Tafunafuna Ufumu Choyamba

MONGA MOMWE YASIMBIDWIRA NDI OLIVE SPRINGATE

Amayi anali atangozimitsa kumene kandulo ndi kuchoka m’chipinda atamvetsera mapemphero athu. Nthaŵi yomweyo mlongo wanga wamng’ono anandifunsa kuti: “Olive, kodi Mulungu angatione ndi kutimva bwanji kupyola m’makoma anjerwa muno?”

“AMAYI amanena kuti iye akhoza kuona m’chilichonse,” ndinayankha motero, “ngakhale m’mitima mwathu mwenimwenimo.” Amayi anali mkazi wowopa Mulungu ndi woŵerenga Baibulo wakhama, ndipo anakhomereza mwa anafe ulemu waukulu wa pa Mulungu ndi malamulo a mkhalidwe a Baibulo.

Makolo athu anali ziŵalo za Tchalitchi cha Anglican m’tauni yaing’ono ya Chatham, m’Kent County, ku England. Ngakhale kuti Amayi anali munthu wopita kutchalitchi nthaŵi zonse, iwo anakhulupirira kuti kukhala Mkristu kunatanthauza zambiri kuposa kumvetsera maulaliki m’tchalitchi kamodzi pamlungu. Anali otsimikiziranso kuti Mulungu ayenera kukhala ndi tchalitchi chowona chimodzi chokha.

Kuzindikira Chowonadi cha Baibulo

Mu 1918, pamene ndinali pafupifupi wazaka zisanu, Amayi anapeza mavoliyumu otchedwa Studies in the Scriptures, olembedwa ndi Charles T. Russell, prezidenti woyamba wa Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Zaka zingapo pambuyo pake, pamene tinali kukhala kumalo ena aang’ono otchedwa Wigmore, Amayi anafikiridwa ndi mmodzi wa Ophunzira Baibulo, monga momwe Mboni za Yehova zinadziŵidwira panthaŵiyo. Iwo analandira chithandizo cha phunziro la Baibulo cha buku lakuti Zeze wa Mulungu, ndipo mu ilo anayamba kupeza mayankho a mafunso awo ambiri a Baibulo. Mlungu uliwonse kadi lofiira la mafunso a mutu uliwonse linafika ndi positi. Kadilo linasonyezanso pamene pangapezedwe mayankho m’bukulo.

Mu 1926 makolo anga, mng’ono wanga Beryl ndi ine tinachoka m’Tchalitchi cha Anglican chifukwa chakuti tinanyansidwa ndi kuloŵerera kwa tchalitchicho m’ndale zadziko, ndiponso ndi ziphunzitso zake zambiri zosayenerera. Chiphunzitso chodziŵika kwambiri chinali chakuti Mulungu akazunza anthu kuumuyaya wonse m’moto wa helo. Amayi, amene anali kufunafuna mowona mtima chowonadi cha Baibulo, anali wokhutiritsidwa maganizo kuti Tchalitchi cha Anglican sichinali chowona.

Mwamsanga pambuyo pake, moyankha mapemphero akhama a Amayi, akazi a Jackson, Wophunzira Baibulo, anatifikira. Kwapafupifupi maola aŵiri, anakambitsirana ndi Amayi ndi ine, akumayankha mafunso athu ndi Baibulo. Tinali okondwa kuphunzira kuti, pakati pa zinthu zina, mapemphero athu ayenera kulunjikitsidwa kwa Yehova Mulungu, Atate wa Yesu Kristu, osati kwa Utatu wachinsinsi. (Salmo 83:18; Yohane 20:17) Koma kwa ine funso losaiŵalika konse limene Amayi anafunsa linali ili: “Kodi kufunafuna Ufumu choyamba kumatanthauzanji?”​—Mateyu 6:33.

