Indaba Yokuphila

Savuzwa Kakhulu Ngokulondoloza Umoya Wokuba Izithunywa Zevangeli

ILANDISWA UTOM COOKE

Kungazelelwe, ukuqhuma kwezibhamu kwaphazamisa ukuthula kwangaleyo ntambama. Izinhlamvu zesibhamu zazintweza phakathi kwemithi engadini yethu. Kwakwenzenjani? Ngokushesha sezwa ukuthi kwakugumbuqelwe umbuso nokuthi manje i-Uganda yayisibuswa uJenene Idi Amin. Kwakungu-1971.

YINI eyayenze mina nomkami, u-Ann, sashiya ukuthula kwaseNgilandi sathuthela kule ngxenye ye-Afrika eyingozi? Ngicabanga ukuthi ngokwemvelo nginesibindi, kodwa ngokuyinhloko isibonelo sabazali bami sokushiseka enkonzweni yoMbuso yiso esangifaka umoya wokuba isithunywa sevangeli.

Ngiyalukhumbula lolo suku olushisayo ngo-August 1946 lapho abazali bami beqala ukuhlangana noFakazi BakaJehova. Kwaphela eside isikhathi bemi emnyango bexoxa nezivakashi ezimbili ezazifikile. Lezi zivakashi, uFraser Bradbury noMamie Shreve, zabuya kaningi, futhi ezinyangeni ezalandela, ukuphila kwethu ekhaya kwashintsha kakhulu.

Isibonelo Sabazali Bami Sokuba Nesibindi

Abazali bami babebambe iqhaza ezintweni eziningi ezazenziwa emphakathini. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphambi nje kokuba bafunde iBhayibheli, ekhaya kwakuhlotshiswe ngezithombe ezinkulu zikaWinston Churchill. Ngesikhathi sokhetho lukazwelonke lwangemva kwempi, umuzi wakithi wawuyisikhungo sendawo se-Conservative Party Committee. Futhi ekhaya sasazana nabantu abaqavile kwezenkolo nasemphakathini. Nakuba ngaleso sikhathi ngangineminyaka engu-9 kuphela ubudala, ngakubona ukushaqeka kwezihlobo zethu lapho ziqaphela ukuthi sase siba oFakazi BakaJehova.

Isibonelo soFakazi esasihlanganyela nabo sokuzinikela ngomphefumulo wonke nokuba nesibindi sabangela ukuba abazali bami bakhuthale emsebenzini wokushumayela. Akubanga sikhathi eside ubaba wayesenikeza izinkulumo obala ngombhobho endaweni enezitolo eziningi eSpondon, idolobhana lakithi, thina zingane sima obala siphakamise INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Kumelwe ngivume ukuthi kwakuthi lapho izingane engifunda nazo ziza ngakimi, ngifise sengathi umhlaba ungavuleka ngingene.

Isibonelo sabazali bami samkhuthaza udadewethu omdala, uDaphne, ukuba aqale ukuphayona. Ngo-1955, waya e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead wabelwa ukuba abe isithunywa sevangeli eJapane.a Nokho, udadewethu omncane, uZoe, yena wayeka ukukhonza uJehova.

Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ngaqedela imfundo yami ngokufunda ukudweba imifanekiso nobuciko bokunyathelisa. Ngalezo zinsuku indaba eyayisematheni kwengangifunda nabo kwakungeyokubuthelwa impi ngempoqo. Lapho ngibatshela ukuthi mina ngeke ngiye empini ngenxa kanembeza, bacabanga ukuthi ngiyantela. Le ndaba yanginika ithuba lokuba nezingxoxo eziningi zeBhayibheli nabanye babafundi. Akuphelanga sikhathi, ngagwetshwa izinyanga ezingu-12 ejele ngokwenqaba ukubuthelwa impi. Omunye wabafundi ekolishi lobuciko owayebonise isithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli kamuva waba umkami. Kodwa ngizomyeka u-Ann akutshele yena ukuthi walithola kanjani iqiniso.

