Kupatsa Yehova Zomuyenera

YOSIMBIDWA NDI TIMOLEON VASILIOU

Ndinali nditamangidwa chifukwa cha kuphunzitsa Baibulo m’mudzi wa Aidhonochori. Apolisi anandivula nsapato n’kuyamba kundimenya mapazi. Pamene anapitiriza kundimenya, mapazi anga anachita dzanzi ndipo sindinamvenso kupweteka. Ndisanafotokoze chimene chinachititsa kuti andichite nkhanza zoterezi, zimene panthaŵiyo sizinali zachilendo ku Greece, ndiloleni kuti ndisimbe mmene ndinakhalira mphunzitsi wa Baibulo.

NDITANGOBADWA kumene mu 1921, banja lathu linasamukira ku mzinda wa Rodholívos, kumpoto kwa Greece. Pamene ndinali mnyamata, ndinali wa makhalidwe oipa. Pamene ndinali ndi zaka 11, ndinayamba kusuta. Pambuyo pake ndinakhala chidakwa ndi wajuga, ndipo ndinali kumapita ku mapwando aphokoso pafupifupi usiku uliwonse. Chifukwa chakuti ndinali ndi luso loimba, ndinaloŵa gulu loimba la komweko. M’chaka chimodzi, ndinatha kuimba ndi zida zambiri zagululi. Komabe, panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, ndinali kuthera nthaŵi yambiri kuŵerenga komanso ndinali munthu wokonda chilungamo.

Kumayambiriro a 1940, Nkhondo Yachiŵiri Yapadziko Lonse ili mkati, gulu lathu loimba linaitanidwa kukaimba pamaliro a mtsikana wina. Pamene tinali kumanda, abale ndi anansi ake analira mosaletseka. Kusoŵa chiyembekezo kwawo kwakukuluko kunandikhudza mtima kwambiri. Ndinayamba kudzifunsa kuti, ‘N’chifukwa chiyani timafa? Kodi moyo wathu uli ndi cholinga chinanso koposa kukhalapo kwa nthaŵi yochepa? Kodi mayankho ake ndingawapeze kuti?’

Patapita masiku angapo, ndinaona Baibulo la Chipangano Chatsopano pa shelufu m’nyumba mwanga. Ndinalitenga ndi kuyamba kuliŵerenga. Pamene ndinaŵerenga mawu a Yesu a pa Mateyu 24:7 onena za nkhondo pa mlingo waukulu monga chizindikiro cha kukhalapo kwake, ndinazindikira kuti mawu ameneŵa ayenera kukhudza nthaŵi yathu. Masabata otsatira, ndinaŵerenga buku limeneli la Malemba Achigiriki Achikristu maulendo angapo.

Kenako mu December 1940, ndinachezera banja lina la pafupi​—mkazi wamasiye ndi ana ake asanu. M’chipinda chawo chapamwamba, pamulu wa timabuku, ndinapezapo kabuku kamodzi kakuti A Desirable Government, lofalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ndinakhala m’chipindamo ndi kuŵerenga kabuku konseko. Ndinakhutitsidwa kwambiri ndi zimene ndinaŵerenga kuti tikukhaladi m’masiku amene Baibulo limawatcha “masiku otsiriza” ndi kuti Yehova Mulungu adzathetsa dongosolo lino la zinthu ndi kubweretsa dziko latsopano la chilungamo posachedwapa.​—2 Timoteo 3:1-5; 2 Petro 3:13.

Chimene chinandisangalatsa kwambiri ndi umboni wa m’Malemba wakuti olungama adzakhala ndi moyo wosatha m’paradaiso padziko lapansi ndi kuti matenda ndi imfa sizidzakhalakonso m’dziko latsopanolo mu ulamuliro wa Ufumu wa Mulungu. (Salmo 37:9-11, 29; Chivumbulutso 21:3, 4) Pamene ndimaŵerenga, ndinathokoza Mulungu m’pemphero chifukwa cha zinthu zimenezi, ndipo ndinapempha kuti andizindikiritse zimene iye amafuna. Ndinazindikira kuti Yehova Mulungu ndi woyenera kudzipereka kwanga ndi mtima wonse.​—Mateyu 22:37.