Yankho lozikidwa pa Baibulo linayambukira kwambiri miyoyo yathu. Kuyambira mlungu umenewo, tinayamba kufika pamisonkhano ya Ophunzira Baibulo ndi kuuza ena zinthu zimene tinaphunzira. Tinali okhutiritsidwa maganizo kuti tinapeza chowonadi. Miyezi ingapo pambuyo pake, mu 1927, Amayi anabatizidwa kusonyeza kudzipatulira kwawo kutumikira Yehova, ndipo mu 1930, nanenso ndinabatizidwa.

Kuloŵa Utumiki wa Upainiya

Banja lathu linali kusonkhana ndi Mpingo wa Gillingham, umene unali woumbidwa ndi anthu pafupifupi 25. Angapo a iwo anali atumiki anthaŵi yonse, otchedwa apainiya, ndipo onsewo anali ndi chiyembekezo cha kumwamba. (Afilipi 3:14, 20) Changu chawo Chachikristu chinali choyambukira. Ndikali wachichepere, ndinachita upainiya kwanthaŵi yaifupi mu Belgium kuchiyambiyambi kwa ma 1930. Zimenezi zinasonkhezera chikhumbo changa cha kuchita utumiki Waufumu wowonjezereka. Panthaŵiyo tinakhala ndi phande m’kugaŵira kope la kabuku kakuti The Kingdom, the Hope of the World kwa mtsogoleri wachipembedzo aliyense.

M’kupita kwa nthaŵi atate anakhala wotsutsa kwambiri ntchito yathu Yachikristu, ndipo pachifukwa chimenechi ndi zina, ndinasamukira ku London mu 1932 kukaloŵa koleji. Pambuyo pake ndinaphunzitsa pasukulu kwazaka zinayi ndipo munthaŵi imeneyo ndinkaloŵa Mpingo wa Blackheath, umodzi wa mipingo inayi yokha mu London panthaŵiyo. Panali panthaŵiyo pamene tinayamba kumva za mbiri ya kumangidwa ndi kuvutitsidwa kwa abale ndi alongo athu Achikristu mu Germany wa Hitler chifukwa chakuti anakana kuchirikiza zoyesayesa za nkhondo za Hitler.

Mu 1938, mwezi weniweniwo umene ndinatsiriza kulipira ngongole ya mabuku amene ndinali nditapeza, ndinasiya ntchito yanga kuti ndikakhutiritse chikhumbo changa cha kukhala mpainiya. Mng’ono wanga Beryl anayamba upainiya mu London panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, koma ankakhala kunyumba ina ya apainiya. Mnzanga waupainiya woyamba anali Mildred Willett, amene pambuyo pake anakwatiwa ndi John Barr, amene tsopano ali chiŵalo cha Bungwe Lolamulira la Mboni za Yehova. Limodzi ndi ena m’kagulu kathu, tinkapalasa njinga kuloŵa m’gawolo ndi kukhala momwemo tsiku lonse, kaŵirikaŵiri mosasamala kanthu za mvula.

Zizindikiro za nkhondo zinali zoonekeratu kale mu Ulaya. Mayeso a chiwiya chophimba kumaso potetezera utsi wakupha anali kuchitidwa kwa nzika zonse, ndipo makonzedwe osamutsira ana kumilaga ya ku England kapena kumatauni aang’ono chifukwa cha nkhondo anali atayamba. Ndinali ndi ndalama zongokwanira kugula peyala imodzi ya nsapato, ndipo panalibe kuthekera kwa chithandizo cha ndalama chochokera kwa makolo anga. Koma kodi Yesu sananene kuti, ‘Zinthu zonsezi zidzawonjezeredwa kwa inu ngati mufunafuna choyamba ufumu’? (Mateyu 6:33) Ndinakhulupirira kotheratu kuti Yehova akandigaŵira zosoŵa zanga zonse, ndipo wachita motero mowoloŵa manja kwazaka zonsezi. Mkati mwa nthaŵi ya nkhondo panthaŵi zina ndinkawonjezera phoso langa ndi ndiwo zamasamba zotoledwa mumsewu pamene malole opachiridwa nazo anadutsa. Ndipo kaŵirikaŵiri ndinapeza chakudya mwa kusinthanitsa mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo ndi zipatso ndi ndiwo zamasamba.

