Kutsatira Mapazi a Makolo Anga

YOSIMBIDWA NDI HILDA PADGETT

“Ndinapatulira moyo wanga kuchita utumiki wa Wam’mwambamwamba,” inasimba motero nyuzipepala, “ndipo sindingatumikire ambuye aŵiri.” Mawu anga amenewo kwa akuluakulu a British Ministry of Labour and National Service mu 1941 anasonyeza chifukwa changa chimene ndinakanira ntchito m’chipatala imene anandiuza kuchita mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko II. Posapita nthaŵi ndinapezedwa ndi mlandu ndi kupatsidwa chilango cha miyezi itatu m’ndende chifukwa cha kukana kwanga.

KODI nchiyani chimene chinandiloŵetsa mu vuto limeneli? Sikunali kutengeka mtima kwa wachichepere kapena mkhalidwe wa kupanduka, ayi. M’malo mwake, zifukwa zake zikuchokera kumbuyoko pamene ndinali mwana.

Changu cha Atate Kaamba ka Ufumu

Ndinabadwa pa June 5, 1914, ku Horsforth pafupi ndi Leeds, kumpoto kwa England. Makolo anga, a Atkinson ndi a Pattie Padgett, anali aphunzitsi a Sande sukulu ndi a m’khwaya pa Primitive Methodist Chapel kumene Atate anali kuliza limba. Pamene ndinali khanda, nyumba yathu inali malo achimwemwe kusiyapo chinthu chimodzi. Atate anada nkhaŵa ndi mikhalidwe ya dziko. Anada nkhondo ndi chiwawa ndipo ankakhulupirira lamulo la Baibulo lakuti: “Usaphe.”​—Eksodo 20:13.

Mu 1915 boma linalimbikitsa anyamata onse kuloŵa m’gulu lankhondo modzifunira m’malo mwa kulembedwa usilikali moumirizidwa. Mokayikira Atate anaimirira pamvula tsiku lonse akumayembekezera kuti nawonso alembetse usilikali. Koma mmaŵa mwake, moyo wawo wonse unasintha!

Pamene anali kugwira ntchito panyumba ina yaikulu monga woika mipope, analankhula ndi antchito ena za zochitika za dziko. Wosamalira maluŵa wina anawapatsa trakiti lakuti Gathering the Lord’s Jewels. Atate anamka nalo kunyumba, naliŵerenga mobwerezabwereza. “Ngati chimenechi chili choonadi,” iwo anatero, “ndiye kuti zina zonse nzolakwika.” Mmaŵa mwake, anafunsa zambiri, ndipo anaŵerenga Baibulo kufikira mbanda kucha kwa milingu itatu. Anadziŵa kuti anapeza choonadi! Pa Sande, January 2, 1916, dayale yawo ikuti: “Tinamka ku Chapel mmaŵa, tinamka ku I.B.S.A. [International Bible Students Association, dzina la Mboni za Yehova panthaŵiyo mu England] usiku​—kuŵerenga Ahebri 6:9-20​—kuonana kwanga koyamba ndi abale.”

Posakhalitsa panabuka chitsutso. Achibale athu ndi mabwenzi akutchalitchi anaganiza kuti Atate anasokonekera maganizo. Koma anali atapanga chosankha. Chinthu chachikulu kwa iwo chinali misonkhano ndi kuŵerenga, ndipo podzafika m’March anasonyeza kudzipatulira kwawo kwa Yehova ndi ubatizo wa m’madzi. Atate atapita kumisonkhano kwa milungu ingapo ali okha, Amayi anagonja. Anandiika m’chikuku ndi kuyenda makilomita asanu ndi atatu kumka ku Leeds, akumafika pamene msonkhano unali kutha kumene. Tangolingalirani chikondwerero chimene Atate anali nacho. Kuyambira pamenepo, banja lathu linagwirizana mu utumiki wa Yehova.

