Indaba Yokuphila

Ukwamukela Izimemo ZikaJehova Kuletha Imivuzo

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA NGUMARIA DO CÉU ZANARDI

“UJehova uyakwazi akwenzayo. Uma ekuthumele isimemo, kumelwe usamukele ngokuthobeka.” La mazwi kababa awasho eminyakeni engu-45 edlule, angisiza ukuba ngamukele isimemo sokuqala engasithola enhlanganweni kaJehova, sokuba ngikhonze njengesikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Nanamuhla ngisasazisa isikhuthazo sikababa ngoba ukwamukela izimemo ezinjalo kungilethele imivuzo ecebile.

NGO-1928, ubaba wenza isikhokhelo sikamagazini INqabayokulinda futhi waba nesithakazelo eBhayibhelini. Njengoba ayehlala maphakathi nePortugal, okuwukuphela kokuxhumana ayenakho nebandla likaNkulunkulu kwakungezincwadi ayezithola ngeposi neBhayibheli okwakungelikagogo nomkhulu. Ngo-1949, ngineminyaka engu-13 ubudala, umkhaya wakithi wathuthela eBrazil, kubo kamama, sahlala emaphandleni aseRio de Janeiro.

Omakhelwane bethu abasha basimema ukuba sivakashele esontweni labo, ngempela saya izikhathi ezimbalwa. Ubaba wayethanda ukubahlola ngemibuzo ephathelene nesihogo, umphefumulo nekusasa lomhlaba—kodwa babengenazo izimpendulo. “Kuyomelwe silinde abafundi beBhayibheli beqiniso,” wayethanda ukusho kanjalo ubaba.

Ngolunye usuku indoda eyimpumputhe yafika ekhaya ihambisa INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! Ubaba wayibuza imibuzo efanayo futhi yanikeza izimpendulo ezinengqondo zeBhayibheli. Ngesonto elilandelayo, savakashelwa ngomunye futhi uFakazi KaJehova. Ngemva kokuphendula  imibuzo eyengeziwe, waxolisa wathi kwakumelwe aye ensimini. Lapho ubaba engakuqondi lokhu ayekusho, lo Fakazi wamfundela uMathewu 13:38: “Insimu yizwe.” Ubaba wabuza: “Ngingaya nami?” “Ngokuqinisekile,” kuphendula uFakazi. Sasijabule kakhulu ngokuphinde sithole iqiniso leBhayibheli! Ubaba wabhapathizwa emhlanganweni owalandela, futhi mina ngabhapathizwa ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, ngo-November 1955.

Ngamukela Isimemo Sokuqala

Ngemva konyaka nengxenye, ngathola imvilophi enkulu ensundu inesimemo sokuba ngingenele umsebenzi wokushumayela isikhathi esigcwele, ivela ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eRio de Janeiro. Impilo kamama ngaleso sikhathi yayingeyinhle, ngakho ngacela iseluleko kubaba. “UJehova uyakwazi akwenzayo. Uma ekuthumele isimemo, kumelwe usamukele ngokuthobeka.” Ngifakwe ugqozi yila mazwi, ngagcwalisa ifomu yesicelo ngabe sengingenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ngo-July 1, 1957. Isabelo sami sokuqala kwaba yiTrês Rios, idolobha eliseSifundazweni saseRio de Janeiro.

Ekuqaleni izakhamuzi zaseTrês Rios zazingabaza ukulalela isigijimi sethu ngoba sasingasebenzisi inguqulo yeBhayibheli lamaKatolika. Sathola usizo lapho siqala isifundo seBhayibheli noGeraldo Ramalho, umKatolika okhuthele. Ngosizo lwakhe ngakwazi ukuthola iBhayibheli elinesignesha yompristi. Kusukela lapho, noma nini lapho othile ephikisa, ngangimbonisa isignesha yompristi, angabe esabuza mibuzo ngemva kwalokho. Kamuva uGeraldo wabhapathizwa.

Ngajabula kakhulu lapho umhlangano wesifunda uqhutshelwa enkabeni yeTrês Rios ngo-1959. Isikhulu samaphoyisa esasifundelwa iBhayibheli ngaleso sikhathi sahlela ngisho nokuthi kuphanyekwe izingqwembe ezimemezela isimiso kulo lonke idolobha. Ngemva kokusebenza iminyaka emithathu eTrês Rios, ngamenyelwa esabelweni esisha e-Itu, engamakhilomitha angu-110 ukusuka eSão Paulo uya ngasentshonalanga.

