UYehova Undomelezile

NGOKUBALISWA NGUEKUMBA OKOKA

NDAZALELWA kwikhaya “lamaKristu” kwilizwe elikuMbindi Afrika, yaye ndakhula ndimthanda uThixo. Ubawo wayengumshumayeli owayengabekwanga zandla nonenzondelelo, ibe ngokufuthi ndandihamba naye xa wayesiya kufundisa ecaweni okanye xa wayesiya emithandazweni kumakhaya abantu. Ekubeni ndandibonakala ndiyinkwenkwana eselula ezinikeleyo, abanye abashumayeli ababengabekwanga zandla bandinyula ukuba ndikhonze kufutshane nomfundisi ebudeni bedini leMisa. Bakwandixelela ukuba ngenye imini kunokwenzeka ukuba ndifundele ukuba ngumfundisi.

Ukuqalisa Kweengxaki

Ngowe-1969, ngoxa ndandifunda kwanokholeji, ndaqalisa ukuva iintlungu kwizihlanganisi zamalungu am omzimba. Andizange ndikwazi oko kwakuzibangela, kodwa kwiinyanga ezalandelayo zathabath’ unyawo. Abazali bam, phezu kwako nje ukuba babengamaKatolika awaziwayo, bagqiba ekubeni bandise kumagqirha awahlukahlukeneyo, awanuka othile ngokundithakatha, kodwa ngenxa yemithandazo namayeza awo, ndandiza kuphila. Sekunjalo, ndaqalisa ukuqhwalela, yaye ngowe-1970, kwakunzima gqitha ukuhamba, kwanaxa ndandisimelela. Ngelo xesha, ndacinga ukuba iintsuku zam zokukwazi ukuhamba zaziza kuphela kungekudala.

Ekugqibeleni ngoFebruwari 1972 ubawo wagqiba ekubeni andise kwisibhedlele saseWembo Nyama. Ndaba kweso sibhedlele ithuba elide kangangokuba abantu baqalisa ukundibiza ngokuba ndingumniniso! Abantu babedla ngokuza esibhedlele, banyangwe, bahambe bandule ke ngathuba lithile kamva babuye benenye ingxaki, ibe ndandidla ngokuba ndiselapho! Kwanyanzekela ukuba ubawo agoduke aye kulungiselela ukuvunwa kwerayisi, kodwa ngeli thuba ndanditshatile, ndinabantwana ababini, yaye umfazi wam endimthandayo, nangona wayeneminyaka engama-21 kuphela ubudala, wandigcina waza wafuna umsebenzi ukuze akwazi ukunyamekela iintswelo zethu.

Sekunjalo, ndandidandathekiswa gqitha yiyo yonke le meko. Xa ndandineminyaka engama-24 ubudala, imeko yam yayisiya isiba mbi ngokugqithiseleyo, ngoxa abahlobo bam babeqhuba kakuhle, uninzi lwabo ngoku lunemisebenzi encumisayo. Kum kwabonakala ngathi kwakuya kuba kokona kulungileyo kuye wonke ubani ukuba ndandiya kuzibulala. Ngenxa yoko, ndanikezela ngayo yonke into endandinayo kubantwana bam nakubantakwethu, ndingabaxeleli oko ndandikucinga. Ndasala ndingenanto ngaphandle kwehempe endandiyithanda endandifuna ukungcwatywa ndinxibe yona.

Ukuqalisa Kobomi Obutsha

Wandula ke omnye wamaNgqina kaYehova walaliswa kumandlalo owawukufutshane nowam. Nangona wayengaboni ngelinye iliso kwaye esengozini yokuba angaboni nangelinye, kungekudala waqalisa ukunikela ubungqina kum ngoYehova nangoBukumkani ngokuphuma eBhayibhileni. Emva kweentsuku ezimbalwa, waphuma esibhedlele, kodwa wandiyaleza kwamanye amaNgqina awayemtyelela. Emva kweengxubusho ezibhekele phayaa nala kwafuneka ehambile, kodwa omnye wawo waqhubeka efundisisa nam ngembalelwano. Wakwandinika iimpapasho zokufundisisa iBhayibhile ezahlukahlukeneyo, endandikuvuyela gqitha ukuzifunda.

Ngale ndlela ndandifumana ukutya kokomoya, ibe udandatheko lwam ngokuthe ngcembe lwaguqukela ekubeni luvuyo. Kwabonakala ukuba icawa yam yayindinika “iasidi” ukuba ndiyisele, kodwa ngoku ndandifumana amanzi obomi ngesisa. Ndambulela uYehova ngokusuka entliziyweni ngokundikhulula kwiinkolelo, ezinjengoBathathu Emnye, ukungafi komphefumlo, ukoyika abafileyo, nokunqula izinyanya.

