Ukufinyelela Zonke Izinhlobo Zabantu E-Athens Yosuku Lwanamuhla
LAPHO umphostoli uPawulu evakashela i-Athens cishe ngo-50 C.E., lomuzi wawuseyisikhungo sezentengiselwano esibalulekile, ngisho noma wawungasenayo inkazimulo owawunayo esikhathini esidlule. Enye incwadi yomlando ithi: “[I-Athens] yaqhubeka iyikomkhulu laseGreece lezinto ezingokomoya nobuciko, kanye nendawo abafundile nabanamandla baleyo nkathi ababefisa kakhulu ukuyihambela.”
Ngesikhathi uPawulu elapho, cishe waba nethuba lokushumayela kumaJuda, kwabase-Athens abangamaqaba, nakubantu ababevela ezindaweni eziningi ezihlukahlukene. Njengoba ayengumfundisi oqaphile nonekhono, kwenye inkulumo wathi uNkulunkulu wanikeza “bonke abantu ukuphila nomoya,” wathi “wenza ngomuntu oyedwa zonke izizwe zabantu,” futhi ‘bonke kuyo yonke indawo kufanele baphenduke’ ngoba uNkulunkulu uyokwahlulela “umhlaba owakhiwe.”—IzEnzo 17:25-31.
Insimu Ehlukahlukene
Emashumini eminyaka amuva nje i-Athens isiphinde yaba idolobha elikhanga abantu abavela kuyo yonke indawo. Osomaqhinga bezokukhulumisana kwamazwe nabantu bezempi baye bafika njengengxenye yezithunywa zakwamanye amazwe. Intsha evela e-Afrika naseMpumalanga Ephakathi ihlala khona njengabafundi basemayunivesithi. Izisebenzi ezingabafuduki ezivela e-Afrika, e-Asia, nasemazweni aseMpumalanga Yurophu ziye zathutheleka lapha. Kunabantu abaningi basePhilippines nabanye abavela eNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia, abaye bafika bezofuna umsebenzi wokuba izisebenzi zasemakhaya. Futhi ababaleki abavela emazweni angomakhelwane nasezindaweni ezinenxushunxushu embulungeni yonke balokhu bethelekile.
Lesi simo sibabekela inselele abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso bendawo. Iningi lalaba abagobe amadlangala likhuluma isiNgisi, kodwa abanye bakhuluma izilimi zabo zendabuko kuphela. Laba bantu bavela ezizindeni ezingokwesiko nezingokwenkolo eziningi ezihlukahlukene. Phakathi kwalezi zihambi, ungathola abathi bangamaKristu, amaSulumane, amaHindu, amaBuddha, abakholelwa emimoyeni, abakholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu akaziwa, nabaphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu. OFakazi BakaJehova kumelwe bafunde ukuvumelanisa izintshumayelo zabo nesimo ukuze zifanelane nezizinda ezihlukahlukene zalaba bantu.
Njengoba abaningi balaba abasanda kufika beye babhekana nezikhathi ezinzima, ngokuvamile baba nemibuzo ngokuphathelene nenjongo yokuphila namathemba ngekusasa. Abanye balazisa kakhulu iBhayibheli futhi abanankinga ekwamukeleni lokho elikushoyo. Abaningi kulensimu ehlukahlukene bathobekile, futhi balambele iqiniso. Bazizwa bekhululeke kakhudlwana ukufuna iqiniso ngoba abekho emikhayeni yabo nasesimweni sendawo samakhaya abo.
Ngo-1986 kwahlelwa ibandla lesiNgisi lokuqala e-Athens ukuze lihlanganise lensimu. Ukwanda kuye kwaba okumangalisayo. Phakathi neminyaka emihlanu edlule, kuye kwabhapathizwa abasanda kuhlanganyela abangaba ngu-80. Umphumela uwukuthi e-Athens kuye kwamiswa ibandla lesi-Arabhu, ibandla lesiPolishi, futhi okwesikhathi esithile, neqembu lesiFulentshi. Abanye bakuleli bandla lesiNgisi baye bathutha bayosiza amabandla namaqembu anjalo eThessalonica ngasenyakatho, eHeraklion, eCrete, nasePiraeus, itheku lase-Athens. Ungathanda yini ukwazi abanye babantu bakwamanye amazwe abaye bathola iqiniso e-Athens?
Okunxanelekayo Kwabezizwe Kuyafika
UThomas wazalelwa e-Asmara, e-Eritrea, futhi wakhula engumKatolika oshisekayo. Lapho eneminyaka engu-15, waya esigodlweni sezindela. Wabuza isikhulu sesigodlo: “Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uNkulunkulu oyedwa abe oNkulunkulu abathathu?” Lesi sikhulu saphendula: “Kungoba samukela lokho upapa akushoyo ngezinto ezingokomoya. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, lena imfihlakalo, futhi usemncane kakhulu ukuba uyiqonde.” Ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu ekulesi sigodlo, uThomas washiya phansi, evuleké amehlo futhi ekhungathekiswe ukuziphatha nezimfundiso zesonto. Nokho, wayengakuyekile ukufuna kwakhe uNkulunkulu weqiniso.
