"Three Cups of Tea" while Christmas shopping

"Here (in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything--even die." - Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

This is a quote from a new book I bought this weekend called "Three Cups of Tea" I was supposed to be shopping for the kids but decided to pick up the book for myself..call it an early Christmas gift to me! ha ha I haven't really read much, but I did read an excerpt from the book in this month's edition of "Outside" magazine. This is a true story about a mountain climber named Greg Mortenson and his mission to promote peace by building schools in some of the most remote parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson was a mountain climber and in 1993 he made an attempt to climb K2 but he failed, and he found himself wandering into a Pakistani village where he was given food and limited medical treatment. In return for the kindness he recieved he promised to return one day and build a school. Since the building of that one school, Mortenson has built fifty-four more schools-especially for girls. This guy is like a modern day Indiana Jones! He still personally delivers the teachers annual salaries to them in cash. To do this he has a team of trusted agents and deals with local militia's to ensure safe passaage. He has been criticized for dealing with local thugs and warlords but the schools that he and his team have built have produced great results. One of the regions that I read about now has the very first woman ever, studying to become a medical doctor and one woman studying politics. The adventures that this guy gets himself into must be incredible! My friend Jeb calls me a bookworm, but I think even he might like this book. This book has recently become suggested reading at Westpoint, and the Air Force Academy for graduating cadets because it shows the power of the humanitarian spirit. I can't wait to get more into the book.

Well, Saturday night Andria and I did a little Christmas shopping for the kids. Both are getting new sleeping bags, new fleece pullovers, a new movie, and some stocking stuffers of course. Santa is bringing a new BB gun and something called the Littlest Pet Shop. I think that so far, Santa is very happy with what he is bringing to our house because there is no assembly required for any gifts. Wahoo!

Well, tomorrow starts another fun filled 11 day hostage crisis at the 188th Fighter Wing. That's how we refer to it when we have a work week, a drill weekend, and another work week. We end up working 11 days straight with no day off. YUK! Well, anyway, I guess there maybe something to thinking positive so everyone have a "Happy Monday!"

Proverbs 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.