Imbumbulu Yaguqula Ubomi Bam
EYONA nto intle abazali abanokuyenzela abantwana babo kukufaka kubo ulwazi ngoMdali wabo nomnqweno wokumkhonza. Intlekele eyandehlelayo xa ndandisekwishumi nje elivisayo leminyaka indincedile ndayiqonda le nyaniso.
Ngaphambi kokuchaza oko kwenzekayo ngelo xesha—kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-20 eyadlulayo—makhe ndithi gqaba gqaba ngobomi bam njengoko ndakhulela kumazantsi eUnited States. Oko kunegalelo ngokuthe ngqo kwindlela endiye ndakwazi ngayo ukuhlangabezana neenkxwaleko ezinkulu.
Indlela Obaqala Ngayo Ubomi Bam
Ndazalelwa eBirmingham, eAlabama—indawo enocalucalulo lobuzwe kuMmandla waseMzantsi—ngoJanuwari 1955. Xa ndandineminyaka esibhozo kuphela ubudala, ibhombu eyadubula kude kufuphi nasekhaya yadiliza indlu yecawa ebudeni bezifundo zesikolo seCawa. Abantwana abantsundu abothukileyo, abaninzi bekule ntanga yam, baphuma bebaleka bekhala; abanye babelijaja ligazi yaye begcuma. Abane babefile—bebulewe ngabelungu.
Iintlekele ezinjalo yayiziziganeko ezixhaphakileyo kwelaseMzantsi. Kwihlobo elilandelayo kwabulawa abasebenzi abathathu ababesilwela amalungelo abemi eMississippi. Leyo yimihla eyoyikisayo yezidubedube zobuhlanga ezasichaphazela sonke.
Umama wayengomnye wamaNgqina kaYehova, yaye uBawo waba lilo ngowe-1966. Kungekudala yonke intsapho yakowethu yayisabelana nabamelwane bethu ngethemba esinalo elisekelwe eBhayibhileni lehlabathi elitsha elinoxolo. (INdumiso 37:29; IMizekeliso 2:21, 22; ISityhilelo 21:3, 4) Yonke iMigqibelo ebudeni behlobo ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1960, sasihamba siye kushumayela kwimimandla ekwakungazange kushunyayelwe kuyo cebu kuhle eBirmingham. Apho, abantu babengazange beve ngamaNgqina kaYehova okanye ngesigidimi soBukumkani esasisishumayela. Babengazi nditsho negama eli likaThixo, uYehova. (INdumiso 83:18) Ebudeni baloo maxesha kaxakeka, ndandikunandipha ngokwenene ukuthetha nabantu ngenjongo kaYehova yokuzisa iparadisi emhlabeni ukuze ithabathe indawo yeli hlabathi lidala nelonakeleyo.—Luka 23:43.
Ukuzibekela Usukelo Ebomini
NgoDisemba 1969, ndabonakalisa ukuzahlulela kwam kuYehova ngokubhaptizwa emanzini. Ndathandaza kuYehova ndaza ndavakalisa umnqweno ongazenzisiyo endinawo wokwenza ubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo bube ngumsebenzi wam. Iiveki ezimbalwa kamva, uBawo wabelwa ukunceda ibandla elincinane eliseAdamsville, iikhilomitha ezimbalwa ukusuka eBirmingham. Oku kutshintsha kwentsimi kwawukhulisa ngakumbi umnqweno wam wokuba nguvulindlela, okanye umlungiseleli wexesha elizeleyo. Ngawo onke amathuba ebudeni beminyaka yokufunda kwisikolo esiphakamileyo, ndandiba nguvulindlela wokwexeshana, nto leyo eyayibandakanya ukuchitha ubuncinane iiyure ezingama-75 kubulungiseleli nyanga nganye.
