This is Løjtofte Church.

This is Løjtofte Church. Peder Jacobsen & Grethe Olsdatter, the parents of Frank Petersen were probably married in this church. The small church is built in 1200-1250. The church has a valuable and characteristic font, which is probably made in Gotland. The altarpiece dates from the time of the Danish king Christian IV (1588-1648).

This is Købelev Church.

This is Købelev Church. This the Luthern Church where Frank L Petersen and some of his siblings was probably christened. It is here where his birth is recorded under the name of Ferdinand Leonhard Pedersen.

Købelev Church was built around 1300 and restored in 1883 and 1970. The chancel gable wall is a beautiful architectural work. The churchs organ is one of the few Gudme company Organs, which are still existing. The altarpiece is a work by the famous church painter Eckersburg from 1841. The interior of the church contains a pew with the name of a smallholder Otto Kulds, engraved upon it. This is dated 1646.

Today a miracle happened!

June 1, 2014

Dearest Family!

    Happy Birthday, Bo!!!

    Today a miracle happened!  In one of our classes, several weeks ago, a Sister was quite distressed & discouraged, left the class early.  She is a convert, from a big family, but somewhat estranged because she joined the church.  Her ancestors are from a part of the world where it very difficult to do research.  I’d been praying about her, today she was back in class after missing a week. We were learning about searching original records.  She found an immigration record which listed the birth place of her great grandfather, not just the country, but the actual place.  She also found references to several other records which might also help!  what a blessing!!!!  She was so excited & filled with the spirit!

    A sweet moment,  today while in the restroom, I spoke to a little girl, an abt 7 yrs old,  who was just bubbly & smiling.  I ask her what made her so happy & she said!   “It’s Sunday!!” She loves the Sabbath day!

    We have had a great week, it has seemed different with a holiday on Monday, Bro Croft typed some stories which he & a Brother had recorded.   We had a wonderful afternoon at Joy & Dak’s & had a yummy dinner!  Each day we had several appointments.  It seemed that at several, not only did we help them with FH, but we were able to share info about ways they could use FH in their callings. For example, with the activity day girls, in Primary sharing time, as a HP group leader, as a leader over missionary work, to name some of them. So many special opportunities! 

    We also met with the eight full time missionaries twice.  They were connecting their trees, adding pictures, doing a little research,  just learning about familysearch.org so they can use it in there work effectively, proselyting, reactivating & retaining converts. They also filled out their “My Family, Stories books” so that they could use them when they are out & about. We enjoyed this time with them so much & they can really see how this can help in the work! The My Family booklet will be in 32 languages soon and will be a focus for the 2014 new mission presidents training this month. It will be the tool for missionary, convert retention and member activation work. We watched a webinar 2 wks ago giving us the details so as FH consultants and FH missionaries we would be ready to do our part. The missions are already ordering a supply of the booklets for their missionaries to use.

    We also helped a 97 year old brother get started again in indexing!  He had indexed before & is now in the Nursing Home because it is difficult to get around.  His mind is extremely sharp & his eyesight is great.  His family brought a computer there, & it was hooked up to the internet.  We spent one morning helping him index his first batch & he did great!  Thinks he wants us to come once more!   He wants to do something where he is contributing, accomplishing something!  He said just reading the paper every day & visiting with those around him isn’t enough! What an example to all of us!

    We enjoyed having Joy, Dak, Ky, Symphony, Kenya & Daeja here Thursday night!  They were off to Powell Friday A.M. for the final day of school & the cleaning of their home, everything was already packed. We are thankful that they arrived Saturday day at noon, & have lots unpacked!  Here’s their phone & address: 

The new home phone number is 460-2732. Dak still has his cell 254-4455 and I have mine 202-1923. Don't count on Dak having his on all the time, tho. Our address is 1659 N. 23rd St., Laramie, WY  82072

Dad had a wonderful birthday on Friday serving the Lord and enjoyed all of your expressions of love that day!

We love you all & appreciate all your good works!    CTR

Bro and Sister Croft

My how time flies!!! We have had a great day!

May 25, 2014

Dearest Family,   

    My how time flies!!! We have had a great day!  Happy birthday this week to my Sweetheart of Friday! One was a youth Sunday School class, these young people were wanting to find their ancestor for Trek! It is just 10 days away so time is getting short. I feel we were able to help them! Classes went great, smaller than normal since it was a holiday weekend. Tonight Bro Croft helped a couple, FH Consultants, they reviewed the things which inspire.  I worked with a Father & daughter.  She is going on the Trek & hasn’t decided on a pioneer to take with her!  When we discovered that she was related to Aurelia Spencer Rogers, the founder of Primary, she thought that was special. Her grandpa also knows stories about Sister Rogers! Visiting with him will be a special opportunity.  Had to overcome some challenges tonight, the tree part of Family Search was just not working, put we were able to search other places, then it finally started working!  Shared Puzzilla & they were both totally amazed at how it works. There always has to be a few challenges!

