“Popeza Tili Nawo Utumiki . . . , Sitifooka”

YOSIMBIDWA NDI RONALD TAYLOR

Tsiku lina m’chilimwe cha 1963, ndinali kulimbana kuti ndipulumutse moyo wanga. Pamene ndinali kuyenda m’madzi m’gombe, ndinaponda m’dzenje lobisika ndipo mwadzidzidzi ndinagwera m’madzi akuya kwambiri. Pokhala wosadziŵa kusambira, ndinatsala pang’ono kumira mamita angapo chabe kuchokera kugombe. Ndinali nditapita kale pansi pa madzi katatu ndi kumwa madzi ochuluka a m’nyanja pamene bwenzi langa linaona kuti ndinali m’vuto ndi kundikokera kugombe. Chifukwa cha kundipumitsa, ndinapulumuka.

IMENEYI sindiyo inali nthaŵi yanga yoyamba ya kuzindikira kufunika kwa kusafooka​—ngakhale pamene zinthu zinaoneka kukhala zothetsa nzeru. Kuyambira paubwana, ndinalimbikira kupulumutsa moyo wanga wauzimu.

Ndinapeza choonadi Chachikristu kwa nthaŵi yoyamba m’masiku amdima a nkhondo yachiŵiri yadziko. Ndinali mmodzi wa ana zikwi zambiri amene anachotsedwa m’London kupeŵa kuukira kophulitsa mabomba. Popeza kuti ndinali ndi zaka 12 zokha, nkhondoyo kwa ine sinali kanthu kwenikweni; inali ngati maseŵera chabe.

Banja lina la okalamba ku Weston-super-Mare, kummwera koma chakumadzulo kwa England, linandisamalira. Posapita nthaŵi yaitali pamene ndinafika panyumba pa banjalo, atumiki achipainiya ena anayamba kutichezera. Ndiwo banja la a Hargreaves; ndipo onse anayi​—Reg, Mabs, Pamela, ndi Valeri​—anali apainiya apadera. Makolo ondilerawo analandira choonadi, ndipo nditaphunzira buku la The Harp of God, nanenso ndinapanga chosankha cha kutumikira Yehova. Pambuyo pa milungu isanu ndi umodzi yokha, ndinaitanidwa kukhala ndi phande m’ntchito yolalikira.

Ndimalikumbukirabe tsiku lija pamene ndinayamba kupita mu utumiki wakumunda. Popanda kukonzekera, ndinapatsidwa timabuku ndi kuuzidwa kuti: “Udzagwirira ntchito kumbali iyo ya msewu.” Ndimmene linalili tsiku langa loyamba kulalikira. Panthaŵiyo, tinkalalikira nthaŵi zambiri ndi marekodi a galamafoni okhala ndi maulaliki amphamvu. Zimene zinali kundikondweretsa kwambiri zinali kunyamula galamafoni kupita nayo kunyumba ndi nyumba ndi kuliza nkhani zojambulidwa. Kugwira ntchito mwanjira imeneyo ndinakuonadi kukhala mwaŵi weniweni.

Ndinachitira umboni kwambiri pasukulu ndipo ndikumbukira kuti ndinagaŵira mabuku onena za Baibulo kwa a hedimasitala. Pausinkhu wa zaka 13, ndinabatizidwa pamsonkhano wapafupi ku Bath. Msonkhano wina wapanthaŵi ya nkhondo umene sindidzaiŵala ndi umene unachitikira ku Leicester mu 1941 mu De Montfort Hall. Ndinapita ku pulatifomu kukalandira buku langa la Children, limene linali ndi uthenga waumwini wochokera kwa Mbale Rutherford, amene panthaŵiyo anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Society. Nkhani yogwira mtima imene inakambidwa kwa achichepere onse omwe analipo inakulitsa chikhumbo changa cha kutumikira Yehova kosatha.

