This book made me cry

You have to read this book: Three Cups of Tea.  I was in San Francisco to visit my mother and she gave me the book to read so I finished it in one sitting on the plane ride from SFO to Manila.

I was unprepared for the effect it would have on me. It’s written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin — it’s basically Mortenson’s experiences, shaped and edited by Relin. The man is an amazing writer and Greg’s story is one that fills the heart. Three Cups of Tea is a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and a Kiriyama Prize winner. Relin himself has won over 40 national awards for his writing and editing. The writing is so good in fact that some of his lines drove their way right into my heart.

Greg Mortenson is a mountain climber who endeavors to climb the K2 peak in Pakistan. He almost dies during his attempt — but he is taken in and cared for by village people with whom he eventually develops a close relationship. This group of strangers ends up putting him on his own road to peace — through building schools.

What is touching about the book is the fact that Mortenson was a nurse by profession, someone without a great deal of money — yet he really wanted to help this village. Eventually he found someone who agreed to help him. The difficulties don’t stop there, though: he then has to build a bridge so that the villagers can go to the school.

In its way, Three Cups of Tea is a gripping thriller as well. Mortenson is kidnapped by the Taliban. Amid all his difficulties, he maintains his passion and commitment. He doesn’t give up on his vision. Things keep falling into place.  He ends up building 55 schools in Pakistan and the numbers keep on climbing.

The story somehow reminded me of my days in Africa. I could relate to Mortenson’s experiences: things do fall into place if one is determined.

What is also so moving for me is the picture it paints of Afghanistan and Pakistan. As captured by Relin, the people there are just so beautiful. The Western media portrays a totally different picture of this part of the world. Mortenson, for his part, heads straight into Taliban territory and makes a difference.

What also made me cry about Three Cups of Tea is his mission to spread education. That really resonated with me. There is a story about Jahan — one of his first graduates from this village school. She courageously insists that he help her get a scholarship so she can become a health worker.  He is amused at her spunk — and realizes that this is one of the gifts of education. So he retrieves whatever money he has in his bag and gives her the money toward the scholarship.  In Pakistan and Afghanistan girls are not encouraged to go to school, so the story and its situation is doubly moving.

Jahan’s story doesn’t stop there. With education, her dreams change — from being a simple health worker, the young lady now wants to be the head of a hospital. She says she now wants to be a “Super Lady” who really makes a difference in her country. Wow. That really had me weeping: to feel the evolution and transformation of the human spirit to something greater. That’s also what I see in the Filipino – the potential for greatness. And I see it happening in the schools we help. Just given the chance, every Filipino can bloom.

During this time of war, this is an important book to read. Oh, and if you purchase Three Cups of Tea online, seven percent goes towards furthering education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg Mortenson is confident that education is a much more potent tool in fighting terrorism than dropping bombs and waging wars. I agree with him.