 

    We have helped a brother record stories, then typed them into the tree!   A sister learned to scan photos! It was our week to cover the Family History Center on Wednesday.  There were several people who came in for help!  I helped in the afternoon, since someone for got to come to cover their time slot!  In the afternoon, we had our second week with a group of Activity Day girls, all 8-9 yrs old.   They continued to add pictures & stories! After the first walk thru of scanning & adding a photo they are ready to teach their peers!  They are great fun!

   

    We had a great day at the temple on Friday!  It was so very nice!  Enjoyed so very much seeing the second new film! That was a spiritual feast!

 

    After our quick trip to Laurel Wal-Mart, we drove to Red Lodge & spent two hours with Mark Urbanik.  It was amazing to see all they do in their business (Red Lodge Clay Center) We took a tour of the Gallery on Main St with its showroom, class rooms, photo inventory room and offices. He told us about 90% of their business in over the internet so they have a awesome shipping process to keep things from getting damaged in shipment. Then we got in his pickup to tour the rest of the campus. They have nice artist in residence houses for the visiting artists and their families to live in for a few weeks upto a year. Then off to the Studio out of town several miles on the Clay Center owners personal property. This is a very large structure right on Rock Creek (great trout fishing Mark said) they have built all their Kilns' for firing the clay products. There are small, medium. large ones to one that is 6 x 6 x 30’ long with a large vertical chimney. They use wood, gas and electricity to power the different ones. There is a lot of chemistry and physics in the processes. WOW ......... There are individual studios for each artist plus some large rooms for family and group classes. They really stress family use of the facility and their prices are very affordable! They also supply local schools and colleges with all the various supplies needed to do clay art. All of you would enjoy such a tour maybe even taking your family to do some art for a day. We look forward to meeting the rest of the family on our next visit!

 

    Saturday we met with two of the sister missionaries (Sister Trainers) who serve here in Lovell – they are excited to use FH as a proselyting tool, for retention of new converts & in reactivation! We were with them from 1:30 – 5:00  which went so very quickly!  Shared some videos, helped them with their own trees, even helped them add a few pictures!    So intent on what we were doing, that we practically missed a rain storm, & some hail.   Later heard that there was a tornado which touched down near Cowley! 

 

Well, we love you all & have a great week!   CTR     Oh, & by the way, I finished quilting the quilt, now for the binding! 

Love Bro And Sister Croft

Have a Special Memorial Day!!!!

WOW – what a week! but isn’t that the way they all are?

May 18, 2014

Dearest Family,   

    Happy Birthday 12th Birthday to Symphony  on Tuesday! 

    WOW – what a week!  but isn’t that the way they all are? We are so blessed to be able to serve in this way!  We thank you all for your support & prayers!  It is always wonderful end our week with a great Sunday!   Or maybe it is the other way around – we start the week with a wonderful Sunday – maybe it is a little bit of both!  anyway today was great! Classes & open workshops were great & busy!  Several youth found a story for trek!  Several people were able to find some cousins using Puzzila.   In this program one finds a ancestor, then does some research & finds a family, one which is not in familysearch!  The names are then added & there are cousins who desire to have their temple ordinances performed!  

    Bro Croft has been learning about digital audio recording with an app on his Kindle Fire HD – this week at the public library he recorded stories which Brother L (81 yrs old) told him.  He then has typed them & Sunday he & the Brother L read them together & added more thoughts.  Bro L is feeling the spirit in many ways.   He has been inactive most of his life, & since his wife’s passing, has been thinking about the temple covenants more. Dad also helped Darece on Thursday while I helped another Sister C, both are using Puzzilla. They were successful finding more cousins! The cousins Sister C & I found never married – thus no cousins to find!  Next time!

    Had a great FHE with a couple, sure enjoyed helping them add photos to their tree & feel the spirit!

    One bit of advice!  Write your LDS Acct USER NAME & PASSWORD down where you know where it is! Better yet, change it to something you can remember! We spend so much time recovering forgotten ones!  The time could be used for more important things!

    We had a nice time with Bill & Kathy on Wednesday in Thermopolis at the funeral service for her father.   We were also able to visit with Allen  at his office in Worland on the way over & then with Amber & the girls on our way home!  Amber is trying to do a Family History Activity with her Activity Day Girls!  We also stopped in Greybull to visit with Aunt Lavon & Aunt Leona, they seem to be getting older & struggling more!  It was great to see them both! Dad tried to fish Deaver reservoir but too cold and windy so we came home and he fly fished our pond. He had a good time catching!

    Thanks to all of you for the wonderful Family Dinner tonight! Enjoyed seeing all who were there!   Missed Dak & Kenya, so sorry you were ill Kenya! It so nice to get together, even when Brother Croft & I have to take off for other things.    

 

Our love to all of you & CTR 

   Bro  & Sister Croft

A very Happy Mother’s Day to all ........

