Ngathola Ukwaneliseka Ngokukhonza UNkulunkulu

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA UJOSHUA THONGOANA

Emuva ngo-1942 ngangidideke kakhulu. Ngangitadisha izincwadi ezinyatheliswa amaSabatha nezincwadi ezinyatheliswa i-Watch Tower Society. NjengamaIsrayeli asendulo, ‘ngangimanqikanqika phakathi kwezinhlangothi ezimbili.’—1 AmaKhosi 18:21.

AMASABATHA ayengithumelela izincwadi zezintshumayelo ezazibizwa ngokuthi “IZwi Lesiprofetho.” Ngangikujabulela ukuphendula imibuzo yawo, futhi athembisa ukunginikeza isitifiketi esihle uma ngiphumelela kukho konke ukuhlolwa kwami. Kodwa ngaphawula ukuthi kokubili “IZwi Lesiprofetho” nezincwadi ze-Watch Tower Society zazithunyelwa zivela edolobheni laseNingizimu Afrika eKapa. Ngazibuza: ‘Ingabe lezinhlangano ziyazana? Ingabe izimfundiso zazo ziyavumelana? Uma zingavumelani, ubani oneqiniso?’

Ukuze ngilungise lendaba, ngathumela izincwadi ezifanayo enhlanganweni ngayinye. Ngokwesibonelo, ngabhalela i-Watch Tower Society: “Ingabe niyabazi abantu ‘beZwi Lesiprofetho,’ futhi uma nibazi, nithini ngezimfundiso zabo?” Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngathola izimpendulo ezivela kuwo womabili lamaqembu. Incwadi evela e-Watch Tower Society yathi babenolwazi ‘ngeZwi Lesiprofetho’ kodwa yachaza ukuthi izimfundiso zalo, ezinjengoZiqu-zintathu neyokubuya kukaKristu emhlabeni esenyameni, azikho ngokombhalo. Incwadi yabo yahlanganisa imibhalo ephikisa lezimfundiso.—Johane 14:19, 28.

Impendulo evela kubantu ‘beZwi Lesiprofethi’ yamane yathi babebazi “abantu be-Watch Tower,” kodwa babengavumelani nezimfundiso zabo. Azikho izizathu ezanikezwa. Ngakho nganquma ukuthi ineqiniso i-Watch Tower Society, okuyigama elingokomthetho elisetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Namuhla, ngemva kweminyaka engu-50 ngizihlanganise noFakazi, yeka indlela engijabula ngayo ngokuthi ngenza isinqumo esiqondile!

Isizinda Esingokwenkolo

Ngazalwa ngo-1912 emaphandleni abizwa ngokuthi iMakanye, empumalanga nedolobha laseNingizimu Afrika iPietersburg. Ngalesosikhathi iMakanye yayingaphansi kokulawulwa okungokwenkolo kwe-Anglican Church, ngakho ngaba yilungu lalelosonto. Lapho sengineminyaka eyishumi, umkhaya wakithi wathuthela endaweni eyayibuswa i-Lutheran Berlin Mission Church, futhi abazali bami bajoyina lelosonto. Ngokushesha ngafaneleka ukuya eSidlweni SeNkosi nokudla ucezwana Iwesinkwa nokuphuza umthanyana wewayini, kodwa akuzange kuzenelise izidingo zami ezingokomoya.

 Ngemva kweminyaka eyisishiyagalombili ngifunda isikole, ubaba wangithumela eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshwa eKilnerton, futhi ngo-1935, ngathola iSitifiketi Seminyaka Emithathu Yokufundela Ubuthishela. Omunye wabafundisi engangisebenza naye kwakungowesifazane osemusha, uCaroline. Sashada, futhi kamuva uCaroline wazala umntwana wentombazane esametha ngokuthi uDamaris. Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa, ngaba uthisha-nhloko weSikole ISehlale emaphandleni aseMamatsha. Njengoba lesikole sasiphethwe yi-Dutch Reformed Church, sajoyina lelosonto, siya njalo ezinkonzweni zalo. Sasenza lokhu ngoba kwakusemfashinini ukukwenza, kodwa akuzange kungilethele ukwaneliseka.

