Yehova, Chidaliro Changa Kuyambira Paubwana Wanga

YOSIMBIDWA NDI BASIL TSATOS

Munali m’chaka cha 1920; malo, m’mapiri a Arcadia mu Peloponnisos wokongolayo, ku Greece. Ndinali chigonere m’bedi, wodwala kwa kayakaya matenda owopsa a fuluwenza Yaspanya amene anali kupululutsa padziko lonse.

NTHAŴI iliyonse pamene belu la tchalitchi linalira, ndinadziŵa kuti linali kulengeza imfa ya mkhole wina. Kodi ndikakhala wotsatira? Mwamwaŵi, ndinachira, koma mamiliyoni sanatero. Ngakhale kuti panthaŵiyo ndinali ndi zaka zisanu ndi zitatu zokha, chokumana nacho chowopsa chimenechi chidakali champhamvu m’maganizo anga.

Nkhaŵa Zanga Zauzimu Pauchichepere Wanga

Posapita nthaŵi, Agogo ŵanga ŵamuna anamwalira. Pambuyo pa malirowo, ndikukumbukira pamene Amayi analondola ine ndi mlongo wanga wachichepere m’khonde la nyumba yathu. Poyesa kutitonthoza, iwo anati ndi mawu ofeŵa: “Mwaona ananga, tonsefe tidzakalamba ndi kufa.”

Ngakhale kuti ananena mawuwo mofeŵa kwambiri, mawu awowo anandivutitsa. ‘Nzachisoni kwambiri! Nkupanda chilungamo!’ ndinalingalira motero. Koma tonse aŵirife tinalimbikitsidwa pamene Amayi anawonjezera kuti: “Komabe, pamene Ambuye abweranso, adzaukitsa akufa, ndipo sitidzafanso!” Eya, zimenezo zinali zotonthoza!

Kuchokera pamenepo ndinafunitsitsa kudziŵa kuti nliti kwenikweni pamene nthaŵi yosangalatsa imeneyo idzabwera. Ndinafunsa anthu ambiri, koma palibe amene anakhoza kundiuza, ndipo palibe amene anaoneka kukhala wokondwerera ngakhale kukambitsirana nkhaniyo.

Tsiku lina pamene ndinali wa zaka 12, atate analandira buku kuchokera kwa akulu awo amene anali kukhala mu United States. Linali ndi mutu wakuti Zeze wa Mulungu, lofalitsidwa ndi Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ndinaŵerenga mpambo wa zamkatimo, ndipo ndinamwetulira pamene ndinaona mutu wakuti “Kubweranso kwa Ambuye Wathu.” Ndinauŵerenga ndi chidwi chachikulu, koma ndinakhumudwa kuona kuti simunatchulidwe chaka cha kubweranso kumeneko. Komabe, bukulo linasonyeza kuti sipanali patali.

Posapita nthaŵi ndinayamba kupita ku sekondale ndipo ndinamwerekera m’maphunziro anga. Komabe kwanthaŵi ndi nthaŵi, abambo ŵanga ŵakulu amene ankakhala ku Amereka anatumiza makope a Nsanja ya Olonda, ndipo ndinali kusangalala kuwaŵerenga. Ndiponso, pa Sande lililonse, ndinali kupita ku Sande sukulu, kumene bishopu anali kubwera kaŵirikaŵiri kudzalankhula nafe.

Pa Sande lina, bishopuyo anakwiya kwambiri ndi kunena kuti: “Alendo akudzaza mzinda wathu ndi mabuku achikunja.” Ndiyeno ananyamula kope limodzi la Nsanja ya Olonda ndi kufuula kuti: “Ngati aliyense wa inu apeza mabuku onga awa panyumba, awabweretse kutchalitchi, ndipo ndidzawatentha.”

Liwu lake linandikwiyitsa, koma kulankhula kwake kwaukaliko kunandinyansa kwambiri. Chotero, sindinachite zimene ananena. Mmalomwake, ndinalembera kalata abambo ŵakulu ndi kuwapempha kuti asatumizenso mabuku ena a Watch Tower. Komabe, ndinapitiriza kusinkhasinkha pa nkhani ya kubweranso kwa Kristu.

