Ndiri Nzifukwa Zambiri Chotani Nanga Zokhalira Woyamikira!

MONGA YASIMBIDWA NDI LOTTIE HALL

CHINACHITIKA mu 1963 paulendo wathu wochokera ku Calcutta, India, kunka ku Rangoon, Burma. Titangonyamuka ndi ndege mu Calcutta, mmodzi wa abalewo anawona mafuta akumachuchira pa phiko la ndege. Oyendetsa atadziŵitsidwa, analengeza kutera kwa mwadzidzidzi. Choyamba ndegeyo idafunikira kupungula mafuta ambirimbiri kuti ikhoze kutera. Wotumikira anafuula kuti, “Ngati mufuna kupemphera, pempherani tsopanoli!” Tinapempheradi kuti titere mwachisungiko ngati chinali chifuniro cha Yehova, ndipo tinatero. Ndithudi tinali ndi kanthu kena kokayamikirira!

INDE, ndipo ndidakali nzambiri zokhalira woyamikira. Pa msinkhu wa zaka 79, ndidakali nawo umoyo ndi nyonga yabwino zimene ndimagwiritsira ntchito mu uminisitala wanthaŵi zonse. Ndiponso, kuwonjezera pamadalitso ofala kwa anthu onse a Yehova, ndakhala ndi zokumana nazo zambiri zapadera. M’zonsezi, kutumikira Yehova kwa zaka zoposa 60 kwakhala mwaŵi wanga wamtengo wapatali, ndipo loposa theka la nthaŵiyo ndakhala minisitala wanthaŵi zonse, kapena painiya.

Zonse zinayamba ndi atate ŵanga pamene tinkakhala m’Carbondale, Illinois. Iwo ankagwirizana ndi tchalitchi cha Disciples of Christ ndipo ankafuna kwambiri kukhala minisitala watchalitchi. Komabe, chokumana nacho chawo ndi makoleji Abaibulo aŵiri chinawasiya ogwiritsidwa mwala, popeza adali ndi malingaliro awoawo ponena za Utatu, kusakhoza kufa kwa moyo, ndi chizunzo chamuyaya.

Pomalizira pake, iwo anakhutiritsidwa ndi chowonadi cha Baibulo chimene koputala Wophunzira Baibulo anawabweretsera mu 1924, pamene ndinali wa zaka 12 zokha zakubadwa. Atate ŵanga anakondwera kudziŵa kuti panalinso ena amene adalingalira mofanana nawo kuti ziphunzitso za Utatu, moto wa helo, ndi kusakhoza kufa kwa moyo nzabodza. Mwamsanga, banja lathu linayamba kusonkhana ndi Ophunzira Baibulo mokhazikika, monga momwe Mboni za Yehova zinkatchedwera panthaŵiyo. Kuphunzira chowonadi chonena za Yehova ndi Mawu ake kunali kanthu kena kamene ndinakayamikira kwenikweni.

Komabe, m’kanthaŵi kochepa tsoka linakantha. Mwamuna yemwe anabweretsera atate ŵanga chowonadi chonsechi anasintha nkukhala ponse paŵiri wosawona mtima ndi wachisembwere. Iye anakhumudwitsa atate ŵanga koma osati amayi ndi ine. Popeza ndinali pamsinkhu wa zaka 15 zakubadwa tsopano, ndinali mkulu pa ana onse asanu ndi mmodzi, ndipo ndinamamatira ku chowonadi ndi amayi ŵanga.

