Pamene Wina Aitana, Kodi Mumayankha?
MONGA MOMWE YASIMBIDWIRA NDI SHINICHI TOHARA
KWA mbali yoyamba ya moyo wanga, sindinaitanire pa Mulungu, ndipo sindinayang’ane kwa iye kaamba ka chitsogozo. Agogo anga anasamukira ku Hawaii kuchokera ku Japan, ndipo makolo anga anali Abuddha. Sanali okangalika m’chipembedzo chawo, chotero sindinaganize mwamphamvu ponena za Mulungu pamene ndinali kukula.
Ndiyeno ndinaphunzira za chisinthiko ndipo ndinawona kukhulupirira Mulungu kukhala kupusa. Komabe, pamene maphunziro anga apasukulu anapita patsogolo, makalasi asayansi anandiyambitsa maphunziro a kupenda zakuthambo, fizikisi, ndi bayoloji. Usiku ndinkayang’ana kuthambo ndi kuzizwa kuti nyenyezi zonsezo zinakhalako motani. Ndinayamba kudzifunsa kuti: ‘Kodi kungakhale Mulungu amene akulamulira zinthu zonsezi?’ Ndinayamba kuganiza kuti kumwambako kuyenera kukhala Munthu Wina. Mtima wanga unayamba kusinkhasinkha kuti, ‘Kodi Mulungu ameneyu ndani?’
Nditamaliza maphunziro a sekondale, ndinatanganitsidwa ndi ntchito yanga yaumakanika pakampani yophika moŵa, ndipo ndinalibe nthaŵi yakusinkhasinkha nkhani ya Mulungu. Posapita nthaŵi ndinadziŵana ndi Masako, amene anakhala mkazi wanga mu 1937, ndipo nkupita kwa nthaŵi tinadalitsidwa ndi ana atatu. Masako wakhala wondithangata wokhulupirika ndi mayi wogwira ntchito zolimba chotani nanga!
Tsopano pokhala ndinali ndi banja, ndinalingalira mwamphamvu za mtsogolo mwathu. Ndinayambanso kumatulukira kunja ndi kukayang’ana nyenyezi. Ndinakhutiritsidwa kuti Mulungu analiko. Sindinadziŵe kuti Mulungu ameneyo ndani, komabe ndinayamba kuitanira pa iye. Ndinachonderera mobwerezabwereza kuti: ‘Ngati muliko kumwambako, chonde thandizani banja langa kupeza njira yachimwemwe.’
Pempho Langa Linayankhidwa Potsirizira Pake
Tinali kukhala ndi makolo anga kuyambira pamene tinakwatirana, koma mu 1941 tinayamba kukhala tokha ku Hilo, Hawaii. Titangoloŵa m’nyumba yathu yatsopano, Ajapani anaukira Pearl Harbor, pa December 7, 1941. Inali nthaŵi yansautso, ndipo aliyense anada nkhaŵa ponena za mtsogolo.
Patapita mwezi umodzi kuchokera pamene Pearl Harbor anaukiridwa, ndinali kupukuta galimoto langa pamene mwamuna wina anadza kwa ine nandigaŵira bukhu lakuti Children. Anati dzina lake ndi Ralph Garoutte, minisitala wa Mboni za Yehova. Sindinazindikire zimene anali kunena, koma ndinali wokondweretsedwa ndi Mulungu, choncho ndinalandira bukhulo. Mlungu wotsatira, Ralph anabweranso nandipempha kuchita nane phunziro la Baibulo lapanyumba. Ngakhale kuti ndinamvapo za Baibulo, kumeneku kunalidi kuyamba kuliwona. Ndinavomereza phunziro la Baibulo, ndipo mkazi wanga ndi mng’ono wake wamkazi anagwirizana nafe.
Chowonadi chakuti Baibulo ndilo Mawu a Mulungu chinandichititsadi chidwi. (2 Timoteo 3:16, 17) Kudziŵa kuti Yehova anali ndi chifuno kunalidi kwabwino koposa. Ndiye Mlengi amene ndinali kufunafuna! (Yesaya 45:18) Tinasangalala kudziŵa kuti Paradaiso woyamba amene anataika anali kudzabwezeretsedwanso pompano padziko lapansi, ndipo tikakhala nzika zake. (Chivumbulutso 21:1-4) Limeneli linali yankho la kuitanira kwanga pa Mulungu!
