Update on Mike/Mission of Compassion-Mena

Well, it’s over---almost!! You have probably been wondering about my best friend Mike Borrell. As you remember, Mike was diagnosed with colon cancer last year and has been through a ton of chemo and radiation, a major surgery, and a LOT of pain. Well, I am very proud to be able to say that Mike took his last chemo treatment today!! I knew that God was going to see him through this mess and He is! Soon he will be officially cancer-free and I can shave my playoff beard off that I have worn since the beginning of this mess!!! The beard has been a constant reminder that my best friend is walking through a very difficult time and that I need to pray for him like never before. Mike, it’s been the fight of your life, but, with the Lord’s help, you have WON!! WAY TO GO MIKE!! WE ALL ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!!

I have a few pics of our Mission of Compassion to Mena posted on our new website. Click here to go to the site.

Mission of Compassion bio...updated

MISSION OF COMPASSION


“I have been fascinated with storms and tornadoes since I was five years old” says storm chaser Jeff Smith when asked about his passion for severe weather. Jeff has been active in Skywarn for over 15 years, and is a media chaser for KJRH-channel 2 in Tulsa, Okla. With the combination of seeing the destruction and devastation that severe weather leaves behind and a compassionate heart, Jeff has always wanted to help disaster victims in practical ways. Jeff’s dream finally came true in 2005.

In 2005, Jeff partnered up with best friend Mike Borrell and formed Mission of Compassion. Mission of Compassion is a ministry that collects donations, packs up within days after a natural disaster and delivers relief supplies to affected areas. The day that hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005 they embarked on the first Mission of Compassion and brought relief supplies, cleaning goods, water, Bibles, and teddy bears to evacuees living in shelters in Alexandria, La. They since have been to Dumas, Ark. (F-3 tornado), Coffeyville Kansas (2007 floods), Northeastern Arkansas (2008 Super Tuesday Outbreak), and the Picher, Ok.-Seneca, Mo. area. (May 2008 EF-4 long track tornado).

Our most recent trip was to Lone Grove, Oklahoma, a small community near Ardmore. On February 10, 2009, a violent EF-4 tornado ripped through Lone Grove after dark. Sadly, nine people lost their lives. We delivered PowerAde, snacks, non perishable food, trash bags for cleanup, and much more in two trucks and a trailer! We were able to help out by delivering these supplies to the Lone Grove Assembly of God, and the Lone Grove Church of Christ.

Many have asked why not just let the Red Cross handle these situations? While the Red Cross is an amazing organization that has helped millions of storm victims, they get overwhelmed at times and cannot be everywhere at one time. That is why we concentrate on helping smaller churches and organizations that are helping in the community and acting as shelters and may not have benefitted from Red Cross assistance yet, and go directly to them. There has always been a place for us to help out, no matter where we have been.
Our vision for the future includes procuring a truck & trailer equipped with a Bobcat tractor so we can immediately dispatch a team to a disaster scene in order to help clear roads/driveways etc. We also are looking to form multiple teams in order to be more effective. Please pray for us as we continue in our service. For more information on Mission of Compassion please contact Jeff at Stormrider1970@gmail.com

Mission of Compassion 6: Lone Grove

Ok, details are starting to come together! Looks like the mission is a GO!

First let me start by stating the needs at this time. I have been in contact with several folks in the area and the common need is trash bags, work gloves, and workers. They have plenty of clothes, so no clothes are needed. I spoke with one of the coordinators at the Lone Grove Assembly of God and he told me that there will be a need for non-perishable foods (canned, etc.) and water. Diapers and baby formula could also be used. So, basically I would like to bring with us:
Large trash bags
Work gloves
Diapers
Formula
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Cleaning materials for damaged homes (brooms, paper towels, etc.)
Water (I am working on securing some water or sports drink…details later)
Canned food items

I spoke with the pastor at the Church of Christ yesterday & he is making plans to distribute food & water to relief workers and residents on Sunday, and he mentioned that he could use some help. When we get there, we can help in this area after dropping off supplies.

I feel that we should also organize a toy drive for the kids that lost everything. Maybe we can collect new or almost new toys for a few weeks, and return to distribute them. I have an idea for distributing the toys, but I cannot share details yet but trust me, it will be unique and the kids will be blessed by this effort!!

As of now, plans are to leave Verdigris from New Life Baptist Church at noon Sunday, and return Sunday night. A Saturday trip would not be practical at this time.

If you feel that you can help by donating, or coming along, please let me know ASAP!

Lone Grove statistics:
Feb 10, 2009 an EF-4 devastating tornado tore through the community at 7:30pm. Sadly, 9 people lost their lives in this tragedy.
The official numbers for Lone Grove is 118 homes completely destroyed, 28 with major damage, 26 with minor damage, and 16 affected.

A very hard update to my earlier post...

...I had to edit my post from last night..I stated that there were no fatalities.....

As I went to bed last night, exhausted from a crazy race chase, I heard about fatalities in the community of Lone Grove. There were three at that time, and I said my prayers for the people in Lone Grove, and collapsed. I awoke this morning as my wife said that there were eight fatalities. Now I learn that there may be as many as 15. What a terrible night! I feel awful for the victims & their families. I need to get my thoughts together..a whole trailer park is gone!! I have already been asked if we are going on a Mission of Compassion.....

Sometimes I hate what I do....chase storms.....but I realize that my reporting of these monsters may save lives......or does it? Hopefully it does....I'm rambling, sorry.

Behold, the Iceman cometh....and an update on the Tulsa Chaser-fest

Everything from Winter Storm Watches all the way to Ice Storm Warnings are posted for the area. Please be prepared for this storm as it has potential to be a devastating storm. I don't think that it will have the impact of the infamous storm of 2007, but it could be close, especially in areas about 50 miles southeast of a line from Tulsa to Joplin, Mo. Looks like precip is starting on the OKC area now........

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I just spoke with Lanny, and the chaser-fest is still on and hopefully will have lots of chasers attend! As I said in an earlier post, Lanny will be speaking about his life-changing Greensburg experience, and I will talk about the Mission of Compassion. George Flickinger will be there and also will speak, and a host of other friends will be there. There will be a chaser car show, and you, the chaser gets to vote for the best all around chase-mobile! The winner will get a Storms of 2008 DVD, a DVD produced by chasers for the benefit of the victims!! Of course we will be showing lots of chaser video---bring your best stuff to brag on!!! Come on out, and have a great time with us!!!

Location of the chaser-fest is at the Catoosa Community Center. Info & map is here .

It is this Saturday, January 31st from nood until 8:00pm or until everyone gets tired of each other & splits...lol

Mission of Compassion video

I wanted to post this video from last May when we went to Picher & Seneca. I will be speaking about Mission of Compassion to fellow storm chasers next Saturday at our 1st annual Tulsa chaser gathering!!