As we pull this peace train into the final station in Chicago, we have just a few places left to visit. In Gary, IN, we stopped at Ms. Kelly's Home Day Care. Ms. Kelly not only cares for a group of small children, but she's an avid jump roper and double-dutch queen.
She gave us an energetic demonstration of her skills, which don't seem to have waned with age.
Some of the runners were keen to have a go as well!
The songs are so fun with the littler ones. Purnakama even got help conducting!
Little kids have big hearts and big dreams.
Ms. Kelly herself.
Thank you Ms. Kelly for not only hosting the Peace Run, but for sharing your heart, your energy and your love with those round you and the children you and your staff care for every day.
On our brief tour of Gary, IN as we head west, there were so many people cheering us on and giving us some much needed energy. This gentleman, over 80 years old, joined us spontaneously even though he had "already done his three miles this morning".
We have to give a huge "Thank you" to the self-giving officers of Gary and East Chicago, IN, who gave us police escort as we ran on toward Chicago.
As we head west into Chicago, our final stop is Wentworth Gardens, a community neighborhood in far southeast Chicago.
Our scheduled meeting did not take place, but sometimes the things that happen in their own time are the right things. The children playing in the neighborhood playground didn't know they were in for a Peace Run ceremony, but they were all in.
Wentworth Gardens maintains a Peace Tree in their yard, which shows that they are dedicated to the ideal of peace and to being agents of that peace.
Wentworth Gardens maintains a Peace Tree in their yard, which shows that they are dedicated to the ideal of peace and to being agents of that peace.
Soulfulness was not in short supply.
We are so grateful to Wentworth Gardens for their continued partnership in this human march toward peace.
