Gogo Nkala Newsletter No 7

Lang’elihle Mthwakaz’omuhle! Siyabonga ukuhlangana njalo kuleli iviki singabaphilayo. Sigcinakele emuseni weNkosi owansuku zonke.

    Ngithemba inhlelo lezi ezikulesi sigcawu ziyakusiza mhlobo wami. Siyalangatha ukuzwa kuwe. Lapho ongezwisisi khona, uvunyelwe ukubuzisisa ukuze sonke sinyathele nganyawo lunye sisiya phambili.

GIYA MBONGI KAMTHWAKAZI

Lamhla silembongi ezimbili ezigiya phambi kwethu. Phela, izinkondlo zisifundisa ukuphila. Zenza siwuzwisise njalo siwuhloniphe umhlaba lo esiphila kuwo. Zenza sinwaye ubuchopho, kuhlume kithi imicabango emitsha, mhlawumbe besesibona impilo ngelinye ilihlo elitsha. Izinkondlo zithinta imibilini yethu.

Ake sizwe, setshise. Zithini lezi zimbongi zalamhla? Besesisenzani ngalokho?

  Nokubonga Mpofu

ELOMZALI ALIWELI PHANSI!

Ngiyakhumbula lezonsuku ngisalaywa

Njalo uMama esangikhuza.

Ngaqinisa ikhanda ngalithwala

Ngamtshela ukuba sewaphila eyakhe impilo.

Umama wayeluthela uswazi lomklampunzi

Lwehle ngomgogodla luze luthi khawu enqagaleni

Kodwa kukho konke wakha phansi

Ngaqinisa intamo yatshaya umqala.

Ngamtshela ukuba sengithombile

Ngathi sengikhulile

Sengifuna ukwakh’ owam’ umuzi.

Wangihanqa uMama, wancenga wahawula

Ethi, “Mntanami, bekezela! Isikhathi asibaleki.”

Watshaya phans’ umunt’ omdala;

Imizwa yomzimba yayisigijigijima.

Okumqoka, ngazibona ngisemayezini

Kwakungelamigoqo evimbileyo.

Ngavuk’ ekuseni,

Imitshaqana yami ekhanda khu!

Yimi lowaya ngifulathela iguma,

Wagaqa ngamadolo umunt’ omdala

Lelizwi laselitshil’ ebubula kabuhlungu.

Kwakuhel’ ethunjin’ egon’ isisu

Wagomel’ esithi, “O, Nkosi yami,

Ngowami na lo, owalala kulesi esami

Izinyang’ eziyisifica munwe munye?”

Bangenela labomakhelwana la ngikhona,

Bathi, “Buyel’ ekhaya mntwanyana!”

Ngathi, “Khuzani abenu litshiyane lami!”

Omama bebandla bathi, “Ungenwe yini wena?

“Woza kuJesu akwephul’ umthwalo!”

Ngathi, “Lake lambona lowo Jesu yini?”

Ngephulel’ isigod’ endlebeni.

Umhlaba wawusulikhaya lami

Ngathathwa ludumo ngakholis’ ubutsha

Ubumnandi bonke baziwa yimi,

Ngiphuma la, ngingene le

Lutho engingazange ngilunambithe.

Zadlula izinsuku, yeza inguquko

Ngazibona sengisel’ esikhaleni,

Abangane basobela ngamunye

Ngasala sengibamb’ umoya,

Sengiququbele ngiqhuqha

Usungumqando wodwa.

Ngasengivuthukile, sengimadabudabu,

Ngacabang’ ukubuyela kithi

Ngesaba ukuthi bazangixotsh’ okwenja

Kodwa ngasiqunga isibindi ngazibutha

Ngabhekis’ amabombo laph’ engiphuma khona.

Ngithe ngifik’ emasangweni

Zehla ngombombo

Sengikhumbula ubugabaz’ engabenzela uMama

Ngamangal’ engiwolela kwezakh’ ezifudumalayo

Ngentokozo wathi, “Fika ngane yami!

