KUNENA zoona, tsiku limene ndinakamba nkhani yoyambayi sindinadandaule kuti anthu anali ochepa. Munthune ndi wamanyazi kwambiri. Ndili wamng’ono, alendo akafika, ngakhale oti ndimawadziwa, ndinkabisala.

Koma mukhoza kudabwa kumva kuti zinthu zambiri zimene ndachita m’gulu la Yehova zandichititsa kuti ndizigwira ntchito ndi anthu osiyanasiyana. Ena mwa iwo anali anzanga pomwe ena anali achilendo. Ngakhale zili choncho, ndimalimbanabe ndi vuto langa la manyazi komanso kudzikayikira. Choncho sindingadzitame kuti ndakwanitsa zonsezi pandekha. Ndaona ndi maso angawa Yehova akukwaniritsa lonjezo lake lakuti: “Ndikulimbitsa. Ndithu ndikuthandiza. Ndikugwira mwamphamvu ndi dzanja langa lamanja lachilungamo.” (Yes. 41:10) Nthawi zambiri, Yehova ankagwiritsa ntchito Akhristu anzanga pondithandiza. Tadikirani ndikufotokozereni za anthu ena amene andithandiza. Ndiyamba kufotokoza kuyambira pamene ndinali mwana.

Lamlungu lina m’ma 1940, mlongo wina dzina lake Elsie Huntingford anabwera kufamu yathu yomwe inali kum’mwera chakumadzulo kwa chigawo cha Ontario. Atagogoda pakhomo, mayi anga anamutsegulira  koma ine ndi bambo anga, omwe analinso amanyazi, tinangokhala m’nyumba n’kumamvetsera. Bambo ankaganiza kuti mlongo uja ankagulitsa zinthu ndipo mwina amayi angagule zinthu zimene sitikufunikira. Choncho anapita pakhomo kukauza mlongoyu kuti sitikufuna chilichonse. Mlongoyu anafunsa kuti: “Kutereku simukufuna kuphunzira Baibulo?” Bambo anamuyankha kuti: “Oo ayi, zimenezo timazifuna.”

Kunena zoona, Mlongo Huntingford anabwera pa nthawi yake. Ndikutero chifukwa chakuti makolo anga ankalimbikira kupita kutchalitchi chinachake, koma anali atangosiya kumene kupitako. Iwo anachita zimenezi chifukwa chakuti abusa ankakhoma mayina a anthu onse pamalo oonekera. Amene ankapereka ndalama zambiri mayina awo ankapezeka pamwamba. Koma popeza makolo anga anali osauka, mayina awo ankapezeka m’munsi mwenimweni. Choncho akuluakulu a tchalitchichi ankawakakamiza kuti azipereka ndalama zambiri. Komanso m’busa wina ananena kuti zimene ankaphunzitsa si zimene amakhulupirira koma amangofuna kuti asachotsedwe ntchito. Ndiye tinasiya kupita kutchalitchicho koma tinkafunabe kuphunzira Baibulo.

Pa nthawiyo ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova inali yoletsedwa ku Canada. Choncho Mlongo Huntingford ankatiphunzitsa pongogwiritsa ntchito Baibulo ndiponso notsi zimene analemba m’kabuku kena kakuda. Atazindikira kuti sitidzamunenera kwa apolisi, anayamba kutipatsa mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo. Tinkabisa mabukuwa tikangomaliza kuphunzira. *

Ngakhale kuti anakumana ndi mavuto, Mlongo Huntingford ankalalikira mwakhama. Chitsanzo chake chinandilimbikitsa ndipo chinandithandiza kuti ndidzipereke kwa Mulungu. Ndinabatizidwa pa February 27, 1949, patangopita chaka chimodzi kuchokera pamene makolo anga anabatizidwa. Anandibatizira m’chibeseni chomwetsera ziweto monga ng’ombe ndipo pa nthawiyo ndinali ndi zaka 17. Nditabatizidwa ndinkafunitsitsa kuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse.

Koma sindinayambe kuchita upainiya nthawi yomweyo. Ndinkaganiza kuti ndiyenera kutolera kaye tindalama kuti ndizidzagwiritsa ntchito pochita upainiyawo. Choncho ndinayamba ntchito ziwiri, ina kubanki ina ku ofesi inayake. Koma chifukwa  cha chibwana, ndinkawononga ndalama zonse ndikangolandira. Ndiyeno m’bale wina dzina lake Ted Sargent anandiuza kuti ndingolimba mtima n’kukhulupirira Yehova. (1 Mbiri 28:10) Atangondiuza zimenezi, ndinayamba upainiya mu November 1951. Zinthu zomwe ndinali nazo pa nthawiyo zinali madola 40 okha, njinga yakale ndi chikwama chatsopano. Koma Yehova ankandithandiza kupeza zofunika pa moyo wanga. Ndimayamikira kwambiri kuti M’bale Sargent anandilimbikitsa kuyamba upainiya. Nditauyamba ndinapeza madalitso ambiri.

