Ebyafaayo

Nnakola Omukwano ku Bakristaayo Abakuze mu Myaka

Byayogerwa Elva Gjerde

Emyaka nga 70 egiyise, waliwo omugenyi eyajja ewaffe n’abaako ekintu kye yagamba taata ekirina kye kyakola mu kukyusa obulamu bwange. Okuva olwo, wabaddewo abantu bangi abannyambye ennyo mu bulamu bwange era ekyo kinnyambye okufuna enkolagana ey’omuwendo ennyo gye siyinza kugeraageranya ku kintu kirala kyonna. Kati ka mbabuulire ku bintu ebyo.

NNAZAALIBWA mu 1932, mu kibuga Sydney ekya Australia. Bazadde bange baali bakkiririza mu Katonda naye nga tebagenda mu kkanisa. Maama wange yaŋŋambanga nti Katonda yali alaba buli kimu kye nnali nkola, era nti yandimbonerezza bwe nnandikoze ebintu ebikyamu. Ekyo kyandeetera okutya Katonda. Naye nnali njagala nnyo Bayibuli. Maama waffe omuto yateranga okujjanga eka buli wiikendi n’annyumiza engero za Bayibuli. Nnamwesunganga nnyo.

Bwe nnali mu myaka gyange egy’obutiini, taata yasoma obutabo omukyala Omujulirwa wa Yakuwa eyali akuze mu myaka bwe yali awadde maama. Bye yasoma mu butabo obwo byamukwatako nnyo bw’atyo nnakkiriza okutandika okuyiga Bayibuli n’Abajulirwa ba Yakuwa. Lumu akawungeezi taata bwe baali bamuyigiriza Bayibuli yankwatiriza nga mpuliriza bye baali basoma. Yali ayagala kungoba nzireyo mu buliri naye omwami eyali amusomesa Bayibuli yamugamba nti, “Elva muleke ajje atuule wano?” Ekyo omwami oyo kye yayogera kirina kinene kye kyakola mu kukyusa obulamu bwange era eyo ye yali entandikwa yange okufuna enkolagana ey’oku lusegere ne Yakuwa, Katonda ow’amazima.

Nga wayise ekiseera kitono, nze ne taata twatandika okugenda mu nkuŋŋaana. Ebyo taata bye yali ayiga byamuleetera okukola enkyukakyuka mu bulamu bwe. Yatandika okufuga obusungu bwe. Ekyo kyaleetera maama wange ne mwannyinaze omukulu, Frank, okutandika okugendanga naffe mu nkuŋŋaana.a Ffenna twakulaakulana era oluvannyuma ne tubatizibwa. Okuva olwo, ab’oluganda bangi abakuze mu myaka bannyambye nnyo mu bulamu bwange.

BWE NNALI NSALAWO OMULIMU OGW’OKUKOLA

Bwe nnali mu myaka egy’obutiini, nnayagalanga nnyo okukola omukwano ku b’oluganda abakuze mu myaka. Omu ku b’oluganda abaali mikwano gyange yali ayitibwa Alice Place. Yali mukyala mukulu era ye Mujulirwa wa Yakuwa eyasooka okujja ewaffe. Yali nga jjajja wange. Alice yannyamba nnyo mu buweereza bw’ennimiro era yankubiriza okukulaakulana nsobole okubatizibwa. Nnabatizibwa nga ndi wa myaka 15.

Ow’oluganda Percy Dunham ne mukyala we Madge [Margaret] abaali bakuze mu myaka nabo baali mikwano gyange. Bannyamba nnyo bwe nnali nsalawo ku ngeri y’okukozesaamu obulamu bwange. Nnali njagala nnyo okubala era nga njagala nfuuke omusomesa w’okubala. Percy ne Madge baali baaweerezaako ng’abaminsani mu Latvia mu myaka gya 1930. Ssematalo II bwe yabalukawo mu Bulaaya, baayitibwa okuweereza ku Beseri y’omu Australia, esangibwa mu kibuga Sydney. Percy ne Madge banfaako nnyo. Baambuulira ku bintu ebirungi bingi bye baali bayiseemu nga baweereza ng’abaminsani. Nnakiraba nti okuyigiriza abantu Bayibuli kisingira wala okusomesa okubala. Bwe kityo, nnasalawo okufuuka omuminsani.

Ow’oluganda Dunham ne mukyala we bankubiriza okutandika okuweereza nga payoniya kinnyambe okwetegekera okuweereza ng’omuminsani. Mu 1948, nga ndi wa myaka 16, nneegatta ku bapayoniya abalala ekkumi abaali mu kibiina ky’e Hurstville mu Sydney.

