Day 52...day 2 in Ruston, Louisiana

Woke up around 5:30ish. Packed the buggy and walked down to Wal-Mart where I got my Ibuprofen prescription refilled for my leg, bought some groceries for a couple of days,  then headed back to the motel to put them away.

I met a gentleman in the hallway who asked about my walk and made a donation to help me on my journey! He shared several stories with me of people he has known who had battled with suicide and depression. God bless you sir for sharing and God bless you for the donation. It is because of people like you I can continue my walk. It is such a blessing to be able to talk with other people and share stories and be open about it.

Some time after noon Judi came by from The Health Hut and picked me up. I volunteered to help her with anything she needed done since they were so kind to me. Tomorrow I also volunteered to help out in setting up for the Health Expo on Thursday.

http://www.thehealthhut.org Click on the link so you can read about there mission. They also provide counseling for Mental Health two days a week. They survive off of grants and donations helping the uninsured with their medical needs. It is a blessings to, and a much needed part of the Ruston community. If anyone feels it in their heart to make a donation, which I hope you will, click on the link and do so. They have been very kind and helpful to me and have invited me to their Health Expo on Thursday. I will have a table and be able to meet and greet those who attend the event. I am so looking forward to it. Remember now, they offer counseling for Mental Health twice a week and that is what my walk is about. So if you can, please donate. Thank you and God bless! Mike

Calhoun to Ruston, Louisiana...18miles!

Hello again everyone! I got up around 5:19 this morning. I packed up my baby buggy and headed across the street to a restaurant for breakfast at 6:30. I took my time eating because it stays dark till right about 7:00 am.

So at 7:00 am I started my walk to Ruston. The traffic was heavy and there were no shoulders on that part of the highway or all the way to Ruston for that matter. After about an hour the traffic thinned out pretty well. Most of the early morning traffic was due to school.

I should have dressed in layers but I didn't. I didn't realize it was only 46 degrees when I left. So I froze for about 2 hours then it warmed up nicely!

My shin splints if course started acting up again. No pain no gain...lol!

I just have to say God has blessed me again big time. I will do a seperate post on it later.
For now I want to thank Judy Copeland from the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. A local church that put me up for the night. And Judi Null of The Health Hut for all they have done to help me out. What a great town to end up in..and what a great blessing to have crossed paths with them and the town of Rustin, Louisiana! Feeling Overwhelmed....in a good way!

I JUST FEEL THE URGE TO WALK!

Morning sun rising over I 20!

Challenge number four. Four states down, almost forgot!

Challenge number four is to say this prayer I wrote. Now how easy is that? And feel free to repeat any of the other three challanges also! God bless! Mike

Heavenly Father Lord and creator.  I humbly come before you to ask for the healing power that only you can provide for all those suffering from a mental health illness or thoughts of suicide or any illness for that matter. I ask that you open our hearts to recieve your healing powers so that we may serve you better Lord. Whatever you choose lord well be what we need for only you know what is best for us. Jesus died for our sins to make us whole, so Lord in Jesus's name I humbly ask for your loving grace to flow through each and every cell and make us whole again. I beleive what we ask in Jesus' s name will be done so Lord on high I thank you in Jesus's name, Amen

West Monroe to Calhoun, Louisiana. 11 miles!

Today was a nice short walk of only 11 miles. I took it slow and easy. Don't remember what time I left this morning, I'm thinking it was between 7:30 and 8:00 am. Most of the walk today had a nice shoulder to walk on. It is getting hilly again, but I was lucky to have half the state a flat level walk.

About 7 miles into my walk I noticed a car at a traffic light was going to turn left ...but turned right and pulled into a parking lot in front of me. He got out and said he wanted to give me a donation for my journey. I thanked him and said God bless you sir..and I could not of said it better..he replied...that's what it is all about...helping each other out. Yes sir you are toally right and I wish everyone could think that way. We seem to be so busy with our own wants that are not really needs...that we overlook others around us. God bless you sir. It was refreshing  and a blessing to cross paths with you today. And I appreciate the way you think.

