Yehova Wakhala Thanthwe Langa

YOSIMBIDWA NDI EMMANUEL LIONOUDAKIS

Amayi anga anandipangira tsinya ndi kundiuza kuti: “Ngati susintha maganizo, uchoka pakhomo pano.” Maganizo anga anali oti ndizilengeza Ufumu wa Mulungu nthaŵi zonse. Komabe, a m’banja langa sanafunenso kuchititsidwa manyazi ndi kumangidwamangidwa kwanga.

MAKOLO anga anali odzichepetsa ndi oopa Mulungu. Ankakhala m’mudzi wotchedwa Douliana, chakumadzulo kwa chilumba cha Greece chotchedwa Crete, kumene ndinabadwira m’chaka cha 1908. Kuyambira ubwana wanga, andiphunzitsa kuopa ndi kulemekeza Mulungu. Ndinkakonda Mawu a Mulungu, ngakhale kuti ndinali ndisanaonepo aphunzitsi akusukulu kapena ansembe a chipembedzo cha Greek Orthodox ali ndi Baibulo m’manja.

Munthu wina amene tinayandikana naye nyumba, anachita chidwi ndi zimene anaŵerenga m’mabuku asanu ndi limodzi otchedwa Studies in the Scriptures, olembedwa ndi C.T.Russell, ndi buku linanso lotchedwa Zeze wa Mulungu. Ndiyeno mwachidwi anandisonyeza Malemba osangalatsa amene anaŵapeza m’mabukuwo. Mabuku amenewo anafalitsidwa ndi Ophunzira Baibulo, monga mmene Mboni za Yehova zinkadziŵikira m’nthaŵiyo. Ndinali wosangalala kulandira Baibulo ndi mabuku omwe ofesi ya Watch Tower Society ku Athens inanditumizira. N’dakakumbukirabe kuti tinkagona mochedwa ndi mnansi ameneyo, tikumapemphera kwa Yehova, ndipo pogwiritsa ntchito kandulo, tinkatha kuphunzira zakuya za m’Malemba mothandizidwa ndi zofalitsa zimenezo.

Ndinayamba kugaŵana ndi ena chidziŵitso changa cha Baibulo chatsopanocho ndili ndi zaka 20, panthaŵiyi ndinkagwira ntchito ya uphunzitsi m’mudzi wapafupi. Mosakhalitsa, tinayamba kusonkhana mokhazikika pa phunziro la Baibulo la anthu anayi ku Douliana. Tinkagaŵira mathirakiti, timabuku, mabuku ndi mabaibulo kuti tithandize ena kuphunzira za chiyembekezo chokha cha mtundu wa anthu, Ufumu wa Mulungu.

Mu 1931, tinali m’gulu la anthu zikwizikwi amene analandira dzina lotengedwa m’Baibulo lakuti Mboni za Yehova. (Yesaya 43:10) M’chaka chotsatira, tinali pandawala, kudziŵitsa anthu dzina lathu latsopanolo ndi kufunika kwake. Tinagaŵira timabuku tofotokoza nkhaniyo kwa wansembe, woweruza milandu, wapolisi, ndi wamalonda aliyense m’dera lathulo.

Chinali chachidziŵikire kuti atsogoleri achipembedzo adzalimbikitsa zoti tizunzidwe, ndipo anaterodi. Pamene anandimanga kwa nthaŵi yoyamba, anandilamula kuti ndikhale m’ndende masiku 20. Anandimasula, koma mosakhalitsa anandimanganso n’kundilamula kuti ndikhale m’ndendemo kwa mwezi umodzi. Woweruza milanduyo atalamula kuti tisiye kulalikira, tinayankha pogwira mawu a pa Machitidwe 5:29 akuti: “Tiyenera kumvera Mulungu koposa anthu.” Kenaka mu 1932, woimira Watch Tower anafika m’Douliana kudzachezera gulu lathu laling’onolo, ndipo tonse anayi tinabatizidwa.

Kupeza Banja Lauzimu

Ndinali wofunitsitsa kulalikira nthaŵi zonse, ndiyeno kuti ndikwanitse zimenezo, ndinatula pansi ntchito yanga ya uphunzitsi ija. Mayi anga sanasangalale nazo zimenezo. Anandipitikitsa pakhomopo. Mbale wina wachifundo wa m’mzinda wa Iráklion, Crete, anandilandira mwachimwemwe kuti ndizikhala naye, atavomerezedwa ndi ofesi ya nthambi ya Watch Tower mu Athens. Choncho mu August 1933, abale a m’mudzi wathuwo ndi ena achidwi anandiperekeza kokwerera basi n’kutsazikana nane. Imeneyo inalidi nthaŵi yomvetsa chisoni, ndipo tonse tinalira chifukwa sitinkadziwa tsiku loti n’kudzaonananso.

