By CHRIS MENEES

Messenger Staff Reporter

Lyn Hanush and Joni Balog hope the community will pray for them.

They've been praying for Obion County.

The two California women have stepped out on faith for a cross country prayer walk which recently brought them through Union City.

Mrs. Hanush of Paso Robles, Calif., and Mrs. Balog of San Jose, Calif., began their "Great American Journey" May 12, 2003, at Peace Arch Park in Blaine, Wash., setting out on a 4,500-mile trek to walk across America while praying for the nation. Their 15-state journey will end at Key West, Fla., in July.

They have logged 2,761.2 miles so far on their quest for the Paso Robles-based Seek Him First Ministries, Mrs. Hanush told The Messenger during a stop in Union City.

"We stop and pray at every town we go through," she said. "We're praying for America."

In each city where they pray, they leave a stone that bears writing which indicates they have prayed for the community.

The stones -- which range from small smooth rocks to blocks of concrete, depending on what's available -- are sometimes left at towns' city halls if the walkers pass by them on their route. Many times, they are discreetly left at cities' welcome markers or city limits signs after the women pray for the community.

They left stones Wednesday morning at a welcome sign in Union City and a city limits sign in Woodland Mills before leaving the area.

Many people along their route have told 61-year-old Mrs. Hanush and 66-year-old Mrs. Balog that they'll be praying for them, too, as they march on across the nation. "It's been really great," Mrs. Hanush said.

While their Great American Journey currently includes just the two women and Mrs. Balog's dog, the trek originally began with six walkers. Three people walked for the majority of the trip, with Mrs. Hanush's 16-year-old home-schooled granddaughter Samantha Han-ush-Garrett staying with the team until about two weeks ago.

The women generally travel in a motor home with a driver, camping out for a week or two in one location and using a van to shuttle them to areas where they will walk for several hours during the day. However, mechanical problems with the motor home recently forced them to leave it in Kennett, Mo., for repairs and continue their journey in the van.

Not wanting to fall too far behind, they have spent the last several days shuttling themselves from Union City to various locations to continue the walk. They returned to Union City to stay in a motel each night, but left the area Wednesday to retrieve their motor home from Kennett and continue the trek as scheduled. A driver will soon be joining them.

The women have worked through the difficulties like mechanicals problems, knowing in advance "there would be changes along the way," according to Mrs. Hanush. They mapped their route in advance, but have made changes due to missed turns or the discovery of an easier route for walking.

"Sometimes we make changes daily," Mrs. Hanush said with a laugh.

On their journey, Mrs. Hanush and Mrs. Balog aren't just logging miles; they're also logging memories. They have seen many beautiful sites and met many interesting people along the way, pausing to snap photos of local residents to add to their collection. The side of their van bears state-shaped magnets to show the places they've been since May.

"People just respond so beautifully," Mrs. Hanush said.

Editor's note: For more information about the walk or to check the progress of the trek, visit the Great American Journey's Web site at www.greatamericajourney.com.

Staff Reporter Chris Menees can be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.