M’CAKA ca 1970, ndinagonekedwa m’cipatala cina m’dela la Phoenixville ku Pennsylvania, m’dziko la United States cifukwa codwala matenda ena ake oopsa. Pakapita mphindi 30, nesi wamwamuna anali kundipima kuti aone mmene magazi anga anali kuyendela. Panthawiyo ndinali ndi zaka 20, ndipo ndinali msilikali. Ngakhale kuti nesiyo anali wamkuluko kuposa ine, anali ndi nkhawa kwambili. Pamene matenda anakula, ndinamufunsa kuti, “Kodi unaonapo munthu ali kufa?” Iye anacita mantha kwambili, ndipo anayankha kuti, “Ai, sindinaonepo.”

Panthawiyo ndinaona kuti kwanga kwatha, ndikufa basi. Koma kodi matendawo anayamba bwanji? Lekani ndikuuzeni mbili yanga.

Ndinayamba kudwala pamene ndinali kugwila nchito m’cipinda cocitila opaleshoni panthawi ya nkhondo ku Vietnam. Ndinali kukonda kuthandiza anthu odwala ndi ovulala, ndipo ndinali kufuna kudzakhala dokotala wa opaleshoni. Ndinafika ku Vietnam mu July, caka ca 1969. Mofanana ndi asilikali ena atsopano, ndinapatsidwa mlungu umodzi wakuti ndiphunzitsidwe ndi kuzolowela nyengo ya kumeneko.

Nditangofika ku cipatala ca opaleshoni ca asilikali ku Mekong Delta, ku Dong Tam, kumene ndinafunika kuyamba kuseŵenza, ndeke za cipakapaka zambili zimene zinanyamula asilikali ovulala zinafika. Ndinali ndi mzimu wokonda dziko langa ndipo ndinali kukonda kugwila nchito. Conco, ndinayamba kuseŵenza nthawi yomweyo. Asilikali ovulalawo anali kuwatenga ndi kuthamangila nao m’tumanyumba topangidwa ndi malata mmene anali kucitila opaleshoni. M’menemo munali kukhala dokotala wa opaleshoni, nesi wopeleka mankhwala ocepetsa ululu, ndi manesi ena aŵili amene anali kucita zonse zotheka kuti apulumutse ovulalawo. Ndiyeno, ndinaona matumba a katundu amene sanacotsedwe m’ndekezo. Pambuyo pake ndinauzidwa kuti m’matumbawo munali ziwalo za asilikali amene anaphedwa kunkhondo. Umu ndi mmene ndinafikila kunkhondo.

Pamene ndinali wacinyamata, ndinaphunzilako pang’ono coonadi ndi Mboni za Yehova. Amai  anali kuphunzila Baibulo ndi Mboni za Yehova, koma sanafike pobatizidwa. Ndinali kukhalapo amai akamaphunzila, ndipo ndinali kukondwela ndi phunzilolo. Nthawi ina, ine ndi atate anga opeza tinapitila pafupi ndi Nyumba ya Ufumu. Ndinawafunsa kuti, “N’ciani cija?” Iwo anati, “Usakayese kugwilizana nao anthu amenewo!” Popeza kuti ndinali kuwakonda ndi kuwakhulupilila, ndinamvela malangizo ao. Kucokela nthawiyo, ndinasiya kukambilana ndi Mboni za Yehova.

Nditabwela kucokela ku Vietnam, ndinayamba kulakalaka kuphunzila za Mulungu. Zinthu zoipa zimene ndinaona zinandikhudza kwambili. Ndinali kuganiza kuti palibe amene anali kudela nkhawa zimene zinali kucitika ku Vietnam. Ndikumbukila kuti anthu anacita zionetselo, ndipo anali kukamba kuti, ‘Asilikali a ku America ndi opha ana.’ Anali kunena zimenezo cifukwa zinamveka kuti anali kupha ana osalakwa pankhondo.

Kuti ndikhutilitse njala yanga yakuuzimu, ndinayamba kupita ku machalichi osiyanasiyana. Ndinali kukonda Mulungu, koma sindinasangalale ndi zimene anali kuphunzitsa ku machalichiko. Mu February 1971, pa Sondo, ndinapita ku Nyumba ya Ufumu ya Mboni za Yehova ku Delray Beach, ku Florida.

