Miracle on Lake Street

Growing up a Minnesotan in the 50s, (born in Duluth and raised in Anoka-Coon Rapids) I am starved for ethnicity in my life. I go wandering Lake Street ever mindful of past adventures meeting individuals from far-flung places. Last week was no exception and this time the adventure yielded a miracle.

As the sun was setting on November 13, I buzzed into Megusta Mexican restaurant at 15th and Lake, intent on getting a fast bite to eat wih an ethnic flare and then heading over to either the Lake Street Council’s wine tasting event at the former Sears building, or to the Continuum Center Gallery which was featuring a question and answer session with the author, James Twyman. A native of Edina, Twyman had written a book called “The Indigo Children Speak To The World.” Upon entering Megusta, I was drawn to a little shop off to the right where a beautiful woman stood alone amid a myriad of imports from Colombia. Something told me to forego food and meet this woman instead. We visited. I bought a necklace for my daughter and a pound of Colombian coffee for my husband.

Appreciative of her grace and sweet spirit, I returned one week to the day later thinking I’d do more visiting with her and invite my husband to meet me at Megusta for dinner. She was alone again in her shop, so I asked her to join me across the indoor plaza, where from our table inside Megusta, we could keep an eye on her store. I turned to walk through the open entrance of her shop and bumped a canvas painted in bright oils from the wall. Reaching to pick it up off the floor, I said “I’m so sorry! This is a wonderful painting! I want to buy it!” Without saying a word, she handed me a black and white photo of a handsome male child without arms or legs. Confused at first, I waited for her to compose herself.

“This painting was by him,” she said.

The next hour, she shared with me the story of Jesus David Mendez and I know my own life will never be the same.

Jesus was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, on January 17, 1993, to a young woman named Miriam. The effects of chemicals, more likely than not the pesticides sprayed over the fields where she worked, interrupted the development of her unborn son’s arms and legs. But the soul and the spirit, the light and the love ...in this little boy could not be defeated. Miriam brought into this world a genius who by age ten has written a book on his own, poetry too poignant for sissies and with the use of his lips holding a brush, canvases awash with joyous scenes depicting the gifts of life.

I learned from my new friend, Gloria Rivera, that Jesus first came to Minnesota eight years ago at the age of two, a trip arranged by Gloria’s husband, Alvaro. A Shriner and 32nd degree Mason both in Colombia and here, this compassionate man arranged for Jesus to be seen at our own Shriner’s Hospital. Since then, he’s come three more times.

Monday, at 4:30 p.m., I will meet Jesus and Miriam for the very first time. I will take Miriam to my doctor because while Jesus has been getting the help he needs, Miriam suffers with a back racked with pain from ten years of carrying her beloved prodigy everywhere they go.

My husband, Gloria’s husband, Gloria, myself and a host of others will begin to form the JESUS DAVID MENDEZ FOUNDATION to help Jesus get the prostheses he wants and needs. We’ll work at getting some relief for Miriam’s back pain. Jesus will leave the middle of the month and travel to New York City, still carried in his mother’s arms, to a gallery in the Big Apple that will exhibit his paintings.

There will be more to this story. That I can assure you. But lest I forget, that first Thursday, I decided to skip the Lake Street Council’s fundraiser and go directly to hear James Twyman. His book, “The Indigo Children Speak To The World,” describes a phenomenon of prodigal children being born all over the world blessed with incredible talents and abilities.

I did not buy his book. Now I know why. On Monday, I’ll be meeting one of those children. Therein, lies the miracle.

Contact Gail Hayden at 952-925-6064 for more info about how to help Jesus.