I-Iceland
Igama elithi Iceland lingase likucabangise iqhwa, isithwathwa nezindlu ezakhiwe ngeqhwa. Kuba njalo nakakhulu uma sibuka ibalazwe. Bambalwa abantu abahlala enyakatho ekude kangako, e-Iceland. Phela, amaphethelo angasenyakatho aleli zwe eliyisiqhingi acishe afike kuyi-Arctic Circle!
Kepha empeleni i-Iceland ayibandi njengoba igama layo nendawo ekuyo ingase isikisele. Umsinga wolwandle ofudumele, osuka ngenhlana nje nenkabazwe, wenza kungabandi njengoba bekungalindeleka. Azikho izindlu ezakhiwe ngeqhwa. Umphakathi wase-Iceland uphucuzeke kabi, futhi uhlala ezindlini ezakhiwe kahle zafakwa nesimiso sokushisisa izindlu.
I-Iceland iyizwe elixakayo. Ebusika, ilanga lithi lungu emkhathizwe amahora ambalwa ngosuku. Nakuba ubusuku obude futhi obumnyama basebusika bukhanyiswa ukukhanya kwasenyakatho, noma i-aurora borealis, sengathi ilanga lisuke linqena ukuvela. Nokho, loko kubanda kuyalibaleka ezinyangeni zasehlobo ngoba kuyakhanya emini. Enyakatho impela yezwe, kuphela amasonto ilanga lingashoni ngokuphelele emkhathizwe. Uma ulapho ungabona ilanga phakathi kwamabili.
I-Iceland ibizwa ngokuthi izwe leqhwa nomlilo, incazelo efanelekayo. Cishe ingxenye eyodwa kweziyishumi kuleli zwe yembozwe izinguzunga zamaqhwa. Ukhona nomlilo—i-Iceland ithandwa izintaba-mlilo nokunyakaza komhlaba. Kuye kwaqhuma izintaba-mlilo eziningi kabi khona, kanti emakhulwini ambalwa edlule, kuye kwaqhuma izintaba-mlilo cishe njalo ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu noma eyisithupha. Ziningi neziphethu ezishisayo.
Leli zwe elingenabo abantu abaningi linobuhle bemvelo nezilwane zasendle eziningi. Umoya ohlanzekile, izimpophoma ezinhle ngokumangalisayo, izintaba ezimangelengele, nehlane elivulekile konke kuheha inqwaba yezivakashi. Ekuqaleni kwentwasahlobo, izinyoni ezithuthayo zibuyela ezindaweni zazo zasehlobo emaweni angasogwini nasemaxhaphozini. Phakathi kwalezi zinyoni kunebizwa ngokuthi i-arctic tern, ethutha njalo ngonyaka iye e-Antarctica, kolunye uhlangothi lomhlaba. Izinyoni zasolwandle namadada asolwandle kuyabonakala emaweni nasogwini. Emaqeleni kuklaba izimvu, kanti amahhashi amancane omelele ase-Iceland ehla enyuka ezinkangala. Ekuqaleni kwehlobo, izinhlanzi ama-salmon zibuya ngezinkani, zibhukuda zigxuma zenyusa imifula nezimpophoma ziyozalela.
Izakhamuzi zase-Iceland ezingu-290 570 ziyinzalo yamaViking azinza lapha eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-1 100 edlule. Iningi lawo lalivele eNorway futhi likhuluma isiNorse Sakudala, okuvela kuso ulimi lwase-Iceland. Ifa lawo lokuthanda ukufunda nokubhala kanye nokuqhelelana kwaleli zwe namanye kuye kwasiza ekulondolozeni lolu limi. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu namuhla basakwazi ukufunda imilando yasendulo, iningi layo eyalotshwa ngekhulu le-13. Abantu base-Iceland bayazigqaja ngolimi lwabo, futhi abafuni ukuluxuba namagama avela kwezinye izilimi.
Iningi lezifiki zokuqala “lalingabahedeni,” futhi kwaze kwaba ngasekupheleni kwekhulu leshumi lapho kwazanywa khona ukuguqulela abantu balapha “ebuKristwini.” Selizophela nje lelo khulu leminyaka, abaholi abathile abaqavile base-Iceland baguquka, kwathi ngonyaka wenkulungwane, iphalamende lase-Iceland, i-Althing, lacela omunye wabaholi benkolo abakhulu abangabahedeni ukuba ahlulele phakathi kwalezi zinkolo ezimbili. Isimanga ukuthi wanquma ukuthi yinye kuphela inkolo okufanele iqhutshwe, “eyobuKristu.” Kubonakala sengathi loku kwamukelwa ngaphandle kokuphikiswa okukhulu. Kepha-ke, isinqumo sakhe savula intuba yokuba abantu bakhonze onkulunkulu babahedeni ngasese futhi baqhubeke bezenzela amasiko obuhedeni. Nakuba lesi sinqumo sasisekelwe ikakhulu kwezombusazwe kunakwezenkolo, kungenzeka saba nesandla ekwenzeni abantu base-Iceland bazimele ngokucabanga, bazamukele izinto eziphathelene nenkolo.
Namuhla, abangamaphesenti angu-90 basonta e-Evangelical Lutheran Church, okuyisonto lesizwe. Yize iBhayibheli litholakala cishe kuyo yonke imizi, bambalwa abakholelwayo ukuthi liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Izindaba Ezinhle Zifika E-Iceland
Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, abantu abaningi base-Iceland base bethuthele eCanada, ukuze babalekele ubunzima obabudalwa ukuqhuma kwezintaba-mlilo namakhaza ashubisa umnkantsha. Abanye baqala lapho ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Omunye wabo kwakunguGeorg Fjölnir Lindal. Wathi anganikezela ukuphila kwakhe nje kuJehova uNkulunkulu, waba iphayona. UMfoweth’ uLindal wayekhuluma isi-Icelandic, ngakho ngo-1929, eseneminyaka engu-40 ubudala, wanquma ukuthuthela e-Iceland. Wafika eReykjavík ngo-June 1, waba owokuqala owashumayela izindaba ezinhle e-Iceland.
UMfoweth’ uLindal walinda izinyanga ezintathu ingakafiki imithwalo yezincwadi zakhe zokuqala, kodwa yathi ingafika, waphuma wayofakaza kubo bonke kuleli zwe. Ekupheleni kuka-October 1929, wayesehambise izincwadi ezingu-800 ezithi The Harp of God ngolimi lwalapha. Ngaleso sikhathi, wabhala: “Selokhu ngifikile la, sengisebenze amadolobha amaningana anabantu abangu-11 000. Sebebonke abantu base-Iceland cishe bangu-100 000 noma ngaphezudlwana, ngakho basengu-90 000 okusafanele bashunyayezwe. Kuzothatha isikhathi eside ukuba umuntu oyedwa asebenze yonke le nsimu, kwazise indlela ehanjwayo ayilula. I-Iceland yizwe elizintabantaba futhi ugu lumagebhugebhu, abekho ojantshi, iyabalwa nemigwaqo engahamba izimoto, ngakho bengizihambela ngesikebhe isikhathi esiningi.
Akukho ndawana yesikhalo ezincwadini ezimbalwa zesandla ezisefayelini elisephaketheni lephepha elidala eliqinile elinesigxivizo esithi “Iceland.” Kuyo le ncwadi yango-1929, uLindal wabhala: “Kuyintokozo enkulu ukulandisa okwenzeke muva nje okukhuthazayo. Ngithole ithuba lokubuyela ndawana thile engangishumayele kuyo. Ngithole abantu abaningana ababethenge izincwadi ngenkathi ngilapha okokuqala. Omunye umlisa uthe: ‘Incwadi ethi Harp sengiyifunde kabili futhi sengiyifunda okwesithathu. Imnandi. Ngiyabonga ngokuthi ubuyile.’ Omunye wathi: ‘Usubuyile. Ayive imnandi leya ncwadi. Kungani ungazikhiphi zonke izincwadi zikaJudge Rutherford ngesi-Icelandic?’ Ngamtshela ukuthi eziningi zazo zingatholakala ngesiDanish. Wathi: ‘Ngithumelele zonke onazo, ngisho nemiqulu kaMfundisi uRussell, ukuze ngibe nezanele engizozifunda kulobu busika.’ Nabanye bazincoma lezi zincwadi. Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokungivumela ukuba ngihambise isigijimi seqiniso kwabanendlebe elalelayo.”
Kwakuwumsebenzi omkhulu ukuba umuntu oyedwa afinyelele bonke abantu kulesi siqhingi, esingaphezu kwengxenye yeNgilandi. E-Iceland inyakatho iqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-300 eningizimu kanti impumalanga iqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-500 entshonalanga. Ugu, oluhlanganisa amawa nemifula, lude ngamakhilomitha angu-6 400. Noma kunjalo, uMfoweth’ uLindal wasihlanganisa sonke isiqhingi ngeminyaka eyishumi, eshumayela izindaba ezinhle ehambisa nezincwadi. Wayehamba egudla ugu ngesikebhe, bese kuthi lapho ehambela amapulazi emaphandleni, asebenzise amahhashi amancane amabili, agibele kwelinye, elinye lithwale izincwadi nezimpahla zakhe. Ngokusho kwabafowethu ababa nelungelo lokusebenza naye iminyaka ethile andukuba ahambe e-Iceland, uMfoweth’ uLindal wayengumzalwane ozinikele futhi engadlali ngomsebenzi, enamahloni futhi eyisithuli, engadlé ngakuxoxa. Wayenesithunzi ngenxa yokwakheka kwakhe—emude—ecishe abe mkhulu kakhulu ukuba angahamba ngamahhashi amancane ase-Iceland. Ngezinye izikhathi uma engekho amahhashi, wayenamandla okuzithwalela izincwadi nezimpahla zakhe.
Lapho eqala umsebenzi wakhe e-Iceland ngo-1929, uMfoweth’ uLindal wayengazi ukuthi kwakuyoba nzima kanjani ukunqoba izithiyo nokuthi kwakuyodingeka isineke nokubekezela okungakanani. Kwaze kwaphela iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-18 uMfoweth’ uLindal kunguyena yedwa uFakazi e-Iceland. Naphezu komsebenzi wakhe onzima, akabonanga muntu eba ngasohlangothini loMbuso. Ngo-1936 wabhala: “Kulesi sikhathi ngilapha, ngihambise izincwadi eziphakathi kuka-26 000 no-27 000 kubantu. Abantu abaningi bazifundile. Abathile babonakala sebenqumile ukuthi abalifuni iqiniso, kodwa kwabaningi akuthi diki.”
Bakhona nokho ababesazisa isigijimi ayebalethela sona. Ngokwesibonelo, ikhehla limbe lamukela incwadi ethi The Harp of God. Lapho uMfoweth’ uLindal ebuyela kulo ngemva kwezinyangana, wathola indodakazi yaleli khehla, eyamtshela ukuthi uyise wayeyithandile le ncwadi futhi wayifundisisa engakafi. Elandela isiko, wayeze wacela nokuba lapho efa, ifakwe ebhokisini, yafakwa nangempela.
Ukuhlala kukaMfoweth’ uLindal e-Iceland isikhathi eside futhi eyedwa kwaphela ngo-March 25, 1947 ngenkathi kufika ababephothule e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Waqhubeka nenkonzo yakhe kwaze kwaba yilapho ebuyela eCanada ngo-1953. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-16, uPáll Heine Pedersen, owayeyiphayona elikhethekile ngaleso sikhathi e-Iceland, wanquma ukuya eWinnipeg, eCanada, ayobonana noMfoweth’ uLindal futhi azizwele mathupha ngomsebenzi wakhe e-Iceland ngoba, ngaleso sikhathi, izithunywa zevangeli ezazisebenze noMfoweth’ uLindal e-Iceland zase zihambile. Kwathi eseholidini e-United States, uMfoweth’ uPedersen waya eWinnipeg ngebhasi. Lapho efika, wezwa ukuthi uMfoweth’ uLindal wayeqede inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngalelo langa ekuseni. Wayekhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka waze washona.