May 11, 2014

Dearest Family,

    A very Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful Mothers we have in the family!  We are also grateful for all the very special young ladies ‘Mothers in Embryo’ also!  Happy Anniversary to Rob & Michelle!   Happy Birthday to Rob on Saturday!  Congratulations to Kenny & Rosie, August 23 & Ethan & Bekah, July 19.  Our love & prayers to Kathy Croft, her father passed away on Saturday, services will be on Wed in Thermopolis. We are happy we will be able to go.

    Thanks to all of you for your Birthday & Mother’s Day visits, cards & gifts. Both days were great!  It is always so special to talk to each one you!  Love you all!  We enjoyed having the Grants stop by tonight to visit!

    Our week has been a busy one, with appointments each day!   One of the high lights was a group of Activity Day girls on Wednesday!  They get so excited, several were writing stories about activities with family members.  They also love to see the pictures!  As we were finishing up the activity, several of the girls were showing each other the different things they each had done, helping each other.  Also on Wednesday evening, we had Family History consultant Training Meeting.  We had all of them go into www.Puzzilla.org & look for places where with a little research, they could find cousins who needed temple ordinances done! It was exciting to  have everyone working on it. Today was great also!  Classes went well. During open workshops, we had new people in.

    I had fun helping Rosie on Thurs in the Cowley bldg do FH. We were able to find several new things so she can do more research!   That evening we went to Rocky Mtn school to support so many of our youth we work with, in the musical “A Pirates Life for Me”. It was very enjoyable time! ! We also caught a rain-less afternoon to mow the orchard. We have had over 3/4” of rain this week, a little each day.

    On Friday, Rob & his friend Steve from Casper, came by to visit!  Enjoyed visiting with both of them.  He had came to fish with Rob!   The weather was a little rainy!  Also on Friday, Bob helped Ken with a scout campout in the field!  They did their annual nature walk, identifying plants & animals & signs of animals!   They also all enjoyed fishing in the pond – the sunfish & bluegills do lots of biting & are fun to catch, even if they are small.

    Saturday, Gaye, Evee & three of her children brought the sheep down to eat off our pasture and all the early weeds!  The kids enjoyed doing a little fishing also!

Love you all  & CTR 

   Bro & Sis Croft

Our Sunday – extra busy –

May 4, 2014

Dearest Family,   

    Our Sunday – extra busy – There were two first lessons taught in adult classes, a photo lesson, they are always so fun!  & several open workshops!  I had a busy, working Mom come in, she wants to work during SS - she has little time during the week,   We started, just reviewing the program, connecting the tree & looking at photos!  She is excited.  Like others, she loved the photo part & the idea of family entering stories about parents & grandparents.   In one of the classes several very special spiritual experiences were shared!  One told of his son, who has struggled, now married, & has gotten really excited about FH – is taking his parents to the temple to help with all the names he is finding. A youth consultant shared how she feels the power of protection from the adversary in her life ‘just as Bro Bednar promised & how it has changed her family. She also told about a Priest-Laurel Temple Excursion where they bought all the names which they did!  A third told of writing for adoption papers for her deceased father & the things she learned about him & his two siblings. What power there is in this work!

    Had a wonderful lunch with Mark Urbanik – he is a NWC college friend of Allens, prior to his mission, & became Bro Croft’s fishing partner when Allen went on his mission!  He is part of the www.redlodgeclaycenter.com  in Red Lodge, Montana.  They have resident artists who live in the town plus do all kinds of classes and guest artist in residence programs.  Mark brought us one of his pottery pieces which he made – what an artist he is!! His wife Sarah is from Worland and they have two sons 16 and 12 yrs. We plan to go see them on one of our trips back from the temple.

    Our days were full of house calls to Cowley and Lovell folks providing a wide range of help on FH and indexing. Plus I had my annual med checkup and we went to Dr Mitchel for our monthly chiropractic visit, we really enjoyed the visit, his techniques are the same as we are used to.  It’s hard to switch from our own Dr Fike and his wonderful services! ! !

    Our evenings were busy this week also!  We were able to work with a High Priest Group leader & his wife who was just called as a FH Consultant!  They will be a great team!  She teaches school & is counting the days until summer when she can spend more time adding pictures!

    We also enjoyed another evening with a sister who was learning to do pictures & preparing to do Multiple page PDF documents.  She is the family member who has inherited all that relates to FH.

    Special thanks to some of the Grants who helped with ditch cleaning & window washing, the outdoors looks extra good!  Saturday, we went to Thermopolis for the burial of Kathy Croft’s Mother.   It was good to see them & offer our support!  We also spent some time at Allen’s. Amber had some things in her FH which we were able to correct.  We had a very brief contact with Phil & Emma Lynn, who used to be neighbors.  We understand they will be back soon, & hopefully will be able to visit  more then.

    The farmers are finally getting some sugar beets planted in our area and the grain fields are very green. It is great to have spring!!!

We love you all!!! CTR 

Love Bro & Sis Croft