Kutumikira Mulungu Wodalirika

Yosimbidwa ndi Kimon Progakis

Anali madzulo ozizira kwambiri mu 1955. Ine, ndi mkazi wanga Giannoula, tinayamba kuda nkhaŵa chifukwa chakuti mwana wathu wamwamuna wazaka 18, George, sanabwere kuchokera ku sitolo kumene ankagwira ntchito. Mwadzidzidzi, wapolisi anagogoda pachitseko pathu. “Mwana wanu wagundidwa pobwera kunyumba atakwera njinga yake,” anatero, “ndipo wafa.” Ndiyeno anaŵeramira kutsogolo nanong’ona kuti: “Adzakuuzani kuti inali ngozi, koma kunena zoona, iye waphedwa.” Wansembe wakumaloko ndi atsogoleri ena a asilikali anampangira chiŵembu chakumupha.

M’ZAKA zimenezo, pamene nyengo ya chiwawa ndi kusoŵa kwa zinthu zinali kutha m’Greece, kukhala m’modzi wa Mboni za Yehova kunali kwangozi. Ndinali kudziŵa bwino lomwe za mphamvu ya Tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox ndi magulu a asilikali chifukwa chakuti kwa zaka zoposa 15, ndinali mmodzi wa iwo wokangalika. Tandilolani ndikusimbireni zochitika zimene zinachititsa tsokali m’banja lathu zaka zoposa 40 zapitazo.

Kukulira m’Greece

Ndinabadwa mu 1902 m’banja lolemera m’mudzi waung’ono pafupi ndi tauni ya Chalcis, m’Greece. Atate wanga anali okangalika m’ndale zakumaloko, ndipo m’banja lathu tinali mamembala amphamvu a Tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox. Ndinakhala woŵerenga mabuku andale ndi achipembedzo wakhama kwambiri panthaŵi pamene nzika zinzanga zambiri sizinali kudziŵa kuŵerenga.

Umphaŵi ndi chisalungamo zimene zinaliko kuchiyambi cha zaka za zana la 20 zinandichititsa kukhumba dziko lamikhalidwe yabwinopo. Chipembedzo, ndinalingalira motero, chiyenera kuwongolera mkhalidwe womvetsa chisoni wa nzika zinzanga. Chifukwa cha kukonda kwanga chipembedzo, atsogoleri a m’mudzi mwanga anandisankha kuti ndikhale wansembe wa Greek Orthodox wa m’mudzi mwathu. Komabe, ngakhale kuti ndinachezera nyumba za agulupa zambiri ndipo ndinakambitsirana kwambiri ndi mabishopu ndi akulu a nyumba za agulupa, sindinakonzekere kapena kukhala wofunitsitsa kulandira thayo limeneli.

Mkati mwa Nkhondo Yachiŵeniŵeni

Patapita zaka, mu April 1941, Greece anakhala pansi pa ulamuliro wa Nazi. Zimenezi zinayambitsa nthaŵi yoipa kwambiri ya kupha, njala, kusoŵeka kwa zinthu, ndi kuvutika kwa anthu kosaneneka. Gulu lotsutsa lamphamvu linabadwa, ndipo ndinaloŵa limodzi la magulu omenyera ufulu limene linali kumenyana ndi Anazi olanda dzikowo. Chifukwa cha zimenezo, nyumba yanga inatenthedwa nthaŵi zingapo, anandiombera mfuti, ndipo mbewu zanga zinawonongedwa. Kuchiyambi cha 1943 ine ndi banja langa tinalibe chochita kusiyapo kuthaŵira kumapiri ojenya. Tinakhala kumeneko kufikira kutha kwa ulamuliro wa Ajeremani mu October 1944.

Chiwawa chandale ndi nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeni ya m’dzikolo zinaulika Ajeremani atachoka. Gulu langa lotsutsa lomenyera ufulu linakhala limodzi la magulu aakulu omenyana m’nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeniyo. Ngakhale kuti malingaliro achikomyunizimu a chilungamo, kulingana, ndi ubwenzi anandikopa, zotulukapo za pambuyo pake zinandisiya ndili wogwiritsidwa mwala kotheratu. Popeza ndinali ndi malo apamwamba m’gululo, ndinadzionera ndekha kuti mphamvu kaŵirikaŵiri imawononga anthu. Mosasamala kanthu za malingaliro ndi ziphunzitso zoonekera kukhala zabwino, dyera ndi kupanda ungwiro zimawononga zolinga zandale zabwino kwambiri.

