NDAKAZYALILWA ku Wichita, Kansas, ku U.S.A., mu December 10, 1936. Tuzyedwe tone alimwi ndendime mupati. Bazyali bangu ba William alimwi aba Jean, bakali bakombi ba Jehova basungu. Bataata bakajisi mukuli uukozyanya awasicuuno wakabunga kabaalu. Bamaama bakaiya kasimpe kuli banyina, ba Emma Wagner. Ba Emma bakayiisya bantu banji kasimpe kubikkilizya aba Gertrude Steele, balo ibakabeleka mulimo wabumisyinali kwamyaka minji ku Puerto Rico. * Aboobo ndakajisi zikozyanyo zinji zibotu nzyondakali kukonzya kwiiya.

Bumwi buzuba mu Mujibelo kumangolezya nondakali amyaka yosanwe, ndakali abataata, katumwaya magazini ya Ngazi Yamulindizi alimwi amagazini eeyo mazuba aano iitwa kuti Sinsimuka! kuli basimweenda nzila. Kuciindi eeco, cisi cakali kutola lubazu mu Nkondo Yanyika Yabili. Dokota uukoledwe wakaboola akutalika kufwubaazya Bataata akaambo kakuti tiibakali kutola lubazu mutwaambo twacisi mbwaanga bakali Banakristo. Wakali kwaamba kuti bakali bakandu akuti bakatija kunjila mulimo wabusikalumamba. Dokota ooyo wakagumika nkumo yakwe kunkumo ya Bataata akwaamba kuti, “Konduuma naa uli musankwa ncobeni!” Ndakayoowa kapati pele Bataata bakandikkomanisya kapati. Balo bakazumanana buyo kwaabila mamagazini kunkamu yabantu ibakabungene. Mpoonya sikalumamba umwi wakainda, eelyo dokota ooyo wakaamba cabukali kuti, “Amumujate mwaalumi ooyu mukandu!” Sikalumamba ooyo wakabona kuti dokota ooyu wakalikoledwe, aboobo wakamwaambila kuti, “Koya buyo kuŋanda ukoone!” Boonse bobilo bakaunka. Ndilakkomana ndayeeya busicamba Jehova mbwaakapa bataata. Bataata bakajisi busena bwakugelela masusu ku Wichita, alimwi dokota ooyo wakali umwi wabantu ibakali kuboola kuzoogelwa!

Nondakali amyaka yakuzyalwa iili 8, bazyali bangu bakaisambala ŋanda yabo alimwi amantoolo, mpoonya bakayaka ŋanda nsyoonto yamavwili, kumane bakalongela ku Colorado kuyoobelekela kubusena kubulide. Twakakkala afwaafwi abusena butegwa Grand Junction, ooko bazyali bangu nkobakali kucita bupainiya alimwi akubeleka mulimo ubelekwa mawoola  masyoonto afaamu mpobakali kulima alimwi akuvwuba ŋombe abanyama bamwi buyo. Kwiinda mukulongezyegwa a Jehova alimwi abusungu bwabo, mbungano yakatalisyigwa. Mpoonya mu June 20, 1948, Bataata bakandibbapatizya mukalonga ikakali mumalundu antoomwe abamwi ibakatambula kasimpe kamu Bbaibbele, kubikkilizya aba Billie Nichols abakaintu babo. Mukuya kwaciindi ba Billie Nichols antoomwe abakaintu babo bakatalika kubeleka mulimo wamubbazu, mbubwenya mbwaakacita kumbele mwanaabo alimwi amukaintu wakwe.

Twakajisi cilongwe cibotu alimwi twakali kuba amibandi iiyaka yakumuuya abaabo ibakali basungu mumulimo wa Bwami, ikapati mukwasyi waba Steele—nkokuti ba Don aba Earlene, ba Dave aba Julia, alimwi aba Si aba Martha—aaba bakandikulwaizya kapati mubuumi bwangu. Bakanditondezya kubikka Bwami kumbele mbokupa muntu kupona buumi buli ampindu alimwi akukkomana mubuumi.

