Indaba Yokuphila

Samvivinya UJehova

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUPAUL SCRIBNER

“Sawubona Nkk. Stackhouse. Ngithatha ama-oda amakhekhe ama-Easter namhlanje, futhi ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uzothanda ukutholela umkhaya wakho elilodwa.” Kwakusekuqaleni kwentwasahlobo ka-1938, ngise-Atco, eNew Jersey, e-U.S.A., ngikhuluma nelinye lamakhasimende akahle kakhulu emzileni wami wokudayisela iGeneral Baking Company. Ngamangala lapho uNkk. Stackhouse elinqaba ikhekhe.

WATHI: “Cha, ngiyabonga. Asiwagubhi ama-Easter.”

Zavele zayima emthumeni kimi. Abawagubhi ama-Easter? Umthetho wokuqala ekudayiseni uthi ngaso sonke isikhathi lokho okushiwo yikhasimende yikona okunembile. Pho, ngangizothini-ke manje? Ngazidela: “Uyazi, alive limnandi leli khekhe, futhi ngiyazi ukuthi uyawathanda amakhekhe ethu. Awucabangi yini ukuthi umkhaya wakho uzolijabulela yize ninga-, eh . . . , ningawagubhi ama-Easter?”

“Cha, ngeke,” ephinda, “kodwa kunento ebengilokhu ngifuna ukuyixoxa nawe, Mnu. Scribner, futhi ngicabanga ukuthi yithuba elikahle leli.” Leyo ngxoxo yayizokushintsha ngokuphelele ukuphila kwami! UNkk. Stackhouse, owayeyilungu lebandla loFakazi BakaJehova laseBerlin, eNew Jersey, wachaza ukuthi usukaphi umkhosi wama-Easter, wayesenginika izincwajana ezintathu. Zazinezihloko ezithi Safety, Uncovered nesithi Protection. Ngagoduka nazo lezi zincwajana, nginelukuluku novadlwana ngesikhathi esifanayo. Le nto uNkk. Stackhouse ayeyishilo yayizwakale sengathi ngake ngayizwa ndawana-thile ngisemncane.

 Ukuhlangana NabaFundi BeBhayibheli Ngisemncane

Ngazalwa ngo-January 31, 1907, kwathi ngo-1915, ngiseneminyaka engu-8 ubudala, ubaba wabulawa umdlavuza. Ngenxa yalokho, ngahamba nomama sayohlala nogogo nomkhulu emzini omkhulu eMalden, eMassachusetts. UBenjamin Ransom, umalume, nomkakhe, nabo babehlala lapho, esitezi sesithathu. Lingakaqali nekhulu leminyaka lama-20, uMalum’ uBen wayesehlanganyela nama-International Bible Student, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngangimkhonzile uMalum’ uBen, kodwa bonke abanye kubo kamama, ababengamaMethodist, babecabanga ukuthi kukhona okungashayi khona kuye. Ngemva kweminyaka, ngaphambi kokuba umalumekazi afake isehlukaniso, waphumelela ukwenza umalume avalelwe okwesikhashana esikhungweni sabagula ngengqondo ngenxa yezinkolelo zakhe ezingokwenkolo! Njengoba odokotela basesibhedlela basheshe bazibonela ukuthi uMalum’ uBen uphila sáka, baxolisa kuye bamdedela.

UMalum’ uBen wayengithatha lapho eya emihlanganweni yama-International Bible Student eBoston, ikakhulukazi lapho kunezikhulumi ezivakashile noma kunezenzakalo ezikhethekile. Ngesinye isikhathi, isikhulumi esivakashile kwakunguCharles Taze Russell uqobo lwakhe, owayengamele umsebenzi wokushumayela ngalezo zinsuku. Ngesinye, kwadlalwa i-“Photo-Drama of Creation.” Nakuba kwakungu-1915, nanamuhla ngisawukhumbula ngokucacile umfanekiso ka-Abrahama ekhuphuka intaba no-Isaka eyonikela ngaye njengomhlatshelo. (Genesise, isahluko 22) Ngisababona o-Abrahama beno-Isaka beqwala leyo ntaba bephethe izinkuni, u-Abrahama ethembele ngokugcwele kuJehova. Njengoba ngangingumfana ongenayise, kwangithinta kakhulu lokhu.