Izincwadi Ezibomvu, Eziluhlaza Neziphuzi

Ngemva kokufuna indawo yokuhlala, mina nengangiphayona naye sathola izindawo eziqashisayo ezikahle enkabeni yedolobha emzini kaMaria, umfelokazi onenhliziyo enhle. UMaria wasiphatha njengamadodakazi akhe. Nokho, kungakabiphi wavakashelwa umbhishobhi wamaRoma Katolika wase-Itu, wamtshela ukuba asixoshe, kepha wenqaba, ethi: “Ngesikhathi umyeni wami eshona, anenzanga lutho ukuba ningiduduze. Lab’ oFakazi BakaJehova bangisizile ngisho noma ngingelona ilungu lenkolo yabo.”

Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, owesifazane mumbe wasitshela ukuthi abapristi bamaKatolika e-Itu babebanqabele abebandla labo ukuba bamukele amakhophi encwadi “ebomvu ephathelene noDeveli.” Babebhekisele encwadini esekelwe eBhayibhelini ethi “UNkulunkulu Makabe Oneqiniso,” esasiyihambisela abantu phakathi nalelo sonto. Njengoba abapristi base “beyivalile” incwadi ebomvu, salungiselela izintshumayelo  zencwadi eluhlaza (“New Heavens and a New Earth”). Ngemva kwalokho, lapho abefundisi bezwa ngalolu shintsho, sadlulela encwadini ephuzi (INkolo Isenzeleni Isintu?), njalo njalo. Kwakuyinto enhle ukuthi sasinezincwadi ezahlukene nezinezembozo ezinemibala ehlukahlukene!

Ngemva cishe konyaka ngise-Itu, ngathola isimemo sokuyosebenza okwesikhashana eBethel, ihhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eRio de Janeiro, kwakulungiselelwa umhlangano wezwe lonke. Ngasamukela ngenjabulo.

Amalungelo Engeziwe Nezinselele

EBethel umsebenzi wawumningi, futhi ngakujabulela ukusiza nganoma iyiphi indlela engangingasiza ngayo. Yeka ukuthi kwakucebisa kanjani ukuba khona njalo ekuseni etekisini losuku naseSifundweni somkhaya se-Nqabayokulinda njalo ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa! Imithandazo esuka enhliziyweni ka-Otto Estelmann nabanye abazalwane basemkhayeni waseBethel abanokuhlangenwe nakho yangithinta ngokujulile.

Ngemva komhlangano wezwe lonke, ngapakisha izikhwama zami ukuze ngibuyele e-Itu, kodwa ngamangala lapho inceku yegatsha, uGrant Miller, inginika incwadi eyayingimema ukuba ngibe ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel unomphela. Ngangihlala noDade Hosa Yazedjian, osakhonza eBethel yaseBrazil namanje. Ngalezo zinsuku umkhaya waseBethel wawumncane—sasingu-28 kuphela—futhi sonke sasingabangane abasondelene.

Ngo-1964, uJoão Zanardi, isikhonzi esisesisha sesikhathi esigcwele, wafika eBethel ezoqeqeshwa. Ngaleso sikhathi wayeyinceku yesifunda noma umbonisi ojikelezayo eduze kwaseBethel. Sasiye sibonane lapho eze eBethel elethe imibiko yakhe. Inceku yegatsha yanika uJoão imvume yokuba abe khona esifundweni somkhaya njalo ngoMsombuluko kusihlwa, ngakho sasikwazi ukuchitha isikhathi esengeziwe sindawonye. Ngo-August 1965 mina noJoão sashada. Ngasamukela ngenjabulo isimemo sokuba ngihambisane nomyeni wami emsebenzini wakhe wesifunda.