“Kade sakulinda, fika!”

Bangamukela ngothand’ olwesabekayo

Ngafund’ ukuthi,

Elomzali aliweli phansi.

Nokubonga Mpofu

 Lizom Ncube

UBUNTANDANE

Ubuntandane buyangizulazulisa

Ubuntandane buyangigqilazisa

Ngiyogqilazwa kuze kube nini Nkosi?

Siyafika nini esam’ isikhathi

Sokuphumula kwezam’ izinhlungu?

Min’ uzangithata mhla kutheni kul’ umhlaba?

Njengob’ uBaba sowamthatha,

Lami ngiyolala ngedwa zwi ngaphansi komhlabathi

Utshani, inhlabathi kunye lezihlahla

Yikh’ engizavusana lakho amavuku kuphela zwi.

Walala yedwa zwi uBaba

Ngaphansi kwesihlahla somgwadi,

Lami ngiyolala ngedwa zwi

Ngingabi ngisezwa lelizwi lonyenyezayo

Ngilele ngaphansi kwesomkhemeswane.

Ngiyokhulumisana lebhokisi lami

Lobhayana engizangcwatshwa ngalo.

Angazi langabe ngiyobe ngiyibonile na

Leya nsizwa eyangitshiya ngisakhasa

Ngingayibona ngizakuthi dili phansi,

Ngivuke ngitabayile ngiyiqonde nta

Ngingasagqize qhakala!

Izinhluph’ engizibon’ emhlabeni

Ngiyozilandisa zonke ngobunengi bazo

Kodwa phinde ngilibal’ abantwabam’ uqobo

Ngizabakhumbula ngazo zonk’ izinsuku.

Kwabaseleyo ngithi, “Lize lingigcinel’ izintandane zam’

Ngob’ intab’ ezikude zingumasithela.

Lizom Ncube

(Mahlokomisa Iqhawe Langempela)

AMASU AMQOKA EKULOBENI INOVELI

Dr Eventhough Ndlovu

ISIZINDA/ ISISUSA/ ISENDLALELO

Sesihlangene kuliviki lapho ebengithembise khona ukuthi sizaphatha khona udaba lokuthi uwulolonga njani umsebenzi wakho uwulungiselela ukuthi uye kozawudinda. Xolani, lokhu sengizakwenza kuviki ezayo ngoba ngibone kufanele ukuthi ngiqale ngibambe nje ngamafitshane udaba lwesizinda/isisusa/isendlalelo sendaba.

     Nxa umlobi emisa ukuthi ufuna ukuloba imibhalo yokuzibumbela, kumqoka ukuthi aveze sobala isisusa sendaba kumbe lokho okwendlalela indaba yakhe. Kumele kube sobala ukuthi yakhelwe ngaphi indaba yomlobi. Njengomzekeliso, singathi isisusa loba isendlalelo sogwalo, loba isisusa salo esiyiso esibumba indaba yimpi yenkululeko. Kumele kuvele ekulobeni ukuthi indaba yakhelwe kulesi isehlakalo. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kumele kube sobala kobalayo ukuthi enelise ukuthi nxa eselucubungula ugwalo avumelane lomlobi ukuthi isendlalelo siyavumelana lezehlakalo zogwalo.

    Esikhathini, isendlalelo loba isisusa kungaba yisehlakalo umlobi ahlangana laso empilweni loba esabakhona kumvelo okungaba yisiphepho loba impophoma zamanzi ezatshabalalisa impilo kazulu. Kuyenzeka njalo ukuthi kube yikuqhamuka komkhuhlane othile obe lempumela embi kuluntu loba ezifuyweni. Esikhathini, kungaba ngumkhankaso othile owadala umehluko omkhulu empilweni yoluntu njengendaba zamalungelo oluntu.

