Indaba Yokuphila

Ukwazi Okulungile Nokukwenza

ILANDISWA UHADYN SANDERSON

UJesu wake watshela abaphostoli bakhe: “Uma nizazi lezi zinto, niyajabula uma nizenza.” (Johane 13:17) Yebo, singase sikwazi okulungile, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi into enzima kuba ukukwenza! Kodwa njengoba sengineminyaka engaphezu kwengu-80, ehlanganisa nengu-40 ngiyisithunywa sevangeli, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi amazwi kaJesu ayiqiniso. Ukwenza okushiwo uNkulunkulu kuletha injabulo ngempela. Ake ngichaze ukuthi kungani ngisho kanjalo.

NGO-1925, ngesikhathi ngineminyaka emithathu ubudala, abazali bami bahamba bayolalela inkulumo yeBhayibheli edolobheni lasekhaya eNewcastle, e-Australia. Leyo nkulumo eyayinesihloko esithi “Izigidi Eziphila Manje Azisoze Zafa,” yakholisa umama ukuthi wayethole iqiniso, futhi waqala ukuya njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Nokho, ubaba washeshe waphelelwa isithakazelo. Wayiphikisa inkolo kamama entsha wathi uzomshiya uma engayiyeki. Umama wayemthanda ubaba futhi efuna ukugcina umkhaya undawonye. Nokho, wayazi ukuthi okwakubaluleke kakhulu ukulalela uNkulunkulu futhi wayezimisele ukwenza okulungile emehlweni aKhe. (Mathewu 10:34-39) Ubaba wasishiya, kodwa ngangimbona ngezinye izikhathi.

Uma ngibheka emuva, ngiyabuhlonipha ubuqotho bukamama kuNkulunkulu. Isinqumo sakhe sanikeza mina nodadewethu omdala uBeulah ukuphila okugcwele izibusiso ezingokomoya. Sasifundisa nesifundo esibalulekile—uma sazi ukuthi yikuphi okulungile, kumelwe silwele ukukwenza.

Uvivinyo Lokholo

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babaziwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, basisiza  kakhulu ekhaya. Ugogo weza wazohlala nathi naye wamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli. Yena nomama babeba ndawonye njalo emsebenzini wokushumayela, futhi isizotha nomusa wabo kwenza abantu babahlonipha.

Ngaleso sikhathi, abafowethu abangamaKristu ababebadala banginakekela kakhulu futhi bangiqeqesha. Ngokushesha ngafunda ukushumayeza abantu emizini yabo ngisebenzisa ikhadi lokufakaza elinezintshumayelo ezilula. Ngangidlala nezinkulumo zeBhayibheli eziqoshiwe ngegilamafoni eliphathwayo futhi ngangimasha ngifake izingqwembe emigwaqweni emikhulu yedolobha. Kwakunzima lokhu ngoba phela ngangibesaba abantu. Nokho, ngangikwazi okulungile futhi ngangizimisele ukukwenza.

Ngemva kokuqeda isikole ngasebenza ebhange, futhi lo msebenzi wawuhlanganisa ukuya emagatsheni amabhange ahlukahlukene kuso sonke isifunda saseNew South Wales. Nakuba babembalwa oFakazi kuleyo ngxenye yezwe, indlela engangiqeqeshwe ngayo yangisiza ngihlale ngiphilile okholweni. Umama wayengibhalela izincwadi ezikhuthazayo ezazingiqinisa ngokomoya.