Nditalowa, nkhani ya anthu onse inali pafupi kutha. Motelo, ndinaganiza kuti ndimvetsele nao phunzilo la Nsanja ya Mlonda. Sindikukumbukila nkhani imene anali kuphunzila, koma ndimakumbukila kuti ana aang’ono anali kutsegula Mabaibulo ao kuti apeze malemba. Zimenezo zinandicititsa cidwi kwambili. Ndinali kumvetsela mwachelu ndi kuona zimene zinali kucitika. Pamene ndinali kutuluka m’ Nyumba ya Ufumu, m’bale wina wa zaka pafupifupi 80 anandiimitsa. Dzina lake linali Jim Gardner. Iye anandisonyeza buku lakuti Coonadi Cimene Cimatsogolera ku Moyo Wamuyaya ndi kundifunsa kuti, “Kodi mungalikonde buku ili?” Ndinavomela ndipo tinapangana kuti pa Cinai m’maŵa tikayambe kuphunzila Baibulo.

Madzulo tsiku limenelo ndinafunika kupita ku nchito. Ndinali kuseŵenza pa cipatala cina m’dela la Boca Raton, ku Florida, ndipo ndinali kuseŵenzela m’cipinda ca odwala mwakayakaya. Ndinali kuseŵenza kuyambila 23:00hrs mpaka 07:00hrs. Popeza usiku kunali kukhala ziii, ndinakwanitsa kuŵelenga buku la Coonadi. Mkulu wa manesi anabwela ndi kundilanda bukulo. Ataona pacikuto anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi nawenso ufuna kukhala wa Mboni?” Ndinamulanda bukulo ndi kunena kuti, “Ndangofika pakati pa bukuli, koma ndaona kale kuti ndidzakhala wa Mboni.” Iye anangondisiya ndipo usikuwo ndinamaliza kuŵelenga bukulo.

Tisanayambe kuphunzila Baibulo, ndinafunsa M’bale Gardner kuti, “Kodi tiphunzila ciani?” Iwo anayankha kuti, “Buku limene ndinakupatsa lija.” Kenako ndinawauza kuti, “Ndinaliŵelenga kale.” M’bale Gardner anandiuza mokoma mtima kuti, “Cabwino, tiye tikambilane mutu woyamba.” Ndinadabwa kwambili kuona kuti panali zambili zimene sindinazimvetse. Iwo anandiuza kuti ndiŵelenge malemba m’Baibulo langa la King James Version. Pamenepo, ndinayamba kuphunzila za Mulungu woona, Yehova. Tsiku limenelo tinaphunzila mitu itatu m’buku la Coonadi, ndipo tinayamba  kukondana kwambili ndi m’bale Gardner. Kuyambila panthawiyo, pa Cinai paliponse m’maŵa tinali kuphunzila mitu itatu. Ndinali kusangalala kwambili ndi kuphunzila kumeneko. Ndimaona kuti ndinali ndi mwai waukulu kuphunzitsidwa ndi m’bale wodzozedwa amene anali kudziŵana ndi M’bale Charles T. Russell.

Pambuyo pa milungu ingapo, ndinakhala wofalitsa wosabatizidwa. M’bale Gardner anandithandiza pa zinthu zambili. Mwacitsanzo, anandithandiza kuti ndisamacite mantha polalikila kunyumba ndi nyumba. (Mac. 20:20) Pamene ndinali kutumikila ndi M’bale Gardner, ndinayamba kuikonda kwambili nchito yolalikila. Ndimaonabe kuti utumiki ndi mwai wanga wamtengo wapatali. Kunena zoona, n’zosangalatsa kwambili kukhala wanchito mnzake wa Mulungu.—1 Akor. 3:9.

Tsopano ndifuna kukufotokozelani za cikondi canga ca poyamba kwa Yehova. (Chiv. 2:4) Cikondi cimeneci candithandiza kuti ndisamangoganizila zinthu zoipa zimene ndinaona kunkhondo ndiponso candithandiza kupilila mavuto ena.—Yes. 65:17.

Sindidzaiwala zimene zinacitika tsiku lina mu 1971. Atate anga opeza anandicotsa pa nyumba yao cifukwa cakuti sanali kufuna kukhala ndi wa Mboni. Panthawiyo ndinalibe ndalama zokwanila. Kucipatala kumene ndinali kuseŵenza anali kundilipila pambuyo pa milungu iŵili iliyonse, ndipo ndalama zimene ndinalandila ndinali nditagulila zovala zoyendela mu ulaliki. Ndalama zina zinalipo, koma zinali ku banki ya ku Michigan, kumene ndinakulila. Motelo, kwa masiku angapo ndinali kugona m’galimoto yanga. Ndinali kumeta ndevu ndi kusambila m’zimbudzi za pa malo ogulitsila mafuta a galimoto.

