As the lad gets excited tracking his package, his belief in the church and its good people is reinforced in the background. The lad's co-scammer is Raoul (me) and it was Raoul who brought the church and the lad's non existent orphanage together. Now Raoul is writing to Pastor F to say hello and receive an update. It all adds to the "reality" of this for the lad as he is copied these messages. He believes we are all one big happy family.
Dear Rev. C******:
I do hope things are going well for you and that the orphanage I brought to your attention has been just the sort of project your team of wonderful volunteers was looking for. Sadly, although they are worthy, I could probably find dozens more like them. It always seems that there are more people in need out there than can be helped at any one time. That is why I commend your approach to assisting people. Help them for today of course, but help educate them and give them opportunities to escape poverty and then share their good fortune with others in the future. It really is simple isn't it?
Anyway sir, I have heard that the orphanage manager and yourself have opened a successful dialogue and that you have already sent help to them! God bless you for being the lightning rod of kindness in this enterprise.
I know you are a busy man but if you have a moment I would love a short note just to update me and say hello.
The minister replies with not only pleasantries but again has raised the idea of long term sponsorship of the orphanage from the church. The lad loves this idea of course, and it is reinforced in the minister's "private" correspondence.
My dear friend in Christ:
Good morning to you, I am pleased to provide you with a quick update here. Thanks to your guidance, the committee decided to act on your suggestion of assisting our new Nigerian friends with a donation of cash and goods. It was sent out last week and should arrive in Nigeria in a few days. The manager is certain this will greatly enrich the lives of those children, and we trust these seeds of hope will fall on fertile ground.
You did acknowledge, sadly, that there are probably dozens more worthy causes out there. We just cannot help them all. However, we are thinking long term here: we want to begin a program of not just "one time" assistance, but perhaps long term sponsorship. We are developing a plan to do offer sustainable help long term. The children we help today must be upheld in God's loving hands for years, to properly nurture and guide them in His ways. Then, they will become part of the solution in the future for this very issue.
With that however, I am getting ahead of myself and allowing lofty dreams to take over my thoughts. Keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground now, I must address the issue of two separate groups wanting to use church facilities at the same time! The Quilters Guild wants to use the common room on Wednesday afternoons at 1 pm, and someone double booked it for the Book Club. I will need the wisdom of Solomon to handle this!
Blessings
Hopefully, the lad will keep drooling at the thought of sponsorship and will be even more happy to do what is asked of him!