Ndinaona “Wamng’ono” Akusanduka “Mtundu Wamphamvu”

YOSIMBIDWA NDI WILLIAM DINGMAN

Chinali chaka cha 1936; malo ake, Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. Ndinali pamsonkhano wa Mboni za Yehova. Panafunsidwa funso lakuti: “Kodi khamu lalikulu lili kuti?” (Chivumbulutso 7:9) Ndinalipo ndekha watsopano, choncho onse analoza ine ndikunena kuti, “Uyo ali apoyo!”

M’ZAKA zapakati za m’ma 1930, Mboni za Yehova zimene zinali ndi chiyembekezo cha m’Baibulo cha kukhala kosatha m’Paradaiso wa padziko lapansi zinali zochepa. (Salmo 37:29; Luka 23:43) Kuyambira nthaŵiyo zinthu zasintha kwambiri. Koma tsopano ndifotokoze zimene zinandichititsa kuti ndipezeke pamsonkhano ku Salem, Oregon.

Atate anga anali ndi sabusikripishoni ya The Golden Age, dzina lakale la magazini ya Galamukani! Pamene ndinali mnyamata, ndinkakonda kuŵerenga magaziniyi, ndipo ndinakhulupirira kuti imafotokozadi za choonadi cha Baibulo. Choncho tsiku lina ndinatumiza silipi loodera mabuku limene linalembedwa pachikuto chakumbuyo cha The Golden Age. Silipilo linafotokoza kuti woŵerenga adzalandira timabuku 20, buku limodzi, ndi dzina la mpingo wa Mboni za Yehova wapafupi ndi kwawoko. Nditalandira zofalitsazo, ndinapita kunyumba ndi nyumba ndipo ndinagaŵira timabuku tonse ndi bukulo.

Panthaŵiyo panalibe amene anandiphunzitsa Baibulo. Ndithudi, ndinali ndisanakambitsiranepo ndi mmodzi wa Mboni za Yehova aliyense. Koma tsopano pokhala ndi keyala ya Nyumba ya Ufumu yapafupi ndi kwathu, ndinayendetsa galimoto pamtunda wa makilomita 40 kupita ku Salem, Oregon, kukapezeka pamsonkhano. Ndi kumeneko, pamene ndinali ndi zaka 18 zokha zakubadwa, kumene ananena kuti ndinali “wakhamu lalikulu.”

Ngakhale kuti ndinali ndisanaphunzire kuchita utumiki, ndinayamba kulalikira ndi Mpingo wa Salem. Ndinalimbikitsidwa kugwiritsira ntchito mfundo zitatu zazikulu pochitira umboni. Mfundo yoyamba inali yakuti Yehova ndiye Mulungu; yachiŵiri, Yesu Kristu ndiye Mfumu yake yoikidwa; ndipo yachitatu, Ufumu ndiwo chiyembekezo chokha cha dziko lapansi. Ndinayesetsa kupereka uthenga umenewo pakhomo lililonse.

Nditayanjana ndi Mboni za Yehova za ku Salem kwa zaka ziŵiri, ndinabatizidwa pa April 3, 1938. Abale a ku Salem anasangalala kuona ambiri a ife “akhamu lalikulu” tikubatizidwa. M’February 1939, ndinakhala mpainiya, kapena kuti mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse. M’December chaka chomwecho, ndinavomera chiitano chakuti ndipite ku Arizona, kumene kunali kusoŵa kwakukulu kwa olengeza Ufumu.

Kuchita Upainiya ku Arizona

Ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova inali yachilendo ku Arizona, ndipo ambiri sankatidziŵa bwinobwino, choncho pamene dziko la United States linaloŵa m’Nkhondo Yadziko II, tinazunzidwa kwambiri. Mwachitsanzo, pamene ndinali kutumikira ku Stafford, Arizona, mu 1942, panali mphekesera zakuti gulu la a Mormon linali kukonzekera zotichitira chiŵembu. Apainiya anzanga ndi ine tinali kukhala pafupi ndi nyumba ya bishopu wa Mormon amene anali kutilemekeza ndipo anati: “Chikhala kuti amishonale a Mormon anali okangalika monga Mboni, ndiye kuti Tchalitchi cha Mormon chikanakula.” Choncho m’tchalitchi iye analankhulapo kuti: “Ndamva mphekesera zakuti kagulu kena kakufuna kuchitira chiŵembu anyamata a Mboni. Chabwino, ine ndimakhala pafupi ndi anyamata amenewo, ndipo ngati kagulu kena kafuna kuwachitira chiŵembu, pampanda padzakhala mfuti. Mfuti imeneyo idzagwiritsiridwa ntchito​—osati kuombera Mboni. Idzaombera kagulu kachiŵembuko. Choncho ngati mufuna kuchita chiŵembu, mwadziŵa zimene zidzachitika.” Gululo silinabwere nkomwe.