Nondakajisi myaka iili 19, ba Bud Hasty, imulongwe wamukwasyi wesu, bakandilomba kuti ndibasangane mumulimo wabupainiya ku United States nkoili kumusanza. Mulangizi wabbazu wakatwaambila kuti tuunke ku Ruston, Louisiana, ooko Bakamboni banji nkobatakacilisungweede. Twakaambilwa kuti twakeelede kuba amiswaangano yoonse mvwiki amvwiki tacikwe makani amweelwe wabantu bajanika. Twakajana busena bubotu bwakuswaanganina alimwi twakabubamba akubusalazya. Twakali kucita miswaangano yoonse, pele kwaciindi cili mbocibede, ndiswe buyo tobilo notwakali kujanika kumiswaangano. Twakali kucincana, ciindi umwi naakali kupa makani, umbi wakali kuvwiila mibuzyo yoonse. Ikuti naa kwayandika kucita citondezyo mucibeela cimwi, toonse tobilo twakali kuunka acibumbili kakunyina baswiilizi. Mukuya kwaciindi, mucizyi umwi uucembeede wakatalika kuboola kumiswaangano. Mpoonya basikwiiya Bbaibbele, alimwi abaabo ibatakacilisungweede, bakatalika kujanika kumiswaangano, muciindi cisyoonto buyo twakajisi mbungano iicita kabotu.

Bumwi buzuba, mebo aba Bud twakayaanya musololi wacikombelo ca Church of Christ, ooyo iwakabandika magwalo ngondatakazyi kabotu. Eeci cakapa kuti ndiyeeyesye kapati kujatikizya nzyondisyoma. Kwansondo yoonse, ndakali kubucesya kuvwuntauzya kutegwa ndijane bwiinguzi kumibuzyo njaakabuzya. Eeci cakandigwasya ncobeni kutegwa kasimpe ndikapange kuba kangu, ndakali kuyandisisya kuyaanya musololi wacikombelo aumbi kutegwa ndivwiile mibuzyo yakwe.

Tiilyakalampa, mulangizi wabbazu wakandaambila kuti nduunke ku El Dorado, Arkansas, kuyoogwasya mbungano yakali ookuya. Kandili ookuya, kanji-kanji ndakali kuunka ku Colorado kuya kulibonya kubalupati-pati ibakali kunjizya bantu mulimo wabusikalumamba. Mulweendo lumwi, mebo alimwi abapainiya bamwi twakaunka antoomwe mumoota wangu, mpoonya twakaba antenda alimwi moota wangu  wakanyonyooka kapati cakuti tiiwakali kukonzya kubambwa. Twakaita mukwesu umwi iwakaboola kutubweza akututola kuŋanda yakwe alimwi akumiswaangano yambungano. Ookuya bakaambilizya kuti twakali muntenda, aboobo bakwesu bakatugwasya kwiinda mukutupa mali. Alimwi mukwesu ooyo iwakatubweza wakausambala moota wangu amuulo uusika kumaddola aali 25.

Twakacikonzya kujana moota iwakututola ku Wichita, ooko mulongwe wamukwasyi wesu, mukwesu McCartney, nkwaakali kubeleka kali mupainiya. Bana bakwe bamaanga, ba Frank aba Francis, twakali kumvwana kapati alimwi bacili balongwe bangu. Bakajisi moota wakaindi ngobakandisambalila amuulo wamaddola aali 25, mweelwe wamali nguwenya ngondakasambala moota wangu iwakanyonyooka. Eeci cakali ciindi cakusaanguna nondakalibonena kabotu-kabotu kuti Jehova wakandipa cintu ncondakali kuyandika akaambo kakuti ndakali kubikka Bwami mubusena bwakusaanguna. Mulweendo oolu, mukwasyi waba McCartney wakapa kuti ndizyibane amucizyi weebeka iwakali kubikkila maano kuzintu zyakumuuya wazina lya Bethel Crane. Banyina, ba Ruth, bakali Bakamboni basungu mu Wellington, Kansas, alimwi bakazumanana bupainiya bwaciindi coonse kabali amyaka iili kuma 90. Twakakwatana aba Bethel kautanamana mwaka kuzwa notwakazyibana, nkokuti mu 1958, alimwi bakandisangana mubupainiya ku El Dorado.

