UKHALI ndzidzi wakutoma kwa malimwe mu caka 1970. Ndikhali pa talimba mu nyumba ikulu ya ungumi ya Valley Forge, Phoenixville ku Pensilvânia, Estados Unidos. Nyakutsalakana atenda wacimuna akhabwera kudzaona kufamba kwa ciropa canga mukhapita mphindi makumatatu. Ndikhali nyankhondo wa pyaka 20, pontho ndikhathabuka na utenda wakugopswa kakamwe. Nyakutsalakana atenda, wakuti akhali nkulu pang’ono kupiringana ine, akhali wakutsukwala kakamwe. Pikhapitiriza ciropa canga kukhonda kufamba mwadidi, ine ndampanga: “Kodi mwadzati kuona munthu mbafa nee?” Iye apangiza nkhope yakutsukwala, mbatawira: “Nkhabe, ndidzati.”

Pa ndzidzi unoyu, ndaluza cidikhiro. Mphapo ninji pidandicitisa kufika pa nyumba ya ungumi? Dikhirani ndilonge mbiri ya umaso wanga.

Ndaphatwa na utenda pikhaphata ine basa mu sala yakucitira operasau mu ndzidzi wa nkhondo ku Vietname. Ndikhakomerwa kuphedza anthu akuduwala na anyakuphekeka kunkhondo, pontho ndikhali na cifuno cakukhala cirurgião. Ndafika ku Vietname mu nthanda ya Maluwa ya caka 1969. Ninga pikhacitirwa alendo onsene, ndapaswa sumana ibodzi yakupfundza pitsogolero toera ndidzolowere kusiyana kwa ndzidzi na kupisa kakamwe kwa makhaliro akudambo.

Pidamala ine kwene kuphemba toera kuphata basa pa nyumba ya ungumi yakucita operasau ku Mekong Delta, Dong Tam, ndeka zizinji za helicóptero zikhabweresa anthu akuphekeka kunkhondo. Ndikhali munthu wakufuna kakamwe dziko yanga na kuphata basa, natenepa ndikhafuna kakamwe kucita khundu mu nkhondo. Anyakuphekeka akhatsalakanwa, buluka penepo mbapitiswa m’makontentori a utale akuti akhali na ar-condicionado akhaphatisirwa ninga makwartu akucitira operasau. Mwenemu, nyakucita operasau, anestesista, dotoro, na dotoro wakufambira atenda onsene akhali pa mbuto ineyi ing’ono, mbacita pyonsene pinakwanisa iwo toera kupulumusa umaso. Ndaona kuti mitolo inango m’mapasta akupswipa nee ikhabuluswa mu helicóptero. Ndikhadapangwa kuti mapasta anewa akhali na maphindi a manungo a anyankhondo adafa kunkhondo. Kweneku ndi kupita kwanga mu nkhondo.

Pikhali ine mwana, ndabva pang’ono undimomwene ukhapfundziswa na Mboni za Yahova. Mai wanga apfundza Bhibhlya na Mboni za Yahova, mbwenye nee  athambaruka mpaka kubatizwa. ndikhakomerwa kakamwe kukhala pantsi pabodzi na mama pa mapfundziro ace. Mu ndzidzi unoyu, ndapita cifupi na pa Nyumba ya Umambo pabodzi na pai wanga wakunjira. Ine ndambvundza, “Nyumba ineyi njanji?” Iye anditawira, “Cipo, leka kufendedzera anthu anewa.” Nakuti ndikhafuna na kunyindira pai wanga wakunjira, ndabvera uphungu wace. Natenepa, nee ndikhacedzabve na Mboni za Yahova.

Pidabwerera ine buluka ku Vietname, ndikhafuna kakamwe kudziwa Mulungu mu umaso wanga. Nyatwa zakutsukwalisa zidaona ine zikhadakhuya kakamwe manyerezero anga. Ndikhaona ninga nkhabe munthu akhadziwa pikhacitika ku Vietname. Ndisakumbuka pipangizo pya anyakudungunya akhalonga kuti anyankhondo a ku Estados Unidos akhali anyakupha anang’ono, akhalonga pyenepi thangwi ya mphangwa zakuti anang’ono akhaphiwa kunkhondo.