Ngolunye usuku ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ethuthele e-Athens, emnyango wakhe wathola ikhophi ye-Nqabayokulinda, esembozweni eyayinesihloko esithi “Impilo Nenjabulo Kungaba Ngokwakho.” Wayifunda kaningana. Kuwo lowo magazini, wafunda ukuthi kufanele sifune kuqala uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe. (Mathewu 6:33) UThomas waguqa wacela uNkulunkulu ukuba ambonise indlela yokwenza lokhu, ethembisa: “Uma ungibonisa indlela yokufuna uMbuso wakho, ngizonikela izinyanga eziyisithupha zokuphila kwami ekufundeni indlela yokukukhonza.” Ngesonto lesine ngemva kwalokho, kwangqongqoza oFakazi ababili emnyango wakhe. Ngokushesha uThomas wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi ezinyangeni eziyishumi kamuva wabhapathizwa. Uthi: “UJehova wawuphendula ngempela umthandazo wami, futhi wanginikeza ithuba lokuba omunye woFakazi bakhe. Manje uthando lwakhe lungishukumisela ukuba ngifune uMbuso nokulunga kwakhe kuqala ekuphileni kwami.”
Lapho beshumayela endlini ngendlu, abanye oFakazi ababili bathola igama lomuntu wakwelinye izwe libhalwe eduze kwensimbi yasemnyango.
“Ufunani?” kusho izwi lowesifazane kuyi-intercom.
Omunye walaboFakazi wathi babezama ukuthola abantu abakhuluma isiNgisi abanesithakazelo eBhayibhelini.
“Niyiyiphi inkolo?” kubuza lentokazi.
“SingoFakazi BakaJehova.”
“Oh, kuhle! Khuphukani nize esitezi esiphezulu.”
Benza kanjalo, futhi njengoba umnyango wekheshi uvuleka, kwakumi umdondoshiya wendoda owawuthanda ukuba nesimo sengqondo esiphambene. Kodwa ngaphakathi kwakhuluma lona wesifazane.
“Bangenise. Ngifuna ukukhuluma nabo.”
Kwavela ukuthi wayehamba amazwe kanye neqembu lezemidlalo lomyeni wakhe, futhi ngayizolo nje, wayekade ethandazela ukuthola oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli ngaso leso sikhathi. Njengoba isikhathi sabo sokuba seGreece sasilinganiselwe, kwahlelwa ukuba bafunde kathathu ngesonto, incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade yaqedwa nje ngamasonto ayishumi.
Ngenkathi yezemidlalo elandelayo babuyela eGreece. Lona wesifazane wabuye waqhubeka nokufunda kwakhe futhi wathuthuka kahle kakhulu. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, wahlanganyela noFakazi emsebenzini wokushumayela njengommemezeli ongabhapathiziwe futhi ngokushesha waqala isifundo sakhe seBhayibheli sokuqala. Nobani? Nomyeni wakhe, abamhlabé umxhwele kakhulu oFakazi nezinguquko ezenziwe umkakhe.
U-Allan, indodana yomfundisi wamaProthestani, wakhulela eNingizimu Afrika. Kusukela esemncane kakhulu, wayeqiniseka ukuthi iBhayibheli liyisambulo esiphefumulelwe esivela kuNkulunkulu. Enganelisekile ngenkolo yakhe, waphendukela kuyifilosofi nakwezombangazwe, kodwa lokhu kwamshiya ezizwa engelutho kunanini ngaphambili. Ngemva kokuba ethuthele eGreece, ukuzizwa kwakhe engelutho kwakhula. Waba nomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila kwakhe kwakungenanjongo, ukuthi wayesemgwaqweni ongayi ndawo.
Ngobunye ubusuku kwenzeka okuthile. “Ngaguqa ngamadolo ngathulula inhliziyo yami kuNkulunkulu,” kulandisa u-Allan. “Ngezinyembezi zokudabuka ngenxa yenkambo yami yokuphila, ngancenga uNkulunkulu ukuba angiholele kubalandeli bakhe beqiniso. Ngathembisa ukuthi ngangiyohamba ekukhanyeni kwesiqondiso sakhe.” Phakathi nalelo sonto, wayesesitolo futhi waxoxa nomniniso, owesifazane, okwavela ukuthi unguFakazi. Leyo ngxoxo yaba inkathi yenguquko ngempela ekuphileni kuka-Allan. “Ezinsukwini ezalandela, ngazibona ngiyeka ukukholelwa ezinkolelweni zami engangizazisa: uZiqu-zintathu, isihogo somlilo, ukungafi komphefumulo—zonke ngokucacile ezingezona izimfundiso zeBhayibheli.” EHholo LoMbuso, umbhangqwana ongoFakazi wasikisela ukutadisha naye iBhayibheli. Wavuma futhi wathuthuka ngokushesha. “Iqiniso langenza ngakhala izinyembezi zenjabulo,” kukhumbula u-Allan, “futhi langikhulula.” Esikhathini esiwunyaka kamuva wabhapathizwa. Namuhla ujabulela ukukhonza njengenceku ekhonzayo ebandleni lendawo.
