Nothing Is Impossible

I have just finished reading an incredible book called, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. Greg was born in Minnesota but at a very young age his parents moved to Tanzania, Africa to be missionaries. At age 11 he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his dad and is now an avid mountain climber. When is was a teenager he parents moved back and he went on to finish high school and then earned a degree in nursing. When he finished school he organized an expedition to climb K2 in the Himalayas. While on that climb he became separated from his party and thought he would freeze on the mountain. He spent the night with no tent or shelter. Surprised to find himself alive in the morning, he set out to try to get off the mountain. In his condition he became more disorientated. Finally just before nightfall, he was rescued by one of the porters that had been guiding the group up the mountain to the summit. The porter took Greg to his village of Korpe where the village nursed him back to health. While in the village he realized the plight of the people and their need to educate their children. He promised to repay them for saving his life by coming back and building a school in this remote village. He went home, got a nursing job and lived out of his car to save money for the school. He talked with every one he knew to get donations to build his school without much success. Finally when he had given up hope, he was given $12,000 to build the school. He went back and bought the material in the closest town and began transporting the goods to the village. When the villagers heard he had come back they were overjoyed. However he was informed that the bridge could not support getting the material;s to the village. First he would have to build a new bridge that could support the supplies. Discouraged and disappointed, he went home and started to raise the money for a bridge. Finally with money in hand, he went back and built the bridge and eventually the school. In re-telling this story I cannot do justice to the determination of this man and his commitment to the vision he had for the children of the Himalayas. This is only part of the story, he beat insurmountable odds in a very remote part of the world to make his vision happen. In all, he has now build 28 schools and women's centers!

I have been so taken by this book that I can't stop thinking about it. This man defied the odds against him and refused to take no for an answer. I know for myself, I had a great teacher, my grandmother Selma. She believed that nothing could stand in the way of doing what she believed in. What is that for you? What is the vision that is burning inside you?

For me it has been creating a healing center...a place where people can learn to find peace and joy in their lives. That is why we have created the Institute for Peace and Joy...it is the vision that has been burning inside Paula and I. We are getting closer than we ever have before to getting this dream. Sometimes the odds seem insurmountable, sometimes it is disappointing, but most of all it is the passion we have to do this work that will bring this vision to life.

If you would like to talk about what we are doing please give us a call 952-435-4144. Blessings to you this day!

Sandy