A Book Worth Reading

I finished reading Three Cups od Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time a few days ago. To say that the book moved me would be an understatement. I am always so impressed with and taken in by people who do amazing, wonderful things for people who are less fortunate. This book is really an extraordinary story of one man really making a difference. It's proof that one small idea can dramatically change the lives of hundreds if not thousands.

The book is about a man who finds his way to a small village in Northern Pakistan after he fails to summit K2. What he finds in the village, like so many in that country are children who are not being educated. He decided he would build them a school and he returned to them and did just that. But he did more then just build a school. He changed the lives of many. He changed the views of thousands.

I really can't do the book justice. I can't put into words the amazing and wonderful things Greg Mortensen did and still does for people in the Middle East. I am still slightly overwhelmed by the entire story. It took me three days to read what normally takes me an afternoon. I was so engrossed in the words I had to read them slowly to absorb more. Almost as if I could somehow become better just by reading them.

I know that I was proud to read of an American who went to a Muslim country to do good things. Considered an infidel he was as out of place as any one human can be, and yet he built relationships with people and became like family to them. He also proved that American's aren't all bad. Something I think many nations consider us these days.

Often times we only see countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and their neighbors when we're watching news about the war. We hear body counts, weapons statistics, and military strategy. We don't hear the stories of the people who live and work there, just trying to have a life like us. So many of them are so far removed from normal civilization that they don't even know why we are over there bombing their homes and business'.

I would encourage anyone to read this book. If for no other reason then to have a little faith in humanity restored. What Greg does for the children of the Middle East is really what being a human is all about. Giving when people need it. Caring when no one else does. Having the perseverance to fight battles and come out ahead. If only we could all be so heroic.