Kukula ndi gulu la Yehova m’South Africa

Monga momwe yasimbidwira ndi Frans Muller

PAMENE ine ndi mkulu wanga David tinafika ku sitima yamadzulo imene tinakwera masiku onse pa sitisheni yaikulu ya Cape Town, tinadabwa kuwona chikwangwani chonena kuti: “Azungu Okha.” Chipani cha Nationalist Party chinali chitapambana chisankho mu 1948 ndipo chinayambitsa lamulo la tsankho.

Ndithudi, kusankhana mafuko kunali kwakalekale m’South Africa, monga momwe kunaliri m’maiko ambiri mu Afirika mkati mwanthaŵi za utsamunda. Koma tsopano tsankholo linali kuvomerezedwa ndi lamulo, ndipo sitinaloledwenso kukwera tiloko imodzi ndi nzika za South Africa za khungu lakuda. Tsopano, pambuyo pa zaka 45, tsankholo likuchotsedwa.

M’nyengo yonseyo ya tsankho lalamulo, limene linalepheretsa kuchita utumiki wathu m’njira imene tinafunira, ndinatumikira monga minisitala wanthaŵi zonse wa Mboni za Yehova. Leroli, pausinkhu wa zaka 65, ndimayang’ana kumbuyo ndi kuwona chiwonjezeko chodabwitsa cha gulu la Yehova kumwera kwa Afirika kuno, ndipo ndili woyamikira mwaŵi wakukula nalo.

Choloŵa Chachikristu

Pamene atate anali achichepere, tsiku lirilonse mmawa amaŵerengera Baibulo agogo anga aamuna mofuula. M’kupita kwanthaŵi, Atate anakonda kwambiri Mawu a Mulungu. Pamene ndinabadwa mu 1928, atate anali kutumikira m’bungwe la tchalitchi cha Dutch Reformed Church m’Potgietersrus. Chaka chomwecho amalume anawapatsa kope la buku la Zeze wa Mulungu.

Komabe, Atate anauza Amayi kutentha bukulo, akumati linali la ampatuko. Koma amayi analisunga, ndipo tsiku lina pamene Atate analinyamula, linatseguka lokha pa mutu wakuti “Kodi Mulungu Amazunza Aliyense?” Ngakhale kuti iwo anali otsimikiza kuti Ophunzira Baibulo, dzina limene Mboni za Yehova zinatchedwa nalo panthaŵiyo, anali olakwa, chidwi chawo chinawasonkhezera, ndipo anayamba kuŵerenga. Sanathe kulitula pansi. M’maola oyambirira a mmaŵa, pamene analoŵa m’bedi, anati: “Amayi, anthuŵa ali nachodi chowonadi.”

Tsiku lotsatira, Atate anapalasa njinga makilomita 50 kukapeza mabuku owonjezereka kwa Wophunzira Baibulo wapafupi. Tsiku lirilonse, ankaŵerenga mpaka pakati pausiku. Iwo anayesa ngakhale kukhutiritsa minisitala wa Dutch Reformed za zowonadi za Baibulo zimene anali kuphunzira, akumayembekezera kuti tchalitchicho chikasintha. Zoyesayesa zawo zinali zosaphula kanthu, chotero anachoka m’tchalitchi nayamba kulalikira mwachangu. Chowonadi cha Baibulo chinafikira kukhala mbali ya moyo wawo ndi chinthu chofunika koposa m’banja lathu. Ndiwo mkhalidwe umene ndinakuliramo.

M’kupita kwanthaŵi, Atate anakhala mpainiya, kapena minisitala wanthaŵi zonse. Ndipo anayenda mitunda yaitali m’galimoto lakale la Model T Ford kukalalikira. Pambuyo pa zaka zingapo, zosoŵa zabanja lathu limene linali kukula zinawakakamiza kusiya ntchito yaupaniya, koma anakhalabe okangalika kwambiri m’ntchito yolalikira. Masande ena tinkayenda mitunda ya makilomita 90 kukalalikira limodzi nawo m’tauni la Pietersburg.

Bizinesi Yachitukuko

M’kupita kwanthaŵi Atate anatsegula sitolo yaing’ono yogulitsa zinthu zosiyanasiyana. Posapita nthaŵi inatukuka moŵirikiza kaŵiri, ndipo anatsegulanso sitolo yachiŵiri. Eni mafamu ena anagwirizana ndi Atate m’bizinesi yawo, ndipo m’kupita kwanthaŵi iwo onse anali ndi sitolo ya holoselu ndi masitolo wamba asanu ndi limodzi okhala apa ndi apo m’chigawo chachikulu.