Njala Yauzimu Ikula

Pamene tchuthi cha m’chilimwe chinafika, ndinatenga sutukesi yanga ndi kuyamba kulongedza zovala zanga. Pansi pakepo panali timabuku titatu tosindikizidwa ndi Watch Tower Society. Sindinakumbukire kwenikweni kuti ndinationapo. Kamodzi kanatchedwa kuti Where Are the Dead?

‘Zimenezi zikumveka zokondweretsa,’ ndinalingalira motero. Ngakhale kuti ndinakumbukira chenjezo la bishopuyo, ndinaganiza za kuŵerenga timabukuto mosamalitsa kuti ndipeze zolakwa zimene ndinaganiza kuti tinali nazo. Ndinatenga pensulo ndi kuyamba kufufuza kwanga mwaluso. Ndinadabwa kuona kuti chilichonse m’timabukuto chinawoneka kukhala chanzeru, ndipo ndemanga iliyonse inali ndi lemba lakuti woŵerengayo aone m’Baibulo.

Popeza kuti tinalibe Baibulo, ndinakayikira kuti mwina malemba osonyezedwawo anafotokozedwa molakwa kuti ayenerane ndi chifuno cha olembawo. Chotero ndinalembera kalata abambo ŵakuluwo kuti anditumizire Baibulo. Iwo anatero mwamsanga. Ndinaliŵerenga lonselo kaŵiri, ndipo ngakhale kuti panali zambiri zimene sindinamvetsetse, ndinasangalatsidwa kwambiri ndi mabuku a Danieli ndi Chivumbulutso. Ndinafuna kumvetsetsa zinthu zoloseredwa, koma panalibe aliyense wondithandiza.

Ndinatsiriza sukulu mu 1929, ndiyeno posapita nthaŵi abambo ŵanga ŵakulu a ku Amereka ananditumiziranso makope a Nsanja ya Olonda. Ndinayamba kusangalala nawo kwambiri ndipo ndinawapempha kumanditumizira nthaŵi zonse. Ndinayambanso kulankhula kwa ena ponena za chiyembekezo cha mtsogolo chimene ndinali kuphunzira m’magaziniwo. Ndiyeno moyo wanga unasintha kwambiri.

Kupita Patsogolo Kwauzimu m’Burma

Amalume anga anasamukira ku Burma (tsopano Myanmar), ndipo banja lathu linaganiza kuti ngati ndikakhala nawo kumeneko, ndikadziŵa zochuluka ndipo mwinamwake kupezanso mwaŵi wa malonda. Maiko a Kummaŵa nthaŵi zonse ankandichititsa chidwi, chotero ndinakondwera kwambiri kumva zakuti ndikapita kumeneko. Ku Burma kumeneko, ndinapitiriza kulandira Nsanja ya Olonda kuchokera kwa abambo ŵanga ŵakulu, koma ndinali ndisanakumanepo ndi aliyense wa Ophunzira Baibulo, dzina limene Mboni za Yehova zinatchedwa nalo panthaŵiyo.

Tsiku lina ndinakondwera kupeza chilengezo mu Nsanja ya Olonda chonena za mabuku a Light, mavoliyumu aŵiri amene anafotokoza buku la Baibulo la Chivumbulutso. Ndiponso, ndinamva kuti ntchito ya Ophunzira Baibulo m’Burma inasamaliridwa ndi nthambi ya India ya Watch Tower Society, yokhala m’Bombay. Mwamsanga ndinalemba kalata kufunsira mabuku a Light, ndi kupempha kuti Ophunzira Baibulo m’India adzalalikire m’Burma.

Mabukuwo anafika mwamsanga papositi, ndipo patapita mlungu umodzi kapena kuposapo pang’ono, Ophunzira Baibulo a m’Burma anandichezera. Ndinakondwera kudziŵa kuti panali kagulu kakang’ono ka iwo kumene ndinali kukhala ku Rangoon (tsopano Yangon), likulu la Burma. Anandipempha kufika pakalasi lawo la nthaŵi zonse la kuphunzira Baibulo ndi kukhalanso nawo ndi phande m’kulalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba. Poyamba ndinali wozengereza pang’ono koma posapita nthaŵi ndinayamba kusangalala ndi kukambitsirana chidziŵitso cha m’Baibulo ndi Abuda, Ahindu, ndi Asilamu, limodzi ndi odzinenera kukhala Akristu.

