IMicronesia
IPharadesi. Lelo gama lingakwenza ucabange ngesiqhingi esinohlaza oluningi nesishisayo, isibhakabhaka esicwathile esiluhlaza, izihlahla zesundu zipheshulwa umoya ohelezayo, amabhishi anesihlabathi esimhlophe, amanzi olwandle acwebile nezinhlanzi ezimibalabala, ukushona kwelanga okukhangayo. IMicronesia ifanelwa yileyo ncazelo yepharadesi. Ubuhle bayo bukwenza ubambe ongezansi.
Kodwa kunezinto lapha ongeke neze wazihlanganisa nepharadesi. Lezi ziqhingi zonakaliswa kabi izimpi ezinesihluku phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, futhi namuhla abantu baseMicronesia balwa nezinkinga zomnotho, ubugebengu nezifo. Inani elandayo liyaqaphela ukuthi izinkinga ezijulile zesintu kumelwe zixazululwe ngaphambi kokuba ibe ipharadesi ngempela.
Ukuhlukahluka Kwenza Ukuphila KwaseMicronesia Kuthakazelise
EMicronesia kunamaqoqo ahlukahlukene eziqhingi, ngasinye sihlukile endleleni esibukeka ngayo nangamasiko. Ngokumangalisayo, ngasinye sinolimi lwaso olusihlukanisayo, olungaqondwa ngisho nangabantu abaseziqhingini eziseduze.
Asikho okungathiwa siyisibonelo seziqhingi zaseMicronesia. Ezinye zinothile, ezinye zimpofu. Iziqhingi ezimangelengele ezakhiwa izintaba-mlilo njengePohnpei zingamamitha angaphezu kuka-900 ukuphakama, kanti ezinye ezincane zama-coral ezingamathafa ziyimitha elilodwa nje ngaphezu kogu lolwandle. IMajuro eseMarshall Islands ingesinye seziqhingi zama-coral. Lapho kunezivunguvungu, amagagasi aye azigubuzele zonke izingxenye zalezi ziqhingi zama-coral.
Abantu baseMicronesia bangabantu abanobungane nabakhangayo. Iningi labo liziphilisa ngokulima nokudoba. Balima ukudla okuyinhloko emasimini omkhaya, mhlawumbe bafuye izinkukhu noma izingulube ezimbalwa, badobe nezinhlanzi olwandle.
Kuthiwa abantu ababehamba olwandle beya empumalanga bevela e-Asia nababeya entshonalanga bevela eMelanesia yibona abaqale bahlala kulezi ziqhingi ezingazodwa, kodwa abahloli bamazwe baseSpain beminyaka yawo-1500 babengabantu bokuqala baseNtshonalanga abafika eMicronesia. Bafika nenkolo yabo. Namuhla iSonto LamaRoma Katolika lingumakhonya eziqhingini eziningi, kanye nohlobo lokholo lwamaProthestani olwamiswa izithunywa zeLobukholwa ngasekupheleni kwawo-1800.
IGUAM: Isikhungo Esiyinhloko Somsebenzi Waseziqhingini
IMicronesia, okuyigama elisho “iziqhingi ezincane,” ineziqhingi ezingu-2000 ezihlakazekile, kwezingu-125 zazo kuhlala abantu. Zisakazeke engxenyeni yomhlaba ecishe ibe ngangezwekazi lase-United States. Nokho, lezi ziqhingi zincane kangangokuba ingxenye yazo eyizwe isihlangene icishe ibe amakhilomitha-skwele angu-3100—ayinkulu ngaphezu kweyeRhode Island, isifundazwe esincane kunazo zonke e-United States.
Isango laseMicronesia yiGuam, lapho kusukela khona izindiza eziningi eziya kwezinye iziqhingi. Kubantu abangu-470 000 baseMicronesia, abangu-150 000 baseGuam. Njengoba ingamakhilomitha angu-51 ubude, iGuam iyisiqhingi saseMicronesia esikhulu kunazo zonke. Yisona nesithuthuke kunazo zonke. Imigwaqo emikhulu eminyene nendlela yakhona yokuphila ematasa yenza lesi siqhingi sihluke kwezinye, ezizishayela nje ngolonwabu.
Njengoba inesikhathi eside ithandwa imibuso yezempi ngenxa yendawo enhle ekuyo ePacific, iGuam okwamanje ibuswa iMelika. Indawo engaphezu kwengxenye eyodwa kwezintathu kulelizwe iphethwe umbutho wezempi wase-United States. Nokho, iGuam iyindawo enhle futhi yokusakaza izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society kunyatheliswa izincwadi ezisetshenziselwa imfundo yeBhayibheli ngezilimi ezingu-11 ukuze zisakazwe kulo lonke elaseMicronesia.
Iqiniso LoMbuso Lifinyelela ‘Ezweni Lokugcina Ebelingakafinyelelwa’
Enkulumweni yakhe yokunikezela izakhiwo zegatsha zaseGuam ngo-April 1980, uMilton Henschel, weNdikimba Ebusayo, wachaza iMicronesia ‘njengelinye lamazwe okugcina abengakafinyelelwa’ ngomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Ngenxa yokuthi iMicronesia yakhiwe iziqhingi eziningi ezihlukene, futhi kukhulunywa izilimi eziningi kangako zendabuko lapha, ‘lelizwe lokugcina ebelingakafinyelelwa’ elishisayo liye lazibonakalisa liyinselele kunawo wonke.
Sekuyiminyaka engu-40 izithunywa zevangeli ezikholekile zibhekana naleyo nselele ngokuzikhandla nokuhlakanipha. Phakathi naleyo minyaka, izithunywa zevangeli okungenani ezingu-175 ziye zakhonza eMicronesia, futhi lokhu kuye kwaba isici esibalulekile ekuthuthukisweni kwamabandla angu-26 noFakazi abangu-1300 manje abakhuthele kulezi ziqhingi.
Ezithunyweni zevangeli ezingu-63 ezikhonza eMicronesia manje, ziyidlanzana nje ezaya e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Iningi amaphayona avela ePhilippines naseHawaii amenyelwa ukungenela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli. Kwamaningi, lokhu kwasho ukushiya imizi ethokomele aphile ngendlela eyisidala. Kwezinye iziqhingi, imbalwa imigwaqo emihle, awukho ugesi, abekho nompompi bamanzi. Izithunywa zevangeli zithola ukugula nezifo eziningi; kumelwe zibekezelele isimo sezulu esishisayo, esinomswakama futhi ngezinye izikhathi esibi. Iziphepho ezibhubhisayo ziwusongo cishe unyaka wonke. Kodwa izithunywa zevangeli ziye zabona izithelo ezanelisayo zokukhandleka kwazo.
Iqiniso leBhayibheli liye langena lagxila kuzo zonke iziqhingi eziyinhloko. Phakathi kwalabo abamukela isigijimi soMbuso kuqala kwakungabantu abahlonishwayo baseziqhingini. Ngokwesibonelo, ePohnpei, kwakunoCarl Dannis, ilungu lesishaya-mthetho sasePohnpei. EKosrae, omunye woFakazi bokuqala kwakunguFredy Edwin, owayekhuluma izilimi ezingu-7 futhi ehlobene nenkosi. U-Augustine Castro, owayeke wafundela ubupristi, wasiza ekuqaleni ibandla eSaipan. Futhi uTony Salcedo, owayengumshayi-sibhakela waseGuam, wasebenzisa udumo lwakhe ukuze anikeze abantu isigijimi esasingabasiza ukuba bajabulele ukuthula abangakaze bakuthole kulesi siqhingi esihle.
Indlela Izindaba Ezinhle Ezafika Ngayo EGuam
UTony Salcedo wayengeyena uFakazi wokuqala owafika eMicronesia. Eqinisweni, wayengeyena uFakazi ngesikhathi efika. Wafika eGuam evela ePhilippines ngo-1948 njengesisebenzi senkontilaka eyayakha kabusha ngemva kwempi. Abantu abaningana ayesebenza nabo babengoFakazi BakaJehova, futhi baqala ukufundisa uTony iBhayibheli.
Laba bafowethu abashisekayo bahlela ibandla lokuqala eMicronesia ngo-December 1951, kodwa ngo-1954, bonke ngaphandle kukaTony, baphoqeleka ukuba bahambe eGuam lapho inkampani yabo idiliza. UTony, owayesesiyekile isibhakela, wavunyelwa ukuba ahlale ngoba wayeshade nentombi yaseGuam.
Phakathi nawo-1950, imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa kwaSalcedo, ibandla landa laba nabantu abangu-12. Sonke isiqhingi sasiyinsimu yabo ababeshumayela kuyo. “Njalo ngeMigqibelo sasiya ensimini usuku lonke, futhi ngokushesha abantu kuzo zonke izigodi base besazi ukuthi singobani,” kusho uTony.
Izimo Ezinzima Zazibalindele
Emuva ngaleso sikhathi iGuam yayikude kabi nokuba isiqhingi esimatasa sokungcebeleka eyiso namuhla. USam noVirginia Wiger, izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala ezabelwa eGuam, bakukhumbula kahle ukufika kwabo ngo-1954.
“Ngaleso sikhathi iGuam yayiyisikhungo sezempi kuphela,” kusho uSam. “Lesi siqhingi sasicekelwe phansi yimpi; amabhomu angakaqhumi nezinye iziqhumane zazikuyo yonke indawo, izikhali zempi zazigqwala nababulali baseJapane babesatholakala futhi bebanjwa. Mina nomkami sasiqashe emjondolo owawungenasiqandisi, ungenanto yokupholisa umoya, ungenambhede noma ezinye izimpahla. Sasilala emibhedeni emincane yasempini embozwe ngamanethi okuvimbela omiyane.”
Imizamo yokushumayela yabakwaWiger yaphumelela kangangokuba ngokushesha kwadingeka indawo yokuhlangana enkudlwana, ngakho ibandla laqasha ihholo lamasosha lokudlela futhi lalihlanzisisa. Lesi sakhiwo sasingaphesheya kwesonto lamaKatolika. Lapho abafowethu bemisa uphawu lweHholo LoMbuso, umpristi wamaKatolika wenqaba.
Kwabe sekushaya umbani. Ngesikhathi kunombani ongavamile, umbani washaya umbhoshongo wesonto kwaphahlaka izithombe eziningana. “Umpristi watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubeqonde ukushaya iHholo LoMbuso kodwa wageja,” kusho uWiger. “Lapho abantu bengayikholelwa leyo ncazelo, umpristi waqamba enye indaba. Wathi uNkulunkulu ubhidlize isonto ngoba base bedinga elikhudlwana nelingconywana.”
Ukungena ETrust Territory
Lapho abakwaWiger babelwa eJapane njengezithunywa zevangeli, kwasho umthwalo wemfanelo owengeziwe kuMerle Lowmaster, umzalwane omude owayehlale emomotheka kodwa elithatha ngokungathi sína iqiniso. I-Watch Tower Society yacela uMerle ukuba athathe uhambo lokuhlola lonke elaseMicronesia ngo-1960. Ngenxa yokuthi iziqhingi zazibuswa i-United States, kwadingeka athole imvume yokuya kuzo enxuseni eliphakeme, indoda echizayo neqhoshayo eyatshela uLowmaster ukuthi: “Uyongena ngifile kuleyo ndawo.”
Nokho, akudingekanga ize ife. Ngemva nje kwezinyanga ezintathu, kwabekwa inxusa eliphakeme elisha, futhi uMerle wayithola imvume yokuhamba. Ngakho, waba umuntu wokuqala owakhuluma ngesigijimi soMbuso eziqhingini zaseSaipan, eChuuk, ePohnpei, eBelau, naseYap.
Usizo Lomuntu Siqu Oluvela Kumongameli WeNhlangano
Kwagadla inhlekelele eGuam ngo-November 1962, ngenkathi iSiphepho uKaren sivunguza ngomoya onesivinini esicishe sibe amakhilomitha angu-320 ngehora esiqhingini, sabulala abantu abangu-9 futhi sadala umonakalo oyizigidi zamaRandi. Ngokujabulisayo, abekho abazalwane abafa, kodwa balahlekelwa iHholo LoMbuso labo. Ngesikhathi amathemba okuthola isakhiwo esisha efiphala, udade owayesanda kubhapathizwa wasiza ngokunikela ngendawo. Kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso elikhudlwana kuyo, elaqedwa ngesikhathi sokuhanjelwa kwegatsha ngo-1964 nguN. H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngaleso sikhathi.
Ukuze kunikezwe ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi kulengxenye yomhlaba owakhiwe, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wabela izithunywa zevangeli eziyisithupha ezazisanda kufika ukuba zisebenze ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zeMicronesia. Wazitshela: “Nakuba lezi zindawo zingase zibonakale kungezona ezakini, khumbulani ukuthi nisuke nisekhaya ngaso sonke isikhathi eplanethini ewuMhlaba. Okuwukuphela kwesithunywa sevangeli esasingesakwenye indawo ngempela kwakunguKristu, ngoba wasuka ezulwini ezokhonza lapha. Bambelelani esabelweni senu kuze kuphele umsebenzi!”
Phakathi neminyaka embalwa ngaphambi kwalokhu, ababonisi abajikelezayo babehambela iziqhingi kanye ngonyaka ngesikebhe sezimpahla. Babehambela oFakazi ababembalwa kakhulu ababeseziqhingini, befakaza noma nini lapho isikebhe simile, futhi benikeza isikhuthazo kunoma ubani owayebonise isithakazelo ekuhambeleni kwangaphambili. UMfoweth’ uKnorr wasikisela ukuba izifunda zihanjelwe kabili ngonyaka ngendiza.
Ababonisi Abajikelezayo Baneqhaza Ekwandeni
Kusukela ngo-1968, lolu hambo lwasemoyeni lwaseMicronesia lwathathwa uNathaniel Miller, umbonisi ojikelezayo waseHawaii. Njengoba abantu abaningi abakhulile baseMicronesia babekhuluma isiJapane, futhi uMiller ekade eyisithunywa sevangeli eJapane, kwakunengqondo ukuba akhethelwe lesi sabelo esinzima. Kungani sasinzima? “Uhambo olusuka eHonolulu lujikeleze lezi ziqhingi ngendiza lwalungamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-14 000,” kukhumbula uMiller.
Lapho efika eGuam, wathola ibandla elase lipholile. Kwakungekho ukwanda nensimu ingahlanganiswa njalo. UMiller wasikisela ukuba kuthunyelwe ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezine eGuam, kube nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli lesibili eningizimu ngasemaphethelweni esiqhingi.
Ngo-1969, iGuam nezindawo zaseMicronesia zabelwa igatsha laseHawaii. Kusukela ngo-1970, uRobert K. Kawasaki, Sr., umqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha yaseHawaii, naye wahambela elaseMicronesia, ekhonza imihlangano yesifunda, eyesigodi namakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli kanye ngonyaka.
Yasheshe yabonakala imiphumela yalokhu kunakwa ngokomuntu siqu okwakwenziwa abelusi abangokomoya. UMhlangano Wesigodi “Wabantu Abathokozelwayo” owawuseGuam ngo-1970 wadonsa ingqikithi yabantu abangu-291, usakazwa nsuku zonke amaphephandaba, umsakazo nethelevishini. Nokho, sasisekhona ngempela isidingo sezisebenzi ezengeziwe kulengxenye yensimu. Zazizovelaphi?
URobert noMildred Fujiwara babengamaphayona avamile anesitolo sokudla eHawaii, kodwa babelangazelela ukukhonza lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Bafeza lelo phupho ngo-1970 ngokuthuthela eGuam nezingane ezintathu ezineminyaka esukela ku-8 kuya ku-16. Ingabe lokho kuthutha kwabazuzisa bona nezingane zabo? Zonke izingane zabo zikhulile futhi zishadile manje, futhi zonke ziyizinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo. Ezimbili zazo zikhonza egatsheni laseGuam, enye iyiphayona. Kwakunebandla elilodwa nje vó eGuam ngesikhathi kufika abakwaFujiwara. Baye baba nenjabulo yokuhlanganyela emsebenzini njengoba inani lamabandla liye landa laya ku-9, kanye nelinye iqembu. Ahlelelwe ukunakekela abantu abakhuluma izilimi eziyisithupha. Kwafika neminye imikhaya eminingana ngawo-1970 nawo-1980 izosiza.
Kulula Ukukhumbula Ikheli Legatsha
Ngo-1976 iHholo LoMbuso laseGuam, elalakhiwe ngo-1964 lanwetshwa ngo-1969, labhidlizwa iSiphepho uPamela. “IGuam yayibukeka sengathi igandaywe ugandaganda,” kusho omunye umfowethu.
Esikhundleni sokwakha kabusha lendawo yokuhlanganyela engenkulu kakhulu, kwakhiwa isakhiwo segatsha esisha esimise okuka-L, sinehhovisi, indawo yokunyathelisa, amakamelo ayisithupha neHholo LoMbuso elikhulu elihlala abantu abangu-400 okwakungaqhutshelwa kulo nemihlangano yesifunda. Ukuze livikelwe eziphephweni, lakhiwa ngezindonga zikakhonkolo nensimbi eziwugqinsi olungamasentimitha angu-20. Umfowethu owayesuke eHawaii waphawula: “Lalilikhulu kakhulu kangangokuba sasicabanga ukuthi asisoze saligcwalisa. KwakunoFakazi abangu-120 kuphela kuso sonke isiqhingi, futhi sasizigungquzela nje kulo njengemabula ebhokisini lezicathulo.” Ngemva nje kweminyaka embalwa, lelo Hholo LoMbuso elikhulukazi lase lihluleka ukuthatha izethameli zomhlangano.
UMfoweth’ uMiller, owayaziwa ngokuxhawula kwakhe kwentshiseko nendlela yakhe ehlukile yokuhleka, waba umqondisi wokuqala weKomiti Yegatsha YaseGuam. Abafowethu ababili abanokuhlangenwe nakho baba naye ekomitini—uRobert Savage, owayekade engumqondisi wegatsha eVietnam noHideo Sumida, owayekade ekhonza eKomitini Yegatsha YaseHawaii.
Lapho kwakhiwa igatsha okokuqala, iposi lalilandwa ebhokisini laseposini. Nokho, ngelinye ilanga kwafika isisebenzi sikahulumeni sathi sikhipha amakheli omgwaqo ukuze iposi lilethwe ekhaya. Njengoba sibhala inombolo “143” esakhiweni, uMiller wasibuza ukuthi umgwaqo wabo bazowetha liphi igama. Lendoda yathi: “Angazi. Asibheke ebalazweni sibone.” UMiller wamangala lapho ebona ukuthi uhulumeni wayewuqambe ngokuthi u-Jehovah Street.
Imisebenzi Yokwakha Ngokuciciyela
Kwakudingeka kwenziwe omunye umsebenzi wokwakha. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1980, uJim Persinger, e-United States, wabona ukuthi imboni yakhe kasimende imdlela isikhathi sakhe esiningi, ngakho yena nomkakhe, uJene, bakhetha ukwenza ukuphila kwabo kube lula. Bakha isikebhe sikakhonkolo esingamamitha angu-15, basetha ngokuthi i-Petra, base belibangisa eGuam. Isikebhe sabakwaPersinger saba usizo kakhulu emisebenzini yokwakha.
Phakathi kuka-1982 no-1991, kwakhiwa amakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli namaHholo OMbuso eziqhingini eziyisithupha zaseMicronesia. Ukungabibikho kwezinto zokwakha kwabeka inselele. Kweminye imisebenzi yokwakha, abafowethu kwakudingeka bazakhele awabo ama-block ngezandla. Babethela udaka lukasimende ebhokisini bese beluyeka lome. Babezenzela eyabo inhlabathi enamatshe ngokuqhephula amadwala, futhi kwakudingeka bazitholele esabo isihlabathi. Ukuze kuthuthwe izimpahla nezisebenzi zisuka kwesinye isiqhingi ziya kwesinye, kwakuvame ukusetshenziswa i-Petra. “Ngesikhathi sakha iHholo LoMbuso eChuuk, wawungenakusithenga isihlabathi kulesi siqhingi,” kuchaza uJim Persinger, “ngakho sasiya esiqhingini esincane esingahlali muntu, bese sikha isihlabathi ebhishi sisifake emasakeni. Sasibe sesisilayisha esikebheni siphindele emuva esakhiweni.”
URay Scholze, owayenolwazi lwasempini lobunjiniyela, wayengumqondisi wemisebenzi eminingi yokwakha yaseMicronesia. Eqenjini lakhe lezisebenzi kwakunoCalvin Arii, u-Avery Teeple noMiles Inouye, ababefike bevela eHawaii bezosiza ekwakhiweni kwegatsha elisha base bezinza eGuam. Babeye basebenze ndawonye beciciyela ukuze umsebenzi wenziwe.
Ukwanda Okwengeziwe Ngaphansi Kokwengamela Okusha
UMfoweth’ uMiller wahamba eGuam ngo-1987 lapho ethola ukuthi umkakhe ugulela ukufa. Owathatha isikhundla sakhe njengomqondisi kwakungu-Arthur White, owayemude enomdlandla, owayekade ekhonza eKomitini Yegatsha YaseHawaii neyaseGuam futhi eye walijikeleza lonke elaseMicronesia njengombonisi wesigodi kusukela ngo-1981. Ngaphansi kokwengamela kwakhe, igatsha laseGuam liye laba nezinguquko eziningi. Kuye kwanezelwa amaHholo OMbuso amabili ezakhiweni zegatsha, futhi umsebenzi wokwakha owaqedwa ngo-1995 wanikeza indawo yehhovisi nefektri okwakudingeka kakhulu kanye nezindlu ezintsha zokuhlala.
EKomitini Yegatsha ukhonza noJulian Aki noSalvador Soriano, izithunywa zevangeli esezimnkantsh’ubomvu eMicronesia. Ngokudabukisayo, uHideo Sumida, elinye lamalungu ekomiti yokuqala, washona ngemva kweminyaka eminingana enengxenye ekumisweni kwegatsha eGuam.
Ukukhuluma Ngezilimi Zakwamanye Amazwe
Njengoba isiqhingi saseGuam siye sathuthuka, izifiki ziye zanda. Kuye kwanezelwa izithunywa zevangeli ukuze zisebenze insimu yesiTagalog, isi-Iloko, isiKorea neyesiShayina.
Sekuyiminyaka engu-14 u-Ernesto noGloria Gabriel befakaza emphakathini ongamaFilipino, oyingxenye eyodwa kwezine yabantu baseGuam. Amabandla esiTagalog nesi-Iloko makhulu kunanoma imaphi amabandla amahlanu esiNgisi kulesi siqhingi.
Isithunywa sevangeli esingumKorea uJung-Sung Chung safika ngo-1985. Siyakhumbula: “Isimo sezulu sasishisa futhi siswakeme kangangokuba mina nomkami sasigeza kaningi ngosuku ukuze sisuse umjuluko.” Nokho, babeshumayela amahora amaningi elangeni futhi isibonelo sabo sokuzimisela sasiza ekumisweni kwebandla elincane kodwa eliqinile.
Abantu baseGuam bathola ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi. Kunesilinganiso sikaFakazi oyedwa kubantu abangu-262.
IKIRIBATI: Basazi Ngokuthi Te Koaua
Nakuba iqiniso loMbuso laqala ukufika eGuam livela ePhilippines, lafika eKiribati (ngaleso sikhathi eyayaziwa ngokuthi iGilbert Islands) livela eNew Zealand. Lezi ziqhingi zaziyikoloni laseBrithani, futhi ukushumayela kwethu kwakubekelwe imingcele, kodwa ngo-1959 uHuia Paxton wakwazi ukungena njengosokhemisi futhi wahlala khona kwaze kwaba ngu-1967. Wathola iqoqo leziqhingana zama-coral—ngokuvamile zaziyimisweswana, zihlale zishisa futhi zinomswakama—zindlaleke ngapha nangapha kwenkabazwe.
