Moyo Wanga m’Gulu Lotsogozedwa ndi Mzimu la Yehova

Monga yalongosoledwa ndi Albert D. Schroeder

SANDE yoyambirira mu June 1934, Alex Jones ndi ine tinali kulalikira kuchokera ku khomo ndi khomo mu Mzinda wa Jersey, New Jersey. Mwadzidzidzi, nduna za polisi zinathamangira kunyumba yosanjikana imene tinali, kutigwira, kutikankhira mwankhanza m’galimoto, ndi kutipititsa kundende!

Masiku atatu pambuyo pake, woweruza anatizenga mlandu wa kugulitsa popanda msonkho wa chilolezo ndi kutipatsa chigamulo cha masiku khumi m’ndende. Tinatengedwa ku Ndende ya Hudson County, kufunsidwa kuvula zovala, kupyola m’madzi ochotsa tizirombo, ndi kuvala zovala za kundende. Kenaka tinapititsidwa ku ukaidi.

Pano ndinali ndi nthaŵi ya kuwunikira. Ndinali kokha 23 ndipo ndinali wachimwemwe ndi moyo wanga monga mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse pa Beteli ya Brooklyn. Ndiloleni ndigawane nanu zina za ziwunikiro zimenezo.

Woyamikira kwa Agogo Anga Akazi

Mwapadera ndinali ndi zikumbukiro zosangalatsa za agogo anga akuchikazi, Elizabeth Darger. Makolo awo anabweretsa banja ku Michigan kuchokera ku Germany nthaŵi ina isanafike 1870. Iwo ankaphunzitsa chiGerman ndi Chingelezi m’sukulu za kumaloko ndipo anakhala ndi ife m’nyumba ya makolo anga a chiLutheran mu Saginaw, Michigan, mzinda umene ndinabadwiramo. Mkati mwa Nkhondo ya Dziko I, iwo limodzi ndi ang’ono awo omwe anali aphunzitsi a sukulu anakhala oyanjana ndi Ophunzira Baibulo a Dziko Lonse, tsopano odziŵika monga Mboni za Yehova.

Ngakhale kuti makolo anga anandifuna ine kupezeka pa sukulu ya Sande ya chiLutheran, Agogo anga a akazi anavomerezedwa kulankhula ndi ine ponena za zikhulupiriro zawo zosangalatsa za Baibulo. Iwo anali okhoza kuŵerenga Baibulo mu chiLatin ndi Chigriki, ndipo anazika mwa ine chikhumbo cha kuphunzira Baibulo m’zinenero zake zoyambirira. Ndi chikhumbo, ndinakumbukira kukambitsirana Baibulo kodzutsa maganizo ndi atsibweni anga komwe kunazikidwa pa boma la Ufumu wa Mulungu lomwe posachedwapa lidzalamulira dziko lapansi m’chigwirizano ndi Danieli 2:44.

Mu 1923 Agogo anga a akazi anayamba kuphunzira ndi ine, akumagwiritsira ntchito bukhu la Watch Tower Society la Zeze wa Mulungu, ndipo ndinapezekaponso pa misonkhano ya Mpingo wa Saginaw limodzi nawo. Tsopano, pamene ndinali mu ukaidi wanga, ndinakumbukira misonkhano imeneyo, pa kumvetsera ku maprogramu a pa wailesi ya Watchtower owulutsidwa pa WBBR kuchokera ku Brooklyn, New York, ndi pa zokumana nazo zina zoterozo zomwe zinawongolera moyo wanga.

Mwachitsanzo, ndinakumbukira kumva pa wailesi Judge Joseph F. Rutherford, prezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, akulankhula pa msonkhano wa Ophunzira Baibulo mu Toronto, Canada, mu 1927. Mu Detroit, Michigan, mu 1928, ndinapezeka pa msonkhano wanga woyamba. Kumeneko ndinamva Mbale Rutherford akulankhula mwaumwini. Pa msonkhano umenewo, ndinasangalala kufuula “Inde” ku chigamulo chakuti “Chilengezo Chotsutsa Satana ndipo Chochirikiza Yehova.” Bukhu latsopano Government linatulutsidwa lomwe linasonyeza Ufumu wa Mulungu kukhala boma la teokratiki, osati la demokratiki.

Kuwunikiranso pa Masiku a Sukulu

Ndinawunikiranso pa masiku anga a sukulu. Pa zikakamizo za makolo anga, omwe sanandifune ine kukhala mtumiki wa nthaŵi zonse, ndinavomereza chikalata cha maphunziro a ku koleji. Chotero, mu September 1929, ndinalowa mu Yuniversite ya Michigan pa Ann Arbor kukaphunzira zinenero, zachuma, ndi zopangapanga.

