Rise and shine, it is the morning of 18.10:

Breakfast was nice and fast. The morning bright and fresh with the full moon to meet us: Ramadan is halfway. In this neighbourhood we might soon see a minaret or a mosque. People all look forward to the “suikerfeest” – feast of sweets.

We drive back to Daruvar at 8.30 sharp and meet a singing group of children between 5 and 11 years old who sing the World Harmony Run song for us. They pass the torch and enthusiastically run with the team to school. What a nice experience to run with such a lively group of girls and boys. One group drove off to leap-frog, enough time to enjoy a Turkish coffee, hot chocolate or tea in Lipik. We could all do with a chocolate, tea or coffee.

The place where we would have a reception later on was full with ruined houses – bullet holes and other scars of war. A saddening sight. We go back from Lipik to Pakrac to meet the runners and are soon received by kids on the sports grounds of the primary school, near to the secondary school. The grounds are occupied by hundreds of children, 6 -12 years old, who dance folk dances in traditional costumes, and modern dances in black and white. Nice sound, good music, but what touched me most was the children with their song in English:

When you’re happy and you know it clap your hands,

When you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet,

When you’re happy and you know it snap your fingers,

When you’re happy and you know it say OK,

When you’re happy and you know it do it all.

All the children showed real joy.

During a brief stop later this morning I heard that after the war a lot of refugees went to other areas or countries and exchanged houses without paying money, because they lost almost everything during this war.

In Bijela Stijena a football trainer with his team joined the runners. Here we visited a former four-star hotel that was still in good condition on the outside, but ruined inside. The owner told us he had had a hotel with 33 bedrooms all with their own bath, but that it was very difficult to get money to rebuild and restore it. Yet he hoped to be able to reopen it. I like optimistic people.

It strikes me every day how hospitable and kind people are here in these Balkan countries. Giving food and presents to guests is still a very important tradition. In the West we can learn a lot from this magnanimous attitude.

Waiting in a hamlet for our runners we meet some local people and notice that the people are friendly, but reserved.

A group of small children wait quietly in line for the school bus. At first they ignore our gestures to make contact with them, but this changes completely when the runners arrive with the torch. Their laughing faces give lustre to this sunny day.

In the heart of Okucani near a fountain the mayor receives us with a good spontaneous speech –– no paper. Enthusiastic children, lots of people from the city receive us with hot tea, delicious home made food and sweet cakes. All of us get a beautiful hand-painted bottle– all different, but all with the word “rainbow”. I speak with a nun who started a home one month ago to help old people. After the war many people moved to other parts of the country, so many people lack the help of family and neighbours. She really looked shiny and we asked her to give us a greeting in our book. We hope she will be successful.

In a small village near the border small children sing very well and soulfully, conducted by their teacher. We feel a lot of oneness in this school. The children run a lap with the torch and the runners, and even start a second lap. That’s the spirit! Pass the light and bring it further.

Now we reach a very important point for this day: the border. It really feels very special to literally cross a bridge between these two countries that fortunately are working together now. Despite our Bulgarian runner needing a visa to enter, which he didn’t have, he was able to enter freely to join us again after a short delay. Our Bosnian team-members Amur, Zeljko and Dragan join us at the border.

It is time to say goodbye to our tremendously good host, Croatia. We have been deeply moved by your incredible hospitality and your willingness to work for better days. We’ve been deeply touched by what we’ve seen, heard and experienced. In you abides a deep strength to go on, go on, which you do with unclenching hope, and cheerful determination. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

At the first ceremony in a school the mayor all the way from Okucani, Croatia hands the torch over to his Bosnian colleague – an important moment. They hold the torch together. I hear from our friends that the mayors are working together on a regular basis. The children receive us with beautiful drawings, poems on peace and harmony they made themselves, which they read aloud. After a brief play about peace the children immediately join the runners with great joy – they know how to run in this area.

Part of us then enjoy an exquisite meal with the officials, including the two mayors. We say goodbye to our runners from Croatia here. One policeman is very helpful in retrieving Ana’s jacket with her passport from the van, which went on from the lunch place.

Finally we run into a vibrantly rhythmic ceremony in Banja Luka. Drums are beaten at full throttle. As we enter the circle of spectators a talented girl lets out an operatic/rock version of the World Harmony Run song. At the end of the show we take a bunch of exuberant children to run with us around the square. Round and round they go for many rounds, exuding joy.

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