IBelize

Ilizwe laseBelize elikuSingasiqithi weYucatán, lingqongwe yiMexico, iGuatemala kunye noLwandle lweCaribbean. Eli lizwe lincinane elalikade libizwa ngokuba yiBritish Honduras liyingxubevange yeenkcubeko, iilwimi, amasiko, ukutya neenkonzo ezahlukahlukeneyo.

IBelize ayinabantu baninzi xa uyithelekisa namanye amazwe akuMbindi Merika, kaloku yona inabemi abangama-300 000 nje kuphela. Kumahlathi ayo ashinyeneyo kuhlala iintaka ezintle nezilwanyana ezinjengejaguar. Kwa kweli lizwe kukho amabhodlo amaMaya amandulo kunye neentaba eziphakamileyo ezinemithi yesundu emide, neengxangxasi. Enye yeembalasane zeli lizwe yintlaninge yemiqolomba emikhulu, yaye eminye yayo idityaniswe yimilambo enamajikojiko. Uqaqa lwaseBelize olugudle unxweme, luthe rhwelele iziqithi ezincinane ezinentlabathi emhlophe nemithi yekhokhonathi.

IMBALI YELI LIZWE

Abantu bokuqala ukuhlala eBelize yayingama-Arawak namaCarib awayesuka eMzantsi Merika. Kwiinkulungwane ngaphambi kokuba kufike abantu abamhlophe kwilizwe elalibizwa ngokuba liLizwe Elitsha, kucingelwa ukuba iBelize yayisisazulu sempucuko yamaMaya, ineendawo zembutho neetempile zodidi.

Akwaziwa nto ingako ngamalinge abantu abamhlophe okuqala okwenza iBelize ithanga labo. Into eyaziwayo kukuba iSpeyin ayizange ikwazi ukuthimba amaMaya. Ngowe-1638 amatutu aseBritani aphanga iinqanawa, afika kunxweme lwaseBelize. Embindini  wenkulungwane ye-17 kwakusele kukho abantu ababegawula imithi emikhulu (ekwakusenziwa ngayo idayi).

AmaNgesi eza namakhoboka awayewathenge eJamaica, eUnited States naseAfrika ukuze agawule loo mithi. Nangona apha kwakungaxhaphakanga njengakweminye imimandla yaseMerika ukuqhutywa kwamakhoboka ngebhaxa, amakhoboka ayephila phantsi kweemeko ezibuhlungu yaye exhatshazwa. Amaninzi avukela, amanye azibulala okanye asaba aza azimela geqe kwalapho eBelize. IBelize yaba lithanga laseBritani ngowe-1862 yaye ngowe-1981 yafumana inkululeko. a

KUTYALWA IMBEWU YENYANISO

Elinye lamaNgqina okuqala ukufika eBelize yayinguJames Gordon owabhaptizwa eJamaica ngowe-1918. Ngaloo mihla amaNgqina ayebizwa ngokuba ngaBafundi beBhayibhile beZizwe ngeZizwe. Eli tyendyana lomfana elalinomzimba ocekethekileyo nelizwi eliphantsi lafuduka eJamaica laya eBelize ngowe-1923. Lafika lahlala eBomba, ilali yamaMaya esemagqagaleni, latshata laza lakhulisa abantwana. Nangona lalikude nabazalwana balo abangamaKristu lashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kubahlobo nabamelwane balo.

Zafika njani iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani kwezinye iindawo zeli thanga leBritani? Ngowe-1931, uFreida Johnson ibhinqa laseUnited States elalisele liyigabhule iminyaka engama-50, laqalisa ukushumayela kuMbindi Merika. Lalishumayela kwiidolophu, ezilalini nakumasimi eebhanana agudle unxweme lweCaribbean lihamba lodwa, maxa wambi likhwele ihashe.

UFreida wafika eBelize City ngowe-1933 waza waqesha igumbi elincinane kwaNkosikazi Beeks. Le nkosikazi  yayiqhele ukuva uFreida efunda iBhayibhile yaye ecula ntsasa nganye ngaphambi kokuba aphume. Baninzi abantu abayiphawulayo inzondelelo kaFreida. Lo dade wayengaphumli emva kwemini njengokuba besenza abantu abaninzi baloo mimandla. Kwezo nyanga zintandathu ekwelo lizwe wafundisa uThaddius Hodgeson, indoda eyayineshishini lokubhaka izonka. Nangona wayeshumayela kakhulu eBelize City, uFreida wayesiya nasemaphandleni, yaye eBomba wadibana nomzalwana uJames Gordon. Ukusebenza nzima kukaFreida kwenza ukuba bonke abantu ababekholelwa kwinto efanayo bazane baze baqalise ukuhlanganisana.

ABANTU ABANGAKUMBI BAFUNDISWA INYANISO

Nangona kwakunzima ukunxibelelana ngaloo maxesha, uJames noThaddius balugcina unxibelelwano lwabo njengoko babeshumayela kwiindawo ababehlala kuzo. Ngowe-1934, uThaddius wabhalela kwikomkhulu eBrooklyn, ecela iintetho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni kunye nomatshini wokuzidlala.

NgeMigqibelo ebusuku, uThaddius wayedlala iintetho ezirekhodiweyo ngaphambi kwesakhiwo seNkundla ePhakamileyo, kwipaki encinane ekwakuqeqeshelwa umkhosi kuyo. Kwabakho amadabi amaninzi kule paki eyayibizwa ngokuba “Ngummandla kaFayayo.” Kwelinye icala, uThaddius wayedlala iintetho zika mzalwana uRutherford, ngoxa kwakudlala iqela lomculo loMkhosi Wosindiso elalikhatshwa ligubu elikhulu elalidlalwa nguBeaumont Boman kwelinye icala. Kodwa ke, kungekudala uBeaumont wasabela kwisigidimi soBukumkani waza wawelela kwicala likaThaddius. UBeaumont wathi: “Ndiyambulela uYehova uThixo ngokundenza ndishiye elaa gubu!”

Enye indawo ekwakushunyayelwa kuyo yayiyindawo encinane eyayiphambi kwemarike eyayibizwa  ngokuba yiPaki yeeMeyile, apho zazisima khona iinqwelo zemithwalo ezazitsalwa ziimeyile. UThaddius owayethe ncothu, entsundu yaye eyinzwana eliciko wayesoloko eshumayela apho. Nangona iicawa zeNgqobhoko zazinempembelelo enamandla kubantu abathanda iBhayibhile eBelize, abantu abaninzi abanyanisekileyo balapho, njengoJames Hyatt noAthur Randall baseJamaica, bazamkela iindaba ezilungileyo.

UThaddius waqalisa ukuqhuba iintlanganiso kwishishini lakhe lezonka elalikumntla weBelize City. Ukuze aqhube ezi ntlanganiso kwakufuneka asuse ikhawuntari aze abeke izitulo zamaplanga. Kumazantsi esixeko, iintlanganiso zaziqhutyelwa kwikhaya likaCora Brown. Ukongezelela koko, uNora Fayad ukhumbula ukuba xa wayeseyintombazana amaNgqina ambalwa awayekummandla wakhe ayedla ngokuhlanganisana kwikhaya likaArthur Randall, owayengummelwane wabo.

UKUSHUMAYELA NGOKUZIMISELA KUVELISA IMIPHUMO

Eyona nto awayebalasele ngayo loo maNgqina okuqala, yayikukushumayela ngokuzimisela. Ngokomzekelo, uJames Jenkins wayeshumayela kuyo yonke iBelize City, nangona wayengaboni. UMolly Tillet uthi wayedla ngokumva esekude, eshumayela emarikeni. UJames wayesaziwa nangokuphulaphula kwakhe kwiintlanganiso. Wankqaya iivesi ezininzi zeBhayibhile yaye wayeshumayela ngazo.

UJames Gordon yena wayesaziwa kuzo zonke iilali ezikufutshane neBomba ngokushumayela kuye wonke umntu awayedibana naye, ephethe uncwadi lwakhe ngesinye isandla, ngesinye ephethe umatshini wokudlala iintetho. Wayevuka ngonyezi qho ngeCawa aze abheqe isikhephe sakhe enyusa umlambo, emva koko ahambe ngeenyawo umgama omde eshumayela imini  yonke. Ekupheleni kosuku wayedla ngokubonwa ebuyela emlanjeni. Emva kwesidlo sangokuhlwa, uJames wayefundisa abantwana bakhe abathandathu iBhayibhile de adinwe kangangokuba kube nzima nokubamba incwadi.

Ngeloo xesha, inkosikazi kamzalwana uGordon yayingelo Ngqina. Phofu ke, ngenye imini ngoxa umzalwana uGordon wayengekho, inkosikazi yakhe yayitshisa inkoliso yeencwadi zakhe. Kodwa ke, uJames akazange abe nomsindo ukubuya kwakhe. Wasuka wamkhalimela nje esithi, “Ungaze uphinde uyenze le nto!” Yabachukumisa gqitha loo nto abantwana bakhe kuba babeyazi indlela awayezixabisa ngayo ezo ncwadi.

UKUTSALWA NGUMOYA KAYEHOVA

Ngenye intsasa yangeCawa, uJames washumayeza uDerrine Lightburn owayelilungu elivuthayo lecawa yaseTshetshi, nowamkela incwadi ethi UHadi LukaThixo. Nangona wayengayiva yonke into eyayithethwa nguJames owayenelizwi eliphantsi, wayefuna ukwazi ukuba wayethetha ngantoni. Kamva, ngenye imini ngoxa wayehlala nomakazi wakhe uAlphonsena Robateau eBelize City, kwafika enye indoda ekhayeni labo.

UDerrine wathi kumakazi wakhe: “Le ndoda ifana nalaa ndoda yayindinike laa ncwadi bendikuxelela ngayo.”

Kwathi kanti asinguye uJames Gordon kodwa nguJames Hyatt. Wadlalela la manenekazi umatshini wakhe waza wanika uAlphonsena incwadi ethi UHadi LukaThixo. Nangona uAlphonsena nodade wabo uOctabelle Flowers babengene zwabha kwiipolitiki, babeyifuna inyaniso. Into awayiva ngaloo mini uAlphonsena yamenza wathi kuOctabelle: “Sisi, namhlanje kufike enye indoda apha ekhaya ithetha ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Ndicinga ukuba yile nto kudala  siyifuna!” UOctabelle waqiniseka ukuba wayeza kuba khona naye xa lo mzalwana ebuyela. Omathathu la mabhinqa—uAlphonsena, uOctabelle noDerrine—ayamkela inyaniso aza abhaptizwa ngowe-1941.

Umama kaAlphonsena noOctabelle wayesandul’ ukufa yaye udade wabo omncinane,uAmybelle Allen, wayethandaze kuThixo ecela ukufa naye ukuze aye kunina ezulwini. UOctabelle wamema uAmybelle ukuba aze kuphulaphula intetho enomxholo othi “Baphi Abafi?” Weza yaye akazange ayeke ukuya kwiintlanganiso emva koko.

Intombi kaDerrine, uOlga Knight uthi: “Abo bantu batsalwa ngumoya kaYehova ngokufunda nje iimpapasho nangokuya kwiintlanganiso. Bayithanda kakhulu inyaniso kangangokuba kungekudala baqalisa ukuxelela abanye izinto ababezifunda.”

Ngokomzekelo, uyise kaOlga uHerman, wamkela inyaniso emva kokufunda incwadi ethi Children ngoxa wayesesibhedlele. Wayithanda kakhulu into awayeyifunda kangangokuba rhoqo ngoLwesihlanu wayeqesha ilori eyayithwala abavakalisi baye kushumayela kwiilali ezikufutshane. Kwakhona washumayela ngenzondelelo nakumaphandle aseBlack Creek, apho wayenefama khona.

 UOlga uthi: “Abazali bam babeshumayela ngakumlambo waseBelize yaye abantu babesiza kuphulaphula ngorhatya bephethe izibane. Xa sikwiiholide efama, abazali bam, umakazi uAmybelle, intombi yakhe uMolly Tillet kunye nam—sasidla ngokukhwela amahashe siye eCrooked Tree. Apho sasifika sikhulule amahashe aye kudla ngoxa sishumayela kubantu abanomdla. Ngenxa yoko, ezinye zezo ntsapho zamkela inyaniso.”

