Training Our Replacements

For a lot of time in the end of June 2010 and the beginning of July, we have been training the missionaries, Elder Ron and Sister Irene Halliday, who will be taking our places when we leave Germany on 21 July 2010. One of the many things they had to learn was how we make booklets for the youth Family History days that we have been involved in. Sister Howlett here is demonstrating how we put them together.

The Hallidays have also been learning how to reconfigure and install FamilySearch software on new computers designated for Family History Centers (FHCs). These are some to be taken to centers in Germany. It took a while for Elder Howlett to show them how to do this work, but with good printed directions and lots of directed practice, they were able to successfully prepare 12 new Dell computers for Germany.

It was also necessary for Elder Howlett to train them in how to make and use power points and other training class procedures, in addition to how to print pages for the booklets and prepare other materials for Family Presentations.

Sister Howlett was also showing Sister Halliday how to do the reimbursements for necessary microfilm reimbursements, in addition to other secretarial duties, including printing up mailing labels for envelopes and packages to send to FHCs.

Reading the Old German Script was also a very necessary training activity because the Hallidays would need to teach youth and adult seminars in how to do indexing and and especially doing the old German records. It seemed the best way to teach them was to have them start indexing some easier German records and coaching them on how to read the different letters using the printed copies of old German alphabets from the booklets. They have gotten started and will continue to learn as they keep trying to Index the records.


Also, Elder Howlett had to show Elder Halliday and Sister Halliday how to put up and take down the FamilySearch display units used in the big Genealogy conferences, the International Library conferences (IFLA), and other National or International gatherings. It was a great experience for them to learn and accomplish the feat of setting up and taking down these displays.

The Hallidays were scheduled to move into our apartment the evening of the day we left Germany, so we got to leave several of the food items and other amenities we had acquired over the 23 months we have been in Germany for them to use. We treasure the experience of working with these fine people. Elder Halliday was a former Bishop twice and CES Institute and Seminary director for many years. Sister Halliday worked as an administrator in the Harold B. Lee Library at B.Y.U. Provo, and is an accomplished pianist. Though they have done many marvelous things, they were very humble at learning how to do FamilySearch and Family History activities, and very appreciative of the help we were able to give them. It has been a pleasure to work with Elder and Sister Halliday and develop a close friendship with them.