NDAKAZYALILWA ku Greece, mukanzi kasyoonto ka Karítsa, alimwi ndili wanamba 7 kuzyalwa akati kabana bali 8. Bazyali bangu bakali bayumu kubeleka. Ndakazyalwa mu 1926.

Mu 1925, bazyali bangu bakayaana aba John Papparizos, Basikwiiya Bbaibbele kweelana ambobakali kwiitwa Bakamboni ba Jehova kuciindi eeco. Ba John bakali basungu alimwi bakali kwaambaula kapati. Akaambo kakuti bakakkomana ambobakali kupandulula Magwalo ba John, bakatalika kujanika kumiswaangano ya Basikwiiya Bbaibbele ibakali mumunzi wesu. Bamaama bakalijisi lusyomo luyumu muli Jehova Leza, nokuba kuti tiibakalicizyi kubala alimwi akulemba, bakali kubaambila bantu kujatikizya Jehova Leza kufwumbwa nobakali kuba acoolwe cakucita boobo. Cuusisya ncakuti, bataata bakali kubikkila kapati maano kukutalondoka kwabantu, aboobo bakacileka kujanika kumiswaangano ya Bunakristo.

Mebo abanabokwesu twakali kulilemeka Bbaibbele, pele ciindi notwakali kuyaabukomena twakanyonganizyigwa azyakulikondelezya zyakubukubusi. Mpoonya mu 1939, ciindi Nkondo Yabili Yanyika Yoonse noyakali kulwanwa mu Europe, kuli cintu icakacitika mumunzi wesu icakatugambya. Simukoboma alimwi imweenima wazina lya Nicolas Psarras, walo wakazwide aakubbapatizyigwa kali Kamboni, bakamulemba kuti abe sikalumamba muna Greece. Nicolas, iwakajisi myaka iili 20, cabusicamba wakaambila balupati-pati babasikalumamba kuti: “Tandikonzyi kulwana nkaambo ndili sikalumamba wa Kristo.” Wakabetekwa ankuta yabasikalumamba akwaangwa myaka iili 10. Twakagambwa kapati!

Mucoolwe, kumatalikilo aakuma 1941, nkamu zyabasikalumamba ibazwa mumasi aaindene-indene bakatalika kweendelezya cisi ca Greece mpoonya Nicolas wakaangununwa. Wakapiluka ku Karítsa, ooko bapati bangu ba Ilias nkobakamubuzya mibuzyo minji iijatikizya makani aamu Bbaibbele. Ndakabasangana kuti  andime ndiswiilile. Kuzwa waawo, mebo aba IIias alimwi amusyoonto wesu musimbi wazina lya Efmorfia, twakatalika kwiiya Bbaibbele, alimwi twakali kujanika kumiswaangano ya Bakamboni lyoonse. Mwaka wakatobela, toonse totatwe twakalyaaba kuli Jehova akubbapatizyigwa. Mukuya kwaciindi, banabokwesu bambi bone abalo bakaba Bakamboni basyomeka.

Mu 1942, Mbungano ya Karítsa yakajisi bakwesu abacizyi ibacili bana-bana ibali fwuka ibakajisi myaka iili akati ka 15 alimwi a 25. Toonse twakalizyi kuti kwakali masunko aakatazya aakali kuboola kumbele. Aboobo kutegwa tuyume kumuuya, twakali kubungana antoomwe kufwumbwa leelyo nocakali kukonzyeka kutegwa twiiye Bbaibbele, kwiimba nyimbo zyakumuuya alimwi akupaila. Aboobo lusyomo lwesu lwakayumizyigwa.