Ngowe-1941 kwabhaptizwa abavakalisi bokuqala eBelize City, kulwandle lweCaribbean. Kweli qela kwakukho noGeorge Longsworth owaba nguvulindlela othe ngxi ukususela kuloo nyaka de kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1967, eneminyaka engama-87 ubudala. Ubukhulu becala wayeshumayela kwiidolophu nakwiilali ezisembindini welizwe, ekhwele ihashe. Ukuthanda kukaGeorge intsimi nokubakho rhoqo kwakhe kwiintlanganiso kwakubakhuthaza abantu abatsha enyanisweni. UYehova wayesebenzisa aba bakhonzi bakhe banenzondelelo nabathembekileyo ukuze atsalele abantu abaneentliziyo ezinyanisekileyo kwintlangano yakhe.

KUFIKA ABATHUNYWA BEVANGELI BOKUQALA

Ngo-Oktobha 5, 1945, kwafika uElmer Ihrig noCharles Heyen ababephumelele kwiklasi yokuqala  yaseGiliyadi. Noko ke, kusuku nje olungaphambi kolo inkanyamba yahlasela indawo eyayimalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-160 kumzantsi weBelize City. Kwindlela eziikhilomitha ezili-16 esuka kwisikhululo seenqwelo moya ukuya esixekweni kwakudame amanzi. UThaddius Hodgeson wabeka izitena zesamente nemiqobo phambi kwendlu yakhe ukuze bakwazi ukungena.

Abazalwana baseBelize babekulindele ngolangazelelo ukufika kwabo bathunywa bokuqala. UJames Gordon, uLeón Requeña noRafael Medina basuka emntla welizwe baya eBelize City ukuya kubona abathunywa bevangeli abatsha—kwakungekho lula ukuhamba imigama emide kangako ngezo mini! Umzukulwana kaRafael, uIsmael Medina uthi: “Wayengekho uhola wendlela osuka emntla welizwe oya eBelize City. Kwakukho ipicados nje kuphela, iindlela ezazihamba iinqwelo ezirhuqwa ziimeyile. Kwakungekho zindlu ecaleni kwendlela, ngoko babelala naphi na apho bahlwelwe khona nangona kwakukho iinyoka. Emva kokuba bebonene naba bavangeli baza bafumana imiyalelo neencwadi,  aba bazalwana baphinda bagoduka bebetha ngezikaTshiwo. Olo hambo lwabathath’ iintsuku!”

Aba bathunywa bevangeli baziswa ebantwini ababekwiPark yeeMeyile ngendlela engaqhelekanga ke noko. UJames Hyatt waqala wahlasela abefundisi ngenxa yokufundisa kwabo ubuxoki, nto leyo eyabacaphukisayo abantu ababephulaphule baza abanye babo bathukela. Ekupheleni kwentetho yakhe, walatha kwabo bathunywa bevangeli babini bengalindelanga waza wathi, “ndidlulisela iintambo kwaba bantu.” Baziswa ngaloo ndlela ke abazalwana kwabo baphulaphuli.

Akuthandabuzeki ukuba abo bazalwana babemthanda uYehova nenyaniso yeBhayibhile yaye bezithiy’ egazini iimfundiso zonqulo lobuxoki. Kwakucacile ukuba aba bathunywa bevangeli babe namava awayenokunceda abavakalisi ukuze babe ngabashumayeli abanobuchule.

Aba bathunywa bevangeli baqalisa ukushumayela eBelize City, eyayinabantu abamalunga nama-26 700 ngelo xesha. Yayakhelwe phezu kwesiseko owawuyinyuse yaba kumphakamo oziisentimitha ezingama-30 yaye imijelo yayo yokuhambisa amanzi yayingaphucukanga. Ngaphezu koko, nemozulu yayitshisa yaye ifumile. Yayingekho imibhobho yamanzi kweso sixeko, kodwa kwikhaya ngalinye kwakubakho itanki lamaplanga okukhongozela amanzi xa kusina imvula. Noko ke, ngezinye izihlandlo imvula yayisina ngamandla, njengenkanyamba eyatshabalalisa eso sixeko yaza yabulala abantu abangaphezu kwama-2 000 ngowe-1931.

UMSEBENZI UHAMBELA PHAMBILI NANGONA UBEKELWE IMIQATHANGO

Nangona ungazange ukhe uvalwe umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova eBelize, urhulumente wakuvala  ukusasazwa kweencwadi zethu kangangexesha elithile ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II. Kodwa ke le miqathango yarhoxiswa ngaphambi nje kokuba bafike abathunywa bevangeli.

Nakuba kunjalo, IMboniselo kaJulayi 15, 1946 yathi ngomsebenzi owawusenziwa eBelize ngaba bathunywa bevangeli babini: “Umfundisi wamaRoma Katolika usazama ukuba kuvalwe ukuthunyelwa kweencwadi zethu ngeposi. Abefundisi bamaRoma Katolika bayabucaphukela ubukho baba bathunywa bevangeli bamaNgqina kaYehova; yaye yamcaphukisa gqitha omnye umfundisi waseMerika oyinzalelwane yaseIreland . . . into yokuba urhulumente welo thanga owayephantsi kweBritani abavumele ukuba bangene kwelo lizwe. . . . Aba [bathunywa bevangeli] babini bamkhumbuza lo mfundisi ukuba naye wayesithi ungowaseMerika, yaye wacela kwabanentsente xa bambonisa kwingxelo yeentolongo zaseMerika ukuba icawa yamaRoma Katolika yayingakwazi ukubanceda abantu baseMerika baziphathe kakuhle.”

Ingxelo yokuqala echanileyo yabavakalisi baseBelize yafumaneka ngowe-1944 ithunyelwa ngabavakalisi abasixhenxe. Ukuze bashumayele ngokucokiseleyo, aba bavakalisi basebenzisa amaqweqwe abhalwe iintshumayelo kumsebenzi wendlu ngendlu. Emva konyaka befikile abathunywa bevangeli, inani labavakalisi lenyuka laya kwi-16.

Ngowe-1946, uNathan H. Knorr noFrederick W. Franz, ababevela kwikhomkhulu lehlabathi, batyelela eli lizwe baza bamisela iofisi yesebe. Umzalwan’ uKnorr wanikela intetho eyayithetha ngolungelelwano, echaza isizathu sokuba kufuneka kusetyenziswe iifomu xa kufakwa ingxelo yenkonzo yasentsimini. Umzalwan’ uFranz wakhuthaza ibandla ukuba lenzele  abanye inceba ngokuqhubeka lishumayela isigidimi soBukumkani. Ekupheleni kweveki uMzalwan’uKnorr wachazela abantu abali-102, ababequka nabaninzi ababenomdla, isizathu sokuba bemele bavuye ngokuba bekunye nabantu bakaYehova. Wabakhuthaza ukuba bafunde iBhayibhile rhoqo namaNgqina kaYehova.

Kwangaloo nyaka kwafika uCharles noAnnie Ruth, uParrish noCordis kunye noMildred Sorrell. Ngowe-1948 kwalandela Truman Brubaker noCharles noFlorence Homolka. Bamkelwa ngezandla ezishushu kuba kwakukho umsebenzi omkhulu ekwakufuneka wenziwe.

UMSEBENZI ONGAKUMBI

UElmer Ihrig wabhala wathi: “Ngelo xesha kwakukho ibandla nje elinye elincinane, kwakungekho mabandla kwimimandla esemaphandleni. Ndandidla ngokuya kwezi ndawo ndize ndichithe iiveki eziliqela, ndityala imbewu ngokuhambisa iincwadi, ndibhalisa imirhumo ndize ndinikele neentetho.” Ngonyaka wokuqala, uCharles Heyen waya eOrange Walk ngelori apho wafika washumayela waza wakhuthaza abazalwana ukuba baqhube iintlanganiso rhoqo.

Kwiidolophu ezisemazantsi kwakusiyiwa ngephenyane kuphela. Ngoko ke, uElmer noCharles bahamba ngephenyane  ekuthiwa nguHeron H ukuya kwidolophu eselunxwemeni iStann Creek, (ngoku ebizwa ngokuba yiDangriga) nePunta Gorda, neendawo ezimbini zokuhlala eGarifuna, ukuze bashumayele. Ngaloo mihla, ePunta Gorda wawusiya ngephenyane owawulikhwelela eBelize City nelalihamba iiyure ezingama-30. UElmer waya waza wanikela intetho yesidlangalala kubantu abamalunga nama-20 kwihotele awayehlala kuyo.

UOlga Knight ukhumbula uElmer ehamba nentsapho yakhe ukuya kummandla osemagqagaleni waseCrooked Tree, apho utata wakhe wayeqhuba iintlanganiso phantsi kwemithi engasemlanjeni. Abazalwana babekuxabisa kakhulu ukusebenza nzima nokuthobeka kwabavangeli.

Ngowe-1948, kwakukho umlinganiselo wabavakalisi abangama-38 yaye kwasekwa amabandla amane ngaphandle kweBelize City. La mabandla ayesakhiwa liqaqobana labavakalisi basezilalini, njengentsapho yakwaLightburn eBlack Creek, intsapho yakwaGordon eBomba, eyakwaHumes neyakwa-Aldana eSantana, nomzalwana uRequeña noMedina eOrange Walk. Abathunywa bevangeli noovulindlela abakhethekileyo babeshumayela kakhulu eBelize City, njengokuba babekhuthaziwe. UYehova wabasikelela yaye aya esanda amaNgqina kaYehova.

 Utyelelo lwesibini lukaMzalwan’ uKnorr, ngoDisemba 1949, lwafika ngexesha elifanelekileyo yaye lwalukhuthaza. Wachitha obunye ubusuku kwikhaya labathunywa bevangeli encokola nabo ngeengxaki zabo. Abavakalisi abaninzi abatsha babefuna ukukhonza uYehova kodwa babengakuqondi ukubaluleka kokwahlulela ubomi babo kuYehova baze babhaptizwe. Umzalwan’ uKnorr wakhumbuza abathunywa bevangeli ukuba kwakufuneka babe nomonde, banyamezele baze babathande abantu. Wabakhumbuza kwakhona ukuba babephumelele kumsebenzi wabo.

ABATHUNYWA ABANGAKUMBI ABAVUNYELWA UKUBA BANGENE

Ngowe-1957 abazalwana barhanela ukuba urhulumente waseBelize wayewabeke esweni amaNgqina kaYehova. Ngokomzekelo, xa kwakuza kuboniswa ifilimu yoMbutho eOrange Walk, elinye ipolisa labuza abazalwana besebe ixesha ababeza kufika nababeza kuhamba ngalo. Lathi le ngxelo laliza kuyinika intsumpa yamapolisa, laza lachaza ukuba kwindibano eyayisandulela leyo kwakukho elinye ipolisa elalinganxibanga yunifomu, elalithunyelwe apho.

Ngowe-1951 nangowe-1957, kwaye kwavunyelwa abavangeli abalishumi ukuba bangene. Ngesiquphe, ngowe-1957, abazalwana bafumana ileta evela kumapolisa nakwikomkhulu elijongene nabantu abavela kwamanye amazwe isithi: “Urhulumente weBritish Honduras [eBelize] ugqibe ekubeni ukususela ngoku, angaphindi abavumele aBalungiseleli boMbutho wenu abavela phesheya ukuba bangene kweli lizwe.” Abazalwana abazange bavunyelwe ukuba bathethe nerhuluneli yalapho ngesi sigqibo.

Nangona nezinye iinkonzo zazingavunyelwa ukuba zithumele abathunywa bevangeli abatsha, zazivunyelwa  ukubathumela xa beye kuthabatha indawo yabo bahambileyo. AmaNgqina kaYehova wona akazange avunyelwe ukuba athumele abanye abavangeli ukuba baye kuvala isikhewu esasivulwe ngababini ababehambile. Ngowe-1960, abazalwana babhalela abasemagunyeni baseBelize naseLondon bechaza ukuba babengafuni abathunywa bevangeli abatsha, kunoko, babefuna kuthunyelwe abathunywa ababeza kuthabatha indawo yabo bahambileyo.