Motero ndinatha zaka ziŵiri zosangalatsa ndikumakula m’choonadi ndi makolo ondilera. Koma pausinkhu wa zaka 14, ndinakakamizika kubwerera ku London ndi kukayamba ntchito kuti ndipeze zofunika za moyo. Ngakhale kuti ndinagwirizananso ndi banja lathu, ndinayenera kudziimira pandekha mwauzimu, popeza panalibe aliyense panyumba amene anali ndi zikhulupiriro zanga. Posapita nthaŵi Yehova anapereka thandizo limene ndinafunikira. Patangopita milungu itatu kuchokera pamene ndinafika m’London, mbale wina anafika panyumba pathu kudzapempha atate ngati akamlola kupita nane ku Nyumba Yaufumu ya kumaloko. Mbale ameneyo anali John Barr, amene tsopano ndi chiŵalo cha Bungwe Lolamulira la Mboni za Yehova. Anakhala mmodzi wa “atate” anga auzimu m’zaka zaunyamata zovutazo.​—Mateyu 19:29.

Ndinayamba kuloŵa Mpingo wa Paddington, umene unali kusonkhanira ku Craven Terrace pafupi ndi Nyumba ya Beteli ya London. Popeza kuti ndinali mwana wamasiye mwauzimu, mbale wina wodzozedwa wachikulire, “Pop” Humphreys, anauzidwa kundisamalira mwapadera. Kuyanjana ndi abale ambiri ndi alongo odzozedwa otumikira mumpingowo kunalidi dalitso lalikulu. Ife amene tinali ndi chiyembekezo cha padziko lapansi​—otchedwa Ayonadabu​—tinali oŵerengeka. Kwenikweni, pa Phunziro Labuku Lampingo limene ndinali kuloŵa ndinalipo ndekha “Myonadabu.” Ngakhale kuti sindinayanjane kwambiri ndi amsinkhu wanga, mayanjano amtengo wake amenewo ndi abale okhwima anandiphunzitsa maphunziro ambiri othandiza. Mwina lofunika koposa linali la kusasiya utumiki wa Yehova.

M’masiku amenewo, tinkapatulira mapeto a mlungu onse kaamba ka ntchito yolalikira. Ndinapatsidwa ntchito yosamalira “galimoto la zokuzira mawu,” limene kwenikweni linali njinga ya magudumu atatu yokonzedwa kunyamulira ziŵiya zokuzira mawu ndi batiri la galimoto. Loŵeruka lililonse, ndinkakwera njingayo ndi kupita pamagulaye osiyanasiyana a makwalala, kumene tinkaliza nyimbo ndi imodzi ya nkhani za Mbale Rutherford. Loŵeruka linalinso tsiku lopita m’ntchito ya m’khwalala ndi zola zathu zamagazini. Pa Sande tinkachita ntchito ya kunyumba ndi nyumba, ndi kugaŵira timabuku ndi mabuku.

Kuyanjana kwanga ndi abale achangu achikulirepo kunakulitsa chikhumbo changa cha kuchita upainiya. Chikhumbo chimenechi chinalimbitsidwa pamene ndinamvera nkhani za apainiya pamisonkhano yachigawo. Msonkhano umene unayambukira kwambiri moyo wanga ndi umene unachitikira mu Earl’s Court, London, mu 1947. Miyezi iŵiri pambuyo pake, ndinalembetsa utumiki waupainiya, ndipo ndalimbikira kusunga mzimu waupainiyawo chiyambire. Chimwemwe chimene ndinapeza m’kuchititsa maphunziro a Baibulo opita patsogolo chinatsimikizira kuti chimenechi chinali chosankha cholondola.

Mkwatibwi Wachispanya ndi Gawo Lachispanya

M’chaka cha 1957, pamene ndinali kuchitabe upainiya mu Mpingo wa Paddington, ndinakumana ndi mlongo wokongola Wachispanya wa dzina lakuti Rafaela. Patapita miyezi ingapo, tinakwatirana. Chonulirapo chathu chinali kuchitira pamodzi upainiya, koma choyamba tinapita ku Madrid kuti ndikaonane ndi makolo a Rafaela. Unali ulendo umene unasintha moyo wanga. Pamene tinali ku Madrid, Mbale Ray Dusinberre, woyang’anira nthambi ya Spain, anandipempha kulingalirapo za kukatumikira m’Spain, mmene munali kusoŵa kwakukulu kwa abale achidziŵitso.

