MU NDZIDZI ukhapfundza ine, pinthu pizinji nee pyacinja. Andzanga akuxikola adatoma kupfundza na ine caka cakutoma, akhali abodzi ene caka cakumalisa. Ndikhadziwa madzina a anthu azinji mu nzinda unoyu, pontho iwo akhadziwambo dzina yanga.

Nzinda wa Liberty ukhadazungulirwa na mazunde mang’ono, pontho anthu akhalima mapiramanga. Pidabalwa ine, baba akhaphatira basa mamuna m’bodzi wakuti akhali na zunde yace pacisa. Ninga m’phale, ndapfundza kutekenya tratori mbandicita mabasa anango m’mazunde.

Pidabalwa ine, baba akhali na pyaka 56 pyakubalwa, mama akhali na pyaka 35. Mbwenye baba akhali na mphambvu na ungumi wadidi. Iye akhakomerwa kakamwe kuphata basa yakuwanga, pontho apfundzisa anace onsene toera kuphata basa yakuwanga. Iye nee akhali na kobiri izinji, mbwenye tikhali na mbuto yakukhala, nguwo zakubvala na cakudya cakukwana. Pontho iye ndzidzi onsene akhacedza na ife. Baba afa na pyaka 93 pyakubalwa, mama na pyaka 86. Nee m’bodzi wa iwo akhatumikira Yahova. Mbwenye m’bodzi wa abale anga, akutumikira mwakukhulupirika ninga nkulu wa mpingo kutomera mu caka 1972.

Mama akhali waphinga kakamwe mu uphemberi wace. Iye akhaenda pabodzi na ife ku gereja ya Batista Madimingu onsene. Pikhali ine na pyaka 12 pyakubalwa, ndatoma kubva pya cipfundziso ca Utatu. Natenepa ndabvundza mama: “Kodi Yezu anakwanisa tani kukhala Mwana na  Baba mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene?” Ndisakumbuka ntawiro wace: “Mwananga, nkhabe anapidziwa. Ife nee tinakwanisa kupibvesesa.” Mwandimomwene nee ndikhapibvesesa. Ngakhale tenepo, pikhali ine na pyaka 14, ndabatizwa n’thawala ya pacisa. Iwo andibiza m’madzi katatu, mu dzina ya Baba, ya Mwana na ya nzimu wakucena!

Pikhapfundza ine xikola sekundarya, ndikhali na xamwali wakuti akhali nyamaxoko, iye andikulumizambo toera ndikhale nyamaxoko. Natenepa ndatoma kupfundza pya maxoko, mbandicita khundu mu nsoka wa anyamaxoko, Golden Gloves. Nee ndikhakwanisa mwadidi, na thangwi ineyi ndapisiya mwakucimbiza. Buluka penepo, ndacemerwa toera kupita m’basa ya unyankhondo ku Estados Unidos, mbanditumizwa ku Alemanya. Pikhaphata ine basa kweneko, atsogoleri anga anditumiza kuxikola ya unyankhondo thangwi aona kuti mbidakwanisa kukhala ntsogoleri wadidi. Iwo akhafuna kuti ndicite basa ineyi kwenda na kwenda. Mbwenye ine nee ndikhafuna kupitiriza m’basa ineyi, natenepa pidamalisa ine pyaka piwiri, ndasiya basa ya unyankhondo mu caka 1956. Pidapita ndzidzi ungasi, ndapita mu nsoka unango wa anyankhondo.

Mbandidzati kupfundza undimomwene, ndikhali na maonero akuphonyeka thangwi yakukhala mamuna wandimomwene. Ndikhadakhuyiwa na mafilimu na anyakuendekana anga. Ndikhanyerezera kuti amuna analonga pya Bhibhlya nee ndi amuna andimomwene. Mbwenye ndatoma kupfundza pinthu pingasi pyakuti pyacinja umaso wanga. Ntsiku inango, pikhaenda ine ku nzinda na motokala wanga, atsikana awiri andithukulira manja toera ndiende kuna iwo. Iwo akhali abaleace mamuna adamanga banja na m’bale wanga wankulu. Atsikana anewa awiri akhali Mboni za Yahova. Akhadandipasa kale revista ya Ncenjezi na Despertai! Mbwenye Ncenjezi ukhandinentsa pang’ono toera kuubvesesa. Paulendo unoyu, iwo andiphemba toera ndigumanike pa Pfundziro ya Bukhu ya Mpingo, yakuti ikhacitwa panyumba pawo. Ndaapanga kuti ndinabwera. Iwo andimwetulira mbandibvundza, “Unabweradi?” Ine ndatawira, “Inde.”