Mu myaka ena egyaddirira, nnaweerezaako nga payoniya mu bibuga ebirala bina ebisangibwa mu New South Wales ne mu Queensland. Omu ku bantu be nnasooka okuyigiriza Bayibuli yali ayitibwa Betty Law (kati ayitibwa Betty Remnant). Betty, omuwala eyali ow’ekisa, yali ansingako emyaka ebiri. Oluvannyuma Betty yafuuka payoniya, era ne mpeerezaako naye mu kibuga Cowra, ekisangibwa mayiro 145 mu bugwanjuba bw’ekibuga Sydney. Wadde nga nnamala ekiseera kitono nga ndi wamu ne Betty, n’okutuusa leero tukyali ba mukwano.

Oluvannyuma lw’okufuuka payoniya ow’enjawulo, nnasindikibwa okuweereza mu kibuga Narrandera, ekisangibwa mayiro 137 mu bukiikaddyo bw’ekibuga Cowra. Nnasindikibwayo ne Joy Lennox (kati ayitibwa Joy Hunter), eyali payoniya omunyiikivu era nga naye yali ansingako emyaka ebiri. Ffe Bajulirwa ba Yakuwa bokka abaali mu kibuga ekyo. Twapangisa ku nnyumba z’omwami ayitibwa Ray Irons. Omwami oyo, mukyala we Esther, mutabani waabwe, awamu ne bawala baabwe abasatu baali baagala nnyo okuyiga Bayibuli. Ray ne mutabani we baali bakola ku faamu y’endiga n’eŋŋaano eyali ebweru w’ekibuga Narrandera, ate nga Esther ne bawala be bo baali balabirira ekisulo kyabwe abakozi b’eggaali y’omukka mwe baali basula. Buli lwa Ssande, nze ne Joy twafumbiranga emmere ab’omu maka ga Irons awamu n’abakozi b’eggaali y’omukka nga 12 be baasuzanga mu kisulo kyabwe. Ssente ze baatuwanga zaatuyambangako mu kusasula ennyumba mwe twali tusula. Bwe twamalirizanga emirimu, twagabulanga ab’omu maka ga Irons ekijjulo eky’eby’omwoyo, kwe kugamba, twasomeranga wamu nabo Omunaala gw’Omukuumi. Ray, mukyala we Esther, n’abaana baabwe abana baayiga amazima era be bantu abaasooka mu kibiina ky’e Narrandera.

Mu 1951, nnagenda mu lukuŋŋaana olunene olwali mu kibuga Sydney. Bwe nnali ku lukuŋŋaana olwo, nnagenda mu lukuŋŋaana olw’enjawulo olwa bapayoniya abali baagala okuweereza ng’abaminsani. Bapayoniya abasukka mu 300 be baali mu lukuŋŋaana olwo olwali mu weema ennene. Ow’oluganda Nathan Knorr eyali avudde ku Beseri y’e Brooklyn yayogera eri bapayoniya n’alaga obwetaavu obwaliwo obw’ab’oluganda okugenda okubuulira amawulire amalungi mu bitundu by’ensi ebyesudde. Ebigambo bye yayogera byatukwatako nnyo. Bangi ku bapayoniya abaali mu lukuŋŋaana olwo, oluvannyuma baawereza mu bitundu by’omu South Pacific ne mu bitundu ebirala. Kyansanyusa nnyo okubeera omu ku b’oluganda 17 abaava mu Australia okugenda mu Ssomero lya Gireyaadi ery’omulundi ogwa 19 eryaliwo mu 1952. Ekiruubirirwa kyange eky’okuweereza ng’omuminsani kyatuukirira nga ndi wa myaka 20 gyokka!

BWE NNALI NNEETAAGA OKUWABULWA

Ebintu bye nnayiga mu Ssomero lya Gireyaadi awamu n’amagezi ab’oluganda be nnasangayo ge bampa, byannyamba okwongera okutegeera Bayibuli, okunyweza okukkiriza kwange, n’okukulaakulanya engeri ennungi. Bwe nnali nkyali muto, nnali njagala buli kimu kikolebwa nga nze bwe nnali ndowooza. Ebiseera ebimu endowooza yange yagwanga olubege. Ng’ekyokulabirako, lumu bwe nnalaba Ow’oluganda Knorr ng’azannya omupiira n’Ababeseri abato, ekyo kyampisa bubi.

Abasomesa baffe ab’omu Gireyaadi, abasajja abaali bakuze mu by’omwoyo, bateekwa okuba nga baakiraba nti nnalina obunafu. Banfaako nnyo era bannyamba okutereeza endowooza yange. N’ekyavaamu, nnatandika okutunuulira Yakuwa nga Katonda atwagala ennyo era asiima ekyo kyonna kye tuba tusobodde okukola. N’abamu ku b’oluganda be nnali nsoma nabo bannyamba nnyo. Omu ku bo yannyamba okukiraba nti Yakuwa ayagala abaweereza be bamuweereze nga basanyufu era nti tetusobola kukola bintu byonna mu ngeri etuukiridde.