Ena a akulu anga analoŵa m’bizinesiyo ndipo tsopano anali ndi chiyembekezo chakukhala olemera. Komabe, mkhalidwe wathu wauzimu unayamba kuzilala. Tinakulitsa maunansi kwa mabwenzi ndi anansi akudziko, amene anatiitanira kumapwando awo. Atawona ngoziyo, Atate anaitanitsa msonkhano wabanja ndipo anasankha kugulitsa bizinesi ndi kusamukira ku Pretoria kotero kuti tikachite zowonjezereka muutumiki wa Yehova. Anangosiya sitolo imodzi yokha, imene inasamaliridwa ndi antchito olembedwa.

Abale anga a Koos ndi a David anayamba kuchita upainiya, akumagwirizana ndi alongo anga a Lina. Mwezi wina mu 1942, banja lathu la anthu khumi linathera maola 1,000 m’ntchito yolalikira. Chaka chimenecho ndinasonyeza kupatulira moyo wanga kwa Yehova mwa kumizidwa m’madzi.

Chimene Ndinasiira Sukulu Panjira

Mu 1944, pamene Nkhondo Yadziko ya II inali pakati, Gert Nel, woyang’anira woyendayenda wa Mboni za Yehova, anandifunsa ngati ndinali kuganiza za kuyamba upainiya. “Inde,” ndinayankha motero, “pambuyo pa zaka ziŵiri, nditamaliza sukulu yasekondale.”

Powona malingaliro a Mboni za Yehova zochuluka panthaŵiyo, anandichenjeza kuti: “Samala kuti Armagedo sikupeza uli khale pabenchi kusukulu.” Powopa kuti zimenezo zingandichitikire, ndinasiya sukulu ndikuloŵa ntchito yaupainiya pa January 1, 1945.

Gawo langa loyamba linali ku Vereeniging, pafupi ndi Johannesburg, ndipo anzanga aupainiya anali Piet Wentzel ndi Danie Otto. Kaŵirikaŵiri ndinkathera maola oposa 200 pamwezi ndikulalikira. M’kupita kwanthaŵi, Piet anapatsidwa gawo lina kumzinda wa Pretoria, ndipo Danie anafunikira kusiya upainiya kuti akathandize atate ake okalamba pafamu. Motero ndinatsala ndekha monga Mboni ndikumasamlira maphunziro a Baibulo apanyumba 23 m’Vereeniging.

Posapita nthaŵi, ndilandira kalata yochokera ku ofesi yanthambi yondipatsa gawo ku Pretoria. Ngakhale kuti sindinamvetsetse chifukwa chondipatsira gawo latsopano panthaŵiyo, ndinadzazindikira pambuyo pake kuti sikukakhala kwanzeru kuti munthu wa zaka 17 wopanda chidziŵitso akhale yekha. Ndinafunikirabe kuphunzitsidwa zambiri ndipo ndikanalefuka.

Nditatumikira m’Pretoria ndi kupeza chidziŵitso chofunika, ndinaitanidwa kukakhala mpainiya wapadera. Kenako, ine ndi Piet Wentzel tinachita makonzedwe akupereka maphunziro othandiza auminisitala kwa achichepere amene anadza ku Pretoria kudzachita upainiya. Panthaŵiyo Piet anali atapatsidwa gawo la woyang’anira woyendayenda m’deralo. Pambuyo pake anakwatira alongo anga a Lina, ndipo iwo tsopano akutumikira pamodzi pa ofesi yanthambi ku South Africa.

Pakati pa awo amene anadza kudzachita upainiya ku Pretoria panali Martie Vos, msungwana wokongola amene analeredwa m’banja la Mboni. Tinakhumbirana, koma tinali achicheperebe, osafikira msinkhu woyenera kukwatirana. Komabe, pamene tinalandira magawo opita ku malo ena, tinali kulemberana makalata.

Utumiki wa pa Beteli ndi Sukulu ya Gileadi

Mu 1948, ndinaitanidwa kukatumikira pa ofesi yanthambi ya Watch Tower Society m’Cape Town. Panthaŵiyo, panalibe malo amodzi okhalamo tonse 17 amene tinagwira ntchito m’maofesi atatu alendi ndi fakitale yaing’ono chapafupi. Ena a ife tinkakhala ndi mabanja, ndipo ena ankakhala m’nyumba zolipirira.

