NKAZAARIRWA omuri Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A., omu Kwaikumi-n’abiri ebiro 10, 1936. Kandi niinye mukuru aha baana bana. Abazaire bangye, William na Jean, bakaba bari abaheereza ba Yehova abeesigwa. Tata akaba ari omuheereza w’ekitongore, eiziina eryabaire nirikoresibwa kumanyisa orikwebembera omu kibiina. Maawe, akeegyesibwa amazima ga Baibuli nyina orikwetwa Emma Wagner. Emma akeegyesa abantu baingi amazima otwariiremu Gertrude Steele, owaaheereize emyaka mingi nk’omumiisani omuri Puerto Rico. * N’ahabw’ekyo hakaba hariho eby’okureeberaho birungi by’okutooreza.

Orwamukaaga rumwe omu mwabazyo obu naabaire nyine emyaka etaano, nkaba ndi na tata, turi aha ruguuto turikugaba Watchtower na Consolation (erikwetwa Awake!) hati. Obwire obwo, eihanga rikaba riri omu Rutaro rw’Ensi Yoona orwa II. Omushaho owaabaire asiinzire akaija yaatandika kujuma tata ahabw’okutagira rubaju omu by’obutegyeki, arikugira ngu n’ekinyabwoba ekitarikwenda kuza omu mahe. Omushaho ogwo akahika haihi munonga na tata yaamugira ati, “Ahabw’enki otarikunteera, kinyabwoba kya kinekye ’we!” Nkaba nyine obwoba kwonka nkegoomba tata. Akagumizamu naaha abantu baingi magaziini abaabaire beerundaine aho. Ku twabaire turi aho, haija omuserukare, reero omushaho yaamugira ati: “Gira eki waakorera ekinyabwoba kya kinekye eki!” Omuserukare akaba naareeba ngu omushaija ogwo asiinzire, n’ahabw’ekyo akamugira ati: “Gyenda omu ka reero osinduukye!” Bombi bakagyenda. Ku ndikureeba enyima ninsiima Yehova ahabw’obumanzi bwa tata. Akaba aine amategyero g’eishokye abiri, kandi omushaho ogwo akaba ari omwe aha barikutegyerayo!

Obu naabaire nyine emyaka munaana, abazaire bangye bakaguza eka yaabo n’amategyero gaabo g’eishokye, baagura emotoka eyaabaire neekora nk’eka yaitu, reero twaza kutuura Colorado kuheereza ahu ababuurizi baabaire nibeetengwa munonga. Tukatuura haihi na Grand Junction, ei abazaire bangye  baheereize nka baapayoniya obwo barikukora obwire bukye omu mariisizo. Ahabw’emigisha ya Yehova n’okukora munonga kwabo, hakatandikayo ekibiina. Gyuni ebiro 20, 1948, tata akaambatiza omu mugyera, n’abandi abaikiriize amazima ga Baibuli, otwariiremu Billie Nichols n’omukazi we. Bwanyima bakaza omu buheereza bw’okutaayaayira ebibiina, na mutabani waabo n’omukazi we.

Tukagira omukago murungi n’abo abaabaire nibeejumbira kimwe omu murimo gw’Obukama kandi tugaaniira nabo, okukira munonga eka ya Steele, eya Don na Earlene, eya Dave na Julia, n’eya Si na Martha abaampwereire munonga. Bakanyoreka oku okwebembeza Obukama kirikuhwera omuntu kugira ekigyendererwa n’okushemererwa.

Obu naabaire nyine emyaka 19, Bud Hasty, munywani w’eka yaitu, akanshaba kumwegaitaho kuba payoniya omuri obukiizi-bwa-buryo bwa United States. Omureeberezi orikutaayaayira ebibiina akatushaba kuza Ruston, Louisiana, ei Abajurizi ba Yehova baingi baabaire bahweiremu amaani batakibuurira. Akatugira ngu tugire enteerane zoona n’obu haakubaire nihaija abantu bakye. Tukatunga omwanya murungi gw’okugiriramu enteerane twaguteereza. Tukaba nitugira buri ruteerane, kwonka kumara obwire, itwe babiri niitwe twabaire nituzibamu. Tukaba nitwihaihana omwe arikwebembera ondiijo akagarukamu ebibuuzo byona. Ekicweka ku kyabaire kiba kirimu eky’okureeberaho, twembi tukaba tuza aha puratifoomu hataine ohurikiize! Bwanyima, munyaanyazi-itwe okukaikwire akatandika kwija omu nteerane. Ku haahingwireho obwire, abeegi ba Baibuli abamwe n’abaabaire bahweiremu amaani baatandika kwija omu nteerane, twarugaho twatunga ekibiina.

Eizooba rimwe, nyowe na Bud tukabugana omubuurizi w’Ekanisa ya Kristo, owaagambire aha byahandiikirwe ebi naabaire ntarikumanya gye. Eki kikanteengyetsamu kakye kyandeetera kuteekateeka munonga aha bi naabaire niinyikiriza. Kumara saabiiti yoona, nkaba nindaara ninshoma kutunga eby’okugarukamu by’ebibuuzo ebi yaabaire abuurize. Ekyo buzima kikampwera kuhindura amazima agangye, kandi nkaba ntarikubaasa kutiina kubugana ondiijo mubuurizi.

Bwanyima y’obwire bukye, omureeberezi orikutaayaayira ebibiina akanshaba kuza El Dorado, Arkansas, kuhwera ekibiina ekyo. Obu naabaire ndi okwo, nkaba nkira kugaruka Colorado kushoboorora ahabw’enki naabaire ntarikubaasa kuza omu mahe. Omu rugyendo rumwe ndi na baapayoniya abandi turi omu motoka yangye, tukatunga butandu eyaareeteire emotoka yangye kuhwaho. Tukateerera ow’eishe-emwe esimu yaija yaatutwara omu ka ye bwanyima twaza n’omu ruteerane. Omu ruteerane orwo bakaranga ngu twatunga butandu, kandi ab’eishe-emwe bakatuha  obuhwezi bw’esente. Kandi ow’eishe-emwe akaguza emotoka yangye yaagiihamu doora 25.

Bakatuvuga baatuhitsya Wichita, ei munywani w’eka yaitu, E. F. “Doc” McCartney, yaabaire naaheereza nka payoniya. Abatabani abarongo, Frank na Francis, bakaba bari banywani bangye ab’aha mara kuhitsya na hati. Bakaba baine emotoka nkuru ei baangurize doora 25, zenyine ezi naabaire ngurize omu yangye eyaatungire butandu. Ogu nigwo gwabaire guri omurundi gw’okubanza kureeba gye oku Yehova arikumpa eki ndikwetenga, ahabw’okugira ngu nkaba ninyebembeza Obukama. Aha kutaayaaya oku, ab’eka ya McCartney bakanyanjurira munyaanyazi-itwe w’emitwarize mirungi orikwetwa Bethel Crane. Nyina, orikwetwa Ruth, owaabaire naaheereza omu bwesigwa omuri Wellington, Kansas, akagumizamu ari payoniya kuhitsya omu myaka ya 90. Nyowe na Bethel tukataaha omu bushwere tutakaherize n’omwaka turikweriima, omuri 1958, kandi nawe akaba payoniya naanye omuri El Dorado.

Bwanyima y’okushwijuma eby’okureeberaho by’abo abu naakuzire nabo, tukacwamu kuteekateeka aha kintu ekindi kyona eki ekibiina kya Yehova kyakutushabire kukora. Bakatushaba kuheereza nka baapayoniya ab’omutaano omuri Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Omuri 1962, tukashemererwa kwetwa kuza omu ishomero rya Gilead eya 37. Ekyatushemeize, Don Steele tukaba turi nawe omu ishomero niryo rimwe. Ku twarugire omu ishomero eryo, nyowe na Bethel bakatwohereza Nairobi, omuri Kenya. Tukagira enaku nyingi turikuruga omuri New York, kwonka ekyo kikarugamu okushemererwa ku twabugaine ab’eishe-emwe aha kishaayi ky’enyonyi Nairobi!

Tukatandika kukunda Kenya n’obuheereza bwaitu okwo. Abeegi baitu ba Baibuli abaabandize kutunguuka ni Chris na Mary Kanaiya. Na hati bakiri abeesigwa omu buheereza obw’obutwire omuri Kenya. Omwaka ogwakuratsireho, tukashabwa kuza Kampala, omuri Uganda, nk’abamiisani b’okubanza omu ihanga eryo. Obwire obwo bukaba nibushemeza ahabw’okuba abantu baingi bakaba nibenda kwega amazima ga Baibuli, kandi bakahinduka Abajurizi ba Yehova bagyenzi baitu. Kwonka, bwanyima y’emyaka eshatu n’ekicweka omuri Africa, tukataaha kugira eka. Tukagaruka omuri United States. Eizooba obu twaruga omuri Africa, tukagira enaku nyingi kukira obu twaruga omuri New York. Tukaba nitukundira kimwe abantu ba Africa, kandi tukaba twine amatsiko g’okugaruka eizooba rimwe.

