I have to take issue with the slam of the Evangelical Church . I have found the charges for their services very reasonable for what is involved and received and they are not trying to gain converts. If you visit the actual church of interest you most probably will find them cooperative and it will only cost you for copies. The old German script is the major challenge for even some younger Germans but most probably there will be somone who can help you. Using the archives it no longer becomes a problem since they will furnish a typed copyas well as a photocopy. . I and several relatives have had nothing but excellent treatment from the individual churches and the archives. With the churches it is not unreasoanble to leave behind a donation. Doing things on the cheap does not mean you have to be cheap :-) If you use mail to contact a church you can always slip in some dollars. They may operate on the Euro but $ are more than welcome. I am sure the LDS is very appreciative of the fact that they were allowed to make copies. Salt Lake City is nice in the Winter but can be pretty blinking hot in the summer and then there are the air pollution and temperature inversion problems.A trip to Germany is more fun. RC825@aol.com wrote: >Hello, since my family came from Meldorf, I have been there and to >surrounding areas on three occasions. Meldorf is a very hospitable town. However, I >don't believe that you will be able to use the Evangelical Church Records. I >believe that the Church has now perceived that these records are a way to make >money. I found them most unaccomodating and controlling. However, you should >know that the LDS Church has microfilmed these records to a certain point in >time, and they are available for free review in Salt Lake City. You can also >order these films at the closest Family History Center. It is quite a sight >however to see these original books which go back several hundred years. With >the microfilmed records (baptisms, marriages and deaths) I was able to trace my >family back to the late 1500's. The Rathaus in Meldorf is also an excellent >source of information. I was surprised at how much information was available, >and I found them very accomodating. > >The Dom is beautiful! Meldorf is also beautiful in my opinion. I will never >forget getting off the train our first time there with my wife and three >children. It felt like coming back home to me, and my children were equally >enthralled. > >Please feel free to contact me if there is particular information you would >like to know. My e-mail address is rc825@aol.com. I live in Las Vegas, NV. > >Bob Christiansen > > >==== SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN-ROOTS Mailing List ==== >Technical Terms and Rules of the S-H-ROOTS: >http://www.genealogy-sh.com/faq-sh-roots/index.htm > > >. > > >