Ukudlula Ezilwandle Ezinezivunguvungu Uye Emanzini Azolile

Njengoba Ilandiswa UHans Sturm

KWASE kudlule iminyaka engaphezu kuka-200 abesilisa emkhayeni wakithi bengamatilosi. Isifiso sami kwakuwukufuza ubaba, njengoba ayefuze umkhulu, ngokuphila impilo yasolwandle.

Ngo-1914, lapho kugqashuka iMpi YeZwe I, ubaba wabuthelwa ebuthweni laseJalimane elalizohamba olwandle likhiphe amabhomu ayesoLwandle iBaltic. Ngo-1916, ubaba wabelwa emkhunjini wokuthengisa izimpahla futhi umkhumbi wakhe wawusetshenziselwa ukuthutha insimbi isuka eSweden kwaze kwaphela impi. Washona ngo-1919, lapho ngineminyaka engu-8 kuphela ubudala, kodwa izinkumbulo ngaye zagxila kimi.

Ukuze ngigcwalise isifiso sami sokuqhubeka nomsebenzi engangiwukhethile, kwakufanele ngisebenze olwandle iminyaka emine, futhi izinyanga ezingu-20 kuleso sikhathi kwakufanele ngizichithe ngihamba ngemikhumbi. Khona-ke ngangingase ngikwazi ukuya ekolishi lokuqeqeshelwa ukusebenza emikhunjini. Ngakho, lapho ngineminyaka engu-15 ubudala, umama wangiyisa eStettin (manje esiyiSzczecin, ePoland), lapho ngazalelwa khona, eHamburg, eJalimane. Sasazi ukuthi inkampani iLaeisz yayinemikhumbi eminingana futhi sasethemba ukuthi ngingahamba ngomunye wayo njengomuntu osaqeqeshwa. Sasingenamandla okukhokha imali, kodwa ngenxa yesizinda sikababa, iLaeisz yangamukela mahhala.

Ngo-1927, ngahamba nge-Padua,a umkhumbi wensimbi onezinsika ezine. Wawusuka eHamburg uya eChile uyolanda imithwalo ye-nitrate. Wawungenazo izinjini—wawunoseyili kuphela. Lolo hambo lokunqamula i-Atlantic lwalujabulisa kakhulu kithi sonke esasiseyizinsizwa.

Sasivame ukunqamula ezilwandle ezinezivunguvungu. Ngalezo zikhathi, oseyili babehliswa. Kwakunjani ukugibela izinsika ukuze wehlise oseyili umkhumbi ube ushona ngapha nangapha? Kumelwe ngivume ukuthi ngangesaba! Kodwa lapho kukhishwa umyalo, ngangiyixosha yonke eminye imicabango futhi ngivele ngigibele ngenze lokho engangikutshelwa.

Izimo Engangingenakuzilawula

Umama wayengumRoma Katolika, kodwa ngokushesha ngemva kokushona kukababa, waqala ukuhlanganyela nama-Ernste Bibelforscher, noma AbaFundi BeBhayibheli Abaqotho, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo eJalimane ngaleso sikhathi. Ngo-1923, wabhapathizwa. Ngangingakaze ngibe nesithakazelo esingako enkolweni yamaKatolika, futhi lokho umama akusho kwakunengqondo. Ngakho-ke, mina nodadewethu omncane, uMargot, sasivame ukuphelezela umama aye emihlanganweni yakhe yokufunda iBhayibheli.

Ngo-1929, ngayishiya i-Padua ngachitha iminyaka emithathu eyalandela emikhunjini ehamba ngesitimu ehlukahlukene. Yangiyisa emathekwini asenyakatho yeYurophu naseMediterranean. Kolunye uhambo, ngazungeza umhlaba. Ngayijabulela le mpilo futhi ngangibheke phambili ekufundeni ekolishi lokuqeqeshelwa ukusebenza emikhunjini eStettin, njengoba kwakwenze ubaba. Ngo-1933, ngaqala uhlelo lwezifundo zezinyanga ezingu-18 ukuze ngifanelekele ukuba umsizi kakaputeni womkhumbi. Nokho, uhlelo lwami lwabhuntshiswa yizimo engangingenakuzilawula.

UHitler wayeqalé ukubusa ngawo lowo nyaka, futhi ukushisekela ubuzwe kwakudlangile eJalimane. Abafundi babejabulela ukumemeza bathi “Heil Hitler!” Nokho, ngenxa yalokho engangikufunde kumama ngangazi ukuthi ngeke ngize ngikwenze lokho. Kwathiwa mangichaze ukuthi ngenqabelani, kodwa ayamukelwanga leyo ncazelo. Ngaxoshwa esikoleni. Uthisha-nhloko wayeyindoda enomusa futhi wanginika incwadi echaza ukuthi ngangifunde unyaka. Njengoba ngangingeke ngisaziqedela izifundo zami, ngayeka ngingenasicucu. Wonke amathemba ami ashabalala.