Ndatsumbikika na pidapikira ine, mbwenye ndikhafunika kukwanirisa mafala anga. Natenepa masiku anewa ndaenda kumisonkhano. Atsikana anewa andidzumatirisa kakamwe. Nee ndikhapidziwa kuti iwo asadziwa mwadidi Bhibhlya! Maseze ndikhaenda ku gereja na mama Madimingu onsene, nee ndikhadziwa pizinji thangwi ya Bhibhlya. Natenepa ndakhala na cifuno cakupfundza pizinji mbanditawira kupfundza Bhibhlya. Cinthu cakutoma cidapfundza ine ndi cakuti dzina ya Mulungu Wamphambvu Zonsene ndi Yahova. Pyaka pya nduli, pidabvundza ine mama thangwi ya Mboni za Yahova, iye basi ene alonga: “Oh, iwo asalambira mamuna wakugwesera anacemerwa Yahova.” Mbwenye cincino ndisaona kuti maso anga afunguka!

Ndathambaruka mwakucimbiza kakamwe, thangwi ndikhadziwa kuti ndagumana undimomwene. Ndabatizwa mwezi wa Março caka 1957, pidapita miyezi mipfemba bulukira ntsiku idatoma ine kusonkhana. Maonero anga akuphonyeka akhadacinja. Ndisakomerwa kakamwe kudziwa pinalonga Bhibhlya thangwi ya mamuna wandimomwene. Yezu akhali munthu waungwiro. Iye akhali wamphambvu kakamwe kupiringana munthu onsene. Mbwenye iye nee akhamenyana na munthu. M’mbuto mwace, iye ‘acepeseka’ ninga pikhadalongwa kale mwanyapantsi. (Izaiya 53:2, 7) Ndadzindikira kuti nyakupfundza wandimomwene wa Yezu ‘asafunika kukhala wakukoma ntima kuna anthu onsene.’—2 Timoti 2:24.

 Mu caka 1958, ndatoma kutumikira ninga mpainiya wa ndzidzi onsene. Mbwenye pidapita ndzidzi ungasi, ndikhafunika kusiya upainiya. Thangwi yanji? Thangwi ndikhafuna kumanga banja na Gloria, m’bodzi wa atsikana awiri adandiphemba toera kugumanika pa misonkhano! Cipo ndisatsumbikika na cisankhulo ceneci. Gloria akhali wadidi kakamwe, pontho asapitiriza kukhala wadidi kakamwe mpaka lero. Kwa ine, iye ndi wakufunika kakamwe kupiringana Diamante ya ntengo ukulu, pontho ndiri wakutsandzaya kakamwe thangwi yakumanga banja na iye! Dikhirani alonge ekha pya umaso wace:

“Ndikhali na abale 16, amuna na akazi. Mama akhali Mboni wa Yahova. Iye afa pikhali ine na pyaka 14. Buluka penepo, Baba atoma kupfundza Bhibhlya. Nakuti mama akhadafa, baba acita masasanyiro na nkulu wakuxikola. M’bale wanga wankulu wankazi akhamalisa xikola sekundarya, pontho Baba aphemba khala iye na ine tinakwanisa kuenda kuxikola ntsiku zakusiyana. Munjira ineyi, m’bodzi wa ife mbadakwanisa kukhala panyumba toera kutsalakana ang’ono athu. Tikhakwanisambo kukhunganyira banja yathu cakudya mu ndzidzi ukhafika Baba panyumba camasiku buluka kubasa. Nkulu wakuxikola atawira, mbatipitiriza kucita pyenepi mpaka mudamalisa m’bale wanga xikola. Mboni ziwiri za Yahova zikhapfundza Bhibhlya na ife, pontho 11 a ife takhala Mboni za Yahova. Ndikhakomerwa kakamwe na utumiki, maseze ndikhali na manyadzo kakamwe. Mamunanga, Sam, andiphedza mu pyaka pizinji thangwi ya pyenepi.”

Ine na Gloria tamanga banja mwezi wa Fevereiro wa caka 1959. Tatsandzaya kakamwe kutumikira pabodzi ninga apainiya. Mwezi wa Julho, tacita phembo toera katumikira ku Bheteli. Ndikhafuna kakamwe kutumikira ku ofesi ikulu ya Mboni za Yahova. M’bale Simon Kraker, acedza na ife mbatipanga kuti Bheteli nee ikhacemera anthu akumanga banja mu ndzidzi unoyu. Tikhapitiriza na cifuno ca kutumikira ku Bheteli, mbwenye papita pyaka pizinji toera kukwanirisa cifuno cathu.

Talembera tsamba ofesi ikulu mbatiphemba toera katumikira ku cisa cakuti nee ciri na amwazi mphangwa azinji. Iwo atipasa cisa ca Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Mu ndzidzi unoyu, ku Pine Bluff kukhali na mipingo miwiri. Mpingo ubodzi ukhali wa azungu, unango ukhali wa anthu akupswipa. Ife tatumizwa ku mpingo wa anthu akupswipa, wakuti ukhali na amwazi mphangwa 14.

Panango munabvundzika kuti thangwi yanji amwazi mphangwa azungu na akupswipa nee akhasonkhana pabodzi. Ntawiro ndi wakuti mu ndzidzi unoyu nee pakhali na cisankhulo cinango. Nee pikhali pyakutawirika kubvungaza azungu pabodzi na anthu akupswipa, pontho pakhali na uphanga uzinji. M’mbuto zizinji, abale akhagopa kuti Nyumba zawo za Umambo mbizidafudzwa azungu na anthu akupswipa angasonkhana pabodzi. Pyenepi pikhacitikadi. Anthu akupswipa angamwaza mphangwa nyumba na nyumba mu cisa ca azungu, iwo akhaphatwa mbamenyiwa. Toera tikwanise kucita basa yakumwaza mphangwa, ife tabvera mitemo ineyi, mbitidikhira kuti pinthu pinacinja.

Utumiki wathu midzidzi inango ukhali wakunentsa kakamwe. Tingamwaza mphangwa mu cisa ca anthu akupswipa, midzidzi inango tikhamenya misuwo ya azungu mwasusudeu. Tikhafunika kucita cisankhulo mwakucimbiza: Kucedza nawo mwacigwagwa mphangwa za Bhibhlya peno kuphemba kulekererwa mbatienda nyumba inango. Pyenepi ndi pikhacitika mu ntsiku zenezi.

Mbwenye ninga apainiya, tikhafunika kukhala na kobiri toera kupitiriza na basa yathu. Mabasa mazinji akhacita ife akhalipa kobiri yakucepa kakamwe pa ntsiku. Gloria akhacita mabasa a panyumba. Ndatawiriswa na patrau wace toera kumphedza mabasa anango toera akwanise kumalisa mabasace mwakucimbiza. Iwo akhatipasa cakudya cakumasikati mbatidzati kuenda kunyumba. Sumana ibodzi na ibodzi, Gloria akhapasari nguwo za banja ibodzi. Ndikhaphata basa yakutsalakana jardim, kutsuka majanela na kucita mabasa anango a panyumba. Panyumba inango ya azungu, ife tikhatsuka majanela. Gloria akhatsuka nkati, ine ndikhatsuka kunja. Tikhacita basa ineyi ntsiku yamumphu, natenepa akhatipasa cakudya cakumasikati. Gloria akhadya n’nyumba, mbwenye nee akhadya pabodzi na banja ineyi. Ine ndikhadya kunja, mbuto inakhala miotokala, mbwenye nee ndikhadzudzumika na pyenepi. Cikhali cakudya cadidi kakamwe. Ikhali banja yadidi, mbwenye iwo akhakhuiwambo na makhaliro a anthu a pacisa. Ndisakumbuka ntsiku idalimira ife pa mbuto inaguliswa mafuta a motokala. Pidamala ife kudzadza tanki ya motokala wathu, ndaphemba nzungu akhagulisa mafuta khala pinakwanisika kuti Gloria aende n’cimbuzi. Iye andiyang’ana mwakuipirwa mbalonga, “cafungwa.”