Baphendulwa krwada kusithiwa: “IRhuluneli ifikelele kwisigqibo esingagungqiyo sokuba kungaphinde kuvunyelwe abathunywa bevangeli beWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society eBritish Honduras.”

Bathi abazalwana bakucela ukuba kubekho udliwano-ndlebe, baxelelwa ukuba: “Ngowe-1957 iRhuluneli yagqiba ekubeni ingaphindi ivumele abathunywa bevangeli boMbutho wenu baphinde bangene kwiBritish Honduras; ngenxa yoko uMhlekazi akakuboni kuyimfuneko ukubonana nani ngalo mba.” Kwabonakala ngathi inkala ixing’ etyeni.

Ekugqibeleni, phantse emva kweminyaka emihlanu likhondoza, isebe lafumana ileta eyayivela kuNobhala karhulumente waseBelize ngo-Oktobha 1961, isithi: “Ndithi mandinazise ukuba isicelo senu sakutshanje siye saqwalaselwa nguRhulumente waseBritish Honduras kwaye uye wagqiba ekubeni okwangoku, abavumele abathunywa bevangeli beze kweli lizwe ukuze bathabathe indawo yabathunywa abasele belapha.” Ngenxa yoko, ngowe-1962, uMartin noAlice Thompson baseJamaica bavunyelwa ukuba bangene kwelo lizwe.

UMSEBENZI AWUZANGE UPHAZANYISWE

Yayicace nakuthathatha into yokuba abachasi bazama ukuwuphazamisa umsebenzi, kodwa ngaba  baphumelela? Ingxelo yonyaka wenkonzo yowe-1957 yabonisa incopho yabavakalisi abali-176 kumabandla asixhenxe. Ngelo xesha iBelize yayinabantu abangama-75 000, nto leyo eyayithetha ukuba mvakalisi ngamnye wayejongene nabantu abangama-400. Ingxelo yonyaka wenkonzo wowe-1961 yayinabavakalisi abangama-236, umlinganiselo wolwando wama-34 ekhulwini, nto leyo eyenza umvakalisi ngamnye wanabantu abangama-383. Sangqineka siyinyaniso isithembiso sikaYehova esithi: “Nasiphi na isixhobo esiya kuyilwa nxamnye nawe asiyi kuphumelela, nalo naluphi na ulwimi oluya kuphakama nxamnye nawe ekugwetyweni uya kulugwebela isohlwayo.” (Isaya 54:17) Umsebenzi wokushumayela waqhubeka ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa.

Abantu abaninzi ababefunda iBhayibhile babehlalisana yaye abanye babetshintshatshintsha amaqabane abo. Kodwa ke, abaninzi babo benza umgudu baza bengena ezindlekweni ukuze batshate ngokusemthethweni emva kokuba befunde ngemilinganiselo kaYehova ephakamileyo. Abanye babo babesele bengaphaya kwama-80 eminyaka ubudala.

KUFUNEKA IHOLO YOBUKUMKANI ENTSHA

Ngowe-1949, abazalwana baqesha iLiberty Hall yaseBelize City belungiselela ungcelele lweentetho ezine ezikhethekileyo ezaziza kunikelwa ngoJanuwari 1950. Kusuku olungaphambi kwentetho yokugqibela, kwenziwa isaziso ereyidweni sokuba kusuku olulandelayo kulo holo kwakuza kuqhutywa umngcwabo womntu othile obalulekileyo. Nangona abazalwana babongoza abaphathi balo holo, intetho ekhethekileyo yaphazanyiswa liqela labantu abangena kuyo baza baqalisa ukwenza amalungiselelo omngcwabo bengxola nokungxola. Ekugqibeleni abazalwana babhenela emapoliseni. Kwatsho kwacaca ukuba  abazalwana kwakufuneka babe neHolo yoBukumkani yabo. Ezinye iiholo zazisetyenziselwa imidaniso kwaye zazibiza imali eninzi.

UDonald Snider owayengumveleli wesebe ngoko wathi: “NgeCawa edlulileyo kwiSifundo seMboniselo bekukho abantu abali-174. Iholo ayikwazi ukuthwala abantu abaninzi, abanye kuye kwafuneka ukuba bame ngeenyawo. Ekubeni sasixinene, kwakutshisa ngeyona ndlela.” Iofisi yesebe nekhaya labathunywa bevangeli zazisoloko ziqesha kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo.

NgoSeptemba 1958, kwakhiwa isakhiwo esinemigangatho emibini. Kumgangatho wokuqala kwakukho iofisi yesebe nekhaya labathunywa bevangeli, ngoxa kwakukho iholo kowesibini. Ngowe-1959 isakhiwo sagqitywa yaye ekugqibeleni iBandla laseBelize City laba neyalo iHolo yoBukumkani.

INTSIMI YESIPANISH IBA NOLWANDO

Enye inkalo yolwando lwabantu bakaYehova eye yamangalisa eBelize ibe kwintsimi yeSipanish. Ngowe-1949, zazikho iindawo ekuthethwa iSipanish kuzo, kodwa ke babengekho abathunywa bevangeli abathetha olo lwimi. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha kwathunyelwa abathunywa bevangeli abalwaziyo olo lwimi. Omnye wabo yayinguLeslie Pitcher owafika ngowe-1955. Wathunywa eBenque Viejo, idolophu yabantu abathetha iSipanish ekwintshona yeBelize kufutshane nomda waseGuatemala. Wafika apho sele elindelwe kakade. Kwakutheni?

Kunyaka owandulela lowo, uNatalia Contreras wayefunde inyaniso waza wabhaptizwa eSan Benito, idolophu ekwimpuma yeGuatemala. Wawela umda waza waya kushumayela kwizalamane zakhe ezazihlala eBenque Viejo, eBelize. UServiliano Contreras,  esinye sezalamane zakhe wazikholelwa izinto ezazifundiswa nguNatalia ngonqulo zithixo waza wamkela inyaniso. Wathembeka kwada kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1998 eneminyaka eli-101 ubudala. Uninzi lwabantwana nabazukulwana bakhe ngamaNgqina. Umhlaba weli bathwana labavakalisi eBenque Viejo wawuphela ngaphaya komda waseGuatemala, kwidolophu yaseMelchor de Mencos apho kwakuqhutyelwa khona iintlanganiso. Ekugqibeleni, kwasekwa ibandla eMelchor de Mencos yaye iBandla laseBenque Viejo lidume ngokuba nenzondelelo nanamhla oku.

Kwasebutsheni bowe-1956, iinxalenye ezithile kucwangciso lwendibano yesithili neyesiphaluka zazinikelwa ngeSipanish. Kodwa ke indibano yokuqala epheleleyo yolwimi lweSipanish yaba kwiHolo yoBukumkani yaseOrange Walk ngowe-1968. Kwakukho abantu abangama-85 kwaza kwabhaptizwa abane.

Abazalwana abathetha iSipanish njengoMarcelo Dominguez noRafael Medina, kunye namanye amaNgqina njengoDionisio noCatalina Tek, babesiya rhoqo kwiintlanganiso neendibano zesiNgesi nangona  babengasiva kakuhle. Ibandla leSipanish lasekwa ngo-Oktobha 1964 eOrange Walk ngabavakalisi abangama-20, ababekade benxulumana nebandla elithetha isiNgesi.

Ngeminyaka yee-1980, kwakukho imfazwe yamakhaya El Salvador naseGuatemala, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba abantu abaninzi babhacele eBelize. Phakathi kwabo kwakukho iintsapho ezininzi zamaNgqina ezithetha iSipanish ezaziquka abadala, izicaka zolungiselelo noovulindlela. Ezi ntsapho kunye nabathunywa bevangeli ababevela kwamanye amazwe yaye bethetha iilwimi ezimbini bafak’ isandla kulwando kwintsimi yeSipanish.

“AMAKRISTU OKWENYANISO ASHUMAYELA KWINDLU NGENDLU”

Ngenye imini, kwafika abantu ababini emzini kaMagarita Salazar eOrange Walk baza bathi kuye, “Uyalazi na iNgqina likaYehova ekuthiwa nguMargarita Salazar?” Aba bantu babini uTeófila Mai owayeneminyaka engama-23 ubudala kunye nomama wakhe babesuka eAugust Pine Ridge, ilali ekwiikhilomitha ezingama-34 kumzantsi ntshona weOrange Walk. Babefuna ntoni kuMargarita?

UTeófila, uyachaza: “Kwisithuba esimalunga nonyaka ngaphambili, unyana wam oneenyanga ezisithoba wayegula gqitha. Ndamsa kwilali yaseBotes ukuze ndimnikele kuSanta Clara, ingcwele eyintombi enyulu. Kwilori endandihamba ngayo ndandikhwele ngaphambili yaye umqhubi wayo owayehlala kwilali yethu wandishumayeza. Emva kokuba endibuzile ukuba kutheni ndimsa eBotes umntwana wam, wandixelela ukuba iBhayibhile ayikukhuthazi ukunqulwa kwemifanekiso. Loo nto yavuselela umdla wam. Le ndoda yandifundisa  iinyaniso ezininzi zeBhayibhile, eyayizifundiswe ngamaNgina kaYehova.

UTeófila, uhlabela mgama esithi: “Kolunye uhambo umqhubi welori wandixelela ukuba amaKristu enene ashumayela kwindlu ngendlu. Wandichazela ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova ashumayela kwindlu ngendlu ibe afundela abantu izibhalo ezinjengoZefaniya 1:14 no 2:2, 3. Ndaqalisa ukuya kwindlu ngendlu eAugust Pine  Ridge ndihamba nabantwana bam, ndifundela abantu ezo vesi zeBhayibhile. Kamva, le ndoda yandixelela ukuba ndifanele ndifunde iBhayibhile namaNgqina kaYehova ukuba ndifuna ukwazi inyaniso. Yandixelela ngentsapho yakwaSalazar yaza yandixelela nendawo ehlala kuyo eOrange Walk. Ndandingazange ndiye eOrange Walk ngaphambili, ngoko umama wandipheleka saya kuyikhangela.”

UMargarita ukhumbula intsasa yokuqala atyelelwa ngayo nguTeófila nomama wakhe. Ukhumbula ukuba “bambuza imibuzo emininzi yeBhayibhile, yaye sathetha ixesha elide. Babefuna ukwazi ukuba yinyani na ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova anceda abantu baqonde iBhayibhile, enokuba kufuneka bahambe umgama omde kangakanani ukuze babafundise. Ndathi yayiyinyaniso kwaye ndamthembisa ukuba sasiza kuya kwilali yakhe rhoqo emva kweeveki ezimbini ukuze sifunde naye iBhayibhile.”

Ukufika kukaMargarita nomyeni wakhe uRamon eAugust Pine Ridge, uTeófila wayememe amalungu amathandathu entsapho yakhe ukuze abekho kweso sifundo seBhayibhile. Kamva, nabanye oovulindlela baseOrange Walk babehamba umgama oziikhilomitha ezingama-34 kwindlela emxinwa nentsapho yakwaSalazars ukuze baye kushumayela elalini ngoxa intsapho yakuloTeófila yayiqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile. UAmybelle Allen wayedla ngokulala kuloo lali ukuze aqhube izifundo zeBhayibhile. UTeófila wabhaptizwa ngowe-1972 emva kweenyanga ezintlanu efunda iBhayibhile. Ngowe-1980 kwasekwa ibandla laseAugust Pine Ridge, yaye amalungu angama-37 entsapho kaTeófila aye amkela inyaniso.

 UKUSHUMAYELA EHLATHINI KUVELISA IMIPHUMO

Nangona kwakushunyayelwa ngokucokisekileyo eBelize City nakwezinye iidolophu ezinkulu zaseBelize, kwimimandla yasemaphandleni kwakungashunyayelwa rhoqo. Abathunywa bevangeli bokuqala babesiya ngephenyane kwiidolophu ezisemazantsi, kodwa ke kamva kwakhiwa indlela eyayidibanisa izithili ezisemazantsi zaseStann Creek neToledo kunye nelizwe ngokubanzi. Ngasekuqaleni kowe-1971 isebe laququzelela iphulo lokushumayela laminyaka le, elalibizwa ngokuba kukushumayela ehlathini, ukuze kushunyayelwe isigidimi soBukumkani kumaMopan namaKekchi Maya awayehlala kumahlathi aseBelize.

