Nkhababika pa Meyi 19, 1940, mutawuni ya Amioûn, Lebanon. Pati pajumpha vyaka vichoko waka, tikasamira mu msumba wa Tripoli, uko nkhakulira na mbumba yakwithu yachitemwa kweniso yakutemwa Yehova Chiuta. Nkhaŵa nkhwangu mu mbumba ya ŵana 5, ŵasungwana ŵatatu, na ŵanalume ŵaŵiri. Ŵapapi ŵane ŵakaŵikanga chomene mtima pakupenja ndalama yayi. Ku mbumba yakwithu, chakuzirwa chomene kukaŵa kusambira Baibolo, maungano, kweniso kovwira ŵanji kumanya Chiuta.

Mu mpingo mwithu mukaŵa Ŵakhristu ŵakuphakazgika ŵanandi. Yumoza wawo wakaŵa Michel Aboud, uyo wakachitiskanga Sambiro la Buku la Mpingo. Ndiyo wakaŵa wakwamba kupharazga unenesko mu Lebanon kukwambilira kwa 1921, ndipo iyo wakasambira unenesko ku New York. Ndipo icho nkhukumbukira chomene ni umo wakawovwilira ŵachinyamata ŵaŵiri awo ŵakamalizga Sukulu ya Giliyadi, Anne na Gwen Beavor. Ŵachinyamata aŵa pamanyuma ŵakaŵa ŵabwezi ŵithu ŵawemi chomene. Vyaka vinandi vikati vyajumphapo, nkhakondwa chomene kuwonana na Anne ku United States. Pati pajumphaso nyengo yichoko waka nkhawonanaso na Gwen, uyo wakaŵa kuti watorana na Wilfred Gooch, ndipo wakateŵeteranga pa ofesi ya munthavi ya London, ku England.

Kukaŵa Ŵakaboni ŵachoko waka ku Lebanon apo nkhaŵa wachinyamata. Kweni tikalimbikiranga  chomene kuphalirako ŵanji ivyo tikamanyanga vya mu Baibolo. Tikachitanga ivi nangauli tikasuskikanga na ŵalongozgi ŵanyake ŵavisopa. Nkhukumbukira makora chomene vinthu vinyake ivyo vikatichitikiranga.

Zuŵa linyake ine na mudumbu wane Sana, tikapharazganga pa nyumba zinyake zakudikanya. Mbwenu wasembe munyake wakiza apo tikaŵa. Munthu munyake wakwenera kuti ndiyo wakachita kumuchema. Wasembe uyu wakamba kunena mudumbu wane. Wakakwiya chomene ndipo wakamukankhira pasi Sana kufuma pa nyumba ya pachanya, ndipo wakapwetekeka. Munthu munyake wakimbira foni ŵapolisi ndipo ŵakiza, ndipo mwalusungu ŵakawoneseska kuti Sana wawovwirike. Wasembe yura ŵakamutolera ku polisi, ndipo ŵakamusanga na futi. Mulara wa polisi wakamufumba kuti: “Kasi uli mpha chomenechomene? Ukusambizga ŵanthu vya Chiuta panji kuŵasambizga kuti ŵachitenge nkhaza?”

Chakuchitika chinyake icho nkhukumbuka ni apo mpingo withu ukapanga hayara basi kuti yikatipelekezge ku tawuni yinyake iyo yikaŵa kwayekha kuti tikapharazgeko makani ghawemi. Ku malo agha ŵanthu ŵakatipokelera makora, kweni apo tikaŵa mukati kupharazga, wasembe wa ku malo agha wakapulika ivyo tikachitanga, ndipo wakawunganya ŵanthu kuti ŵatiwukire. Ŵakamba kutinyoza kweniso kutipoza na malibwe, ndipo adada ŵakapwetekeka. Nkhukumbuka kuti chisko chawo chikaŵa ndopa pera. Iwo pamoza na amama ŵakawelera apo pakaŵa basi ndipo tose uku tili na chitima tikaŵalondezga. Kweni nizamuluwa yayi mazgu agho amama ŵakayowoya apo ŵakaŵapuputanga ndopa adada, ŵakati: “Yehova chonde ŵagowokerani. Ŵakumanya yayi icho ŵakuchita.”

