Out of the Wilderness: Escaping My Father's Prison and My Journey to Forgiveness

by Elishaba Doerksen

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 341-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. 

545 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Elishaba Trust Doerksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to say THANK YOU to all who has taken the time to write a review on my book Out Of The Wilderness.
So many has told me it is a page turner, thanks to Mike Yorkey who helped me put my story together in such a tactful manner.
Over the years I have had so many ask me to wright my story, but it has taken years of deep heart work and purpose to change perspective, self worth, wrong belief, allowing myself to be fully known and fully LOVED before I could stand up to the world and be vulnerable with my sensitive story. I had to be ready to be known and still fully believe that I am loved. My story is a hard story and not one that I could even make pretty if I tried. Out Of The Wilderness doesn’t come close to telling the actual severity and horrifying abuse I suffered growing up under such an evils life. If I did, it would be bearable to read. Without the hard part, one would never know what there was to forgive, so I bring to light just enough of the story. I have such passion and hope that my book Out Of The wilderness will bring a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, courage to the one who has no strength and words for those of you who want to understand another who is stuck in an abusive situation. Forgiveness is a journy and forgiving also leaves the one who harms you into the hands of the great and Just Judge. Forgiveness lets go of revenge. Forgiveness sets you free. Forgiveness does NOT mean that we walk back into harm, or even have relationship with one who will not turn from harming you. Forgiveness let’s the other know that you will not partake and be apart of evil that harms another. Jospeh in the Bible forgave his brothers, but before he embraced them, he made sure that they were safe, truthful and able to love. Forgiving those who harmed and wounded me all started when I was able to receive God’s full love and forgiveness for my own shame filled heart. May God bless each one of you who read my story! Elishaba Doerksen

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough and Emotional Read

I cannot come up with any words to adequately describe my feelings on this one. If you read this one, be ready.

Elishaba is a courageous and amazing person. To go through all she has and still find happiness and have enough love for, not only herself, but others around her is inspiring.

[Whitney Kersey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never cried so much while reading a book. Elishaba is an inspiring woman and a great example for how forgiveness looks as a Christian.