Inkathi Yenguquko

Ngelinye iSonto ngo-1942, sasiprakthiza amahubo esontweni lapho insizwa emhlophe ivela emnyango iphethe izincwadi ezintathu ezazinyatheliswe yi-Watch Tower Society—i-Creation, i-Vindication, ne-Preparation. Ngacabanga ukuthi lezincwadi zazizobukeka kahle eshalofini lami lezincwadi, ngakho ngazamukela ngosheleni abathathu. Kamuva ngathola ukuthi lensizwa, uTienie Bezuidenhout, yayingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, okuwukuphela kwayo kuleyondawo. Ekuhambeleni kukaTienie okulandelayo, weza negilamafoni futhi wadlala ezinye izintshumayelo zikaMahlulel’ uRutherford. Ngayijabulela kakhulu leyo eyaziwa ngokuthi “Ugibe Nesife,” kodwa uCaroline nodadewethu uPriscilla, owayehlala nathi, abazange bayijabulele. Ekuhambeleni kukaTienie kwesithathu, wanginikeza legilamafoni ukuze ngidlalele abangane amarekhodi ayo.

Ngolunye usuku ngahlola amakhasi encwadi i-Creation futhi ngahlangana nesahluko esithi “Bakuphi Abafileyo?” Ngaqala ukufunda nginethemba lokufunda ngezinjabulo ezijatshulelwa yimiphefumulo eye ezulwini. Kodwa ngokuphambene nalokho engangikulindele, lencwadi yathi abafileyo basemathuneni abo futhi abazi lutho. Kwacashunwa amavesi eBhayibheli, anjengomShumayeli 9:5, 10 ukuze kusekelwe lokhu. Esinye isahluko sasinesihloko esithi “Ukuvusa Abafileyo,” futhi kwacashunwa uJohane 5:28, 29 njengobufakazi bokuthi abafileyo abazi lutho futhi balindele uvuko. Lokhu kwakunengqondo. Kwakwenelisa.

Kungalesosikhathi, ngo-1942, lapho nganqamula khona ubuhlobo bami ‘neZwi Lesiprofetho’ futhi ngaqala ukutshela abanye izinto engangizifunda ezincwadini ze-Watch Tower Society. Omunye wabokuqala ukusabela kwakungumngane wami, uJudah Letsoalo, esasifunda naye ekilasini elilodwa eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshwa eKilnerton.

Mina noJudah sahamba amakhilomitha angu-51 ngebhayisekili ukuze sibe semhlanganweni woFakazi boMdabu ePietersburg. Ngemva kwalokho, abangane basePietersburg babevame ukuhamba ibanga elide beza eMamatsha ukuzongisiza ukuba ngethule isigijimi soMbuso komakhelwane bami. Ekugcineni, ngo-December 1944, komunye umhlangano owawusePietersburg, ngabhapathizwa njengophawu lokuzinikezela kwami kuJehova.

Umkhaya Wami Nabanye Bayasabela

UCaroline, uPriscilla, nendodakazi yami uDamaris, baqhubeka beya eDutch Reformed Church. Khona-ke kwavela inhlekelele. UCaroline  wazala umntwana wethu wesibili—umfana owayebukeka enempilo esametha ngokuthi uSamuel. Kodwa ngokushesha wagula futhi wafa. Abangane basesontweni likaCaroline abazange basiduduze, bethi uNkulunkulu wayefuna indodana yethu ukuba ibe naye ezulwini. Ecindezelekile, uCaroline waqhubeka ebuza: “Kungani uNkulunkulu ethathe indodana yethu?”

Lapho oFakazi ePietersburg bezwa ngenhlekelele eyayisivelele, beza futhi basinikeza induduzo yangempela esekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu. UCaroline kamuva wathi: “Lokho iBhayibheli elakusho ngembangela yokufa, ngesimo sabafileyo, nangethemba lovuko kwakunengqondo, futhi ngaduduzeka kakhulu. Ngangifuna ukuba semhlabeni omusha futhi ngamukele indodana yami lapho ibuya ethuneni.”

UCaroline wayeka ukuya esontweni, futhi ngo-1946 yena, uPriscilla, noJudah babhapathizwa. Ngokushesha ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwakhe, uJudah wahamba ukuze ayoqala umsebenzi wokushumayela emaphandleni abizwa ngokuthi iMamahlola, futhi wahlala ethembekile kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1991.

Lapho uJudah esehambile, ngangiwukuphela kowesilisa owayesele ukuba anakekele ibandla lethu, elalibizwa ngokuthi iBoyne. Khona-ke uGracely Mahlatji weza ensimini yethu, futhi ekugcineni washada noPriscilla. Isonto ngalinye, mina noGracely sasishintshana ekunikezeni izinkulumo zeningi ngeSipedi, ulimi lwendawo lwaboMdabu. Ukuze yenze izincwadi zeBhayibheli zitholakale kubantu, iNhlangano yangicela ukuba ngihumushe lezincwadi ngeSipedi. Kwangilethela ukwaneliseka okukhulu ukubona abantu bezuza kulezincwadi.