UMalum’ uBen nomkakhe base bethuthela eMaine, umama waphinda washada, sathuthela eNew Jersey. Ngakho kwaphela isikhathi eside singasabonani noMalum’ uBen. Ngiseseminyakeni yobusha eNew Jersey, ngahlangana noMarion Neff, enye yezingane eziyingu-8 zomkhaya osonta eHabe engangithanda ukuwuvakashela. Ngangingapheli kulowo mkhaya naseqenjini lawo lentsha lesonto ngamaSonto kusihlwa kangangokuthi nami ngagcina sengisonta eHabe. Nokho, ezinye zezinto engangizifunde emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli azisukanga kimi. Ngo-1928 ngashada noMarion, kwathi ngo-1935 nango-1938 sathola amadodakazi, uDoris noLouise. Njengoba sasinengane esacathula kanye nosana, sobabili saba nomuzwa wokuthi sidinga isiqondiso esingokomoya sokukhulisa umkhaya wethu.

Ukuthola Iqiniso Kuleziya Zincwajana

Mina noMarion sasifuna isonto esasingazihlanganisa nalo, sase sithola isu. Njalo ngeSonto, sasishintshana ngokuthi omunye asale ekhaya nezingane, omunye avakashele isonto esingase siliqoke. Ngelinye iSonto, kwakuyithuba likaMarion lokusala ekhaya, kodwa ngathi kuzosala mina ukuze ngikwazi ukufunda incwajana ethi Safety, eyokuqala kwezintathu engangizinikwe nguNkk. Stackhouse. Kwaba ukuyiqala nje, lutho ukubekeka phansi! Ngaya ngikholiseka nakakhulu ukuthi ngangithole okuthile okungekho sonto elalingakunikeza. Ngesonto elilandelayo kwaba okufanayo, ngasala ngentokozo nezingane  ngifunda incwajana yesibili, ethi Uncovered. Engangikufunda kwakuzwakala sengathi ngake ngakuzwa. Ingabe yilokhu uMalum’ uBen ayekukholelwa? Umndeni wakithi wawube nomuzwa wokuthi inkolo yakhe inokusangana. Wayezothini kodwa uMarion? Kwakungadingekile ngikhathazeke. Lapho ngifika ngivela emsebenzini senginezinsukwana ngifunde i-Uncovered, uMarion wangimangaza ngokuthi, “Ngizifundile leziya zincwajana owafika nazo. Azive zithakazelisa.” Kwáthi gídi!

Ngemuva kulezi zincwajana kwakunokwaziswa mayelana nencwadi ethi Enemies eyayisanda kukhululwa, eyayivutha bhé ekudaluleni inkolo yamanga. Sanquma ukuzitholela yona. Nokho, singakasifaki isicelo sethu eposini, kwangqongqoza uFakazi wasishiyela yona kanye leyo ncwadi. Kwaba kusukile lokho! Sayeka ukuvakashela amasonto, saqala ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla loFakazi BakaJehova laseCamden, eNew Jersey. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa nje, ngeSonto, ngo-July 31, 1938, sahlangana siyiqembu labangaba ngu-50 otshanini bakwaDade Stackhouse—umuzi engangikade ngizama ukudayisa kuwo amakhekhe ama-Easter—salalela inkulumo yobhapathizo eqoshiwe kaJudge Rutherford. Sabe sesishintsha izingubo endlini, kwabhapathizwa abangu-19 phakathi kwethu emfudlaneni oseduze.

 Ukuzimisela Ukuba Yiphayona

Ngemva nje kokuba ngibhapathiziwe, omunye wodade basebandleni wangixoxela ngabantu okuthiwa amaphayona, abaphilela ukwenza inkonzo yasobala. Ngokushesha ngaba nelukuluku, kungakabiphi ngase ngazana nomkhaya owawungamaphayona wonke. UMfoweth’ uKonig owayesekhulile, umkakhe nendodakazi yabo endala babengamaphayona bonke ebandleni elingumakhelwane. Njengoyise womkhaya osemncane, yangihlaba umxhwele injabulo ejulile umkhaya wakwaKonig owawunayo enkonzweni. Ngangivame ukuma, ngipake iloli lami lezinto ezibhakiwe, ngisebenze nabo isikhashana enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Ngokushesha ngafuna ukuba yiphayona nami. Kodwa kanjani? Sasinezingane ezimbili ezincane sinoMarion, futhi umsebenzi wami wawufuna ukuzikhandla. Eqinisweni, njengoba kwakuqala iMpi Yezwe II eYurophu, futhi zanda izinsizwa ezingenela impi e-United States, thina esisele emisebenzini evamile sasandelwa umsebenzi. Nganginxuswa ukuba ngivule imizila eyengeziwe yomsebenzi, futhi ngangazi ukuthi ngangingasoze ngaphayona uma ngithatha lowo msebenzi.

