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Out of the Wilderness
Elishaba Doerksen was the oldest of fifteen children born to ex-hippies Robert and Kurina Hale—also known as Papa Pilgrim and Country Rose. Elishaba grew up in a dilapidated 342-square-foot log cabin in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of New Mexico, isolated from civilization by a fundamentalist father intent on keeping his large family cloistered from a godless world. When she was nineteen, Papa Pilgrim began taking liberties with Elishaba in unimaginable ways and beating her—and her siblings—when he judged them to be “rebellious.”
The horrific sexual and physical abuse continued after the family moved to a remote valley in the Alaska wilderness. After ten years of terrifying mistreatment, Elishaba gathered her courage to make a run for it on a snowmobile. What happens next is the basis for a powerful, dramatic story about perseverance, faith, and redemption, as well as forgiveness.
This is the first time that Elishaba has told her side of a story that garnered national attention with major articles in the Washington Post, NPR, and Outside magazine as well as a significant buzz on social media. She needed time to heal, but now she’s ready to tell the world what it was like living with Papa Pilgrim—and how she overcame some of the worst trauma a daughter can experience at the hands of a father.
The horrific sexual and physical abuse continued after the family moved to a remote valley in the Alaska wilderness. After ten years of terrifying mistreatment, Elishaba gathered her courage to make a run for it on a snowmobile. What happens next is the basis for a powerful, dramatic story about perseverance, faith, and redemption, as well as forgiveness.
This is the first time that Elishaba has told her side of a story that garnered national attention with major articles in the Washington Post, NPR, and Outside magazine as well as a significant buzz on social media. She needed time to heal, but now she’s ready to tell the world what it was like living with Papa Pilgrim—and how she overcame some of the worst trauma a daughter can experience at the hands of a father.
431 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2022
12 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 28, 2022
I asked Elishaba to marry me 15 years ago on the 23rd of this month (her birthday). Since that time I’ve heard much of her life and much of the Hale’s life from each one of the siblings. I waited until she was finished with writing the book before reading it, because I wanted to read it all at once. It was actually my privilege to read it to my wife.
As I read I was amazed, because though I’d heard 96% of the content before, I still had a hard time putting the book down. Yes it’s raw, but it IS the truth - Elishaba’s story from her own perspective. For once she’s been able to have her own voice - not being drowned out by her father or others. Please read the book, because it shows how one can forgive tremendous abuse with the love and grace of Jesus.
As I read I was amazed, because though I’d heard 96% of the content before, I still had a hard time putting the book down. Yes it’s raw, but it IS the truth - Elishaba’s story from her own perspective. For once she’s been able to have her own voice - not being drowned out by her father or others. Please read the book, because it shows how one can forgive tremendous abuse with the love and grace of Jesus.
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February 21, 2022In 2005, I was working as an Anchorage Police Officer in the Eagle River area. Myself and another officer were called after an Alaska Railroad agent had located Papa Pilgrim. News reports of Pilgrim’s (Hale’s) indictments had been aired often, and his whereabouts were unknown. He fled his homestead near McCarthy as Alaska State Troopers closed in.
We were excited about capturing this notorious outlaw, but knew nothing about the previous decades of abuse which led to these indictments. There was a photograph taken by Greg Dart of the Eagle River Star Newspaper of Hale as he was being transferred to the Alaska State Troopers. Elishaba had a copy of the photograph and later told me that she’d always wanted to talk to one of the officers to find out more about that day.
Now 16 1/2 years later, and retired, I finally met up with Elishaba and recalled that particular October day. I didn’t get the impression that she had met many officers in her day, and after I read her book, I understand why. She brought along her 9 year old son, Michael, as wet met in the parking lot of Walmart in the Valley. She had told me that Michael has wanted to be a police officer for some time. I brought along an Anchorage Police Department uniform shirt and gave it to him. By looking at his face, I had given him a million dollars.