Ndiyeno nthambi ya India inatumiza ku Rangoon atumiki anthaŵi yonse aŵiri (otchedwa apainiya), Ewart Francis ndi Randall Hopley. Onse aŵiriwo anali ochokera ku Mangalande koma anali atatumikira mu India kwa zaka zochulukirapo. Iwo anandilimbikitsa kwambiri, ndipo mu 1934, ndinabatizidwa monga chizindikiro cha kudzipatulira kwanga kwa Yehova.

Kuchitira Umboni Molimba Mtima

M’kupita kwanthaŵi, nthambi ya India inatumiza apainiya owonjezereka ku Burma. Aŵiri a iwo, Claude Goodman ndi Ron Tippin, anafika pa siteshoni ya sitima ndi kulankhula kwa Sydney Coote, mkulu wa siteshoni. Iye analandira mabukuwo, kuŵaŵerenga onse, nayamba kulembera makalata mchemwali wake, Daisy D’Souza, ku Mandalay. Nayenso anawakonda mabukuwo nafunsira owonjezereka.

Daisy, amene anali Mkatolika wokangalika, anali munthu wa kulimbika mtima kodabwitsa. Anayamba kufikira anansi ake ndi kuwauza zinthu zimene anali kuphunzira. Ndipo pamene anachezeredwa ndi wansembe wa mderalo, amene anafunsa chifukwa chake analeka kufika kutchalitchi, iye anamsonyeza kuti Baibulo silinavomereze zimene wansembeyo anali kuphunzitsa, monga helo woyaka moto.

Potsirizira pake, anamfunsa kuti: “Pambuyo pa zaka zonsezi zimene takhala tikuwauza za helo woyaka moto, kodi tsopano ndingawauze motani kuti malo oterowo kulibeko? Palibe amene adzafunanso kubwera kutchalitchi.”

Daisy anayankha kuti: “Ngati ndinu Mkristu wowona mtima, mudzawaphunzitsa chowonadi, mosasamala kanthu za zotsatirapo zake.” Ndiyeno anawonjezera kuti: “Ngati simutero, pamenepo ine ndidzatero!” Ndipo anaterodi.

Dick ndi Daisy ndi ana awo aakazi akulu aŵiri anabatizidwa mu Rangoon panthaŵi imodzi imene ndinabatizidwa. Patapita zaka zitatu, mu 1937, ndinakwatira mwana wawo wachiŵiri, Phyllis.

Kuthaŵira ku India

Magulu ankhondo a ku Japan anaukira Burma mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko II, ndipo analanda Rangoon pa March 8, 1942. Nzika za ku maiko ena zinakakamizidwa kutuluka mwamsanga kupita ku India. Mazana ambiri anayesa kudzera ndi njira zodutsa m’nkhalango, koma ambiri anafera m’njira. Ine ndinali kudziŵa ofisala wina woyang’anira kutulutsa anthu m’dzikolo, chotero ndinakhoza kupeza matikiti okwerera limodzi la mabwato omalizira kuchoka m’Rangoon kupita ku Calcutta. Kusiya nyumba yathu ndi katundu wochuluka m’kufulumira koteroko kunatichititsa chisoni. Burma anatengedwa ndi asilikali a ku Japan kuchokera 1942 mpaka 1945.

Tinali ndi ndalama zochepa pamene tinafika mu India, ndipo ntchito zinali zovuta kupeza. Zimenezi zinaika chikhulupiriro pachiyeso. Ndinakumana ndi msilikali wa ku Britain amene anandipatsa ntchito yolemekezeka yosanyamula chida, koma inaloŵetsamo kugwira ntchito monga chiŵalo cha malo ausilikali. Ndi thandizo la Yehova, ndinakhoza kukana ntchitoyo ndi kusunga chikumbumtima choyera Chachikristu. (Yesaya 2:2-4) Mwanjira zinanso, tinaona dzanja la Yehova lachikondi.

Tinakhala m’New Delhi, likulu la India, kumene kupeza nyumba kunali pafupifupi kosatheka. Komabe, tinapeza chinyumba chachikulu pakati penipeni pa mzindawo. Chinyumbacho chinali ndi malo ochezera aakulu okhala ndi khomo lakelake, ndipo chipinda chimenechi chinakhala Nyumba Yaufumu kwa zaka zingapo zotsatira ya mpingo wa Delhi wa Mboni za Yehova. Komabe, chifukwa cha chiletso choikidwa mu 1941 pamabuku onse a Watch Tower Society mu India, sitinathe kupeza mabuku ophunzirira Baibulo.

