We had such a great time as you can see on this short term mission trip. As I looked through these photos I am reminded of the smiles that the LORD so graciously allowed us to put on some of these kids face. Some of them didn't have much, and some came from broken homes. Parents that are drug addicts, and alcoholics, and don't care if their children are roaming the neighborhood. Not all, but some. Thank God Pastor Lamar and his wife Chastity are there in Watertown doing a tremendous job in reaching this community. Those kids love him, and his wife. Trust me that love they are showing is working. They are FAITHFULLY sharing the Gospel with those families. The largest crowd that missionary Lamar Whittemore had before we came was about 45-50. The last night of our meeting, and VBS we had 80!!! Praise God! Their small mission church worked extremely hard even before we got there. We just came and helped in an area that they had already worked very hard in reaching. It was a great team effort, that's for sure! We had kids so excited every morning. One little boy had done something at home one night after we dropped him off, and when we went to pick him up his Mom grounded him from coming one morning. The little boy just wept and pleaded with his mother to let him go. She didn't. RIPPED MY HEART OUT! The last thing that little boy needed was to be grounded from coming to church. But that is the mind set of many of the parents there. They need Jesus.

One man I witnessed to cussed me out, and told me not to come back. The young men that came with us saw that. My flesh almost reared its ugly head! Don't worry..IT DIDN'T! I did leave there again broken hearted. The boys and I just prayed for that man and his family, that God would give him mercy, and softened his heart.

A very bright spot on this trip was a man that was visiting the church, we found out after we left was a practicing homosexual. With a combination of the church, and pastor Lamar, and some messages that I preached, and pastor Clemon Chappell that week, Ronnie was SAVED! God is still in the business of saving those that seem impossible to save! Pastor Whittemore reported that Ronnie was in church shortly after that with hands in the air praising God as they sang the old hymn, "I Surrender All!" Hallelujah! Again it was a joint effort...pastor Whittemore won him to the LORD, and pastor Clemon and myself just came in and preached what pastor Whittemore preached so many times. God just meshed it all together. Hallelujah!

We had a chance to take the group to Mt. Rushmore at the end of the week with the missionary, and his wife and some of the young people from his church. It was a real blessing for us to get to serve. I want to say as well, that this group we took was without a doubt the best group of young people I have ever worked with. Hannah Hicks, Steve Moody, Amber Podenski, Chad Karschner, and then my 3 girls, Emily, Ashley, and Sarah Sampson. These young people are without a doubt some of God's CHOICE SERVANTS! My wife and my pastor Clemon Chappell was the 11 that completed the team. Little did we know that our dear friend brother Martin Fuller and his family would be there that week as well from Augusta, Georgia. What a pleasant surprise that was! Their family was a HUGE asset to the meeting, and the VBS.

Thank you to all who supported us to get to Watertown, South Dakota. One was saved, and I feel like we were able to help another missionary, and fulfill what the LORD has called our family to do. That is to Preach, Sing, and share the OLD, OLD, Story that JESUS STILL SAVES, AND HE STILL PROVIDES HOPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOST WITHOUT GOD! To God be the GLORY for all that was accomplished!

We love you all, and are proud to be your missionaries! Thanks again, and please pray for us and Lamar & Chastity Whittemore

Running the Race,

Billy, Jane, Emily, Ashley, and Sarah Sampson