Kuchitapo Kanthu pa Zimene Ndinaphunzira

Kuyambira nthaŵi imeneyo, ndinasiya kusuta, kuledzera, ndiponso kutchova juga. Ndinasonkhanitsa ana asanu a mkazi wamasiyeyo ndi mbale wanga wamng’ono pamodzi ndi alongo anga aang’ono aŵiri, n’kuwafotokozera zimene ndinaphunzira m’kabukuko. Posakhalitsa tonsefe tinayamba kufalitsa zochepa zimene tinadziŵazo. Tinayamba kudziŵika monga Mboni za Yehova kwa anthu a m’derali, ngakhale kuti tinali tisanakumanepo ndi wa Mboni aliyense. Kuyambira pa chiyambi, ndinali kuthera maola oposa zana limodzi pamwezi kuuza ena za zinthu zodabwitsa zimene ndinaziphunzira.

Wansembe wina watchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox anapita kwa bwanamkubwa kukadandaula za ife. Koma masiku angapo papitapo, zomwe ife sitimazidziŵa, Mboni ina yachinyamata inapeza kavalo wosokera amene anakam’bwezera kwa eniake. Chifukwa cha kuona mtima koteroko, bwanamkubwayo anali kuwakonda a Mboni, ndipo anakana kumvera wansembeyo.

Tsiku lina mu October 1941, ndikuchitira umboni pamsika, munthu winawake anandiuza za mmodzi wa Mboni za Yehova amene ankakhala mu mzinda winawake wapafupi. Anali wapolisi wakale wotchedwa Christos Triantafillou. Ndinapita kukaonana naye ndipo anandiuza kuti anakhala Mboni kuyambira 1932. Ndinasangalala kwambiri pamene anandipatsa zofalitsa zambirimbiri zakale za Watch Tower! Zimenezi zinandithandiza kwambiri kupita patsogolo mwauzimu.

Mu 1943, ndinasonyeza kudzipatulira kwa Mulungu mwa ubatizo wa m’madzi. Mmenemo n’kuti ndikuchititsa maphunziro a Baibulo atatu m’midzi yoyandikana ndi kwathu​—Dhravískos, Palaeokomi, ndi Mavrolofos. Ndinkagwiritsa ntchito buku lakuti Zeze wa Mulungu pophunzitsa munthu Baibulo. Pambuyo pake, ndinaona mipingo inayi ya Mboni za Yehova ikubadwa m’derali.

Kulalikira Mosasamala Kanthu za Zopinga

Mu 1944, Greece anamasuka ku ulamuliro wa Germany, ndipo pambuyo pake, tinayamba kuyankhulana ndi nthambi ya Watch Tower Society ku Athens. Ofesi ya nthambiyo inandipempha kukalalikira nawo m’dera limene wina aliyense anali asanamvepo uthenga wa Ufumu. Nditasamukira kuderalo, ndinagwira ntchito pafamu kwa miyezi itatu ndipo kenako ndinathera chaka chonsecho mu utumiki.

M’chaka chimenecho ndinasangalala kuona amayi wanga akubatizidwa, ndiponso mkazi wamasiye uja pamodzi ndi ana ake, kusiyapo Marianthi, mwana wamng’ono wa mkazi wamasiyeyu, amene anabatizidwa mu 1943 ndipo anakhala mkazi wanga wokondedwa mu November wa chaka chomwecho. Zaka makumi atatu pambuyo pake, mu 1974, bambo wanga nawonso anakhala Mboni yobatizidwa.

Kumayambiriro a 1945 tinalandira kope loyamba lojambulidwa la Nsanja ya Olonda kuchokera ku ofesi yanthambi. Mutu wake unali wakuti “Mukani, Phunzitsani Mitundu Yonse.” (Mateyu 28:19, The Emphatic Diaglott) Mwamsanga, ine ndi Marianthi tinachoka m’mudzi mwathu ndi kukatumikira kumadera akutali kum’mawa kwa Mtsinje wa Strymon. Mboni zina zinadzatipeza pambuyo pake.

Kaŵirikaŵiri tinali kuyenda opanda nsapato kupita kumidzi ina, mtunda wa makilomita ambirimbiri kudutsa m’makwawa ndi m’mapiri. Timachita zimenezi kuti tipulumutse nsapato kukuwonongeka chifukwa zitawonongeka sitikanapezanso zina. Mkati mwa zaka za 1946 mpaka 1949, munali nkhondo yachiweniweni mu Greece, ndipo kuyenda kunali koopsa kwambiri. Sichinali chachilendo kuona mitembo ya anthu mumsewu.