Izisebenzi Ezengeziwe Esivunweni
Ngo-1947 kwaqala inkathi entsha yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle ngokufika kwezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala zaseGileyadi, zombili ezazivela eDenmark. Esinye kwakunguLeo Larsen. Ezinye ezimbili zafika ngo-December 1948: u-Ingvard Jensen waseDenmark no-Oliver Macdonald waseNgilandi. Lezi zisebenzi ezintsha zesivuno zaqhubeka nomsebenzi owawenziwe uMfoweth’ uLindal futhi zahambisa inqwaba yezincwadi. Ebusika, zazisebenza eReykjavík naseduze kwakhona, bese kuthi ngesikhathi sasehlobo esifushane, zisebenze emaphandleni agudla ugu. U-Ingvard Jensen ulukhumbula ngokukhethekile olunye uhambo lokuyoshumayela. Wabhala: “Ngehlobo lokuqala ngise-Iceland, ngahamba nesinye isithunywa sevangeli saya emaphandleni. Sasivamise ukuya kuleyo nsimu esiyiqokile ngebhasi noma ngesikebhe, siphathe amabhayisekili, amatende, ama-sleeping bag, izincwadi nomphako. Langa limbe-ke kusihlwa sahamba ngesikebhe saya edolobheni laseStykkishólmur ogwini olusentshonalanga, safika ntambama ngakusasa. Sasihlose ukuhambela yonke imizi esedolobheni bese sihamba ngamabhayisekili siye edolobheni laseBorgarnes, eliqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba yikhulu. Zonke izinsuku kwakunesikebhe esisuka lapha siye eReykjavík. Uhambo lwaqala kahle. Kwakumaphakathi no-June, libalele. Ngobusuku bokuqala sangena kuma-sleeping bag ethu ngemva kokusebenza ingxenye yedolobha. Kepha ebusuku saququdwa amakhaza, kwathi ngakusasa ekuseni sasithola isizathu: Ebusuku lalikhithikile, iqhwa lingamasentimitha ayishumi! Yayingekho indlela yokulufinyeza lolu hambo, ngoba zazingekho izikebhe isonto lonke. Ngakho kwadingeka sinamathele kwesasikuhlelile, sisebenze edolobheni, bese siqombola intaba ngamabhayisekili siye edolobheni elilandelayo, sibe sisebenza amapulazi endleleni.”
Bafika eBorgarnes ngemva kwezinsuku ezine, beshova amabhayisekili emvuleni ehambisana nokukhithika nezikhwishikhwishi zemimoya eshwiza ngamakhilomitha angu-110 ngehora. Nokho, lesi simo sezulu esibi sasidanjiswa umoya wokungenisa izihambi ongavamile wabalimi endleleni, ababebamemela ikhofi njalo nokuthile okudliwayo. UMfoweth’ uJensen ukhumbula ukuthi babedla izikhathi ezingu-8 kuya kwezingu-10 ngosuku! Wathi: “Nganginomuzwa wokuthi abantu babezophatheka kabi uma senqaba, futhi kwakusinika ithuba lokubanikeza ubufakazi obuphelele ngoMbuso kaJehova omisiwe.”
Eminyakeni emithathu beyizithunywa zevangeli e-Iceland, abafowethu bahambisa izincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-16 000. Kodwa izimpindelo nezifundo zona azandanga—abantu babezamukela kalula izincwadi kodwa bengenzi lutho ngesigijimi. Ngokwesibonelo, uMfoweth’ uLarsen nomkakhe uMissie—owayefike ngo-1950 evela eDenmark ezoshada noLeo—baya ogwini olusempumalanga, bafike basebenza idolobha laseHöfn, e-Eskifjördhur, e-Neskaupstadhur naseSeydhisfjördhur. Kulolu hambo olukhandlayo, bahambisa izincwadi ezingu-300 cishe nezincwajana ezingako. Kwakunyatheliswe amapheshana amancane ayenesigijimi somBhalo nekheli lezithunywa zevangeli eReykjavík afakwa kuzo zonke izincwadi. Bonke ababethatha izincwadi babecelwa ukuba babhale ukuze bathole ukwaziswa okwengeziwe ngeqiniso—kodwa akubhalanga noyedwa.
Ngo-1952 kwanqunywa ukuthi insimu esogwini olusenyakatho yayidinga ukusetshenzwa kakhudlwana. Ngakho ngalowo nyaka ngo-June, u-Oliver Macdonald nomkakhe uSally, owayefike ngo-1949 evela eNgilandi ezoshada naye, babelwa e-Akureyri njengamaphayona akhethekile. Baphikiswa impela lapho yiqembu iPlymouth Brethren elaliholwa inxusa laseBrithani kuleli dolobha. Wayenabalandeli abaningi, futhi abanye babemlalela uma ehlasela oFakazi ezinkulumweni zakhe nasezihlokweni ayezibhala. Yize la maphayona ayengakujwayele ukuphikiswa okunjalo eReykjavík, awangenwanga itwetwe, aqhubeka nomsebenzi wawo njengenhlalayenza futhi ebamba wonke amathuba okuphendula la manga. Amanye amaphephandaba ayeshicilela izimpendulo zawo.
Ngale kokusebenza leli dolobha, amaphayona ayebuye aye ezindaweni ezikude, ehambisa izincwadi futhi amukelwa ngemfudumalo ejwayelekile kodwa engatholi sithakazelo esitheni esigijimini soMbuso. UMfowethu noDade Macdonald babuyela eReykjavík ngo-July 1953, kodwa bengakahambi e-Akureyri, batshala imbewu yeqiniso, eyayizohluma kamuva.
Kubekwa Isisekelo
Ngemva kweminyaka engu-27 kutshalwa futhi kuniselwa, ekugcineni abafowethu e-Iceland baqala ukubona izithelo zemisebenzi yabo. Ekuqaleni kuka-1956, abasha abangu-7 basekela uMbuso futhi banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, iningi lababebonise isithakazelo eqinisweni lalingazange lime liqine kulo, ngaphandle kuka-Iris Åberg, udade oyiNgisi owagcina ehambile lapha. Manje kwase kubhapathizwe abasha abangu-7, kwabekwa isisekelo esiqinile. Nokho, ngonyaka ka-1957 izithunywa zevangeli namaphayona ayesebenze kanzima kangaka ukuze abone iqiniso limila ayesehambile e-Iceland, iningi ngenxa yempilo.
Yingakho ngo-1957 udade oyedwa oyiphayona elikhethekile—u-Edith Marx, owayefike ngonyaka owandulele evela eDenmark—asala naleli bandla elincane. Kwakudingeka izisebenzi zesivuno ezizosiza leli qembu, elazithola selingasenabo abantu ababelisizile lafunda iqiniso futhi laqina kulo. Nokho, akuphelanga sikhathi kwafika amaphayona akhethekile evela eDenmark, eSweden naseJalimane. Ngaphandle kwawo, abamemezeli abaningi namaphayona bathuthela e-Iceland bezohlanganyela ekushumayeleni ngoMbuso. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ukwanda kwaqhubeka kancane kancane.
Loku kwanda kwaletha intuthuko evusa amadlingozi, ehlanganisa nokuhanjelwa umbonisi wesifunda njalo nemihlangano yesigodi minyaka yonke. Kwakudingeka izincwadi ezengeziwe zesi-Icelandic. INqabayokulinda yokuqala yesi-Icelandic kwakungeka-January 1, 1960. Lokhu kwafaka umfutho omkhulu emsebenzini. Yeka intokozo okwakuyiyo kubazalwane ukuhambisela abantu balapha lo magazini ngolimi lwabo! Futhi yeka indlela okwakubaqinisa ngayo ukholo kwabona abazalwane ukuzuza ekudleni okuhle okungokomoya zinyanga zonke! Lapho kumenyezelwa emhlanganweni wesifunda eReykjavík ukuthi INqabayokulinda izokhishwa ngolimi lwalapha, kwavezwa umfanekiso omkhulu walo magazini esiteji ngemva kwesikhulumi. Abazalwane abeve bahalalisa ngenxa yalesi sipho esisha esivela kuJehova!
UMfoweth’ uPedersen ukhumbula ukuthi ngenkathi efika e-Iceland ngo-October 1959, incwajana ethi “This Good News of the Kingdom” kwakuyiyona yodwa incwadi yesi-Icelandic eyayisetshenziswa ensimini ngaleso sikhathi futhi abaninikhaya abaningi base benayo. Abamemezeli babebahambisela INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! yesiDanish, yesiNgisi, yesiJalimane, noma yesiSwedish labo ababekwazi ukufunda lezi zilimi. Yize abaningi babeluqonda olulodwa kulezi zilimi, kwakungcono kakhulu ukuba bafunde INqabayokulinda ngolimi abaluncele ebeleni. Lo magazini owawungolimi lwalapha waba nomthelela omkhulu emsebenzini wokushumayela. Abamemezeli abangu-41 namaphayona bathola izikhokhelo ezingu-809, bahambisa nomagazini abangu-26 479 kulowo nyaka wenkonzo. Landa nenani lezifundo zeBhayibheli.
Kwaqopheka umlando nalapho kumiswa ihhovisi legatsha ngo-January 1, 1962. I-Iceland yayikade yenganyelwe igatsha lase-United States kanti ngaphambi kwalokho yayenganyelwe elaseDenmark. Kwathi ngo-1969 oFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwa ngokomthetho futhi babhaliswa eMnyango Wezobulungisa Nezenkolo. OFakazi base-Iceland manje base benamalungelo afana nawezinye izinkolo futhi begunyaziwe ukushadisa nokuphatha imingcwabo.
Ukuphikisa Kwabefundisi
Ngenyanga elamiswa ngayo igatsha, abafowethu baphikiswa abefundisi. Langa limbe ekuseni, isihloko esikhulu sephephandaba elisakazwa kabanzi samemezela ukuthi umbhishobhi wesonto lesizwe wayekhiphe incwajana exwayisa ngoFakazi BakaJehova, edonsa abantu ngendlebe ukuba bangabalaleli. Isihloko sale ncwajana sasithi Vottar Jehóva—advörun (OFakazi BakaJehova—Isixwayiso). Namanye amaphephandaba ayiqhuba le ndaba. I-Vísir, iphephandaba lantambama elithandwayo, lashicilela ingxoxo nomzalwane okhonza ehhovisi legatsha. Lesi sihloko sasichaza imibono yethu, ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho namanye amaphephandaba ayiqhuba indaba. Ngale ndlela, kwanikezwa ubufakazi obukhulu, nabantu abaningi bazi ngomsebenzi wethu. Abanye abafundi babhala izincwadi besekela oFakazi, zashicilelwa emaphephandabeni. Umbhishobhi waziphindiselela, naye washicilela “impendulo.” Nokho, esihlokweni esasigcwele ikhasi lephephandaba elifundwa abantu abaningi, i-Morgunbladid, oFakazi BakaJehova bawuchaza kahle hle umsebenzi nezinkolelo zabo.
Le ncwajana enalesi sixwayiso yasakazwa ezweni lonke. Umphumela waba ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova baziwa kakhulu futhi umphumela womsebenzi wethu wabonakala iminyaka eminingi ensimini. Ngenxa yakho konke lokhu, elinye iphepha labika: “Umbhishobhi usephenduke ummemezeli woFakazi BakaJehova.” Abantu bakaJehova báziwa kahle, ngisho nasezindaweni ezikude zezwe oFakazi ababengakashumayeli kuzo. Nakuba bekhona abantu abalandela iseluleko sombhishobhi, iningi labo lalivukwa ilukuluku. Nokho, enyakatho e-Akureyri, kwakunenzondo. Izingane zaziye zibajikijele ngamatshe oHeinrich noKatherine Karcher, ababephayona khona. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, abanye abaphikisi abasontayo e-Akureyri baphinde bayisakaza le ncwajana yombhishobhi, ngemva kokuyinyathelisa kabusha. AbeSonto LikaMoya benza okufanayo eReykjavík, becabanga ukuthi bangasiyekisa noma basithiye ekushumayeleni kwethu.
