Singing to the dead

Book Description

In the shadowy streets of Bangkok's slums, where desperation meets compassion, a remarkable story of faith and service unfolds. Victoria Armour-Hileman takes readers into the heart of a Buddhist temple where Mon refugees from Burma seek sanctuary from their government's brutal campaign against indigenous peoples.

As a Catholic lay missioner working alongside Mon Buddhist monks, Armour-Hileman discovers that true spiritual service requires far more than good intentions. Her role as intermediary between the temple and the outside world demands navigating complex bureaucracies, securing medical care for landmine victims, and finding resources for orphaned children who lack even basic shoes.

This deeply personal account reveals the profound lessons that emerge from humanitarian work under pressure. Armour-Hileman learns to balance trust with caution, persistence with patience, and hope with harsh reality. As police raids intensify and the monks' safety becomes increasingly precarious, she faces her most challenging test when one monk faces potential deportation to torture and imprisonment.

The narrative builds toward a crisis that forces the author to confront fundamental questions about divine justice and human responsibility. Through her desperate efforts to secure asylum for the threatened monk, she grapples with what her faith truly means when everything she believes hangs in the balance.

This compelling memoir offers readers insights into the transformative power of cross-cultural spiritual service and the profound growth that emerges from standing at the intersection of suffering and hope.