Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi ng’waniki umo ilina lwakwe, Maria, uyo olina miaka ikumi nitandatu. Agikala musi ya Misri. Umo wikaji bhokwe olina nhungwa mbi noi ya bhulamba. Agabhiza agubhalondejaga bhanajeshi bhuli kwene uko bhajaga.

Nhangala ninghi witanagwa nu Mulungu anshokele aliyo kulwa gutongelwa na wikumbwa bhokwe bhubhi agaduuma.

Lushugu lumo agaja kuliKelesiya lwa Yerusalemu mulikanisa lwa ng’wa ntakatifu Ana. Ahoogema hangi na hangi ugunshindeka umunanyango kulo nguzu aliyo hei! Yalihoi nguzu iyo yanemejaga ugwingila.

Aho obhona giki odumaga ugwingila umu likelesia, agaja kusanamu ya ng’wa Bikira Maria, iyo yalibihi nu wei. Utuja mazwi na gulomba wambilijiwe kugiki apandike gugalucha inhungwa jakwe ijabhubhi.

Agagaluka nghana. Agandya gulila kunguno ya shibhi jakwe. Gwandija lushiku lunulo, ugwigwa moto go bhutogwa bho ng’wa Yesu umugati yakwe.

Agajileka ishibhi jakwe, na agandamiila Yesu Kristo. Agaja mulibambasi gujiluhya na gusalila.

Agabhiza Ntakatifu na aginhiwa jipaji ja gubhatongela bhanhu higulya ya gwikala wikaji bhutakatifu. Bhamsenyele na bha Badri bhagaja gujumona na gundegeleka. Agang’wizuka Yesu.

Bhuli lushiku isala yakwe, yali Yesu! Yesu! Yesu! Niyabhiza bhuyegi ile duligwe Ililaka lwako.

KISWAHILI: MCHANA MARIA

Alikuwepo msichana mmoja jina lake Maria, mwenye umri wa miaka kumi na sita. Aliishi katika nchi ya Misri. Katika maisha yake alikuwa na tabia mbaya sana ya umalaya. Akawa anawafuata wanajeshi kila mahali wanapokwenda.

Mara nyingi aliitwa na Mungu kutubu na kumrudia, lakini kwa sababu ya kutawaliwa na tamaa mbaya alishindwa. Siku moja alikwenda Yerusalemu kwenye kanisa la Mtakatifu Anna.

Alipofika kwenye mlango wa kanisa hilo, alijaribu kuingia lakini alishindwa. Alijaribu tena na tena kuusukuma mlango kwa nguvu lakini wapi! Kulikuwepo na nguvu iliyomzuia kuingia. Alipoona ameshindwa kuingia kanisani, akaenda kwenye sanamu ya Bikira Maria, iliyokuwa karibu naye, akapiga magoti na kumwomba msaada ili apate kubadili tabia yake mbaya.

Alibadilika kweli, akaanza kulia kwa sababu ya dhambi zake. Tangu siku hiyo, aliusikia moto wa upendo wa Yesu ndani yake. Akaziacha dhambi zake, na akamng’ang’ania Yesu  Kristo.

Akaenda jangwani kujitesa kwa kufunga na kusali. Akawa mtakatifu na akapewa kipaji cha kuwaongoza watu namna ya kuishi maisha ya Utakatifu. Maaskofu na mapadri walikwenda kumwona na kumsikiliza. Alimkumbuka Yesu. Kila  siku sala yake ilikuwa Yesu! Yesu! Yesu! Ingekuwa heri leo tusikie sauti yako.

 

ENGLISH: THE CALLED GIRL MARY

There was a girl named Mary, who was sixteen years old. She lived in  Egypt. She lived life of prostitution. She followed the soldiers everywhere they went.

She was often called by God to repent and return to Him, but because of her evil desires, she failed. One day, she visited Jerusalem particularly the church of Saint Anna.