Toera kumalisa njala yanga yauzimu, ndatoma kuenda m’maprogramu a magereja akusiyana-siyana. Ndikhafuna Mulungu ndzidzi onsene, mbwenye nee ndikakhuyiwa na pikhabva ine m’magereja. Pakumalisa ndaenda ku Nyumba ya Umambo ya Mboni za Yahova ku Delray Beach, Florida. Ikhali ntsiku ya Dimingu ya nthanda ya Madzalo mu caka 1971.

Pidapita ine, nkhani yapakweca ikhali cifupi na kumala, mbwenye ndadikhira pfundziro ya Ncenjezi ikhafuna kucitwa. Nee ndisakumbuka pikhalonga nsolo ukhadingwa, mbwenye ndisapitiriza kukumbuka anang’ono akhafungula Mabhibhlya awo toera kugumana malemba. Pyenepi pyandikhuya kakamwe! Ndabvesera mwacidikhodikho mbandiphindula. Pikhabuluka ine pa Nyumba ya Umambo, m’bale wakufunika wakuti akhali na pyaka 80 pyakubalwa andifendedzera. Dzinace ikhali Jim Gardner. Iye andipangiza bukhu ya nsolo wakuti, A Verdade Que Conduz à Vida Eterna, mbandibvundza, “Ndaphata miyendo, musaifuna?” Tabverana kucedza n’Cinai namacibese toera kucita pfundziro yathu yakutoma.

N’Dimingu ineyi namasiku ndikhafunika kuphata basa. Ndikhaphata basa pa nyumba ya ungumi yakukhonda khala ya utongi ku Boca Raton, Florida kukhaphata ine basa mu sala yakutsalakana ukondzi mwakucimbiza. Basa yanga ikhatoma pa ndzidzi 11 camasiku mpaka pa ndzidzi 7 namacibese. Nakuti akhali masiku kakamwe, ndakwanisa kuleri bukhu A Verdade. Nkazi unango wakuti akhali dotoro mu ndzidzi uzinji andifendedzera, aphata bukhu m’manja mwanga, ayang’ana pa tsamba yakutoma mbalonga mwakugaluza, “Iwe usafuna kukhala m’bodzi wa iwo?” Ndakwata bukhu yanga, A Verdade mbandilonga, “Ndiciri pakati pa kuileri, mbwenye ndisaona kuti ndinadzakhala m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova!” Iye andisiya, mbandimalisa kuleri bukhu ineyi pa masiku anewa.

Ndatoma pfundziro yanga ya Bhibhlya na M’bale Gardner mu kumbvundza, “Mphapo tinapfundzanji?” Iye atawira, “Bukhu ire idakupasani ine.” Ine ndatawira, “Ndaileri kale yonsene.” M’bale Gardner atawira mwaluso, “Mphyadidi, mbwenye tendeni tidinge nsolo wakutoma.” Ndadzuma kakamwe thangwi ya pinthu pikhakhonda dziwa ine. Iye andiphemba toera kusaka malemba mazinji m’Bhibhlya yanga ya maletra akufwira ya Versão Rei Jaime. Ndadzindikira kuti ndikhapfundza pya Mulungu wandimomwene, Yahova. M’bale Gardner wakuti mwaufuni ndikhancemera  Jim, andipfundzisa makapitulu matatu a Bukhu A Verdade pa macibese anewa. Buluka penepo, n’Cinai consene namacibese tikhapfundza makapitulu matatu. Ndikhakomerwa kakamwe na mapfundziro anewa. Ukhali mwai ukulu kakamwe kwa ine kupfundziswa na m’bale wakudzodzwa adadziwana na Charles T. Russell!

