Iminyaka Engu-50 Sisenkonzweni Yesikhathi Esigcwele Eduze Ne-Arctic Circle

SIZALWA emkhayeni ohlala epulazini onezingane eziyishumi eNyakatho Ostrobothnia, eFinland. Iminyaka yobusha bethu yaphazanyiswa iMpi Yezwe II. Nakuba sasiqhele ngamakhulu amakhilomitha ukusuka lapho impi yayibambene khona, yashiya izithombe ezesabekayo ezingenakulibaleka kithi. Ngesikhathi amadolobha esasakhe eduze nawo, elase-Oulu nelaseKalajoki, eqhunyiswa ngamabhomu, sabona ngesibhakabhaka siba bomvu ebusuku. Abazali bethu basidonsa ngendlebe bathi kumelwe sicashe masinyane lapho nje sibona izindiza zempi zindiza phezulu. Ngakho lapho umfowethu omdala, uTauno, esitshela ngomhlaba oyipharadesi ongenakho ukungabi nabulungisa, izinhliziyo zethu zathinteka.

UTauno wayefunde amaqiniso eBhayibheli eseneminyaka engu-14 ezincwadini zabaFundi BeBhayibheli. Lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II, wenqaba ukuya empini ngenxa kanembeza wakhe owawuqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli wabe esegqunywa ejele. Wahlukunyezwa ngesihluku ejele. Lokho kwamane kwamenza wazimisela ngokwengeziwe ukukhonza uJehova, futhi ngemva kokukhululwa kwakhe washiseka nangokwengeziwe enkonzweni. Isibonelo esihle somfowethu sasikhuthaza ukuba siye emihlanganweni yebandla yoFakazi eyayiqhutshelwa edolobhaneni elingumakhelwane. Saya nasemihlanganweni emikhulu, nakuba kwakudingeka sizikhandle ukuze sibeke imali yokuhamba. Sasithungela omakhelwane izingubo, sitshale u-anyanisi futhi sisebenze ekuvuneni izithelo. Njengoba sasivele sinemisebenzi eminingi epulazini lakithi, kwakungavamile ukuba sihambe sonke ukuya emihlanganweni emikhulu, sasishintshana.

Amaqiniso esasiwafunda ngoJehova nangezinjongo zakhe ajulisa uthando lwethu ngaye, futhi sanquma ukunikezela ukuphila kwethu kuye. Ngo-1947, sobabili sabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu ngobhapathizo lwamanzi—u-Annikki wayeneminyaka engu-15 futhi u-Aili enengu-17. Udadewethu uSaimi naye wabhapathizwa ngawo lowo nyaka. Safundela nodadewethu uLinnea owayeseshadile. Yena nomkhaya wakhe baba oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngemva kokubhapathizwa, sazibekela umgomo wokuphayona, silokhu sikhonza njengamaphayona esikhathi sokuphumula (noma, asizayo) ngezikhathi ezithile.

UKUNGENELA INKONZO YESIKHATHI ESIGCWELE

Ngo-1955, sathuthela eKemi, idolobha elikude enyakatho. Nakuba sobabili sasisebenza isikhathi esigcwele, sasisenaso isifiso sokuphayona kodwa sesaba ukuthi hleze singakwazi ukuzinakekela. Sacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe siqale ngokubeka imali. Yingaleso sikhathi esaxoxa ngaso nodade oyiphayona njengoba kushiwo ekuqaleni. Ukuxoxa naye kwasisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele akuxhomekanga ezintweni esinazo kuphela noma ekusekelweni umndeni. Into ebaluleke kakhulu ukuba sincike kuBaba wethu osezulwini.

Ngaleso sikhathi sasesibeke imali eyanele ukuba isiqhube izinyanga ezimbili. Ngakho, ngo-May 1957, sinovalo, safaka isicelo sokuyophayona izinyanga ezimbili ePello, engaphansi kukamasipala waseLapland esenhla ne-Arctic Circle. Kwaphela izinyanga ezimbili singakayithinti imali esasiyibekile, ngakho sacela ukuphayona ezinye izinyanga ezimbili. Zadlula lezo zinyanga, leyo mali isenjengoba. Sabe sesiqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzosinakekela. Sekuphele iminyaka engu-50 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, isekhona leyo mali! Uma sicabanga ngokuphila kwethu, kunjengokungathi uJehova ubelokhu esibambe ngezandla futhi ethi kithi: ‘Ningesabi. Ngizonisiza mina mathupha.’—Isaya 41:13.

