Participants:
Series Code: CI
Program Code: CI000010S
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00:02 You know, Canvasback is an amazing ministry.
00:05 Thirty eight years they've been in operation 00:07 coming to islands and atolls in the Pacific 00:10 to do an incredible work. 00:11 I'm here today in Majuro 00:13 standing in front of the hospital. 00:15 Why hospital? 00:16 Well, because Canvasback works hand in glove with hospitals, 00:20 bringing specialists from many different fields 00:22 to help them out 00:24 and things that they just don't do, 00:26 and aren't able to provide the community. 00:27 But there's more yet to come. 01:03 Wa kuk wa jimor. 01:05 What does it mean? 01:06 Well, it's Marshallese for canoes 01:08 bring people together. 01:10 They've been making canoes for, well, who knows how long. 01:13 It wasn't though, 01:14 until the 1800s that Westerners discovered 01:17 these canoes, and they marveled at them. 01:18 The way they sail, the way they handle. 01:21 And then canoe enthusiasts from all over the world 01:23 begin looking at them. 01:25 And they're the admiration of all the Pacific. 01:28 Well, today, I want to show you 01:29 some more of the actual manufacturing process. 01:31 It's exciting to see it's, it's a lot of fun. 01:34 So come on, let's check it out. 01:39 I used to work for the museum. 01:40 So 26 years ago, 01:44 we went to the other islands 01:45 and document the step by step construction of canoes, 01:48 and they were kind of nice. 01:51 People in the other islands were asking, 01:53 why would we do that? 01:54 Because they have canoes. 01:56 I say, "Well, that's why we're doing it." 01:58 Because you have this knowledge, 02:00 you have the skills to, 02:01 so we can document it for future generations. 02:04 So this was an old generation 02:05 that had the old techniques and talent. 02:08 Everything they have all that, not just these skills, 02:12 but the legends 02:13 and everything else that goes with it. 02:15 So we were fortunate that was just the right timing, 02:18 perfect timing for that. 02:19 Why did you have such a burden to gather the ancient customs 02:23 and bring him in today? 02:25 Well, um, you know, 02:29 when we talk in about the skills, 02:32 there was so many kids running around, 02:34 they actually came and learn 02:36 how to build the canoes with us. 02:38 And I was very fascinated with that. 02:41 I thought, well, that's really great, 02:42 because they're really interested 02:44 in the culture. 02:45 Gives them something to grab onto and to live for. 02:47 Really, yeah. 02:48 But then I found out later, they were all dropouts. 02:50 Really? 02:51 And a lot of them again, this school system, 02:55 if you do not pass the high school exam, 02:57 you won't be able to go to high school. 02:59 That's pretty much, that's it. 03:00 That's pretty much it for the rest of your life. 03:02 That's the old rule, that education, 03:05 the end of education for you, 03:08 because there's no other programs out there. 03:10 One day when we got in 03:13 with the voyaging canoe from Majuro, 03:15 and my job was to sail around 03:17 and kind of educate the young people, 03:20 go around to schools and talk about voyaging canoes 03:22 and go to different communities and different youth programs. 03:27 And I was doing it all for a volunteer 03:30 just tried to get a program going. 03:32 If I can, help me out, what's a voyaging canoe? 03:34 I don't understand it. 03:36 A voyaging canoe, 03:37 it's a canoe that is 03:40 you can actually cross the ocean with. 03:42 So when we were finished with this canoe, 03:46 we sail from Wotje in to Kwajalein, 03:49 which is only about 140 miles 03:51 and then we sail from Kwajalein to Majuro 03:54 which is about 250 miles, 03:57 so that voyaging canoe was able to... 03:59 Okay. 04:01 So I take it, this one you're building it. 04:03 This is not a voyaging canoe. 04:04 No, this is a paddling canoe. 04:05 There's three sizes. 04:07 This one is called Kruger, it's a smaller paddling canoe, 04:11 one or two men canoes where people mostly used to go 04:15 bottom fishing and could do some short, 04:19 short distance sailing and mid-sized sailing canoe, 04:23 it's a sailing canoe that you can use 04:28 for further distance within the lagoon 04:30 and some time you go outside the lagoon, 04:32 but the voyaging canoe is the one 04:34 that people actually go from atoll to atoll. 04:37 This work is absolutely intricate. 