Video for the Day

Dear Reader - If you do nothing else on this page - please watch the above video. The Total Experience Gospel Choir will move you.

Today was unbelievable - sooo much happened!! We began with a short run from Silence-Heart-Nest - Seattle's best vegetarian restaurant - to Ballard Park.

Along the way we stopped in at Transformation-Surprise - our good friends Stota and Daulot Fountain's laundromat.

Next we met Daulot with the Ballard Boys and Girls Club and the Ballard Community Centre Summer Camp.

Welcome signs were proudly displayed.

Sunanda, from Czech Republic, sadly had to leave the team. Thanks so much for joining us along the Pacific Coast.

On our way to the next ceremony we stopped off at the Peace Grove dedicated to Sri Chinmoy in Green Lake Park.

Next was a visit to a Summer Soccer camp where we met with over 150 children.

Today's focus was on team work - an appropriate topic for us as we all have to work together to make our way around the country.

Our good friends the Kalagian family joined us for the day.

We then returned to Silence-Heart-Nest for an afternoon reception hosted by Nayak Polissar and presentation of a number of Torch-Bearer awards to luminaries in the Seattle area. The Torch-Bearer Award is presented by the World Harmony Run to people who have served and inspired their communities through their own lives and deeds.

First recipient was Professor Charles Johnson, a National Book Award-winning author who is internationally renowned and serves as a Professor of English at the University of Washington. He presented Sri Chinmoy with the World Peace Literature Award from the UW Department of English.

Our second honoree was Jamal Rahman, a Muslim Sufi minister who is co-minister at the Interfaith Community Church in Seattle that builds bridges and understanding through interfaith oneness.

Next was Susan McCloskey, Principal of B.F. Day Elementary School and well respected community leader.

Then came Sandy Fox, Founder and Director of the Seattle Center for Peace.

Finally we offered the award to Bill Leon, a professional geographer, educator and member of the Board of Directors of Auroville International USA, plus its president for many years. Bill was also the last person our founder Sri Chinmoy offered the "Lifting Up the World" award to in September of 2007.

Our dear friend Dr. Agraha Levine was instrumental in bringing numerous guests to the reception.

The team shared some of their stories from the road. Our two Scottish sisters Dhavala and Shyamala entertained us with an anecdote.

We then adjourned for some mouthwatering snacks.

Bill pointed out the flame in the photo of our founder closely resembles one of the many millions of birds Sri Chinmoy drew in his lifetime.

Vilupti, who ran with us from New York to San Francisco, rejoined the team with her family for a day in Seattle. Thank you Vilupti for all the miles and smiles.

Some extra team members (made of concrete) joined our efforts in Seattle.

That evening we visited with our very dear friend Pat Wright and her incredible choir - the Total Experience Gospel Choir.

Daulot gave us a brief synopsis of Pat's remarkable life of service before offering her the Torch-Bearer award.

Stota and Pat share a hug.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house after Pat received the award.

Some members of the choir in action.

We gave so many standing ovations to the choir they needn't have supplied chairs.

Finally - a parting gift to Rabinath from the Netherlands. Thanks for joining us for a month from Santa Fe to Seattle. You're welcome back anytime.

All the choir members shared the torch.

– Salil

Distance: 7 miles

Team Members:
Yuyudhan Hoppe (USA), Atulya Berube (USA), Salil Wilson (Australia), Shyamala Stott (Scotland), Bansidhar Medeiros (USA), Rabinath deLang (Netherlands), Sunanda Minarikoba (Czech Republic), Kanala Bolvanska (Slovakia), Dhavala Stott (Scotland), Joe DeAngelo (USA), Jitavrata Jacobs (USA)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!