This morning we ran into our first meeting at Western Yell County Elementary School in Belleville, AR where we were given a heroes welcome!!
They welcomed us with a beautiful hand made banner.
Kids had no problem guessing Arpan's State when he posed as the Statue of Liberty :)
Teaching the World Harmony Run song.
Where we find peace....
New Zealand's Harita versus Russia's Sveta showing what is not peace. Virangini announced our mock race.
Harita explains the second skit to two voluteers who showed us what peace actually is, not trying to beat the other person by cheating, but working together!
Arpan does not want to share the torch with Nikolaus. He is surely playing the "bad guy" here.
The school prepared a beautiful program for us.
The children wrote outstanding poems on Peace and shared them with us.
Peace
Peace is a feeling everyone should want and have. If peace could be seen it would be pretty uncommon. My goal is to make it visible everywhere you look. No one can do that on their own, though. What we need in the world is peace and equality. So I need you to help me and the Peace Runners bring peace to the world. Bringing peace isn't as hard as it sounds. A common quote about peace is "Peace begins with a smile." And that's exactly the truth. So if you smile at someone, they will smile at someone else, and the chain will grow, until your town is filled with peace. There are other ways to spread peace like doing things for people or simply saying, "I hope that our country can stop trying to end peace and bring it back to tlife. And we can all be a part in that mission. Spreading peace is a great way to be happy and make other people happy. So if we all try to spead peace around the world like the peace runners, we can make the world a better place.
The younger children sang a song for us- so sweet!
The school principal, Keith Jones, and two of the children received well deserved gifts from our team!
time to run...
Everyone held the torch and added their hearts wishes for a peaceful world.
Final picture... good bye Belleville- We hope to see y'all again real soon!
The Peace Run Team "marched" in to our next engagement- the regional Booneville Elementary Annual Stem Competition (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) with 720 5-12 graders from the region.
We gave a short introduction to the Peace Run, and sang the Peace Run song of course!
KISR radio DJ, Race, was happy to meet our team and even gave a live broadcast!
We met many organizers, helpers, and participants...a big thank you to Georgette Littleton, pictured on the far left, who kindly facilitated our inclusion in the event on top of everything else she was doing- we were most grateful!
There were all kinds of fun stations and competitions around the courtyard for the kids to visit and take part in. Most of the things they made themselves!
Enthusiastic runners made quite a few laps around the courtyard!
This challenge was to have an egg safely fall down a vertical drop without breaking- this girl had a pretty good one!!
On the road again...
The Mayor of Greenwood, Doug Kinslow, was very happy to welcome us in his town. We were also very happy to meet him! He was so welcoming that he met with our team twice in one day!
Mayor Kinslow warmly introduced us to all of his staff, and in fact anyone who came in the door!
He presented us with a Proclamation, officially recognising this day as Peace Run Day in Greenwood- thank you so much! We also offered our humble Certificate of Appreciation.
Our last stop of the day was the Boys and Girls Club of Fort Smith, AR
Oh no, this is no peace.
Teaching the World Harmony Run song: "...we are the Oneness..."
Peace is in the heart.
This is the Boys and Girls Club's new painting - Universal Brotherhood. A big thank you to Remika, pictured on the left, for facilitating our visit.
The kids got the most joy from running with torch. We were at a Sports Club, after all!
Mom, who used to be track and field runner, and her three kids. Surely, the talent stays in the family!
Thank you so much for having us Fort Smith's boys and girls!!!
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant in Fort Smith invited us for a free meal at the end of the day. Such a feast, thank you!