U-Elizabeth ngowaseNigeria, lapho ayefune khona uNkulunkulu emasontweni ahlukahlukene kodwa wasala enganelisekile. Okwakumesabisa kakhulu kwakuyimfundiso yokuhlushwa ingunaphakade esihogweni somlilo. Lapho efika e-Athens nomkhaya wakhe, kwafika oFakazi ababili kwakhe, futhi kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli. U-Elizabeth wajabula kakhulu lapho ethola ukuthi uNkulunkulu akabahluphi abantu, kodwa unikeza ithemba lokuphila okungunaphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Wayekhulelwe ingane yakhe yesine, efuna ukukhipha isisu. Khona-ke eBhayibhelini wafunda umbono kaJehova ngobungcwele bokuphila. Manje unendodakazi enhle. U-Elizabeth wathuthuka masinyane kakhulu futhi ngokushesha wabhapathizwa. Nakuba enezingane ezine futhi esebenza isikhathi esigcwele, uyakwazi ukuthatha ubuphayona obusizayo cishe nyanga zonke. Uye wabusiswa ngokuba abone umyeni wakhe eqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli. Uthi: “Ekugcineni ngamthola uNkulunkulu weqiniso nokukhulekela kweqiniso, ngenxa kaJehova nenhlangano yakhe enothando.”
Abantu abaningi kulensimu ehlukahlukene kuhlanganwa nabo emsebenzini wasemgwaqweni, kodwa ukubenza babe nesithakazelo kudinga ukuphikelela. Kwakunjalo ngowesifazane osemusha obizwa ngokuthi uSallay, waseSierra Leone. UFakazi othile wamnikeza ipheshana, wathatha ikheli lakhe, futhi wahlela ukuba avakashelwe. USallay wayenesithakazelo futhi wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli, kodwa ngenxa yokucindezelwa umsebenzi nezinye izinkinga, sasingaqhutshwa njalo. Khona-ke kungazelelwe wathutha engalishiyanga ikheli elisha. LoFakazi waphikelela eya ekhelini elidala, futhi ekugcineni uSallay wathumelela loFakazi umyalezo wokuba eze ekhaya lakhe elisha.
Isifundo manje saqhutshwa cishe njalo nakuba uSallay ayesezinyangeni zakhe zokugcina ekhulelwe. Ngemva kokubeletha, uSallay waba ummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe. Konke lokhu kungase kuzwakale kulula, kodwa kwakungenjalo. Ngo–6:30 ekuseni, kufanele abe eselungele ukugibela ibhasi elithatha ingxenye yehora eyisa umntwana wakhe enkulisa, kulandele elinye ihora ehamba ngebhasi eya emsebenzini. Ngemva kokusebenza emsebenzini wakhe wokuhlanza, uthatha lona lolu hambo ephindela ekhaya. Ngobusuku bemihlangano yebandla, noma lapho eya enkonzweni yasensimini, uhamba elinye ihora ngebhasi ukuya kuphela, naphezu kokuphikisa komyeni wakhe. Njengoba ayembonisa uthando nesineke, lona wesifazane wathuthuka kwaze kwaba sezingeni lokuzinikezela nobhapathizo. Kuthiwani ngomyeni wakhe? Waba khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu futhi wavuma ukuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli.
Babusiswa Ngemiphumela Emihle
Iningi lalaba bantu, ukuhlala kwalo e-Athens kungokwesikhashana. Abaningi babuyela emazweni akubo endabuko ukuze bahlanganyele izindaba ezinhle nezihlobo nabangane. Abanye bathuthela emazweni aseNtshonalanga ahlukahlukene futhi baqhubeke bekhonza uJehova. Labo abahlala eGreece bajabulela imiphumela emihle njengoba befakaza kubantu basemazweni akubo nabo abaye bafudukela lapha. Kwezinye izimo imbewu yeqiniso yayithela ngemva kokuba izivakashi sezithuthele kwelinye izwe futhi oFakazi bathintana nazo.
Konke lokhu kubonisa ukuthi uJehova akakhethi. Wamukela abantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe abamesabayo nabathanda ukulunga. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Kubantu abanjalo abanjengezimvu, ukuthuthela kwabo kwelinye izwe ngenxa yezinzuzo zezinto ezibonakalayo kwaphumela ezibusisweni ezinkulu kakhulu kunalokho ababekulindele—ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova, nesithembiso sakhe sokuphila okungunaphakade ezweni elisha lokulunga. Yebo, uJehova uye wayibusisa ngokucebe ngempela imizamo yokufinyelela abantu abakhuluma izilimi zakwamanye amazwe e-Athens yosuku lwanamuhla!
[Izithombe ekhasini 16]
Abantu abavela emazweni amaningi bezwa izindaba ezinhle e-Athens