Ciindi noyakali kuyaabumana Nkondo Yabili Yanyika Yoonse, nkamu iyakali kukazya mfwulumende ya Greece yakazangila mfwulumende, calo icakapa kuti kube kulwana kutaambiki mucisi. Ibankamu eeyi iyakali kukazya mfwulumende bakali kweendeenda muminzi, akusinikizya bantu kuti baisangane. Ciindi nobakasaala munzi wesu, bakajata akutola Bakamboni bana-bana—Antonio Tsoukaris, Ilias, andime. Twakabakombelezya kuti tuli Banakristo alimwi tatutoli lubazu munkondo; nokuba boobo bakatusinikizya kuunka ku Cilundu ca Olympus, ooko ikwakali kweendwa mawoola aali 12 kuzwa mumunzi wesu.

Nokwakainda buyo ciindi cisyoonto, silutwe wankamu eeyo wakatwaambila kuti tusangane mbunga yabasikalumamba ibakali kusaala minzi. Ciindi notwakapandulula kuti Banakristo bakasimpe tabatoli lubazu munkondo, sikalumamba iwakanyemede kapati wakatukwelela kumupati-pati. Ciindi notwakaayinduluka makani aaya kumupati-pati ooyo, wakatwaambila kuti: “Naa mboobo, amubweze myuulu akubweza bantu ibalicisa kunkondo akubatola kucibbadela.”

Twakaingula kuti: “Pele ino mbuti kuti twajatwa abasikalumamba bamfwulumende? Sena tabakonzyi kutubona kuti andiswe tuli basikalumamba?” Mpoonya walupati-pati ooyo wakaamba kuti: “Naa mboobo, kamutola cinkwa nkobalwanina nkondo.” Twakasola kubandika anguwe akwaamba kuti: “Pele ino mbuti kuti silutwe watubona amyuulu akutwaambila kuti tutole zilwanyo nkobalwanina nkondo? Sikalumamba mupati-pati ooyo wakatungumana. Kumane wakaamba kuti: “Ikuti naa mboobo, inga mweembela mbelele, tee kayi? Kamukkala amulundu kamweembela mbelele.”

Aboobo ciindi nkondo noyakali kulwanwa mucisi, swebo totatwe twakalimvwa kuti manjezyeezya eesu alatuzumizya kweembela mbelele. Nokwakainda mwaka, Ilias, wakazumizyigwa kujokela kuŋanda kutegwa akalanganye bamaama balo ibakali bamukamufwu mbwaanga ngowakali mwana mupati. Antonio wakaciswa aboobo wakaangununwa. Pele mebo ndakazumanana kandili mwaange.

Aciindi eeci, basikalumamba ba Giriki bakali kuyaabuswena afwaafwi kumbunga eeyo yabazangi. Mbunga iyakandaangide yakatijila kumalundu kutozya kucisi icakali munsi-munsi ca Albania. Katuli afwaafwi amunyinza wa Greece a Albania, twakajanika kuti tuzingulukidwe abasikalumamba ba Giriki. Bazangi aabo bakakopana akutija. Ndakayuba kunze aacisamu cakawide, aawo mpotwakaswaangana abasikalumamba aabo mbondaambide kumatalikilo aacibalo.

Nondakabaambila basikalumamba ba Giriki kuti ndakaangidwe buya akabunga kabazangi, bakanditola kuya kubuzyigwa-buzyigwa kunkambi yabasikalumamba iyakali afwaafwi a Véroia, dolopo lyakali kwiitwa kuti  Bereya kaindi. Ookuya ndakaambilwa kusya mifwolo yabasikalumamba. Nondakakaka kucita oobo, silutwe wabasikalumamba wakalailila kuti ndaangwe muntolongo yakali ku Makrónisos (Makronisi).

Busena oobu ibujisi mwala uuyalidwe ibutegwa Makrónisos mbusena butalibonyi kabotu, ibunyina meenda alimwi bulapya kapati ibujanika kumbali aankomwe ya Attica alimwi kulampa makkilomita aali 50 kuzwa kudolopo lya Athens. Nsumbu eeyi ilampa buyo makkilomita aali 13 alimwi amamita aali 500 bwamba mpobuli bupati. Nokuba boobo, kuzwa mu 1947 kusikila mu 1958, yakajisi baange ibainda ku 100,000, kubikkilizya ankamu iyakali kulwana mfwulumende alimwi abaabo mbobakali kuyeeyela buyo, aabo kaindi ibakali kukazya mfwulumende, alimwi a Bakamboni ba Jehova banji ibasyomeka.