Akazi a Judson, eni a malo a nyumba imene ndinali kukhala, anali kugwirizana ndi Mpingo wa Ophunzira Baibulo wa Ann Arbor. Pakubwerera kwanga ku sukulu m’chirimwe cha 1930, anandiuza kuti mwamuna wabwino wachichepere wochokera ku Alabama anali atangosamukira kumene m’chipinda choyang’anizana ndi changa ndipo iwo analingalira kuti akakhala wovomereza ku “uthenga wathu wa Baibulo.” Ndithudi iye anali tero! William Addison Elrod ndi ine mwamsanga tinakhala mabwenzi pamene iye anavomereza chowonadi cha Baibulo; ndipo tikupitiriza kukhala mabwenzi kufikira ku tsiku lino.

Bill Elrod and ine ndinatenga phunziro lofufuza mkati mwa chirimwe cha 1931, chotero tinalephera kupezekapo mwaumwini pa misonkhano mu 1931 mu Columbus, Ohio. Komabe, pa Sande, July 26, tinamvetsera ku nkhani ya Baibulo pa wailesi ndipo tinali pakati pa khamu lotenthedwa maganizo losawoneka lomwe linalandira dzina lokongola latsopano “Mboni za Yehova.”

Masiku amenewo, mitundu ya boma ya Chisoshalisiti, Fasisiti, ndi Komyunisiti zinali kukambitsiridwa mokulira pa koleji. Mu October 1931 Winston Churchill analankhula kwa 3,000 a ophunzirafe, kupititsa patsogolo demokrase kukhala mtundu wabwino koposa wa boma. Pambuyo pake, mu December 1931, Lord Bertrand Russell, katswiri wodziŵa masamu ndi wanthanthi wolemekezedwa wa chiBritish, analankhula pa fasifizimu. Pambuyo pakabe, Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, prezidenti wa Reichsbank mu Berlin, Germany, analongosola kufunika kwa kuwongolera chuma kwa utundu; m’mawu ena, iye anapititsa patsogolo chisosholizimu cha utundu, kapena chiNazi. Zaka ziŵiri pambuyo pake iye anali mu boma la Hitler monga nduna ya za chuma.

Pokhala titamva zifunsiro za nduna za boma za dziko zimenezi, ndinali wokhutiritsidwa kuposa ndi kalelonse kuti ufumu wa Mesiya wokha ungakhale boma ladziko lokhutiritsa. Chotero Bill Elrod ndi ine tinakonzekera kumaliza sukulu pa June 15, 1932, ndipo kenaka kukhala ogwirira ntchito limodzi mu ntchito yolalikira ya nthaŵi zonse, tsopano yodziŵika monga upainiya.

Tinayamba utumiki wathu wa upainiya tisanabatizidwe chifukwa panthaŵi imeneyo chinali chisanamvetsetsedwe kuti kaya okhala ndi chiyembekezo cha padziko lapansi anafunikira kubatizidwa kapena ayi. Komabe, pamene ndinabatizidwa m’Nyanja ya Vandercook, Michigan, July 24, 1932, chinakhala chotsimikizirika kuti chiyembekezo changa chinasinthira ku chija cha odzozedwa, chomwe chinatsimikiziridwa ndi ‘umboni wa mzimu.’​—Aroma 8:16.

Utumiki wa pa Beteli ya Brooklyn

Pa September 9, pamene tinali kuchita upainiya mu Howell, Michigan, Bill anabwera akuthamanga kuchokera ku positi ofesi akukupiza telegramu yachikasu. Pamene tinaitsegula iyo, tinaŵerenga chiitano chochokera kwa Mbale Rutherford kukachita ripoti kaamba ka utumiki wa pa Beteli mwamsanga monga momwe kukanathekera. Chinatitengera ife kokha maora 72 kumaliza ntchito yathu yaupainiya ndipo kenaka kuyendetsa galimoto makilomita 1,100 kupita ku Brooklyn mu galimoto yathu ya Model T Ford. Pomalizira tinawoloka Brooklyn Bridge ndi kufika pa Beteli pa September 13, 1932. Panthaŵiyo, panali chifupifupi ziwalo 200 za banja la Beteli, ambiri a iwo abale odzozedwa a Mfumu.

Pambuyo pa kutumikira m’gawo la mu fakitale kwa milungu yoŵerengeka, ndinalandira kusintha kwa ntchito kupita ku Dipartimenti ya Utumiki. Mbale waubwenzi wa chiIrish, Thomas J. Sullivan, anali woyang’anira. Iye nthaŵi zonse anatikumbutsa ife achichepere kuti, ‘Pamene mavuto aperekedwa, khalani otsimikizira kutenga nsonga zonse musanapereke yankho.’ (Miyambo 18:13) Akutsinzinira diso lake, iye anakhoza kuwonjezera kuti: “Nchiyani chimene mukuthamangira? Patsani Yehova mwaŵi. Onani chimene mzimu wake ungachite ponena za icho.”

