We are moved... finally. We still have a few boxes to go through but we are out of Stillwater. I miss all my friends there already. We are however getting ready for a weekend of fabulous fun fellowship time with friends!

So here it is the final farewell party update:

What: Open House (Come and go as you please)
When: Saturday February 10, 1:30-7:30pm
Where: 7204 S. Douglas Ave. OKC,OK

What: Youth Fundraiser Lunch. (Not a pot luck lunch as posted before. The lunch is provided by the Youth group with a free will offering as a fundraiser) We will just happen to be there too, so come see us if you can!
When: Sunday, February 11, after the Sunday service
Where: Immanuel Lutheran Church in Breckinridge, OK

We are still working on our packing lists to Malawi. It just seems that there is so much on the list. Every time I look at my bags they seem to be smaller than the time before... I am still working making my bags look larger, that would be nice. Once we have a good list we will post it for all to see and laugh at.

Sorry it has been so long since we have posted here.  We have a new blog for our Trip to Malawi please save it under your favorites if you have not already.

LettersfromMalawi.blogspot.com

The Holidays

The Holidays are over... I am sad to see them go but there is so much to look forward to! In less than two months we will be departing for Malawi, Africa!

Christmas was spent with our families... all of them. Our crazy schedule (including the most embarrassing moment of my life) went something like this:

The weekend before Christmas my sister Shawna came to help us finnish my dads present (an amazingly beautiful display cabinet for part his rock collection) every day was spent out in Perkins, Oklahoma in the cold shop with the wood buring stove lit and the kettle of water on top for hot tea, chocolate or cider. Bryan worked sun up till past sun down and we brought lunch and sometimes dinner. We also learned to stain and shelack the display case. We got up Christmas eve and loaded the car and headed back to Perkins where we met Ryan and Amanda (my brother and his wife) who had the truck to transport the case.

After lots of laughter, overprotective loading of the case and hugs we took off for Grandmas in Enid. We arrived to lunch at a restaraunt, We Too, because Grandma was preparing the house for lots of company and dinner. We attended the Annual Christmas program in Breckenridge, and then back to Grandmas for dinner and grab bag. It was getting late, Bryan and I had to go back by the house in Stillwater (we forgot some important items) and then meet Ryan and Amanda in OKC to help unload the precious cargo and then to Lawton for the night so we decided we should leave. On the way out I asked Grandma if we should announce that we are leaving for Africa in Feb and she said yes so picture this...

Over 40 extended Roggow relatives all crowded in Grandmas house laughing and having fun when I stand up in the attempt to get everyones attention, Mom and Grandma see my attempts and chip in with  "quiet down everyone" but to no avail... my husband observing the situation at hand comes to my aid!  He stands next to me and says... very loudly "My wife has an announcement she'd like to make!" The room house goes dead quiet and a voice is heard from somewhere were my cousins are sitting "She's pregnant!" My Mom and Grandma start receiving pats on the back and congratulations before I can even register what is happening! I threw my hands in the air and yell "I'M NOT PREGNANT!" Laughing erupts (imagine over 30 Roggows laughing in one room...) as I try to explain that we are going to Africa with the Peace Corps. I am not sure how much they actually comprehended about Africa, but all I care is that everyone knows that I am NOT pregnant!

We left very quickly after that and headed home. Then to OKC, then to Lawton. I do not remember how late we arrived. Sleep came and went quickly.  Christmas morning Bryan and his brother Anthony could not wait for us girls to get up and were already into their stockings before we managed to get up.

We drove to the other side of Lawton to Kristen and Mark's home (Bryan's sister and husband) where we met Marks family for a wonderful and much anticipated breakfast followed by present attacking!

Back to the Payne's home to prepare lunch, only I was tricked into taking a nap. (Bryan laid down and offered to play with my hair... sleep overtook me) Luch wasn't ready till after two anyway but we had to rush to get it done! We ate a wonderful meal that included duck (pretty good meat) and the oh so highly praised green bean casserole! We opened gifts after lunch and then loaded the car again.

We arrived in OKC to my other Grandmas house just in time for the 18-30 (older cousins) grab bag. We participated in the grab bag and then left again for my Parents house (also in OKC) where we had our family Christmas.  We opened gifts and the last on was my dads... the display case was handed over! My mom was so happy she almost cried, my Dad loved it as well and when he learned that we made it he studied it and just looked at it for almost half an hour!

We then had to leave for Stillwater again because we had to work the next morning...

We are very thankful to our friends and family for all the wonderful gifts we received.  We received some much needed Items from our Malawi needs list (I will post an updated version of this soon).

"We got our tent!"

We have two scheduled Farewell gatherings so far
February 3, 2007 Saturday in Enid, OK a pot luck lunch followed by fun and fellowship
February 4, 2007 Sunday in Oklahoma City, a come and go as you please starting at 1:30pm 7:30
We will have information about Malawi and the Peace Corps so come and visit with us!
If you can not make it to one of these and still want to visit with us please let us know!

If these dates change due to our unpredictable Oklahoma weather we will let you know.

From the Heart of America to the Warm Heart of Africa

We received our invitation, we are going to Malawi !

Comparisons                                           Oklahoma          Malawi

Population                                                                  3,547,884                  13,013,926

Land Area (sq. miles)                                               68,667                        73,620

Persons per sq. mile                                                50.3                            176.8

Median age (years)                                                  36.5                            16.5

Life expectancy at birth (years)                               77.9                            41.7

Infant mortality rate (deaths/1000 births)                6.8                               94.37

Per capita income (GDP - per capita)                   $23,517                      $600

Exchange rates                                                         1 dollar                       135 kwachas

Annual Rainfall (inches)                                            19-48                          31-90

Temperature Range (ºF)                                          24-93                          57-84

Prayer Requests:

* We will be able to wisely prioritize needs financially

* Our health remains good

* Our cars just keep on running

* Smooth packing and moving

We leave February 24. We will be in Malawi approx March 1, 2007

Program: Environment

Job Title: Community NRM (Forestry Extension)