Ukwamkela Ulwalathiso Lukayehova Ngovuyo Ngokubaliswa Ngu-ulysses V. Glass

Yayisisihlandlo esingaqhelekanga. Yayingabafundi abali-127 ababephumelele kule klasi. Kodwa kwakukho abantu abachwayitileyo ababeli-126 387, beentlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo. Yayiluthweso-zidanga lweklasi yama-21 kwiSikolo seBhayibhile seWatchtower saseGiliyadi, esasiqhutyelwa eYankee Stadium kwisiXeko saseNew York ngoJulayi 19, 1953. Kwakutheni ukuze eso sihlandlo sibaluleke kangako ebomini bam? Mandikuthele thsuphe ngemvelaphi yam.

NDAZALELWA eVincennes, eIndiana, eUnited States, ngoFebruwari 17, 1912, kwiminyaka nje enokuba mibini ngaphambi kokuzalwa koBukumkani obungoMesiya, njengokuba kuchaziwe kwiSityhilelo 12:​1-⁠5. Kunyaka owandulela lowo abazali bam babesele beqalisile ukufundisisa iBhayibhile kunye nemiqulu ethi Studies in the Scriptures. Ntsasa nganye ngeCawa, uTata wayefundela intsapho kwenye yezo ncwadi sandule ke sithethe ngoko sikufundileyo.

UMama wayesebenzisa oko wayekufunda ukuze alungise indlela abacinga ngayo abantwana bakhe. Wayengumntu olungileyo​—⁠enobubele, yaye ekulungele ukunceda. Sasingabantwana abane ekhaya, kodwa uthando lukaMama lwaluye luquke nabanye abantwana baselumelwaneni. Wayechitha ixesha kunye nathi. Wayekuthanda ukusibalisela amabali eBhayibhile yaye wayecula kunye nathi.

Kwakhona wayemema abantu abaliqela abahlukahlukeneyo ababekubulungiseleli bexesha elizeleyo. Babehlala usuku olunye okanye ezimbini, ngokufuthi beqhubela iintlanganiso baze banikele neentetho ekhaya. Sasibathanda ngakumbi abo babesebenzisa imizekelo baze basibalisele amabali. Ngesinye isihlandlo ngowe-1919, malunga nonyaka emva kokuphela kwemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, umzalwana owayetyelele wabhekisela amagqabaza akhe kuthi njengabantwana. Waxubusha ngokuzinikela​—⁠into esiyibiza ngokuchanileyo ngoku sisithi kukuzahlulela​—⁠waza wasinceda sayiqonda indlela ebuchaphazela ngayo ubomi bethu. Kamva ngaloo ngokuhlwa xa ndandiza kulala, ndathandaza kuBawo osemazulwini ndaza ndamxelela ukuba ndifuna ukumkhonza ngalo lonke ixesha.

Noko ke, emva kowe-1922 kwavela ezinye iingxaki ebomini bam ezandinyanzela ukuba eso sigqibo ndisityhalele ecaleni. Sasisoloko sifuduka yaye sasingakwazi ukunxulumana nebandla labantu bakaYehova. UBawo wayengekho ehanjiswe ngumsebenzi awayewenza kwindlela kaloliwe. Sasingayifundisisi rhoqo iBhayibhile. Ndafunda esikolweni ndinenjongo yokuba ngumzobi wezibhengezo zezoshishino yaye ndandisenza amalungiselelo okuya kweyona yunivesithi iphambili.

Ukuhlengahlengisa Usukelo Lwam Ebomini

Phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1930, kwaphinda kwaqalisa imfazwe emhlabeni wonke. Ngeli xesha sasihlala eCleveland, eOhio, xa omnye wamaNgqina kaYehova wafika ekhaya. Saqalisa ukucingisisa nzulu ngoko sasikufundile njengabantwana. Umkhuluwa wam, uRussell, wayengumntu ozithabatha nzulu izinto, yaye waba ngowokuqala ukubhaptizwa. Ndandingazimiselanga kangako, kodwa ngoFebruwari 3, 1936, nam ndabhaptizwa. Uxabiso lwam ngoko kuthethwa kukuzahlulela kuYehova lwakhula, yaye ndandifunda ukwamkela ulwalathiso lukaYehova. Kwangaloo nyaka mnye oodade wethu ababini, uKathryn noGertrude, babhaptizwa nabo. Sonke saqalisa inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo njengoovulindlela.