Kodi tikanakaniranji chiitano chimenecho? Chotero, mu 1958, aŵirife tinayamba utumiki wa nthaŵi yonse m’Spain. Panthaŵiyo dzikolo linali kulamuliridwa ndi Franco, ndipo ntchito yathu sinali yovomerezedwa ndi lamulo, zimene zinachititsa ntchito yolalikira kuvuta kwambiri. Ndiponso, ndinavutika kwambiri kuphunzira chinenero cha Chispanya kwa zaka zingapo zoyambirira. Panonso, inali nkhani ya kusafooka, ngakhale kuti ndinalira panthaŵi zingapo chifukwa cha kukhumudwa kwambiri ndi kusakhoza kwanga kulankhulana ndi abale mumpingo.

Kusoŵa kwa oyang’anira kunali kwakukulu kwambiri kwakuti ngakhale kuti sindinali kukhoza kulankhula Chispanya, ndinayamba kusamalira kagulu kochepa m’mwezi umodzi wokha. Popeza kuti ntchito yathu inali yachinsinsi, tinalinganizidwa m’timagulu tating’ono ta ofalitsa 15 mpaka 20, timene tinagwira ntchito mofanana kwambiri ndi mipingo yaing’ono. Poyamba, kunali kosautsa kuchititsa misonkhano, popeza kuti si nthaŵi zonse pamene ndinali kumva mayankho a omvetsera. Komabe, mkazi wanga anali kukhala kumbuyo, ndipo ataona kuti ndasokonezeka, anali kugwedeza mutu mwanzeru kuvomereza kuti yankholo linali lolondola.

Ndilibe mphatso ya zinenero, ndipo nthaŵi zambiri ndinalingalirapo za kubwerera ku England, kumene ndikanakhoza kuchita zonse mosavuta. Chikhalirechobe, kuchokera pachiyambi, chikondi ndi ubwenzi za abale ndi alongo athu okondedwa Achispanya zinachepetsa kukhumudwa kwanga ndi chinenero. Ndipo Yehova anandidalitsa ndi mathayo apadera amene anachititsa zonsezo kuoneka kukhala zosavuta. Mu 1958, ndinaitanidwa kukapezeka kumsonkhano wamitundu yonse ku New York monga nthumwi yochokera ku Spain. Ndiyeno mu 1962, ndinalandira maphunziro ofunika kwambiri ku Sukulu Yautumiki Waufumu yokonzedwera ife ku Tangier, Morocco.

Vuto lina limene ndinali nalo, kuwonjezera pa la chinenero, linali nkhaŵa yanthaŵi zonse ya kugwidwa ndi apolisi. Pokhala mlendo, ndinadziŵa kuti nditangogwidwa, basi akandipitikitsa m’dzikolo. Poyesa kupeŵetsako ngozi imeneyo, tinkagwira ntchito aŵiriaŵiri. Pamene wina anali kulalikira, winayo anali kumvetsera ngati kunali zizindikiro zilizonse za ngozi. Titapita pakhomo limodzi kapena aŵiri, kaŵirikaŵiri pamwamba pa nyumba yosanja, tinali kuchoka ndi kudutsa nyumba zina ziŵiri kapena zitatu ndi kufikiranso nyumba zina ziŵiri kapena zitatu. Tinali kugwiritsira ntchito Baibulo kwambiri, ndipo tinali kunyamula timabuku toŵerengeka chabe tobisidwa m’makhothi athu tokagaŵira kwa anthu okondwerera.