Ukuze sithuthukise umkhankaso wethu wokushumayela obala, sathenga igilamafoni enombhobho omkhulu ukuze sidlale izintshumayelo zeBhayibheli kuyo yonke insimu yethu. Saboleka ikalishi elidonswa yizimbongolo ukuze sihambe nalomshini osindayo kuzo zonke izindawo. Ngenxa yalokhu, omakhelwane bethu basibiza ngokuthi “Abantu Besonto Lezimbongolo.”

Ngesikhathi esifanayo ibandla lethu elincane laliqhubeka likhula. Ekugcineni, odadewethu ababili abadala nabayeni babo baba oFakazi futhi bonke bahlala bethembekile kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwabo. Futhi, abaningi bebandla laseBoyne (manje elibizwa ngokuthi iMphogodiba) bangenela umsebenzi wesikhathi esigcwele wokushumayela, futhi abaningi basekuleyonkonzo. Manje, kunamabandla amabili kulendawo enkulu yasemaphandleni enemizi eqhelelene, futhi ingqikithi yabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-70 iyashiseka emsebenzini wokushumayela.

Umsebenzi Omusha

Ngo-1949, ngayeka ukufundisa esikoleni futhi ngaba yisikhonzi esiyiphayona elivamile. Isabelo sami sokuqala sasiwukuhambela izisebenzi zasepulazini ezinsundu ezazihlala emapulazini ayephethwe abamhlophe ngaseVaalwater eNtilasifali. Abanye abanini-pulazi babesekela umthetho owawusanda kumiswa wobandlululo futhi babethi abansundu kumelwe bavume ukuba kwabo ngaphansi kwabamhlophe futhi kumelwe basebenzele obasi babo abamhlophe. Ngakho lapho ngishumayela ezisebenzini ezinsundu, abanye abamhlophe babengicabangela kabi njengoshumayela ukuvukelwa kombuso. Abanye bangibeka ngisho necala lokuba yiKhomanisi futhi besongela ngokungidubula.

Ngabikela ihhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society ngalesimo, futhi ngokushesha ngashintshelwa kwesinye isabelo endaweni yasemaphandleni ebizwa ngokuthi iDuiwelskloof. Ngalesikhathi umkami naye wawuyeka umsebenzi wakhe futhi wahlanganyela nami enkonzweni yamaphayona. Ngenye intambama ngo-1950, lapho sibuya enkonzweni yasensimini sathola imvilophu enkulu evela eNhlanganweni. Samangala kakhulu ngokuthi yayingimema ukuba ngithole ukuqeqeshwa njengombonisi ojikelezayo. Iminyaka emithathu sahambela amabandla eNingizimu Afrika, futhi ngo-1953 sabelwa eLesotho, izwe elihaqwe amanye enkabeni yeNingizimu Afrika.

Ukukhonza ELesotho NaseBotswana

Lapho siqala ukukhonza eLesotho, kwakunamehumuhemu amaningi okuthi izihambi ngokuvamile zaziyizisulu zokubulawa ngokwemicikilisho yenkolo. Sobabili mina nomkami sasikhathazekile,  kodwa ngokushesha uthando Iwabazalwane bethu abakhuluma isiSuthu nomoya wabo wokuphana kwasisiza ukuba sikukhohlwe ukwesatshiswa okunjalo.

Ukuze ngikhonze amabandla eZintabeni zaseLesotho ezibizwa ngokuthi iMaluti, ngangihamba ngendiza, ngishiye umkami ezansi lapho ayeqhubeka khona nenkonzo yamaphayona ngize ngibuye. Abangane babengiphelezela ngomusa kuwo wonke lawomabandla ukuze bangisize ukuba ngingalahleki ezintabeni.

Ngolunye usuku ngatshelwa ukuthi ukuze sifinyelele ebandleni elilandelayo, kwakuyofuneka siwele uMfula iSangqu (Orange River) ngamahhashi. Ngaqinisekiswa ukuthi ihhashi lami lalizothile kodwa ngaxwayiswa ngokuthi lapho amanzi eba namandla kakhulu, amahhashi ngokuvamile azama ukuzethula imithwalo yawo. Ngangikhathazekile ngoba ngangingenalo ikhono lokugibela ihhashi ngingeyona nenhlambi. Ngokushesha sase sisemfuleni, futhi amanzi aphakama aze afika ezihlalweni. Ngangithuke kakhulu kangangokuthi ngayeka ukubamba amatomu ehhashi futhi ngabamba umhlwenga walo. Yeka ukukhululeka lapho sifika ngokuphepha ogwini olukolunye uhlangothi!