I couldn’t help it, but my mind wandered back to the book “Out of the Wilderness” which i had recently completed. I was meeting a woman a decade and a half after she escaped the most horrible torture and abuse. I was smiling inside to see the joy on mother and son. As police officers, we never know the whole story, and rarely get to meet the victim after we’ve arrested the suspect. The book was the most difficult one to read, and yet it kept drawing me in for page after page. I remember texting Elishaba one day, describing her book as well written, but I hated what I was reading.
I spent 31 years as a police officer and had seen many things, and met many victims. I spent the last 6 years of my career specifically dealing with domestic violence. I still had to fight back tears throughout the book. The pages will help you admire this woman and the courage she has displayed. I recommend this book to every police officer as a “must read”.
We were excited about capturing this notorious outlaw, but knew nothing about the previous decades of abuse which led to these indictments. There was a photograph taken by Greg Dart of the Eagle River Star Newspaper of Hale as he was being transferred to the Alaska State Troopers. Elishaba had a copy of the photograph and later told me that she’d always wanted to talk to one of the officers to find out more about that day.
Now 16 1/2 years later, and retired, I finally met up with Elishaba and recalled that particular October day. I didn’t get the impression that she had met many officers in her day, and after I read her book, I understand why. She brought along her 9 year old son, Michael, as wet met in the parking lot of Walmart in the Valley. She had told me that Michael has wanted to be a police officer for some time. I brought along an Anchorage Police Department uniform shirt and gave it to him. By looking at his face, I had given him a million dollars.
I couldn’t help it, but my mind wandered back to the book “Out of the Wilderness” which i had recently completed. I was meeting a woman a decade and a half after she escaped the most horrible torture and abuse. I was smiling inside to see the joy on mother and son. As police officers, we never know the whole story, and rarely get to meet the victim after we’ve arrested the suspect. The book was the most difficult one to read, and yet it kept drawing me in for page after page. I remember texting Elishaba one day, describing her book as well written, but I hated what I was reading.
I spent 31 years as a police officer and had seen many things, and met many victims. I spent the last 6 years of my career specifically dealing with domestic violence. I still had to fight back tears throughout the book. The pages will help you admire this woman and the courage she has displayed. I recommend this book to every police officer as a “must read”.
January 18, 2022
Elishaba's story has left me speechless. Her story is nothing short of a miracle that she survived domestic violence, rape and the list goes on. This was the hardest book I have read, but I could not put it down, this book has made a HUGE impact on my life and everyone should read it.
January 30, 2022
A few months ago I received a friend request on Facebook from a Elishaba Doerksen. Since it isn’t my nature to accept unknown friend requests, I hesitated to accept this one right away. It sat there unconfirmed for a few days. Finally, I checked out her profile and was intrigued when I saw that she had written this book, her story. Not only did I accept her friend request, but I immediately pre-ordered her book and sent her a private message regarding a situation that I had personally witnessed that could have been something similar to what she experienced. (Now, after reading her book, I’m convinced it was.) We had a nice Facebook chat and it filled my heart when she called me her new friend. I didn’t realize how much that would mean until after I read her story in it’s entirety.
I waited patiently for her book to arrive and at last it did. I immediately dove into it and what unfolded on those pages will forever be etched in my mind and soul. This story is unlike any I have ever read in the non-fiction realm and is only akin to things similar in style that one would expect to find in psychological thriller novels. At times I had to stop and remind myself that I was reading someone’s personal story and this was not some concocted, twisted, imaginative ramblings of a maniacal lunatic. How anyone could survive the horrors and sufferings at the hands of such a sick Individual had me both shocked and awed. I was riveted to my seat as I took in chapter after chapter, riding an emotional roller coaster unlike any I have been on before. I wanted to scream, yell, and cry. I found myself holding my breath when she made her escape and I had to remind myself to breathe.
