkahlamba zezintaba ezizigabagaba nezineziqongo ezilele iqhwa. Ehlobo, izigodi nezimfunda ziba sakhaphethi okhexisayo wezimbali zasendle ezimibalabala. Umoya uncwaba, amanzi acwebile. Amabhere, izimpisi, amaphiva, ama-caribou, nezinye izilwane zasendle ziyazizulela zingahlushwa muntu endaweni yazo yemvelo.
Nokho, i-Alaska inazo izinselele—hhayi nje ezesimo sezulu esiguquguqukayo kodwa namabanga amade. Isifunda sami sasingamakhilomitha angu-3 200 ukusuka empumalanga uya entshonalanga. Ngalezo zikhathi kwakungekho lungiselelo lokuba umbonisi wesifunda abe nemoto. Abazalwane bendawo babevolontiya ukungihambisa ngemoto bangisuse kwelinye ibandla bangiyise kwelinye. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi kwakudingeka ngicele abashayeli bamaloli noma izihambi ezibuka indawo zingigibelise.
Kwake kwangenza lokho ngikuyi-Alaska Highway phakathi kweTok Junction, e-Alaska, neMile 1202, noma indawo yaseScotty Creek. Amahhovisi okuhlola impahla efikayo akulezi zindawo ezimbili ayeqhelelene ngamakhilomitha angu-160. Ngadlula ihhovisi lase-United States eTok ngacoshwa umuntu othile sahamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-50. Ngemva kwalokho akubange kusaqhamuka moto, ngahamba ngezinyawo amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-40, okwangithatha amahora angaba yishumi. Ngaze ngathola kamuva ukuthi ngithé ngingadlula ehhovisi lokuhlola impahla, zamiswa zonke izimoto ezikule ngxenye yomgwaqo ngenxa yesikhukhula seqhwa budebuduze nehhovisi. Phakathi kwamabili izinga lokubanda lase lifike cishe ku-23°C ngaphansi kwezingaqhwa, ngisekude ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-80 endaweni elandelayo yokukhosela. Ngase ngiyidinga kakhulu indawo yokuphumula.
Ngisazihudula, ngabona imoto ishiywe eceleni komgwaqo, iqhwa lisho ukuyimboza. Ngacabanga ukuthi uma ngingangena ngaphakathi ngilale ezihlalweni ezintofontofo, kuyosa ngisaphila kulokhu kubanda. Ngakwazi ukususa iqhwa elanele ukuze ngivule umnyango, ngathola ukuthi isiyigobolondo likathayela nje. Lapho ngiqhubaqhubeka ngomgwaqo ngajabula ukuthola indlwana engenamuntu. Ngemva kobunzima bokungena nokubasa umlilo, ngakwazi ukuphumula amahora ambalwa. Ekuseni, ngathola umuntu owangigibelisa wangishiya endaweni yokuphumula elandelayo, lapho ngathola khona ukudla engase ngikudinga kakhulu ngabopha neminwe yami eyayisikekile.
UJehova Uyakhulisa ENyakatho
Ukuhambela kwami kokuqala eFairbanks kwakukhuthaza kakhulu. Saba nempumelelo enkulu enkonzweni, kwaba khona abantu abangaba ngu-50 enkulumweni yeningi ngalelo Sonto. Sahlanganyela ekhaya elincane lezithunywa zevangeli lapho kwakuhlala khona uVernor noLorraine Davis. Abantu babelula izintamo besekhishini, ekamelweni lokulala, nasephasishi ukuze bezwe inkulumo. Savele sabona ngalokhu kusabela okuhle ukuthi iHholo LoMbuso lingawenza uzinze umsebenzi wokushumayela eFairbanks. Ngakho ngosizo lukaJehova, sathenga isakhiwo esikhulu, esasikade siyihholo lomdanso, sasithuthela endaweni ekahle. Kwambiwa ipitsi, kwafakwa izindlu zangasese nokokufudumeza isakhiwo. Ngonyaka nje, kwase kuneHholo LoMbuso elikahle eFairbanks. Ngemva kokunezelwa kwekhishi, leli hholo lasetshenziselwa umhlangano wesigodi ngo-1958, kwaba khona abangu-330.