M’chilimwe cha mu 1927, kunalengezedwa kuti msonkhano waukulu wa Ophunzira Baibulo ukachitidwa m’Toronto, Canada. Atate anati sakakhoza kupezekako, koma Amayi anali mkazi wotsimikiza kupita. Iwo anayamba kugulitsa katundu wa m’nyumba wosiyanasiyana, ndipo pamene nthaŵi ya msonkhano inafika, iwo adali atasonkhanitsa madola asanu ndi atatu. Pokhala ndindalamazo iwo ndi ineyo tinayamba kupempha matola ku magalimoto onka ku Toronto, mtunda wa makilomita chikwi chimodzi kudza mazana asanu ndi limodzi. Kunatitengera masiku asanu ndi kukwera magalimoto 37 tisanafike, tinafika kutatsala tsiku limodzi kuti msonkhano uyambe. Popeza kuti ndalama zathu zinali zochepa, tidapempha kokagona kwaulere ndipo tinapatsidwa. Pamene Mbale A. H. Macmillan anamva za ulendo wathu, iye anaulemba kaamba ka nyuzipepala ya msonkhano pansi pa mutu wakuti: “Kukwera Mitengo Kulikonse kwa Sitima Yapanjanji Sikudetsa Nkhaŵa Ophunzira Baibulo Ameneŵa.”

Amayi ankaŵadziŵikitsa Atate zonse zochitika kupyolera mwa mapositi khadi. Chotero, pomalizira pake, iwo anasankha kubwera ndipo anafika ndi galimoto itatsala pang’ono kuyamba nkhani yapoyera pa tsiku lomalizira la msonkhano. Tsopano sitinafunikire kupempha matola pobwerera kunyumba. Ha, unali msonkhano wabwino chotani nanga! Ndinali woyamikira chotani nanga kuti tinakhoza kupezekapo, ndipo ndinali wothokhoza chotani nanga kuti unathandiza atate ŵanga kubwezeretsa kukhazikika kwawo kwauzimu!

Kwa zaka zambiri nditafunsidwa chimene chinali chipembedzo changa, ndinkayankha kuti, “IBSA,” zilembo zomwe zinkaimira International Bible Students Association. Koma nthaŵi zonse sindinakondwere ndidzina limenelo. Chotero, ndinathokoza zedi pamene tinalandira dzina latsopano lakuti Mboni za Yehova mu 1931 pamsonkhano wa m’Columbus, Ohio.

Ntchito Yanga Yakusukulu

Pakati pa madalitso ambiri amene alemeretsa moyo wanga panali awo ochita ndi nyimbo. Ndinakonda nyimbo kwambiri ndipo ndinaphunzira kuliza piyano mofulumira. Kwa zaka zambiri ndinali ndi mwaŵi wa kuliza chiwiyacho, kutsogoza mpingo poimba. Watch Tower Society isanayambe kujambula nyimbo Zaufumu, mbale yemwe ankatumikira monga mishonale m’Papua New Guinea nthaŵi ina anandipempha kuti ndijambule nyimbo zathu zambiri kotero kuti abale a ku Papua aphunzire kuimba. Ndinasangalala kwambiri kuchita tero.

Komabe, chiŵiya changa chapamtima chinali chitoliro. Ndinakonda kuchiimba m’gulu loimba la kukoleji. Profesa wa pa koleji anakondwera kwambiri ndi kuimba kwanga kwakuti anandipempha kuti ndikayimbenso m’gulu loimba la amuna. M’masikuwo panalibe mkazi yemwe ankaimba m’gulu la amuna, chotero pamene ziŵalo za gulu loimba zinamva chimene profesa adanena, iwo anapangana za kuchita sitalaka. Iwo analingalirapo bwino pamene anachenjezedwa kuti ngati iwo achita sitalaka, akapitikitsidwa. Mwambo wina unaswedwa pamene ndinafunikira kuguba limodzi ndi gulu loimba m’perete wa tsiku lonse. Nyuzipepala inakusimba kukhala kochititsa chidwi ndipo inakuchitira lipoti m’mutu waukulu wakuti: “Woimba Wamkazi m’Nyanja ya Amuna.”

Pomalizira pake, ndinafunsidwa ponena za kukhala profesa wa nyimbo. Komabe, polingalira za nkhani zomwe zikabuka ndikanati ndiphunzitse nyimbo, monga ngati kupemphedwa kuphunzitsa kapena kuimba nyimbo zautundu ndi zachipembedzo, ndinasankha kuchita chinachake ndipo ndinapatsidwa ntchito yophunzitsa mbiri yakale yadziko. Koma masinthidwewo sanandiletse kuimba chitoliro changa m’zaka za pambuyo pake m’magulu oimba pa misonkhano m’maiko ambiri amene ndinapitako ku misonkhano yamitundu yonse ya Mboni za Yehova.