Lezo zincwadi zazinginika usizo ngesikhathi engangiludinga ngaso kakhulu. IMpi Yezwe II yayisiqalile futhi ngangibizelwe ukuyolwa empini. Umphathi webhange wayelishisekela isonto futhi engumlawuli wamabutho wendawo. Lapho ngimchazela ngokuma kwami kokungathathi hlangothi njengomKristu, wanginqumela ugwayi katiki—ngiyeke inkolo yami noma ngiphelelwe umsebenzi ebhange! Izimo zaba zimbi nakakhulu lapho ngiya esikhungweni sokubhalisela impi. Lo mphathi wayekhona futhi wangibuka ngesikhulu isithakazelo njengoba ngangisondela etafuleni lokubhalisa. Lapho ngenqaba ukusayina amaphepha okubuthelwa empini, izikhulu zathukuthela zangqangqa. Isimo sasisibi kakhulu, kodwa ngangizimisele ukwenza okulungile. Ngosizo lukaJehova, ngazola futhi ngaqina. Kamuva lapho ngizwa ukuthi kunezixhwanguxhwangu ezingifunayo, ngapakisha izinto zami, ngangena esitimeleni ngaphuma ngaphela endaweni!

Sengibuyile eNewcastle, ngavela enkantolo ukuze ngihlonywe imibuzo kanye nabanye abazalwane abangu-7 ababenqabe ukuya empini. Ijaji lasigweba izinyanga ezintathu ejele sifukuza. Nakuba kwakungemnandi ukuba sejele, ukwenza okulungile kwakuletha izibusiso. Sesiphumile ejele, omunye uFakazi enganginaye esitokisini ogama lakhe linguHilton Wilkinson, wathi ngize ngizosebenza naye endaweni yakhe yokuthwebula izithombe. Ngambona lapho uMelody owayesebenza kuyo le ndawo ebamba izingcingo. Kamuva waba umkami. Ngemva nje kokuphuma ejele, ngabhapathizwa ngibonisa ukuzinikezela kwami kuJehova.

Ukulungiselela Ukungenela Inkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele

Sesishadile, mina noMelody savula eyethu indawo yokuthwebula izithombe eNewcastle. Kungakabiphi, umsebenzi wethu wasigcina simatasa kakhulu waze wathinta impilo nengokomoya lethu. Khona manjalo, uTed Jaracz owayekhonza ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova lase-Australia ngaleso sikhathi futhi manje oyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wakhuluma nathi ngemigomo yethu engokomoya. Ngemva kwaleyo ngxoxo, sanquma ukulithengisa ibhizinisi lethu futhi senze ukuphila kwethu kube lula. Ngo-1954 sathenga umahamba-nendlwana omncane, sathuthela edolobheni laseBallarat esifundeni saseVictoria, saqala ukukhonza njengamaphayona, abashumayeli bevangeli besikhathi esigcwele.

UJehova wayibusisa imizamo yethu njengoba sasisebenza nebandla laseBallarat elincane.  Phakathi nezinyanga ezingu-18, landa inani labantu abeza emihlanganweni, lasuka ku-17 laya ku-70. Ngabe sengicelwa ukuba ngiye emsebenzini wokujikeleza, noma ukuba umbonisi wesifunda esifundeni saseNingizimu Australia. Phakathi neminyaka emithathu eyalandela, sakujabulela ukuvakashela amabandla edolobheni lase-Adelaide nasezifundeni ezikhiqiza iwayini nezithelo ezingaseMfuleni iMurray. Yeka indlela okwashintsha ngayo ukuphila kwethu! Sasikujabulela ukukhonza kanye nabafowethu nodadewethu abanothando. Yeka umvuzo wokwenza esasazi ukuthi kulungile!

Isabelo Sokuba Izithunywa Zevangeli

Ngo-1958 sazisa ihhovisi legatsha lase-Australia ngesifiso sethu sokuya eMhlanganweni Wezizwe owawunesihloko esithi “Intando Yaphezulu” eNew York City ngasekupheleni kwalowo nyaka. Lasiphendula ngokusithumela amafomu okuya esikoleni saseGileyadi sezithunywa zevangeli e-United States. Njengoba sasiseminyakeni yawo-30, sasicabanga ukuthi sase sikhule kakhulu ukuthi singaya eGileyadi. Noma kunjalo sathumela izicelo zethu futhi sabizwa ukuba sibe sekilasini lama-32. Maphakathi nesikole sathola isabelo sethu—eNdiya! Nakuba sasinexhala ekuqaleni, sasifuna ukwenza okulungile futhi sasamukela ngenjabulo isabelo sethu.

