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Peace has spoken to thousands of school children as well as to churches, groups and rallies on his trek to Salem, Lincoln City, down the Oregon and California coasts, through California, Arizona, the New Mexico deserts, and the Texas panhandle to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He headed northeast almost to Canada, then west again. In his first year he traveled extensively and covered 2,000 miles by foot. At that point, X-rays showed that he required both of his hips to be replaced, so now Peace has metal hips. Unable to continue walking distances, he announced that his mission required a vehicle. One was provided and because of gas, maintenance and insurance, money became a necessity. Now Peace draws Social Security and relies on honorariums, workshops and love offerings to provide for his needs. Although Peace uses a car, he still walks short distances, and feels that his messages are more important than his mode of transportation. "A Brief Look Back In Time" In 1989/90 Peace walked half way cross the country. 1991 found him in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, opposing the Iraq war. He then went to Eugene, Oregon for medical attention which curtailed his activities to regional lectures. In 1992 he spent a month in Israel with a peace delegation dialoguing with Israelis and Palistinians. Upon his return he underwent the first of four major surgeries in August 1992 through March 1993. In September, "Peace" attended The Centennial World Parliament Of Religions meeting in Chicago. Leaving in February 1994, Peace Pilgrim drove 21,000 miles criss- crossing the United States to speaking engagements everywhere. Early in 1995 while seeking a rest in Hawaii, Peace found himself instead lecturing extensively. His talks which took him to four Islands, included six prisons, interviews with newspapers, some ten T.V. and twenty radio talk shows. He returned to San Francisco to participate in the United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and remained working in the Bay Area until October. Then he headed South to Los Angeles for radio, T.V. and school presentations. Late December, he spent the holidays in British Columbia with his son. 1996 he traveled extensively from coast to coast, spending several months in Florida, lecturing and working with many religious groups seeking harmony, nonviolent groups, and for racial understanding in schools etc. 1997 Peace joined up with a Peace Caravan traveling across Canada from Quebec to Vancouver BC, getting Peace Proclamations from top government officials, and meeting up with people everywhere. 1998 found him in Los Angeles for several months working with A Season forNonviolence, originating with Arun Ghandi in Chicago, and stronglysupported by The Agape Church in Culver City, Los Angeles, and spreadingworldwide. APRIL he headed North to Vancouver BC. where he has nowestablished his base continuing to speak to schools, churches, media, andwas involved with Millennium 2000. By 1999 Peace had become part of several groups, One Earth Radio,Multifaith Action Society, United Religious Initiative and others. In Mayhe was privileged to attend the Hague Appeal for Peace in the Netherlands,and walked the Euro walk with Mansukh Patel in Rotterdam, and then becamepart of another Spiritual Conference in Holland. Peace was scheduled tospeak at the World Parliament of Religions Conference in Cape Town, SouthAfrica in December and then proceed to Costa Rica. Instead he was diagnosed to have prostate cancer, and then they discovered cancer in his right kidney. Peace had to cancel his traveling arrangements as he was scheduled forsurgery, however he changed his mind and decided to cancel the operation. He has been working with alternative healings ever since, and so far they seem to be working fine. 2000 Some good news is that when he returned from the Netherlands in 1999 he was giving a talk at a Science of Mind Church in Vancouver where he met a wonderful woman (Peace was 73 at the time) but he fell in love like a teenager!! and started dating almost immediately. The name of this wonderful woman is now Heather Podrow, as she took his original name on Jan. 21st 2000 when she became his Bride!!. Peace is still functioning as Peace Pilgrim II but in a more limited way. Peace is now cutting back on most long distant traveling and is mainly focusing his attention on local talks and activities, Love and Blessings, Peace Pilgrim II |
On October 2, 1989, Peace Pilgrim II left Eugene, Oregon, to follow the large footsteps of the original Peace Pilgrim, a woman who, without a penny, walked across the USA for peace for 28 years. Like his predecessor, he divested himself of all his possessions including his name and, without a penny in his pocket, relied upon people to accommodate and feed him along the way. If not, he'd sleep out or fast.