Ocala Star Banner (Florida)

August 26, 2007

'Three Cups of Tea' offers hope and inspiration

By Linda Porter

Every once in a while a book comes along that makes a difference in the way you think about the world. "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations .Ê.Ê. One School at a Time," by Greg Mortenson, gives the reader hope in the power of humanitarian aid and education to counteract terrorism.

Mortenson was a self-professed climbing bum - he lived in his car in Berkley, Calif., working as an emergency room nurse only enough to finance his next climbing expedition. On a climb on K2, the second highest, and most dangerous, mountain in the world, he was separated from his group, and staggered, weak with altitude sickness, into a small mountain village. Despite the lack of a common language, the villagers nursed him back to health.

During his convalescence, Mortenson vowed to make a difference in their lives by building a school. "Three Cups of Tea" is the story of how he fulfilled that promise and went on to build schools in 55 more Pakistani and Afghanistan mountain villages. He encountered death threats, cultural biases, bureaucratic red tape and tremendous gratitude from the villagers in an area known to harbor members of the Taliban.

Over the last two decades, Mortenson was able to pull together financing to create the Central Asia Institute, devoted to the cause of educating some of the world's poorest children, especially the girls. His story gives insight into Islamic society and creates compelling evidence of the need for education. "Three Cups of Tea" is also a fascinating narrative of Mortenson's evolution as a humanitarian who also likes to climb mountains.

And the three cups of the tea of the title? According to local custom, the first time you share a cup of tea with someone you are strangers, the second time, an honored guest and the third time, family. All it takes is three cups of tea and the time to build a relationship that will nourish everyone.

This inspiring book is available at the Marion County Public Library System in regular print and as an audio book. Readers may also be interested in visiting the website of the Central Asia Institute as www.ikat.org

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