Titatha chaka chimodzi ku Madrid, tinatumizidwa ku Vigo, mzinda waukulu kumpoto koma chakumadzulo kwa Spain, kumene kunalibiretu Mboni. Kwa mwezi woyamba kapena kuposapo, Sosaite inanena kuti mkazi wanga azichita mbali yaikulu ya umboni​—kupereka chithunzi chakuti tinali alendo odzaona malo. Mosasamala kanthu za njira imeneyo yosakopa anthu, ulaliki wathu unakopa anthu ambiri. M’mwezi umodzi wokha, ansembe Achikatolika anayamba kutineneza pawailesi. Anachenjeza anthu awo kuti banja lina linali kupita kunyumba ndi nyumba likumalankhula za Baibulo​—limene panthaŵiyo linali buku losaloledwa kwenikweni. “Banja lofunidwalo” linali la mwamuna wachilendo ndi mkazi wake Wachispanya, amene analankhula kwambiri!

Ansembe analamula kuti kungolankhula ndi banja loipa limeneli kunali uchimo umene ukakhululukiridwa kokha ngati utaululidwa msanga kwa wansembe. Ndipo zinachitikadi kuti, titangomaliza kukambitsirana kwabwino ndi mkazi wina, iye anatiuza mopepesa kuti akapita kukaulula. Pamene tinachoka panyumba pake, tinamuona akuthamangira kutchalitchi.

Kupitikitsidwa

Patangopita miyezi iŵiri kuchokera pamene tinafika m’Vigo, apolisi anatigwira. Wapolisi yemwe anatigwira anali wachifundo ndipo sanatimange unyolo wa m’manja popita ku polisi. Kupolisiko, tinaona munthu amene tinamdziŵa, mlembi amene tinamlalikira posachedwa. Mkaziyo anavutikadi maganizo kutiona tikuchitidwa ngati apandu nafulumiza kudzatiuza kuti sindiye anatipereka. Chikhalirechobe, tinaimbidwa mlandu wa kuwopseza “umodzi wauzimu wa Spain,” ndipo patapita milungu isanu ndi umodzi tinapitikitsidwa m’dzikolo.

Zimenezo zinatikhumudwitsa, koma sitinafune kufooka. Ntchito yochuluka inali idakalipo pa Iberian Peninsula. Titatha miyezi itatu m’Tangier, tinatumizidwa ku Gibraltar​—gawo lina losafoledwapo. Monga momwe mtumwi Paulo ananenera, ngati tilemekeza utumiki wathu, tidzapitirizabe kugwira ntchito ndipo tidzafupidwa. (2 Akorinto 4:1, 7, 8) Zimenezi zinachitikadi kwa ife. Panyumba yoyamba yeniyeni imene tinafikapo m’Gibraltar, tinayambitsa phunziro la Baibulo kwa banja lonse. Posapita nthaŵi, tinali kuchititsa maphunziro 17 aliyense payekha. Anthu ambiri amene tinaphunzira nawo anakhala Mboni, ndipo m’zaka ziŵiri zokha panakhala mpingo wa ofalitsa 25.

Koma, monga ku Vigo, atsogoleri achipembedzo anayamba mkupiti wotitsutsa. Bishopu wa Anglican wa Gibraltar anachenjeza mkulu wa apolisi kuti tinali “anthu osafunikira,” ndipo mkupiti wake unabala zipatso potsirizira pake. Mu January 1962 tinapitikitsidwa m’Gibraltar. Kodi tikanapita kuti tsopano? Kusoŵa kunali kwakukulube m’Spain, chotero tinabwerera kumeneko, tikumalingalira kuti panthaŵiyi mlandu wathu wakalewo kupolisi unali utaiŵalika.

Malo athu atsopano amene tinakakhalako anali mzinda wadzuŵa kwambiri wa Seville. Kumeneko tinakondwera kugwira ntchito kwambiri ndi banja lina la apainiya, Ray ndi Pat Kirkup. Ngakhale kuti Seville unali mzinda wa anthu okwanira theka la miliyoni, kunali chabe ofalitsa 21, chotero panali ntchito yaikulu yochita. Tsopano muli mipingo 15 ndi ofalitsa 1,500. Pambuyo pa chaka chimodzi tinalandira zodabwitsa zosangalatsa; tinaitanidwa kukatumikira m’ntchito yoyendayenda m’dera la Barcelona.

