"Pilgrim's Wilderness" is like a train wreck, as
disturbing as the tale is you can't take your eyes away from what is written on
the page. Tom Kizza, an Alaska journalist, has deftly written a well researched
page turner, a book that kept me awake at night and seeped into my dreams
turning them into nightmares. This is a true
story about a heinous being masquerading as a man, even more heinous
masquerading as a family man. Bobby
Hale, aka Firefly Sunstar, aka Holy Bob, aka Papa Pilgrim was a Texas boy who
grew up in the top echelons of Texas society. His family socialized with John
Connally's family, Bobby even ran away with Connally's 16 year old daughter and
drove to Oklahoma where they were married, despite their young ages. That
marriage lasted 44 days before Kathleen Connally was shot in the back of the
head, purported to be a suicide due in part to the testimonial of Bobby Hale.
Even at that time Bobby Hale, prior to becoming Papa Pilgrim, showed signs of a
manic, aggressive behavior that caused him to lash out and become threatening
and abusive to those around him. This will manifest itself daily as he
becomes more obsessed with his vision of "God's plan" for him and his
family to live in the wilderness following the gospel of the bible. By the time
the family arrived in Alaska in 2002 Bobby Hale had morphed into Papa Pilgrim
and was towing a family of 14 children living under Papa's stringent rules he professed
to be the word of God. This was a man who allowed only 2 books in his home; the
bible and "The Pilgrim's Progress" and he read from them daily,
teaching his wife and children how to live by the word of God. Papa Pilgrim proselytized
himself as a devout Christian, he was not a Christian he was a monster who
searched the text of the bible to justify his daily abuse and enslavement of
his family, and the thievery he practiced against his neighbors and the state
of Alaska. He was a master of manipulation and disarmament, spouting bible
verses anytime someone approached him on his actions and behavior. However, this book is not only about the
Pilgrim family, it is also a story of wilderness living in Alaska, depending on
and offering assistance to neighbors. Where good grace is essential. As
disturbing as I found the Pilgrim family the book is highly recommended.