Tsiku lina pamene ndinali kukhala m’galimoto yanga, ndinafika pa Nyumba ya Ufumu kukali  maola angapo kuti msonkhano wokonzekela ulaliki uyambe. Ndinali nditangocoka kucipatala kumene ndinali kuseŵenza. Pamene ndinakhala kuseli kwa Nyumba ya Ufumu poyembekezela kuti ena abwele, ndinayamba kukumbukila zimene ndinaona ku Vietnam, monga magazi a anthu ndi cifungo ca mitembo ya anthu imene inali kutenthedwa ndi moto. Zimenezo zinandicititsa mantha. M’maganizo mwanga, ndinali kumva ndi kuona anyamata akundifunsa kuti, “Kodi ndidzacila ine? Kodi ndidzacila ine?” Ndinali kudziŵa ndithu kuti akufa, koma ndinayesetsa kuwalimbikitsa popanda kuonetsa nkhawa iliyonse. Maganizo amenewo anacititsa kuti ndiyambe kumva cisoni kwambili ndi kudziimba mlandu.

Kenako ndinapemphela uku ndikulila. (Sal. 56:8) Ndinayamba kuganizila mozama za ciyembekezo ca ciukililo, ndipo mtima unakhala pansi. Ndinadziŵa kuti imfa ndi cisoni zidzatha cifukwa Yehova adzaukitsa akufa. Mulungu adzaukitsa anyamata amene anafa kunkhondo aja, ndipo adzakhala ndi mwai wophunzila coonadi ponena za iye. (Mac. 24:15) Pamenepo ndinayamba kukonda Yehova ndi mtima wonse. Tsiku limenelo n’losaiwalika kwa ine. Kucokela panthawiyo, ndimayesetsa kukumbukila cikondi canga ca poyamba kwa Yehova makamaka ndikakumana ndi ziyeso kapena mavuto ena.

Kunkhondo, anthu amacita zinthu zoipa kwambili. Inenso ndinacita nao zinthu zoipa. Koma ndimasinkhasinkha malemba aŵili amene amandilimbikitsa. Loyamba ndi Chivumbulutso 12:10, 11, limene limanena kuti Mdyelekezi anagonjetsedwa osati cabe cifukwa ca mau athu a umboni komanso cifukwa ca magazi a Mwanawankhosa. Laciŵili ndi Agalatiya 2:20. Lembali limandikumbutsa kuti Kristu Yesu anafa “cifukwa ca ine.” Kudzela m’magazi a Yesu, Yehova anandikhululukila. Kudziŵa zimenezi kwandithandiza kukhala ndi cikumbumtima coyela ndiponso kwandilimbikitsa kuyesetsa kuthandiza ena kudziŵa coonadi ponena za Mulungu wacifundo, Yehova.—Aheb. 9:14.

Ndikakumbukila zimene ndakumana nazo pa umoyo wanga, ndimayamikila Yehova cifukwa condisamalila nthawi zonse. Mwacitsanzo, M’bale Gardner atangodziŵa kuti ndinali kugona m’galimoto, anapita nane kwa mlongo wina amene anali ndi nyumba yogona alendo. Sindikaikila kuti Yehova anagwilitsila nchito M’bale Gardner ndi mlongoyo kuti andipatse malo okhala. Yehova ndi wokoma mtima kwambili. Iye amasamalila atumiki ake okhulupilika.

Mu May 1971, ndinafunika kupita ku Michigan kukasamalila mbali zina zofunika. Ndisanacoke kumpingo wa Delray Beach ku Florida, ndinanyamula mabuku ambili m’galimoto yanga. Kenako ndinanyamuka ndi kulowela kumpoto mu mseu wochedwa Interstate 75. Mabuku onse anatha ndikalibe kufika ku cigawo ca Georgia. Ndinali kulengeza uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu mwacangu pena paliponse. Ndinali kulalikila m’ndende ndiponso kugaŵila mathilakiti kwa anthu amene ndinawapeza m’zimbudzi za pa malo ocezela. Mpaka pano, sindidziŵa ngati mbeu za coonadi zimene ndinabyala zinakula.—1 Akor. 3:6, 7.