Ukuthola Kuka-Ann Iqiniso

“Ekhaya sasingasonti, ngakho akukho sonto engabhapathizelwa kulo. Kodwa nganginemibuzo ngenkolo futhi ngangiya kunoma iliphi isonto abangane bami ababeya kulo. Isithakazelo sami eBhayibhelini savuka lapho ngilalela izingxoxo ezinomdlandla uTom nomunye uFakazi ababeba nazo nabanye abafundi ekolishi. Ngashaqeka lapho uTom nalona omunye uFakazi befakwa ejele ngenxa yokwenqaba ukubuthelwa impi.

“Ngaqhubeka ngibhalelana noTom ngesikhathi esejele, nesithakazelo sami eBhayibhelini sajula. Lapho ngithuthela eLondon ngiyoqhuba izifundo zami, ngavuma ukutadisha iBhayibheli noMuriel Albrecht. UMuriel wayekade eyisithunywa sevangeli e-Estonia, futhi bobabili nomama wakhe babeyisikhuthazo esikhulu kimi. Ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa ngase ngiya emihlanganweni futhi ngima ngaphandle kweVictoria Station ngihambisa INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!

“Ngangihlanganyela neBandla LaseSouthwark eningizimu yeLondon. Lalinabazalwane nodade bezizwe ezihlukahlukene, abaningi babo bempofu. Nakuba babengangazi, bangiphatha njengomunye wabo. Uthando lwakulelo bandla yilo olwangikholisa ngempela ukuthi kwakuyiqiniso leli. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1960.”

Imigomo Efanayo—Izimo Ezishintshile

Mina no-Ann sashada ngasekupheleni kuka-1960, futhi umgomo wethu kwakuwukungenela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli. Kodwa izimo zethu zashintsha lapho sithola ukuthi sasizoba nengane. Ngemva kokuzalwa kwendodakazi yethu uSara, sino-Ann sasisenaso isifiso sokukhonza ezweni elinesidingo esikhulu sabamemezeli boMbuso. Ngafaka izicelo zomsebenzi emazweni amaningi, ekugcineni, ngo-May 1966, kwafika incwadi evela eMnyangweni Wezemfundo e-Uganda ingazisa ukuthi ngiwutholile umsebenzi. Nokho, ngalesi sikhathi u-Ann wayekhulelwe ingane yethu yesibili. Abanye babekungabaza ukuhlakanipha kokuthi siyakucabangela nokukucabangela ukuthutha. Saxoxa nodokotela wethu, owathi: “Njengoba nizohamba ngendiza, kumelwe nihambe umkakho engakabi nezinyanga ezingu-7.” Ngakho ngaphandle kokupholisa amaseko, salibangisa e-Uganda. Ngenxa yalokho, abazali bethu abazange bayibone indodakazi yethu yesibili, uRachel, yaze yaba neminyaka emibili. Njengoba nathi ngokwethu sesinabazukulu, siwazisa kakhulu umoya wokuzidela wabazali bethu abathandekayo.

Ukufika e-Uganda ngo-1966 kwakujabulisa kodwa futhi kuqeda amandla. Lapho sehla endizeni, sakhangwa imibala ehlukahlukene. Yayingeve igqamile. Umuzi wethu wokuqala wawuseduze nedolobha elincane lase-Iganga, elaliqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-50 ukusuka eJinja, okuyidolobha elisesizalweni soMfula iNayile. OFakazi ababeseduze kakhulu nathi kwakuyiqembu elingalodwa eJinja. Izithunywa zevangeli oGilbert noJoan Walters noStephen noBarbara Hardy zazinakekela leli qembu. Ngafaka isicelo emsebenzini sokushintshela eJinja ukuze sikwazi kangcono ukusiza leli qembu. Ngemva nje kokuzalwa kukaRachel, sathuthela eJinja. Lapho, sajabulela ukukhonza naleli qembu elincane loFakazi abathembekile njengoba lalikhula laze laba ibandla lesibili e-Uganda.

Ukukhonza Njengomkhaya Ensimini Yakwelinye Izwe

Sino-Ann sicabanga ukuthi ayikho indawo engcono kunale esasingayikhetha ukuba sikhulisele kuyo umkhaya wethu. Sajabulela ukusebenza kanye nezithunywa zevangeli ezivela emazweni ahlukahlukene nokusiza ibandla elalisafufusa ukuba likhule. Sasikuthanda ukuba kanye nabafowethu base-Uganda, ababevame ukusivakashela ekhaya. UStanley no-Esinala Makumba babeyisikhuthazo esikhethekile kithi.

