Hello! My name is Janetmarie, but everyone calls me JM. I currently live in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. I love the city and the rain. However, Portland is just one of the many places I have lived, I was born in Torrance, California; spent a few of my early elementary years in Battle Ground, Washington; moved to the small town of McCall, Idaho for most of my childhood; to Santa Cruz, California for Jr. High, Spokane, Washington for High School; and finally Portland where I spent my final two years of highschool. (Wow, that seems like a lot more when I type it all up.) I feel blessed that I was able to move so much. It has taught me so much about myself, my family, and has introduced me to a multitude of wonderful people and opportunities. Most importantly, it taught me so much about the love and provision of God.

I have always loved missions. When I was young, I loved when missionaries visited our Sunday School classes and I enjoyd reading books and biographies on missionaries. When I was eight my father took me on a missions trip to Mexico, and when I was  11, my entire family traveled to South Africa. This trip forever changed my life and my way of thinking. I had a new and better understanding of God's Kingdom. This past March I had the amazing opportunity to go to Haiti to show the love of God to the Haitian people after the earthquake. It was an absolutely amazing opportunity which changed me forever. It placed a new passion in my life for those less fortunate than myself. And it taught me the true meaning of being blessed.

I am a little bit stange and I love to make people laugh and smile. I absolutely love art: painting, drawing, scultping; whatever, I just love being creative. Even without art supplies, I find ways to create things out of what I have. I also love photography, and you won't find me out with friends without my camera around my neck. (Speaking of which, my camera only charges and doesn't take batteries, will there be a way to charge it, or do I need a new camera?!)  In my free time you will always find me making something. When I am not creating things, I am usually with my friends or on adventures with my sister. (Who is my best friend, I will miss her so much while I am gone!) 

I cannot wait for this trip and to meet you all!