Ulendo unyake, tikaluta kukaya kukawona ŵachibali ŵithu. Tikasangana na mulongozgi wa chisopa wakumanyikwa chomene, bishopu, panyumba ya asekuru ŵakubaba adada. Bishopu uyu wakamanyanga kuti ŵapapi ŵane mbakaboni ŵa Yehova. Nangauli panyengo iyi nkhaŵa na vyaka 6 pera, kweni wakakhumbanga kunikhozga soni ndipo wakanifumba kuti: “Iwe, chifukwa wuli undabatizike?” Nkhamuzgora kuti nichali mwana muchoko, ndipo kuti nibatizike nkhakhumbikwanga kumanya vinandi vyakukhwaska na Baibolo kweniso kuŵa na chipulikano chakukhora. Wakakondwa yayi na ivyo nkhazgora ndipo wakaphalira asekuru ŵane kuti nilije nkharo.

Ndipouli, vinthu vyakugongoweska ivi tikakumananga navyo bweka yayi. Nakuti ŵanthu ŵa ku Lebanon mbaubwezi kweniso ŵakutemwa kupokelera ŵalendo. Lekani tikafiskanga kudumbiskana na ŵanthu uthenga wa mu Baibolo kweniso kuchitiska masambiro ghanandi gha Baibolo.

Apo nkhaŵa kuti nichali kusambira sukulu, mubali munyake wachinyamata wa ku Venezuela wakiza ku Lebanon. Wakamba kuwungana mu mpingo withu, ndipo pamanyuma wakamba chibwezi na mudumbu wane, Wafa. Pati pajumpha nyengo, ŵakatorana ndipo ŵakaluta kukakhala ku Venezuela. Mu makalata ghake, Wafa wakayezgayezga kukopa adada kuti ŵasamire ku Venezuela na mbumba yose. Wakachitanga nthena chifukwa chakuti wakatisoŵa chomene. Pamanyuma ivyo wakakhumbanga vikamwendera nadi chifukwa tikasama.

 Tikafika ku Venezuela mu 1953, ndipo tikakhazikika ku Caracas, kufupi na nyumba ya pulezidenti. Chifukwa chakuti nkhaŵa kuti nichali muchoko, nkhakondwanga chomene kuwona pulezidenti wakujumpha pamoza na ŵanthu ŵakumuvikilira mu magalimoto ghawo ghakudura. Kweni chikaŵa chipusu yayi kuti ŵapapi ŵane ŵazgoŵere mu charu chachilendo ichi, chomene pa nkhani ya chiyowoyero, umo ŵanthu ŵakukhalira, chakurya kweniso nyengo ya mu charu ichi. Apo ŵakaŵa kuti ŵamba waka kuzgoŵera umoyo uphya uwu, chinthu chinyake chachitima chikachitika.

Adada ŵakamba kulwara. Ichi chikatizizika chomene, chifukwa ŵakaŵa kuti ŵachali ŵankhongono kweniso umoyo uwemi. Tikakumbukanga yayi zuŵa ilo ŵakalwarapo. Ŵakaŵasanga na kansa munthumbo kufuma apo ŵakaŵachita opareshoni. Chachitima ntchakuti pati pajumpha sabata yimoza ŵakatayika.

Ntchakusuzga kuti nilongosore chitima icho tikaŵa nacho panyengo iyo. Panyengo iyo nkhaŵa waka na vyaka 13. Tikakhazganga yayi kuti adada ŵangafwa ndipo tikawonanga nga charu chatimalira. Kwa nyengo yitaliko chikaŵa chakusuzga kwa amama kuzomerezga kuti afumu ŵawo ŵali kufwa nadi. Kweni tikawamo kuti tikwenera kuchizomerezga waka, ndipo na wovwiri wa Yehova tikafiska kuzizipizga. Apo nkhaŵa na vyaka 16, nkhamalizga masambiro ghane gha ku sekondare ku Caracas, ndipo nkhakhumbisiskanga chomene kovwira mbumba yakwithu.

Kanyengo kachoko waka kati kajumphapo, mudumbu wane Sana wakatengwa kwa Rubén Araujo, uyo wakanjira Sukulu ya Giliyadi ndipo ŵakamutumaso ku Venezuela. Kufuma apo ŵakasamira ku New York. Mbumba yakwithu yikasankha kuti nilute ku yunivesite, ntheura nkhaluta ku New York uko nkhakhalanga kwa mulongosi kweniso mulamu wane uku nkhusambira sukulu. Mudumbu wane na amulamu ŵakanovwira chomene kuti nisendelere kwa Yehova apo nkhakhalanga nawo. Kweniso mu mpingo withu Wachisipanishi mukaŵa ŵabali ŵanandi ŵakukhwima mwauzimu. Nkhakondwa chomene kumanyana na Milton Henschel na Frederick Franz; wose ŵakateŵeteranga pa Beteli ya Brooklyn.

