Sarah and Shristi drove several hours just so they could run with the flame again. They’re enthusiasm beamed out to everyone they passed.

Our small women’s team for the day, Shristi and Sarah, were up bright and early to get one more run in before leaving for home. They planned to run five miles each and then head back home. After doing five miles, Shristi asked if she could run two more miles. We certainly agreed and she ran two miles with about one mile of uphills. I figured that after seven hilly miles she would be tired ready to turn back. Sarah finished after five miles and patiently waited for her teammate.

After seven miles, Shristi asked to do another mile and a half. With more hills, we thought that would be enough. She then asked if it would be alright to run another one and a half to complete ten miles. Surprising all of us, she began to explain that when she grew up in Katmandu, Nepal, she lived a very high elevations and sometimes had to trek on the mountain trails for three hours to get to school if the roads were washed out from the monsoons.

We realized then that this sweet and petite young lady from Nepal was much tougher than she at first appears to be. With all the background of a true mountain climber, she emanated strength and harmony in a very humble and sweet way. We hope she can join the women’s team next year for a longer period of time. Sarah also wants to come back after a two day taste of harmony on the road with the Torch. We are grateful to them both for such dedication and enthusiasm and all the miles they put in carrying the Torch.

After completing 9400 miles thru 43 states, the flaming torch arrives in Wheeling, West Virginia to a very soulful reception by its citizens.

Soon after they left, we entered Wheeling, West Virginia, our 44th State. Running up and down the hilly terrain through town, we entered a very quiet and peaceful area called Elm Grove. At the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum we were greeted by about 40 people and two television stations. The large group of people there were from the Abundant Life Tabernacle of Wheeling. They sang some songs including, ‘He’s got the Whole World in His Hands’. Reverend David Forsythe offered a blessing prayer after the ceremony for the runners. The children had a great time running in the ‘Harmony Train’ after singing the theme song with us.

Allan and Leona Miller of The Train and Toy Museum join Reverend David Forsythe of the Abundant Life Tabernacle in welcoming the team to their city.

After such an uplifting time outside, Allan Miller, the curator of the museum, and his mother Leona, the treasurer, gave us a tour of the incredible museum that they created many years ago in an historic eighty year old school building. From the moment we walked in we were transported into a childlike fantasy of toys, trains and memorabilia from decades past. Every room had a theme and was filled with very well organized cases and displays of various types of toy trains, cars, dolls, games and other collectibles that would make any historian or even antique collector jealous.

Members of the Tabernacle congregation perform a spirited rendition of “ He has the Whole World in His Hands”.

Jeremy and Francesco relive some great childhood memories at The Train and Toy Museum.

The most popular room by far though was the big triple train display. The huge model of a city with three main tracks and train yards offers hours of enjoyment and delight to many of the thousands of visitors who come through here each year. Some of the rooms offered nostalgia to old American like me who noticed some of the old board games we played many decades ago and other things like toys and even boy scout uniforms. We are very grateful to Allan and his mom and all those who gave us the opportunity to take this very entertaining tour of this unique museum.

Each member of the Church took a soul-searching moment with the torch to make a personal prayer for harmony around the globe.

Making our way to Pittsburgh some of the runners had a little trouble finding each other on the road. Jeromy, having unintentionally run past his service car, was rescued by Dave Murray, a kind local who stopped to help. He went out of his way to get our runner where he needed to go. Another team, not getting lost, encountered a reporter, Linda Metz, in Washington, Pa. from the Observer-Reporter who offered her time and effort to cover the story.

Joining us tonight, Runars from Iceland and Briju from Canada, took the Amtrak from New York to be part of the team for the last two weeks. We always welcome fresh legs and the enthusiastic spirit that new runners bring.

We finally settled into the AmeriSuites Hotel where we had four wonderful and spacious rooms. We are grateful to Andrew Shaw and Joann Hines for these very comfortable accommodations.

Arpan and Team Harmony

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