Kodwa akubona abazalwane kuphela ababesivakashela, ngoba sasizungezwe izinhlobonhlobo zezilwane zasendle. Izimvubu zaziphuma eMfuleni iNayile ebusuku zihambe zize zifike endlini yethu. Ngikhumbula kahle ngesinye isikhathi kukhona inhlwathi engamamitha ayisithupha engadini. Ngezinye izikhathi, ukuze sizibone izilwane, sasihamba siye eziqiwini lapho izingonyama nezinye izilwane zasendle zazizihambela ngokukhululekile khona.

Ensimini, sasiba umbukwane kubantu bendawo, kwazise babengakaze bayibone inqola yengane. Njengoba singena indlu ngendlu, sasivame ukulandelwa izingane. Abantu babesilunguza ngenhlonipho bese bethinta le ngane emhlophe. Kwakuyinjabulo ukufakaza ngoba abantu babenenhlonipho enkulu. Sasicabanga ukuthi wonke umuntu uzolamukela iqiniso, ngoba kwakungeve kulula ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli. Nokho, abaningi babekuthola kunzima ukuyeka amasiko angavumelani nemiBhalo. Noma kunjalo, baningi abazamukela izindinganiso zeBhayibheli eziphakeme zokuziphatha, nebandla lakhula. Umhlangano wethu wokuqala wesifunda eJinja ngo-1968 wawuyingqopha mlando. Okujabulisayo esikukhumbulayo ukubhapathizwa eMfuleni iNayile kwabanye babantu esasifunde nabo iBhayibheli. Kodwa ukuthula esasinakho kwakuzophela ngokushesha.

Ukuvinjelwa—Ukuvivinywa Kokholo Namakhono Okucabanga

Ngo-1971, uJenene Idi Amin wathatha umbuso ngodlí. Kwaba nesiphithiphithi esingalawuleki eJinja. Sasisajabulela inkomishi yetiye engadini yethu ngenkathi kwenzeka isigameko esichazwe ekuqaleni. Phakathi neminyaka emibili eyalandela, umphakathi omkhulu wamaNdiya waxoshwa e-Uganda. Abantu abaningi ababengebona abase-Uganda bakhetha ukuhamba, izikole nezindawo zezempilo zakhinyabezeka kakhulu. Ngemva kwalokho kwalandela isimemezelo esingagudl’ iguma sokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bavinjelwe. Ukhathazeke ngokuphepha kwethu, uMnyango Wezemfundo wasithuthela enhloko dolobha, iKampala. Lokhu kuthutha kwasiza ngezindlela ezimbili. Sasingaziwa kakhulu eKampala ngakho sasihamba ngokukhululeka. Futhi wawumningi umsebenzi ebandleni lakhona nasenkonzweni yasensimini.

UBrian noMarion Wallace nezingane zabo ezimbili babesesimweni esifana nesethu, nabo banquma ukuhlala e-Uganda. Sakwazisa kakhulu ukuba khona kwabo njengoba sasikhonza ndawonye eBandleni LaseKampala ngalesi sikhathi esinzima. Izindaba esasizifundile zabafowethu abakhonza ngaphansi kokuvinjelwa kwamanye amazwe zaba isikhuthazo esikhethekile kithi manje. Sasihlangana ngamaqembu amancane, kuthi kanye ngenyanga, sibe nemihlangano emikhudlwana e-Entebbe Botanical Gardens, sishaye sengathi sinomcimbi othile. Amantombazane ethu ayekubona kuwumqondo omuhle kakhulu lokhu.

Kwakudingeka siqaphele kakhulu endleleni esasishumayela ngayo. Kwakungenakwenzeka kube yinto enganakekile ukuvakashela kwabelungu imizi yabantu abansundu. Ngakho insimu yethu kwaba izitolo, amafulethi nezikole ezithile. Enye indlela engangiyisebenzisa ezitolo kwakuwukucela umkhiqizo engangazi ukuthi awusatholakali, njengoshukela noma irayisi. Uma umninisitolo ezwakalisa ukudabuka ngalokho okwakwenzeka ezweni, ngangifaka isigijimi soMbuso. Le ndlela yayisebenza kahle. Kwakuye kwenzeke ngiphume esitolo ngithole impindelo kanye nembijana yomkhiqizo osuyindlala.

