Three Cups of Tea
One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time

Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

In 1993 Greg Mortenson was lost in Pakistan when returning from a failed mountain climb of K2 in the Himalaya Mountains. He found his way to a small village that was cut off from most of the country because of its location. They took him in, giving him heat and warmth until he could find his group again. Mortenson watched the children studying lessons outside. They had no school and no teachers. The Pakistani government had promised these, but the schools didn't make it as far as Korphe. When Mortenson left their village, he promised to get a school for them.

Mortenson returned to the United States but didn't forget his promise to the people in Korphe. Although he knew nothing about fund raising, he started writing letters. He had a few small responses but it wasn't enough. Then Jean Hoerni, the man who invented semi-conductors for computer chips, heard his story and gave Mortenson the $12,000 needed to build the school.

Mortenson took the money and returned to Pakistan to keep his promise. He ran into many obstacles but over the next few years Mortenson not only got the school in Korphe built, but was able to expand his vision. Over the next ten years he was given the money to start the Central Asia Institute which ran on a shoe string for many years. He was able to keep it going. He married and had two children. When he was in the United States, he spent much of his time fund raising. As soon as he could, he'd return to Pakistan with the money and build another school or another.

The schools were built for the girls. He believes that if girls are educated, the community, culture, and country benefit. Mortenson would go between Pakistan, his home with his family in Montana, and around the United States raising funds for the CAI. He was approached by a tribe in Afghanistan to build a school there, as well. Before he could expand to Afghanistan, 9/11 happened. In many ways his work got harder because he was helping Muslims. Americans didn't want to help Muslims after the terrorist attacks. But the word spread. Then, in 2003, Parade Magazine ran an article about the CAI and Mortenson's work. Americans started responding and Mortenson had more funding than he ever expected.

CAI is still active and expanding schools in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson shows how education with no hidden agenda is a major step towards wide spread peace. The first girls from Korphe and other villages who benefitted from his school have finished high school and gone on with their studies. They return to their villages to continue his work.

Three Cups of Tea is a chronicle of Mortenson's first ten years of his work in Central Asia. He found a need and has a passion to fulfill that need.

Three Cups of Tea not only tells his story in Central Asia, but also his life in the United States while he was starting and building his work. It also tells of his life growing up and how it influenced him as an adult. It brings in Tara Bishop, his future wife and her influence as well. She was an instant supporter of him and his work. Although the book is the story of Mortenson's work in Central Asia, Tara is a quiet hero in the background - understanding his drive to help the Pakistani people and willingness to support him in all the ways he needs.

Mortenson's work continues. Three Cups of Tea was written to tell the story and to put the spotlight on the CAI and the need in Central Asia. Proceeds from the book go to build the schools that spread education and fight ignorance. This book spreads the message, giving more people outside of the area the knowledge of what is happening in an area that is fraught with war.

Mortenson says that education is primary effort of fighting a war. When people are educated, wars have less meaning. When girls are educated, the whole village benefits - spreading throughout the countryside. One of CAI's lines is Peace Through Education.

This book is well written in third person. Although Mortenson is the main author, Relin is the man who put the book together into a flowing story told well. Between the two men the descriptions of Pakistan and its people come alive. The reader can almost see the countryside in Afghanistan after the fighting moved north. Mortenson's emotions are contained in the book, yet his passion for the work can be felt throughout.

Besides reading this well written book, you can learn more about the CAI and Mortenson's mission at http://www.threecupsoftea.com/.