Kukondwera mwa Yehova Mosasamala Kanthu za Ziyeso
YOSIMBIDWA NDI GEORGE SCIPIO
Mu December 1945, ndinaligone m’chipatala, ziwalo za thupi langa zonse zitafa kupatulapo manja ndi mapazi. Ndinkaganiza kuti ndichira mofulumira, koma ena ankakayika ngati ndidzayendanso. Chinali chiyeso chotani nanga kwa mnyamata wachangu wazaka 17! Sindinakhulupirire zomwe anthu ankanena. Ndinali ndi zochita zambiri kuphatikizapo ulendo wopita ku England ndi bwana wanga m’chaka chotsatiracho.
NDINADWALA nthenda ya polio imene inafala m’mudzi wathu wa pachisumbu cha St. Helena. Anthu 11 anafa ndi nthendayi komanso inapundula anthu ochuluka. Ndili m’chipatala, ndinali ndi nthaŵi yochuluka yolingalira za moyo wanga wosakhalitsawu ndi za tsogolo langa. Panthaŵiyinso, ndinazindikira kuti, mosasamala kanthu za matenda anga, ndinali ndi chifukwa chokhalira wokondwa.
Chiyambi Chochepa Zedi
M’chaka cha 1933, ndili ndi zaka zisanu, atate anga, a Tom, amene anali wapolisi komanso dikoni m’tchalitchi cha Baptist, anatenga mabuku kwa Mboni za Yehova ziŵiri zomwe zinali atumiki anthaŵi zonse, kapena kuti apainiya, amene anabwera pachisumbuchi kwa nthaŵi yochepa.
Limodzi la mabukuwo linali lotchedwa Zeze wa Mulungu. Atate ankagwiritsa ntchito bukuli pophunzira Baibulo m’banja lathu komanso ndi anthu ena okondwerera. Linali buku lovuta ndipo ndinkamva pang’ono pokha. Ndikukumbukira kuti ndinkachonga lemba lililonse limene tinkakambirana m’Baibulo langa. Tsopano atate anazindikira kuti zomwe tinkaphunzira zinali choonadi ndiponso kuti zinali zosiyana ndi zimene ankalalikira kutchalitchi cha Baptist. Anayamba kuuza ena za zimenezi ndiponso kulalikira m’tchalitchi kuti kulibe Utatu, kulibe moto wa helo, ndiponso kulibe mzimu wosafa. Zimenezi zinayambitsa chisokonezo m’tchalitchimo.
Tsopano, pofuna kuthetsa chisokonezochi, anapanga msonkhano m’tchalitchimo. Ndiye anafunsa kuti, “Ndani ali wa Baptist?” Ambiri anavomera. Funso lotsatira linali lakuti, “Ndani ali wa Yehova?” Anthu mwina 10 kapena 12 ndiwo anavomera. Ndipo anauzidwa kusiya tchalitchicho.
Anthu ameneŵa ndiwo anayamba chipembedzo chatsopano ku St. Helena. Atate analembera kalata ku likulu la Watch Tower Society ku United States kupempha makina oulutsira mawu ogwiritsa ntchito polengeza nkhani za Baibulo za pamalekodi. Anayankhidwa kuti makinawo anali aakulu osatheka kuwatumiza ku St. Helena. M’malo mwake anawatumizira galamafoni yaing’ono, kenako abale anaitanitsa zina ziŵiri. Ankazungulira chisumbuchi pansi kapena pabulu, akumafalitsa uthenga kwa anthu.
Pamene uthengawu unali kufalikira, chitsutso chinkawonjezekanso. Kusukulu kwanga, ana ankafuula kuti: “Bwerani kuno nonse, mudzamvere kuimba kwa galamafoni ya Tommy Scipio ndi gulu lake!” Chinali chiyeso chachikulu kwambiri kwa ine, popeza ndinali mnyamata wapasukulu wofuna kuyanjana ndi anzanga. Kodi chinandithandiza kupirira n’chiyani?
M’banja lathu—la ana asanu ndi mmodzi—nthaŵi zonse tinkachita phunziro la Baibulo la banja. Tonse pamodzi tinali kuŵerenga Baibulo tsiku lililonse tisanadye chakudya chammaŵa. Ndithudi, izi ndizo zinathandiza banja lathu kukhalabe lokhulupirika m’choonadi kwa zaka zambiri. Ndinayamba kukonda Baibulo ndili wamng’ono, ndipo kwa zaka zambiri, ndapitirizabe chizoloŵezi choŵerenga Baibulo nthaŵi zonse. (Salmo 1:1-3) Pamene ndinkasiya sukulu pausinkhu wazaka 14, ndinali n’takhazikika m’choonadi, ndiponso ndinali kuopa Yehova. Zimenezi zinandipangitsa kukhala wokondwera mwa Yehova mosasamala kanthu za ziyeso.
