Indaba Yokuphila

UJehova Uyabavuza Njalo Abantu Bakhe Abaqotho

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUVERNON DUNCOMBE

Ngaqeda ukudla ukudla kwami kwakusihlwa futhi njengenjwayelo ngokhela usikilidi. Khona-ke ngabuza umkami, u-Aileen: “Ihambe kanjani imihlangano namuhla?”

WAKE wathula kancane wabe esethi: “Kufundwe incwadi ememezela abantu abasha abatusiwe, futhi libiziwe igama lakho. Utuswe ukuba ube yinceku enakekela isimiso se-sound. Incwadi iphethe ngomusho othi: ‘Uma noma imuphi umzalwane kulaba abatusiwe ebhema, uphoqekile ukuba abhalele iNhlangano asho ukuthi ngeke asamukele lesi sabelo.’” * Ngasabela ngokudonsa umoya futhi nganquma ngathi, “Hho! Isho njalo.”

Ngaqinisa imihlathi futhi ngacisha usikilidi esitsheni sikagwayi esasiseduze kwami. “Angazi ukuthi ngikhethelweni kulesi sabelo. Kodwa asikho engake ngasenqaba kuze kube manje, futhi nalesi angizimisele ukusichitha.” Nganquma ukuthi ngangingeke ngiphinde ngibheme. Leso sinqumo sakuthonya kakhulu ukuphila kwami njengomKristu nanjengomculi. Ake ngikuxoxele ngezinye izenzakalo ezaholela ekutheni ngithathe lesi sinqumo.

Ukuphila Kwasekhaya Ngisemncane

Ngazalelwa eToronto, eCanada, ngo-September 21, 1914, ngiyindodana eyizibulo kubazali ababenothando futhi bekhuthele, uVernon noLila, ababenakekela umkhaya owawunabafana abane namantombazane amabili. Ngangelanywa uYorke, kulandele u-Orlando, uDouglas, u-Aileen noCoral. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-9 kuphela, umama wanginika i-violin futhi wahlela ukuba ngifunde ukudlala umculo eHarris School of Music. Izinto zazizimbi, kodwa umama nobaba bakwazi ukungitholela imali yokugibela lapho ngiya esikoleni neyokungifundisa.  Kamuva ngafunda ngomculo nokwakheka kwawo eRoyal Conservatory of Music eToronto, futhi lapho sengineminyaka engu-12, ngangenela umncintiswano wokudlala umculo edolobheni eMassey Hall, okuyihholo lomculo eliphambili elisendaweni yamabhizinisi yedolobha. Ngawina futhi ngaklonyeliswa nge-violin enhle eyayisesikhwameni esenziwe ngesikhumba sengwenya.

Futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngafunda ukudlala upiyano ne-bass violin. Sasivame ukudlala njengeqembu emicimbini emincane ngoLwesihlanu nangoMgqibelo ebusuku nasemidansweni yabafundi. Ngahlangana no-Aileen komunye wale midanso. Ngonyaka engaphothula ngawo esikoleni esiphakeme, ngangidlala nama-orchestra ambalwa kulo lonke idolobha. Ngemva kokuthweswa iziqu ngamenywa ukuba ngijoyine iFerde Mowry Orchestra, futhi wabonakala uwumsebenzi oholelayo, nokahle kwaze kwaba u-1943.

Ukwazi NgoJehova

Abazali bami bathola iqiniso leBhayibheli ngaphambi nje kokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe I, ngenkathi ubaba esasebenza njengomhleli wezimpahla emafasiteleni esitolo endaweni yamabhizinisi eToronto. Lapho esendlini yokudlela wayevame ukulalela ezinye izisebenzi ezimbili ezazingabaFundi BeBhayibheli (njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi) zixoxa, abese exoxela umama lokho ayekuzwile uma efika ekhaya kusihlwa. Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, ngo-1927, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baba nomhlangano omkhulu eToronto eColiseum eseCanadian National Exhibition Grounds. Indlu yakithi, eyayiqhele ngemigwaqo emibili ukusuka esangweni lenkundla elingasentshonalanga, yasetshenziselwa ukuhlalisa abantu abangu-25 ababesuka e-Ohio, e-U.S.A.