04:40 This is what you learn from the elders. 04:42 This kind of canoe building. 04:44 Yes, we actually got certain wood. 04:48 We had, you know, it's, 04:49 of course you know the Marshall Islands 04:51 we don't have any wood so whatever we find, 04:54 we cut down, we cut it to good pieces 04:57 and then we sew them together. 04:59 So when you say find, 05:00 driftwood that comes in and things? 05:02 There's some driftwood. 05:03 There's some old breadfruit trees 05:04 that failed a few years ago. 05:06 So traditionally, if you say you're going to, 05:09 you're working on building a canoe, 05:10 you're actually planting a tree that maybe up to 20 years, 05:16 or even longer than your son 05:19 or your grandson will enjoy that tree. 05:22 So there was really an ecological, 05:24 ecological part to that. 05:26 Yes, it's not just building a canoe right now, 05:28 you are actually, 05:30 every, all the canoe builders have future plans, 05:34 long term plan for the communities. 05:36 And that's how they were thinking to make sure 05:38 that their community can survive. 05:41 All right. 05:42 And I notice, you build these little guys too. 05:44 What are these for? Well, these are... 05:46 That you see in the program, 05:48 we don't just teach the kids 05:50 how to build canoes, we also... 05:53 These are their wooden projects. 05:56 Also each one builds his own project. 05:58 They have partners. 06:00 They, you know, they would, you know, we'd partner them up. 06:03 Because the goal at the end is not just to make sure 06:06 that the culture, the traditions still survive, 06:09 but also to make sure 06:10 that they have some kind of skills 06:12 when they're done so they can go get a real job. 06:14 Okay. 06:15 But we have to at least give him 06:17 some skills on their hand 06:18 and information for the future journey. 06:20 So wherever they go, they'll be able to survive. 06:24 And at the end of the day, 06:25 the culture will still be instilled 06:27 in their hearts and cultural pride, 06:31 you know, this will give them something. 06:32 Now, do you also, 06:34 not only do you teach them building, 06:35 do you teach them how to canoe 06:37 and the skills of navigation or... 06:39 We do a lot of sailing with them. 06:42 As a matter of fact, Friday is our shop off. 06:46 So we close all the shops 06:48 and we also do teach English and math, 06:52 but we close everything up 06:53 and let them go swim and go sailing around. 06:56 And every once in a while, 06:57 we go crazy and get on a bigger canoe 07:00 and go across to the other atolls. 07:03 Do you have a bigger one we can look at 07:04 to kind of give me an idea what you're talking about? 07:06 Well, this is, we can take a look at this one. 07:09 But this one was actually funded 07:12 by the Department of Interior 07:14 so it's all inside this is fiberglass. 07:18 But inside here is airtight compartment 07:21 so you can cut it nav and it's still floating in. 07:25 Okay, okay. 07:26 But this one is, as you look closely, 07:29 I've started these. 07:31 These are we're repairing all this thing. 07:33 One side is a little bit rounder 07:35 than the other is called the asymmetrical shape. 07:39 So this is the same shape on an airplane wing. 07:43 Really? 07:45 So that airplane wing without the shape, 07:47 I don't think it'll fly. 07:49 But on this, it goes, as it goes faster, 07:53 it creates lift and that's what. 07:55 Pulls you up in the water 07:56 which helps you go even faster, yeah. 07:58 Yes, and also in the airplane, 07:59 same system is asymmetric shape. 08:03 And what is this, 08:04 is this particular canoe have a name 08:07 or as far as the style... 08:09 Oh, this is the walap, voyaging canoe. 08:13 A walap literally means big canoe. 08:16 Big canoe it means. 08:17 Okay. Okay. 08:19 And this has what, one sail on it or... 08:22 One sail. One sail. 08:23 So they, I think the challenging part 08:26 on these Marshallese canoes 08:28 is the chanting or the attacking 08:31 because you actually lift the sail from one end 08:34 and take it to the other. 08:35 Oh, put it to the other. Yeah. 08:37 So it is a technique on that. 08:40 You actually make sure that this, 08:42 the canoe kind of patient to the wind 08:45 and then you take the sail and... 08:48 Just when you catch that second of the doldrum. 08:51 And then that canoe actually will tell you 08:53 when to put that sail onto that side. 08:54 Okay. 08:56 How many guys are in this canoe? 