A little while later I came to a convenience store and stopped to use the rest room and got a coffee to drink. A gentleman and his wife were getting some gas and asked about the walk. We talked for a few minutes...his wife handed him some change to give me...thank you...any contribution to the walk is great..no matter if it is big or small. Thank you both very much...and God bless you.

I arrived at the Avant West Motel around noonish. The girl at the desk was real nice and said she appreciated what I was doing. She has had family members that have dealt with mental health issues and suicide. God bless her...my thoughts and prayers are with you!

Well, that is about it for today. Just resting my leg the rest of the day. Here are a few pics from today.

Rayville to West Monroe, Louisiana! 28 miles.

I left Rayville just before 7:00 am. I got stopped by the Rayville Police Department because she just didn't know what I was doing. She asked me a few questions and then set me free.

I got out to route 80 and headed west. There was quite a bit traffic. I think it was school and workers going to work. After getting out away from town, the traffick slowed down some, but was still more than it has been this past week.

After a couple of hours I started noticing the shin splints in my left leg started getting very sore with some swelling, only 8 1/2 more hours to go...uhg! Pray .pray..pray! I was going to take some ibuprofen so I went for my first aide kit.....gone. It had fallen from the cart unnoticed by me. I still had a few off my prescription ones left but they where packed away and I would have had to tear down the whole cart to get them. Instead I chose to suffer in pain for the next 8 1/2 hours. By the time I got to West Monroe I could barely walk on it.

During the walk I came to a town called Start. I noticed a big billboard..home of country music great Tim McGraw. Of course I got a pic for you. A woman had passed me and  turned around and waited for me at a little store in town. As I approached she told me God touched her heart and she wanted to give me a donation to help wirh my trip. She told me of someone who had commited suicide at a young age a few years back. She also said the Hebert Community was in need of prayer, so I would like to ask everyone to pray for the community and ask God to touch the hearts of those in need and bring the community together. God bless you for the donation. Everyone, please say a prayer!

As I entered Monroe I also had an elderly person turn around  and pull over because he wanted to give me a donation. Thank you sir, God bless you!

Well I finally arrived at Motel 6  at 5:30. I pretty much just hit the bed and slept because of my leg. It made the walk very tiring that's for sure. But it also came with those blessings, and I thank God!

God bless everyone.
I JUST FEEL THE URGE TO WALK!

Pictures from the walk between Delhi and Rayville, Louisiana!

Delhi to Rayville, Louisiana! About 18 miles.

Delhi seemed to be a quaint little town. The downtown area was pretty clean compared to some of the other small ones I have walked through. A lot of the businesses were closed like most small towns but they were keep up better than others. Some of the downtown areas in some of these small towns are in pretty bad shape...broken windows. .boarded up..and graffiti on the outside walls...broken glass everywhere...what a shame, no hometown pride I guess. Poverty is one thing, but to destroy property and have a run down appearance is another thing.

I took lots of pictures as I left town.

It was quite chilly this morning when I left at 7:00 am. Didn't warm up till about 11:00 or so. I had to take my hoodie off then.

Didn't meet anyone today to talk to...their luck I guess..lol! Just walked continuously for 6 1/2-7 hours. Now I got shin splints in my left leg. Buy I still had a nice walk. And I thank God for getting me here safely. I did stop at Wally World and got some slime for my tubes...put it in the tires already...lets hope for no more flats!

Now for the dilemma...I was lucky to get a room tonight. The next town..my next stop has no rooms so people are coming to these other areas because Monroe and West Monroe got hit with a f2 tornado the other day when I posted about the storms. I was still in Vicksburg that night. We didn't get it to bad there. But Monroe and West Monroe like I said got hit with a f2 tornado. So what to do? The next stop has no where for me to stay as of yet. I am in a Super 8 tonight in Rayville and the girl at the desk said their motel in Monroe had their roof taken off. Maybe I could get a discount.

Please say a prayer for the people who were affected by the weather here. Thank you, and God bless!