Atate anali mu mkhalidwe wovuta kwambiri​—munthu wodzilembetsa usilikali ndiyeno patapita milungu ingapo, nkukhala wokana lamulo chifukwa cha chikumbumtima. Pamene anaitanidwa anakana kunyamula mfuti, ndipo podzafika July 1916 analoŵa m’khoti loyamba la makhoti asanu a asilikali, akumapatsidwa chilango cha masiku 90 m’ndende. Atamaliza chilango choyamba, Atate anali ndi tchuthi cha milungu iŵiri, chotsatiridwa ndi kuloŵa m’khoti kwina ndi masiku 90 enanso m’ndende. Atamasulidwa m’ndende kachiŵiri, anawasamutsira ku Royal Army Medical Corps, ndipo pa February 12, 1917, anayenda pa sitima yankhondo ya panyanja kumka ku Rouen, France. Dayale yawo ikusimba kuti tsiku lililonse kumeneko ananyansidwa kwambiri ndi ntchito yawo. Anazindikira kuti anali kungomanga mabala a asilikali kuti abwerere kukamenya nkhondo.

Chotero anakananso kuchita ntchitoyo. Nthaŵiyi khotilo linawapatsa chilango cha kukhala zaka zisanu m’ndende ya asilikali Achibritishi ku Rouen. Pamene Atate anapempha mobwerezabwereza kuti awasamutsire ku ndende ya anthu wamba monga wokana lamulo chifukwa cha chikumbumtima, anapatsidwa chilango cha kumadya buledi ndi kumwa madzi okha miyezi itatu, pambuyo pake akumapatsidwa chakudya cha m’ndende cha nthaŵi zonse kufikira thupi lawo litabwereranso; ndiyeno mchitidwewo unabwerezedwanso. Anamangidwa unyolo manja awo ataikidwa kumbuyo masana ndipo usiku ndi panthaŵi za chakudya anaikidwa kutsogolo. Moyo wawo wonse, anali ndi zipsera mu mfundo za manja awo mmene munadindika ndi unyolo waung’ono, motero zilonda zikumatukusira. Anamangidwanso unyolo m’miyendo umene unamangiriridwanso m’chuuno mwawo.

Akuluakulu a asilikali anayesa mwamphamvu kuwalefula koma analephera. Anawalanda Baibulo lawo ndi mabuku. Sanalandire kalata iliyonse kuchokera kwawo, ndipo sanawalole kulemba iliyonse. Zaka ziŵiri zitatha anasankha kusonyeza kuona mtima kwawo mwa kunyanyala chakudya. Anachita zimenezi masiku anayi, osadya kapena kumwa madzi, zikumawachititsa kuti awasamutsire ku chipatala china cha ndende, ali odwala kwambiri. Anasonyeza kuona mtima kwawoko ngakhale kuti anatsala nenene kutaya moyo wawo chifukwa cha zimenezi. M’zaka zotsatira anavomereza kuti analakwa poika moyo wawo pachiswe mwanjira imeneyi, ndi kuti sadzachitanso zimenezo.

Nkhondo inatha mu November 1918 Atate akali ku ndende ku Rouen, komano kuchiyambiyambi kwa chaka chotsatira, anawasamutsira kundende ina ya anthu wamba ku England. Tangolingalira za chisangalalo chimene anali nacho polandira makalata ndi mapasulo a Amayi amene anaunjikana, pamodzi ndi Baibulo lawo ndi mabuku amtengo wapataliwo! Anatengeredwa ku Winchester Prison, kumene anakumana ndi mnyamata wina amene zokumana nazo zake za nthaŵi ya nkhondo zinali zofanana ndi zawo. Dzina lake anali Frank Platt, amene pambuyo pake anatumikira pa Beteli ya London zaka zambiri. Anapangana kuti akumane tsiku lotsatira, koma pofika nthaŵiyo Frank anali atamsamutsira kwina.

Pa April 12, 1919, Amayi analandira telegalamu yakuti: “Aleluya! Ndikubwera kunyumba​—ndilankhula ndili ku London.” Inali nthaŵi ya kusangalala chotani nanga imeneyi pambuyo pa zaka zitatu za mayeso, kuimbidwa mlandu, ndi kupatukana! Choyamba Atate anaganiza zoimba foni ku Beteli ya London kuti akaonane ndi abale kumeneko. Analandiridwa mwachikondi, pa nambala 34 Craven Terrace. Atasamba ndi kumeta ndi kuvala suti ndi chipeŵa zobwereka, Atate anabwerera kunyumba. Kodi mungayerekezere mmene kugwirizananso kwathu kunalili? Panthaŵiyo ndinali ndi zaka ngati zisanu, ndipo sindinawakumbukire.