Tsiku lantchito lirilonse ziŵalo 17 za banja la Beteli zinasonkhana kaamba ka kulambira kwammaŵa m’chipinda chosinthira cha fakitale yaing’onoyo. Ambiri a ife tinkadzipezera chakudya chamasana. Ndiyeno, pambuyo pantchito yatsiku lonse, tinali kutenga ulendo kubwerera kunyumba m’madera osiyanasiyana m’Cape Town. Panali paulendo wonga umenewu, monga momwe ndatchulira kale, pamene ine ndi mbale wanga David tinadabwa kuwona chikwangwani chonena kuti, “Azungu Okha.”

Pamene ndinafika kwanthaŵi yoyamba pa ofesi ya Cape Town, ndinazindikira kuti panali zambiri zofunika kuziphunzira, chotero ndinafunsa Mbale Phillips, woyang’anira nthambi wathu kuti: “Kodi ndiyenera kuchitanji kuti ndidziŵe zonse?”

“Frans,” iye anayankha, “usavutike ndi kudziŵa zonse. Tangopitiriza kuyesayesa!” Nthaŵi zonse ndayesa kutero, ndipo ndaphunzira kuti mwakupitiriza kuyesayesa ndi zimene gulu la Yehova limagaŵira monga chakudya chauzimu ndi chitsogozo, munthu amakula nalo gululo.

Mu 1950, ndinaitanidwa kukaloŵa kalasi la 16 la Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower kukaphunzira zaumishonale. Panthaŵiyo sukuluyo inali ku South Lansing, New York, pafupifupi makilomita 400 kumpoto kwa Brooklyn, New York. Pogwira ntchito kwakanthaŵi pamalikulu adziko lonse a Mboni za Yehova m’Brooklyn, ndinadziwonera ndekha phatha lenileni la gulu lowoneka la Yehova. Kudzipereka kwa moyo wonse kwa otsogolera ntchito kumeneko kunandidzaza ndi chiyamikiro chakuya cha gulu la Yehova.

Uminisitala Wanga Wopitiriza

Titabwerera ku South Africa, ndinaikidwa kutumikira monga woyang’anira woyendayenda kumpoto kwa Transvaal, kumene ndinakulira. Pambuyo pakulemberana makalata kwa zaka zisanu ndi chimodzi, Martie ndi ine tinakwatirana mu December 1952, ndipo anagwirizana nane m’ntchito yoyendayenda. Chiyamikiro chimene abale athu Achikristu anali nacho chakuchezera kwathu chinali chothutsa mtima.

Mwachitsanzo, panthaŵi ina tikutumikira mpingo wina kumafamu, tinakhala ndi banja limene linapepetsa chifukwa chakutipatsa tii kapena kofi wopanda mkaka. Pambuyo pake tinadzamva kuti anali atagulitsa ng’ombe yawo yamkaka imodzi yokhayo kuti atipezere ndalama ya petulo wokatifikitsa kumbali zakutali za gawo lawo kuti tikalalikire kwa akumafamuko. Tinawakonda chotani nanga abale oterowo!

Panthaŵi zina ndinamva kukhala wosakwanira pa ntchito yadera, makamaka pochita ndi mavuto oloŵetsamo anthu achikulire. Nthaŵi ina ndinadziwona kukhala wothedwa nzeru kotero kuti ndinauza Martie kuti asadabwe ngati tinabwerera kugawo la ntchito yaupainiya chifukwa cha kusoŵa kwanga chidziŵitso. Iye ananditsimikizira kuti akakhala wokondwa kutumikira m’mbali iriyonse malinga ngati tikhalabe muunisitala wanthaŵi zonse.

Lingalirani mmene tinadabwira pamene tinafika pampingo wotsatira ndi kulandira kalata yathu yotipereka m’ntchito yachigawo! Kwapafupifupi zaka ziŵiri, tinayendayenda m’South Africa yense ndi Namibia, panthaŵiyo wotchedwa South-West Africa. Komabe, chifukwa cha lamulo la tsankho, ntchito yathu kaŵirikaŵiri inali yovuta. Kaŵirikaŵiri tinali kumanidwa chilolezo chakuloŵa m’makomboni a anthu akuda ndipo nthaŵi zina tinali kumanidwa chicholezo chakuchita misonkhano yaikulu.

