Inini ndakabahwa mu gore ra 1927 ku Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Vabari vangu vakabara vana vanokwana kuita vashanu, Jetha, Don, inini, Karl, na Joy. Tese takatema civaringo cokuita zvese zvatinokwanisa pa kushandira kwedu Jehovha. Jetha wakakurusari Cikora co Giriyadhi mu gore ra 1943. Hama jangu jimweni jinokwana kuita ndhatu jakaenda ku Bheteri ro Brooklyn New York. Don wakaenda mu gore ro 1944, Karl wakaenda mu gore ro 1947, Joy wakaenda mu gore ro 1951. Muezaniso wavo no wo vabari vangu wakandivangisa maningi.

Baba wangu vaiverenga Baibheri, cimwenizve vainga no rudo na Jehovha. Ivona vakatijijisa kuti tidevo Jehovha. Pasure po kuhwa Hondo Yokutanga yo Nyika Yese yo ku Europe, baba wangu avazivizve kuzoreremejazve zviara. Zvecivoneka kuti mai wangu vakadakara maningi ngo kuvona papa vecivha ku hondo vari penye, ivona vakadakara maningi vovavhunja kudari: “Karl ngatihwirirezve kugerejha.” Pondhopo babangu vakati: “Ndinoenda na iwewe mbhera ku gerejheyo asi inini andizonghwini mukatimo.” Ivona vakavhunjisa kuti: “Ngenyi amuzonghwini?” Ivona vakati: “Ngokuti hondo payaiinga yeciitika, vandhu vamweni vo gerejha iri vakaitira mukumbiro masoca pamwepo no nvuti javo, waro kureva kuti Mwari waibesera mativi maviri aya?”

Njiku imweni mai wangu pavainga vari kugerejha Zvapupu zviviri zvakagogoja musuvo. Ivona vakapekeja babangu zvimabhuku zviviri zvainga no musoro waiti Luz, zvaibhuya ngo pamusoro po bhuku ra Apokaripisi. Baba wangu vakazvidakarira vozviashira. Perapo mai wangu pavakavona zvimabhuku zviya vakatanga kuzviverenga. Njiku imweni vakavona masoko pa jhornari aikoka vandhu kuti vajije Bhaibheri vecishandisa zvimabhuku zviya ivona vakatema civaringo co kwenda kojija. Pavakaguma konayo mwanakaji umweni wakavafunungurira musuvo, perapo mai wangu vakavakhombija bhuku ravainga naro vovavhunjisa kudari: “Kureva kuti muri kujija bhuku iri pano?” Mwanakaji wiya wakadavira kudari: “Hina munganghwina.” Pa sumana yakatevera, ivona vakatora inini no hama jangu kwenda kondhoyo, pasure pa izvi sumana jese taienda kondhoyo.

Pavhaza imweni pamusongano, muiti wo divi wakandikumbira kuti ndiverenge Nduyo 144:15 inonanga kuti vaya vanonamata Jehovha vakadakara.  Inini ndakadakarira maningi vhesi iyi, ndakadakarirazve bhuku ra—1 Timoti 1:​11, rinobhuya kuti Jehovha ndi “Mwari wakadakara,” na Vaefeso 5:​1, inonanga kuti tinodikana kuva “vatevejeri va Mwari.” Inini ndakazwisisa kuti ndaidikana kudakara ngo kushandira Musiki wangu no kumubongesera ngo ndava yo cidakajiso ici. Inini ndiri kueja kuita zviro zviviri izvi mu upenyu hwangu wese.

Ungano yainga phedo no pamuzi pedu yainga ku Chicago, kuvha pondhopo kwenda konayo painga no makiromita anokwana kuita 32. Pikija zvakadaro taienda kondhoyo sumana jese kuti tivone musongano cimwenizve kuziva kwangu Bhaibheri kwaiengejeka. Ndiri kuceukija vhaza imweni muiti wo divi wakakumbira Jetha kuti apekeje mupinguro. Paainga ecidavira inini ndakarangarira kudari: ‘Inini ndaiuziva mupinguro uwu. Inini ndaizotomusavo mukono wangu kuti ndipevo mupinguro.’ Kuvhira pondhopo ndakatanga kunasirira no kupavo mupinguro. Asi caisisira maningi kwandiri no hama jangu cainga co kuvangisa ushamwari hwedu na Jehovha. Inini ndakabhabhatijwa mu gore ro 1941.

Inini ndiri kuceukija gungano rimweni rakaithwa ku Cleveland, Ohio mu gore ro 1942. Vandhu vainga mu ndau jinokwana kuita 50 jo ku United States vainga vecivona urongwa uwu vecishandisa foni. Mbhuri yedu no hama jimweni takaenda kogara ku ndau imweni phedo no paiizihwa gunganoro. Nyika yainga yecihwisana no Hondo Yocipiri yo Nyika Yese, cimwenizve kuteverehwa ko Zvapupu zva Jehovha kwainga kweciengejeka. Pa usiku hwumweni ndakavona hama jainga jakaimisa karu javo vakasotesa rujhu jo karujo ndhambo no pataingaro tiri. Hama jese jaingaro no karu jakazwirana kuti jive no vangwaririri kuitira kungwarira karu javo. Pavaizozwa citatijo ciri cese, hama jaizorija mabhuzina no kubwakija rujhu javo vecithoca vandhu vanongaro veciviya kovahwisa, ngokuita izvi vamweni vaizoviya kovabesera. Pandakavona izvi ‘ndakazwisisa kuti vandhu va Jehovha vakanasiririka mukuvo wese,’ ngo kudaro, inini ndakavata ndakagajana, apana na umwe wedu wakava no cineso.