Ciindi nondakasika mu 1949, baange bakalibikkidwe mutubunga tunji twiindene-indene. Ndakabikkwa mukabunga ikakali kukkala mubusena ibwatakakwabilidwe alimwi ndakali antoomwe abaalumi bamwi banji. Notuli 40 twakali koona ansi mutente oomo imwakeelede buyo kunjila bantu bali 10. Twakali kunywa meenda aanunka dooti alimwi ziindi zinji twakali kulya nyabo alimwi amaegipulanti. Muwo iwakali kubbubbula lyoonse alimwi alusuko zyakapa kuti buumi buyume citaambiki. Pesi mbubo nkaambo tiitwakali kunyamuna mabwe lyoonse, ikutundululwa kwalo ikwakali kupa kuti baange bamwi kabatyoka alimwi akutyompwa kapati.

Bumwi buzuba nondakali kweenda kunkomwe, ndakayaanya Bakamboni banji ibakali kuzwa kutubunga tumbi. Eelo kaka twakakkomana kuswaangana antoomwe! Kutegwa batatuboni, twakali kuswaangana buyo kufwumbwa nocakonzyeka. Alimwi cabupampu twakali kubakambaukila baange bambi, ibamwi mukuya kwaciindi bakaba Bakamboni ba Jehova. Zintu eezyo nzyotwakali kucita alimwi amipailo iizwa aansi amoyo zyakatugwasya kuzumanana kusima kumuuya.

Noyakakkwana myezi iili kkumi njobakali kuyeeyela kuti “bandicinca,” aabo ibakandaanga bakayeeya kuti lino casika ciindi cakuti inga ndasama yunifoomu yabusikalumamba. Nondakakaka kucita boobo, bakanditola kumupati iwakali kulanganya nkamu yabaange. Mpoonya ndakamupa mwaalumi ooyo pepa mpondakalembede kuti, “Ndiyanda buyo kuba sikalumamba wa Kristo.” Naakamana kundikonga, mupati wankamu ooyo wakanditola kuli yooyo iwakali kumutobela, imusololi mupati mucikombelo ca Greek Orthodox iwakasamide yunifoomu. Ndakayiingula mibuzyo yakwe cabusicamba kuzwa mu Magwalo, pele wakanyema kapati akwaamba kuti: “Amumugwisye aawa. Ulisondokede ooyu!”

Mafwumofwumo aakatobela, basikalumamba alimwi bakandaambila kuti ndisame yunifoomu yabusikalumamba. Nondakakaka bakanduuma mfwaindi alimwi ankoli. Mpoonya bakanditola kucibbadela cabasikalumamba kutegwa bakabone naa mafwuwa aangu tanaatyoka, kumane bakandijosya alimwi kutente lyangu. Kupenzyegwa ooku kwakazumanana kwamyezi yobilo.

Akaambo kakuti ndakakaka kutama lusyomo lwangu, camamanino basikalumamba banyemede bakasola nzila iimbi mpya. Bakaanga maanza aangu kusyule lyangu, mpoonya calunya basikalumamba bakatalika kunduuma antambo kumampata. Kandimvwide kucisa, ndakayeeya majwi aa Jesu aakuti: “Mulikkomene nywebo ciindi bantu nobamusampaula akumupenzya . . . Amukondwe akusekelela, mbwaanga bulumbu bwanu mbupati kujulu, nkaambo mbubonya oobo mbubakabapenzya basinsimi ibakamusaangunina.” (Mt. 5:11, 12) Kumamanino, nobakamana kunduuma kwaciindi cilamfwu kapati, ndakanetuka.