When she came to the church door, she tried to enter but she failed. She tried again and again to push the door with all her power but she failed! There was a force that prevented her from entering. When she saw that she was not able to enter the church, she went to the image of the Virgin Mary that was next to her. She knelt down and asked to help to change her bad conduct.

She truly changed and began to cry as repentance of her sins. From that day, she felt the fire of Jesus love in her. She left her sins, and looked upon Jesus Christ for guidance.

She could go to the wilderness to fast and pray. She became holy and was given the gift of leading people to live a holy life. The bishops and priests frequently went to see her and listen to her. She always remembered Jesus. Every day, her prayer was Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! It would be better today for us to hear your voice.

 

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Myaka minghi yabhitaga ihaha. Olihoi namhala umo uyo olingugu noi. Akanamhala akagugu kenoko kagazumalika umusi. Agachalwa kumoto kulwa nguno ya bhugugu bhokwe.

Ahenaho UMulungu na bhamalaika abhalindi bha namhala ng’wunuyo bhagachola ulu lilihoi lyito limo ilyawiiza ilo akanamhala akagugu kagapandika gulyita umubhulamu bhokene.

Bhagabhulucha giki lushigu lumo umu wikaji bhokwe agang’winha munhu nhabhi nti go jitungulu jimo jaguhamba bho nduhu gulomba ja gulipwa. Mulungu agantuma malaika asole nti gojitungulu kugiki gung’hilija unamhala ungugu ukumoto kugiki adimile na gwipija gwinga mumoto.

Umalaika agatimija giko, nu namhala ungugu ng’wunuyo agipija umumoto. Gashinaga abhangi ukumoto kunuko aho bhabhona wasa bhunubho bhogwipija, bhagidamilija kukanamhala.

Ahenaho ubhugugu bhokene bhugang’wiziila hangi. Witingisha na gubhapanda bho magulu abhangi mpaga bhakije ugubhupandika uwasa bhunubho ubho gugudima unti ugojitungulu na bhakije ugwiningeleja ukuliwei.

Kulwa nguno ya witingisha bho namhala ungugu, unti gugatinika na bhose bhagagwa hangi mumoto. Ubhukamu bho ng’wa malaika bhugabhiza bhule gete. Unamhala ungugu adadulile ugupila.

UYesu agaduhugula dubhize na nholo ya gwilekeja. “Mudizulamula, naying’we mudulamulwa, mudizusaila, naying’we mudusailwa, lekelaji, naying’we mugukelwa, bhinhagi abhanhu ghinhu, naying’we mugwinhiwa…kulwa nguno, ingele iyo mulibhagelekela hiiyo mlagelekelelwa.”

Dimana aise ulu dugekelelwa ingele iise iya wimi nholo, na whiilu na bhukolwa! Dudadulile ugupila. Kuyiniyo, makanza gose dizuke, uMulungu adaladulekeja aise uludukije ugubhalekeja abhadugu bhise bho nholo.

KISWAHILI: KIZEE BAHILI

Miaka mingi imepita sasa kulikuwa na mzee mmoja aliyekuwa bahili sana. Kizee huyo Bahili alifariki dunia, akapelekwa motoni  kwa sababu ya ubahili wake.

Hapo Mungu na  malaika mlinzi wa mzee huyo walitafuta kama kuna tendo moja jema ambalo mzee bahili alipata kulitenda wakati wa uhai wake. Waligundua kwamba siku moja katika maisha yake alimpa maskini mche wa kitunguu bila ya kudai malipo.

Mungu akamtuma malaika achukue mche wa kitunguu ili kumnyoshea mzee bahili kule motoni ili akishike na kujiokoa kutoka motoni. Malaika akatekelaza hivyo, na yule mzee bahili akajiokoa katika moto.

Kumbe wengine huko motoni walipoiona nafasi hii ya kuokoka, wakajibandika kwa mzee. Hapo ubahili wake ukamjia tena. Akajitikisa na kuwakanyaga kwa miguu hata wengine wasipate nafasi ya kushika ule mche wa kitunguu wala kujishikiza kwake.

