KODI chinachitika n’chiyani kuti bambo anene zimenezi? Dikirani ndikufotokozereni. Ndinabadwa pa 29 July 1929 ku Bulacan, m’dziko la Philippines ndipo ndinakulira komweko. Pa nthawiyo m’dzikoli munali mavuto azachuma, choncho tinkakhala moyo wosalira zambiri. Ndili mwana, nkhondo inayambika m’dziko lathu. Asilikali a ku Japan anabwera ku Philippines koma sanafike cha kumene tinkakhala chifukwa mudzi wathu unali kutali. Tinalibe wailesi, TV kapena nyuzipepala moti nkhani zokhudza nkhondoyo tinkangozimvera kwa anthu.

M’banja lathu tinalimo ana 8 ndipo ine ndi wachiwiri. Nditakwanitsa zaka 8, agogo anga ananditenga kuti ndizikakhala nawo. Tonse tinali Akatolika koma agogo anga sankadana ndi zipembedzo zina moti ankawerenga mabuku achipembedzo amene anzawo ankawapatsa. Ndikukumbukira kuti anandisonyeza Baibulo komanso timabuku tachitagalogi timene tinkafotokoza kuti zipembedzo zina n’zabodza. Ndinkakonda kwambiri kuwerenga Baibulo, makamaka mabuku a Uthenga Wabwino. Zimenezi zinandithandiza kukhala ndi mtima wofuna kutsanzira Yesu.​—Yoh. 10:27.

Asilikali a ku Japan aja anachoka mu 1945 ndipo m’chaka chomwechi makolo anga anandiuza kuti ndibwerere kunyumba. Agogo anga anavomereza zoti ndipite ndipo ndinamvera.

Mu December 1945, gulu la Mboni za Yehova lochokera ku Angat linabwera kudzalalikira kumudzi kwathu. M’bale wina wachikulire anafika kunyumba kwathu n’kutifotokozera zimene Baibulo limanena pa nkhani ya “masiku otsiriza.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Iye anatiuza kuti tipite kukaphunzira nawo Baibulo kumudzi wina wapafupi. Makolo anga sanapite koma ine ndinapita. Tinaliko anthu pafupifupi 20 ndipo ena ankafunsa mafunso.

Sindinkamvetsa bwinobwino zimene ankakambirana ndipo ndinaganiza zongochokapo. Kenako anayamba kuimba nyimbo ya Ufumu. Nyimboyo inandisangalatsa kwambiri moti ndinaganiza zokhalabe. Nyimboyi itatha, anapereka pemphero ndipo kenako  anatiuza kuti Lamlungu lotsatira tidzapite kumisonkhano ku Angat.

Ambirife tinayenda pafupifupi makilomita 8 kuti tikafike kunyumba ya a Cruz komwe kunkachitikira misonkhanoyo. Kunali anthu 50 ndipo ndinachita chidwi kuona ngakhale ana aang’ono akuyankha n’kumafotokoza nkhani zovuta za m’Baibulo. Kumisonkhanoko kunkabweranso mpainiya wina wachikulire dzina lake Damian Santos, yemwe poyamba anali meya. Tsiku lina m’baleyu anandiitana kuti ndikagone kunyumba kwawo ndipo usiku umenewu tinakambirana mfundo zambiri za m’Baibulo.

Nthawi imeneyo, ambiri a ife amene tinkaphunzira Baibulo tinkasintha mwamsanga. Nditangosonkhana maulendo angapo, abale anandifunsa kuti, “Kodi ukufuna kubatizidwa?” Ndinayankha kuti, “Ee ndikufuna.” Cholinga changa chinali choti ‘nditumikire Ambuye wathu, Khristu.’ (Akol. 3:24) Choncho pa 15 February 1946, anatitenga ine ndi mnzanga wina n’kukatibatiza mumtsinje wina wapafupi.

Tinkadziwa kuti munthu akabatizidwa amafunika kulalikira ngati mmene Yesu ankachitira. Zimenezi sizinasangalatse bambo anga ndipo ananena kuti: “Iwe wachepa nayo ntchito yolalikirayo. Ndipo kungonyikidwa m’madzi sikungathandize kuti ukhale mlaliki.” Ndinawafotokozera kuti Mulungu ndi amene akufuna kuti tizilalikira uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu. (Mat. 24:14) Ndinawauzanso kuti, “Ndiyenera kukwaniritsa zimene ndalonjeza kwa Mulungu.” Apa m’pamene bambo anga ananena mawu amene ndafotokoza kumayambiriro aja. Iwo ankafuna kundilepheretsa ntchito yolalikira. Pamenepanso m’pamene ndinayambira kusiya zinthu zina n’cholinga choti nditumikire Mulungu.

M’bale ndi Mlongo Cruz ananditenga kuti ndizikakhala nawo ku Angat. Anandilimbikitsa ineyo komanso mwana wawo wamkazi, dzina lake Nora, kuti tiyambe upainiya. Tonse tinayamba upainiya pa 1 November 1947. Nora anapita kukachita upainiyawo kutauni ina pomwe ine ndinatsala ku Angat.