I am in awe of the bravery, the courage, and the power that it took for Elishaba to have written this book. I am in awe of her steadfast faith and the God who bestowed that upon her. I am in awe of the forgiveness she was able to extend to the one who wronged her and I am in awe of who she has become. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is real. It is raw. It will stir up emotions and expose areas hidden deep within a traumatized soul. Be prepared. However, God has not silenced this and He is doing a mighty work. I am privileged to be called Elishaba’s new ‘friend.’ And I am blessed beyond measure to have read this book.
I waited patiently for her book to arrive and at last it did. I immediately dove into it and what unfolded on those pages will forever be etched in my mind and soul. This story is unlike any I have ever read in the non-fiction realm and is only akin to things similar in style that one would expect to find in psychological thriller novels. At times I had to stop and remind myself that I was reading someone’s personal story and this was not some concocted, twisted, imaginative ramblings of a maniacal lunatic. How anyone could survive the horrors and sufferings at the hands of such a sick Individual had me both shocked and awed. I was riveted to my seat as I took in chapter after chapter, riding an emotional roller coaster unlike any I have been on before. I wanted to scream, yell, and cry. I found myself holding my breath when she made her escape and I had to remind myself to breathe.
I am in awe of the bravery, the courage, and the power that it took for Elishaba to have written this book. I am in awe of her steadfast faith and the God who bestowed that upon her. I am in awe of the forgiveness she was able to extend to the one who wronged her and I am in awe of who she has become. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is real. It is raw. It will stir up emotions and expose areas hidden deep within a traumatized soul. Be prepared. However, God has not silenced this and He is doing a mighty work. I am privileged to be called Elishaba’s new ‘friend.’ And I am blessed beyond measure to have read this book.
Currently reading
January 30, 2022When Elishaba gave me her book, I had it finished a few hours later. I couldn’t stop myself from reading it straight through.
Being friends with Elishaba and her family gave me added insight as I poured over the words….and it wasn’t pleasant.
My children asked me if I liked “Miss Elishaba’s” book, and I struggled to find an answer for a while. I finally settled on, “it’s extremely well done. She clearly worked hard on it.”
I couldn’t honestly say I liked the book, because it’s not a fun, enjoyable read. It’s a stark and at times painfully ugly picture of brutality and evil.
It’s also a beautiful tapestry of strength, courage and overcoming…I look at Elishaba today and I see that lovely tapestry… the threads of darkness woven together with the light, so much light….a riveting masterpiece….much like her book.
I was extremely impressed with how well she portrayed this as HER story, her own personal experiences, all while showing respect and grace for others. That’s a tricky thing to do, and she pulled it off beautifully.
Out of the Wilderness is a book worth reading. A book of depth and heart wrenching brokenness, melting into the ongoing journey of forgiveness and restoration.
Please don’t shy away if you have a similar story of pain and suffering. I know, believe me I truly know, how difficult it can be to deliberately open that door again, even through another’s eyes….but it is worth doing.
Open the door…. Open the book and let yourself walk through it to the other side….Out of the Wilderness.
Being friends with Elishaba and her family gave me added insight as I poured over the words….and it wasn’t pleasant.
My children asked me if I liked “Miss Elishaba’s” book, and I struggled to find an answer for a while. I finally settled on, “it’s extremely well done. She clearly worked hard on it.”
I couldn’t honestly say I liked the book, because it’s not a fun, enjoyable read. It’s a stark and at times painfully ugly picture of brutality and evil.
It’s also a beautiful tapestry of strength, courage and overcoming…I look at Elishaba today and I see that lovely tapestry… the threads of darkness woven together with the light, so much light….a riveting masterpiece….much like her book.
I was extremely impressed with how well she portrayed this as HER story, her own personal experiences, all while showing respect and grace for others. That’s a tricky thing to do, and she pulled it off beautifully.
Out of the Wilderness is a book worth reading. A book of depth and heart wrenching brokenness, melting into the ongoing journey of forgiveness and restoration.