Mng’ono wanga wotchedwa Sonia anabadwa mu 1928. Iye anali ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziŵiri zokha pamene anapatulira moyo wake kwa Yehova. Sonia amanena kuti ngakhale pamene anali wausinkhu waung’onowo, upainiya unali chonulirapo chake. Mu 1941, mwamsanga atasonyeza kudzipatulira kwake mwa ubatizo wa m’madzi, anakwaniritsa chonulirapo chimenecho pamene iye ndi Amayi anagaŵiridwa gawo ku Caerphilly, South Wales, monga apainiya.

Utumiki Wathu m’Zaka za Nkhondo

Mu September 1939, Nkhondo Yadziko II inayamba, ndipo abale ndi alongo athu Achikristu m’Britain anali kumangidwa kaamba ka chifukwa chimodzimodzicho chimene okhulupirira anzawo mu Germany wa Nazi anali kumangidwira​—kaimidwe kawo kauchete ponena za kukhala ndi phande munkhondo. Kuphulitsidwa ndi mabomba mu England kunayamba pakati pa 1940. Usiku uliwonse, kuukira kwadzidzidzi kwachiwawako kunali kogonthetsa m’khutu, koma mwathandizo la Yehova tinali kugona ndi kukhala otsitsimulidwa kaamba ka ntchito yolalikira tsiku lotsatira.

Nthaŵi zina tinkapita kugawo lathu lolalikira ndi kukapeza chabe nyumba zambiri zogumulidwa. Mu November bomba lina linagwera pafupi kwambiri ndi nyumba imene ambirife tinali kukhalamo, likumasweratu mazenera. Chitseko cholemera chakutsogolo chinaphwanyikira pansi, ndipo chumuni chinagwa. Titathera usiku wonsewo m’malo obisalira kuukira kwa ndege, tinagaŵikana kukakhala m’nyumba za Mboni zosiyanasiyana.

Mwamsanga pambuyo pake ndinalandira gawo ku Croydon, ku Greater London. Mnzanga wa muupainiya anali Ann Parkin, amene pambuyo pake mlongo wake wotchedwa Ron Parkin anakhala wogwirizanitsa Komiti ya Nthambi ku Puerto Rico. Pambuyo pake ndinasamukira ku Bridgend, mu South Wales, kumene ndinapitiriza upainiya, ndikumakhala m’nyumba ya pangolo yokokedwa ndi kavalo kwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi. Kumeneko tinkapalasa njinga makilomita asanu ndi limodzi kumka kumpingo wapafupi nawo, ku Port Talbot.

Panthaŵiyi anthu anayamba kutida, akumatitcha kuti conchies (anthu amene akukana chifukwa cha chikumbumtima). Zimenezi zinachititsa mkhalidwe kukhala wovuta kwa ife kupeza malo okhala, koma Yehova anatisamalira monga mwa lonjezo lake.

Pambuyo pake, asanu ndi atatu a ife tinagaŵiridwa gawo monga apainiya apadera ku Swansea, tauni ya padoko ku South Wales. Pamene nkhondo inali kukula, kudana nafe kwa anthu kunakulanso. Mawu akuti “makoswe” ndi “amantha” analembedwa ndi utoto pachipupa cha nyumba yathu ya apainiya. Udani umenewu kwakukulukulu unasonkhezeredwa ndi malipoti a nyuzipepala amene anatitsutsa chifukwa cha kaimidwe kathu kauchete. Potsirizira pake, mmodzi ndi mmodzi, asanu ndi aŵiri a ife tinatumizidwa kundende. Ndinathera mwezi umodzi ndili m’ndende ya Cardiff mu 1942, ndipo pambuyo pake mng’ono wanga Beryl nayenso anathera nthaŵi ali mmenemo. Ngakhale kuti tinali ndi zinthu zakuthupi zochepa ndipo tinasekedwa ndi kutonzedwa, tinali olemera mwauzimu.