Lapho ngixoxa noMfoweth’ uKonig ngesifiso sami sokuphayona, wathi: “Wena nje qhubeka uzikhandla enkonzweni kaJehova, ubeke umgomo wakho kuye ngomthandazo. Uzokusiza ukuba uwufinyelele.” Kwaphela isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka ngilokhu ngenza kanjalo. Ngangivame ukuzindla ngemibhalo enjengoMathewu 6:8, osiqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova wazi izidingo zethu singakamceli nakumcela. Futhi ngaqhubeka ngilandela iseluleko sikaMathewu 6:33, sokuqhubeka sifuna kuqala uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe. Ngakhuthazwa nanguMfoweth’ uMelvin Winchester, inceku yesifunda (manje ebizwa ngombonisi wesifunda).

Ngaxoxa noMarion ngemigomo yami. Sakhuluma ngamazwi kaMalaki 3:10, asikhuthaza ukuba sivivinye uJehova, sibone ukuthi ngeke yini asithululele isibusiso. Yangikhuthaza impendulo yakhe: “Uma ufuna ukuphayona, ungazigodli ngenxa yami. Ngingawanakekela amantombazane, wena ube uphayona. Vele asidingi izinto eziningi ezibonakalayo.” Ngemva kokuba sishade iminyaka engu-12, ngase ngimazi uMarion ukuthi uyinkosikazi ekwaziyo ukonga futhi ecophelelayo. Phakathi neminyaka edlule, uye waba ngumngane omuhle kakhulu ekuphayoneni, futhi enye yezimfihlo zokuphumelela kwethu eminyakeni engaba ngu-60 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kuye kwaba yikhono lakhe lokwaneliswa yilokho okuncane okukhona, akwenze kube sengathi kuningi.

Ehlobo lika-1941, ngemva kokuhlela nokuthandaza izinyanga eziningi, sase sinemadlana esasiyigcinile sinoMarion, sathenga umahamba-nendlwana ongamamitha angu-5,5 okwakungahlala kuwo umkhaya wethu. Ngo-July 1941, ngayeka umsebenzi ngaba yiphayona elivamile, futhi bengilokhu ngisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kusukela ngaleso sikhathi. Isabelo sami sokuqala kwaba yizitobhi eziyishumi emgwaqweni uRoute 50 phakathi kweNew Jersey neSt. Louis, eMissouri, lapho sasizoba nomhlangano omkhulu khona ekuqaleni kuka-August. Ngathunyelelwa amagama namakheli abazalwane abasendleleni, ngababhalela kusengaphambili, ngibatshela ukuthi bangilindele nini. Lapho sifika emhlanganweni wesigodi, ngangizothola umnyango wamaphayona bese ngithola esinye isabelo.

“Ngizomvivinya UJehova”

Sagcwalisa izincwadi kumahamba-nendlwana wethu omncane saya emhlanganweni webandla wokugcina eCamden siyovalelisa kubazalwane. Njengoba sasinamantombazanyana amabili asemancane kakhulu okwakufanele siwanekekele futhi singazi ukuthi siyolibhekisaphi ngemva komhlangano wesigodi, kumelwe ukuba kwabanye abazalwane ebandleni kwakubonakala sengathi sasingabhekani namaqiniso ngempela ekuhleleni kwethu izinto, futhi abaningana babo bathi: “Wena uzobuya khona manje.” Ngiyakhumbula ngithi: “Kona anginakusho ukuthi ngeke. UJehova wathi uyonginakekela, mina ngizomvivinya uJehova.”

Ngemva kwamashumi ayisithupha eminyaka siphayona emadolobhaneni angu-20 kusukela eMassachusetts kuya eMississippi, singasho ukuthi uJehova uye wenza okungaphezu kokugcina isithembiso sakhe. Izibusiso aye wasithululela zona sinoMarion namadodakazi ethu amabili zingaphezu kwanoma yini okungenzeka sasinethemba lokuyithola kudala ngo-1941. Zihlanganisa ukukhonza kwamadodakazi ethu njengamaphayona athembekile emabandleni aseduze, nokuba  namadodana namadodakazi angokomoya angaba yikhulu (ngokokubala kokugcina) kulo lonke uGu Olusempumalanga lwe-United States. Ngiye ngafundela abantu abangu-52 abaye banikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova uNkulunkulu, uMarion abangu-48.