Please don’t shy away if you have a similar story of pain and suffering. I know, believe me I truly know, how difficult it can be to deliberately open that door again, even through another’s eyes….but it is worth doing.
Open the door…. Open the book and let yourself walk through it to the other side….Out of the Wilderness.
February 7, 2022
I just finished your book. Unless someone was in your shoes there is no way to fully comprehend what you and your siblings went thru. Your feelings and emotions after you escaped are especially eye opening. You have a remarkable husband and great family. I am praying for all of you daily. It is sometimes hard to sleep at night as I relive your experiences with so many "why" thoughts and questions. I am sure your book will have a positive impact on others in abusive relationships.
Thanks for sharing .
Thanks for sharing .
February 7, 2022
What an emotional and gripping story with such triumph! A beautifully written and inspirational book.
February 1, 2022
I finished your book last night and I don’t have the words to describe how amazingly strong you’re now with sharing your story. I am so sorry you had to overcome so much for so long. The most powerful part of your story for me was how even though your father misconstrued the word of God, you knew deep down in your heart that was not who God was. You kept searching the word of God even through your lack of reading skills to search for God’s word. You kept praying and crying out to God through all the pain when you barely had enough strength to breathe. I know your story will give a voice to others who have also experienced abuse to reach for the help they may need to move forward.
January 21, 2022
Elishaba’s story is more than encouraging. Elishaba’s story changed the way I think and the way I see. Elishaba’s story has encouraged me to keep pressing on - she not only survived her horrific father who went to prison for 14 years for abusing her but she spoke out against the violence with strength and unwavering faith. This is a TRUE and raw story that will push you to want to help victims because it is told by someone who walked through daily trauma and now has walked through the other side with the grace of God!
February 3, 2022
Wow… this story is unbelievable…. But it’s true….. it’s devastating and redemptive all in one! Elishaba has become a true inspiration in my life both personally and through her words in this book…. This story will change your life and outlook on how you view Gods power and healing capabilities….. it’s a tough read…. But well worth it!
Captivating, emotional, heartbreaking, healing, and inspiring!
I highly recommend that everyone reads this book!
Captivating, emotional, heartbreaking, healing, and inspiring!
I highly recommend that everyone reads this book!
February 4, 2022
What a truly inpackful story. Shook me right to my core. A story that people NEED to read and understand what TRUE Christ like forgiveness is and that a loving God has thr grace to forgive us If only we turn to Him!!
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January 31, 2022Intense Book. Elizabeth is a strong and courageous lady not just because she survived horrendous abuse but also that she shared her story to help others.
January 31, 2022
This was a heart wrenching story about how crushed a daughters heart will get when she is abused. The amount of abuse Elisheba suffered at the hands of her father made my heart break into tiny shattered pieces. I couldn’t believe that a father would do that to his daughter and claim to be righteous. I admire her for how she was able to forgive her father for taking away what should have been her first experience of sex with her husband. She was able to forgive him even though he beat her and raped her for years. I’m so sickened by what she went through, but her courage and resolve to heal from her past and continue moving forward as a mom and wife is shocking and amazing at the same time. 100000000000/10 would recommend to anyone who wants to know that it is possible to heal from whatever trauma you experienced.
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February 9, 2022Many times this was a difficult read. Elishaba Dorksen's early life was heart breaking and compelling. How the abuse continued for so many years and how she survived is truly a testimonial to her strength and God's love. I saw this family for many years in McCarthy and followed the news of her escape and her father's trial. I knew something was not right, but had no idea the depth of their need... One page she writes about being in a laundromat "why does no one do anything to help..." That line stays with me. The fact that she can write her story and forgive is inspirational. Her faith based story leaves much to consider while reading and long after the book ends. Well written.
Patt Garrett, LCSW and volunteer docent McCarthy Kennicott Historical Museum.
Patt Garrett, LCSW and volunteer docent McCarthy Kennicott Historical Museum.
