Tea

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin has been on my to read list for some time now. Each time it came in at the library the cover intrigued me greatly. The book was also quite popular and I now know why. What an amazing story.

A general overview (which does not do this story justice so go read it!) of the book is that it is the story of how Mr Mortenson began on a lifelong mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The story begins long before 9/11 and continues to this day. Oddly enough in my mind I kept thinking wow this is going to end after 9/11 happens and yet the story does not end. Mortenson continued on with his life work and continues to do so to this day.

I love the reasoning behind the title too. At one point Mortenson is having tea with one of the men he works with abroad and the man tells him the first time you have tea with someone it is as a stranger, the second is as a guest, and the third is as family. The man goes on to say that once you are family people will give their lives to protect you.

Mortenson seems to be an amazing man. I'd love to write on and on and on about the book but honestly the message and stories told within it are worth reading.

Current Listen: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb