Hi Everyone,

For those of you who live in Hawaii or who will be there Friday June 12th there will be a time of honoring for Rod.   The family will be scattering his ashes in the ocean at Rod’s request.  In lieu of flowers please bring a lei if you are able to attend and a chair or mat to sit on.  The honoring will begin at 5pm at the end of Old A’s Airport.

From Alexis
I want to thank each of you for your prayers, gifts and so much support during the past six months I have known the love of God thru the body in ways I never could have imagined.  When my heart is heavy with grief I am comforted with the Love of Christ thru you.

After the Memorial for Rod in Estes Park Psalm, Noe, and the McMahan’s and I drove to SD.  Before Psalm and Noe left we went thru some of Rod’s personal belongs.
After we said goodbye to Psalm and Noe we began packing up the house.  We are about three quarters of the way through.  We also got the gallery open for a closing sale.  The McMahan’s have been more sufficient than a moving company!  It has been a lot of work but we made lots of progress these past three weeks.  Mike and Lynn have laid down their lives like I have never witnessed before.  I will miss them.

I plan to be in Hawaii for about two weeks.  My granddaughter Lilyana’s 3rd birthday, a wedding, and seeking the Lord for a confirmation of Hawaii as the place He wants me to live.

One confirmation would be a place to live.  Before Rod passed away he told me he thought I should return to Hawaii and continue to work with Native Americans from there.  I am waiting on the Lord for His will, this is not a time for ministering.  That will come.

After 2 weeks in Hawaii.  I will head back to Spearfish and finish packing up the house and gallery and visit the res. and enter into a season of REST and healing.

Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Aloha Alexis

Hi Everyone,
Monday April 23, dawned beautifully in Estes Park.  Ringed by the magnificent Rocky Mountains it was perfect setting to honor Rod. 
            The morning of the 23^rd during a gathering of the Native American leadership Rod, Alexis, and Psalm were honored with many gifts, prayers and remembrance.
The honoring ceremony was held at the YMCA, Conference in Estes Park which is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.  YWAM’s North American Leadership Conference led by Peter Ilyan wanted to dedicate the opening of their conference to honoring Rod and his 35 years in YWAM in a traditionally native way.  Rod was the director of YWAM’s North American Native Ministry.
            Richard Twiss was the MC and he and Willie Brown carried Rod’s regalia.  They formed the beginning of the processional with included Alexis, Psalm, Noe a number of friends.  His regalia was placed on a stand between a clay sculpture of Rod’s face (done by Janet Starky) and two paintings of Rod.  One was done by a friend Paulette Triplett and the other by Alexis.  Alexis, Psalm and Willie put together a wonderful slide show that ran during the entire ceremony.
            Richard explained the significance of the smudging ceremony which is a Native American ceremony signifying that the ground on which the ceremony is taking place is scared ground.  Alexis and Psalm did a beautiful job of sharing their thoughts about Rod.  Rita Beargray performed a beautiful interpretive dance to The Power of Your Love.  The entire gathering was then invited to come to the front and join in dance. 
            It seemed such a fitting ceremony to honor Rod White Eagle Wilson.  We pray that his life and love for Jesus and Native America will be seed for those that come after him.
            Psalm and Noe left for home today.  Psalm has been with her mom for the last month and Noe has been with her for the last two weeks.  Cleve and Klyr are very excited about their return.  They will be having their own reunion.  As you can imagine it was very emotional on both sides.
            For those of you who have placed an order for artwork on Alexis’s website and those of you who have emailed her and all those that have written we thank you for extending grace to her as she slowly re-enters all the business of planning her relocation and all that requires as well as taking care of those essential things that make up daily living.  Those of you that know anything about Alexis know that she is extremely diligent and will respond to each one of you.  You have been an extraordinary blessing to her and her family.

Alexis’s art can be found at http://alexis-art.com/
Rod’s CD on JESUS can be found at http://www.dianawaring.com/rodwilson/
Contributions for Alexis, her move, getting settled and new direction and all that is required in beginning again can be sent to;
YWAM
attention Lori Matthais
PO Box  9219
Santa Rosa, CA  95405
Make checks payable to YWAM with a memo on the check For “Rod Wilson’s Memorial Fund”
For those of you that want prints of any of the celebration photos you can go to
http://rodshonoring.shutterfly.com/
Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan 

Hi Everyone,

        Alexis wanted you to know there will be a Memorial Service for Rod held on Monday night April 20th at 7:30 pm in Estes Park.
        The service will be at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park
        2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, CO 8051

This is the opening night of the YWAM North American Leadership conference.  They are setting aside Monday evening for a Native American Memorial Ceremony honoring Rod.   Friends of Rod who would like to attend this ceremony are welcome.  The following are some details that will hopefully help you make arrangements for accommodations if you would be able to attend.
        These are possible places to stay in Estes Park
        You can check for rooms at the YMCA of the Rockies conference center at this number Tel: 970-586-3341 They do have availability.
         http://www.rodewayinn.com/hotel-estes_park-colorado-CO211?sid=9BZAM.rkitSgZoC.8&month=4&day=18&depart_month=4&depart_day=2

        http://www.estescomfortinn.com/
        http://www.alpinetrailridgeinn.com/rates2009.html

There will also be a memorial service for Rod in Hawaii sometime in June.

Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan

Rod’s granddaughters making their Grandpa feel better

My beloved, Rod, my best friend, Wahale Onaga, Cherokee for White Eagle, servant of the Most High now soars within the temple of the living God without spot or blemish.  He has received a crown of glory, the everlasting presence of his first love.

 Thru his last 6 months of suffering he never complained and when asked if he wanted anything he would just say he wanted to go home or he needed a new body.

 In Africa he was called Bwana, in the Pacific, “hey Bro”, in New Zealand, “Keeper of the Word”, In Native America “White Eagle.”  To me he was “Bunkie”, to our children, Papa, and to our grandchildren, Grandpa.  To students he was known for challenging their thinking about generic concepts of God that are contrary to His character.  He was a lover of the word, the Arts, fishing, and children especially his own, and justice for Native Americans. 

He has left me with a wealth of teachings some never taught.  We sorrow for the loss of him but take joy at God’s timing of gathering this precious son unto himself on Resurrection Day.  I have over the past few months released him about 9 times to the Lord at deaths door. He fought for life and now has it in abundance.

John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”

Only Jesus could orchestrate what we have just experienced.

Alexis recognized at 6:45 a.m. this morning that Rod’s breathing had changed, and she called a few friends to come be with her at the hospital.  As we waited, there was an increasing sense of God filling the room.  At about 9:00 a.m., Alexis turned on her i-pod to play Rod’s recording on Jesus and we wept and worshipped the Lord in response to Rod’s teaching on the One whom he loved more than life itself.

Our times are in His hands.  As the teaching neared its end, our brother, Rod White Eagle Wilson, at 9:55 a.m. gently and peacefully entered into the presence of his Lord.

A text message sent to Alexis shortly afterward said, “Rod would love it that he has gone to Jesus on Easter.”

“His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Memorial service times will be arranged at a later date.

We will have a posting from Alexis in a day or two.  Please check back with us.

As we celebrate our dear friend’s going home we reflect on how amazing this journey has been with all of you.  Your incredible love and support has made it so much more bearable so often.  Thank you never seems nearly enough.  It has been such a privilege to be connected with you.

It is our prayer that God blesses each of you doubly for the blessing you have been to the entire Wilson family and to those of us who have had an opportunity to love and serve them.

We desire that we all continue Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan

Hi all,

There have been a number of visitors still. Cleve and Klyr left for Sitka via Denver today.  Psalm and Noi have taken them to the airport.  They will stay another week.  It is a great comfort, as you can imagine,  for Alexis to have Psalm with her.  Rod was quite weak today.    At this point he is very quiet.

We continue Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan

I so want to thank you for the gift of remembering my birthday and your thoughtfulness. I do not think I have ever received so many cards before on my birthday, maybe it’s because I turned 60!  Yes, I look and feel like 60!

Our family has been here with us and it has been so comforting to have them here.  Such a burden has been lifted.  Our heartfelt thanks to each of you that made our families being together happen with your generous gifts for all of their airline tickets.  We are so grateful for your kindnesses. 

Rod is waiting to meet his maker and has peace.  Someone is now with him around the clock.  We have been so blessed with friends coming from as far as Switzerland to be with us.

 Lynn McMahan has been so wonderful to keep the blog going and keeping everyone updated.  She and Mike have been a pillar of strength to us and so sacrificially giving of their time and energy.  They have truly been an example of one laying down his life for his friends.

 Jn. 11. 25-26 has been a great comfort to me.

 Wado,

Alexis

Hi Everyone,

There were many visitors again today.  The family took communion together this afternoon. 

He continues with medication to help him relax and breathe.  The breathing and coughing are really what can cause him the most discomfort it seems.  He is very tired tonight.  Lael and Lilyana will be leaving early in the morning so they are saying their goodbyes tonight.

Continuing Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan

Hi Everyone,

Rod had another brief visit from his girls, Lael and Cleve today.  He is always glad to see them.  His breathing has become increasingly labored.   Medication is the only way to ease the strain.  The staff is doing all they can to keep him comfortable.  There is someone with him all the time now so that he is never alone.  Lael is spending the night with him tonight.  Friends are helping too.  Your prayers are amazing.

Continuing Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan

Hi All,

Psalm’s description of today was “precious”.  This morning Rod, although weak, was awake and sitting up in his bed fully dressed awaiting the arrival of all his clan.  The thought was to bring the girls in one at a time so as not to overwhelm him but when he was asked what he wanted he said, “Bring them all in.  I want everybody together.”  The girls wore hospital gowns, gloves and face masks.  They played “Dr.” for their Grandpa.

Grandpa got his legs and arms thoroughly “lotioned” by a lovely group of girls bent on making sure his skin is smooth. 

He has been sleeping now.  He made a tremendous effort to be with his lovely family.  Precious in all its forms of meaning most definitely applied.

Continuing Under the Shadow of His Wings,

Willie and Evelyn Brown and Mike and Lynn McMahan