Tinauza aliyense za chowonadi chopezedwa chatsopano chimenechi. Makolo anga anaganiza kuti tinali kuchita zopanda pake, koma zimenezo sizinatilefule. Titaphunzira Baibulo mwamphamvu kwa miyezi itatu, pa April 19, 1942, mkazi wanga ndi ine tinabatizidwa kusonyeza kudzipatulira kwathu kwa Mulungu wathu, Yehova. Mphwake wa Masako, Yoshi ndi mwamuna wake, Jerry, amene panthaŵiyo anali atagwirizana nafe m’phunziro lathu la Baibulo, anabatizidwa pamodzi nafe. Tinali ndi chidziŵitso chochepa chokha cha Malemba Opatulika, koma chinali chokwanira kutisonkhezera kufuna kutumikira Mulungu.
Nkhondo yadziko yachiŵiri iri mkati, ndinaganiza kuti mapeto a dongosolo ili la zinthu anali pafupi kwambiri, ndipo mkazi wanga ndi ine tinawona kufunika kwa kuchenjeza anthu za chimenechi. Banja la Garoutte linapereka chitsanzo chabwino kwa ife pankhaniyi. Onse aŵiri Ralph ndi mkazi wake anali kutumikira monga apainiya, aminisitala anthaŵi yonse a Mboni za Yehova. Ndinayerekezera mkhalidwe wathu ndi wa Ralph. Anali ndi mkazi ndi ana anayi. Ndinali ndi mkazi ndi ana atatu okha. Ngati iye anakhoza kuchita zimenezo, nanenso ndinayenera kutero. Chotero m’mwezi wotsatira ubatizo wathu, tinafunsira utumiki waupainiya.
Ngakhale ndisanavomerezedwe monga mpainiya, ndinachotsa zinthu zonse zosafunikira, kuphatizapo gitala yanga yachitsulo, chitoliro, ndi mngoli. Ndinali wokonda kuimba kwambiri, koma ndinachotsa zonse kupatulapo limba langa laling’ono. Ndiponso, ntchito yanga pakampani yophika moŵa sinandikondweretsenso. (Afilipi 3:8) Ndinapanga kalavani ndipo ndinayembekezera kuwona ngati Yehova akayankha mapempho anga oti andigwiritsire ntchito. Sindinayembekezere kwa nthaŵi yaitali. Tinavomerezedwa monga apainiya kuyambira June 1, 1942. Tinayamba pomwepo kutumikira Yehova kwanthaŵi yonse ndipo sitinachite chisoni konse ndi chosankhacho.
Kuchita Upainiya m’Hawaii
Pamodzi ndi banja la Garoutte, tinafola Hawaii, Big Island, kuphatikizapo Kona, dera lotchuka lolimidwa khofi, ndi Kau. M’masiku amenewo tinkagwiritsira ntchito fonografu. Inali yolemera kwambiri, koma tinali achichepere ndi anyonga. Chotero, titanyamula fonografu m’dzanja limodzi ndi chola cha mabukhu m’dzanja lina, tinalondola tinjira tiritonse timene tikakhoza kutifikitsa kwa anthu omvetsera m’minda ya khofi, m’mafamu ndi malo ena alionse. Ndiyeno, titafola chilumba chonse, tinatumizidwa ku Kohala pa Big Island. Kohala anali malo aang’ono a minda ya nzimbe, okhalidwa ndi anthu a ku Caucasia, Philippines, China, Hawaii, Japan, ndi Portugal. Gulu lirilonse linali ndi miyambo, zikhulupiriro, zokonda, ndi chipembedzo chakechake.
Nditangoyamba kuchita upainiya, sindinaloŵenso ntchito yakudziko. Kwakanthaŵi tinagwiritsira ntchito ndalama zanga zomwe ndinasunga kugulira zofunika m’moyo, ndipo pamene tinasoŵa chakudya, ndinkapita kukabaya nsomba. Modabwitsa, ndinapita kunyumba ndiri ndi nsomba nthaŵi zonse. Tinatola ndiwo ndi zitsamba zomera m’mbali mwa njira, ndipo zimenezo zinakometsera mbale zathu pachakudya chamadzulo. Ndinapanga uvuni wa malata, ndipo Masako anaphunzira kuphika mkate. Unali mkate wabwino kwambiri kuposa uliwonse umene ndinadyapo.
