Our first stop this morning was at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Plains in Yankton. We were led in by 3 of their teens who were super enthusiastic and excellent runners.
Atulya introduced the Peace Run and our country guessing game, here are our 2 Hungarian team members singing a kids song in Hungarian as a clue to their country.
Mahiya teaching the actions to the World Harmony Run song, which everybody joined in. The values of the boys and girls club are on the wall behind, with teamwork being a big part of what they encourage.
We were delighted to have Yankton Mayor Mike Villanueva join us at the meeting. He immediately grasped the message of the Peace Run and was keen to play a role in our presentation. He had a great clapping routine to get the kids attention before asking them for ideas on what we can all do to help other people. They had creative ideas on helping others and how to make their communities more peaceful.
Mayor Villanueva had 2 of the kids help him read out his proclamation.
Thank you Mayor Villanueva for joining us and participating so enthusiastically in our ceremony, you're welcome on our team any time!
Some examples of the beautiful artwork which we were grateful to take with us as a memory of our visit.
Many thanks to Taylor Slaght for her work in organizing the meeting and for giving us such a warm welcome.
Soon it was time to prepare to run.
Tavishi took us over the border into Nebraska.
It was another hot day with no shade on the road, although fortunately we also have a headwind which helps cool us down.
Corn fields abound in this area, seeming to get taller as we head East.
Gatisheela had such a great time when she joined the Peace Run for the first time in the South West that she has come back for more and will be with us until Minnesota.
At the City Hall in South Sioux City we met with Mayor Rod Koch, Lance Hedquist the city administrator and Nancy the city clerk.
Lori Warner from the City Chamber also joined us and spoke about the work they do in the city and how they work together with their neighbouring city, Sioux City.
As this was our sole meeting in Nebraska we invited Lori to collect the soil from outside the city chamber that we will use to plant our Peace Tree with soil from all 50 states.
Thanks to everyone in South Sioux City for coming out to represent their city and thanks to Lori and Lance for leading us out as we got back on the road.
The Peace Torch reached it's third State of the day when we crossed the Nebraska/Iowa state line which is in the middle of a bridge crossing the Missouri River. We have now visited 35 states, so have 15 left to go!
Our last meeting of the day was in Iowa at the Siouxland Boys and Girls Club in Sioux City where we received another warm welcome as we introduced this years special 50 state run.
Finding Vietnam on our map of the world.
We were joined this time by Ike Rayford from the Sioux City council who also joined our presentation by addressing the kids and joining in our activities.
Feeling peace in our hearts, then sharing it with those around us.
Our gratitude to Ike for his enthusiasm for the Peace Run.
Mary Anne Harrington has worked at the Boys and Girls Club for 30 years and is currently the Marshall Unit Director. She remembered the Peace Run coming in 2012, the last time we visited Sioux City. We are always full of admiration for all the workers in the Boys and Girls clubs for the role they play in nurturing and caring for tomorrow's peace builders.
Mary Anne sent us the following message after our visit:
"Your presentation and activities were a lot of fun. Our Club members had a great time and so did our staff – one even called the event “Epic!” The kids were super excited as they left telling their parents what they did and showing off the country/runners trading cards. Hope you don’t mind - I really liked the peaceful heart meditation and we will be adding that to our end of day assembly from now on. We wish you a continued positive, happy and peaceful run.
Thank you for including us in your journey!"