Ngalezo zinsuku umsebenzi wokujikeleza maphakathi neBrazil wawuhilela izingozi ezingaziwa. Ngeke ngakukhohlwa ukuvakashela kwethu iqembu labamemezeli e-Aranha, eSifundazweni saseMinas Gerais. Kwadingeka sithathe isitimela bese siyihamba ngezinyawo indlela eyayisasele—sisindwa izikhwama, umshini wokubhala, umshini wokubonisa izithombe, izikhwama zasensimini, nezincwadi. Yeka ukuthi sasijabula kanjani ukuthola uLourival Chantal, umzalwane owayesekhulile, njalo esilinde esiteshini ukuze asisize ngezikhwama zethu.

Imihlangano e-Aranha yayiqhutshelwa endlini eqashiwe. Sasilala egunjini elincane ngemuva. Ngakolunye uhlangothi sasibasa umlilo wezinkuni esasiwusebenzisela ukupheka nokushisisa amanzi esasiwalethelwa abazalwane ngamabhakede. Umgodi owawumaphakathi nensimu yoqalo eyayiseduze wawuyindlu yangasese. Ebusuku sasingasicishi isibani segesi ukuze sixoshe amabhungane abizwa ngokuthi ama-barber beetle—izilwanyana ezincane ezingadlulisela isifo iChagas kwabanye. Ekuseni amakhala ethu ayehlale emnyama ngenxa yentuthu. Yeka okuhlangenwe nakho okuthakazelisayo!

Lapho sisakhonza esifundeni esiseSifundazweni SaseParaná, saphinda sathola enye yalezo zimvilophi  ezinsundu ivela ehhovisi legatsha. Kwakungesinye futhi isimemo esivela enhlanganweni kaJehova—manje kwakungesokuba siyokhonza ePortugal! Le ncwadi yasikhuthaza ukuba sicabangele isimiso esikuLuka 14:28 sibale izindleko ngaphambi kokwamukela lesi simemo ngoba umsebenzi wethu wobuKristu wawuvinjelwe lapho, kanti nohulumeni wasePortugal wawusubophe abazalwane abaningi.

Sasizoya yini ezweni esasizobhekana noshushiso kulo? “Uma abafowethu basePortugal bekwazi ukuphila lapho futhi bakhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka, thina singahlulwa yini?” kwasho uJoão. Lapho ngikhumbula amazwi kababa esikhuthazo, ngavuma: “Uma uJehova esithumele isimemo, kufanele sisamukele futhi sithembele kuye.” Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, sase siseBethel eSão Paulo, sithola izeluleko ezengeziwe, silungisa nezincwadi zomthetho njengoba sasilungiselela uhambo lwethu.

UJoão Maria NoMaria João

Isikebhe sethu i-Eugênio C, saqala uhambo lwaso ethekwini laseSantos, eSifundazweni SaseSão Paulo, ngo-September 6, 1969. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-9 olwandle, safika ePortugal. Ekuqaleni, sasebenza izinyanga ezithile nabazalwane abanokuhlangenwe nakho emigwaqweni emincane yase-Alfama naseMouraria eLisbon endala. Basiqeqesha ukuba sibe abaqaphelayo ukuze singabanjwa kalula ngamaphoyisa.

Imihlangano yebandla yayiqhutshelwa emizini yoFakazi. Lapho siqaphela ukuthi omakhelwane banezinsolo, imihlangano yayishintshelwa kwenye indawo ngokushesha ukuze indlu ingahlaselwa noma abazalwane baboshwe. Amapikiniki, njengoba sasiyibiza kanjalo imihlangano yethu, ayenzelwa eMonsanto Park, emaphethelweni eLisbon, naseCosta da Caparica, indawo eyihlathi ngasolwandle. Sasigqoka njengabantu abaya kongcebeleka, kanti neqembu labalindi abaqaphile lalima ezindaweni ezifanele. Lapho kuqhamuka umuntu osolisayo, sasiba nesikhathi sokwenza sengathi sidlala umdlalo othile, senze ipikiniki, noma siqale ingoma yesintu.

Ukuze sikwenze kube nzima ukuba amaphoyisa asikhombe, sasigwema ukusebenzisa amagama ethu. Abazalwane babesazi ngokuthi singoJoão Maria noMaria João. Amagama ethu ayengasetshenziswa kunoma yiziphi izincwadi. Kunalokho sasinikezwe izinombolo. Ngenza  isinqumo sokungawafaki ekhanda amakheli abafowethu. Ngaleyo ndlela, uma ngiboshwa, kwakungeke kwenzeke ngibakhaphele.

