“Tangochita Zimene Tayenera Kuzichita”

YOSIMBIDWA NDI GEORGE COUCH

Titangomaliza Utumiki Wa Kunyumba Ndi Nyumba Mmaŵa, Mnzanga Anatulutsa Masangweji Aŵiri. Titamaliza Kudya, Ndinatulutsa Ndudu Kuti Ndisute. “Kodi Wakhala M’choonadi Kwa Nthaŵi Yaitali Motani?” Iye Anandifunsa Motero. “Ndinapezeka Pamsonkhano Woyamba Usiku wathawu,” Ndinamfotokozera Motero.

NDINABADWA pa March 3, 1917, pafamu ya pamtunda wa makilomita 50 chakummaŵa kwa Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., pafupi ndi tauni yaing’ono ya Avonmore. Ineyo, pamodzi ndi abale anga anayi, ndi mlongo wanga, tinaleredwera kumeneko ndi makolo athu.

Sitinaphunzire zambiri zokhudza chipembedzo. Nthaŵi ina, makolo anga anali kupita kutchalitchi, koma anasiya kupitako pamene anafe tinali tidakali aang’ono. Komabe tinali kukhulupirira Mlengi, ndipo moyo wa banja lathu unali kutsatira mapulinsipulo aakulu opezeka m’Baibulo.

Maphunziro abwino koposa amene makolo anga anandiphunzitsa bwino kwambiri anali okhudza ntchito​—mmene ndingailolere ndi kuikwaniritsira. Ndi mmene moyo wa pafamu unalili. Komabe sitinali kungokhalira ntchito yokhayokha ayi. Tinali kuchitanso maseŵero abwino, monga kuseŵera mpira wa basketball ndi baseball, kukwera pa akavalo, ndi kusambira. Ndalama zinali zosoŵa m’masiku amenewo, komabe moyo wa pafamu unali wosangalatsa. Tinaphunzira sukulu yapulaimale m’sukulu yokhala ndi chipinda chimodzi ndipo tinaphunzira sukulu yasekondale m’tauni.

Tsiku lina usiku, ndinapita kutauni kokayenda pamodzi ndi mnzanga. Mtsikana wokongola anatuluka m’nyumba ina kudzalonjera mnzangayo. Mnzangayo anandidziŵikitsa kwa Fern Prugh. Mwamwayi, mtsikanayo anali kukhala m’mphepete mwa msewu womwe unadutsa pasekondaleyo. Nthaŵi zambiri pamene ndinadutsa panyumba yake, Fern anali kugwira ntchito pakhomo. Zimenezo zinasonyezadi kuti iye anali wogwira ntchito mwakhama, ndipo zinandisangalatsa. Tinayamba kuchezerana ndi kukondana ndipo tinakwatirana mu April 1936.

Kupeza Choonadi cha Baibulo

Ndisanabadwe, kunali mayi wina wokalamba yemwe anthu a m’tauniyo ankamzunza chifukwa cha chipembedzo chake. Amayi wanga anali kukamchezera Loŵeruka lililonse pamene iwo anali kupita kutauni kukagula zinthu. Amayi anali kusamala m’nyumba mwake ndiponso kumchitira ntchito zina ndi zina, ndipo anachita zimenezo mpaka pamene mayiyo anamwalira. Ndikhulupirira kuti Yehova anadalitsa Amayi chifukwa chakuti anali kuchitira zabwino mayi ameneyu, amene anali Wophunzira Baibulo, dzina lapanthaŵiyo la Mboni za Yehova.

Patapita nthaŵi, mwana wamng’ono wamkazi wa azakhali anga anamwalira mwadzidzidzi. Tchalitchi chawo sichinawatonthoze azakhaliwo, koma mnansi wawo yemwe anali Wophunzira Baibulo ndiye anawatonthoza. Wophunzira Baibuloyo anawafotokozera zimene zimachitikira munthu atamwalira. (Yobu 14:13-15; Mlaliki 9:5, 10) Zimenezi zinawatonthoza kwambiri. Kenaka, azakhaliwo anafotokozera Amayi za chiyembekezo cha chiukiriro. Zimenezi zinachititsa chidwi Amayi, popeza kuti makolo awo anamwalira pamene iwo anali aang’ono ndipo Amayiwo anali wofunitsitsa kudziŵa zomwe zimachitikira munthu atamwalira. Chochitika chimenecho chinandisonkhezera kuti ndizichita umboni wamwamwayi pampata uliwonse.