Ukucindezeleka Kuyanqwabelana

Ngenxa yokuma kwami kokungathathi hlangothi, ngaba negama elibi. Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi ngangingasakwazi ukuhamba nganoma yimuphi umkhumbi, kodwa ngangingasakwazi nokuthola nanoma yimuphi umsebenzi, ngakho ngahlala ekhaya ngasiza umama. Wayeziphilisa ngokuphekela abantu, futhi ngenjabulo ngangimgezela izitsha futhi ngimlungisele imifino. Ngo-1935, kusasele iminyaka emine ngaphambi kokuba kugqashuke iMpi YeZwe II, ukuphila kwami kwaphinde kwashintsha.

Umalume u-Oskar wayehlala eDanzig (manje esiyiGdansk). Lapho ezwa ngobunzima engangibhekene nabo, wangibiza ukuba ngizomsebenzela esitolo sakhe sokudla. Umalume nomkakhe, uRosl, babengoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngalwamukela ngenjabulo usizo lwabo lomusa. Nakuba babengangiholeli njalo, ngangizizwa ngiphephe kakhulu ngokuhlala nabo.

Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II, iDanzig yayisiyidolobha elizimele, inakekela ingxenye enkulu yezwe ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNhlangano YeZizwe. Inhloso kwakuwukwenza iPoland ikwazi ukungena olwandle, kodwa leli lungiselelo empeleni lahlukanisa iMpumalanga Prussia neJalimane. Lesi simo sasingamukeleki kuHitler. Eqinisweni, ukuhlasela kwakhe iPoland nokudliwa kwaleli zwe okwabangela ukugqashuka kweMpi YeZwe II.

Esikhathini esithile ngemva kokufika kwami, umalume nomalumekazi banakekela insizwa eyayikade isekamu lokuhlushwa ngenxa yokuthi yayingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Yangitshela ngendlela ebuhlungu eyayiphathwe ngayo. Kamuva, umalume nomalumekazi baboshwa ngenxa yokwenqaba ukukhulekela uHitler, kodwa babuye bakhululwa. Ngalesi sikhathi nami ngahlonywa imibuzo amaGestapo, nakuba engazange angibophe.

Ngaleso sikhathi, lé eStettin umama wathola izincwadi ezazingifunela ukujoyina ibutho lamaJalimane. Ngokushesha wangibhalela incwadi eyayingeke isolise, engicela ukuba ngivakashele u-anti Naomi, owayehlala enyakatho yeSweden. Ngabona ukuthi wayeqonde ukuthi—shaya uchithe kuleli zwe!

Ukushushiswa AmaNazi

Izinto zaziya ziba nzima. Umalume nomalumekazi baphinde baboshwa. Kulokhu bayiswa ekamu lokuhlushwa eStutthof, uhambo oluthatha amahora amabili uma uhamba ngebhasi usuka eDanzig. Bagcinwa lapho kwaze kwaphela impi, ngo-1945. Ngokudabukisayo, ngathola ukuthi umalume wayeshonele emkhunjini ehambisa abanye ababesekamu ebayisa entshonalanga ukuze babalekele amabutho aseRussia ayeza. Nokho, umalumekazi wasinda futhi waba umshumayeli wesikhathi esigcwele.

Ngesikhathi umalume nomalumekazi beyiswa eStutthof, umama wayeboshwé eStettin, futhi wachitha izinyanga eziyisikhombisa ejele. Udadewethu wayeshade nendodana yombhangqwana ongoFakazi, futhi wayesejele ngesikhathi esifanayo nomama. Umyeni wakhe nendodakazi yabo bayiswa emakamu okuhlushwa. Umyeni wakhe washonela lapho, futhi indodakazi yakhe yachitha iminyaka engu-8 kwamanye amakamu amabi kakhulu, kuhlanganise neBelsen.