Ngo-August 1941, safika eSt. Louis, ngabonana noMfoweth’ uT. J. Sullivan owayevela eBethel. Wayephethe incwadi yokugcotshwa kwami, engangiyidinga ngenxa yempi eyayisondela kanye nokubuthelwa empini. Ngatshela uMfoweth’ uSullivan ukuthi umkami wayesebenza isikhathi esingangesami enkonzweni nokuthi wayengathanda ukuphayona kanye nami. Nakuba umnyango wamaphayona wasemhlanganweni wawungakahlelwa, uMfoweth’ uSullivan wasayina ifomu elithi uMarion useyiphayona ngaso leso sikhathi wayesesibuza: “Nizophayonaphi ngemva komhlangano?” Sasingazi. “Kulungile, ningakhathazeki,” esho: “Emhlanganweni nizotholana nomuntu ovela endaweni edinga amaphayona, kuzolunga. Nina nje sibhaleleni nisitshele ukuthi nikuphi, sizoninika isabelo.” Ngempela kwaba njalo. Kwavela ukuthi uMfoweth’ uJack DeWitt, owayekade eyinceku yesifunda, wayazi abantu abathile eNew Market, eVirginia, ababenekhaya lamaphayona elidinga amaphayona ambalwa engeziwe. Ngakho ngemva komhlangano, salibangisa eNew Market.

ENew Market sasilindelwe yisimangaliso. Uzwani-ke sesithola iphayona elivela ePhiladelphia lizophayona nathi, uBenjamin Ransom! Yena kanye uMalum’ uBen. Yeka indlela engangikujabulela ngayo ukusebenza naye enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu sekudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-25 atshala leyo mbewu yeqiniso enhliziyweni yami lé eBoston! Naphezu kweminyaka eminingi yokunganakwa, ukuhlekwa usulu ngisho nokushushiswa umndeni, uMalum’ uBen wayesalokhu emthanda uJehova nenkonzo.

Sajabulela ukuhlala izinyanga ezingu-8 ekhaya lamaphayona eNew Market. Kuleso sikhathi, safunda, phakathi kwezinye izinto, ukuhweba ngezincwadi sithole izinkukhu namaqanda. Ngemva kwalokho, uMalum’ uBen, uMarion nami, kanye nabanye abathathu, sabelwa ukukhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile eHanover, ePennsylvania—esabelweni sokuqala kweziyisithupha esasizozithola ePennsylvania kusukela ngo-1942 kuya ku-1945.

Ukuba Amaphayona Akhethekile Phakathi Nempi Yezwe II

Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II kwakuba nezikhathi lapho kwakudingeka sibhekane nobunzima ngenxa yokungathathi kwethu uhlangothi, kodwa uJehova akazange nanini asishiye dengwane. Ngesinye isikhathi eProvincetown, eMassachusetts, kwaphuka iBuick yethu endala, kwadingeka ngihambe ngezinyawo amakhilomitha athile endaweni yamaKatolika alwisanayo, ngiyokwenza impindelo. Ngadlula iqembu elithile lentsha eyizichwensi, langibona ukuthi ngingubani lase liqala ukumemeza. Ngahamba ngishesha njengoba kuntwiza amatshe engidlula ekhanda, nginethemba lokuthi le ntsha yayingeke ingijahe. Ngafika kahle emzini walowo muntu othakazelayo ngingalimele. Kodwa umninikhaya, owayeyilungu elihlonishwayo le-American Legion, waxolisa, wathi: “Angikwazi ukuba nawe namhlanje ngoba ngikhohliwe ukuthi siyobuka ibhayisikobho edolobheni.” Ngashaywa uvalo lapho ngikhumbula iqembu labajikijeli bamatshe elisekhoneni, elilinde ukuba ngibuye. Nokho, ngaswabuluka lapho lo mnumzane enezela: “Singahambisana njengoba siphuma. Sizokwazi nokuxoxa endleleni.” Ngakho ngakwazi ukumshumayeza, futhi ngadlula ngokuphepha endaweni eyinkinga.”