Mmene Chiletso Chinachotsedwera

Pa Sande lina mu 1943, amene anali pamapemphero ku matchalitchi a m’Delhi analandira pepala losainidwa ndi atsogoleri achipembedzo okwanira 13 a zipembedzo zosiyanasiyana. Ilo linachenjeza kuti: “NZIKA ZA DELHI CHENJERANI NDI MBONI ZA YEHOVA.” Chinenezo chinali chakuti tinaletsedwa mu India pazifukwa za ndale zadziko.

Mwa chivomerezo cha ofesi ya nthambi ya Bombay, mwamsanga tinasindikiza ndi kugaŵira pepala limene linavumbula atsogoleri achipembedzo. Popeza kuti ndinali woyang’anira wotsogoza, dzina langa ndi keyala zinalembedwa pansi pa pepalalo lokhala ndi mawu amphamvu. Mwamsanga pambuyo pake, pamene apolisi anapeza ine ndi Margrit Hoffman tikugaŵira mapepalawo, tinamangidwa ndi kuponyedwa m’ndende. Komabe, tinamasulidwa mwamsanga pa belo.

Pambuyo pake, pamene anali muutumiki, Margrit anafika panyumba pa Bwana Srivastava, nduna ya boma yotchuka kwambiri m’bungwe lopanga malamulo la India. Bwana Srivastava analandira mlongoyo, ndipo mkati mwakukambitsirana kwawo, mlongoyo anamuuza iye kuti mabuku athu analetsedwa m’India pazifukwa zosalungama. Patsikulo Margrit anakumananso ndi membala wa nyumba ya malamulo wa ku boma la Madras. Iyeyo anabwera kumsonkhano wa nyumba ya malamulo. Mlongoyo analongosola kwa iye mmene chiletso cha mabukucho chinaliri chosalungama, ndipo ndunayo inalonjeza kudzutsa funsolo pamsonkhano wawo wotsatira.

Panthaŵiyo, ndinali kugwira ntchito monga wophunzitsa kugwiritsira ntchito ziŵalo zathupi zopunduka pachipatala cha kumaloko. Eya, zinachitika kuti Bwana Srivastava anavulala, ndipo achipatala anamtumiza kwa ine kuona ngati ndingamthandize pavuto lake. Ndinapeza kuti Bwana Srivastava anali munthu wofatsa, ndipo pamene tinali kucheza, ndinatchula moseka kuti Miss Hoffman ndi ine tinamasulidwa kundende pa belo. Ndinafotokoza kuti mabuku athu ophunzirira Baibulo analetsedwa pazifukwa za ndale chifukwa cha chitsenderezo cha atsogoleri achipembedzo, ndi kuti koma ife tinalibe mbali m’ndale mpang’ono ponse. Woimira nthambi wathu, Edwin Skinner, ndinapitiriza motero, anatumiza mapempho angapo akuti tifunsidwe kulongosola kaimidwe kathu, koma anakanidwa.

Pambuyo pa masiku angapo, Bwana Srivastava anandiuza kuti: “Bwana Jenkins [nduna ya boma imene inatsutsa ntchito yathu] adzapuma pantchito pambuyo pa masiku angapo, ndipo malo ake adzatengedwa ndi Bwana Francis Mudie. Uuze a Skinner kubwera kuno, ndipo ndidzawasonyeza kwa Bwana Francis.”

Bwana Srivastava analinganiza kukumanako monga momwe analonjezerera. Pokambitsirana, Bwana Francis Mudie anauza Mbale Skinner kuti: “Sindingakulonjezeni kalikonse, koma ndidzasamalira nkhaniyo.” Popeza kuti msonkhano wa nyumba ya malamulo unangotsala masiku oŵerengeka, Mbale Skinner anakhala kuti aone zotulukapo. Malinga ndi mawu ake, membala wa nyumba ya malamulo wa ku Madras ananyamuka ndi kufunsa kuti: “Kodi ndizowona kuti mabuku a Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society analetsedwa pazifukwa za ndale?”

“Iyayi, chiletsocho chinaikidwa pazifukwa za chitetezo,” anayankha motero Bwana Francis Mudie, “koma boma tsopano laganiza kuchotsa chiletsocho.”

Inali nthaŵi yosangalatsa chotani nanga pamene tinamva mbiri imeneyo! Pambuyo pa mlungu umodzi ofesi ya nthambi ya ku Bombay inalandira kalata yotsimikizira kutha kwa chiletsocho.

Kubwerera m’Dziko Losakazidwa ndi Nkhondo la Burma

Ulamuliro wa Britain unabwerera m’Burma pambuyo pa Nkhondo Yadziko II, ndipo Mbonife zokwanira khumi tinabwerera ku Rangoon pambuyo pa miyezi ingapo. Tinali okondwa kuwona Mboni zoŵerengeka zotsala za kumaloko. Dzikolo linali losakazidwa kotheratu. Mautumiki aboma kwa anthu, kuphatikizapo magetsi ndi zoyendera, kunalibenso. Chotero tinagula galimoto la jipi kwa asilikali ndipo tinaligwiritsira ntchito bwino kunyamula anthu kumisonkhano imene tinalinganiza pamene tinangobwerera.

Mwamuna wina wokondwerera anatipatsa malo, ndipo mothandizidwa ndi anthu achifundo a m’deralo, tinamanga Nyumba Yaufumu ya ukulu wokwanira. Inamangidwa ndi nsanamira za nsungwi, zipupa zolukidwanso ndi nsungwi, ndi denga lofolera ndi udzu. Kunoko, mu April 1947, Nathan H. Knorr, amene panthaŵiyo anali prezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, ndi mlembi wake, Milton G. Henschel, anakamba nkhani pamaulendo awo ku Rangoon. Panthaŵiyo, tinali ndi Mboni 19 m’Burma yense. Koma pankhani yapoyera ya Mbale Knorr, imene anakambira mu New Excelsior Theatre, panali anthu 287!

Tikhazikika m’Australia

Pa January 4, 1948, Burma anapatsidwa ufulu ndi Great Britain, ndipo Azungu ambiri analingalira zakuchoka m’dzikolo. Pambuyo pa kulingalira kwa pemphero, ine ndi Phyllis tinasankha kutenga mwana wathu wamkazi ndi kusamukira ku Australia. Tinakakhazikika m’Perth, likulu la Western Australia.

Kuchokanso m’Burma, ndipo tsopano kwa nthaŵi yonse, kunali kopweteka kwa ife. Kwa nthaŵi ndi nthaŵi, tinali kumva kuchokera kwa okondedwa a kumeneko, ndipo tinali okondwa kudziŵa kuti ntchito ya Ufumu ikupitabe patsogolo m’dzikolo.

Kuyambira mu 1978, kwa zaka zinayi tinali ndi mwaŵi wakutumikira mipingo yonse yolankhula Chigiriki m’mizinda yaikulu ya Australia. Zimenezi zinafuna kuyenda maulendo aatali, pakuti pali makilomita oposa 4,200 kuchokera ku malire akumadzulo kufika ku malire akummaŵa a dziko lalikululi. Pambuyo pa nthaŵi yakutiyakuti, mkhalidwe wakunja, umene umasiyana kwambiri m’mizinda yosiyanasiyana, unatipangitsa kusakhala ndi thanzi labwino. Chotero, tinakhazikikanso m’Perth, kumene ndinapitiriza kutumikira monga mkulu pa umodzi wa mipingo 44 ya mzindawo.

Pambuyo pa zaka zambiri tsopano, maso anga sakuonanso bwino, ndipo kuŵerenga kwakhala kovuta. Komabe, mosasamala kanthu za kudwaladwala, mitima yathu idakali yachichepere. Tonse aŵirife tikuyembekezera mwachidaliro tsiku lachimwemwe pamene onse owopa Yehova adzaona kuŵala kwa “dzuŵa la chilungamo, . . . muli kuchiritsa m’mapiko mwake; ndipo [ti]dzatuluka ndi kutumphatumpha ngati ana ang’ombe onenepa.”​—Malaki 4:2.a

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Chithunzi patsamba 24]

Banja langa ndi Mbale Henschel ndi Knorr m’Burma (Myanmar) mu 1947

[Chithunzi patsamba 25]

Basil Tsatos ndi mkazi wake, Phyllis, m’Australia