Ngemva kwalokho, omunye wabaFundi BeBhayibheli, u-Ada Bletsoe, waqala ukuvakashela umama, emshiyela izincwadi zamuva. Ngelinye ilanga wathi: “Nkk. Duncombe, bengilokhu ngikushiyela izincwadi. Zikhona nje osuke wazifunda?” Nakuba ayenakekela izingane eziyisithupha, kusukela lapho umama wanquma ukuqala ukubafunda labo magazini, futhi akazange ayeke. Nokho, angizange ngizinake lezi zincwadi. Ngangimatasa nokuphothula isikole, futhi ngangihileleke ngokujulile kwezomculo.

Ngo-June 1935, mina no-Aileen sashadela eSheshi. Njengoba ngalishiya ngineminyaka engu-13 iSonto Lase-United, ngangingazange ngizihlanganise nenye inkolo; ngakho ngasayina isitifiketi somshado njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, nakuba ngangingakabi uFakazi.

Sasibheke phambili ekunakekeleni umkhaya esikhathini esithile esizayo futhi sasifisa ukuba abazali abakahle. Ngakho, saqala ukufunda iTestamente Elisha ndawonye. Nokho, naphezu kwezinhloso zethu ezinhle, ezinye izinto zasiphazamisa. Sazama futhi kamuva kodwa sathola imiphumela efanayo. Khona-ke ngoKhisimusi ka-1935, sathola isipho esasigoqiwe sencwadi enesihloko esithi The Harp of God. Umkami wathi: “Bakithi, umama usithumelele isipho sikaKhisimusi esingavamile.” Noma kunjalo, lapho sengihambile ngiye emsebenzini waqala ukuyifunda, futhi wakuthanda lokho ayekufunda. Kwaphela isikhathi eside, ngingazi ukuthi wayenesithakazelo kuleyo ncwadi. Ukulangazelela kwethu ukukhulisa abantwana, akuzange kufezeke. Umntwana wethu wentombazane, owazalwa ngo-February 1, 1937, washona. Yeka indlela esasidabuke ngayo!

Ngaleso sikhathi, umkhaya wakithi wawumatasa uhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela, futhi ngathola ukuthi ubaba wayewukuphela kommemezeli woMbuso emkhayeni owayengakasihambisi isikhokhelo sikamagazini i-Consolation (manje osekuyi-Phaphama!). Lowo kwakuwumgomo wasensimini ngaleyo nyanga. Nakuba ngangingakaze ngizifunde izincwadi zeNhlangano esikhathini esingaphambili, ngezwa ngimdabukela futhi ngathi; “Kulungile, baba, ngenzele isikhokhelo; ukuze ufane nabanye.” Langena ihlobo, futhi i-orchestra yasuka edolobheni yayodlala endaweni yokungcebeleka. I-Consolation yangilandela ngeposi. Yangena ikwindla, futhi i-orchestra yabuyela eToronto. Omagazini babengena bengenile ekhelini lethu elisha, kodwa ngangingakaze ngivule ngisho nowodwa.

Ngelinye ilanga kuyiholide likaKhisimusi, ngabuka inqwaba yomagazini futhi ngaphetha ngokuthi njengoba ngibakhokhele, kufanele ngifunde okungenani abanye kubo ukuze ngibone ukuthi baphetheni. Owokuqala engawuvula wangixaka. Wawukhuluma ngokudalulwa kwamacebo enziwa ngasese ezombangazwe nokonakala okwakwenzeka ngaleso sikhathi. Ngaqala ukuxoxa nalabo esasidlala nabo umculo ngalokho engangikufunda. Nokho, bakubekela inselele ukuba yiqiniso kwalokho engangikusho, futhi kwadingeka ukuba  ngiqhubeke ngibafunda ukuze ngizivikele. Ngingahlosile, ngase ngifakaza ngoJehova. Futhi kusukela lapho, angizange ngiyeke ukuzifunda lezi zincwadi zeBhayibheli ezinhle ‘zesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.’—Mathewu 24:45.

