‘Chikho Changa Chasefukira’

Monga yakambidwa ndi Tarissa P. Gott

“NCHIFUKWA NINJI ichi chinayenera kupangika” Mwamuna wanga ndi ine tinafunsa funso iri pamene tinakhala pa ngolo yokokedwa ndi kavalo titanyamula kabokosi kakang’ono m’manja mwathu. Mwana wanga wamwamuna anali atadwala m’mimba ndipo anafa mkati mwa milungu. Kubwerera mu 1914, palibe zambiri zomwe zinadziwika ponena za nchiyani chomwe chikanachitidwa ndi nthendayo. Chinali chinthu choyipa kotero kukonda mwana kwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi, kumuwona iye akukumwetulira, ndipo kenaka kukhala ndi imfa imutenge iye mmanja mwako. Mtima wanga unasweka.

Mayi wanga anatichezera pa nthawi yachisoni imeneyi ndikuyamba kutitonthoza ife ndi uthenga wa Baibulo wachiukiriro. Chinatanthauza zochuluka kwa ife. Unali mpumulo wotani nanga kwa mwamuna wanga Walter ndi kwa ine kuphunzira kuti chingakhale chotheka kudzamuwona Stanley wachichepere kachiwirinso.

Kumeneko sikunali kukumana nako kwanga koyamba kwa chowonadi cha Baibulo kumbuyoko. Nthawi ina agogo anga amuna anali atapeza mavoliyumu atatu oyamba a Studies in the Scriptures, olembedwa ndi Charles Taze Russell. Zimene agogo anga anawerenga kuchokera mu izo limodzi ndi phunziro lawo la Baibulo, linawafulumiza iwo kupita kunja ndikulalikira. Ichi chinakwiyitsa atsogoleri achipembedzo a kumaloko, amene anawatulutsamu matchalitchi mu Providence, RhodeIsland. Mayi wanga sanapitenso ku tchalitchi pambuyo pa chimenecho. Iwo ndi agogo anga tsopano anapezeka pa misonkhano ya Ophunzira Baibulo, koma sindinachite zochuluk ndi chowonadi panthawi imeneyo.

Pa msinkhu wa zaka 16, ndinakwatiwa ndi mwamuna wachichepere, Walter Skillings, ndi kukhazikika mu Providence. Tonsefe tinali odera nkhawa kuyanjana ndi anthu amene anakonda Mawu a Mulungu. Ngakhale kuti kufika mu 1914 tinali ndi mwana wamkazi wa zaka zisanu ndi chimodzi, Lillian, chinali kokha kufikira pamene mwana wathu wamwamuna anafa kuti zimene mayi wanga anatiuza ife ponena za chowonadi zinazama. Chaka chotsatira 1915, mwamuna wanga ndi ine tinabatizidwa ndi Ophunzira Baibulo. Ubatizo wathu unachitika mu nthawi ya chilimwe pa gombe lapafupipo. Ndinavala mwinjiro wautali wakuda ndi khosi lokwera ndi manja aatali, yosiyana ndi zovala posamba zomwe zimavalidwa tsopano. Komabe, ichi sichinali chovala choyenerera ku gombe chamasiku amenewo koma chinaperekedwa mwapadera kaamba ka ubatizo.

Pambuyo pa ubatizo wathu, miyoyo yathu inasintha. Walter anagwira ntchito ku Lynn Gas and Electric Company, ndipo m’masiku ozizira a chisanu iye nthawi zina anali kutumizidwa ku matchalitchi osiyanasiyana kukatenthetsa njira zopitira madzi zokhala ndi madzi ouma. Iye anali kutenga mwawi wa nthawi yabwino ya kulemba malemba a Baibulo pa mabolodi atchalitchi, malemba omwe anasonyeza chimene Baibulo limanena ponena za kusafa, Utatu, Helo, ndi zina zotero.​—Ezekieli 18:4; Yohane 14:28; Mlaliki 9:5, 10.

Kodi Nkuti Kumene Tikanapita?

Mu 1916, Mbale Russell, prezidenti woyamba wa Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, anamwalira, ndipo chinawoneka ngati kuti chirichonse chinasweka pakati. Tsopano ambiri a awo amene anawoneka kukhala amphamvu, odzipereka kotero kwa Ambuye, anayamba kutembenuka chinakhala chotsimikizirika kuti ena anali kutsatira munthu mmalo mwa Yehova ndi Kristu Yesu.

