Last month we were in Ghana, West Africa. Kathy, and two other gifted team members had the opportunity to share from God’s word in several churches, including one in the remote “bush” of the Upper West region. Thank you to Brenda and Debbie for a great job serving the Lord in Ghana with us.

While in that area we visited an orphanage housing 20 children. They had no fans to keep cool, nor did they have any running water. Water was available but a line needed to be run from the local water supply. Cost was estimated at $1,600. Praise God!!! We were able to provide the funds for ceiling fans and the money to get the water lines installed. Most of these children are from homes where the parents died from AIDS. When we asked them what they planned for the future, they responded they wanted to be lawyers, doctors, teachers, police officers and pastors. Without the ministry of their local church, they would never have the chance to fulfill these dreams. But the church is very poor, and we were glad to be able to help provide some basic comforts for these precious children.

Once again we thank you for your prayer and financial support. Last month we were able to send over $11,500 to the support of orphans and widows. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

We also were able to visit with Jimmie, the “Bush Boy” we met last year living in a garbage dump. He is now at an orphanage, but with discipline problems. He has had difficulty making the transition form being on his own and undisciplined to living in a family environment. Please pray for Jimmie as we seek God’s plan for his future.

Find our ministry page on FaceBook. Search for “Don Shire Ministries” and click the like button to stay in touch with us for current happenings and prayer requests.

Don’t forget to go to WWW.MISSIONCRUISE.ORG to see details for 2013 Mission Cruises

Don and Kathy

HE IS RISEN!!! LET US GO TELL THE WORLD!!!!

SABBATICAL IS OVER!!! The month to catch our breath was nice, but it is time to get moving! As you can see, listed below are opportunities to serve the Lord through our ministry this year and next. Would you say a prayer right now asking the Lord how you should be involved? Then, read the following highlights and see if the Lord has any mission involvement in mind for you.

INDIA: Our outreach to orphans and widows continues to expand. We now have 90 widows we are supporting in 3 homes and 156 orphans. We are looking for sponsors to place these children in the homes of India pastors. 400 pastors are signed up willing to take 2 children into their homes. Would you be willing to make a long-term commitment of $50 per month to place a child? Or even a one-time gift to support those currently living in our orphanages is a great help. If you designate the gift to India, 100% goes to India.

ROATAN, HONDURAS : Don is president of Sandy Bay Lighthouse Ministries, an organization that fosters abused, abandoned and neglected children on the island of Roatan. We also have a school for our children. Would you like to know more about that ministry? Go to SBLMROATAN.ORG for more information.

CUBA: Don is taking a team to Cuba in October. Our goal is to encourage the Cuban church in their worship services, help with light construction needs and wherever else the Lord opens the door for ministry. Cost is $1,600. We still have some openings.

MISSIONS CRUISE: The dates are set for our annual Mission Cruises in January, 2013. Travel to ports in Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, Belize and the Cayman Islands to do ministry. It is a great way to take a cruise to the glory of God!! Go to www.missioncruise.org for details.

ALASKA GOSPEL MUSIC CRUISE: JUNE, 2013: Don has been asked to be one of the musicians on a “Sail and Sing” Alaska Cruise in 2013. Prices start at $1,115. Applications are available at our office or, for more information, call the travel agency at:1-800-962-6902. Be sure to let them know I asked you to call as they are counting on me to recruit some passengers. It is filling fast...over 100 already signed up!

HAITI: We are sponsoring trips to Haiti this year and in 2013. If you go, plan on being loved and loved some more by our orphans as we will stay at the orphanage in Port au Prince. One team is going this June and there are still open-ings. The September trip is filled, but, it isn’t too early to get on the list for next year’s trips. The cost is $1,600.

MINISTRY NEEDS: 1. Prayer warriors! Please pray for us as we seek the Lord’s leading in our ministry. How many orphans to take into our homes…how to care for them…school them...educate them…keep them safe.

2. Office: We seem to go through a lot of toner on our laser copier with all the literature we send and distribute at concerts. Cartridges run about $85 per color. Would you like to help purchase some toner?

3. We still need sponsors for our children in India. $50 per month will put a child in a pastor’s home in India.

4. We recently were made aware of 18 orphans surviving on coco- nuts and begging. We have a church in India that will let them live at the church and feed them if we can help by providing the food. $18 per day is needed for food.

MINISTRY PRAISE:

1. Ruth Garcia who recently traveled with the team to Haiti has volunteered to do all of the scheduling for Don’s concerts. We still have some weekends available and many Sunday evenings. Write Ruth at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her at 815-408-0728 to set a date for Don to minister at your church.

2. We are thankful for Kathy Gesell, our new bookkeeper. Kathy is our pastor’s wife and traveled with us recently to India. Kathy has replaced Mindy Martin who left us last August. Mindy was a valuable part of our ministry for the few years she worked with us. With the birth of her second child she decided her ministry should be at home. We are grateful for Mindy and for Kathy Gesell.

3. Don hit a deer recently on the way home from a concert. Don and Kathy are fine (more than we could say for the deer). It is a reminder of how appreciative we are for your prayers!

4. Two water purifiers were recently donated for our orphanage in Haiti!

5. We continue to be amazed at how God continues to provide the monthly cost (now over $10,000) to take care of the orphans and widows!

Find our ministry page on FaceBook. Search for “Don Shire Ministries” and click the like button to stay in touch with us for current happenings and prayer requests.

Don and Kathy

March is an unusual month for us. For the first time in 15 years of full-time ministry, we are taking a sabbatical of sorts. Allow us to explain. When we moved to Wisconsin in 1997 we dove head first into ministry. While we have had a few short vacations, our travel schedules have kept us extremely busy. The two areas sorely neglected are our home and ministry office. Piles of papers cover our desks and a long “to do” list is waiting for us in the house. Over a year ago, Don prayerfully made the decision to set aside this month as a “stay at home” time. While we are still meeting with people, answering the phone and emails, no concerts or mission trips were scheduled. As you can imagine, this is a financial hardship on the ministry as there will be no income from concert love offerings, but we are trusting the Lord to cover the loss of income with other sources.

So how is it going? If you have ever tackled home projects, you know that they never stay on schedule. We will likely be finishing them in the coming months, but we are making progress and enjoying the time at home. Please pray that we will use the time wisely.

There are several mission trips listed on the web site for 2012 and 2013. Can you come along? Also, now is a good time to start planning for the Mission Cruises for 2013. Please look at the enclosed insert and go to www.missioncruise.org for details.

One of the trips for September, 2013 is another mission trip to the Holy Land. Be watching for more details soon at www.donshire.com. Don’t forget there will also be an Alaska gospel music cruise in June of next year as well.

Would you like to keep closer contact with our ministry? We have a ministry page on Facebook. Search for “Don Shire Ministries” and click the "Like" button. As always, there is a lot to look forward to. Again we thank you for making it all possible.

Don and Kathy