Ehlobo ngo-1960, ngathatha uhambo olude ngemoto ngaya endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eNew York ngiqonde esikoleni sokuvuselela sabo bonke ababonisi abajikelezayo base-United States naseCanada. Ngiselapho, uMfoweth’uNathan Knorr nabanye abazalwane abaholayo baxoxa nami ngamathuba okuvula ihhovisi legatsha e-Alaska. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, sajabula ukuzwa ukuthi kusukela ngo-September 1, 1961, i-Alaska yayizokuba nehhovisi layo legatsha. UMfoweth’u-Andrew K. Wagner wabelwa ukuba anakekele imisebenzi yegatsha. Yena nomkakhe, uVera, babeneminyaka engu-20 bekhonza eBrooklyn, benokuhlangenwe nakho nasemsebenzini wokujikeleza. Ukuvulwa kwehhovisi legatsha lase-Alaska kwaba yilungiselelo elaziswayo, ngoba kwanciphisela umbonisi wesifunda ukuhamba, kwamenza wakwazi ukugxila kakhudlwana ezidingweni zamabandla namasimu angawodwa.
Ihlobo lango-1962 laliyisikhathi esijabulisayo eNyakatho. Kwanikezelwa igatsha lase-Alaska, futhi kwaba nomhlangano wesigodi eJuneau, khona e-Alaska. Kwakhiwa amaHholo OMbuso amasha eJuneau naseWhitehorse, eYukon, kwakhiwa namaqembu angawodwa amaningana amasha.
Ukuphindela ECanada
Ngase ngineminyaka ethile ngibhalelana noMargareta Petras waseCanada. UReta, njengoba ayebizwa kanjalo, waqala inkonzo yokuphayona ngo-1947, wathweswa iziqu eGileyadi ngo-1955, futhi wayephayona empumalanga yeCanada. Ngamcela ukuba sishade, wavuma. Sashadela eWhitehorse ngo-February 1963. Ekwindla yalowo nyaka, ngabelwa emsebenzini wesifunda entshonalanga yeCanada, sakhonza lapho ngenjabulo iminyaka engu-25 eyalandela.
Ngenxa yezizathu zempilo, ngo-1988 sabelwa emsebenzini wamaphayona akhethekile eWinnipeg, eManitoba. Lokhu kwakuhlanganisa ukunakekela iHholo Lomhlangano iminyaka engaba mihlanu. Ngezinga okungenzeka ngalo, sisawenza umsebenzi ojabulisayo wokwenza abafundi. Emsebenzini wesifunda, saqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi ezaziqhutshwa abanye. Manje, ngomusa kaJehova ongafanelwe, siyaziqala futhi sibe nanenjabulo yokubona esibafundelayo bethuthuka baze bazinikezele babhapathizwe.
Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuyindlela yokuphila engcono kunazo zonke. Kunenjongo, kuyanelisa, futhi kujulisa uthando lwethu ngoJehova usuku ngalunye. Yilokhu okuletha injabulo yangempela. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinasiphi isabelo esingokwasezulwini, noma ukuthi sabelwe kuyiphi indawo, sivumelana nomhubi owathi: “Bayajabula abantu abaNkulunkulu wabo nguJehova!”—IHubo 144:15.
[Isithombe ekhasini 24, 25]
Lapho ngisemsebenzini wesifunda
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Lapho sihambele uHenry Lepine eDawson City. Mina ngingakwesokunxele
[Isithombe ekhasini 26]
IHholo LoMbuso lokuqala e-Anchorage
[Isithombe ekhasini 26]
Mina noReta, ngo-1998