Ukulinganisela Phakathi Komkhaya Nenkonzo

Ngemva kwempi, sathola izabelo eziningana eVirginia, kuhlanganise nokuhlala iminyaka engu-8 eCharlottesville njengamaphayona akhethekile navamile. Ngo-1956 amantombazane ayesekhulile futhi eseshadile, mina noMarion saphinde sathutha, sakhonza njengamaphayona eHarrisonburg, eVirginia, nanjengamaphayona akhethekile eLincolnton, eNorth Carolina.

Ngo-1966, ngabelwa emsebenzini wesifunda, ngahambela amabandla ngikhuthaza abazalwane, njengoba nje noMfoweth’ uWinchester ayengikhuthazile nami lé eNew Jersey ngawo-1930. Ngakhonza isifunda samabandla athile iminyaka emibili eTennessee. Sabe sesicelwa ukuba siphindele kulokho esasikuthanda kakhulu sinoMarion, ukuba amaphayona akhethekile. Kusukela ngo-1968 kuya ku-1977, sakhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile eDeep South, kusukela eGeorgia kuya eMississippi.

 E-Eastman, eGeorgia, ngabelwa ukuba ngumbonisi webandla (manje okuthiwa ngumbonisi owengamele) esikhundleni sikaPowell Kirkland, umzalwane othandekayo owayesekhulile, owakhonza iminyaka eminingi njengombonisi wesifunda kodwa owayesenempilo engeyinhle. Wayenokwazisa futhi wabambisana nami kahle kakhulu. Ukusekela kwakhe kwakubaluleke kakhulu ngoba kwakukhona ukuhlukana okuthile ebandleni futhi kwakunabambalwa abavelele ababehilelekile. Le ndaba yashuba, ngaba nezikhathi eziningi lapho ngangithandaza kuJehova. Ngakhumbula imiBhalo enjengezAga 3:5, 6: “Themba kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mazise yena ezindleleni zakho zonke, uyakuqondisa imikhondo yakho.” Ngokuzikhandla ukuze sigcine imizila yokukhulumisana ivulekile, sakwazi ukubuyisela ubunye ebandleni, kwaba nemiphumela emihle kuwo wonke umuntu.

Ngo-1977, sase siqalile ukuzwa ukuthi iminyaka yethu yobudala ayimile, sase sabelwa endaweni yaseCharlottesville, lapho kwakuhlala khona amadodakazi ethu womabili nemikhaya yawo. Kule minyaka engu-23 edlule, siye sajabulela ukusebenza kule ndawo, sisiza ekumiseni ibandla laseRuckersville, eVirginia, futhi sibona izingane nabazukulu bezifundo zethu zeBhayibheli zakudala bekhula beba abadala bamabandla, amaphayona nezikhonzi zaseBethel. Sisakwazi sinoMarion ukuqhubeka simatasa enkonzweni yasensimini, futhi nginelungelo  lokukhonza ngenkuthalo njengomdala eBandleni LaseCharlottesville East, ngiqhuba isifundo sencwadi nginikeza nezinkulumo zeningi.

Phakathi neminyaka edlule, siye saba nazo izinkinga, njengawo wonke umuntu. Ngokwesibonelo, naphezu kwemizamo yethu, lapho eseyohlanganisa iminyaka engu-20 yobudala, uDoris waba buthakathaka ngokomoya washada nendoda engeyena uFakazi. Kodwa aluzange luphele ngokuphelele uthando lwakhe ngoJehova, futhi indodana yakhe uBill isineminyaka engu-15 ikhonza eBethel eWallkill, eNew York. UDoris noLouise sebengabafelokazi bobabili manje, kodwa bakhonza ngenjabulo njengamaphayona avamile eduze.

Izifundo Engazifunda Eminyakeni Edlule

Ngiye ngafunda ukusebenzisa izimiso ezimbalwa ezilula zempumelelo ekukhonzeni uJehova: Gcina ukuphila kwakho kungeyona inkimbinkimbi. Yiba yisibonelo kukho konke okwenzayo, nasekuphileni kwakho kwangasese. Sebenzisa isiqondiso ‘sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo’ kuzo zonke izinto.—Mathewu 24:45.

