Genealogy! Just Ask!

I enjoyed being a support missionary for FamilySearch.org from 2008 to 2014, which is actually longer than the two years I signed up for. I would have remained a missionary forever. I had the opportunity to assist people from around the world with their family history and temple work. I got the chance to spread my love of family history across social media. For those who follow me on social media, it is mostly all I talk about.

Little did I know back then that I would find something to reach more people from every walk of life. Genealogy Just Ask has become my life. I started to imagine capturing the attention of people on Facebook. Today in one group, Genealogy! Just Ask!, we have over 59,900 people. We have Genealogy! Just Ask! Groups for every state in the United States, any country that is requested, plus themes people research.

While it can be difficult to manage these groups, I am strengthened by my members' many experiences. They also have assisted each other. I am grateful to be a part of these communities. I find with Covid-19, we are busier than ever. We are blessed with spiritual moments many times each day. I want to share a few of them with you.

North Carolina Genealogy! Just Ask! – I met Cheri Todd Molter at a function in 2018. I found out she collects stories for the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center coming to Fayetteville. I told her she could post about it and get people from my Genealogy! Just Ask Groups! to share stories. She has been doing it in several groups and is getting a great response.

Genealogy! Just Ask! – My most recent blog post gives the Composition of My Ancestors from Two to Eight Generations Ago. I posted the article on Genealogy! Just Ask! where I received responses. I truly was humbled by the comments shared. I feel that there are members of my group who understand why I do what I do.

Mississippi Genealogy! Just Ask! – Gloria, my sister, messaged me on Facebook Saturday, November 14, 2020. I called her through messenger, and she told me that she had joined Mississippi Genealogy! Just Ask! I was so excited. She showed me the post she had made. She had asked about our Nelms family that had been enslaved in Walls, MS. She wanted any information that they could share. People responded. She showed me a book and suggested, “From Cotton Fields to University Leadership, All Eyes on Charlie, A Memoir,” by Charlie Nelms. All this happened without my knowledge. I was just ecstatic!

We are so excited because she ordered two books,…one for me! We spent more time researching after that. We found a few more things, including a book at the FamilySearch Digital Library. I could tell that a lot more was available. It pays to go back and look again for your ancestors.

If you want to become involved, go to Genealogy Just Ask Groups and choose a group from there.