Pazaka zitatu zimene ndinakhala ku Arizona, tinamangidwa ndi kuponyedwa m’ndende kangapo. Nthaŵi ina ndinakhala m’ndende kwa masiku 30. Pofuna kupeŵa kuzunzidwa ndi apolisi mu utumiki wathu, tinapanga kagulu kamene tinakatcha kagulu kochita zinthu mofulumira. Mboni imene inali kutitsogolera inanena kuti: “Timachita monga mwa dzina lathu. Timayamba 5 koloko kapena 6 koloko m’maŵa, kuika trakiti kapena kabuku pakhomo lililonse kenaka timachoka mofulumira.” ‘Kagulu kathu kochita zinthu mofulumira’ kanalalikira m’dera lalikulu la boma la Arizona. Komabe, kaguluko kanathetsedwa chifukwa chakuti njira imeneyo yolalikirira siinali kutipatsa mpata wakuti tingathandize okondwerera.

Sukulu ya Gileadi ndi Utumiki Wapadera

M’December 1942, ndinali mmodzi wa apainiya angapo a ku Arizona amene analandira kalata yowaitana kuti apite kusukulu yatsopano yaumishonale imene inakhazikitsidwa ndi Mboni za Yehova. Poyambirira sukulu imeneyi inali kutchedwa Watchtower Bible College of Gilead [Koleji ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower]. Kenaka dzinali linasinthidwa kukhala Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower. Malo ameneŵa anali pamtunda wa makilomita 4,800 pafupi ndi mzinda wa Ithaca kumpoto kwa New York.

Titacheza kwa nthaŵi yochepa ku Oregon, m’January 1943, angapo mwa apainiyafe tinakwera basi ya Greyhound kuchoka kuchipululu chotentha cha Arizona Desert. Patapita masiku angapo tinafika kusukuluko ndipo tinapeza kuti kunali chipale cha chisanu cha kumpoto kwa New York. Sukuluyo anaitsekulira pa February 1, 1943, pamene pulezidenti wake, Nathan H. Knorr, m’mawu ake otsekulira kwa ophunzira 100 anati: “Chifuno cha koleji ino SINDICHO kukuphunzitsani kuti mukhale atumiki oikidwa. Inu munakhala kale atumiki ndipo mwakhala okangalika mu utumiki kwa zaka zambiri. . . . Cholinga chachikulu cha maphunziro a pakoleji ino ndicho kukunolani kuti mukakhale atumiki aluso kumagawo kumene mupita.”

Popeza kuti ndinalekezera panjira maphunziro anga a sukulu yakudziko, poyambirira ndinaganiza kuti ndinali wosayenerera kukhala pa Gileadi. Koma aphunzitsi anga anali omvetsetsa, ndipo ndinasangalala kwambiri ndi maphunziro angawo. Kalasi lathu linamaliza maphunziro patatha miyezi isanu ya maphunziro ozama. Zitatha izi, angapo a ife anatitumiza kulikulu la dziko lonse la Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn, New York, kumene tinakalandira maphunziro owonjezereka kuti tikakhoze kutumikira m’ntchito yoyendayenda monga oyang’anira madera. Gawo langa loyamba linali ku North ndi South Carolina.

M’masiku oyambirira amenewo, woyang’anira dera anali kukhala paulendo pafupifupi nthaŵi zonse. Tinali kucheza tsiku limodzi ndi mpingo waung’ono kapena masiku aŵiri ngati mpingowo unali waukulu. Mipingo yambiri panthaŵiyo inali yaing’ono. Choncho titatha tsiku lonse lathunthu, ndipo nthaŵi zambiri tikumafika pafupifupi pakati pausiku tikumacheza ndi kuyankha mafunso, ndinali kudzuka cha m’ma 5 koloko m’maŵa tsiku lotsatira kupita ku mpingo wotsatira. Ndinagwira ntchito yadera pafupifupi chaka chimodzi, ndipo kenaka ndinachita upainiya kwa kanthaŵi ku Tennessee ndi ku New York.