M’kupita kwanthaŵi, ndinakhala mlangizi wa mbiri yakale yadziko pa sukulu ya sekondale m’dera la Detroit, ndipo pokhala wotero, ndinapemphedwapo kamodzi ndi mphunzitsi wamkulu wa pa sukulu kuvomereza ena a mabuku ophunzitsira angapo. Pobwereramo mwa ameneŵa, ndinadabwa powona kuti pamene kuli kwakuti bukhu lophunzitsira lomwe linalipo linatchula dzina la Yehova nthaŵi zisanu ndi zitatu, atsopanowo sanatchule dzina la Mulungu wa Ahebri, chinkana kuti anatchula maina milungu yambiri ya mitundu yachikunja, yonga ngati Ra, Moleki, Zeu ndi Jupiter. Atabwera wowagulitsa, ndinamfunsa chifukwa chake Yehova sanatchulidwe m’bukhu lake lophunzitsira, ndipo iye anati: “Ayi, sitidzaikamo dzinalo m’zolemba zathu chifukwa cha Mboni za Yehova.” Chotero ndinamuuza kuti: “Wayankha bwino! Chotero sindidzavomereza zolemba zanu.” Iye analiponya mwaukali bukhulo m’chola chake natuluka mofulumira.

Pambuyo pake, ndinafotokozera mphunzitsi wamkulu pa sukulu kuti sitinafunikiredi bukhu lophunzitsira latsopano ndipo ndinapereka zifukwa zabwino zambiri. Iye anavomerezana nane. Onse anakondwera ndi chosankha chimenechi pamene, pambuyo pa miyezi yoŵerengeka yokha, panakhala chosankha chakuchotsapo maphunziro a mbiri yakale yadziko pa ndandanda ya maphunziro a sukulu ya sekondale. Kosi yatsopano yotchedwa, social studies, inailoŵa mmalo m’madongosolo 14 a sukulu. Sukuluyo ikadagula mabuku atsopano ambiri yakale yadzikowo, ikadawononga ndalama chotani nanga!

Ndinali ndi zokumana nazo zambiri zosangalatsa zakuphunzitsa m’sukulu ndipo ndinali wopereka chilango wosamalitsa. Ichi chinandidzetsera mabwenzi ambiri anthaŵi zonse. Ndinalinso ndi mwaŵi wochuluka wakuchitira umboni wamwamwaŵi. Koma pomalizira pake nthaŵi ndi zochitika zinanditsogolera muutumiki wanthaŵi zonse.

Misonkhano Yamitundu Yonse

Pambuyo pophunzitsa m’sukulu kwa zaka 20, maso anga anayamba kulephera. Kuwonjezerapo, makolo anga anandifuna, chotero atate anandipempha kubwerera kwathu, nati kunali ntchito yophunzitsa yofunika koposa yoti ichitidwe, ndipo Yehova akandisamalira kuti ndisafe ndi njala. Ndinaleka ntchito yophunzitsa mu 1955, ndipo pakati pa madalitso anga oyambirira pambuyo pake panali kupezeka ku mpambo wa misonkhano ya “Ufumu Wolakika” mu Yuropu. Ndinali woyamikira chotani nanga kukhala pamodzi ndi abale athu mu Yuropu, ambiri a amene adapyola m’mazunzo ambiri mkati mwa nkhondo yadziko yachiŵiri! Ilo linalidi dalitso kukhala pakati pa anthu 107,000 omwe anadzala mu Zeppelinwiese, kapena Zeppelin Meadow, mu Nuremberg, kumene Hitler adakonzekera kukachitira kuguba kwake kwachilakiko pambuyo pa Nkhondo Yadziko ya II.