Oluvannyuma lw’okuva mu Gireyaadi, nze awamu ne bayizi bannange bana twasindikibwa okugenda okuweereza ng’abaminsani mu Namibia. Mu kiseera kitono, ffenna awamu twalina abayizi ba Bayibuli 80. Nnanyumirwa nnyo okuweereza ng’omuminsani mu Namibia, naye mu kiseera ekyo nnalina ow’oluganda gwe nnali njogerezaganya naye. Ow’oluganda oyo nnali naye mu Gireyaadi era nga kati yali aweereza mu Switzerland. Oluvannyuma lw’okumala omwaka gumu mu Namibia, nnagenda mu Switzerland okumusisinkana. Bwe twamala okufumbiriganwa, nnamuwerekerangako ng’aweereza ng’omulabirizi w’ekitundu.

BWE NNALI MU MBEERA ENZIBU

Oluvannyuma lw’okumala emyaka etaano nga tuli mu mulimu gw’okukyalira ebibiina, twayitibwa okugenda okuweereza mu Beseri y’omu Switzerland. Bwe twali ku Beseri, nnali musanyufu nnyo okubeera mu b’oluganda abaali abakulu mu myaka era nga bakulu mu by’omwoyo.

Bwe waali waakayita ekiseera kitono, waliwo ekintu ekibi ennyo ekyantuukako. Nnakizuula nti omwami wange teyali mwesigwa gye ndi n’eri Yakuwa. Yatuuka n’okundekawo n’agenda. Ekyo kyampisa bubi nnyo! Sandisobodde kugumira mbeera eyo eyali enzibu ennyo singa saalina baganda bange ne bannyinaze Ababeseri abakulu mu myaka abaali banjagala ennyo era nga banfaako nnyo. Baampulirizanga bwe nnabanga njagala okwogerako nabo era bandekanga okuwummula bwe nnabanga neetaaga okuwummula. Banzizaamu nnyo amaanyi mu mbeera eyo eyali enzibu ennyo era bannyamba okusemberera Yakuwa.

Mu kiseera ekyo nnajjukira ebigambo bakkiriza bannange abaali bakuze mu myaka era nga nabo baali babaddeko mu mbeera enzibu bye baali baŋŋamba. Muno mwe mwali n’ebigambo Madge Dunham bye yaŋŋamba. Lumu yaŋŋamba nti: “Elva, ojja kufuna ebizibu bingi nnyo ng’oweereza Yakuwa, naye ebizibu ebisinga okuba eby’amaanyi biyinza okuva mu mikwano gyo ab’oku lusegere. Bw’ofunanga ekizibu eky’amaanyi, fubanga okunyweza enkolagana yo ne Yakuwa. Kijjukire nti oweereza Yakuwa, so si bantu abatatuukiridde!” Amagezi ago amalungi Madge ge yampa gannyambye nnyo mu bizibu ebingi bye mpiseemu. Nnamalirira obutakkiriza nsobi ya mwami wange kundeetera kuva ku Yakuwa.

Oluvannyuma lw’ekiseera, nnasalawo okuddayo mu Australia mpeereze nga payoniya nga ndi kumpi n’eka. Bwe nnali ku mmeeri nga nzirayo eka, nnakubaganya ebirowoozo n’abantu bangi ku Bayibuli. Mu bantu abo mwe mwali n’omusajja enzaalwa ya Norway ayitibwa Arne Gjerde. Yayagala nnyo bye yawulira okuva mu Bayibuli. Oluvannyuma lw’ekiseera Arne yakyalako ewaffe mu kibuga Sydney. Yakulaakulana mangu mu by’omwoyo n’afuuka omuweereza wa Yakuwa. Mu 1963 nnafumbirwa Arne, era oluvannyuma lw’emyaka ebiri twazaala mutabani waffe, Gary.

BWE NNAFIIRWA OMWAGALWA WANGE

Nze, omwami wange Arne, ne mutabani waffe Gary, twalina essanyu mu maka gaffe. Arne yagaziya ennyumba yaffe n’aleeta bazadde bange, abaali bakaddiye, okubeera naffe. Naye oluvannyuma lw’emyaka mukaaga, twafuna ekizibu eky’amaanyi. Arne baamukebera ne kizuulwa nti yalina kkansa w’oku bwongo. Twamutwala mu ddwaliro era n’amalayo ebbanga ddene ng’ajjanjabibwa. Mu kusooka embeera ye yalinga etereera; naye oluvannyuma embeera ye ne yeeyongera okwonooneka. Abasawo baŋŋamba nti yali asigazza wiiki ntono afe. Kyokka Arne teyafa ng’abasawo bwe baali bagambye. Baamala ne bamusiibula n’akomawo eka, ne nneeyongera okumujjanjaba. Oluvannyuma lw’ekiseera, embeera ye yatereera n’addamu okutambula era n’addamu okukola emirimu gye ng’omukadde mu kibiina. Olw’okuba yali musajja musanyufu ekyo kyamuyamba okusuukka amangu era nange kyannyanguyira okumujjanjaba.