Mwachitsanzo, mu 1960 tinapeza chilolezo chakuchita msonkhano wachigawo m’Soweto. Abale achikuda a ku mipingo yakutali anali atagula kale matikiti a sitima ndi basi kuti abwere, koma boma linamva zamakonzedwe athu nilichotsa chilolozecho. Mochenjera, tinakawonana ndi bwanamkubwa wina wokoma mtima wa tauni lina lokhala pamtunda wa makilomita 20 kumbali ina ya Johannesburg. Iye mokoma mtima anatipatsa malo abwinopo kwambiri, ndipo tinakhala ndi msonkhano wachigawo wokondweretsa, ndipo panali anthu oposa 12,000!

Mkhalidwewo wasintha chotani nanga m’zaka zamakono! Tsopano, pamene tsankho likutha, tikhoza kusonkhana momasuka kulikonse, m’malo a anthu akuda, azungu, makaladi, kapena Amwenye. Aliyense, mosasamala kanthu za fuko, amakhala pamodzi ndi kusangalala ndi mayanjano. Kusiyana kwa chinenero kokha nkumene kumachititsa munthu kusankha kokhala.

Phunziro Lopweteka Mtima

Kalelo mu 1947, atate anapanga cholakwa chachikulu. Sitolo yawo, yokhala pa makilomita 200 kuchokera kumene iwo ndi Amayi anali kukhala, siinali kupeza phindu lirilonse chifukwa cha kayendetsedwe kosawona mtima, chotero iwo anasamuka kukadziyendetsera okha sitoloyo. Nyengo zazitali zakusakhalira limodzi ndi Amayi zinawachititsa kugwera m’chiyeso. Chotsatirapo, anachotsedwa.

Zimenezi zinandiphunzitsa kanthu kena, koma mwanjira yoŵaŵa, kuti changu chokha cha chowonadi cha Baibulo sichokwanira. Aliyense ayenera kumamatira kumalamulo amakhalidwe abwino a Baibulo. (1 Akorinto 7:5) Pambuyo pa zaka zambiri, Atate anabwezeredwa mu mpingo Wachikristu ndipo anatumikira mokhulupirika kufikira imfa yawo mu 1970. Amayi okondedwa analinso okhulupirika kufikira imfa yawo mu 1991.

Madalitso Owonjezereka

Mu 1958, ine ndi Martie tinakapezeka pamsonkhano waukulu wa Mboni za Yehova umene sunachitikepo ndi kalelonse, ku Yankee Stadium ndi Polo Grounds m’New York. Tinadzazidwa ndi chisangalalo pokhala mbali ya gulu lodabwitsa la Yehova. Kukhala pakati pa namtindi wa anthu oposa 253,000 pa Sande masana kunali chochitika chimene sitidzaiŵala konse. Kumeneko, tinawonadi ‘khamu lalikulu lochokera m’mitundu yonse’ losonkhana pamodzi mwamtendere. (Chivumbulutso 7:9, 10) Martie anatsala ku New York ku Sukulu ya Gileadi, ndipo ine ndinabwerera m’ntchito yachigawo ku South Africa.

Mu 1959, Martie atabwerako ku kalasi la 32 la Sukulu ya Gileadi, tinaitanidwa kukatumikira pa ofesi yanthambi ku South Africa, imene panthaŵiyo inali ku Elandsfontein, kum’maŵa kwa Johannesburg. Kwa zaka zambiri, ndinawona kupita patsogolo kwa gulu m’njira zambirimbiri, makamaka kukula kwake m’chikondi ndi chifundo. Ndaphunzira kuti Yehova amatsogoza gulu lake kupyolera mwa Yesu Kristu ndipo adzagwiritsira ntchito awo amene amadzipereka.

Mu 1962, ndinabwerera ku Brooklyn, New York, kukachita kosi ya miyezi khumi yoyang’anira nthambi. Kosiyo inathandiza kwambiri mu 1967 pamene ndinaikidwa woyang’anira nthambi ya South Africa. Mu 1976, Makomiti Anthambi anaikidwa, chotero tsopano thayo lakupanga zosankha zazikulu m’South Africa lili pa akulu Achikristu asanu achidziŵitso.

Umoyo Mkati mwa Lamulo la Tsankho

Malamulo atsankho anayambukira ntchito ya nthambi yathu. Pamene Nyumba ya Beteli ya ku Elandsfontein inamangidwa mu 1952, lamulo linafuna kuti pamangidwe nyumba yapadera kumbuyo yogona abale achikuda ndi achikaladi. Lamulolo linafunanso kuti abalewo asamadyera pamodzi ndi azungu koma paokha m’nyumba zawo zotchedwa nyumba za Akuda. Pambuyo pake, panakhala makonzedwe akuti adzidyera m’kitchini ya Beteli. Ndiwo makonzedwe akadyedwe amene tinapeza pamene tinafika pa Beteli mu 1959. Ndinanyansidwa kotheratu ndi tsankho la fuko limeneli.

