This was my early morning after late night shift at the Library. In the morning I helped a guest, and I helped one of the other missionaries with a Case Study. I also completed listening to lessons on finding where one's ancestors came from through gathering records, searching immigration records and passenger lists, and searching other sources.
Then it was time for lunch, and I walked home thinking I might take a nap, but I was not all that tired at that point. I had been reading an essay by Louis Midgley, whose writing I enjoy, so I continued reading while I ate lunch. On my way back to the Library I put my cooler with some ice into the car, as it was my intention to do a bit of shopping when I finished my four-hour block of personal research.
I had expected to just work on my mom's relatives again, and that is how I started out. I found some microfilm records, took pictures with my iPad, and began attaching them to the pertinent people. During that process, I noticed that one can now attach sources through the Family Tree app, even using photos as the source! I did that for a couple of the records, but then I found one that was too long to get all in one photo. I thought I could use Irfanview to meld the images, so I tried sending the photos via email, but never was able to find them. Since that was frustrating, and I was getting tired, I tried to catch a bit of a nap [one nice thing about working in the microfilm area is that it is not only quiet, but dimly lit]. However, I did not doze off, so I thought I could try something else.
I suppose it was the Spirit which brought to mind the German Ortsippenbuchs--books of family groups from a specific location in Germany. I had used a few of these books years ago, and I remembered the one from Friesenheim, Baden, so I set out to find it. After pulling up the catalog entry I did not write down the call number, but relied on my memory--not a smart idea at this time in my life! As I was hunting in vain [there are LOTS of these books], I noticed the one for Eppingen. I passed it by, but then went back to it. I was thinking that this would be an area where I had done research for my late husband's first wife, so I took the huge volume back to the computer, and looked her lines up on Family Tree--NO! That line came from Ebsdorg [I think], which does start with an E, but is not Eppingen. I took the book back to the return area, and came back to Family Tree. As I was navigating back, and locating the family line that was from Friesenheim, I saw Eppingen! The Frey family from Eppingen had intermarried with the Baum family from the area around Friesenheim!
One of the goals for missionaries here is to find people whose temple work has not been done. So far I had been unsuccessful in finding even one person--I have found several already in Eppingen, and I suspect I will find more as I focus on this great resource during my personal research days. I reflected on the chain of events which led to my thinking about the Ortsippenbuchs and then thinking of Friesenheim and then of Eppingen. I am sure the Spirit was guiding me, even though my path was not smooth. This reminds me that even when things seem to be going wrong, the Lord makes lemonade out of lemons.
I did go shopping after I left the Library--to two dollar stores and a grocery store. I took my time wandering around, got the things I had intended to buy, and a few other things as well. I was grateful that the weather was not so hot as it has been, but was interested to note that it almost felt worse because we are due for storms, and the humidity has increased--it almost felt like I was back in Missouri!
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