Akulu awiri amene analikuyang’anira pa mpingo wathu anachoka ndi gulu lotsutsa ndipo chotero kukhala ziwalo za “kapolo woipa.” (Mateyu 24:48) Izi zonse sizinawoneke kukhala zabwino, koma zinali kuchitika ndipo zinatikhumudwitsa ife. Koma ndinati kwa inemwini: ‘Kodi gulu iri silinali limene Yehova anagwiritsira ntchito kutimasula ife kuchokera kuzingwe za chipembedzo chonyenga? Kodi ife sitinalawe za ubwino wake? Ngati tinayenera kuleka tsopano kodi tikanapita kuti? Kodi sitikanakhotakhota kuyamba kutsatira munthu winawake? Sitikanatha kuwona nchifukwa ninji tikanayenera kupita ndi ampatuko, chotero tinatsala.​—Yohane 6:68; Ahebri 6: 4-6.

Ngozi Ichitikanso

Mwamuna wanga anagwidwa ndi Spanish ifluenza, ndipo pa 9 January, 1919, iye anamwalira pamene ine, nanenso, ndinali mkama ndi thenda imodzimodziyo. Ndinachira kumatenda anga koma ndinamusowa Walter kwambiri. ’

Kukhala ndi Walter atamwalira, ndinayenera kugwira ntchito, chotero ndinagulitsa nyumba yanga ndikupita kukakhala ndi mlongo wauzimu. Ndinaika mipando yanga mumalo osungiramo katundu a mlongo wina mu Saugus, Massachusetts, mwana wake wamwamuna, Fred A. Gott, pambuyo pake anakhala mwamuna wanga wachiwiri. Tinakwatirana mu 1921, ndipo mkati mwa zaka zitatu zotsatira, tinakhala makolo kwa Fred ndi Shirley.

Nkhani ya Kupereka Suluti ku Mbendera

Pambuyo pake, pamene Fred ndi Shirley anali pa Sukulu yotsogozedwa ndi boma, nkhani ya kupereka suluti ku mbendera inabuka. Nkhani imeneyi inazikidwa pa ziphunzitso za Baibulo za “kupewa kulambira mafano.”(1 Akorinto 10:14) Mbale wachichepere mu Mpingo wa Lynn anakana kupereka suluti ndi chilumbiro cha chigwirizano kumbendera, mkati mwa mwezi ana ena asanu ndi awiri a mu mpingowo anachotsedwa sukulu, pakati pa iwo panali Fred ndi Shirley.

Ndiyenera kuvomereza kuti chinawoneka chodabwitsa kwa ife kuti ana athu anatenga kayimidwe ku sukulu monga mmene anachitira. Komabe, tinali titawaphunzitsa iwo kusonyeza ulemu kaamba ka dziko ndi mbendera, ndipo tinawaphunzitsanso malamulo a Mulungu ponena za kugwadira zifaniziro ndi mafano. Monga makolo, sitinafune kuti ana athu achotsedwe sukulu. Koma tsopano popeza nkhaniyo inakakamizidwa, chinawoneka kokha kukhala chabwino kuti iwo anatenga kaimidwe kawo kaamba ka Ufumu wa Mulungu. Chotero mkulinganiza zinthu, tinayamikira kuti ana athu anali kuchita chinthu chabwino ndipo kuti ngati tikhulupirira Yehova zonse zidzagwira ntchito ku umboni ku dzina lake. ulemu kaamba ka dziko ndi mbendera, ndipo tinawaphunzitsanso malamulo a Mulungu ponena za kugwadira zifaniziro ndi mafano. Monga makolo, sitinafune kuti ana athu achotsedwe sukulu. Koma tsopano popeza nkhaniyo inakakamizidwa, chinawoneka kokha kukhala chabwino kuti iwo anatenga kaimidwe kawo kaamba ka Ufumu wa Mulungu. Chotero mkulinganiza zinthu, tinayamikira kuti ana athu anali kuchita chinthu chabwino ndipo kuti ngati tikhulupirira Yehova zonse zidzagwira ntchito ku umboni ku dzina lake.