M’kupita kwanthaŵi, boma linadzachotsa chilolezo cha abale achikuda kukhala m’nyumba yakumbuyo kwa Nyumba yaikulu ya Beteli. Abalewa anakhala m’makomboni a anthu akuda pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 20. Ena anakhala m’nyumba zalendi ndipo ena m’mahositelo a mbeta. Mkhalidwe woipa umenewu unapitiriza kwa zaka zambiri.

Kuwonjezereka kwa Beteli

Panthaŵiyo, Beteli ya ku Elandsfontein inafunikira kuwonjezeredwa. Pambuyo pakuifutukula katatu, tinafika pogomera malo athu. Bungwe Lolamulira linalamula kuti tifune malo atsopano kumene olamulira akumalowo akatilola kumanga nyumba yosanja ya Beteli imene abale athu achikuda nawonso akakhala. Tsiku lirilonse mmaŵa banja la Beteli linali kupemphera kuti Yehova atheketse zimenezi mwanjira yake.

Linali tsiku lachisangalalo chotani nanga pamene potsirizira pake tinapeza malo oyenerera ku malo akumidzi a Krugersdorp, kumadzulo kwa Johannesburg! Komabe, tinayeneranso kumanga nyumba yapayokha ya abale athu achikuda. Tinatsatira lamulolo koma sitinaloledwe kukhala ndi abale athu achikuda oposa 20. Mwamwaŵi, podzafika pakati pa 1980, zinthu zinayamba kusintha. Boma linafeŵetsako malamulo ake atsankho, ndipo abale owonjezereka achikuda, achikaladi, ndi Amwenye anaitanidwa kudzatumikira limodzi nafe pa Beteli.

Tsopano tiri ndi banja la Beteli lachimwemwe, ndi logwirizana, kumene aliyense, mosasamala kanthu za fuko kapena khungu, akhoza kukhala m’nyumba iliyonse imene afuna. Ndiponso, pambuyo pa zaka zambiri zakulimbana, tsopano tinavomerezedwa ndi lamulo monga chipembedzo. Bungwe lalamulo lapangidwa limene lalembetsedwa monga “Jehovah’s Witnesses of South Africa.” Tsopano tiri ndi abale okwatitsa athuathu, ndipo m’makomboni a anthu akuda, Nyumba Zaufumu zikuchuluka mofulumira.

Gulu la Yehova lapita patsogolo chotani nanga chiyambire masiku anga oyambirira pamene ndinatumikira mu ofesi ya nthambi mu Cape Town! Kuchokera pa banja laling’ono la anthu 17 lopanda Nyumba ya Beteli, tsopano tawonjezereka kukhala banja la Beteli la oposa 460, okhala ndi nyumba yosanja ya Beteli yokhala ndi makompyuta apatsogolo, makina osindikiza a rotary, ndi Nyumba ya Beteli yokongola! Inde, ndakhala ndi mwaŵi wakukula ndi gulu la Yehova mu South Africa. Tawonjezereka kuchokera pa ofalitsa a Ufumu pafupifupi 400 pamene ndinayamba uminisitala zaka 50 zapitazo kufikira pafupifupi 55,000 lerolino!

Ndikuthokoza Yehova kuti kwa zaka 40 zapitazo ndakhala ndi mkazi wochilikiza kwambiri. “Chikho changa chisefuka.” (Salmo 23:5) Martie ndi ine tili oyamikira kukhala mbali ya gulu la Yehova lotsogozedwa ndi mzimu wake ndipo tili otsimikiza kupitirizabe kutumikira Yehova m’nyumba yake, Beteli, ndi kupitirizabe kuyendera limodzi ndi gulu lake lopita patsogolo.

[Mapu patsamba 19]

(Onani m’magazini yeniyeni kuti mumvetse izi)

ANGOLA

ZAIRE

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

SWAZILAND

LESOTHO

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria

Johannesburg

Cape Town

Port Elizabeth

SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL

[Chithunzi patsamba 20]

Piet Wentzel ndi Frans Muller (kumanzere) m’ntchito yaupainiya mu 1945

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Frans ndi Martie Muller