Walt with Kerry and Kathryn in the village. (Photo Courtesy of Norman Steinkraus)
When Walt returned to the village for a two-week stay in late 1970, the people were overjoyed to see
him. As the plane landed near the village, the children were jumping up and down with joy and the
village leaders and other community people crowded around the plane to meet Walt and shake his
hand. They told him they had been praying for the family’s safe return and were happy to have them
return to the Bible translation work!
The school had suggested Vonnie and the kids stay back at Ukarumpa for Kerry’s schooling, so after that
two-week stay in the village, Walt returned to Ukarumpa to help Vonnie. In preparation for returning to
the village in January, 1971, Walt and Vonnie contacted Dennis and Nancy Cochrane with a request. The
Cochranes were volunteering as house parents at “Teen Manor”, one of the boarding homes at
Ukarumpa for missionary children: Might Kerry stay with them, Walt and Vonnie asked? Since this would
be her first separation from Mom and Dad, they were a bit anxious about it.
However, as the time of their departure for the village grew near, Walt and Vonnie had a change of
heart. They decided to take Kerry with them to the village one more time before having her attend the
boarding school. So, the entire family headed back to the village January 15, 1971.
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