Msonkhano woyamba umene Atate anafikapo atamasulidwa unali wa Chikumbutso. Atakwera pamasitepe oloŵera mu holo, munthu woyamba amene anakumana naye anali Frank Platt, amene anamsamutsira ku chipatala cha asilikali ankhondo ku Leeds. Anali achimwemwe chotani nanga posimbirana zokumana nazo zawo! Kuyambira pamenepo kufikira pamene anamasulidwa, kwathu kunakhalanso kwawo kwa Frank.

Utumiki Wokhulupirika wa Amayi

Nthaŵi imene Atate panalibe, Amayi anali kuchapira anthu zovala kuti awonjezere ndalama zawo za kuboma. Abale anatikomera mtima kwambiri. Pambuyo pa milungu ingapo iliyonse mmodzi wa akulu a mpingo ankawapatsa emvulopu ya mphatso yopanda dzina. Amayi nthaŵi zonse ananena kuti chikondi cha abale nchimene chinawapangitsa kuyandikira kwa Yehova ndi kuwathandiza kupirira panthaŵi zoyesa zimenezo. Iwo anafika pamisonkhano mokhulupirika panyengo yonse imene Atate panalibe. Chiyeso chawo chachikulu koposa chinali pamene, koposa chaka chimodzi, sanadziŵe kaya ngati Atate anali a moyo kapena akufa. Mu 1918, ine ndi Amayi tinagwidwa ndi fuluwenza ya Spanya, cholemetsa chinanso. Anthu anali kufa ponseponse. Anansi amene anamka kukathandiza ena anagwidwa ndi nthendayo namwalira. Mosakayikira kuchepa kwa chakudya panthaŵiyo kunathandiziranso kufooketsa anthu panthendayo.

Mawu a mtumwi Petro analidi oona pabanja lathu: “Mulungu . . . mutamva zoŵaŵa kanthaŵi, . . . adzakhazikitsa, adzalimbikitsa inu”! (1 Petro 5:10) Kuvutika kwa makolo anga kunawathandiza kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro chosagwedezeka mwa Yehova, chidaliro cholimba chakuti iyeyo amatisamalira ndi kuti palibe chimene chingatisiyanitse ndi chikondi cha Mulungu. Ndinachita mwaŵi kwambiri kuleredwa m’chikhulupiriro chotero.​—Aroma 8:38, 39; 1 Petro 5:7.

Utumiki wa Paubwana

Atate atamasulidwa, utumiki wa Ufumu unakhala chinthu chachikulu m’moyo wathu. Ndikukumbukira kuti sindinaphonye msonkhano, kusiyapo pamene ndinadwala. Atangobwera kunyumba, Atate anagulitsa kamera yawo yogwiritsira ntchito mbale za galasi ndi khoza lagolidi la Amayi kuti apeze ndalama zopitira kumsonkhano wachigawo. Ngakhale kuti sitinathe kupita kutchuthi, sitinaphonye misonkhano imeneyi, kuphatikizapo imene inali ku London.

Zaka zoyamba ziŵiri kapena zitatu nkhondo itatha zinali nthaŵi yotsitsimula. Atate ndi Amayi anagwiritsira ntchito mipata yonse kucheza ndi kuyanjana ndi ena. Ndikukumbukira mmene tinkachezera abale ndi alongo ena, ndipo ine, monga kamsungwana, ndinkakhala pansi ndi kumalemba zithunzi pamene akuluakulu anali kukambitsirana maola ambiri ponena za mfundo zatsopano za choonadi. Kucheza, kuimba limodzi ndi limba, kusangalala ndi mayanjano okoma, kunawasangalatsa kwambiri ndi kuwatsitsimula.