Chimene chinandinyansa kwambiri makamaka chinali chakuti kumbali zosiyanasiyana za nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeniyo, atsogoleri achipembedzo a Orthodox anali kunyamula zida zankhondo kuti aphe a m’chipembedzo chawo! Ndinalingalira pandekha kuti, ‘Kodi atsogoleri achipembedzo ameneŵa anganene motani kuti amaimira Yesu Kristu, amene anachenjeza kuti: “Onse akugwira lupanga adzawonongeka ndi lupanga”?​—Mateyu 26:52.

M’nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeniyo, mu 1946, ndinabisala pafupi ndi tauni ya Lamia, pakati pa Greece. Zovala zanga zinatheratu, choncho ndinaganiza za kudzizimbaitsa ndi kupita kwa wosoka zovala mumzinda kukasoketsa zatsopano. Panali mkangano waukulu pamene ndinafikapo, ndipo posapita nthaŵi ndinayamba kulankhula, osati za ndale, koma chinthu changa chokondedwa chakale, chipembedzo. Atamvetsera malingaliro anga anzeru, omvetsera ananena kuti ndikalankhule ndi ‘profesa wa zachipembedzo’ wina. Nthaŵi yomweyo, anapita kukamtenga.

Kupeza Chiyembekezo Chodalirika

Pa kukambitsirana kumene kunatsatira, “profesa” ameneyo anandifunsa chimene chinali maziko a zikhulupiriro zanga. “Atate Oyera ndi Mabungwe Aakulu a Matchalitchi,” ndinayankha motero. M’malo monditsutsa, anatsegula Baibulo lake laling’ono pa Mateyu 23:9, 10, nandipempha kuŵerenga mawu a Yesu: “Ndipo inu musatchule wina atate wanu pansi pano, pakuti alipo mmodzi ndiye Atate wanu Wakumwamba. Ndipo musatchedwa atsogoleri, pakuti alipo mmodzi Mtsogoleri wanu, ndiye Kristu.”

Zimenezo zinanditsegula maso! Ndinadziŵa kuti mwamunayo anali kunena choonadi. Pamene anadzidziŵikitsa kuti anali mmodzi wa Mboni za Yehova, ndinampempha mabuku ena okaŵerenga. Anandibweretsera buku lakuti Light, limene limafotokoza buku la m’Baibulo la Chivumbulutso, ndipo ndinabwerera nalo ku malo anga obisalako. Kwanthaŵi yaitali, zilombo zonenedwa m’Chivumbulutso zinali chinsinsi kwa ine, koma tsopano ndinaphunzira kuti zimenezi zimaimira magulu andale okhalako m’zaka zathu za zana la 20. Ndinayamba kuzindikira kuti Baibulo lili ndi tanthauzo lenileni m’nthaŵi zathu ndi kuti ndiyenera kuliphunzira ndi kusintha moyo wanga mogwirizana ndi choonadi chake.

Kugwidwa ndi Kuponyedwa m’Ndende

Mwamsanga pambuyo pake, asilikali anatulukira mwadzidzidzi kumene ndinali kubisala nandimanga. Ndinaponyedwa m’chipinda chapansi panthaka. Popeza ndinali chigaŵenga chomwe ankafunafuna kwa nthaŵi yaitali, ndinayembekezera kunyongedwa. Mmenemo, m’chipinda changa chandende, Mboni yomwe inalankhula nane poyamba inandichezera. Inandilimbikitsa kudalira Yehova kotheratu, kumene ndinachita. Ndinapatsidwa chilango cha miyezi isanu ndi umodzi cha pachisumbu chakutali cha mu Nyanja ya Aegean cha Ikaria.

Nditangofika, ndinadzidziŵikitsa monga Mboni ya Yehova, osati monga wachikomyunizimu. Ena amene anaphunzira choonadi cha Baibulo anaikidwanso kumeneko, chotero ndinawapeza, ndipo nthaŵi zonse tinaphunzira Baibulo pamodzi. Anandithandiza kukhala ndi chidziŵitso chowonjezereka cha m’Malemba ndi kudziŵa bwino kwambiri Mulungu wathu wodalirika, Yehova.

