Mva mu Butindi Nkagera ku Bukire Buruta Ubundi Bwose

BYAVUZWE NA MANUEL DE JESUS ALMEIDA

Navutse mu kwezi k’Ukwakira 1916, nkaba nari umuhererezi mu bana 17. Bakuru banjye na bashiki banjye 9 bari barahitanywe n’indwara hamwe n’imirire mibi, bityo nkaba ntarigeze mbamenya. Uko twari dusigaye turi umunani twabanaga n’ababyeyi bacu mu mudugudu muto hafi y’umujyi witwa Porto, muri Porutugali.

AKAZU kacu gaciriritse kari kagizwe n’icyumba gito cy’uruganiriro hamwe n’icyumba cyo kuraramo. Amazi yo kunywa twayavomaga ku iriba ryari riri mu ntera igera hafi kuri kimwe cya kabiri cya kirometero, kandi igikoni cyacu cyari gikozwe mu buryo bwa kera budahuje n’ubwari bugezweho icyo gihe.

Bakuru banjye bakimara kwigira hejuru, bahise batangira gukora mu mirima y’ibigori. Umushahara wabo twawifashishaga mu muryango kugira ngo tubone ibyo kurya. Binyuriye ku bufasha bwabo, ni jye jyenyine washoboye kwiga udushuri duke. N’ubwo twari dufite imibereho igoye, twari dukomeye cyane kuri Kiliziya Gatolika, twiringira ko mu buryo runaka ibyo byari kuzatuma tumererwa neza.

Mu kwezi kwa Gicurasi, kiliziya yagiraga icyitwaga neuvaine (igihe cy’iminsi icyenda abayoboke ba Kiliziya Gatolika bamara basenga cyane). Twajyaga tumara iminsi icyenda ikurikiranye tuzinduka mu gicuku cya kare tukajya ku kiliziya. Iyo twabaga tugezeyo, twarasengaga twibwira ko ibyo byari gutuma Imana iduha imigisha. Nanone kandi, twibwiraga ko padiri yari umuntu wera, uhagarariye Imana. Ariko nyuma y’igihe runaka, twaje guhindura imitekerereze yacu.

Nshakisha Ikintu Cyiza Kurushaho

Mu gihe twabaga twananiwe gutanga amaturo ya kiliziya, padiri yangaga kutudohorera, ntiyiyumvishe ibibazo bikomeye by’amafaranga twari dufite. Ibyo byaduciye intege. Uko nabonaga kiliziya byarahindutse burundu, bityo, ubwo nari ngejeje ku myaka 18, niyemeje kuva mu rugo nkajya gushakisha kugira ngo ndebe niba ari nta kindi kintu cyiza mu buzima cyandutira gukora mu murima no guhora nduhanya na kiliziya. Mu mwaka wa 1936, nageze i Lisbon, umurwa mukuru wa Porutugali.

Aho ni ho nahuriye na Edminia. N’ubwo numvaga idini ryarantengushye, twakurikije umuco maze mu ishyingiranwa ryacu dusezeranira muri Kiliziya Gatolika. Hanyuma, mu mwaka wa 1939, hatangiye Intambara ya Kabiri y’Isi Yose. Mu gihe cy’intambara, nashinzwe kugenzura amangazini 18, kandi mu munsi umwe gusa twohorezaga amakamyo agera ku 125 yuzuye ibikoresho by’intambara.

Ibintu biteye ubwoba nabonye mu ntambara hamwe n’ukuntu Kiliziya Gatolika yayigizemo uruhare mu buryo bugaragara, byangizeho ingaruka zikomeye. Naribajije nti ‘mbese koko Imana yita ku bantu? Ni gute se twagombye kuyisenga?’ Hashize imyaka myinshi nyuma y’aho, mu mwaka wa 1954, umugabo usheshe akanguhe wiyubashye, akaba yari umwe mu Bahamya ba Yehova yaranganirije tuvugana ibyerekeranye n’ibibazo nari mfite. Icyo kiganiro cyahinduye imibereho yanjye yose.