Abazalwana noodade babeqesha iimoto namaphenyane ukuze baye kwiilali needolophu zaseDangringa nePunta Gorda, nakwiBarranco esemazantsi kufutshane nomda waseGuatemala. Ngamanye amaxesha kwakuphuma iqela elihamba ngeveni nezithuthuthu ezibini ukuya kwezine. Busuku ngabunye babemisa kwilali eyahlukileyo. Emini, iqela elikhulu laliye lisebenze elalini ngoxa lona elezithuthuthu lisiya kwiifama ezisemagqagaleni.

Kummandla wasePunta Gorda abazalwana babeshumayela kwiilali ngeelali. Kwakuye kufuneke bacele imvume enkosini yalapho ngaphambi kukuba bashumayele ebantwini.

UReiner Thompson ongumthunywa wevangeli uthi: “Kwenye ilali abazalwana bafika amadoda esembizweni, ethetha ngokuvunwa kombona. Emva kwembizo la madoda acela abazalwana ukuba awaculele ingoma yoBukumkani. Abazalwana babediniwe yaye belambile bengawaphethanga namaculo.” Umzalwana uThompson waleka esithi: “Bacula ngokuzimisela, nto leyo eyawonwabisa kakhulu loo madoda.”  Ethubeni kwasekwa amabandla eMango Creek yaye kamva naseSan Antonio, enye yezona lali zinkulu zamaMaya.

USosa Santiago uthi: “Ngamanye amaxesha sasishumayela nasebusuku ukuze siwugqibe umsebenzi wethu. Sasihamba phakathi endleleni size silandelelane ukuze bangabikho abahamba ecaleni ngenxa yeenyoka ezikuloo mahlathi. Kwakhona kwafuneka sifunde amacebo okufumana amanzi xa singenawo.”

Maxa wambi iqela lalidla ngokwahlulwa libe ngabantu ababini okanye abane ukuze likwazi ukushumayela kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zezo lali. Laliphinda lidibane ngorhatya. Abantu ababini babeshiyeka bepheka. USantiago uthi: “Ukutya kwakungabi mnandi ngezinye imini kuba kaloku kwakukho abanye ababengakwazi kupheka. Ndikhumbula ngenye imini ndijonga okunye ukutya ndize ndithi, ‘Yintoni le?’ Umpheki wathi, ‘Andazi, kodwa ke kukutya.’ Ekubeni naye wayengazi ukuba wayepheke ntoni, sagqiba kwelokuba sikhe sikunike enye inja eyayibhityile. Naloo nja eyayilambile ayizange ikutye.”

AMAKEKCHI AMKELA INYANISO

URodolfo Cocom nomfazi wakhe uOfelia bafuduka eCorozal baya kwilali yamaKekchi esemazantsi, ekuthiwa yiCrique Sarco. UOfeila wayekhulele kule lali awayedla ngokushumayela kuyo kanye ngonyaka amaNgqina. Xa wayemalunga neminyaka eli-14 ubudala, uOfelia wafumana incwadi ethi Inyaniso Ekhokelela Kubomi Obungunaphakade phantsi komthi weeorenji waza wayifunda. Wafuna ukwazi okungakumbi, kodwa ke iBhayibhile waphinda wayifunda kwakhona emva kokuba etshatile yaye ehlala eCorozal, yena nomyeni wakhe uRodolfo beyifundiswa ngoovulindlela ababini abakhethekileyo, uMarcial noManuela Kay.

 Xa yafudukela eCrique Sarco ngowe-1981, intsapho yakwaCocom yafuna ukudibana namaNgqina kwakhona, ngoko ke uRodolfo wahamba iiyure ezintandathu ngeenyawo nangephenyane, emlanjeni naselwandle esiya kuwakhangela ePunta Gorda. Apho wadibana noDonald Niebrugge, uvulindlela owamcebisa ukuba amqhubele isifundo ngeeleta. Kodwa ke kwavela iingxaki. Kaloku yayingekho iposi eCrique Sarco.

UDonald uthi: “Kwiposi yasePunta Gorda ndabuza ukuba ndandinokuzithumela njani na iileta eCrique Sarco, ndaza ndaxelelwa ukuba umfundisi wayesiya apho kanye ngeveki.” Ngoko ke kangangeenyanga ezintandathu umfundisi wayehambisa iileta zokuqhuba isifundo seBhayibhile, engazi phofu ukuba wayengunoposi wamaNgqina kaYehova.

UDonald uthi: “Umfundisi waba nomsindo esakwazi ukuba wayehambisa iposi yamaNgqina yokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile waza wayeka ukuyihambisa.”

Ebudeni bezo nyanga uDonald wayesiya eCrique Sarco ukuze afunde nentsapho yakwaCocoms. Kuhlaselo olwalandelayo uRodolfo waqalisa ukuya entsimini.  UDonald uthi: “Wahamba nathi iintsuku ezine, sishumayela kwiilali eziliqela yaye ukuba kunye nabazalwana kolo hambo kwamnceda wenza inkqubela.”

URodolfo uthi: “Mna no-Ofelia sasidla ngokuya kushumayela kwilali yakowethu, thina sobabini nje kuphela sixelela abantu izinto esifundileyo. Abantu endandifunda nabo babechaswa ngaphezu kwethu. Abanye babengawanikwa amayeza, ukutya neempahla ezaziphiwa abantu belali. Nomkhwekazi wam wayesichasa. Mna no-Ofelia saqonda ukuba sasingenakukwazi ukwenza inkqubela yokomoya eCrique Sarco. Kwakufuneka siye kwiintlanganiso. Ngenxa yoko, safudukela ePunta Gorda ukuze siqhubeke sifunda. Apho senza inkqubela yokomoya, saza sabhaptizwa ngowe-1985.” Namhlanje intsapho yakwaCocom ikwiBandla laseLadyville, yaye uRodolfo sisicaka solungiselelo.

UKULOTYWA KWABANTU ELWANDLE

Nyaka ngamnye kwakushunyayelwa kubantu abahlala kwiziqithi ezincinane nakwiilali ezikufutshane nonxweme. Yayingekabikho indlela eya kwiilali zaseHopkins, eSeine Bight, ePlacencia, ePunta Negra nakwiMonkey  River Town. UPolito Bevens wayedla ngokuhamba noovulindlela ababini nabathunywa bevangeli ababini ngesikhephe sakhe kangangeeveki ezimbini, esuka emntla esiya emzantsi ehamba emisa kuzo zonke iindawo ezinabantu.

UDonald Niebrugge owayedla ngokubakho kula maphulo okushumayela emahlathini naselwandle, ukhumbula mhla baboleka isikhephe sikaAmbroncio Hernandez ukuze baye kushumayela elwandle. Kaloku ngenxa yoko uAmbroncio, owayebizwa ngokuba nguBocho, waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile.

UDonald uthi: “Kunyaka olandelayo thina sobane sasicebe ukushumayela iiveki ezimbini ngaselunxwemeni, kodwa safumanisa ukuba uBocho wayesithengisile isikhephe sakhe. Wasicebisa ukuba sithethe nenye indoda eyayikwishishini lokuloba neyayikulungele ukusithatha, kodwa ke sasiza kuhamba nayo nogxa wayo kunye noBocho. Sahamba ngeso sikhephe kunye nabo balobi bathathu. Kwelo phulo uBocho waqalisa ukushumayela. Ukufika kwethu kwizibuko lasePlacencia, safika kumise izikhephe ezininzi yaye sashumayela kuzo. Abo balobi babini basinceda kakhulu. Ngenye imini xa sasivela kushumayela kwenye ilali safika besiphekele inkuku ababeyithengile.” UBocho wayesele ebhaptiziwe xa saya kushumayela apho kunyaka olandelayo yaye ebekhonza njengomdala eBelize City kule minyaka ili-18 idluleyo.

INTSIMI ENGABELWANGA BANI IVELISA ISIQHAMO

Isithili saseToledo emazantsi eBelize, ngummandla weenduli namahlathi ashinyeneyo, neentlaninge yeelali zamaMopan namaKekchi Maya ezinezindlu ezifulelwe ngengca nezinemigangatho erhidiweyo. Abantu bezi lali baphila ngokulima yaye batsala nzima.  Ngamaxesha embalela kuye kufuneke bakhe amanzi okunkcenkceshela amasimi ombona, iimbotyi nekoko. Abafazi abaninzi benza imisebenzi yezandla yaye ezo zinto bazithengisa ezivenkileni. Ulutsha oluninzi luyemka ezilalini luye kufunda okanye lusebenze ezidolophini.

Ngowe-1995 uFrank noAlice Cardoza bamiselwa njengoovulindlela abakhethekileyo bokwexeshana ngoAprili nangoMeyi, ukuze bancedise ekusasazweni kweKingdom News No. 34, eyayinomxholo othi: “Kutheni Ubomi Buneengxaki Ezininzi Kangaka Nje?,” kwiSithili saseToledo. UFrank uthi: “Ndandikhe ndaya kwelinye lala maphulo okushumayela emahlathini, yaye ndafumanisa ukuba amaMaya ayenokuncedakala ukuba kwakunokubakho iNgqina elifudukela apho. Isebe lacebisa ukuba ndiqeshe indawo yokuhlala, ndiseke iqela lokufunda iBhayibhile ndize ndinikele intetho ekhethekileyo eSan Antonio. Sasiza kusasaza iKingdom News kuloo lali nakwezinye ezisibhozo.”

Intsapho yakwaCardoza yayiqhuba isifundo sencwadi veki nganye kwindawo eyayihlala kuyo ibe emva kweeveki nje ezimbalwa kwakusiza iintsapho ezintathu ukuya kwezine. Aba bantu banomdla babehamba nabo iyure ngelori endala xa besiya ePunta Gorda kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo nakwiNtlanganiso yeNkonzo. Ngaloo nyanga yokuqala uFrank wanikela intetho ekhethekileyo eSan Antonio. UJesús Ich, omnye wabantu ababezile waphulaphula ngomdla. Njengelungu leCawa lamaNazarene, wachukumiseka gqitha akuva ukuba imfundiso yokutshiswa kwabantu esihogweni inemvelaphi yobuhedeni, nokuba isihogo ekuthethwa ngaso eBhayibhileni lingcwaba nje eliqhelekileyo. Emva kweentlanganiso wabizela uFrank ecaleni waza wambuza izinto ezininzi ngesihogo. Ngenxa  yoko, waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile waza wabhaptizwa emva konyaka.

Emva kokuba siphelile isabelo sabo seenyanga ezimbini, kwafuneka abakwaCardoza benze isigqibo esibalulekileyo. UFrank uthi: “Sasiqalise izifundo ezininzi yaye sasingakwazi nokuziqhuba zonke. Iintliziyo nezazela zethu azizange zisivumele ukuba sibuyele kwikhaya lethu elitofotofo eLadyville. Ukuba sasigqiba ekubeni sihlale eSan Antonio sasinokuyiphucula imeko yethu ngokuqesha igumbi elikumgangatho ongasentla kwalowo sasihlala kuwo. Ndandinokufakela isinki netanki lamanzi yaye ekuhambeni kwexesha sasinokukwazi ukuba nendlu yangasese egungxulwayo kunye nombane. Sayithandazela kuYehova le nto sinokholo lokuba unako ukuyisikelela imigudu yethu yokuba kubekho ibandla kulo mmandla. Emva koko sabhalela isebe silixelela ukuba sasikulungele ukuba ngoovulindlela abathe ngxi eSan Antonio.”

Kwakhawuleza kwacaca ukuba uYehova wayesisikelela isigqibo sentsapho yakwaCardoza. NgoNovemba, kungekapheli neenyanga ezintandathu belapho, kwaqhutywa intlanganiso yokuqala yesidlangalala ekhayeni labo. NgoAprili wonyaka olandelayo baqalisa ukuqhuba iSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo neNtlanganiso Yenkonzo eSan Antonio. Elo qela lincinane lavuyiswa gqitha kukuba lingazi kuhamba iikhilomitha ezingama-64 ukuya nokubuya kwiintlanganiso ePunta Gorda.

