Reflections on a New Friend

Yesterday night we went out to have dinner at Fazoli`s. They offered us free meals. It happened that a young man who was sitting at another table came over and asked us what we are doing and we told him about the World Harmony Run. His name was Paul. He has been traveling a lot and after a while we found out that he was a missionary and that he was a Mormon. He told us that 75% of the people in Utah are Mormons. I was always curious to know something about their belief. We started asking him a lot of questions and he answered them very patiently. It was so nice to talk to someone who lives what he believes, to see him shining. It was an exchange of inspiration. It gave me so much joy to see people like us, whom we never met before, coming together and exchanging their experiences to give inspiration and to get inspiration from each other.

Anja(Germany)

The Montpelier Relay

We have some surprises every day on the road. Today our schedule indicated that somebody would join our team in Montpelier, Idaho. Her name was Suzie Palson. Everything was going according to the schedule. We were on time, and we met Suzie on the road who is a mother of six, a teacher and a great runner. I ran with her to the town where a lot of excited kids were waiting for us. There we introduced ourselves and the World Harmony Run. Then the real surprise of the day started; we took off for a great relay.

Why was it so special? Because everybody could participate: little ones, bigger kids, fast boys and parents. The parents dropped the children at each block, and in this way everybody got chance to run with the Harmony Torch for at least one block. When they finished, the parents picked them up in the car again. It was very joyful. The only funny thing about it was that we, the ‘famous’ World Harmony Runners, were always somewhere far behind the kids, because at every block the newly joining runners took off with full speed and enthusiasm. Luckily we could get some chance to catch up with them again when the parents stopped them for photos. After the children ran with us, the parents joined us for a few miles, but with the same enthusiasm. The whole run was very dynamic and cheerful.

It always makes our miles so special when other runners join us. It gives so much joy, encouragement and a feeling of oneness. They do not have to be professional runners and they do not have to run many miles. It is more than enough if they can make a step for harmony, because every step is a great contribution to achieve the goal of World Harmony.

Linda (Hungary)

The Road to Alpine

It was a day of wonderful surprises which started out like most days, not knowing fully what would be ahead. Starting on the summit of Logan Canyon with patches of snow all around and pine trees filling the clean cold air with naturally energizing aromas; we headed on down to the remarkably beautiful Bear Lake and Garden City. The vistas as we ran down the switch back hills were almost too much to take in all at once. Once we descended and the air was a bit warmer, we ran for many miles along the flat road into Idaho from Utah where we had been running for many days now.

My team of Salil and Slava finished in a small town of Paris. We stopped in front of a lovely old historical Church of the Latter Day Saints called the Paris Idaho Stake Tabernacle. This exquisitely preserved church made of pinkish sandstone was constructed over 100 years ago. The people in charge allowed us to look inside to marvel at the natural wood interior even though it was officially closed for renovations. We were then spotted by two reporters from the Idaho State Journal who were just passing through town on an assignment about Paris. They were so impressed with our event that they took photos and interviews to publish a story in their next edition.

On the way to Alpine, Wyoming, where we had some people and accommodations waiting for us, we stopped for gasoline at a station in Afton. When I went to pay for the gas I noticed a photo of the great Rulan Gardner who won the Olympic Gold Medal in wrestling in Sydney in 2000. He defeated an undefeated Russian champion who no one thought would lose in the Olympics. Russ, one of Rulan’s four brothers, was the gentleman at the counter who informed me that it is his brother who is the famous Rulan. We then met another brother, Roland, who then joined us for a group photo with our Torch. It was a very special moment as we had accidentally come across a wonderful family of hard working people who also had a very special Gold Medalist in their family. Rulan happened to be out of town unfortunately, but his family’s goodwill and his inspiration and discipline we will carry with us on the road of harmony.

Approaching Alpine, we were met by Mike Cranford, his fiancé Sandra ‘Sam’ Turley, and his daughter Kim. Mike and Kim ran with us as Sam and her beautiful Golden Retriever Maggie, escorted us in their convertible sports car along with the fire department truck, officers from the local police, county police and state police. This caravan of harmony lovers and sports enthusiasts lasted for two and a half miles until we ended up at the Best Western Flying Saddle Lodge in Alpine. Surrounded by beautiful snow capped mountains, this lodge, run by Mike and Kim, has housed some of the most famous ‘Western’ actors including John Wayne.

Before checking into our rooms so kindly provided by Mike and Kim, we had a Ceremony in the parking lot with all of our new friends including the Mayor, Dave Lloyd, who offered a wonderful message of harmony and friendship. Letters of welcome from state officials were read out and we all shared our various and varied backgrounds, explaining how 12 people from 11 different countries could get together in a grand project like this and harmoniously run through all 50 states to express our wishes for harmony.

The evening just got better as we went along. We were treated to a delicious dinner and dessert by ‘Chef Jeff’ Rice and then watched a fireworks display by the Snake River in our honor hosted by Mike and Kim. It was a fantastic welcome into an incredible area of Wyoming which will give us strength and hope as we make our way to the West Coast and then back East again in the coming months.

We are so extremely grateful to Sam, Mike, Kim, Maggie, Mayor Lloyd, all the police and fire department officers, the children and families who gathered with us, Chef Jeff, KRSV Radio for a wonderful live interview, Josh Henderson of the Star Valley Independent and Devon Salinger who helped out so much at the reception desk. We are also thrilled that Sam and Mike and Kim have been following along on this website to keep inspired and enthused about our adventures in attempting to share our sentiments of hope and harmony for a better world. They certainly have played their part well today and we wish them the best in the months to come.

Team Harmony

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