Lessons from Three Cups of Tea

The book is the story of Greg Mortenson who went to Pakistan as a Mountaineer to climb K2 as a tribute to his little sister, Christa’s who recently died as a young adult. He came back from his failed attempt with a new mission to build a school for the children of a small village in Pakistan. Here are some lessons that I am gleaning from reading this inspiring true story.

·         One thing leads to another and that’s a good thing – Greg’s journey to Pakistan was to climb K2 in honor of his sister Christa. This was his passionate goal. His failure to achieve this goal and the subsequent struggle for survival against the elements took all he had.

On his way back to civilization walking through b.f. Pakistan, he loses his guide and his way and wanders into a remote village. Their culture is one that embraces strangers and travelers with kindness. One thing leads to another and he forms friendships and helps the people with his medical and nursing skills. As he divests himself of his supplies and his spirit connects with the people there, he uncovers the fact that the children have no school house, few books, and write their lessons in the mud with sticks. The light bulb goes off and his new mission, passion, and promise begins. This goal is even better than the first one, and he would have never discovered it had he not tried climbing K2 and failed. Failure is highly under-rated.

Quote starting Chapter 3

"Tell us, if there were one thing we could do for your village, what would it be?"

"With all respect, Sahib, you have little to teach us in strength and toughness. And we don't envy you your restless spirits. Perhaps we are happier than you? But, we would like our children to go to school. Of all the things you have, learning is the one we most desire for our children."

-Conversation between Sir Edmund Hillary and Urkien Sherpa, from Schoolhouse in the Clouds

·          If you don’t know what you’re doing, jump in anyway. The important thing is to jump – When Greg got back to theStates, he learned that he had to raise $12,000 to build a 5 room school house. He had no clue how to raise funds as he worked part time as an Emergency Room Nurse so he could climb when he wanted.

He began typing personal letters and sending them out to the rich and famous. Mind you, he was using a typewriter in the time of personal computers. Needless to say this was a very slow process.

As fortune would have it he met a Pakistani man in the Bay area. He told him his story. This man was very good with computers and he taught Greg how to use the computer to generate 580 personal letters to raise funds. Get started, and the Universe responds with help even though you only have a vision and no clue. Of the 580 letters, he received 578 rejections or no response, a small check, and 1 man who was willing to sponsor him for the entire amount of $12,000. With $12k, airline tickets, and $800, Greg was off to Pakistan to build a school.

·           Being American is not genetic. Being anything isn’t a matter of skin color and diversity is simply what you’re not used to. Even though Greg was born in the U.S. to American parents, he did much of his growing up in Tanzania. He spoke the native language, participated in the sports, culture, and took himself to be an African even though his skin color was white, he was born in the U.S., and his parents were Lutheran missionaries. When his family moved back to the states and he went to high school and was beat up by a gang of black students for not being a true African he yearned for Africa. Talk about culture shock and  breaking  paradigms.

There's a big old goofy man
Dancing with a big old goofy girl
Ooh baby
It's a big old goofy world

~John Prine~

(Song: It's A Big Old Goofy World)