Noko ke, oko kwakungathethi ukuba asizange sicinge ngenye into. Ndaphulaphula ngenyameko xa umfazi womkhuluwa wam wayendixelela ngentombazana entle egama linguAnn “eyayinenzondelelo gqitha” emva kokuba ive inyaniso neyayiza kuza kwiintlanganiso ekhaya. Ngelo xesha uAnn wayesebenza njengonobhala kwiofisi karhulumente, yaye kungaphelanga nonyaka wabhaptizwa. Ndandingekafuni ukutshata, kodwa kwakucacile ukuba uAnn wayeyithanda gqitha inyaniso. Wayefuna ukuzibhokoxa ngokupheleleyo kwinkonzo kaYehova. Wayengengomntu othi, “Ngaba ndinokuyenza?” Kunoko, wayebuza ukuba, “Yiyiphi indlela endinokuyenza ngayo ize iphumelele?” Yaye wayezimisele ukuqhubeka nalo msebenzi. Ukuba nesimo sengqondo esingqale ngolo hlobo kwandichukumisa. Ngapha koko, wayemhle gqitha, yaye usenjalo nangoku. Waba ngumfazi wam, yaye kungekudala waba liqabane lam kwinkonzo yobuvulindlela.

Uqeqesho Olubalulekileyo Njengoovulindlela

Njengoovulindlela safunda imfihlelo yokwaneliseka xa singenanto naxa kukuninzi esinako. (Filipi 4:​11-13) Ngenye imini kwakurhatyela, yaye sasingenanto yokutya. Sasineesenti ezintlanu kuphela. Saya esilarheni, ndaza ndabuza, “Ngaba sinokuyifumana inyama yeesenti ezintlanu?” Wasijonga waza wasika izilayi ezine. Ndiqinisekile ukuba yayixabisa ngaphezu kweesenti ezintlanu, yaye satya sahlutha.

Yayingeyonto ingaqhelekanga ukujamelana nenkcaso eqatha njengokuba sikubulungiseleli. Kwidolophu ekufuphi naseSyracuse, eNew York, sasihambisa izibhengezo yaye sasinxibe iiplacard sibhengeza intetho ekhethekileyo yesidlangalala. Amanye amadoda amabini andibamba aza afuna ukundibetha. Enye yayilipolisa, kodwa yayinganxibanga iimpahla zomsebenzi, yaye ayizange ifune ukundibonisa ibheji yayo. Ngoko nangoko, uGrant Suiter owayevela eBheteli eBrooklyn weza waza wathi siza kuyisa emapoliseni le nto. Emva koko watsalela umnxeba kwiofisi yoMbutho eBrooklyn, yaye sobabini sayalelwa ukuba siphume kwakhona ngolo suku neeplacard nezibhengezo zethu ukuze babe nobungqina bokukwazi ukusahlula. Njengokuba kwakulindelekile, sabanjwa. Noko ke, sakuwaxelela amapolisa ukuba siza kuwamangalela ngenxa yokuba esibambe ngaphandle kwesizathu, asikhulula.

Ngosuku olulandelayo iqela labakwishumi elivisayo langena kwindawo yendibano liphenjelelwa ngumfundisi, yaye amapolisa ayenyamalele. Ezi zikrelemnqa zabetha umgangatho owenziwe ngamaplanga, ngamaphini okudlala ibhola, zaza zawisa abanye abantu ababephulaphule, zaya eqongeni, apho zaphakamisela phezulu iflegi yaseMerika zaza zathi, “Yikhahleleni! Yikhahleleni!” Emva koko zacula iculo elithi “Beer Barrel Polka.” Zayiphelisa tu loo ntlanganiso. Sakufumana ngokoqobo oko kwakuthethwe nguYesu xa wathi: “Ngenxa yokuba ningeyonxalenye yehlabathi, kodwa ndininyulile mna naphuma kulo ihlabathi, ngenxa yoku ihlabathi linithiyile.”​—⁠Yohane 15:⁠19.