Pa makore akatevera, pandakaima ndorangarira ngo pamusoro po gungano riya ndakazwisisa kuti mai wangu avazivi kumbokhombija kuthya. Ivona vainasa kuthemba Jehovha no sangano rake, narini andizokanganwi muezaniso wavo.

Pa mukuvo mushomani gungano riya ricito raithwa mai wangu vainga vaapiyona wo nguva jese. Ngo kudaro, ivona vainasa kupurutana ushoni hurukuro jaibhuya ngo pamusoro po nguva yakazara. Patainga tecihwirira kumuzi, ivona vakati: “Inini ndaidakarira kwenderera mberi ndiri piyona asi inini andizokwanisi kuita izvi no kwenderera mberi ndecitaja mbhuri ndiri ndega.” Pondhopo ivona vakavhunjisa dangani taizokwanisa kubesera. Itusu takadavira kuti hina. Ngo kudaro, ivona vakatigaja kuti ticenese zviri zvese comangwanani matabhishu acito aithwa, perapo tozoenda kucikora. Ivona vaiva no cokwadi cokuti nyumba yainga yakacena, perapo voenda mubasa ro kucumaera. Ivona vainga vakabatikana asi vaititaja ushoni. Potaivha kucikora taiguma pamuzi vakatiimira kuti tihe. Njiku jimweni pataivha kucikora taienda navo mubasa rokucumaera, zvondhozvo zvakatibesera kuzwisisa upenyu wo mupiyona.

Inini ndakava piyona pandainga no makore anokwana kuita 16. Pikija babangu vainga vaciripi Capupu ca Jehovha, ivona vaida kuziva kuti ndaiyenda kwapi. Pausiku humweni inini ndakananga kuti pikija ndiri kuvangisira maningi andiripi kuwana mundhu wokujija naye Bhaibheri. Inini ndakaima ndovhunjisa baba kudari: “Maidakarira kujija na inini Bhaibheri?” Ivona vakarangarira padoko vonanga kudari: “Andiripi kuvona thangwe ringandiitisa kuti nditame kuita zvondhozvo.” Ngo kudaro, inini ndakava no cidakajiso co kujija Bhaibheri na baba wangu inga mujiji wangu wo kutanga.

Itusu taijija bhuku rinozwi “Cokwadi Cinozomusujunura.” Inini ndakazwisisa kuti baba wangu vainga vecindibesera kuti ndive mujijisi waushoni no kutojija maningi Bhaibheri. Inga muezaniso, potaijija taiverenga ndima perapo ivona vainanga kudari: “Ndazwisisa zvanangari bhuku iri, waro iwewe unozvizivisa kudini kuti bhuku iri ngorokadi?” Inini ndainga ndicizivi kunasiririka kuitira zvondhozvo. Inini ndakavadavira kudari: “Andikwanisi kumudavira shwiro iyi wari uno, patinozojijazve pa hwendo unotevera ndinozomudavira.” Inini ndakakwanisa kuwana mupinguro wakona cimwenizve, ndakakwanisa kuwana vhesi yaivonesa kuti zvataingaro tecijija zvainga zvokadi. Kuvhira pondhopo inini ndakatanga kupsakisisa no kunasirira ushoni kuitira jijo. Izvi zvakandibesera kuti ndikure ku divi ro kumujimu no kubeseravo babangu. Ivona vakatanga kushandisa zvavainga vecijija perapo vakazobhabhatijwa mu gore ra 1952.

Inini ndakabuda pamuzi pandainga no makore anokwana kuita 17. Jetha a wakava misiyonario, Dhon wakava Bheterita. Vovaviri vaida maningi mabasa avakagajwari, zvondhozvo zvaindivangisa maningi. Ngo kudaro, ndakatara petisau yo kwenda ku Bheteri no yo kwenda ku Giriyadhi. Perapo ndakasiya kuti Jehovha andigaje kwiya kwaaida. Ngowapi wakazova muviyo? Inini ndakakokwa kuti ndiende ku Bheteri mu gore ro 1946.

Pa makore anokwana kuita 75 ndiri pa Bheteri inini ndakagajwa mabasa akasiyana-siyana. Cimwenizve, ndakajijira zviro zvizinji. Inga muezaniso, kuimprimiri mabhuku, kontabhiridhadhi, kutenga zviro zvaidiwa pa Bheteri no kutora zviro zvimweni kuitira kuzvitumira ku ndau imweni. Cinosisira maningi kwandiri i kubesehwa ngo Bheteri kuti ndikure kudivi ro kumujimu, inga muezaniso, kunamata ko mangwanani no hurukuro kuitira mbhuri yo pa Bheteri.