08:57 Oh, you know, that canoe or this canoe, 08:59 we actually what we did we made people stand up 09:03 from one side to the other, all fill it up with people. 09:07 That isn't normal though, right? 09:08 Yeah, it's not. 09:10 And they just want to see 09:11 if it we actually went down a bit, it didn't. 09:13 You're kind of a guy 09:14 who likes to have fun, aren't you? 09:16 I can tell. 09:17 Well, you know, if you don't make work fun, 09:19 it's, is it won't last. 09:21 And, of course, 'cause we're working 09:23 with the average skills, 09:25 you have to make sure that whatever you do it's fun. 09:28 Yeah. Yeah. 09:29 Hey, you know this, 09:31 I sure appreciate your time so much so much. 09:33 It just, this gives a whole different idea to, 09:37 you know, the culture the people and everything. 09:39 So thank you so much and I wish you success 09:41 to continue to build this culture. 09:43 And you know, this, I always tell people 09:46 that you can go around the world 09:48 and you go snorkeling or diving. 09:51 Go enjoy beaches, 09:53 but their boats and their food 09:55 are what make them unique. 10:02 We've got a lot more adventure for you, so stay tuned. 10:05 We'll be right back. 10:09 As a leader in the field of health in Micronesia, 10:12 Canvasback Missions has been helping people 10:15 reverse diabetes for years. 10:17 Yes, you heard correctly, reverse diabetes. 10:22 In addition, we are helping to reduce the incident 10:24 of heart disease. 10:26 At least 34 million people in the US have diabetes. 10:30 Many have no idea they have it until it's almost too late. 10:34 Many children have diabetes. 10:36 It's time to stop it in its tracks. 10:39 What's the key? 10:40 Certain foods, exercise 10:42 and many other simple yet critical items 10:45 are combined to produce amazing results. 10:48 Log on to canvasback.org to download your own free copy, 10:52 written by renowned author Brenda Davis. 10:55 Learn from an expert in the field 10:57 how to reverse this dreaded killer. 11:00 Remember, it's completely free. 11:01 Download a copy today for yourself, 11:04 friend or loved one, 11:06 it will be life changing. 11:35 Right behind me at the moment is the wellness center. 11:38 Canvasback is associated with the hospital, again, 11:41 to work hand in glove 11:43 to bring health to the community. 11:45 Diabetes is rampant in all the islands and atolls. 11:49 And they're changing many, many lives in a way 11:53 that you just can't hardly imagine. 11:57 Kristin, how long have you been here 11:59 on the island? 12:00 This time around three years. 12:02 This time around? 12:03 There was another time? Yes. 12:04 My husband and I came in 2009 12:06 planning on staying for six months. 12:08 We ended up staying for two years. 12:10 And here you are back again. Yes. 12:12 This time as co-directors of the wellness center. 12:15 Why? 12:17 Why did you come to an island 12:18 thousands of miles away from the US 12:22 where you're born and raised I assume? 12:24 Well, my husband and I 12:26 have always wanted to be missionaries. 12:29 And from when we were young, 12:31 we figured that we wouldn't be staying 12:33 in the States. 12:35 And this is the door that opened up. 12:36 We have really enjoyed 12:38 being here in the Marshall Islands. 12:39 There is a lot of opportunity, a lot of need. 12:43 When we were in the States, 12:44 we would try to do things like health screenings 12:47 or cooking classes. 12:49 And there were just so many restrictions, 12:51 so many regulations, so many permits 12:54 that you had to have and permissions 12:57 and there was liability issues. 13:01 And here you want to take a blood sugar, 13:04 you ask a store owner, 13:06 "Hey, can I set up a table in front of your place," 13:08 and that's as much permission as you need. 13:11 And so there's a lot more opportunity 13:13 to help people, 13:14 and there's a lot of need for the help. 13:16 Expand on the needs for me? 13:19 Well, being in the Pacific, a Pacific island nation, 13:23 there is a high rate of diabetes, 13:26 there's a genetic predisposition. 13:28 And then if you wanted to give somebody diabetes, 13:31 you would give them this diet that they have out here. 13:33 Now you're a nurse so you kind of know 13:35 what you're speaking about. 13:36 Yes, somewhat. 13:38 Although I can't say 13:39 that nurses are very well trained 13:41 in nutrition. 13:42 But our dietitian, Brenda Davis, 13:46 she's written a few books. 