Kupita ku Cuba Ndiponso ku Puerto Rico

M’May 1945, pamodzi ndi enanso angapo, ndinatumizidwa ku gawo langa loyamba laumishonale kudziko lina, Cuba! Usiku umene tinafika ku Havana, likulu la Cuba, tinapita kukagaŵira magazini. Tinakhalabe ku Havana mpaka pamene tinapeza nyumba ku Santa Clara. Alawansi ya mwezi ndi mwezi inali $25 yokha aliyense yogulira zosoŵa zonse, kuphatikizapo chakudya ndi kulipirira lendi. Tinakhoma mabedi ndi mipando pogwiritsira ntchito zipangizo zimene tinali nazo ndipo tinali kusunga zinthu m’mabokosi a maapulo.

Chaka chotsatira ndinapatsidwa ntchito yadera. Panthaŵiyo Cuba yense anali dera limodzi. Popeza kuti woyang’anira dera amene analipo ndisanabwere ine anali wamtali miyendo ndipo ankakonda kuyenda, abale ndi alongo ankachita kuthamanga kuti ayendere naye pamodzi. Mwachionekere iwo analingalira kuti ndinali wofanana naye, choncho anakonzekera kuchezera kwanga. Iwo sanapite onse mu utumiki tsiku limodzi koma anagaŵana m’magulu nasinthana kugwira nane ntchito. Tsiku loyamba, gulu lina linapita nane kugawo lakutali; tsiku lotsatira, gulu linanso linapita nane kugawo linanso lakutali, kumangotero. Pamapeto a kucheza kumeneku ndinatopa kwambiri, koma kunali kucheza kosangalatsa. Ndimasangalala kwambiri ndikamakumbukira mpingo umenewo.

Pomafika cha m’ma 1950 tinali ndi ofalitsa Ufumu oposa 7,000 ku Cuba, chiŵerengero chofanana ndi cha Mexico panthaŵiyo. M’July chaka chomwecho, ndinakachita nawo msonkhano wa mitundu yonse wa Kuwonjezeka kwa Teokrase mu Yankee Stadium ku New York City. Kenaka, ndinapatsidwa gawo latsopano laumishonale, ku Puerto Rico. Ena mwa amishonale atsopano a m’kalasi la 12 la Gileadi anali Estelle ndi Thelma Weakley, amene anatsagana nane paulendo wopita ku Puerto Rico.

Patapita zaka zisanu ndi zitatu ineyo ndi Estelle tinakwatirana, pakamwambo kamene kanachitikira papulatifomu ku Bayamón, Puerto Rico panthaŵi yopuma ya msonkhano wathu wadera. Tisanakwatirane komanso titakwatirana, ndinali kutumikira m’ntchito yadera. Zaka zoposa khumi zimene tinali ku Puerto Rico, ineyo ndi Estelle tinaona chiwonjezeko chachikulu​—chochokera pa ofalitsa osakwana 500 kufika pa ofalitsa oposa 2,000. Tinathandiza anthu ambiri kufika pakudzipatulira ndi kubatizidwa, ndipo tinachita nawo ntchito yokhazikitsa mipingo ingapo yatsopano.

M’December 1960, Milton Henschel wa kulikulu la Mboni za Yehova ku Brooklyn, New York, anadzachezera Puerto Rico ndipo analankhula kwa amishonale. Iye anafuna kudziŵa ngati ena a iwo angathe kukagwira ntchito ku gawo lina. Estelle ndi ine tinali ena mwa amene anadzipereka kukagwira ntchito imeneyo.

Kumudzi Kwathu ku Dominican Republic

Tinapatsidwa ntchito yatsopano yokatumikira ku Dominican Republic, ndipo tinasankha kunyamuka pa June 1, 1961. Pa May 30 mtsogoleri wopondereza wa Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo, anaphedwa, ndipo maulendo onse a ndege zopita kudzikolo analetsedwa. Komabe patapita nthaŵi yochepa, maulendo anayambikanso, ndipo tinakwera ndege yopita ku Dominican Republic pa June 1 monga momwe tinakonzera.