Umsebenzi kaHuia wawumhambisa yonke iGilbert Islands lapho yena nomkakhe, uBeryl, namadodana abo amabili amancane bafuna khona amathuba okukhuluma ngeBhayibheli. Epikinikini ethile owesifazane wabuza indodana yabo eneminyaka emihlanu, uStephen, ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhe unalo yini igama. “Yebo. Igama lakhe uJehova,” kuphendula uStephen. Impendulo yakhe yenza abanye ukuba babuze imibuzo. Kungakapholi maseko, abakwaPaxton base beqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli neqembu elikhulu njalo ngeSonto.
Ngaphambi kokuba baphindele eNew Zealand, abakwaPaxton bahlela umhlangano okhethekile esiqhingini sama-coral esasingenamuntu. Kwanikezwa inkulumo yobhapathizo ngalolo lusuku, amaGilbert amahlanu abonisa ukuzinikezela kwawo kuJehova ngobhapathizo ngokucwiliswa emanzini echibi. Ngeshwa, intshiseko eyayiboniswe yilabo bantu kulezo ziqhingi ekuqaleni, yancipha kancane kancane.
Kamuva, indoda engumGilbert uNariki Kautu yaya e-Australia iyofundela ezamabhizinisi. Ngesikhathi ilapho, nayo yatadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova futhi yabhapathizwa. “Lapho ngibuya nomkhaya wami ngo-1978, saqala ukuzibuza ukuthi bakhona yini abanye abangoFakazi BakaJehova eKiribati,” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ uKautu. Ngokushesha waqaphela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babengaziwa nhlobo eziqhingini zakubo. Uthi: “Sathola umbhangqwana oshadile owodwa nenye indoda nezingane zayo, kodwa yayingekho imihlangano ehlelekile, futhi kungekho ncwadi yeNhlangano etholakala ngesiGilbert. Saqala ukuhlangana njalo ngeSonto. Sasithandaza, sifunde iBhayibheli, futhi njengoba kwakuyimina ngedwa okwazi ukufunda isiNgisi, ngangiye ngichaze okuthile ezincwadini zeNhlangano.”
IHholo LoMbuso—Lingaphezu Kokuba Isakhiwo
Ngo-1982 iqembu elincane eKiribati laqiniswa ukufika kukaPaul noMarina Tabunigao, izithunywa zevangeli ezazabelwe lapha. Imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli, kamuva yaba sekilasini lesikole, kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova babengabhekwa “njengenkolo yangempela” kwaze kwaba yilapho sekwakhiwe iHholo LoMbuso labo ngo-1991. Izisebenzi zokuzithandela zomhlaba wonke zenza umsebenzi omkhulu, futhi abantu bendawo babemangazwa ukuthi “izihambi” zinikela ngesikhathi nemali yazo ukuze zisize esakhiweni. Ngakho iHholo LoMbuso laba ubufakazi obuphathekayo bobunye bothando kubantu bakaJehova.
Abaningi bakhangwa iqiniso ngenxa yalokho. Omunye udade owabhapathizwa ngokushesha ngemva komsebenzi wokwakha wathi: “Kwangihlaba umxhwele impela ukuthi leli bandla elincane lisizwa izihambi zaphesheya.” Lelo bandla “elincane” liye landa lisuka kubamemezeli abangu-28 ngo-1990 kuya kwabangu-70 namuhla, okulenza libe elinye lamabandla anda ngokushesha eMicronesia.
Izincwadi ZeNhlangano Zaziswa Kakhulu
Nakuba ayetholakala amanye amapheshana nezincwajana ezingangomagazini, kwaze kwaba yilapho kufika incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade EPharadesi Emhlabeni ngo-1994 lapho abantu bendawo bakwazi khona ukufunda enye yezincwadi zeNhlangano ngolimi lwabo. “Zimbalwa kakhulu izincwadi zanoma iluphi uhlobo ezitholakala ngolimi lwesiGilbert,” kusho u-Edi Possamai, isithunywa sevangeli esikhonza ngokwethembeka nomkaso, “futhi akukho lutho olusondela nokusondela ezingeni lalencwadi.”
Incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade manje isinyatheliswe ngezilimi eziyisithupha zaseMicronesia, futhi eyesiGilbert iye yaba nethonya elikhulu. Leyo ncwadi iye yashukumisa abantu abaningi baseziqhingini ukuba batadishe iBhayibheli. Abanye baye babonakala beya nencwadi yabo ethi Ungaphila Phakade esontweni.
Abantu baseKiribati baye bagcona izinkolo eziseziqhingini zabo ngamagama ayizidlaliso. Ngenxa yokuthi amaProthestani avala amehlo uma ethandaza, abizwa ngokuthi ama-Kamatu, okusho ukuthi “Lalisa.” AmaSabatha abizwa ngokuthi ama-Itibong, noma “Izinsuku Ezingu-7.” Babizwa ngaliphi oFakazi BakaJehova? Ngelithi Te Koaua, okusho ukuthi nje “Iqiniso.”
IMARSHALL ISLANDS: Umgwaqo Oya Enkonzweni
Kwase kuyiminyaka eminingi kukhona oFakazi eGuam ngaphambi kokuba umbhangqwana waseMelika othanda ukuhamba uyise izindaba ezinhle eMarshall Islands, engamakhilomitha angu-3200 eningizimu-mpumalanga yeGuam. UPowell Mikkelsen nomkakhe, uNyoma, babeqonde ukuya eBahamas bayokhonza lapho kwakunendingeko enkulu khona, futhi benalowo mgomo, bathenga isikebhe esingamamitha ayishumi, abasetha ngokuthi i-Integrity. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, uPowell wanikezwa umsebenzi wokwengamela umsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwesiteshi esikhulu sikagesi eMarshall Islands. I-Watch Tower Society yamnxusa ukuba asithathe lesi sikhundla. Ngaleso sikhathi, ngenxa yemingcele engokomthetho yokungena kwezifiki, babengekho oFakazi eMarshall Islands.
Ngenkathi uMfoweth’ uMikkelsen enakekela imithwalo yakhe yemfanelo emayelana nokwakhiwa kwesiteshi sikagesi, yena nomkakhe balisebenzisa ngokunenzuzo ithuba ababenalo ukuze basize abantu baseziqhingini ngokomoya. Bafika eKwajalein Atoll ngo-1960 kamuva bama eMajuro Atoll, lapho bazifundisa khona ukukhuluma isiMarshall. Lapho befakaza, abantu abathandekayo bakulezi ziqhingi babeqabukela benqabile ukulalela, futhi ngo-1964 uPowell noNyoma base beqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-12, kuhlanganise nesinye ababesiqhuba ne-Iroij Lap Lap (iNkosi Enkulu) yaseMajuro.
UJulian Aki noMelvin Ah You, bobabili abayizithunywa zevangeli, bahlangana lapho nabakwaMikkelsen ngo-1965, futhi ngezinyanga nje ezimbalwa, laba bafowethu abashisekayo base befunde isiMarshall ngokwanele ukuba babeke isigijimi esilula futhi base bakhe nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli elimi njengo-A.
Ukuze balungiselele indawo yemihlangano, kwakhiwa iHholo LoMbuso lesikhashana ngokwelula useyili omkhulu we-Integrity wabe usubanjwa ngeziqu zezihlahla zesundu phansi. “Lapho isixuku sanda, sasivele siwelule kakhudlwana useyili,” kusho uMfoweth’ uMikkelsen. “Sabe sesisebenzisa useyili wangemuva; kwathi kamuva kwaba useyili wangaphambili. Lapho sesiphelelwe oseyili, kwase kuyisikhathi sokwakha iHholo LoMbuso ‘elifanele.’”
Abantu Basesiqhingini Bahlatshwa Umxhwele Izithunywa Zevangeli Ezintsha
Ekuqaleni konyaka wenkonzo ka-1966, u-Aki no-Ah You babona ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi sokuyazi kangcono insimu yabo, ngakho bathenga amathikithi okuhamba ngomkhumbi wezimpahla, owakhiwe ngensimbi owawuma ngaphandle kweziqhingana zama-coral zaseMarshall Islands. Kulolu hambo lokubona indawo lwezinsuku ezingu-24 kwakugibele nomfundisi ongumProthestani owayesanda kushada, owayeseneminyaka emithathu ekulezi ziqhingi. Izimemezelo zomsakazo zaziqaphelisa isiqhingana sama-coral ngasinye ukuthi “umfundisi” nomakoti wakhe bayeza kungekudala. Yeka indlela abadumala ngayo abantu baseziqhingini lapho lomfundisi ehunyushelwa! Wayengakaze azihluphe ngokufunda isiMarshall.
Lapho lomfundisi exwayisa izilaleli zakhe ukuba zigweme “abelusi bamanga ababili” abasemkhunjini, abantu baba nelukuluku elengeziwe lokubona izithunywa zevangeli zoFakazi BakaJehova, ezazikhuluma ulimi lwabo lwesiMarshall futhi zixoxa ngezinto ezimangalisayo eziseBhayibhelini. Babenxusa bephindelela: “Hlalani lapha nisifundise iBhayibheli. Sizozinakekela izidingo zenu. Hlalani nathi bandla kuze kufike umkhumbi olandelayo!”
Inqubo Eshaqisayo Kumbonisi Wesifunda
Lapho uNathaniel Miller esuka eHawaii ngendiza ohambweni lwakhe lokuqala lokujikeleza kulo lonke elaseMicronesia ngo-1968, engxenyeni yokuqala yohambo lwakhe wafikela eMajuro. Uyakhumbula: “Ngikhumbula ngiqala ukubona iziqhingana ezincanyana zama-coral zaseMarshall Islands. I-DC-9 yehla ngenjongo yokuhlala phansi, kodwa kunalokho yabuye yakhuphuka, yazungeza isikhumulo sezindiza. Lapho ngibuka phansi, ngabona abantu bexosha izingulube bezisusa emgwaqweni wendiza ukuze ikwazi ukuhlala. Kwakukhona nemoto eyayipakwe emgwaqweni ohamba indiza. Iqembu lamadoda athile layiqukula layigudluza!”
Kumuntu ovela eHonolulu, lenqubo yayishaqisa. Isikhumulo sezindiza saseMajuro “sasiyisikhumulo” esivulekile esakhiwe ngamacembe ezihlahla zikakhukhunathi nomgwaqo wakhiwe ngamatshe asolwandle. “Ngangingawujwayele neze umqondo wokushaywa kwezindiza uhlwayi lwamatshe lapho zihlala,” kusho uMiller. Kwathi angehla, yena nemithwalo yakhe bafakwa ngemuva evenini, bayiswa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli, behamba emgwaqweni onezikhinsi, ongakhonkiwe.
Ngaleso sikhathi iHholo LoMbuso lalifulelwe ngothayela, kungekho zindonga futhi phansi kungakhonkiwe. “Ekuhambeleni kwami kokuqala ngakhuluma neqembu elincane labantu abangu-20 ngihunyushelwa,” kulandisa uMiller. “Inkulumo yaphazanyiswa ingulube enkulu eyayizizulela yangena eHholo LoMbuso!”
Bakuphi Ngempela Abafileyo?
Amasonto amaMarshall afundisa izinkolelo ezingavamile ngempela. Ngelinye ilanga uWilliam Maddison, idikoni elingumProthestani, wavivinya uJulian Aki: “KweyabaseFilipi, uPawulu wabhala ukuthi ‘wonke amadolo ayeyoguqa kuJesu, awabasezulwini nawabasemhlabeni nawabangaphansi komhlabathi.’ Umbuzo wami uthi, ‘Obani labo abangaphansi komhlabathi?’” (Fil. 2:10) Lapho uMfoweth’ u-Aki echaza ukuthi abafileyo abayovuswa, uWilliam wajabula. Wayekhathazwa imfundiso yesonto lakhe yokuthi labo “abangaphansi komhlabathi” ama-ri menanui, “imikhovu,” ngokwenganekwane yamaMarshall, ephumela ngaphandle komhlabathi phakathi kwamabili kuphela.