Kuwonjezeka kwa Ziyeso ndi Chimwemwe
Ndili m’chipatala ndikuganiza za ubwana wanga ndi za tsogolo langa, ndinadziŵa chifukwa cha kuphunzira kwanga Baibulo kuti matendawa sanali chiyeso kapena chilango chochokera kwa Mulungu. (Yakobo 1:12, 13) Komabe, nthenda ya polio inali chiyeso chachikulu, ndipo zotsatira zake zinali kudzakhala nane kwa moyo wanga wonse.
Nditayamba kuchira, ndinayamba kuphunziranso kuyenda. Minofu ya m’mikono yanga sinalinso kugwira ntchito. Tsiku lililonse ndinkagwaigwa. Komabe, mwa kupemphera kwambiri ndi kuyesetsa mwakhama, ndinayamba kuyenda ndi ndodo m’chaka cha 1947.
Panthaŵiyi ndinapalana ubwenzi ndi mtsikana wina dzina lake Doris, yemwe anali wokhulupirira mnzanga. Tinali tidakali ana kuti tikwatirane, koma zinathandiza kwambiri pakuyenda kwanga. Popeza ndalama zomwe ndinkalandira zinali zosakwana kusamalira mkazi ndinasiya ntchito, ndiyeno ndinatsegula chipatala cha mano, chimene chinagwira ntchito zaka ziŵiri. Tinakwatirana m’chaka cha 1950. Panthaŵiyi ndinali n’tapeza ndalama zokwanira kugula galimoto laling’ono. Tsopano ndinkatenga abale popita ku misonkhano ndi ku ulaliki.
Kupita Patsogolo kwa Teokalase Pachisumbupo
M’chaka cha 1951 Sosaite inatitumizira woimira wawo woyamba, Jocabus van Staden, mnyamata wa ku South Africa. Panthaŵiyi n’kuti tikukhala m’nyumba yaikulu, chotero tinakhala naye kwa chaka chonse. Popeza bizinesi inali yanga, tinkathera nthaŵi yochuluka muulaliki, ndipo ndinaphunzira zambiri kwa iye.
Jacobus kapena kuti Koos malinga ndi mmene ife tinkam’tchera, analinganiza misonkhano ya mpingo yanthaŵi zonse, imene tonse tinali kusangalala kufikapo. Tinali ndi vuto la zoyendera popeza panali galimoto ziŵiri zokha mwa anthu tonse okondwerera. Maloŵa ndi azitundazitunda, ndipo panthaŵiyo n’kuti misewu yabwino ili yochepa. Choncho, inali ntchito zedi kutenga aliyense kupita ku misonkhano. Ena ankanyamuka mmamaŵa kwambiri n’kumayenda pansi. Ndinkanyamula anthu atatu pagalimoto langa ndipo tikayenda mtunda ndithu ndinkawatsitsa panjira. Akatsika ankayenda pansi mtunda wotsalawo. Ndikatero ndinkabwerera, kukatenga anthu ena atatu, n’kukawasiyanso panjira, ine n’kubwereranso kukatenga ena. Mwa njira imeneyi, tonse tinkapezeka pamisonkhano. Misonkhano ikatha, tinali kuchitanso zofananazo mpaka tonse titabwerera m’makomo.
Koos anatiphunzitsanso mmene tingaperekere ulaliki wogwira mtima m’makomo. Tinali ndi zokumana nazo zambiri zabwino komanso zoipa. Koma chimwemwe chomwe tinapeza mu utumiki wakumunda chinaposa ziyeso zonse zomwe otsutsa anadzetsa m’ntchito yathu yolalikira. Tsiku lina m’mawa ndinapita ndi Koos ku ulaliki. Titafika pafupi ndi khomo la nyumba ina, tinamva kulankhula m’nyumbamo. Mwamuna anali kuŵerenga Baibulo mokweza. Zinali kumveka bwinobwino kuti anali mawu ozoloŵereka a chaputala 2 cha Yesaya. Atafika pa vesi 4, tinagogoda. Mwamuna wachikulireyo mosangalala anatiloŵetsa m’nyumba, tinagwiritsa ntchito Yesaya 2:4 kum’fotokozera uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu. Tinayamba naye phunziro la Baibulo ngakhale kuti ankakhala kumene galimoto sikanatha kufikako. Kuti tifike kunyumba yake tinayenera kutsika chitunda, kuoloka mtsinje pamiyala, n’kukweranso chitunda. Koma zinali zaphindu kwambiri. Mwamuna wachikulire wofatsa ameneyu analandira choonadi ndipo anabatizidwa. Kuti akafike pamisonkhano, anali kuyendera ndodo ziŵiri mpaka pamalo ena pomwe ndinkamtenga pagalimoto ulendo wotsalawo. Patapita nthaŵi anamwalira ali Mboni yokhulupirika.