Apo nkhaŵa pafupi kumalizga chaka chakwamba pa yunivesite ku New York, nkhamba kughanaghanira ivyo nkhachitanga na umoyo wane. Nkhaŵa kuti naŵerenga na kughanaghanirapo chomene nkhani za mu Gongwe la Mulinda izo zikayowoyanga vyakuti Ŵakhristu ŵakwenera kuŵa na vilato vya kuteŵetera Yehova. Kweniso nkhawonanga umo ŵapayiniya kweniso awo ŵakateŵeteranga pa Beteli ŵakakondweranga mu mpingo withu, ndipo nkhakhumbanga chomene kuŵa nga ndiwo. Kweni panyengo iyi nkhaŵa kuti nindabatizike. Pati pajumpha nyengo yichoko waka nkhamanya kuti nkhwenera kupeleka umoyo wane kwa Yehova. Ntheura pa Malichi 30, 1957 nkhabatizika.

Nati nabatizika, nkhamba kughanaghana za kwamba upayiniya. Nkhakhumbanga chomene kuŵa mupayiniya kweni nkhawonanga kuti chiŵenge chakusuzga. Pakuti nkhaŵa kuti nichali pa sukulu, so nkhafipanga mtima kuti nendeskenge wuli? So nkhasankha kuti nileke waka sukulu ku yunivesite. Ntheura ine na mbumba yakwithu, tikalemberana makalata ghanandi pa nkhani iyi, chifukwa ine nkhakhumbanga kuti niwelere ku Venezuela, kuti nkhambe upayiniya.

 Mu Juni 1957, nkhawelera ku Caracas. Kweni mbumba yakwithu vinthu vikaŵa makora yayi. Ŵakakhumbikwiranga kuti paŵe munthu uyo wangawovwira kusanga vyakukhumbikwa pa nyumba. Nkhakhumba chomene kovwirapo. Ntheura nkhasanga ntchito ku banki, kweni nkhakhumbanga chomene kwamba upayiniya. Nakuti ndicho chikaŵa chifukwa icho nkhalekera sukulu ku yunivesite. Ntheura nkhaŵikapo mtima kuti nichitenge vyose, kugwira ntchito kweniso kuchita upayiniya. Kwa vyaka vinandi nkhagwiranga ntchito mwakukhazikika ku banki, kweniso nkhaŵa mupayiniya. Nangauli nkhatangwanikanga chomene kweni nkhakondwanga chomene.

Nkhakondwaso chomene nati nakumana na Sylvia ndipo tikatorana. Wakaŵa mudumbu wakutowa wa ku German ndipo wakamutemwanga chomene Yehova. Wakasamira ku Venezuela na ŵapapi ŵake. Pamanyuma tikaŵa na ŵana ŵaŵiri, mwana munyamata, Michel (Mike), na mwana msungwana, Samira. Nkhaŵaso na udindo wakupwelelera amama ŵane ndipo ŵakamba kukhala nase. Nangauli nkhaleka upayiniya kuti nipwelelere makora mbumba kweni nkhalimbikiranga chomene mulimo wakupharazga. Ine na Sylvia tikachitanga upayiniya wakanyengo nyengo yiliyose para tili pa holide.

Ŵana ŵakaŵa kuti ŵachali pa sukulu apo nkhaghanaghaniranga ivyo nazunura pakwambilira pa nkhani iyi. Kuyowoya unenesko nkhakhalanga umoyo wawofuwofu, ndipo ŵanyane awo tikagwiranga lumoza ku banki ŵakanichindikanga. Kweni icho nkhakhumbanga chomene ntchakuti nimanyikwenge kuti ndine muteŵeti wa Yehova. Zuŵa lira nkhalutilira kughanaghana ivyo ningachita kuti ŵanthu ŵaniwonenge kuti ndine muteŵeti wa Yehova. So tikakhala pasi na muwoli wane na kudumbiskana vyakukhwaskana na ndalama. Nkhamanyanga kuti para naleka ntchito ŵanipenge ndalama zinandi izo munthu ŵakumupa para wakupumura pa ntchito. Pakuti tikaŵavya ngongole, tikawona kuti para tingachepeskako vyakukhumba pa umoyo, tiŵenge na ndalama zakukwana zakuti zingatovwira kuti tilutilire kukhala makora kwa nyengo yitali.