Inselele Yokuhlela Imihlangano Emikhulu
Imihlangano emikhulu ibilokhu iyisici esivelele esijabulisayo kubantu bakaNkulunkulu e-Iceland. Ngisho nangenkathi abamemezeli beyidlanzana, abazalwane abanqikazanga ukuhlela imihlangano. Owokuqala waba ngo-July 1951, ngesikhathi abazalwane ababili—uPercy Chapman waseCanada noKlaus Jensen waseBrooklyn—bevakashela e-Iceland belibangise emihlanganweni eyayiseYurophu ngalelo hlobo. Yize babeyidlanzana abamemezeli e-Iceland ngaleso sikhathi, inani eliphakeme lababekhona emhlanganweni lalingu-55. Umhlangano olandelayo waba ngemva kweminyaka engu-7, ngo-June 1958, ngesikhathi kuhambele umbonisi wamagatsha, uFilip Hoffmann, kwaba nabangu-38 abathamela inkulumo yeningi. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi imihlangano emikhulu iba khona minyaka yonke.
UFridrik Gíslason wayengomunye wabazalwane abambalwa ababeba nezinkulumo esimisweni somhlangano ngawo-1950. Uyalandisa: “Ngikhumbula ngiphethe uMnyango Wezokudla emihlanganweni yokuqala. Ngaphandle kokuthi umsebenzi omningi wawenziwa yimi, kwakuvamile ukuba ngibe nezinkulumo ezintathu noma ezine esimisweni usuku ngalunye. Uma ngisebenza ekhishini ngangigqoka iphinifa. Uma sengiphuthuma ehholo ngiyonikeza inkulumo, ngangigqoka ibhantshi, yize ngezinye izikhathi abazalwane kwakudingeka bangikhumbuze ukuba ngikhumule iphinifa. Manje sebephakathi kuka-400 no-500 ababa khona emihlanganweni, futhi abadala abaningi bayakufanelekela ukuba nezinkulumo esimisweni.”
Amadrama eBhayibheli awumvuthwandaba omnandi nofundisayo emihlanganweni yesigodi. Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi babembalwa kangaka abamemezeli e-Iceland, amadrama ayedlalwa ngekhasethi kuphela. Igatsha laseDenmark lalisiza liwenze abe mnandi ngokwenezela izithombe ezinemibala ezazihambisana nekhasethi. Noma kunjalo, ukuwalungiselela kwakungewona umdlalo. Okokuqala, kwakufanele ahunyushelwe olimini lwase-Iceland. Bese eyaqoshwa ngamaphimbo abazalwane abakhuluma lolu limi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakwenezelwa umculo nemisindo ithathelwa emakhasethini esiNgisi. Abanye kwakudingeka badlale abalingiswa abahlukahlukene, baguqule amaphimbo abo kuye ngomlingiswa abamdlalayo. Ngemva kwesikhathi, amanye amadrama adlalwa egqokelwe izingubo zakhona.
Eyokuqala enjalo, eyayikhuluma ngeNdlovukazi u-Esteri, yayizodlalwa emhlanganweni wesigodi ngo-1970. Abazalwane basebenza ngokuzimisela futhi bayiprakthiza ngenkulu intshiseko. Kwakuqala ukuba kugqokwe izingubo ezifana nezangezikhathi zeBhayibheli nokuba kunamatheliswe izintshebe ebusweni babazalwane. Abazange bayithi vu eyokuthi idrama izodlalwa bukhoma emhlanganweni. Kwaba yinto emnandi ababengayilindele. Emihlanganweni emincane, lapho cishe bonke abantu bazana khona futhi bonke behlala eduze nesiteji, abanye babezama ukuthola ukuthi ubani odlala indawo kabani. Ngemva kokubukela idrama, udade othile wathi, “Cabanga nje, uyedwa kuphela umzalwane engikwazile ukumbona ukuthi ungubani edrameni, yilo obeyiNkosi uNebukhadinezari!” Walisho igama lalowo mzalwane futhi kwammangaza ukuthi wayeshaye eceleni. Abazalwane bawazisa ngempela umsebenzi onzima owenziwa abaningi kangaka ukuze bethule isimiso emihlanganweni emikhulu. Bonke bayazuza ezifundweni ezinhle zamadrama adlalwa ngolimi lwabo.
Imihlangano Yezizwe Iletha Injabulo
Kule minyaka edlule, abazalwane base-Iceland bakujabulele nokuya emihlanganweni yesigodi kwamanye amazwe. Abayisihlanu ababevela e-Iceland baba nelungelo lokuhambela uMhlangano Wezizwe Wentando Yaphezulu eNew York ngo-1958. Abaningi baya eMihlanganweni Yabakhulekeli Abanobunye eYurophu ngo-1961 naseMihlanganweni ‘Yezindaba Ezinhle Zaphakade’ ngo-1963. Abanye bajabulela ukubungazana nabazalwane bakwamanye amazwe amaningi eMihlanganweni Yezizwe ‘Yokunqoba Kwaphezulu’ ngo-1973. Abamemezeli base-Iceland abangaphezu kwekhulu baya eMhlanganweni Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ eCopenhagen, eDenmark, ngo-August 5-10, 1969. Leli kwakuyiqembu elikhulu kunawo wonke elivela e-Iceland elaya emhlanganweni wezizwe kwelinye izwe. Kulelo hlobo, abamemezeli base-Iceland abangamaphesenti angu-80 baya emhlanganweni omkhulu phesheya kwezilwandle.
Ngenxa yokuthi baningi kakhulu abase-Iceland ababehlele ukuya emhlanganweni wango-1969, igatsha laseDenmark lahlela ukuba abazalwane base-Iceland bahlale ndawonye emhlanganweni. Ekuseni, singakaqali isimiso, abazalwane base-Iceland babehlangana endaweni yabo balalele isimiso esifushanisiwe ngolimi lwabo.
Phakathi kwababekhona kulo mhlangano kwakuyibhungu eligama lalo uBjarni Jónsson. Wayezalwa ummeli owayengumnikazi wesakhiwo esasiseReykjavík esasiqashwe abazalwane njengekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi legatsha. Kuncane kakhulu ayekwazi ngeqiniso uBjarni, futhi inhloso yokuya kwakhe eCopenhagen nabazalwane kwakungekona ukuya emhlanganweni. Pho kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?
UKjell Geelnard, owayeyinceku yegatsha ngaleso sikhathi, kwakudingeka abhunge okuthile noyise kaBjarni. UKjell wamtshela ngomhlangano wezizwe eCopenhagen nangeqembu labazalwane ababehlela ukuya kuwo. Uma ummeli ezwa ngalokhu, wabuza ukuthi izibulo lakhe lingahamba yini naleli qembu. Watshela uMfoweth’ uGeelnard ukuthi indodana yakhe yayisanda kuphothula esikoleni, futhi angathanda ukuyivakashisa phesheya, ngakho yayingaya naseCopenhagen. UKjell wabona kuwumqondo omuhle lona, watshela ummeli ukuthi uma uBjarni engathanda ukuba khona emhlanganweni abone ukuthi kwenzekani khona, wayengalungiselelwa indawo yokulala eCopenhagen. Kwamjabulisa lokhu ummeli wayesebuza umfana wakhe ukuthi uyafuna yini ukuhamba neqembu loFakazi BakaJehova eliya emhlanganweni. Umfana wavumela phezulu.
Kwathintwa uMnyango Wezindawo Zokulala ukuze kutholelwe uBjarni indawo eCopenhagen. Abazalwane bamtholela indawo emkhayeni woFakazi. Umzalwane waseMelika owayezoza emhlanganweni futhi owayezohlala egumbini linye nomzalwane wase-Iceland okuthiwa uJakob wayengasezi, ngakho uBjarni wathola indawo yakhe. Kodwa ngasizathu simbe noJakob akafikanga. UBjarni yedwa owaya kule ndawo yokulala. Njengoba uMnyango Wezindawo Zokulala wawungawutshelanga lo mkhaya ukuthi kwase kuza uBjarni esikhundleni somzalwane waseMelika, lo mkhaya wacabanga ukuthi isivakashi sawo uJakob.
Njengenhlalayenza lapho abafowethu basezindaweni ezihlukene behlangana, baxoxelana okuhlangenwe nakho. Abafowethu baseDenmark kwabamangaza ukubona ukuthi “uJakob” akasho lutho olutheni. Kanti uBjarni naye wayedideka lapho lo mkhaya ulokhu umbiza ngoJakob. Wacabanga ukuthi njengoba igama elithi Jakob kuyigama eliseBhayibhelini, kungenzeka ukuthi yisiko loFakazi BakaJehova ukubizana ngamagama eBhayibheli uma bexoxa. Le nkiyankiya yaxazululeka lapho omunye wabafowethu kulo muzi ayehlala kuwo uBjarni ebonana nomfowethu waseDenmark owayephayona e-Iceland. Wabuza lo mfowethu ukuthi “uJakob” lona musha yini eqinisweni ngoba kuncane kakhulu ayekusho ngomsebenzi e-Iceland. Umfowethu waseDenmark wachaza ukuthi “uJakob” empeleni nguBjarni, uyingane yesikole evela e-Iceland ehamba nabafowethu abeze eCopenhagen. Umkhaya ayehlala kuwo uBjarni wamphatha ngezandla ezintofontofo futhi wamcela ukuba ahlale elinye isonto njengoba ayesabuka izindawo zaseDenmark. Lo musa wayithinta inhliziyo kaBjarni.
Empeleni, uBjarni waya emhlanganweni. Futhi yize ayengenalwazi lweqiniso olwaluzomsiza ajabulele isimiso ngokugcwele, loko akubona wakuzwa kwamhlaba umxhwele kakhulu. Wathi angabuyela nje e-Iceland, yena nabakubo baqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli. UBjarni wathuthuka kahle eqinisweni futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1971. Kusukela ngo-1979 ubekhonza njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha e-Iceland.
Sekuyiminyaka eminingi uSvanberg Jakobsson engumhumushi egatsheni lase-Iceland futhi manje ungumphathi woMnyango Wabahumushi. Esengummemezeli osemusha, waya eMhlanganweni Wezizwe ‘Wokunqoba Kwaphezulu’ eLondon, eNgilandi, ngo-1973. Uyalandisa: “Ngiyakhumbula indlela okwangijabulisa ngayo ukubukela abafowethu nodadewethu betheleka ngezinkulungwane enkundleni yomhlangano. Kwakukuhle ukubona abafowethu nodadewethu abaningi abavela e-Afrika, bonke bevunule ngezakubo zendabuko ezimibalabala. Kwakuyinto engingeke ngiyilibale ukuba kanye namashumi ezinkulungwane zabafowethu, ukulalela isimiso nabo, ukuhlabelela nabo, ukuthandaza kanye nabo, ukudla nabo, nokuhlala nje nabo.”
USólborg Sveinsdóttir, owabhapathizwa ngo-1958, wahamba izinsuku eziyisithupha ngomkhumbi eya eDenmark ehamba nezingane zakhe beya emhlanganweni eCopenhagen ngo-1961. USólborg wayehlanganyela neqembu elincane elingalodwa eKeflavík. Kwamthinta kanjani ukuba semhlanganweni omkhulu wezizwe? Uthi: “Kwakumangalisa ukuzwa abazalwane abangaphezu kuka-30 000 behlabelela ndawonye izingoma zoMbuso ngezilimi ezinhlanu—kwangithinta inhliziyo lokho. Konke kwakuhlelwe kahle kakhulu.”