Ngo-1958 umbonisi wethu wesifunda watusa ukuba siyokhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile eSodankylä, nayo eseLapland. Ngaleso sikhathi kwakunoFakazi oyedwa kuphela kuleyo ndawo, udade. Iyathakazelisa indlela alithola ngayo iqiniso. Indodana yakhe yayihambe nesikole beye eHelsinki, inhloko-dolobha yaseFinland. Njengoba iqembu labo linqamula edolobheni, udade othile osekhulile wanikeza le ndodana eyayisekugcineni komugqa umagazini INqabayokulinda wayicela ukuba iwunike unina. Yafike yamnika futhi unina walibona masinyane iqiniso.

Saqasha ikamelo elalingaphezu kwesigayo sezingodo. Sayiqhubela lapho imihlangano yebandla. Kwaqale kwaba yithi kuphela nalo dade nendodakazi yakhe ababeba khona kule mihlangano. Sasifunda ndawonye ukwaziswa kwangalelo sonto. Kamuva, kwafika umlisa owayeke wafundelwa oFakazi ezosebenza esigayweni. Yena nomkhaya wakhe baqala ukuhlanganyela nathi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi babhapathizwa nomkakhe. Lo mzalwane wabe esehola emihlanganweni yebandla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amanye amadoda ayesebenza esigayweni aqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni futhi alamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli. Ngemva kweminyakana, iqembu lethu lase lilikhulu kangangokuba kwamiswa ibandla.

IZIMO EZIYINSELELE

Inselele esasibhekana nayo emsebenzini wokushumayela kwakuwukuhamba amabanga amade. Ehlobo sasihamba ngezinyawo, ngamabhayisikili ngisho nangezikebhe ukuze sifinyelele abantu abasensimini yethu. Amabhayisikili ethu ayewusizo kakhulu. Sasiya ngawo nasemihlanganweni emikhulu ngisho nalapho sivakashela abazali bethu ababehlala endaweni eqhele ngamakhulu amakhilomitha. Ebusika, sasigibela ibhasi ekuseni kakhulu siye edolobhaneni elikuleyo ndawo, bese singena endlini ngendlu. Ngemva kokulihlanganisa idolobhana, sasidlulela kwelilandelayo ngezinyawo. Kwakuba neqhwa eliningi, futhi lingagugulwa njalo emigwaqweni. Ngezinye izikhathi sasilandela imizila eyayibonakala eqhweni yabadonsa izihlibhi ngamahhashi. Ngezinye izikhathi iqhwa laliyimboza imizila yababehambe ngaphambi kwethu, kanti ekuqaleni kwentwasahlobo, iqhwa lalithamba kuhle kodaka bese kudingeka sidavuze kulo.

Amazinga okubanda angaphansi kwezinga-qhwa kuhlanganise nokuthi lalihlale likhithikile, kwasifundisa ukuba sigqoke ngokufudumele. Sasigqoka amasokisi enziwe ngovolo siwabhangqe namanye amasokisi mhlawumbe aze abe mathathu bese sifaka amabhuzu. Noma kunjalo, amabhuzu ethu ayevame ukugcwala iqhwa. Kwakudingeka ukuba lapho sifika ezitebhisini eziholela emzini wothile, siwakhumule siwathintithe. Imiphetho yamajazi ethu nayo yayiba manzi lapho sidavuza eqhweni. Uma amakhaza eshubisa umnkantsha, leyo miphetho yayiqina kube sengathi uthayela. Inkosikazi ethile yathi, “Kumelwe ukuba ninokholo lweqiniso, ukuba niphume ngokuzithandela esimweni sezulu esinjena.” Sasihambe amakhilomitha angaphezu kwangu-11 ukuya kwakhe.

Ngenxa yokuthi sasihamba amabanga amade, sasivame ukucela indawo yokulala emizini yabantu bendawo. Sasiqala ukuyicela lapho kuhwalala. Imizi yabo yayiphansi, kodwa abantu benobungane nomoya wokungenisa izihambi futhi babengagcini ngokusinika indawo yokulala kuphela kodwa babesinika nokudla. Ngokuvamile sasilala phezu kwesikhumba sezinyamazane ezinjenge-reindeer, i-moose noma ngisho nakwesebhere. Ngesinye isikhathi, sasithola indawo ethe ukuthokomala. Ngokwesibonelo, inkosikazi ethile eyayinomuzi omkhulu yasiyisa ekamelweni lezivakashi elisesitezi elalinombhede omuhle owawendlalwe ngamashidi amhlophe ahlanzekile ayehlotshiswe ngoleyisi. Ezikhathini eziningi sasixoxa nabaninindlu ngeBhayibheli kuze kube sebusuku. Kwenye indawo, umbhangqwana owawuhlala kuleyo ndlu walala kolunye uhlangothi lwekamelo, nathi salaliswa kolunye. Saxoxa ngeBhayibheli ubusuku bonke kwaze kwacishe kwasa. Babelokhu beshintshana ekubuzeni imibuzo—eyayiza ilandelana.