Ngoku ndandifuna ukuphuma esibhedlele. Kusenjalo ndafumanisa ukuba iintsapho ezimbini zabalungiseleli abakwixesha elizeleyo zaziza kwabelwa eWembo Nyama, ngoko ndagqiba ekubeni ndihlale de zifike. Olunjani lona uvuyo endaba nalo xa zathi ekugqibeleni zandifumana ndilele kumandlalo wam wasesibhedlele! Ngoku ndandinako ukuqhubeka nokufundisisa kwam iBhayibhile ndifundelwa ngumntu kunokufunda ngembalelwano.

Emva kweentsuku ezimbalwa, ndababuza enoba babeqhubela iintlanganiso kwiHolo yoBukumkani kusini na, njengoko ndandifundile kumaphephancwadi. Ngobubele bandixelela ukuba zonke iintlanganiso zabo babeziqhubela kwindlu encinane awayehlala kuyo omnye wabo. Bakwathi babeya kukuvuyela ukundisa apho ngebhayisikile! Phezu kwazo nje iintlungu ezingathethekiyo ezazikumnqonqo wam nakwizihlanganisi zawo onke amalungu am omzimba, ngovuyo ndandisiya kuzo zonke iintlanganiso. Xa ndathi ndafikelela iimfaneleko ezithile, ndaba nako nokunikela nengxelo nyanga nganye njengomvakalisi ongabhaptizwanga, ukuqalela ngoAprili 1974.

Kwiinyanga ezintathu kamva, ndafuzisela uzahlulelo lwam kuYehova ngokuntywiliselwa emanzini. Ndanikela ubungqina kubasebenzi basesibhedlele, kubaguli ababelapho, kubavangeli abangamaProtestanti ababesiza kutyelela apho, nakumalungu entsapho yakowethu—phezu kwayo nje inkcaso ekrakra yabo bavangeli. Ngeli thuba, ndandinikela ubungqina ngoxa ndandilele kumandlalo wam okanye ndiqhuba isihlalo sabaguli endandisinikwe sisibhedlele de ndazithengela esam.

Unyamezelo Lwazisa Iingenelo

Phezu kwayo nje inkcaso yentsapho yakowethu, ndaqhubeka ndihamba endleleni kaYehova yaye ndasikelelwa ngokutyebileyo. Umfazi wam wayamkela inyaniso waza wabhaptizwa ngowe-1975. Sagqiba ekubeni sihlale eKatako-Kombe, apho kwakusele kukho ibandla elisekiweyo. Abazali bam babesixhalabele kuba uthile wayebaxelele ukuba onke amaNgqina ayeza kubulawa ngowe-1975. Xa sakwalayo ukuluyeka unxulumano lwethu, bayeka ukusithumelela ukutya, kwaye saswela gqitha ngokwenyama. Ndikhumbula ukuba ngesinye isihlandlo unyana wam oselula wafa isiqaqa ngenxa yendlala emva kokuba sihlale usuku olunesiqingatha singenakutya. Kodwa ke abazalwana bethu abangamaKristu basizisela intlanzi nokutya. Kamva, abazali bam baqalisa ukusinceda kwakhona kodwa abazalwana bethu abazange bayeke ukusinika uncedo olungokwenyama.

NgoFebruwari 1975 amalungu engalo yam yangasekunene afa yaza yaqalisa ukungasebenzi. Kodwa ndabambelela elukholweni lwam yaye ndandizimisele ukuqhubeka ndikhonza uYehova ndinovuyo. Kuyandivuyisa ukuthi kamva ingalo yam yomelela kwakhona, ibe ndisakwazi ukuyishukumisa nanamhlanje, nto leyo endenza ndikwazi ukutyhila iBhayibhile yam ndize ndisebenzise iimpapasho zoMbutho.

Ukuba Nenkalipho Phambi Kwabasemagunyeni

Ngowe-1977 umphathi wasekuhlaleni wandimangalela phambi kwenkundla yaloo mmandla, eyayisandul’ ukubamba uvulindlela okhethekileyo okwibandla elikufutshane. Ngenye imini kweza ijoni lize kundikhangela liphethe isamani. Ndathandaza nentsapho yam, ndakhuthaza ibandla ndandula ke ndahamba nalo. Ngenxa yomoya kaYehova, ndakwazi ukuzithethelela ngenkalipho kwezo zityholo, yaye emva kwengxubusho ende namagosa aseburhulumenteni nawasemkhosini, ndakhululwa ndawonye nalo vulindlela ukhethekileyo.

Kwiinyanga ezithile kamva, ndabizelwa enkundleni ngomnye umphathi, yaye kwakhona, ngoncedo lukaYehova, ndakwazi ukulwela iindaba ezilungileyo ndinovuyo nenkalipho. Ndaba nengxubusho ende nalo mntu, yaye ekupheleni kwayo, wandikhulula waza yena buqu wandityhala ndikwisihlalo sabaguli ukuphuma kwiofisi yakhe. Wandula ke wathi esebeza: “Uze uye phaya endlwini yam ngokuhlwa namhlanje.” Emva kokuba ndityelele kangangezihlandlo ezininzi, ndaqalisa isifundo seBhayibhile kunye naye. Ekugqibeleni, ndaba nezifundo zeBhayibhile zamakhaya ezisixhenxe nabantu abahlukahlukeneyo basemagunyeni. Inkoliso yabo yayisiza kwiintlanganiso zebandla ezazilungiselelwe ekuhlaleni.