Mu 1947, pamene chilango changa chinatha, ndinaitanidwa ku ofesi ya loya wa boma. Anandiuza kuti anakondwera ndi khalidwe langa nanena kuti ndingagwiritsire ntchito dzina lake monga munthu amene ena angafunseko za khalidwe langa ngati atandilanganso mwa kuikidwa kumalo akutali. Nditafika ku Athens, kumene banja langa linali litasamukira panthaŵiyo, ndinayamba kugwirizana ndi mpingo wa Mboni za Yehova ndipo posapita nthaŵi ndinabatizidwa monga chisonyezero cha kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Yehova.

Ndizengedwa Mlandu wa Kutembenuza Ena

Kwa zaka makumi ambiri, Greece anazenga mlandu Mboni za Yehova pa malamulo amene anapangidwa mu 1938 ndi 1939 oletsa kutembenuza ena. Choncho, kuyambira mu 1938 kufika mu 1992, panali kumanga 19,147 kwa Mboni mu Greece, ndipo makhoti anapereka zigamulo zimene zaka zake zonse zinakwanira 753, zimene 593 zake zinakwaniritsidwadi. Ineyo pandekha, ndinamangidwa nthaŵi zoposa 40 chifukwa cha kulalikira uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu, ndipo ndinakhala miyezi 27 yonse pamodzi m’ndende zosiyanasiyana.

Kumangidwa kwanga kwina kunachitika chifukwa cha kalata imene ndinali nditalembera mtsogoleri wachipembedzo wa Greek Orthodox ku Chalcis. Mu 1955, mipingo ya Mboni za Yehova inafulumizidwa kutumiza kabuku kakuti Christendom or Christianity​—Which One Is “the Light of the World”? kwa atsogoleri achipembedzo onse. Mmodzi wa atsogoleri achipembedzo apamwamba amene ndinalembera anandisumira mlandu wa kutembenuza ena. Mkati mwa kuzenga mlandu, loya amene anali Mboni ndi loya wa kumeneko anandichinjiriza bwino kwambiri, akumafotokoza thayo lakuti Akristu oona ayenera kulalikira uthenga wabwino wonena za Ufumu wa Mulungu.​—Mateyu 24:14.

Woweruza wa khotilo anafunsa mtsogoleri wachipembedzoyo (mkulu watchalitchi amene anali wachiŵiri wa bishopu) kuti: “Kodi munaŵerenga kalatayo ndi kabukuko?”

“Ayi,” anayankha motero mwamphamvu, “Ndinazing’ambang’amba ndi kuzitaya nditangotsegula envulopu yake!”

“Ndiyeno munganene bwanji kuti mwamunayu ankafuna kukutembenuzani?” anafunsa motero woweruzayo.

Ndiyeno loya wathu anatchula zitsanzo za maprofesa ndi ena amene anapereka mitokoma yonse yamabuku ku malaibulale a anthu onse. “Kodi munganene kuti anthu ameneŵa ankayesa kutembenuza ena?” anafunsa motero.

Mwachionekere, kuchita zimenezi sikunali kutembenuza ena. Ndinayamikira Yehova pamene ndinamva chigamulo chakuti: “Alibe mlandu.”

Imfa ya Mwana Wanga

Mwana wanga George anali kuvutitsidwanso mosalekeza, kaŵirikaŵiri mosonkhezeredwa ndi atsogoleri achipembedzo cha Orthodox. Iyenso anamangidwa nthaŵi zambirimbiri chifukwa cha changu chake chaunyamata pa kulengeza uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu. Pomalizira pake, otsutsawo anasankha kumupha, ndipo panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, kupereka uthenga wowopseza kwa tonsefe wakuti tileke kulalikira.

Wapolisi amene anabwera kunyumba kwathu kudzanena za imfa ya George ananena kuti wansembe wakumaloko wa Greek Orthodox ndi atsogoleri ena a asilikali anali atapanga chiŵembu cha kupha mwana wathu. “Ngozi” zoterozo zinali zofala m’nthaŵi zowopsa zimenezo. Mosasamala kanthu za chisoni chimene imfa yake inachititsa, kutsimikiza mtima kwathu kukhalabe okangalika m’ntchito ya kulalikira ndi kudalira mwa Yehova kotheratu kunalimbitsidwa.