Kwa sababu ya  mtikisiko wa mzee bahili, ule mche ulikatika na wote wakaanguka tena motoni. Bidii ya malaika ilikuwa ni bure kabisa. Mzee bahili hakuweza kuokoka.

Yesu anatuonya kuwa na moyo wa kusameheana: Msihukumu, nanyi hamtahukumiwa, msilaumu, nanyi hamtalaumiwa, acheni, nanyi mtaachiliwa, wapeni watu vitu, nanyi mtapewa….. kwa kuwa  kipimo kile kile mpimacho ndicho mtakachopimiwa.

Ole wetu tukipimiwa kipimo chetu cha uchoyo, na wivu na chuki! Hatuwezi kuokoka. Kwa hiyo daima tukumbuke, Mungu hatatusamehe sisi tusipowasamehe ndugu zetu  kwa moyo.

 ENGLISH: THE STINGY OLD MAN

Many years have passed since there was an old man who was very stingy. One day, such a stingy old man died. He was taken to hell for his stinginess.

Then God and the guardian angel of the old man sought if there was one good act that the old man had done in his lifetime. They found that one day in his life he gave a small piece of onion to the poor without demanding a payback.

God sent the guardian angel to take a piece onion seedling to the old man in the fire. Should he catch it, he could save himself from the fire. The angel did so, and the stingy old man saved himself from the fire.

While some other people in the fire saw this opportunity to be saved, they attached themselves to the old man. Then his stinginess came to him again. He shook and kicked them with his feet until others did not have a chance to touch the onion.

As a result of shaking, the stingy old man fell and all other people fell back into the fire. The angel’s commitment was completely useless. The stingy old man could not be saved.

Jesus warns us to have a forgiving heart: Judge ye not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn ye not, and ye shall not be condemned; the measure you use to others is the same one which will be applied to you.

Woe to us when we have greed, envy and hatred! We cannot be saved. So let us always remember, God will not forgive us unless we forgive our brothers by heart.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi munhu umo uyoagasumba lugendo lo gujugula bhasikeli ng’widuka lya Nyanga. Aho oshiga ukunuko agagula Bhasikeli. Hanuma ya henaho agagula na ginhu jinghi; Isandiko, miguto ya gwikumba idatu, supana ibhili ja ligogoteni lyakwe, supana ya gwegeleja, na supana nhale ya jijerumani.

Aho omala ugugula iginhi jose ijo, agagaiwa ubhusafiri ubhogushoka ikaya. Kulwa nguno ibhasi yaliyabhachala bhatuji bha mpila ku nkoa gungi.

Agiyangula gushoka kaya bho gutumila bhasikeli yakwe imhya. Makanza ga sa kenda ya limi agandya lugendo. Aho yashika saa ikumi na ibhili ya mhindi, agabhona giki niadadujije ugushika ikaya.

Agiyangula guja gujulala kulindugu okwe uyo uli bhukule bho kilomita makumi adatu. Gashinaga aho adinashiga ukulindugu okwe, agavamilwa na masambo adatu ayo galinajilanga ja aina nyingi. Amasambo gagantula noi na guntaja ibhasikeli ni lisandiko.

 Bahati ya wiza agafyaduka aho alina chupi na sokisi umumagulu, upela nhambo mpaga kuchalo jilebhe ijo agashiga koyi mu saa sita ya bhujiku, ugota moto uyo gulihanze ni numba.

Agiyangula gwingila mu jibhanda ijo jali ng’waje, aliyo adadulile ugulala kulwa nguno ya gwiigwa umili gulisata kulwa gutulwa na malonda ayogagenhelejiwa na majambazi.

Agakeyula wigashije na gwisendamija handugu. Oganoga wigwa jilaka ja bhanhu abhobhahayaga nabho gwiza ahenaho njini. Ahoobhasula, agabhabhona bhalina bhasikeli ni isandiko ijo jali sabho jakwe ijo gansojaga amasambo gene.