N’nakhala wam’banja lachikondi ndi lauzimu m’Iráklion. Kunali abale atatu ndi mlongo, omwe kaŵirikaŵiri tinkaphunzira ndi kulambira nawo limodzi. Ndinadzionera ndekha kukwaniritsidwa kwa lonjezo la Yesu lakuti: “Palibe munthu anasiya nyumba, kapena abale, kapena alongo, kapena amayi, kapena atate, kapena ana, kapena minda, chifukwa cha Ine, ndi chifukwa cha Uthenga Wabwinowo, amene sadzalandira makumi khumi tsopano nthaŵi ino, nyumba, ndi abale ndi alongo ndi amayi.” (Marko 10:29, 30) Ntchito yanga inali yolalikira m’mzindawo ndi m’midzi yozungulira. N’tamaliza kulalikira m’mzinda wonsewo, ndinayamba kugwira ntchito m’madipatimenti ena ku Iráklion ndi ku Lasithion.

Mpainiya Woyenda Yekha

Ndimathera maola ambiri kuyenda mudzi ndi mudzi. Ndiponso ndinkanyamula katundu wolemera kwambiri, chifukwa mabuku ankaŵatumiza pafupipafupi. Popeza kunalibe koti n’kukagona, ndinkapita m’kanyumba kogulitsira tiyi m’mudzimo, ndiyeno ndinkayembekeza mpaka kasitomala wotsiriza atachoka​—kaŵirikaŵiri amachoka m’bandakucha​—ndimagona pa benchi, n’kudzuka m’mawa kwambiri mwini wakeyo asanayambe kugulitsa zakumwa. M’mabenchi mmenemu munali nthata zambiri.

Ngakhale kuti nthaŵi zambiri anthu sanali kusonyeza chidwi pamene ndinkaŵalalikira, ndinali wosangalala zedi kutumikira Yehova m’zaka za unyamata wanga. Ndinali kulimbikitsidwa muutumiki wangawo pamene ndikumana ndi munthu yemwe akusonyeza chidwi pa choonadi cha Baibulo. Kuyanjana ndi abale kunalinso kotsitsimula. Kaŵirikaŵiri ndinkaonana nawo n’taŵasoŵa kwa masiku 20 kapena 50 malinga n’kutalika kwa ulendo umene ndayenda popita kukalalikira kuchokera mumzinda wa Iráklion.

Ndikukumbukira kuti tsiku lina madzulo, ndinasukidwa kwambiri, kwenikweni n’talingalira kuti abale ndi alongo anga m’Iráklion akhala ndi msonkhano madzulo atsikulo monga mwa chizoloŵezi. N’nafunitsitsadi kuwaona, ndipo ndinaumirizika kuyenda mtunda woposa makilomitala 25 kuti ndikaonane nawo. Sin’nayendepo mofulumira monga mmene ndinayendera tsiku limenelo. Kunalidi kotonthoza kusangalala ndi mayanjano okoma a abale anga usiku umenewo ndi kudzaza nkhokwe yanga yauzimu, nditero kunena kwake!

Mosakhalitsa, khama langa pantchito yolalikira linayamba kubala zipatso. ‘Yehova anapitirizabe kuwonjezera m’gulu lake amene akufuna kuti apulumutsidwe,’ monganso momwe zinalili m’nthaŵi ya atumwi. (Machitidwe 2:47) Olambira Yehova anayamba kuchuluka mu Crete. Ena anagwirizana nane mu utumiki, chotero sindinalinso wosukidwa. Tinapirira mavuto osiyanasiyana ndi zitsutso zochititsa mantha. Chakudya chathu cha tsiku ndi tsiku chinali buledi, komanso mazira, zipatso za azitona, ndi ndiwo zamasamba zomwe timazipeza posinthanitsa ndi mabuku omwe anthu amene timaŵalalikira anasangalala nawo.

M’tauni ya Ierápetra, kumwera chakum’maŵa kwa Crete, ndinalalikira kwa Minos Kokkinakis, yemwe ankagulitsa zovala. Ngakhale kuti ndinali wakhama kuti ndiyambe naye phunziro la Baibulo, analibe nthaŵi yokwanira chifukwa chakuti anali wotanganidwa ndi ntchito yakeyo nthaŵi zonse. Komabe pamapeto pake anafunitsitsa kuphunzira, ndipo mwamsanga moyo wake unasinthika. Anakhalanso wofalitsa uthenga wabwino wachangu ndi wokangalika. Emmanuel Paterakis, wa zaka 18, yemwe ankagwira ntchito kwa Kokkinakis, anachita chidwi ndi kusintha kumeneko ndipo mosakhalitsa anapempha mabuku ophunzirira Baibulo. Ndinali wosangalala zedi kumuona iye akupita patsogolo mwauzimu ndipo pambuyo pake kudzakhala mmishonale!a

Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, mpingo umene ndinausiya kumudzi uja unakulirakulirabe ndipo tsopano unali ndi ofalitsa 14. Sindidzaiŵala tsiku limene ndinaŵerenga kalata yomwe mchemwali wanga Despina anandilembera akumandiuza kuti iyeyo ndi makolo anga onse analandira choonadi ndipo anabatizidwa monga olambira a Yehova!