Intetho yesidlangalala yayiyintetho erekhodiweyo eyayinikelwe nguJ. F. Rutherford, owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society. Mna noAnn sahlala kuloo dolophu iintsuku eziliqela saza satyelela abantu balapho ukuze sibanike ithuba lokuphulaphula loo ntetho emakhayeni abo. Abaliqela balamkela elo lungiselelo.

Ukuba Litsha-ntliziyo Kwinkonzo Yelizwe Lasemzini

Ekuhambeni kwethuba, kwavuleka amathuba amatsha enkonzo. Umntakwethu uRussell, nomfazi wakhe uDorothy, bamenywa bobabini ukuba bangenele iklasi yokuqala yeSikolo saseGiliyadi, ngowe-1943, emva koko bathunyelwa njengabavangeli basemazweni eCuba. Udade wethu uKathryn wayekwiklasi yesine. Naye wabelwa eCuba. Kamva wathunyelwa eDominican Republic emva koko ePuerto Rico. Kwenzeka ntoni kum noAnn?

Xa seva okwesihlandlo sokuqala ngeSikolo saseGiliyadi nokuba uMbutho ufuna ukuthumela abavangeli basemazweni kwamanye amazwe, savakalelwa kukuba sifuna ukuzenza sifumanekele le nkonzo ekwilizwe lasemzini. Ekuqaleni, sacinga ngokuzihambela, mhlawumbi siye eMexico. Kodwa emva koko sagqiba kwelokuba kuya kuba kuhle ukulinda uMbutho ukuba usithumele emva kokuba siye kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi. Saqonda ukuba eli lilungiselelo uYehova awayelisebenzisa.

Samenywa kwiklasi yesine yeSikolo saseGiliyadi. Kodwa ngaphambi nje kokuqala kwaloo klasi uN. H. Knorr, owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society ngelo xesha, wabuqonda ngakumbi ubuthathaka buka-Ann ekubeni wahlaselwa yipoliyo esengumntwana. Wathetha nam ngaloo mbandela yaye wagqiba kwelokuba akuyi kuba bubulumko ukusithumela ukuba siye kukhonza kwelinye ilizwe.

Kwiminyaka emibini kamva, xa ndandikumsebenzi wokulungiselela indibano, uMzalwana uKnorr waphinda wandibona waza wandibuza enoba sisenawo na umdla wokuya eGiliyadi. Wandixelela ukuba sasingayi kuya kwisabelo esikwilizwe lasemzini; wayenenye into awayeyicinga. Ngoko xa iklasi yethoba yabhalisa ngoFebruwari 26, 1947, saqukwa kwabo bafundi.

Iintsuku endandiseGiliyadi ngazo andinakuze ndizilibale. Izifundo zazityebile ngokomoya. Sakha ubuhlobo obuya kuhlala buhleli. Kodwa ukuya kwam esikolweni kwadlulela ngaphaya.

Phakathi KwaseWashington NaseGiliyadi

Kwakungekudala siqalisile iSikolo saseGiliyadi. Urhulumente waseUnited States wayengaqhelananga ngokupheleleyo neenjongo zesikolo, ngoko kwabakho imibuzo eliqela. UMbutho wawufuna ukuba nommeli eWashington, D.C. Kulapho sathunyelwa khona kwiinyanga nje ezimbalwa emva kothweso-zidanga eGiliyadi. Kwakufuneka ndincedise abo babefuna amaphepha-mvume okungena kwelinye ilizwe kuba besiza eGiliyadi besuka kwamanye amazwe nasekufumaneni amaphepha asemthethweni ukuze abo baphumeleleyo bathunyelwe phesheya kumsebenzi wobuvangeli. Amanye amagosa ayengekho ngqongqo kangako yaye ayeluncedo kakhulu. Amanye ayewathiye egazini amaNgqina. Amanye ambalwa awayeneembono zobupolitika athi sasinxulumana nabantu awayewagqala njengabangafanelekanga.