Uwu unali ulendo woyamba wokha wa maulendo ambiri m’dziko omwe ndinakhala nawo ndi mwaŵi. Mu 1963 amayi ndi ine tinali pakati pa nthumwi 583 zoyenda kuzungulira dziko ku Misonkhano ya “Mbiri Yabwino Yosatha.” Paulendowo tinanyamuka kuchokera ku New York kunka ku Yuropu, ndiyeno ku Asia ndi zilumba za Pacific usanathere m’Pasadena, California. Panali paulendowo pamene tinakhala ndi chokumana nacho chowopsa chomwe chasimbidwa m’mawu oyambirira. Maulendo apambuyo pake anatifikitsa ku misonkhano ya Kum’mwera kwa Amereka, Kum’mwera kwa Pacific, ndi Afirika. Zowonadi, maulendoŵa analemeretsa moyo wanga, ndipo kukhala wokhoza kuimba m’magulu apamisonkhano mmalo ambiri ameneŵa kunali chiwonjezeko choposa kwa wokonda nyimbo.

Kuloŵa m’Ntchito ya Apainiya

Pambuyo pobwera kuchokera ku Yuropu mu 1955, ndinagwirizana ndi amayi m’ntchito yaupainiya kwa chaka chimodzi, ndiyeno Sosaite inandipempha kukagwira ntchito limodzi ndi mpingo waung’ono mu Apalachicola kumadzulo kwa Florida. Kwa zaka zisanu ndi ziŵiri mlongo wina ndi ine tinathandizira ntchito komweko, ndipo posapita nthaŵi mpingo unakhoza kumanga Nyumba Yaufumu kupereka malo kaamba ka chiwonjezekocho. Kufutukuka kunapitirizabe, ndipo posapita nthaŵi mpingo wina unapangidwa mu Port Saint Joe. Ndinatha zaka 11 ndikugwira ntchito ndi mipingo itatu kumadzulo kwa Florida.

Nthaŵi ina ndinapemphedwa ndi woyang’anira dera kukafunafuna malo kaamba ka msonkhano wadera. Ndinakhoza kupeza malo otchuka ogwiritsira ntchito a Centennial Building mu Port Saint Joe pa mtengo wa $10 yokha. Koma tinafunikiranso kafiteriya, ndipo tinalingalira za kugwiritsira ntchito nyumba ya sukulu. Komabe, ndinapeza kuti woyang’anira masukulu anali wotsutsa, ndipo anati ndikafunikira kukumana ndi bungwe la sukulu. Meya wa mzindawo anabweranso ku kukumanako, popeza kuti anafuna kuti tigwiritsire ntchito kafiteriyayo. Pamene anafunsa zomwe zinaletsa kuigwiritsira ntchito, mkulu wa bungwe la sukulu anati sizinachitikepo kuti gulu lachipembedzo ligwiritsire ntchito malo asukulu. Meyayo anatembenukira kwa ine kuti amve yankho. Eya, ndinali ndi mahandibilu ambiri osonyeza kuti tidagwiritsirapo ntchito nyumba zasukulu kaamba ka misonkhano yathu m’matauni ena, kenaka ndinaloza ku Machitidwe 19:9, imene imati mtumwi Paulo analalikira m’sukulu. Izi zinaithetsa nkhaniyo. Bungwelo linavomerezana ndi meyayo kutilola kugwiritsira ntchito kafiteriyayo​—pa mtengo wa $36.

Pamene ndinali wa zaka 13 zokha zakubadwa, pamsinkhu umene ndinabatizidwa, ndinapemphera kuti: “O Mulungu wanga, ndiloleni ndibweretse munthu mmodzi yekha m’chowonadi.” Pempherolo linali kuyankhidwa tsopano kwa nthaŵi zambirimbiri, popeza kuti ndinadalitsidwa kuthandiza anthu ambiridi kutenga kaimidwe kawo kaamba ka Yehova ndi Ufumu wake. Komabe, mobwerezabwereza, wophunzira Baibulo asanafike pa mlingo wakudzipereka ndi ubatizo, ndinkasinthidwira ku mpingo wina. Chikhalirechobe, ndinali ndi mwaŵi wa kufesa ndi kuthirira, ndipo ophunzira ambiri ameneŵa atsimikizira kukhala mabwenzi a nthaŵi yamoyo wonse. Kugaŵanamo m’zochitika zobala zipatso zoterozo m’chenicheni kunandipatsa zifukwa zambiri zokhalira woyamikira.