Notwakamana kulanga-langa zikozyanyo zibotu zyabantu mbotwakakomena limwi, twakasala kuti tucite kufwumbwa mulimo ngotukonzya kupegwa mumbunga ya Jehova. Twakatumwa kuyoobeleka bupainiya bwaalubazu ku Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Mpoonya mu 1962, twakakkomana kapati notwakatambwa kucikolo ca Gilead, kkilasi namba 37. Cikkomanisya ncakuti, twakali mukkilasi yomwe aba Don Steele. Notwakamana cikolo eeci, mebo aba Bethel twakatumwa ku Nairobi, Kenya. Twakabijilwa ciindi notwakali kuunka kuzwa mu New York, pele kubijilwa ooko kwakaba lukkomano ciindi nobakatutambula bakwesu kubbuwa lyandeke ku Nairobi.

Tiilyakalampa, twakaciyandisya cisi ca Kenya alimwi amulimo wabukambausi uukkomanisya ngotwakali kubeleka mucisi eeci. Ciiyo ca Bbaibbele cakusaanguna ncotwakasololela icakali kuyaambele bakali ba Chris aba Mary Kanaiya. Bacibelekela cakusyomeka mumulimo waciindi coonse mu Kenya. Imwaka wakatobela, twakalombwa kuunka ku Kampala, mu Uganda, eelyo twakaba bamisyinali bakusaanguna mucisi eeco. Aayo akali mazuba aakkomanisya kapati akaambo kakuti bantu banji bakajisi luyandisisyo lwakwiiya kasimpe kamu Bbaibbele, alimwi bakaba Bakambonima. Nokuba boobo, nokwakainda myaka yotatwe acisela katuli mu Africa, twakazwa mu Africa kutegwa tukalanganye mukwasyi. Twakapiluka ku United States. Buzuba mbotwakazwa mu Africa, kuusa kwesu kwakali kupati kapati kwiinda kuusa nkotwakamvwa ciindi notwakali kuzwa ku New York. Twakabayanda kapati bantu bamu Africa alimwi twakali kulombozya kuti bumwi buzuba tuyoopiluka alimwi.

Twakaakukkala ku Colorado nkoili kumbo, ooku bazyali bangu nkobakali kukkala. Tiikwakainda ciindi cilamfwu, mwaneesu wakusaanguna musimbi, wazina lya Kimberly, wakazyalwa, mpoonya nokwakainda mwaka omwe amyezi yosanwe, Stephany mwaneesu wabili wakazyalwa. Mukuli wesu mupya ooyu wakuba bazyali twakaubona kuba cintu ciyandika kapati, alimwi twakasala kubayiisya kasimpe bana besu basimbi aaba. Twakali kuyanda kubatondezya zikozyanyo nzyotwakaiya kuli bamwi. Cakali kuyandika kuzyiba kuti, nokuba kuti cikozyanyo cibotu cilakonzya kugwasya kapati ikuyiisya bana nzila zibotu, eeci tacaambi kuti baakukomena bayoozumanana kubelekela Jehova. Mwanookwesu musankwa alimwi amucizyi wangu bakakasiya kasimpe. Ndilombozya kuti bumwi buzuba,  bayakwiiya zikozyanyo zibotu nzyobakabona kuli bamwi.

Twakakkomana kapati kukomezya bana besu basimbi alimwi lyoonse twakali kusolekesya kucita zintu mbuli mukwasyi. Mbwaanga twakali kukkala afwaafwi aku Aspen, Colorado, toonse twakaiya cisobano cakuselemuka mucaanda (skiing) kutegwa ciindi aciindi katusobana cisobano eeci antoomwe. Ziindi eezyi izyakulikondelezya zyakatupa coolwe cakubandika abana besu basimbi ciindi notwakali kusobana. Kuyungizya waawo, twakali kuunka ambabo kuyookkala kumasena aambi mumatente kwamazuba masyoonto alimwi twakali kuba amibandi mibotu kumwi katuyota mulilo. Nokuba kuti bakali bana, bakali kubuzya mibuzyo mbuli yakuti “Ncinzi ncondiyoocita ndaakukomena?” alimwi awakuti “Mwaalumi uuli buti ngondiyanda kuti akandikwate?” Twakasolekesya kubayiisya kuba abube bwakumuuya bana besu. Twakababikkila mbaakani yamulimo waciindi coonse alimwi akubagwasya kubona mbociyandika kukwatwa buyo kumuntu ngobakozyenye limwi mbaakani. Twakasolekesya kubagwasya kubona kuti cili kabotu kutafwambaana kukwatwa. Twakaba akaambyo kakuti “Kunyina kukwatwa mane usike myaka iili 23.”

