Three Cups of Tea

I started reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time because it was on my daughter's summer reading list from her school. What a neat story--and what an amazing man. Greg Mortenson is a mountain-climber who attempted K2 in Pakistan. On the way back down, he got separated from his guide and found his way to a small village, quite isolated. The leader of the village took him into his home and fed him, gave him a place to sleep, etc. One day he showed Greg where the children of the village studied--in the dirt, with sticks, practicing until the traveling teacher could return. Greg was struck by the idea of building them a school to thank them for their kindness and make it easier on the kids. He had no idea how to go about this, but once he got home he set out on a new path as fundraiser, project manager, and inspiration.

What I was struck by partially was from a personal note. I met Alex McElree from Operation Dignity a few years back when I wanted to build a web site for a nonprofit. A friend introduced us. Alex was a 3-tour Vietnam vet who came back addicted and with internal scars. Alex was homeless for a while but started to get back on track. At one point he heard how many homeless veterans there were and said to his buddy "Someone ought to do something about that." His buddy said "Why don't YOU do something Alex?" He's learned many of the same things Greg Mortenson learned. Both have helped countless individuals improve their daily existence through education, ableit with different audiences and a different kind of education needed. Alex has helped thousands of veterans get back on their feet and still makes the rounds at night, dropping off soup and sandwiches and sleeping bags to those yet unwilling to come in.

Greg Mortenson started with a school, actually with a bridge to get to the school, and has gone on to bring dozens of schools to isolated villages. He's also been responsible for bringing in clean water to villages, so the women don't have to walk so far each day, and women's centers, where women can learn crafts and socialize and improve things.

It is an inspiring story. I am thrilled that my daughter's class is requiring this. I mentioned it to my mom and she'd just finished reading it as well and has passed her copy onto my sister. She said it's required reading for incoming Freshmen at Cal State Chico.

Put it on your reading list. Donate copies to your library. And think how one person can make such a huge difference to so many. Learn more about this remarkable story at the web site Three Cups of Tea. In fact, I put the link to Amazon up as I always do but I'd much rather you go their site and buy the book through them so they can use the money to build more schools.

Education is the key to so many things.