Naphezu kokuvinjelwa, mina noJoão sasizimisele ukusebenzisa ngokunenzuzo wonke amathuba okufakaza, ngoba sasazi ukuthi singalahlekelwa inkululeko yethu noma nini. Safunda ukwethembela kuBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova. NjengoMvikeli wethu, wayesebenzisa izingelosi zakhe ngendlela eyayenza kube sengathi ‘siyambona Lowo ongabonakali.’—Heberu 11:27.

Ngesinye isikhathi njengoba ngangishumayela endlini ngendlu ePorto, sathola indoda eyathi masingene endlini. Udade engangisebenza naye wavumela phezulu, ngakho ngangingenakwenqaba kwadingeka ngimlandele. Ngavevezela lapho ngibona ephasishi isithombe somuntu ogqoke izingubo zamasosha. Kwenziwe njani-ke manje? Umninikhaya wasihlalisa phansi, wayesengibuza: “Ubuyovuma yini ukuba indodana yakho ibe sebuthweni lezempi uma ibingase ibuthwe?” Kwakuyisimo esibucayi. Ngokuzola, ngemva kokuthandaza buthule, ngaphendula: “Anginabo abantwana, futhi ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ukube bengingakubuza lo mbuzo ocatshangelwe, ubuyonginika impendulo efanayo.” Wathula. Ngabe sengiqhubeka: “Manje uma ungangibuza ukuthi kunjani ukulahlekelwa umfowenu noma ubaba, ngingakuphendula ngoba bobabili umfowethu nobaba bashona.” Ngahlengezela izinyembezi njengoba ngikhuluma, futhi ngaphawula ukuthi naye wayesechiphiza izinyembezi. Wachaza ukuthi umkakhe wayesanda kushona. Walalela ngokucophelela njengoba ngichaza ithemba lovuko. Savalelisa ngesizotha, sahamba ngokuphepha, indaba siyishiya ezandleni zikaJehova.

Naphezu kokuvinjelwa, abantu abaqotho babesizwa ukuba bathole ulwazi lweqiniso. KwakusePorto lapho umyeni wami aqala khona isifundo noHorácio, usomabhizini owathuthuka ngokushesha. Kamuva indodana yakhe u-Emílio, udokotela ophambili, nayo yaba ngasohlangothini lukaJehova futhi yabhapathizwa. Ngempela, akukho okungavimba umoya ongcwele kaJehova.

“Ngeke Nazi Ukuthi Yini UJehova Azoyivumela”

Ngo-1973, mina noJoão samenyelwa eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokunqoba Kwaphezulu” eBrussels, eBelgium. Kwakukhona izinkulungwane zabazalwane baseSpain naseBelgium, kanye nezihambeli zaseMozambique, e-Angola, eCape Verde, eMadeira, nase-Azores. Emazwini akhe okuphetha, uMzalwan’ uKnorr, wasendlunkulu eNew York, wasikhuthaza: “Qhubekani nikhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka. Ngeke nazi ukuthi yini uJehova azoyivumela. Kwazi bani, mhlawumbe umhlangano wenu olandelayo uyoba sePortugal!”

Ngonyaka owalandela, umsebenzi wokushumayela waqashelwa ngokusemthethweni ePortugal. Futhi njengoba nje uMzalwan’ uKnorr  ayeshilo, ngo-1978, saba nomhlangano wezizwe wokuqala eLisbon. Yeka ilungelo okwakuyilo ukumasha emigwaqweni yaseLisbon sinikeza ubufakazi ngezingqwembe, omagazini, sikhipha nezimemo zenkulumo yeningi! Kwakufezeka iphupho.

Sasibathanda abafowethu bamaPutukezi, iningi labo elalike laboshwa futhi lashaywa ngenxa yokulondoloza ukungathathi hlangothi kobuKristu. Isifiso sethu kwakuwukuqhubeka sikhonza ePortugal. Nokho, akuzange kwenzeke. Ngo-1982, uJoão waba nenkinga engathi sína yenhliziyo, ihhovisi legatsha labe selisikisela ukuba sibuyele eBrazil.