Makolo anandipatsa mwambo wamphamvu. Ndinali wosiyana kwambiri ndi ena kusukulu, ngakhale pamene ndinali ndi zaka zisanu, ndikumatenga ‘Chipangano changa Chatsopano’ kukaŵerenga pamene kalasiyo inali kuphunzira za katekisimu. Pambuyo pake ndinaikidwa pamaso pa ana asukulu onse monga “wokana lamulo chifukwa cha chikumbumtima” chifukwa chakuti ndinakana kugwirizana nawo pa kukondwerera Remembrance Day.a Ndimayamikira maleredwe anga. Kwenikweni, anali chinjirizo ndipo anandipeputsira kuyenda kwanga pa ‘njira yopapatiza.’ Kulikonse kumene makolo anga anapita, kaya kukhale kumisonkhano kapena ku utumiki, ndinali komweko.​—Mateyu 7:13, 14.

Ndimakumbukira makamaka Sande ina mmaŵa pamene ndinayamba kulalikira ndili ndekha. Ndinali ndi zaka 12 zokha. Pamene ndinali mtsikana, ndikukumbukira kuti tsiku lina pa Sande mmaŵa ndinanena kuti ndidzatsala panyumba. Palibe amene ananditsutsa kapena kundikakamiza kupita kukalalikira, chotero ndinakhala pabwalo ndikumaŵerenga Baibulo koma ndinali wosakondwa. Nditachita zimenezi mlungu umodzi kapena iŵiri, ndinauza Atate kuti: “Ndifuna kupita nanu mmaŵa uno!” Kuyambira pamenepo sindinabwererenso mmbuyo.

Chaka cha 1931 chinali chabwino kwambiri chotani nanga! Sikuti tinalandira dzina latsopano chabe, lakuti Mboni za Yehova, komanso ndinabatizidwa pamene ndinali pamsonkhano wamitundu yonse ku Alexandra Palace, London. Sindidzaiŵala tsiku limenelo. Tinavala mikanjo yaitali, yakuda, ndipo wanga unali wonyowa chifukwa chakuti munthu wina wobatizidwa anali ataugwiritsira kale ntchito!

Chikhumbo changa nthaŵi zonse pamene ndinali mwana chinali cha kudzakhala mkoputala, momwe alaliki anthaŵi yonse anatchedwera panthaŵiyo. Pamene ndinasinkhukirapo, ndinalingalira zochita zambiri mu utumiki wa Yehova. Chotero m’March 1933, ndili ndi zaka 18, ndinaloŵa utumiki wanthaŵi yonse.

Chinthu chimene chinandibweretsera chimwemwe chapadera chinali “Milungu ya Apainiya” m’mizinda ina yaikulu, pamene atumiki anthaŵi yonse okwana 12 anali kusonkhana, kukhala ndi abale akumaloko, ndi kugwira ntchito monga gulu. Tinagaŵira timabuku kwa atsogoleri achipembedzo ndi anthu ena odziŵika. Tinafunika kulimba mtima kuti tiwafikire. Kaŵirikaŵiri anali kutinyodola, ambiri a ife tinakanidwa pamakomo. Sikuti tinadandaula ndi zimenezi, pakuti changu chathu chinali chachikulu kwakuti tinakondwera kutonzedwa chifukwa cha dzina la Kristu.​—Mateyu 5:11, 12.

Ku Leeds tinasintha chikuku, njinga ya magudumu atatu, ndi njinga yamoto ya Atate ndi ngolo yake yapambali, ndipo pambuyo pake galimoto lawo kuti tizinyamulira galamafoni ndi malaudisipika. Abale aŵiri ankapita kukaima pamsewu ndi makinawo, naika lekodi ya nyimbo yochititsa anthu kutuluka m’nyumba, ndiyeno pambuyo pa zimenezi naika lekodi ya nkhani ya mphindi zisanu ya Mbale Rutherford. Ndiyeno anali kumka kumsewu wotsatira, pamene ofalitsa anatsatira pambuyo ndi kugaŵira mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo.

Kwa zaka zambiri, pa Sande iliyonse madzulo msonkhano utatha, tinkapita ku Town Hall Square kumene kunali Speaker’s Corner ndi kukachirikiza mwa kumvetsera imodzi ya nkhani za ola limodzi za Mbale Rutherford, tikumagaŵira matrakiti ndi kuonana ndi aliyense amene anasonyeza chidwi. Tinadziŵika kwambiri kumeneko. Ngakhale apolisi anatichitira ulemu. Tsiku lina madzulo tinasonkhana monga mwa nthaŵi zonse, pamene tinamva kulira kwa malingaka chapatali. Posapita nthaŵi Afasist ngati zana limodzi anatulukira mu msewu akuguba. Anazungulira kumbuyo kwathu naima mbendera yawo atainyamulira m’mwamba. Amalingaka analeka kuimba, ndipo patangokhala bata, mawu a Mbale Rutherford anabangula kuti: “Alekeni achitire mbendera zawo suluti ndi kutamanda anthu ngati afuna. Tidzalambira ndi kutamanda Yehova yekha Mulungu wathu!” Kenako sitinadziŵe chimene chidzachitika! Palibe chimene chinachitika, kusiyapo kuti analalikidwa kwambiri, ndipo apolisi anawatontholetsa kuti timvetsere nkhani yapoyera yonse.

Panthaŵiyi galamafoni inali kutithandiza kupereka umboni waukulu. Tinali kuyang’anira malekodi mosamala pamakomo kuti tilimbikitse anthu kumvetsera mphindi zonse zisanu za ulaliki wa m’Baibulo wojambulidwa. Kaŵirikaŵiri eninyumba anali kutiloŵetsa m’nyumba ndipo anakondwera kuti tidzabwerenso ndi kudzaliza malekodi enanso.

Chaka cha 1939 chinali chakalikiliki ndi chovuta, kukumabuka chitsutso ndi chiwawa. Umodzi wa misonkhano yathu inayi usanachitike, abale anakumana ndi chiwawa mu misewu ndi kutukwanidwa. Chotero pamsonkhano, anakonza gulu lapadera la abale a galimoto kuti akalalikire kumadera ovuta pamene alongo ndi abale ena anamka kumene kunaliko bata. Pamene ndinali kugwira ntchito ndi kagulu kena mu msewu, ndinaloŵa m’kanjira kena kopita kuseri kwa nyumba. Pamene ndinali pakhomo, ndinamva phokoso likuyambika​—anthu anali kufuula ndi kukuwa m’khwalala. Ndinangopitiriza kulankhula ndi munthu amene anali pakhomopo, ndikumatalikitsa makambitsiranowo kufikira pamene ndinamva kuti anthuwo atonthola. Ndiyeno ndinatuluka panyumbapo kuloŵa mu msewu ndi kupeza kuti abale ndi alongo ena anachita mantha pamene analephera kundipeza! Komabe, pambuyo pake masana amenewo osonkhezera mavutowo anayesa kusokoneza msonkhano wathu, koma abale anawatulutsira kunja.

Nkhondo Yadziko II Ibuka

Panthaŵiyi kulembetsa usilikali kunali kutayamba, ndipo abale ambiri achichepere anamangidwa kuyambira pa miyezi itatu kufikira pa miyezi 12. Ndiyeno Atate analandira thayo lowonjezera, lija la kuzonda akaidi. Sande iliyonse anali kuchititsa Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda m’ndende yakumaloko. Lachitatu lililonse madzulo anali kukazonda abale m’malumande awo. Popeza anavutikapo nthaŵi yaitali m’ndende mkati mwa nkhondo yadziko yoyamba, iwo anafunitsitsadi kutumikira awo amene anakumana ndi mayesero amodzimodziwo. Anachita zimenezi kwa zaka 20, kufikira imfa yawo mu 1959.

Pofika 1941 tinali titazoloŵera udani umene anthu ambiri anasonyeza chifukwa cha kaimidwe kathu kosaloŵa m’ndale. Kuima ndi magazini m’makwalala pansi pa mkhalidwewo kunali kovuta. Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, tinali osangalala kuthandiza othaŵa kwawo amene anawamangira nyumba m’dera lathu. Alativiya, Aapolo, Aestoniya, Ajeremani​—kunali kosangalatsa chotani nanga kuwaona akumwetulira pamene anaona Nsanja ya Olonda kapena Consolation (tsopano Galamukani!) m’chinenero chawo!