Ukuya emihlanganweni yezizwe kwakubiza, kodwa abazalwane babenomuzwa wokuthi noma bangakhokha kakhulu, kulungile. Ukuba khona emadilini angokomoya amahle kanje ahlinzekwe uJehova nokuba phakathi kwezinkulungwane zamanye amakholwa kwakuyisibusiso.
Kuvakasha “Uweta” Ongokomoya
Baningi abathuthele e-Iceland ukuze bakhonze lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Kubo bonke kuye kwaba umzukuzuku ukufunda isi-Icelandic esilukhuni. Noma kunjalo, ngezinye izikhathi ukungaqondani ngenxa yolimi kungaphenduka isibusiso. Ngokwesibonelo, uHeinrich Karcher wayesendlini ngendlu ngolunye usuku, ezethula ngokuthi uyisikhonzi, noma inceku. Komunye umuzi wavulelwa intokazi, futhi wathi angazethula, yamngenisa endlini. Yayingezwanga kahle ukuthi ungubani ngoba ngesi-Icelandic linye igama elisho “inceku” “noweta.” Yayicabanga ukuthi uHeinrich usebenza nomyeni wayo, onguweta ehhotela lakhona. Yayazi ukuthi wayesezobuya umyeni wayo, ngakho yacabanga ukuthi ingasale isimngenisa lo muntu osebenza nomyeni wayo ozombona. Njengokulindelekile, bafa insini lapho sebecaciselene indaba.
Wafika umyeni, futhi lo “weta” ongokomoya waphakela lo mbhangqwana ukudla okungokomoya okwehla esiphundu, nawo wakuthanda kakhulu. Waze wacela uHeinrich ukuba abuye futhi eze nomkakhe. Ngokushesha kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke, lo mbhangqwana othakazelayo waqala ukufakaza kwabanye. Ngisho nalapho esebenza ehhotela, lo weta osemncane wayexoxa nabo bonke ababelalela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lo mbhangqwana wabhapathizwa. Wawujabula ngokuthi lo “weta” ongokomoya wayefikile emzini wabo nokuthi akazange azigodle, wafakaza kubo ngolimi okungelona olwakhe.
Kule minyaka edlule kube nezinto eziningi ezihlekisayo ezidalwa ukungaqondi kahle lapho abazalwane bakwamanye amazwe befunda ulimi. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva nje kokufika kwakhe e-Iceland, uSally Macdonald walungiselela ukuthi isethulo sakhe sizothi: “Ngivakashele abantu kule ndawo ukuze ngixoxe nabo ngezinto ezinhle eziseBhayibhelini.” Kodwa wadidanisa igama elisho ukuvakasha (heimsækja) nelisho ukushushisa (ofsækja), wayesesho emomotheka: “Ngishushisa abantu kule ndawo.”
Endlini Ngendlu Nomfundisi WaseLuthela
UHolger noTove Frederiksen baseDenmark bakhonza iminyaka eminingi bengamaphayona akhethekile e-Iceland babuye bajikeleza isikhashana. Nakuba kwakunzima ngoTove ukufunda isi-Icelandic futhi asazi kahle, wasiza abaningi bangena eqinisweni ngenxa yentshiseko nomdlandla wakhe.
Langa limbe bejikeleza, uHolger wayesebenza nommemezeli osemncane endlini ngendlu edolobheni elincane. Bamangala lapho umfundisi waseLuthela ehambisana nabo. Kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?
Ngaphambidlana babevakashele lo mfundisi emzini wakhe. Wayebonakala enomusa futhi wabangenisa ehhovisi lakhe. Ngemva kokuba umfundisi ezithe nhla izincwadi ababezihambisa, wathi, “Lezi zincwadi zinezimfundiso zamanga!” Wathi lacu, waphakamisa izingalo, wabaqalekisa. Wamemeza: “Ningashumayeli la endaweni yami nina!” UHolger watshela lo mfundisi ukuthi akanalo igunya lokubavimba ukuba bashumayele wathi futhi bazoqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela. Wabe esethi umfundisi, “Uma niqhubeka nishumayeza abantu kule ndawo yami, ngizohamba nani kanti.” UHolger wamtshela ukuthi angahamba impela nabo.
Ngemva kokuba umfundisi ebalandelile bengena emizini emibili engakwakhe, bahlangana noTove nomunye udade, abamangala ukubona ukuthi ubani lo owayesesebenza nabo endlini ngendlu. Umfundisi wabe esebamemela ikhofi bonke emzini wakhe. Baxoxa kamnandi. UHolger waba nomuzwa wokuthi lo musa ongaka abangawulindele wawuyiqhingana lokubavimba ukuba bashumayeze bonke abantu ensimini. Ngakho ngakusasa, baphindela emuva bayolisebenza lonke lelo dolobha elincane, bahambisa izincwadi eziningi futhi bathola abantu abaningi abalalelayo.
Bavinjwa Yisiwulukuhlu Seqhwa
Ngokuvamile ukushumayeza abantu abahlala emaphandleni kusho ukushayela ezintabeni ezinemigwaqo eyiqhwa nesuke yembozwe izindunduma zalo ngezinyanga zasebusika ezimnyama. Ngo-December 1974 ngesikhathi bejikeleza, uKjell no-Iiris Geelnard bavakashela e-Akureyri, ogwini olusenyakatho. Ngesonto ababekhonza ngalo ibandla lakhona, bathatha uhambo lwamakhilomitha angaphezu kwangu-80 baya edolobheni laseHúsavík. Bahamba noHolger noTove Frederiksen. Bobane basebenza insimu yaseHúsavík nezindawo eziseduze izinsuku ezimbalwa base bephetha uhambo lwabo ngokubeka inkulumo yeningi yama-slide esikoleni. Lapho umhlangano uqala nje, kwaba nesivunguvungu esasihambisana nemimoya eshubisa umkantsha, isithwathwa nesichotho. Ngemva komhlangano, lapho ababezile besaqoqa izinto zabo ukuze bagoduke, kwaphela ugesi ngenxa yesichotho, idolobha lonke laba mnyama bhuqe. Abafowethu baphuma ngobumnyama esikoleni kodwa bonke babejabule ngokuthi lokhu kwenzeke isiphelile inkulumo yama-slide.
AbakwaGeelnard nabakwaFrederiksen kwakudingeka babuyele e-Akureyri. Babuza amaphoyisa endawo nabashayeli bamabhasi nabamaloli ngesimo somgwaqo, baqinisekiswa ngokuthi esikhathini esingaphambidlana bekungekubi kangako. Ngakho banquma ukuhamba ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka, kodwa kwabathatha isikhathi ukupakisha ngekhandlela. Nalapho beyothenga upethiloli wemoto, isisebenzi kwadingeka siwumpompe ngesandla. Ekugcineni, baze balungela ukuhamba cishe ngabo-9 ebusuku.
Echaza lolo hambo, uKjell wathi: “Ekuqaleni konke kwakuhamba kahle, kodwa laliya likhithika ngamandla. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba nzima ukubona umgwaqo kangangokuthi uHolger kwakudingeka ehle emotweni asikhanyisele ngethoshi. Sabe sesibhajwa ezindundumeni zeqhwa. Izikhathi ezimbalwa sakwazi ukudlula kuzo ngokugugula iqhwa, kodwa ekugcineni savinjwa udonga olukhulu lweqhwa. Kamuva sathola ukuthi kwakuyiqhwa elalisuka enqwabeni yeqhwa elalidilike entabeni engenhla. Ezimweni ezivamile, kuthatha amahora amabili ukuhamba ngemoto usuka eHúsavík uya e-Akureyri, kodwa ngaleso sikhathi kwase kuphele amahora ayisithupha sisemgwaqweni kanti sasisahambe isigamu sendlela.
“Kwenzeka lokhu nje yihora lesithathu ekuseni—simanzi, situbekile, siyagodola. Cabanga indlela esajabula ngayo lapho sibona kukhanya epulazini eliseduze. Lokho kwasinika isibindi sokuya khona. Kwangqongqoza uHolger, umfowethu onomoya ophansi nocabangelayo. Lapho kungavuli muntu, wavula, wakhuphukela phezulu, wafike wangqongqoza kahle ekamelweni lokulala. Nakuba babemangele, umnini-pulazi nomkakhe akuzange kubathukuthelise loko kuphazanyiswa. Bathi babelale ngesikhathi kuphela ugesi bakhohlwa ukucima izibani!
“Manje sazibonela isibonelo esihle somoya wabantu base-Iceland wokwamukela izihambi. Lo mnini-pulazi nomkakhe baziyisa kwelinye ikamelo izingane zabo ezase zilele ukuze sobane silale emakamelweni amabili, futhi ngemva kwesikhashana, kwase kubekwe ikhofi elishisayo nesinkwa esimnandi etafuleni lasekhishini. Ngemva kokudla kwasekuseni ngakusasa, umnini-pulazi wasincenga ukuba sihlalele ukudla kwasemini. Ngemva kokudla nalo mkhaya ukudla kwasemini, saqhubeka nohambo lwethu lwase-Akureyri ngoba ngaleso sikhathi imishini emibili emikhulu egugula iqhwa yayisiligugulile. Umoya wokwamukela izihambi womnini-pulazi nomkakhe wasinika ithuba lokuxoxa nabo ngeqiniso leBhayibheli.”
Ukushumayela Esikebheni Sokudoba
Kudala, uKjell Geelnard wahlangana nensizwa enkonzweni yasensimini. Igama layo nguFridrik. Wayeyizibulo kubo, ethanda izinto ezingokomoya futhi kumjabulisa nokuxoxa ngeBhayibheli. Wayenemibuzo eminingi ebonisa nesithakazelo esikhulu sokuthola ulwazi lweBhayibheli. Nokho, kwakungelula ukumthola ngoba wayengunjiniyela wesikebhe sokudoba. Isikhathi esiningi wayesesikebheni, zimbalwa izinsuku ayeba ngazo ekhaya uma engasebenzi. Kodwa ngokubheka izikhathi zesikebhe nokubuza unina kaFridrik ukuthi uzobuya nini, uKjell wayekwazi ukubonana naye, mhlawumbe kube sethekwini noma ekhaya. Ngaleyo ndlela abafowethu bamsiza wathuthuka ngokomoya.
Ngasekupheleni kuka-1982, uFridrik wamenyelwa emhlanganweni eReykjavík. Ngaleso sikhathi lwase luqalile ukukhula ukholo lwakhe kuJehova, futhi wathandazela ukuba akwazi ukuya. Kwabe sekwenzeka ukuthi uzakwabo owayekade evunyelwe ukungabibikho emsebenzini, ashintshe athi usezoba khona. Walithola kanjalo uFridrik ithuba lokuba angabi khona emsebenzini, wakwazi ukuya emhlanganweni. Isimiso samthinta ngokujulile uFridrik, manje owayeseqiniseka ukuthi ufuna ukukhonza uJehova.
Lapho efika ekhaya uFridrik, watshela ingoduso yakhe ngesinqumo sakhe nokuthi sizokuthinta kanjani ukuphila kwakhe. Wayitshela ukuthi uyafuna ibe umkakhe kodwa uma yona ingaziboni ishade noFakazi KaJehova, kufanele bahlukane. Ngakusasa ekuseni, kwangqongqoza umuntu ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Emnyango kwakumi uFridrik nengoduso yakhe. Washo amagama ambalwa kodwa adle ngokuqina: “UHelga ufuna ukufundelwa iBhayibheli!” Izithunywa zevangeli zabe sezihlela ukumfundela. Ntambama ngalolo suku, omunye wabafowabo bakaFridrik abancane naye wacela ukufundelwa. Kulo lelo sonto, uFridrik weza nodadewabo omncane emhlanganweni, wathi: “U-Unnur ufuna ukufundelwa!”