Zidakali choncho, Amayi ndi Sonia anali kuchita upainiya ku Caerphilly ndipo anali kukumana ndi mavuto ofanana ndi ameneŵa. Phunziro la Baibulo loyamba lenileni limene Sonia anachititsa linali kwa mkazi wina amene analinganiza kukaonana naye pa Lachisanu madzulo. Sonia anali wotsimikiza kuti Amayi akatsagana naye, koma Amayi anafotokoza kuti: “Ndapangana ndi munthu wina. Poti walinganiza kale zochita, uyenera kupita wekha.” Ngakhale kuti Sonia anali ndi zaka 13 zokha, anapita yekha, ndipo mkaziyo anapita patsogolo bwino mwauzimu ndipo pambuyo pake anakhala Mboni yodzipatulira.

Ntchito ya Pambuyo pa Nkhondo​—Ndiyeno Gileadi

Pamene Nkhondo Yadziko II inatha mu 1945, ndinali kugwira ntchito m’gawo lakutali ku Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire. Mmaŵa umene kunalengezedwa kuti nkhondo yatha, tinachezera ndi kutonthoza anthu amene panthaŵiyo anali otopetsedwa ndi nkhondo​—ana amasiye, akazi amasiye ndi mitembo yosakazidwa.

Miyezi ingapo pambuyo pake, Sosaite inapempha antchito odzifunira kukalalikira ku Ireland, Emerald Isle. Panthaŵiyo pachisumbupo panali Mboni za Yehova pafupifupi 140 zokha, chotero linalingaliridwa kukhala gawo la amishonale. M’miyezi yoŵerengeka, apainiya apadera pafupifupi 40 anagaŵiridwa kumeneko, ndipo ndinali pakati pawo.

Nditagwira ntchito kwakanthaŵi mu Coleraine ndi Cookstown kumpoto, ndinagaŵiridwa gawo la ku Drogheda kugombe lakummaŵa limodzi ndi anthu ena atatu. Ngakhale kuti mwachibadwa anthu a ku Ireland ngaubwenzi ndi ochereza alendo, tsankho lachipembedzo linali lalikulu. Motero, mkati mwa chaka chonse, tinangogaŵira anthu zothandizira kuphunzira Baibulo zoŵerengeka chabe (kwenikweni tinangogaŵira buku limodzi lokha ndi timabuku tina).

Pamene tinali kukhala ku Drogheda, ndinakwera njinga kuchokera pamunda wina kumka paunzake pamene mwadzidzidzi mlimi wina wachichepere anatulukira mumsewu kuchokera mumpanda wobzalidwa. Iye anayang’ana kumtunda ndi kumunsi kwa msewuwo, ndiyeno anafunsa motsitsa mawu kuti: “Kodi ndinu mmodzi wa Mboni za Yehova?” Pamene ndinayankha kuti inde, iye anapitiriza kuti: “Usiku wapitawo takangana kwambiri ndi bwenzi langa lachikazi za asungwananu, ndipo tathetsa chitomero chathu. Iye waumirira kuti ndinu Akomyunisti, monga momwe ansembe Achikatolika ndi manyuzipepala akunenera, koma ndatsutsana naye kuti zimenezo sizingakhale zowona, popeza kuti inu mumamka kunyumba ndi nyumba poyera.”

Ndinampatsa kabuku kuti akaŵerenge, kamene anakabisa m’thumba lake, ndipo tinapangana kudzaonana naye ndi kukambitsirana zowonjezereka kutada, popeza kuti anati: “Ngati ndionedwa ndikulankhula nanu, ntchito idzandithera.” Usikuwo aŵiri a ife tinaonana naye ndi kuyankha mafunso ake ambiri. Anaoneka kukhala wokhutiritsidwa maganizo kuti chimenechi chinali chowonadi, ndipo analonjeza kufika kunyumba kwathu usiku wina kudzaphunzira zambiri. Iyeyo sanadze konse, chotero tinalingalira kuti anadziŵidwa usiku woyambawo ndi okwera njinga ena amene anadutsa ndipo mwinamwake ntchito inamthera. Kaŵirikaŵiri timadabwa kaya ngati anakhala Mboni konse.