Thandizo la Ofalitsa Nkhani

Pamene kuli kwakuti ofalitsa nkhani m’malo ambiri kaŵirikaŵiri achitira lipoti mosayanja ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova, ndiri wosangalala kunena kuti aulutsi ankhani m’dera la De Land, Florida​—kumene ndikutumikira tsopanoli​—andithandiza kuchitira umboni. Mwachitsanzo, pamene tinali pa umodzi wa maulendo amisonkhano ya dziko lonse, amayi ŵanga ndi ine tinatumiza nkhani zazitali ku nyuzipepala ya kumaloko, ndipo izi zinafalitsidwa mofulumira, limodzi ndi zithunzithunzi. Malipotiŵa anali m’mpangidwe wa nkhani za zithunzithunzi zofotokoza ulendo, koma nthaŵi zonse tinakhoza kuwagwiritsira ntchito kuchitira umboni dzina la Yehova ndi Ufumu.

Zakhalanso motero ponena za kuchitira umboni kwanga m’khwalala. Ndiri ndi ngondya yakhwalala kumene ndiri ndi mipando iŵiri yopumirapo, ndimakhala pa umodzi ndipo ndimasonyezera mabuku pa winawo. Pa nthaŵi ina, nkhani yodzala theka la tsamba inawonekera nchithunzithunzi changa m’nyuzipepala ya kumaloko pansi pa mutu wakuti: “Lottie wa ku Deland Apitiriza Nayo Ntchito Yamakolo Monga Mboni.” Posachedwapa kwenikweni, mu 1987, nyuzipepala ina inalinso ndi nkhani yodzala theka la tsamba nchithunzithunzi changa chachikulu m’mitundumitundu pansi pa mutu wankhani wakuti: “Lottie Hall Ali Ndi Ngondya Yakeyake Yokhazikitsidwa Kaamba ka Kristu.” M’chaka chotsatirapo nyuzipepala ina idali ndi chithunzithunzi changa patsamba loyamba, limodzinso ndi ndemanga zonga ngati, “Iye amapezeka kumeneko nthaŵi zonse” ndipo, “Alikhale pa mpando wopumirapo, mphunzitsi wasukulu wosiya ntchito amagwiritsira ntchito malo ake pangondya ya khwalala kuchitirapo ntchito yaumishonale ya Mboni za Yehova.” Ndiponso, nyumba ya TV yakumaloko yasonyeza kanayi konse akanema kuchitira umboni kwanga. Ndimagaŵanamobe kumlingo wochepera m’mbali zonse za utumiki wa Ufumu izi: kulalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba, maulendo obwereza, ndi maphunziro Abaibulo apanyumba. Komabe, chifukwa chaukalamba ndi matenda akuthupi, tsopano ndimathera nthaŵi yochulukira kwenikweni m’ntchito ya kuchitira umboni m’khwalala.

Pokumbukira zonsezi ndiyenera kunena kuti ndiridi nzifukwa zambiri zokhalira woyamikira. Kuwonjezera pa madalitso ofala kwa anthu onse a Yehova, monga mphunzitsi, ndakhala ndi mwaŵi wa kusonkhezera achichepere ambiri; ndakhala ndi chimwemwe cha kupezeka pa misonkhano yambiri kuzungulira dziko lonse; ndakhala ndi uminisitala waupainiya wobala zipatso koposa; ndipo ndadalitsidwanso m’nyimbo. Kuwonjezerapo, panali umboni umene ndinakhoza kuchita kupyolera mwa ofalitsa nkhani. Zowonadi, ndinganene mogwirizana ndi wamasalmo Davide kuti: “Ndidzalemekeza dzina la Mulungu ndi kuliyimbira, ndipo ndidzambukitsa ndi kumyamika.”​—Salmo 69:30.