Mkulu wa apolisi ankatsutsa ntchito yathu yolalikira ndipo anali kuopseza kuti am’tumiza kwawo Koos. Ankamuitana Koos kukam’funsa mafunso kamodzi pamwezi. Popeza nthaŵi zonse Koos anali kuyankha kuchokera m’Baibulo zinali kumupsetsa mtima kwambiri. Panthaŵi iliyonse yomwe ankachenjeza Koos kuti asiye kulalikira, iye ankalandirapo umboni. Anapitirizabe kutsutsa ntchito yolalikira ngakhale pamene Koos anachoka ku St. Helena. Kenako, mkuluyu amene anali wonenepa ndi wamphamvu anadwala mwadzidzidzi ndipo anawonda. Madokotala sanathe kupeza chimene anali kudwala. Ndiyeno, anachoka pachisumbucho.
Ubatizo ndi Kuwonjezeka kwa Anthu
Koos atakhala pachisumbuchi kwa miyezi itatu, anaona kuti kunali koyenera kuti achititse ubatizo. Kunali kovuta kupeza dziŵe labwino. Choncho tinaganiza zokumba dzenje, ndi kuikamo simenti kenako n’kudzazamo madzi. Usiku woti mmaŵa ndiye tsiku laubatizo, kunagwa mvula, ndipo mmaŵa tinali osangalala kupeza kuti madzi adzaza kwambiri m’dzenjemo.
Tsiku Lamlunguli mmaŵa Koos ndiye anapereka nkhani ya ubatizo. Atapempha anthu opita ku ubatizo kuimirira, anthu 26 tinaimirira kuti tiyankhe mafunso anthaŵi zonse. Tinali ndi mwayi wokhala Mboni zoyamba kubatizidwa pachisumbuchi. Linali tsiku losangalatsa kwambiri pamoyo wanga chifukwa nthaŵi zonse ndinkadera nkhaŵa kuti Armagedo ingandipeze ndisanabatizidwe.
Ndiyeno mipingo iŵiri inakhazikitsidwa, ku Levelwood ndi ku Jamestown. Loweruka mlungu uliwonse madzulo ine ndi anthu ena aŵiri kapena atatu tinkayenda mtunda wa makilomita 13 kupita ku mpingo wina kukachititsa Sukulu ya Utumiki Wateokalase ndi Msonkhano wa Utumiki. Lamlungu mmaŵa pambuyo pa utumiki wakumunda, tinkabwerera kumpingo wathu kukachita misonkhano yofananayo, komanso Phunziro la Nsanja ya Olonda, nthaŵi yamasana ndi usiku. Choncho mapeto athu a mlungu anali antchito zosangalatsa zokhazokha za teokalase. Ndinkafuna kuchita ulaliki wanthaŵi zonse, komano ndinali ndi banja loti ndilisamalire. Choncho m’chaka cha 1952, ndinayambanso ntchito m’boma monga dokotala wa mano.
M’chaka cha 1955 anthu oimira Sosaite omayendayenda, oyang’anira madera, anayamba kumafika pachisumbuchi chaka chilichonse, ndipo masiku ena aulendo wawo ankakhala kunyumba kwanga. Anali kulimbikitsa kwambiri banja lathu. Panthaŵi yofananayo, ndinalinso ndi mwayi woonetsa nawo mafilimu atatu a Sosaite pachisumbu ponse.