Kuwunikira pa zokumana nazo zapita zimenezi pamene ndinali m’ndende, ndinasangalala pa mwaŵi wa kuvutika kaamba ka chilungamo, monga mmene anachitira Yesu ndi atumwi. (Yohane 15:20; 1 Petro 4:16) Pamene ndiyang’ana m’mbuyo, ndimazindikira kuti zokumana nazo zimenezo zinali kundikonzekeretsa ine kaamba ka mwaŵi wa mtsogolo.

Kuwala Kwatsopano Kosangalatsa

Kumayambiriro kwa 1935, miyezi isanu ndi umodzi pambuyo pa kumasulidwa kwanga kuchokera kundende ndi kubwerera ku Beteli, ndinakumbukira kukambitsirana kochuluka kwa pa tebulo la pa Beteli ponena za chizindikiritso cha “khamu lalikulu.” (Chivumbulutso 7:9, 13, King James Version) Ena anapereka chirikizo kaamba ka kawonedwe kakuti iri linali gulu lachiŵiri la kumwamba, monga mmene prezidenti woyamba wa Watch Tower Society, Mbale Russell, anaphunzitsira. Ena, ngakhale kuli tero, ananena kuti “khamu lalikulu” linapangidwa ndi awo okhala ndi chiyembekezo cha padziko lapansi. Mkati mwa kukambitsira kumeneku, Mbale Rutherford sanadzilowetsemo iyemwini.

Tonsefe pa Beteli tinali osangalatsidwa pamene tinayenda ndi sitima yapadera kupita ku Washington, D.C., kaamba ka msonkhano wokachitidwa kuchokera pa May 30 mpaka June 3, 1935. Pa tsiku lachiŵiri la msonkhanowo, Mbale Rutherford anapereka mbiri yosangalatsa yakuti “khamu lalikulu” liridi gulu la padziko lapansi. Pa mphindi ya pachimake kwenikweni, iye anafunsa kuti: “Kodi awo amene ali ndi chiyembekezo chokhala ndi moyo kosatha padziko lapansi angaimirire chonde?” Chifupifupi theka la 20,000 opezekapo anaimirira. Kenaka, Mbale Rutherford analengeza kuti: “Tawonani! Khamu lalikulu!” Panali bata la kanthaŵi. Kenaka tonsefe tinagawanamo mu kufuula kosangalala, ndipo kululutira kunali kofuula ndi kwanthaŵi yaitali. Tsiku lotsatira 840 anabatizidwa, ambiri awo a gulu la padziko lapansi.

Kuwunikira kwatsopano kwa 1935 kumeneku pa “khamu lalikulu” kunatsogolera ku masitepi a kukonzanso mu 1936 kukonzekeretsa kaamba ka kudza kwa ziwalo zoyembekezeredwa za gulu limeneli. Mwachitsanzo, kufikira pa nthaŵiyo, panali kokha mpingo umodzi waukulu wa Chingelezi mu Mzinda wa New York wonse, koma tsopano mipingo yatsopano inali kupangidwa ndi ife odzozedwa achichepere tikumagawiridwa monga oyang’anira. Lerolino, pali mipingo 336 mu Mzinda wa New York!

Gawo Latsopano

Lachinayi, November 11, 1937 linatsimikizira kukhala tsiku lapadera kwa ine. Ndinalandira chidziŵitso kupita ku ofesi ya Mbale Rutherford masana amenewo pa 3:00 p.m. Ndikumafika panthaŵi yake, ndinadera nkhaŵa kuti mwinamwake ndinaitanidwa kudzadzudzulidwa. Koma pambuyo pa kukambitsirana kwa ubwenzi kochepa, Mbale Rutherford anafunsa ngati ndinali wofunitsitsa kutenga gawo lina.

“Ndiri wofunitsitsa kutumikira kulikonse kumene kuli chifuno,” ndinayankha tero.

Kenaka, akumandidzidzimutsa kotheratu, Mbale Rutherford anafunsa: “Ungakonde bwanji kutumikira pa Beteli ya London monga mtumiki wa nthambi?”

“Kalanga ine, limenelo ndi gawo lalikulu!” ndinachitira ndemanga tero.

“Kuwonjezerapo, ichi chikutanthauza tiketi ya ulendo umodzi, kuvomereza kukhala kumeneko kufikira Armagedo itapita. Chotero ndidzakupatsa masiku atatu kulingalirapo,” iye anapitiriza tero.

“Chabwino, Mbale Rutherford, sindikufunikira masiku atatu. Ngati chiri chifuno cha Yehova kuti ndipite, yankho langa liri inde!”

“Ndinalingalira kuti limenelo lidzakhala yankho lako,” iye anayankha. “Mbale Knorr ali kale ndi tiketi yako pa sitima ya pamadzi ya Queen Mary yomwe idzasambira kupita ku England Lachitatu likudzali.”