Nakuba umsebenzi wawungigcina ngimatasa phakathi nesonto, ngokushesha mina no-Aileen saqala ukuba khona emihlanganweni yangeSonto. Njengoba sasifika komunye wale mihlangano ngelinye ilanga ngeSonto ngo-1938, odade ababili asebekhulile basibingelela, futhi omunye wathi: “Mzalwane osemusha, ingabe ususithathile isinqumo sokumelela uJehova? Uyazi, i-Armagedoni isiseduze kabi!” Ngangazi ukuthi uJehova uwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, futhi ngangiqiniseka ukuthi lena inhlangano yakhe. Ngangifuna ukuba ingxenye yayo, ngakho ngo-October 15, 1938, ngabhapathizwa. U-Aileen wabhapathizwa ezinyangeni eziyisithupha kamuva. Ngiyajabula ukusho ukuthi bonke emkhayeni wakithi baba yizinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele.

Yeka injabulo engaba nayo ngokuzihlanganisa nabantu bakaNkulunkulu! Ngokushesha, ngazizwa ngikhululekile phakathi kwabo. Uma ngingazange ngikwazi ukuba khona emihlanganweni, ngangihlale ngifuna ukwazi ukuthi ihambe kanjani. Lobo busuku okukhulunywe ngabo ekuqaleni kwaba yisikhathi sezinguquko enkonzweni yami kuJehova.

Isikhathi Sezinguquko Ezinkulu Kithi

Senza ezinye izinguquko ezinkulu ngo-May 1, 1943. Sasikade sisemhlanganweni omkhulu wokuqala ngqá, ngo-September 1942 owawunesihloko esithi “UMhlangano Ongokwasezulwini Wezwe Elisha” owawuseCleveland, e-Ohio. Lapho, phakathi nempi yezwe eyayiyimbi, impi eyayibonakala isekude ukuphela, sezwa uMfoweth’ uKnorr, ngaleso sikhathi owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngesibindi enikeza inkulumo yeningi enohlonze, eyayithi “Ukuthula—Ingabe Kungaba Okuhlala Njalo?” Siyikhumbula kahle indlela abonisa ngayo, ngokwesAmbulo isahluko 17, ukuthi kwakuyoba khona ukuthula enkathini engemva kwempi lapho kwakuzofezwa umsebenzi omkhulu wokushumayela.

Yasithinta kakhulu inkulumo yokuqala kaMfoweth’ uKnorr eyayithi, “UJefta Nesifungo Sakhe.” Khona-ke kwacelwa amaphayona engeziwe! Mina no-Aileen sabukana futhi sasho kanyekanye (nabanye abaningi ngaleso sikhathi) sathi: “Yithi-ke labo!” Ngokushesha saqala ukwenza amalungiselelo okuthuthela emsebenzini obaluleke ngokwengeziwe.

Umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wawuvinjelwe eCanada kusukela ngo-July 4, 1940. Lapho siqala ukuphayona ngo-May 1, 1943, kwakwenqatshelwe ukufakaza ngoJehova nokuhambisa izincwadi zeNhlangano enkonzweni yasensimini. Sikhonza njengamaKristu, sasiphatha kuphela amakhophi ethu enguqulo yeBhayibheli i-King James. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa sifikile esabelweni sethu sokuqala sokuphayona eParry Sound, e-Ontario, ihhovisi legatsha lathumela uStewart Mann, iphayona elalinokuhlangenwe nakho, ukuba azosebenza nathi ensimini. Yeka ilungiselelo lothando! UMfoweth’ uMann wayenobuntu obuhle futhi ehlale emamatheka. Safunda kuye futhi saba nesikhathi esijabulisayo. Sasiqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziyidlanzana lapho iNhlangano isinika isabelo esisha edolobheni laseHamilton. Akuphelanga sikhathi ngemva kwalokho, naphezu kokuba ngase ngimdala ukuba ngingaya empini, ngabuthwa. Ukwenqaba ukuya empini kwaholela ekubeni ngiboshwe ngo-December 31, 1943. Ngemva kokulungisa imininingwane yasenkantolo, ngagwetshwa ngayiswa kwenye inkambi yokwenza inkonzo yomphakathi, ngahlala lapho kwaze kwaba u-August 1945.