      

       Kuyenzeka njalo ukuthi isendlalelo lesi sakhelwe kusigaba esithile okungaba yisikhathi lapho abamhlophe bengakafiki, ngemva kokufika kwabamhlophe loba ngemva kukazibuse. Isendlalelo lesi sibumba isizinda sogwalo sikhangelane lesikhathi lendawo. Lokhu kugxile ekuthini yenzakala nini njalo ngaphi indaba. Kumele ofunda ugwalo azi ukuthi indaba yenzakala ngaphi njalo nini. Kumele umlobi abone ukuthi izehlakalo zakhe ezibumba indaba yogwalo zenzakala ngesikhathi esithile endaweni ethile. Kuvumelekile ukuthi izehlakalo zibe sezindaweni ezedlula eyodwa loba izikhathi ezehlukeneyo. Okumqoka yikuthi kumele kucace kolubalayo ugwalo ukuthi indaba yenzakala ngaphi njalo nini ukuze kube lula ukuyilandela lokuyizwisisa.

    Asihlangane kuviki ezayo lapho engizaphatha khona udaba lokuthi uwulolonga njani umsebenzi wakho uwulungiselela ukuthi uye kozawudinda.

Umlobi nguDr Eventhough Ndlovu ongumbalisi lomkhulu weDepartment of African Languages and Literature e-University yeZimbabwe.

UMUSA WANSUKU ZONKE

Amehlo Akho Ajonge Ngaphi?

Lamhla akesikhuthazane ngokuthi, amehlo akho ajonge ngaphi?

     Kanengi ngangizwe umuntu osekhulile esithi, “O, yaaa! Ukuguga ngamanyala!” Ukuguga akulanto enhle. Umzimba ubabuhlungu. Izinyama ziyatshwabhana, umuntu seyimixhele nje. Amadolo asebopha nko, umuntu usehamba etotoba. Amehlo asefiphele, indlebe sezibuthundu. Mhlawumbe lemlonyeni asengamabende wodwa. Onjalo umuzwa esesithi, “Nkosi, kungani ungangithathi?” Amehlo enhliziyo yakhe ayabe esejonge kwelinye ilizwe, lapho okulokuphumula khona.

     Loba umzimba uguga, kodwa inhliziyo, loba umuntu lo wangaphakathi yena kagugi. Ukutshikatshika ngenhlupho ezikhona emhlabeni kuyayihlukuluza ingqondo, idideke, ibune. Kuyamkhahlameza umuntu. Kodwa, umuntu wangaphakathi yena wala ephila, besekusithi amehlo enhliziyo ajonge okungabonwayo, okuyikho okumqoka empilweni. UMphostoli uPhawuli kwabaseKhorinte yesibili, isahluko 4, kumavesi ka 16 – 18, uthi: “Ngakho kasilahli themba. Lanxa ngaphandle sicikizeka, kodwa ngaphakathi senziwa sibe batsha izinsuku zonke.”

      Yebo kambe! Usuku lunye ngalunye luletha inguquko emzimbeni wami lo esiwubonayo ngamehlo uguquka, usiya ekuluphaleni. Kodwa umuntu wami wangaphakathi kagugi. UPhawuli uthi, ukuhlupheka kusilungiselela impilo enhle yentokozo kuNkulunkulu kwelizayo. Uthi, kulabo abakholiweyo kuNkulunkulu, konke ukuhlupheka okubakhona akusilutho nxa sikuqathanisa lenkazimulo ezayo. Ukutshikatshika ngokwesikhatshana nje, kusilungiselela ukubusiseka okungunaphakade. Kusafanele sikhuthazeke, sibe lekhangelelo elihle ngenxa yokholo esilalo, lethemba esilalo.

