Mu mwaka wakurikiye, umuryango wa Beteli waramenyeshejwe ko hari hakenewe abokwitanga bakaja gukorera kw’ishami ryo muri Afrika y’Epfo, ahari hagiye gushirwa imashini nshasha yo gucapura. Nanje naciye niyandikisha, kandi nararyohewe no kubona baranyemereye. Abandi bavukanyi batatu bo kuri Beteli yo muri Kanada bemerewe, ni Dennis Leech, Bill McLellan, na Ken Nordin. Twabwiwe ko twomazeyo igihe kirekire.

Naraterefonye mawe ndamubwira nti: “Ma, hari ikintu nshaka kukubwira. Ngira nje gukorera muri Afrika y’Epfo!” Naho mawe yari asanzwe yivugira make, yari umuntu afise ukwizera gukomeye kandi yakunda cane Yehova. Nta vyinshi yavuze, ariko narabonye ko yari ashigikiye iyo ngingo. Yaba we canke dawe, nta n’umwe yarwanije iyo ngingo nafashe, naho bari bababajwe n’uko nari ngiye kure yabo.

Uko turi bane twabanje guca kuri Beteli y’i Brooklyn, aho twamaze amezi atatu tumenyerezwa gukoresha ubwoko kanaka bw’imashini icapura. Twahavuye dufata ubwato tuja i Cape Town, muri Afrika y’Epfo. Ico gihe nari mfise imyaka 20 gusa. Igihe twafata igariyamoshi tugatangura urugendo rurerure tuva i Cape Town tuja i Johannesburg, bwari bwije. Ahantu ha mbere twahagaze mu mutwenzi, hari mu gasagara ko mu karere kitwa Karoo, kakaba ari akarere kameze nk’ubugaragwa. Hari ivumbi ryinshi be n’ibintu bimeze nk’igipfungu, kandi hari hashushe. Twese uko turi bane turabiye mw’idirisha, twaribajije uko aho hantu hari hameze. Twarahagaritse umutima twibaza iyo tugiye gukorera. Mu myaka yakurikiye, twaragarutse gutembera muri ako karere, turibonera ingene udusagara twaho ari twiza kandi dutekanye.

Naramaze imyaka nk’ingahe nkoresha imashini itangaje kandi igoye, nkaba naza ndapanga indome zakoreshwa mu gucapura ibinyamakuru Umunara w’Inderetsi na Be maso! Ibiro vy’ishami vyacapura ibinyamakuru vyo mu ndimi nyinshi zo muri Afrika, bikaba vyaracapurira n’ibindi bihugu vyinshi vyo muri Afrika, uretse Afrika y’Epfo. Emwe, iyo mashini yo gucapura yari yatumye tuza muri Afrika y’Epfo, yariko irakoreshwa neza!

Mu nyuma, narakoreye mu Biro vy’icapuriro vyari bijejwe ibikorwa bitandukanye mu bijanye no gucapura ibitabu, kubirungika be n’igikorwa c’ubuhinduzi.  Nari mfise ibikorwa vyinshi kandi mpimbawe.

Mu 1968, narubakanye na mushiki wacu w’umutsimvyi yitwa Laura Bowen, yaba hafi ya Beteli. Yarafasha no kuri Beteli mu Rwego rw’ubuhinduzi, mu kwandika ibisomwa akoresheje imashini. Ico gihe, abubaka urwabo ntibemererwa kuguma muri Beteli, akaba ari co gituma twaciye turungikwa kuba abatsimvyi badasanzwe. Ivyo vyarampagaritse umutima gatoyi. Ko nari maze imyaka cumi kuri Beteli ndonswa ibifungurwa n’uburaro, twari kubeshwaho gute n’agafashanyo k’abatsimvyi badasanzwe? Buri kwezi, umwe wese yoronse amahera 25 yo muri Afrika y’Epfo, (ico gihe akaba yangana n’amadolari 35.) naho nyene mu gihe akwije amasaha, amasubirayo, be n’ibitabu yasabwa gutanga. Ayo mahera ni yo twokoresheje mu gupanga inzu, kugura ibifungurwa, kwiyunguruza, kwivuza be no mu bindi bintu.

