A Thousand Hills to Heaven by Josh Ruxin Shows God Sleeps in Rwanda

The saying “God sleeps in Rwanda” is often voiced by the people of Rwanda. Some, when speaking, mean that God comes to rest in in their country because of its high altitude and abundance of hills. The majority, however, sincerely mean that God works everywhere else in the world, except for Rwanda. After years of genocide, ethnic tension, and extreme poverty, this sentiment is understandable. A Thousand Hills to Heaven, written by Josh Ruxin in 2013, recounts an American couple’s experience with international development in Rwanda. This book is singular in that it communicates the author’s daily life as if it were a novel, while educating the reader about his five rules for international development and the state of the country. According to Ruxin, poverty is curable in Rwanda, despite the difficulties plaguing the small nation.

A Thousand Hills to Heaven, published this past November, gives a current perspective on Rwandan culture, politics, and economics. The book’s title is a connection between the nation’s nickname, “the land of a thousand hills,” and Heaven, Josh Ruxin’s restaurant. Heaven sits atop one of the thousand hills and represents economic and emotional progress for the country. The book is relevant to the international development community because every United Nations member state is racing to complete the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), signed in 2000. The MDG’s are a UN enterprise that challenge the global community towards eight different development targets. Rwanda, though one of the most impoverished nations in the UN, is one of the closest to completing several of the goals by 2015. A recent UN report said, “Rwanda is very likely to meet – and possibly even surpass – the MDG targets for child and matern...

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...anda, which went from having little industry to farmers exporting and co-opting, a private plan for dairy production for improved child health, the advent and growth of coffee shops, and the founding and thriving of Heaven (Josh and Alyssa’s restaurant).

A Thousand Hills to Heaven is an apt expose of the world of international development through the lens of Rwanda. Ruxin’s five rules outline the basics of aid work and his story shows the realities that developers must face while living in impoverished countries. His book, while narrative heavy, is a helpful guide for any person considering development work. He also explains the rising star of Rwanda through their advent of good governance, stability, bettered healthcare, and economic growth. The catalyzing of the Rwandan economy and spirit bode well for their future prosperity. God is no longer resting in Rwanda.