    KuloMama weMelika okwakuthiwa nguFanny Crosby. Wayelahlekelwe yikubona eyingane. Kodwa, uNkulunkulu wambusisa ngesipho esimangalisayo sobumbongi, lokuloba izingoma zokuhlabelela kudunyiswa uNkulunkulu. Waba nguMnali ebandleni lamaWisili. Embalini, uyazakala ngokuloba izingoma ezinengi esilokhu sizihlabela lalamuhla, sidumisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu. Bathi waloba izingoma ezingaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyisificamibili. Ezinye zazo yilezi: ‘Mawungangidluli Jesu,’ ‘Yindaba Yami Neculo Lam’, Ukumdumisa UJehova’, ‘Ngitshel’ Indaba KaJesu’, ‘Esiphambanweni’, lezinye. Watshiya ilifa elimangalisayo kithi amaKhristu.

      Kuthiwa-ke, omunye umfundisi wayemkhangela ngokumzwela okukhulu  uFanny Crosby, wasesithi, “Kuyadanisa ukuba uNkulunkulu kasakuphanga isipho sokubona, phezu kwezipho zonke lezi ezinye akupha zona.” Kuthiwa uMama lo, uFanny Crosby waphendula wathi, “Uyazi njani mzalwane, aluba ngangingaphiwa ithuba lokwenza isicelo esisodwa ekuzalweni kwami, ngangingacela ukuthi ngizalwe ngiyisiphofu, ukuze ngithi ngifika ezulwini, ubuso bokuqala engibubonayo bube yilobo obeNkosi loMsindisi wami.”

    

        Aaaa! Ngamazwi amangalisayo la ephuma emlonyeni womuntu oyisiphofu, umuntu esimzwelayo, esicabanga ukuthi uyahawula. Ikanti-ke, onjengoFanny Crosby, wayebona esingakuboniyo, ngamehlo enhliziyo. Amehlo akhe ayejonge kuNkulunkulu. Wena-ke? Awakho amehlo ajonge ngaphi Mhlobo wami?

Asithandaze: Nkosi, ngisiza ekuphileni kwami ngingagxili ezintweni ezidlulayo, eziyabuna njengotshani, zikhithike njengamaluba. Yenza amehlo ami ajonge ezintweni ezeyeme elizwini lakho elingunaphakade. Amen.

Barbara Nkala 2019

STORIES OF FAITH

Revelation 12:11 says: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; …”. When we tell testimonies of the Lord God’s power and saving grace on our lives, the devil slinks away tail between legs. So, let us share our amazing stories of God’s love in action and shame the evil one.

     We look forward to reading your own story of faith in the coming weeks. Your well-written story should be about 500 – 600 words. Send your story to: barbarankala@gmail.com. Selected stories will be compiled into an anthology of stories of faith.

     Look out for the next story in the series next week.

     Asihlanganeni njalo kuviki elizayo sibone ukuthi inkundla le isiphatheleni, Siyabonga ngayo yonke imisebenzi emihle evela kwabatsha. Ulimi luzaphila nxa abantwabethu betshengisa ukukhwabitha ulimi lwabo njalo begabaza ngalo. Sithi halala ngabalobi bethu laba! Esalela muva ixhakalwa yizinja! Musa ukulala!

     Ngiyalithanda, njalo ngiyabonga!

     Gogo Nkala

Gogo Nkala Newsletter No 6

IMVUSELELO YOLIMI LAMASIKO ESINDEBELE

Kuviki elidlulileyo sibike ngomhlangano owaba khona ekupheleni kukaNtulikazi koBulawayo eholu yamaKatolika kuLobengula Street. Kuqakathekile ukuvuselela ulimi lamasiko esiNdebele.

Kwaba lemibuzo thile ngemva kokuba izikhulumi sezikhulumile. Ukhona owabuza ukuthi, kuyini okungenziwa ukuba ulimi luqondiswe lulungiswe njengoba abanengi sebeluxhamanda nje. Nanzi ezinye izimpendulo ezaba khona.

