XA NDANDINEMINYAKA eyi-12, ndaqaphela ukuba ndinento exabisekileyo endinokuphisa ngayo. Endibanweni, omnye umzalwana wandibuza ukuba andinqweneli na ukushumayela. Ndathi, “Ewe,” nangona ndandingazange ndishumayele ngaphambili. Saya entsimini, ibe wandinika iincwadana ezithetha ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Wathi, “Wena thatha ela cala lesitrato, mna ke ndiza kushumayela kweli.” Ndityhwatyhwa, ndangena indlu ngendlu, yaye ndothuka sele ndihambise zonke ezo ncwadana. Kucacile ukuba, abantu abaninzi babezifuna nyhani iindaba ezilungileyo.

Ndazalwa ngo-1923 eChatham, eKent, eNgilani. Ndakhula ndibona abantu abaphoxeke kakhulu. IMfazwe Yehlabathi Yokuqala zange yenze umhlaba ube bhetele njengoko kwakucingwa ukuba kuza kuba njalo. Abazali bam babephoxwe ngabefundisi baseBhaptizi ababengoohlohlesakhe. Xa ndandimalunga neminyaka esithoba, umama waya kwiholo yeInternational Bible Students Association, apho amaNgqina kaYehova ayesiba “neeklasi” okanye iintlanganiso. Omnye udade wayeqhubela mna nabanye abantwana isifundo seBhayibhile esebenzisa incwadi ethi Uhadi LukaThixo. Ndandikuthanda oko wayesifundisa kona.

Ndiselityendyana ndandikuvuyela ukuxelela abanye ngethemba elikwiLizwi likaThixo. Nangona ndandikuthanda ukuhamba ndedwa xa ndisiya kwindlu ngendlu, kwandinceda ukuhamba nabanye. Ngokomzekelo, ngenye imini sasihamba ngeebhayisekile nomnye umzalwana osele ekhulile sisiya entsimini. Endleleni sadlula komnye umfundisi, ndaza ndathi, “Nantsi ibhokhwe.” Lo mzalwana wamisa ibhayisekile yakhe waza wandicela ukuba khe sihlale kwesinye isibonda. Wathi: “Ulifumene kubani igunya lokugweba ukuba ngubani ibhokhwe? Thina masivuyiswe kukuxelela abantu ngeendaba ezilungileyo, size ukugweba sikuyekele kuYehova.” Ndafunda kakhulu ngovuyo lokupha ngezo ntsuku.—Mat. 25:31-33; IZe. 20:35.

Omnye umzalwana okhulileyo wandifundisa ukuba maxa wambi kufuneka sinyamezele, sibe nomonde, ukuze sifumane uvuyo ekupheni. Umfazi wakhe wayengafuni nokuwabona amaNgqina kaYehova. Ngenye imini wandimemela kwakhe ukuze sifumane amaqebengwana. Safika umfazi wakhe evutha ngumsindo ngenxa yokuba umyeni wakhe wayeyokushumayela, waza wasigibisela ngeebhokisi ezineti. Kunokuba amngxolise, encumile wasuka  wabuyisela ezo bhokisi endaweni yazo. Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo, umonde wakhe wavuzwa, xa umfazi wakhe wabhaptizwa waza waba liNgqina likaYehova.

Ndaya ndifuna ngamandla ukuxelela abanye ngethemba lexesha elizayo, yaye mna nomama sabhaptizwa eDover ngoMatshi 1940. NgoSeptemba 1939 xa ndandineminyaka eyi-16, iBritani yaqalisa imfazwe neJamani. Ndikhumbula ngoJuni 1940, ndihleli phandle emnyango, ndibukele amawakawaka amajoni awayebonakala ngathi aphazamisekile engqondweni edlula ngeelori. Ayesinde kwiMfazwe eyayilwelwa eDunkirk. Ayekhangeleka engenathemba, ngoko ndandibawela ukuwaxelela ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Kamva kuloo nyaka, kwaqala ukumane kuvakala iziqhushumbisi eBritani. Busuku ngabunye ndandibukela amajoni aseJamani ebhabhela phezulu aze aphose iziqhushumbisi kummandla wethu. Wawuziva ezo ziqhushumbisi njengoko zazisihla zisika umoya zize ziwele phantsi, oko kwakusoyikisa. Ngentsasa elandelayo, sasidla ngokubona izindlu ezingamabhodlo. Yaya icaca kum into yokuba uBukumkani bukuphela kwethemba ngekamva.