Kusiyapo pyonsene, ife tikhatsandzaya kakamwe na abale, pontho tikhakomerwa kakamwe na utumiki wathu. Pidafika ife ku Pine Bluff, tikakhala na m’bale wakuti akhali ntumiki wa mpingo mu ndzidzi unoyu. Nkazace akhadzati kudziwa undimomwene, natenepa Gloria atoma kupfundza naye Bhibhlya. Ine ndatomambo kupfundza na mwanawo wankazi pabodzi na mamunace. Mama na mwana, uwiri wawo asankhula kutumikira Yahova mbabatizwa.

Tikhali na axamwali adidi kakamwe mu mpingo wa azungu. Iwo akhaticemera toera kasiyali kunyumba kwawo, mbwenye basi ene tikhaenda dzuwa ingadoka toera anthu akhonde kutiona. Nsoka ukhacemerwa Ku Klux Klan (KKK), ukhakulumiza kakamwe pya kusankhulana na uphanga. Ntsiku inango ndaona mamuna m’bodzi namasiku adakhala pakhonde pace, iye akhadabvala nguwo yakucena na capeu ca goro ninga mukhabvala nsoka wa KKK. Mwakukhonda tsalakana pyenepi, abale akhapitiriza kukhala akukoma ntima. Ntsiku inango, ife tikhafuna kobiri toera kuenda kunsonkhano wa gawo, m’bale m’bodzi atawira kugula motokala wathu ukhacemerwa 1950 Ford toera tikwanise kuenda kunsonkhano. Ntsiku inango pidapita mwezi ubodzi, tikhadaneta kakamwe pakumala kumwaza mphangwa nyumba na nyumba na kucitisa mapfundziro a Bhibhlya. Natenepa taenda kunyumba mbatigumana cinthu cakuti nee tikhacidikhira. Tagumana motokala udagulisa ife panyumba pathu! Pontho tagumana tsamba pa janela ya motokala unoyu idalembwa: “Kwatani motokala wanu ninga muoni wanga. Ndine m’bale wanu.”

Ndakhuyiwa kakamwe na kukoma ntima kunango kudacitirwa ine. Mu caka 1962, ndacemerwa toera kuenda ku Xikola ya Utumiki wa Umambo ku South Lansing, Nova York. Ikhali xikola ya mwezi ubodzi kwa akulu a mpingo, ayang’aniri a cisa na a gawo. Mbwenye kompanyia inatsalakana mitokodzi ku Pine Bluff ikhadandicita mibvundzo toera kuphata basa. Mbadanditawirisa, ine mbidakhala munthu wakupswipa wakutoma kuphata basa mu kompanyia ineyi. Pakumalisa iwo andipanga toera ndiende kaphata basa. Mphapo mbidacitanji? Ine nee ndikhali na kobiri toera kuenda ku Nova York. Ndanyerezera pya kutawira kuphata basa mbandikhonda ncemerero wa kuenda kuxikola. Ndikhali dzololo toera kulembera Bheteli, mbwenye pacitika cinthu cinango cakuti nee ndinaciduwala.

Ntsiku inango namacibese, mulongo m’bodzi mu mpingo mwathu, wakuti mamunace nee akhali mu undimomwene, amenya nsuwo wathu mbandipasa envelopi. Iyo ikhadadzala na kobiri. Iye pabodzi na anace akhabesera kakamwe toera kuenda kasakula kumunda wa thonje. Iwo akhacita pyenepi toera kugumana kobiri kuti ndikwanise kuenda ku Nova York. Iye alonga: “Ndokoni kuxikola, pontho kapfundzeni ninga munakwanisa imwe toera mungabwerera mudzatipfundzisembo!” Buluka penepo, ndabvundza kompanyia inatsalakana mitokodzi khala pinakwanisika nditome phata basa pakupita masumana maxanu. Iwo akhonda. Mbwenye ndikhadacita kale cisankhulo canga. Ndiri wakutsandzaya kakamwe thangwi yakukhonda phata basa ineyi!