Pamene tinapita ku Honolulu kumsonkhano waukulu Wachikristu mu 1943, Donald Haslett, amene panthaŵiyo anali woyang’anira nthambi m’Hawaii, anatiitana kusamukira konko ndi kukhala m’kachipinda komangidwa pamwamba pa garaji ya Watch Tower Society. Ndinagaŵiridwa ntchito yosesa panthambipo ndi kuchita upainiya zaka zisanu zotsatira kuchokera pompo.
Chiitano Chosayembekezera
Mu 1943 tinamva kuti Sosaite inayamba sukulu yophunzitsa amishonale okatumikira kumaiko ena. Mmene tinalakalakira kuiloŵa imeneyo! Komabe, mabanja okhala ndi ana sanaitanidwe, chotero tinaiŵalako zimenezo. Komabe, mu 1947, Mbale Haslett anatiuza kuti Sosaite inafuna kudziŵa ngati panali nzika za Hawaii zofunitsitsa kukayamba utumiki m’dziko la Japan. Anatifunsa zimene tinalingalira, ndipo mofanana ndi Yesaya, ndinati: “Munditumize ine.” (Yesaya 6:8) Mkazi wanga analingalira mofananamo. Sitinazengereze kuyankha chiitano cha Yehova.
Chotero tinaitanidwa kukaloŵa Sukulu ya Baibulo ya Gilead ya Watchtower kuti tikaphunzitsidwe monga amishonale. Chiitanocho chinaphatikizapo ana athu atatu. Ena asanu, Donald ndi Mabel Haslett, Jerry ndi Yoshi Toma, ndi Elsie Tanigawa, nawonso anaitanidwa, ndipo tinapitira limodzi ku New York m’nyengo yachisanu mu 1948.
Tinadutsa kontinentiyo pabasi. Pambuyo pa ulendo wamasiku atatu pabasi, tonsefe tinatopa, ndipo Mbale Haslett analingalira kuti tipume ndi kugona m’hotela. Titatsika m’basi, mwamuna wina anayandikira pafupi nafe nafuula kuti: “Ajapani! Ndikupita kunyumba kukatenga mfuti ndiwawombere!”
“Saali Ajapani,” anatero Mbale Haslett. “Iwo ali nzika za Hawaii. Kodi simungawone kusiyana?” Tinapulumutsidwa ndi ndemanga yake yanzeru ndi yamwamsangayo.
Kodi tinalidi ziŵalo za kalasi lachi 11 la Gileadi? Linawoneka ngati loto labwino kwambiri. Komabe, zenizeni zinavumbuluka. M’kalasi lathu, ophunzira 25 anali atasankhidwa ndi yemwe panthaŵiyo anali prezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, Nathan H. Knorr, kuti aphunzitsidwe ncholinga cha kutumizidwa kukatumikira monga amishonale ku Japan. Popeza kuti makolo anga anali Ajapani ndipo ndinalankhula Chijapani pang’ono, ndinapatsidwa ntchito yophunzitsa kagulu kameneka ka ophunzira chinenerocho. Pokhala kuti sindinali kuchidziŵa bwino kwambiri chinenerocho, zimenezi zinali zovuta; koma mwanjira inayake tonsefe tinakhoza!
Panthaŵiyo mwana wathu wamwamuna, Loy, anali wazaka khumi zakubadwa, ndipo ana athu aakazi, Thelma ndi Sally, anali ndi zaka wina zisanu ndi zitatu, ndi winayo zisanu ndi chimodzi. Pamene tinali pasukulu, kodi nchiyani chinachitika kwa iwo? Nawonso anapita kusukulu! Basi inkawanyamula m’maŵa ndi kuwabweretsa kunyumba masana. Pamene anawo anafika panyumba kuchokera kusukulu, Loy anagwira ntchito ndi abale pafamu ya Sosaite, ndipo Thelma ndi Sally anagwira ntchito m’chipinda chochapira akumapinda mahandikachifi.
Kukonzekeretsa Maganizo Kaamba ka Mikhalidwe Yachilendo
Pamene tinamaliza maphunziro a Gileadi pa August 1, 1948, tinali ofunitsitsa kupita kugawo lathu. Mbale Haslett anatsogola kupita kukafunafuna nyumba yokhalamo amishonale. Potsiriza, anapeza nyumba yosanja ku Tokyo, ndipo pa August 20, 1949, banja lathu linanyamuka kupita kudziko lathu latsopano.