Ntchito ya dera m’dziko limene ntchito yathu inali yosavomerezedwa ndi lamulo inali yosiyana. Mlungu uliwonse tinkachezera timagulu tating’ono, timene tambiri ta ito tinali ndi abale okhoza bwino oŵerengeka kwambiri. Abale ogwira ntchito mwamphamvu ameneŵa anafunikira maphunziro ndi chichirikizo chimene tinawapatsa. Ntchito imeneyi tinaikondadi! Pambuyo pa kutha zaka zingapo m’madera amene anali ndi Mboni zoŵerengeka, ngati zinaliko nkomwe, tinakondwera kwambiri kumachezera abale ndi alongo ambiri osiyanasiyana. Ndiponso, ntchito yolalikira inali yofeŵerapo m’Barcelona, ndipo anthu ambiri anafuna kuphunzira Baibulo.

Kulimbana ndi Kupsinjika Maganizo

Komabe, patangopita miyezi isanu ndi umodzi, moyo wanga unasintha kwambiri. Tchuthi chathu choyamba kugombe chinatsala pang’ono kukhala tsoka pamene ndinapezeka m’ngozi yotchulidwa poyamba. Kuthupi, ndinachira msanga ndithu pa mantha aakulu a kumira kumene kunatsala pang’ono kuchitika, komabe chochitikacho chinasiya chiyambukiro chosatha pa maganizo anga.

Kwa miyezi ingapo, ndinayesayesa kupitiriza m’ntchito ya dera, koma pomalizira pake ndinabwerera ku England kukapeza chithandizo cha mankhwala. Pambuyo pa zaka ziŵiri ndinakhalapo bwino moti tinabwerera ku Spain, kumene tinayambanso ntchito ya dera. Komabe, kunali kwa nthaŵi yochepa chabe. Makolo a mkazi wanga anadwala kwambiri, ndipo tinasiya utumiki wa nthaŵi yonse kuti tikawasamalire.

Mu 1968, moyo unakhala wovuta kwambiri pamene ndinagwidwa ndi kupsinjika maganizo kowopsa. Nthaŵi zina ineyo ndi Rafaela tinkaganiza kuti sindikachira. Zinachita ngati kuti ndinali kumiranso, koma mwanjira yosiyana! Kuwonjezera pa kundithetsa nzeru ndi chisoni, kupsinjika maganizoko kunanditayitsa nyonga yanga yonse. Ndinavutika ndi kutopetsa, kumene kunandikakamiza kupumula pafupifupi nthaŵi zonse. Panthaŵiyo si abale onse amene anamvetsetsa vuto la mtundu umenewu; komatu ndinadziŵa kuti Yehova anamvetsetsa. Ndakhala wokhutira kwambiri kuŵerenga nkhani zabwino koposa m’magazini a Nsanja ya Olonda ndi Galamukani! zimene zakhala zolimbikitsa ndi zothandiza kwambiri kwa opsinjika maganizo.

M’nthaŵi yovuta yonseyi, mkazi wanga anali magwero osatha a chilimbikitso. Kulimbana ndi mavuto muli aŵiri kumalimbitsadi chomangira cha ukwati. Makolo a Rafaela anamwalira, ndipo pambuyo pa zaka 12, thanzi langa linawongokera kwakuti tinaganiza kuti tikakhoza kuchitanso utumiki wa nthaŵi yonse. Mu 1981, tinadabwa ndipo tinakondwera pamene tinaitanidwanso kukatumikira m’ntchito ya dera.

