Three Cups of Tea

Article

I can’t remember the last time I read a story book. In my desire to be pragmatic, I have focused on “practical” books that will help me with my career or religious books that help me to understand how to interpret the scriptures. But a story book? I rarely make time for that.

And now I’m deeply satisfied I just did.

Three Cups of Tea is not just a story book—it’s a true story book. Though at times one is led to question if the stories could really be true. Relin, the book’s co–author, weaves the reader through countless encounters that demand a thoughtful pause to take it all in. “Did he REALLY receive endorsement from the supreme Shia leadership in Iran? Unreal.”

The book offers a refreshing glimmer of hope. As world leaders flounder around, bankrupting their citizens in “the war on terror,” the hatred only continues to swell.

In short, the book is a biography of the life of Greg Mortenson. Raised in Tanzania by missionary parents, Greg was instilled with a curiosity for the world and other cultures. Trained as a nurse, Greg set out to climb K2, the second–tallest mountain in the world, though generally regarded by mountaineers as the most challenging. During the climb, Greg was forced to relinquish the summit to save the life of a man on his team. Upon returning down the mountain, Greg got lost and wound up in Korphe, a tiny village whose members nursed Greg back to health. In the process he learned about the village’s “school,” where children were forced to scribble in the dirt with sticks without shelter from the Himalayan elements. Appalled, Greg promised to build them a new school one day.

Greg kept his promise. Over 10 years later, with 50+ new schools enrolling over 17,000 students, Greg is adding to that number every year.

Against the Odds

Recently when I told someone about the book, he replied, “Sounds like he must have been a rich guy.” But that is the amazing thing about it. Greg was a simple man. At times, the impossibility of the task leaves the reader with the weight of every crushing defeat: A failed mountain summit, a failed relationship, financial crisis…after 580 letters sent to anyone he considered willing to contribute to his cause, Greg was desperate.

Yet when everything seemed bleakest, the story changes course just as dramatically. One man responds to one of Greg’s letters and makes the contribution that makes the school a reality. Soon afterward, the Central Asia Institute was formed and Greg was finally able to focus all his energy on building new schools.

The book has plenty of extraordinary adventure as well. Corrupt leaders threaten to close down the schools and issue a fatwa against Greg. Greg is kidnapped near Peshawar (the same place where Osama bin Laden is presumed to be hiding) and almost gives up all hope after eight days. Hate mail arrives from Americans who misinterpret his motives. Greg is summoned before Congressional meetings in Washington, D.C. to suggest alternatives to the “war on terror.” While attempting to find locations for new schools, Greg is caught in the crossfire of a tribal war.

In the constant roller–coaster of emotions one feels while reading it, the book has lessons to teach. When everything in life seems the bleakest, there is still the hope of a turnaround. Yet it is during the high points in life that we must remember to keep our feet grounded, lest we stumble. Stamina is the key to holding fast to your dreams.

Money Money Money

The book inspires it’s readers to action. Yet the reality that many encounter is often money. It can be quite frustrating when a person has a vision, but no financial backing. As the book points out :

“[Sir Edmund] Hillary’s path was far easier than Mortenson’s quixotic quest. Having conquered the planet’s tallest peak, Hillary had become one of the world’s most famous men. When he approached corporate donors for help funding his effort to build schools, they fell over themselves competing to support his ‘Himalayan Schoolhouse Expedition.’” (p53)

Yet I appreciate Greg’s unwillingness to swerve from his principles just for the sake of money. When the US Defense department offered to bankroll him with millions to build new schools, Greg struggled with the potential benefits. But in the end he refused to take the money, knowing the credibility of the CAI would forever be tarnished. Doing my own homework, I learned through the Better Business Bureau that Greg still earns less than $60k a year—a far cry from the salaries earned by most CEO’s of charitable, non–profit organizations.

Where’s God?

In many cases I was almost begging the authors for some acknowledgment of God’s intervention, but never found it once in the entire book. Even in the acknowledgments at the end of the book, neither Mortenson nor Relin even once mentioned God’s hand in the miracles. Perhaps this is out of fear that readers will consider it another Christian missionary endeavor. But the omission leaves me with the impression that all the references Greg made about “respecting Islam” were just patronizing and diplomacy. Greg, when you pray with them, do you really mean it?

One of the unsettling quotations found throughout the book:

“‘When I look back at everything we accomplished that year, despite the fatwa, I have no idea how I did it, how I had that kind of energy.’ Mortenson says.” (p197)

I’ve got an idea.

References to Wahhabism

A large portion of the last half of the book confronts the friction between Greg’s mission to combat extremism with the “extremist madrassas funded by the ruling Wahhabi’s of Saudi Arabia.” This theme confused to me after reading Storm from the East where the

Saudi state was portrayed in a more benign light. It seemed to be an over–generalization to point the finger at the Wahhabi’s (or Salafis, as they prefer to be called). After all, didn’t Al–Qaeda claim responsibility for bombings in Saudi Arabia? Additional articles seem to agree.

Yet after doing some reading and talking with people living around the Middle East, I’ve come to understand a little more about Wahhabism. For sure, there is good reason to be wary of them. Still, I think there needs to be some recognition that extremism is incredibly multi–faceted, and we should be careful to put all the blame in any one direction.

To clarify some things not mentioned in the book, in the Arabic language, ALL schools are referred to as “madrassas.” Just because a school is called a madrassa does not mean it is recruiting jihadi fighters. Now, having said that, I have observed that the madrases in Yemen often do not give a balanced education to the children. Even the youngest rattle off a tirade of foul–mouthed distaste for all things non–Muslim. (A large madrassa is directly beside SIAL, and I often walk back to my home with the children.)

This is in no way an endorsement of Wahhibism or Salafism.

Who should read this book

Three Cups of Tea would be a great book for anyone interested in education, mountaineering, world peace, humanitarian development, world cultures, languages, and Islam. It is sure to inspire anyone to action.

Thanks Mom, for giving me the book in Ethiopia. You’ve got great taste!

Related links:

• Central Asia Institute Website
• Official Book Site
• NY Times Multimedia showing the growth of hostility in Afghanistan since 2003
• NPR Interview with Greg Mortenson