Ngokushesha uWilliam wahlela ukuba umkhaya wakhe utadishe iBhayibheli noMfoweth’ u-Aki, futhi yena nomkakhe, u-Almina, babhapathizwa kanye kanye ngo-1966. Kusukela ngo-1983 ubekhonza njengomdala, futhi umkakhe useneminyaka engu-28 eyiphayona elivamile, okuyisikhathi eside ngaphezu kwesabo bonke eMicronesia.
Amasonto amaMarshall afundisa nokuthi isihogo siyibhodwe elikhulu lensimbi elisezulwini lapho izoni ziyobulwa khona ngamanzi abilayo. USailass Andrike, njengabaningi, wayeyikholelwa lemfundiso “yokufa ezulwini.” Nokho, lapho eboniswa eBhayibhelini ukuthi abafileyo baphindela othulini, uSailass walamukela iqiniso futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1969. (Gen. 3:19) Waba nesandla ekutholakaleni kwendawo yeHholo LoMbuso elisha, futhi waba umhumushi wokuqala wesiMarshall. Kwamiswa ibandla eMajuro ngo-1967. Njengoba abafowethu bendawo abanjengoWilliam noSailass babemukela imithwalo yemfanelo, uJulian Aki noDonald Burgess, isithunywa sevangeli esasisanda kufika, bakwazi ukuthuthela e-Ebeye, isiqhingana sama-coral esisentshonalanga yeMarshall Islands.
Njengoba ithi ayibe ngangedolobha elincane, i-Ebeye yayihlala abantu baseMarshall Islands abangamakhulu ambalwa nje kuphela kwaze kwaba yilapho imisebenzi enemali yezempi yase-United States, eKwajalein Atoll eseduze, yandisa inani labantu ladlula ku-8000. Usuku ngalunye, abantu bakulesi siqhingi bahamba ngesikebhe baye emsebenzini esikhungweni esikhulu sezempi eKwajalein.
Umsakazo Usakazela AbaseMarshall
Umsakazo uye wasetshenziswa njengethuluzi lokushumayela kulo lonke elaseMicronesia, kodwa kuye kwaphumelela kakhulu eMarshall Islands. Isiteshi somsakazo i-WSZO, esaziwa ngokuthi iGolden Voice of the Marshalls, sinikeza izilaleli okubaluleke kakhulu kunegolide. Kusukela ngo-1970, abadala beBandla LaseMajuro baye benza uhlelo lwamasonto onke lwemizuzu engu-15 ngolimi lwesiMarshall, oluklanyelwe ikakhulukazi ukufinyelela abantu abaseziqhingini zama-coral eziqhelile. Izithunywa zevangeli azikwazi ukungamomotheki lapho zizwa abantu bamanye amasonto beshaya umlozi lapho kukhala ibika lokuvula uhlelo lomsakazo, ingoma enesihloko esithi, “SingoFakazi BakaJehova!”
Abambalwa Baye Baba Baningi
Abafowethu bamaMarshall bayisibonelo esivelele sothando nentshiseko. URobert Savage, owavakashela amaMarshall njengombonisi ojikelezayo ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970, ukhumbula indlela yena nomkakhe ababebingelelwa ngayo eHholo LoMbuso. Uthi: “Abafowethu nodade abangaphezu kwekhulu babenza isikokelo bese ngamunye esixhawula futhi asho amazwi okusamukela. Ukucula kwabo izingoma zoMbuso kwakumtoti ngempela! Bengaculi nazinsimbi, abafowethu nodade babecula ngokuvumelana, kuphume unqambothi lomculo.”
UClemente no-Eunice Areniego, asebeneminyaka engu-28 beyizithunywa zevangeli, baye bakhonza eMarshall Islands kusukela ngo-1977 futhi baye babona ukwanda okumangalisayo phakathi naleso sikhathi. Lapho kufika uJulian noLorraine Kanamu eMajuro njengezithunywa zevangeli ngo-1982, isilinganiso sababeba khona emihlanganweni sasingu-85. Manje kunamabandla amabili, futhi isilinganiso sababa khona singu-320. Kungani umsebenzi uye wachuma? “Lezi ziqhingi azilona neze ipharadesi,” kuchaza uMfoweth’ uKanamu. “Izinkinga zenhliziyo, ugcunsula nesifo sikashukela zivamile, futhi ukufa kwezinsana kuye kwazihlupha lezi ziqhingi. Ingculaza nayo isiye yabangena abanye. Abantu abanelisekile, futhi baphendukela eqinisweni.”
ISAIPAN: Ukubhekana Nenselele
Iqiniso liyachuma naseSaipan, kodwa akukhona ukuthi bekulokhu kunjalo. Izithunywa zevangeli zakuqala zazivika amatshe emini kuthi ebusuku zihlale endlini “enezipoki.” Ekugcineni kwadingeka kuze kube nesiphepho ukuze siphephule isigijimi soMbuso kulensimu enzima.
Lapho u-Ernest noKay Manion beya eSaipan ngo-1962, bathola isiqhingi esasiphethwe iSonto LamaKatolika. Kwakuwukuphela kwenkolo abantu bendawo ababeyazi, futhi ukuze agcine isimo sinjalo, kuthiwa umpristi omkhulu walahla amaBhayibheli ambalwa abantu besonto lakhe ababenawo. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu nje abavamile babengalikholelwa iBhayibheli, futhi ngokudabukisayo, bambalwa ababeke balibona.
Insimu yayinzima kangangokuba lapho abakwaManion sekudingeka bahambe eSaipan ngo-1966, wayemunye kuphela umuntu owayethembithembisa. Kodwa uRobert noSharon Livingstone baqhubeka lapho abakwaManion babegcine khona.
“Ngokuvamile lapho siza emgwaqweni, kwakuvaleka yonke iminyango namafasitela, ngakho kwakwenzeka sisebenze sonke isikhathi sasekuseni kungavuli muntu emnyango,” kukhumbula uMfoweth’ uLivingstone. “Abafanyana abancane babesijikijela ngamatshe bekude, uSharon yena ngokuvamile wayeyisisulu sezinkulumo nezenzo zabo ezikhohlakele. Abanye babesisasazela ngezinja zabo, kuthi izalukazi zenze uphawu lwesiphambano lapho sidlula, ngokusobala ukuze zizivikele ebubini.”
Ingabe Izithunywa Zevangeli Kufanele Zisishiye Isiqhingi?
Ukusebenzisa imimoya kudlangile kulo lonke elaseMicronesia, futhi ikhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eSaipan, indlu eyayiqashiwe, yayisendaweni ecezile lapho kwakwenzeka khona imihlola. Izithunywa zevangeli zathutha, futhi namuhla ikhaya lazo lisendaweni ekahle eduze kolwandle, eduze komgwaqo omkhulu.
Ngemva kweminyaka emihlanu izindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwe eSaipan, kwaba nombukiso wenye yamafilimu eNhlangano. Kweza umuntu oyedwa vó—owesifazane owayeseneminyaka emine efunda abuye ayeke kodwa owayebuye azicashele izithunywa zevangeli ngezinye izikhathi. Zase zichithe iminyaka emibili esabelweni sazo futhi kwakuqabukela zixoxe nothile. Ingabe kwakufanele ‘zithuntuthe uthuli ezinyaweni zazo’ zihambe eSaipan?—Math. 10:14.
Isiphepho Senza Umphakathi Ulalele
Kwathi lapho izithunywa zevangeli sezibona ukuthi akekho oyoke alalele, isiphepho esinamandla ngo-1968 saphoqelela abantu ukuba bakunake okwakushiwo oFakazi BakaJehova. ISiphepho uJean sagadla eSaipan sihamba ngesivinini samakhilomitha angu-320 ngehora futhi sabhidliza amaphesenti angu-90 ezakhiwo esiqhingini. “Ngacabanga ukuthi sekuyi-Armagedoni,” kusho umfundi weBhayibheli owayefunda abuye ayeke.
“Ngikhumbula kahle ngifakwa ngaphansi kwetafula lasekhishini,” kusho uMfoweth’ uLivingstone. “Sakhexa lapho sibona uphahla lwangaphakathi nezindonga zivokomala ngenxa yamandla omoya. Umsindo wawunjengowendiza edumela ukusuka uhlangene noweguzu eligudluzelayo. Ngathandazela ukuba uJehova asivikele. Nokho, ukuze uSharon ezwe umthandazo wami, kwadingeka ngimemeze kakhulu, umlomo wami usendlebeni yakhe.”
Ingabe lomthandazo waphendulwa? Nakuba isikole samaKatolika nesigodlo sezindela esiseduze saba imvithi, ikhaya loFakazi lezithunywa zevangeli elidala lamapulangwe alizange libhidlike. Isiphepho sadlula ekuseni, futhi iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, iSikhumbuzo, sagujwa ngalobo busuku. Sonke isiqhingi sasisesiphithiphithini, kodwa ekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli kwakuhlangene abantu abane ngokuthula, bekhanyise ilambu likaphalafini. Abantu abaningi eSaipan baqala ukuzibuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelethe isivunguvungu ukuze abajezise yini.
Ukukhuthazela Kuyavuzwa
Owesifazane owayesefunde iminyaka emine ekugcineni walimelela iqiniso futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-July 4, 1970. Ngalolo lusuku kwabhapathizwa no-Augustine (Gus) noTaeko Castro. UGus wayeke wafundela ukuba umpristi wamaKatolika, kodwa uTaeko uyena owafuna iqiniso. Lapho elithola, ngokushesha waqala ukuya emihlanganweni.
UGus, umChamorro othulile nobukekayo, akagculisekanga kalula. Wathi: “Njalo ngeSonto, ngangimenyelwa emhlanganweni, kodwa ngangenqaba ngenxa yokwesaba abantu. Ngangingafuni ukubonwa ngisemihlanganweni. Ngangisondelene kakhulu nabapristi, futhi abazali bami babengamaKatolika ashisekayo. Babeyocabanga ukuthi ngisangene.”
UGus wacabanga ukuthi inkinga yakhe yayisixazululekile lapho eyiswa eHawaii eyoqeqeshelwa umsebenzi izinyanga eziyisithupha. Nokho, ngelinye ilanga wathola ipheshana ngaphansi kwesicabha elalimcela ukuba ashayele umfowethu wendawo oyiphayona ucingo. Izithunywa zevangeli zaseSaipan zazibhalele abazalwane eHawaii zibacela ukuba othile athintane naye. UGus wanqaba izikhathi eziningana ukuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli, kodwa umfowethu oyiphayona waphikelela. Wathi uma ihora ngesonto lilikhulu kakhulu, bangafunda imizuzu engu-30.
“Ekugcineni ngavuma ukufunda imizuzu engu-15 ngesonto,” kukhumbula uGus. “Kodwa kwakungengoba ngifuna ukufunda iBhayibheli. Injongo yami kwakuwukuthola iphutha nje elilodwa bese kuba ukuphela.” Isu lakhe aliphumelelanga. Isifundo sathakazelisa kangangokuba ngokushesha uGus wacela ukuba siqhutshwe isikhathi esiyihora kabili ngesonto.
UMfoweth’ uCastro usekhonze njengomdala eBandleni LaseSaipan iminyaka eminingi. Indodana yakhe yokuqala yachitha iminyaka emithathu eBethel yaseBrooklyn kanti indodakazi yakhe eyizibulo yathweswa iziqu eSikoleni SaseGileyadi ngo-1990 ukuze ibe isithunywa sevangeli. Enye indodana ingumdala namuhla, kanti enye indodakazi iyiphayona.
Ubuzenzisi Besonto Benza Abanye Baphendukele Eqinisweni
Ziningi izici ezithambise insimu yaseSaipan. Phakathi kwezinye, ukuphikelela koFakazi BakaJehova kuye kwatuswa. Eminyakeni edlule isikhulu se-trust territory saphawula ukuthi umsebenzi woFakazi wokushumayela wawususa isidumo emphakathini, sabuza omunye umfowethu ukuthi bangaki ebandleni. Lapho umfowethu esitshela ukuthi bangu-12, lesi sikhulu sathi: “Ningu-12! Indlela abantu baseSaipan abakhuluma ngayo, bengithi niyikhulu!”
Ubuzenzisi eSontweni LamaKatolika nabo buye benza abantu basinaka isigijimi soMbuso. Ngesinye isikhathi abapristi bafundisa abantu ukuthi “amaProthestani mabi njengoDeveli.” Kamuva abapristi batshela abantu bamasonto abo ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova “babi kunamaProthestani,” okwenza abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho bazibuza, “Kungenzeka kanjani kube nento embi ngaphezu kukaDeveli?”
Isimo sengqondo sabantu ngeqiniso siye sashintsha kakhulu kangangokuba namuhla isilinganiso sabantu okudingeka ummemezeli ngamunye abashumayeze eSaipan singesinye sezinhle kakhulu eMicronesia—oyedwa kubantu abangu-276. IHholo LoMbuso likakhonkolo elihlala abantu abangu-350 laqedwa ngo-1991, futhi manje kunamabandla amakhulu amabili ahlanganyela kulo, elinye elesiNgisi elinye elesiTagalog.
Izindaba Ezinhle Ziya ETinian
Zisuka eSaipan, izindaba ezinhle zafinyelela eTinian, isiqhingi esincane esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphansi kuka-8. Labo abawaziyo umlando weMpi Yezwe II bayazi ukuthi kwakuseTinian, ngo-1945, lapho i-Enola Gay, indiza yase-United States ejikijela amabhomu, iB-29, yasukela khona iyophonsa ibhomu le-athomu eHiroshima, eJapane. Kusukela ngo-1970, oFakazi baseSaipan ngezikhathi ezithile babechitha izimpelasonto zabo behambisa omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! eTinian. Babebonisa ukuthi ngokwesinqumo sikaJehova, sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba abathandi bokulunga ezizweni zonke bakhande izinkemba zabo zibe ngamakhuba futhi bangabe besafunda ukulwa.—Isaya 2:4.
Nokho, babengekho oFakazi ababehlala eTinian kwaze kwaba yilapho kufika uRobert noLee Moreaux ngo-April 1992, ababekade bekhonza e-Ireland. Kodwa imbewu yayitshaliwe.
Indodana yomphathi-dolobha, uJoseph Manglona, emkhaya wakubo onamandla kwezombangazwe wawuhlanganisa abanye abenzi bomthetho eTinian, yakubona ukubaluleka kwalokho eyayikufunda kuyi-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!, yabona ukuthi yayithole iqiniso, futhi yalitshela abanye. Ukuze ziyidikibalise ingabhapathizwa, izihlobo zayo zayithembisa isikhundla esinemali kwezombangazwe, esasiyoyenza ikwazi ukondla kahle umkayo nezingane ezimbili. Kodwa uJoseph waphendula: “Uhulumeni wenu uzobhujiswa uJehova uNkulunkulu maduze nje. Ngingafunelani nje ukuba nengxenye kuwo?” Ukuma kwakhe kwesibindi kuye kwenza izihlobo zakhe eziningana zahlanganyela naye ekukhonzeni uJehova.
Ngemva kokuba abathakazelayo benikezwe usizo lomuntu siqu oluqhubekayo, kwathatha iminyaka emibili kuphela ngaphambi kokuba kumiswe ibandla elithuthukayo labamemezeli abangu-24. Namuhla kunekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli neHholo LoMbuso eTinian.
ICHUUK: Ukuqala Emjondolo
Ngemva kweSaipan, indawo eyalandela ekuzuzeni enkonzweni yasikhathi sonke yezithunywa zevangeli ze-Watch Tower kwaba iChuuk Islands (eyayiyiTruk). UMerle Lowmaster wayeke wavakashela lapha kafushane ngo-1961, kodwa ngo-1965 uPaul noLillian Williams baqala ukuhlala eChuuk—izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala kwezingaphezu kuka-30 eziye zazivumelanisa nezimo eziyisidala zalapha.
Lapho befika esiqhingini esikhulu saseMoen ngo-1965, ukungabekezelelani ngokwenkolo kwenza kwaba nzima ukuthola indawo eqinisekile yezithunywa zevangeli. Ekugcineni umphathi-sitolo othile wathi uzobaqashisela ingxenye yomjondolo wakhe. Lokhu kwathukuthelisa abapristi bamaKatolika kangangokuba baqonda ngqó enduneni yalelo dolobhana bafuna ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova baxoshwe kulezi ziqhingi. Induna yaphendula: “Eminyakeni edlule nafika lapha nasitshela ukuthi asithandane, kungani-ke manje nisitshela ukuba sizonde?” Inkukhu yanqunywa umlomo kubapristi. Izithunywa zevangeli zahlala.
Kwatholakala isithakazelo ngokushesha, futhi ngokushesha kwase kuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-30 kulezi ziqhingi, ezake zaba isikhumulo semikhumbi yempi esiyinhloko saseJapane phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Abaqhumisi bamabhomu baseMelika babhubhisa imikhumbi yempi eminingi yaseJapane lapha, futhi namuhla ababhukudi abavela kulo lonke izwe baya eChwebeni laseChuuk beyobona ithuna elingaphansi kwamanzi lemikhumbi nezindiza ezacwila. Labo abazinikeza ithuba lokubazi kahle abantu bathola okunye okuhlukile okuthakazelisayo. Bangase bahlekiswe amagama angavamile. Bangase bahlangane nomuntu okuthiwa uBeer (ubhiya), uWhisper (ukuhlebeza), uPadlock (ingidi), noma uSnow White (umlingiswa wasenganekwaneni). Indoda ethile yetha amadodana ayo amathathu ngokuthi uSardine (inhlanzi encane), uTuna (inhlanzi esethinini), noSpam (inyama esethinini).
Omunye wabantu bokuqala baseChuuk Island owafunda nabakwaWilliams kwaba umkamphathi-sitolo, uKiyomi Shirai, umProthestani oshisekayo nesikhulu se-YWCA. Umyeni wakhe wayengafuni ashintshe inkolo yakhe, futhi wamshiya lapho ebhapathizwa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ukubhapathizwa kukaKiyomi kwaba undab’uzekwayo kulesi siqhingi, ngezinga elithile ngoba wayebhapathizelwe olwandle kubuka wonke umuntu. Nanamuhla, ubhapathizo kwezinye iziqhingi zaseMicronesia lusenzelwa olwandle.
Njengoba umyeni wakhe ayesehambile, uKiyomi wathuthela eDublon, isiqhingi esiseduze eqoqweni laseChuuk. Wafakaza ngentshiseko futhi ngokushesha wabe esesihlanganise sonke isiqhingi, ngaphandle komuzi owodwa owawuphezulu egqumeni. Lowo wayeweqe ngoba umuntu owayehlala kuwo, isalukazi esithile, kwakwaziwa ukuthi usebenzelana nemimoya. Nokho, ngolunye usuku kwaba nento ecindezela uKiyomi ukuba akhuphuke lowo mqansa. Okwammangalisa ukuthi lesi salukazi, u-Amiko Kata, sasamukela isigijimi seBhayibheli, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi naso saba iphayona elishisekayo.
Odade Baningi, Abazalwane Bambalwa
Kunenselele ekhethekile oFakazi baseChuuk ababhekene nayo. Abazalwane, ikakhulukazi abangashadile, bayindlala impela! Kunabazalwane ababili kuphela ababhapathiziwe eTruk—bobabili bashadile. Lezi ziqhingi zinemiphakathi ephethwe abesifazane, futhi iningi lamadoda linedumela lokuphuza, ukulwa nokuziphatha okubi. Lokho kuchaza ukuthi kungani kungabazalwane abahlanu abayizithunywa zevangeli kuphela abakhonza njengabadala emabandleni amancane eziqhingini ezintathu ezihlukene—eMoen, eDublon naseTol. Eqinisweni, ngaphambi kokuba kufike usizo lwezithunywa zevangeli, iBandla LaseMoen lalinabesifazane abangu-23 okwesikhashana.
“Lokhu kungaba uvivinyo ngempela kodadewethu,” kusho uDavid Pfister, esinye sezithunywa zevangeli. “Amantombazane asemasha akhula enombono wokuba nezingane eziningi, kodwa njengamanje azikho izinsizwa angazigana emabandleni ethu. Abanye bodadewethu banothando olujulile ngoJehova, futhi bayasihlonipha iseluleko seBhayibheli ‘sokushada kuphela eNkosini.’ (1 Kor. 7:39) Lokhu kuyabavimbela abanye ekukhonzeni uJehova.”
USalvador Soriano, manje oyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha YaseGuam, wachitha iminyaka engu-14 eyisithunywa sevangeli eDublon, lapho kwakunguye yedwa umzalwane. Uthi: “Kwakungikhumbuza iHubo 68:11, elithi abesifazane abamemezela izindaba ezinhle bayibutho elikhulu.”
Indlela Engavamile Yokuya EHholo LoMbuso
Izithunywa zevangeli kulo lonke elaseMicronesia ngokuvamile zisebenzisa izimoto zazo noma amaveni ukuze zisize abantu ukuba baye emihlanganweni, kodwa kunohlobo lwento yokuhamba mhlawumbe eye yazanywa uBarak Bowman kuphela. Lapho impilo ebuthaka kadade othile oneminyaka engu-70 ubudala, owayenomzimba omkhulu imvimbela ukuba ahambe amakhilomitha amathathu eya eHholo LoMbuso, uBarak wazama ukucabanga ngendlela yokumsiza. Wathi: “Ngithanda ukukulanda uye emhlanganweni, kodwa nginebhala kuphela engingalisebenzisa.” Wamangala lapho lodade ephendula, “Kulungile, akungikhathazi lokho.”
Ungacabanga ukuthi kwakunjani ukubabuka njengoba babeqhubana endleleni yezinyawo beya emhlanganweni—kanye nomzamo owawudingeka kuBarak. Kwakumelwe asuke ekhaya ngo-7:00 ekuseni nebhala elingenalutho futhi afike ehholo sekugibele udadewethu ngaphambi nje kokuba kuqale isimiso ngo-9:30 ekuseni.
Intshiseko yoFakazi BakaJehova ngenkonzo nokwazisa abanakho ngemihlangano kuye kwaba nemiphumela emihle. Eqinisweni, inani lababekhona eSikhumbuzweni sika-1995 lalingaphezu kwenani loFakazi eChuuk ngokuphindwe kashumi!
IPOHNPEI: Ukuhlakulela Izithelo Zomoya
UWilliam no-Adela Yap babengebona oFakazi bokuqala abafika ePonape (manje eyiPohnpei), esinye seziqhingi ezinkulu kakhulu ezimaphakathi nePacific. UMerle Lowmaster wayethe ukufakaza kancane lapha ngo-1961, futhi ekuqaleni kuka-1965 wayevakashe isikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba wayengaqasha isitolo esasingasasetshenziswa esasingase sisetshenziswe njengekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Nokho, lapho abakwaYap befika, bathola ukuthi kwakumelwe basebenzise ocelemba ukuze bangene kulesi sakhiwo. “Kwasithatha izinsuku eziningana ukususa ukhula olwase luneminyaka eyisithupha,” kusho uWilliam. “Lendawo yayinganakwe muntu, ngakho lesi sakhiwo sasibe isikhundla sazo zonke izinhlobo zezinambuzane nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo ongazicabanga.”