UMarion uye wazakhela uhlu olufushane kodwa olusebenzayo lokusikisela kokuphumelela ekuphayoneni ube ukhulisa izingane: Yakha isimiso esisebenzisekayo futhi usigcine. Yenza inkonzo yakho yokuphayona ibe umsebenzi wokuphila kwakho wangempela. Yidla ukudla okunempilo. Phumula ngokwanele. Ungeqisi ekuzilibaziseni. Yenza iqiniso, nazo zonke izici zenkonzo, kube yinto emnandi ekuphileni kwezingane zakho. Yenza inkonzo ibe umsebenzi othakazelisayo kuzo ngaso sonke isikhathi.

Manje sesevile eminyakeni engu-90 ubudala. Sekwaphela iminyaka engu-62 kusukela salalela inkulumo yethu yobhapathizo otshanini bakwaStackhouse, futhi sesineminyaka engu-60 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Mina noMarion singasho ngobuqotho ukuthi saneliseke ngokugcwele nangokujulile ngalokho esikwenzile ekuphileni. Ngibonga ngokujulile ngesikhuthazo engasithola ngisengubaba osemusha sokubeka imigomo engokomoya kuqala, ngisebenzele kuyo njalo, futhi ngiyambonga umkami othandekayo, uMarion, namadodakazi ethu ngokusisekela phakathi neminyaka edlule. Nakuba singenayo ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo, ngivame ukumsebenzisa kimi umShumayeli 2:25 (NW): “Ubani odla futhi aphuze kangcono kunami?”

Ngempela, kithi, uJehova uye wenza okungaphezu kakhulu kokugcwalisa isithembiso sakhe esikuMalaki 3:10. Uye ‘wasithululela ngempela isibusiso kunokwaneleyo’!

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 29]

IZINKUMBULO ZEMINYAKA YEMPI

Ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-60 yaphela impi, wonke umkhaya usayikhumbula kahle leyo minyaka.

“Amakhaza asePennsylvania ayeshubis’ umnkantsha,” kukhumbula uDoris. “Ngobunye ubusuku izinga lalingu-35 ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa.” ULouise uyanezela: “Mina noDoris sasihlala omunye phezu kwezinyawo zomunye ngemuva kuyiBuick endala yasekhaya ukuze sifudumezane izinyawo.”

“Kodwa asikaze nanini sizizwe sihluphekile noma sincishwa okuthile,” kusho uDoris. “Sasazi ukuthi thina sithutha njalo kunabaningi, kodwa njalo sasidla kahle futhi sinezingubo ezinhle zokugqoka esasizithola zifana nezintsha, siziphiwa abangane abathile base-Ohio, ababenamantombazane amadadlana kunathi.”

“Ubaba nomama babesenza sizizwe sithandwa njalo futhi saziswa,” kuphawula uLouise, “futhi sasiba nesikhathi esiningi sinabo enkonzweni. Kwasenza sazizwa sikhethekile futhi sisondelene kakhulu nabo.”

“NgangineBuick Special yango-1936,” kukhumbula uPaul, “futhi lezo zimoto zazidume ngokuhleshukelwa ama-ekseli amasondo. Ngicabanga ukuthi injini yayinamandla kakhulu kunokuqina kwemoto. Kwakuba sengathi njalo i-ekseli ihlephuka ngobusuku obubanda kunabo bonke phakathi nenyanga, bese ngihamba ngiye endaweni yezimoto ezindala ngiyofuna enye i-ekseli. Ngagcina senginguchwepheshe wokuyifaka.”

“Ningawakhohlwa amakhadi okwamukeliswa,” kusho uMarion. “Yonke into yayamukeliswa—inyama, uphethiloli, amathaya emoto, konke. Njalo lapho sifika esabelweni esisha, kwakudingeka siye ebhodini yendawo siyofaka isicelo sekhadi lokwamukeliswa. Kwakuthatha nezinyanga ukulithola, futhi kwakuba sengathi njalo lapho sesigcine silitholile ikhadi lethu, sasithunyelwa esabelweni esilandelayo, kudingeke siphinde siqale phansi. Kodwa uJehova wayesinakekela njalo.”

[Isithombe]

UMarion nami sinoDoris (kwesokunxele) noLouise, ngo-2000

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Nginomama ngo-1918, ngiseneminyaka engu-11 ubudala

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

NginoLouise, uMarion noDoris ngo-1948 lapho amantombazane ebhapathizwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Isithombe sethu somshado, ngo-October 1928

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Ngikanye namadodakazi ami (ekugcineni nhlangothi zombili) eYankee Stadium, ngo-1944