Gloria asakumbuka mu ndzidzi ukhali ife ku Pine Bluff: “Ndikhakomerwa kakamwe na cisa ceneci! Ndikhali  na anyakupfundza 20. Natenepa namacibese tikhaenda kamwaza mphangwa nyumba na nyumba, namaulo tikhacitisa mapfundziro a Bhibhlya, midzidzi inango tikhakotoka ndzidzi 11 wakumasiku. Basa ineyi ikhali yakutsandzayisa kakamwe! Kulonga undimomwene nee ndikhafuna kusiya basa ya upainiya toera kukhala muyang’aniri wa cisa, mbwenye Yahova akhali na manyerezero anango.”

Mu ndzidzi ukhatumikira ife ninga apainiya ku Pine Bluff, tacita phembo toera kutumikira ninga apainiya akupambulika. Mwandimomwene ife tikhadikhira kuti mbatidakhazikiswa ninga apainiya akupambulika. Thangwi yanji? Thangwi tikhadziwa kuti muyang’aniri wathu wa gawo akhafuna kuti tiphedze mpingo ukhali ku Texas, pontho iye akhafuna kuti titumikire kweneko ninga apainiya akupambulika. Ife takomerwa na maonero anewa. Natenepa tadikhira kakamwe ntawiro, mbwenye nee tikhagumana pinthu m’bokosi ya correio. Pakumalisa, tsamba yafika. Takhazikiswa ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa! Pyenepi pyacitika mwezi wa Janeiro wa caka 1965. Mu ndzidzi unoyu m’bale Leon Weaver, wakuti cincino ndi mbveranisi wa komiti ya filiali, akhazikiswambo toera kutumikira ninga mung’aniri wa cisa.

Ndikhadzudzumika pidadziwa ine kuti ndinatumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa. Pidapita caka cibodzi, muyang’aniri wa gawo, James A. Thompson, Jr., adinga maphatiro anga basa. Iye andipanga makhundu akhafunika ine kusasanyira mbalongambo maluso akuti muyang’aniri wa cisa wadidi asafunika kukhala nawo. Pidatoma ine kwene kutumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa, ndadzindikira kuti uphungu unoyu ukhali wakufunika kakamwe kwa ine. Pidamala ine kukhazikiswa, ndaphata basa pabodzi na M’bale Thompson wakuti akhali muyang’aniri wa gawo wakutoma. Ndapfundza pinthu pizinji na m’bale unoyu wakukhulupirika.

Mu ndzidzi unoyu, muyang’aniri wa cisa akhapfundziswa pang’ono. Ndikhaona pyonsene pikhacita muyang’aniri wa cisa sumana ikhacedzera iye mpingo. Buluka penepo, iye akhaonambo pikhacita ine sumana ikhacedzera ine mpingo unango. M’bale unoyu akhapereka maonero na pitsogolero. Buluka penepo, tatoma kucedzera tekha. Ndisakumbuka pidalonga ine kuna Gloria, “Kodi iye asafunadi kutisiya?” Mbwenye mukupita kwa ndzidzi ndadzindikira cinthu cinango cakufunika kakamwe. Ndzidzi onsene alipo abale akuti anakwanisa kuphedza, basi ene munthu angaatawirisa toera kuphedzwa. Ndisapitiriza kupereka takhuta thangwi ya ciphedzo cidatambira ine kubulukira kwa abale ninga J. R. Brown, wakuti adzakhala muyang’aniri wa cisa na Fred Rusk wa banja ya Bheteli.