Sahamba ngomkhumbi safika eBombay (manje eyiMumbai) ekuseni ngovivi ngo-1959. Izisebenzi eziningi zazilele esibophelweni semikhumbi. Kwakunephunga elingajwayelekile. Ngokuphakama kwelanga sase sibona ukuthi kuzoba njani lapha. Sasingakaze sikuzwe ukushisa okunjeya! Samukelwa umbhangqwana oyizithunywa zevangeli, uLynton noJenny Dower, esasike saphayona nawo eBallarat. Wasiyisa ehhovisi legatsha laseNdiya naseKhaya LaseBethel elaliseduze nedolobha. Sanikwa ikamelo elincane kakhulu esitezi esiphezulu. EKhaya LaseBethel kwakuhlala izikhonzi zaseBethel zokuzithandela eziyisithupha. UMfoweth’ u-Edwin Skinner, owayeke wakhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli eNdiya kusukela ngo-1926, waseluleka ngokuthi kufanele sithenge izikhwama ezinkulukazi ngaphambi kokuya esabelweni sethu. Lezi zikhwama wawuzibona yonke indawo ezitimeleni zaseNdiya futhi zasisiza kakhulu kamuva.

Ngemva kokuhamba izinsuku ezimbili ngesitimela, safika esabelweni sethu eTiruchchirappalli, idolobha elisesifundeni esiseningizimu yeMadras (manje eyiTamil Nadu). Lapho, safike sajoyina amaphayona akhethekile amathathu angamaNdiya ayeshumayela kubantu abangu-250 000. Izimo zomnotho zazizimbi lapha. Ngesinye isikhathi sasinemali engaphansi kuka-R26. Kodwa lapho iphela leyo mali, uJehova waba nathi. Umuntu othile owayetadisha iBhayibheli wasiboleka imali yokuqasha indawo efanelekayo yokuqhuba imihlangano. Ngesinye isikhathi singenakudla, umakhelwane wasilethela isitshulu. Sasimnandi impela sona, kodwa sasibaba ha, sangibangela ingcwici!

Ensimini

Nakuba babekhonyana abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi eTiruchchirappalli, abaningi babekhuluma isiTamil. Ngakho sazikhandla ukuze sifunde ukubeka intshumayelo elula enkonzweni yasensimini ngalolo limi. Lokho kwenza abantu abaningi bendawo basihlonipha.

Sasiyijabulela ngempela inkonzo yendlu ngendlu. Ngokwemvelo, abantu baseNdiya banomoya wokwamukela izihambi, futhi abaningi babesingenisa emizini yabo basiphe nokuphuzwayo. Njengoba izinga lokushisa lalivame ukuba ngu-40°C, sasiwazisa kakhulu umoya wabo wokwamukela izihambi. Ngaphambi kokusho esize ngakho, kwakuwubuntu ukuxoxaxoxa ngezinto zomuntu siqu. Abaninikhaya babevame ukusibuza: “Niphumaphi? Ninazo izingane? Kungani ningenazo?” Uma-ke bethola ukuthi asinazo babevele basilayele udokotela! Noma kunjalo, lezo zingxoxo zazisisiza ukuba sizethule sichaze nokubaluleka komsebenzi wethu osekelwe eBhayibhelini.

Abantu abaningi esasibashumayeza babengamaHindu—inkolo ehluke kakhulu ebuKristwini. Esikhundleni sokuphikisa izimfundiso zamaHindu eziyinkimbinkimbi, sasivele nje sishumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu—futhi kube nemiphumela emihle. Phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha, abantu abacishe babe  ngu-20 baqala ukuza emihlanganweni ekhaya lethu lezithunywa zevangeli. Omunye walaba kwakungunjiniyela wezakhiwo; igama lakhe kwakunguNallathambi. Kamuva, yena nendodana yakhe, uVijayalayan, basiza abantu abangaba ngu-50 ukuba babe izinceku zikaJehova. UVijayalayan wake wakhonza isikhathi esithile nasegatsheni laseNdiya.