Phakathi nalesi sikhathi, ubudlova babubheduka nxazonke. Ngenxa yokuthi ubuhlobo phakathi kwe-Uganda neBrithani babuqhubeka bonakala, iziphathimandla azizange ziyivuselele imvume yami. Ngakho ngo-1974, ngemva kweminyaka engu-8 sise-Uganda, nathi savalelisa kubafowethu ngezinhliziyo ezibuhlungu. Nokho, umoya wethu wokuba izithunywa zevangeli awuzange uphele.

Ukuya ENew Guinea

Ngo-January 1975, sabamba ithuba lokusebenza ePapua New Guinea. Ngaleyo ndlela kwaqala iminyaka engu-8 yenkonzo ejabulisayo kule ndawo yasePacific. Ukuphila kwethu kanye nabafowethu nasenkonzweni kwakunenjongo futhi kujabulisa.

Umkhaya wethu ukhumbula isikhathi sokuhlala kwethu ePapua New Guinea njengesikhathi samadrama eBhayibheli. Minyaka yonke, sasiba nengxenye ekulungiselelweni kwamadrama omhlangano wesigodi. Kwakungeve kuba mnandi. Sasijabulela ukuba phakathi kwemikhaya ethambekele ezintweni ezingokomoya, futhi le mikhaya yaba nethonya elihle emantombazaneni ethu. Indodakazi yethu endala, uSara, yashada nephayona elikhethekile, uRay Smith, futhi bobabili baba amaphayona akhethekile eduze komngcele we-Irian Jaya (manje okuthiwa yiPapua, isifundazwe sase-Indonesia). Umuzi wabo kwakuyindlu yotshani khona kuyo leyo ndawo. USara uthi wathola ukuqeqeshwa okuhle kakhulu ngesikhathi ekuleso sabelo.

Ukuvumelana Nezimo Ezishintshayo

Ngalesi sikhathi, abazali bami base bedinga ukunakekelwa okwengeziwe. Kunokuba bathi masibuyele eNgilandi, abazali bami bavuma ukuza bazohlala nathi, sonke sathuthela e-Australia ngo-1983. Bake bahlala isikhashana futhi nodadewethu uDaphne, owayeseseJapane. Ngemva kokushona kwabo, mina no-Ann sanquma ukungenela inkonzo yobuphayona obuvamile, lokhu kwaholela elungelweni engalithola linzima ngempela.

Sasisanda kuqala nje ukuphayona lapho sicelwa ukuba sikhonze emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Kusukela ngiseyingane, ngangibheka ukuhambela kombonisi wesifunda njengesenzakalo esikhethekile. Manje ngase ngingumbonisi wesifunda. Kwaba yilungelo elinzima kunawo wonke esasike sawajabulela kuze kube yileso sikhathi, kodwa njalo nje uJehova wayesisiza ngezindlela esasingakaze sizibone ngaphambili.

Lapho uMfoweth’ uTheodore Jaracz evakashele igatsha lase-Australia ngo-1990, sambuza ukuthi ucabanga ukuthi sesibadala kakhulu yini ukuba sikhonze enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele phesheya. Wathi: “Nicabangani ngeSolomon Islands?” Ngakho ekugcineni, lapho sobabili no-Ann sesevile eminyakeni engu-50, sabhekisa amabombo esabelweni sethu sokuqala sokuba izithunywa zevangeli ezingokomthetho.

Ukukhonza ‘EziQhingini Ezijabulayo’

ISolomon Islands yaziwa ngokuthi Iziqhingi Ezijabulayo, futhi ukukhonza kwethu lapha le minyaka eyishumi edlule bekuyinjabulo ngempela. Sino-Ann saqala ukwazi umusa nobumnene babazalwane nodade baseSolomon Islands ngesikhathi ngingumbonisi wesigodi. Imfudumalo esamukelwa ngayo yasithinta izinhliziyo, futhi wonke umuntu wayeyibekezelela imizamo yami yokuchaza izinto ngendlela engangicabanga ukuthi isiSolomon Islands Pidgin esiqondakalayo—ulimi okumelwe ukuthi lungolunye lwezilimi ezinamagama ambalwa kunazo zonke emhlabeni.