Nondakapempenuka, ndakalijana muntolongo iitontola kapati kakunyina cakulya, meenda naa payi. Nokuba boobo, moyo wangu wakalikkede alimwi ndakalilikwaide. Mbubwenya Bbaibbele mbolisyomezya, “luumuno lwa Leza” lwakali ‘kukwabilila moyo wangu alimwi amizeezo yangu.’ (Flp. 4:7) Buzuba bwakatobela, sikalumamba uulaaluzyalo wakandipa cakulya, meenda alimwi acijampa. Mpoonya sikalumamba uumbi wakali kundipa cakulya cakwe. Munzila eezyi alimwi anzila zimbi zinji, ndakalibonena Jehova mbwatubikkila maano caluzyalo.

Beendelezi bamfwulumende bakandibona kuba muntu muzangi uutacinci aboobo bakanditola kunkuta yabasikalumamba mudolopo lya Athens. Ooko bakandaanga myaka yotatwe kuntolongo yakali kunsumbu iitegwa Yíaros (Gyaros) iyakali kujwe lya Makrónisos ikulampa makkilomita aasika ku 50.

Ntolongo ya Yíaros yakali mpati yalo yakayakidwe azitina zyuumpidwe, yakajisi baange basimapolitikisi ibali 5,000. Yakalijisi a Bakamboni ba Jehova bali ciloba, ibakaangwa akaambo kakukaka kuba basikalumamba. Nokuba kuti cakali kukasyigwa, swebo toonse notuli ciloba cakusisikizya twakali kuswaangana antoomwe kwiiya Bbaibbele. Lyoonse twakali kutambula mamagazini aa Ngazi Yamulindizi, aakusisikizya, alo  ngotwakali kukkopolola kubelesya maanza kutegwa katwiiya.

Bumwi buzuba notwakali kwiiya cakusisikizya, mulindizi wantolongo umwi wakatujanikizya, aboobo wakatunyanga mabbuku eesu. Mpoonya twakatolwa kuofesi yayooyo iwakali kutobela mupati wantolongo, katulangila kuti myaka yakwaangwa ilayungizyigwa. Pele muntu ooyo wakati: “Tulimuzyi kabotu, alimwi tulazilemeka nzyomusyoma. Tulizyi kuti tulakonzya kumusyoma. Kamupiluka mukabeleke.” Mane buya tobamwi wakatupa milimo iitakatazyi. Twakakkomana kapati mumoyo akumulumba Jehova. Nomuba muntolongo, kusyomeka kwesu kwa Bunakristo kwakali kupa kuti Jehova atembaulwe.

Kuyungizya waawo, kutazungaana kwesu kwakapa kuti kucitike zintu zimwi zibotu. Syaazibwene umwi mulwiiyo lwanamba iwakali mwaange awalo, naakabona kulilemeka kwesu wakatubuzya mibuzyo kujatikizya nzyotusyoma. Ciindi swebo to Bakamboni notwakaangununwa kumatalikilo aamwaka wa 1951, awalo wakaangununwa. Mukuya kwaciindi, awalo wakaba Kamboni uubbapatizyidwe alimwi amukambausi waciindi coonse.

Nondakaangununwa, ndakapiluka ku Karítsa ikwakali mukwasyi wangu. Mukuya kwaciindi, mebo antoomwe ambotwakali kukkala limwi, twakalongela ku Melbourne, Australia. Ookuya ndakazyibana aba Janette, imucizyi Munakristo, balo mbotwakakwatana limwi akuba abana bone (basimbi botatwe amusankwa omwe) alimwi akubakomezya munzila ya Bunakristo.

Mazuba aano, nokuba kuti ndijisi myaka iinda ku 90, ndilabeleka cabusungu kandili mwaalu Munakristo. Akaambo kakuumwa nkondakaumwa kaindi, mubili wangu alimwi amaulu zimwi ziindi zilacisa, ikapati ndazwa mumulimo wabukambausi. Nokuba boobo, ndilikanzide mbuli lyoonse kuzumanana kuba ‘sikalumamba wa Kristo.’—2Tim. 2:3.