Chikaŵa chipusu yayi kuchita nthena, kweni muwoli wane wakutemweka na amama ŵakakolerana navyo. So nkhaŵaso na mwaŵi wakwambaso upayiniya. Nkhakondwa chomene. Ndipo vikawonekanga kuti vyose vyendenge makora. Kweni mwamabuchi tikapokera uthenga uwo tikakhazganga yayi.

Zuŵa linyake dokotala wakatiphalira kuti Sylvia wali na nthumbo. Tikazizwa chomene. Nangauli tikakondwa chomene, kweni nkhamba kughanaghaniraso ivyo nkhasankha kuti nambe upayiniya. Nkhamba kujifumba kuti kasi nifiskenge upayiniya? Kweni nyengo yeneyiyo tikamba kughanaghanira umo  tichitirenge na chawanangwa chiphya icho tipokerenge. Kweni nkhaŵa kuti nichali kughanaghanira usange nifiskenge kuchita upayiniya.

Tati tadumbiskanaso vilato vithu, tikawona kuti tichite nipera ivyo tikasankha pakwamba. Mwana withu munyamata Gabriel wakababika mu Epulero 1985. Ndipouli, nkhaleka ntchito ku banki ndipo nkhambaso upayiniya wanyengozose mu Juni 1985. Ndipo nyengo yikati yajumphapo, nkhaŵa na mwaŵi wakuteŵetera mu Komiti ya Munthavi. Kweni ofesi ya munthavi yikaŵa ku Caracas yayi, icho chikang’anamuranga kuti nenderenge waka mazuŵa ghaŵiri panji ghatatu pa sabata, ndipo ukaŵa mtunda wa makilomita 80.

Ofesi ya munthavi yikaŵa mu tawuni ya La Victoria, ntheura nga mbumba tikasankha kuti tisamire ku La Victoria kuti tikaŵe kufupi na ku Beteli. Uku kukaŵa kusintha kukuru chomene kwa tose. Nkhukondwa chomene na mbumba yane iyo nili nayo ndipo nkhuyiwonga chomene. Umo ŵakachitiranga vinthu vikanovwira chomene ine. Mudumbu wane Baha wakajipeleka kuti wapwelelerenge amama. Mike wakaŵa kuti watora, kweni Samira na Gabriel tikaŵa kuti tichali kukhala nawo lumoza panyumba. Ntheura kusamira ku La Victoria, vikang’anamuranga kuti ŵalekenge ŵabwezi ŵawo wose ku Caracas. Kweniso wakutemweka wane Sylvia wakeneranga kuzgoŵera tawuni yichoko na kuleka msumba ukuru wakutowa uwo wakazgoŵera. Ndipo tose tikeneranga kuzgoŵera kukhala munyumba yichoko. Pakaŵa vinandi ivyo vikakhumbikwanga kuti tisame ku Caracas na kuluta ku La Victoria.

Kweni vinthu vikasinthaso. Gabriel wakatora ndipo Samira wakasama munyumba nakwamba kukhala payekha. Mbwenu ine na Sylvia tikachemeka ku Beteli mu 2007, ndipo m’paka sono ndiko tichali kuteŵetera. Mike, mwana withu wakwamba, pasono ni mulara mu mpingo ndipo wakuchita upayiniya pamoza na muwoli wake, Monica. Gabriel nayo ni mulara mu mpingo, ndipo wakuteŵetera ku Italy pamoza na muwoli wake, Ambra. Kweniso Samira nayo, padera pakuchita upayiniya, wakwenderaso kuteŵetera ku Beteli.

Mbunenesko kuti nasankhapo vinthu vikuruvikuru pa umoyo wane. Kweni nkhudandawurapo yayi. Mwakuti para ningapikaso mwaŵi ningasankhaso umo nkhasankhira pakwamba. Nkhuwonga chomene mwaŵi uwo naŵa nawo wakuchitira Yehova vinthu vyakupambanapambana. Kwa vyaka vinandi, nawona kuzirwa kwa kulutilira kuŵa paubwezi wakukhora na Yehova. Kwali ivyo tikukhumba kusankha ni vikuru panji vichoko, wangatipa mtende uwo “ukuluska maghanoghano ghose.” (Fil. 4:6, 7) Ine na Sylvia tikukondwa chomene kuchita uteŵeti withu wakupatulika pa Beteli, ndipo tikuwona kuti Yehova watumbika vyose ivyo tikasankhanga chifukwa tikadangizganga iyo pa umoyo withu.