Sisanda kufika nje eSolomon Islands, abaphikisi bazama ukuphazamisa ukusetshenziswa kweHholo lethu LoMhlangano. Abesonto laseSheshi bamangalela oFakazi BakaJehova, bethi ingxenye yeHholo lethu LoMhlangano elisha eHoniara yayakhiwe endaweni yabo. Uhulumeni wabavuna, ngakho salidlulisela eNkantolo Ephakeme icala. Umphumela wokudluliswa kwecala wawuzonquma ukuthi kufanele silidilize yini iHholo lethu LoMhlangano elisha elihlalisa abangu-1 200.

Kwaphela isonto lonke icala lisezithebeni zenkantolo. Njengoba icala lethu lethulwa, ummeli wabamangali wayegcwele ukuzethemba okuhambisana nokuqhosha. Ngemva kwalokho, ummeli wethu, uMfoweth’ uWarren Cathcart waseNew Zealand, esebenzisa izimpikiswano ezinamandla, wazidalula wazichitha zonke izingxenye zesimangalo. NgoLwesihlanu, sezihambe zafika kude izindaba zezenzakalo zasenkantolo, inkantolo yayigcwele ichichima yizicukuthwane zesonto, izikhulu zikahulumeni nabafowethu abangamaKristu. Ngikhumbula iphutha elalisesazisweni sohlelo lwasenkantolo olusemthethweni. Lalifundeka kanje: “Solomon Islands Government and the Church of Melanesia v. Jehovah.” Lasithetha icala.

Nokho, lokho kuthula kwaseziQhingini Ezijabulayo kwakungeke kuhlale. Sino-Ann saphinda futhi sazithola siphakathi kwesiphithiphithi nobudlova bokugumbuqelwa kombuso amabutho. Ukubangisana phakathi kwezinhlanga kwasusa impi yombango. Ngo-June 5, 2000, uhulumeni waketulwa, inhloko dolobha yalawulwa amabutho ahlomile. Kwaphela amasonto athile iHholo lethu LoMhlangano liyindawo yabantu abangenamakhaya. Iziphathimandla zazimangele ukuthi abafowethu abangamaKristu bezinhlanga ezilwayo babehlala ngaphansi kophahla lweHholo LoMhlangano njengomkhaya owodwa onokuthula. Yeka ukuthi lokho kwaba ubufakazi obuhle kanjani!

Ngisho namabutho ayekuhlonipha ukungathathi hlangothi koFakazi BakaJehova. Lokhu kwasenza sakwazi ukwenza omunye wabalawuli bempi ukuba avumele iloli elalithwele izincwadi nezinye izinto lidlule liye eqenjini elincane labafowethu ababevaleleke endaweni ephethwe amabutho esitha. Lapho siyithola le mikhaya okwasekuphele izinyanga ihlukene nathi, angikholwa ukuthi ukhona ongakhalanga.

Kuningi Esibonga Ngakho

Uma sicabanga ngokuphila kwethu enkonzweni kaJehova, kuningi kakhulu esibonga ngakho. Njengabazali, sibe nenjabulo yokubona womabili amadodakazi ethu nabayeni bawo, uRay noJohn, beqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. Basisekele ngempela esabelweni sethu sokuba izithunywa zevangeli.

Sino-Ann sibe nelungelo lokukhonza ehhovisi legatsha lalapha eSolomon Islands le minyaka engu-12 edlule, futhi phakathi naleso sikhathi, sibone inani labamemezeli boMbuso la eSolomon Islands liphindeka kabili, lidlula ku-1 800. Muva nje, ngithole ilungelo elengeziwe lokuya eSikoleni Samalungu Amakomiti Amagatsha ePetterson, eNew York. Ngempela, sijabulele ukuphila okwanelisayo okunemivuzo eminingi ngenxa yokulondoloza umoya wokuba izithunywa zevangeli.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Ngosuku lwethu lomshado, ngo-1960

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E-Uganda, uStanley no-Esinala Makumba babeyisikhuthazo emkhayeni wethu

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USara uyongena endlini kamakhelwane

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Ngangidweba izithombe ukuze ngifundise abantu baseSolomon Island

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Umhlangano nebandla elingalodwa eSolomon Island

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Umkhaya wethu namuhla