Sukulu ya Ufumu ilinganizidwa

Funso tsopano, linali lakuti, Kodi ndimotani mmene ana adzapezera maphunziro awo? Kwakanthaŵi tinayesa kuwaphunzitsa iwo kunyumba ndi mabukhu ophunzitsira aliwonse amene tikanawapeza. Koma mwamuna wanga ndi ine tinali ndi nthawi yovuta chaka choyamba cha sukulu chimenecho pamene tinayesera kuphunzitsa ana athu awiri. Mwamuna wanga anali kugwira ntchito nthaŵi yonse, ndipo ndinali kutenga zochapa ndi kusita kuti ndiwonjezere ku ndalama zimene tinali kupeza mlungu uliwonse. Kuwonjezera kuchimenecho, ndinali ndi mwana wamwamuna wa zaka zisanu, woyenera kumusamalira, Robert.

Panthawi imodzimodziyo, mu ngululu ya 1936, Cora Foster, mlongo mu mpingo ndi mphunzitsi mu sukulu za boma za Lynn kwa zaka 40, anachotsedwa pa ntchito yake chifukwa chakuti sanapereke suluti ku mbendera ndi chifukwa chakusatenga lumbiro la aphunzitsi lomwe linali mu mphamvu panthawiyo, Chotero chinakonzekeretsedwa kuti Cora adziphunzitsa ana amene anachotsedwa sukulu ndi kuti nyumba yathu idzagwiritsidwa ntchito monga Sukulu ya Ufumu. Cora anatenga piyano yake kubweretsa kunyumba kwathu limodzi ndi mabukhu ena ophunzitsira kaamba ka ana oti adzigwiritsira ntchito. Ndipo ena a anyamata ochulukirako anasintha mabokosi a malalanje ndi matabwa kuwapanga madesiki. Tinayamba sukuluyo chaka chotsatira ndi ana opezekapo khumi.

Mwana wanga wachichepere, Robert, anayamba maphunziro ake mwakupezekako ku giredi loyamba pa Sukulu ya Ufumu. “Tisanayambe ntchito yathu ya mkalasi yokhazikika,” Robert akukumbukira, “Sukulu ya Ufumu inatsegulidwa ndi nyimbo ya Ufumu tsiku lirilonse, ndipo pambuyo pake kwa theka la ora tinaphunzira phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda kaamba ka mlungu ukudza.” Masiku amenewo Sosaite sinali kuika mafunso osindikizidwa kaamba ka ndime za nkhani yophunzirira, chotero linali thayo la ana kubwera ndi mafunso kaamba ka ndime omwe adzagwiritsidwa ntchito pa msonkhano wa mpingo.

Cora anali mphunzitsi wodzipereka. “Pamene ndinali ndi chifuwa chokoka mtima,” akukumbukira Robert, ndipo sukulu inatsekedwa kufikira matenda anga opatsirana ataleka, “Mlongo Foster anachezera nyumba ya wophunzira aliyense ndi kumpatsa ntchito yogwirira kunyumba.” Mosasamala kanthu za kudzipereka kwake, iye anayenera kukhala anali wokwiyitsidwa pa nthawi zina, popeza anayenera kuphunzitsa ana onse amagiredi 12 mu kalasi imodzi. Pamapeto anyengo ya zaka zisanu zimene tinali ndi Sukulu ya Ufumu ku nyumba kwathu, panali ana opezeka pa suku lupo 22.

Kunyada ndi Chifundo

Nkhani ya kupereka suluti ku mbendera inabweretsa osati kokha nthawi ya chiyeso ndi chitsenderezo komanso kufalitsidwa kochuluka ndi nyuzipepala ndi wailesi. Chinali chinthu chofala kuwona anthu otenga zithunzi kutsogolo kwa nyumba yathu akutenga zithunzi za ana pamene ananka pa Sukulu ya Ufumu. Ambiri a anansi athu, omwe anali aubwenzi poyambapo, tsopano anakhala adani. Iwo anaganiza kuti chinali chinthu choipa kwambiri kwa ana athu kukana kupereka suluti ku mbendera ya Chiamerica. ‘Ndiko nkomwe,’ iwo ankatero, ‘kodi iri sidziko limene limakupatsani mkate wanu ndi batala’? Iwo sanayamikire kuti popanda chiyang’aniro cha chisamaliro cha Yehova sipangakhale mkate osatinso batala.