AbakwaYap babewumbhangqwana okhuthele owasheshe waqashelwa njengabashumayeli abanesibindi nabangakhathali. Phakathi kwalabo abafakaza kubo kwakunombusi wakulesi siqhingi. Bamnikeza ikhophi ye-New World Translation. Wakuthanda ukucaca kwalenguqulo, kodwa wayethambekele ekwahluleleni leNcwadi Enhle ngesembozo sayo. Ngokusho kwakhe, isembozo esiluhlaza sasiyenza “ingabukeki njengeBhayibheli”; ngakho abakwaYap bamshintshela iBhayibheli lakhe eliluhlaza bamnika uhlelo lwe-deluxe, olunesembozo esimnyama nombala wegolide ezinhlangothini. Lokhu kwamjabulisa kakhulu lombusi kangangokuba wasebenzisa leli Bhayibheli lakhe elisha lapho efungisa abantu nalapho eshadisa.
Ukusuka “ESontweni Lasekhishini” Ukuya EHholo LoMbuso
Ngo-1966, uCarl Dannis, owayeyilungu lesishaya-mthetho ePohnpei, wanikela ngengxenye yendawo yakhe ukuba ibe isiza seHholo LoMbuso lokuqala ePohnpei. UCarl wayengumholi ohlakaniphile nohlonishwayo, eyindoda emfushane enebala elithanda ukuba nsundu namehlo anomusa aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Umkakhe, uRihka, wayeyindodakazi yenkosi yokugcina yaseMokil Island. Lombhangqwana wasePohnpei wawufunda iBhayibheli izinsuku eziningana ngesonto, kusihlwa, kukhanyiswe ngesibani sikaphalafini futhi ngokushesha wathuthukela obhapathizweni.
Ngaphambi kokuba kwakhiwe iHholo LoMbuso, yonke imihlangano yebandla emihlanu, eyayiqhutshwa ngesiNgisi, yayiqhutshelwa endlini yokuphekela kaDannis, okwenza amanye amalungu omphakathi abiza leli qembu elincane loFakazi ngokuthi “ISonto Lasekhishini.” Kwakuba khona abangaphansi kweshumi. Lapho becula ingoma ethi “Endlini Ngendlu,” ababeyihumushele olimini lwesiPohnpei, omakhelwane babebagcona bethi, “Sizwa umsindo wezintuthwane eziculayo, akuzona nje?”
Lezi zithunywa zevangeli zaba nombono omusha wethuba lokwanda ensimini yazo lapho umphathi-dolobha ezivumela ukuba zisebenzise ipaki le-baseball lakuleli dolobhana ukuze zidlale ifilimu ephathelene nomhlangano wezizwe ka-1958 eNew York City. Emasontweni amaningana izimemezelo zomsakazo zazisa abantu ngalebhayisikobho, futhi lapho isikhathi sifika, abantu babuthana kulenkundla encane. Ishidi elifakwe isitashi laliboshelwe ezigxotsheni ukuze libe isihenqo, abantu bakwazi ukubuka ifilimu behlezi nhlangothi zombili zeshidi. Bangaki ababekhona? Abangaba ngu-2000—ingxenye eyodwa kweziyisithupha zabantu bakulesi siqhingi!
Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi “umsindo wezintuthwane” uye wakhula, futhi manje abangaphezu kuka-130 bahlangana njalo ngeSonto eHholo LoMbuso elinethezekile.
IBELAU: Iziqhingi Zayo Eziningi
Elinye iqoqo leziqhingi ezahanjelwa uMerle Lowmaster ohambweni lokuhlola izindawo aluqala ngo-1961 kwakuyiPalau (manje eyiRepublic of Belau). Ngo-1967, u-Amos noJeri Daniels, ababethweswe iziqu eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, bathunyelwa lapho njengezithunywa zevangeli. Bezwa sengathi babethunyelwe engxenyeni ekude kakhulu yomhlaba. “Lapho indiza ifika ePalau,” kukhumbula u-Amos, “kwadingeka ijike iphindele emuva eGuam. Yayingadluli ePalau iye ezindaweni ezikude kakhulu.”
Bathola ukuthi iBelau yakhiwa iziqhingi ezingu-300 ezikhangayo, kuhlanganise neqoqo elilodwa elingavamile elibizwa ngokuthi iRock Islands, indawo ethandwa kakhulu izivakashi ezibuka amazwe. Njengoba zimbozwe amaqabunga awugqinsi asezindaweni ezishisayo, lezi ziqhingana zibukeka njengamakhowe aluhlaza ahlume olwandle.
Abantu Bedolobhana Baya Endlini Ngendlu
Nakuba babesazabalaza befunda isiPalau, uMfowethu noDade Daniels baqala ukushumayela endlini ngendlu. Okwabamangalisa ukuthi abantu bakuleli dolobhana babebalandela futhi balalele izingxoxo ababeba nazo nomakhelwane.
Esinye sezifundo zabo zokuqala kwakuyindodana yenkosi, eyayihlala edolobhaneni elikude laseNgiwal esiqhingini esingaphandle. Noma nini uma ingase ikwazi, yayiya eKoror, isiqhingi okwakuhlala kuso izithunywa zevangeli. Kodwa yayilokhu izincenge njalo ukuba zize edolobhaneni lakubo zikhulume nabantu lapho. UMfowethu noDade Daniels babengenkamunkamu neze ukuya lapho. “Okuwukuphela kwendlela eya lapho yayidabula emfuleni ogcwele izingwenya,” kulandisa u-Amos. “Kodwa lapho kufike umbonisi wesifunda, ekugcineni sakwazi ukuya ngoba omunye umuntu esasifunda naye wavuma ukushayela isikebhe.” Baya endlini ngendlu ukuze bafakaze kubantu bakulelo dolobhana, futhi baba nenkulumo yeningi, kwaba khona abantu abangu-114.
Idikonikazi Limemezela Igama LikaJehova Ngesibindi
U-Obasang Mad, idikonikazi elishisekayo leSonto LamaSabatha eBelau, wathintwa izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi ngo-1968. Naphezu kokuphikiswa umyeni wakhe nabaholi besonto, u-Obasang waliqonda ngokushesha iqiniso ngegama likaNkulunkulu, uZiqu-zintathu novuko.
“Ngolunye usuku ngabizwa esontweni kwathiwa angihole ibandla ngomthandazo,” kusho u-Obasang. “Nakuba ngangazi ukuthi ngangizogxekwa kakhulu amaSabatha akithi, ngathandaza kuJehova. Ngokushesha ngalishiya isonto futhi ngahlanganyela nezithunywa zevangeli emsebenzini wokushumayela.”
Manje njengoba eseneminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-70 ubudala, u-Obasang usephayone iminyaka engu-21 naphezu kokugula emzimbeni nokushonelwa umyeni wakhe nezingane ezimbili. Njengoba enomusa, futhi ehlala emomotheka, uye waba umthombo wamandla angokomoya.
Ukushumayela Ngesikebhe Kungakufundisa Lukhulu
U-Amos noJeri Daniels babefuna ukufakaza esiqhingini esiseduze saseBabelthuap (abendawo abasazi ngokuthi iBabeldaop), kodwa kwakungenazindlela ezazixhuma amadolobhana alesi siqhingi angasogwini lolwandle, ayefinyeleleka ngokuhamba emanzini kuphela. Umzalwane wendawo ngomusa wabakhela isikebhe, kodwa babengenayo injini. Cishe ngaleso sikhathi u-Amos noJeri baya emhlanganweni eGuam. Lapho, bahlangana nomzalwane wase-United States owayejwayelene nosihlalo webhodi labakhi bezinjini zezikebhe. Ngokushesha bathola injini entsha shá efakwa ngaphandle esikebheni. “UJehova uhlale elungiselela,” kuphawula u-Amos.
Kulo lonke elaseMicronesia, ukufakaza ngesikebhe eziqhingini ezingaphandle kuwuhambo oluthatha usuku lonke. Kudingeka kulungiselelwe ngokucophelela. Kumelwe kubalwe izikhathi zamagagasi. “Njalo, sihamba kusasele amahora amabili ngaphambi kokuba ulwandle luphakame futhi sibuya emahoreni amabili ngemva kokuphakama kolwandle okulandelayo (cishe ngemva kwamahora angu-14) ukuze sigweme ukonakalisa uphephela noma ukufelwa isikebhe,” kusho esinye isithunywa sevangeli. Ukudla, nezincwadi ezanele kanye nezingubo zokushintsha, kuqoqwa kusengaphambili, futhi konke kuvalelwa kahle ezikhwameni zepulastiki. Eziqhingini ezingenasikhumulo, izithunywa zevangeli kudingeka zingene olwandle ukuze zigibele isikebhe sazo. Futhi uma zingakabi manzi kakade, cishe ziyofafazwa amanzi olwandle noma zithelwe amanzi amagagasi phakathi nohambo. Kuyathandazwa njalo ngaphambi kokuba bahambe, futhi lapho ulwandle luthukuthele, ngezinye izikhathi kwenziwa imithandazo eminingi buthule esikebheni.
Eminyakeni edlule, izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza eMicronesia ziye zafunda ukuhamba emanzini echwebeni ngaphansi kwazo zonke izimo zezulu futhi ziye zaba ochwepheshe ekwakheni izikebhe nasekulungiseni ama-outboard motor.
Ukuhamba Kakhulu—Ukungenisa Izihambi Okunemfudumalo
Njengoba amanye amadolobhana engafinyeleleki ngemoto noma ngesikebhe, izithunywa zevangeli zingachitha amahora amaningi zihamba ezindledlaneni ezinhle eziphahlwe amahlathi kakhukhunathi ukuze zifinyelele kubantu abathobekile. Ngenxa yokuthi kuhlale kushisa futhi kunomswakama, abazalwane lapha ababafaki othayi enkonzweni yasensimini, futhi ngokuvamile bafaka izimbadada zenjoloba (ezibizwa ngokuthi ama-zori).
UHarry Denny, oseye waba isithunywa sevangeli iminyaka engu-21 eBelau, wathi: “Ngaso sonke isikhathi sithola abantu abathanda ukulalela iqiniso. Ngokuvamile, ukuze babonise umoya wabo wokungenisa izihambi, laba bantu abangabodwa bagibela esihlahleni sikakhukhunathi, bakhe ukhukhunathi omusha, basike isihloko sawo ngocelemba, futhi bakuphuzise ngokuqondile ‘kuleli khathoni’ lemvelo.”
Ekhaya labo lezithunywa zevangeli, uHarry nomkakhe, uRene, bahlala noJanet Senas noRoger Konno, izithunywa zevangeli ezingashadile, ngasinye esineminyaka engu-24 sisesabelweni saso. Zozine lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezithembekile ziye zasiza iBandla LaseBelau ukuba likhule libe nabamemezeli abangu-60, futhi izifundo zencwadi zebandla manje ziqhutshwa ngezilimi ezintathu—isiPalau, isiTagalog nesiNgisi.
IYAP: Amehlo KaJehova Aphezu Kwayo
Ngemva konyaka izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi ziqale ukukhonza eBelau, kwafika uJack no-Aurelia Watson eYap. Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili zafika ngonyaka olandelayo. Nakuba iYap incane—ingaziwa ngabantu abaningi—uJehova uyazazi lezi ziqhingi futhi ubonisa ukukhathalela kothando ngabantu abahlala kuzo. Lezi iziqhingi ezine eziminyene ezixhunywe ngamabhuloho, futhi lezi ziqhingi zihlanganiswe isiko lasendulo. IYap inolimi olungakhulunywa ndawo emhlabeni wonke, imali eyenziwa ngetshe, nabantu, ngokuyinhloko, abangayithandi impucuko yaseNtshonalanga. Ngisho nanamuhla phakathi kwabantu baseYap abangu-10 500, umuntu angabona amadoda egqoke okusamabheshu endwangu anemibala egqamile nabesifazane begqoke izidwaba zotshani, ngezinye izikhathi beqimbile.