  Bhagapiga hodi mu imo ya numba jinijo. Lidakulile ikanza saabho omasambo gene ugalugulila unyango na gufuma hanze. Usaabho agabhabhuja, “Ee, ng’wapandika kiyi na kiyi?”

 Abhana bhagashosha, “Dapandika bhasikeli iyi mhya na ni sandiko ili.” “Ee, umugati ya lisandiko jilihoi kiyi?” Agabhuja usaabho. “Dudina likundula dutali,” abhana bhunshokeja usaabho.  Ibhasikeli na lisandiko linilo bhagajituula mu numba iyo yaliyagubhisila isabho jabho na gugulugala unyango bholigufuri.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo agadegeleka pye imihayo. Gung’wizila miganiko ga kuja gujulomba wambilijiwa kukaya ya ng’wa bhalozi. Aho oshiga akaya imo, bhagampinihalila, bhung’winha ng’wenda, surubhale na ngwanda na bhung’olekeja ukulibhalozi.

Aho oshika ahakaya ya ng’wa bhalozi, aganomela yose iyo yaliyampandika. Ubhalozi agayomba, “dujagi kujituo ja polisi, dugafunye mbhola.” Abhapolisi bhagawilwa nu ojikolo giki agatajiwa bhasikeli mhya ni sandiko. Hangi bhulomela iginhu jose ijobhajituula umugati ya lisandiko linilo. Agolekeja ulufungulo ni lisiti ya gugulila isabho jinijo.

Abhapolisi bhagasola loli na guja gujivamila ikaya iniyo. Aho bhashika ukunuko bhagagadima amasambo gene, saabho ni sabho jinijo ijawibhi. Bhagasombwa na guchalwa kujituo ja polisi gujandikisha na gulugulilwa bhushidakiwa. Aho bhashishiwa ahaibhanza, bhagalamulwa jifungo ja miaka itano mujela na milimo midimu.

KISWAHILI: MTU ALIYENUNUA BAISKELI

Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyefunga safari kwenda kununua baiskeli katika duka la Nyanga. Alipofika huko, alinunua baiskeli. Halafu akanunua vitu vingine; Sanduku, shuka tatu, spana mbili za mkokoteni wake, spana ya sogeza, spana kubwa kutoka Ujerumani.

Baada ya kumaliza kununua vitu hivyo vyote, alikosa usafiri wa kurudi nao nyumbani. Maana basi liliwapeleka wachezaji wa mpira katika mkoa mwingine. Akaamua kurudi nyumbani kwa kutumia baiskeli yake mpya.

Mnamo saa tisa alasiri, alianza safari. Ilipofika saa kumi na mbili ya jioni, aliona kuwa asingefaulu kufika nyumbani. Akaamua kwenda kulala kwa ndugu yake umbali wa kilometa thelathini.

Kumbe kabla hajafika nyumbani kwa ndugu yake, alivamiwa na majambazi watatu wakiwa na siraha mbalimbali. Majambazi walimpiga sana na kumnyang’anya baiskeli na sanduku.

Bahati nzuri alifyatuka akiwa na chupi na soksi miguuni, akakimbia mbio hadi kijiji fulani ambako alifika huko yapata saa sita usiku, akaota moto uliokuwa ukiwaka nje ya nyumba.

Aliamua kuingia kwenye kibanda kilichokuwa wazi, lakini hakuweza kulala kwa sababu ya maumivu ya kipigo na majeraha yaliyo yapata toka kwa majambazi.

Akakesha huku ameketi na kuegemea ukuta. Baadaye alisikia sauti za watu waliotarajia pia kuja hapo kijijini. Alipowachungulia, akawaona wana baiskeli na sanduku ambavyo ni mali ile ile waliyomnyang’anya majambazi.

