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a museum, a large multi-purpose room, and adequate bathroom accommodations. The naysayers had no faith,
but I did.

By the time we requested an opportunity to make a presentation to the Mayor and Sanford City Commissioners,
the number of applicants had decreased to three. To me, this was evidence that I needed to call on the LORD to

intercede on our behalf. The following scripture came to mind:

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain,

Unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1 (ESV)

I had to get serious about this acquisition. The building was perfect for me, and I didn't want to be slack. I

immediately entered into prayer and enforced The Jericho March described in Joshua 6. I walked, as the scripture
describes, around the block of the school. I did this once a day for six days and on the seventh day, I walked

around the school seven times. Although the building was to be demolished by the City of Sanford because of its
poor structural condition, I believed my prayers would be answered.

I once heard a minister say, "Your walk may look dysfunctional, your trials and tribulations may come. You have

to fight in the Spirit and not in the flesh when you are trying to be successful. People talk about you, but you
know the battle is not yours ‒ it's the LORD'S.” On November 16, 1995, after the votes were tallied, it was

unanimous between then Mayor Betty Smith and the Sanford City Commissioners to lease the Little Red School

House building to Tajiri Arts for its home. We were charged the nominal rental fee of $1 per month for up to
three years. We gladly paid our three-year rent in full for the lump sum of $36!