Dear colleagues, the Nelson/Zhart family, Margaret, Gordon and so many others, For Jo and her immediate and extended family, Joe and I give deep and heartfelt thanks that Wayne invested his life with us in so many places on planet earth. For me it was Bayad and Jamaica - in both spots I witnessed and partnered with the Nelson family as a missional force I recognized was "for good". In Jamaica, when Joe and I were permeating in FL to provide income for the CEDA "match" to Jamaica - we never really understood what that was all about, but it related to Canada, so Joe was pleased -I was invited as a consultant for a SP training. That was a sideline pro forma event - the important time for me was when Wayne drove me and others from Kingston up to the Blue Mountains in a jeep, around serpentine roads, introduced me to people who were related to the project, and narrated the "life experiences" of these amazing folk who decided to become the HDP in Jamaica. On the way back I knew I had a return flight I needed to catch. Wayne was driving the white jeep down the winding, one-way roads, and there was an accident (not his cause). Dealing with such a "confrontation" in translation took a lot of time. Wayne was wonderful. He resolved it all with respect to the "offender" and got us to the airport right on time. (My Hero!) The last time Joe Crocker and I spent time with Wayne and Jo was at Stan and Miriam's home in Toronto, on the occasion of celebrating Brian Stanfield's completed life. I loved "hanging out" in Stan & Miriam's kitchen with the Nelsons, who were so energized about what they were doing in so many different sectors. Joe and I will forever remember Wayne and Jo in that moment. We returned to the States after that wonderful weekend energized. May you, Wayne, continue to "mount up on eagles wings," and we will watch for you! Marilyn and Joe Crocker From: oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Margaret Aiseayew Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 3:34 PM To: OE@lists.wedgeblade.net Subject: [Oe List ...] Wayne Dear Jo and all, This news comes as a great, painful, overwhelming shock. I am so saddened. I'm sure that we have all had those dreams that seem to last all night long, even though we awake, get up, go to the bathroom (most of us are old enough to understand that part) and go back to sleep only to be in the same dream again, with greater intensity and detail. Last night, it was about a death in our community. The event happened indoors and the body was moved outside, lovingly wrapped and gently held by different ones of us. There was a huge stage made of blocks of foam all wrapped (actually beautifully sewn) in blue velvet. A block would be pushed out, a face would appear and a story would be told. Someone in the circle in front of the stage would put the block back in place. Someone in the circle would tell a story. Sometimes as someone in the front circle would be telling a story many blocks would come out and the response represented in the story would be acted out. This only happened when the story needed a massive response of care or demand for justice. There were tears. There was laughter. It was obviously "us" because of recognizable persons in the circle (some of whom I haven't seen for years, some of whom are no longer with us on this plane) and because of the breadth of the geography represented in the stories. It was a gentle night (in the dream) and as morning approached, I woke up. I made some notes. There was a huge metal framework around the velvet squares which were actually rectangular in shape, that gave the outdoor stage great stability. As is the case in dreams, there is no explanation for the fact that the entire structure did not collapse when one or many squares came popping out. I did not want to rise. I got up a couple of times, got a cup of coffee, fed the cat, and then I went back to lie down because my Monday morning "schedule" is to go through my last week's email. It seems rather obvious that a part of me wanted to avoid the news. Wayne always took me back to my roots, as did the combination of Wayne and Jo. Wayne and I participated in a weekend retreat with Slicker in 66. I showed up from Morningside and Wayne had arrived from Dakota Wesleyan. We joked about this connection in places as far removed as Nigeria. Wayne's ability to recover the story value in events always amazed me. It hasn't reached zero here yet today and last night the winds were in the 30 to 55 mile per hour range. The house shook most of the night, so there was comfort in the peacefulness of the dream world I entered. Now, I am reminded of the Buddhist traditional understanding that great winds appear with the passing of great teachers. It seems a bit self-centered to have bored you all with this weary tale, but it seemed important to me to remind us of how intimately we are connected. If you should have any doubts, Jo, about the sincerity of those who have mentioned that they are holding you and the boys in their thoughts and prayers, let them go. Care for yourselves and know that you are being held in a powerful circle of light and love and deep respect. We recognize a great life, greatly lived, with phenomenal impact on the whole of a huge personal particular circle and on behalf of thousands of persons who will never even know Wayne's name that are spread across the planet. They are richer for his expenditure on their behalf and poorer for not having had the blessing of those of us who have known you both. With love and care, Margaret