Imithwalo Ihlala Isobhokweni

Sasisanda kufika nje eNdiya zingakapheli nezinyanga eziyisithupha lapho ngicelwa ukuba ngiyokhonza njengombonisi wesigodi wokuqala. Lokhu kwakuhilela ukulihamba lonke elaseNdiya, ukuhlela imihlangano nokusebenza namaqembu ezilimi ezingu-9. Kwakuwumsebenzi okhandlayo lona. Sapakisha izingubo zokugqoka nemishini esasizoyisebenzisa phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha emapotimendeni amathathu nasezikhwameni zethu ezinkulukazi ezazingasiphoxi, sasuka ngesitimela edolobheni laseMadras (manje eyiChennai). Njengoba lesi sifunda sasingaba amakhilomitha angu-6 500 ubukhulu, imithwalo yayihlala isobhokweni. Ngesinye isikhathi, saphetha umhlangano esasiwukhonza eningizimu yedolobha laseBangalore ngeSonto, sabe sesiya enyakatho eDarjeeling emagqumeni aseHimalaya siyokhonza omunye umhlangano ngesonto elilandelayo. Ukuya eDarjeeling kwakusho ukuhamba amakhilomitha angu-2 700 sishintshe izitimela kahlanu.

Sisanda kuqala ukuhambela amabandla, sasibonisa abantu ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action. Le filimu yasiza abantu ukuba babone umsebenzi wenhlangano kaJehova esemhlabeni nobukhulu bawo. Kwakuvame ukuba kuze amakhulu abantu ezobuka le filimu. Ngesinye isikhathi sayibukisa iqembu elithile elalihlangene eceleni komgwaqo. Njengoba ifilimu yayiqhubeka, kwaqoqana amafu emvula kwaba mnyama. Ngenxa yokuthi kwakuke kwenzeka abantu babanga isiphithiphithi lapho ifilimu imiswa ingakapheli, nganquma ukuqhubeka nokubabukisa ifilimu kodwa ngayenza yadlala ngokushesha. Ngibonga ukuthi le filimu yaphela kungabanga nankinga ngoba izulu lase liqala ukuna.

Eminyakeni eyalandela, mina noMelody sahamba izingxenye eziningi zeNdiya. Njengoba indawo ngayinye ibukeka ngendlela ehlukile, inokudla, indlela yokugqoka nolimi oluhlukile, kwakuba sengathi sisohambweni lokuzungeza umhlaba. Yeka indlela indalo kaJehova ehluke ngayo kwenye! Kunjalo nangezilwane zasendle zaseNdiya. Ngesinye isikhathi sikhempe ehlathini laseNepal, sathola ithuba lokuyibuka kahle inkunzimalanga yehlosi. Yayingeve iyinhle. Ukuyibuka kwenza safisa nakakhulu ukuba sePharadesi, lapho ekugcineni kuyoba khona ukuzwana phakathi kwabantu nezilwane.

Ukuhambisana Nenhlangano

Ngalezo zinsuku, kwakudingeka abazalwane eNdiya bahleleke kakhudlwana ngokuvumelana nenhlangano kaJehova. Kwamanye amabandla, abesilisa babehlala nganxanye nabesifazane bahlale nganxanye. Kwakuqabukela imihlangano  iqale ngesikhathi. Kwenye indawo, kwakukhaliswa insimbi ukuze abamemezeli boMbuso beze emihlanganweni. Kwezinye izindawo, abamemezeli babebheka ilanga ukuthi likuphi bese ubabona sebengena. Sasingekho isikhathi esiqondile semihlangano emikhulu nokuhambela komjikelezi. Abazalwane babezimisele ukwenza okulungile, kodwa babedinga ukuqeqeshwa.