Isikhathi Esivivinyayo

Abazalwane basehhovisi legatsha eBrazil basisekela kakhulu futhi basabela ukuba siyokhonza eBandleni LaseQuiririm eTaubaté, eSifundazweni SaseSão Paulo. Impilo kaJoão yawohloka ngokushesha, kungakabiphi wayengasakwazi ukuphuma endlini. Abantu abathakazelayo babeza ekhaya bezofunda iBhayibheli, futhi kwakuba nemihlangano yenkonzo yasensimini nsuku zonke, kanye nesifundo seqembu samasonto onke. La malungiselelo asisiza salondoloza ingokomoya lethu.

UJoão waqhubeke enza ayengakwazi ukukwenza enkonzweni kaJehova kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-October 1, 1985. Ngadabuka futhi ngacindezeleka, kodwa ngangizimisele ukuqhubeka esabelweni sami. Okunye okwangikhinyabeza kwenzeka ngo-April 1986 lapho kugqekezwa umuzi wami futhi kuntshontshwa cishe yonke into. Ngokokuqala ngqá ngazizwa nginesizungu futhi ngesaba. Umbhangqwana othile wangimema ngothando ukuba ngihlale nawo okwesikhashana, engakwazisa kakhulu.

Ukufa kukaJoão nokugqekezwa komuzi wami kwayiphazamisa nenkonzo yami kuJehova. Ngangingasenakho ukuzethemba enkonzweni. Ngemva kokubhalela ihhovisi legatsha ngale nkinga, ngathola isimemo sokuyohlala isikhathi esithile eBethel ukuze ngilulame ngokomzwelo. Yeka ukuthi kwaba isikhathi esiqinisa idolo kanjani!

Ngokushesha nje lapho sengizizwa ngingconywana, ngamukela isimemo sokuyokhonza e-Ipuã, idolobha elisesifundazweni saseSão Paulo. Umsebenzi wokushumayela wangigcina ngimatasa, kodwa kunezikhathi lapho ngangizizwa ngiphela amandla. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo, ngangishayela abazalwane baseQuiririm ucingo, bese umkhaya othile uyangivakashela izinsukwana ezimbalwa. Lezi zikhathi zokuvakashelwa zazikhuthaza impela! Ngonyaka wami wokuqala e-Ipuã, abazalwane nodade abangu-38 abahlukahlukene bahamba ibanga elide bezongibona.

Ngo-1992, ngemva kweminyaka eyisithupha uJoão ashona, ngathola esinye isimemo sivela enhlanganweni kaJehova, manje kungesokuba ngithuthele eFranca, eSifundazweni SaseSão Paulo, lapho ngisakhonza khona njengesikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Indawo yalapha iyakhiqiza impela. Ngo-1994 ngaqala isifundo seBhayibheli nomphathi wedolobha. Ngaleso sikhathi wayekhankasela ukuba yilungu lesishayamthetho saseBrazil, kodwa naphezu kwesimiso sakhe esimatasa sasifunda njalo ngoMsombuluko ntambama. Ukuze agweme iziphazamiso wayeluvala ucingo lwakhe. Yeka ukuthi kwangijabulisa kanjani ukumbona kancane kancane ephuma kwezombusazwe, futhi ngosizo lweqiniso, elungisa umshado wakhe! Yena nomkakhe babhapathizwa ngo-1998.

Uma ngibheka emuva, ngingasho ukuthi ukuphila kwami njengesikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele kube namalungelo nezibusiso ezinkulu. Ukwamukela izimemo uJehova aye wazidlulisela kimina ngenhlangano yakhe kungilethele izibusiso ezicebile ngempela. Futhi noma iziphi izimemo engingase ngizithole esikhathini esizayo, ngisazimisele kakhulu ukuzamukela.

[Izithombe ekhasini 25]

Ngo-1957, lapho ngingenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, nanamuhla

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Nginomkhaya waseBethel yaseBrazil ngo-1963

[Isithombe ekhasini 27]

Ngomshado wethu ngo-August 1965

[Isithombe ekhasini 27]

Umhlangano ePortugal ngenkathi umsebenzi usavinjelwe

[Isithombe ekhasini 28]

Ukufakaza emgwaqweni eLisbon ngo-1978 eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokholo Olunqobayo”