Kupirira Chizunzo ndi Kuthamangitsidwa m’Dziko

Tchalitchi cha Greek Orthodox chinayamba kuona ntchito yathu yolalikira monga mliri wa dzombe lowononga, ndipo anatsimikiza mtima kuti atigonjetsa basi. M’March 1938, ananditengera kwa loya wa boma yemwe anandilamula kuchoka m’deralo nthaŵi yomweyo. N’namuyankha kuti ntchito yathu yolalikirayi inali yopindulitsa ndi kuti tinalamulidwa ndi waulamuliro wamkulu, Mfumu yathu Yesu Kristu.​—Mateyu 28:19, 20; Machitidwe 1:8.

Tsiku lotsatira anandiitana kupolisi yakumaloko. Kumeneko anandiuza kuti anandiona kukhala chiopsezo kwa anthu, ndipo anandilamula kuti n’sapezeke m’dzikomo kwa chaka chimodzi mwakuti ananditumiza ku chilumba cha m’nyanja ya Aegean cha Amorgos. Patangopita masiku oŵerengeka, ananditengera ku chilumba chimenecho pa bwato atandimanga unyolo. Ku Amorgos kunalibe Mboni za Yehova. Talingalirani mmene ndinalili wodabwa, pambuyo pa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi, kuzindikira kuti Mboni inanso anaithamangitsira ku chilumbacho! Kodi iyeyu angakhale yani? Minos Kokkinakis, yemwe anali wophunzira wanga wa Baibulo ku Crete. Ndinali wosangalala zedi kukhala ndi mnzanga wauzimu! Pambuyo pake ndinam’batiza iye ku Amorgos komweko.b

N’tangobwerera ku Crete, anandigwiranso ndipo ulendo uno anandipereka ku tauni yaing’ono ya Neapolis pachilumba chomwecho, kumene anandilamula kuti ndikhale komweko kwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi. Pambuyo pa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi ya chiletsocho, anandimanganso, n’kundiika m’ndende kwa masiku khumi, ndipo kenaka n’kunditumiza ku chilumba china chimene anachisankha kuti azitumizako anthu ochirikiza Chikomyunizimu opitikitsidwa m’dzikolo. Ndinazindikira kuti mawu a mtumwi Paulo analidi oona. Iye anati: “Onse akufuna kukhala opembedza m’moyo mwa Kristu Yesu, adzamva mazunzo.”​—2 Timoteo 3:12.

Kuchuluka M’kati mwa Chitsutso

Pamene dziko la Greece linayamba kulamulidwa ndi Germany m’zaka za 1940-44, ntchito yathu yolalikira inatsala pang’ono kuimiratu. Komabe, anthu a Yehova mu Greece anagwirizananso mwachangu, ndipo ntchito yathu yolalikira inayambiranso. Kuyesa kwathu kubwezeretsa nthaŵi yotayikayo, kunatipangitsa kupitirizabe mwachangu ndi mokangalika ndi ntchito ya Ufumu.

Monga mmene tinkayembekezera, zipembedzo zinayambanso kutitsutsa. Kaŵirikaŵiri ansembe a Greek Orthodox ankachita zinthu mosemphana ndi malamulo n’cholinga chakuti ziŵayendere bwino. M’mudzi wina, wansembe anasonkhezera khamu la anthu achiwawa kuti atipute. Wansembeyo ndiye amene anayamba kundimenya kwinaku mwana wake akundimenyanso cha kumbuyoku. Ndinathaŵira ku nyumba imene inali chapafupi kuti nditetezedwe, pamene mnzanga amene ndinkalalikira naye anam’tengera ku bwalo lamaseŵera la m’mudzimo. Khamulo kumeneko linang’amba mabuku ake, ndipo mayi wina yemwe anali pa khonde la nyumba yake anagundika kukuwa akumati, “Iphani ameneyo!” Potsirizira pake dokotala ndi wapolisi omwe anali kudutsa chapafupi anatipulumutsa.