1.   Kumele ibe khona iKomithi Yolimi LwesiNdebele engasikhokhela iseluleke ibonise eyiyona ndlela yolimi eqondileyo

2.  Kumele siziqhenye ngolimi lwethu, sizame ukulukhuluma lona qho singafakanga isikhiwa osokungani siyibukhwa.

3. Asinanzeleleni ukuba ulimi lukhula luqiniswe egumeni. Kalukhulunywe ulimi lwesiNdebele emakhaya ethu abantwana balufunde.

4.    Akukhuthazwe abathsa balobe ngesiNdebele. Abanengi babo bayalweyisa ulimi lwabo bafuna ukuloba ngesiNgisi kuphela. Abalobe ngaso, akwalelwa, kodwa bangakhohlwa badele olwabo ulimi.

5.  Asizijwayezeni ukubala izingwalo ezilotshwe ngesiNdebele. Nxa singalubali ulimi asisoze sikwazi ukululoba.

6.    Zama ukuzihlupha lapho ongalazi khona ibala lesiNdebele, ubuze kwabaziyo. Indlela ivele ibuzwa kwabaphambili.

7. Imisakazo ngesintu ayicelwe ukubana abasakazi bazame ukukhuluma ulimi oluqondileyo, bangaze baphonguhlanganisa befaka kakhulu amabala esiNgisi. Kuyalubulala ulimi lokho.

8. Iyasweleka inkundla lapho abantu abangahlangana khona bekhuthazana njalo bevuselela ulimi lamasiko amahle esiNdebele.

GIYA MBONGI KAMTHWAKAZI

Kuviki elidlulileyo ngikhulumile ngenye yezimbongi ezisakhulayo, uMethembe Mathuthu owethula inkondlo yakhe elombuzo okusamele uMthwakazi awuphendule. Liyabuza ijaha lakoMatrhuthu lithi, uthuleleni uMthwakazi izinto zisonakala.  UMethembe Mathuthu ngumfundi esikolo seSizane lapho enza khona lezizifundo ze ‘A’ Level: Ndebele Language, Ndebele Literature, History leReligious Studies. Ake uzizwele ukuthi ligiya lisithini ijaha, ngoba ukutshelwa yikuncitshwa. Zizwele, ube usuphendula.

Methembe Mathuthu

UTHULELENI MTHWAKAZI KANDABA?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uyibon’ engak’ indaba

Eqeda konk’ ukuthaba

Ngoba njengesihaqa gam’ iyababa

Futhi sezigcwele yonk’ indawo

Leziya nsaba

Injalo, njal’ iyahlaba

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Lutshabalal’ ulimi?

Khonanje isizwe yisizwe ngolimi

Pho uzakuba yin’ ungasela limi?

Vuka Mthwakazi uhlom’ ungavumi

Ukuba lubulaw’ olwakh’ ulim’ umi

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Kimi kuthi ngabe ngiyakhuluma

Ngoba lokuthula lakho kuyakhuluma

Ngolwam’ ulim’ angisoze ngavuma

Kumhlophe kumnyama

Ngawo wonk’ amandla

Ukuluqondisa ngizazama

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Sebekhulum’ isgamujakala

Ulimi lwamazimu

Izolo bebesith’ uNtombi uzithwele

Namhlanje bathi, ‘Bamtshay’ ishoti!’

Izolo bebesith’ ubaba

Namhlanje bath’ itopi

Izolo bebesithi umama

Namhlanje bathi umasalu

Pho uthuleleni,
Uphila lezimungul’ ezikhulumayo

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Buph’ ubuThwakazi bakho Mthwakazi?

Usulahle ulimi lweNkos’ uMzilikazi

Mthwakazi awusenguy’ uMthwakazi

Kodw’ usunguMuthwa ngob’ ungasela limi

Ngob’ usufelwe lulimi kwasal’ olulula

Njengosan’ olungamanzi

Olwakh’ ulimi aluseyil’ olwezazi

Obeluquketh’ ulwazi

Kodw’ oselukhona luzwis’ usizi

Yikho ngith’ uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Aluvuselelw’ ulimi

Sivuke njal’ isizwe

Imisakaz’ ayisakazwe

Izimbongi ngolimi lwakho

Zibhonge, zikhwaze

Imidlalo yesiNdebele idlalwe

Kuwo wonk’ amazwe

Abantwana bafundiswe,

Olimin’ olunxele baqondiswe

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba

Uyibon’ engak’ indaba?