“IZISONGELO ZAKHE AZIZANGE ZINDIYEKISE”

Iqela labafundi beBhayibhile baseSan Antonio lenza inkqubela yaye indlela elaliyithanda ngayo inyaniso yayichukumisa. UFrank uthi: “Abafazi bezi lali baneentloni yaye ngokwesithethe salapha kufuneka  bathobele ooyise namadoda abo. Isiko labo alibavumeli ukuba bathethe nabantu abangabaziyo. Ngoko ke kwaba nzima gqitha ukuba bashumayele kwindlu ngendlu.”

UPriscilian Sho owayeneminyaka engama-20 ngelo xesha wayengumvakalisi ongabhaptizwanga owayefuna ukushumayela kubamelwane bakhe. Ngenye imini uPriscilian wadibana neembila zithutha xa waye kumabuyelo kunye noAmalia Sho, umfazi womntakwabo.

UPriscilian uthi: “Ndandingamxelelanga utata ukuba ndandiza kushumayela kuba wayengafuni yaye nam ndandimoyika. Xa sasishumayela ngentsasa yaloo Cawa, sabona utata emi phambi kwecawa yamaBhaptisti awayengena kuyo. Saqala sazimela engceni. Kodwa ke ndathi kuAmalia, ‘uYehova uyasibona nje. Asifanele simoyike utata. Simele soyike uYehova.’”

Yamcaphukisa gqitha loo nto utata kaPriscilian, kodwa kwakuseza kuvela ingxaki enkulu kuba wayengafuni nokuyibona into yokuba uPriscilian abe liNgqina likaYehova, kangangokuba wayede ambethe nokumbetha. Emva kokuba uPriscilian ethandaze ngalo mba de yalusuku olungaphambi kokubhaptizwa kwakhe, ekugqibeleni wade waqweba isibindi sokumxelela uyise.

Wathi kuye: “Tata ngomso ndiya eBelize City.”

Utata wakhe wambuza wathi: “Ufuna ntoni apho?”

UPriscilian wamphendula wathi: “Ndiza kubhaptizwa. Ndifuna ukwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova. Ndiyakuthanda tata kodwa ke ndifanele ndithande noYehova.”

 Utata wakhe owayelugcwabevu ngumsindo wathi: “Uza kuyenza nyhani loo nto?”

UPriscilian wathi: “Ewe, kuba IZenzo 5:29 zithi ndimele ndithobele uThixo kunabantu.”

Utata kaPriscilian wemka apho eligqabi ngumsindo. UPriscilian uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ndaziva ndingakhuselekanga de ndakhwela kwilori esasiza kuya ngayo endibanweni. Ndandingazi ukuba wayeza kundenza ntoni xa ndibuya endibanweni. Kodwa ndandisazi ukuba ndandiza kube ndibhaptiziwe, nokuba wayenokundibulala ndandiza kube ndenze into elungileyo.”

Nangona uyise engazange amenze nto ukubuya kwakhe, kamva wamsongela ngokumbulala. UPriscilian uthi: “Wabona ukuba ndandingazoyiki izisongelo zakhe, yaye ukususela ngoko uye wetha.”

UMCHASI UKHONZA UYEHOVA

Iqela elitsha labavakalisi baseSan Antonio abanenzondelelo laliqhuba kakuhle ngokomoya xa intsapho yakwaCardoza yafumana ileta eyayivela kwisigqeba selali, iyinika uphum’ aphele eSan Antonio. Ngaphambili, uFrank wayehlawule imali yokufaka isicelo kwisigqeba selali waza wafumana imvume yokuhlala. Kodwa ke omnye umhlali walo lali wayefuna abakwaCardoza bagxothwe. Kwenye intlanganiso yesigqeba, izifundo zeBhayibhile ezithathu zikaFrank zamthethelela. Emva koko kwasukuma umastandi kaFrank, waza waxelela isigqeba ukuba xa siyigxotha intsapho yakwaCardoza ze sazi ukuba kuza kufuneka sihlawule irenti ebimhlawula yona. Naye uFrank wakhupha ileta eyayivela kwiSebe lezeMihlaba ichaza ukuba isigqeba asinagunya lakugxotha umntu ohlala emzini womnye umntu. Ekugqibeleni isigqeba sabavumela ukuba bahlale abakwaCardoza.

 Indoda eyayifuna igxothwe intsapho yakwaCardoza yayinguBasilio Ah, owayekade eyinkosi (alcalde) nowayesenempembelelo. UBasilio wasebenzisa isikhundla sakhe ukuze awachase ngandlela zonke amaNgqina kaYehova aseSan Antonio. Xa abazalwana babefuna isiza sokwakha iHolo yoBukumkani, wathi kubo: “Akukho Holo yoBukumkani niza kuyakha kule lali!” Kodwa ke abazalwana basifumana isiza baza bakha iHolo yoBukumkani entle. Umnqa ke kukuba uBasilio wayekho xa yayinikezelwa ngoDisemba 1998. Kwakutheni?

Oonyana bakhe ababini babeneengxaki zomtshato. UBasilio wayecele icawa yakhe ukuba ibancede izihlandlo ezibini, kodwa ke yazalel’ endle. Emva koko oonyana bakhe baqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile namaNgqina kaYehova. Umfazi kaBasilio, uMaría, waphawula ukuba oonyana bakhe babetshintsha nokuba imitshato yabo yayiphucuka. Ngenxa yoko, uMaría wacela amaNgqina ukuba amfundise iBhayibhile.

UMaría uthi: “Ndandifuna ukumazi uYehova uThixo, yaye ndaxelela umyeni wam ukuba simele siye kwiHolo yoBukumkani siye kufunda ngaye.” Nangona ingazange itshintshe ngokukhawuleza indlela awayewajonga ngayo amaNgqina kaYehova noFrank Cardoza awayembiza ngokuba “ngumhla phezulu,” uBasilio wazithanda iinguqu ezazisenziwa ngoonyana bakhe njengoko babephila ngokuvisisana nezinto ezibhalwe eBhayibhileni.  UBasilio wagqiba kwelokuba akhe awahlole ngokwakhe amaNgqina kaYehova yaye emva kokuthetha nawo izihlandlo ezithathu, uyazi ukuba wacela bani ukuba amqhubele isifundo seBhayibhile? Wacela laa “mhla phezulu” unguFrank Cardoza.

UBasilio uthi: “IBhayibhile yayitshintsha indlela endandicinga ngayo. Ndandihamba kwiCawa yamaKatolika iminyaka engama-60, ndiqhumisa phambi kwemifanekiso yendlu yetyalike. Ngoku ndandifunda ngoYehova kwincwadi yakhe, iBhayibhile. Ndiba neentloni xa ndicinga ngendlela endamphatha ngayo uFrank Cardoza, umzalwana wam. Manditsho ukuba ndandingafanelanga ndiyenze loo nto. Ndandinenzondelelo ngezinto endandizikholelwa kunye nonqulo lwam. Kodwa ndawayeka amasiko anento yokwenza nemimoya, athandwayo kwilali yethu ndaza ndaphuma nakwezopolitiko.” Namhlanje uBasilio noMaría Ah babhaptiziwe yaye bakhonza uYehova.

Abakhonzi bakaYehova baziwa ngokuthandana, uvuyo nenzondelelo. Kwimimandla yaseBelize esemagqagaleni, abavakalisi abaninzi bahamba iiyure ezintathu okanye ngaphezulu kwiinduli ezinamaqhina ukuze baye kushumayela kwimizi yabantu yaye abafane baphoswe ziintlanganiso. Ngokomzekelo, ngolunye urhatya, uAndrea Ich wabelwa ukuba abe ngumninimzi kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo. Ngaloo mini wahamba iikhilomitha ezintathu okanye ezintlanu ehlathini esiya kukha iiavocado noonyana bakhe. Apho wahlatywa kanobom ngoonomeva. Nakuba kunjalo, wagoduka, walungiselela intsapho yakhe into esiwa ethunjini, waza waya ezintlanganisweni ukuze ancedise kwintetho awayeyabelwe. Ubuso bakhe babudumbile kodwa ke wayonwabile. Kuyakhuthaza ukubona ukuba nangona abazalwana bamaMaya behamba  imini yonke ngelori okanye ibhasi ukuze baye kwiindibano, bonwabile kuba bakhonza uThixo oyinyaniso uYehova.

IBELIZE INTLITHWA ZIINKQWITHELA

Kule minyaka ili-115 idluleyo, iBelize iye yantlithwa ziinkanyamba nezitshi ezingama-51. Ukususela ngowe-1930, iBelize iye yantlithwa ziinkanyamba ezili-12 eziye zabulala abantu. Enye yezona zakha zankulu yayinguHattie, owahlasela ngentsasa yango-Oktobha 31, 1961, owayekhatshwa yimimoya eyayihamba ngesantya esiziikhilomitha ezingama-300 ngeyure namaza awabulala amakhulu abantu. IBelize City, eziisentimitha ezingama-30 ngaphezu kokuphakama kolwandle, yatshona eludakeni. Isebe lathi: “Abazalwana [baseBelize City] abenzakelanga kakhulu nangona inkoliso yezindlu zabo iye yonakaliswa okanye yatshatyalaliswa. Baphulukene neempahla zabo okanye zonakaliswa ngamanzi.

“Oogandaganda bacoca izitrato yaye izindlu eziye zonakaliswa ziyatshiswa. Apha kwikhaya [labathunywa bevangeli] kuye kwangena amanzi, aza enza umonakalo omkhulu. Ngaphandle kwakukho izantyalantyala zamanzi, . . . kodwa ke umgangatho weli khaya uphakamile. . . . Kuncinane gqitha ukutya okunokuthengwa . . . , yaye kusavunjululwa imizimba yabantu.”

Emva kweentsuku ezilishumi isebe lathi: “Iimeko zimaxongo eDangriga kunalapha eBelize City. Abantu banyanzelwa ukuba basebenze iiyure ezisibhozo ngemini ukuze bafumane amatikiti okuthenga. Umkhosi ulawula yonke into yaye imali ayithengi.” Kwafa amakhwenkwe amabini waza uyise wophuka imilenze xa badilikelwa yindlu. Omabani ayengabavakalisi, yaye  enye le ineminyaka eli-12 ubudala yayisaziwa ngokushumayela kootitshala bayo.

Loo nkanyamba yadlula phakathi kweBelize City neDangriga, apho inkoliso yabazalwana yaphulukana nenxalenye yezinto zayo okanye nento yonke. Emva kwenkanyamba irhuluneli yamisela imithetho ethile, njengomthetho wonxunguphalo yaze yabiza namajoni aseBritani ukuba aze kugcina ucwangco nokuze adubule abantu abaphanga impahla. Nabani na owayebanjwa esaphula umthetho wonxunguphalo wayelala esitokisini.

Nangona kwakukho loo mbhodamo, iintlanganiso zebandla nenkonzo yasentsimini zaphinda zaqhutywa kungekudala. Kwakunzima kakhulu ekubeni abantu abaninzi babexhwarhile nasemizini yabantu kwabe kugcwele amanzi nodaka. Kodwa abantu babekufuna ukuthuthuzelwa ziindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani, yaye amaNgqina kaYehova ayekulungele ukuzincama ukuze abathuthuzele.

Ubomi babunzima, kodwa ke uthando nobubele bamaNgqina kaYehova akwamanye amazwe lwabakhuthaza kakhulu abazalwana baseBelize. Kwafunyanwa iibhokisi ezingama-25 zempahla eyayithunyelwe ngamanye amasebe zaza zanikwa amaNgqina nabanye abantu. Iofisi yesebe neHolo yoBukumkani zaziphakathi kwezakhiwo ezimbalwa ezingazange zitshatyalaliswe. Ngenxa yoko, abazalwana bavuma ukuhlalisa abantu kwiHolo yoBukumkani xa bacelwa ngurhulumente. b

“NKOSIKAZI PRATT SICELA USITHANDAZELE”

Ngo-Oktobha 2000 abahlali baseSan Pedro  bantlithwa yinkanyamba uKeith, eyayihamba iikhilomitha ezingama-205 ngeyure yaye inesaqhwithi, kangangeentsuku ezintathu. ILadyville, ekwiikhilomitha ezingama-16 kumntla weBelize City, yaba neempuphuma iintsuku ezintathu. Abazalwana abangama-42 bagob’ ityholo kwiHolo yeNdibano eLadyville. Phantse yonke imizi eyayiseCay Caulker yatshabalala. Abavakalisi abangama-57 baseAmbergris Cay naseCay Caulker baphulukana nayo yonke impahla yabo yaye kangangeeveki eziliqela babengenawo umbane, amanzi neefowuni. Inkulumbuso yakhupha isaziso sokuba iBelize, iOrange Walk, neZithili zaseCorozal, eAmbergris Cay naseCay Caulker zaziyimimandla yentlekele. Umthetho wonxunguphalo wawusebenza kuwo wonke loo mmandla wentlekele ukuze zingaphangwa iimpahla zabantu.