Tukaza kutuura omu bukiizi-bwa-buryo bwa Colorado, ei abazaire bangye baabaire nibatuura. Bwanyima y’akaanya kakye, tukazaara muhara waitu w’okubanza Kimberly, kandi bwanyima y’ameezi 17 twazaara, Stephany. Obujunaanizibwa bwaitu obusya nk’abazaire tukabutwara nka bukuru, kandi tukataho omutima kwegyesa amazima bahara baitu. Tukaba nitwenda kutooreza eby’okureeberaho ebi abandi baatuteereireho. Kikaba kiri eky’obwengye kuteekateeka ngu n’obu eky’okureeberaho kirungi kirikubaasa kuhwera omu kutendeka abaana, kwonka obwo ti buhame ngu baakura nibaija kuheereza Yehova. Murumuna wangye na munyaanyazi bakaruga omu mazima. Nyine amatsiko ngu nibaija kugaruka nibatooreza eby’okureeberaho birungi ebyabatereirweho.

Tukateeraho munonga kworora bahara baitu kandi tukaba tukora ebintu nk’eka. Ahabw’okugira ngu tukaba nitutuura haihi na Aspen, Colorado, tukatandika kuzaana omuzaano gw’okwirukira aha rubaare, kugira ngu obumwe n’obumwe tugume tuguzaane hamwe. Obwire obu obw’okweshemeza bukaba nibutubaasisa  kugaaniira na bahara baitu. Kandi tukaba tukira kucumbiika aheeru omu mahema turi nabo, reero tugaaniira turikwota omuriro. N’obu baraabe baabaire bari bato, bakaba babuuza ebibuuzo nka “Ninyija kukora ki naakura?” na “Ni muntu wa muringo ou ndikwenda kuza nawe omu bushwere?” Tukateeraho kuta emitwarize y’Ekikristaayo omu mitima n’ebiteekateeko bya bahara baitu. Tukabahwera kutaho ekigyendererwa ky’okuza omu buheereza obw’obutwire, n’okugira obwengye bw’okuza omu bushwere n’abo abaine ebigyendererwa nk’ebyabo. Tukateeraho kubahwera kwetegyereza ngu ni kirungi kutaza mu bushwere bakiri bato. Tukaba twine engamba erikugira ngu “Guma ori wenka okuhitsya waahitsya emyaka nka 23.”

Nk’oku abazaire baitu baatwegyeise, tukaba tuteeraho kuza omu nteerane n’okwejumba omu kubuurira nk’eka. Tukakora entebeekanisa kugira ngu bamwe abari omu buheereza obw’obutwire batuure omu ka yaitu. Kandi, tukaba tugamba gye aha buheereza bwaitu obu twabaire turi abamiisani. Tukaba twine amatsiko ngu eizooba rimwe twena bana nitwija kutaayaaya omuri Africa. Bahara baitu buzima ekyo bakaba nibenda kukikora.

Butoosha tukaba tugira okwega kw’eka. Bahara baitu bakaba bakora nk’Abajurizi ba Yehova barikugarukamu ebibuuzo. Bakaba nibakunda kwega omu muringo ogu, kandi eki kikabaha obumanzi. Ku baakuzire, obumwe bakaba beetomboita barikwenda ngu tugire okuramya kw’eka. Eizooba rimwe, nkabagira ngu baze omu kishengye kyabyo ahakuba titurikuza kugira okwega kw’eka. Eki kikabatangaaza munonga baatandika kurira, reero baagira ngu nibenda kwega. Obwo nibwo twatandika kumanya ngu tutaire omu mitima yaabo mito okusiima eby’omwoyo. Bakakura nibakunda okwega, kandi tukaba nitubaikiriza kugamba ekibari aha mutima. Obumwe kikaba kiguma kubahurira nibagira ngu haine ebi batarikwikiriza. Kwonka, tukaija twamanya ekyabaire kiri omu mitima yaabo. Ku twabaire tuhikaanisa ebiteekateeko nabo, bakaba beetegyereza emiteekateekyere ya Yehova aha nshonga.

Omurimo ogu ogw’okworora bahara baitu gukarahuka kukira oku twabaire nituteekateeka. Turikugyendera aha buhabuzi bwa Ruhanga n’ekibiina kye, tukakora ekirikubaasika kuboorora kukunda Yehova. Tukashemererwa munonga obu bahara baitu bombi baaba baapayoniya bwanyima y’okuheza kushoma, kandi bakeega emirimo y’emikono kwebaisaho. Bakaza Cleveland, Tennessee, bari na banyaanyazi-itwe abandi kuheereza ahu ababuurizi baabaire nibetengwa munonga. Tukaba tubainiire orushusho munonga, kwonka tukaba twine okushemererwa ahabw’okugira ngu bakaba bari omu buheereza obw’obutwire. Nyowe na Bethel tukagaruka twaba baapayoniya, ekyatureeteire kugaruka kuza omu buheereza oburikushemeza. Tukaba abahwezi b’abareeberezi abarikutaayaayira ebibiina, n’aha nteerane empango.