Mbubwenya mbobakacita bazyali besu, andiswe twakali kusolekesya kujanika kumiswaangano alimwi akutola lubazu ciindi coonse mumulimo wakukambauka mbuli mukwasyi. Twakabikka bubambe bwakuti bamwi ibakali mumulimo waciindi coonse kabakkala muŋanda yesu. Alimwi, kanji-kanji twakali kwaamba zibotu kujatikizya mulimo wesu wabumisyinali. Twakali kulombozya kuti bumwi buzuba toonse tone tukaunke antoomwe ku Africa. Bana besu bakali kuyandisya kuti eeci cikacitike.

Lyoonse twakali kuba aciiyo camukwasyi, alimwi muziindi eezyo twakali kucita zisobano izitondezya bukkale ibukonzya kucitika kucikolo. Bana besu twakali kubapa zibeela zya Kamboni iwiingula mibuzyo. Bakali kukkomana kwiiya munzila eeyi, alimwi cakali kubapa busicamba. Nobakali kuyaabukomena, zimwi ziindi bakali kutongooka kujatikizya kuba aciiyo camukwasyi. Bumwi buzuba, akaambo kakutyompwa, ndakabaambila kuti baunke muluumu yabo akuti tiitwakali kuyooba aciiyo camukwasyi. Bakagambwa kapati akutalika kulila alimwi bakaamba kuti bakali kuyanda kwiiya. Mpoonya twakatalika kubona kuti masimpe twakali kubagwasya kuba aluyandisisyo lwazintu zyakumuuya. Bakazumanana kuba aluyando lwakwiiya, alimwi twakali kubapa lwaanguluko lwakwaamba mbobakali kuyeeya. Nokuba boobo, cakali ciyumu zimwi ziindi kubamvwa kabaamba kuti tiibakali kuzizumina zibeela zimwi zyakasimpe nkotwiiya. Pele twakaiya zintu zini izyakali mumyoyo yabo. Twamana kubandika ambabo, bakali kukkutila kuzyiba mbwayeeya Jehova kujatikizya makani aayo.

Mukuli ooyu wakukomezya bana besu wakeenda cakufwambaana kwiinda mbotwakali kuyeeya. Kwiinda mukugwasyigwa abusolozi bwambunga ya Leza, twakasola kusikila mpotugolela kubakomezya kuba bana bayanda Jehova. Twakakkomana kapati ciindi bana besu boonse bobilo nobakatalika bupainiya nobakamana cikolo, alimwi bakaiya milimo yakali kubapa kuti bacikonzye kuligwasya kumubili. Bakaunka ku Cleveland, Tennessee, abacizyi bambi bobilo kuyakubelekela kubusena kubulide. Twakabazimba kapati, pele twakalikkomene akaambo kakuti bakalyaaba kubeleka mulimo waciindi coonse. Mebo abakaintu bangu ba Bethel twakatalika bupainiya alimwi, calo cakapa kuti tube azyoolwe zikkomanisya zimbi mumulimo. Twakabeleka mumulimo wamubbazu wakugwasyilizya alimwi amumikuli iimbi iijatikizya muswaangano wacooko.

Kabatanaunka ku Tennessee, bana besu bakaunka kuyooswaya ku London, England alimwi bakaakusika kuofesi yamutabi. Ookuya, Stephany walo aciindi eeco iwakajisi myaka iili 19, wakazyibana amukwesu Paul Norton, iwakali kubelekela amutabi. Mukuswaya kumbi ikwakatobela, Kimberly wakazyibana amukwesu Brian Llewellyn, iwakali kubeleka limwi amukwesu Paul Norton. Mukwesu Paul alimwi a Stephany bakakwatana, naakakkwanya myaka iili 23. Mukwesu Brian alimwi a Kimberly bakakwatana mwaka iwakatobela naakajisi myaka iili 25. Aboobo boonse bobilo tiibakakwatwa kusikila mane nobakakkwanya myaka iili 23. Twakazuminizya kuzwa ansi amoyo kujatikizya kusala kwabo kubotu ikwakukwatwa kubaalumi aaba.