UCecilia Pratt owayenguvulindlela okhethekileyo eCay Caulker, wasiva isilumkiso senkanyamba waza wapakisha imithwalo yakhe ukuze akulungele ukuhamba xa inkanyamba ihlasela. Ngaloo mini wayesandul’ ukuqokelela iingxelo zenkonzo yasentsimini zoodade abali-12 yaye wayeza kukhwela isikhephe sasemva kwemini ukuze azise esebeni. Wasongela ezo ngxelo ngeplastiki waza wazifaka ebhegini. Kanye njengoko wayelindele, uCecilia nabanye oodade kwafuneka babalekele esikolweni ngoxa abanye baya kwiziko lempilo.

 UCecilia uthi: “Umoya wasiphula izinki leklasi esasikuyo. Kwafuneka sithathe izinto zethu size sibalekele kwenye iklasi. Kwaba ngathi sonke eso sakhiwo sasigungqiswa ngumoya nangona sasakhiwe ngesamente. Sathi sakukroba ngaphandle kwaba ngathi sirhangqwe lulwandle—umhlaba wawungabonakali. Iqela lethu lahlala kunye lithandaza. Abantu abangama-40 beenkonzo ezahlukeneyo ababekuloo klasi babetyhwatyhwa luloyiko. Abanye babesithi, ‘NguThixo owenza le nto. Omnye umfundisi womKatolika weza kum waza wathi, ‘Nkosikazi Pratt sicela usithandazele.’ Ndathi kuye, ‘Andinakukwazi. Ndingumfazi yaye andithwalanga entloko.’ Le ndoda yathi, ‘Thatha nantsi ikepusi.’ Ndandingaqinisekanga ukuba ndandifanele ndithandazele bonke abantu ababelapho kodwa ndandifuna bazi ukuba yayingengoYehova owayebangele loo nkanyamba. Ndathandaza ukuze kuve bonke abantu ababelapho. Xa abantu bathi ‘Amen’ ukugqiba kwam ukuthandaza, umoya wadamba! Ngelo xesha inkanyamba yayidlula phezu kwethu. Umfundisi womKatolika wathi: ‘Uthandaze kakuhle. UThixo wakho nguThixo wenyaniso.’ Emva koko abazange basivumele ukuba sihambe, yaye kwiintsuku ezintathu ezalandelayo basinika ukutya nekofu.

“Kodwa ke ndandixhalabele nabanye abavakalisi. Ngentsasa elandelayo emva kokuba udambile umoya ndaya kubakhangela. Kwakuwe imithi, kububutyobo nje kuyo yonke indawo. Ezinye izindlu zazimke nomoya. Kuqala ndafumana oodade ababini kunye nabantwana babo. Indlu yomnye udade yayidilikile kodwa yena wayesaphila.”

Emva kwenkanyamba isebe lalingakwazi ukuqokelela iingxelo zenkonzo yasentsimini zamabandla awayechaphazelekile. Kodwa ke iingxelo zokuqala ukufika  yayizezaseCay Caulker. UCecilia wayezigcine ebhegini yakhe yaye wazinika abazalwana ababeze kubakhangela bevela esebeni.

Kwiiveki ezalandelayo abazalwana ababechatshazelwe yinkanyamba bafumana izinto zokubaxhasa baza bancedwa nangamatsha-ntliziyo awayecoca yaye elungisa amakhaya abo kunye neHolo yoBukumkani yaseAmbergris Cay.

UMerle Richert owayesebenza neli qela eCay Caulker uthi: “Saqala salungisa iindawo zokuhlala, emva koko salungiselela ukusasaza izinto zokuxhasa abazalwana. Ngosuku olulandelayo saqalisa ukulungisa izindlu zabavakalisi. NgeCawa sonke savuka saya entsimini. Emva koko salungisa indawo esasiza kuqhubela kuyo iintlanganiso kwikhaya lomnye udade. Sazihlengahlengisa kakuhle iintlanganiso ukuze zingangqubani nexesha lonxunguphalo elalimiselwe, yaye kweza abantu abangama-43 kwintetho yesidlangalala nesifundo seMboniselo.”

UKUHLANGANISANA UKUZE SIFUNDISWE NGUYEHOVA

Ngeminyaka yee-1960 kwakulula ukuqhuba iindibano kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo zelizwe kuba sasinentente. Kodwa ke kufuneka usebenze nzima iintsuku eziliqela ukuze ugxumeke intente enkulu. USantiago Sosa uthi: “Sasiqala ukusebenza ekuqaleni kweveki, sigxumeka intente size sifake izitulo. Ngaloo mihla sasipheka kwiindibano, ngoko ke sasiboleka iimbiza yaye sasidla ngokuhlala ubusuku bonke sipheka yaye sigqibezela nomnye umsebenzi. Ngamanye amaxesha zazisithi izinto sele zilungiswe zagqitywa zilindele ingomso, kufike umoya omkhulu ebusuku utshayele yonke loo nto. Kwakuye kufuneke siphinde siqale phantsi kwakhona. Kodwa ke kwakungekho mntu ukhalazayo.”

 UJeanne Thompson ukhumbula enye indibano eyayikwilali ephakathi kweBelize City neOrange Walk. Kwafuneka kuqale kugawulwe ihlathi elalingakwiHolo yoBukumkani ngaphambi kokuba kugxunyekwe intente kuze kubekwe nezitulo. UJeanne, uthi: “Kwakunetha ngazo zonke ezo ntsuku zendibano yesithili yaye intente yazaliswa ngamanzi. Kwafuneka siphakamise iinyawo zethu sizibeke kwizitulo eziphambi kwethu. Sasingazi ukuba kanti kuloo ndawo kwakukho iinyoka. Kodwa ke imvula yasinyanzela ukuba sihlale ententeni nangaseHolweni, nto leyo eyasikhuselayo. Kwakuza kuba yingozi kakhulu ukungena ehlathini.”

Ngeminyaka yee-1970 abazalwana baqhubela iindibano zesithili eBird’s Isle, isiqithana esimalunga neekhilomitha ezili-120 kumzantsi mpuma weBelize  City. Umnini wale ndawo wakha iholo efulelwe ngengca neyayinombane, amanzi nezindlu zangasese ezigungxulwayo kuba wayefuna ukuyisebenza njengendawo yokuzonwabisa. Abazalwana benza ibhulorho yamaplanga, eyayikwenza kube lula ukuya kwiindibano kweso siqithi esizolileyo.

NgoMatshi 1983 kwathengwa umhlaba wokwakha iHolo yeNdibano eLadyville. Ekuqaleni abazalwana bakha isakhiwo ekwakuza kuqhutyelwa kuso iindibano. Kwaza ke ngowe-1988 kwathengwa isakhiwo sentsimbi eGuatemala esaba yiHolo yeeNdibano eLadyville.

INQKUBELA KWINTSIMI YESITSHAYINA

Ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1920 abantu baseTshayina bebefudukela eBelize yaye uninzi lwabo luyakuthanda ukufunda uncwadi lwethu ngolwimi lwabo. Ngokomzekelo uRoberta Gonzalez uthi: “Ndandifuna ukushumayeza ibhinqa laseTaiwan elalineshishini lokubhaka izonka, kodwa ndandisazi ukuba lalingaluthandi unqulo yaye lalisoloko lixakekile. Ndandisazi ukuba lalinabantwana ababini abafikisayo ndaza ngenye imini xa ndandiseshishini lalo, ndalinika incwadi ethi Imibuzo Yabantu Abaselula ngesiTshayina ndaza ndacela uluvo lwalo. Ngenye imini ndadlula ngakwishishini lalo laza landibiza. Landixelela ukuba belindilindile ukususela oko ndalinika laa ncwadi. Lathi inkoliso yabantwana baseTaiwan baye baba neengxaki  emva kokuba befudukele eBelize. Lalivakalelwa kukuba bonke kwakufuneka bayifunde le ncwadi. Layalela unyana walo ukuba abale iintsapho zaseTaiwan ezikulo dolophu ezinabantwana abafikisayo laza lacela ukuba ndilinike iincwadi ezili-16 kuba lalifuna ukubanika yona bonke.”

Ngo-Oktobha 2000, isebe laqalisa iklasi yeenyanga ezintathu ngolwimi lwesiMandarin, ukuze kufundiswe oovulindlela nabavakalisi ababefuna ukushumayela kwintsimi yesiTshayina. Waba yintoni umphumo? Kwasekwa iqela lesiTshayina elalinoovulindlela abambalwa yaye ekugqibeleni laba libandla. Nangona bebechaswa, abanye baye bazamkela iindaba ezilungileyo baza basabela kakuhle ngenxa yendlela abaye bathandwa ngayo ebandleni.

Ngokomzekelo, ngowama-2006 uMonje Chen wavuma ukuqhutyelwa  isifundo seBhayibhile. Ekuqaleni intsapho yakhe yayingenangxaki, kodwa ke yaqalisa ukumchasa. Ngesiquphe, intsapho yakowabo yalithengisa ishishini kuquka nevenkile eyayiphantsi kukaMonje, yamnika iyure ukuba ahlukane nonqulo lwakhe olutsha aze ahambe nabo baye kwelinye ilizwe. Wala yaye intsapho yakhe yamshiya yedwa engenayo nesenti le emdaka. UMonje waya kuhlala nomnye umzalwana waza waqhubeka efunda iBhayibhile esiya nakwiintlanganiso. UMonje uthi: “Ndasondela kuYehova ibe wandinyamekela. Ndincedwe kukufunda iBhayibhile, ukucamngca ngeZibhalo nokukhuthazwa ngabazalwana.”

UMonje uye wabhaptizwa ngoNovemba 2008, yaye isimo sengqondo sentsapho yakhe siye satshintsha ngenxa yesimilo sakhe. UMonje uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ukuthobela uYehova akukhange kundenze ihlwempu kunoko kundenze ndonwaba. Akakhange andishiye uYehova kunoko uye wandihlalisa phakathi kwabazalwana abamanyeneyo nabathandanayo.”

 ISEBE LASEMEXICO LONGAMELA UMSEBENZI WASEBELIZE

Emva kokuthetha ngeentswelo zoBukumkani neKomiti yesebe laseBelize nesebe laseMexico, iQumrhu Elilawulayo lagqiba kwelokuba umsebenzi waseBelize uvelelwe lisebe laseMexico. Olu tshintsho lwaqala ngoJanuwari 1, 2001 yaye luye lwabavuyisa abazalwana.

Ukususela ngoko, isebe laseMexico liye lanceda ekongameleni ukwakhiwa kweeHolo zoBukumkani eziliqela eBelize. NgoMatshi 16, 2002 kwaye kwanikezelwa iHolo yoBukumkani enemigangatho emibini eBelize City. Ngosuku olulandelayo, kwanikezelwa ikhaya elitsha labathunywa bevangeli kunye neHolo yeNdibano yaseLadyville eyayilungisiwe. Abazalwana noodade abaninzi ababekhonza uYehova kangangeminyaka engamashumi amahlanu ukuya kwamathandathu babekho xa uGerrit Lösch weQumrhu Elilawulayo wayenikela intetho. Kuye kwenziwa inkqubela encomekayo emva kokuba kusekwe iQela Lokwakha iiHolo zoBukumkani, eliye lanceda ekwakhiweni kweeHolo zoBukumkani ezingama-20 kulo lonke elo.