Nashimishijwe Cyane n’Ibyiringiro Bitangwa na Bibiliya

Uwo mugabo w’umugwaneza witwaga Joshua, yansobanuriye ko Ubwami bw’Imana ari bwo muti rukumbi w’ibibazo byugarije isi, kandi ko amahoro n’umutekano bizagerwaho binyuriye ku butegetsi bw’Ubwami gusa (Matayo 6:9, 10; 24:14). Ibyo yavuze byaranshimishije, ariko najijinganyije kwemera ibisobanuro bye bitewe n’ibyo nari narabonye ku idini mbere y’aho. Ubwo yansabaga ko twakwigana Bibiliya, narabyemeye, icyo napfaga gusa, ni uko atari kunsaba amafaranga kandi ntavuge ibya politiki. Ibyo yarabyemeye, anyizeza ko ibyo yanyemereye yari kubinkorera ku buntu.​—Ibyahishuwe 22:⁠17.

Nahise ngirira Joshua icyizere mu buryo bwihuse. Bityo rero, namusabye ikintu nari narifuje kuva nkiri muto. “Mbese birashoboka ko nabona Bibiliya yanjye bwite?” Ubwo nari maze kuyibona, nashimishijwe rwose no gusoma ku ncuro ya mbere mu Ijambo ry’Umuremyi wacu ubwe, ngasoma amasezerano agira ati “Imana ubwayo izabana [n’abantu], ibe Imana yabo. Izahanagura amarira yose ku maso yabo, kandi urupfu ntiruzabaho ukundi, kandi umuborogo cyangwa gutaka cyangwa kuribwa ntibizabaho ukundi: kuko ibya mbere bishize”!​—Ibyahishuwe 21:3, 4.

Amasezerano yo muri Bibiliya avuga ibihereranye no kuzavanaho ubukene n’indwara, ni yo yampumurije mu buryo bwihariye. Umugabo wizerwa Elihu yerekeje ku Mana agira ati “itanga ibyokurya byinshi” (Yobu 36:31). Nanone kandi, Bibiliya yerekeza ku gihe cy’ubutegetsi bukiranuka bw’Ubwami bw’Imana, igira iti “nta muturage waho uzataka indwara” (Yesaya 33:24). Mbega ukuntu Yehova Imana yita ku bantu mu buryo bwuje urukundo! Mbega ukuntu narushijeho gushimishwa n’amasezerano ye!

Ku itariki ya 17 Mata 1954, ni bwo nateranye mu materaniro y’Abahamya ba Yehova ku ncuro ya mbere. Ryari iteraniro ryihariye​—cyari igihe cyo kwizihiza Urwibutso rw’urupfu rwa Kristo. Kuva ubwo, najyaga njya mu materaniro ubudasiba. Bidatinze, natangiye kugeza ku bandi ibintu byiza nari ndimo niga. Icyo gihe muri Porutugali, buri kwezi twajyaga dusohokera hafi y’inkombe z’ikiyaga, hanyuma hakaza kubera umubatizo. Hashize amezi arindwi nyuma y’aho mvuganiye na Joshua, niyeguriye Yehova Imana maze mbigaragaza mbatizwa mu mazi mu nyanja.

Mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 1954, mu gihugu cya Porutugali cyose hari Abahamya bagera hafi ku ijana. Ku bw’ibyo rero, hari hakenewe cyane abagabo bo gufata iya mbere mu murimo wo kubwiriza. Nagize amajyambere yihuse yo mu buryo bw’umwuka, maze nyuma y’igihe gito mpabwa inshingano mu itorero. Mu mwaka wa 1956, nabaye umukozi w’itorero, nk’uko umugenzuzi uhagarariye itorero yitwaga icyo gihe, mu itorero rya kabiri ry’Abahamya ba Yehova mu mujyi wa Lisbon. Muri iki gihe, muri uwo mujyi hamwe no mu duce turi mu nkengero zawo, hari amatorero asaga ijana.

