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The 41st president sponsored for 10 years in the Philippines a pseudonym, revealed the non-governmental organization that put them in contact.
The Bush family was not available to comment on the letters, but Jim McGrath, a spokesman for George H. W. Bush's office, confirmed the authenticity of these letters.
Once the sponsorship started, George Sr. immediately began writing to the boy. In his first letter, sent on January 24, 2002, he declared that he loved Timothy from the start.
"Dear Timothy,
I want to be your new correspondent.
I am an old man, age 77, but I love them children and, even though we have not met yet, I already love you.
I live in Texas – I will do it you write from time to time – Good luck G. Walker "[19659008] How It All Started
Bush came up with the idea of sponsoring a child in 2001 when he attended a Christmas concert in Washington.
"Because the musicians were mainly Christians, they believed in our mission," CNN Wess Stafford, former president of Compassion International, told CNN. During the intermission, "they would inform the public of our presence and ask them if they wanted to sponsor a child," he said.
"Suddenly, Mr. Bush, who was sitting only a few rows back and surrounded by security, he raised his hand and asked for a pamphlet."
According to Stafford, his security team was worried because she did not know what was going to be on the brochure or if the information in it had been filtered. for the authenticity. But that did not stop Bush.
"His senior security officer called me and said," It does not surprise me, but if he's going to sponsor this kid, we have to make sure the boy does not know. who is his sponsor. So, he signed all his letters to Timothy as "George Walker," Stafford said.
The Bush security team was primarily concerned about Timothy's safety, Stafford said. They did not want it to become a target if people learned that the boy was communicating with a former president of the United States.
Keeping the secret was not an easy task
Due to security concerns, Stafford became responsible for selecting each letter – and Bush did not return his easy job, he said, because he started providing more information than he was supposed to do.
"His letters were the sweetest and most enthusiastic letters I've read of any sponsor, but he was giving hints on who he might be," Stafford said. "He was really pushing the envelope."
His first security breach: sharing a photo of his dog.
"This is a picture of our dog," he writes . "She's called Sadie, she met a lot of famous people."
"She is a very good dog, she was born in England, she catches mice and chipmunks and runs like a wind, G. Walker."
He also mentioned that he was pretty famous. to be invited to the White House for Christmas.
"Dear Timothy,
I love this picture of you holding this gadget" World Time. "I've also learned that you play the guitar – awesome!
Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House? It is there that the President of the United States lives.
I have go to the White House at Christmas time Here is a little booklet that I received at the White House in Washington. "
Although the sending of gifts is not allowed, Bush would send them when even, especially when he discovered that Timothy liked to draw and paint.
"Timothy sent him drawings by hand and told the president how much he loved art, so he sent colored pencils, sketchbooks, and paint," Stafford said. "I waited for my staff to go to the Philippines and send it with them.They would then bring it to the church.Timothy was part of it so that he could collect his gifts . "
In one of the letters, Timothy thanked. Bush for not having forgotten it.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walker,
How are you? I hope you are in good condition.
J & # 39; would like to thank you for not forgetting, you are so kind and good.
God is so good to us, he gives us the body and the will to go where we want
Thank you very much for the book, I like it a lot. "
Timothy discovers
Fortunately, Timothy never understood the allusions to the letters of Bush and did not find out who his godfather was until he graduated from the program.
"After a while, my executive assistant, Angie Lathrop, took over the sponsorship and, after graduating at age 17, Timothy flew to the Philippines," Stafford said. "It was at that time that she told him who was really his godfather."
Timothy was stunned, Stafford said. He really could not believe that the man to whom he had written letters was once the president of a nation.
Stafford stated that Timothy had told Lathrop that he had no idea and that the revelation had changed his life.
This is the last time Timothy hears the nonprofit, despite efforts to locate him, Stafford said.
Compassion International works in partnership with more than 7,000 local churches in 25 countries around the world. Its main purpose is to fund early education, help pregnant women in need, and encourage members of poor communities to achieve great things.
People can sponsor pregnant women, recent mothers, and children as early as four years old, Stafford said.
"We may not know where Timothy is, but we know that he lives a successful life," Stafford said. "To sponsor a child, even though he is still in the womb, can encourage and guide him so that he becomes great human beings."
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