UFridrik wayefuna ukubonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuJehova ngokubhapathizwa emanzini. Kodwa kwakudingeka aqale andise ulwazi lwakhe abese ebukeza imibuzo yabazobhapathizwa. Inkinga kwakuwukuthi isikhathi esiningi wayesolwandle. Uma uKjell ehluleka ukuthola uFridrik kubo, wayengambona emsebenzini. Benzenjani-ke? UFridrik waqasha uKjell ukuba asebenze naye egumbini lenjini esikebheni. Ekuqaleni kuka-1983, uKjell wagibela esikebheni i-Svalbakur ehlome ngeBhayibheli nezincwadi zokufunda.
“Angisoze ngawulibala umsebenzi nenkonzo engayenza esikebheni,” kukhumbula uKjell. “Kwakuqalwa ngo-6:30 ekuseni ukusebenza kushayiswe ngo-6:30 ntambama. Emini sasidla ukudla kwasemini, bese kuba nekhefu elincane ekuseni nantambama. Isikhathi esasingasebenzi ngaso sasisisebenzisela ukufunda noFridrik, futhi ayemaningi namathuba okufakaza kwezinye izisebenzi. Kusihlwa sasitadisha futhi sixoxe ngezinto ezingokomoya. Ngezinye izikhathi sasilala kwesikabhadakazi. Ngesikhathi sokudla kwasemini, sasizama ukuhlala isikhathi esincane endlini yokudlela ukuze sixoxe ngetekisi losuku ekamelweni likaFridrik.”
Amadoda ayesesikebheni aqaphela ukuthi isithunywa sevangeli sesisebenza lapha. Ezinsukwini zokuqala ezimbalwa, amxwaya uKjell ngoba ayengazi ukuthi uzokwenzani. Noma kunjalo, amanye ayekulalela ngokuzimisela ayekusho. Omunye wawo wabonisa isithakazelo esikhulu, futhi lapho ezwa ukuthi ngesikhathi sokudla kwasemini kuxoxwa ngetekisi losuku, wafuna ukuba khona. Langa limbe lapho ingxoxo endlini yokudlela iba yinde, waphelelwa isineke futhi phambi kwabo bonke abanye, wathi kuKjell noFridrik: “Yini singahambi siyozifundela itekisi losuku manje?”
Ngelinye ilanga kusihlwa, uKjell noFridrik bamemela izisebenzi ekamelweni likaFridrik ukuze kufundwe i-Phaphama! eyayikhuluma ngokuluthwa utshwala. Zingu-7 izisebenzi ezeza kulowo mhlangano ongasoze walibaleka, futhi nezisebenzi kwezinye izikebhe zezwa ngalo mhlangano.
“Ngemva kwamasonto amabili ngishumayela futhi ngisebenza esikebheni, saphinde safika ethekwini,” kusho uKjell. “Ngaleso sikhathi ngase ngiyibukezile imibuzo yobhapathizo noFridrik, sabuye sahlola nezinye izihloko zeBhayibheli eziningi, ngafakaza kwezinye izisebenzi, ngizihambisela nomagazini nezincwadi.” UFridrik wabhapathizwa entwasahlobo ka-1983. Ingoduso yakhe uHelga; unina kaFridrik; nodadewabo bonke balamukela iqiniso.
Izifundo Eziqhutshwa Ngocingo
Bekulokhu kuyinselele ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kubantu abahlala kude kulesi siqhingi esikhulu. Ucingo luye lwaba ithuluzi eliphumelelayo lokufinyelela abantu abanesithakazelo nokuthintana nabo njalo.
Baningi abazuzile kule ndlela yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Kudala, owesifazane okuthiwa u-Oddný Helgadóttir wavakashela indodana yakhe nomalokazana wakhe ababefundelwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Uma bemxoxela ngabakufundayo, naye wafuna ukufundelwa. Kodwa-ke u-Oddný wayehlala kude ogwini olusenyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Iceland, oluqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-300 ebandleni eliseduze. Lapho udade Gudrún Ólafsdóttir ecela ukumfundela ngocingo, wavumela phezulu. Ngemva kokuvula ngomthandazo, u-Oddný wayeyiphendula ngokushesha imibuzo esencwadini. Lapho elungiselela isifundo sakhe, ayesilungiselela ngendlela engakhi phezulu, u-Oddný wayebhala imibhalo ekhonjiwe ukuze ayifunde lapho bekhuluma ngayo. Ngakho wayengasidingi isikhathi sokucinga imiBhalo phakathi nesifundo. Kwake kwenzeka bafundela emzini kaGudrún ngesikhathi u-Oddný evakashele kuleyo ndawo. Bobabili bake bathi ukuxakeka kancane ngoba babeqala ukufunda bebhekene ubuso nobuso, ngakho uGudrún wantela wathi uzoya kwelinye ikamelo nalo elalinocingo!
Kwathi lapho u-Oddný eseqalile ukuqonda iqiniso, waqala ukufakaza kumyeni wakhe uJón. Lapho ebonisa isithakazelo, u-Oddný akabange esaqiniseka ukuthi kulungile yini ukuba afundelwe uyena. Wathola ukuthi angasiqhuba isifundo kodwa kungafaneleka ukuba athwale ekhanda lapho esiqhuba. Akagcinanga ngokufundela umyeni wakhe, wayefakaza nakomakhelwane. Wabe esethi ufisa ukubhapathizwa. UGudrún wamhlelela ukuba umdala ambukezise ngocingo imibuzo encwadini ethi Ukuhlelelwa Ukufeza Inkonzo Yethu ukuze abone ukuthi uyafaneleka yini. Kwaba sobala ukuthi uyafaneleka kodwa kunento eyodwa eyayisilele: Wayengakesuli esontweni.
Ngemva cishe kwesonto, u-Oddný washayela uGudrún wamtshela ukuthi wayesesulile esontweni. Nomyeni wakhe wayenze okufanayo. Kwakuyisinqumo esinqala lesi kumyeni wakhe ngoba wayekade engusihlalo womkhandlu wesonto lalapha. Ngemva kwesikhathi, u-Oddný wabhapathizwa emhlanganweni wesifunda. Wawujabulela impela lo mhlangano ngoba wayekade ehlangane kanye vo neqembu elincane loFakazi ngaphambili. Lapho kuxoxwa naye esimisweni somhlangano, wabuzwa ukuthi kunzima yini ukuba sendaweni engenamuntu ngale ndlela. Wathi akakaze azizwe eyedwa ngoba uyazi ukuthi uJehova ukhona nasogwini olusenyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Iceland. Wabe esenezela nokuthi udabukile ngokuthi umyeni wakhe akakwazanga ukuza emhlanganweni, kodwa wayemqinisekisile ukuthi uzoza uma esekulungele ukubhapathizwa. Umyeni wakhe wasigcina isithembiso sakhe! Ngokushesha bathuthela endaweni enabantu abaningi ukuze bakwazi ukuya njalo emihlanganweni yebandla.
Isidingo Samakhaya Ezithunywa Zevangeli NamaHholo OMbuso
Lapho uNathan H. Knorr wasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova evakashela e-Iceland ngo-1968, wayefuna ukuthola isakhiwo esifanelekela ukuba yihhovisi legatsha nokuhlalisa izithunywa zevangeli. Ngaphambi kwalokho, kwase kuqashwe imizi eminingi. Manje abafowethu baqala ukufuna indawo ababengakha kuyo isakhiwo esasizoba neHholo LoMbuso, ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli nehhovisi legatsha. Ingakatholakali, kwaqashwa umuzi okahle eHrefnugata 5 eReykjavík, kwathi ngo-October 1, 1968, izithunywa zevangeli eziyisithupha zathuthela kuwo. Lesi sakhiwo saba ikomkhulu lomsebenzi e-Iceland iminyaka emihlanu eyalandela. Ngemva kwesikhathi, abafowethu bathola indawo ekahle eSogavegur 71, eReykjavík. Entwasahlobo ka-1972, kwaqala ukwakhiwa kwegatsha elisha. Kwaba inselele enkulu lokhu kubafowethu abambalwa ababengenalwazi olutheni ngobunjiniyela nokwakha. Abekho kubo ababengabakhi noma omeselandi, ngakho kwadingeka kuqashwe abakhi abangebona oFakazi. Laba bakhi babezimisele kakhulu ukubambisana nabafowethu futhi bavuma ukuba abafowethu basebenze nabo. Abafowethu baqasha ingxenye ethile yomuzi omdala owawuseduze kwesakhiwo yaba indawo yokudlela. Odade babeshintshana ngokupheka ukudla emizini yabo futhi bakuyise esakhiweni ukuze izisebenzi zidle.
Lo msebenzi wokwakha waba ubufakazi obuhle endaweni. Abakhi neziphathimandla zedolobha bonke baba nethuba elihle lokujwayela oFakazi BakaJehova. Abanye babefika esakhiweni bezobona ukuthi umsebenzi usuhambe kangakanani. Ngesikhathi sokupulasitela ngaphakathi, kwafika umfowethu waseDenmark ofundele ukuba umeselandi, ezosiza. Nodade benza omkhulu umsebenzi. Lapho kufika abaqondisi abathile bevela edolobheni bezobona isakhiwo, babona odade besebenza ngomshini ohlanganisa usemende. Omunye wabo wathi: “Ngicabanga ukuthi omame basesontweni lethu bangafunda okuthile lapha. Kungaphumelela ngempela ukwakhiwa kwamasonto uma besebenza kunokuba bazulazule nebhokisi lomnikelo, becelana nemali.” Igatsha lanikezelwa ngo-May 1975, ngenkathi uMilton G. Henschel evakashele e-Iceland futhi uyena owabeka inkulumo yokulinikezela. Kwaphela iminyaka lesi sakhiwo siyikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli kuleli zwe futhi siyiHholo LoMbuso lamabandla aseReykjavík. Manje sesiyihhovisi legatsha.
Ngo-1987 kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elisha nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli edolobheni lase-Akureyri. Ubufakazi bokuthi abantu bakaJehova banobunye nobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke babonakala ngesikhathi kufika abafowethu nodade abevile ku-60 bevela eFinland naseSweden bezosiza abafowethu base-Iceland kuleso sakhiwo.
“Ukhuni Olumnandi”
Eminyakeni edlule, abameleli beNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova baye bavakashela e-Iceland futhi ukuvakasha kwabo kuba isikhuthazo esikhulu njalo nje kubafowethu. Okwavelela ngo-1968 kwaba ukuvakasha kukaMfoweth’ uKnorr osekushiwo ngaphambili. Wanikeza abafowethu inkulumo evuth’ uphondo, wabaxoxela okuhlangenwe nakho futhi waxoxa ngentuthuko yomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso e-Iceland.
UMfoweth’ uHenschel wavakashela okokuqala e-Iceland ngo-May 1970. Wamukelwa izithunywa zevangeli ezazozela. Lokho akudalwanga nje kuphela ukuthi uMfoweth’ uHenschel wafika ekuseni ngovivi kodwa nawukuthi intabamlilo yodumo iHekla yayiqale ukuqhuma ngayizolo, futhi izithunywa zevangeli zazingalalanga ziyibukele!
UMfoweth’ uHenschel wakhuluma ikakhulu nezithunywa zevangeli namaphayona akhethekile. Bonke wabamemela emhlanganweni okhethekile, wabaxoxela okuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe kwangesikhathi ephayona ngesikhathi sokuWohloka Kwezomnotho Okukhulu. Walandisa ngendlela amaphayona ayeshintshanisa ngayo izincwadi ngezinkukhu, amaqanda, ibhotela, imifino, izibuko zamehlo ngisho nomdlwane! Umsebenzi waqhubeka kanjalo phakathi nezikhathi ezinzima, futhi amaphayona awazange azintule izidingo zokuphila.
