HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUNGLE MOM!

This is the first prayer card Rita, a.k.a. Jungle Mom, and Clint, a.k.a. Yekwana Man, had printed. You can see how young they were when they first began their journey as missionaries.

Yes folks, today our beloved Jungle Mom from The Jungle Hut is turning __ __ years old! I wanted to get this posted earlier today, but later is better than not doing it at all. As most of you know, Jungle Mom is my baby sister. We haven't had the opportunity to spend very many of our adult birthdays together due to living on different continents. She and her hubby have been missionaries in Venezuela for years and now are moving on to Paraguay. Well, it turns out that we weren't able to be together on her birthday this year either, even though she and her family are home on furlough. I called her cell phone to wish her a happy birthday, as she was on the road to Jacksonville, FL where the family will participate in a mission's conference there for the rest of this week. As we spoke on the phone, she passed my exit and informed me that she was waving to me as they sped by!!!







I thought it would be fun to share some photos of my sis, (Rita) in honor of her birthday. Kim and Teresa, there are a couple I'm including here that will give you girls giggles!! Enjoy! Oh and Happy Birthday Rita. I'm so very proud of you. You have accomplished so much in your life already. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for your life from this point forward! LOVE YOU! Maybe on your way back into town, you can actually STOP off at my exit and have lunch or early supper with us! Call when you're near.

Rita holding baby Jackie. (Missionary in Paraguay now with her own 2 girlies!) Also in this photo are Clint Vernoy, his brother, Ed with his wife Debbie and son Jared.

Rita in center, holding her youngest, Jayde. She and Clint recieved a wonderful blessing at this Cathedral concert. You can see the late Roger Bennett here at his music table. When he discovered that Rita and Clint were missionaries, he gave them loads of free music from his table. Roger went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with leukemia. What a wonderful Christian testimony this talented musician and song writer maintained to the end.

Rita in her high school A.C.E. uniform.

Rita is in back wearing red shirt. These girls were coming out of the ladies room at the local Dairy Queen - West Virginia! Hi Teresa! (Front gal)

Rita, Kim, and Debbie at Bill Rice Ranch, summer camp

This is one of my all time favorite photos of my little sister.

Rita posing in McDonald's playground, Arcadia, FL with one of my former students.

Riffe family photo. Rita is in front next to our little brother. I'm standing up in back. FYI: This photo was taken to put on our first prayer card as we were going to Australia as missionaries.

Me with my new baby sister!

1965

Mom holding my baby sister as I look on. This was in our home in Fortuna, CA

One Christmas in Arcadia, FL

She always loved our pets!

Rita at age 12