The Beginning in Ventura

 President Dell and Sister Maurine Felix
At the MTC in provo a map of the world is on the wall.  We did what so many missionaries before us have done,  take a picture pointing to where we were called to serve.

 Our flight left from the Salt Lake airport at 8:20 am.  Ventura, here we come!

 President and Sister Castro,  along with their two children, picked us up from the Santa Barbara airport.  It was wonderful to finally meet them face to face. When it was time for them to leave after taking us to the mission home, we didn't want them to leave.  We love them and are so grateful for all they have done for the Great California Ventura Mission.

 There are so many beautiful plants at the mission home.  We are amazed at having avocado and citrus trees.

 Elders Lee and Kleinman are Assistants to the President.  They have been life savers.

 We had decided on Friday evening that Saturday we would go to a baptism. Several were scheduled and President Felix chose the one in Thousand Oaks. Later that night two invitations were extended to us from the ward mission leader and the sister missionaries.  Saturday morning President Felix received a text from a friend saying "give my wife a hug at the baptism today. " We couldn't figure out how he would have known our plans.  He was in Utah working and his wife was in California because her brother got married on Monday. Her brother baptized his new bride on Saturday.  What a wonderful way to start our mission.

 The stake center in Thousand Oaks has two chapels.

 

MLC
They are an amazing group of leaders!