Isikhathi ngu-6:45 ekuseni eTuxedo, eNew York. Isibhakabhaka siluhlaza, kuneqhwa phezu kwechibi elincane eliseduze kwesakhiwo esinezitezi ezine okungena kuso izinsizwa nezintombi. Njengoba begqoke izingubo zokusebenza namabhuzu, beze lapha namuhla ekuseni besuka emahhotela nasezindaweni zokuhlala ezikule ndawo, nakwezinye izingxenye zesifunda—ePatterson, eWallkill ngisho naseBrooklyn eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-80.

Nokho, kukhona nabanye abake bafika kule ndawo, iningi labo belivela ezindaweni eziqhele nakakhulu, kuzo zonke izingxenye ze-United States nakwamanye amazwe. Beze ngokuzithandela ukuzosebenza lapha—abanye basebenza isonto elilodwa, abanye ayisithupha, abanye bahlala isikhathi esijana kunaleso. Bazikhokhele bona izindleko zokuza lapha futhi abaholelwa ngomsebenzi abawenzayo. Kodwa bayakujabulela ukuba lapha.

Namuhla balinganiselwa ku-120 abakhona, kodwa ezinyangeni ezizayo lelo nani lozokwanda. Bangena egunjini lokudlela bahlale babe yishumi etafuleni ngalinye. Abaningi baziphuzela ikhofi njengoba kuzwakala iphunga likabhekeni elivela ekhishini. Ngo-7:00 ekuseni amathelevishini aveza ingxoxo yomBhalo weBhayibheli. Ngemva kwemizuzu engu-15 oweta babeka ukudla ematafuleni. Babeka ubhekeni, isinkwa, amaqanda nedokwe. Basina bazibethele.

Ngemva komthandazo wokuphetha lapho sebeqedile ukudla, baya emsebenzini. Abakhayo bayachwaza njengoba begqoka omakalabha, izibuko ezivikela amehlo, izingubo ezigqamile namabhande okufaka amathuluzi.

Umsebenzi abawenzayo uwukuguqula indawo eyayiyi-International Paper Company eTuxedo ibe indawo yokuhlela umsebenzi wokwakha indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova, ezokwakhiwa budebuduze nalapho, edolobheni laseWarwick. Izakhiwo ezikhona kakade ziyalungiswa ukuze zibe amagumbi okuhlala, amahhovisi, amagumbi okusebenzela nawokugcina amathuluzi. NgoLwesibili, ngo-March 12, 2013, abaqondisi bokwakheka kwedolobha bagunyaza ipulani lesakhiwo saseTuxedo ngaphansi kwemibandela ethile.

Zamukelwa kanjani izisebenzi zokuzithandela zesikhashana lapho zifika ezindaweni zazo zokuhlala? “Lapho ufika,” kusho uWilliam waseNew Jersey, “abafowethu endaweni okufikela kuyo izivakashi bayakuchazela ukuthi igumbi lakho likuphi, ufika kanjani kulo nokuthi okhiye basetshenziswa kanjani. Bonke abantu bayakusiza. Ngemva kokudla kwasekuseni, uya eTuxedo lapho uyohlangana khona nomqondisi weqembu, ozobe esechaza lokho enizobe nikwenza.”

Kunjani ukusebenza lapha? UYajaira nomkakhe bavela ePuerto Rico futhi basiza ekufakeni izinhlaka zamafasitela namabhodi asodongeni. Uthi: “Sivuka ngo-4:30 ekuseni. Sihlanza igumbi lethu, siphuze ikhofi bese siyogibela ibhasi esililungiselelwe. Lapho usuku luphela sisuke sikhathele, kodwa sihlale sihleka. Wonke umuntu ujabulile.”

Indawo yaseWarwick izungezwe ihlathi. UZach noBeth umkakhe, bavela eMinnesota futhi basiza ekulungiseni indawo okuzokwakhiwa kuyo eWarwick. Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi kungani beze lapha, uBeth uthi: “Ayikho into ekuphileni edlula ukukhonza uJehova. Sifuna ukusebenzisa amakhono ethu ekumkhonzeni.”