Tutakagiire Tennessee, bahara baitu bakaza kutaayaaya London, omuri England, kandi baahika aha ofiisi y’eitaagi. Okwo, Stephany, owaabaire aine emyaka 19, akabuganayo Paul Norton, Omubeseeli muto. Bwanyima, Kimberly akabugana Brian Llewellyn owaabaire naakora na Paul. Paul na Stephany bakataaha omu bushwere kwonka Stephany akabanza yaahitsya emyaka 23. Brian na Kimberly bakataaha omu bushwere bwanyima y’omwaka gumwe obu Kimberly yaabaire aine emyaka 25. N’ahabw’ekyo bakaguma batari omu bushwere okuhitsya obu baahitsya emyaka nka 23. Abu baatooraine tukabaikiriza kutaaha nabo omu bushwere ahakuba bakaba bashemeire.

Bahara baitu bakatugira ngu eby’okureeberaho ebi twabatereireho n’ebya b’ishenkurubo na banyinenkurubo bikabahwera kworobera ekiragiro kya Yesu ‘eky’okubanza kusherura obukama,’ n’obu entaasya yaabo eraabe yaabaire etari nungi. (Mat. 6:33) Omu Okwakana 1998, Paul na Stephany bakeetwa kuza omu ishomero rya Gilead erya 105, reero bwanyima bakaboohereza Malawi, omuri Africa. Kandi, Brian na Kimberly bakashabwa kuza London aha Beseeli, reero bwanyima bakatwarwa aha Beseeli eya Malawi. Tukashemererwa munonga, ahabw’okugira ngu ogu nigwo muringo murungi ogu abato barikubaasa kukoresamu amagara gaabo.

Omu Okwokubanza 2001, bakanteerera esimu ei naagambaho aha kutandika. Ow’eishe-emwe Marais, owaabaire naayebembera Emirimo y’Okuvunuura, akashoboorora ngu ab’eishe-emwe bakaba nibatebeekanisa kutendeka abavunuuzi omu nsi yoona kwetegyereza  Orungyereza. Aha myaka 64, nkatooranwa kuba omwe aha baabaire nibaza kwejumba omu kutendeka okwo. Nyowe na Bethel tukashaba aha bikwatiraine n’enshonga egi, kandi twagaaniiraho n’abazaire baitu abakaikwire kubashaba obuhwezi. Bombi bakaba nibenda ngu tugyende, n’obu baraabe baabaire nibaija kubaho bataine buhwezi bwaitu. Nkateerera esimu ow’eishe-emwe naamumanyisa ngu twikiriza omugisha ogwo.

Bwanyima maawe bakamucebera baashanga aine ekookoro. Nkamugira ngu nitwija kuguma omu ka tumuhwere turikukwatanisa hamwe na munyaanyazi Linda. Maawe akagira ati: “Torikubaasa kukora ekintu eky’omuringo nk’ogwo. Ninyija kweyongyera kuba kubi waaba otagyenzire.” Linda nawe nikwo yaabaire naayehurira atyo. Tukasiima munonga okwefeerereza kwabo hamwe n’okwa banywani baitu omu mwanya ogwo! Bwanyima y’eizooba eri twarugiireho omuka kuza omu ishomero omuri Patterson, Linda akateera esimu kutumanyisa ngu maawe afiire. Nk’oku yaabaire atuhigire kukora, tukata omutima aha murimo gwaitu omusya.

Ekyatushemeize munonga, tukatandikira aha ofiisi y’eitaagi eya Malawi, ei bahara baitu baabaire nibaheereza. Ka twashemereirwe kugaruka kuba hamwe nabo! Bwanyima tukaza kwegyesa aba Zimbabwe reero twagumizamu twaza Zambia. Bwanyima y’okutendeka ab’eishe-emwe kumara emyaka eshatu n’ekicweka, tukashabwa kugaruka Malawi kuhandiika eby’okureeberaho by’Abajurizi ba Yehova abaabaire babonabonesiibwe munonga ahabw’okutagira rubaju omu by’obutegyeki. *

Omu 2005 tukagaruka Basalt, Colorado twine enaku nyingi ei nyowe na Bethel twagumiizemu turi baapayoniya. Omu 2006, Brian na Kimberly bakagaruka kutuura haihi naitwe kworora bahara baabo babiri, Mackenzie na Elizabeth. Paul na Stephany bakiri omuri Malawi, ei Paul ari aha Kakiiko k’Eitaagi. Hati obu ndi haihi kuhitsya emyaka 80, nikinshemeza kureeba abashaija bato abu nkozire nabo kumara emyaka mingi barikutwara obujunaanizibwa obu naabaire nyine. Okushemererwa okurikukirayo, n’okureeba ngu hariho abaatuteereireho eby’okureeberaho birungi, kandi tukateeraho kubitooreza kugasira abaana baitu na baijukuru baitu.