Wycliffe Inspire conference

Carol Jean was the logistical coordinator of a conference that provided training for 45 Wycliffe members who represent Wycliffe to the public.

Translator Notes

Steve's main focus for much of 2023 was writing Translators Notes content in easy English to help non-native English speakers translate the book of Exodus. He had previously been working on this part-time.

Consulting trip to PNG

Steve did a quality-assurance check of the gospel of Mark for the Musim people.

Consulting trip to PNG

Steve did a quality-assurance check of the gospel of Luke for the Yamap people and the second half of Psalms for the Malei people.

Jonathan born to Adam & Lizzy

Consultant checks for 7 languages

Steve worked remotely to do quality assurance checks for 25 Bible books for 7 different language groups.

Carol Jean works as administrative assistant for mobilization with Wycliffe.

Wilder born to Erin & Mark

Relocation to Florida

God led us to invest ourselves in the wider Bible translation movement, which involved a relocation from Papua New Guinea to the U.S.

Carol Jean teaches 2nd grade at Ukarumpa International School

Steve doing translation consulting full-time

Second Bariai SALT course & Sunday School teacher training

Adam & Lizzy’s wedding

Eowyn born to Erin & Mark

Bariai Audio Scripture completed and re-distributed

Culture Meets Scripture training for Bariai leaders

Erin & Mark’s wedding

First Bariai SALT course

Following the dedication, Bariai leaders attended a two-week Scripture Application and Leadership Training Course to learn how to dig into their new Bibles.

Bariai Scripture Dedication

We celebrated as the Bariai people enthusiastically received published copies of the New Testament and Genesis and Exodus.

Final revisions completed. Typesetting begun.

Final consultant check of Bariai New Testament

Bariai audio Scripture portions available.

The first hand-crank Bariai audio devices were distributed with Scripture portions

Bariai dictionary published

Gospel of Luke published

Bariai Jesus video produced and shown in the villages

Seven Epistles published

Genesis and Exodus published

Gospel of Matthew published

Steve began work as a translation consultant

Gospel of Mark dedicated

The Bariai people had a major celebration of the first book of the Bible in their own language.

Mondo, John, and Peter appointed as co-translators

These three men faithfully worked with us through the entire translation.

New permanent village house built

Our house included a translation office and a schoolroom for teaching Erin & Adam.

Christmas story first published in Bariai

Adam's birth

We returned to the U.S. for his birth and returned to PNG when he was 3 months old.

Language learning, Bariai preschool curriculum development, and teacher training

While continuing to learn the language, we worked with the Bariai people to develop an alphabet and write stories, and we developed a curriculum and trained teachers.

Moved into our new bush house

The house's roof was part thatch and part metal, had screened windows, rainwater collection, a used kerosene refrigerator, a composting toilet, and solar electricity.

First ten-week stay with the Bariai people

We lived in a borrowed bush house and began learning the language.

First visit to the Bariai language group

We committed to returning to live and work with them.

Pacific Orientation Course

We spent four months learning PNG culture and the trade language, Tok Pisin.

Papua New Guinea ministry begins

We brought our infant daughter to PNG and began our full-time ministry in the country.

Full financial and prayer support promised

We were cleared to go to Papua New Guinea.

Erin's birth

We became a family of three preparing to be missionaries.

Wycliffe assignment to Papua New Guinea

At the time, PNG had 3.5 million people and 849 known languages.

Three more semesters of linguistics training

We returned to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and also attended the University of Texas, Arlington.

Our wedding

We became husband and wife in West Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Carol Jean accepted by Wycliffe as a trainee

Carol Jean committed to join the ministry of Bible translation.

We met during our first semester of linguistics training

This was at SIL’s training at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Steve accepted by Wycliffe as a trainee

Steve committed to the journey of Bible translation.