Cha m’ma 1930, Amayi anayamba kumvetsera maprogramu a mmaŵa a pawailesi Lamlungu lililonse oulutsidwa ndi Joseph F. Rutherford, pulezidenti wapanthaŵiyo wa Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Panalinso pazaka zimenezo pamene Mboni zinayamba ntchito ya kunyumba ndi nyumba m’dera limene tinali kukhala. Iwo anali kuika galamafoni yoyenda nayo pamthunzi wamtengo pakhomo pathu nayamba kuimbitsa malekodi a nkhani zokambidwa ndi Mbale Rutherford. Nkhani zojambulidwa zimenezo pamodzi ndi magazini a Nsanja ya Olonda ndiponso Golden Age (imene tsopano ili Galamukani!) zinakulitsa chidwi cha Amayi.

Patapita zaka zingapo, mu 1938, anatumiza mapositikhadi kwa anthu onse omwe anali ndi sabusikripishoni ya Nsanja ya Olonda kuwapempha kuti akakhale nawo pamsonkhano wapadera panyumba ya munthu wina yomwe inali pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 25. Amayi analingalira zokapezekapo, choncho ineyo ndi Fern pamodzi ndi abale anga aŵiri tinatsagana nawo. John Booth ndi Charles Hessler, oyang’anira oyendayenda a Mboni za Yehova, anakamba nkhani yomwe tinamvetsera anthu ngati 12. Atatha kukamba, anayamba kusonkhanitsa gulu lopita mu utumiki mmaŵa mwa tsiku lotsatira. Palibe amene anadzipereka kuti apite nawo, choncho Mbale Hessler anandisankha ndipo anafunsa kuti: “Kodi supita nafe?” Sindinadziŵe kwenikweni chimene iwo anali kukachita, koma ndinaona kuti panalibe chifukwa cholepherera kuwathandiza.

Tinapita kunyumba ndi nyumba mpaka masana, ndipo kenaka Mbale Hessler anatulutsa masangweji aŵiri. Tinakhala pansi pamasitepesi atchalitchi ndipo tinayamba kudya. Pamene ndinangotulutsa ndudu ija, mpamene Mbale Hessler anadziŵa kuti ndinali nditangopezeka pamsonkhano kamodzi kokha. Anatiuza kuti adzadya chakudya chamadzulo kunyumba kwathu madzulo omwewo ndipo anatipempha kuti tiitane anansi athu kuti adzamvetsere nkhani ya m’Baibulo. Titatha kudya chakudyacho, iye anachita nafe phunziro la Baibulo ndipo anakamba nkhani yomwe anamvetsera anthu khumi omwe anabwera. Anatiuza kuti tinayenera kumachita phunziro la Baibulo mlungu uliwonse. Ngakhale kuti anansi athu sanavomerezane nazo, ineyo ndi Fern tinalinganiza kuti tizikhala ndi phunziro la Baibulo lapanyumba mlungu uliwonse.

Kupita Patsogolo m’Choonadi

Patapita nthaŵi yochepa, ineyo ndi Fern tinapita mu utumiki wakumunda. Tinali kumbuyo kwa galimoto, ndipo tinali titangoyatsa kumene ndudu zathu pamene mkulu wanga anaticheukira natiuza kuti: “Ndamvatu posachedwapa kuti Mboni sizisuta.” Nthaŵi yomweyo, Fern anatayira pawindo ndudu yake​—ine ndinamaliza kusuta ndudu yanga. Ngakhale kuti kusuta kunali kosangalatsa, kuyambira nthaŵiyo sitinasutenso ndudu.