Twaboneye Inyungu mu Kugaragaza Umuco wo Kwakira Abashyitsi

N’ubwo jye na Edminia twari dufite amafaranga make, iteka twabaga twiteguye kwakira abavandimwe bacu b’Abakristo. Mu mwaka wa 1955, hari umupayiniya, nk’uko ababwirizabutumwa b’igihe cyose b’Abahamya ba Yehova bitwa, wageze muri Porutugali ari mu rugendo avuye iwabo muri Brezili ajya mu Budage mu Ikoraniro mpuzamahanga ryari rifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Ubwami Bunesha.” Yamaze ukwezi acumbitse mu rugo rwacu bitewe n’ibibazo byo kubura uko agenda, kandi se mbega ukuntu twungukiwe mu buryo bw’umwuka no kuba yaradusuye!

Abandi bashyitsi bajyaga baza mu rugo rwacu icyo gihe, hari harimo abagize umuryango wo ku cyicaro gikuru cy’Abahamya ba Yehova i Brooklyn, New York, nk’uwitwa Hugo Riemer hamwe n’undi babanaga mu cyumba witwa Charles Eicher. Twasangiraga ifunguro rya saa sita kandi bajyaga baha za disikuru abavandimwe bo muri Porutugali. Twajyaga dutegereza ibyo kurya bishimishije byo mu buryo bw’umwuka batugezagaho, tumeze nk’imishwi yasamye imaze igihe gito ivutse.

Abagenzuzi basura amatorero b’Abahamya ba Yehova na bo bajyaga bacumbika iwacu mu gihe babaga basuye amatorero. Umushyitsi tutazigera twibagirwa wadusuye mu mwaka wa 1957, ni uwitwa Álvaro Berecochea, akaba yari umugenzuzi w’ishami rya Maroc, wari woherejwe kujya gusura igihugu cya Porutugali kugira ngo atere abavandimwe b’aho inkunga. Yateranye icyigisho cy’igitabo cyaberaga mu rugo iwacu, maze turamutitiriza kugira ngo abane natwe igihe cyose yari kuba ari muri Porutugali. Twabonye imigisha myinshi cyane kandi turabyibuha mu buryo bw’umwuka mu gihe cy’ukwezi kose yahamaze, naho Álvaro we yabyibushye mu buryo bw’umubiri, abyibuhijwe n’ibyo kurya byiza byatekwaga n’umukunzi wanjye Edminia.

Ubukene bukabije nk’ubwo nabayemo igihe nari nkiri muto, bushobora kugira ingaruka zikomeye ku muntu. Ariko kandi, naje kumenya ko uko tugenda turushaho guha Yehova hamwe n’abagaragu be bizerwa, ari na ko arushaho kuduha imigisha. Incuro nyinshi, ibyo nagendaga ndushaho kubimenya uko twagendaga tugaragariza umuco wo kwakira abashyitsi abo twashoboraga kubikorera bose.

Mu ikoraniro twagiriye mu mujyi wa Porto mu mwaka wa 1955, hatanzwe itangazo ryavugaga ibyerekeye ikoraniro mpuzamahanga ry’Abahamya ba Yehova, ryagombaga kuzabera i Yankee Stadium muri New York City, mu mwaka wa 1958. Muri buri Nzu y’Ubwami mu gihugu cyose, hagiye hashyirwamo agasanduku k’impano​—⁠icyo gihe Inzu z’Ubwami zikaba zari nkeya cyane​—⁠kugira ngo haboneke amafaranga yo kwishyurira intumwa zivuye muri Porutugali zari koherezwa muri iryo koraniro. Ushobora se kwiyumvisha ukuntu jye n’umugore wanjye twishimye igihe twatoranywaga kugira ngo tuzajyane n’izo ntumwa? Mbega ukuntu byari bishimishije kujya gusura icyicaro gikuru cy’Abahamya ba Yehova mu rwego rw’isi yose kiri i Brooklyn igihe twari turi muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika twagiye muri iryo koraniro!