Kwesinye isenzakalo, ngenxa yokwenqaba ukuthungela amabutho amabhande ezikhali asokhalweni, umshana wami nabanye oFakazi baphoqwa ukuba bame ngaphandle bengenazo nezingubo ezifanelekile zokugqoka, kusukela ngehora lesithupha ekuseni kuze kushaye ihora lesithupha ntambama—futhi kube kungu-November. Ukudla ababekuthola nsuku zonke kwancishiswa kwaba ucezu lwesinkwa nojeke wamanzi, futhi babenikezwa isobho elishisayo njalo ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu. Babelala phansi kukhonkolo zingekho nezinto zokwendlala, kungekho ngisho notshani. Lokhu kwaqhubeka amasonto ayisithupha, futhi abaphathi bekamu bamangala ukuthi bonke basinda.

Ukubaleka—Ngiyephi?

Ngemva kokuboshwa kwesibili kukamalume nomalumekazi, ngangazi ukuthi kubalulekile ukuba ngiphume ngiphele eDanzig ngaphambi kokuba amaGestapo abuye azothatha mina. Umalume wayengiboleke imadlana ethile, futhi ekugcineni ngathola isikhala ngagibela emkhunjini wasePoland owawuya eHull, ogwini olusempumalanga yeNgilandi. Lapho sesehla, nganikwa imvume yokuhlala izinyanga ezintathu, isikhathi esivamile esihlalwa ngumuntu wakwelinye izwe.

Ngokushesha ngahamba ngaya ku-34 Craven Terrace, eLondon, ikheli lehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society. Lapho ngahlangana noPryce Hughes, owayengumbonisi wegatsha ngaleso sikhathi. Wahlela ukuba ngihlale nesihlobo, uStanley Rogers, eLiverpool, ogwini olusentshonalanga yeNgilandi. UStanley wayenomusa kakhulu kimi.

Entwasahlobo ka-1937, ngabhapathizwa eLiverpool, ngibonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwami kuJehova. Nokho, ngangiyithanda impilo yasolwandle, ngakho ngafunda eLiverpool Navigation College futhi ngakwazi ukuthola isitifiketi sokuba umsizi wesibili kakaputeni wemikhumbi ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili. Imvume yokuhlala eNgilandi enganginayo yayisiphelelwa yisikhathi, ngakho-ke abangane eLiverpool bathinta ilungu lephalamende, futhi isikhathi sami sengezwa ngezinyanga ezintathu—ngakwazi nokuphefumula.

Ngenxa yokuthi ngangike ngasebenza emkhunjini kaseyili i-Pauda, umqondisi wami ekolishi lokufundela ukusebenza emikhunjini wayengithanda. Lapho ezwa ngesimo sami esinzima, watusa ukuba ngiye kuyi-Blue Funnel Line. Lapho, ngahlangana nomunye wabaphathi bayo, uLawrence Holt. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva lapho sengiphinda ngihlangana naye kweminye yemikhumbi yenkampani eLiverpool, wangibuza ukuthi ngase ngisitholile yini isitifiketi sokuba umsizi kakaputeni. Ngamtshela ukuthi ngangidinga amanye amasonto amabili ngisebenza engosini kakaputeni womkhumbi, ngakho wahlela ukuba ngihambe ngomkhumbi ngiye ePort Said, eGibithe.

Lapho ngiphindela eLiverpool ngo-July 7, 1939, ngahlela ukwenza ukuhlolwa kwami kokuba umsizi kakaputeni, kodwa akwenzekanga, ngoba impi yayisisemnyango. Kunalokho, ngathunyelwa emkhunjini eLondon. Lapho izikhulu zikahulumeni zizwa ngalokho, ngokushesha zangenqabela ukuhamba nganoma yimuphi umkhumbi futhi zafuna ukungigquma ejele njengesitha sakwelinye izwe ngoba ngangingowaseJalimane. Kodwa uMnu. Holt wangenela, futhi nganikezwa umsebenzi wokusebenza engadini eLiverpool. Nokho, ngo-May 1940, ngaboshwa, kwathi ngo-June ngayiswa eCanada kuyi-S.S. Ettrick.

Ukuya ECanada

I-Ettrick yayithwele amaJalimane angaba ngu-5 000, ingxenye yawo yayingababaleki, futhi ingxenye yawo iyiziboshwa zempi. Phakathi kwababaleki kwakukhona uCount von Lingen, njengoba sasimazi kanjalo, umzukulu wowayekade engumbusi waseJalimane. Zonke izincwadi esasizithola zazihlolwa, ngakho-ke lapho isikhulu esigade ukwaziswa okuphathelene nesitha sibona incwadi eyayivela kuVon Lingen, iya eNdlovukazini uMary, uNina weNkosi yaseNgilandi, eyayinesibingelelo esithi “Anti Mary Othandekayo,” sayisola. Nokho, uVon Lingen wayeqinisile—imikhaya yasebukhosini baseNgilandi naseJalimane yayiyizihlobo. Kimi, lesi senzakalo samane saqokomisa ubuwula nobuze bempi.

