Ukarumpa 1966. (Photo Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators’ Archives)
On March 19, 1971, Vonnie was set to fly back to the village. She picked up, from the Ukarumpa Print
Shop, some recently developed photos. Then, just before heading out to the village, she stopped by the
home of Ray and Marge Dubert, who were Bible translators for the Biangai people.
Vonnie knew the Duberts. She sang at their wedding in the summer of 1954. However, on this day
Marge’s thoughts turned to the Steinkraus children and she asked Vonnie about keeping Kerry in the
boarding school in order to give her an opportunity to experience life there. Vonnie replied that they
“Wanted to glorify God as a family”. So off Vonnie went to be reunited with her husband and the two
children in the village.
All was well with the Steinkraus family. They were united as a family doing the work God had called
them to do. They had come back to New Guinea to resume their Bible translation work and the villagers
had welcomed them with open arms. New believers were growing in their faith, a small church had been
planted and, after thousands of years, the Gospel was reaching the islands of the South Pacific.
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