Twihanganira Ibitotezo

Mu mwaka wa 1962, muri Porutugali, umurimo wo kubwiriza w’Abahamya ba Yehova warabuzanyijwe, maze abamisiyonari​—hakubiyemo Eric Britten, Domenick Piccone, Eric Beveridge, n’abagore babo​—barirukanwa. Nyuma y’aho, ntitwongeye kwemererwa guteranira mu Mazu y’Ubwami, bityo, twajyaga duterana mu ibanga mu ngo z’abantu; ndetse nta n’ubwo byari bigishoboka guteranira amakoraniro manini muri Porutugali. Icyo gihe, ni jye wari ushinzwe ibihereranye no gukora gahunda z’ukuntu abavandimwe na bashiki bacu b’Abakristo bagombaga kugenda bagiye guteranira ayo makoraniro mu bindi bihugu.

Gukora gahunda z’ukuntu umubare munini w’Abahamya bagombaga kujya mu bindi bihugu ntibyari byoroshye. Ariko kandi, iyo urebye inyungu zihebuje zo mu buryo bw’umwuka abavandimwe bo muri Porutugali babonye, usanga iyo mihati itarabaye imfabusa. Mbega ukuntu kujya mu makoraniro mu Busuwisi, mu Bwongereza, mu Butaliyani no mu Bufaransa byabubatse! Nanone kandi, ayo makoraniro yatumye babona uburyo bwo kongera kuzana ibitabo mu gihugu cyabo. Muri iyo myaka yose, twasabye kenshi ko twaba umuryango w’idini wemewe n’amategeko muri Porutugali, ariko ntibyemerwa.

Nyuma y’aho abamisiyonari birukaniwe mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 1962, ba maneko batangiye gukaza umurego mu gushaka guhagarika umurimo wacu wo kubwiriza. Umubare munini w’abavandimwe na bashiki bacu barafashwe bashyikirizwa ubucamanza. Inkuru zanditswe zivuga ibihereranye n’ibyinshi muri ibyo bintu byabayeho zatangajwe muri iyi gazeti hamwe na mugenzi wayo, Revéillez-vous!a

Mu bafunzwe bazira kubwiriza, harimo umupayiniya nari naragejejeho ubutumwa bwiza bw’Ubwami bw’Imana. Kubera ko abapolisi basanze aderesi yanjye mu bintu bye, narahamagajwe maze mpatwa ibibazo.

Nyuma y’aho, abapolisi babiri baje iwanjye. Banyambuye ibitabo byanjye by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya hamwe na za Bibiliya 13. Bakomeje kutubuza amahwemo, bagaruka gusaka aho twabaga incuro zirindwi mu bihe bitandukanye. Buri gihe, baduhataga ibibazo by’urudaca.

Nahamagawe kenshi kujya kuvuganira Abahamya bagenzi banjye mu gihe babaga bacirwa imanza. N’ubwo ntari narize amashuri menshi, Yehova yampaye ‘ubwenge abanzi bacu bose batabashije kuvuguruza cyangwa gutsinda’ (Luka 21:15). Igihe kimwe, umucamanza yatangajwe cyane n’ubuhamya natanze, ku buryo yambajije amashuri nize. Ubwo navugaga ko nagarukiye mu wa kane w’amashuri abanza, abari bari mu rukiko bose barasetse.

Uko ibitotezo byagendaga birushaho gukaza umurego, ni na ko umubare w’abitabiraga ubutumwa bw’Ubwami wagendaga urushaho kwiyongera. Ku bw’ibyo, umubare w’Abahamya wari hasi ya 1.300 muri Porutugali mu mwaka wa 1962, wariyongereye ugera ku 13.000 mu mwaka wa 1974! Hagati aho, muri Gicurasi 1967, nahamagariwe kuba umugenzuzi usura amatorero. Igihe nakoraga uwo murimo, nasuraga amatorero y’Abahamya ba Yehova kugira ngo nyakomeze mu buryo bw’umwuka.