Tsiku lina madzulo mu August 1952, ndinalandira foni yochokera ku ofesi ya nthambi ku Toronto. Foniyo inali yondiitana kuti ndikayambe kutumikira ku Beteli ndipo anati ndikayambe mu September. Ngakhale kuti ndinali wamanyazi, komanso ndinali ndisanafikeko kunthambi, ndinasangalala kwambiri chifukwa apainiya ena ankanena zinthu zabwino zokhudza Beteli. Nditangofika ku Beteliko ndinayamba kukondako kwambiri.

Zaka ziwiri nditafika ku Beteli, ndinayamba kukhala mtumiki wa mpingo * m’malo mwa Bill Yacos mumpingo wina wa ku Toronto. Pa nthawiyo ndinali ndi zaka 23 zokha ndipo ndinkadzimva kuti ndine wachimidzimidzi komanso wosadziwa zambiri. Koma M’bale Yacos ankandisonyeza modzichepetsa ndiponso mwachikondi zoyenera kuchita. Yehova ankandithandizanso kwambiri.

M’bale Yacos anali wamfupi koma wojintcha ndipo ankakonda kumwetulira. Iye ankakonda anthu komanso kuwaganizira ndipo abale ankamukondanso. M’baleyu ankawayendera m’nyumba zawo nthawi zonse osati pakakhala mavuto basi. Iye anandilimbikitsa kuti ndizichitanso zimenezi ndiponso kuti ndiziyenda limodzi ndi abale ndi alongo mu utumiki. Anandiuza kuti: “Ken, Uzisonyeza abale kuti umawakonda. Ukamachita zimenezi, simungavutike kukhululukirana.”

Yehova wandidalitsanso m’njira ina yapadera kuyambira mu January 1957. M’mwezi umenewu ndinakwatira Evelyn. Mlongoyu analowa kalasi ya nambala 14 ya Giliyadi ndipo tisanakwatirane ankatumikira kudera la anthu olankhula Chifulenchi ku Quebec. Pa nthawiyo, chipembedzo champhamvu ku Quebec chinali chachikatolika. Ndiyeno zinali zovuta kuti munthu alalikire bwinobwino koma iye anakhala wokhulupirika kwa Yehova n’kumalalikirabe.

Evelyn wakhalanso wokhulupirika kwambiri kwa ineyo. (Aef. 5:31) Umboni wake ndi zimene zinachitika titangokwatirana kumene. Tinapangana zoti titenge tchuthi n’kupita ku Florida m’dziko la United States. Koma titangochita ukwati, mawa lake ndinalandira uthenga woti ndikapezeke ku msonkhano wa mlungu umodzi ku Beteli ya ku Canada. Izi zinasokoneza mapulani athu koma tinali ndi mtima wofuna kuchita chilichonse chimene Yehova akufuna. Choncho m’malo mopita ku Florida, tinapita ku nthambi. Pa mlungu umenewo, Evelyn ankalalikira pafupi ndi nthambi. Gawo lake linali losiyana kwambiri ndi la ku Quebec koma ankachitabe khama.

Kumapeto kwa mlunguwo, ndinadabwa atandiuza kuti ndipite kukatumikira monga woyang’anira  dera kumpoto kwa Ontario. Ndinali nditangokwatira kumene, ndinali ndi zaka 25 zokha komanso sindinkadziwa zambiri. Pa nthawiyo ku Canada kunkaziziranso koopsa. Koma tinanyamukabe podziwa kuti Yehova atithandiza ndipo tinakwera sitima yausiku. Tinayenda limodzi ndi oyang’anira madera ena amene ankabwerera kumadera awo ndipo iwo ankatilimbikitsa kwambiri. M’bale wina amene analipira kachipinda kenakake musitimamo, anatikakamiza kuti tisinthane malo. Anati tipite kukagona pabedi la m’chipindacho m’malo mokhala pamipando usiku wonse. Tsiku lotsatira tinafika kukagulu ka ku Hornepayne, komwe ndatchula kumayambiriro kuja. Apa n’kuti titangokhala m’banja masiku 15 basi.

Komatu zinthu zimene zinasintha pa utumiki wathu si zokhazi. Pamene ndinali kutumikira monga woyang’anira chigawo ndinalandira kalata yondiitana kuti ndikalowe kalasi ya nambala 36 ya Giliyadi, yomwe inali ya miyezi 10. Ndinailandira chakumapeto kwa 1960 ndipo kalasiyo inali yoti iyamba mu February 1961 ku Brooklyn. Ndinasangalala kwambiri nditamva zimenezi koma nkhawa yanga inali yoti Evelyn sanaitanidwe. Iye anangopemphedwa kuti alembe kalata yofotokoza ngati angalole kuti tisiyane kwa miyezi 10 kapena kuposerapo. Izi n’zimene alongo ambiri ankauzidwa pa nthawiyo. Evelyn analira koma tinagwirizana kuti ndipitebe. Iye anasangalalanso podziwa kuti maphunzirowo adzandithandiza kwambiri.