Ndagqiba kwelokuba ndifundele ubuchule obuya kundilungiselela ubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo ndakuba ndiphumelele. Kodwa kunyaka wam wokugqibela kwisikolo esiphakamileyo, ndajamelana nocelomngeni. Ndandiphakathi kweqela labafundi abagqwesileyo ezifundweni, yaye ngoko ngenye imini ndasiwa kwikholeji ekufuphi ukwenzela uvavanyo oluthile lobukrelekrele. Emva koko ndabizelwa kwiofisi yomcebisi ngezifundo. Wayezele imincili yaye evuyisana nam. “Uphumelele emagqabini!” wadanduluka watsho. “Ungaya nakwiyiphi na ikholeji eva wena!” Wafuna ukuba ndiqalise kanye ngoko ukuzalisa iifomu zokucela imali yokufunda simahla.
Ndandikhathazekile kuba ndandingayilungelanga le nto. Ngoko nangoko ndacacisa izicwangciso zam zokuba ngumlungiseleli wexesha elizeleyo nokufumana umsebenzi wempangelo wesingxungxo ukuze ndizixhase kubulungiseleli. Ndade ndamxelela nokuba kamva, njengoko amanye amaNgqina eye enjenjalo, ndisengakwazi nokukhonza njengomvangeli wasemazweni kwilizwe lasemzini. Kodwa kwakungathi ndibhibhidla nje amazinyo. Wacebisa ukuba ndithabathe izifundo zenzululwazi yaye ukuba ndifunde kwikholeji yasekuhlaleni, wayeya kuqinisekisa ukuba ndifumana umsebenzi kwiziko lezenzululwazi.
Wathi: “Unqulo lwakho luphelelisele kwiimpela-veki, Gloria, abazali bakho basaya kuba nelunda ngawe.” Yayifana nesithuko kum into yokuba angacinga ukuba ndinosukelo lokungenela ubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo ngenxa yokuqhutywa ngabazali bam. Wandenza ndaziva ndicinezelekile, ngokungathi ndanditshikilela sonke isizwe esintsundu ngokukhaba le nyhweba ingaka. Noko ke, andizange ndirhoxe kwisigqibo endandinaso. Emva kokuphumelela, kunokuqhubeka nemfundo yakwanokholeji, ndaqalisa umsebenzi wesingxungxo njengonobhala.
Ndafuna uvulindlela oza kuba liqabane lam kodwa ndatsho phantsi. Xa umveleli ohambahambayo watyelela ibandla lethu, ndamxelela ngengxaki yam. Wathi: “Akukho mfuneko yaqabane.” Wandula ke wandibhalela ucwangciso endandinokuthi ngalo ndifeze iimbopheleleko zomsebenzi wam wempangelo ndize ndibe nalo nexesha elaneleyo lobuvulindlela. Ndavakalelwa kukuba olo cwangciso lwalugqibelele. Ndandichwayite kangangokuba ndamisela uFebruwari 1, 1975, njengomhla wokuqala kwam ubuvulindlela.
Noko ke, iintsuku ezimbalwa kamva, ngoDisemba 20, 1974, ngoxa ndandigoduka ndivela evenkileni, ndachanwa yimbumbulu eyayingajoliswanga kum.
Emlonyeni Wengcwaba
Njengoko ndandithe tywa phantsi, ndandinokulibona ngokoqobo igazi lam limpompoza. Ndisakhumbula ndicinga ukuba ndandiza kufa. Ndamcela uYehova ukuba andivumele ndiphile ithuba elide ngokwaneleyo ukuze ndincede uMama aqonde ukuba ingozi enxunguphalisa ngolo hlobo inokuyehlela nentsapho ezinikele ngokupheleleyo ekukhonzeni uYehova. Nangona sasiyazi indinyana yeBhayibhile ethi “bonke bephela bafikelwa lixesha nasisihlo,” ndandingaqondi ukuba sasikulungele ukujamelana nentlekele ebuhlungu ngolo hlobo.—INtshumayeli 9:11.
Imbumbulu yandichana kwicala lasekhohlo entanyeni, iqhawula imithambo-luvo yomnqonqo wam. Ukuthetha nokuphefumla kwam kwaphazamiseka. Kwakungalindelekanga ukuba ndiphile iintsuku ezingaphezu kwezimbini. Bandula ke bathi “iiveki ezimbini.” Kodwa ndaqhubeka ndiphila. Njengoko kwafumaniseka ukuba ndinenyumoniya, ndafakwa kumatshini wokuphefumla onobugocigoci ngakumbi. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, imeko yam yazinza, kwaza kwenziwa amalungiselelo okundibuyisela kwimeko yesiqhelo.