Mudapita masumana mangasi, ndatawiriswa toera kutumikira ninga nyakumwaza mphangwa zadidi. Jim andiphedza mu pinthu pizinji pikhandidzudzumisa, kuphatanizambo cinentso ca kumwaza mphangwa nyumba na nyumba. (Mach. 20:20) Pikhaphata ine basa pabodzi na Jim, ndatoma kukomerwa na kumwaza mphangwa. Ndisapitiriza kupasa ntengo utumiki ninga mwai wanga ukulu kakamwe. Mphyakutsandzayisa kakamwe kukhala nyakuphedza wa Mulungu!​—1 Akor. 3:9.

Cincino, dikhirani ndilonge pya umaso wanga—ufuni wanga wakutoma kwa Yahova. (Apok. 2:4) Ufuni unoyu kwa Yahova usandiphedza toera kuthimbana na pinthu pyakutsukwalisa pidaona ine kunkhondo na pinentso pinango pizinji.​—Iza. 65:17.

Ndisakumbuka ntsiku inango mu nthanda ya khoni ya caka 1971. Ndikhadamala kwene kuthamangiswa panyumba ikhadapaswa ine na anyakubalanga toera kukhala. Pai wanga wakunjira nee akhafuna kuti m’bodzi wa Mboni za Yahova akhale panyumba yace! Nee ndikhali na kobiri izinji pa ndzidzi unoyu. Panyumba ya ungumi ikhaphata ine basa ndikhalipwa pakupita masumana mawiri, ine ndikhadaphatisira kobiri izinji toera kugula nguwo za kuenda nazo mu utumiki toera kupasisa mbiri Yahova. Ndikhali na kobiri yakucepa, mbwenye ikhali m’banku ku Michigan, mu nzinda udakula ine. Natenepa, ndikhafunika kukhala m’motokala wanga mu ntsiku zingasi. Ndikhasamba mbandicinga ndebvu zanga m’makwartu a pa mbuto inaguliswa mafuta a motokala.

Ntsiku inango mu ndzidzi ukhali ine m’motokala wanga, ndafika pa Nyumba ya Umambo m’mphindi  zingasi nsoka wa basa ya m’munda mbudzati kugumanyikana toera kuenda mu utumiki. Ndikhadakotoka kwene ku basa ku nyumba ya ungumi. Ndakhala kuntsi kwa Nyumba ya Umambo pa mbuto yakuti nkhabe akhafuna kundiona, pinthu pidaona ine ku Vietname​—khwema ya anthu akupiswa, kubuluka kwa ciropa na pironda pyatoma kundidzera m’manyerezero. M’manyerezero anga ndikhakwanisa kubva na kuona aphale akhandidembetera, “Ndinapulumuka ine? Ndinapulumuka ine?” Ine ndikhadziwa kuti iwo mbadafa, mbwenye ndikhayesera kucita pyonsene toera kuabalangaza mbandikhonda kupangiza undimomwene pa nkhope yanga. Pikhali ine nawa kuntsi kwa Nyumba ya Umambo ndakundwa na manyerezero anewa.

Ndacita phembero mu ndzidzi wakuti misozi ikhabuluka mbiwewa m’maputu anga. (Sal. 56:8) Ndatoma kunyerezera kakamwe pya cidikhiro cakulamuka muli akufa. Buluka penepo ndadzindikira: Kubulukira mu kulamuswa kwa anyakufa, Yahova Mulungu anadzamalisa kuphiwa kwa anthu onsene kudaona ine na nyatwa za manyerezero zidatamba ine na anango. Mulungu anadzalamusa aphale anewa muli akufa, iwo anadzakhala na mwai wakupfundza undimomwene wa iye. (Mach. 24:15) Mudanyerezera ine pyenepi, ntima wanga wadzala na ufuni kwa Yahova wakuti wakhuya kakamwe umaso wanga. Ntsiku ineyi isapitiriza kukhala yakupambulika kwa ine. Kubulukira penepo, ndisacita pyonsene pinakwanisa ine, makamaka ndingathimbana na nyatwa na pinentso toera ndikhonde kuluza ufuni wanga wakutoma kwa Yahova.

Kunkhondo anthu asacita pinthu pyakuipa kakamwe. Ine nee ndakwanisa kucalira pyenepi. Mbwenye ndisaphedzeka kakamwe mu kunyerezera malemba mawiri mwa anga apantima. Yakutoma ndi Apokalipse 12:10, 11 inalonga kuti Dyabo asakundwa na mafala a umboni wathu na ciropa ca Mwanabira. Yaciwiri ndi Agalata 2:20. Kubulukira mu lemba ineyi ndisadziwa kuti Yezu Kristu afa “thangwi ya ine.” Yahova asandiona kubulukira mu ciropa ca Yezu, pontho Iye andilekerera pinthu pikhadacita ine. Kudziwa pyenepi pisandiphedza toera kukhala na cikumbuntima cakucena, pontho pisandikulumiza kucita pyonsene pinakwanisa ine toera kuphedza anango kuti adziwe undimomwene wa Mulungu wathu wantsisi, Yahova!​—Aheb. 9:14.

Ndingayang’ana nduli mu umaso wanga, ndisapereka takhuta kakamwe thangwi Yahova anditsalakana ndzidzi onsene. Mwacitsandzo, ntsiku ibodzi ene idadziwa Jim kuti ndikhakhala m’motokala wanga, iye andiphedza toera kupita ncibverano na mulongo wakuti akhali na nyumba ya kulugarisi. Ndisakhulupira kuti Yahova aphatisira Jim na mulongo unoyu wakufunika toera kundipasa mbuto yadidi yakukhala. Yahova ngwadidi kakamwe! Iye asatsalakana atumiki ace akukhulupirika.

Mu nthanda ya Gonkho ya caka 1971, ndikhafunika kuenda ku Michigan toera kutsalakana mabasa anango. Mbandidzati kubuluka pa Mpingo wa Delray Beach ku Flórida, ndadzadza ngolo ya motokala wanga na mabukhu, buluka penepo ndaenda kunkwiriro ku nzinda ukulu 75. Mabukhu amala mbandidzati kumala nzinda wa Geórgia. Mwa phinga, ndamwaza mphangwa zadidi za Umambo m’mbuto zonsene. Ndalimira m’makaidi mbandigawirambo matratado kwa amuna akhali m’masala akucedzera a mbuto zakupumira. Lero, ndisabvundzika khala iripo mbeu idamera mwa zire zidabzwala ine.​—1 Akor. 3:6, 7.

Mbwenye ndisatawira kuti pidapfundza ine kwene undimomwene, nee ndikhalonga mwaluso, makamaka pikhalonga ine na acibale anga. Nakuti ufuni wanga wakutoma kwa Yahova ukhagaka mwakuwanga muntima mwanga, ndikhaamwazira mphangwa mwacipapo, mbwenye mwakusowa cilemedzo. Ndikhafuna kakamwe abale anga, John na Ron, mbandiamwazira mphangwa mwakukakamiza. Mukupita kwa ndzidzi ndadzaphemba kulekererwa thangwi ya macitiro anga akusowa cilemedzo. Mbwenye cipo ndasiya  kucita phembero kuti iwo atawire undimomwene. Kubulukira penepo, Yahova andipfundzisa, pontho ndadzakhala waluso kakamwe yakulonga pakumwaza mphangwa na kupfundzisa.​—Akol. 4:6.

