To the Editor:

Dear Friends,

St. James Lutheran School returned to its building on April 25, leaving Martin Luther High School: both a sad and a beautiful goodbye. After several weeks readjusting and getting back to “normal,” St. James is closing its doors for summer recess. It’s time to take a deep breath, reflect again on our blessings, and express our thanks to the community for all its support in prayers, gifts, and presence these past months.

As school administrator, I would like to extend a special thank you to MLHS board of directors, administration, staff and students for housing our school and taking care of us for three weeks.

Besides MLHS, our sister schools, St. Paul Lutheran of Fairmont and St. Paul’s Lutheran of Truman, offered us housing and gave generously of themselves. Truman Public School and numerous business and organizations also offered space. I would miss someone if I tried to name them all.

St. John Vianney sent the best cookies to treat us at lunch with a card signed by their students. Thank you … Local support has been gifted to our hot lunch program, so we could continue this service with limited storage and facilities. Thank you to the Northrop Legion for allowing us use of its kitchen and dining area for our “new lunchroom.” We look forward to continuing this relationship in the fall.

The St. James Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Fraser congregation members and other local congregations, our student families, community members, and the readership of the newspaper have outpoured needed supplies. Other supplies just happened to “appear” almost as soon as we think of it being missing. As written in Jeremiah, God has a plan to prosper us. You are His instruments to help us recognize this and confidently trust the future “filled with hope.”

Thank you to the volunteers who faithfully moved furniture several times, cleaned and scrubbed, stored, given or provided to us. God blesses your labors. As administrator, I would also offer thanks to all the church officers and the Rev. Trueblood for the support they have given me, the school staff and the children.

Thank you to the firemen and departments that responded to the church fire. Without your efforts, we would not have had a school to which to return. Please support these local departments in their fundraising efforts. They take on this dangerous task of service for us and are all too often the first to see our tears and comfort us.

Thank you to all who were part of the work of the benefit on behalf of St. James Lutheran Church and School on April 23. We appreciate the labors of your hands. We also appreciate the generous turnout and donations. The financial support of the church and school has been wonderful as we look toward our future.

Finally, thank you to staff and volunteers that prepared and helped at our closing school picnic on May 25. We appreciate the generous support of the Martin County Pork Producers who grilled and served us the most delicious pork burgers. A special thanks to our parents Lynn and Julie Becker who facilitated this and the other parents and grandparents that served, carried, and lined up children.

Also a heaping thanks to Art and Brenda Daugherty of AJ Onion rings for frying piles of onion rings for us. And a tremendous outpouring of gleeful thanks to Todd Carver and his son for bringing the Kona Ice shaved ice truck from Faribault down and treating our children to smiles, creativity and tasty treats.

4) I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5) because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6) and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7) For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Philippians 1:4-7 ESV.

All of you have refreshed our spirits and shared our burdens. As inadequate though the words may be, thank you all.

Sarah M. Garcia, Principal

St. James Lutheran School

Northrop