Nditachita upainiya kwa zaka pafupifupi zitatu, m’bale wina wochokera ku ofesi ya nthambi, dzina lake Earl Stewart, anakamba nkhani ku Angat ndipo panali anthu oposa 500. Iye anakamba nkhaniyo m’Chingelezi ndipo atamaliza ndinafotokoza mfundo zikuluzikulu za nkhaniyo m’Chitagalogi. Sukulu ndinangolekeza sitandade 7 koma ndinkadziwa Chingelezi chifukwa aphunzitsi anga ankakonda kuphunzitsa m’Chingelezi. Chinthu china chimene chinandithandiza kuphunzira Chingelezi n’choti mabuku ambiri ophunzirira Baibulo sankapezeka m’Chitagalogi moti ndinkawawerenga m’Chingelezi. Choncho ndinatha kumasulira nkhaniyo ndiponso nkhani zina chifukwa ndinkadziwa mawu ambiri a m’Chingelezi.

Pa tsiku limene ndinamasulira nkhaniyo, M’bale Stewart ananena kuti pakufunika abale awiri amene ndi apainiya kuti akatumikire ku ofesi ya nthambi. Pankafunika abale othandiza ku Beteli chifukwa amishonale anali atapita kumsonkhano wakuti Kuwonjezeka kwa Teokalase, umene unachitika mu 1950, ku New York m’dziko la United States. Ndiye ineyo ndinali mmodzi wa abale amene anauzidwa kuti apite. Choncho ndinasiyanso zinthu zina kuti ndikathandize ntchito za ku Beteli.

Ndinapita ku Beteli pa 19 June 1950. Ofesi ya nthambi inali nyumba yakale ndipo inali pamalo aakulu maekala awiri ndi hafu okhala ndi mitengo yambiri ikuluikulu. Abale osakwatira pafupifupi 12 ankatumikira kumeneko. Tsiku lililonse m’mawa ndinkathandiza kukhitchini ndipo kenako kuyambira cha m’ma 9 koloko ndinkasita zovala. Masananso ndinkagwira ntchito zonse ziwirizi. Amishonale atabwerera ndinapitiriza kutumikira ku Beteli. Ndinkagwira ntchito yoona magazini amene anthu aitanitsa n’kukonza zoti atumizidwe komanso ndinkagwira ntchito pamalo olandirira alendo. Ndinkayesetsa kugwira ntchito iliyonse imene ndinkapatsidwa.

Mu 1952, ndinasangalala kumva kuti ineyo komanso abale ena 6 a ku Philippines, taitanidwa kuti tikalowe kalasi ya nambala 20 ya Sukulu ya Giliyadi. Zinthu zambiri zimene zinkachitika ku United States zinali zachilendo kwa ifeyo. Zinali zosiyana kwambiri ndi zimene ndinazolowera kumudzi kwathu.

Mwachitsanzo, tinkafunika kuphunzira kugwiritsa ntchito zipangizo komanso ziwiya zatsopano. Nyengo nayonso inali yosiyana kwambiri ndi kwathu. Tsiku lina kutacha, ndinangoona kuti kunja konse kukuoneka kokongola komanso kuli mbee. Kunali kutagwa  sinowo ndipo aka kanali koyamba kuona zimenezi. Kenako ndinazindikira kuti kukuzizira kwambiri.

Mavuto amene ndinakumana nawowa anali aang’ono ndikawayerekezera ndi maphunziro apamwamba amene ndinapeza ku Giliyadi. Alangizi athu ankaphunzitsa mwaluso kwambiri. Tinaphunzira njira zabwino zophunzirira Baibulo komanso kufufuza mfundo. Zimene ndinaphunzira ku Giliyadi zinandithandiza kwambiri kuti ndilimbitse ubwenzi wanga ndi Yehova.

Nditamaliza maphunzirowa, anandiuza kuti ndikachite upainiya wapadera wakanthawi ku Bronx mumzinda wa New York. Choncho mu July 1953, ndinali ndi mwayi wopezeka nawo pa msonkhano wakuti Anthu a Dziko Latsopano, womwe unachitikira ku Bronx komweko. Msonkhanowo utatha ndinabwerera ku Philippines.

Nditafika, abale a ku ofesi ya nthambi anandiuza kuti: “Panopa mukhala woyang’anira dera.” Uwutu unali mwayi wanga woti nditsatire kwambiri Yesu chifukwa nayenso ankapita kumatauni ndi mizinda yakutali kuti akathandize nkhosa za Yehova. (1 Pet. 2:21) Ndinapatsidwa dera lomwe linali m’chigawo chapakati cha chilumba cha Luzon, chomwe ndi chachikulu kwambiri ku Philippines konse. Ndinkafika ku Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac komanso ku Zambales. Kuti ndikafike kumatauni ena, ndinkafunika kudutsa njira zovuta za m’mapiri a Sierra Madre. Kunalibe mabasi kapena masitima amene ankafikako, choncho ndinkapempha madalaivala a mathiraki onyamula mitengo kuti ndikwere nawo pamwamba pa mitengoyo. Ankalola kunditenga koma unkakhala ulendo wopweteka kwambiri.