Ngowama-2007, oovulindlela abathe ngxi abangama-325  baseMexico beza eBelize ukuze bancedise ekushumayeleni kwimihlaba engasetyenzwa rhoqo. Utyelelo lwabo lwabakhuthaza kakhulu abazalwana baseBelize. Ngenxa yoko, inani loovulindlela liye lenyuka ngendlela encomekayo.

Ngokwahlukileyo kwiinkokeli zecawa ezithandazela ukuba iBelize ikhuselwe kwiinkanyamba, ngaphambi kokuba zifike iinkanyamba zowama-2007 amaNgqina kaYehova afumana imiyalelo yokuwanceda aziphephe. Avuya gqitha xa le miyalelo yawanceda ekufikeni kwenkanyamba uDean ngoAgasti. Bonke abazalwana ababesengozini babalekiswa baza bahlaliswa kwimizi yabazalwana ababekwiindawo ezazingachaphazelekanga. Ukudlula kwenkanyamba amaNgqina kaYehova kulo lonke elo ancedisa ekulungisweni kwamakhaya neeHolo zoBukumkani. Ngenxa yoko, esinye isikhululo sikanomathotholo sawancoma amaNgqina kaYehova sisithi angumzekelo wokuxeliswa.

UKUMANYANISA ABANTU BAZO ZONKE IINTLANGA

UYehova uye wawusikelela umsebenzi waseBelize kangangokuba ngoku kukho amaNgqina kaYehova ali-1 800—umlinganiselo weNgqina elinye kubantu abali-149. Kubonakala ngathi kusaza kubakho ulwando kuba kwiSikhumbuzo sowama-2009 bekukho umntu omnye kubantu abangama-39 baseBelize.

Umsebenzi wokushumayela eBelize kule minyaka ingama-80 idluleyo uye wavelisa abantu abayingxubevange abaye bamanyaniswa yintetho “enyulu,” inyaniso emayela noThixo neenjongo zakhe. AmaNgqina kaYehova aseBelize akhonza “ngaxhatha linye” nabazalwana noodade bawo bokomoya ehlabathini lonke esebenzisa ulwimi olunyulu ukuze ashumayele, nto leyo ezukisa uYehova uThixo wethu oluthando.—Zef. 3:9.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 224]

“Umqhubi welori wandixelela ukuba amaKristu enene ashumayela kwindlu ngendlu”

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 234]

“Asifanele simoyike utata simele soyike uYehova”

 [Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 208]

Amagqabantshintshi NgeBelize

Ukuma Komhlaba

Ngaselunxwemeni ngamathafa, xa usiya ngasezantsi ibe ziiNtaba zeMaya. Kumahlathi alapho kuhlala izilwanyana ezinjengejaguar, ipuma, imfene, ingulube, i-iguana eluhlaza (uhlobo oluthile lwecilikishe elikhulu) ingwenya kunye neentlobo ezingama-60 zeenyoka. Kukho iintlobo ngeentlobo zeentaka ezimalunga nama-600 kuquka nesikhwenene salapho esisecicini lokutshabalala. Kukwakho neentlobo ngeentlobo zezinto eziphila elwandle njengeentlanzi nookrebe.

Abantu

Abantu balapho ngamaMaya, (akhiwa zizizwe zamaKekchi, amaMopan namaYucatec) amaCreole, (angumxube wama-Afrika nabantu abamhlophe) amaMestizo, (umxube wabantu baseSpeyin namaMaya) amaGarinagu, (umxube wama-Afrika nabantu bakwiCarribean) amaNdiya aseMpuma, abantu baseLebanon, amaTshayina, abelungu kuquka amaJamani namaDatshi.

Ulwimi

IsiNgesi lulwimi lwaseburhulumenteni kodwa ke kuthethwa nesiCreole, isiPanish, isiGarifuna, isiKekchi, isiMaya, isiJamani kunye nesiMandarin.

Imeko Yezoqoqosho

Abantu abaninzi basebenza kumasimi eswekile neziqhamo. Abanye basebenza kumashishini okuloba nawokukhenketha.

Ukutya

Iintlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo zenza ukutya okumnandi okuziintlobo ngeentlobo. Irayisi neembotyi ezidla ngokuphekwa ngobisi lwekhokhonathi kokona kutya kuthandwayo, yaye kudla ngokutyiwa nenyama yenkuku, eyenkomo, intlanzi kunye neziqhamo eziqhotsiweyo. Kuphinda kubekho neentlobo ngeentlobo zokutya okumnandi kwaselwandle.

Imozulu

IBelize ekumbindi Merika kunxweme lweCarribean inemozulu eshushu nefumileyo yaye iyathandwa ziinkanyamba.

 [Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 215]

AmaGarinagu Amkela Inyaniso

UBEVERLY ANN FLORES

WAZALWA Ngowe-1961

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1993

INGXELO YOBOMI NgumGarifuna owamkela inyaniso yaye ngoku unceda abantu bohlanga lwakhe ukuba bafunde ngoYehova.

◼ UMLIBO wamaGarinagu (isininzi samaGarifuna) uqala ngenkulungwane ye-17 xa amakhoboka atshata nabantu bomthonyama bakwiiCaribbean. IsiGarifuna lulwimi lomthonyama lwaseMzantsi Merika oluquka amagama esiFrentshi nesiSwahili.

Unqulo lwesiGarinagu ngumxube wezithethe zama-Afrika namaNdiya aseMerika nempembelelo enamandla yamaKatolika. Ngokomzekelo, idugu ngumsitho wokungxengxeza kwizinyanya ngokuzinika ukutya nento eselwayo. UBeverly uthi: “Umama wayengakholelwa kwidugu. Wayengayikholelwa into yokuba uThixo angakuvuyela ukubona ukutya okuninzi kangako kufakwa phantsi komhlaba. Wayedla ngokuthi, ‘Ukutya kwenzelwe ukuba kutyiwe ngabantu! Yaye ukuba izinyanya ngabantu bethu abafileyo, kutheni zibuya zize kusenzakalisa?’”

UBeverly uhlabela mgama abalise into eyenzekayo ukufunda kwakhe inyaniso. Uthi: “Ekubeni ndingumGarifuna, ndafuna ukuya eDangriga ukuze ndiye kushumayela kubantu bakowethu. Ndandisazi ukuba inkoliso yamaGarinagu iza kuphulaphula xa ishunyayezwa ngomnye wawo. Abaninzi bayaphulaphula xa ndithetha nabo ngesiGarifuna yaye abaliqela sele benxulumana nebandla. Baye babona ukuba bangazilahla izithethe ezigatywayo zizibhalo kodwa bangabulawa yimimoya engendawo.”

 [Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 218]

“UYehova Wayesoloko Esixhasa”

LILLY MILLER

WAZALWA Ngowe-1928

WABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1960

INGXELO YOBOMI Wakhulisa abantwana abathandathu eyedwa yaye ebekwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo iminyaka engama-47.

◼ ULilly onelizwi eliphantsi uthi: “Ngowe-1959 uAmybelle wathetha nam ngeBhayibhile. Ecaweni sasilunyukisiwe ngaba ‘baprofeti bobuxoki’ ababehamba bengena emizini yabantu. Ndavuma ukufunda naye kodwa ke sisebenzisa iBhayibhile kuphela, ndayamkela inyaniso ndaza ndabhaptizwa kunyaka olandelayo.

Ekuqaleni kwakunzima ukushumayela. Ndandingcangcazela kangangokuba kwakude kube nzima nokubamba iBhayibhile. Kodwa ke njengokuba noYeremiya watsho, umnqweno wokufuna ukuthetha nabantu ngezinto endandizifunda ‘wawufana nomlilo ovuthayo ovalelwe emathanjeni am,’ enoba abantu babephulaphula okanye bengafuni.”—Yer. 20:9.

ULilly wabakhulisa njani abantwana abathandathu waza kwangaxeshanye waba nguvulindlela othe ngxi? Uthi: “Ndathandaza kuYehova yaye wandixhasa. Kathathu ngeveki, ndandivuka ngentsimbi yesithathu ngonyezi ndibhake amaqebengwane. Mna neentombi zam sasiwabhaka kwisitovu seenkuni yaye abantu babewathenga esatshisa. Esakuphela, abantwana babesiya esikolweni, ndize ke mna ndiye entsimini. UYehova wayesoloko esixhasa.”

ULilly ebenguvulindlela othe ngxi eCorozal ukususela ngowe-1969. Unyana wakhe omdala neentombi zakhe ezimbini baye bangenelela inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo yaye uye wanceda abantu abangama-69 babhaptizwa.

 [Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 227, 228]

Ukushumayela—Ehlathini

UMartha Simons ubalisa athi: “NgoMatshi 1991, abazalwana noodade abangama-23 abasuka mbombo zone zelizwe bahlanganisana ePunta Gorda ukuze bashumayele iintsuku ezilishumi kubantu abahlala ehlathini. Sasiphethe iimpahla, iingubo, uncwadi lwesiNgesi, olwesiPanish nolwesiKekchi. Kwakhona sasiphethe nokutya okwakuquka amaqebengwane angama-200.

Ngentsasa elandelayo sahamba kulwandle olwalulwatyuza ngephenyane elenziwe ngomthi. Semisa kwilali yaseCrique Sarco saza sagxumeka iintente. Njengoko abazalwana babelungisa indawo yokulala, oodade bona babepheka ukutya esikuthanda kakhulu—isityu esenziwe ngekhokhonathi, amaqanda, imisila yeehagu nezinye izinto. Abantu beva ukuba sasifikile yaye beza kusibulisa. Loo nto yasenza sakwazi ukushumayela kuyo yonke loo lali ngeeyure nje ezimbini. Ngobo busuku abazalwana balala esikhululweni samapolisa ngoxa bona oodade balala kwesinye isakhiwo sengca esiyindawo yembizo yamadoda elali.

Ngemini elandelayo salayisha izinto zethu ephenyaneni saqhubeka nohambo lwethu. Emva kwexesha elimalunga nesiqingatha seyure saphinda semisa saza sahamba ngeenyawo enye iyure sinqumla amahlathi sisiya kwilali yaseSundaywood. Abantu balapho banemizimba emincinane ibala elintsundu neenwele ezimnyama. Inkoliso yabo yayinganxibanga zihlangu yaye abafazi benxibe izinxibo zabo zesintu nezacholo. Izindlu zabo ezifulelwe ngengca ziyarhidwa phantsi, azinamagumbi,  ifanishala ngaphandle nje koomandlalo. Kwelinye icala lendlu kwakukho iziko.

Abantu babenobuhlobo yaye babenomdla. Kwabachukumisa kakhulu ukusibona siphethe iincwadi zesiKekchi yaye sibabonisa nezibhalo kwiBhayibhile yesiKekchi.

Ngentsasa elandelayo savuswa yingxolo yemiqhagi iintaka kunye neemfene. Emva kokuba sifumene isidlo sakusasa esimnandi sabuyela kubo bonke abantu ababenomdla. Saqalisa izifundo zeBhayibhile saza sabakhuthaza ukuba bazifundele de sibuye kunyaka olandelayo. Kwenzeka into efanayo njengoko sasiqhubeka nephulo lethu singena kwiilali ezingakumbi.

Emva kweentsuku ezilishumi sishumayela ehlathini, saye sacinga ngemigama esasiyihambile, iilali esasishumayele kuzo nabo bonke abantu esasidibene nabo. Sathandaza kuYehova simcela ukuba ayikhulise de sibuye kunyaka ozayo imbewu esasiyityale ebantwini. Iinyawo zethu zazidumbile sabe nathi sidiniwe, kodwa sasinombulelo kuYehova ngenxa yethuba esasilifumene lokushumayela ehlathini.”

 [Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 235, 236]

UmMaya Othanda UYehova

UJORGE NONICOLAS SHO (KUNYE NODADE WABO UPRISCILIAN)

BAZALWA Ngowe-1969 Omnye yena Ngowe-1971

BABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1997

INGXELO YOBOMI Isiko lamaMaya ligxininisa ukuhlonelwa nokuthobela abazali nokuba umntu sele etshatile.

◼ Utata kaNicolas noJorge wabachasa besakufunda ngoYehova.