Tisanafike ku Japan, ndinalingalira kaŵirikaŵiri za dziko Lakummaŵa limeneli. Ndinasinkhasinkha pa kukhulupirika kwa anthu a ku Japan kwa ambuye awo aumunthu ndi wolamulira. Ajapani ambiri anataya miyoyo yawo kaamba ka olamulira aumunthu ameneŵa. M’nkhondo yadziko yachiŵiri, oyendetsa ndege a kamikaze anafera wolamulira mwakulunjika ndege zawo pa machumuni a zombo zankhondo za adani. Ndimakumbukira ndiri kuganiza kuti ngati anthu a ku Japan ali okhulupirika kwambiri chotero kwa ambuye aumunthu, kodi akachitanji ngati apeza Ambuye weniweni, Yehova?
Pamene tinafika ku Japan, kunali amishonale asanu ndi aŵiri okha ndi ofalitsa oŵerengeka chabe m’dziko lonselo. Tonsefe tinayamba kugwira ntchito, ndipo ndinayesayesa kuwongolera chidziŵitso changa cha chinenerocho ndipo ndinayamba kuchititsa maphunziro Abaibulo ndi ambiri amene anali kuitanira pa Mulungu m’mitima mwawo. Angapo a ophunzira Baibulo oyambirira amenewo akhalabe okhulupirika kufikira lerolino.
Utumiki Waumishonale ndi Ana Athu
Kodi tinakhoza motani utumiki waumishonale ndi ana aang’ono atatu akuwasamalira? Eya, Yehova anali mphamvu yotheketsa zonsezo. Tinalandira ndalama pang’ono yotithandiza kuchokera ku Sosaite, ndipo Masako ankasokera ana zovala. Ndiponso tinalandira chithandizo kwa makolo anga.
Atamaliza maphunziro asekondale, Loy anatumikira panthambi ya Japan ya Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society kwakanthaŵi. Komabe, chifukwa cha kudwaladwala, anasankha kubwerera ku Hawaii kukapeza chithandizo chamankhwala. Iye ndi mkazi wake tsopano akutumikira Yehova mokhulupirika ku California. Ukwati wake unadzetsa dalitso lathu lakukhala ndi adzukulu anayi okhulupirika. Onsewo ali obatizidwa, ndipo mmodzi wa iwo, pamodzi ndi mkazi wake, akutumikira pa Beteli ku Brooklyn, malikulu adziko lonse a Mboni za Yehova.
Ana anga aakazi, Thelma ndi Sally, anaikidwa kukhala amishonale atakula. Pakali pano Thelma akutumikira monga mmishonale m’mzinda wa Toyama. Sally anakwatiwa ndi mbale amenenso ali mmishonale, Ron Trost, ndipo iwo akhala akutumikira m’Japan monga amishonale m’ntchito yoyendayenda kwa zaka zoposa 25.
Kuchokera Kumpoto Kumka Kummwera
Titatha zaka ziŵiri mu Tokyo, tinatumizidwa ku Osaka kwa zaka ziŵiri. Gawo lathu lotsatira linali chakumpoto ku Sendai, kumene tinatumikira kwa zaka pafupifupi zisanu ndi chimodzi. Zaka zimene tinathera ku Sendai zinatikonzekeretsa kaamba ka magawo a chilumba chakumpoto kwenikeni kwa Japan, cha Hokkaido. Kunali ku Hokkaido kumene ana athu aakazi anaikidwa monga amishonale. Kunalinso kumeneko kumene tinazoloŵerana ndi kuzizira kwa nyengo yachisanu kumene nthaŵi zina kunapanga chipale chofeŵa. Pambuyo pokhala ku Hawaii wotentha, kumeneku kunalidi kusintha!
Ndiyeno, tsiku lina ndinamva chiitano chatsopano mumpangidwe wa kalata yochokera ku Sosaite. Inandipempha kukatsegula ofesi yanthambi ku Okinawa, amene anali kulamuliridwa ndi United States. Kusamuka kuchoka kunsonga yozizira yakumpoto kwa Japan kupita kudera limene tsopano lakhala likulamuliridwa ndi Japan kukapereka vuto lalikulu. Kodi ndikachita bwanji? Ngakhale kuti ndinadzimva kukhala wopeleŵera, ndinafika ku Okinawa mu November 1965 pamodzi ndi mkazi wanga wokhulupirikayo. Kodi moyo mu Okinawa ukakhala wofanana ndi moyo wa mu Japan? Bwanji za mwambo? Kodi anthu akalabadira uthenga wachipulumutso wa Yehova?
