The Book of David

By David Ibarra

This is a tale of strength and courage and forgiveness. Throughout his tragic, inspiring, courageous life, David has faced obstacles since birth that would stagger many.

Like Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:25, David has been through injustice, prejudice, beatings, attacks from behind, betrayal, and mocking.

He is a man with a college education with a BA degree. He attended seminary for three years and is a Bible scholar, but because he has CP, he has been trapped since birth in his own body. He cannot get a job though he is qualified. Yet he is no victim. He gives thanks! Like Paul with the thorn in his flesh, David endures with dignity. He is Christs vessel, and he shines. It is a privilege to call him friend. It has been an honor to transcribe his journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524534868

David Ibarra

David Ibarra was born with severe cerebral palsy forty-seven years ago. He has been trapped in his body all his life. His speech is difficult to understand, a language unto itself. David has faced obstacles since birth that would stagger many. He is a man with a college education and a BA degree. He attended seminary for three years and is a Bible scholar, but because he has CP, he cannot get a job though he is qualified. Yet he is no victim. He sells gum from his wheelchair in bars and dance halls along a busy boulevard. In this humble job, with his superior intellect, he shines as a vessel of the most holy God.

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Copyright © 2016 by David Ibarra.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/19/2016

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Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Prologue

My Life Story

1980 Tijuana to Anaheim

June 1981 Father’s Day

Junior High

Living Hell

Mormon Youth Group

High School

Baseball

1990 – Santa Ana College

Cal State Fullerton

September 11, 2001 (911)

Corridor of Commerce

Knowing the Lord

Dedication

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It is my honor to dedicate this autobiography to Susan and Norm Luna. I met them five years ago at Worship Generation. After Bob Lewellen was called to pastor his own church, I had no one to take me home from Saturday night service. I asked the Luna’s and without any hesitation they said yes. For the next five years they faithfully took me home. I shared with them stories about my past and they said that I should write a book. I used the excuse that I could not type. For my birthday they gave me a tape recorder and Susan said she would write what I recorded.

In the past, many of my friends have said I should write my story but, because of the limits of my CP, I never seriously considered it. Now I had no excuse! I love and respect Norm and Susan as parents and they certainly could be. They have spent endless hours and priceless time to put this book together.

Thank you, Susan and Norm from the bottom of my heart. May our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST bless you always.

With Love, David

Acknowledgements

Thank you computer Guru Dale Carlo for saving my crashed computer, retrieving the book and saying firmly yet kindly: Stop, do not touch anything!

Thank you computer Genius Nathan Nelson for taking me through the mind fields of Microsoft seven, teaching me despite my lack of intention to be taught, proving that an old chick can learn new tricks.

Prologue

Posthumously by Richard Jones

December 1989

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Richard Jones and Me

David, you’re a very special person, very kind and thoughtful in every way. I know that it must be very difficult for you to have a physical affliction that keeps you from a regular high school life, but I want you to know that I get a lot of inspiration from you.

David, it’s really the mind, things like love, intelligence, empathy that are really important in life and you have all of these.

I’m sure you’ve wanted to play more baseball, like you used to do in Mexico or maybe dance with a pretty senorita, but somehow God didn’t allow you to do this. You must have gone through a lot of angry feelings about this, but we must accept what we cannot change, and move on from there.

The really sad thing is the thousands (millions?) of kids and adults (me too sometimes) that want to feel sorry for ourselves, to complain about this or that. How dare us!

David, you have inspired me to do better, to reach out for what is really important in life. I thank you for helping me know what a real person is.

I have reserved the following Dodger games for us to go together in 1990 (Yeh! Juan, Samuel, and Fernando!) Please mark these in your calendar: Monday, Apr.2 (opening –1:05PM); Sat. May 19(7:05PM); Sat. June 2, (7:05PM); Sun., June 17, (1:05PM); Camera Day; Sun, Aug.26 (1:05PM) Sat, Sept.8 (7:05PM); Sun. Sept.23 (1:05PM –Closing Day)

Love, Dick Jones

My Life Story

My name is David Ibarra and I am 47 years old. I am from Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico, and I came to the United States when I was 4 years old. My mom, Natalia, and dad David Ibarra, were born in Sinaloa, grew up there, met at the beach in Mazatlan and later married.

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Mom and Dad

I was born June 8, 1969 and at the time of my birth, I suffered from lack of oxygen to my brain. This severe brain trauma, called Cerebral Palsy, is when the nervous system is damaged. I do not have control of my hands and feet and my speech is a language unto itself. It is not all that great but once you get to know me you catch on to my unique rhythm and cadence. People understand me most of the time. It does take tremendous effort and energy for me to speak and many times I have to repeat myself over and over. It is difficult, because every person desires to communicate with people. There are others with CP that are without language or cannot be understood, therefore, I consider myself blessed. To be able to verbally communicate is a challenge and a joy because I treasure the friendships I have. There are other things that I cannot do, like feed myself or tie my shoes, but most of the daily things I can do by myself. I have had to live with CP all my life.

Definition of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects movement