Koma kunena zoona, nditangophunzila coonadi sindinali kucita zinthu mosamala, makamaka polalikila acibale anga. Popeza kuti cikondi canga coyamba kwa Yehova cinali camphamvu kwambili, ndinali kuwalalikila mopanda mantha koma mosasamala. Ndimawakonda kwambili akulu anga, a John ndi a Ron ndipo ndinawalalikila mowakakamiza. Pambuyo pake ndinapepesa cifukwa cocita zinthu mosawaganizila. Komabe, sindidzaleka kuwapemphelela kuti aphunzile coonadi. Kucokela nthawiyo, Yehova wandiphunzitsa, ndipo tsopano ndimacita zinthu mosamala polalikila ndi kuphunzitsa ena.—Akol. 4:6.

Ndimakonda kwambili Yehova monga mmene ndinali kumukondela poyamba. Koma pali anthu enanso amene ndimawakonda. Munthu woyamba amene ndimakonda kwambili ndi mkazi wanga, Susan. Ndinadziŵa kuti ndifunika mnzanga wogwila naye nchito ya Ufumu. Susan ndi mlongo wolimba ndiponso wauzimu. Mwacitsanzo, ndikumbukila bwino tsiku limene ndinapita kunyumba kwao pamene tinali pa cibwenzi. Susan anali pakhonde kunyumba ya makolo ake ku Cranston Rhode Island. Iye anali kuŵelenga Nsanja ya Mlonda, ndipo anali ndi Baibulo. Cinandisangalatsa kwambili n’cakuti anali kuŵelenga nkhani ina yomwe si yophunzila, koma anali kuŵelenganso malemba. Mumtima mwanga ndinati, ‘Uyu ndi mkazi wauzimu.’ Tinakwatilana mu December 1971, ndipo ndikuyamikila kuti kucokela nthawiyo, Susan wakhala akundithandiza nthawi zonse. Cimene ndimayamikila kwambili n’cakuti ngakhale kuti amandikonda, iye amakondanso Yehova koposa.

Ine ndi Susan tinakhala ndi ana aŵili aamuna. Maina ao ndi Jesse ndi Paul. Pamene anali kukula, Yehova anali nao. (1 Sam. 3:19) Popeza kuti io amakonda coonadi, anthu ena amatilemekeza. Iwo apitilizabe kutumikila Yehova cifukwa cakuti amakumbukila cikondi cao coyamba pa iye. Aliyense wa io wakhala mu utumiki wanthawi zonse kwa  zaka zoposa 20. Komanso ndimanyadila azipongozi anga aŵili, Stephanie ndi Racquel, ndipo ndimawaona ngati ana anga aakazi. Ndimaona kuti ana anga anakwatila akazi auzimu amene amakonda Yehova Mulungu ndi mtima wao wonse ndiponso moyo wao wonse.—Aef. 6:6.

Nditabatizidwa, ndinatumikila ku Rhode Island kwa zaka 16, ndipo kumeneko ndinapeza mabwenzi ambili. Sindiiwala abale okhwima mwauzimu amene ndinali kutumikila nao. Ndimayamikilanso oyang’anila oyendela osaŵelengeka amene anali kundilimbikitsa. Ndimaona kuti ndi mwai kutumikila pamodzi ndi abale amene saiwala cikondi cao coyamba kwa Yehova. Mu 1987, tinapita ku North Carolina kukatumikila m’dela limene kunali ofalitsa ocepa, ndipo tinapeza mabwenzi ena ambili kumeneko. *

Mu August 2002, ine ndi Susan anatiitana kuti tikatumikile ku Beteli ku Patterson, m’dziko la United States. Ine ndinali kutumikila m’Dipatimenti ya Utumiki, ndipo Susan anali kutumikila kocapila zovala. Anali kuikonda kwambili nchitoyo. Ndipo mu August 2005, ndinapatsidwa mwai wotumikila m’Bungwe Lolamulila. Ndinaona kuti ndi mwai waukulu kwambili umenewo. Mkazi wanga anasowa conena cifukwa coganizila kukula kwa udindowo, kuculuka kwa nchito, ndiponso maulendo amene tidzayamba kuyenda. Susan amacita mantha kuyenda pa ndeke, koma timayenda pa ndeke kaŵilikaŵili. Susan amanena kuti mau olimbikitsa amene akazi a abale a m’Bungwe Lolamulila amakamba, amamulimbikitsa kuti apitilize kundithandiza mwakhama. Iye amandithandizadi kwambili, ndipo n’cifukwa cake ndimamukonda.

Mu ofesi yanga muli zithunzi zambili zimene ndimakonda. Zithunzi zimenezi zimandikumbutsa kuti umoyo wanga wakhala wopindulitsa. Ndayamba kale kulandila mphoto cifukwa coyesetsa kukumbukila cikondi canga coyamba pa Yehova.