A Thousand Hills to Heaven

By: Josh Ruxin

Narrated by: Will Collyer

One couple's inspiring memoir of healing a Rwandan village, raising a family near the old killing fields, and building a restaurant named Heaven.

Newlyweds Josh and Alissa were at a party and received a challenge that shook them to the core: do you think you can really make a difference? Especially in a place like Rwanda, where the scars of genocide linger and poverty is rampant?

While Josh worked hard bringing food and health care to the country's rural villages, Alissa was determined to put their foodie expertise to work. The couple opened Heaven, a gourmet restaurant overlooking Kigali, which became an instant success. Remarkably, they found that between helping youth marry their own local ingredients with gourmet recipes (and mix up "the best guacamole in Africa") and teaching them how to help themselves, they created much-needed jobs while showing that genocide's survivors really could work together.

While first a memoir of love, adventure, and family, A Thousand Hills to Heaven also provides a remarkable view of how, through health, jobs, and economic growth, our foreign aid programs can be quickly remodeled and work to end poverty worldwide.

Great read!

I loved this book having dined @ Heaven while working in Kigali.

Josh is a creative author and is truly effective in his International relief programs.

I look forward to the next time I'm @ Heaven.

Inspired “ordinary” lives changing the world in Rwanda

A delightful memoir that is a page turner, tear jerker, and love letter to a country that is making the impossible a reality... most highly recommended!!

Well worth a listen, if only to expand horizons

Josh Ruxin is clearly a wonderful human being. And he has done something that so many wish, but few actually try - to make a real difference in people's lives.

I really enjoyed most of this book. It opened my eyes to Rwanda, and made me wish to visit.

But.... The book often made me cringe. The author is regularly emphasises why it is important to impose Western values and norms on Rwanda. His attitude is often patronising and American-centric.

Listened to this while staying at Heaven!

I can’t recommend enough listening to this book while traveling in Rwanda and staying/dining at Heaven in Kigali (which you should also do!)… I had a much greater appreciate for the large, resilient trees overhanging the dining deck. :)
I enjoyed the way Josh wove his family’s story with the (sometimes very dark) recent history of Rwanda and work they were doing in country.

While this book had the risk of veering into “western savior stereotype” territory, josh deftly led the reader to realizations like… sometimes it’s best to listen to local knowledge instead of international expertise for a successful community farming project, and that setting up a thriving business with staff training can be a more effective anti-poverty measure than endless aid packages.

Josh and Alisa didn’t just sweep in and out of Rwanda, they laid down roots and watched them blossom. It was a fantastic journey to follow.

A must read for anyone that loves Africa

great personal story offering a different perspective on development work in Africa. Lots of lessons and inspiration to visit Rwanda. a refreshing view behind the curtain