Ngokushesha lapho ngikhululwa mina no-Aileen sathola isabelo sokuphayona esasiyisa eCornwall, e-Ontario. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho,  salibangisa eQuebec siya esabelweni esikhethekile sokusiza abazalwane ezinkantolo sithunyelwe uMnyango Wezomthetho weNhlangano. Lokhu kwakungenkathi kaDuplessis eQuebec, ngaleso sikhathi kwakusashubile ukushushiswa koFakazi BakaJehova. Ngangichitha isikhathi esiningi isonto ngalinye, ngisezinkantolo ngisiza abafowethu. Lezo kwakuyizikhathi ezithakazelisayo neziqinisa ukholo.

Ngemva komhlangano waseCleveland ngo-1946, sathola izabelo emsebenzini wesifunda nowesigodi owawusiyisa kulo lonke izwe. Izinto zazenzeka ngokushesha. Ngo-1948 samenywa ekilasini le-11 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. UMfoweth’ u-Albert Schroeder noMaxwell Friend babengabaqeqeshi bethu, futhi ikilasi lethu elalinabafundi abangu-108 lalihlanganisa abangu-40 abagcotshiwe. Njengoba kwakunezinceku zikaJehova eziningi ezazingomakadebona, kwakungokuhlangenwe nakho okucebisayo futhi okuvuza ngempela!

Ngelinye ilanga uMfoweth’ uKnorr wasivakashela esuka eBrooklyn. Enkulumweni yakhe, wacela izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingu-25 ukuba zifunde ulimi lwesiJapane. Bonke abangu-108 bavuma! Kwase kushiyelwa kumongameli ukuba akhethe ukuthi ubani owayezofundiswa. Ngicabanga ukuthi lokhu kukhetha kwakuqondiswa uJehova ngoba kwaba impumelelo. Abaningi kwabangu-25 abakhethwa futhi ababa nelungelo lokuqala umsebenzi eJapane namanje basesezabelweni zabo—yebo sebemnkantsh’ ubomvu, kodwa basayibambile. Abanye, abanjengoLloyd noMelba Barry, bathunyelwa kwezinye izabelo. ULloyd wayeyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngonyaka odlule. Sijabula kanye nabo bonke ngomvuzo uJehova aye wabanika wona.

Lwafika usuku lokuthweswa iziqu, futhi sabelwa eJamaica. Nokho, ngenxa yamacala asenkantolo ayengakaxazululeki eQuebec, sayalwa ukuba sibuyele eCanada.

Umculo Owengeziwe!

Nakuba ngase ngiyekile ukudlala umculo ukuze ngiphayone, kwakubonakala ukuthi umculo wawungafuni ukuhlukana nami. Ngonyaka owalandela umongameli weNhlangano, uNathan Knorr, wafika nonobhala wakhe, uMilton Henschel, eMaple Leaf Gardens eToronto. Inkulumo kaMfoweth’ uKnorr eyayinesihloko esithi “Sekwephuzile Kunokuba Ucabanga!” yashukumisa wonke umuntu. Ngokokuqala ngqá, ngamenywa ukuba ngiqondise i-orchestra yomhlangano. Safaka isigqi se-waltz kwamanye amaculo athandwayo e-Kingdom Service Song Book (ka-1944). Abazalwane babonakala bekuthanda. Ekuphetheni kwesimiso ngoMgqibelo ntambama, saprakthiza amaculo ayehlelelwe ukuculwa ngeSonto. Ngamuthi shazí uMfoweth’ uHenschel enqamula ehholo eza ngakithi, futhi ngayimisa i-orchestra ukuze ngimhlangabeze. Wangibuza, “Bangaki abaculi onabo kule orchestra yakho?” Ngaphendula ngathi, “uma siphelele, cishe singu-35.” “Uzoba nenani eliphindwe kabili ehlobo elizayo eNew York,” ephendula.

Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba lelo hlobo lifike, ngamenyelwa eBrooklyn. Ngenxa yezimo, ekuqaleni u-Aileen akakwazanga ukuhamba nami. Isakhiwo esisha esiku-124 Colombia Heights sasingakapheli, ngakho nganikezwa indawo yokulala ezakhiweni ezindala, endlini encane eyayinabazalwane ababili abagcotshiwe—uMfoweth’ uPayne noKarl Klein abase bekhulile, engangiqala ukuhlangana nabo. Ingabe sasiminyene? Kunjalo impela. Noma kunjalo, sonke sasizwana. Abazalwane asebekhulile babekhuthazela futhi benesineke. Ngazama ukuba ngingabahluphi! Kwakuyisifundo esibalulekile ngalokho umoya kaNkulunkulu ongakufeza. Ukuhlangana nokusebenza kwami noMfoweth’ uKlein kwangilethela izibusiso! Wayehlale emnene futhi ewusizo. Sasebenza kahle ndawonye futhi besilokhu singabangane abasondelene iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50.

Kwakuyilungelo kimi ukusiza ngomculo emihlanganweni yaseYankee Stadium ngo-1950, ngo-1953, ngo-1955 nango-1958, nangokuhlanganyela imithwalo yemfanelo ye-orchestra no-Al Kavelin ngo-1963 emhlanganweni owawuseRose Bowl, ePasadena, eCalifornia. Phakathi nomhlangano ka-1953 eYankee Stadium, ngeSonto kwadlalwa umculo ngaphambi kwenkulumo yeningi. U-Erich Frost wethula u-Edith Shemionik (kamuva owaba owakwaWeigand), owayecula indlela yokuqala, owacula iculo u-Erich Frost ayelibhalile elithi “Phambili, Nina BoFakazi!” ephelezelwa i-orchestra yethu. Ngemva kwalokho sajabulela ukuzwa, ngokokuqala, amazwi amtoti namahle abafowethu nodadewethu base-Afrika. Isithunywa sevangeli uHarry Arnott wayefike nekhasethi eliqoshwe kahle laseNyakatho Rhodesia (manje osekuyiZambia) ukuze sijabulele ukulilalela. Umsindo wayigcwalisa yonke inkundla.

 Ukuqopha Incwadi Yamaculo Ka-1966

Uyalikhumbula iculo elalinesembozo esibomvana, elalithi “Nihlabelele Nihubele Inkosi Enhliziyweni Yenu”? Lapho selizoqedwa, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wathi: “Sizoqopha izingoma ezithile. Ngifuna uhlele i-orchestra encane, kube nabadlali bama-violin abambalwa nje kanye nedlanzana labadlali bemitshingo. Angifuni muntu ‘ozofutha uphondo lwakhe’!” IHholo LoMbuso eliseBethel lalizoba indawo yethu yokuqopha, kodwa sasikhathazekile ngezinkinga zokulisebenzisa. Kwakuzokwenzekani ngomsindo oshaya ezindongeni ezingenamakhethini, kuma-tile aphansi, nasezihlalweni ezigoqwayo zensimbi? Ubani owayezosisiza ukuba sixazulule lezi zinkinga. Othile wasikisela: “UTommy Mitchell! Usebenza e-ABC Network Studios.” Sathintana noMfoweth’ uMitchell, owakujabulela ukusiza.