Mutu wanga unayamba kuzungulira. “Udzalandira maphunziro mkati mwa masiku ochepa otsatirawa,” Mbale Rutherford anamaliza tero.

Pamene ndinabwerera ku Dipartimenti ya Utumiki, yomwe inali mu fakitale, Mbale Knorr anayamba kuseka pa chozizwitsa changa chachikulu. Iye anadziŵa chimene chinachitika. Nathan Knorr anali woyang’anira wa fakitale ndipo kumayambiriroko anali atapita ku England ndi Mbale Rutherford. Nthaŵi yomweyo anayamba kundipatsa ine maphunziro a mmene ndingayang’anire kayendetsedwe ka nthambi. Masiku ochepa pambuyo pake, ndinabwerera kwa Mbale Rutherford kaamba ka kukonzekera kowonjezereka.

Uphungu wa Mbale Rutherford, wozikidwa pa Mika 6:8, unali ‘kuchita molungama, kuima nji kaamba ka malamulo a gulu, kusungilira miyezo ya Baibulo, kupereka chimvero cha mwamsanga, ndi kusazengereza. Kukhala wachifundo m’kuchita ndi abale, kutengamo mbali mokhazikika mu utumiki wa m’munda, ndi kukhala wodzichepetsa m’kuyenda ndi Mulungu.’ Iye ananena kuti munda wa chiBritish unazilala chifukwa chakuti oyang’anira a nthambi a papitapo sanachirikize kotheratu utumiki wa m’munda. Chotero iye anamaliza mogogomezera kuti: “Limbikitsa utumiki wa m’munda wowonjezereka. Britain tsopano ikufunikira apainiya 1,000, osati kokha 200 amene anali nawo pakali pano.”

Kulandiridwa mu England

Pamene Queen Mary inafika pa Southampton, ndinatenga sitima ya pamtunda kupita ku London ndipo kenaka kukwera taxi kupita ku ofesi ya nthambi ya Sosaite, imene kwa zaka 26 inali pa 34 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate. Wachiŵiri kwa prezidenti wa International Bible Students Association anandilandira mwaubwenzi. Ndinapereka kwa iye kalata ya Mbale Rutherford imene inamuvomereza iye kuchotsa mtumiki wa nthambi ndi kudziŵitsa banja la Beteli kuti ndidzamlowa m’malo iye. Ichi chinachitidwa pa chakudya cha pamasana, ndipo ziwalo 30 za Beteli zinandilandira ine bwino.

M’kupita kwanthaŵi ndinazoloŵerana ndi ambiri a atumiki a nthambi ndi oimira a mu Europe. Awa anali odzozedwa amene mosapanduka anatenga chitsogozo mu ntchito yolalikira mosasamala kanthu za zokhumudwitsa za nthaŵi ya Hitler, anthu onga ngati Martin Harbeck wa ku Switzerland, Charles Knecht wa ku France, Fritz Hartstang wa ku Netherlands, Johan Eneroth wa ku Sweden, William Dey wa ku Denmark, ndi Robert Winkler wolimba mtima wa gulu logwira ntchito mobisira la Sosaite la ku Germany. Mwanjira iriyonse ya Malemba, amuna opanda mantha amenewa achikhulupiriro anapirira zizunzo za nkhanza za chiNazi.

Mbale Rutherford Achezera

Mu 1938, chaka chimodzi isanawulike Nkhondo ya Dziko II, anthu a ku Britain anali atakhoza kutumiza mauthenga a pa wailesi pa lamya kudutsa nyanja. Mainjiniya awo anavomereza kulumikiza maiko anayi kaamba ka msonkhano wapadera wozikidwa mu London, September 9 mpaka 11. Holo ya Royal Albert, Malo a akulu kwambiri oyenerera mu London, anabwerekedwa kaamba ka msonkhanowo. Gulu la Mbale Rutherford, kuphatikizapo Nathan Knorr, linafika milungu itatu pasadakhale kudzathandiza ndi makonzedwewo.

Kuti tilengeze nkhani ya poyera, ndawala za zizindikiro za mbali ziŵiri zinalinganizidwa. Tisanapange ndawala ya chidziŵitso choyamba, Mbale Rutherford anafunsa kuti andiwone. Pamene tinali kukambitsirana nkhani za msonkhano, iye anali kuseŵeretsa pensulo lake, chimene panthaŵi zina anali kuchita pamene anali kulankhula ndi winawake. Iye anang’amba kuchokera mu kabukhu kolembamo nsonga chimene iye analemba ndi kundipatsa ine. “Ukulingalira chiyani ponena za chimenecho?” iye anafunsa tero.

“CHIPEMBEDZO CHIRI MSAMPHA NDI MALONDA,” chinaŵerenga tero.

“Chiwoneka monga kuyatsa moto,” ndinayankha tero.