Kumbali ina, panali ena amene anamvetsetsa nkhani yokhudzidwayo ndipo anatipatsa ife chirikizo. Pamene anthu a mmudziwo anasiya kugula zinthu kusitolo imene woyang’anira womatsogolera wa mu mpingo mwathu ankagwira ntchito monga manejala, munthu wolemera wosangalatsidwa mu ufulu wa anthu anagula ambiri amagolosale mu sitoloyo ndi kugawira izo kwaulere kwa abale mu mpingo.

Inali isanafike 1943, pamene bwalo lalikulu la milandu mu United States linabweza kaimidwe kake pa nkhani yakupereka suluti ku mbendera, pamene mwana wanga wamwamuna Robert anavomerezedwa kupezeka pa sukulu ya boma.

‘Chikho Changa Chasefukira’

Ndinali wachimwemwe chotani nanga kuwona Robert akupereka moyo wake kwa Yehova ndi kubatizidwa pa msonkhano mu St. Louis mu 1941. Panali pamsonkhano umenewo, kachiwirinso, kuti ana anga onse atatu anali ndi mwawi wakukhala pakati pa ana amene analandira kope laulere laumwini la Children kuchokera kwa Mbale Rutherford, amene panthawiyo anali prezidenti wa Watch Tower Society.

Mu 1943 mwana wanga wamkulu, Fred, anatenga utumiki wa upainiya wa nthawi zonse. Komabe ichi chinatha kokha kwa miyezi ingapo, popeza Nkhondo ya Dziko II inali kumenyedwa, ndipo anali wamsinkhu wotengedwa kupita ku nkhondo. Pamene bungwe lotenga anthu kupita ku nkhondo la kumaloko linakana kuzindikira kudzinenera kwake kwa kupatulidwa monga minisitala, iye anagamulidwa kukhala m’ndende kwa zaka zitatu mu’ndende ya chibalo ku Danbury, Connecticut. Mu 1946 iye anamasulidwa, ndipo pofika kumapeto kwa chaka chimenecho, iye anali wogwira ntchito wa nthawi zonse pa malikulu adziko lonse a Watch Tower Society pa Brooklyn, New York, kumene iye anasangalala ndi zaka zochuluka za utumiki. Tsopano iye ali woyang’anira, akutumikira ndi banja lake mu Providence, Rhode Island.

Mu 1951 Robert, nayenso, anayitanidwa ku Beteli, ndipo iye ali kumeneko pa tsiku lino ndi mkazi wake Alice. Iye, nayenso, ali woyang’anira mu mpingo wa New York City. Kenaka pali mwana wanga wamkazi wokondedwa Shirley, yemwe anakhala kunyumba. Iye anayang’anira mwamuna wanga ndi ine kufikira pamene mwamuna wanga anafa mu 1972, kuyambira nthawi imeneyo iye wakhala chitonthozo chachikulu kwa ine. Sindidziwadi kuti ndimotani mmene zinthu zikanayendera popanda iye, koma ndiri woyamikira kwa Yehova kaamba ka chikondi chake ndi kudzipereka.

Ndiri ndi zaka 95 tsopano, ndipo komabe chiyembekezo cha dongosolo lakachitidwe kazinthu katsopano ka Yehova liri lowala kuposa ndi kalelonse. Nthawi zina ndimadzipeza inemwini ndikunena kuti, “kokha ndikanakhala ndi mphamvu yomwe ndinali nayo zaka zapitazo.” Sindingathenso kupita kunyumba ndi nyumba, koma kufikira ku utali umene ndiri nalo lilime, ndidzapitiriza kulemekeza Yehova. Ndimayamikira mwawi umenewo mokulira lerolino kuposa mmene ndinachitira kale m’moyo wanga wonse. Inde, ‘chikho changa chasefukira.’​—Masalmo2 23:5

[Chithunzi patsamba 21]

Sukulu ya Ufumu Ikutsogozedwa mu nyumba mwathu mu ma 1930

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Tarissa Gott ali ndi Robert, Shirley, ndi Fred