Walibisha hodi kwenye moja ya nyumba zile. Mara baba yao hao majambazi alifungua mlango na kutoka nje. Baba akawauliza, “Je, mmepata nini na nini?” Watoto wakajibu, “Tumepata baiskeli hii mpya na sanduku hili.” “Je, ndani ya sanduku  kuna nini?” baba alidadisi. “Hatujalifungua bado,” watoto walimjibu baba yao. Baiskeli na lile sanduku wakahifadhi katika  nyumba maalumu ya kuficha mali zao na kuufunga mlango kwa kufuri.

Yule mtu alisikiliza mazungumzo yote. Yakamjia mawazo ya kwenda kuomba msaada nyumbani  kwa balozi. Alipofika kwenye nyumba moja, walimhurumia, wakampa nguo, suruali na shati na wakamwonesha nyumbani  kwa balozi. Alipofika nyumbani kwa balozi, alimweleza yote yaliyompata. Balozi akasema, “Twende kituo cha polisi, tukatoe taarifa.” Polisi walielezwa na mwenye mali kuwa alinyang’anywa baiskeli mpya na sanduku. Pia alifafanua vitu vyote alivyoviweka ndani ya sanduku hilo. Akaonesha funguo na risiti ya kununulia mali zile.

Polisi walichukua gari na kwenda kuuvamia mji ule. Walipofika huko wakawakamata wale majambazi, baba na zile mali za wizi. Walichukuliwa na kupelekwa kituo cha polisi kuandikisha na kufunguliwa mashitaka. Baadaye walipofikishwa mahakamani, walihukumiwa kifungo cha miaka mitano jela na kazi ngumu.

ENGLISH: THE MAN WHO BOUGHT A BICYCLE

There was a man who went on a trip to buy a bicycle in Nyanga. When he got there, he bought a bicycle. Then he bought some other things including a box, three bed sheets, two spanners for his cart, adjustable spanner and a vice from Germany.

After finishing buying all these items, he missed the transport back home. The car that was depended on had sent football players to another region. He decided to go home using his new bike.

At three o’clock, he began his journey. When it was six o’clock in the evening, he realized that he could not get home. He decided to go to sleep to his relatives about thirty kilometers away.

Before he came to his relatives’ house, he was attacked by three robbers who had various weapons. The robbers beat him up and took from him the bike and the box.

Fortunately, he escaped them in his the underwear and socks on his feet. He ran to a village where he arrived at about twelve o’clock midnight. He started warming himself at the fire that had been left burning outside the house.

He decided to go into an open hut. But he could not sleep because of the pain sustained from the blows and injuries caused by those robbers.

He spent the night sitting and leaning against the wall of that hut he had encroached. Later, he heard the voices the people who were also   coming to that village. When he looked at them, he saw the people with the bicycle and the box. They were the same properties they had robbed him.

They knocked at one of those houses. Their father opened the door and they entered. Their father asked, “What have you got today?” They replied, “We have found this new bike and this box.” “What is in the box?”, their father asked.They said, “We haven’t opened it yet. The bicycle and the box were kept in a special house. To hide their properties they shut the door with a lock.

The man listened to all the conversations very carefully. He got the idea of ​​ asking for help from the ten-cell leader. When the man came to one house, they felt sorry for him and  gave him clothes, pants and a shirt and showed him the home of the the ten-cell leader. When he came to the the home of the ten-cell leader, he told him all that had happened to him. The ten-cell leader said, “Let us go to the police station and report the matter.” The police were told.The property owner said that he was robbed a new bike and a box. He also mentioned all the things he had put in the box. He showed the keys and the receipt for the purchase.

The police took the car and went to arrest the robbers. When they arrived, they arrested the robbers, the father and the property of theft. They were taken to the police station to register and later they were prosecuted. Finally, when they were brought to court, they were sentenced five years in prison and hard work.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey  (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi ng’walimu o dini ya kanisa katoliki, katekista, o Sanungu, ilina lyakwe Sebastiani. Aho adinabhatijiwa oliadazunije igiki bhulihoi bhupanga bho bhulunga kele. Oliazunije giki duhui bhulihoi bhupanga bho mili duhui. Ulufu lulingelelo ya wikaji. Jilinduhui ginhu jinghi aha baada lufu.