UMerle Lowmaster wayethé ukufakaza lapha ngo-1964, kodwa uJack no-Aurelia Watson babethemba ukuthi bazokwazi ukuhlala. Nokho, akubanga lula kubo ukufunda isiYap. Okuwukuphela kwezinto ezibhaliwe ezazitholakala kwakuyizincwajana ezimbalwa zemithetho kahulumeni nekhathekizimu yamaKatolika. AbakwaWatson babelalela abantu bese bezama ukulingisa ababekuzwa. Ngonyaka olandelayo, insizwa yaseYap eyayibonisa isithakazelo eqinisweni yabonakala izimisele nokubafundisa ulimi. Lezi zithunywa zevangeli zachitha inyanga yokuqala zizama ukuyenza iqonde isiNgisi ezazisikhuluma ukuze izitshele ukuthi zisikhulume kanjani isiYap.
Imihlangano “Ebhange”
Umpristi wendawo ongumKatolika nomfundisi wamaLuthela, ngaphambili ababeyizitha, bahlangana ukuze basakaze incwajana eyayilahla oFakazi. Lompristi wasebenzisa nethonya lakhe ukuze enze lezi zithunywa zevangeli zixoshwe ekhaya lazo, futhi ukuthola ikhaya elisha kwabonakala kungenakwenzeka. Umpristi wayesebaxwayisile kakade abanikazi bezindawo ukuba bangaziqashisi lezi zithunywa zevangeli, ngakho abazalwane bathuthela omkabo ehhotela okwesikhashana kuyilapho bona behlala emjondolo owawungamamitha amathathu nengxenye ubude namane ububanzi futhi unomgodi phansi.
IYap yaziwa kakhulu ngemali yayo yetshe enamakhulu eminyaka, izinguzunga ezinkulu zetshe lomcako elibizwa ngokuthi i-rai, ephakathi kwamamitha angu-0,6 namamitha amathathu nengxenye ububanzi. Nakuba ingasasetshenziselwa ukuthenga indawo noma ukukhokha izikweletu, lemali yetshe yaziswa kakhulu ngenxa yokubaluleka kwayo okungokomlando. Futhi abazalwane bathola ukuthi yayibaluleke nangezinye izindlela. Lapho belahlekelwa ikhaya labo lezithunywa zevangeli, okwesikhashana imihlangano yaqhutshelwa ngaphansi komuthi omkhulu owawuhlotshiswe ngemali yetshe. Njengoba izingcezu zemali zaleli “bhange” lakuleli dolobhana zazimi ziqondile, zaziba indawo ekahle yokuncika kubantu abalalele, kuyilapho idilamu elingamalitha angu-190 laliba itafula lokufundela.
Noma kunjalo, babengakayitholi indawo yokuhlala. “Kwakubonakala sengathi umsebenzi uzokuma,” kuphawula uWatson. “Kodwa uJehova waveza isu.” Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokuba izithunywa zevangeli ziye emhlanganweni owawuseGuam, indoda ethile yabuza ukuthi zingathanda yini ukuqasha indlu. Cishe kwakuyisakhiwo esifaneleka kakhulu eYap—isakhiwo sikakhonkolo esasakhiwe ngendlela yokuba simelane neziphepho zasolwandle, sinendawo eyanele ukuba kuqhutshwe imihlangano futhi kuhlalwe kuso.
Ukunikeza UbuFakazi Bokholo Lwabo
Ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezimbili zaseHawaii, uPlacido noMarsha Ballesteros, zafika ngo-1970. Intuthuko yayiza kancane. “Kwakunezikhathi eziningi lapho kwakuba yithina sobane esiyizithunywa zevangeli esasiba khona emihlanganweni, eyayiqhutshelwa egumbini lethu lokuphumula,” kukhumbula uPlacido.
Ekugcineni ukwanda kwaba khona njengoba abazalwane bendawo babethuthuka ngokomoya. Omunye wabo, uJohn Ralad, wabhekana nesimo esinzima. Lapho uJohn eqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli, inkampani yakhe yokwakha yayiphakathi nokwakha isonto. Naphezu kokucindezelwa okwakuvela nhlangothi zonke, uJohn waqina ekutheni unembeza wakhe wawungeke umvumele ukuba aqedele isonto. Namuhla ukhonza njengomdala webandla.
UYow Nifmed naye kwadingeka enze ukukhetha okungathi sína. Lapho eqala ukuthintwa oFakazi ngo-1970, wayenamakhosikazi amabili. Ukuze enze ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaJehova, kwadingeka ahlele kabusha konke ukuphila kwakhe. Namuhla bobabili uMfoweth’ uNifmed nomkakhe oyedwa bakhonza uJehova ngenjabulo. Ungumdala. Lapho eya emihlanganweni, ushayela iveni yakhe, esuke ithwele izihlobo ezingu-15.
Abantu BakaJehova Bakuyo Yonke Indawo Ngempela
“Ngeso lomuntu, iYap imane iyizwe elincane embulungeni yonke, futhi abantu abayizinkulungwane ezimbalwa abahlala lapha ababaluleke ngalutho uma beqhathaniswa nezinkulungwane zezigidi zesintu,” kwasho uPlacido Ballesteros ngesinye isikhathi. “Kodwa uJehova uyacabanga ngalaba bantu. Lapho ngisafika, ngangingaphuphi nakuphupha ukuthi ngolunye usuku kuyoba ne-Nqabayokulinda ephuma kanye ngenyanga ngesiYap nokuthi sasiyosakaza izincwadi zesiYap endlini ngendlu.”
Okuhlangenwe nakho okuhlekisayo kubonisa indlela igama likaJehova elaziswa ngokungashwampuluzi ngayo. Ngolunye usuku uPlacido wahlangana nesivakashi esibuka amazwe sihleli ngasemfuleni, kude nendawo yezivakashi eseduze futhi eqhele kakhulu nalapho kuphela khona umgwaqo. Lapho ibuzwa ukuthi ilahlekile yini, lendoda yaphendula: “Cha, bengifuna nje ukuya kude ngangokunokwenzeka ukuze ngithole indawo enokuthula ukuze ngicabange.” Lapho lesi sivakashi sibuza ukuthi yena wayefunani lapho, uPlacido wachaza ukuthi uyisithunywa sevangeli, omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. “Hhayi suka!” kubabaza lesi sivakashi. “Mina ngivela eBrooklyn, eduze nendlunkulu yenu. Kush’ukuthi anginakunibalekela!”
IKOSRAE: Nalapha Igama LikaJehova Liyaziwa
Ngemva kokuya eMhlanganweni Wezizwe “Wokuthula Emhlabeni” ka-1969 eHawaii, umkhaya othile oshisekayo wasePohnpei waqaphela ukuthi kungenzeka ube abokuqala ukumemezela ukuthula okunguMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ongakuletha, kulesi siqhingi esihle saseKosrae. Eshukunyiswe umhlangano, uFredy Edwin wathuthela umkhaya wakhe endaweni engamakhilomitha angu-580 kuleli chashazi elingalodwa olwandle, elalaziwa kakhulu njengesikhungo sokudoba imikhomo phakathi nekhulu le-19. Kwaba ukuthutha okufanelekile kwabakwa-Edwin, kwazise umkaFredy, uLillian, wayeyindodakazi yenkosi yaseKosrae, futhi isiKosrae, sasingolunye lwezilimi ezingu-7 uFredy ayezikhuluma.
Ngaphambi kokuba abe omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, uFredy Edwin wayeyilungu lekomiti yamaProthestani eyahumushela iBhayibheli olimini lwesiPonape. Ngemva kokuthuthela eKosrae, ikhono lakhe lokuhumusha lasiza ekwenzeni izincwadi ze-Watch Tower zitholakale ngolimi lwaseKosrae. Abanye emkhayeni wakhe nabo bebelokhu bematasa bememezela isigijimi soMbuso. Indodakazi yakhe uDesina yenqaba umfundaze wasekolishi ukuze ibe iphayona elikhethekile, elokuqala ngqá eMicronesia. Enye indodakazi yakhe, uMildred, yakhonza njengephayona elivamile, futhi umkaFredy uye wakhonza njengephayona elisizayo izikhathi eziningana.
Kufika Usizo Lokwakha IHholo LoMbuso
UZecharias Polly, ongowokuzalwa eChuuk, ungumuntu wokuqala waseMicronesia owaba isithunywa sevangeli. Waba nengxenye ekumiseni ibandla eKosrae, futhi ngo-1977 wasiza nangokwakha iHholo LoMbuso nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli lapho.
IHholo LoMbuso alakhiwanga ngempelasonto eyodwa. Iphuzu liwukuthi, njalo ngamaSonto kulesi siqhingi esibuswa amaProthestani kuthula sengathi kufiwe ngoba umthetho “weSabatha” unqabela ukuthenga, ukuthengisa, ukuphuza, ukudoba, ukusebenza, ngisho nokudlala. Noma kunjalo, iHholo LoMbuso lakhiwa ngokushesha ngokwanele ukuba limangaze abantu bendawo. Abazalwane babesebenzisa noma yini eyayitholakala kulendawo ukuze okuningi ngangokunokwenzeka kulethwe sekwakhiwe. Ezinye izinto zokwakha zazithengwa ePohnpei bese zithunyelwa ngomkhumbi. Lapho izinto zokugcina ezazithunyelwe eKosrae zifika, zihambisana nezisebenzi zokuzithandela zasePohnpei, isakhiwo sama ngokushesha. Lelo Hholo LoMbuso liyaqhubeka lisetshenziswa nanamuhla—hhayi nje ekuqhubeni imihlangano yamasonto onke kodwa nemihlangano emikhulu.
Ibandla Elikude Lidumisa UJehova
Lapho ibandla limiswa eKosrae ngo-1976, lalikude negatsha kangangokuba imibiko yenkonzo yasensimini yanyanga zonke yayidluliselwa ePohnpei ngesiteshi somsakazo sezimfunda-makhwela. Kwaqala ngo-1979 ukuba kube nezindiza ezithwala umphakathi eKosrae. Nakuba imikhumbi yayiyisa iposi kulezi ziqhingi, ngezinye izikhathi kwakuthatha izinyanga ezingaba isithupha ukuba lifike.
Namuhla zonke izikhumulo zezindiza eMicronesia zinemigwaqo yetiyela ehamba izindiza ezinkulu, kodwa ekuqaleni kwawo-1980, ukuhamba ngendiza eKosrae kwakusho uhambo olunezigigaba ngendiza enezihlalo ezingu-7. “Kolunye uhambo esaluthatha nomkami siya eKosrae, sahlangana nesivunguvungu esibi, futhi kwabonakala sengathi silahlekile,” kukhumbula u-Arthur White. “Umshayeli wendiza wayendizisa indiza emamitheni angu-30 ngaphezu kolwandle efuna isiqhingi. Owesifazane owayehlezi ngemva kwethu wayethandaza ngokuzwakalayo. Sasazi ukuthi uma umshayeli engayitholi iKosrae, cishe sasiyolahleka olwandle; kodwa ekugcineni isiqhingi sabonakala, futhi indiza yethu yakwazi ukuhlala—emgwaqweni wezindiza omncane onamatshe.”
UJames Tamura wachitha iminyaka engu-17 njengesithunywa sevangeli ePohnpei naseKosrae. Wabeka ngamafuphi indlela abaningi abazizwa ngayo lapho ethi: “Ngiyajabula uma ngibona umsebenzi wanda futhi ngibona igama likaJehova laziswa kulezi ziqhingi ezikude zePacific.”
IROTA: Umlando Wokukhuthazela
Esiqhingini esincane saseRota, esibonakala kancane uma useGuam, ngezinye izikhathi izimemezelo zenziwa ngombhobho. Ngolunye usuku ngo-1970, izwi lomphathi-dolobha lazwakala kuleyo mibhobho lazisa izakhamuzi zaseRota ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babekulesi siqhingi futhi babezoza emizini yabo. “Sizani nibavulele izindlu zenu,” kumemezela umphathi-dolobha “futhi nikwamukele ukuvakasha kwabo.”
U-Augustine Castro wayengomunye wabazalwane abathathu abashumayela eRota ngalolo suku. Wahambisa izincwadi eziningana kumphathi-dolobha waseRota, ayemazi ngenxa yokusebenza kwakhe kuhulumeni eSaipan. Yilokhu okwenza umphathi-dolobha wenza isimemezelo emphakathini. Kungakapheli namahora amabili, abazalwane ababevakashile base behambise zonke izincwadi ababeziphethe ezikhwameni zabo. Kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo, kwakuqala ukuphikisa kwabefundisi.