Pamene tinafika, munali ofalitsa osakwanira 200 mu Okinawa. Tsopano muli oposa 2,000. Poyamba, ndinali woyang’anira dera ndi woyang’anira nthambi wakanthaŵi. Kuyendayenda m’zilumba zonse kunandithandiza kukulitsa maunansi abwino ndi abale komweko, ndipo ndimakuyesa kukhala mwaŵi kuti ndinawatumikira.
Kodi Inali Yopanda Mavuto?
Ntchito yathu yaumishonale sinali konse yopanda mavuto. Pamene tinali patchuthi ku United States mu 1968, Masako anadwala ndipo anafunikira kuchitidwa opaleshoni. Anachotsedwa chotupa m’matumbo ake ndiyeno anachira mofulumira. Tinalibe inshuwalansi yolipirira mankhwala, ndipo tinada nkhaŵa kuti mwinamwake sitikakhoza kubwerera kugawo lathu. Komabe, motidabwitsa kwambiri, mabwenzi athu m’chikhulupiriro anasamalira zonse.
Ponena za ine mwini, tsopano ndiri ndi mavuto ofala kwa odwala nthenda ya suga. Ngakhale kuti sindine wakhungu, maso anga ngofooka kwambiri. Koma mwa kukoma mtima kwachikondi kwa Yehova, ndimadya chakudya chauzimu mwakumvetsera matepi ojambulidwa a The Watchtower ndi Awake! Abale ndi alongo m’chikhulupiriro amathandizanso mwakundiŵerengera nkhani zosiyanasiyana.
Kodi ndikapitiriza motani kukamba nkhani zapoyera ndi maso anga ofookawo? Poyamba ndinajambula nkhani zanga ndi kuzilizira pazokuzira mawu pamene ine ndinachita majesichala. Komabe, motsatira lingaliro la mwana wanga wamkazi, ndinawongolera zimenezi. Tsopano ndimajambula nkhani zanga pa tepi rekoda ndi kuzikamba pamene ndimvetsera nkhani yojambulidwa pasadakhaleyo ndi maiyefoni.
Nthaŵi iriyonse imene tinayang’anizana ndi mavuto enieni, sitinalephere kuitanira pa Yehova. Ndi kupita kwa nthaŵi, madalitso amene anadza pamene Yehova anathetsa mavutowo nthaŵi zonse anawoneka kukhala aakulu kwambiri kuposa mmene mavuto enieniwo anawonekera. Njira yokha yosonyezera chiyamikiro chathu ndiyo kupitirizabe muutumiki wake.
Titatha zaka 23 mu Okinawa, tinapatsidwanso gawo kumalo amodzimodzi amene tinatumikirako pamene tinabwera ku Japan kwanthaŵi yoyamba. Ofesi yaikulu ya Sosaite ndi nyumba yake yaikulu koposa ya amishonale ziri pamalo enieni a nyumba yosanja zipinda ziŵiri imene Mbale Haslett anagula zaka zambiri zapitazo m’Tokyo.
Kuwonjezera pa Masako ndi ine, pali 11 a achibale athu tsopano akutumikira monga amishonale m’Japan. Onsewo amakuyesa kukhala mwaŵi waukulu kuwona chiwonjezeko chimene Yehova wachititsa m’dzikoli limene kwakukulukulu liri ndi miyambo ya Chibuddha ndi Chishinto. Ntchitoyo m’Japan inayamba pang’onopang’ono, koma mphamvu ya Yehova yapanga “mtundu” wa ofalitsa mbiri yabwino oposa 167,000.—Yesaya 60:22.
Pamene ndinaitanira pa Mulungu, anandiyankha. Pamene anandiitana, ndinayankha motsimikiza. Mkazi wanga ndi ine tiganiza kuti tangochita zimene tiyenera kuchita. Bwanji za inu? Pamene Mlengi wanu aitana, kodi mumayankha?
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Banja la a Tohara ndi apainiya anzawo ku Hawaii, 1942
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Ana a a Tohara ku Gileadi mu 1948
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Pokhala achimwemwe kuti anayankha chiitanocho, a Shinichi ndi a Masako Tohara amaliza zaka 43 ali m’ntchito yaumishonale