Inkonzo Ekhethekileyo

Ndacela uYehova ukuba andincede, phezu kwako nje ukugula kwam, ukuba ndizalisekise isibhambathiso sam sokumkhonza ngamandla am onke. Ngaphandle kokubhalisa, ndazama ukufikelela isisikelo sokuba nguvulindlela ongumncedani. UYehova wandinceda ukuba ndiphumelele, ngoko ndazalisa isicelo sokuba kule nkonzo ukususela kwinyanga kaJuni ukuya kwekaOktobha. Wandula ke uMbutho wasamkela isicelo sam sokuba nguvulindlela othe ngxi, ibe ndaqalisa le nkonzo ngoNovemba 1976. NgoSeptemba 1977 uvuyo lwam lwapheleliswa xa ndafumana isabelo njengovulindlela okhethekileyo kwibandla laseKatako-Kombe.

Ndakwazi njani ukukufeza oku? Ndawugubungela lo mmandla ndikwisihlalo sabaguli ngoncedo lomkam endimthandayo nolwabazalwana basebandleni. Maxa wambi ndandide ndiphume ndedwa ndihamba ngeentonga. Ndawa kangangesihlandlo esinye okanye ezibini. Ngoko ndandidla ngokulinda, ndiyiloo nto ingakwazi nokushukuma de umntu odlula ngendlela andincedise ndiphakame aze andinike iintonga zam. Ndandisoloko ndikhumbula inzondelelo yabapostile neyabafundi bakaYesu. (IZenzo 14:21, 22; Hebhere 10:35-39) Sihlandlo ngasinye ndisiwa, ndandithandazela ukuba uYehova angaze andiyekele ekubeni ndityhafe, kodwa, kunoko andiphe amandla okuhlala ndimkhonza. Ndandisoloko ndikhumbula idinga elimangalisayo elikwisiprofeto sikaIsaya, elithi “size sitsibe njengexhama isiqhwala.”—Isaya 35:6.

Okukhona ndandiyandisa inkonzo yam, kokukhona ndandikwazi ukoyisa iziphene endandinazo. Ngowe-1978 ndaba nelungelo lokuya kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli SoBukumkani esasiseLubumbashi, esasibandakanya uhambo lweekhilomitha ezingama-2 000 ngelori, isikhephe nololiwe. Ngokwenyaniso, kolu hambo uYehova wandinika amandla agqithiseleyo ngokuphathelele imeko yam. (Isaya 12:2; 40:29) Ngoku, ndiyakwazi nokuhamba iimitha ezili-100 ngaphandle koncedo lweentonga nangona oku kunzima. Ndeyisekile kukuba uYehova wawuva umthandazo endawenza emva phayaa ngowe-1973 wokuba andinike amandla okumkhonza ngenzondelelo.

Isabelo Esitsha

Ngowe-1984, emva kweminyaka esixhenxe ndikwibandla laseKatako-Kombe, ndafumana isabelo esitsha sokusebenza nebandla laseLodja-Centre. Kunyaka kamva saqalisa iqela elitsha lesifundo sencwadi kwiikhilomitha ezili-12 ukusuka apho, yaye kungekudala saqalisa elinye kwiikhilomitha ezingama-30 ukusuka kwelo. Eli lamva ngokukhawuleza lamkelwa njengeqela elikwanti kwaye ngowe-1988 lamkeleka njengebandla, apho ndikhonza khona ngoku njengomdala.

Ubuvulindlela buye bandinceda gqitha, ngokomoya nangokwasemzimbeni. Xa ndisenkonzweni, ndihamba ngeentonga zam, ndandikwazi ukuphumeza uqheliselo olunconyelwa ngoogqirha. Ngoku ndomelele ngakumbi kunexesha laxa ndandiqalisa ubuvulindlela, yaye umnqweno wam ukukunyamezela ndikulo msebenzi de kuse esiphelweni. Ndilangazelela ukubona indlela uYehova aya kundinceda ngayo ukuze ‘nditsibe njengexhama’ ngethuba laxa kungayi kufuneka ndinyamezele iintlungu ezithwaxayo zoku kugula.

Ndimbulela ngentliziyo yam yonke uBawo wethu wasezulwini, oye wandinika amandla, inkalipho nenkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ngoku ndineminyaka engama-36 ubudala, kwaye emva kweminyaka eli-11 ndikumsebenzi wobuvulindlela, ndinethemba lokuqhubeka, kungakhathaliseki oko kusenokuba kufunjethwe likamva. Ndizimisele ukusebenzisa onke amandla endinawo ekuzukiseni nasekudumiseni uThixo omkhulu onguYehova.

[Picture of Ekumba Okoka on page 26]