NGATALWA nga-1926, ngaba ngumtfwana wesikhombisa kulabasiphohlongo. Ngatalwa batali labakhutsele, eKarítsa, lokulidolobha lelincane laseGreece.

Nga-1925, batali bami bahlangana na-John Papparizos lobekanguMfundzi weliBhayibheli, njengoba boFakazi baJehova bebatiwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhatsi, lobekakhutsele futsi atsandza kukhuluma. Njengoba bebayijabulela indlela John lebekabonisana ngayo ngemiBhalo, bacala kuya emihlanganweni yebaFundzi beliBhayibheli lebeyikhona endzaweni yakitsi. Make bekanekukholwa lokucinile kuNkulunkulu Jehova futsi nanobe abengakafundzi lokuyaphi, loko besakufundze eBhayibhelini bekakucocela labanye noma nini lapho kuvela litfuba khona. Lokubuhlungu, babe yena wanaka kakhulu emaphutsa alabanye lokwenta kutsi kancane kancane agcine angasayi emihlanganweni yebuKhristu.

Mine nebantfwana bakitsi sasilihlonipha liBhayibheli kodvwa ekukhuleni kwetfu sasiphatanyiswa kutsandza injabulo njengebantfu labasha. Kamuva, nga-1939 kwacubuka iMphi Yelive yesibili e-Europe, ngako ngekushesha endzaweni yakitsi kwaba nesimo lebesingakasindzeli. Umzala wetfu Nicolas Psarras lobekangumakhelwane, lobekasandza kubhatjatiswa njengaFakazi, wacindzetelwa kutsi ajoyine emasotjeni. Nicolas lobekaneminyaka lengu-20 budzala, ngesibindzi watjela letikhulu temasotja watsi: “Ngeke ngilwe ngoba ngilisotja laKhristu.” Watekiswa licala yinkantolo yemasotja futsi wagwetjwa iminyaka lelishumi asejele. Ngako samangala!

Lokujabulisako, ekucaleni kwa-1941, Umfelandzawonye wemasotja wefika e-Greece futsi Nicolas wakhululwa ejele. Waphuma wabuyela eKarítsa, lapho khona umnaketfu lomdzala amphonsa imibuto leminyenti mayelana neliBhayibheli. Ngalalelisisa. Ngemuva kwaloko mine naIlias kanye nadzadze wetfu lomncane Efmorfia, sacala kudadisha liBhayibheli futsi sase siya njalo emihlanganweni kanye naboFakazi. Ngemnyaka lolandzelako satinikela kuJehova futsi sabhatjatiswa. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, bantfwana  bakitsi labane baba boFakazi labetsembekile.

Nga-1942, libandla laseKarítsa laba nebazalwane nabodzadze labasebasha lebebaseminyakeni yabo-15 kuya kubo-25. Sonkhe besati kutsi besilindzelwe bumatima. Ngako, kute siticinise besihlangana ndzawonye noma nini lapho sitfola litfuba kuze sitadishe liBhayibheli, sihlabele tingoma tembuso futsi sithantaze. Ngenca yaloko, kukholwa kwetfu kwacina.

Njengoba iMphi Yelive yesibili beseyiphela, emakhomanisi langemaGriki avukela umbuso wahulumende wemaGriki lokwabangela imphi lenkhulu yasekhaya. Emasotja emakhomanisi lebekahlala emahlatsini ahlasela live lonkhe, atsatsa takhamuti ngenkhani kutsi tiyojoyina emabutfo awo. Ngesikhatsi ahlasela indzawo yakitsi, bangitfumba ngikanye nalabanye boFakazi labasebasha labatsatfu lokungu—Antonio, Tsoukaris,naIlias. Sabachazela kutsi singemaKhristu langatingeneli timphi, kodvwa basishucisa ema-awa langu-12 kusuka endzaweni yakitsi siye eNtsabeni i-Olympus.

Ngekushesha ngemuva kwaloko lesinye sikhulu semakhomanisi sasitjela kutsi asijoyine licembu lemasotja asehlatsini. Ngesikhatsi simchazela kutsi emaKhristu eliciniso akatingeneli timphi, lelisotja lebelitfukutsele ligcwele kokane, lasihudvulela kumphatsi walo lomkhulu. Ngesikhatsi simchazela lomphatsi lomkhulu ngetinkholelo tetfu, watsi: “Nakunjalo-ke tsatsani umnyuzi nilayishe labo labalimele emphini nibamikise esibhedlela.”