“Ndinafuna kuti chikhale champhamvu,” iye anatero. Iye kenaka analangiza kuti mapepala okhala ndi mawu awa apangidwe m’nthaŵi yabwino kaamba ka ndawala yathu ya chidziŵitso cha msonkhano woyamba pa Lachitatu madzulo. Usiku wotsatira Nathan Knorr ndi ine tinatsogolera ndawala ya abale chifupifupi chikwi kwa makilomita 10 kupyola pakati pa London.

Mbale Rutherford anandiitana ine mu ofesi yake m’mawa motsatira ndi kufunsa kaamba ka ripoti. “Ambiri anatitcha ife makomyunisiti ndipo ena osakhulupirira Mulungu ndipo anapanga ndemanga zaukali,” ndinatero. Chotero iye analingalira kwa mphindi zingapo ndipo kenaka anang’amba tsamba lokhala ndi mawu olingaliridwa “TUMIKIRANI MULUNGU NDI KRISTU MFUMU.” Iye analingalira kuti zizindikiro zolembedwa mwapatalipatali ndi mawu awa zidzakhalitsa bata chivomerezo choipacho, chimene icho chinachita. Msonkhanowu wa 1938 unachitika bwino. Magawo enieni a pa Loŵeruka ndi Sande, ndi nkhani yaikulu, “Yang’anizanani ndi Nsonga,” inatumizidwa mwachipambano ku misonkhano 49 yochitidwa panthaŵi imodzimodziyo kuzungulira dziko lonse lolankhula Chingelezi.

Pamapeto pa msonkhanowo, gawo lophunzitsa linachitidwa ndi atumiki a nthambi a m’maiko a ku Europe. Mkati mwa gawolo, Mbale Rutherford anandidzudzula ine mwamphamvu kaamba ka kusoweka kwa kuphunzitsa akalinde. Chilangocho chinabweretsa misozi m’maso mwanga. Pambuyo pake, William Dey wa ku Denmark ananditonthoza ine mwachinsinsi, akumanena kuti Mbale Rutherford anandigwiritsira ntchito kuwaphunzira iwo onse mosakhala mwachindunji. Ndipo zinalidi tero! Tsiku lotsatira Mbale Rutherford, yemwe anali kukonda kuvala epuloni ndi kuphika, anatiitana ife tonse ku chakudya chapadera chimene anachikonza. Tonsefe tinasangalala ndi mayanjano osangalatsa.

Zaka za Nkhondo ya Dziko II

Pa September 1, 1939, Hitler analoŵerera Poland. Pa Sande, September 3, Britain inalengeza nkhondo pa Germany. Zikwi za ife mu Britain tinali mu utumiki wa m’munda m’mawa umenewo, moyenerera tikumagawira bukhu latsopano Salvation. Pa khomo lirilonse anthu anadzidzimutsidwa; akazi ena anali kulira. Tonsefe tinatheredwa mabukhu a Baibulo pamene tinapereka chitonthozo cha m’Malemba kwa anthu.

Mwezi wotsatira, tinalandira kope la mtsogolo la November 1, 1939, la Nsanja ya Olonda ndi mutu wakuti “Uchete.” Panthaŵi yake ilo linandandalika mkhalidwe wa Malemba kaamba ka Akristu owona mkati mwa kukangana kwa dziko. (Yohane 17:16) Mwamsanga kugwidwa ndi kuikidwa m’ndende kwa mazana a abale athu a ku Britain ndi alongo kunayamba kuchitika.

Nkhondo ya mumlengalenga pa Britain, yotchedwa Nkhondo ya Britain, inakula kumapeto kwa 1940 ndipo inapitiriza mpaka 1941. Ife a mu London tinapirira usiku wotsatizanatsatizana 57 wa kuphulitsa mabomba kwa utali wa maora 14. Mpweya unali wa moyo ndi phokoso lowopsya. Moto unayaka mwaukali kulikonse. Mabomba makumi aŵiri mphambu zisanu ndi zitatu anagwa pa utali wa mamita 460 kuchokera pa Beteli. Nyumba yathu ya Ufumu yaikulu yomwe inali kufupi ndi Beteli inatenthedwa ndi mabomba otentha moto, koma mwamsanga anazimidwa ndi abale athu ophunzitsidwa a pa Beteli.

Panali ziletso za nthaŵi ya nkhondo zambiri, kuphatikizapo kugawana chakudya ndi kuchepetsako maulendo. Komabe, tinapitiriza ndipo ngakhale kuwonjezera kulalikira kwathu kwa kunyumba ndi nyumba. Mu 1937 Britain inali ndi ofalitsa 4,375, koma pofika mu 1942 chiŵerengero chinawonjezeka kufika ku 12,436. Apainiya anali atawonjezeka kuchokera ku 201 pamene ndinafika mu England mu 1937 kufika ku 1,488 mu 1942! Ndithudi, Yehova anadalitsa molemerera kufesa mbewu m’munda koyambirira kumeneku kwa alaliki. Tsopano zaka zoposa 50 pambuyo pake, pali ofalitsa a Ufumu oposa 109,000 mu Britain, kuphatikizapo apainiya okhazikika oposa 6,000.