13:48 And she has taught me a lot about nutrition. 13:53 And one of the things is that 13:58 the people here they import food, 14:01 mostly processed food, 14:03 white rice, chips, canned meats, 14:07 high fat, high salt, high sugar foods, 14:11 and by their 30s 14:15 we're starting to see diabetes pop up. 14:18 By their 30s? 14:20 Now what happens when you find someone 14:23 that through your screenings, 14:24 through the neighborhood screenings 14:25 and things you find someone 14:27 that has really high sugar, what, what's next? 14:30 Well, we refer them to the hospital. 14:33 We have a pretty good relationship 14:34 with the diabetes clinic there, 14:36 and get them medical attention. 14:43 We have some programs available for the public. 14:48 If people want to learn how to cook 14:50 or if they want a garden put in at their place, we'll do that. 14:54 We have exercise classes here in the gym. 14:57 And if you're one of the lucky ones 15:00 to be in the CHAT program, 15:03 then you get visits 15:05 three times a week to begin with. 15:07 And then that gradually goes down 15:09 to one time a week, and one time a month. 15:12 And the community health care workers 15:16 work with these families 15:17 on incorporating a healthy diet and exercise plan 15:22 into their daily routines and into their budget. 15:25 So they go right in the homes 15:26 and help them understand what to cook 15:29 and how to cook and all those things? 15:31 And they plant a garden for them 15:33 and teach them how to use what grows in that garden. 15:36 Kind of getting back to the roots of the nation 15:37 as it would. 15:39 Yes, there was. 15:41 I believe two cases of diabetes in the 1960s. 15:45 Here in the islands? Here in the islands. 15:47 Two cases. 15:49 And now what's the... 15:50 What's the figure? 15:51 I heard your husband mentioned it's huge. 15:53 It's above 25% of the adult population. 15:57 Some estimates have put it up to 37%. 16:00 And I heard on some of the others, 16:02 perhaps it's 50-70 age, it's 75%. 16:08 There's massive numbers. 16:09 I just was reading that the other day, 16:10 it's hard to even imagine. 16:12 But that all come most of that comes from diet. 16:16 Is that correct? Oh, yes. 16:19 Diet and lack of exercise. 16:21 Now, the center here is attached to the hospital. 16:24 Tell me about that relationship? 16:26 The hospital is kind of our supervising agency. 16:31 And so we report to them. 16:33 They give us money every year to help fund our programs. 16:38 But fortunately, we have a lot of autonomy 16:40 in how we use that money. 16:42 And so makes it easy to get things done. 16:46 And I noticed you're not only making an impact 16:49 with the community, but even with the hospital, 16:51 I noticed that the hospital now is cooking here. 16:54 And you've helped change their dietary ways 16:57 they serve patients. 16:58 The hospital kitchen is being remodeled, 17:03 the hospital's 17:04 going through a big renovation process. 17:06 So they will be using our bakery 17:08 for the next three years. 17:10 And fortunately, the kitchen manager 17:14 for the hospital kitchen is also health conscious. 17:19 So the plates that go to the hospital patients 17:21 have become healthier over the last few years. 17:24 That's exciting 17:25 because hospital food normally is not very good at all. 17:28 Very true. 17:30 What else is as you've been working here 17:32 all this time now, 17:34 what are the other needs that you see 17:35 that the center is working to help with? 17:40 There is a big need for the education of children, 17:45 school aged children 17:47 who really don't know anything about healthy eating. 17:51 And they have a soda pop for breakfast. 17:55 And they'll have an ice cream cone 17:57 on the way to school, 17:58 or their only breakfast will be a pack of chips. 18:03 So we are working 18:05 with the Ministry of Education 18:07 and developing health curriculum 18:09 using their standards, 18:11 which they have some pretty good standards, 18:12 they just don't have anything in place 18:14 for the teachers to use, to teach those standards. 18:18 So we have developed a kindergarten 18:20 and first grade workbook with 21 lessons, 18:26 activities on the importance of exercise 18:29 on healthy food and unhealthy food. 18:32 The kindergartens this last year, 18:35 it was their first year 18:36 and kindergarteners stopped drinking 18:39 so much soda and juice. 