Mu 1986, embeera ya Arne yaddamu okwonooneka. Mu kiseera ekyo bazadde bange bombi baali baamala dda okufa, bwe kityo ne tusalawo okusengukira mu kibuga Blue Mountains ekiriraanye ekibuga Sydney. Ekyo kyatuyamba okubeera okumpi ne mikwano gyaffe. Oluvannyuma, Gary yawasa Karin, omuwala eyali omuweereza wa Yakuwa omwesigwa. Gary yatusaba tugende tubeere wamu nabo. Nga wayise emyezi mitono, ffenna abana twasenguka ne tugenda okubeera mu kibuga Blue Mountains.

Mu myezi 18 egyasembayo Arne amale afe, embeera ye yeeyongera okwonooneka n’aba nga takyava na wansi. Bwe kityo, kyali kyetaagisa omuntu okumubeerako buli kiseera. Okuva bwe kiri nti ebiseera ebisinga obungi nnabeeranga waka, nnamalanga essaawa bbiri buli lunaku nga nsoma Bayibuli n’ebitabo ebikubibwa omuddu omwesigwa. Mu kiseera ekyo kye nnamalanga nga nneesomesa, nnayiga ebintu bingi ebyannyamba okugumira embeera enzibu gye nnalimu. Ate era ab’oluganda bangi okuva mu kibiina kyaffe abaali bakuze mu myaka bankyaliranga era nga abamu ku bo baali bayiseeko mu mbeera ng’eyange. Ab’oluganda abo banzizaamu nnyo amaanyi! Arne yafa mu Apuli 2003, ng’alina essuubi nti ajja kuzuukira.

ASINZE OKUNNYAMBA

Bwe nnali nkyali muto, nnali njagala buli kimu okutambula nga bwe nnali nsuubira. Naye nnakiraba nti ebiseera ebisinga obungi ebintu tebigenda nga bwe tuba tusuubira. Nfunye emikisa mingi naye era nfunye n’ebizibu bibiri eby’amaanyi. Omwami wange eyasooka yafuuka atali mwesigwa ate ow’okubiri n’afa. Mu bulamu bwange bwonna, nfunye obuyambi n’okubudaabudibwa okuva mu nsonda ezitali zimu. Naye Yakuwa Katonda, “omukadde eyaakamala ennaku ennyingi,” y’asinze okunnyamba. (Dan. 7:9) Annyambye okukulaakulanya engeri ennungi era yampa emikisa mingi bwe nnali mpeereza ng’omuminsani. Bwe nnafunanga ebizibu, ‘okusaasira kwa Yakuwa kwampaniriranga era okusanyusa kwe kwawoomeranga emmeeme yange.’ (Zab. 94:18, 19) Ab’omu maka gange ne mikwano gyange nabo bandaze okwagala era bannyambye nnyo mu mbeera enzibu. (Nge. 17:17) Bangi ku abo abannyambye ennyo babadde bakulu mu myaka.

Yobu yagamba nti: “Amagezi gaba n’abasajja abakadde, n’okutegeera kuba mu kuwangaala ennaku nnyingi.” (Yob. 12:12) Bwe ndowooza ku ebyo ebibaddewo mu bulamu bwange, nzikiriziganya n’ebigambo bya Yobu ebyo. Ab’oluganda abakuze mu myaka bampadde amagezi mangi amalungi, banzizizzaamu nnyo amaanyi, era nganyuddwa nnyo mu kubeera mukwano gwabwe. Ndi musanyufu nnyo okuba nti nnabafuula mikwano gyange.

Kati ndi wa myaka 80, era nange kati nkuze mu myaka. Ebyo bye mpiseemu binnyambye okuyiga okufaayo ku nneewulira z’abo abakuze mu myaka. Njagala nnyo okubakyalira n’okubayamba. Naye era nnyumirwa nnyo okubeerako awamu n’abo abakyali abato. Obunyiikivu bwe booleka nange bunkubiriza okuba omunyiikivu. Ab’oluganda abakyali abato bwe bajja gye ndi nga baagala okubawa ku magezi oba okubayamba, nfuna essanyu lingi bwe mbayamba.

[Obugambo obuli wansi]

[Ekifaananyi ekiri ku lupapula 14]

Nga ndi ne Joy Lennox nga tuweereza nga bapayoniya mu Narrandera

[Ekifaananyi ekiri ku lupapula 15]

Nga ndi n’Ababeseri ku Beseri y’omu Switzerland mu 1960

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Nga ndabirira omwami wange Arne nga mulwadde