February 8, 2022
I found this book hard to put down. It is captivating and it is at the same time very hard to read. What happened should never have happened, but it did. To survive such horrors is incredible. To be able to heal, recover, face the truth of it and find a way past it to forgiveness is more. The mind games and abuse have not had the final word. What a victory.
I’m so glad for brothers who stood up for their sister. For sisters who risked everything to help. For the open arms of the Buckingham family. For the grace of God in it all.
This kind of healing goes on for a lifetime. May the next chapters in this family’s life be as amazing as those in this book.
I’m so glad for brothers who stood up for their sister. For sisters who risked everything to help. For the open arms of the Buckingham family. For the grace of God in it all.
This kind of healing goes on for a lifetime. May the next chapters in this family’s life be as amazing as those in this book.
February 10, 2022
This book is well written with true life experience and redemption from a horrible family life. Her courage to set out to find assistance for her siblings is remarkable and herself can only come from strength in her relationship with our Heavenly Father. I’m proud to count her as my friend and love her family dearly. She is as a mentor to my 19 year old granddaughter, Esther. Even in the mist of tough places, our faith will be a constant place to land daily. This book encouraged me through my own healing journey.
February 12, 2022
Elishaba's story is a powerful and engrossing saga of physical, emotional, and spiritual survival in a dark wilderness. And much more than just survival - redemption, renewal out of the darkness into God's cleansing light. I couldn't put it down; I stayed up much too late one night to finish it. Yes, the story is raw, and many details are very discomforting to read, revealing deep ugliness and evil. As the father who loves my three daughters, some of the abuse described is almost unimaginable to me. Praise God for her resilience and deliverance!
February 13, 2022
I just finished reading Elishaba's book. It was difficult at times but so worth it. True forgiveness and redemption at the end. If anyone doesn't believe in man's sinful nature and the depravity that can result need to read Out of the Wilderness by Elishaba Doerksen. In the end Elishaba overcomes the terrible circumstances of her upbringing. She gives all the glory to God. She has been able to forgive and has become a wonderful wife and mother.
February 10, 2022
This is a remarkable story of God’s grace and healing in Elishaba’s life. It is astounding that she survived all that she did, and only God could have preserved her and given her the courage to finish the course and then go on to minister to others. I love you Elishaba and pray that God will continue to bless you and use you for His glory!
February 26, 2022
This raw honest story of survival chronicles Elishaba’s journey to forgiveness and wholeness. It is a good read for anyone needing guidance in forgiving the worst and moving past a hard heart to a restored tender one. Set in NM and AK, the descriptions are true to the setting. It is a real page turner.
February 11, 2022
Almost unbelievable, this is a book that will take you through a living hell to a life of hope! I could barely put it down. Read this book if you wonder about the possibility of recovery after years of psychological/physical/sexual abuse. It will blow your socks off!
February 17, 2022
“I got through the chapter in your book in the trial last night... So sad!!!
It so illustrates the great difference between God and Satan. Supreme SELFISHNESS and supreme selfless AGAPE LOVE!!!!”
It so illustrates the great difference between God and Satan. Supreme SELFISHNESS and supreme selfless AGAPE LOVE!!!!”
February 17, 2022
!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to come face to face with Satan himself?
Imagine the horror of being owned by him, shackled to him, and forced to cozy up to him each night.
Getting an inside look into Elishaba’s life with Robert Hale as her father, may be the closest some will ever come to getting a glimpse inside the mind of the devil in human form.
If true evil has never touched your life, you may not be able to grasp or comprehend some of the horrors you will read in this book. You may want to dismiss her accounts of torture and deny that they could have ever occurred.
Most people can’t even imagine what it would be like to live an hour in the authors shoes, let alone the decades of atrocities she endured.
As hard as it is to read, I believe that it is important for us to be willing to peer into the darkest corners of humanity, a place that many will never experience, and not just turn away in horror and disgust. It’s easier to ignore it, but this is a stark reality for far more people that we would like to admit.