Izivakashi e-Iceland ziyosheshe ziphawule ukuthi ukudla kwakhona akufani nezikujwayele. Phakathi kwentandokazi yokudla kwase-Iceland kune-svid, ikhanda lemvu elisikwe phakathi labiliswa. Cabanga nje, uthi ubuka ipuleti lakho ufice uhhafu wekhanda lemvu linamazinyo neso elilodwa! Izivakashi eziningi ziyehluleka ukubuka i-svid ‘‘emehlweni.” Inhlanzi ephuma emanzini yona-ke ihlale ikhona. Enye intandokazi yokudla e-Iceland i-hardfiskur: inhlanzi ekhishwe amathambo yomiswa. Idliwa ingaphekiwe, kuba ngcono uma ifakwa ibhotela kancane. Njengoba ungalindela, le nhlanzi iqinile futhi kufanele ingcangcathwe ukuze ithambe. Yingakho izithunywa zevangeli zazilindele ukubona ukuthi uMfoweth’ uHenschel uzokwenzenjani uma ephakelwa le nhlanzi. Ngemva kokuyinambitha, zambuza ukuthi injani. Wathi ukucabanga, wabe eseqhamuka nobunyoninco bempendulo: “Eh, sengathi angikaze ngiludle ukhuni olumnandi kangaka.”
Ukuvakasha kwabanye futhi abameleli abaningi beNdikimba Ebusayo kuyakhumbuleka futhi kwakukhuthaza. Lokhu kuvakashelwa kuye kwagcizelela kubafowethu base-Iceland ukuthi yize bembalwa futhi bekude, bayingxenye yobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke, bahlanganiswe nabanye yizibopho zothando lobuKristu.
Ukusebenzisana Nodokotela Nabezindaba
I-Hospital Liaison Committee ([iKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela] HLC) eyakhiwe abafowethu abane yaqala ukusebenza e-Iceland ngo-1992. Ababili kulaba bafowethu baya engqungqutheleni ye-HLC eNgilandi ukuze bayoqeqeshwa, abanye ababili baya kweyayiseDenmark. Lapho isihlelekile i-HLC eyayisanda kwakhiwa, kwaba nomhlangano nezisebenzi zokwelapha esibhedlela esikhulu esiyiyunivesithi. Kwaba khona abangu-130, phakathi kwabo kunodokotela, abahlengikazi, abameli nabaphathi bezibhedlela. Njengoba kwakuwumhlangano wokuqala i-HLC eyaba nawo nezifundiswa kwezokwelapha, kuyaqondakala ukuthi abafowethu babenetwetwe. Wahamba kahle nokho futhi ngemva kwawo bahlela ukuba bahlangane nodokotela abambalwa nezinye izifundiswa ezibhedlela ezihlukahlukene. Abafowethu bazakhela ubuhlobo obuhle nodokotela abathile abahlinzayo nababulala izinzwa. Lobu buhlobo obuhle buye basiza ekugwemeni nasekusombululeni izingqinamba ezimayelana nokwelashwa ngaphandle kwegazi.
Ngo-1997 kwaphasiswa umthetho omusha mayelana namalungelo esiguli. Lo mthetho uthi isiguli akumelwe selashwe singavumanga nokuthi uma zaziwa izifiso zesiguli esiqulekile, kumelwe zihlonishwe. Lo mthetho uthi futhi izingane ezineminyaka engu-12 nangaphezulu kumelwe ngaso sonke isikhathi zibuzwe ngokwelashwa kwazo. UGudmundur H. Gudmundsson, usihlalo we-HLC, uyabika: “Odokotela abaningi bayabambisana kakhulu nathi futhi kuyaqabukela kube nezinkinga. Ngisho nokuhlinzwa okukhulu kuyenziwa ngaphandle kwegazi.”
Lapho kukhishwa i-Phaphama! ka-January 8, 2000 ekhuluma ngokwelashwa nokuhlinzwa ngaphandle kwegazi, ihhovisi legatsha lakhuthaza abafowethu ukuba benze umzamo okhethekile wokuyihambisela abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. Lasikisela indlela yokuyihambisa neyokuphendula imibuzo ephathelene negazi. Abanye baqala baba mathintanyawo ukuyihambisa, kodwa basheshe babona ukuthi abantu babefuna ukwazi ngale ndaba. Kwahanjiswa abangaphezu kuka-12 000. Lokho kusho umagazini owodwa kubantu abangu-22 kuleli zwe. Omunye umfowethu wathi, “Ngaba nenkinga yokuhlanganisa insimu ngoba ngangiba nezingxoxo eziningi ezinhle.” Udade othile wathi, “Babili kuphela abantu abawenqaba kimi!”
Intokazi eyayiphatha uhlelo lwamasonto onke emsakazweni yawuthola lo magazini. Ohlelweni lwayo yaxoxa ukuthi iwuthole kanjani, yabe isibukeza umlando wokumpontshelwa kwegazi njengoba uchazwe kule Phaphama! Yaphetha ingxoxo yayo ngokuthi noma ubani ongathanda ukuthola ukwaziswa okwengeziwe ngokwelashwa ngaphandle kwegazi angacela umagazini okhuluma ngako koFakazi.
Lo mkhankaso okhethekile wale Phaphama! wavula amehlo abaningi babona ukuthi ukuma kwethu endabeni yegazi kunengqondo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bázi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova basuke bengafuni ukufa. Kunalokho, bafuna indlela yokwelashwa engcono kunezinye ezikhona. Ngenxa yalokho, abanye ababetshelwe okungeyikho ngaphambili mayelana nokuma kwethu endabeni yegazi basamukela isigijimi soMbuso.
AmaHholo Amabili Ngezinsuku Ezine
Okwaba undab’ uzekwayo kubafowethu base-Iceland ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-1995 kwaba ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso amabili ngenyanga ka-June, elinye eKeflavík nelinye eSelfoss. La maHholo OMbuso ayengawokuqala e-Iceland ukwakhiwa ngendlela esheshayo. Kwathatha izinsuku ezine kuphela ukuwakha. Usizo lothando lwabafowethu baseNorway lwenza kwenzeka lokhu. Eziningi zezinto zokwakha zathunyelwa yigatsha laseNorway, futhi kwafika abafowethu nodade abangaphezu kuka-120 baseNorway bezosiza ezakhiweni. Nanka amazwi ayezwakala njalo ezakhiweni: “Isimanga lesi.” Abafowethu base-Iceland babekade befunda futhi bezwa ngokwakha amaHholo OMbuso ngokushesha, kodwa manje base bekubona ngamehlo. Kwakuyisimanga ngempela lesi uma ucabanga ukuthi inani lamaHholo OMbuso e-Iceland laphindeka kabili ngezinsuku ezimbalwa nje!
Ngaphandle kokuthola amaHholo OMbuso amabili amasha, abafowethu base-Iceland bakhuthazwa ubudlelwane obuhle nabafowethu nodade baseNorway ababefike ngezindleko zabo bezochitha amaholide besebenza kula mahholo. Yeka ubufakazi bobuzalwane bethu bomhlaba wonke! Abafowethu base-Iceland nabo bafaka isandla kule misebenzi yokwakha. Abamemezeli bendawo abangaphezu kuka-150 balekelela emsebenzini, okucishe kube isigamu sabamemezeli ezweni lonke.
Loku kwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso kwaba ubufakazi obuhle nasemphakathini. Iziteshi zethelevishini ezimbili zikazwelonke zabika ngalo msebenzi ezindabeni futhi zabonisa izithombe ezazithathwe kuzo zombili izakhiwo. Iziteshi zomsakazo eziningi namaphephandaba konke kwabika ngako. Umfundisi wesonto laseSelfoss akakuthandanga lokhu kuqhakambiswa koFakazi. Washicilela ephephandabeni lalapha isihloko esasixwayisa ngalokho ayekubheka ngokuthi izimfundiso zamanga neziyingozi zoFakazi BakaJehova. Waveza nokuthi abantu abangaqinile nabathathekayo kufanele baqaphe impela. Engxoxweni aba nayo nabasemsakazweni waziphinda lezo zixwayiso. Nokho, isixwayiso sakhe asikwenzanga loko ayenethemba lokuthi sizokwenza. Esikhundleni sako, abaningi bamangazwa umsebenzi wokwakha la maHholo OMbuso, futhi abantu abaningi abafowethu ababebathola ensimini babethi ziyabamangaza izinto ezishiwo umfundisi.
Ngemva cishe kwesonto kukhishwe isixwayiso somfundisi, iphephandaba lanyathelisa isithombe sopopayi. Phambili kulesi sithombe kunesonto, ngemuva kuneHholo LoMbuso. Kugeleza umfula phakathi kwalezi zakhiwo ezimbili, bese kuba nabafowethu abamomothekayo abagqoke kahle bewela ebhulohweni besuka eHholo LoMbuso beza ngasesontweni, bephethe izikhwama. Egcekeni lesonto kunowesifazane othukayo agxume esihlalweni sakhe esinamasondo. Indoda efake ukhonkolo onyaweni kanye nenye cishe eyimpumputhe, ayabaleka, ememeza: “Balekani, balekani, namp’ oFakazi!” Ezitebhisini zesonto kumi umfundisi, ubukeka emangele. Abaningi basithanda lesi sithombe sopopayi. Abahleli baleli phephandaba basiqoka njengesithombe esidle umhlanganiso kulowo nyaka, basikhulisa, basilengisa ehhovisi labo. Salenga khona iminyaka eminingana.
Umbukiso Unikeza Ubufakazi Obuhle
Ngonyaka wenkonzo ka-2001 kwaba nombukiso owawugxile ekumeni koFakazi BakaJehova kokungathathi hlangothi ngaphambi nangemva kweMpi Yezwe II njengoba babebekezelela ukushushiswa amaNazi. Waba sezindaweni ezintathu, baba ngu-3 896 sebebonke ababa khona. Ngempelasonto yokugcina, ihholo lombukiso eReykjavík laligcwele phama izivakashi ezingaphezu kuka-700. I-video ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses Stand Firm Against Nazi Assault ngesi-Icelandic yayibukiswa kuwo wonke umbukiso kuzo zontathu izindawo. Izivakashi eziningi zazithatha leli thuba zihlale phansi ziyibukele yonke.
Ukuma okuqinile koFakazi emakamu okuhlushwa kwazihlaba umxhwele izivakashi ezazingasazi lesi sici somlando wethu. Omunye uprofesa oweza kaningana embukisweni wathi lo mbukiso wawumhlabe umxhwele ngokujulile nokuthi yayisishintshile indlela ayebheka ngayo oFakazi BakaJehova. Wayethintwe ikakhulu ukholo oluqinile loFakazi emakamu okuhlushwa. Ngokungafani nezinye iziboshwa, bona babengayithola inkululeko ngokulahla izinkolelo zabo.
Kwakhishwa umbiko omuhle ngalo mbukiso esiteshini sethelevishini sikazwelonke naseziteshini ezincane zethelevishini nezomsakazo. Lapho uvulwa lo mbukiso, kwafika umfundisi wamaLuthela nomkakhe nendodakazi. Kamuva, umfowethu othile wammemela eBethel lo mfundisi futhi wavuma. Ngemva kwezinsukwana evakashile, owesifazane othile waya kuye eyombuza ngevesi elithile leBhayibheli. Umfundisi wamkhuthaza ukuba athintane nehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova ngoba wayeqiniseka ukuthi lizomnika impendulo. Kamuva, omunye umfowethu wabe esemqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli umfundisi.