Cimwenizve, inini ndakajijira maningi no munukuna wangu Karl, iyena wakaviya pa Bheteri mu gore ra 1947. Iyena wainga mujiji no mujijisi waushoni wo Bhaibheri. Pano vhaza imweni yandakakumbira besero rake kuti ndiite hurukuro yandainga ndakagajwa. Inini ndakamuvhunja kuti ndainga ndapsakisisa zvakawanda asi andicaikwanisepi kushandisa zvandaingaro ndawana. Ngo kudaro, iyena wakandivhunjisa kudari: “Joel, ngowapi musoro wo hurukuro yako?” Inini ndakazwisisa fundo ngo kukasika,  ndakavona kuti ndaidikana kushandisa zviya zvaizwirana no hurukuro yangu, ndosiya zvimweni pamutivi. Andizivi kumbokanganwa zvaakandijijisari.

Kuti tikwanise kuva no mudakaro pa Bheteri tinodikana kuita zvese zvatinokwanisa mu basa ro kucumaera, kuita izvi zvinotivangisa. Inini ndinoceukija pandakaenda koita hwiririro no hama imweni comadeko ku dhorobha ro Bronx ku New York. Tainga tecienda kohwiririra mwanakaji umweni wainga akaashira revhista Murindiri no mukai. Itusu takatanga ngo kunanga kudari: “Tiri kufamba tecibesera vandhu kuzwisisa cokwadi cinonangwa ngo Bhaibheri, ngo kudaro, mwanakajiwo wakadavira kuti kudari iri shwiro yo Bhaibheri munganghwina.” Itusu takabhuya no kuverenga mavhesi akawanda ngo pamusoro po Umambo hwa Mwari no nyika imbza. Iyena wakatoshamaisika maningi zvokuti wakatokokavo shamwari jake jimweni kuti jiviye kuzozwa masoko ngo pamusoro po Bhaibheri pa hwendo hwakatevera. Pakufamba ko nguva, iyena no mwamuna wake vakava vashandiri va Jehovha vakagondeka.

Ndicito ndacadha ndakapeja makore anokwana kuita 10 ndecipsaka wo kurovorana naye. Munoziva kuti zvicinyi zvakandibesera kuti ndiwane mukaji waushoni? Inini ndakaita mukumbiro no kurangarira kudari: ‘Zvicinyi zvandinozoita ndikapera kucadha?’

Pasure po gungano rakaithwa mu gore ro 1953 ku ndau imweni yo Yankee inini ndakaziva hambzaji imweni yaidanijwa kuti Mary Aniol. Iyona yainga yakakurusari cikora co Giriyadhi pamwepo na Jetha perapo vaishanda vese inga ma misiyonario. Mary wakandisanangurira ngo pamusoro po mabasa aakaita ku Caribbean no jijo jo Bhaibheri jaakaitisa no mabasa amweni aakaita pa makore ese akapera. Mukuvo pawaipinda rudo wedu ku umwe no umweni waikura, takazocadha mu Abril mu gore ro 1955. Kovhaza jakawanda inini ndakazwisisa kuti Mary wainga cipo cakavha kuna Jehovha kwandiri. Cimwenizve waindijijisa zviro zvinosisira. Iyena wainga no mudakaro pa basa riri rese raaigajwa. Iyena waivangisira maningi, kuneseka ngo vamweni no kudira basa rake pakutanga. (Mateu 6:33) Takashanda inga vavonereri vo ndharaundha ko makore matatu perapo mugore ro 1958 takakokwa kuti tiende koshandira ku Bheteri.

Inini ndakajijira zvakawanda na iyena. Inga muezaniso, patakapera kucadha takatema civaringo co kuverenga Bhaibheri tiri tese, njiku no njiku taiverenga mavhesi anokwana kuita 15. Itusu taibhuisana ngo zvatinongaro tapera kuverenga no kuvona kuti tingazvishandisa kudini mu upenyu hwedu. Mary waindivhunja ngo zviro zvaakajija ku Giriyadhi no basa rake inga misiyonario. Zvandakajijirari kuvha kwaari zvakandibesera kuitisa nane hurukuro jangu no kuvona kuti ndingaitisa kudini kuti ndivangise hambzaji jimweni.—Mazwi Akangwara 25:11.

Mukaji wangu wandaida maningi Mary wakafa mu gore ro 2013. Inini ndinoda kuzovonanazve naye mu nyika imbza. Ucito waguma mukuvo uwu, inini ndatema civaringo co kwenderera mberi ndecijijira ngo pamusoro pa Jehovha no kumuthemba ngo mwoyo wese. (Mazwi Akangwara 3:​5, 6) Kuziva kuti vandhu va Jehovha ngozvapi zvavanozoita mu nyika imbza zvinonditondhoja no kundidakajisa. Ndino cokwadi cese kuti mu nyika imbza tinozojijira zvakawanda ngo pamusoro pa Jehovha. Andina magama o kubongesera Jehovha ngo zvese zvaakandijijisa mbhera wari no unyasha hwese ucikaezanisihwi waakandikhombijira.