He's One of My Heroes!

A True Convert!

I'm excited to share the story of this amazing convert. He was born in Alicia, Isabela, Philippines. He was a normal bouncing baby boy until polio struck him at 9 months of age. Despite his lack of ability to use his legs and one arm, he never let that stop him. 

As a middle-aged man, he became the sole caregiver for his aged mother. In 1991 young sister missionaries started visiting his neighborhood. Several of his neighbors listened to their message and joined the church. But he was shy and embarrassed and so when the friendly missionaries stopped by his home he always found a hiding place where he would stay until they left. 

One hot, sunny afternoon he was napping when the sister missionaries cornered him. He couldn’t hide and so he listened to them. They piqued his interest and he invited them back to teach him more. After three months he accepted their invitation to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He says his decision was based on several factors. First, when he finally visited the church he felt love. He had gone to other churches but they just didn’t feel the same to him. Also, the sisters had persuaded him to read the Book of Mormon and as he did he felt it was the true word of God.

In 1992 he was baptized. Desiring to attend church on a regular basis presented a problem as he lived in a neighborhood that was not serviced by any trycies (motorcycle with sidecar) or other forms of public transportation—but that didn’t stop him. Paul would set out an hour or so before church would start and crawl from his home up a steep hill on a rocky path, around a bend and down a very long straightway until he reached the highway where he could ride the rest of the way in a trycie. It would take him at least 15 minutes to crawl to the highway. And of course, he would have to crawl back on his way home from church. This posed a problem. His knees became raw and bloody. Not wanting anything to stop him from attending his meetings Paul devised a plan to use sections of old motorcycle tire inner tubes to protect his knees. He cut out sections and made holes up and down the sides. Then he laced string through the holes and tied the rubber over his knees and legs.

He continued this routine for over five years—rarely missing a Sunday meeting. Eventually his priesthood leaders got the idea of trying to build him his own tricycle. Because of the limitations with both legs and one arm they used a sprocket that could be maneuvered with his one good hand to propel the vehicle.  For the past three years he has been able to “drive” himself to church each week. He is usually the first member to arrive each Sunday. He says he doesn’t want to be the center of attention and so he likes to arrive early and get settled before the other members come.

He has had many callings over the years including serving as 2^nd Counselor in his Branch Presidency.  Today he continues to care for his mother who is now well over 90 years of age. He spends most of his time cooking for her, helping her stay clean and neat, tending their goats and chickens and raising vegetables in their garden. He says it’s hard but he feels an obligation to provide for his mother. 

In his modest home you will find a few treasures. One is a photograph of missionaries—not the sisters who taught him but other missionaries from later years. He also has a hand carved plaque of Jesus Christ—a gift from a young elder, that he proudly hangs next to the door of his bamboo home. 

When asked to bear his testimony he said, “I’d rather demonstrate my testimony than declare it. But I do know this is the true church.” Today most of the baptized members in his neighborhood have fallen away and so Paul makes sure to visit those neighbors, often sharing kind words and encouraging them to come back.

(Shared with the permission of this dear brother)