Intuthuko Ekuhumusheni
Kuye kwaba inselele kubamemezeli abambalwa e-Iceland ukuba bahumushe konke ukudla okungokomoya okuvela ‘encekwini ethembekileyo neqondayo’ bakuyise olimini lwesi-Icelandic. (Math. 24:45) Eminyakeni yakudala, oFakazi base-Iceland ababehlala eCanada yibona ababenza umsebenzi omningi wokuhumusha. Kamuva wenziwa khona e-Iceland. Ngemva kokufika kwezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ngo-1947, zajwayela umqambi wezinkondlo osekhulile ngeminyaka owayehlala nazo ndlininye. Wayesazi isiNgisi futhi wasiza izithunywa zevangeli ukuba zifunde isi-Icelandic. Wacela nokuzenzela umsebenzi wokuhumusha, ngakho abafowethu bamqasha ukuba ahumushe incwadi ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso” nencwajana ethi Injabulo Yabantu Bonke. Ngeshwa, wasebenzisa indlela endala yokubhala izinkondlo enamagama nezinkulumo eziningi ezindala, kwathi nakuba omunye wezithunywa zevangeli ezazisanda kufika kanye noMfoweth’ uLindal bawuhlola futhi bawubhala kabusha lo msebenzi, le ncwadi ayizange ibe incwadi enhle yokutadisha okwakulindeleke ukuba ibe yiyo. Noma kunjalo yasakazwa kabanzi kusukela iqala ukunyatheliswa futhi zaba ngu-14 568 sezizonke ezanyatheliswa. Kwanyatheliswa amakhophi ayo angaphezu kuka-20 000 ngo-1949. Kamuva abafowethu baqasha omunye umhumushi ukuba ahumushe incwadi ethi Inkolo Isenzeleni Isintu?
Kuleyo minyaka, iqembu elincane labafowethu lahumusha izincwajana eziningana. Enye yazo yayithi “Lezi Zindaba Ezinhle ZoMbuso,” eyakhishwa ngo-1959. Le ncwajana yasiza abafowethu abaningi ukuba baqale izifundo zeBhayibheli ezintsha. Ngemva kwayo kwatholakala imvume yokunyathelisa INqabayokulinda ngesi-Icelandic.
Ziningi izincwadi ezinhle ezahunyushwa futhi zakhishwa eminyakeni eyalandela: “This Means Everlasting Life” eyakhishwa ngo-1962; Ukusuka EPharadesi Elilahlekile Ukuya EPharadesi Elizuziwe, eyakhishwa ngo-1966; IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade, eyakhishwa ngo-1970; Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni, eyakhishwa ngo-1984; nethi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade, eyakhishwa ngo-1996. Ngo-1982 kwanezelwa ne-Phaphama! ephuma kanye ezinyangeni ezintathu ohlwini lwezincwadi zesi-Icelandic.
Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi abafowethu bengenalo iculo lesi-Icelandic. Ngo-1960, kwahunyushwa izingoma ezine futhi zanyatheliselwa umhlangano. Kwathi emhlanganweni wesigodi ngo-November 1963, kwakhululwa iculo elincane ngesi-Icelandic elalinezingoma ezikhethiwe ezingu-30, bajabula abafowethu.
Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, amabandla ayekade ecula ngezilimi ezixubile. UGünther noRut Haubitz bafika e-Iceland ngo-1958 beqhamuka eJalimane bengamaphayona akhethekile. URut ukhumbula indlela abafowethu bokufika ababevele bacule ngayo ngamaculo abo esiDanish, esiNgisi, esiFinnish, esiJalimane, esiNorwegian, noma esiSwedish. Abase-Iceland bona babecula nganoma iluphi ulimi ababelwazi kahle. Uthi, “Kwakuyingxubevange yekwaya!” Kancane kancane, eminyakeni edlule kwahunyushwa izingoma zoMbuso ezengeziwe, kodwa kwaze kwaba ngu-1999 lapho kwatholakala khona iculo eliphelele elinazo zonke izingoma ezingu-225 ngesi-Icelandic. Yeka indlela ababonga ngayo abafowethu ngalesi sipho sokudumisa uJehova!
Umhlangano wesigodi owawungo-August 1999 wawunokuthile okusha e-Iceland. Incwadi yesi-Icelandic ethi Sinake Isiprofetho SikaDaniyeli! yakhululwa kanye kanye neyesiNgisi. Emhlanganweni, lapho isikhulumi simemezela ukukhululwa kwale ncwadi ngesiNgisi, zonke izilaleli zashaya izandla. Kodwa kunokuba sitshele izilaleli ukuthi le ncwadi yayizokhululwa kamuva ngesi-Icelandic, saveza eyesi-Icelandic—bajabula bafa bonke—sathi yayisihunyushiwe kakade ngesi-Icelandic! Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, incwadi ethi Isiprofetho Sika-Isaya—Ukukhanya Kwaso Sonke Isintu I no-II nazo zakhululwa kanye kanye nezesiNgisi.
Ukunwetshwa KweBethel Nokwanda Okuqhubekayo
Izakhiwo zegatsha zalungiswa ngo-1998. Kwathengwa izindlu ezimbili phesheya komgwaqo ukuze zihlalise izikhonzi zaseBethel futhi kuvuleke indawo eyengeziwe ehhovisi eyayizoba eyoMnyango Wabahumushi. Eminyakeni yamuva, abahumushi nabo baye basizakala ngokuvakasha kwabafowethu basendlunkulu eNew York. Laba bafowethu babafundise ukusebenzisa izinhlelo ze-computer ezakhiwa oFakazi BakaJehova futhi eziklanyelwe umsebenzi wokuhumusha ngokukhethekile.
Abameleli bendlunkulu basanda kuqhuba i-Course in Improved English Comprehension egatsheni. Lezi zifundo zisize abahumushi ukuba bakuqonde kangcono okubhalwe ngesiNgisi ngaphambi kokuba baqale ukukuhumusha.
Ihhovisi legatsha liyabhala: “Uma sibheka emuva, siyajabula ngokuthi abathile baba nesibindi sokuqala ukuhumushela olimini lwesi-Icelandic, ngisho nakuba izimo zazingavumi kahle futhi bengenalo ulwazi olwanele lolimi. Yize izinga lenkumusho lalingafani nelamanje, ‘asizedeleli izinsuku zezinto ezincane.’ (Zak. 4:10) Kuyasithokozisa ukubona ukuthi igama likaJehova noMbuso wakhe kuye kwenziwa kwaziwa e-Iceland nokuthi abantu abaningi balifundile iqiniso.”
Sikhuluma nje zingu-8 izisebenzi zesikhathi esigcwele ehhovisi legatsha. Ezinye azihlali eBethel kodwa ziya ngezikhathi ezithile ziyosiza. Manje sekwakhiwe iHholo LoMbuso elisha lamabandla aseReykjavík esikhundleni selisegatsheni. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okulungisa isakhiwo segatsha ukuze sihlalise izisebenzi zaseBethel ezengeziwe.
Ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle e-Iceland kuye kwadinga ukubekezela, ukuzidela nothando. Ngempela, kungashiwo ukuthi umsebenzi onzima owenziwe abamemezeli boMbuso e-Iceland eminyakeni engu-76 edlule awubanga yize. Abaningi abafowethu nodade abathembekile baye bahlanganyela emsebenzini wokuvuna. Abaningi baye basuka emazweni akubo bazokhonza lapha iminyaka ethile, futhi umsebenzi wabo awusoze walitshalwa. Abanye baye bahlala benza kwaba sekhaya e-Iceland. Kuyancomeka nokubekezela kwabamemezeli abaningi abakahle bokuzalwa lapha e-Iceland.
Sincane isilinganiso sabamemezeli boMbuso, kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova baziwa kude naseduze kuleli zwe. Manje zingu-7 izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza emaphandleni nasemabandleni amancane kulesi siqhingi. Kulo nyaka wenkonzo ofile, bangu-543 ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu, futhi kuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli ezicela ku-180.
Mhlawumbe ngelinye ilanga abafowethu base-Iceland bayobona ukwanda okuchazwe ku-Isaya 60:22: “Omncane uyoba yinkulungwane, umuntukazana abe yisizwe esinamandla. Mina, Jehova, ngiyokusheshisa ngesikhathi sako.” Okwamanje, oFakazi BakaJehova e-Iceland bazimisele ukufeza umsebenzi abawuphathiswe iNkosi, uJesu Kristu—ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Bayaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzoyihlumisa imbewu yeqiniso ezinhliziyweni ezivumayo nezinokubonga!—Math. 24:14; 1 Kor. 3:6, 7; 2 Thim. 4:5.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 205]
Lapho Amagama Abantu Eba Izibongo Zabo
Ngokuhambisana nesiko lendawo, abantu base-Iceland abanazo izibongo: Babizana ngamabizo-qho abo. Isibongo somntwana sitholakala ngokuhlanganisa igama likayise nesijobelelo esithi -son uma kuwumfana noma esithi -dóttir uma kuyintombazane. Ngokwesibonelo, indodana nendodakazi yendoda egama layo linguHaraldur iyoba nesibongo esithi Haraldsson nesithi Haraldsdóttir. Igama lowesifazane alishintshi lapho eshada. Ngenxa yokuthi baningi kangaka abantu abanamagama afanayo, amabhuku ezinombolo zocingo awabhali nje kuphela igama, ikheli, nenombolo yomuntu kodwa futhi nomsebenzi wakhe. Ngenxa yemibhalo egciniwe yozalo, abantu base-Iceland bayakwazi ukubona okhokho babo beminyaka engaphezu kwenkulungwane edlule.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 208]
Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu Nge-Iceland
Izwe: Leli zwe eliyisiqhingi lingezansana nje kwe-Arctic Circle, phakathi kweNorth Atlantic Ocean, iGreenland Sea, neNorwegian Sea. Izintabamlilo, iziphethu ezishisayo, iziphethu eziqhumayo zivamile. Izinguzunga zamaqhwa zimboza ingxenye eyodwa kweziyishumi yezwe.
Abantu: Bayinzalo yamaViking ayeqhamuka ikakhulukazi eNorway, futhi abase-Iceland ngokujwayelekile basebenza kanzima, bakwazi ukusungula izinto, ababandlululi. Iningi labo lihlala ngasogwini.
Ulimi: Nakuba ulimi lwase-Iceland luwulimi olusemthethweni, abantu bakhona bakhuluma nezilimi ezimbili noma ezengeziwe zakwamanye amazwe, ngokuvamile isiNgisi, isiJalimane, noma olunye lwezilimi zaseScandinavia.
Indlela yokuziphilisa: Ukudoba kudlala indima ebalulekile emnothweni wase-Iceland. Imikhumbi yokudoba iletha izinhlanzi ezinjenge-copelin, i-cod, i-haddock, i-herring, iningi lazo ziyalungiswa zithunyelwe kwamanye amazwe.
Ukudla: Inhlanzi nemvu kuvamile. Intandokazi yokudla e-Iceland ikhanda lemvu elibilisiwe.
Isimo sezulu: Ngenxa yomsinga ofudumele we-Atlantic, isimo sezulu sisivivi. Ubusika abubandi kakhulu kodwa bunomoya. Ihlobo lipholile.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 210]
September 6, 1942: “Liselinye kuphela iphayona elisebenza leli zwe, ngakho akukungakanani engingakubika. Inani labantu base-Iceland licela ku-120 000 futhi kunamapulazi angaba ngu-6 000. La mapulazi afinyeleleka kuphela ngamahhashi amancane. Ukuze ufike kuyo yonke le mizi, kudingeka uhambe amakhilomitha acishe abe ngu-16 000, futhi ziningi izintaba nezifufula okumelwe uziwele. Sincane kakhulu isithakazelo abantu abanaso esigijimini okwamanje.”
La mazwi kaGeorg F. Lindal abhalwa ngemva kokuba esephayone e-Iceland iminyaka engu-13. Kwakusazophela iminyaka emihlanu kunguyena yedwa ummemezeli e-Iceland.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 213, 214]
Umlando Wenkonzo Yokwethembeka
U-Oliver Macdonald wayephakathi kwezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezathunyelwa e-Iceland, ngemva kokuphothula ekilasini lika-11 eGileyadi. Wafika no-Ingvard Jensen ngo-December 1948. Bafika ngomkhumbi wezimpahla bevela eNew York. Uhambo lwabathatha izinsuku ezingu-14, futhi iNorth Atlantic Ocean yayigubha. Bobabili babecanuzelelwa inhliziyo cishe lonke uhambo.