Enye indoda endaya kwiofisi yayo yasigxeka kanobom ngenxa yokuba singakhahleli flegi okanye siye emfazweni. Emva kokuthetha ngoko ithuba elide, ekugqibeleni ndathi: “Ndifuna wazi, yaye uyazi ukuba, amaNgqina kaYehova akalwi naye nabani na ehlabathini. Asibandakanyekanga kwimicimbi yehlabathi. Asibandakanyekanga kwiimfazwe zabo, nakwezobupolitika. Singoondilele ngokupheleleyo. Sele sizoyisile iingxaki enijamelene nazo; simanyene kwintlangano yethu. . . . Ngoku, ufuna senze ntoni? Ufuna senze izinto ngendlela enizenza ngayo size siyeke le yethu?” Emva koko ayizange ithethe nelimdaka.

Iintsuku ezimbini evekini zazibekelwe ukusebenza kwiiofisi zikarhulumente. Ukongezelela koko, sasikhonza njengoovulindlela abakhethekileyo. Ngelo xesha, oku kwakuthetha ukuchitha iiyure ezili-175 kubulungiseleli basentsimini nyanga nganye (kamva kwatshintshelwa kwiiyure ezili-140), ngokufuthi sasisiya enkonzweni size sibuye ngorhatya. Sasilinandipha elo xesha. Sasiqhuba izifundo ezininzi ezihle neentsapho ziphela, yaye zenza inkqubela entle. Mna noAnn sagqiba kwelokuba singabi nabantwana, kodwa xa sithetha ngokomoya, asinabantwana nje kuphela kodwa sinabazukulwana nabantwana babo. Hayi indlela abaluyolo ngayo kuthi!

Ekupheleni kowe-1948, ndafumana esinye isabelo. Umzalwan’ uKnorr wathi uMzalwan’ uSchroeder, owayebhalisa nokwangomnye wabo bafundisayo kwiSikolo saseGiliyadi, wayeza kuxakeka ngomnye umsebenzi obalulekileyo, ngoko ndacelwa ukuba ndifundise eGiliyadi xa kukho imfuneko. Ndisoyika, mna noAnn sabuyela eGiliyadi, eSouth Lansing, eNew York, ngoDisemba 18. Ekuqaleni, sasiseGiliyadi kangangeeveki nje ezimbalwa sihlandlo ngasinye, yaye emva koko sasibuyela eWashington. Noko ke, ekugqibeleni, sasichitha ixesha elininzi eGiliyadi kunaseWashington.

Kwakungesi sihlandlo, njengokuba benditshilo ngaphambili, eyathi iklasi yama-21 yabo babephumelele eGiliyadi yathweswa izidanga eYankee Stadium eNew York. Ngoko njengomnye wabahlohli, ndaba nelungelo lokuba nesabelo kolo cwangciso lothweso-zidanga.

Ukusebenza Kwikomkhulu Lehlabathi

NgoFebruwari 12, 1955, saqalisa esinye isabelo senkonzo. Saba yinxalenye yentsapho yaseBheteli kwikomkhulu lehlabathi lentlangano kaYehova ebonakalayo. Kodwa oku kwakuquka ntoni? Ngokusisiseko, ukukulungela ukwenza nantoni na ekuthiwa masiyenze, ukusebenza kwindawo eyayifuna sisebenzisane nabanye. Kakade ke, sasikwenzile oko ngaphambili, kodwa ngoku sasiza kuba yinxalenye yeqela elikhulu​—⁠intsapho yaseBheteli ekwikomkhulu. Sasamkela ngovuyo esi sabelo njengobungqina bokwalathiswa nguYehova.

Enye inxalenye enkulu yomsebenzi wam yayiquka imibandela ephathelele ijelo leendaba. Ngenxa yokuba bewathanda amabali achukumisayo nangenxa yokuba befumana inkcazelo kwimithombo enekhethe, oonondaba babebhale izinto ezimbi ngamaNgqina kaYehova. Sazama ukuyiphucula loo meko.