M’malo mobwerera m’mbuyo chifukwa cha mavuto, tinapitirizabe kutumikira mwachangu. Nthaŵi zambiri ndinali kumva monga momwe wamasalmo anamvera amene analemba kuti: “Inde, ndingakhale ndiyenda m’chigwa cha mthunzi wa imfa, sindidzaopa choipa; pakuti Inu muli ndi ine: chibonga chanu ndi ndodo yanu, izi zindisangalatsa ine.” (Salmo 23:4) Nthaŵi zambiri sitinali kukhala kwathu kwa milungu ingapo, ndipo timathera maola oposa 250 muutumiki pamwezi, m’nthaŵi imeneyi.

Utumiki Wathu mu Aidhonochori

Umodzi wa midzi imene tinaichezera mu 1946 ndi wa Aidhonochori, womangidwa paphiri. Kumeneko tinakumana ndi munthu wina wamwamuna amene anatiuza kuti m’mudzimo muli anthu aŵiri amene amafuna kumva uthenga wa Baibulo. Koma chifukwa choopa anansi ake, iye sanafune kutilondolera kwa anthuwo. Komabe nyumba zawo tinazipeza ndipo tinalandiridwa bwino. Kunena zoona, chipinda chochezera chinadzaza ndi anthu, pambuyo pa mphindi zochepa! Anali abale awo ndi mabwenzi awo apamtima. Ndinali wodabwa kwambiri poona kumvetsera kwawo kosamalitsa. Posakhalitsa tinazindikira kuti iwo akhala akufunitsitsa kuonana ndi Mboni za Yehova, koma m’nthaŵi ya ulamuliro wa Germany, kunalibe Mboni za Yehova m’deralo. Kodi n’chiyani chinasonkhezera chidwi chawo?

Amuna aŵiriwo okhala ndi mabanja anali anthu otchuka m’chipani chakumeneko cha Communist, ndipo anali ataphunzitsa malingaliro a Chikomyunizimu kwa anthu a m’deralo. Koma anadzaona buku lakuti Government, (Boma) lofalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Society. Ataliŵerenga, anadziŵa kuti chiyembekezo chokha cha boma labwino, ndi lachilungamo ndicho Ufumu wa Mulungu.

Tinayankhula ndi amuna ameneŵa ndi mabwenzi awo mpaka pakati pa usiku. Mayankho ozikidwa m’Baibulo a mafunso awo anawakhutiritsa. Komabe, patapita nthaŵi yochepa, otsatira Chikomyunizimu m’mudziwu anakonza zondipha chifukwa chondiganizira kuti ndinatembenuza atsogoleri awo akale. Mwamwayi, mwa amene analipo usiku woyambawo panali mwamuna uja amene anandiuza za amuna aŵiri aja ofuna kumva uthenga wa Baibulo. Pambuyo pake anapita patsogolo m’chidziŵitso cha Baibulo, nabatizidwa, ndipo pambuyo pake anakhala mkulu wachikristu.

Kuzunzidwa Mwankhanza

Sipanapite nthaŵi yaitali kuchokera pamene tinakambirana ndi anthu amene kale anali a Chikomyunizimuwo pamene apolisi aŵiri analoŵa m’nyumba mmene tinali kuchititsa msonkhano. Anamanga anthu anayife atatiloza ndi mfuti n’kupita nafe kupolisi. Kumeneko mkulu wapolisi, amene amagwirizana kwambiri ndi atsogoleri a tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox anatikalipira. Pomaliza, anatifunsa kuti, “Ndichite nanu chiyani?”

“Tiyeni tiwamenye!” apolisi ena amene anaima kumbuyo kwathu anafuula nthaŵi yomweyo.

Nthaŵi imeneyo unali usiku kwambiri. Apolisiwo anakatitsekera m’chipinda chapansi ndikupita kukamwa moŵa panyumba yoyandikana nayo. Ataledzera ndithu, anabwera n’kunditenga kupita nane ku chipinda chapamwamba.

Nditaona m’khalidwe wawo, ndinadziŵa kuti akhoza kundipha nthaŵi iliyonse. Choncho, ndinapemphera kwa Mulungu kuti andipatse mphamvu za kupirira vuto lililonse limene ndingayang’anizane nalo. Anatenga ndodo ndipo, monga ndafotokozera poyamba paja, n’kuyamba kundimenya mapazi. Pambuyo pake anandimenya thupi lonse, ndipo anandibwezera ku chipinda chapansi. Kenako anatulutsa winanso n’kuyamba kum’menya.