Titabatizidwa mu 1940, ineyo ndi Fern tinakapezeka pamsonkhano wina ndipo nkhani yomwe tinaphunzira inali kulimbikitsa za upainiya, dzina la ntchito ya utumiki wa nthaŵi zonse. Pobwerera kunyumba, mbale wina anandifunsa kuti: “Kodi iweyo ndi Fern simungachite upainiya? Palibetu chimene chingakulepheretseni.” Zimenezo zinali zoona, choncho tinavomera kuyamba utumikiwo. Ndinauza akuntchito kwanga kuti pakadzangopita masiku 30 ndidzasiya ntchito, ndipo tinapanga makonzedwe ochita upainiyawo.

Tinakambirana ndi Watch Tower Society za kumene tinayenera kukatumikira, ndipo kenaka tinasamukira ku Baltimore, Maryland. Kumeneko, nyumba ina anaikonzanso kuti ikhale nyumba ya apainiya, ndipo mtengo walendi ndi chakudya unali $10 pamwezi. Tinasunga ndalama zambiri ndithu moti tinalingalira kuti zidzatifikitsa pa Armagedo. (Chivumbulutso 16:14, 16) Tinali kulingalira zimenezi chifukwa chakuti nthaŵi zonse tinali kuganiza kuti Armagedo idzafika posachedwa. Choncho, pamene tinayamba kuchita upainiya, tinasiya nyumba yathu ndipo tinasiyanso kuchita zonse zomwe tinkachita kale.

Tinachita upainiya ku Baltimore kuyambira mu 1942 mpaka mu 1947. Pazaka zimenezo, ntchito ya Mboni za Yehova anali kuitsutsa kwambiri. M’malo moyenda pagalimoto lathu popita kokachititsa phunziro lathu la Baibulo kunyumba za ophunzira, nthaŵi zina tinali kupempha wina kuti akatitule pagalimoto. Zimenezi zinapangitsa kuti matayala a galimoto lathu asabooledwe. Palibe amene amasangalala ndi chitsutso ngati chimenechi, koma ndinganene kuti nthaŵi zonse tinali kusangalala ndi utumiki wakumunda. Ndithudi, tinali kuyembekezera kupeza chisangalalo pogwira ntchito ya Ambuye.

Kenaka ndalama zonse zimene tinasunga zinatithera. Matayala a galimoto lathu anatha, pamodzinso ndi zovala ndiponso nsapato zathu. Tinadwala kwanthaŵi yaitali maulendo aŵiri kapena atatu. Zinthu zinali zovuta, koma sitinalingalirepo zosiya utumikiwo. Sitinakambitsiranepo mpang’ono pomwe zosiya. Tinagwirizana zokhala ndi njira ya moyo yopepuka pofuna kuti tipitirize ntchito yathu yaupainiya.

Kusintha Gawo la Ntchito

Mu 1947 tinapita kumsonkhano waukulu ku Los Angeles, California. Pamene tinali kumeneko, ineyo ndi mbale wanga William tinapatsidwa makalata otiuza kuti tiyambe kugwira ntchito yoyendayenda kuti tizichezera ndi kuthandiza mipingo. Kalelo sitinali kuphunzitsidwa nkomwe za ntchitoyo. Tinangovomera kukaigwira. Pazaka zisanu ndi ziŵiri zotsatira, ineyo ndi Fern tinatumikira ku Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, ndi New York. Mu 1954 tinaitanidwa kuti tikaphunzire nawo m’kalasi la 24 la Gileadi, sukulu yophunzitsa amishonale. Pamene tinali kumeneko, Fern anadwala poliyo. Mwamwayi, iye anachira bwinobwino, ndipo tinauzidwa kuti tikagwire ntchito yoyendayenda ku New York ndi Connecticut.

Pamene tinali kutumikira ku Stamford, Connecticut, Nathan H. Knorr, yemwe panthaŵiyo anali pulezidenti wa Watch Tower Society, anatipempha kuti tikacheze kunyumba kwake pamapeto a mlungu pamodzi ndi mkazi wake, Audrey. Anatiphikira chakudya chamadzulo cha nyama yamnofu yothira tinantina tokometsera. Tinali titadziŵana nawo kale, ndipo Mbale Knorr ndinali kumdziŵa bwino moti ndinazindikira kuti panali chinachake chimene anatiitanira osati mayanjano ndi chakudya chokhacho ayi. Patapita nthaŵi usiku womwewo, iye anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi simungakonde kubwera ku Beteli?”

“Ndikukayikira; sindidziŵa chilichonse ponena za moyo wa pa Beteli,” ndinayankha motero.

Titalingalira za nkhaniyi kwa milungu ingapo, tinauza Mbale Knorr kuti tidzapita pa Beteli ngati iye afuna. Mlungu wotsatira, tinalandira kalata yotiuza kuti tipite ku Beteliko pa April 27, 1957, tsiku limene tinakwanitsa zaka 21 tili muukwati.

Tsiku lomwe ndinafika pa Beteli, Mbale Knorr anandifotokozera bwino lomwe zoti ndizichita. Anandiuza kuti: “Tsopano sindiwenso mtumiki woyendayenda; uli pano kudzagwira ntchito pa Beteli. Imeneyi ndi ntchito yofunika kwambiri imene uyenera kuchita, ndipo tikufuna kuti uthere nthaŵi yako ndi nyonga yako pogwiritsira ntchito zimene uphunzire pa Beteli. Tikufuna kuti uzikhala konkuno.”

Moyo wa pa Beteli Ngwopindulitsa

Poyambirira ndinali kugwira ntchito m’Dipatimenti ya Magazini ndi m’Dipatimenti Yotumiza Mabuku. Pambuyo pake, patapita zaka pafupifupi zitatu, Mbale Knorr anandiitana kuti ndipite kuofesi yake. Kenaka anandiuza kuti chifukwa chenicheni chimene anandiitanira kuti ndipite ku Beteli chinali chakuti ndizigwira ntchito yoyang’anira zochitika pabanjali. Anandiuza mwatchutchutchu kuti, “Uli pano kuti uziyang’anira Banja la Beteli.”

Kuyang’anira Banja la Beteli kunandikumbutsa za maphunziro amene makolo anga anandiphunzitsa pamene ndinali wamng’ono pafamu. Banja la Beteli nlofanana kwambiri ndi zochitika pabanja lenileni. Pamakhala kuchapa zovala, kuphika chakudya, kutsuka mbale, kuyala mabedi, ndi zina zotero. Kalinganizidwe ka pabanjali kamapangitsa Beteli kukhala malo osangalatsa kukhalapo, malo amene munthu aliyense angawatche panyumba pake.

Ndikhulupirira kuti pali maphunziro ambiri amene mabanja ena onse angaphunzirepo malinga ndi mmene Beteli imagwirira ntchito. Timadzuka mmamaŵa ndi kuyamba tsiku lathu ndi zinthu zauzimu mwa kuchita lemba latsiku lochokera m’Baibulo. Timafunikira kugwira ntchito mwakhama ndi kukhala ndi moyo wachikatikati koma wotanganika. Beteli siyofanana ndi nyumba ya amonke, monga momwe ena angalingalirire. Timatha kuchita zinthu zambiri chifukwa chakuti timachita zinthu molinganiza bwino. Ambiri amanena kuti maphunziro amene anatengapo kunoko pambuyo pake anawathandiza kulola maudindo a m’mabanja awo ndiponso a mumpingo wachikristu.

Anyamata ndi atsikana amene amabwera pa Beteli angapatsidwe ntchito yoyeretsa, yochapa zovala, kapena kugwira ntchito m’fakitale. Dzikoli lingafune kuti tikhulupirire kuti ntchito yamanja yotero njonyozeka ndiponso yosayenera kwa ife. Komabe, achinyamata a pa Beteli amazindikira kuti ntchito zimenezi nzofunika kuti banja lathu liziyenda bwino ndiponso kuti lizikhala mosangalala.

Dzikoli lingakulitsenso lingaliro lakuti kuti munthu ukhaledi wachimwemwe pamafunikira kuti ukhale ndi udindo wapamwamba ndiponso kuti ukhale wotchuka. Zimenezo sizoona. Pamene tichita ntchito imene tinapatsidwa, ‘tikuchita zimene tiyenera kuzichita,’ ndipo timalandira madalitso a Yehova. (Luka 17:10) Tingakhale ndi chisangalalo ndiponso chimwemwe chenicheni kokha ngati tikumbukira za cholinga cha ntchito yathu​—kuchita chifuniro cha Yehova ndi kupititsa patsogolo zinthu za Ufumu. Ngati tikumbukira zimenezo, ntchito iliyonse imene tingapatsidwe ingakhale yosangalatsa ndiponso yokhutiritsa.

Mwayi Wogwira Nawo Ntchito Yofutukula

Pamsonkhano waukulu wa ku Cleveland, Ohio, womwe unachitika mu 1942, zaka zoposa khumi tisanafike pa Beteli, Mbale Knorr anakamba nkhani yakuti “Mtendere​—Kodi Ungakhalitse?” Anafotokoza momveka bwino kuti Nkhondo Yadziko II, yomwe inali kumenyedwabe panthaŵiyo, inali kudzatha ndipo kunali kudzafika nthaŵi ya mtendere yomwe idzapereka mpata wofutukula ntchito yolalikira. Sukulu ya Gileadi yophunzitsa amishonale ndi Sukulu Yautumiki Wateokratiki yowongolera luso la kulankhula la abale, zinakhazikitsidwa mu 1943. Misonkhano yaikulu inalinganizidwanso. Misonkhano yomwe inali yosaiŵalika inali ya ku Yankee Stadium, New York, yomwe inachitika m’ma 1950. Pamisonkhano yomwe inachitikira kumeneko mu 1950 ndi mu 1953, ndinali ndi mwayi wothandiza kulinganiza Trailer City yaikulu (malo oikapo zingolongolo zagalimoto ndi kumangapo mahema) yomwe anthu zikwizikwi anali kukhalamo pamasiku asanu ndi atatu a misonkhano imeneyo.

Misonkhano imeneyo itatha, kuphatikizapo msonkhano waukulu kwambiri wa mu 1958, panali chiwonjezeko chachikulu kwambiri cha ofalitsa Ufumu. Zimenezi zinakhudza mwachindunji ntchito yathu pa Beteli. Chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1960 ndiponso chakuchiyambi kwa m’ma 1970, tinaona kuti tinalibe nyumba zokwanira zogonamo ogwira ntchito. Pofuna kuti tisamalire zosoŵa za banja lathu lomakulali, tinafunikira kuwonjezera zipinda zogona, makhichini, ndi zipinda zodyeramo.

Mbale Knorr anapempha ineyo ndi Mbale Max Larson, woyang’anira fakitale, kuti tifune malo aakulu omangapo. Mu 1957, pamene ndinafika pa Beteli, banja lathu la anthu pafupifupi 500 linali kukhala m’nyumba yogona imodzi yaikulu. Koma m’kupita kwa nthaŵi, Sosaite inagula ndi kukonzanso mahotela atatu aakulu apafupi ndi malowa​—mahotela a Towers, Standish, ndi Bossert​—pamodzi ndi nyumba zina zambiri zazing’ono. Mu 1986, Sosaite inagula malo amene panali Hotel Margaret, ndipo inasandutsa nyumba yatsopano yokongola yomwe anaimanga kumeneko kukhala nyumba yogonamo anthu pafupifupi 250. Kenaka, cha kuchiyambi kwa m’ma 1990, Sosaite inamanga nyumba yansanjika 29 yoti muzikhala antchito 1,000 owonjezereka. Beteli ya ku Brooklyn tsopano imasunga ndi kudyetsa mamembala a banja lathu oposa 3,300.

Malo enanso anagulidwa ku Wallkill, New York, pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 160 kuchokera pa Beteli ya ku Brooklyn. Kwa zaka zonsezi, kuyambira kumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1960, kumeneko Sosaite inamangako nyumba zogona ndi nyumba yaikulu yosindikiziramo. Tsopano, mamembala ngati 1,200 a m’banja lathu la Beteli amakhala ndi kugwira ntchito kumeneko. Mu 1980, Sosaite inayamba kufunafuna malo a mahekitala pafupifupi 250 a pafupi ndi New York City komwe kuli msewu wabwino. Wogulitsa malo anaseka nati: “Nkuti komwe mukapeze malo otero? Nkosatheka kupeza malo otero.” Koma mmaŵa mwake anabweranso nati: “Ndakupezerani malo aja.” Lerolino, malowo amatchedwa Watchtower Educational Center ku Patterson, New York. Kumeneko kuli masukulu ndipo kuli banja la atumiki oposa 1,300.

Maphunziro Amene Ndaphunzira

Ndaphunzira kuti woyang’anira wabwino amagwiritsira ntchito chidziŵitso chothandiza chochokera kwa ena. Malingaliro ambiri amene ndawagwiritsira ntchito monga woyang’anira Beteli anandiuza ndi ena.

Nthaŵi imene ndinabwera pa Beteli, anthu ambiri anali okalamba, monga momwe ine ndilili lerolino. Ambiri tsopano kulibenso. Kodi ndani amaloŵa m’malo mwa amene amakalamba ndi kufa? Nthaŵi zambiri si anthu amene amadziŵa bwino zinthu ayi. Oloŵa m’malo mwawo amakhala anthu amene ali pompano, amene amagwira ntchito mokhulupirika, ndiponso modzipereka.

Nkhani ina yofunika yomwe sindingaiŵale ndiyo yokhudza kuthandiza kwa mkazi wabwino. Chichirikizo cha mkazi wanga wokondedwa, Fern, chandithandiza kwambiri kukwaniritsa ntchito zanga zateokrase. Amuna ali ndi udindo woonetsetsa kuti akazi awo akusangalala ndi ntchito zawo. Ndimayesetsa kulinganiza chinachake chomwe ineyo ndi Fern timakonda kuchita. Sichiyenera kukhala chofuna ndalama zambiri ayi, koma kungochita zina zosiyana ndi zimene timachita masiku onse. Ndi udindo wa mwamuna kuchita zinthu zosangalatsa mkazi wake. Nthaŵi yake yokhala ndi mkazi wakeyo njamtengo wapatali ndipo imatha mofulumira, choncho, iye amafunikira kuchita zilizonse zomwe angathe.

Ndili wosangalala kuti ndikukhala m’masiku otsiriza omwe Yesu ananeneratu. Ino ndiyo nthaŵi yodabwitsa kwambiri m’mbiri yonse ya mtundu wa anthu. Tikudzionera ndi maso athu achikhulupiriro mmene Ambuye akukuzira gulu lake poyembekezera kufika kwa dziko lapansi latsopano lolonjezedwalo. Ndikamakumbukira za nthaŵi yonse yomwe ndakhala ndikutumikira Yehova, ndaona kuti Yehova ndiye amene akuyendetsa gulu lake​—osati anthu ayi. Ife ndife chabe atumiki ake. Chotero, nthaŵi zonse tiyenera kumpempha iye kuti azititsogolera. Akatipatsa ntchito yochita, tiyenera kuichita mofunitsitsa ndiponso mogwirizana.

Dziperekeni ku gulu, ndipo mudzakhaladi ndi moyo wokhutiritsa ndiponso wachimwemwe. Chilichonse chimene mukuchita​—kaya ndi upainiya, ntchito yoyendayenda, kutumikira pamodzi ndi mpingo monga wofalitsa, utumiki wa pa Beteli, kapena ntchito yaumishonale​—tsatirani malangizo omwe mupatsidwa, ndipo sangalalani ndi ntchito yanu. Yesetsani kusangalala ndi ntchito iliyonse yomwe mupatsidwa ndiponso tsiku lililonse lomwe mutumikira Yehova. Mungatope, ndipo nthaŵi zina mungafooke kwambiri kapena kukhumudwa. Pamenepo mpamene muyenera kukumbukira cholinga chomwe munapatulira moyo wanu kwa Yehova. Ndicho kuchita chifuniro chake, osati chifuniro chanu ayi.

Tsiku lililonse ndimasangalala ndi ntchito imene ndimagwira. Chifukwa ninji? Chifukwa chakuti ngati tidzipereka kwa Yehova ndi mtima wonse, timakhala okhutira popeza kuti timadziŵa kuti “tangochita zimene tayenera kuzichita.”

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Dipatimenti ya Magazini

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Trailer City, 1950

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Kuchita upainiya ku Baltimore, mu 1946

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Pa Trailer City pamodzi ndi Fern mu 1950

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Pamodzi ndi Audrey ndi Nathan Knorr

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Watchtower Educational Center ku Patterson, New York

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Pamodzi ndi Fern lerolino