Waller Family

Family History Mission

Week 6 16 Nov 2014

Hi everyone;

Well it has been a very busy week. We have been on days and have met many of the service missionaries, those who serve just a few day a week. While talking with one Elder, it occurred to me that I knew him. Back in the college days I worked in the chemistry department electric shop. Each day I would go across the hall to the machine shop on break to visit with Mr Pitts. He was from England and had a great many stores to tell about WW 11, and growing up during that time. We would swap war stories, I of Vietnam and he of England under the bombing of Nazi Germany.

Well as we were talking this week I found out his occupation and where he worked for a career. I then said " I know you". We had a great reunion. His hair is thinner and not black anymore and he has gained a little weight around the middle but other than that he is the same good man. We had quite the day talking about old times.

That same day we met a couple on B 1 search for ancestry. They were from Sri Lanka and live in Negombo, Anusha Fernando and his family. Although we did not know them they knew some of the missionaries back in 2002, Elder and Sister Brimhall, Elder Gamble. We had a nice visit with them. They even invited us to dinner, for some hot curry!!!

Wednesday Sharon and I drove to Manti, Utah. I had made contact with Lewis Garbe. Lewis is the grand son of Ferdinand Garbe, whose family immigrated from Germany in the late 1800's. His grand father would be the brother of Augusta A Garbe our possible great grand mother. So we went down for a visit and Lewis had agreed to do a DNA test. We sent off the sample for an autosomal DNA test. If indeed the test comes back as positive for us being cousins; that will seal the deal for Augusta being our great grand mother and solve an age old question. So we will keep our fingers crossed for the next few weeks.

Thursday evening we attended a lecture by Sherry Dew. She spoke of the life of President Ezra Taft Benson. She is a good speaker and we enjoyed reviewing the Prophets life. Both Sharon and I have read the book by President Benson's traveling companion following WW 11, I believe his name was Elder Babble. There were many small miracles that opened the doors for his 11 month visit to war tore Europe.

Friday night we had tickets to the symphony. We gave them up to Chrissy and Nick so they could celebrate their 12th anniversary. We got to baby sit the kids for a few hours. They did great! We played a Disney board game with a question video. They sure know their Disney characters and movies.

We capped off the week with a visit to the Salt Lake Temple last night. We had a very good session that was well attended. Today I have to teach the Priesthood lesson , it is a challenge when you have 50 men in the class! We will be out at Erika's house for dinner, and to visit with the grand children this evening.

This week I had the opportunity to sing with the Elders choir 3 times. We did a special devotional last Sunday. On Monday morning we sang at the morning devotional and then we sang for the Mission Zone Conference. we sang two wonderful songs " Come and Behold Him" by Nathan Howe and " Come, Drink of the Water" by Linda Chapman and Bonnie Heidenreich. I am suppose to get and video of the performance and will forward that later.

Genealogy tip of the week. Check out the Family tree WIKI. There are many articles and links to genealogical sites. It is found under the Search tab in Family Tree home page.

Our scripture for this month is found in Doctrine and Covenants 64: 10

I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

May you all have a great week and for those in Meridian, may the snow shoveling slow a little, and the sun come out to brighten your day.

Love to all

E/S Waller, Bama & Bampa, Mom &Dad, Chuck & Sharon