A book sat on the shelve at a Yale University library for years waiting for someone to borrow it and bring it home. It's a script that sounds like something out of a movie. And, it's a true life drama that I have been watching closely for the past three weeks. To my surprise but complete delight, I woke up one day and discovered that I was going to be associated with the cast, and about to meet the main characters.

I also learned that there is nothing in the drama that that anyone could have predicted. What we've learned thus far, is how every step of the way is directed. And, as the developments unfold, the many threads to the tale unite to make a strong cord. If you will, a convincing argument of the history of the Chamorro Bible, the people who were involved and their dedication to preserve the word of God and share it in a language that the people of Guam could read and understand.

Many Chamorros will be thrilled to discover that they can soon participate in the drama, by owning a copy of the republication of the Chamorro Bible. Published in 1908, by the American Bible Association, the bible was translated into the Chamorro language by the first protestant missionary to arrive on Guam in 1900, Francis Marion Price .

Price was a gifted linguist, who first thought his command of the Spanish language was sufficient to translate the Bible into Chamorro since there were similarities in the language. However, Price quickly learned that the Chamorro language was resilient and therefore he had to learn Chamorro if he was to succeed in translating the bible. A native of Guam, José Mendiola Taitano, tutored Price in the Chamorro language and with his children were instrumental in assisting Price with the translation of the bible.

A complete background of Price and the Taitano family, (the first family on Guam to convert to Protestantism) is available in the Spring 2003 edition of the Isles Magazine published by the Guam-Micronesia Mission (GMM) of Seventh-day Adventists in Agaña Heights. View also the PhotoLine of the Chamorro Bible it's a continuing process so the updates will continue.

The Price effort resulted in the printing of 1,000 copies of the bible in diglot [bilingual] format, (photo below) presenting the Chamorro (left) and English (right) translations side-by-side in every page. Few copies of the Chamorro Bible are available today, except as part of special collections in libraries across the United States, but not in libraries on Guam.

That is, not before a determined computer teacher at the Guam Adventists Academy in Windward Hills named Clarence L. Thomas IV, decided he wanted a copy of a Chamorro Bible for his 2001-2002 8th-grade computer class. "I thought it was a good idea to have the students read the scripture in Chamorro," said Thomas and why he set out to find a copy of the Bible.

Thomas' quest for the Bible led him to the Internet, investigating libraries in the mainland for copies of the Chamorro Bible. He discovered several locations had a copy, but the one he pursued is Yale University since he found a contact person and telephone number. And as he states, "It was the only place that had one that wasn't part of a special collection and there was a person I could contact regarding the bible. I wanted to speak to a person at that point in my search. Not an email address."

The rest of the story is a work in progress and I won't be able to tell it all in this effort.

Clarence L. Thomas IV is someone that the people of Guam should be grateful for, his effort is significant to the preservation of the language, it will expand and clarify history regarding the language used in the 1900s and rekindle the interest Chamorros have for their linage.

The support of the GMM to republish the bible will assure the return of the Chamorro Bible to the people of Guam. Willy Nobuo, President of the Guam-Micronesia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists said in his message in the special issue, "Guam-Micronesia Mission realizes the shortness of time and has accepted the challenge of printing the Chamorro Bile at the cost of $40,000.00 ... that the bible will be made available at book stores on the island, ... and that providence has led to the finding pf an out-of-print Chamorro Bible." That and more actually, and the more that I am speaking of continues to unfold as the days draw near.

After reading this article, I suggest you find your way up to Simply Food on the first floor of the GMM building in Agaña Heights and pick up a copy of the Special Issue of the Spring 2003 Isles magazine and read all about the disappearance and resurrection of the Chamorro Bible - 95 years later; the Taitano family translators - José Mendiola Taitano, his son José San Nicolas Taitano, and his sisters Rosa and Ana; the Custino brothers; the resiliency of the Chamorro language, and the WebSite that brings the Chamorro Bible to you in electronic format:

 www.ChamorroBible.org

At ChamorroBible.com you can read the scriptures in the Chamorro language, or listen to Josephine Chargualaf Varley read the scriptures in Chamorro. Better yet, listen to her and read along, Josephine has been practicing her readings and says that now, her tongue has loosened up to read God's word.

Thomas stresses always in discussions the importance of returning the Chamorro Bible to its people. I couldn't agree more. Everyone in Micronesia has a bible in their language, it's just the Chamorro people that don't have one. That is, until Clarence and the SDA School decided to bring it back to Guam. And, now GMM will republish it and have it available for planned Evangelistic Meetings for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and to anyone interested in having a personal copy.

If you have questions or wish to provide information on the Chamorro Bible, maybe you have one, or know of someone who does and would like share the story of how your family got a copy and what you've done to keep it in your family all these years, please contact Bethany Martin, editor of the Isles magazine at bethanysmartin@hotmail.com or call her at (671) 477-9745 or fax at (671) 477-5674. I am sure she'd be delighted to print your story and share it with others in their next publication.