Twarungitswe gukorera mu mugwi mutoyi wari hafi y’igisagara ca Durban, ku nkengera y’Ibahari Indiyano. Habayo Abahindi benshi cane, abenshi muri bo bakaba bakomoka ku bakozi bazanywe gukorera muri Afrika y’Epfo mu mahinguriro y’isukari, mu mpera z’imyaka ya 1800. Ico gihe twajayo bakora ibindi bikorwa, naho bari bacisunga imico yabo n’uburyo bwabo bwo guteka. Vyongeye, bavuga icongereza, ivyo bikaba vyatumye tworoherwa no kubaganiriza.

Kubera ko ico gihe abatsimvyi badasanzwe basabwa gukora amasaha 150 ku kwezi, ku musi wa mbere twaja mu ndimiro, twe na Laura twapanze ko twokoze amasaha atandatu. Uwo musi hari hashushe cane. Kubera ko ata masubirayo canke inyigisho za Bibiliya twari dufise, twategerezwa kumara ayo masaha atandatu yose twamamaza inzu ku nzu. Haciye akanya dutanguye, nararavye kw’isaha, nsanga tumaze gukora iminota 40 gusa! Naciye nibaza nti: ‘Ubwo iki gikorwa c’ubutsimvyi tuzogishobora?’

Bidatevye, twaratunganije ibintu bushasha. Buri musi twarategura imikate, tukitwaza n’isupu canke ikawa mw’iteremosi. Dukeneye kuruhuka, twaca duhagarika akaduga kacu mu gitutu munsi y’igiti, rimwe na rimwe abana bakiri bato b’Abahindi bakaba baca baza kutwihweza. Mu misi mikeyi yakurikiye, tumaze gukora amasaha abiri canke atatu, amasaha akurikira ntitwamenya ingene yaheze.

Ntiworaba ingene twanezerewe cane no kubwira ukuri abantu bimereye neza bo muri ako karere! Twasanze Abahindi ari abantu bubaha, b’umutima mwiza kandi bakunda Imana. Abahindu benshi barakiriye inkuru nziza. Barashimishijwe no kumenya ivyerekeye Yehova, Yezu, Bibiliya, isi nshasha yimirije irangwa amahoro, be n’icizigiro dufise ku bijanye n’abapfuye. Mu mwaka umwe, twari dufise inyigisho za Bibiliya 20. Buri musi, twarasangira ibifungurwa n’umuryango umwe mu yo twigisha Bibiliya. Ivyo vyaraduhimbara cane.

Bidatevye twarahinduriwe igikorwa, tuja mu gikorwa co kugendera amashengero yari ku nkengera y’Ibahari iteye igomwe ya Indiyano. Buri ndwi twashikira mu muryango kanaka w’abavukanyi, tukagendera abamamaji bo mw’ishengero, tukongera tugakorana na bo kugira ngo tubaremeshe. Badufata nk’abo mu muryango wabo, tugateramana n’abana babo be n’ibikoko batunze. Haciye imyaka ibiri turi muri ico gikorwa, twagiye twumva terefone ivuye ku biro vy’ishami. Batubwiye bati: “Twipfuza ko mugaruka kuri Beteli.” Nabishuye nti: “Naho twokwigumira ng’aha nta ngorane.” Ariko ntiwumve, twari twiteguriye kuja gukorera aho ari ho hose tworungitswe.

Muri Beteli nashinzwe gukorera mu Rwego rw’umurimo, aho nari mfise agateka ko gukorana n’abavukanyi benshi bahumuye kandi bazi utuntu n’utundi. Muri iyo misi, umucungezi w’umuzunguruko amaze kugendera ishengero, yararungikira raporo ibiro vy’ishami. Ibiro vy’ishami na vyo vyaca birungikira ikete iryo shengero. Iryo kete ryaba ari iryo kuremesha ishengero no kuriha ubuyobozi bwaba bukenewe. Ivyo vyaraha akazi kenshi abanyamabanga bacu, kuko bategerezwa guhindura ayo maraporo bayakuye mu rurimi rw’igixhosa, ikizulu, be no mu zindi ndimi bayashira mu congereza, mu nyuma na ho bagahindura amakete  avuye ku biro vy’ishami bayakura mu congereza bayashira muri izo ndimi. Narakengurukiye cane abo bahinduzi b’abanyamwete, kuko bamfashije kumenya ingorane zari zihanze abavukanyi na bashiki bacu b’abirabure.

Ico gihe, Afrika y’Epfo yatwarwa n’intwaro karyanishamiryango. Nta migenderanire yari hagati y’abazungu n’abirabure, kuko bamwe bose baba mu turere bisangije. Abavukanyi bacu b’abirabure bakoresha indimi zabo, bakamamaza mu ndimi zabo, bakongera bakaja mu mashengero akoresha indimi zabo.

Nta bavukanyi benshi b’abirabure twamenyanye, kuko namye ndi mw’ishengero rikoresha icongereza. Ariko aho nsubiriye kuri Beteli, nararonse akaryo ko kumenya ibijanye n’abavukanyi bacu b’abirabure, hamwe n’imico be n’imigenzo yabo. Naramenye ingorane zashikira abavukanyi bacu bivuye ku migenzo be n’ivyo abantu bo mu kibano cabo bemera. Ese ukuntu bagaragaza umutima rugabo mu kwitandukanya n’imigenzo iteye kubiri n’Ivyanditswe, no mu kwihanganira uruhamo rukomeye bagirirwa n’imiryango yabo be n’abantu bo mu karere iwabo, igihe baba banse gukurikiza imigenzo ifitaniye isano n’ubupfumu! Mu turere two mu gihugu hagati, abantu bari bakenye cane. Naho benshi batari barize canke ugasanga bize amashure makeyi, barubaha cane Bibiliya.

Naratewe agateka ko kugira uruhara mu manza zimwezimwe zijanye n’umwidegemvyo wo gusenga, be no kutagira aho duhengamiye. Kwibonera ukudahemuka be n’umutima rugabo abana b’Ivyabona bagaragaza igihe baba birukanywe kw’ishure, bazira ko banse kwifatanya n’abandi mu bijanye no gusenga no kuririmba indirimbo zihayagiza igihugu, vyarakomeje cane ukwizera kwanje.

Abavukanyi bo mu gahugu gatoyi ku muri Afrika kahoze kitwa Swazilande, barahuye n’ikindi kigeragezo. Igihe Umwami Sobhuza wa kabiri yapfa, abanyagihugu bose barategetswe gukurikiza imigirwa imwimwe ijanye no kugandara. Abagabo basabwa kwimosha uruhara, abagore na bo bakagabanya cane imishatsi yabo. Abavukanyi na bashiki bacu benshi, barahamwe kubera ko banse gukurikiza iyo migenzo yari ifitaniye isano no gusenga aba kera. Ntiworaba ingene twakozwe ku mutima no kubona bagumye ari intahemuka kuri Yehova! Abavukanyi bacu b’Abanyafrika, twarabigiyeko ubwizigirwa, ukudahemuka be n’ukwihangana, kandi ivyo vyarakomeje ukwizera kwacu.

Mu 1981, naragenywe gufasha mu bijanye no gukoresha imashini zo gucapura zigezweho. Naciye rero nsubira gukorera mw’Icapuriro. Ntiworaba ingene vyanteye umunezero! Uburyo bwo gucapura bwari bwarahindutse cane. Hari umudandaza yahaye ibiro vy’ishami imashini nshasha yo gucapura kugira ngo tuyigerageze, ata mahera tumuhaye. Ivyo vyatumye imashini icenda za kera tuzisubiriza zitanu zari zigezweho. Harashinzwe n’ikindi kimashini co gucapura kinini kandi gihanitse. Ivyo vyatumye igikorwa co gucapura cihuta cane.

Ubwo buhinga bwa none bwaratumye dutanguza uburyo bushasha bwo gupanga ibisomwa mu ndimi nyinshi bwitwa MEPS. Ntiworaba ingene ubuhinga bwo gucapura bwari bwarateye imbere cane, kuva aho tuviriye kuri Beteli yo muri Kanada turi bane, tukaja gukorera muri Afrika y’Epfo! (Yes. 60:17) Ico gihe twese twari twaramaze kwubaka izacu, tukaba twari twubakanye n’abakenyezi b’abatsimvyi bakunda Yehova cane. Twe na Bill twari tugikorera kuri Beteli, Ken na Dennis na bo bari baribarutse abana, bakaba baba hafi ya Beteli.

Ibikorwa vyaguma vyiyongera ku biro vy’ishami. Ibitabu vyari bisigaye bihindurwa bikongera bigacapurwa mu ndimi nyinshi cane, kandi vyararungikwa no mu yandi mashami. Ivyo vyatumye hakenerwa iyindi nyubakwa ya Beteli. Abavukanyi baciye bayubaka mu karere keza cane ko mu burengero bwa Johannesburg, maze yegurirwa Yehova mu 1987. Narahimbawe no kugira uruhara muri iryo terambere ryose, be no kumara imyaka itari mike nkorera muri Komite y’ishami yo muri Afrika y’Epfo.

Mu 2001 harabaye ikintu tutari twiteze. Narasabwe kuja gukorera muri Komite y’ishami yari iherutse gushingwa muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika. Naho twababajwe no kubona tuvuye ku gikorwa twariko muri Afrika y’Epfo kandi tugatandukana n’abagenzi, twarahimbawe no gutangura ubuzima bushasha, mu muryango wa Beteli wo muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika.

Ariko rero twarahagaritse umutima kubona twari tugiye kure ya nyina wa Laura yari yitereye mu myaka. Nta kintu kinini twari kumufasha turi i New York. Ariko rero bene wabo na Laura batatu baremeye kuza baramuba hafi bakamuronsa ibintu vyose yokeneye, haba ku mubiri canke ku mutima. Bavuze bati: “Kubera ko tudashobora kuja mu murimo w’igihe cose, nitwaronsa mawe ivyo akeneye, namwe bizobafasha kubandanya igikorwa mwashinzwe.” Turabashimira bimwe bivuye ku mutima.

Ico gihe mwenewacu n’umukenyezi wiwe baba i Toronto muri Kanada, na bo nyene bariko baritwararika mawe yari asigaye ari umupfakazi. Ico gihe, mawe yari amaze imyaka irenga 20 aba iwabo. Turabashimira cane kubona ingene bamwitwararikanye urukundo gushika apfuye, haciye igihe gitoyi dushitse i New York. Ese ukuntu ari umuhezagiro kugira abo mu muryango bitanga bakagira ivyo bahinduye kugira ngo bitwararike ibanga nk’iryo usanga rimwe na rimwe ritoroshe!

Kuri Beteli yo muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, naramaze imyaka nk’ingahe nkorera mu bijanye no gucapura ibitabu, ubu bikaba vyararushirije gukorwa mu buhinga bugezweho kandi mu buryo bworoshe. Ubu mperutse kwimurirwa mu Rwego rujejwe ivyo gusuma. Ese ukuntu duhimbarwa no kubona tumaze imyaka irenga 20 muri uyu muryango wa Beteli, uwugizwe n’Abanyabeteli nka 5.000 be n’abakora bataha nka 2.000.

Mu myaka 60 iheze, siniyumvira ko ubu nobaye ndi ng’aha. Muri iyo myaka yose, Laura yaranshigikiye n’umutima wiwe wose. Emwe, naragize ubuzima buteye umunezero koko! Turakenguruka cane uduteka twagiye turaterwa, n’abantu bimereye neza bose twagiye turakorana, ushizemwo n’abo mu mashami menshi twagendeye mu mihingo itandukanye y’isi. Kubera ko ndengeje imyaka 80, ubu naragabanirijwe ibikorwa, narirya hariho abavukanyi bakiri bato benshi bashobora kuvyitwararika.

Umwanditsi wa zaburi yavuze ati: “Hahiriwe ihanga Imana yaryo ari Yehova.” (Zab. 33:12) Emwe, ukwo ni ukuri kwuzuye! Ndakenguruka cane kuba narashoboye kugira ico nterereye ku munezero abasavyi ba Yehova bifitiye.