Nthaŵi imeneyi, ndinapeza mwayi wokonzekeretsa Mboni zina ziŵiri zachinyamatazo zisanayang’anizane ndi chiyeso. Koma apolisiwo anakonza zondibwezera ku chipinda cham’mwamba. Anandivula zovala, ndipo apolisi asanu anandimenya kwa ola limodzi, nandiponda m’mutu ndi nsapato zawo za asilikali. Kenako nditakomoka anandiponya pansi pamene ndinakhala chikomokere kwa maola ngati 12.

Pomaliza titamasulidwa, banja lina m’mudzi momwemo linatipatsa malo ogona usikuwo ndi kutisamalira. Tsiku lotsatira, tinanyamuka ulendo wobwerera kumudzi. Tinali ofooka kwambiri chifukwa cha kumenyedwa moti ulendo wa maola aŵiri, unatitengera maola asanu ndi atatu. Ndinali wotupa kwambiri chifukwa chomenyedwa moti Marianthi sanandizindikire.

Kupita Patsogolo Mosasamala Kanthu za Chitsutso

Mu 1949, nkhondo yapachiweniweni ikali mkati, tinasamukira ku Thessalonica. Ndinapatsidwa ntchito yotumikira monga wachiŵiri kwa mtumiki wa mpingo pa umodzi wa mipingo inayi ya mu mzindawu. Patapita chaka chimodzi mpingowo unakula mpaka tinaugaŵa kukhala mipingo iŵiri, ndipo ndinasankhidwa kukhala mtumiki wa mpingo, kapena kuti woyang’anira wotsogoza. Chaka chimodzi pambuyo pake mpingo watsopanowonso unakula kuŵirikiza kaŵiri, ndipo mpingo winanso unakhazikitsidwa!

Otsutsa anali okwiya ndi kuwonjezeka kwa Mboni za Yehova mu Thessalonica. Tsiku lina mu 1952 pamene ndimafika kunyumba kuchokera kuntchito, ndinapeza nyumba yathu itapseratu. Marianthi anali atapulumukira mkamwa mwa mbuzi. Madzulo pamsonkhano, tinafotokoza chifukwa chake tinapita ndi zovala zakuda​—tinali titataya zinthu zathu zonse. Abale athu achikristu anali achifundo kwambiri ndipo anatichirikiza.

Mu 1961, ndinapatsidwa ntchito yoyendayenda, kuchezera mpingo umodzi mlungu uliwonse kukalimbikitsa abale mwauzimu. Kwa zaka 27 zotsatira, Marianthi ndi ine tinachezera madera ndi zigawo mu Macedonia, Thrace, ndi Thessaly. Ngakhale kuti mkazi wanga wokondedwa Marianthi anakhala wakhungu kuyambira mu 1948, anatumikira nane mwakhama, kupirira mayesero onse achikhulupiriro. Nayenso anamangidwapo, kuzengedwa mlandu, ndi kuponyedwa m’ndende nthaŵi zambiri. Kenako thanzi lake linayamba kunyonyosoka, ndipo anamwalira mu 1988 atadwala kansa kwa nthaŵi yaitali.

M’chaka chomwecho, ndinasankhidwa kukatumikira monga mpainiya wapadera ku Thessalonica. Tsopano pambuyo pa zaka zoposa 56 zotumikira Yehova, ndikali wokangalika ndipo ndimatenga nawo mbali m’zochitika zonse zautumiki. Nthaŵi zina, ndakhala ndikumachititsa maphunziro a Baibulo ngati 20 a okondwerera mlungu uliwonse.

Ndazindikira kuti tili kumayambiriro chabe kwa ntchito yaikulu yophunzitsa imene idzapitirira kwa zaka chikwi m’dziko latsopano la Yehova. Komabe, ndimalingalira kuti ino sindiyo nthaŵi yochita mphwayi, kuzengereza, kapena kuthera nthaŵi yathu m’kukwaniritsa zolakalaka za thupi. Ndikuthokoza Mulungu chifukwa chondithandiza kusunga lonjezo limene ndinapanga pachiyambi penipenipo chifukwa Yehova n’ngwoyeneradi kudzipereka ndi kum’tumikira kwathu ndi mtima wonse.

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Kukamba nkhani pamene ntchito yathu ya kulalikira inali yoletsedwa

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Ndi mkazi wanga, Marianthi