Hatshi nje indaba

Kodw’ indaba yezindaba

Kodw’ ungakhohlwa

Akugoba lingeqondiswe lingagoba

Uthuleleni Mthwakazi kaNdaba?

Methembe Mathuthu

AMASU AMQOKA EKULOBENI INOVELI

ABALINGISWA

Dr. Eventhough Ndlovu

Sesihlangene kuliviki lapho esiphethe khona udaba lokuthi kumele ubethule njani abalingiswa ababumba njalo bavuthise indaba yakho. Ngizakwabelana lani amaqhinga amqoka okumele umlobi azindle ngawo nxa ecabanga ngabalingiswa bakhe.

1.       Okokuqala, kumele kube lomlingiswa omqoka onguye ovuthisa indaba yogwalo, okunguye indaba engaye sibisibili. Nguye lo mhlawumbe esizwelana laye; esihleka laye, sikhale laye. Nguye esiyabe sifisa ukubona ukuthi imigoqo ephambi kwakhe uzayidiliza njani.

2.      Okwesibili, kungaba labanye abalingiswa abasekela indikimba yendaba, abaphathisa ukuyiphehla lokuyivuthisa. Abalingiswa laba basekela umlingiswa omqoka njalo injongo yabo ngeyokuthi baphathise, baqhube ukwenzakala kwezehlakalo, babuye bavuthise indaba.

3.      Okwesithathu, bona ukuthi bonke abalingiswa bakho bayakholakala, bammela abantu abaphilayo, esingababona, esake sababona njalo sezwa ngabo. Akube ngabantu esingathi ngelihlo lengqondo nguzibani lo sibili! Akube ngabalingiswa obakhela kuzehlakalo zempilo. Asibabone bekhula, beguquka, ngoba kakho umuntu owala efana nje. Asibezwe bekhuluma, sithi ye, yikho ukwenza kwabantu abafana laye, bakhuluma kanje, benza kanje.

4.      Ababe lamabizo abalingiswa. Ungananzelela abalobi bakuqala bemibhalo yesiNdebele, babewuqhelile umkhuba wokwetha abalingiswa amabizo avele achaye sobala isimo lesimilo sabo. Babesetha amabizo akhulumayo afana laboMlahlwa, oMephi, oSolakele, oNyembezi, oNkanyiso, oMzondiwa, oPhetheni. Amabizo la ayakhuluma ngoba ahle enze obala ugwalo azi ukuthi umlingiswa lo udume ngani njalo ulesimilo esinjani kuzaphetha njani ngaye. Sekulenguquko khathesi ngoba abantu bananzelela ukuthi amabizo la aphange ayichaye indaba uhle wazi ukuthi izaphetha njani.

Limuka ukuthi abalingiswa bakho bangabi banengi kakhulu okusuka kwenze kubenzima ukuthi obala ugwalo ababambe ngekhanda acine engayilandeli kuhle indaba, isuke iphithikane ingalandeleki nje. Khumbula ukuthi ekucubunguleni ugwalo kumele umfundi azi abalingiswa ngekhanda. Ngakho-ke, ababe linani eliyilo elibambekayo ngekhanda.

Asihlangane kuviki ezayo mlobi, lapho engizaphatha khona udaba lokuthi uwulolonga njani umsebenzi wakho uwulungiselela ukuthi uwuphe lowo ozawudinda.

Umlobi nguDr Eventhough Ndlovu ongumbalisi lomkhulu weDepartment of African Languages and Literature e-University yeZimbabwe.