Ighinhu ija dini jili ja bhuhala duhui, gitumo Maduhu, agayombela, “Ighinhu ijasolobho jili ng’ombe, bhutale, walwa, gupona bhusiga, gubyala bhana.”

 Bhanoga abha badri bhuzenga jigango umu chalo ijo wikalaga uSebastiani na bhuntuma ng’walimu o dini, katekista moi. Nalulu aho ukatekista agulangaga higulya ya dini, USebastiani adamanile nulu hadoo, aliyo ubhulingisilo bhokwe yali gwilanga gusoma duhui.

 Mieji mingi igabhita, umhayo go ng’wa Mulungu gugandya gwingila mumoyo gokwe. Uwiza bho ng’wa Mulungu, isungu lwakwe, nu bhutengeke bhokwe, agandya gubhudebha.

Huna USebastiani agandya gumana iki bhulihoi bhupanga bhunghi ubho bhudashilaga, ubho bhudina nhalikilo. Ubhupanga bhunubho alidinha Mulungu ku nzila ya ng’wa Sebha wise Yesu Kristo.

Ubhulangwa bhunubhu bhuganyeja noi. Bhugingila mugati ya moyo gokwe gete. Ubhulondeja kubhulingisilo bhumo ubhushikanile, mpaga ubhiza ng’walimu o dini, nulu Katekista.

 KISWAHILI: KATEKISTA SEBASTIANI

Alikuwepo katekista mmoja wa Sanungu, jina lake Sebastiani. Kabla ya kubatizwa hakuwa na uhakika hata kidogo kwamba kuna uzima wa milele. Aliamini kuwa kuna uzima wa mwili tu, na kifo ni mwisho wa maisha. Hakuna kitu kingine baada ya kifo.

Mambo ya dini ni upuuzi tu, kama alivyosema Maduhu, “mambo ya maana ni ng’ombe, cheo madaraka, pombe, kupona busiga kubyala bana.”

Baadaye, mapadri walijenga kigango katika kijiji alichoishi Sebastiani na wakamtuma katekista. Basi katekista alipokuwa  akifundisha mambo ya dini, Sebastiani hakuelewa hata kidogo, ila akawa na nia ya kujifunza kusoma tu.

Miezi mingi ilipopita, Neno la Mungu lilianza kuingia moyoni  mwake, akauelewa wema wa Mungu, huruma yake, na haki yake.

Ndipo Sebastiani akaanza kufahamu kwamba kuna uzima mwingine ambao hauishi (haumaliziki, hauna mwisho, hauna kikomo.) Anatupa Mungu kwa njia ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.

Mafundisho haya yalimfurahisha mno, yakaingia ndani ya moyo wake kabisa. Akayafuata kwa nia moja thabiti, hata akawa katekista.

 

ENGLISH: SEBASTIAN, THE CATECHIST

There was one of the Sanungu catechists, named Sebastian. Before he was baptized, he did not believe that there was eternal life. He believed that there was only a physical life, and that death was the end of life. There was nothing else after death.

Religious things for him were just nonsense, as Maduhu once said, ” Things that are important are  power, position, alcohol, and bearing children.”

Later, the priests built an outstation of the church in the village where Sebastian lived. The church sent a catechist there. So, when the catechist taught religious matters, Sebastian did not understand at all, but he was only interested in learning how to read and write.

As months passed, the word of God began to enter the heart of Sebastian. He understood the goodness of God, His mercy, and His grace.

Then, Sebastian slowly began to realize that there is life that does not get finished (the endless life, eternal life). Moreover, he realized that God gives it to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

These teachings made him so happy. They entered his heart and mind. He followed them whole heartedly. He even became a catechist.