I have had the honor of getting to know Elishaba on a personal level. I believe that this connection and insight made this read even more difficult. I felt like my heart was being torn in two as I read the details of things that happened to my beautiful friend.
This book Is not for the faint of heart…the turn of every page was like helplessly watching innocence torn asunder, like a delicate rose being trampled underfoot.
As painful and heart wrenching as it is to read, Elishaba bestows a powerful gift upon those who are brave enough to hold her hand through the journey of her story.
This gift includes the details of her harrowing fight for survival. You will stand on the sidelines and cheer her on as she fights to dig her way out of a figurative grave as her father stands at the top shoveling on heaps of dirt.
In the end, the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil will strengthen your faith and encourage your heart.
As you near the end of the book, will feel despondent and left wondering how anyone could possibly survive such an awful existence, let alone live to tell about it.
Like a kind and hopeful Shepherd guides weary and hungry sheep to green pastures, Elishaba guides you directly to the source of her one true Hope…her Savior.
Join her on her path to survival, redemption, and finally forgiveness and true freedom!
You will not be sorry you weathered the storms with her. This book is a gift and a blessing to all who dare to read it.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to come face to face with Satan himself?
Imagine the horror of being owned by him, shackled to him, and forced to cozy up to him each night.
Getting an inside look into Elishaba’s life with Robert Hale as her father, may be the closest some will ever come to getting a glimpse inside the mind of the devil in human form.
If true evil has never touched your life, you may not be able to grasp or comprehend some of the horrors you will read in this book. You may want to dismiss her accounts of torture and deny that they could have ever occurred.
Most people can’t even imagine what it would be like to live an hour in the authors shoes, let alone the decades of atrocities she endured.
As hard as it is to read, I believe that it is important for us to be willing to peer into the darkest corners of humanity, a place that many will never experience, and not just turn away in horror and disgust. It’s easier to ignore it, but this is a stark reality for far more people that we would like to admit.
I have had the honor of getting to know Elishaba on a personal level. I believe that this connection and insight made this read even more difficult. I felt like my heart was being torn in two as I read the details of things that happened to my beautiful friend.
This book Is not for the faint of heart…the turn of every page was like helplessly watching innocence torn asunder, like a delicate rose being trampled underfoot.
As painful and heart wrenching as it is to read, Elishaba bestows a powerful gift upon those who are brave enough to hold her hand through the journey of her story.
This gift includes the details of her harrowing fight for survival. You will stand on the sidelines and cheer her on as she fights to dig her way out of a figurative grave as her father stands at the top shoveling on heaps of dirt.
In the end, the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil will strengthen your faith and encourage your heart.
As you near the end of the book, will feel despondent and left wondering how anyone could possibly survive such an awful existence, let alone live to tell about it.
Like a kind and hopeful Shepherd guides weary and hungry sheep to green pastures, Elishaba guides you directly to the source of her one true Hope…her Savior.
Join her on her path to survival, redemption, and finally forgiveness and true freedom!
You will not be sorry you weathered the storms with her. This book is a gift and a blessing to all who dare to read it.
February 25, 2022
When you first open Elishaba Doerksen’s book Out of The Wilderness nothing can prepare you for what’s to come. As the pages turn you wonder how things could possibly get worse for Elishaba and her family, but it turns out there is no limit to pure evil, and Papa Pilgrim is the proof of that!
But this book is about so much more than the evil of a man. You are swept away into the life story of a faithful, loving, hardworking little girl who uses her life skills and sheer determination to survive the unsurvivable. With God all things are possible!!!
As Elishaba journeys through hell on earth she proves that she cannot be broken, and there is joy and redemption on the horizon. Hang on for a wild ride that will take you to the lowest of lows. But somehow through it all as you are cheering her on to keep going, to break free of her horror, you learn powerful lessons along the way of faith and forgiveness.
I enjoyed more than anything her beautiful love story with the love of her life Matthew Doerksen! A beautiful tale placed in the book at the perfect time.
I recommend this book with the highest praise and I won’t be surprised if it’s on the New York Times Best Sellers list one day!!
Thank you Elishaba for sharing your raw and powerful truth with us all! God bless you!
But this book is about so much more than the evil of a man. You are swept away into the life story of a faithful, loving, hardworking little girl who uses her life skills and sheer determination to survive the unsurvivable. With God all things are possible!!!
As Elishaba journeys through hell on earth she proves that she cannot be broken, and there is joy and redemption on the horizon. Hang on for a wild ride that will take you to the lowest of lows. But somehow through it all as you are cheering her on to keep going, to break free of her horror, you learn powerful lessons along the way of faith and forgiveness.
I enjoyed more than anything her beautiful love story with the love of her life Matthew Doerksen! A beautiful tale placed in the book at the perfect time.
I recommend this book with the highest praise and I won’t be surprised if it’s on the New York Times Best Sellers list one day!!
Thank you Elishaba for sharing your raw and powerful truth with us all! God bless you!
February 18, 2022
This is a book that grips you from the beginning! It is an amazing book of forgiveness from a woman who was horribly abused by her father! Innocent and isolated with her brothers and sisters from a world her father deemed as evil, he put his family in a lifetime of the worst physical, mental, and sexual abuse anyone could ever imagine! My heart pounded and I cried from the first chapter. So heart wrenching! But, what a courageous woman of faith in a God who never left her nor forsook her! An overcomer just as the Bible tells us we are! I’m so thankful for reading this book because it caused me to look at my own pain and find peace, love, and security in Jesus Christ!
February 21, 2022
Elishaba's account allowed me to relive her horrors. As a cult and sexual assault survivor, I recognize both her honesty and her courage. I know it was not easy for her to reveal such intimate details to the world, but I know that breaking one's silence can also free one's self from a lot of prisons. Doing so can also inspire others who have been subjected to abuse, or who know someone who has. Elishaba Doerksen's account is must reading for anyone who has gone or is going through adversity. Her life shows that adversity CAN be overcome.
February 21, 2022
This book is powerful. It took me some time to finish because the sheer volume of horrific abuse that Elishaba and her siblings endured was so difficult to read about that I had to take breaks from it. Nevertheless, it is a story of survival, endurance, and forgiveness, and I am blown away by the sheer determination to live that Elishaba embodies. I am glad to know that she is happy now, after so much work to heal from the damage done.
March 25, 2022
Elishaba has taught my to trust and anyone can forgive. This girls struggle, and the length of time her and her family endured their pain is nothing short of a miracle.
Get the book. Read it!! Especially if you have a chapter of abuse in your life. You will observe a tragic, grotesque and heart wrenching story that ends with the most beautiful Love, forgiveness and hope this world has ever known!!
Get the book. Read it!! Especially if you have a chapter of abuse in your life. You will observe a tragic, grotesque and heart wrenching story that ends with the most beautiful Love, forgiveness and hope this world has ever known!!
May 16, 2022
Elishaba's book was a true page-turner. Descriptive and vulnerable without being graphic, she shares her story of a hell no one should ever know. For a variety of reasons, I felt connected to Elishaba in several ways and this was part of why it was hard for me to put her book down until I finished it. My mind and heart are still processing what I've read, and her story will remain close to my heart for a very long time. I am grateful for her courage and willingness to share her story.
July 1, 2022
Horrifying, sickening, and very difficult to read; however it is brutally honest and eye-opening to see how one person can manipulate and control an entire family.
Some have claimed the book is too descriptive but that smacks of victim blaming. One reviewer called it “soft porn.” Excuse me, what??? Porn is supposed to excite and titillate. If this absolute horror story excites or titillates then that is concerning.
Some have claimed the book is too descriptive but that smacks of victim blaming. One reviewer called it “soft porn.” Excuse me, what??? Porn is supposed to excite and titillate. If this absolute horror story excites or titillates then that is concerning.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews