The Mission - A True Story of Love, Faith, Betrayal and Murder in the Philippines (Paperback)

"The Mission" is the compelling story of the lives and deaths of two Irish Columban priests on the war torn island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The story begins with the kidnapping of Fr Des Hartford by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in October 1997. Hartford was held hostage for 11 days in the jungle until his freedom was secured. Almost four years later in August 2001, Fr Rufus 'Popong' Halley was murdered in cold blood while travelling through Malabang. Like Hartford, Halley had dedicated his life to promoting peace among Christians and Muslims on the islands. He paid the ultimate price for his work. Harrington's book is a superb account of the lives of these missionaries - two men who dedicated their lives to helping the poor. Few will put this book down without understanding the Columbans, their way of life, the southern Philippines and the region's troubled history.