Joplin Youth Sports Camp 2011

Project Joplin: Together we CAN make a difference! Our community in SW Washington reaches out to another in need after F-6 tornado rips it to shreds.

By Michelle Myre
For those of us who grew up and reside in Washington state, the sound of a tornado siren would probably make us dive for cover in the cellar. For those living in a midwestern town like Joplin, Missouri – it’s just part of the routine during storm season. Nobody expected it to amount to this.
On May 22nd, 2011 a category F-5 (**update: newly categorized as an F-6 tornado!!!!) Tornado ripped right through the heart of small community Joplin, with a population size of only 50,000.
Moving with such force that it literally ripped some people from their seatbelts of their car, this half mile wide monster ate up one third of the town and spit it back out in pieces.
Pictures covered the media, and Videos poured onto You-Tube from shaky phone cameras, full of screams, howling winds, breaking glass and tremulous shouts of “I love you man, I love everybody! I love everybody!” and “Dear Jesus, Jesus! Dear Heavenly Father protect us!”
Listening to one such video because it was so black and dark on the screen, I had tears rolling down my face. I couldn’t imagine the terror and fear that these people were living out on my computer screen.
It was horrifying.
Close to 200 people lost their lives, and countless thousands are temporarily homeless as relief organizations, churches and the government come together to rebuild Joplin.
But what can we do??
That was the questions that plagued my prayers during the first few days after the tornado. My dear friend and her family, Maggie and Lewis Kennedy, had just moved to Kansas City, Missouri – and proved to be part of that solution.
“The devastation here (in Joplin) is simply overwhelming”, said Maggie Kennedy in a recent interview.
The Kennedy family felt called to move temporarily down to Joplin and begin throwing their efforts into helping Joplin rebuild. They invited anyone to join them, and we answered the call.
Project Joplin was born. Project Joplin is an outreach ministry of Spirit Fire Center, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization, founded by my husband and myself in 2004. Our mission is to serve Christian Pastors and Missionaries from around the world, and consider Project Joplin as a viable mission outreach, with the Kennedy’s as our Missouri base contacts.
Donations are 100% Tax Deductible and Project Joplin is partnered with up to four other organizations providing relief aid and delivering hope.
“The unity here between organizations is awesome,” said Kennedy.
At first, donations were covering the essentials like water and food. Now, the donations are covering everything from food, diapers, toothpaste and a sports camp for youth!

The Governor of Missouri made a public statement that “this was going to be a summer of despair” for Joplin’s youth, and that the churches had better “pull out all the stops” to help.
Enter Fathers House Church. After a short presentation presented to the congregation, which included numerous photos and interviews from Joplin, compiled by Keith Moon from Evangel Church, God pulled some serious heart strings.
Mitch Stansberry felt that he was given the idea of a flag football camp.
“I’m not really sure what it entails, maybe flag football or sports of some kind for the area youth,” Stansberry explained to me after the church presentation.
Less than two hours later, Mitch and the Kennedy’s had hooked up and soon thereafter “Joplin Sports Camp” was born.
Stansberry’s idea was latched onto and grew like wildfire when accepted by the local area church leaders and Boys and Girls Club of America.
At this point in time, there are over 200+ Joplin area youth signed up for the July 5-9th Sports Camp, offered to ages 4-12 and The Boys & Girls Club volunteered to feed everybody during the camp!
“I see this as a way to let the kids have fun in such a despairing situation, and give the parents a break from the kids so they can do what they need to do in order to get their lives back together”, expressed Stansberry.

Kelso/Longview area businesses and individuals are stepping up to the plate and sharing generously with Joplin’s devastated community.
Other than cash, which is always good, Walmart Gift cards and Visa gift cards are the item of choice, as organizations can use the Walmart cards at the Joplin area Sam’s Club to purchase everything from palletts of water to bed sheets and shoes.
“Really, even $5 or $10 can help when it’s put together with others giving $5 or $10, too”, said Oscar Myre IV of Project Joplin and local area business omOriginals Marketing.
There is so much more to share. Look for updates in the next issue of the Valley Bugler about LOVE, Inc. taking a team of folks from our community to Joplin’s in order to put their hands to work making a difference.
Do you want to help?
Walmart or Visa cards (including receipts), and Checks or Money orders can be written to:
Spirit Fire Center / Project Joplin
705 Vandercook Way
Longview WA 98632
**Please include your name and address if you would like a tax-deductible receipt**
Thank you to our individual and business donors: Holos Yoga, Island Sun Tanning, Kathy’s Flowers, omOriginals Marketing, Valley Bugler, Global Images, Happy Kids Dentistry, Highlander Cycling, Toni Porter-Swogger, Toni and Tom Reich, Jerri & Butch Henry, Marilyn Tilton, Sam & Sharnessa Sanden, Beverly Little, Josh & Chelsea Baldwin, Steven & Lauren Princehouse, Charles & Sherri Magahay, Lance & Johnene Thielen, Cliff & Rashell Lewis, Oscar & Michelle Myre, your name here!!!

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