Ngo-1959, inhlangano kaJehova yasungula iSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso. Lesi simiso sokuqeqesha esaqhutshwa emhlabeni wonke sasiza ababonisi bezifunda, amaphayona akhethekile, izithunywa zevangeli nabadala bamabandla ukuba bayifeze kangcono imithwalo yabo yemfanelo engokomBhalo. Ngaba umfundisi lapho lesi sikole siqala eNdiya ngo-December 1961. Kancane kancane, imiphumela yale mfundo yabonakala emabandleni ezweni lonke, futhi abazalwane bathuthuka ngokushesha. Kwathi nje lapho abazalwane sebazi ukuthi yikuphi okulungile okufanele bakwenze, umoya kaNkulunkulu wabashukumisela ukuba bakwenze.

Imihlangano emikhulu yabakhuthaza abazalwane futhi yabenza baba nobunye. Omunye umhlangano owawuvelele kwakuwuMhlangano Wezizwe owawunesihloko esithi, “Izindaba Ezinhle Zaphakade” owawuseNew Delhi ngo-1963. OFakazi kulo lonke elaseNdiya bahamba izinkulungwane zamakhilomitha ukuze babe kulo mhlangano, abaningi besebenzisa imali yabo yokugcina. Njengoba kwakunezihambeli zomhlangano ezingu-583 ezazivela emazweni angu-27, oFakazi bendawo babeqala ngqá ukuba nabazalwane abaningi kangaka abavakashile.

Ngo-1961, mina noMelody sacelwa ukuba sibe ingxenye yomkhaya waseBethel eBombay, futhi kamuva ngaba ilungu leKomiti Yegatsha lalapho. Ngathola namanye amalungelo. Ngakhonza iminyaka eminingi njengombonisi wamagatsha kuzo zonke izindawo zase-Asia naseMpumalanga Ephakathi. Ngenxa yokuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuvinjelwe kwamaningi ala mazwe, kwakudingeka abamemezeli babe ‘abaqaphile njengezinyoka nokho babe msulwa njengamajuba.’—Mathewu 10:16.

Ukunwetshwa Kwezakhiwo Nezinguquko

Ngo-1959 lapho siqala ukufika eNdiya, kwakunabamemezeli abakhuthele abangu-1 514. Namuhla sebengaphezu kuka-24 000. Ukuze kubhekanwe nalokhu kwanda, sathutha kabili saya ezakhiweni zaseBethel ezintsha ezihlukahlukene, esinye eBombay, esinye eduze kwakhona. Saphinde sathutha futhi ngo-March 2002—kulokhu saya esakhiweni esisha eduze kwaseBangalore, eningizimu yeNdiya. Njengamanje lesi sakhiwo sesimanjemanje sihlalisa amalungu aseBethel angu-240, futhi amanye awo ahumusha izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi ezingu-20.

Nakuba mina noMelody sasibheke phambili ekuthutheleni eBangalore, impilo yasiphoqa ukuba sibuyele e-Australia ngo-1999. Manje sikhonza eBethel yaseSydney. Nakuba singasahlali eNdiya, sisabathanda kakhulu abangane bethu nezingane zethu ezingokomoya ezikulelo zwe. Akuve kujabulisa ukuthola izincwadi ezivela kubo!

Uma sibheka emuva eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-50 sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, mina noMelody sizizwa sibusiswe kakhulu. Sake senza umsebenzi wokulondoloza abantu ezithombeni ezithwetshuliwe, kodwa umsebenzi wokulondoloza abantu enkumbulweni kaNkulunkulu waba isinqumo esihle kakhulu. Yeka izinto ezinhle esiye sazijabulela ngokwenza isinqumo sokubeka intando kaNkulunkulu kuqala ekuphileni! Impela, ukwenza lokho uNkulunkulu athi kulungile kuletha injabulo!

[Amabalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 15]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

INDIYA

INew Delhi

IDarjeeling

IBombay (Mumbai)

IBangalore

IMadras (Chennai)

ITiruchchirappalli

[Izithombe ekhasini 13]

UHadyn noMelody ngo-1942

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

Umkhaya waseBethel yaseNdiya, ngo-1975