The beautiful La Quinta Inn and Suites offered the women's team two very clean and spacious rooms for a good night's rest.
We are also very grateful to the Baymont Inn & Suites of Jackson for their generous offering of two spacious rooms for us last night.
Our first visit was the Relevant Empowerment Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Mrs. Yarber, wife of Mayor Tony Yarber who is also Pastor at this very dynamic and active church, accepts our Certificate of Appreciation from Salil, Executive Director of the Peace Run after we introduced ourselves towards the end of their inspiring and uplifting service.
Everyone was dressed up in their Sunday best for this special Mother's Day.
We came towards the end of their special service and passed the torch around to eveyone. We enjoyed the many smiles and soulful blessings that this special church had to offer.
Some very happy mothers offered their wonderful smiles and goodwill on this special day dedicated to them.
Some proud and happy fathers were also there to share their smiles and goodwill as we passed the torch around.
Lucy from WJTV12 came out to cover the story of us passing through Jackson today.
We are so grateful to Lucy for coming out on this Sunday morning to help us share our activities on this wonderful news station.
Akbota is flying high, without the torch, as she waits for her turn to run on their way to Vicksburg.
Chris and Justin pause from servicing the railway ties to hold the torch at the start of the women's team run for the day.
We are very uplifted when local neighbors along the way who are interested in what we are doing stop to share the torch with us.
Beaux Pilgrim, from Louisianna, was also quite thrilled to share the torch with us and to offer his goodwill and great smile.
In Vicksburg in Art Park at Catfish Row two of our teams met some amazing people. Linda Fondren is a fitness instructor who was named 'International Hero' by CNN for her work with fitness and running for the community. She said that "this is really awesome that you are coming here and promoting peace. This is excellent and I'm honored to be part of it. Plus I like that the Peace Run promotes physical fitness."
Some of the children enjoyed a little cool down at the fountain in the park and paused to share the torch.
Linda passes the torch to the children.
Some of the children with William Nettle, Media Manager representing the City of Vicksburg, share the torch with our two teams of runners that made it to Vicksburg this morning.
The Riverfront Murals quite beautifully represented different important moments in Vicksburg's history.
Vicksburg is one of many cities situated on the Mississippi River. Life on the mighty Mississippi River in the 19th Century is depicted here in some of these murals at the Art Park.
Meanwhile running into Lousianna from Vicksburg, the men's team was surrounded by the lush countryside on the way to Tallulah.
Pierre is fulll of energy and joy running in this lush environment.
Cypress trees grow in these wetlands called 'bayous'.
Sarankhuu enjoys some fast running on these quiet and scenic road towars Tallulah.
Someone got lost in the cornfields.
We finally met up with Alfred McClodden, a marathon runner from Tallulah who has run through his hometown with us just about every year we have come through here since 1995.
A familiar scene every two years as Arpan and Alfred run together, this year with Sarankhuu from Mongolia, through Tallulah. It has become a tradition which Arpan looks forward to, and so does Alfred, who changed his plans for the day to make it happen.
Along the way we met up with some more locals who were excited about the Peace Run and wanted to take a few steps for peace.
We stopped at the center of town to wait for some more friends in Tallulah who have supported the peace run over the years
David Williams shares the torch with Stan Livingston, who has been meeting the Peace Run for many years. It was a great surprise to meet them here as they came out directly from their church service today to share the torch with us.
David was so excited that he took the torch and ran with it.
Yvonne Lewis, from the Mayor's Office, kindly came out on this beautifu Mother's Day to offer us a case of water and her goodwill and kind words as she shares the torch with Earl (Soul) Jackson, also from the City Government.
In downtown Tallulah we pose with these great people including Pastor Keary Grayson of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. They really made our day by coming out to offer their kindness and goodwill on this beautiful Sunday morning on Mother's Day.
Alfred continues running with Arpan out of town, a tradition that has endured for two decades.
We are extremely grateful to Alfred for his dedication and participation to the Peace Run every time we pass through Tallulah.
Natabara prepares to run with a moment of silence.
A team of four led by the tallest, Puroga from Hungary.
Salil leads the team on their last leg of today's journey.
We made it to Transylvania today as well, Louisianna that is, not Romania.
After a long hot day we were offered a delicious meal at El Agave Mexican Restaurant.
This kind group of employess at El Agave in Lake Providence cooked us a great meal and then kindly came to share the torch with us.
One of the enthusiastic chefs was so excited he took the torch and did an energetic lap around the parking lot. This kind of joy and enthusiasm lifts our spirits and keeps us going with peace and hope in our hearts. We are grateful to everyone who comes out and offers their kindness and enthusiastic goodwill!