UNicolas uthi: “Ndamchazela ukuba ndandifunda izinto eziluncedo kodwa ke wayehamba kwiCawa yamaBhaptizi yaye wayengamthandi njengam uThixo. Ndakha ndayeka ukufunda iBhayibhile izihlandlo ezimbalwa kuba ndandingafuni ukumvisa ubuhlungu. Kodwa ke ndandisazi ukuba ukunxila kunye notata kwakungabamiseli umzekelo omhle abantwana bam. Umfazi wam kunye nabantwana bam babengonwabanga kangangokuba babengancumi nokuncuma oku.

  Ndathi ndakuqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile nokuya kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu rhoqo, inyaniso yandinceda ndahlukana nemikhwa emibi. Ndayisebenzela nzima intsapho yam yaye ndandiwusa ekhaya wonke umvuzo wam. Ngoku, intsapho yethu ikhonza uYehova yaye sonwabile ibe siyakwazi nokuhleka.”

Nemeko kaJorge yayifana. Ukunxila nokuthuka kwakhe kwakuyibangela iingxaki intsapho yakhe ibe wawungasoze umfumane kwakhe ngeempelaveki. Kodwa ke ukufunda kwakhe iBhayibhile kwayitshintsha indlela awayeziphethe ngayo.

UJorge uhlabela mgama: “Utata wandichasa kakhulu njengoko ndandisenza inkqubela. Wayesithi singabaprofeti bobuxoki. Wayekhe asisongele ngokusixabela ngocelemba. Umzalwana uCardoza endandifunda naye iBhayibhile wayesilumkise kwangaphambili. Wakha wathi: ‘Ungenza ntoni xa utata wakho enokukunika uphum’ aphele’? Ndathi kuye: ‘Utata uyandithanda, akasoze ayenze loo nto.’ Kodwa ke okulusizi kukuba wandigxotha.

UJorge uhlabela mgama esithi: “Nakuba kunjalo, ndandikuthanda ukufunda iBhayibhile yaye ubomi bam babuphucuka. Intsapho yayincedakala bubuntu bam obutsha. Sasihlonelana yaye sonwabile. Namhlanje umsebenzi wokushumayela uyandivuyisa yaye ndiyambulela uYehova kuba ngoku ndinguvulindlela othe ngxi.”

[Umfanekiso]

UFrank Cardoza washumayeza uJorge

 [Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 238]

Ukukhonza Apho Kufuneka Abavakalisi Abangakumbi

Ukufudukela kwilizwe ekufuneka abavakalisi boBukumkani abangakumbi kulo linyathelo elikhulu. Kodwa ke kufuneka umgudu nokuzincama ukuze uqhubeke iminyaka ushumayela kwintsimi yasemzini. Inkoliso yabazalwana noodade iye yayenza ngokunempumelelo loo nto.

Ngokomzekelo, uArthur noRoberta Gonzalez baseUnited States bafudukela eBelize ngowe-1989 kunye noDalton, unyana wabo owayeneminyaka emithathu ubudala. URoberta uthi: “Olona celomngeni yayikukushiya umsebenzi ohlawulayo uze kuphila kwilizwe elinabantu abaninzi abangasebenziyo.”

UArthur uthi: “Kufuneka ukholose ngoYehova. Kwandimangalisa gqitha ukufunda iBhayibhile ndize ndive ukuba uAbraham washiya ikhaya, intsapho nento yonke awayeyazi. Kodwa uYehova wamnyamekela. Enye yeengxaki esaba nazo yayikukufunda ulwimi lwaseBelize. Kodwa ke sakholosa ngoYehova yaye wasinyamekela.”

UFrank noAlice Cardoza basuka eKhalifoniya beza kuba ngoovulindlela eBelize ngowe-1991. UFrank uthi: “Ukufunda incwadi yeZenzo kwandenza ndafuna ukuba ngumthunywa wevangeli. Ekubeni sinabantwana abane ndandisazi ukuba asinakuze sikwazi ukuya eGiliyadi. Ngoko ke, xa intombi yethu yokugqibela yagqiba ukufunda, sabona ithuba lokufudukela kwelinye ilizwe. Sathi sakufunda ngeBelize kwiMboniselo senza isigqibo sokuya apho.”

  UAlice uthi: “Ndandithe ndiza kuyilinga iminyaka nje emithathu. Ndithetha nawe nje yiminyaka eli-18 silapha ibe ndonwabile.”

UFrank wongezelela athi: “Siyabathanda abantu yaye siyawuthanda nomsebenzi, ngoko ke kulula ukubathanda abantu abathanda uYehova. Ukuqalisa izifundo zeBhayibhile ezininzi nokubona abantu besamkela inyaniso kuyenze yaba yeyona minyaka imnandi le ebomini bethu. Asinakulithengisa eli lungelo, nokuba ubunokusinika imali eninzi kangakanani.”

UCarl noMartha Simons basuka eTexas baya eBelize ngowe-1988. UMartha uthi: “Ukufuduka kwethu, abantwana bethu babeneminyaka elishumi nesibhozo ubudala. EBelize sasichitha imini yonke sishumayela nebandla ezilalini ezisemahlathini. Kwakhona sancedisa xa kwakusakhiwa iHolo yeNdibano yaye ikhaya lethu lalisoloko lizaliswe ngabazalwana noodade ababehlala nathi ngexesha leendibano. Siyavuya kuba siye sabakhulisela apha abantwana bethu kuba baye bakwazi ukunxulumana noovulindlela abakhethekileyo kunye nabathunywa bevangeli. Siyavuma, akhe akho amaxesha esiye saziva sifuna ukubuyela ekhaya—xa sasingenambane, amanzi, amalahle kunye nefowuni. Kodwa ke, ukuba bekunokuthiwa masiphinde kwakhona, phezu kwazo nje iingxaki, besiza kuphinda. Ukukhonza apho kufuneka abavakalisi abangakumbi kusenze saphila ubomi obumnandi.”

[Imifanekiso]

Ukusuka ekhohlo ukuya ekunene: UDalton, Roberta, UArthur nomama wakhe uMartha Gonzalez

UAlice noFrank Cardoza

UCarl noMatha Simons

 [Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 250]

“Umntu Okhathalayo”

ALEJANDRO NOREBECCA (BECKY) LACAYO

BAZALWA Ngowe-1950, omnye wazalwa ngowe-1949

BABHAPTIZWA Ngowe-1966, omnye ngowe-1959

INGXELO YOBOMI Emva kokuphumelela eGiliyadi ngowe-1972 baba ngabathunywa bevangeli eEl Salvador, eBelize, eNicaragua, eMexico naseHonduras. Ngoku bangabaveleli besiphaluka eUnited States kodwa ke abakalilibali ixesha ababencedisa ngalo kwiintlekele eBelize.

◼ NgoMvulo kaOktobha 2, 2000 uBecky wabhala wathi: “Sihlaselwe yinkanyamba uKeith! Imvula ibisina iintsuku ezimbini ezinesiqingatha.”

Ngemini elandelayo, emva kokuba imvula nomoya ziyekile, uAlejandro noDonald Niebrugge owayenguvulindlela okhethekileyo basa izinto zokunceda eAmbergris Cay. Bona kunye nabadala basekuhlaleni ababini batyelela umvakalisi ngamnye wamabandla amabini alapho ukuze babone ukuba babeqhuba njani.

UBecky uthi: “NgoLwesithathu abazalwana abavela kwindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo zelizwe bezisa ukutya, amanzi nempahla esebeni ukuze zinikwe abazalwana abahlala eziqithini. Kungekudala indawo yokufikela abantu kunye nethala leencwadi zazala zema ngeembambo ziimpahla.”

Ngeloo xesha, uAlejandro nabanye abathathu basa izinto zokunceda eCay Caulker, bakhuthaza abazalwana baza bathandaza nelo qela. AmaNgqina nabanye abantu abangengomaNgqina bachukunyiswa gqitha luthando nayinkxalabo yabazalwana. Elinye ibhinqa lakhalaza lathi: “Bendihlawula amatikiti iminyaka kodwa akukho nokuba abemnye umntu wecawa yam oze kundibona.”

Omnye udade wantywizisa wathi: “Jonga abanye abantu, uze ujonge thina! Sinomntu osikhathaleleyo!”

 [Isicangca/Igrafu ekwiphepha 244, 245]

AMAXESHA EZENZEKA NGAWO IZIGANEKO EZIBALULEKILEYO EBelize

1923 UJames Gordon ushumayela eBomba.

1930

1933 UJames Gordon ushumayela eBomba.

1934 UFreida Johnson ushumayela eBelize City.

1940

1941 Kubhaptizwa abavakalisi bokuqala eBelize City.

1945 Kufika abathunywa bevangeli bokuqala.

1946 Kusekwa iOfisi yesebe.

1950

1957 Abathunywa bevangeli abavunyelwa ukuba bangene.

1959 Kwakhiwa iOfisi yesebe, ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli kunye neHolo yoBukumkani.

1960

1961 Abathunywa bevangeli banikwa imvume yokungena kwakhona.

 1961 IBelize intlithwa yinkanyamba uHattie.

1971 Kuqhutywa indibano yokuqala eBird’s Isle.

1980

1988 Kwakhiwa iHolo yeNdibano eLadyville.

1990

2000 IBelize intlithwa yinkanyamba uKeith.

2000

2001 Isebe laseMexico liyalelwa ukuba livelele umsebenzi waseBelize.

2002 Kunikezelwa iHolo yoBukumkani enemigangatho emibini (ekhohlo), ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli, neHolo yeNdibano elungisiweyo.

2010

[Igrafu]

(Yiya kwimpapasho)

Inani Labavakalisi

Inani Loovulindlela

1,800

1,200

400

1930 1940 1950 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010

[Umfanekiso]

Iphenyane elizele abazalwana abaya endibanweni

 [Iimaphu ezikwiphepha 209]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

MEXICO

GUATEMALA

Melchor de Mencos

CARIBBEAN SEA

BELIZE

Ambergris Cay

San Pedro

Cay Caulker

COROZAL DISTRICT

Corozal

ORANGE WALK DISTRICT

Orange Walk

August Pine Ridge

BELIZE DISTRICT

Bomba

Santana

Crooked Tree

Black Creek

Ladyville

Belize City

CAYO DISTRICT

BELMOPAN

Benque Viejo

STANN CREEK DISTRICT

Stann Creek Valley

Dangriga

Hopkins

Seine Bight

TOLEDO DISTRICT

Mango Creek

Placencia

Monkey River Town

Punta Negra

San Antonio

Punta Gorda

Sundaywood

Barranco

Crique Sarco

Belize River

MAYA MTS.

 [Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 200]

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 206]

UAlphonsena Robateau noAmybelle Allen bekunye noovulindlela abakhethekileyo abathathu

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 207]

UHerman noDerrine Lightburn bekunye nonyana wabo uStephen

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 210]

Iqela lamaNgqina eBelize City ngeminyaka yee-1940; (1) UThaddius Hodgeson, (2) UGeorge Longsworth

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 213]

UElmer Ihrig washumayela nakwimimandla esemaphandleni

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 214]

UCharles Heyen wakhuthaza abazalwana ukuba baqhube iintlanganiso rhoqo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 221]

IOfisi yesebe, ikhaya labathunywa bevangeli kunye neHolo yoBukumkani yaseBelize City

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 223]

Indibano yesiphaluka yokuqala epheleleyo kwiHolo yoBukumkani yaseOrange Walk ngowe-1968

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 229]

UMarcial noManuela Kay, oovulindlela abakhethekileyo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 230]

IToledo District, ilali yamaMaya

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 240]

UMaría noBasilio Ah

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 246]

UCecilia Pratt

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 249]

Abazalwana noodade behleli ententeni kwindibano yesiphaluka ePunta Gorda ngeminyaka yee-1960

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 251]

UBecky noAlejandro Lacayo

[Umbhalo ochaza umfanekiso okwiphepha 252, 253]

Esi sakhiwo sentsimbi singezantsi ngoku siyiHolo yeNdibano, (esekunene)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 253]

IHolo yeNdibano ephuculiweyo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 254]

Abazalwana noodade kwisiza seHolo yoBukumkani yaseBelize City enemigangatho emibini