Tubona Ubutunzi Bukomeye Cyane Kuruta Ubundi Bwose

Mu kwezi k’Ukuboza mu wa 1974, nahawe igikundiro cyo kugira uruhare mu gikorwa cyo kwandikisha umurimo w’Abahamya ba Yehova, cyaje gutuma wemerwa n’amategeko muri Porutugali. Mu mwaka wakurikiyeho, jye n’umugore wanjye twaje kuba mu bagize umuryango wa Beteli w’Abahamya ba Yehova mu mujyi wa Estoril. Nanone kandi, nashyiriweho kuba umwe mu bagize Komite y’Ishami yo muri Porutugali.

Mbega ukuntu byadushimishije kubona ukuntu umurimo wo kubwiriza wagendaga utera imbere muri Porutugali hamwe no mu bihugu bigenzurwa n’ishami ryacu! Ibyo bihugu ni Angola, Açores, Cap-Vert, Madère na São Tomé etPríncipe. Muri iyo myaka yose, twagiye dushimishwa no kubona abamisiyonari baturuka muri Porutugali boherezwa kujya gukorera umurimo muri ibyo bihugu, ibihugu usanga hari abantu benshi cyane bashimishijwe n’ubutumwa bw’Ubwami. Tekereza ukuntu ubu twishimira cyane kuba hari ababwiriza b’Ubwami basaga 88.000 muri ibyo bihugu, hakubiyemo n’abasaga 47.000 bo muri Porutugali! Abateranye ku Rwibutso muri ibyo bihugu mu mwaka wa 1998 basagaga 245.000, ugereranyije n’abantu batageze kuri 200 bateranye mu mwaka wa 1954 igihe nabaga Umuhamya.

Jye na Edminia twemeranya tubigiranye umutima wacu wose n’umwanditsi wa Zaburi wavuze ko “umunsi umwe mu bikari bya [Yehova] uruta iyindi igihumbi ahandi.” (Zaburi 84:11, umurongo wa 10 muri Biblia Yera.) Iyo nshubije amaso inyuma ngatekereza ku mimerere iciriritse natangiriyemo maze nkayigereranya n’ubutunzi bwo mu buryo bw’umwuka nagiye mbona kuva icyo gihe, ngira ibyiyumvo nk’iby’umuhanuzi Yesaya, we wagize ati “Uwiteka Nyagasani, ni wowe Mana yanjye; nzajya nkogeza, mpimbaze izina ryawe; kuko ukoze ibitangaza . . . kuko abakene n’abatindi . . . wababereye igihome.”​—Yesaya 25:1, 4.

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

[Amafoto yo ku ipaji ya 24]

Ahagana haruguru: Umuvandimwe Almeida ari mu mujyi wa Lisbon atangaza ibihereranye na gahunda yo kohereza intumwa mu ikoraniro ryabereye i New York mu mwaka wa 1958

Ahagana hepfo: Za bisi zari zakodeshejwe zitegura kujyana abantu mu ikoraniro ry’intara mu Bufaransa

Ahagana hagati: Hayoborwa inama y’abakozi mu buryo bw’icyerekanwa mu Ikoraniro Mpuzamahanga i Paris, ryari rifite umutwe uvuga ngo “Amahoro ku Isi”

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 25]

Nyobora gahunda yo gusenga ya mu gitondo ku ishami ryo muri Porutugali

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Amazu y’ishami ryo muri Porutugali yeguriwe Yehova mu mwaka wa 1988

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Igihe umuvandimwe Hugo Riemer yabaga yadusuye avuye kuri Beteli y’i Brooklyn, yaduhaga za disikuru zaduteraga inkunga

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 26]

Ndi kumwe n’umugore wanjye