UMzalwana uKnorr wayefuna ukuqiniseka ukuba sasinomsebenzi omninzi, ngoko kwakukho nezinye izabelo. Ezinye kwezi zazifuna ndisebenzise oko ndandikufunde njengomzobi wemifanekiso yezibhengezo. Ezinye zaziquka isikhululo sikanomathotholo soMbutho, i-WBBR. Kwakukho umsebenzi ekwakufuneka wenziwe ngokuphathelele imifanekiso eshukumayo eyayisenziwa nguMbutho. Kakade ke, imbali yobuthixo, yayiyinxalenye yezifundo zaseGiliyadi, kodwa ngoku ezinye zazisenzelwa ukuqhelanisa abantu bakaYehova neenkcukacha zembali yentlangano yolawulo lobuthixo yanamhlanje nokwenza oku kwaziwe ngabantu. Enye inkalo ebalulekileyo ngoqeqesho lwaseGiliyadi yayibandakanya ukuthetha ekuhleni, nomsebenzi ekufuneka wenziwe ukuze kufumaneke izinto ezisisiseko ukuze abazalwana emabandleni bakwazi ukuthetha ekuhleni. Ngoko kwakukuninzi okwakufanele kwenziwe.

Ukuba SeGiliyadi Ixesha Elizeleyo

Ngowe-1961, xa kwabonakala kusengaphambili ukuba kufuneka kuqeqeshwe abaveleli abahambahambayo nabo basebenza kwisebe, iSikolo saseGiliyadi safuduselwa eBrooklyn, apho iWatch Tower Society ineeofisi zayo ezinkulu. Kwakhona ndabuyela eklasini​—⁠ngeli xesha ndandingabambelanga kodwa ndandingomnye wabo babefundisa ixesha elizeleyo. Elinjani lona ilungelo! Ndeyisekile kukuba iSikolo saseGiliyadi sisipho esivela kuYehova, isipho esiye sayingenelo kuyo yonke intlangano yakhe ebonakalayo.

EBrooklyn iklasi yaseGiliyadi yayinamathuba angazange afunyanwe ngabafundi beeklasi zangaphambili. Kwakukho abahlohli abaliqela ababetyelela yaye kwakukho unxulumano olusondeleyo neQumrhu Elilawulayo kukho nonxulumano olungakumbi nentsapho yaseBheteli ekwikomkhulu. Kwakhona kwakusenzeka ukuba abafundi bafumane uqeqesho ngenkqubo yaseofisini, kumsebenzi wekhaya laseBheteli, nakwezinye iinkalo zomsebenzi womzi-mveliso.

Ekuhambeni kweminyaka inani labafundi lalisahluka, yaye oku kwakunjalo nangenani labahlohli. Indawo esasiba kuyo isikolo yayitshintsha amaxesha amaninzi. Ngoku sikwindawo entle ePatterson, eNew York.

Ukusebenza Nabafundi

Kuye kwaluvuyo kum ukufundisa kwezi klasi! Apha ubona abantu abaselula abangenamdla wokwenza izinto kule nkqubo indala yezinto. Bashiya ngasemva intsapho yabo, abahlobo babo, ikhaya labo, nabantu abathetha ulwimi lwabo. Imozulu, ukutya​—⁠nayo yonke into iza kwahluka. Abazi nokuba liliphi ilizwe abaza kuya kulo, kodwa usukelo lwabo kukuba babe ngabavangeli basemazweni. Akukho nto unokuyikhetha ukubakhuthaza abantu abanjalo.

Xa ndisiya eklasini, ndandisoloko ndinenjongo yokubenza abafundi bakhululeke. Akukho mntu ufunda kakuhle xa engakhululekanga okanye enexhala. Liyinyaniso elokuba, ndandingumhlohli, kodwa ndandisazi ukuba kunjani ukuba ngumfundi. Ndandikhe ndahlala kwezo zitulo. Kakade ke, babefundisisa yaye bafunda okuninzi eGiliyadi, kodwa kwakhona ndandifuna bonwabe.