UStanley Rogers, okukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni, wayekhonze njenge-pilgrim (njengoba ababonisi abajikelezayo boFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo) eCanada esikhathini esiphakathi kwezimpi zezwe ezimbili. Waxhumana noFakazi lapho, futhi baxhumana nami noFakazi engangikanye naye uTony Steffens, naye owayedingisiwe. Izincwadi namaphasela ababesithumelela wona kwakusikhuthaza kakhulu. Ngagqunywa iminyaka emibili nengxenye emakamu angu-8 ahlukene, lapho ngangichitha khona isikhathi esiningi ngenza amatafula namabhentshi okhuni.

Ukuphindela ENgilandi Nenkululeko!

Njengoba iMpi YeZwe II yayisizophela, ngabuyiselwa eNgilandi, ngagcinwa ekamu elise-Isle of Man. Lapho, ngavakashelwa uJohn Barr, owayevela ehhovisi legatsha laseLondon le-Watch Tower Society—manje oseyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova—wafika nabanye oFakazi bendawo. Ngadedelwa ngo-1944 futhi ngabuye ngahlangana noStanley. Ngaleso sikhathi uStanley wayeseshade noNita Thomas futhi ehlala eBirkenhead, ichweba elisemfuleni iMersey obhekene neLiverpool. Yilapho engahlangana khona no-Olive, udadewabo kaNita, futhi sashada ngonyaka olandelayo.

Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuthola imvume, mina no-Olive saya eJalimane sayobona umama. Kwakudabukisa ukudlula emadolobheni ayeseyincithakalo engangiwazi emahle. Ngokukhethekile ngangifuna ukuya eHamburg ngivakashele ihhovisi leLaeisz. Yeka indlela engamangala ngayo ukuhlangana noKaputeni Piening lapho, owayengumphathi we-Padua izikhathi ezimbili engagcina ngazo ukuhamba ngayo ngo-1928 nango-1929! Phakathi nempi wayeyisosha, futhi amadodana akhe womabili ayefé empini. Wayelusizi. Kwangidabukisa kakhulu engakuzwa nengakubona.

I-Blue Funnel Line yayisalokhu ingithanda phakathi neminyaka yami yokuba seCanada, futhi yangiqasha ngenjabulo lapho ngibuya. Ngo-1947, ngaze ngafaneleka ukuthola isitifiketi sokuba umsizi kakaputeni womkhumbi. Ngonyaka olandelayo, u-Olive waba umshumayeli wesikhathi esigcwele.

Ukuthola Injongo Yokuphila

Ngaphindela olwandle, futhi phakathi nohambo lwami ngangihlangana nezithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi eziningana emazweni aseMpumalanga Ekude. Kodwa umhlangano owawuseLondon ngo-1947 washiya isithombe esagxila kimi, njengoba wangisiza ukuba nginqume ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova isikhathi esigcwele kwase kuzoba umgomo wami. Abaqashi bami badumala. Kodwa ngo-1952 ngomusa banginika umsebenzi wasehhovisi oyitoho ukuze ngikwazi ukuhlanganyela no-Olive emsebenzini wokushumayela isikhathi esigcwele. Isifiso sami esijulile sempilo yasolwandle sase sithathelwe indawo yisifiso esinamandla kakhudlwana.

Mina no-Olive sasikujabulela kakhulu ukushumayela ndawonye futhi sathola ilungelo lokusiza abantu abaningi bathole ulwazi olunembile lwamaqiniso eBhayibheli. (2 Korinte 3:2, 3) Phakathi nale minyaka, ngiye ngajabulela amalungelo engeziwe emihlanganweni yesifunda nakweyesigodi. Namuhla ngiyaqhubeka ngikhonza njengomdala eWirral Peninsula, eduze neBirkenhead.

Isithandwa sami u-Olive sashona ngo-1997. Uma ngibheka emuva, ngiyabona ukuthi lapho ngisemusha, ngasinda ezilwandle eziningi ezinezivunguvungu. Kodwa ekugcineni, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJehova okunothando, ngagwedla nomngane onothando emanzini azolile isikhathi esingaphezu kweminyaka engu-50 emkhakheni omkhulu kunayo yonke—wokukhonza uJehova.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Nginobaba nomama, ngo-1914

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Incwadi yami yokukhululwa eJalimane, eyayibhalwe uhambo lwami nge-“Padua” enezinsika ezine

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Nginomkami, u-Olive, emhlanganweni eLondon ngo-1974