“A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul”(Proverbs 13:19).
Tears of joy followed the call, while praises to God were breathlessly proclaimed. After years of toil, countless hours of instruction and months of intense, targeted preparation and study, the results were in.
Have you ever hoped so much that it hurt? Longed for a day when your efforts would be validated? Sweat and tears, hustle and toil all contribute to a heart longing for fulfillment.
When Susan Hollern, Nate Kempton and Liz Ingabire sat under an acacia tree seven years ago, they dreamed of a day when kids from one of the poorest communities in Rwanda would help lift their families out of poverty. They knew it would be a difficult task, but this is what the community pleaded for.
When students from wealthy families attend prestigious private schools and score well on standardized tests, no one is really surprised.
Was it even possible for students from the poorest families in the nation, attending a Christian school in their very own neighborhood, to grow into some of the most distinguished scholars in the entire nation of Rwanda?
No one knew for sure if it was possible, but Susan was committed to praying hard, enlisting the help of everyone she knew and giving it her best shot! And, by God’s grace, it worked!
We are filled with joy and gratitude to God, and to all of those who have journeyed with us, to report that Hope Haven Rwanda has been validated as one of the premier schools in Rwanda. Weeks ago, 247,763 students sat for the Rwandan national examination.
Out of the 247,763 students who completed the examination, 8,271 scored in Division 1—the top 3.3% of students in the entire country of Rwanda. Today, we are thrilled to share that ALL of our Hope Haven Rwanda students scored among the top 3.3% in the nation!
Incredible! Every single student in the class, many of whom started studying under a tree seven years ago while living in one of the most vulnerable communities in Rwanda, earned a spot in the highest division—the category of the most distinguished scholars in Rwanda!
This is a significant validation of all of the effort that our entire team has invested over the years to help make Hope Haven one of the best schools in Rwanda—while serving one of the most vulnerable communities in Rwanda! This achievement is a rare and remarkable combination for any school in the world.
We humbly acknowledge that these students would not have landed in Division 1 without the tireless efforts of so many—their teachers, parents, administrators, board members and many, many champions in the United States.
We also express our gratitude to the Rwanda Ministry of Education. We especially honor Dr. Isaac Munyakazi, the Minister of State for all Primary and Secondary Education, for his continued efforts to help Rwanda lead the way educationally throughout the continent of Africa. Africa is rising, and Rwanda is at the forefront of this educational transformation.
To God be the glory—great things He has done! Our hope has been fulfilled, and this is just the beginning of what we believe God has in store for this special place in the heart of Africa!