ZAKA ziŵili zimenezi zisanacitike, ine ndi mmishonale mnzanga Evelyn Trabert, tinatsiliza maphunzilo athu m’kalasi ya nambala 4 ya Sukulu ya Gileadi Yophunzitsa Baibulo imene panthawiyo inali kucitikila pafupi ndi tauni ya Ithaca, ku New York. Anatitumiza kukatumikila m’tauni ya Santa Ana. Koma ndisanakusimbileni mbili yanga ya umishonale wa zaka pafupifupi 29, lekani coyamba ndikusimbileni cifukwa cake ndinasankha nchito imeneyi.

Ndinabadwa m’caka ca 1923, ndipo makolo anga a John ndi a Eva Olson, anali kukhala m’tauni ya Spokane, ku Washington, U.S.A. Iwo anali kupita ku chalichi ca Lutheran. Komabe, sanali kuvomeleza ciphunzitso ca moto wa helo, cifukwa anaona kuti n’cosemphana ndi ciphunzitso cakuti Mulungu ndi cikondi. (1 Yoh. 4:8) Atate anali kugwila nchito ku bekali. Tsiku lina anzao a ku nchito, anawatsimikiza kuti Baibulo siliphunzitsa kuti helo ndi malo kumene anthu amapsa m’moto. Posakhalitsa, makolo anga anayamba kuphunzila Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova, ndipo anaphunzila zimene Baibulo limaphunzitsa m’ceniceni ponena za akufa.

Panthawiyo ndinali ndi zaka 9 cabe, koma ndikumbukila kumva makolo anga akuvomeleza mokondwela  coonadi cimene anaphunzila m’Baibulo. Cidwi cao cinakula kwambili makamaka pamene anaphunzila dzina la Mulungu woona, Yehova, ndipo anamasuka ku ciphunzitso cosokoneza ca Utatu. Monga mmene tonje limamwela madzi pang’onopang’ono, ndinayamba kumwa coonadi ca m’Malemba ‘cimene cimamasula anthu.’ (Yoh. 8:32) Conco, kuphunzila Baibulo sikunandicititsepo ulesi, koma nthawi zonse ndimakondwela kuphunzila Mau a Mulungu. Ngakhale kuti ndinali wamanyazi, ndinali kupita mu ulaliki ndi makolo anga. Iwo anabatizika mu 1934. Pamene ndinakwanitsa zaka 16 mu 1939, inenso ndinabatizika kukhala mtumiki wa Yehova.

Mu July 1940, makolo anga anagulitsa nyumba, ndipo tonse atatu tinayamba utumiki wa nthawi zonse monga apainiya m’tauni ya Coeur d’Alene, ku Idaho. Tinayamba kucita lendi nyumba imene inali pamwamba pa galaji. Nyumba yathu inalinso kutumikila monga malo osonkhanapo. Panthawiyo mipingo yambili inalibe Nyumba za Ufumu, conco abale anali kusonkhana m’nyumba za anthu kapena malo ocita lendi.

Mu 1941, ine ndi makolo anga tinapezeka pa msonkhano wadela ku St. Louis, m’tauni ya Missouri. Tsiku lothela la msonkhano pa Sondo linali “Tsiku la Ana.” Conco, ana onse a zaka 5 mpaka 18 anauzidwa kukhala ku mipando ya kutsogolo pafupi ndi pulatifomu. Cakumapeto kwa nkhani yake, M’bale Joseph F. Rutherford analankhula ndi ife ana. Iye anati: “Inu nonse . . . ana . . . amene mwavomeleza kumvela Mulungu ndi Mfumu yake, imililani!” Tonse tinaimilila. Ndiyeno, M’bale Rutherford anafuula kuti: “Onani Mboni zatsopano za Ufumu zoposa 15 sauzande.” Kucokela nthawi imeneyo cosankha canga cotumikila monga mpainiya kwa umoyo wanga wonse cinalimbilako.