Kuthandiza Ena Kudalira Yehova

M’ma 1960, mkazi wanga ndi ana anga tinkathera miyezi yachilimwe m’mudzi wakugombe wa Skala Oropos, pafupifupi makilomita 50 kuchokera ku Athens. Panthaŵiyo, kunalibe Mboni zilizonse kumeneko, choncho tinkachita umboni wamwamwaŵi kwa anansi. Alimi ena a kumeneko analabadira. Popeza amuna ankagwira ntchito m’minda yawo kwa maola ambiri masana, tinkawachititsa maphunziro a Baibulo usiku kwambiri, ndipo angapo anakhala Mboni.

Poona mmene Yehova anali kudalitsira zoyesayesa zathu, kwa zaka pafupifupi 15, tinkapita kumeneko mlungu uliwonse kuti tikachititse maphunziro a Baibulo kwa okondwerera. Pafupifupi anthu 30 amene tinaphunzira nawo kumeneko apita patsogolo kufika pa ubatizo. Poyamba, gulu la phunziro linapangidwa, ndipo ndinaikidwa kukhala wochititsa misonkhano. Pambuyo pake gululo linakhala mpingo, ndipo lerolino Mboni zoposa zana limodzi zakumaloko zimapanga mpingo wa Malakasa. Tikusangalala kuti anayi a anthu amene tinathandiza akutumikira monga atumiki a nthaŵi zonse tsopano.

Choloŵa Chachikulu

Mwamsanga pambuyo pa kupatulira moyo wanga kwa Yehova, mkazi wanga anayamba kupita patsogolo mwauzimu nabatizidwa. M’nthaŵi yovuta ya chizunzo, chikhulupiriro chake chinakhalabe cholimba ndipo anakhalabe wolimba ndi wosagwedera paumphumphu wake. Sanadandaule konse ponena za mavuto ambiri amene anakhala nawo chifukwa cha kumangidwamangidwa kwanga.

M’zaka zonsezo, tinachititsira pamodzi maphunziro a Baibulo ambiri, ndipo anathandizadi ambiri ndi mafikidwe ake osavuta ndi okhudza mtima. Panthaŵi ino, ali ndi njira yamagazini imene ili ndi anthu ambiri amene amakawasiyira Nsanja ya Olonda ndi Galamukani! nthaŵi zonse.

Kwenikweni chifukwa cha chichirikizo cha mnzanga wachikondi, ana athu atatu amoyo ndi mabanja awo, amene akuphatikizapo adzukulu asanu ndi mmodzi ndi adzukulu tubzi anayi, onse ali okangalika mu utumiki wa Yehova. Ngakhale kuti sanakumane ndi zizunzo ndi chitsutso chachikulu chimene ineyo ndi mkazi wanga tinayang’anizana nacho, aika chidaliro chawo chonse mwa Yehova, ndipo akuyendabe m’njira zake. Chidzakhala chosangalatsa chotani nanga kwa tonsefe kukhalanso pamodzi ndi George wathu wokondedwa pamene adzabweranso pachiukiriro!

Kutsimikiza Mtima Kudalira mwa Yehova

M’zaka zonsezi, ndaona mzimu wa Yehova ukugwira ntchito pa anthu ake. Gulu lake loyendetsedwa ndi mzimu landithandiza kuzindikira kuti sitingaike chidaliro chathu m’zoyesayesa za anthu. Malonjezo awo ponena za mtsogolo mwabwino ngachabe, angokhala bodza lalikulu.​—Salmo 146:3, 4.

Mosasamala kanthu za kukalamba kwanga ndi matenda aakulu, maso anga asumikidwa pa zenizeni za chiyembekezo cha Ufumu. Ndilidi wachisoni pa zaka zimene ndinathera pa kudzipereka ku chipembedzo chonyenga ndi pa kuyesa kubweretsa mikhalidwe yabwinopo mwa njira zandale. Ndikanati ndiyambirenso moyo wanga, mosakayikira ndikanasankhanso kutumikira Yehova, Mulungu wodalirika.

(Kimon Progakis anagona mu imfa posachedwapa. Anali ndi chiyembekezo cha padziko lapansi.)

[Chithunzi patsamba 26]

Chithunzi chaposachedwa cha Kimon ndi mkazi wake, Giannoula