UMUSA WANSUKU ZONKE

BonguJesu Moya Wam’

Kulengoma esayifundiswa nguKhulu wethu. Kade-ke wadlula uKhulu, kodwa lalamhla lokhu, lapho esihlangana khona njengemuli siyayihlabela ngoba kwakube kukunengi kakhulu esikubongelayo. Ithi yona:

Bong’uJesu moya wam’, Bonga ngiyathaba,

BonguJesu moya wam’, BonguJesu!

   Ngisemfitshane ngangingazi ukuthi ingamazwi oMbhalo, ahaywa ngumhlabeleli wodumo, inkosi uDavida kuHubo 103:1,2 owathi: 

            Ibong’ iNkosi, mphefumulo wami,

            Lakho konke okuphakathi kwami,

 akubong’ ibizo layo elingcwele.

            Ibong’ iNkosi, mphefumulo wami,

            Ungakhohlwa ngalokho ekusize ngakho. 

   UMbhalo lo ngiwunanzelele sengingumuntu othe xaxa, ngibala iBhayibhili, ngathokoza ngathi, “Nanka amazwi engoma kaKhul’ uMakhalisa!”

   Lami-ke sengafunda ukubonga iNkosi ngezikhathi zonke. Kunengi iNkosi esenzela khona ukusa kwamalanga. Kunengi iNkosi eyikho khona ezimpilweni zethu. Lamhla ngiphumile ezingutsheni zami ngiphila. Bakhona abangavukanga. Ngiyabonga. Zikhona iziphofu ezingabuboniyo ubuhle bonke lobu engibubonayo. Ngiyezwa, ngiyakhuluma, ngiyazihambela lapho engifuna ukuya khona ngezinyawo zami. Zikhona izacuthe, lezimungulu, lezigoga. Laba bantu abakhethanga ukuba njalo. Ngilemuli enkulu elothando. Ukhona umuntu ongela labani, okhukhuzwa yisizungu aswele lokuthi udubo alalo angalubikela bani. Ngiyasihlephula isitshwala izinsuku zonke. Ukhona olala ngenqweqwe zomlomo. Ngingabalisa ngisabalisa litshone ilanga.

   Okusobala yikuthi, loba silezinhlupho esibindana lazo, loba sikhahlamezeka empilweni, sicindezelwa, sigulelwa, sifelwa; asibokuthi loba sicela usizo eNkosini sibe lokubonga. Ithemba elikhona yikuthi siyazuza ukuthula ngaleyo ndlela. Siyavuna izibusiso ngokubonga.

   Uma sikhumbula ngezindaba ezithile eziphathelene lokubonga eNcwadini eNgcwele, sibona ukuthi ukuba lenhliziyo ebongayo, kuba yikhiye ethile evulayo, besekuphuphuma izibusiso lamathamsanqa. Singakhangela indaba yabantu ababelobulephero, bamemeza uJesu becela ukusiliswa. Wathi kubo, “Hambani liyeziveza kubaphristi” (uLukha 17:14).  Besahamba, bazibona sebesilile. Isimanga sezimanga! Kodwa, ngoyedwa zwi owabuyela wayabonga. UJesu wamupha isibusiso sokuthi kahambe ayephila impilo egcweleyo.

   Ukubonga kuhle kakhulu. Kuyamthokozisa lobongwayo. Kuthi langabe ubebona sengathi konke okuhle akwenzayo akubonwa muntu, kuyize leze, athokoze, azizwe ethandeka. Usuka afise ukuhlala esenza okuhle.

   Ake ucabange. Umoya wakho uyambonga na uJehova? Usabala inhlanhla lezibusiso na? Ngubani owalibala ukumbonga ngokuthile, ongambonga lamhla? Yebo, vula ucingo uhle umtshayele. Umbonge, ubonge loJehova ngaye.

Asithandaze: Baba osezulwini, ake ungisize ngingalibali ukukubonga lokukudumisa. Ngiyabonga Nkosi. Ulusizo lwami. Ungenzela konk’ okuhle. Ngiyakudumisa Baba. Amen.  