Ndiyeno chiyeso changa pa kaimidwe kosaloŵa m’ndale kamene ndinatenga mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko II chinafika. Ndinapeza moyo wa m’ndende kukhala wovuta kwambiri pamene ananditsekera m’lumande maola 19 pa maola 24 alionse. Masiku oyamba atatu anali ovuta kwambiri, pakuti ndinali ndekha. Tsiku lachinayi, ndinaitanidwa ku ofesi ya bwanamkubwa kumene ndinapeza asungwana aŵiri ali chiriri. Mmodzi wa asungwanawo anandinong’oneza kuti: “Kodi akumangiranji?” Ndinati: “Ungadabwe utadziŵa.” Monong’ona koma mwamphamvupo anandifunsa kuti: “Kodi ndiwe wa JW [Mboni za Yehova] eti?” Msungwana winayo anamva natifunsa kuti: “Kodi ndinu a JW?” Ndipo atatu tonsefe tinakumbatirana. Sitinalinso tokha ayi!

Utumiki Wanthaŵi Yonse Wokondweretsa

Nditatulutsidwa m’ndende, ndinapitiriza kuchita utumiki wanga wanthaŵi yonse, ndipo msungwana wina wazaka 16 amene anali atangosiya sukulu anagwirizana nane. Tinasamukira ku Ilkley, tauni yokongola yokhala kumapeto kwa Yorkshire Dales. Kwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi yathunthu, tinayesetsa kupeza malo oyenera a misonkhano. Potsirizira pake tinachita lendi galaja ina yaing’ono, imene tinaisintha kukhala Nyumba Yaufumu. Atate anatithandiza, akumatiikira magetsi ndi zotenthetsa mkati. Ndiponso anakometsera nyumba yathuyo. Kwa zaka zambiri mpingo wina wapafupi unkatichirikiza, ukumasankha abale odzapereka nkhani zapoyera mlungu uliwonse. Pokhala ndi dalitso la Yehova tinawonjezereka, ndipo potsirizira mpingo unakhazikitsidwa.

Mwadzidzidzi, mu January 1959 Atate anadwala. Ndinaitanidwa kwathu, ndipo anamwalira mu April. Zaka zotsatirapo zinali zovuta. Amayi anadwala ndipo sanali kukumbukira zinthu, zikumandipatsa mavuto. Koma mzimu wa Yehova unandichirikiza, ndipo ndinatha kuwasamalira kufikira imfa yawo mu 1963.

Ndalandira madalitso ambirimbiri kwa Yehova zaka zapitazi. Pali ambiri amene sinditha kuwasimba. Ndaona mpingo wakwathu ukukula ndi kugaŵidwa kanayi, ukumatumiza kwina ofalitsa ndi apainiya, ena monga amishonale ku maiko akutali monga ku Bolivia, Laos, ndi Uganda. Zinthu zinachitika mwakuti sindinakwatiwe ndi kumanga banja. Zimenezi sizinandimvetse chisoni; ndakhala wotanganitsidwa kwambiri. Ngakhale kuti ndilibe achibale, ndili ndi ana ambiri ndi adzukulu a mwa Ambuye, makumi khumi.​—Marko 10:29, 30.

Kaŵirikaŵiri ndimaitana apainiya achichepere ndi achinyamata ena kunyumba kwanga kumacheza Achikristu. Timakonzekera Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda pamodzi. Timasimbirananso zokumana nazo ndi kuimba nyimbo za Ufumu, monga momwe makolo anga ankachitira. Pokhala wozingidwa ndi kagulu ka achichepere achimwemwe, ndimadziona kukhala wachichepere ndi wachimwemwe. Palibe chinthu chabwino kwa ine kuposa utumiki wa upainiya. Ndikuthokoza Yehova chifukwa chakuti ndapeza mwaŵi wa kutsatira mapazi a makolo anga. Pemphero langa nlakuti ndipitirize kutumikira Yehova ku umuyaya wonse.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Hilda Padgett ndi makolo ake, a Atkinson ndi a Pattie

[Chithunzi patsamba 23]

Trakiti limene linasonkhezera Atate kuchita chidwi ndi choonadi