Bivši predsjednik SAD-a George H. W. Bush se dopisivao s filipinskim dječakom skoro deset godina, ali je sve vrijeme vješto čuvao svoj identitet korištenjem pseudonima, a tek su nakon njegove smrti ovi podaci procurili u javnost.
“Želim postati tvoj novi prijatelj. Ja sam starac, star 77 godina, ali volim djecu, iako se nas dvojica još nismo upoznali, volim te. Živim u Teksasu, a s vremena na vrijeme ću ti pisati. Sretno”, napisao je Bush u svom prvom pismu Timothyju.
Bush, koji je umro u studenom ove godine, počeo je pismeno komunicirati s Timothyem kroz Compassion International, neprofitnu organizaciju koja omogućava sponzoriranje školovanja djece u siromašnim područjima.
Kroz navedenu organizaciju, Bush je plaćao filipinskom dječaku školske obroke, obrazovanje i vannastavne aktivnosti, piše CNN.
Prepiska je trajala od 2002. do 2012. godine, kada je inače okončan proces financiranja Timothyja od Compassion Internationala.
Bush’s letters were sent to Timothy beginning on January 24, 2002. ‘Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal,’ Bush, who used a pseudonym, wrote in his first letter (pictured)
According to Timothy’s profile, when he was seven he was helping his parents around their home by ‘buying or selling in the market, running errands and cleaning’.
‘For fun, Timothy enjoys basketball, art and walking. He attends Sunday school, Bible class and vacation Bible school regularly,’ the profile said, adding that Timothy attended primary school.
From time to time, Bush, who died last month at the age of 94, would drop a few hints about who he was in his letters.
‘Dear Timothy, I love that picture of you holding that “World Time” gadget. I also have learned that you play the guitar – terrific!
‘Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House? That’s where the president of the USA lives. I got to go to the White House at Christmas time. Here is a little booklet that I got at the White House in Washington,’ Bush wrote.
According to Timothy’s profile, when he was seven he was helping his parents around their home by ‘buying or selling in the market, running errands and cleaning’
From time to time, Bush, who died last month at the age of 94, would drop a few hints about who he was in his letters. In this letter he mentioned going to the White House for Christmas
And Timothy would write letters in response. One letter said: ‘Dear Mr. & Mrs. Walker, How are you? I hope you’re in good condition. I would like to thank you for not forgetting me. You’re so nice and good’
And Timothy would write letters in response.
One letter said: ‘Dear Mr. & Mrs. Walker, How are you? I hope you’re in good condition. I would like to thank you for not forgetting me. You’re so nice and good.
‘God is so good to us. He gives us the body & will to get to where we want to go.
‘Thank you so much for the book, I like it very much,’ Timothy wrote.
And though the letters were heartfelt and sweet, Bush did breach security when he sent Timothy a photo of his dog, Sadie.
‘Here is a picture of our dog,’ he wrote. ‘Her name is Sadie. She has met a lot of famous people.
‘She is a very good dog she was born in England. She catches mice and chipmunks, and she runs like the wind. G. Walker,’ Bush wrote.
According to CNN, Bush first got the idea to sponsor a child in 2001, when he attended a holiday concert in DC.
Bush first got the idea to sponsor a child in 2001, when he attended a Christmas concert in Washington.
‘Because the musicians were mostly Christian, they believed in our mission,’ Wess Stafford, the former president of Compassion International told CNN.
And though the letters were heartfelt and sweet, Bush did breach security when he sent Timothy a photo of his dog, Sadie. ‘Here is a picture of our dog,’ he wrote. ‘Her name is Sadie. She has met a lot of famous people,’ Bush wrote
Timothy would send Bush drawings (pictured) and told him how much he liked art. In turn, Bush would send over color pencils, sketch pads, and paint
Stafford said the musicians would often ‘tell the audience about us, and ask them if they would like to sponsor a child’.
Bush was one of those audience members who raised his hand and asked for a brochure.
Stafford explained to the news outlet that Bush needed to create the pseudonym because of security concerns.
Eventually, Timothy, who graduated from the program at 17 and is now 25, found out the truth about his pen pal.
Stafford said Timothy had no idea, and that the revelation was life-changing.
‘We may not know where Timothy is, but we know he’s now living a successful life,’ Stafford said.
Bush passed away on November 30. He was laid to rest after nearly a week of celebrations honoring his life and presidency as the 41st commander-in-chief of the United States.
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