Izilingo Zokubuyiselwa Kwimeko Yesiqhelo
Andizange ndizive ndiphelelwe lithemba kwiiveki ezimbalwa zokuqala. Kwakundindisholo nje. Wonk’ ubani eSpain Rehabilitation Center eBirmingham wayenobubele yaye ezibhokoxa ngenxa yam. Ndeva kubasebenzi basesibhedlele ukuba oogqirha babelindele ukuba ndiza kufa umzimba ngokupheleleyo, ndilale ngomqolo, ubomi bam bonke. Ndandigqalwa njengesilima esikudidi lwe-C2, nto leyo eyayithetha ukuba babenoluvo lokuba ndiya kuphefumla ngomatshini ubomi bam bonke, ndingakwazi kuthetha ngaphandle kokutsho nje usebe-sebe ongephi.
Oogqirha babefake umbhobho onxibelelanisa uqhoqhoqho nomatshini endandiphefumla ngawo. Kamva ingcali yokusebenza kwemiphunga yafaka umbhobho omncinane ngakumbi ukuze ibone enoba kwakungalula kusini na ngam ukuthetha. Noko ke, ubungakanani bombhobho abenzanga mahluko. Ngoko bagqiba kwelokuba ukungakwazi kwam ukuthetha kwakubangelwa kukwenzakala kwemithambo-luvo. Malunga nelo xesha ndaqalisa ukudandatheka, yaye kwakungekho nto ithethwayo yayinokundenza ndizive ndibhetele. Onke amazwi obubele ayenditsho ndizive ndenyele. Ngoko ndandicuntsula kanobom kule nto yabantwana.
Ndaqonda ukuba xa kukho into ephazamisa ubumoya bakho, zimbini izinto ezinokuba luncedo—ukuzingisa emthandazweni kuYehova nokuzibhokoxa kubulungiseleli, uxelela abanye ngeenyaniso zeBhayibhile. (IMizekeliso 3:5) Ngoko, ukuthandaza kwakulula. Ndandinokukwenza oko. Kodwa, kwimeko yam, ndandinokuqala ngaphi ukuzibhokoxa ngakumbi kubulungiseleli?
Ndacela intsapho yakowethu ukuba indiphathele imibhalo yephephancwadi IMboniselo noVukani! nezinye iincwadi eziluncedo ekufundisiseni iBhayibhile esasizisebenzisa ngelo xesha kubulungiseleli, njengethi INyaniso eKhokelela kuBomi obungunaPhakade, Uxolo Nonqabiseko Lokwenyaniso—Luphuma Kuwuphi Umthombo?, nethi Ngaba Obu Bomi Kuphela Kwabo? Ezi zabekwa kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo kwigumbi lam. Ngokufuthi abasebenzi babendijonga ngovelwano baze babuze oku: “Sithandwa, ngaba kukho nto ndinokukwenzela yona?”
Ndandijonga incwadi ethile, yaye ndishwantshwatha, ndandiye ndicele umntu ukuba andifundele. Ixesha loo mntu alichithe efunda ndandilibala ngokuba ziiyure zam kubulungiseleli. Ndibonisa umbulelo emntwini lowo ngokundifundela, ngokufuthi ndandimpha incwadi okanye iphephancwadi. Ezi ndandizigqala njengoncwadi endiluhambisileyo. Xa umntu endifundela okwesibini, ndandisithi libuyelo. Ukuba nesabelo ngale ndlela kubulungiseleli kwandikhuthaza, njengoko ayesenjenjalo namakhadi, iintyatyambo notyelelo olufudumez’ intliziyo lwabazalwana noodade wethu abaninzi abangamaKristu.
Emva kweenyanga zonyango lokundibuyisela kwimeko yesiqhelo, ndakwazi ukuphakamisa nje intloko kancinane. Kodwa ndandizimisele ukukwazi ukushukushukuma ngakumbi. Ngoko ndacela ixesha elingakumbi lonyango lokuqeqesha umzimba nelokufunda ukwenza izinto. Xa ndacela ukuba ndibekwe kwisitulo esinamavili, ndaxelelwa ukuba kwakungenakwenzeka oko, ukuba yayingenakuphakama ngokwaneleyo intloko yam ukuze ndihlale nkqo. Ndabacela ukuba bazame nakuba kunjalo.