Mu ntsiku zenezi, kusankhulana kukhagumanika m’mbuto zonsene. Ntsiku inango, nsoka wa KKK ukhafamba mu nzinda ukhacedzera ife wa Tennessee.  Ndisakumbuka ulendo unango udalimira ife pa restauranti toera kudya. Pidaenda ine ku cimbuzi, mamuna m’bodzi wakuti akhadalembwa nembo zakugopesa anditowera. Mbwenye m’bale wa nzungu, wakuti akhali wakulapha na wamphambvu kakamwe abwera kuna ife. Iye andibvundza: “M’bale Herd, pyonsene piri mwadidi?” Munthu unango wakuti akhafuna kuphatisirambo cimbuzi abuluka mwakucimbiza. Mu pyaka pizinji, ndisaona kuti cinacitisa anthu kusankhulana nee ndi ntundu wa munthu, mbwenye ndi madawo ali na ife tonsene. Ndadzindikirambo kuti m’bale ndi m’bale mwakukhonda tsalakana ntundu, pontho iye anakwanisa kufa thangwi ya ndzace pingafunika.

Tamala pyaka 12 mbatikatumikira ninga muyang’aniri wa cisa, pontho pyaka 21 ninga muyang’aniri wa gawo. Mu pyaka pyenepi takhala na nkhombo zizinji na pyakugumana napyo pyakutsandzayisa kakamwe. Mbwenye takhalambo na nkhombo inango. Mwezi wa Agosto wa caka 1997 cinthu cikhadikhira ife mu pyaka pizinji cakwanirisika. Tacemerwa toera katumikira ku Bheteli ya Estados Unidos. Papita pyaka 38 kubulukira pa ulendo wakutoma udacita ife phembo. Mwezi undzace, tatoma kutumikira pa Bheteli. Ndikhanyerezera kuti abale pa Bheteli akhafuna ndiphedzere mu ndzidzi wakucepa basi, mbwenye nee ndi pyenepi pidacitika.

Pakutoma ndaphata mu Departamentu ya Basa. Ndapfundza pizinji kakamwe! Abale akhatambira mibvundzo mizinji yakunentsa kubulukira ku misoka ya akulu a mpingo na ayang’aniri a cisa a dziko ineyi. Ndisapereka takhuta kakamwe thangwi ya ciphedzo ca abale na kupirira kwawo mu ndzidzi ukhandipfundzisa iwo. Mbidapaswa pontho basa ineyi, mbidapitiriza kupfundza pizinji na abale anewa.

Ine na Gloria tisakomerwa kakamwe na umaso wa Bheteli. Ndzidzi onsene tisakomerwa kulamuka nakweru, pontho pyenepi mphyakufunika kakamwe pa Bheteli. Pidapita caka cibodzi, ndatoma kutumikira ninga nyakuphedza wa Komiti Yakulemba ya Mathubo Akutonga a Mboni za Yahova. Buluka penepo mu caka 1999, ndakhazikiswa ninga m’bodzi wa Mathubo Akutonga. Ndapfundza pizinji kakamwe m’basa ineyi. Mbwenye cinthu cakufunika kakamwe cidapfundza ine ndi cakuti nsolo wa Mpingo Wacikristu ndi Yezu Kristu, tayu munthu.

Ndinganyerezera pya umaso wanga, midzidzi inango ndisabva ninga mprofeta Amosi. Yahova aona nkumbizi unoyu wakucepeseka wakuti akhali na basa yakupwazika yakutsalakana misapo ya misambvu, pinthu pyakuti pikhadyiwa na anthu akutcerenga. Mbwenye Mulungu akhazikisa Amosi ninga mprofeta mbampasa nkhombo zizinji m’basa ineyi. (Amosi 7:14, 15) Munjira ibodzi ene, Yahova aona ine, mwana wa nyakutcerenga wa nzinda wa Liberty, Indiana. Pontho Yahova andipasa nkhombo zizinji, zizinji kakamwe zakuti nkhabe kwanisa kuzilengesa! (Misangani 10:22) Umaso wanga watoma mu utcerengi, mbwenye mwakukhonda kupenula ndisaona kuti wamalisira na kupfuma kwakuti nee ndikhakudikhira!