Lwafika usuku lokuqala lokuqopha ngoMgqibelo ekuseni, futhi abadlali bomculo bethulwa, omunye umzalwane wayephethe isikhwama se-trombone. Ngakhumbula isixwayiso sikaMfoweth’ uKnorr: “Angifuni muntu ‘ozofutha uphondo lwakhe’!” Manje, yini engangingayenza? Ngambuka lo mzalwane njengoba ekhipha i-trombone yakhe esikhwameni, eyilungisa kahle, futhi eqala ukudlala amanothi ambalwa. Lo mzalwane kwakunguTom Mitchell, futhi amanothi akhe okuqala ayemnandi. Wayenza ukuba i-trombone ikhale njenge-violin! Ngacabanga, ‘lo mzalwane kufanele abe khona!’ UMfoweth’ uKnorr akazange enqabe.

Kuleyo orchestra, sasineqembu labazalwane nodade abanothando ababedlala umculo. Sasingenabo abantu abazazisayo! Ukuqopha kwakuwumsebenzi onzima, kodwa abekho ababekhononda. Lapho umsebenzi usuphelile, sakhala izinyembezi; futhi kusenobudlelwane obuqinile kulabo ababa nesandla. Sonke salijabulela leli lungelo, futhi sibonga uJehova, sawuphothula umsebenzi.

Amalungelo Engeziwe Azuzisayo

Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi kangako, ngisayijabulela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Sengichithe iminyaka engu-28 ngisezabelweni zomsebenzi wesifunda nowesigodi—zonke zazijabulisa. Lokhu kwalandelwa iminyaka emihlanu yokunakekela iHholo Lomhlangano LaseNorval, e-Ontario. Njengoba kunemihlangano yesifunda masonto onke kanye nemihlangano yesigodi yabakhuluma izilimi zakwamanye amazwe, mina no-Aileen besilokhu simatasa. Ngo-1979/80, abaklami bamapulani nonjiniyela babesebenzisa izakhiwo zeHholo Lomhlangano njengoba babehlela ukwakha igatsha leNhlangano laseHalton Hills. Ngemva komsebenzi wethu eHholo Lomhlangano, esinye isabelo saholela ekuhlanganyeleni ngokwengeziwe emkhakheni womculo eBrooklyn, kusukela ngo-1982 kuya ku-1984.

Umkami othandekayo washona ngo-June 17, 1994, ngemva kwesonto nje siqede iminyaka engu-59 sishadile. Sasihlanganise iminyaka engu-51 yokuzinikela enkonzweni yamaphayona ndawonye.

Njengoba ngikhumbula okuhlangenwe nakho kwami okuningi ekuphileni, ngikhumbula indlela iBhayibheli ebelilokhu liyisiqondiso esiyigugu ngayo. Ngezinye izikhathi, ngisebenzisa iBhayibheli lika-Aileen futhi ngithole injabulo enkulu lapho ngiphawula lokho okwakumthinta inhliziyo—amavesi aphelele, amabinzana athile namagama ayewadwebele. Njengoba kwakunjalo ngo-Aileen, nami nginemibhalo ekhethekile kimi. Amanye amazwi akumaHubo 137, azwakalisa lo mkhuleko omuhle oya kuJehova: “Uma ngikhohlwa nguwena Jerusalema, mangingakwazi ukudlala ihabhu! Mangingakwazi ukuphinde ngihlabelele uma ngingakukhumbuli, uma ngingakubheki njengentokozo yami enkulu!” (IHubo 137:5, 6, Today’s English Version) Nakuba ngiwuthanda umculo, injabulo yami enkulu ngiyithola ngokuthi ngiye ngamkhonza ngokwethembeka uJehova, oye wangivuza ngokuphila okumatasa nokwanelisayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 28]

Ngino-Aileen ngo-1947

[Isithombe ekhasini 30]

Phakathi nokuqopha kokuqala