May 11, 2014 Live from the road

Jackson, MS - Lake Providence, LA

Reported by Arpan DeAngelo 73.0 mi

The women's team had A great stay at the Hampton Inn in Jackson last night. We are so grateful for their friendly hospitality.

The men's team stayed at the nearby Baymont Inn and Suites. It was a wonderful hotel and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.

Starting an early morning run.

Phaedra enjoys a beautiful run in Mississippi!

Harita was very happy to make a new friend, Deangelo, who happened to be out on the road when she finished her run and even ran the last stretch to the car with her, thanks Deangelo!

The beautiful Vicksburg City Hall was our first destination.

Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. kindly welcomed us on this early Sunday morning.

Mayor Flaggs gave us a brief history of Vicksburg, telling us of the importance of this beautiful city situated on the Mississippi.

The Mayor accepts our Certificate of Appreciation.

Pam, a local woman, was very nice to stop by and join us in the ceremony.

Crossing the Mississippi River.

Many bridges cross the Mississippi.

A barge on the mighty Mississippi.

Alfred McClodden always welcomes us to Tallulah, Louisiana.

We ran into Tallulah after crossing into Louisiana from Mississippi.

A wonderful choir sang some inspiring songs when we came into the Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

We introduced ourselves in the usual manner, having the people guess where we were from after giving them a few hints.

Hey look, there's a photographer in the church.

Can you take my picture?

Live piano accompaniment.

The children really liked our song with the accompanying actions.

Feeling peace and happiness in the heart.

Some of the children performed for us as well.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Griffin the children did some incredible expressive devotional dance to soulful music.

Deacon Thoma J. Williams gave a wonderful introduction to the Peace Run with his own soulful thoughts about how to bring about peace in the world.

All the children were quite attentive.

Donald Fraizer, Chairman of the Port Commission, receives our Torch Bearer Award for his outstanding service to the community for many decades.

Donald's wife, Zonola Fraizer, also received the Torch Bearer Award for her many years as school teacher and guidance counselor for children to graduate high school. Their daughter is seen here in the middle.

Both Donald and zonola also received our Certificate of Appreciation for attending our ceremony and offering their kindness and goodwill.

Pastor Edgar Handi also receives a Certificate of Appreciation for his kindness in allowing us to be part of his service at Mt. Olive Church.

We dedicated this Peace Tree to be planted nearby in honour of Mayor Eddie Beckwith, Jr. who recently passed away. We are so sad to lose such a wonderful Mayor and public servant who did much for his community.

This small plaque will be replaced with a larger weather-proof one when the tree is planted outdoors for Eddie Beckwith.

We passed the torch around to the congregation which brought lots of smiles to their faces.

The choir sang beautifully again as we were leaving the church.

Pastor Handi gave an eloquent sermon as well.

Sarah Sims, with the help of Bertha Barnett and others created a delicious spread of food for us after the wonderful church ceremony.

Stan Linvingston, one of the Deacons of the church, has helped us tremendously each time we come through Tallulah. He also is a former recipient of the Torch Bearer Award.

Some of the mothers and daughters of Mt. Olive Church hold the torch on Mother's Day.

Some of the congretation and our team outside Mt. Olive Church with the plaque for Eddie Beckwith,Jr.

Alfred McClodden, left, holds the torch with some friends and Arpan before running out of Tallulah.

Running north past the vast farmlands.

Arpan and Alfred share the torch for four miles as they have done many times in the past. Alfred is the only long distance runner from Tallulah and he has run marathons in 36 states so far on his way to his goal of a marathon in all the 50 United States.

We offer Alfred a Peace Run shirt before he runs back home. Homagni is our next runner on our way up to Lake Providence.

Sarvodaya approaches Lake Providence.

A Lake Providence police unit comes to escort the runners into town.

We were greeted by the Mayor and some very kind locals.

Mayor Robert Amacker of Lake Providence, Louisianna, reads out a Proclamation of Peace for our team.

The whole team and Mayor Amacker with the Peace Proclamation.

We are so grateful to the town of Lake Providence as we offer our Certificate of Appreciation to the Mayor.

Some of the locals enjoy passing the torch and offering their goodwill.

Don Boyett offers his soulful wishes and goodwill. He is a Minister and owner of Jehovah Java, a wonderful coffee shop in town.

Jenny is also a Minister and counselor of children.

We were then treated to some snacks from the kind people at the Community Center.

Homagni enjoys the food.

Grateful for another day on the Peace Run and all the wonderful people who came out to share the message of peace and harmony with us.

Torch carried by
Anna Khimchinskaia (Russia), Arpan DeAngelo (United States), Dennis Gribok (Luxembourg), Harita Davies (New Zealand), Homagni Baptista (Australia), Kalyanika Forester (United States), Phaedra Rosario (United States), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Sarvodaya Grygoryivskyy (Ukraine), Vera Sevastiyanova (Russia).  
Photographers
Arpan DeAngelo, Dennis Gribok, Harita Davies, Sandro Zincarini
The torch has travelled 73.0 mi from Jackson, MS to Lake Providence, LA.

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