Cross-country walkers come to Jackson
By WENDY ISOM
wisom@jacksonsun.com
Mar 20 2004
Today, two ladies might be waving to you from the U.S. 45 Bypass.
So, be sure to wave back. ''We wave to people as we walk'' and ''with every wave goes a prayer to that person,'' said Lyn Hanush, who has been walking and saying prayers across America with Joni Balog since May 12, 2003. Balog and Hanush are part of the Seek Him First Ministry in Paso Robles, Calif. ''I wear a cowboy hat with red, white and blue,'' said Hanush, who also carries a walking stick with an American flag flying from it. They started at Blaine, Wash. and expect to arrive in Jackson today. Their final destination is Key West, Fla. By the end of their journey, they will have covered 4,500 miles. They are walking about 15 to 20 miles a day. A support team, a van and a motor home travel with them. Hanush had just walked into Trenton with Balog on Friday. ''At every town that we come to, we stop and pray for the town and leave a memorial stone,'' Hanush said. Balog, 66, and Hanush, 62, are both mothers and grandmothers, who both felt called to walk and pray for the country after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Along the way, they have been joined by friends and family and community supporters. ''I have a friend coming along all the way from Australia to join us in April,'' Balog said. The pair also pray for those in the military by name. They have a Web site and encourage people to send names of their loved ones who are in the military. ''We love America and we love to pray for it,'' Hanush said. And along their journey, she said, ''we have met some wonderful people.'' - Wendy Isom, 425-9782
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