Sunday, August 23^rd was a special day.  This day was the start of something new.  A request of the Winnebago Tribal Council from August 2^nd, 2004 had come to fruition.  This day marked the dreams of many who asked that the preschool of Jesus Our Savior Lutheran would be expanded to include an elementary school.  At 4 p.m. more than ninety people gathered at Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Outreach to celebrate and to dedicate Jesus Our Savior Lutheran School!  We asked God’s rich blessings on our staff, our students, and their families.

     Jesus Our Savior Lutheran School was not an easy undertaking.  First there was the request.  Then there was a feasibility study to see if this was a possibility.   Was there enough support from the community, from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and from the church members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod?  That study came back in November of 2005 with the answer of ‘yes’ it was possible.  One priceless supporter in all of this was Jesus our LORD and Savior.

     From the feasibility study we took action to acquire a building and obtain permission to have that building moved and set up on our site.  We were blessed to have a group of men from one of our churches make a ramp, deck, and stairs.  Then we had our closets turned into ‘water’ closets and added sinks to each of our classrooms.  Grant money, a bike safety rally, and other donations helped to purchase a playground; and we expanded the fenced-in area.  Parents and grandparents of our preschool students assisted in putting the playground together, and a grant from HCI was put to use for pea gravel and fencing material.

     There were also countless donations from Lutheran schools that recently closed ~ including one complete library ~ boxed and loaded up by our Nebraska District staff, desks and file cabinets from another, banners, copy paper, etc.

     Our school board met often and late into the night so that the dreams might become a reality, and that state and church regulations, white man’s tape, might be fulfilled.  Part of this included a state-of-the-art fire system.  The fire marshal gave us a passing grade.  The federal government, after hours of paperwork and the pro-bono legal advice of Danielle Smith and Jennifer Bear Eagle, granted us tax exempt status.  But again, through all of this, I am reminded that without Jesus we can do nothing.

     Along the way, some Winnebago tribal members have given donations to support this endeavor and to encourage us.  The work has just begun.  There is more opportunity for support of our students, their parents and grandparents, and our teachers: preschool teacher/director Mrs. Jana Inglehart and our head teacher of kindergarten through 8th grade, Mrs. Connie Wobken.  Presently, we have fifteen students in our preschool (capacity of sixteen) and seven in our elementary school (capacity ?).

     By the grace of God, we have seen the LORD bless our efforts to answer the call to expand our preschool.  By the grace of God, we are the branches that Jesus spoke about: connected to Him through the gift of faith in Him as our LORD and Savior!  By the grace of God, He offers each and every person the blessed opportunity to be connected to Him through the water of Holy Baptism where sins are forgiven, the promise of everlasting life is secured, and the hope of the resurrection can be counted on. 

To God be all glory for without the gift of His Son, Jesus our Savior, we could do nothing worthwhile or that would last beyond this life.