Elder Olson's Letter Dec 22, 2014

Happy Holidays! And Merry Christmas??
It doesn't feel like Christmas at all here it's crazy, I can't believe yesterday I played Basketball outside and I didn't freeze to death. Hawaii is great it's just different because it's warm and instead of seeing snow covered mountains I see white caped 15 foot waves! Also where I am serving is considered the country mainly because we live right next to the Dole Pineapple farm, which is really cool when you're driving and all you see are fields and fields of pineapples it's awesome! We have some pretty cool people we are teaching right now but we don't have very many so a lot of time is spent driving house to house trying to follow up on referrals . Also something crazy about Hawaii is during the day the people are the nicest people ever but as soon as it hits 7pm they turn into raging monsters I don't get it 7pm isn't even that late, but here don't knock on people's doors unless you have an appointment. On a different topic yesterday I got to go to Pearl Harbor and do some service which was literally one of the coolest things I have done , we cleaned chairs and flag poles all over the S.S Missouri and then they let us go on a tour which was also cool pictures will be coming Monday. I would really love to personally thank everyone for sending me so many cards they're great! I have them taped up all over my walls and they give me motivation so thanks , you really have no idea how happy I was to receive them  and read them all, I am having so much fun here but it's no vacation it's hard work. But I know my message is good and the most important message out there. I have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we celebrate his birth this Christmas but let us all remember that Jesus is the single best and first gift ever given to us by our Father so let us all take time this year to think of him this Christmas , now I wouldn't be a very good missionary if I didn't give you a challenge. My challenge this Christmas , is before opening gifts kneel down and thank our heavenly for giving us his only son Jesus Christ he is the true gift and he is all I need this Christmas, I will miss my family but through Christ I can live with my family forever so what's two years? I love you all and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.