Pamene ndinali kusukulu, Evelyn ankatumikira kunthambi ya ku Canada. Iye anali ndi mwayi wokhala m’chipinda china limodzi ndi mlongo wodzozedwa dzina lake Margaret Lovell. N’zoona kuti tinkasowana kwambiri ndi Evelyn koma Yehova anatithandiza kuti zonse ziyende bwino. Zimene mkazi wanga anachita zinandisangalatsa kwambiri. Iye analolera kuti tisiyane n’cholinga choti ndiphunzitsidwe n’kukhala ndi mwayi wochita zambiri m’gulu la Yehova.

Nditangophunzira miyezi itatu, M’bale Nathan Knorr, yemwe ankatsogolera ntchito yolalikira pa nthawiyo, anandiitana n’kundiuza nkhani ina yomwe ndinadabwa nayo kwambiri. Iye anandipempha kuti ndisiye sukuluyo n’kubwerera kunthambi ya ku Canada kuti ndikakhale mlangizi wa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu. Koma m’baleyo ananena kuti nkhaniyi si yokakamiza. Anati ngati sindikufuna, ndikhoza kupitiriza sukuluyo ndipo mwina ndidzakhala mmishonale. Ananenanso kuti ngati ndingalole kubwerera ku Canada, mwina sindidzaitanidwanso ku Giliyadi ndipo n’kutheka kuti ndizidzatumikira ku Canada komweko. Ndiyeno anandiuza kuti ndiiganizire nkhaniyo komanso ndikambirane ndi mkazi wanga.

Sindinafunsenso Evelyn chifukwa chakuti ndinkadziwiratu maganizo ake pa nkhani ngati zimenezi. Nthawi yomweyo, ndinauza M’bale Knorr kuti: “Tidzachita chilichonse chimene gulu la Yehova latipempha.” Nthawi zonse maganizo athu anali oti tizipita kulikonse kumene gulu la Yehova latipempha ngakhale kumene ifeyo sitikufunako.

Ndiyeno mu April 1961, ndinabwerera ku Canada kukaphunzitsa Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Ufumu. Sukuluyo itatha tinkatumikira pa Beteli. Kenako ndinangodabwa kulandira kalata yondiitana ku kalasi ya  nambala 40 ya Giliyadi, yomwe inayamba mu 1965. Evelyn anauzidwanso kuti alembe kalata yofotokoza kuti alolera kusiyana nane. Koma patangopita milungu yochepa, analandira kalata yomuuza kuti nayenso apite kusukuluyo. Apa tinasangalala kwambiri.

Titafika anatiika m’kalasi yophunzira Chifulenchi ndipo M’bale Knorr ananena kuti onse amene ali m’kalasi imeneyo adzatumizidwa ku Africa. Koma titamaliza maphunziro a Giliyadi anatiuza kuti tibwerere ku Canada. Ndinauzidwa kuti ndizikatumikira monga woyang’anira nthambi (masiku ano timati wogwirizanitsa ntchito za Komiti ya Nthambi). Pa nthawiyo, ndinali ndi zaka 34 zokha ndipo ndinauza M’bale Knorr kuti, “Komatu ndine mwana abale.” M’baleyo anandiuza kuti ndisadere nkhawa zimenezo. Kuyambira pamene ndinayamba utumikiwu, ndinkafunsira nzeru kwa abale achikulire pa Betelipo ndisanasankhe zochita pa nkhani zikuluzikulu.

Ku Beteli, ndakhala ndi mwayi wophunzira zinthu kwa anthu ena. Ndimalemekeza kwambiri abale enanso amene ali m’Komiti ya Nthambi. Komanso abale ndi alongo ambirimbiri amene atumikirapo pa Beteli kapena amene takhala nawo m’mipingo yosiyanasiyana andithandiza m’njira zambiri.

Ku Beteli, ndakhalanso ndi mpata wophunzitsa anthu ena n’kuwathandiza kulimbitsa chikhulupiriro chawo. Mtumwi Paulo anauza Timoteyo kuti: “Pitiriza kutsatira zimene unaphunzira.” Ananenanso kuti: “Zinthu zimene unazimva kwa ine ndi kwa mboni zambiri zokhudza ine, zimenezo uziphunzitse kwa anthu okhulupirika amene nawonso, adzakhala oyenerera bwino kuphunzitsa ena.” (2 Tim. 2:2; 3:14) Nthawi zina, abale ndi alongo ena amandifunsa zimene taphunzira pa zaka 57 zimene takhala pa Beteli. Ndimangowayankha kuti: “Tizichita mofunitsitsa komanso mwamsanga zimene gulu la Yehova latipempha ndipo tizidalira Yehova kuti atithandiza.”

Ndikaganiza za nthawi imene ndinafika ku Beteli, monga mnyamata wamanyazi wosadziwa zambiri, ndimangoona ngati ndi dzulodzuloli. Koma pa zaka zonsezi Yehova wakhala ‘akundigwira dzanja langa lamanja.’ Abale ndi alongo akhala akundithandiza mokoma mtima. Ndimaona kuti imeneyi ndi njira yaikulu imene Yehova akugwiritsa ntchito pondiuza kuti: “Usachite mantha. Ineyo ndikuthandiza.”—Yes. 41:13.