Chapter 1
The Road to New Guinea
Walter and LaVonne Steinkraus came to Papua New Guinea in May 1957. After finishing their linguistic
training at the University of Oklahoma, they had found themselves on an ocean liner, bound for the
Territory of New Guinea, then a trust of the United Nations. They were eager to begin work among the
Tifalmin (Tifal) people.
Although their first choice was the Oksapmin people, the
Australian government supervising the territory would not allow
them to live in that area, deeming it unsafe. They soon checked
out the Tifalmin language community and felt called to begin
work there. However, it would be 1961 before they were able to
actually take up work there.
(Photo Courtesy – Wheaton College Archives)
The road to New Guinea was a long and challenging one for both Walter and LaVonne. They had grown
up in Christian homes.
Walter Leinhart Steinkraus was born to Dan and Malvina Steinkraus on
November 24, 1925.
Walter grew up in the farming community in Gladwin, Michigan, located in the rural northwest lower
part of the state. Walt was one of ten children, but the oldest of the three boys. He was the first to finish
high school and attend college. His was a farm family, with hopes pinned on Walt to take over the farm
due to his father’s crippling arthritis.
Life was hard for Walt as a youngster. Farm chores, building and mending fences and milking cows were
a daily affair. Walt’s mother was a strong Christian; when Walt was born, she dedicated him to the
Lord’s service as a preacher. Every day she read the Bible and every day the family sang hymns after
breakfast, all in German since the family spoke very little English. That godly influence affected Walt
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