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| Enjoying 'Three Cups of Tea' |
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| Relin will be signing his book on Thursday at 7 p.m., at the Crook County Library |
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 | | CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | David Oliver Relin at the Skardu Landing Pad. |
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By Kate Wennerstrom
Taking a break from his whirlwind schedule, Portland author David Oliver Relin will be making a stop in Prineville this week to share his story.
"It's pretty exciting," Crook County Library Public Relations Coordinator Margo Ashcraft said. "This is the first time we've ever had a major nationally known author come to the library."
Relin's book, `Three Cups of Tea', has become a sensation, dominating the New York Times best seller list for 66 weeks. This week, like many previous weeks, the book is ranked number one.
The book spotlights a mountaineer's successful effort to bring education to those who were craving to be taught.
Greg Mortenson found himself in an underprivileged Pakistani village in 1993 after trying and failing to climb K2.
"Greg talked about his first inspiration was when he was recovering in this village," Ashcraft continued. "He went out and found some young boys sitting under a tree. They were making marks in the mud with a stick. He asked them what they were doing."
In previous years, books in all different languages had been dropped off at the village by well-meaning trekkers.
"The boys were trying to learn how to read and write by copying the symbols they saw in these books in the mud," Ashcraft said. "Greg saw how desperately they really wanted to learn. He said in the book, `Our real enemy over there is ignorance. As soon as people get educated, things completely change'."
Mortenson promised the children he would build a school for them. Back in the United States, he worked and saved, and even lived out of his car for a time to save as much money as possible.
"Eventually he had enough, because to build a school is relatively inexpensive there," Ashcraft said. "He went back, built this school and overcame amazing obstacles. Since then he has gone on and raised money all over the place and has built 64 schools -- I believe, at this point, in Pakistan and Afghanistan."
Mortenson insisted on several key essentials for his schools. First they would be non-denominational and second, to offer a balanced education, girls would also be taught, which had not been done in the past.
"He said that the families would never change until the girls were educated," Ashcraft continued. "He opened that door, and now I think 28,000 kids have gone through his schools. A bunch of them have gone onto to higher education. The first girl he educated in this village is now studying to be a doctor."
To truly tell the story, Relin opted to follow Mortenson's footsteps to gain a complete understanding of the elements playing a part.
"(Relin) visited every site mentioned in the book," Ashcraft said. "If you read the book, you'll know what a job that was for him to get to these people, to meet all of them and interview all of them. He's become extremely involved in the movement as well. He just got back a couple of days ago. He's been in Nepal and Vietnam."
With such a busy schedule, Ashcraft is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Crook County to Relin and his inspirational book.
"We're so excited," she said. "I've talked to the author a couple of times on the phone. He's down-to-earth and funny. We're just really going to have a good time with him. We're pretty fortunate."
Meet the author
David Oliver Relin, author of `Three Cups of Tea', will be at the Crook County Library on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. The Friends of the Library will have the book for sale at cost for $10. They will also be providing refreshments. Margo Ashcraft recommended coming early. For more information about the evening, call the library at 447-7978. More information about Greg Mortenson, David Relin and the book can be found at www.threecupsoftea.com |
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