18:42 And a lot of the teachers had a rule 18:45 of no junk food in the classroom. 18:47 So instead of chips and cookies for snacks, 18:50 they were bringing fruit and boiled eggs 18:54 and natural stuff. 18:57 So the wellness center is making an impact 18:59 starting to move out through the whole community. 19:01 Yes, it's another of our programs, 19:03 the CHAT program where patients get visited 19:05 in their homes. 19:07 The idea is to teach the whole family at once 19:09 and things like that. 19:11 You mentioned the CHAT program a little earlier 19:13 of helping to go in and help the people. 19:16 Is that an acronym for something? 19:18 Yes. 19:19 Community Health Advancement Program. 19:21 I imagine that you've gotten some really great stories. 19:26 I've seen people's lives change. 19:28 Is there one or two that are just really pop 19:30 that you'd like to share with us? 19:32 Sure. 19:33 Anne went through our program three times 19:36 because she wanted to just keep learning 19:39 more and more and more. 19:41 Her father had gone through the program years ago 19:43 and encouraged her to come 19:44 and she just has so much more energy now 19:47 that she's trying to eat right and exercise. 19:50 And she started walking club. 19:53 She does our exercise classes when we do our outreaches, 19:59 so she's a great motivator for the Marshallese 20:03 who think that they can't do it, 20:05 but they can. 20:06 They can. 20:07 So it's really true. You are what you eat. 20:10 You are. 20:11 Oh definitely. 20:13 The things that you put in your body affect your mind, 20:19 affect your well-being, 20:21 does affect your even your spiritual connection. 20:27 I'm going to stop you a moment, even your spiritual connection. 20:29 Can you expand on that? 20:31 Your connection to God is through your mind. 20:34 If you do not have a clear mind, 20:36 you can't have a good connection with God. 20:38 And the healthier the food that you eat, 20:41 the clearer your mind is also, it doesn't. 20:44 It's not only the food, you have to drink your water 20:47 and you have to get some exercise every day 20:49 and get some sunshine 20:51 and avoid alcohol and tobacco 20:53 and other things that cloud your mind. 20:55 But all of these things affect your spirit, 20:58 and your spirit affects your body. 21:00 So this is what Canvasback Wellness Center's 21:02 really doing 21:04 is helping to change the mind of the people 21:06 and help them feel better. 21:07 then they can focus on spiritual things. 21:09 Yes, you need those basics in place 21:13 before you can tackle the higher things. 21:17 So if you had a wish list of things you'd like to do, 21:19 maybe expansion or something, what kind of, would that be? 21:23 How would it look like? Wow. 21:25 Well, here, at this wellness center, 21:27 I would love to have a few more exercise classes, 21:31 have maybe a program 21:34 through the schools 21:35 where we cook with each classroom 21:37 and get them to try healthy food. 21:40 It would take a bit more staff and money. 21:45 And we'd really like to expand. 21:47 There are other islands who have expressed an interest 21:52 in having a wellness center. 21:53 So it would be great to be able to start up 21:55 another wellness center on another island 21:57 because the Pacific Islands all have the same problem 21:59 with diabetes and chronic illness. 22:02 I guess in reality Canvasback has been invited, 22:05 but it takes as you just said money to do that. 22:08 Yes. Staff and time. 22:09 Yes. 22:11 And we want to leave the wellness center 22:13 here in Majuro very stable with some local management 22:18 that can keep the ball rolling. 22:22 Kirstin, thank you so much. 22:24 Appreciate all the service you do 22:25 and outreach and everything else. 22:27 Thank you, Jim. 22:29 There is so much more on impact to come, stay tuned. 22:36 According to the World Health Organization, 22:39 depression is the leading cause of worldwide disability 22:43 that happens to a lot of people. 22:45 Are you depressed? 22:46 Have you become discouraged lately? 22:48 The list is endless of things 22:50 that can trigger discouragement, 22:51 despair, or even depression. 22:54 If you are someone you know is experiencing 22:56 one or more of these difficulties, 22:58 we have a great little booklet for you. 23:00 It's written by author 23:01 and international speaker Jim Ayer. 23:04 Overcoming the 3Ds contains timely advice 23:07 set in a lighthearted manner, 23:08 meant to help lift you up and out of your problems. 