Barbara C Nkala, Nhlolanja 2019

STORIES OF FAITH

Call Me 'Mummy Sammy'!

Methembe Sibanda

I was the happiest bride when I married Wellington Sibanda in 2009. I pictured myself in a lovely home, and visualised children giggling all over us. That was soon shattered by a miscarriage I had. We were very sad but had hope of other children coming. 

I enrolled for a Masters, in Development Studies, and buried myself in the course to deal with the pain. As weeks and months passed, there was no sign of a baby. In 2011, after undergoing numerous tests, we received a crushing medical report from our General Practitioner that our chances of having children were next to nothing. What a blow! I could not imagine going through life without a child. We were told that our only option was in vitro fertilization (IVF). There were no medical institutions offering IVF then. We were informed the procedure could cost up to USD 5000 in South Africa. That was beyond our means.

We both decided to focus our attention on upgrading ourselves academically and starting a family business. I completed the Masters, and another Post Graduate Course in Health Management, graduating from two institutions in one year. We also invested in a small family business. We kept ourselves busy and put up a brave front. Behind the make-up and smile was a woman who had more questions than answers. “Why me Lord?” I asked. Year after year I watched younger couples have children. We prayed and prayed, but the Lord seemed to have shut his ears to our cry. I even stopped going for alter calls for people that were believing God for the fruit of the womb.

In August 2014, my husband who was a diabetic fell terribly sick. We were in and out of hospital every month for five consecutive months. We prayed so hard that God would heal him. The Christmas of 2014 and the new year of 2015 were spent in hospital. Wellington was discharged on 2 January 2015. We stood outside at the hospital carpark and prayed to God. "Lord, we are not coming back to this hospital again, unless it will be to deliver our child."

One day, in July, l attended a three-day prayer and fasting camp on the mountain. The theme of the prayer camp was from 1 Samuel 1. I prayed and cried to God, “Lord, change my story! Please change my name and identity. If l came to this mountain a barren woman, may l come down with a new name. O God, let there be something tangible that will be evidence that l encountered you on this mountain.”

I discovered l was pregnant after six weeks from the prayer mountain. I never went to a scan, but l named my baby Samuel. l told my friends, “Please call me ‘Mummy Sammy’! I was convinced and had deep faith that Samuel would be born against all the odds. My husband also started calling me, ‘Sammy’s Mum’. The pregnancy journey was not easy; but God was very faithful. We knew that God who had begun a good work in us was faithful enough to bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

When l conceived, my husband was not working after his long illness. He ran our small business. It was later when l connected the dots that l realised why we had to start the business. The coming of the baby called for additional income. One day l prayed to God and said, "Lord, how shall we make ends meet with the little one?" God said, "Be still, and know that l am God" (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

In January 2016, my husband received a phone call from some organisation to come for an interview; two years after he had applied. He was going to another town 400km away from home. As we packed his bag, we declared that he would get the job although he had been called just for an interview. We even dared let God know our salary expectations. He got the job as we had declared.

Samuel was born on 11 April 2016, where his father had been hospitalised. I cannot describe the joy we basked in. God is faithful to his Word. In July of 2019, God surprised us with another conception, and we gave birth to a baby girl, Jael. We thought of Judges 4 and prayed that God would give us perpetual victory.

After seven years of barrenness and a miscarriage, God turned our pain into joy.

(Methembe is married to Wellington Sibanda and they have two bouncing children.)  

I hope Methembe’s story has inspired you to look out for God’s amazing and abundant blessings in your own life. He hears our cry. His answers are never a mistake. He makes everything beautiful in its time. And, He keeps on doing great things. Hallelluia!

 Asihlanganeni njalo kuviki elizayo bathandekayo, simangale njalo sibabaze ngakho konke okuhle iNkosi esenzela khona. Vuka wena kaNdaba ungabi yisigcabha sokwesulela izinyawo!

Ngiyalithanda, njalo ngiyabonga!

Gogo Nkala