Page 249 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

249 | P A T R I C I A R A E M E R R I T T W H A T L E Y

“BUT-GOD” Miracles

Tajiri was blessed throughout the years. We always got the things we needed; we were thankful. I always felt that God honored one

of my favorite scriptures:

But my God shall supply all your need according to

his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

Below is an account of many of the BUT-God miracles that I and the Tajiri Arts family witnessed over the years of operation.

Funds for Tajiri Arts Operations ― Seminole County voted to give us the funds to operate the programs at Tajiri Arts. We

received $10,000 the first year and $15,000 each year for the next two years. In addition, grants poured in to help us purchase
instructional materials and provide educational field trips.

State of Florida Historical Preservation Matching Grant ― We applied for our first matching grant from the State of Florida.

We would have missed the deadline if it had not been for Mr. Henry Nixon, our Vice President of Business Development, who

delivered the grant in person to be sure it was submitted on time. Mr. Nixon drove four hours to Tallahassee to make the
deadline. After he dropped off the grant proposal, he turned around and drove back to Sanford. This was truly a miracle

because Mr. Nixon had been diagnosed with cancer around this time. In the paragraphs that follow, I tell the rest of the story.

I drove my husband’s truck to Tallahassee on a Tuesday to defend the grant that Mr. Nixon delivered by myself. I was told that

rarely did first-time applicants receive funding. The grant approval involved a three-day process. Wednesday night was the

opening reception, held at the Florida State Museum. It provided an opportunity to meet and greet the panel that would judge