Titaloŵa msonkhano wachigawo ku Brighton kugombe lakummwera kwa England mu 1949, angapo a ife tinalandira ziitano za kumka ku Sukulu ya Gileadi ya Baibulo ya Watchtower ku New York State. Chiwonkhetso cha anthu 26 a ku Britain chinaloŵa kalasi la 15, limene linamaliza maphunziro pa July 30, 1950, mkati mwa msonkhano wa mitundu yonse ku Yankee Stadium.

Utumiki Wathu ku Brazil

Chaka chotsatira ndinagaŵiridwa ku São Paulo, ku Brazil, umodzi wa mizinda yokula mofulumira m’dziko. Panthaŵiyo uwo unali ndi mipingo isanu chabe ya Mboni za Yehova, koma tsopano uli pafupifupi ndi mipingo 600! Ndikusiyana kotani nanga poyerekezera ndi kugwira ntchito ku Ireland! Nyumba zambiri za m’gawo lathu mu São Paulo zinali nyumba zazikulu, zochingidwa ndi mipanda yaitali yachitsulo yokhala ndi zipata zachitsulo zokometseredwa. Tinali kuitana mwininyumba kapena wantchito wamkazi mwa kuomba manja mwathu.

Pamene zaka zinali kupita, ndinagaŵiridwa magawo atsopano. Ndinali ndi mwaŵi wa kuthandiza kuumba mipingo yatsopano m’malo osiyanasiyana mkati mwa boma la São Paulo, kuphatikizapo umodzi ku Jundiaí mu 1955 ndi wina ku Piracicaba mu 1958. Pambuyo pake, mu 1960, mng’ono wanga Sonia anakhala mnzanga waumishonale, ndipo tinagaŵiridwa gawo ku Pôrto Alegre, malikulu a boma la Rio Grande do Sul. Inu mungafunse kuti, kodi iyeyu anafika motani ku Brazil?

Sonia ndi Amayi anapitirizabe kuchita upainiya pamodzi mu England pambuyo pa Nkhondo Yadziko II. Koma chakuchiyambiyambi kwa ma 1950, Amayi anachitidwa opaleshoni ya kansa imene inawachititsa kukhala ofooka kwambiri kosakhoza kumka kunyumba ndi nyumba, ngakhale kuti anali okhoza kuchititsa maphunziro a Baibulo ndi kulemba makalata. Sonia anapitirizabe ntchito yaupainiya, ndipo panthaŵi imodzimodziyo anathandizira kusamalira Amayi. Mu 1959, Sonia anali ndi mwaŵi wa kukaloŵa kalasi la 33 la Gileadi ndipo anagaŵiridwa ku Brazil. Zidakali choncho, Beryl anali kusamalira Amayi kufikira imfa yawo mu 1962. Panthaŵiyo Beryl anali atakwatiŵa, ndipo iye ndi banja lake akutumikira Yehova mokhulupirika.

Ku Brazil, ine ndi Sonia tinathandiza anthu angapo kufika pakudzipatulira ndi ubatizo. Komabe, limodzi la mavuto amene anthu angapo a nzika za Brazil anali nalo linali la kusalembetsa mwalamulo ukwati wawo. Chifukwa cha zovuta zopezedwa popeza chisudzulo mu Brazil, kunali kofala kwa amuna ndi akazi kungokhalira limodzi popanda ukwati. Zimenezi zinali choncho makamaka pamene mmodzi wa iwo anali wolekana ndi amene kale anali mnzake walamulo wa muukwati.

