Greg Mortenson

Just imagine a time and place where a wondrous starlit night instantly humbled one, as it displayed a clear miraculous performance. Envision a place of extreme, where colossal mountains elude one beyond the outer troposphere to rest serenely. Commanding glaciers, equaled in power and splendor, churning in constant motion splitting spiked rock formations, masterly erected, holding dominance over the terrain. Oxygen and all forms life are on the cuff of elimination within the powers of these tremendous environmental conditions. Sporadic villages cling to survive at the base of the mountains.

K2 North Face

One of those villages is Korphe, a small village of 400. The Batoro Glacier feeds the Braldu River. Women and children of Korphe daily made the 10-minute hike to the glacier-fed Braldu River to bring back its life giving water. Korphe consisted of 40 wood heated cabins that housed entire extended families. Sharing meager meals of small vegetables, wheat barley, potatoes and beans, this caring village was able to nourish Greg Mortenson, a lost mountain climber, back to health.

Pakistan

In 1993, Greg Mortenson wandered into this Pakistani village after becoming ill during his climb of K2. The second tallest mountain in the world, K2 towers over the border of Pakistan and China. Greg dreamed of conquering the 28,251 ft. monster after his sister died, in her honor. Never reaching the top, Greg a passionate man, adjusted his ambitions and took the challenge of a different climb, the education of children.

At that time, young boys were educated by writing in the sand with sticks. Women were often solely responsible for the home, since the men had to go to the cities to find work. Mortenson promised a school for the village in gratitude of their kindness and responding to a young girl's request for a warm place to learn.

Greg wrote a book called Three Cups of Tea in which he described his quest to build schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He started Pennies for Peace, a program letting American children make a positive difference worldwide, one penny at a time. In addition, he helped start The Central Asia Institute (CAI), a non-profit organization in remote Central Asia, helping literacy programs and community-based education for girls.

One Cup of Tea

He lives heroism sincerely by making the community better. Fifteen years after his experience in Korphe, Mr. Mortenson is still campaigning and building schools. He remains loyal to his vow and to the students he helps. He promised a school and after much strife, they have one. He has received two Islamic Mullah's fatwehs (Edits) against him for educating. His actions have gained respect and trust of a culture, community, and religion in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan. Islamic clerics demonstrated for his admirable qualities. He has courage and perseverance against tremendous odds. It took him three years of struggling to build the first school in Korphe. He received hate mail from U.S citizens after 9/11 for helping Muslims yet he continued school progress. Greg Mortenson and his wife, Dr. Tara Bishop, live in Bozeman, Montana with their two children. He has received numerous awards beginning as far back as 1975. Mr. Mortenson lectures promoting his book, Three Cups of Tea while showing slides of his experiences. His listeners are inspired to action by realizing that a little does make a big difference. Greg Mortenson is hero for many. He is "one cup of tea" making a difference in collaboration with "one more cup of tea."