Elijah’s “No Longer Orphans” Chemo Challenge
On September 2, 2021, Elijah Holland relapsed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a blood cancer he first battled in 2014. As a family we are devastated by this news, the daily fear of seven years now a reality. Elijah faces many difficult days ahead, as his body undergoes the ravages of intensive chemotherapy and steroid treatment to kill all of the leukemia blasts in his blood and bone marrow. We covet your prayers especially these first 29 days of treatment that the end result would be ZERO Minimum Residual Disease when the next bone marrow biopsy is performed.
In 2017 Elijah completed his first battle with Leukemia. To celebrate the end of 3.5 years of daily chemotherapy treatment, Elijah and his family spent nearly a month in India over Christmas time. While in India, we visited multiple churches and children’s homes. By far Elijah’s favorite was the Shiloh boys home run by Andy and Susan Lepper. Elijah and his family were able to spend about a week with the boys, playing, praying, and experiencing the sweet family life of these boys who have been rescued from systemic poverty, homelessness, and no family. Because of the Leppers’ love and dedication to Jesus, these boys were part of a loving family, No Longer Orphans.
This summer the leader of the Shiloh home and Papa of the 25 boys - Andy Lepper - went to be with Jesus after his battle with Covid-19. In addition to the tremendous loss of Andy’s nurturing presence, the Shiloh home lost their entrepreneurial leader who trained the young men in trades to help support the home and teach the boys to be self-sufficient as men. Additionally, Susan lost her best friend, and their biological son Micah lost his daddy.
The Shiloh home has been heavy on our hearts, and Elijah has prayed with us for ways to help the Susan and the boys in their loss. Long-term, Elijah has a desire to help the boys sell their beautiful hand crafted pens to raise money for their home and future college education. For now, Elijah is confined to a hospital bed and is asking God to use this period of suffering in his life to have eternal significance.
As we enter this tremendously challenging month of initial chemotherapy treatment, Elijah is asking his friends to make his suffering doubly worthwhile. As we pray that all of these toxic drugs kill the leukemia in his body, Elijah would like to challenge his friends to help provide for the boys of Shiloh.
It takes about $6,000 to cover the monthly food, lodging, education, and other expenses to care for the 25 boys of Shiloh. Elijah is praying that we could raise two months of provision - $12,000 - during his first month.
If God has put you in a place to help, please give generously to help these boys who have seen their earthly and eternal lives changed because of Shiloh. Give, and if you like, leave an encouraging message in the comments. To each person who gives we will send a beautiful handcrafted pen by the boys of Shiloh as well as a thank you card from Elijah.
Thank you for your love, care, and provision for the Holland family. We have all that we need, and more! Our craving is for our son and family to see God take something horrible and make it into something beautiful. You can help us do that.
Grace and peace,
Elijah and his very appreciative family
Elijah at Shiloh in 2014