Emva kokuba oogqirha bevumile, ingcali yokunyanga ephetheyo yancedisa ukundikhwelisa kwisitulo esinamavili. Ndabotshwa ngezibopho ze-ace ukusuka esifubeni ukuya esinqeni, ukusuka ethangeni ukuya edolweni, nokusuka edolweni ukuya elunyaweni. Ndandingathi ndisisidumbu esomisiweyo. Oku kwakusenzelwa ukuqinisekisa ukuba uxinzelelo-gazi lwam luhlala luzinzile nokuze kuthintelwe ukufa isiqaqa. Kwasebenza! Sekunjalo, ndandivunyelwa ukuhlala nkqo kangangeyure isihlandlo ngasinye. Kodwa ndandikwazi ukuhlala—emva kokulala ngomqolo kangangeentsuku ezingama-57!
Ukuba Sekhaya Ekugqibeleni!
Ekugqibeleni, emva kweenyanga ezintlanu ezinde, umbhobho onxityelelaniswe kuqhoqhoqho wakhutshwa, yaye ndavunyelwa ukuba ndigoduke. Ngoko kwakungoMeyi 1975. Emva koko, ndandiquqa ndibuyelela kwiziko lokundibuyisela kwimeko yesiqhelo ndisiya kufumana unyango. Kwasekuqaleni kwehlobo lowe-1975, ndaqalisa ukuya kubulungiseleli bamaKristu ngesitulo sam esinamavili. Ndandingenzi lukhulu, kodwa ubuncinane ndandisebenza nabazalwana.
Ngasekuqaleni kowe-1976, ndacelwa ukuba ndiye kuhlolwa kwakhona yiVRS (Vocational Rehabilitation Services [uNcedo Lokubuyiselwa Kwimeko Yesiqhelo Ngokufundiswa Umsebenzi]), iziko elalihlawulela unyango lokundibuyisela empilweni. Ndandicinga ukuba ndandisenza inkqubela. Ndandifunda ukuzoba ngebrashi endiyibambe ngamazinyo. Ndisebenzisa uluthi ngendlela efanayo, ndaqalisa ukuchwetheza nokude ndibhale ngepensile. Ekubeni inkoliso yeendleko zonyango lwam zazihlawulelwa yiVRS, babefuna ukundinceda ndifumane umsebenzi ndize ndikwazi ukuba nemveliso phakathi kwebutho labantu.
Umcebisi wabonakala enolwazelelelo ekuqaleni, kodwa waqala ukundicela ukuba ndizame ukuthetha ndivakale. Ngelo xesha ekuphela kwento endandinokuyenza kukutshothozelisa xa ndithetha. Wandula ke wabuza oku: “Akukwazi na ukuhlala nkqo?”
Ndandingakwazi.
Wathi: “Khawunyakazise nje umnwe ube mnye.”
Xa ndandingenako nokwenza loo nto, waphosa usiba lwakhe phantsi phezu kwedesika waza wathi ngelizwi elibonisa unxunguphalo: “Akukho yakho!”
Ndaxelelwa ukuba ndigoduke ndize ndilindele umnxeba wakhe. Ndandiyiqonda ingxaki akuyo. Akuzange kubekho mguli kwiSpain Rehabilitation Center ngaphambili owayenesiphene esinzima njengesam. Iindleko zezixhobo ezisetyenziswa apho zixhome kakhulu, yaye umntu onembopheleleko yokwenza izigqibo wayengenanto yokumkhokela ngokuphathelele oko wayemele akwenze ngomguli osikelwe umda ekwenzeni izinto njengam. Kanti, kwakubuhlungu ukuxelelwa ukuba akukho yakho, ekubeni kakade ndandisele ndivakalelwa ngolo hlobo.
Iintsuku ezimbalwa kamva, ndafumana umnxeba yaye ndaxelelwa ukuba ndandingaseyonxalenye yolo cwangciso lwabo. Ndaziva ndingumpha ochutywe walahlwa. Yaye oko kwaphumela kolunye udandatheko.
Ukoyisa Udandatheko
Ndacinga ngesibhalo esikwiNdumiso 55:22, esithi: “Umthwalo wakho wulahlele kuYehova; yena wokuzimasa.” Into endandiyixhalabele kakhulu luxanduva abazali bam ababeluthwele lwemali, yaye ndakuthandazela oku.
Ukudandatheka kwam kwandichaphazela kakubi ngokwasemzimbeni, ngoko ebudeni bendibano yesithili ngelo hlobo ndandingakwazi ukuhlala nkqo. Ndaluphulaphula ucwangciso ndingqengqile. Kuloo ndibano yowe-1976 kwachazwa oko kubizwa ngokuba ngumsebenzi wobuvulindlela bobuncedani, yaye ndaba nomdla kuko. Ukuba nguvulindlela ongumncedani kuthetha ukuba kufuneka uchithe iiyure ezingama-60 kuphela ngenyanga kubulungiseleli, umlinganiselo weeyure nje ezi-2 ngemini. Ndavakalelwa kukuba ndingakwenza oko. Kamva, ndacela udade wethu uElizabeth ukuba andincedise kubuvulindlela bobuncedani. Wayecinga ukuba ndiyaqhula, kodwa xa ndafaka isicelo sam sobuvulindlela ngoAgasti, naye wafaka esakhe.
UElizabeth wayevuka kwangentseni aze anyamekele iimfuno zam. Sandule ke siqalise ukunikela ubungqina ngomnxeba. Oku kwakubandakanya ukutsalela abantu umnxeba nokuncokola nabo ngeentsikelelo uThixo azigcinele abantu phantsi kolawulo loBukumkani bakhe. Sasibhalela abantu iileta, ngokukodwa abo bafuna ukuthuthuzelwa. Ngeempela-veki intsapho okanye abahlobo babehamba nam ukuya kubulungiseleli bendlu ngendlu ngesitulo sam esinamavili. Kambe ke, ekubeni ndingazisebenzisi izandla zam, ekuphela kwento endiyenzayo kukuthetha ngesigidimi soBukumkani, ndicaphule izibhalo, okanye ndicele abanye bafunde eBhayibhileni.
Ngomhla wokugqibela wenyanga, kwakusafuneka iiyure ezi-6 ukuze ndifikelele ezingama-60 ezazifuneka. UElizabeth wayengekho ukuze andincede, ngoko ndacela umama ukuba alungise isitulo sam esinamavili ukuze ndibe nokuhlala nkqo. Ndandula ke, ndisebenzisa uluthi endilubambe ngomlomo, ndachwetheza iileta kangangeeyure ezintandathu. Akuzange kubekho miphumo mibi koku! Ekuphela kwento endiyaziyo kukuba ndandidinwe ngokwenene!
Ukuphendulwa Komthandazo Wam
Kwiveki elandelayo, ndihleli nkqo kwisitulo sam esinamavili, ndaya kwiSpain Rehabilitation Center ukwenzela ukuxilongwa. Ugqirha wam, owayengazange andibone ukususela ekugxothweni kwam kolo cwangciso ekuqaleni konyaka, wabamb’ ongezantsi. Wayengayikholelwa indlela endenze inkqubela ngayo. Wabuza oku: “Ubusenza ntoni?” Ndingekagqibi nokumxelela ngobulungiseleli bam, wathembisa ukundinika umsebenzi.
Umncedisi wakhe wadlan’ indlebe nam yaye wayechukumisekile koko ndikwenzayo kubulungiseleli. Wandicela ukuba ndibe nenxaxheba koko kuthiwa yinkqubo yabaguli abangumzekelo. Ndandiza kunxityelelaniswa nomnye umguli endandiza kumnceda. Ethetha ngobulungiseleli bethu, wathi: “Oku koko abantu benkonzo yakho bakwenzayo kakade, andibi kunjalo?” Ndanikwa umsebenzi wokunceda umguli phantse onjengam ngokusikelwa umda koko anokukwenza.
