Let Your Light Shine

Little, Rock Arkansas was unlike any of our other destination cities. We pulled off  Route 40 to get to our hotel on Markham and passed homes and businesses along the main drag. She seemed tired. Maybe it was because of the heavy gray clouds overshadowing her. Or maybe it was something deeper. The homes were achy. Over grown bushes surrounded them, taller grass invited homeowner to come out and care for them, pay attention to them, love them. Not many boasted flower gardens or freshly trimmed borders. This in stark contrast to Ohio and Indiana. Here and there commercial buildings were undergoing well over-due renovations. Many of the rest of them were old suburban sprawl buildings and shopping centers that needed a fresh coat of paint, updates and love.

Markham Little Rock from Google maps.

Much work needs done in this city. Christ Little Rock Church  made her presence known throughout the town with billboards dotting the landscape and well placed advertisements in the mall.We did not run into anyone who served the community from there but it was evident they were doing something positive in the area.

After checking in to our hotel, which was near a marketplace and undergoing her own renovations, we made our way to Markham & University Drive, where Park Plaza Mall is located, to get dinner and find someone. We parked on the very top deck and went down into the food court, Forever 21, Vanity (loved the Bohemian hippie chic clothes there) and Clark Shoes. It was Connie and Hayley's turn to scout out and locate someone we could bless in  practical ways.

While waiting in Clark's for the clerk to finish with a foreign couple who kept trying to negotiate and re-negotiate prices with the 17 year old store keeper, Hayley spotted a janitor on the floor below. Connie, too, had thought he was the one earlier when Hayley pointed him out. I never noticed him until then. Later, Hayley and Connie encouraged the man and gave him some money. Promptly, he put it in his mouth, clamped down with his teeth and then shoved it into his pocket. When asked if they could take a picture of him, the man said,"No. It's against company policy, there are cameras all over the place."  I was amused he could accept cash in front of the camera and chomp on it with his teeth but not take a photo.

The Sun room Ceiling at Park Plaza Mall. We missed the fullness of its beauty.
It was dark outside when we were there.

We returned to the hotel and it was then we noticed the beautiful, new room had a defective AC unit. We were transferred to another room down the hallway. The hallway carpeting was fresh and beautiful, with  modern lines and teal colors. There was no paint on the walls and contractors had penciled workman notes along them. Some of these notes were crossed out like a living check list.
"Bathroom ceiling is not painted."
We found the new room easily; the room numbers were taped on the doors using computer paper with Arial Block numbers printed tall and proud. We all noticed a horrible smell everytime the water was used. I thought it smelled like Nair hair removal chemicals. Hayley decided she would not shower in it. I took a camp shower and Lesa reported the smell went away when the water ran for a few minutes.

Before leaving the city for Memphis, Lesa could not shake the need to go back into Clark's for a purse she saw and really liked. This would not ordinarily be a big deal. However, Lesa seldom finds purses she likes. The other day I learned it is not about the candy, its about a person and in this case, it is not about the purse, it is about a person. We went back expectantly and found 3 more people to encourage and bless at Clark's.

Best Customer Service Ever. Clarks. Little Rock Park Plaza Mall. Unpictured: Micah, who should be
nominated for Best Customer Service of the Year Award.

The patient man who waited on us last night was not there. We were greeted warmly by a tall young man sporting a fancy bow tie and a young woman with kind eyes and a sparkly face. Her name is Bright and she has strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a thick braid. Lesa bought the purse as we asked about the man who was there the night before. His name is Micah, a 17 year old homeschooler who won a full blown basketball scholarship to a University out of state. He will be headed to college in the fall. He is a saint, too, with nerves made out of love; his kindness and patience were unlike any kid this age I have ever met in my entire life. Kudos, mom and dad, you are raising an exceptional man.

Lesa went to the car to get a notecard and the rest of us went to Chick-Fil-A to get gift cards. At the Chick-Fil-A counter, I was waited on by a handsome young man with the most amazingly beautiful bow tie. Running into two young bow tie wearers in one hour at one mall, seemed a bit odd to me so I asked about his. He designs and makes them and has a business: 22nd Element Bowties. Not knowing what the 22nd Element is I Googled it later and found Titanium. Well that is appropriate seeing his slogan is,"Giving You the Look of Titanium."

Follow him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/22nd-Element-Bow-Ties/691118144273910?ref=br_tf


It turns out the Clark's bowtie wearer bought his somewhere else but was very familiar with the 22nd Element business man who was working at Chick-Fil-A.

22nd Element Bowties High quality, beautiful. The artist is shown under the umbrella.

See the white spots? They are Marsh Mallow plants.
The root was used to make the original marshmallows we roast over campfires.
It is also a wonderful herbal medicine.

First Blue Sky in Days appeared over Arkansas nearing Tennessee.

Memphis, TN Skyline

Main Street headed to Beale St. Memphis, TN

When Connie was standing next to Bright, she felt like the holy spirit was saying to feed her lunch. It turns out that the woman at Clarks was wondering how she was going to eat lunch that day! God provides. I hope Micah has gotten his thank you card with his surprise inside.

More updates later. Heading out of Memphis now going to Nashville.
Love ya
Carol