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the grants. Wine, cheese, fruit, and hors d'oeuvres were served during the reception (this menu is significant to the story). As I
toured the museum, ignorant of the protocol for the evening, I just went about and observed the other attendees.

I approached the hors d’oeuvres table, but there was a well-dressed Caucasian woman in front of me. I noticed that as she
reached for the wine, she spilled it. She quickly cleaned it up and drank several more glasses of wine. It appeared to me that she

had drunk enough for the evening, and I moved out of her way. However, as I made my way through the crowd, she seemed

to follow me, and she eventually started a conversation. I didn’t want to be rude, so I smiled gently after responding to her
question and walked away. I looked around again, and there she was at my heels, asking more questions. “Why are you here

and what organization do you represent?” I began to get agitated, but made the effort to be courteous. Next, she asked, “Have

you met the panel? Did you know that you are to lobby each panel member so they can get acquainted with you and your
program?” I replied, “No, I was not aware of the procedures.” She then said, “Follow me.”

Although I had already concluded she was drinking too much, by then, I was curious about this woman. She skipped several
other people who were in line to take me to the front, and she introduced me by saying, “Have you met this lady? Listen to her

story.” She introduced me to all eight or so panelists after skipping everybody else in line! I learned that she was there with an
organization that was interested in restoring a sugar mill in Volusia County. She had been to this reception before, and her

organization had previously been awarded funding. Fortunately, her focus that evening was to help me.

As we proceeded to meet the panelists, the Florida Secretary of State came forward to give encouraging remarks and souvenirs

to all of the grant applicants. When the Secretary of State finished her address, I left the room to go to the gift table. My new
friend chimed in and said, “Don’t waste your time getting that gift. It’s inexpensive. You need to finish meeting the judges.”

For this “BUT GOD” experience, God sent an angel to lead me in the right direction.