Pamene tinafika m’dzikomo tinapeza kuti munali chipolowe, ndipo asilikali anali yakaliyakali. Anali kuopa kuti anthu oukira angalande dzikolo, ndipo asilikali anali kusecha aliyense pamsewu waukulu. Anatiimitsa pamalo angapo ofufuzira, ndipo pamalo onsewo anasecha katundu wathu. Anatulutsa zonse zimene zinali m’masutikesi athu, ngakhale tinthu tating’onoting’ono. Mmenemo ndi mmene tinafikira ku Dominican Republic.

Tinakhala m’likulu, Santo Domingo, kwa milungu ingapo tisanapite ku gawo lathu loyamba ku La Romana. Panthaŵi ya ulamuliro wopondereza wa Trujillo, anthu m’dzikomo anauzidwa kuti Mboni za Yehova anali anthu achikomyunizimu ndipo anali anthu oipa koposa. Zotsatirapo zake, Mboni zinazunzidwa kwambiri. Komabe, pang’ono ndi pang’ono tinathetsa maganizo olakwika ameneŵa.

Titagwira ntchito kwa nthaŵi yochepa ku La Romana, tinayambanso kutumikira m’ntchito yadera. Kenako, mu 1964, tinatumizidwa monga amishonale kumzinda wa Santiago. Chaka chotsatira Dominican Republic inaukiridwa, ndipo m’dzikomo munalinso chipolowe. Panthaŵi ya chipolowe chimenecho anatisamutsira ku San Francisco de Macorís, tauni yodziŵika bwino chifukwa cha anthu ake okonda zandale. Komabe, tinali kulalikira mwaufulu popanda zopinga zina. Inde tinakhazikitsa mpingo watsopano ngakhale kuti kunali mavuto a zandale. Zaka zonse zotsatira, ntchito yathu inali kusinthasinthabe tisanatumizidwenso kumene tikukhala tsopano lino ku Santiago.

Taonadi madalitso a Yehova pantchito ya kuno ku Dominican Republic. Pamene tinafika mu 1961, kunali Mboni pafupifupi 600 ndi mipingo 20. Lerolino kuli ofalitsa pafupifupi 20,000 amene akulalikira uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu m’mipingo yoposa 300. Pali chiyembekezo chachikulu chakuti chiŵerengero chimenechi chidzapitirizabe kukula, monga momwe zinasonyezedwera ndi anthu 69,908 opezeka pa Chikumbutso cha imfa ya Kristu mu 1997. Chimenecho ndi chiŵerengero chochuluka kuposa katatu ndi theka poyerekezera ndi chiŵerengero cha ofalitsa!

Tsopano Mtundu Wamphamvu

Ngakhale kuti mkhalidwe wa dziko ukusinthabe, uthenga wa m’Baibulo umene Mboni za Yehova zimalalikira sunasinthe. (1 Akorinto 7:31) Yehova adakali Mulungu, Kristu adakali Mfumu, ndipo tsopano tikuzindikira bwino koposa ndi kale lonse kuti Ufumu ndiwo chiyembekezo chokha cha dziko lapansi.

Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, pakhala kusintha kosangalatsa kwa anthu a Yehova kuyambira pamene ndinakapezeka pamsonkhano uja wa ku Salem, Oregon, zaka ngati 60 zapitazo. Khamu lalikulu, lakuladi kwambiri, laposa mamiliyoni asanu. Zilidi monga momwe Yehova ananeneratu ponena za anthu ake kuti: “Wamng’ono adzasanduka chikwi, ndi wochepa adzasanduka mtundu wamphamvu; Ine Yehova ndidzafulumiza ichi m’nthawi yake.”​—Yesaya 60:22.

Tsopano pambuyo pa zaka pafupifupi 60 ndili mu utumiki wanthaŵi zonse, ndili wosangalala chifukwa chakuti ndikupitirizabe kulalikira ndi kuphunzitsa m’ntchito yanga yaumishonale. Ndi mwaŵi waukulu chotani nanga kuchita nawo ntchito imeneyo ndi kuona “wamng’ono” akusanduka “mtundu wamphamvu!”

[Chithunzi patsamba 21]

Pamodzi ndi mkazi wanga, ku Dominican Republic