Ngo-1941 ndaqala ukuphila ubomi obundonwabisa ngokwenene. Ndandisebenza eRoyal Dockyard eChatham, ndiqeqeshelwa ukwenza nokulungisa iinqanawa. Lo msebenzi wawuthathelwa phezulu, yaye unamaqithiqithi ancumisayo. Abakhonzi bakaYehova kwakusele kukudala beqonda ukuba amaKristu awafanele alwe ngenxa yobuhlanga. Kwathi kusiba ngu-1941 sabe sisazi ukuba asimele sisebenze kwindawo eyenza izixhobo zokulwa. (Yoh. 18:36) Ekubeni emsebenzini kwakusenziwa iinqanawa zokulwa ezihamba phantsi kwamanzi, ndagqiba ekubeni ndiwushiye ndize ndibe kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Isabelo sam sokuqala sasiseCirencester, idolophu ebukeka kunene eseCotswolds.

Xa ndandineminyaka eyi-18, ndabanjwa iinyanga ezisithoba kuba ndingafuni ukungena emkhosini. Ndoyika kakhulu xa ndavalelwa ndedwa kwisisele esimnyama. Kungekudala, abagcini-ntolongo kunye namanye amabanjwa bandibuza ukuba kutheni ndilapho, ndaza ndabacacisela ngeenkolelo zam.

Xa ndakhululwayo, ndacelwa ukuba ndishumayele kunye noLeonard Smith * kwiidolophu ezikwiphondo lasekhaya iKent. Ukususela ngo-1944 iinqwelo-moya ezingaphezu kwewaka ezingenabantu ezithwele iziqhushumbisi zaziwiswa eKent. Sasikwindawo kanye ezazidlula kuyo phakathi kweYurophu eyayinomkhosi wamaJamani kunye  neLondon. Ezo ziqhushumbisi zazibizwa ngokuba zidoodlebugs. Sasihlala sisoyika kuba sasisazi ukuba, ukuba injini ikhe yacima, kwimizuzwana nje embalwa emva koko kuza kuwa inqwelo-moya iqhushumbe. Sasiqhubela enye intsapho eyayinamalungu amahlanu isifundo seBhayibhile. Ngamanye amaxesha, sasihlala phantsi kwetafile yentsimbi eyayiyenzele ukuzikhusela xa kunokwenzeka ukuba indlu yayo ibhodloke. Ekugqibeleni, yabhaptizwa yonke loo ntsapho.

Emva kwemfazwe, ndaba nguvulindlela iminyaka emibini kumazantsi eIreland. Sasingazi ukuba i-Ireland yayohluke mpela kwiNgilani. Sasingena yonke imizi sicela iindawo zokuhlala, sichaza ukuba singabathunywa bevangeli yaye sihambisa iimagazini esitratweni. “Yayibubudenge” bokwenene ukwenza oko kwilizwe elizaliswe ngamaKatolika! Xa enye indoda yasoyikisayo indlongondlongo, ndaya kukhalaza kwipolisa elathi, “Ubulindele ntoni wena?” Sasingaliqondi ifuthe ababenalo abefundisi. Babangela ukuba abantu abathathe iincwadi zethu bagxothwe emisebenzini, nathi sigxothwe kwiindawo esasihlala kuzo.

Sakhawuleza safunda ukuba xa sifika endaweni, kungcono sihambe ngeebhayisekile siye kude nalapho sihlala khona, sishumayele kubantu abanomnye umfundisi. Sasigqibela ngabo bakufutshane. EKilkenny sasifunda nomnye umfana kathathu ngeveki, nangona sasisoyikiswa ngamahlokondiba andlongondlongo. Ndandikuthanda ukufundisa ngenyaniso yeBhayibhile kangangokuba ndagqiba ekubeni ndibhalisele ukuqeqeshelwa ukuba ngumthunywa wevangeli kwiSikolo seBhayibhile seWatchtower saseGiliyadi.

Emva kokuqeqeshwa iinyanga ezintlanu eNew York, mna nabanye abathathu abaphumelele eGiliyadi sabelwa ukuba siye kwiziqithi ezincinane ezikuLwandle lweCaribbean. NgoNovemba 1948 sayishiya iNew York ngesikhephe uSibia esiziimitha eziyi-18. Zange ndahamba ngesikhephe ngaphambili, ngoko ndandinemincili. Omnye wethu uGust Maki, wayengumatiloshe onamava. Wasifundisa izinto ezilula ngendlela yokuqhuba isikhephe, njengokunyusa nokuhlisa iiseyile, ukujonga ikhampasi, nokuqhuba xa kukho umoya. UGust wasiqhuba ngobuchule isikhephe iintsuku eziyi-30 kukho iinkqwithela eziyingozi, sade safika eBahamas.