Maseze ndisakumbuka kakamwe ufuni wanga kwa Yahova, nee ndisaduwala mitundu inango ya ufuni mu umaso wanga. Ufuni wanga waciwiri ndi kwa nkazanga wakufunika kakamwe, Susan. Ndikhadziwa kuti ndikhafuna nkazi wakuti mbadandiphedza m’basa ya Umambo. Susan ndi nkazi wakuwanga, na wauzimu. Ndisakumbuka ntsiku inango idaenda ine kamuona mu ndzidzi ukhabanyirana ife, Susan akhali nawa kutsogolo kwa nyumba ya anyakubalace, mu Cranston, ku Ntsuwa ya Rhode. Iye akhaleri Ncenjezi pabodzi na Bhibhlya yace. Pidandidzumisa kakamwe ndi cakuti iye akhaleri misolo yakuti nee ndi ya pfundziro mbasaka malemba. Ndanyerezera, ‘Uyu ndi nkazi wauzimu!’ Tamanga banja mu nthanda ya Maindza ya caka 1971. Ndisapereka takhuta kakamwe thangwi mpaka lero, iye asapitiriza na ine mbandiphedza. Cinakomerwa na ine kakamwe mwa iye ndi cakuti mu ndzidzi unandifuna iye, iye asafuna kakamwe Yahova.

Ine na Susan takhala na nkhombo yakubala ana awiri, Jesse na Paul. Yahova akhali na iwo mu ndzidzi ukhakula iwo. (1 Sam. 3:19) Nakuti iwo asankhula kutumikira Yahova, iwo asapereka cilemedzo kuna Susan na ine. Iwo asapitiriza kutumikira Yahova, thangwi iwo asapitiriza kukumbukira ufuni wawo  wakutoma kwa Yahova. Uwiri wawo ali m’basa ya ndzidzi onsene mu pyaka pyakupiringana 20. Pontho ndisakomerwa kakamwe thangwi ya akwenya anga adidi awiri, Stephanie na Racquel akuti ndisaaona ninga ananga ene acikazi. Ananga awiri ene amanga banja na akazi auzimu akuti asafuna Yahova Mulungu na ntima wawo onsene na umaso wawo onsene.​—Aef. 6:6.

Pidamala ine kubatizwa, ndatumikira mu pyaka 16 ku Ntsuwa ya Rhode kudakhala ine na axamwali azinji. Ndisakumbukira pizinji thangwi ya akulu a mpingo adatumikira na ine. Mwakuthimizira, ndisapereka takhuta thangwi ya ayang’aniri a cisa azinji akukhonda lengeseka akuti andiphedza kakamwe. Ndi mwai ukulu kakamwe kuphata basa pabodzi na amuna akuti asapitiriza kukoya ufuni wawo wakutoma kwa Yahova! Mu caka 1987 taenda Kunkwiriro kwa Carolina toera kutumikira ku mbuto yakuti kukhafunika kakamwe amwazi mphangwa, kweneku takhala pontho na axamwali azinji akufunika. a

Mu nthanda ya Malimwe ya caka 2002, ine na Susan tatawira ncemerero toera kucita khundu ya banja ya Beteli ku Patterson, Estados Unidos. Ndatumikira mu Departamentu ya Basa, Susan atumikira ku mbuto inafulwa nguwo. Iye akhafuna kakamwe kuphata ku mbuto ineyi! Buluka penepo, ndatambira mwai wakutumikira ninga m’bodzi wa Mathubo Akutonga. Ndaona ninga nee ndikhali wakuthema toera kucita basa ineyi. Nkazanga wakufunika akhadzudzumika thangwi ya mwai unoyu, basa, na maulendo anaphataniza basa ineyi. Susan cipo akhakomerwa kukwira ndeka, mbwenye tisacita maulendo mazinji na ndeka! Susan asalonga kuti mafala a akazi anango a Mathubo Akutonga, analongwa munjira yaufuni, asamphedza toera kukhala wakutonga kundiphedza ninga munakwanisira iye. Ndi pyenepi pinacita iye, munjira ineyi ndisanfuna kakamwe.

Mu ofesi yanga, ndazungulirwa na mafoto mazinji akuti ali na mabvekero mazinji kwa ine! Iwo asandikumbusa pya umaso wadidi udakhala na ine. Ndatambira nkhombo zizinji zakutsandzayisa thangwi yakucita pyonsene pinakwanisa ine toera kukumbukira ufuni wanga wakutoma kwa Yahova!