Mkazi wina, wotchedwa Eva, anali mumkhalidwe umenewo pamene ndinamfikira. Mwamuna wake weniweni anangozimiririka, chotero kuti apezedwe, tinachita kuti chilengezo chiperekedwe pawailesi. Pamene mwamuna wake anapezeka, ndinatsagana naye kumka kumzinda wina kukamsainitsa chikalata chimene chikamasula mkaziyo kotero kuti athe kulembetsa ukwati ndi mwamuna amene anali wosakwatirana naye amene anali kukhala naye. Pozenga mlanduwo pamaso pa woweruza, iye anapempha ine ndi Eva yemwe kuti tifotokoze chifukwa chimene iye anafunira kuwongola mkhalidwe wa ukwati wake. Woweruzayo anadabwa ndipo anakhutira pamene zimenezi zinafotokozedwa kwa iye.

Panthaŵi ina, ndinamka limodzi ndi mmodzi wa maphunziro anga a Baibulo kwa loya kukalinganiza za mlandu wake. Kachiŵirinso umboni wabwino unaperekedwa ponena za ukwati ndi miyezo ya makhalidwe ya Mulungu. M’nkhani imeneyi mtengo wa chisudzulo unali wokwera kwambiri kwakuti mwamuna ndi mkazi anafunikira kugwira ntchito kuti alipire mtengowo. Koma kwa ophunzira Baibulo atsopano ameneŵa, kuyesayesako kunali koyenerera. Ine ndi Sonia tinali ndi mwaŵi wa kukhala mboni za ukwati wawo, ndipo pambuyo pake, pamodzi ndi ana awo atatu achichepere, tinamvetsera nkhani yaifupi yochokera m’Baibulo m’nyumba mwawo.

Moyo Wokhutiritsa Kwambiri ndi Wofupa

Pamene ine ndi Sonia tinapatulira miyoyo yathu kwa Yehova ndi kukhala apainiya, tinali ndi cholinga chakuti, ngati nkotheka, utumiki wanthaŵi yonse ukakhale ntchito ya moyo wathu. Sitinaganize kwambiri za chimene chidzachitika m’zaka za pambuyo kapena patabuka matenda kapena mavuto a ndalama. Komabe, monga momwe Yehova analonjezera, sitinasiyidwepo.​—Ahebri 13:6.

O, inde, nthaŵi zina kusoŵa ndalama kunali vuto. Panthaŵi ina, ine ndi mnzanga wina tinadya buledi woika parsley masana chaka chonse, koma sitinafepo ndi njala, kapenanso kusoŵa zinthu zofunika.

Pamene zaka zakhala zikupita, nyonga yathu nayonso yacheperachepera. Pakati pa ma 1980, tonse aŵirife tinachitidwa maopaleshoni aakulu amene anadzetsa chiyeso chachikulu pa ife, popeza kuti ntchito yathu yolalikira inachepetsedwa kwambiri. Mu January 1987, tinaitanidwa kukakhala ziŵalo za pamalikulu a Mboni za Yehova ku Brazil.

Banja lathu lalikulu la atumiki oposa chikwi limakhala pamtunda wa makilomita 140 kunja kwa São Paulo m’nyumba zokongola, kumene timasindikiza mabuku a Baibulo a m’Brazil ndi mbali zina za South America. Kunoko timasamaliridwa mwachikondi ndi atumiki odzipereka a Mulungu. Pamene ndinafika poyamba mu Brazil mu 1951, munali olengeza uthenga wa Ufumu pafupifupi 4,000, koma tsopano muli oposa 366,000! Atate wathu wakumwamba wachifundo watiwonjezeradi ‘zinthu zonse zimenezo’ chifukwa chakuti tafunafuna choyamba Ufumu wake.​—Mateyu 6:33.

[Chithunzi patsamba 22]

Olive ali ndi Mildred Willett pambali pangolo yolengezera, 1939

[Chithunzi patsamba 25]

Olive ndi Sonia Springate