Saphendvula satsi: “Sitakwenta njani nangabe sibanjwa ngemasotja ahulumende? Ngeke yini basibheke njengebavukeli bembuso?” Ngako watsi: “Nakunjalo mikiselani emasotja lahamba embili kulemphi tinkhwa.” Saphindze sabonisana naye satsi: “Sitokwenta njani nangabe lelinye lisotja leliphetse lisibona nalomnyuzi bese lisitjela kutsi asilayishe tikhali sitimikise kulabo labasembili kulemphi?” Lomphatsi lomkhulu wacabangisisa ngaloludzaba lwetfu. Ekugcineni wamemeta watsi: “Kulungile ke, hambani niyolusa timvu! Hlalani etintsabeni ninakekele lemihlambi.”

Ngako njengoba imphi yasekhaya yayishuba, sobatsatfu bonembeza betfu basikhulula kutsi singahamba siyolusa letimvu. Ngemuva kwemnyaka silapho, Ilias, njengoba bekunguye lomdzala, bamvumela kutsi abuyele ekhaya ayonakekela make lobesangumfelokati. Antonio wagula futsi naye bamkhulula. Noma kunjalo, mine ngasala njengesitfunjwa.

Ngaleso sikhatsi emasotja emaGriki bekasondzela lapho bekunemakhomanisi khona. Lelicembu lebelingitfumbile labalekela etintsabeni tase-Albania. Ngesikhatsi sesiyofika emnceleni, satikhandza sesitungeletwe ngemasotja emaGriki. Lamavukelambuso esaba futsi abaleka. Ngabhaca emuva kwesihlahla lebesiwile, lokungiko lokwangenta ngahlangana nalamasotja lengikhulume ngawo ekucaleni.

Ngesikhatsi ngiwatjela lamasotja kutsi bengitfunjwe ngemakhomanisi angitsatsa angiyisa enkambu yawo leseVéroia, lokulidolobha lelidzala leliBhayibheli laseBeroea kute bayongiphenya. Nangifika lapho ngatjelwa kutsi angigubhe imigodzi yekubhaca yemasotja. Lapho ngala kuyigubha lemigodzi, umphatsi wemasotja watsi angiyiswe esichingini  lesesabekako saseMakrónisos (Makronisi), lapho kujeziselwa khona emasotja langalaleli.

I-Attica lengemakhilomitha langu-50 kusuka e-Athens iyabandza, ayinamanti futsi inelidvwala lelikhulu lelishiswe lilanga lelibitwa ngekutsi yiMakrónisos. Lesichingi singemakhilomitha langu-13 budze, bese kutsi indzawo yaso lenkhulu ingemamitha langu-500 bubanti. Nanobe kunjalo, kusukela nga-1947 kuya ku-1958, lesichingi besihlala tiboshwa letingetulu kwa-100 000, lokufaka ekhatsi labo lebebangemakhomanisi nalabo lebebasolwa kutsi bangiwo, emavukelambuso kanye naboFakazi BaJehova labanyenti.

Ngesikhatsi ngifika ekucaleni kwa-1949, letiboshwa betihlukanisiwe futsi tihlala etinkambu letehlukene. Ngabekwa enkanjini lengakagadvwa kakhulu kanye nalamanye emadvodza langemakhulu lambalwa. Besingu-40 tsine lebesilala ethendeni leliseyili lebelakhelwe kutsi lifake bantfu langu-10. Besinatsa emanti lanukako futsi sidla ema-lentils nema-eggplants. Tintfuli nemoya longapheli bekwenta kuphila kube matima. Noko bekuncono ngoba besingatfutsi ematje, siwehlisa siwenyusa, lokukuphatfwa lokubi lokunesihluku futsi lokulimete imitimba netingcondvo yetiboshwa letinyenti.

Ngalelinye lilanga ngihamba elugwini lwelwandle ngahlangana naboFakazi lebebakuletinye tinkambu. Sajabula kakhulu ngekuhlangana! Kute sibalekele kutsi singabanjwa, sasingahlangani njalo. Sasiphindze sishumayele ngasense kuletinye tiboshwa, futsi kamuva tagcine setiboFakazi BaJehova. Lokushumayela kanye nemithantazo lesuka enhlitiyweni kwasisita kutsi sihlale sinebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu.

Ngemuva kwetinyanga letilishumi ngigcinwe kulenkambu, lamasotja ancuma kutsi sale ngigcoka timphahla temasotja. Ngesikhatsi ngala, bangihudvulela enkambu yemphatsi. Nganika lendvodza incwadzi lebengiyibhalile lebeyitsi: “Ngifuna kuba lisotja laKhristu.” Ngemuva kwekungisongela, lomphatsi wangendlulisela kulobekalisekela lakhe, lobekangumbhishobhi lomkhulu wema-Orthodox lobekagcoke timphahla telisontfo. Ngesikhatsi ngiyiphendvula ngesibindzi imibuto yakhe ngisebentisa liBhayibheli, wavele watfukutsela watsi: “Msuseni la. Unenhloko lelikhuni!”

