First week in the Field!

It's my first week in the mission field, literally. Haha I'm not used to all this farmland, it's everywhere! It's so pretty though. My first area is called "Madera" it is a bit north of Fresno and is 80-90% hispanic/spanish speakers. I think I have seen like 4 white people so far, three of which being other missionaries haha. I love it so much. Madera is known as "Little Oaxaca" because nearly everyone here is from that part of Mexico. Also, there is this ancient Aztec Language that some the people of Oaxaca still speak (my assumption is that it's mainly the older generation), but there are people here in Madera that speak it!!!! Most that do speak it, typically also speak Spanish. But one of our first conversations was with this super old couple who only spoke the Aztec language. I think it's called something like masteca but I don't know exactly nor how to spell it haha. 

Madera has always had Elders here, but there hasn't been Sister Missionaries here for a long time so we are kind of starting from scratch. It has been a bit slow of a start but we are starting to pick up on work and it is great! And the Spanish congregation we are working with is super excited to have us!!!! Especially the women haha. 

Also sad side note. So the church owns a grape vineyard here in Fresno that is fully functioning off volunteers. They harvest the grapes to make raisins and those are then distributed far and wide as a contribution to humanitarian efforts, going to people who are in need of food. The missionaries in this mission get to help with the harvesting which would be so fun!!!!! Except for the fact that I get here and find out they did it LAST WEEK. HAhahahah less than a week late. 

But one of the members in our ward owns an almond orchard and he gave us almonds from his orchard this past week so I can't complain too much. Maybe he'll let me go explore in the future. 

ALSO we met a lady this past week who was so so sweet. She works picking figs and we were chatting with her then she goes into her trunk and fills up a tub of figs for us!!!!! It was so nice! We're meeting with her again this week. Picture below of the figs she gave us. It was my first time having a fresh fig! 

Anyway I dont want to be too long winded so I will try and wrap up. My companion and I have been waking up with a bunch of bug bites and we are fairly certain we have fleas or bed bugs. Last night right before bed my companion said good night and i responded with "sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite" without even realizing just how relevant it was hahaha. So funny. gotta love it. I guess there is just never a dull moment here! 

I'm so excited to be here and can't want to get the work going! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bless lives! It has blessed mine!