MARCH 2026 - eNews
A New Chapter for the Canvasback Wellness Center in the Marshall Islands
When you stand in Majuro at sunset, the lagoon glows gold against the horizon. Children play near the shoreline. Neighbors greet one another by name. Churches and schools sit at the center of community life.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is rich in culture, resilience, and relationship.
It is also navigating profound challenges.
As a Pacific island nation in a unique and enduring relationship with the United States, the Marshall Islands sits at the intersection of global forces: climate vulnerability, economic pressure, and one of the highest rates of diabetes and lifestyle-related illness in the world. These are not abstract statistics. They affect families, livelihoods, and future generations.
For years, the Canvasback Wellness Center in Majuro has been a steady presence in this landscape, walking alongside Marshallese community members who want practical tools to live stronger, healthier lives.
Today, we are excited to share an important new chapter in that work.
Andrew and Anna McChesney have arrived in Majuro to serve as the new Directors of the Canvasback Wellness Center.
Why the Wellness Center Matters
The Canvasback Wellness Center on Majuro was created not as a clinic, but as a place of learning and empowerment.
In the shadow of the epidemic of diabetes, wellness goes far beyond avoiding illness. It shapes how we feel each morning, how we show up for our families, and how we participate in our communities.
Participants at the Wellness Center learn to:
- Understand nutrition in the context of available local foods
- Develop practical cooking skills
- Incorporate movement into daily routines
- Build supportive habits with peers
- Strengthen emotional and spiritual resilience
Many Marshallese families are navigating the long-term health effects of rapid dietary and economic changes over the past several decades. Imported processed foods became common, while fresh options can be costly and difficult to access.
Generational health patterns are difficult to reverse without support.
The Wellness Center exists to offer that support.
Canvasback has worked in the Marshall Islands for more than four decades. The Wellness Center continues that legacy by investing in long-term health education that is culturally responsive and community-centered.
While the challenges faced in Micronesia extend far beyond health, Canvasback believes that investing in wellness provides the strength, energy, and vision communities need to thrive.
Leaders Committed to Wellness and Service
Andrew and Anna McChesney’s dedication to the Wellness Center is rooted in lived experience.
Andrew lost 70 pounds through sustained changes in exercise and nutrition and saw firsthand how intentional lifestyle shifts can restore strength and energy. Their commitment deepened when Andrew’s stepfather faced severe diabetes. After participating in a structured wellness program, his blood sugar stabilized and several medications were no longer needed.
As Andrew shared in an interview about their journey:
“Wellness is a tool God uses to open hearts, rebuild lives, and help people flourish.”
For Andrew and Anna, health is personal and transformative.
Andrew and Anna met in Russia while Andrew was working there as a newspaper editor. From the beginning, their shared commitment to purpose and service shaped their marriage and the path they would take together.
That path has now led them to Majuro.
Relocating internationally required perseverance, including navigating a complex visa process for Anna, who is a Russian citizen. There were delays and uncertainty, but they remained steady in their commitment to serve.
Today, they are beginning their work at the Canvasback Wellness Center with humility, practical experience, and deep respect for the Marshallese community.
The U.S.–Marshall Islands Connection
The relationship between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is longstanding and complex.
Under the Compact of Free Association, Marshallese citizens may live and work in the United States, and the U.S. maintains strategic responsibilities in the region.
At the same time, Pacific island nations face disproportionate impacts from climate change, global supply chains, and economic shifts that they did not create but must navigate daily.
In this context, partnership matters.
Canvasback’s presence in Majuro is not temporary relief. It is long-term collaboration. It is listening before acting. It is honoring local leadership and strengthening community-driven solutions.
The Wellness Center embodies that approach.
A Future Rooted in Resilience
The Marshallese people have navigated colonization, nuclear testing, climate shifts, economic change, and global health transitions with remarkable endurance and cultural strength.
The Wellness Center is one small but meaningful part of that ongoing story.
With Andrew and Anna stepping into leadership, we see renewed energy for the work ahead. We see opportunities for deeper community relationships and expanded educational programming.
Most importantly, we see continued partnership.
Your support helps ensure that the Canvasback Wellness Center remains a place where learning, health, and community flourish together.
