Early this morning we were invited to the Columbia Lake Murray Irmo Rotary Club. They kindly treated us to a delicious breakfast and allowed us to share our message of peace with them.
Afterwards we passed the torch to all the members as they offered their wishes and prayers for peace.
We are very grateful to Brooks Williams and our Peace Run coordinator for South Carolina, Bill Haas, for arranging this wonderful meeting.
Some of the members of the Rotary Club were very happy to hold the torch and share their own goodwill with us.
This young lady won Student of the Month at her local school. Her dad and school Principal are very proud of her as they should be. Not only is she an exemplary student but she has also demonstrated leadership and creative qualities as well.
A happy Peace Run team at the Rotary Club. Harita is taking the photo so she is not in the picture. We currently have 3 men and 6 women on the team.
This kind gentleman stopped to find out what the women were doing the other day as they ran in North Carolina. He was so inspired that he treated them to some cold soft drinks.
Our two schools of the day, Sandhills Primary and Sandhills Elementary, had made many signs to welcome us including this creative cup design sign built into the fence.
Some of the children greeted us with their own colorful torches at the entrance.
The children social worker, Catherine 'Mac', escorted us into the school of 1100 eagerly awaiting children.
Creative entrance signs were everywhere.
Our motto: 'Peace Begins with Me' was created with colorful peace sign hands.
A huge peace sign was also created out of the children's handiwork.
The whole school welcomed us in very creative and colorful ways.
The hallways were full of peace related quotes from famous people including two quotes from the Founder of the Peace Run, Sri Chinmoy.
The school just had a 'Peace Week' where they studied how peace is manifested in various parts of the world.
All of the hallways were lined with children greeted us enthusiastically as we ran through the school.
It was thrilling for us and for the children and teachers to get such an energetic welcome.
Beautiful Peace doves were also created by some of the children.
We ended up in the cafeteria with filled with very excited children.
There were so many children that we had to have two separate ceremonies to accommodate everyone.
The children were very eager to join us in singing.
The children even offered us some of their own entertainment of song and dance.
After each program everyone had the opportunity to make wishes for peace and harmony.
This group of girls and women teachers called ' SES Girls on the Run' performed a song for us. They all just ran a 5Km or 3.1 mile race last week, in tutus. Principal of the Primary School Lisa Evans (second from left), proudly joins this energetic group of girls.
The Torch Bearer Award is presented to the SES Girls on the Run for their encouragement and achievements in running local race events.
Girls on the Run and our women's Peace Run team.
A second ceremony also filled the cafeteria with the older children from the third and fourth grades.
These children also very enthusiastically joined in one of our songs with accompanying actions.
SOme of the children asked questions about our Peace Run adventures.
Everone was trying to find peace inside themselves for a few moments.
Finding peace within.
Mrs. PJ Calvert's class received the Torch Bearer Award for their work on building a Peace Garden outside the school.
The Peace Garden builders.
This Peace pole with the saying, 'May Peace Prevail On Earth' in various languages was part of their Peace Garden.
Some of the children read out some of our poems as well.
Receiving the Certificate of Appreciation for the whole Primary School.
The children had an opportunity to offer their goodwill and wishes for peace as they left the ceremony.
Serious contemplation.
Teachers and Principals of both schools, the Primary and the Elementary Schools, were quite happy with the whole event.
The older children were quite attentive as we presented our program for them.
The older group presented a short program for us as well.
All the teachers of the Elementary School proudly pose for a group photo.
Waiting for the Elementary School children to file out and offer their wishes as they touch the torch.
Handmade pinwheels from the children were displayed as we ran out through the hallways.
Lots of high fives from the children as we ran out.
Back on the road again.
During our run we encountered a camel in this field.
The men's team was in charge of making dinner tonight.
Sarvodaya from Ukraine was the main chef of the night.
Arpan gave a helping hand, or two, as well.
Finishing up the miles for the day, one of the women's teams had a very scenic route.
Lots of trees and long stretches of highways.
Harita gets ready to run.
The women's team ran to Swansea to end the long and busy day.
We ended up at a nice motel where this young man lived with his parents and kindly held the torch offering his goodwill. The children inspire us the most as we run with the torch carrying the message of peace and harmony.
