and found funding through a grant from the US Department of Defense. I remember the feeling of trepidation as the top scientists at the Product Line Review shook their heads and said our task was impossible. There were convinced that the people would never change. But the people did change—when they heard what caused diabetes, I remember the Secretary of Health Justina Langdrik saying, “Why didn’t anyone ever teach us these things?” The education had the power to free them from a diabetic future. No longer was diabetes a sure fate in life—the program Amata Kabua began with us, brought hope and has made the Marshall Islands a leader in the Pacific in its efforts to reduce the www.canvasback.org epidemic of diabetes. I cannot believe how far we have come in 35 years! When I see the strides we have taken, the strong leaders who have come up in Micronesian communities, and when I hear the stories of healed patients, I know that God loves the people of the Pacific. We still have new challenges to face and old goals to achieve, but I am excited when I think what the coming years will bring. We’ve always relied on a generous supporters. These include our tireless volunteers, heroic health professionals in the Pacific, community-minded companies, and warm-hearted individual donors. I am so blessed to work with you all. Fall 2016 | 8 network of
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