Msonkhano Wosangalatsa wa Chifuniro cha Mulungu
M’chaka cha 1958, ndinasiyanso ntchito m’boma kuti ndipite ku msonkhano wa Mitundu Yonse wa Chifuniro cha Mulungu ku New York. Msonkhano umenewu unali wofunika kwambiri pamoyo wanga—nthaŵi yomwe inandipatsa zifukwa zambiri zokondwerera mwa Yehova. Chifukwa chosoŵa zoyendera zobwerera kuchisumbuchi, tinakhala miyezi isanu ndi theka tisanabwerere kwathu. Msonkhanowu unali wamasiku asanu ndi atatu, ndipo mapologalamu anali kuyamba naini koloko yammaŵa mpaka naini koloko yausiku. Koma sindinkatopa, ndipo ndinkayembekezera mwachidwi zochitika za tsiku lotsatira. Ndinali ndi mwayi woimira St. Helena kwa mphindi ziŵiri papologalamu. Kunali kochititsa mantha kulankhula kwa khamu lalikulu la anthu ku Yankee Stadium ndi mu Polo Grounds.
Msonkhanowu unandilimbikitsa kuchita upainiya. Nkhani yapoyera ya mutu wakuti, “Ufumu wa Mulungu Ulamulira—Kodi Mapeto a Dziko Ayandikira?,” inali yolimbikitsa kwambiri. Msonkhano utatha, tinapita ku likulu la Sosaite ku Brooklyn kukaona fakitale. Ndinayankhula ndi Mbale Knorr, amene panthaŵiyo anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, za kupita patsogolo kwa ntchito yolalikira ku St. Helena. Iye anati tsiku lina adzafika pachisumbuchi. Tinapita kunyumba ndi matepi omwe tinajambulamo nkhani zonse komanso mafilimu ambiri a msonkhanowu okaonetsa banja langa ndi mabwenzi anga.
Cholinga Changa cha Utumiki Wanthaŵi Zonse Chikwaniritsidwa
N’tabwerera kwathu, ndinaitanidwa kukayambanso ntchito m’boma, popeza panalibe dokotala wina wa mano pachisumbuchi. Komabe, n’nalongosola kuti ndikufuna kuyamba utumiki wanthaŵi zonse. Titakambirana kwanthaŵi yaitali, tinagwirizana kuti ndidzigwira ntchito masiku atatu pamlungu, ndipo ndidzilandira malipiro ochuluka kuposa omwe ndinkalandira pamene ndinkagwira ntchito masiku asanu ndi limodzi pamlungu. Mawu a Yesu analidi oona: “Koma muthange mwafuna Ufumu wake ndi chilungamo chake, ndipo zonse zimenezo zidzawonjezedwa kwa inu.” (Mateyu 6:33) Ndi miyendo yodwalayi kunali kovuta kuyenda m’malo azitunda apachisumbuchi. Koma ngakhale zinali choncho, ndinachita upainiya kwa zaka 14 ndipo ndinathandiza anthu ambiri apachisumbuchi kuphunzira choonadi—ndithudi chinthu chokondweretsa kwambiri.
M’chaka cha 1961 boma linafuna kunditumiza ku maphunziro azaka zitatu kuchisumbu cha Fiji kuti ndikhale dokotala wa mano woyeneretsedwa. Anati anditumiza pamodzi ndi banja langa. Chinali chiyeso chokopa kwambiri, koma n’talingalira mofatsa ndinakana. Sindinafune kusiya abale anga kwanthaŵi yaitali komanso kutaya mwayi wotumikira nawo pamodzi. Dokotala wamkulu yemwe anakonza ulendowo anakhumudwa kwambiri. Anati: “Ngati ukulingalira kuti mapeto ali pafupi kwambiri, ungadzagwiritse ntchito ndalama zomwe upeze m’nthaŵi ino.” Koma sindinasinthe maganizo.
Chaka chotsatiracho ndinaitanidwa ku South Africa kukakhala nawo pa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu, maphunziro a mwezi umodzi a oyang’anira mipingo. Tinapatsidwa malangizo otithandiza kusamalira bwino ntchito ya mpingo. Sukuluyi itatha, ndinalandira maphunziro ochuluka mwa kugwira ntchito pamodzi ndi woyang’anira woyendayenda. Ndiyeno kwa zaka khumi ndinatumikira ngati woyang’anira dera wogwirizira m’mipingo iŵiri ya ku St. Helena. M’kupita kwa nthaŵi, kunapezekanso abale ena oyeneretsedwa, ndipo tinayamba kusinthana ntchitoyi.
