Doing Great!

Kurtis is doing great at the MTC. Please note the change in his address. He flies out Aug. 18 instead of 20. The letters we received last week are as follows:
#1 July 14

Dear Family,
It has been amazing here. The language is hard, but I am starting to pick it up. When you dropped me off I was taken in to get my books and my badge. After that I went straight to Malagasy class and didn't hear a word of English for the next 2 hours. It was very confusing at first, but I started to understand what my teachers were telling us. Tomorrow (Friday) we get to teach our first "investigator" in Malagasy. I am freaking out a little bit. Today has been great, I learned how to pray in Malagasy and am excited to do so tonight. I can't think straight, it has been a long day.It is nice that the language doesn't have he/she, it is just 1 word, Izy (pronounced like ease).

Oh my companion's name is Elder Reich, it is like Bike but with an R. Just to let you know, there was about 600 missionaries that came to the MTC on July 9th. There are 13 of us that are going to Madagascar.

I don't know what else to say so I will write my testimony in Malagasy for you. If you want to try and pronounce it, the a's make an ah sound, e's=eh, i/y=ee, and o's=ooh. (There are no u's). Tra makes a cha sound and the r's are slightly rolled.

Fantatro fa marina ny Fian sonan'i Jesoa Kristy ho an'ny Olamasin' ny Andro Farany. Fantatro fa marina ny Bokin' i Mormona. Fantatro fa ny Filazantsaran' i Jesoa Kristy naverina tamin' ny laoniny i Joseph Smith. Fantatro fa mpaminany velona i Thomas S. Monson. Noho my fahafantarana ireo zavatra ireo dia afaka mahatasapa ny Fanaby Masinaaho. Amin'ny anaran' i Jesoa Kristy, amena.

Veloma!

love,
Elder Hammer



#2 July16

Dear Family,
I know it hasn't been quite a week yet, but I figured I would write anyway. It has been awesome here. I feel like I have learned more in the last few days than I have in my entire life. My teachers are incredible. They are Rahaly (Brother) Aldous and Sell. The language is pretty confusing, but I am starting to understand it. We have taught Rakoto Jean (I don't know if I told you about him) 3 times already. He is from Madagascar and it is extremely hard to understand him. He talks so fast. I know that I have only known the language for 6 days now, but I feel like I should know more.

It feels like I have been here for weeks already. Sorry for all of the mistakes in my writing, I am pretty tired. My district is amazing. Everybody clicked the day we met and we are already very good friends. We all help each other with the language and it has helped a lot.

I think that I have already gained 10 pounds, gut I am not sure because I don't know how accurate our scale was back home. Thanks for all of the prayers. I know that they have helped. I am praying (in Malagasy) for all of you. Every day seems like an eternity, but looking back it feels like it went by so fast. I cannot wait to get out to Madagascar and serve the people there.

I have not gotten homesick at all. That I am thankful for. Tell Justin and Devin thank you for the letters they gave me. They have helped as well. I feel so blessed right now and I know that I have been. Again thank you for all of the prayers.

I still don't know when I email. You might get this after I do email you. I believe that P-day is on Thursday. That is when I get to email I believe. Anyway. Love you. I will write you soon.

Elder Hammer

P.S.
Letter in paper form would be really nice. I haven't received any yet. Except from the Peterson's. But I would really like some from the family. Thanks :)