Mipingo yambiri inali yaing’ono komanso yatsopano. Choncho abale a m’mipingoyi ankayamikira kwambiri ndikamawathandiza kuchita misonkhano komanso utumiki mwadongosolo.

Patapita nthawi, ndinapatsidwa dera lina ndipo ndinkayendera chigawo chonse cha ku Bicol. M’derali munali timagulu tambiri takutali tomwe apainiya apadera anatiyambitsa. Kunyumba ina kunali chimbudzi chomwe anangochipanga pokumba dzenje n’kuika mitengo iwiri pamwamba pake. Nditangoponda pamitengoyo, ndinagwera m’dzenjelo limodzi ndi mitengoyo. Zinanditengera nthawi ndithu kuti ndidzikonze bwinobwino ndisanakadye chakudya cham’mawa.

Ndili kuderalo, ndinayamba kuganiza za Nora yemwe anayamba upainiya tili ku Bulacan. Pa nthawiyi anali mpainiya wapadera mumzinda wa Dumaguete ndipo ndinapita kukamuona. Kenako tinayamba kulemberana makalata ndipo tinakwatirana mu 1956. Titangokwatirana tinakachezera mpingo wakuchilumba cha Rapu Rapu. Tinkafunika kukwera mapiri ndiponso kuyenda kwambiri. Koma ine ndi Nora tinasangalala kwambiri kutumikira limodzi m’madera akutali.

Titagwira ntchito limodzi yoyang’anira dera kwa zaka pafupifupi 4, tinalandira kalata yotiitana kuti tizikatumikira ku ofesi ya nthambi. Choncho mu January 1960, tinayamba utumiki wa pa Beteli. Pa zaka zonse zimene ndatumikira pa Beteli, ndakhala ndikuphunzira zambiri kwa abale amene ali ndi maudindo akuluakulu. Nayenso Nora wakhala akugwira ntchito zosiyanasiyana pa Beteli.

Ndakhala ndi mwayi woona anthu ambiri akulowa m’gulu la Yehova ku Philippines kuno. Pamene ndinkafika ku Beteli pa ulendo woyamba uja, m’dziko lonse la Philippines munali ofalitsa pafupifupi 10,000. Koma panopa m’dzikoli muli ofalitsa oposa 200,000 ndipo pali anthu mahandiredi angapo amene akutumikira pa Beteli.

Ntchito za pa Beteli zitayamba kuchuluka, malo anayamba kutichepera. Choncho Bungwe Lolamulira linatiuza kuti tiyambe kufufuza malo oti timangepo ofesi ya nthambi yaikulu. Ine ndi m’bale wina, amene ankayang’anira dipatimenti yosindikiza mabuku, tinkayenda nyumba ndi nyumba kufufuza anthu amene angatigulitse malo, koma sitinapeze. M’nyumba zambiri tinkapeza anthu achitchainizi ndipo wina anatiuza kuti: “Matchainafe sitimagulitsa malo. Ife ndi amene timagula.”

Tsiku lina tinangodabwa munthu wina akutifunsa ngati tingakonde kugula malo ake chifukwa choti ankasamukira ku United States. Atangotero, munthu winanso anaganiza zogulitsa malo ake ndipo anauza anzake apafupi kuti nawonso agulitse. Mpaka tinagulanso malo a munthu amene ankanena kuti Matchaina sagulitsa malo uja. Pasanapite nthawi yaitali, tinapeza malo aakulu kwambiri. Ndikukhulupirira kuti Yehova Mulungu ndi amene anathandiza kuti zonsezi zitheke.

M’ma 1950, ine ndinali wamng’ono kwambiri m’banja la Beteli. Koma panopa, ine ndi mkazi wanga ndife achikulire kwambiri pa Beteli ponse. Ndakhala ndikutsatira Ambuye kulikonse kumene andituma ndipo sindikunong’oneza bondo olo pang’ono. Makolo anga anandithamangitsa kunyumba koma Yehova wandipatsa banja lalikulu la Akhristu anzanga. Panopa sindikayikira ngakhale pang’ono kuti Yehova amatipatsa zonse zofunika kuti tikwanitse utumiki uliwonse umene tapatsidwa. Ine ndi Nora timathokoza kwambiri Yehova chifukwa cha zonse zimene watipatsa ndipo tikulimbikitsa anthu ena kuti amuyese Yehova kuti aone mmene angawadalitsire.​—Mal. 3:10.

Pa nthawi ina, Yesu anaitana Mateyu Levi, yemwe anali wokhometsa misonkho, kuti akhale ‘wotsatira wake.’ Nthawi yomweyo, Mateyu “anasiya chilichonse, ndipo ananyamuka n’kumutsatira.” (Luka 5:27, 28) Nanenso ndayesetsa kuchita zimenezi ndipo ndikulimbikitsa anthu ena kuti achite zomwezo chifukwa Yehova adzawadalitsa kwambiri.