Pambuyo pake m’chaka cha 1952 anandigwiranso n’kunditumiza ku ukaidi wa miyezi inayi ku Kastelli Kissamos, pa chilumba cha Crete pomweponso. Nditachoka ku ukaidiwo, mwamsanga anandiphunzitsa mmene ndingachitire poyendera mipingo ndi kuŵalimbikitsa mwauzimu. Nditagwira ntchito yoyendayenda imeneyi kwa zaka ziŵiri, ndinakwatira mlongo wokhulupirika, yemwe ankadziŵika ndi dzina lakuti Despina, lofanana n’lamchemwali wanga. Iyeyu anasonyeza kuti anali wolambira Yehova wokhulupirika kuyambira kale. Pambuyo pomangitsa ukwati wathu, ananditumiza monga mpainiya wapadera m’tauni ya Hania, m’Crete, komwe ndikutumikirabe mpaka pano.

M’zaka pafupifupi 70 za utumiki wanga wa nthaŵi zonse, ndayenda pafupifupi m’dziko lonse la Crete, limene ndi chilumba chachikulu masikweya kilomita 8,300 ndi utali wa makilomita pafupifupi 250. Ndakhala wachimwemwe chochuluka kuona Mboni zochepa zomwe zinali pachilumba ichi mu 1930, zikuchuluka kufika pa ofalitsa za Ufumu wa Mulungu oposa 1,100 lerolino. Ndikuthokoza Yehova pondipatsa mwayi wothandiza nawo ambiri mwa anthu ameneŵa kupeza chidziŵitso cholongosoka cha m’Baibulo ndi chiyembekezo chabwino kwambiri cha m’tsogolo.

Yehova, “Ndiye Pothaŵira”

Ndaphunzira kuchokera m’zokumana nazo zosiyanasiyana kuti m’pofunika kupirira kuti tithandize anthu kudziŵa choonadi cha Mulungu woona. Mwachikondi Yehova amapereka mikhalidwe yofunikira imeneyi. M’zaka zonse 67 zomwe ndakhala muutumiki wa nthaŵi zonse, ndalingalira mobwerezabwereza mawu a mtumwi Paulo akuti: “M’zonse tidzitsimikizira ife tokha monga atumiki a Mulungu, m’kupirira kwambiri, m’zisautso, m’zikakamizo, m’zopsinja, m’mikwingwirima, m’ndende, m’mapokoso, m’mavutitso, m’madikiro, m’masalo a chakudya.” (2 Akorinto 6:4, 5) Makamaka m’zaka zoyambirira za utumiki wanga, ndinalibe ndalama. Komabe Yehova sanatitaye. Wakhala Mthandizi wanga wamphamvu nthaŵi zonse. (Ahebri 13:5, 6) Timaona chikondi chake nthaŵi zonse pamene nkhosa zake zikusonkhanitsidwa ndiponso pamene amatipatsa zofunika zazikulu.

Pamene ndiyang’ana m’mbuyo ku masiku amenewo, ndi kumaona zipatso zabwino za ntchito yanga, ndili wotsimikizira kuti ntchito imeneyo sindinaigwire mwachabe. Ndinagwiritsa ntchito nyonga za unyamata wanga m’njira yopindulitsa zedi. Ntchito yanga ya utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse yakhala yopindulitsa kuposa ntchito ina iliyonse. Tsopano monga wokalamba, ndikulimbikitsa ndi mtima wonse achinyamata kuti ‘mukumbukire Mlengi [Wamkulu, NW] m’masiku a unyamata wanu.’​—Mlaliki 12:1.

Ngakhale kuti ndili ndi zaka 91, ndimapatula maola 120 mwezi ulionse kuti ndigwire ntchito yolalikira. Ndimadzuka 7:30 a.m. tsiku lililonse ndi kuchitira umboni kwa anthu m’misewu, m’masitolo, ngakhale m’mapaki. Pa avareji, ndimagaŵira magazini 150 mwezi uliwonse. Moyo wakhala wovuta tsopano chifukwa ndayamba kugontha m’makutu, komanso kukumbukira zinthu kukumakhala kovuta. Komabe abale ndi alongo okondedwa​—inu amene ndinu banja langa lalikulu lauzimu​—komanso mabanja a ana anga aakazi aŵiri, mwandithandiza zedi.

Choposa zonse, ndaphunzira kuika chikhulupiriro changa mwa Yehova. Ndiponso wasonyezadi kukhala “thanthwe langa ndi linga langa ndi Mpulumutsi wanga.”​—Salmo 18:2.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Zithunzi pamasamba 26, 27]

Pamunsipa: Ine ndi mkazi wanga; kulamanzere: mu 1927. Tsamba linalo: limodzi ndi Minos Kokkinakis (kulamanzere) ndi Mboni ina pa Acropolis, mu 1939, n’tangofika kumene kuchokera ku ukaidi