Three Cups of Tea

Since the race started and up until recently I’ve been reading a book called Three Cups of Tea, the book talks about the life of a man named Greg Mortenson. This man travels several times a year to the Middle East promoting peace through education. After a failed attempt at climbing K2, the second highest mountain in the world, Greg Mortenson promised a small mountain community called Skardu in Pakistan that he would someday return and build them a school for Girls. After this promise the next ten years of his life becomes a perpetual Roller coaster. This book, written and co written by David Oliver relin and Greg Mortenson, talks about those ten years and the tradition of the Pakistani culture where they drink three cups of tea to do business. The first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join their family, and for their family they are prepared to do anything – even die. Mortensen partook in many cups of tea in that village and still calls that place his home even though his wife and children reside in Montana. 
                                                           

My favorite part actually in the whole book was in the last chapter titled “Acknowledgments” where Mr. Mortenson thanks his family and others for the past few years of his life working on this book and in the Middle East. He answers the Question “what motivates me to do this? The answer is simple: when I look into the eyes of the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, I see the eyes of my own, full of Wonder – and hope that we each do our part to leave them a legacy of peace instead of the perpetual cycle of violence, war, terrorism, racism, exploitation, and bigotry that we have yet to Conquer.”

This book talks about the value of peace in a country where there is none. Though it took me 4 months to read the book it was something that grasped my heart the fact that a one man could have the faith to change a country one child at a time.

So to those who say that one person can’t change the world well I used to agree with you but now I truly believe that one person can change the world with or without God. I’m not saying that I’m stopping believing in God that will never stop, I’m saying that God can work in people even if they don’t know it almost a quiet encouragement, whispering hope and letting things happen for the benefit of others, what Christians call selfless Love. God has this for all of us, not just the people who love him back but all people, Muslims, Hindus, and all other religions that have faith. So to those who believe that the people of the Middle East don’t deserve love from anyone well you’re wrong they do deserve it. Everyone deserves love God loves us no matter what we do to him or the others that he loves.

Challenge to my readers: love those who make you angry or hurt you. To quote my grandma H, “all you have to do is say God bless you and he loves you”. Forgive those who have hurt you in your past and love them for the fact that you learned from them and Love God even if you feel he has taken things away from you and hurt you those are lies from the devil God takes things away to give us new perspectives on life and hope for a new future and encourages us to have faith in him and what he has planned for us.

I encourage anyone who is anyone to read this book; it gives a new perspective on perseverance and faith that I’ve never seen before. Even though it did take me four months to read it I’m glad that I took the time because now being in a country where I’m struggling for strength and hope to persevere even if I don’t want to . 

If any N or M Squad World racers want to read this book, just get it from me or who ever I pass it on to it’s an awesome book, a little hard to get into but it’s worth it.