Ngakusasa ekuseni, lamasotja aphindze atsi angigcoke letimphahla temasotja. Lapho ngala, angishaya ngetibhakela nangesicwayi. Base bangimikisa esibhedlela bayobuka kutsi angikaphuki yini ematsambo ngesikhatsi bangishaya, baphindze bangibuyisela emuva ethendeni lami. Lokungihlukubeta kwachubeka tinyanga letimbili.

Ngesizatfu sekutsi bengingagucuki kuloko lengikukholelwako, lamasotja ase azama lenye indlela yekungivisa buhlungu. Akhungela tandla tami ngemuva ase angishaya kabuhlungu langephansi kwetinyawo ngetintsambo. Kulobo buhlungu lobumatima, ngakhumbula emavi aJesu latsi: “Niyajabula nangabe bantfu banihlambalata, baniphatsa kabi . . Jabulani nitfokote, ngenca yekutsi umvuzo wenu mkhulu ezulwini, ngobe nebaphrofethi baphatfwa ngaleyo ndlela.” (Mat. 5:11, 12) Ngaze ngalanyulelwa kutsi ngiculeke ngobe bebangishaya bangayekeli.

Ngavuka endlini yetiboshwa lebeyibandza kakhulu ngingenako kudla, emanti nobe ingubo. Nome kunjalo ngakhona kusibeketelela leso simo lesimatima. Njengoba liBhayibheli litsembisa, “kuthula kwaNkulunkulu” kwayilondza inhlitiyo yami nengcondvo yami. (Fil. 4:7) Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, lelinye lisotja lebelinemusa langinika sinkhwa kanye nelijazi. Kamuva, lelinye lisotja langinika kudla kwalo. Kuloko kanye nalokunye lobekwentekile, ngabona kutsi nguJehova lebekanginakekela.

Baphatsi balenkambi batsi ngilivukela mbuso lelinenhloko lelikhuni, ngako ngatfunyelwa e-Athens kute ngiyotekiswa licala enkantolo yemasotja. Lapho, ngagwetjwa iminyaka lemitsatfu ejele eYíaros (eGyaros) lokusichingi lesingemakhilomitha langu-50 ngasemphumalanga yeMakrónisos.

Lijele laseYíaros bekusakhiwo lesikhulu lesiyinkimbinkimbi lesakhiwe ngetitini letibovu lebelihlala tiboshwa letingemavukelambuso letingetulu kwa-5 000. BekunaboFakazi baJehova labasikhombisa lebebaboshelwe kungatingeneli tindzaba tepolitiki. Besihlangana ngasense kute sitadishe ndzawonye  liBhayibheli, nanobe bekungakavunyelwa. Besihlale sitfola ikhophi yeSicongosekulindza lebeyitfolakala ngetindlela letibhacile, lebesibese siyikopa ngesandla kute siyisebentise nasitadisha.

Ngalelinye lilanga lapho sihlangene sitadisha, lobekagadze lijele wasibamba njengobe besihlangene futsi watsatsa tincwadzi tetfu. Sabitelwa ehhovisi lalobekasekela umphatsi welijele, futsi besesikulindzele kutsi tigwebo tetfu titawengetwa. Kunaloko, loyo lolisekela lemphatsi welijele watsi: “Siyati kutsi nibobani futsi siyanihlonipha. Siyati nekutsi singanetsemba. Buyelani emsebentini.” Waze waniketa labanye betfu imisebenti lemelula. Sajabula kakhulu. Ngisho nobe sisejele, kwetsembeka kwetfu njengemaKhristu kuyamdvumisa Jehova.

Kungagucuki kwetfu kwaletsa naleminye imiphumela lemihle. Lesinye siboshwa lebesinguphrofesa wetibalo satsintseka nasibuka indlela lebesitiphatsa ngayo, saze sabuta imibuto mayelana netinkholelo tetfu. Ngesikhatsi tsine boFakazi sikhululwa nga-1951, naso sakhululwa. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, saba nguFakazi lobhatjatisiwe futsi saba ngumshumayeli wasikhatsi sonkhe.

Ngemuva kwekukhululwa kwami, ngabuyela emndenini wakitsi eKarítsa. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, mine nalabanye satfutsela eMelbourne e-Australia. Lapho, ngahlangana naJanette, dzadze lokahle, sashada futsi saba nendvodzana nemadvodzakati lamatsatfu lesabakhulisa ngendlela yekutsi batsandze Jehova.

Lamuhla, nanobe sengineminyaka lengetulu kwalengu-90, solo ngisekhutsele njengalomdzala ebandleni. Ngesizatfu sekutsi ngalimala kakhulu nangishaywa, umtimba wami kanye netinyawo tami kuhle kuba buhlungu ikakhulukati nangabe ngiye kuyoshumayela. Nanobe kunjalo, ngisetimisele kakhulu kuba ‘lisotja laKhristu.’—2 Thim. 2:3.