"No more itchy!"

Risi Joe came to our dermatology clinic in Ebeye with a rash that
covered her entire body. She had suffered from this problem for years.
Night time was the worst because she hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in
ten years.

And then she came to see Dr. Carol Isaacs, who was the first
dermatologist to work on Ebeye. With a donated microscope, Dr. Isaacs
was able to properly diagnose the rash and treat it. The best reward was
Risi’s big hug and exclamation, “No more itchy!”

The Canvasback Diabetes Wellness Clinic is the place to be

The Canvasback Diabetes Wellness Clinic in Majuro, Marshall Islands is looking great! I wish that you could see what Joe Shewchuk, a volunteer from Walla Walla, WA and our clinic administrator, Denis Yates have done to the clinic. They have expanded the rooms so that we can hold as many as 50 participants in the program. The kitchen looks like it is ready for a fancy uptown chef – it now has a Volrath stove and stainless steel counters that were donated. With this installation our kitchen works so much more efficiently.

The Marshallese people are coming to the center to eat their meals – it’s the place to be – this includes members of the Marshallese Cabinet and Nitijela (Congress) who are coming to eat the healthy food. The dining room is packed! And would you believe it – our cooks are preparing meals for the President of the Marshall islands. Every day, he sends someone to pick up his meal.

Just recently, we had an open house at the center. The staff served Marshallese soup and cornbread – and several of our participants brought healthy food they had prepared. Bob Sisters, a local Marshallese group who provided the evening’s entertainment, sang a song they had composed about how the cooks at the Wellness Center provide such great food. Marie Madison, also expressed her thanks on behalf of the all the participants. It was exciting to see how the participants who had come into the program with blood sugars in the 200-400 range, are now feeling good and doing well.

Introduction of Canvasback Correspondent

My name is Cindy Steffes, a retired minister’s wife who is assisting part time in the Canvasback Missions Inc. office.

I first learned of Canvasback Missions when I was visiting my home town of Santa Barbara, California, 1982. At that time, my husband and I met Jamie Spence. He was making a presentation about their mission work in the Marshall Islands and the extended Pacific field of Micronesia. We had the opportunity to tour the Canvasback at her mooring. I thought “what a wonderful way to bring hope to forgotten and very needy people.” I dreamed of going on a mission trip some day.

Again in 1988, my daughter and I had a chance to tour the Canvasback when she came back to Benicia, her home base. Following the journey of Canvasback Missions through the years has always been something of great interest to me. I have always admired the dedication of Jamie and Jacque Spence in their work of bringing medical teams together to help the Micronesian people of the Pacific, and the fabulous miracles of how God has led this work.

So, when I was invited to help out in the office of Canvasback Missions, Inc. by Jacque Spence, I did not need to think twice. I felt this could be an excellent opportunity to revive my office skills and at the same time bring something that would make a difference for the Lord. My desire is to be a link to spread the Word and advance the work of love and mercy.

Some of my responsibilities will include managing this blog and contributing to it from time to time.

Cindy Steffes
Canvasback Missions Correspondent