Abefundisi Baphazamisa Umsebenzi Wokushumayela
“Kumelwe ukuba kunothile owayetshele umpristi wamaKatolika ngathi,” kulandisa uGus. “Sasisegalaji. Insizwa ethile yayisizothatha incwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade lapho iphakamisa amehlo futhi ibona umpristi. Yangingiza futhi ngokwesaba yathi kithi, ‘Ngingathanda ukubonisa umpristi lencwadi ngizwe ukuthi ilungile yini.’ Sasimbuka umpristi njengoba eyiphenya. Wayengazi kahle, ngoba ngangike ngafundela ubupristi. Ekugcineni watshela lensizwa, ‘Kulungile ungayamukela incwadi . . . uma nje ungeke ushintshe inkolo yakho.’”
Ukuphikisa kwaqina ngemva kokuba uJuan noMary Taitano babelwe njengamaphayona akhethekile kulesi siqhingi esasibuswa ubuKatolika ngo-1981. “Umpristi wendawo wayesilandela kuzo zonke izindlu futhi etshela abantu ukuthi elithi Jehova elinye igama likaSathane,” kukhumbula uJuan. “Cishe kuyo yonke imizi wanameka uphawu olufundeka kanje: ‘Lomuzi owamaKatolika. Sicela nihloniphe inkolo yethu.’ Wayethumela nabafanyana ukuba bayothatha futhi bashise noma yiziphi izincwadi esasizishiyele abantu.”
Inzondo Nokwesaba Kubamba Abaninikhaya
AbakwaTaitano babengamaChamorro njengabantu baseRota futhi bobabili babekwazi ukukhuluma isiChamorro, kodwa naphezu kwalokho babezondwa kakhulu.
“Ngesinye isikhathi, umninikhaya wangisongela, ethi ‘uzothatha induku ye-baseball aphule wonke amathambo asemzimbeni wami,’” kusho uJuan. “Ngakusasa, leyo ndoda yathola ingozi yemoto, futhi yaphuka umlenze nengalo. Abantu bakuleli dolobhana bathi uNkulunkulu wayeyijezisa lendoda ngalokho eyayikushilo, futhi kwabenza babesaba oFakazi BakaJehova.”
Isimo Sengqondo Esiqondile Naphezu Kwemiphumela Engemihle
Phakathi neminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu edlule, izithunywa zevangeli ziye zachitha amahora amaningi kakhulu zishumayeza abantu baseRota. Ngemva kwayo yonke lemizamo, kunabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-8 kuphela kubantu abangu-2500, futhi lelo nani lihlanganisa nombhangqwana ongamaphayona akhethekile. Naphezu kwalokhu, oFakazi abathembekile bayaqhubeka beqopha umlando omuhle wokukhuthazela, benqaba ukudunyazwa.
“IRota inzima, noma kungathiwani,” kusho isithunywa sevangeli uGary Anderson. “Kodwa ngisho nesimo esibi kakhulu kangakanani asihlali phakade. IRota izoshintsha. Akukho okungenakwenzeka uma uJehova esisekela.”
INAURU: Ukuthola Ingcebo Yangempela
I-Republic of Nauru, enabantu abangaba ngu-7000, yake yabhekwa njengelinye lamazwe acebe kunawo wonke emhlabeni, kodwa nalapho abantu badinga isigijimi soMbuso. Ingcebo yabo eningi yaba khona ngokucekelwa phansi kwengxenye enkulu yesiqhingi sabo esincane, simbiwa ukuze kutholakale i-phosphate. Ayilona neze ipharadesi langempela. Futhi manje nalesi siqhingi sinezinkinga ezingathi sína zemali.
Nokho, imizamo yokuqala yokuyisa isigijimi soMbuso eNauru yabhuntshiswa. Lapho isithunywa sevangeli esasivakashile sivela eMarshall Islands sisakaza imbewu yeqiniso eNauru ngo-1979, saxoshwa, izikhulu ezintathu zamaphoyisa zasiphelezela zasiyisa endizeni.
Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba sixoshwe sasitadisha iBhayibheli noHumphrey Tatum. UHumphrey waqhubeka ezifundela, futhi lapho uNat Miller, njengombonisi ojikelezayo, ema eNauru, uHumphrey wacela ukubhapathizwa. “Njengoba umsebenzi wethu wawubhekwa njengongemthetho, salinda kwaze kwaba mnyama,” kukhumbula uMiller. “Sahamba amamitha angaba ngu-30 siya oLwandle lwasePacific, futhi wacwiliswa engabonwa abantu bendawo.”
Ngaphambi kuka-1995, umsebenzi wokushumayela endlini ngendlu wawuvinjelwe eNauru. Abantu bangaphandle abakavunyelwa ukuba bahlanganyele enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu, kodwa uhulumeni uyabanika manje abantu bokuzalwa eNauru inkululeko yokushumayela, okukwenza kube nokwenzeka ukuba iqembu elincane loFakazi ababhapathiziwe lapho likhulume obala ngeBhayibheli.
Kuze kube sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1995, uMfoweth’ uTatum uye wakhonza njengomdala ebandleni elincane laseNauru. Wakhonza nanjengomhumushi wesiNauru, enza ukuba amapheshana nezimemo zeSikhumbuzo zitholakalele oFakazi ayekanye nabo. Nakuba bembalwa, oFakazi BakaJehova baseNauru bayazama ukuqondisa ukunakekela komakhelwane babo ekubalulekeni kwengcebo engokomoya, uhlobo oluholela ekuphileni okuphakade.—IzAga 3:1, 2, 13-18.
Iziqhingi zasePacific zinedumela lokuba ipharadesi lasemhlabeni, kodwa lowo mbono ufihle iqiniso elibuhlungu—abantu abaningi baseMicronesia badonsa kanzima ukuze baphile. Indlela yabo yokuphila eyake yaba lula iye yonakaliswa izingozi zempucuko—ithelevishini, ubugebengu, izidakamizwa nezifo ezithathelwanayo, uma sibala ezimbalwa. Abantu baqaphela ngokwengeziwe ukuthi isigijimi soMbuso esishunyayelwa oFakazi BakaJehova siwukuphela kwekhambi lezinkinga zabo ezandayo.
Igatsha laseGuam, eliqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela eMicronesia, lengamele abamemezeli abambalwa kunamanye amagatsha amaningi kwangu-103 eNhlangano, kodwa insimu yalo ingenye yamakhulu kakhulu emhlabeni. Nakuba abafowethu nodadewethu abakulezi ziqhingi ezikude behlukaniswa amabanga amade olwandle, basakuzwa ukusondelana kwenhlangano kaJehova. Izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezilungiselelwa njalo ngezilimi zabo, imihlangano yasikhathi sonke nokuhambela kwasikhathi sonke okungokomoya kwababonisi abajikelezayo kubenza baqaphele ukuthi bayingxenye yobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke.
Izithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza ezabelweni ezinjalo ezingazodwa nazo zithola izikhumbuzo zothando olukhona phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova. Ihlobo ngalinye, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba ziye eGuam ukuze zibe semhlanganweni wesigodi, ngokuvamile oqondaniswa nokuhambela kombonisi wamagatsha. URodney Ajimine, isithunywa sevangeli seminyaka engaphezu kuka-20 esiye sakhonza nanjengombonisi ojikelezayo eMicronesia, wake wachaza ukubaluleka kwalolo luhambo lwaminyaka yonke lokuya eGuam. Uthi: “Kwenza zonke izithunywa zevangeli eziseziqhingini ezihlukene zisondelane. Kusisiza sonke ukuba sikhuthazele.”
Kunamanye amalungiselelo asiza abafowethu abakulezi ziqhingi ezikude kakhulu. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo, uMnyango Wokwaziswa Ngezezibhedlela wamiswa egatsheni laseGuam ngo-1993 futhi uye wahlela ukuba kube namaKomiti Okubonisana Nezibhedlela eqoqweni leziqhingi ngalinye eMicronesia. Unyaka ngamunye, iSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona siqhutshelwa labo abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, futhi iZikole Zenkonzo ZoMbuso ziyaqhutshwa ngezikhathi ezithile ukuze kuqeqeshwe ababonisi bamabandla. Futhi, ngo-1994 igatsha laseGuam lamisa uMnyango Wezokwakha ukuze liqondise ukuhlelwa nokwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso namakhaya ezithunywa zevangeli eMicronesia.
Imizamo eqhubekayo yezithunywa zevangeli nabamemezeli phakathi neminyaka engamashumi amane edlule iye yasiza abantu abaningi kulezi ziqhingi ukuba bazi futhi bathande uJehova. Manje abanye balabo bantu bayahola emabandleni endawo futhi basebenza ngenkuthalo ukuze bamemezele injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuba wonke umhlaba wenziwe ipharadesi.
Usemkhulu umsebenzi okumelwe wenziwe eMicronesia, kodwa ngosizo lwesivikelo sothando nesiqondiso senhlangano kaJehova, isiprofetho sika-Isaya 51:5 siyagcwaliseka: “Iziqhingi ziyangihlalela [mina Jehova], zilindela umkhono wami.”
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 210]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
JAPAN
MICRONESIA
SAIPAN
ROTA
GUAM
YAP
BELAU
POHNPEI
CHUUK
KOSRAE
NAURU
MARSHALL ISLANDS
KIRIBATI
HAWAII
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 208]
[Isithombe ekhasini 213]
USam noVirginia Wiger phambi kweHholo LoMbuso lokuqala eGuam
[Isithombe ekhasini 215]
Ngenhla: UMerle noFern Lowmaster, izithunywa zevangeli
UNathaniel Miller (nomkakhe u-Allene, manje oseshonile), umqondisi wokuqala weKomiti Yegatsha YaseGuam
[Isithombe ekhasini 216]
Ihhovisi legatsha laseGuam neKomiti Yegatsha (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: uJulian Aki, uSalvador Soriano, u-Arthur White)
[Isithombe ekhasini 218]
Izithunywa zevangeli ezabuthanela umhlangano ngenkathi yokuhambela kombonisi wamagatsha ngo-1994
[Isithombe ekhasini 223]
1, 2. IHholo LoMbuso nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli eKiribati, elakhiwa ngosizo lwakwamanye amazwe
3. UNariki Kautu nomkakhe, uTeniti
4. Kuqhubeka isifundo seBhayibheli eKiribati
[Isithombe ekhasini 227]
Abamemezeli eHholo LoMbuso Lase-Ebeye
[Isithombe ekhasini 228]
U-Augustine Castro, umdala wendawo oshisekayo
[Isithombe ekhasini 229]
URobert noSharon Livingstone
[Isithombe ekhasini 234]
Izithunywa zevangeli ezintsha zamukelwa ngemfudumalo
[Isithombe ekhasini 236]
Lapho ufakaza ngesikebhe, kulungele ukuba manzi
[Isithombe ekhasini 237]
IHholo LoMbuso lokuqhubela imihlangano esikhundleni sekhishi
UCarl noRihka Dannis, oFakazi bokuqala bendawo ePohnpei
[Isithombe ekhasini 238]
Isithunywa sevangeli uNeal Maki ungumhumushi futhi
[Isithombe ekhasini 241]
U-Obasang Mad, iphayona eselinesikhathi eside, uselungele inkonzo
Kwesobunxele: Iqembu eliya enkonzweni yasensimini lisevenini
[Isithombe ekhasini 243]
Ukufakaza eYap
Kwesokudla: UMerle Lowmaster nezinhlamvu zemali zaseYap “ebhange” lasedolobhaneni
[Isithombe ekhasini 246]
Ukuwela amabhuloho eKosrae kudinga ukuzimelela ngonyawo
UFredy Edwin, kwesobunxele, nomkakhe, izingane nabazukulu
[Isithombe ekhasini 251]
OFakazi ababhekana nenselele eRota