Bana besu aaba bakatwaambila kuti zikozyanyo zibotu nzyotwakabatondezya swebo alimwi abakaapanyina, zyakabagwasya kutobela mulawo wa Jesu ‘wakuzumanana kusaanguna kuyandaula Bwami,’ noliba leelyo nobakali mubukkale bukatazya. (Mt. 6:33) Mu April 1998, ba Paul alimwi aba Stephany bakatambwa kucikolo ca Gilead, kkilasi namba 105, mpoonya nobakamanizya cikolo eeci bakatumwa kuyoobelekela ku Malawi mu Africa. Aciindi ncoonya eeco, ba Brian alimwi aba Kimberly bakatambwa kuyoobelekela ku Bbeteli yaku London mpoonya mukuya kwaciindi bakazootumwa kuyoobelekela ku Bbeteli yaku Malawi. Eeci cakatukkomanisya kapati, akaambo kakuti nenzila mbotu bakubusi njobakonzya kubelesya buumi bwabo.

Mu January 2001, ndakatambula fooni eeyo njondaamba kumatalikilo aacibalo. Mukwesu Marais, iwakali kulanganya mulimo wabusanduluzi, wakapandulula kuti bakwesu bakali kubamba bubambe bwakuyiisya basanduluzi kumvwisya Chingisi nyika yoonse, aboobo, kandijisi myaka iili 64, bakandipa coolwe cakuba umwi wabamayi. Mebo abakaintu bangu twakaapailila makani aaya mpoonya twakaabandika abamamama besu bacembeede kutegwa tumvwe mbobakali kuyeeya kujatikizya mulimo ooyu. Boonse bobilo bakali kuyanda kuti tuunke, nokuba kuti tiitwakali kuyoocikonzya kubagwasya. Ndakabatumina fooni ba Marais akubaambila kuti twakali kukonzya kubeleka mulimo ooyu waalubazu.

Mpoonya bamaama bakaciswa bulwazi bwakkansa. Ndakabaambila kuti tatukoounka pe, pele tulakkala kutegwa tugwasyilizye mucizyi wangu Linda kubalanganya. Bamaama bakaamba kuti: “Nokuba kuti mukkale tandikoopona pe, ndilacisilwa limwi ikuti naa mutaunki.” Abalo ba Linda bakali kuyanda kuti tuunke. Eelo kaka twakalumba kapati akaambo kamuuya wakulyaaba ngobakatondezya alimwi alugwasyo lwabakwesu kubusena ooko! Buzuba bwakatobela notwakaunka ku Watchtower Educational Center mu Patterson, ba Linda bakatuma fooni kutuzibya kuti bamaama bafwa. Mbubwenya mbobakali kutukulwaizya kucita, twakalitakata mumulimo wesu mupya.

Twakakkomana kapati kuzyiba kuti busena bwakusaanguna nkotwakeelede kuunka kwakali kumutabi waku Malawi, ooko bana besu abamalumi babo nkobakali kubelekela. Eelo kaka twakakkomana kuba antoomwe alimwi! Mpoonya twakaunka kuyooyiisya ku Zimbabwe alimwi aku Zambia. Noyakainda myaka yotatwe acisela yakuyiisya, twakaambilwa kupiluka ku Malawi kuyoolemba zyakuluula zya Bakamboni ibakapenzyegwa mucisi eeci akaambo kakutatola lubazu mutwaambo twacisi. *

Mu 2005, kumwi katuuside twakapiluka kuŋanda ku Basalt, Colorado, ooko mebo abakaintu bangu ba Bethel nkotucizumanana kucita bupainiya. Mu 2006, ba Brian alimwi aba Kimberly bakasika kukkala afwaafwi andiswe kutegwa balanganye bana babo bobilo, Mackenzie aa Elizabeth. Ba Paul aba Stephany bacili ku Malawi, kwalo ba Paul nkobabeleka kabali mu Kkomiti ya Mutabi. Lino ndilaafwaafwi kusika myaka iili 80, alimwi cilandikkomanisya kubona bana basankwa mbondakali kubeleka limwi kwamyaka minji kuti baibweza mikuli njondakajisi. Lukkomano ndotujisi, nkoluli ikapati akaambo kazikozyanyo zibotu nzyobakatutondezya bamwi alimwi nzyotwakasolekesya kwiiya kutegwa tugwasye bana besu abazyukulu.