Panthaŵiyo, tinali titasamuka ku Jamestown kumka ku Levelwood, kumene kunali kosoŵa kwambiri, ndipo tinakhalako zaka khumi. Panthaŵiyi, ndinali kugwira ntchito kwambiri popanda mpata wopuma kwenikweni—kuchita upainiya, kugwira ntchito m’boma masiku atatu pamlungu, komanso kugulitsa m’sitolo laling’ono. Kuphatikiza pamenepa, ndinali kusamalira zinthu za mumpingo, mkazi wanga ndiponso banja langa la ana anayi. Kuti ndithetse vutoli, ndinasiya ntchito yamasiku atatu pamlunguyo, ndinagulitsanso sitolo. Ndiyeno ndinatenga banja langa kupita nalo kutchuthi kwa miyezi itatu ku Cape Town, South Africa. Kenako tinapita kuchisumbu cha Ascension ndipo tinakhalako chaka chimodzi. Nthaŵiyo, tinathandiza anthu ambiri kupeza chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha choonadi cha Baibulo.
Titabwerera ku St. Helena, tinakakhalanso ku Jamestown. Tinakonzetsa nyumba imene ili kumbali ina ya Nyumba ya Ufumu kuti tidzikhalamo. Kuti tipeze zofunika pamoyo, ine ndi mwana wanga John, tinasandutsa kumbuyo kwa galimoto yamtundu wa Ford kukhala kogulitsiramo ayisikilimu, ndipo tinagulitsa ayisikilimu kwa zaka zisanu. Patangopita nthaŵi pang’ono titayamba bizinesiyi, ndinachita ngozi ndi chogulitsira ayisikilimucho. Chinandigwera pa miyendo, ndiyeno minyewa ya m’maondo mpaka kumapazi inafa, ndipo ndinachira patatha miyezi itatu.
Madalitso Ochuluka Akale ndi Am’tsogolo
Kwa zaka zambiri, takhala ndi madalitso ochuluka—zifukwa zowonjezereka zokhalira wokondwera. Limodzi la madalitsoŵa ndi ulendo wathu wa m’chaka cha 1985 wopita ku South Africa ku msonkhano wa m’dzikolo ndi kukaona nyumba ya Beteli yatsopano, yomwe inali kumangidwa. Linanso linali kuthandiza kwanga ndi mwana wanga John kumanga Nyumba Yamsonkhano yokongola pafupi ndi Jamestown. Tili osangalala kuti ana athu atatu amuna akutumikira monga akulu, ndipo mdzukulu wanga akutumikira pa Beteli ya ku South Africa. Ndipo tapezanso chimwemwe chochuluka kwambiri ndi chikhutiro mwa kuthandiza anthu ambiri kupeza chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha Baibulo.
Gawo lathu n’lochepa, la anthu pafupifupi 5,000. Komabe, kulalikira mobwerezabwereza gawoli kwakhala ndi zotsatirapo zabwino. Anthu ochepa zedi ndiwo sakondwera nafe. Ku St. Helena n’kodziŵika ndi ubwenzi, ndipo kulikonse komwe ungapite umapatsidwa moni—kaya ukuyenda pansi kapena pagalimoto. Chomwe ndaona n’choti ukadziŵana ndi anthu ambiri, sizivuta kuwalalikira. Tsopano tili ndi ofalitsa 150, koma ena anapita ku mayiko akunja.
Patatha zaka 48 tili m’banja, ine ndi mkazi wanga tatsalanso tokha, popeza ana athu onse ndi akuluakulu ndipo akukhala kwina. Chikondi chake chokhulupirika ndi thandizo lake zaka zonsezi zandithandiza kupitiriza kutumikira Yehova mokondwera mosasamala kanthu za ziyeso. Mphamvu zathu zakuthupi zikutha, koma mphamvu zathu zauzimu zikukonzedwa kwatsopano tsiku ndi tsiku. (2 Akorinto 4:16) Ine ndi banja langa komanso ndi mabwenzi anga, tikuyembekeza tsogolo labwino koposa pamene thupi langa lidzakhalenso bwino kwambiri kuposa mmene ndinalili pausinkhu wazaka 17. Ndimafuna kwambiri kudzasangalala ndi ungwiro m’mbali zonse, koposa zonse, kutumikira Mulungu wathu wachikondi ndi wotisunga, Yehova, ndi Mfumu yake yolamulira, Yesu Kristu, kwamuyaya.—Nehemiya 8:10.
[Chithunzi patsamba 26]
George Scipio ndi ana ake aamuna atatu, amene akutumikira monga akulu
[Chithunzi patsamba 29]
George Scipio ndi mkazi wake, Doris