Panali patakhala masinthidwe aakulu ateokrase m’Spain kuyambira pamene tinali mu utumiki woyendayenda kalelo. Ulaliki tsopano unali wololedwa, chotero ndinafunikira kusintha mogwirizana ndi mikhalidwe yatsopano. Chikhalirechobe, kutumikiranso monga woyang’anira dera kunalidi mwaŵi waukulu. Kuchita kwathu upainiya mosasamala kanthu za mikhalidwe yovuta kunatikhozetsa kulimbikitsa apainiya amene anali ndi zovuta. Ndipo nthaŵi zambiri tinakhoza kuthandiza ena kuyamba upainiya.

Pambuyo pa kugwira ntchito yoyendayenda kwa zaka 11 m’Madrid ndi Barcelona, kudwala kunatisinthitsa ntchito yathu. Tinaikidwa kukhala apainiya apadera mumzinda wa Salamanca, kumene ndikakhoza kukhala wothandiza monga mkulu. Abale a m’Salamanca anatimvetsa kukhala olandiridwa kwambiri titangofika. Patapita chaka chimodzi tsoka lina linafika limene linaika chipiriro chathu pachiyeso.

Modabwitsa, Rafaela anachepa mwazi m’thupi kwambiri, ndipo kupima kunavumbula kuti anali ndi kansa ku thumbo lalikulu. Tsopano ndine amene ndinafunikira kukhala wolimba ndi kuchirikiza mkazi wanga monga momwe ndikanathera. Poyamba, sitinakhulupirire ndipo tinachita mantha. Kodi Rafaela akapulumuka? Panthaŵi ngati imeneyi, chimene chimatithandiza kupitirizabe ndicho kudalira Yehova kotheratu. Ndine wokondwa kunena kuti opaleshoni ya Rafaela inayenda bwino, ndipo tikhulupirira kuti kansayo sidzabukanso.

Ngakhale kuti takhala ndi nthaŵi zovuta m’zaka 36 zimene takhala m’Spain, kwakhala kosangalatsa kupyola nyengo imeneyi ya kukula kwauzimu. Taona kagulu kochepa ka ofalitsa 800 mu 1958 kakukula kukhala khamu la ofalitsa oposa 100,000 lerolino. Zovuta zathu zaphimbidwa ndi chimwemwe chathu chachikulu​—kuthandiza ena kulandira choonadi ndi kukula msinkhu mwauzimu, kugwirira ntchito pamodzi monga mwamuna ndi mkazi wake, ndi kuona kuti tagwiritsira ntchito miyoyo yathu mwanjira yabwino koposa.

Paulo, m’kalata yake yachiŵiri kwa Akorinto akuti: “Popeza tili nawo utumiki umene, monga talandira chifundo, sitifooka.” (2 Akorinto 4:1) Poyang’ana za mmbuyozo, ndikhulupirira panali zinthu zingapo m’moyo wanga zimene zinandiletsa kufooka. Chitsanzo cha abale odzozedwa okhulupirika amene anandisamalira kwambiri m’zaka zanga za kukula chinapereka maziko abwino. Kukhala ndi mnzako wamuukwati amene ali ndi zonulirapo zauzimu zimodzimodzi kumathandiza kwambiri; pamene ndinapsinjika maganizo, Rafaela anandilimbikitsa, ndipo ndachita zofananazo kwa iye. Nthabwala nazonso ndi mkhalidwe wothandiza kwambiri. Kuseka ndi abale​—ndi kudziseka​—mwanjira ina yake kumachititsa zovuta kuoneka ngati zosalemetsa.

Koma kuposa zonse, kupirira poyang’anizana ndi ziyeso kumafuna nyonga ya Yehova. Nthaŵi zonse ndimakumbukira mawu a Paulo akuti: “Ndikhoza zonse mwa Iye wondipatsa mphamvuyo.” Popeza kuti Yehova akutichirikiza, palibe chifukwa choti tifookere.​—Afilipi 4:13.

[Zithunzi patsamba 23]

Ronald ndi Rafaela Taylor mu 1958

[Zithunzi pamasamba 24, 25]

Kusonkhana pansi pa chiletso m’Spain (1969)