Ngandlel’ ithile iindaba zoko ndandikufeza kubulungiseleli ngokuncedwa yintsapho yakowethu zafikelela kwiVRS. Bachukumiseka gqitha kangangokuba kwanconyelwa ukuba ndifakwe kwakhona kucwangciso lwabo. Oku kwakuthetha ukuba intsapho yakowethu yayiza kufumana imali yokuhlawulela izixhobo ezikhethekileyo nenyameko eyimfuneko kum ukuze ndiqhubeke nomsebenzi wam. Ndavakalelwa kukuba uThixo wayewuphendule umthandazo wam.
Imeko Yam Yazinza
Ndiye ndachacha emzimbeni ukusa kumlinganiselo wokuba ndiyakwazi ukuphakamisa intloko, ndiyijikajike, yaye ndiyahlala nkqo. Ndinombulelo kuba phantse ndiyakwazi ukuthetha ngokucacileyo. Ndisebenzisa uluthi endilubamba ngomlomo, ndinako ukubhala, ukuchwetheza, ukusebenzisa ifoni enespeaker nokuzoba. Eminye yemizobo yam iye yafakwa kwimiboniso yemizobo ezotywa ngomlomo. Ndiyakwazi ukuhamba-hamba ngesitulo esinamavili esinenjini nendisiqhuba ngesilevu. Sisilayisha isitulo sam esinamavili kwinqwelo-mafutha yethu ngokusiphakamisa ngesinyusi sombane, yaye ngolu hlobo ndinokuya phantse naphi na apho ndifuna ukuya khona.
Ndibe neengxaki ezininzi zokuphefumla—ndisoloko ndisongelwa yinyumoniya. Maxa wambi kufuneka ndifumane ioksijini ebusuku. Ngowe-1984, ndaphantse ndabulawa kukugula okwakubangelwa yintsholongwane ethile. Ndandingena ndiphuma esibhedlele izihlandlo eziliqela. Kodwa ukususela ngelo xesha impilo yam iye yabhetele. Ukuqalela ngowe-1976, ndiye ndakwazi ukuba nguvulindlela ongumncedani kanye okanye kabini ngonyaka. Kodwa ndandingaziva ndanelisekile koko. Ndahlala ndicinga ngosukelo endandinalo ndisekwishumi elivisayo olwaluphazanyiswe yimbumbulu.
Ukuzaliseka Kosukelo Lwam
NgoSeptemba 1, 1990, ekugqibeleni ndathelela oovulindlela bexesha elizeleyo, ngaloo ndlela ndizalisekisa umnqweno endandinawo kwasebuntwaneni. Ebudeni beenyanga zasebusika xa kubanda, ndinikela ubungqina ngokubhala iileta nokusebenzisa ifoni enespeaker. Kodwa xa imozulu ifudumele, ndiba nesabelo nakubulungiseleli bendlu ngendlu. Unyaka wonke, ndiqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile ndisekhaya ngokusebenzisa ifoni enespeaker.
Ndikhangele phambili ngolangazelelo kwikamva elimangalisayo kumhlaba oyiParadisi xa uKristu Yesu noYehova uThixo bendikhulula kwesi situlo sinamavili. Mhla ngamnye ndiyambulela uYehova ngenxa yezithembiso zakhe zempilo entle namandla ‘okutsiba njengexhama.’ (Isaya 35:6) Ndiya kugqotsa kangangoko ndinako ndibuyisa isixhiba sayo yonke le minyaka ndingakwazi kubaleka, yaye ngelo xesha ndiya kufunda nokukhwela ihashe.
Njengoko ndilindele elo xesha, kwanangoku ndinovuyo olungathethekiyo lokuba ngomnye wabantu bakaYehova abonwabileyo nokuba nesabelo ngokuzeleyo kubulungiseleli.—Ngokubaliswa nguGloria Williams.
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 15]
Ubulungiseleli bam bobuKristu—ukuya kwindlu ngendlu, ukunikela ubungqina ngomnxeba, ukubhala iileta
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Imizobo yam iye yafakwa kwimiboniso yemizobo ezotywa ngomlomo