Miyezi yocepa pambuyo pa msonkhano wadela wa ku St. Louis, banja lathu linasamukila ku tauni ya Oxnard, kumwela kwa California. Tinapatsidwa nchito yoyambitsa mpingo kumeneko. Tinali kukhala m’kalavani yaing’ono yokhala ndi bedi imodzi. Usiku uliwonse anali kundikonzela “Bedi” pamwamba pa thebulo lodyela. Kunalidi kusintha kwakukulu kusiyana ndi pamene ndinali ndi cipinda cangacanga.

Tisanafike ku California, pa December 7, 1941, dziko la Japan linali litangophulitsa kumene gombe la Pearl Harbor ku Hawaii. Tsiku lotsatila dziko la United States linayamba kumenya nkhondo yaciŵili ya padziko lonse. Ndipo boma linapeleka lamulo lakuti onse ayenela kuzima malaiti usiku, ndipo tinali kucita zimenezo. Asilikali a ku Japan okhala ndi zombo za nkhondo anali pafupi ndi gombe la California. Conco, mdima umenewo unacititsa kuti zikhale zovuta kwa io kuphulitsa malo amene anali kufuna.

Patapita miyezi ingapo mu September 1942, tinapezeka pa msonkhano wakuti, Dziko Latsopano Lolamulidwa ndi Mulungu ku Cleveland, Ohio. Pa msonkhanowu, M’bale Nathan H. Knorr anakamba nkhani yakuti, “Kodi Padzikoli Padzakhala Mtendere?” Iye anafotokoza zocitika za pa Chivumbulutso caputala 17 zokhudza “cilombo” cimene “cinalipo, tsopano palibe, komabe cili pafupi kutuluka kuphompho.” (Chiv. 17:8, 11) M’bale Knorr anafotokoza kuti “cilombo” cinali bungwe la League of Nations limene linaleka kugwila nchito mu 1939. Baibulo linakambilatu kuti bungweli lidzaloŵedwa m’malo ndi bungwe lina, limene linali kudzabweletsa mtendele kwa kanthawi. Conco, mu 1945, pambuyo pa nkhondo yaciŵili ya padziko lonse, “cilombo” cinaonekelanso kukhala bungwe la United Nations. Ndiyeno, Mboni za Yehova zinapititsa patsogolo nchito yao yolalikila ya padziko lonse. Ndipo kucokela panthawiyo nchito imeneyi yapita patsogolo kwambili.

Ulosi umenewo unandithandiza kudziŵa zimene zinali kudzacitika mtsogolo. Pamene analengeza kuti  caka cotsatila Sukulu ya Gileadi idzayamba, colinga canga cokhala mishonale cinalimbilako. Mu 1943, ananditumiza ku Portland m’tauni ya Oregon kuti ndikacite upainiya. Nthawi imeneyo tinali kugwilitsila nchito malekodi puleya polalikila kwa anthu pa nyumba zao, ndiyeno tinali kuwagaŵila mabuku ofotokoza Baibulo onena za Ufumu wa Mulungu. Caka conse ndinali kuganiza za utumiki wa umishonale.

Mu 1944, ine ndi mnzanga Evelyn Trabert, tinakondwela kwambili pamene tinalandila ciitano copita ku Gileadi. Kwa miyezi isanu, alangizi athu a Sukulu ya Gileadi anatithandiza kupindula ndi maphunzilo a m’Baibulo. Tinacita cidwi kwambili ndi kudzicepetsa kwao. Nthawi zina pa nthawi ya cakudya abalewo anali kutumikila monga opeleka cakudya. Tinatsiliza maphunzilo athu pa January 22, 1945.

Mu June 1946, ine ndi Evelyn pamodzi ndi Leo ndi Esther Mahan, tinatumizidwa ku El Salvador. Kumeneko tinapeza kuti gawo linali ‘loyela kale ndi lofunika kukolola.’ (Yoh. 4:35) Cocitika cimene ndachula kuciyambi kwa nkhani ino, cinaonetsa kuti abusa acipembedzo anali okwiya kwambili. Titangokhalako mlungu umodzi tinacita msonkhano wathu wadela woyamba ku Santa Ana. Tinaitanila anthu ambili kuti akabwele ku nkhani ya onse, ndipo tinakondwela kuona anthu pafupifupi 500 pa nkhaniyo. M’malo mocita mantha kukhala m’tauniyo, tinali ofunitsitsa kuthandiza anthu oona mtima. Ambili anali ndi njala ya coonadi, cifukwa cakuti abusa acipembedzo anawaletsa kuti sayenela kuŵelenga Baibulo, kapena kupeza kope lao lao. Iwo anayamikila kwambili khama lathu lophunzila cinenelo ca Cisipanishi n’colinga cowathandiza kudziŵa Mulungu woona Yehova. Anayamikilanso kudziŵa malonjezo onena za Paladaiso wobwezeletsedwa padziko lapansi.