Kuyambira September 3 mpka 7, 1941, tinakwaniritsa, motsogozedwa ndi mzimu wa Yehova, chimene nduna za boma zinachitcha “chosatheka.” Tinapanga msonkhano waukulu kwambiri wa mu Britain wa Mboni za Yehova kufikira ku tsiku limenelo. Oposa 12,000 anakumana pa Leicester De Montford Hall ndi mabwalo ake mkati mwenimweni mwa nkhondo. Iyi inali holo imodzimodziyo imene inagwiritsiridwa ntchito ndi Sosaite pamene msonkhano wa pa chaka unachitidwa mu Leicester mu 1983. Oposa zikwi zitatu a ife tinakumbukira zokumana nazo zonena za msonkhano wa nthaŵi ya nkhondo mu 1941.

Ofesi ya ku London inakhala maziko a kothaŵira nkhondo mkati mwa nkhondo. Foni yake nthaŵi zonse inali kulira. Ndalama za thandizo zinapangidwa kukhalapo, kuwathandiza abale athu omwe anaphulitsiridwa mabomba kupeza thandizo la mwamsanga. Ndiponso, abale omwe anali othaŵa nkhondo kuchokera ku Poland, Germany, Norway, France, Belgium, Holland, ndi maiko ena anabwera ku London kumene anapatsidwa thandizo. Ambiri a iwo anatenga utumiki wa upainiya mu Britain.

Munthu Wosafunidwa mu Boma Lachilendo

Mwamsanga pamene United States inalowa mu nkhondo pa December 8, 1941, ndinataya kupatulidwa kwanga monga nzika ya ku U.S. kuchokera ku gulu lokakamizidwa kupita ku nkhondo la ku Britain. Chifukwa cha uchete wanga Wachikristu, sindikanagwirizana ndi malamulo osiyanasiyana operekedwa ndi boma la chiBritish kaamba ka utumiki wa nkhondo. Pomalizira, pa May 6, 1942, boma la chiBritish linandidziŵitsa kuti ndinali munthu wosafunidwa mu boma lachilendo ndipo chotero ndinalamulidwa kubwerera ku United States. Pa August 1, Daily Herald ya ku London inali ndi chithunzi changa pa tsamba lake loyambirira limodzi ndi nkhani yakuti “Amuuza Iye ‘Pita Kumudzi.’”

Lolemba m’mawa, August 24, 1942, ofufuza mwachinsinsi aŵiri ochokera ku Scotland Yard anandigwira ine kuti andithamangitse m’dziko. Ananditenga pa sitima kupita ku Glasgow, Scotland, kumene ndinasungidwa usiku wonse m’Ndende yachikale ya Barlinnie. Tsiku lotsatira ndinaperekezedwa kukakwera sitima ya pamadzi ya chiBritish S.S. Hilary, pamene ndinapitiriza pansi pa ukaidi. Chinatenga masiku 13 kwa gulu lathu la masitima a m’madzi 52 kudutsa Atlantic m’njira yokhotakhota kupewa masitima a nkhondo a pansi pamadzi a Germany. Tikumathaŵa masitima awo ophulitsa masitima a nkhondo a pamadzi, tinafika mwachisungiko ku Halifax, Canada! Tsopano aufulu, tsiku lotsatira ndinapita pa sitima ku New York, ndi kumafika pa September 10.

Nyengo ya Mtendere Iwonedweratu Mozizwitsa

Ndinapeza chimwemwe chokulira kubwerera kwa abale ambiri osangalala a pa Beteli ya Brooklyn. Ndinafika panthaŵi yake kudzapezekapo pa msonkhano wopanga mbiri mu Cleveland, Ohio, September 18-20, 1942. Kumeneko, Mbale N. H. Knorr, prezidenti watsopano wa Sosaite, anapereka nkhani “Mtendere​—Kodi Ungakhalitse?” Ichi chinabweretsa chiwunikiro chatsopano pa Chivumbulutso 17:8. Chinavumbulutsidwa kuti mphamvu Zothandizana zidzapambana ndipo kuti “chirombo cha mtendere” chatsopano chadziko lonse chidzabuka. Ichi chinawonekadi pamene, pamapeto pa kutha kwa nkhondo mu 1945, Mitundu Yogwirizana inalinganizidwa!

Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower

Pambuyo pa msonkhano wa pa chaka wa Watch Tower Society pa October 1, 1942, Mbale Knorr monga prezidenti anaitana, Maxwell G. Friend, Eduardo F. Keller ndi ine ku ofesi yake. Iye anatiuza ife kuti chosankha chapangidwa m’mawa umenewo kukhazikitsa sukulu ya Baibulo ya amishonale pa Kingdom Farm, South Lansing, New York. Iye ananena kuti ndidzakhala wosunga zolembera za sukulu wamkulu ndi kutumikira monga tcheyamani wa komiti kupangitsa sukuluyo kulinganizidwa. Tinagwira ntchito ndi Mbale F. W. Franz m’kukonza maphunziro abwino a Baibulo. Ichi chinayambitsa nyengo yaitali ya chimwemwe ya chigwirizano ndi iye m’kupititsa patsogolo maphunziro a Baibulo.

Lolemba m’mawa, February 1, 1943, kunali kuperekedwa kwa lamulo ndi Mbale Knorr kwa imene tsopano ikudziŵika monga Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower, yokhazikitsidwa pa Kingdom Farm pafupi ndi South Lansing, New York. Pambuyo pa programu ya kuperekaku, magawo a sukulu anayambika mu makalasi anayi, iriyonse yokhala ndi ophunzira 25. Kosi ya maphunziro apamwamba Achikristu inatenga milungu 20, Baibulo likumakhala bukhu lophunzirira lalikulu.

Miyezi yachimwemwe, kenaka zaka zachimwemwe, za maphunziro ozama mu Baibulo anatsimikizira kukhala dalitso langa lalikulu. Limodzi ndi alangizi ena odzipereka, ndinali woyamikira kwa Yehova kaamba ka mwaŵi umenewu wa kuphunzitsa ndi kusonkhezera mitima ya ophunzira odzipereka oterowo omwe anakonda Yehova ndi ntchito yake! Kudzafika ku 1960, ophunzira 3,700 anabwera kuchokera ku maiko 70 kudzalemeretsa makalasi athu a sukulu.

Kugawana m’Moyo Wokwatira

Pamene ndinapezeka pa msonkhano wa “Chipambano cha Ufumu” mu Europe mu 1955, ndinayambitsanso kugwirizana kwanga ndi wokondedwa Charlotte Bowin, yemwe anakhala mmodzi wa ophunzira anga m’kalasi loyambirira la Gileadi mu 1943. Iye anatumikira kwa zaka 12 monga mishonale wokhulupirika m’gawo la chiSpanish, kuphazikizapo Mexico ndi El Salvador. Tsopano, limodzi ndi mnzake Julia Clogston, iye anali kupezekapo pa misonkhano ya mu Europe imeneyi. Zinachitika kuti, makolo a Charlotte anali ziwalo za banja la Beteli la pa Brooklyn pamene iwo onse anali mbeta, kubwerera m’mbuyo m’nthaŵi ya Mbale Russell. Kenaka, pamene anakwatira, Martin Bowin anakhala woyang’anira woyendayenda kufikira Charlotte anabadwa mu 1920.

Mu January 1956 Charlotte analowa mu utumiki wa pa Beteli ndipo anasamutsidwira ku Kingdom Farm. Mu August 1956 tinakwatirana. Pamene Charlotte anakhala ndi pakati, tinakhumudwitsidwa, tikumakhulupirira kuti ichi chikathetsa utumiki wathu wa nthaŵi zonse. Komabe, Mbale Franz anatilimbikitsa ife, akumanena kuti: “Sunachimwe mkupangitsa mimba kubala chipatso. Limbika mtima! Mwinamwake Yehova adzakonzekeretsa kaamba ka iwe mwanjira ina yake kupitiriza mu utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse.”

Ndi mmene zinakhaliradi. Ndinali wokhoza kupitiriza pa thayo la Sukulu ya Gileadi. Poyamba tinakhala m’nyumba ya renti yaing’ono, ndipo kenaka mu 1962 tinasamukira m’nyumba yomangidwa chaposachedwa yokhala pa mtunda wa chifupifupi 1.6 km kuchokera pa sukulupo. Kumeneko mu South Lansing, New York, mwana wathu wamwamuna, Judah Ben, yemwe anabadwa mu February 1958, anathera zaka zake zoyambirira.

Tinali ndi chimwemwe chambiri m’kulera Judah Ben, pamene nthaŵi zonse tinayesera kugwiritsira ntchito maprinsipulo a Baibulo. (Aefeso 6:1-4) Iye analimbikitsidwa kutsatira Mika 6:8, ngakhale pamene ndinasankha kugwiritsira ntchito lemba limenelo m’moyo wanga. Pambuyo pake, Judah anakhala m’mbadwo wachitatu wa anthu a pa Beteli ndipo anatumikira pa Beteli kwa zaka 12. Iye anakwatira mlongo wokondedwa wa chipainiya, Amber Baker, mu June 1986. Iwo tsopano akuchita upainiya mu Michigan.