Emva kokushumayela iinyanga ezimbalwa kwiziqithi ezincinane zaseBahamas, sahamba ngesikhephe sisiya kwiSiqithi saseLeeward nesaseWindward, ezikumgama oziikhilomitha eziyi-800 ukusuka kwiVirgin Islands kufutshane nasePuerto Rico, zize zinabele kufutshane neTrinidad. Kangangeminyaka emihlanu, sasishumayela kakhulu kwiziqithi ezisemagqagaleni apho kwakungekho maNgqina. Ngamanye amaxesha, kwakudlula iiveki singakwazi ukuthumela okanye ukufumana iileta. Kodwa sasikuvuyela ngokwenene ukushumayela ilizwi likaYehova kwezo ziqithi!—Yer. 31:10.

Xa simisa elunxwemeni, onke amehlo ayesiba kuthi, yaye abantu babesondela benomdla wokwazi ukuba singoobani. Abanye kubo zange basibona isikhephe okanye umntu omhlophe. Abantu bezo ziqithi babenobubele, beyithanda icawa, yaye beyazi kakuhle iBhayibhile. Babethanda ukusipha intlanzi, iiavocado namandongomane. Sasikwazi ukulala, ukupheka nokuhlamba iimpahla, nangona isikhephe sethu sasisincinane.

 Sasimisa kwizibuko size sityelele abantu imini yonke. Sasiye sibaxelele ukuba kuza kubakho intetho yeBhayibhile. Xa kutshona ilanga sasibetha intsimbi yesikhephe. Kwakuvuyisa ukubona abantu besiza. Izibane zabo zaziqaqamba okweenkwenkwezi ezihla endulini. Ngamanye amaxesha kwakusiza abantu abalikhulu baze bahlale kude kube sebusuku bebuza imibuzo. Babekuthanda ukucula, ngoko senza iikopi zezinye zeengoma zoBukumkani, saza sabanika. Thina sobane sasizama kangangoko sinako ukuwacula baze bona basilandele, yaye babecula kamnandi. Kwakumnandi nyhani!

Xa sigqibile ukufunda iBhayibhile, abanye abafundi babehamba nathi ukuya kufundela intsapho elandelayo. Nangona kwakufuneka simke kwiiveki nje ezimbalwa kuloo ndawo sikuyo, sasiye sicele abona bantu banomdla ukuba baqhubeke befunda nabanye de sibuye. Kwakuvuyisa ukubona indlela abanye babo ababewuxabisa ngayo loo msebenzi.

Namhlanje, uninzi lwezo ziqithi ziindawo ezinabakhenkethi abaninzi, kodwa ngela xesha zaziziindawo ezingamagqagala ezinamachibi aluhlaza, unxweme olunesanti eninzi nemithi yesundu. Sasidla ngokuhamba ngesikhephe ebusuku sisuka kwesinye isiqithi sisiya kwesinye. Iidolphin zazidlala ngakwisikhephe sethu, ekuphela kwento esasiyiva sisandi sesikhephe sibaleka emanzini. Ukuqaqamba kwenyanga kulwandle oluzolileyo kwakungathi yindlela ebengezelayo efikelela kude phayaa.

Emva kokushumayela iminyaka emihlanu kwiziqithi, sahamba ngesikhephe saya kusitshintsha ePuerto Rico saza sathatha iphenyane elineenjini. Sakufika apho, ndadibana noMaxine Boyd, udade omhle ongumthunywa wevangeli, ndaza ndamthanda. Waqala kwasebuntwaneni ukuba ngumshumayeli okhutheleyo. Kamva, waba ngumthunywa wevangeli eDominican Republic kwade kwango-1950 xa wagxothwa ngurhulumente wamaKatolika kwelo lizwe. Njengoko ndandisebenza kwiinqanawa, ndandinemvume yokuhlala inyanga ePuerto Rico, ngoko kungekudala ndandiza kuhamba ndiye kwiziqithi ndize ndibuye emva kweminyaka embalwa. Ngoko ndazixelela oku, “Ronald, ukuba uyifuna nyhani le ntombi, kuza kufuneka ukhawulezise.” Emva kweeveki ezintathu ndayicela ukuba sitshate, emva kwezintandathu satshata. Mna noMaxine saba ngabathunywa bevangeli ePuerto Rico, ngoko zange ndilikhwele elo phenyane litsha.

Ngo-1956 saqalisa ukutyelela amabandla kwisiphaluka. Abazalwana abaninzi babengathathi ntweni, kodwa sasithanda ukubatyelela. Ngokomzekelo, kwilali yasePotala Pastillo kwakukho iintsapho ezimbini zamaNgqina zinabantwana abaninzi yaye ndandizidlalela imbande. Ndabuza uHilda, omnye wamantombazana amancinane, ukuba akafuni na ukushumayela nathi. Wathi, “Ndiyafuna, kodwa andikwazi. Andinazihlangu.” Samthengela waza waqalisa ukushumayela nathi. Kwiminyaka kamva, ngo-1972, xa mna noMaxine sasityelele iBheteli eseBrooklyn, kweza udade owayesandul’ ukuphumelela kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi. Wayeza kuhamba aye kwisabelo sakhe e-Ecuador waza wathi, “Nisandikhumbula? Ndiyilaa ntombazana yasePastillo yayingenazihlangu.” Tyhini nguHilda! Sasivuya nyhani, neenyembezi zazehlela!