Mmodzi mwa ophunzila anga oyambilila anali Rosa Ascencio. Nditangoyamba kuphunzila naye Baibulo, iye anapatukana ndi mwamuna amene anali kukhala naye. Mwamuna nayenso anayamba kuphunzila Baibulo. Pambuyo pake, io anakwatilana ndiyeno anabatizika. Ndipo anakhala Mboni za Yehova za cangu. Rosa ndiye anali mpainiya woyamba ku Santa Ana. *

Rosa anali ndi shopu yaing’ono. Ndipo akapita mu ulaliki anali kutseka, ali ndi cidalilo cakuti Yehova adzasamalila zosoŵa zake. Pambuyo pa maola angapo, anali kutsegulanso shopu, ndipo kunali kubwela makasitomala ambili. Anadzionela yekha kukwanilitsidwa kwa lemba la Mateyu 6:33, ndipo anakhalabe wokhulupilika mpaka imfa yake.

Nthawi ina, m’busa wa kumaloko anapita kukaonana ndi munthu amene ife amishonale okwanila 6 tinali kucitako lendi nyumba yake. M’busayo anauza munthuyo kuti ngati tipitiliza kukhala m’nyumbayo, iye ndi mkazi wake adzawathamangitsa m’cipembedzo. Mwini nyumbayo analinso munthu wochuka wa bizinesi, ndipo sanali kukondwela ndi khalidwe la mbusayo. Iye sanagonje ndi zokamba za m’busayo cakuti anamuuza kuti, alibe nazo nchito ngati angam’thamangitse m’cipembedzo. Iye anatitsimikizila kuti palibe vuto ngati tifuna kukhalabe m’nyumbayo.

Mu mzinda waukulu wa San Salvador, mmishonale wina anali kuphunzila Baibulo ndi mkazi wa injiniya wina dzina lake Baltasar Perla. Munthu wabwino mtima ameneyu, anali ataleka kukhulupilila Mulungu cifukwa ca cinyengo ca atsogoleli acipembedzo. Nthawi itafika yomanga ofesi ya nthambi, Baltasar ngakhale kuti sanali m’coonadi, anadzipeleka kulemba pulani ndi kumanga, ndipo anacita nchitoyo popanda malipilo.

A Baltasar atayamba kugwilizana ndi anthu a Yehova pa nchito yomanga, anatsimikiza kuti apeza cipembedzo coona. Anabatizika pa July 22, 1955, ndipo akazi ao a Paulina, anabatizika pambuyo pake. Ana ao aŵili akutumikila Yehova mokhulupilika. Mwana wao Baltasar, Jr., watumikila zaka 49 pa nthambi ya ku Brooklyn, kumene akucilikiza nchito yolalikila ya padziko lonse imene ikukulilakulila. Ndipo tsopano akutumikila m’Komiti ya Nthambi ku United States. *

Titayamba kucita misonkhano ya cigawo ku San Salvador, M’bale Perla anatithandiza kuti tizigwilitsila nchito nyumba yocitilamo maseŵela. Poyamba, tinali kugwilitsila nchito mipando yocepa cabe. Koma ndi dalitso la Yehova, caka ndi caka ciŵelengelo ca anthu cinapitiliza kuonjezeleka, mpaka malowo anayamba kucepa. Pa zocitika zokondweletsa zimenezo, ndinali kuonana ndi aja amene ndinaphunzila nao Baibulo. Ganizilani cimwemwe cimene ndinali naco kuonana ndi anthu amene ndinali kuphunzila nao Baibulo, akundidziŵikitsa kwa “adzukulu” anga a kuuzimu, mboni zatsopano zimene io anali kuphunzila nazo.