Ngo-March 1950, uMfoweth’ uMacdonald washada noSally Wild waseNgilandi, owayesebenze eBethel yaseBrithani. UMac, okuyigama lakhe eliyisidlaliso, noSally benza umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu kuleyo minyaka yokuqala, futhi abantu ababafundela basaqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka.
Ngo-1957 uMac noSally babuyela eNgilandi, lapho uSally abulawa khona umdlavuza okwatholakala ukuthi unawo ngenkathi bese-Iceland. UMac wabuye wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngemva kokufa kukaSally futhi wakhonza njengephayona elivamile, kamuva njengombonisi ojikelezayo iminyaka engu-13. Ngo-1960, washada noValerie Hargreaves, iphayona elikhethekile. Bendawonye bakhonza ezifundeni ezihlukahlukene eBrithani, kusukela enyakatho yeScotland kuze kufike kumaChannel Island, aseduze nogu lwaseNgilandi oluseningizimu. Ngenkathi besebenza esifundeni belibhekise enyakatho kuze kube seShetland eseduze nogu lwasenyakatho lweScotland, uMac wayejwayele ukuthi, “Masisuka lapha, siya e-Iceland!” engacabangi ukuthi bayoke baye ngempela.
Nokho, ngo-1972, uMac noValerie bamiswa njengezithunywa zevangeli futhi babelwa kabusha e-Iceland. UMac wakhonza njengenceku yegatsha futhi kamuva njengomqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha. Yena noValerie bahlala e-Iceland iminyaka engu-7 base babelwa e-Ireland njengezithunywa zevangeli, okokuqala eDublin kamuva eNyakatho ye-Ireland. Ngemva kokukhonza e-Ireland iminyaka engu-20, uMac wabulawa umdlavuza ngo-December 1999, eye wachitha iminyaka engu-60 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. UValerie usakhonza njengephayona elivamile eBelfast, eNyakatho ye-Ireland.
[Isithombe]
UValerie no-Oliver Macdonald eReykjavík, ngawo-1970
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 218]
IReykjavík
IReykjavík, okusho ukuthi “iTheku Elishunqayo,” iyinhloko-dolobha ye-Iceland futhi yaqanjwa kanjalo isakhamuzi sokuqala lapho, u-Ingólfur Arnarson, ngenxa yeziphethu zakhona ezishunqayo. Namuhla iReykjavík iyidolobha lesimanje eliphithizelayo elinabantu abacishe babe ngu-180 000.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 223, 224]
Benza Kwaba Sekhaya E-Iceland
UPáll Heine Pedersen uqhamuka eDenmark. Wabelwa e-Iceland njengephayona elikhethekile ngo-1959. Ngo-1961 waya eMihlanganweni Yezizwe emibili ‘Yabakhulekeli Abanobunye’ eYurophu, lapho ahlangana khona noViolet. Wayeqhamuka eCalifornia, e-U.S.A., eze kweminye yale mihlangano.
Ngemva kwemihlangano, uPáll wabuyela e-Iceland, noViolet wabuyela kubo eCalifornia. Babhalelana izinyanga ezinhlanu, kwathi ngo-January 1962, uViolet weza e-Iceland ukuze ashade noPáll. UPáll wayesaphayona, kunguyena kuphela uFakazi endaweni enabantu abahlala ngokugqagqana enyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Iceland. Babehlala edolobheni elincane lapho ilanga lasebusika lalingaveli khona izinyanga ezimbili. Ukuze bafinyelele abanye abantu ensimini kwakudingeka baqombole imigwaqo esezintabeni, ngezikhathi eziningi eyayineqhwa, futhi ukuphela kwento yokuhamba ababenayo kwakuyisithuthuthu uPáll ayefike naso evela eDenmark. Njengoba uViolet ayezalelwe futhi wakhulela eCalifornia, lapho kuhlale kubalele khona, abazalwane abaningi bacabanga ukuthi ngeke ahlale isikhathi eside e-Iceland. Kodwa wahlala, futhi wagcina eselikhonzile leli zwe kanye nabantu bakhona.
UPáll noViolet baphayona ndawonye kwaze kwaba yilapho kuzalwa indodakazi yabo, u-Elísabet, ngo-1965. UPáll waqhubeka ephayona kwaze kwaba ngu-1975, uViolet yena wayephayona ngankathi phakathi naleyo minyaka. Ngo-1977 banquma ukubuyela eCalifornia ngenxa yempilo kaPáll. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi baba nomuzwa onamandla wokuyokhonza lapho indingeko yabamemezeli boMbuso inkulu khona. Bathatha inkonzo yobuphayona futhi, kwathi lapho indodakazi yabo isisiqedile isikole futhi isindala, babelwa ukuba babuyele e-Iceland njengezithunywa zevangeli. Bakhonza njengezithunywa zevangeli nasemsebenzini wokujikeleza iminyaka embalwa. Ngo-1989, uPáll wacelwa ukuba akhonze njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha. Kwathi ngo-1991 lavulwa ngokusemthethweni iKhaya LaseBethel, e-Iceland, uPáll noViolet bengamalungu okuqala omkhaya waseBethel. Basaqhubeka bekhonza lapho.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 228, 229]
Babaziwa Ngokungenisa Izihambi
UFridrik Gíslason nomkakhe, u-Ada, babephakathi kwabangu-7 ababhapathizwa ngo-1956. UFridrik no-Ada bafunda iqiniso ku-Oliver noSally Macdonald. Ekuqaleni, isifundo seBhayibheli sasiqhutshelwa uFridrik, ngenkathi u-Ada ematasa neqembu ayethunga nalo ubusika bonke. Lapho iqembu lokuthunga seliphelile entwasahlobo, wayehlala ekhishini phakathi nesifundo. Ekugcineni, ilukuluku lakhe ezingxoxweni zeBhayibheli lamshukumisela ukuba acele ukuba khona esifundweni kodwa angahlanganyeli. Nokho, ngokushesha, wayesehlanganyela ngokugcwele.
Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda sesiNgisi sasesiqhutshelwa emzini wabo. Baqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni eyayiba sekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. UFridrik uthi: “Ngiyakhumbula ukuthi sasijwayele ukuba nemihlangano ekamelweni elincane elisophahleni lwendlu lapho izithunywa zevangeli zazihlala khona. Kwakwanela izihlalo ezingu-12 kulelo kamelo, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi lapho kufika abantu abaningi kunokujwayelekile, sasivula umnyango owawuholela kwelinye ikamelo elincane. Yeka umehluko okhona namuhla—manje mathathu amabandla agcwalisa iHholo LoMbuso eReykjavík!”
UFridrik no-Ada baduma ngokungenisa kwabo izihambi. Nakuba bakhulisa abantwana abayisithupha, umuzi wabo wawuhlale ubavulekele abafowethu. Phakathi neminyaka yokuqala yebandla, abaningi ababefika e-Iceland bevela kwamanye amazwe bajabulela ukuhlala noFridrik no-Ada, ababebahlalisa kuze kube yilapho bethola eyabo imizi.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 232]
IBhayibheli Ngesi-Icelandic
Inguqulo yeBhayibheli yokuqala ngesi-Icelandic itholakala encwadini yekhulu lika-14 ebizwa ngokuthi iStjórn, equkethe izingxenye ezihunyushiwe nezincazo zemiBhalo yesiHebheru. “IThestamente Elisha” lokuqala eliphelele ngesi-Icelandic lanyatheliswa ngo-1540. Umhumushi kwakungu-Oddur Gottskálksson, indodana yombhishobhi waseHólar. Wayemukele inkolo yamaLuthela eNorway futhi wayehlangane noMartin Luther eJalimane. Ngokomlando, ngemva kokubuya kuka-Oddur e-Iceland, umsebenzi wakhe wokuhumusha wawenzela emkhombeni wezinkomo ngobunzima, engafuni ukucasula umqashi wakhe ongumKatolika, umbhishobhi waseSkálholt. U-Oddur wahumusha esusela kuyi-Vulgate yesiLatini, futhi wawuthatha yena mathupha umbhalo wakhe wesandla wawuyisa eDenmark ukuba uyonyatheliswa. Ngo-1584, uMbhishobhi uGudbrandur Thorláksson wanikeza imvume yokuba kunyatheliswe iBhayibheli lokuqala eliphelele ngesi-Icelandic. Inguqulo yokuqala yeBhayibheli isuselwa olimini lwesiHebheru nesiGreki sokuqala, yanyatheliswa ngo-1908, futhi inguqulo ebukeziwe ngo-1912.
[Isithombe]
I-“Gudbrandsbiblía,” inguqulo yeBhayibheli yokuqala ephelele ngesi-Icelandic
[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 216, 217]
I-ICELAND—ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO
1929: Kufika uGeorg F. Lindal, ummemezeli wokuqala kuleli zwe.
1940
1947: Kufika izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala.
1950: Kumiswa ibandla elincane.
1960
1960: Kukhishwa INqabayokulinda ngesi-Icelandic.
1962: Kumiswa ihhovisi legatsha eReykjavík.
1975: Kuqedwa futhi kunikezelwa ihhovisi legatsha elisha nelinwetshiwe.
1980
1992: Kumiswa IKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela.
1995: Kwakhiwa amaHholo OMbuso amabili ngezinsuku ezine phakathi no-June.
2000
2004: Abamemezeli ababikayo bangu-284 e-Iceland.
[Igrafu]
(Bheka encwadini)
Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli
Ingqikithi Yamaphayona
300
200
100
1940 1960 1980 2000
[Amabalazwe ekhasini 209]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
ICELAND
Húsavik
Hólar
Akureyri
Seydhisfjördhur
Neskaupstadhur
Eskifjördhur
Stykkishólmur
Borgarnes
Höfn
REYKJAVÍK
Skálholt
Keflavík
Selfoss
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 202]
[Isithombe ekhasini 207]
Kwesokudla: UGeorg F. Lindal ngo-1947
[Isithombe ekhasini 207]
Ngezansi: UMfoweth’ uLindal nehhashi elincane lase-Iceland ekuqaleni kwawo-1930
[Isithombe ekhasini 212]
Ezinye zezithunywa zevangeli zokuqala e-Iceland, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: U-Ingvard Jensen, u-Oliver Macdonald noLeo Larsen
[Isithombe ekhasini 220]
Kulesi sakhiwo kwaku-nehhovisi legatsha kusukela ngo-1962 kuya ku-1968
[Isithombe ekhasini 227]
Abamemezeli base-Iceland abangaphezu kwekhulu baba seMhlanganweni Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ eCopenhagen, eDenmark, ngo-1969
[Isithombe ekhasini 235]
U-Iiris noKjell Geelnard e-Akureyri ngo-January 1993
[Isithombe ekhasini 238]
Kwesokudla: Isikebhe sokudoba i-“Svalbakur”
[Isithombe ekhasini 238]
Ngezansi: UFridrik noKjell
[Isithombe ekhasini 241]
Kwesokudla: U-Oddný Helgadóttir
[Isithombe ekhasini 241]
Ngezansi: UGudrún Ólafsdóttir
[Isithombe ekhasini 243]
Kwesokudla: IHholo LoMbuso nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli e-Akureyri
[Isithombe ekhasini 243]
Ngezansi: UBjarni Jónsson phambi kwegatsha
[Isithombe ekhasini 249]
Ngenhla: Kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso eSelfoss ngo-1995
[Isithombe ekhasini 249]
Kwesokudla: Isakhiwo esesiphelile
[Isithombe ekhasini 253]
Umkhaya waseBethel yase-Iceland
[Isithombe ekhasini 254]
IKomiti Yegatsha, kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: UBjarni Jónsson, uGudmundur H. Gudmundsson, uPáll H. Pedersen noBergthór N. Bergthórsson