Ngo-1960 sacelwa ukuba siye kukhonza kwisebe lasePuerto Rico, elalikwindlu enemigangatho emibini eSanturce, eSan Juan. Ekuqaleni, yayindim noLennart Johnson ababesenza umsebenzi omninzi. Yena nomfazi wakhe babengamaNgqina kaYehova okuqala eDominican Republic, yaye bafika ePuerto Rico ngo-1957. Kamva, uMaxine wayehambisa imirhumo yeemagazini engaphezu kwewaka ngeveki. Wayewuthanda loo msebenzi, kuba wayecinga ngabo bonke abo bantu babefumana ilizwi likaThixo.

Ndiyakuthanda ukukhonza eBheteli, kuba ndiphila ubomi bokupha. Kodwa ke, akho amagingxigingxi. Ngokomzekelo, ngendibano yezizwe ngezizwe eyayisePuerto Rico ngo-1967, kwakungathi andinakukwazi ukuwenza kakuhle umsebenzi endandiwunikiwe. UNathan Knorr owayekhokela umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova weza ePuerto Rico. Wacinga ukuba andiyilungiselelanga into eyayiza kukhwelwa ngabathunywa bevangeli abatyeleleyo. Kamva, wandiluleka kabukhali ngokungakwazi ukulungiselela izinto waza wathi ndimphoxile. Ndandingafuni ukuphikisana naye, kodwa kwadlula ixesha ndivakalelwa kukuba ndidlelwe indlala, yaye ndandikhathazekile.  Nakuba kunjalo, xa mna noMaxine sadibana noMzalwan’ uKnorr, wasimemela egumbini lakhe waza wasiphekela.

Sasisoloko sisuka ePuerto Rico siye kutyelela intsapho yam eNgilani. Utata zange ayamkele inyaniso ngexesha mna nomama sayamkela ngalo. Xa kutyelele izithethi zaseBheteli, umama wayezihlalisa ekhaya. Utata wabona umahluko phakathi kwabaveleli abathobekileyo baseBheteli kunye nabefundisi ababemonyanyisa kwiminyaka edlulileyo. Ngo-1962 wabhaptizwa waliNgqina likaYehova.

UMaxine, umfazi wam endimthandayo wasweleka ngo-2011. Ndikhangele phambili ukumbona xa evuswa. Ndivuya nyhani xa ndicinga ngoko! Kwiminyaka eyi-58 sikunye, mna noMaxine siye sabona abantu bakaYehova ePuerto Rico besanda besuka ku-650 besiya kutsho ku-26 000! Ngo-2013, isebe lasePuerto Rico ladityaniswa nelaseMerika ndaza ndacelwa ukuba ndiye kukhonza eWallkill, eNew York. Emva kweminyaka eyi-60 ndikweso siqithi, ndandingathi ndingowalapho, njengesele lakhona elibizwa ngokuba yicoquí elihlala emthini ebusuku lize licule lithi, ko-kii, ko-kii. Kodwa kwakulixesha lokuba ndisishiye.

Ndisakuthanda ukukhonza uThixo eBheteli. Ngoku ndineminyaka engaphezu kwe-90, yaye njengomalusi wezimvu umsebenzi wam kukukhuthaza amalungu entsapho yaseBheteli. Kuthiwa sendityelele angaphezu kwe-600 oko ndifikile apha eWallkill. Amanye aye eze kuthetha nam ngeengxaki zawo zobuqu okanye zentsapho. Amanye aye acele icebiso lokuphumelela kwinkonzo yawo yaseBheteli. Lawo asandul’ ukutshata aye acele amacebiso omtshato. Kanti amanye aye acelwa ukuba aye entsimini. Ndiwamamela onke, yaye xa kufanelekile ndiye ndiwaxelele ukuba: “‘UThixo uthanda umphi ochwayitileyo.’ Ngoko vuyani xa nisenza umsebenzi wenu, kuba niwenzela uYehova.”—2 Kor. 9:7.

Imfihlelo yokonwaba eBheteli yile: Umele uhlale ucinga ngesizathu sokuba into oyenzayo ibalulekile. Yonke into esiyenzayo eBheteli yinkonzo engcwele. Ifak’ isandla ekuncedeni “ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi,” ukuze linike abazalwana abasehlabathini ukutya kokomoya. (Mat. 24:45) Naphi na apho simkhonza khona uYehova, sinethuba elihle lokumdumisa. Masikuvuyele oko asicela sikwenze, kuba “uThixo uthanda umphi ochwayitileyo.”