INKONZO ENOMVUZO

Izwe laseLapland liyihlane elingenalutho kodwa lihle, futhi ubuhle balo buyahluka kuye ngezinkathi zonyaka. Nokho kithi, ngabantu bendawo abamazisayo uJehova ababebahle nakakhulu. Phakathi kwabantu abaqotho esabashumayeza kukhona nababesebenza ezingodweni ababeze ezindaweni okugawulwa kuzo imithi eLapland. Ngezinye izikhathi, kwakuthi lapho singena ezindlwaneni ababehlala kuzo sifice kunenqwaba yamadoda sibe singodade ababili abancane. Lezi zidlakela zamadoda zazisamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli futhi zikujabulela ukuthatha izincwadi.

Sinokuhlangenwe nakho okuningi okuthakazelisayo. Ngolunye usuku, iwashi lasesiteshini sebhasi laliphambili ngemizuzu emihlanu, ngakho ibhasi lasishiya. Sabe sesinquma ukugibela elinye siye kwelinye idolobhana. Sasingakaze sisebenze kuleyo ndawo. Emzini wokuqala, sahlangana nowesifazane osemusha owathi, “Nifikile mantombazane, bengivele nginilindele.” Sasiqhubela udadewabo isifundo seBhayibheli. Lona wesifazane wayecele udadewabo ukuba ahlele ukuba simvakashele ngalolo suku. Nokho, asizange siwuthole lowo myalezo. Saqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye nezihlobo zakhe ezazihlala emzini oseduze. Kungakabiphi, sazihlanganisa lezi zifundo futhi kwakuba nabantu abangaba yishumi nambili. Baningi kulo mndeni asebengoFakazi BakaJehova.

Ngo-1965, sabelwa ukuba sizokhonza ebandleni esikulo manje eKuusamo, esezansi nje kwe-Arctic Circle. Uma sifika lapha, leli bandla lalinabamemezeli abambalwa kuphela. Ekuqaleni insimu yethu entsha yayibonakala ilukhuni kancane. Abantu babewathanda kakhulu amasonto abo futhi besicwasa. Noma kunjalo, abaningi babelihlonipha iBhayibheli, okwakwenza kube lula ukuthola into esivumelana ngayo esingakhela kuyo ingxoxo yethu. Kancane kancane, sazama ukubazi abantu, futhi ngemva kweminyaka emibili kwaba lula ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli.

SISAHLANGANYELA ENKONZWENI

Asisenawo amandla okusebenza usuku lonke enkonzweni yasensimini, kodwa sisahlanganyela enkonzweni cishe nsuku zonke. Ukusakaza izindaba ezinhle kubantu bakule nsimu yethu enkulu kwaba lula lapho u-Aili, ngemva kokukhuthazwa umshana wethu efunda ukushayela futhi ethola izincwadi zokushayela ngo-1987 eneminyaka engu-56. Sathola olunye usizo lapho kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elisha futhi sithuthela efulethini elikulo.

Ukwanda esiye sakubona kusilethela injabulo enkulu. Lapho siqala enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele enyakatho Finland, kwakunabamemezeli abambalwa kuphela ababethe gqwa gqwa kule ndawo enkulukazi. Manje kunamabandla amaningana akha isifunda. Sekukaningi emihlanganweni yesifunda noma yesigodi sihlangana nabafowethu okuthi ngemva kokuzethula basibuze ukuthi sisabakhumbula yini. Abanye babo babeyizingane ngesikhathi siqhubela abazali isifundo. Imbewu yeqiniso eyatshalwa eminyakeni eminingi noma ngisho emashumini eminyaka ngaphambili yayisale yathela!—1 Kor. 3:6.

Ngo-2008, sahlanganisa iminyaka engu-50 sisenkonzweni yamaphayona akhethekile. Siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi sikwazile ukukhuthazana ukuba sikhuthazele emsebenzini wakhe oyigugu. Besiphila ukuphila okulula, kodwa asikaze siswele. (IHu. 23:1) Yeka ukuthi kwakungadingeki kanjani ukungabaza esasinakho ekuqaleni! Siyajabula ngoba kuyo yonke le minyaka uJehova uye wasiqinisa ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sakhe esiku-Isaya 41:10: “Ngizokuqinisa. Impela ngizokusiza. Impela ngizoqhubeka ngikubambé ngokuqinile ngesandla sami sokunene sokulunga.”