Ndandisazi ukuba xa besiya ezabelweni zabo, kwakuza kufuneka izinto ezithile ukuze baphumelele. Babefuna ukholo olomeleleyo. Kwakufuneka bathobeke​—⁠gqitha. Kwakufuneka bafunde ukuqhubana kakuhle nabanye abantu, ukwamkela iimeko ezithile, nokuxolela ngesisa. Kwakufuneka baqhubeke behlakulela isiqhamo somoya. Kwakhona kwakufuneka babe nothando ngabantu bawuthande umsebenzi wabo ababethunywe ukuba bawenze. Ezo zizinto endandizama ukugxininisa kuzo kubafundi ngoxa babeseGiliyadi.

Andazi ukuba bangaphi abafundi endabafundisayo. Kodwa ndiyayazi indlela endivakalelwa ngayo ngabo. Emva kokuchitha iinyanga ezintlanu nabo eklasini, ndandibathanda ngakumbi. Emva koko xa ndibabukele behamba eqongeni beye kufumana iziqinisekiso zabo ngemini yothweso-zidanga, ndandisazi ukuba bazigqibile izifundo zabo yaye ngokukhawuleza baza kuhamba. Kwakufana nokungathi kuhamba amalungu athile entsapho yam. Ungathini ukungabathandi abantu abakulungeleyo ukuzincama baze benze umsebenzi oza kwenziwa ngaba baselula?

Kwiminyaka kamva, xa beze kutyelela, ndiye ndibave bebalisa ngovuyo abanalo enkonzweni, yaye ndiyazi ukuba basekwizabelo zabo, benza oko babefundiswe ukukwenza. Oko kundenza ndivakalelwe njani? Kuthi ngco ngaphakathi.

Ukukhangela Phambili Kwikamva

Amehlo am abona luzizi ngoku, yaye ndijamelene neenkxwaleko ezihambisana noko. Ngoku andisakwazi ukufundisa kwiklasi yaseGiliyadi. Ekuqaleni, kwakunzima ukwenza olo hlengahlengiso, kodwa kubo bonke ubomi bam ndiye ndafunda ukuzamkela iimeko ndize ndiphile nazo. Ngokufuthi ndiye ndicinge ngompostile uPawulos ‘neliva lakhe enyameni.’ UPawulos wathandaza izihlandlo ezithathu ukuze kuphele inkxwaleko yakhe, kodwa iNkosi yamxelela oku: “Ububele bam obunganifanelanga bukulingene; kuba amandla am enziwa agqibelele kubuthathaka.” (2 Korinte 12:​7-10) UPawulos waphila nalo. Ukuba wakwazi, kufuneka ndizame nam. Nangona ndingasayi eklasini, ndivuyela ukubona abafundi abayayo baze baphinde bahambe yonke imihla. Maxa wambi ndiyakwazi ukuthetha nabo, yaye ndiyavuya xa ndibona umoya omhle abawubonakalisayo.

Kuyavuyisa ukucingisisa nzulu ngoko lisifumbathele kona ikamva. Ngoku kubekwa isiseko. IGiliyadi inegalelo elikhulu koko. Emva kwembandezelo enkulu, xa imisongo ekubhekiselwa kuyo kwiSityhilelo 20:​12 ivulwa, kuya kubakho iminyaka eliwaka yokufunda ngeendlela zikaYehova. (Isaya 11:⁠9) Kodwa neso ayisosiphelo. Sisiqalo nje. De kube ngunaphakade, kuya kufundwa okungakumbi ngoYehova yaye kuninzi esiya kukwenza njengokuba sibona injongo yakhe izaliseka. Ndiqinisekile ukuba uYehova uya kuwazalisekisa onke amadinga akhe azukileyo, yaye ndifuna ukuba lapho ndize ndibe nesabelo ekwamkeleni ulwalathiso lukaYehova ngoko afuna sikwenze.

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Uthweso-zidanga lwaseGiliyadi eYankee Stadium, eNew York ngowe-1953

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Mna, uGertrude, uKathryn noRussell

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Ndisebenza noN. H. Knorr (ekugqibeleni ngasekhohlo) noM. G. Henschel silungi-​selela indibano

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Ndikwi-WBBR kwindawo yokusasaza

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Ndikwiklasi yaseGiliyadi

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Ndikunye noAnn, kutshanje