Ngalobobusuku angikwazanga ukulala ngoba umzimba wami wawubuhlungu kakhulu ngenxa yokuhamba ngehhashi. Kodwa kwakukufanele konke ukukhathazeka ngoba abangane babonisa ukwazisa okukhulu ngokuhanjelwa. Lapho ngiqalisa umsebenzi wesifunda eLesotho, kwakunenani eliphakeme labamemezeli abangu-113. Namuhla, lelonani liye landa laba ngu-1 649.

Ngo-1956 isabelo sethu sokushumayela sashintshelwa eBechuanaland Protectorate, manje ebizwa ngokuthi iBotswana. IBotswana iyizwe elikhudlwana, futhi kudingeka kuhanjwe amabanga amade kakhulu ukuze kufinyelelwe bonke abamemezeli. Sasihamba ngesitimela noma ngeloli elivulekile. Zazingekho iziblalo, ngakho kwakufanele sihlale phansi nemithwalo yethu. Ngokuvamile sasifika lapho siya khona sigcwele izintuli futhi sikhathele. Abafowethu abangamaKristu babesamukela ngaso sonke isikhathi, futhi ubuso babo obujabulile babusiqabula.

Ngalesosikhathi, izincwadi zeNhlangano zazivinjelwe eBotswana, ngakho ukushumayela kwethu endlini ngendlu kwakwenziwa ngokuqapha, ngaphandle kokusebenzisa izincwadi zeNhlangano. Ngolunye usuku sabanjwa sisebenza eduze nendawo yaseMaphashalala futhi saboshwa. Ukuze sizivikele safunda iBhayibheli, sibhekisela ekuthunyweni kwethu njengoba kulotshwe kuMathewu 28:19, 20. Nakuba abanye abeluleki bahlatshwa umxhwele, inkosi yayala ukuba oFakazi baleyondawo bashaywe. Nokho, samangala kakhulu lapho omunye umfundisi enxusa inkosi ukuba ibe nomusa futhi isixolele. Lenkosi yavuma, futhi sakhululwa.

Naphezu koshushiso nokuvinjelwa kwezincwadi zethu, umsebenzi woMbuso waqhubeka uthuthuka. Lapho ngifika eBotswana, kwakunenani eliphakeme labamemezeli abangu-154. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu lapho ukuvinjelwa sekuphelile, lelonani lase lande laba ngu192. Namuhla kunoFakazi BakaJehova abangu-777 abashumayela kulelozwe.

Ukufundisa Nokuhumusha

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngangisetshenziswa njengomfundisi eSikoleni Senkonzo SoMbuso sabadala abangamaKristu. Kamuva ngajabulela ilungelo lokufundisa eSikoleni Senkonzo Samaphayona. Futhi mina nomkami sasikhonza egatsheni laseNingimu Afrika ngezikhathi ezithile. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo ngangisiza ngokuhumusha, futhi uCaroline wayesebenza ekhishini.

Ngolunye usuku ngo-1969, umbonisi wegatsha, uFrans Muller, weza kimi futhi wathi: “Mfoweth’ uThongoana, ngingathanda ukukubona wena nomkakho ehhovisi lami.” Lapho wachaza ukuthi sasiphakathi kwalabo ababekhethwe ukuba babe yizihambeli eMhlanganweni “Wokuthula Emhlabeni” ka-1969 eLondon. Sakujabulela ukwamukela izihambi kothando kwabazalwane bethu baseNgilandi naseScotland, futhi kwakhulisa kakhulu ukwazisa kwethu ngobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke.

Emashumini amane eminyaka adlule, uCaroline uye waba umngane oqotho emsebenzini wethu njengabashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele. Siye sahlanganyela izinjabulo eziningi nosizi oluthile ndawonye. Nakuba siye salahlekelwa  abantwana bethu ababili ngokufa, indodakazi yethu, uDamaris, yakhula yaba uFakazi omuhle futhi nayo yahlanganyela emsebenzini wokuhumusha egatsheni laseNingizimu Afrika.

Impilo yethu ayisasivumeli ukuba sihlanganyele emsebenzini wokujikeleza, ngakho eminyakeni embalwa edlule, besingamaphayona akhethekile ebandleni laseSeshego, ilokishi laboMdabu eduze nePietersburg. Ngikhonza njengombonisi owengamele. IBhayibheli lithi “ukugcwala kwenjabulo kusebusweni [bukaJehova],” futhi ngempela ngiye ngathola injabulo nokwaneliseka ngokukhonza uNkulunkulu eAfrika eseningizimu.—IHubo 16:11.

[Isithombe ekhasini 26]

Ngifakaza elokishini laseSeshego, eNingizimu Afrika