Sukulu ya Akulu

Pa msonkhano wa mu 1958 pa Yankee Stadium, Mbale Knorr analengeza kutsegulidwa kwa sukulu yatsopano ya akulu, yodziŵika monga Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu. Pa March 9, 1959, kalasi loyambirira la ophunzira 25 linayamba maphunziro ake a milungu inayi pa Kingdom Farm, kumene sukulu ya Gileadi inalinso kugwira ntchito. Pamene sukulu ya Gileadi inasamutsidwira ku Brooklyn mu September 1960, Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu inatsala pa Kingdom Farm, kumene tinali okhoza kuphunzitsa akulu zana limodzi mwezi uliwonse. Tinapeza kuti kukhala tate kunatsimikizira kukhala thandizo m’kuphunzitsa mitu ya banja m’kupezeka pa sukulu yatsopanoyo.

Mu 1967 sukulu imeneyi inasamutsidwira ku Beteli mu Brooklyn. Pambuyo pake, mu 1968, inaikidwanso pa Pittsburgh, kumene, kufikira 1974, zikwi za akulu abwino alandira maphunziro. Kuyambira 1974 kupita mtsogolo, sukuluyo inatsogozedwa mu Nyumba za Ufumu zosiyanasiyana kuzungulira m’dziko lonselo. Mkazi wanga ndi mwana anatsagana nane pamene ndinayenda ku malo osiyanasiyana amenewa. Iwo anatumikira monga apainiya pamene ndinali kuphunzitsa pa sukulu.

Utumiki Waufumu Wowonjezereka

Mu November 1974, ndinali kuphunzitsa pa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu mu mzinda wa kumudzi kwathu wa Saginaw, Michigan, pamene ndinalandira kalata yosaiwalika yochokera ku Bungwe Lolamulira. Linandiitana ine kukhala chiwalo cha bungwe limenelo ndiponso kuitana mkazi wanga ndi mwana kutumikira monga ziwalo za banja la Beteli ku Brooklyn. Chotero pa December 18, 1974, tinapita ku Beteli, ndipo ndinatenga mwaŵi wanga wa utumiki watsopano.

Bungwe Lolamulira limagwira ntchito bwino limodzi m’kutsogoza ntchito yadziko lonse ya Mboni za Yehova, m’kufalitsa chakudya cha Ufumu kaamba ka chiwunikiro chathu chopita mtsogolo, ndi kupanga zosankha za lamulo. Bungwe Lolamulira limakumana pa Lachitatu lirilonse, kutsegula msonkhanowo ndi pemphero kufunsa kaamba ka chitsogozo cha mzimu wa Yehova. Kuyesayesa kwenikweni kumapangidwa kuwona kuti nkhani iriyonse yomwe ikusamaliridwa ndi chosankha chirichonse chomwe chapangidwa chiri m’chigwirizano ndi Mawu a Mulungu Baibulo.

Monga chiwalo cha Bungwe Lolamulira, ndatumizidwa kukachezera nthambi zosiyanasiyana monga woyang’anira wa zigawo. Chakhala chotenthetsa mtima kwa ine kukumana ndi umodzi wa anthu a Yehova m’maiko ambiri. Chirinso chimwemwe chaumwini kukumananso ndi amishonale a Gileadi ambiri amene adakali okhulupirika m’magawo awo achilendo. Ndithudi, m’dziko lirilonse, anthu a Yehova ali abwino koposa ndi achimwemwe koposa!

Yehova panthaŵi imodzi akudyetsa anthu ake mwauzimu kupyolera mu Nsanja ya Olonda ndi zofalitsidwa zina za Baibulo. Zonse zimenezi ziri chitsimikiziro chakuti Kristu Yesu wakhala Mfumu yathu yolamulira chiyambire 1914 ndipo kuti iye mwachipambano adzatitsogoza ife kupyola “chisautso chachikulu” chomwe chiri kutsogolo. Pomalizira, inu nonse achichepere m’zaka, mwanzeru mangilirani ntchito za utumiki wopatulika wa nthaŵi zonse tsopano! Inu nanunso mudzakhala ndi mwaŵi wosangalatsa wokuyembekezerani. (Mika 7:7) Ndimasangalala m’chisamaliro chaumulungu cha Yehova mkati mwa zaka makumi apita. Madalitso ake akhaladi olemera kwa ine. (Miyambo 10:22) Ndiri woyamikira kwa Yehova tsiku lirilonse kaamba ka mwaŵi umene ndiri nawo m’kutumikira iye m’gulu lake lotsogozedwa ndi mzimu.​—Chivumbulutso 7:14.

[Chithunzi patsamba 12]

Ndi Mnzanga, Bill Elrod

[Chithunzi patsamba 15]

Tikutengedwa pa sitima ku Ndende ya Barlinnie

[Chithunzi patsamba 17]

Ndi mkazi wanga, Charlotte