Eastern Mississippi, July 21, 2010~

Tom Whitt here.  Sorry I haven't written in a while; had to get my strength back from my recent flare/hospital stay before I could continue on my walk.  I am walking across the country.  Hope you understand why you haven't heard from me.

Happily, I am doing much better.  I thank the Lord (and the love of my family) for that.  I pray it continues.

This journal entry finds me in eastern Mississippi, headed east towards Alabama.  I don't do nearly as much walking as I would like:  too blankety-blank hot, for one thing.  And humid!!  WOW!  If one isn't careful, the weather will get you.  I have been doing my best to keep hydrated, so I don't pass out from the heat.  I now do my walking before 11 a.m. or until after the sun sets (but then, at night, I risk getting chewed up by nasty mosquitoes or bothered by swarms of gnats or other bugs).

I know I am behind on time; can't halp that.  Didn't ask to get sick in the first place.  It just happened.  One of life's bumps in the raod, but with God's grace (and a lot of prayers from family and/or well-wishers), I made it through and can continue on my cross-country trek.

As I sit here, I am with my family.  We are sitting here in a local truck stop, getting some needed nourishment (and to let Clarabelle stretch her legs nad the boys run off some of their excess energy, as they're tired of being cooped up in the camper).  I am happy to say that everyone is well, including yours truly.

Poor Paul-Jacques (my five-year-old) is covered head to toe in mosquite bites.  Think they used him as target practice.  For some reason, these same mosquiteoes left my other son (the seven-year-old) alone.  The seven-year-old's name is Mikey. He has been teasing his brother, saying he stinks.  This is why the mosquitoes have been snacking on him.  I don't like it when he does this; I and/or Clarabelle keep telling him to quit it.

We will probably be back on the road within the hour.  Then we will go on until lunchtime; hopefully we will be in Alabama by then ... and hopefully, we'll find a place to eat.  By then we should be good and hungry, especially me, since I'm the one who is doing all the walking in the first place!

People have seen my story on television or heard it on the news.  They have been generous in their giving.  It feels good to be holding a wad of cash, but it's not mine:  all of the money we raise goes towards the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  I know that organization well because I, Tom Whitt, am a sufferer of this disease.  Have had it now for the past ten years; have had to learn to get around on a pair of crutches, which is my main mode of transportation (when I am not driving my car or using my wheelchair for longer hauls).

Well, I'd best corral the boys and tell Clarabelle it's time to get back to business.  Continue to pray for our journey, and pray for safe travels for us.  We would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!

~Tom Whitt.  :)

*to be continued.*