Pamsonkhano wina wadela, m’bale wina anabwela kwa ine ndi kundiuza kuti afuna kupepesa. Sindinamkumbukile m’baleyo ndipo ndinacita naye cidwi. Iye anati: “Ndinali mmodzi wa anyamata amene anali kukuponyani miyala ku Santa Ana.” Ndinakondwela kwambili kudziŵa kuti iye tsopano ndi mtumiki mnzanga wa Yehova. Makambilano amenewo anandithandiza kuona kuti utumiki wa nthawi zonse ndi nchito yopindulitsa imene munthu angasankhe.

Kwa zaka pafupifupi 29, ndinapitiliza umishonale ku El Salvador. Coyamba, ndinatumikila m’tauni ya  Santa Ana, ndiyeno ku Sonsonate. Ananditumizanso ku Santa Tecla, kenako ku San Salvador. Popeza kuti makolo anga okalamba okhulupilika anafunikila thandizo, ndinaipemphelela nkhaniyo. Conco, mu 1975, ndinaganiza zoleka umishonale, ndipo ndinabwelela ku Spokane.

Atate atamwalila mu 1979, ndinapitiliza kusamalila Amai, amene thanzi lao silinali bwino ndipo anafunikila thandizo. Iwo anamwalila patapita zaka 8, ali ndi zaka 94. Pa nthawi yovuta imeneyo, ndinakhala wotopa ndi wopanikizika maganizo. Kupanikizika kumeneku kunabweletsa matenda oŵaŵa a nthonyola. Komabe, pemphelo ndi thandizo la Yehova, zinandilimbikitsa kupilila mayeselo amenewo. Zinali monga mmene Yehova anakambila kuti, ‘munthu wa imvi . . . , ndidzamutenga, kumunyamula ndi kumupulumutsa.’—Yes. 46:4.

Mu 1990, ndinasamukila ku Omak, Washington. Kudela limenelo ndinathandiza kulalikila m’gawo la cinenelo ca Cisipanishi, ndipo maphunzilo a Baibulo angapo anabatizika. Pofika mu November 2007, ndinali kulephela kugwila nchito za panyumba ku Omak. Conco, ndinasamukila ku nyumba ina pafupi ndi tauni ya Chelan, Washington. Ndimayamikila kwambili kuti abale ndi alongo a mpingo wacisipanishi amandisamilila bwino kucokela pamene ndinasamuka. Popeza ndiliko ndekha Mboni yokalamba, mokoma mtima abale ndi alongo “anditenga” kukhala “agogo” ao.

Ngakhale kuti ndinasankha kusakwatiwa ndi kusakhala ndi ana, kuti nditumikile mokwanila “popanda cododometsa,” ndili ndi ana ambilimbili a kuuzimu. (1 Akor. 7:34, 35) Ndinaona kuti m’moyo uno, sindingathe kukhala ndi zinthu zonse. Motelo, ndaika cinthu coyamba patsogolo, cimene ndi kudzipeleka kwanga kutumikila Yehova ndi mtima wonse. M’dziko latsopano, tidzakhala ndi nthawi yambili yocita zosangulutsa zosiyanasiyana zolimbikitsa. Lemba limene ndimakonda kwambili ndi Salimo 145:16, limene limatitsimikizila kuti Yehova ‘adzakhutilitsa zokhumba za camoyo ciliconse.’

Pali pano ndili ndi zaka 91, ndipo thanzi langa likali kundilola kucita upainiya. Utumiki wa upainiya umandicititsa kudziona kuti mumtima ndikali mnyamata, ndipo ndili ndi colinga pa umoyo. Nditafika ku El Salvador kwa nthawi yoyamba, nchito yolalikila inali itangoyamba kumene. Tsopano m’dzikolo muli ofalitsa oposa 39 sauzande, mosasamala kanthu za citsutso cosatha ca Satana. Zimenezi zalimbitsadi cikhulupililo canga. Ndipo sindikaikila kuti mzimu woyela wa Yehova umathandiza anthu ake.