23:12 Understand, we all have problems, 23:14 trials and troubles, 23:15 but we don't need to focus on them. 23:18 You can obtain your copy right now 23:20 by going to canvasback.org. 23:22 And for a gift of any amount, that's for any gift amount, 23:26 you will receive your copy of Overcoming the 3Ds. 23:29 Get your copy today. 23:36 I look at that symbol 23:37 and I think about a different symbol, 23:39 one in a desert from a long time ago. 23:42 And God was leading the children of Israel 23:44 through the desert to the Promised Land. 23:47 But they began complaining, they didn't like the food. 23:50 They didn't like this. They didn't like that. 23:52 And the Bible records that they complained 23:55 because of the way, the way God was leading them. 23:58 They didn't like the way God was leading them. 24:01 So the Lord said, "Okay, I will just back away, 24:05 I will let everything happen to you 24:07 in a natural consequences of nature." 24:11 And as he backed away all of a sudden, 24:13 which was the norm in this desert, 24:15 there were fiery serpents that came everywhere. 24:18 They began finding the people, 24:20 began biting the people 24:21 and soon people were dying continually everywhere. 24:24 And the death was painful. 24:26 It was absolutely painful. 24:29 And finally they're saying, "Moses, save us, 24:32 talk to God again. 24:33 Please we have sinned, talk to God." 24:35 Moses prayed to God. 24:37 God said, "Okay Moses, build, 24:39 take a pole and build a brazen serpent 24:42 out a brass. 24:43 And brazen is brass. 24:45 Build this serpent, 24:46 hang it on a pole and when the people look at it, 24:49 they'll be healed. 24:52 Didn't seem like it made much sense 24:53 to anyone except Moses 24:55 because Moses always followed the direction of God. 24:58 He built that serpent, 25:00 hung it on a pole 25:01 and he commanded and the people said, 25:03 "Look at it and you will live." 25:05 Now some of the people, 25:06 they thought, "It can't help me, 25:08 I'm not going to look at it." 25:11 And they laid right there. 25:12 And without turning their heads, they died. 25:15 Other people were so weak, 25:17 they couldn't look and friends help them, 25:19 said, "Please help me" 25:20 and friends help them to turn and look and live. 25:24 Others still immediately believe 25:26 and they look and they lived. 25:29 You'll see this represented Jesus Christ. 25:32 He took sin for us. 25:34 He took that bite of the serpent, 25:36 that fiery serpent for us. 25:39 He hung on a cross, 25:40 and all we need to do is look and live. 25:45 Some people no longer even have sight. 25:48 But Canvasback is helping those people to look to 25:50 and live a better life right now 25:52 that they might see for eternity. 26:03 Not only does Canvasback specialize 26:05 in medical and dental teams 26:07 to help those in great need of healing, 26:10 but we also work to reverse 26:12 the epidemic of diabetes among the population. 26:16 It's the number one killer in the Marshall Islands. 26:20 We are utilizing every means at our disposal 26:24 to combat this deadly disease. 26:27 We are working to lead people back to a healthy diet, 26:31 free from so many foods 26:33 that are major players in diabetes 26:35 and heart disease. 26:37 We are training and sending out neighborhood teams 26:40 to detect health problems early 26:43 and then offer them solutions that work. 26:46 We're making tremendous progress, 26:48 but your help is needed. 26:50 The program has been highly successful, 26:53 but we must expand and that takes money. 26:57 The needs are great, but the solutions are simple. 27:01 Early detection and teaching with love 27:04 the basic principles of health 27:06 that move people toward a healthy lifestyle. 27:09 I do hope you will financially join us 27:13 in helping to eradicate diabetes, 27:16 the number one killer in the Marshall Islands 27:19 and beyond. 27:22 To be a part of this exciting ministry, 27:24 you can write us at Canvasback Missions, 27:26 940 Adam Street, Suite R, Benicia, California 94510. 27:32 You can also log on to canvasback.org 27:35 or call us at (707) 746-7828. 27:39 Thank you for watching. 27:41 Please join me again 27:42 for another exciting island adventure 27:44 because remember, 27:45 Canvasback is making an impact on hearts and lives 27:48 one miracle at a time. |
Revised 2020-12-05