Thank You & Happy New Year to South Africans Everywhere – from Andries

Andries Moni, the hard-working gardener with an inspiring work ethic, is back at work in Gordon’s Bay…and has made a video message to thank all those kind, kind people around the world who rallied to help him replace his gardening equipment after it was stolen earlier in the month.

If you missed the original story of how South Africans in and out of SA responded to a post by Lyn Jacobs – you can read it here.

In short, Lyn posted what she thought was a private message telling her friends how Andries had inspired her with his tenacity and work ethic, refusing to be defeated by the theft and intent on working harder over the Christmas season to make more money to replace his stolen equipment.

A South African in Australia – Ingrid Going Pretorius – saw the post and sent it to SAPeople; and after we shared it, there was an outpouring of generosity from all around the world, in both financial donations and in kind words for Andries, Lyn and each other…which culminated in Lyn being able to take Andries shopping to replace all his stolen gear. It was incredible, inspirational, uBuntu at its best…and put a festive cheer back into Christmas for so many of us.

Ingrid wrote to SAPeople a couple of days ago saying “Thank you for sharing Lyn’s story about Andries that I sent you. I’m sure it has and will heal many hearts in different ways. My greatest gift from this, besides Andries getting help, is how for so many South Africans in SA, their perspective of expats has changed and softened somehow.

“And then it’s always lekker to be a part of something that good and helping another…best feeling in the world!

“BTW, what actually makes this story even better, is the fact that before all this, I didn’t know Lyn at all! That is why it is so special that she did not make this story private as she does all her posts, and I was the only public person not on her FB friends list that saw the story! The Universe doing its work! We are of course friends now! Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!!”

Lyn was so blown away by the generosity of strangers that she couldn’t wait the full 21 days for PayPal to clear the funds…and she took Andries shopping two days before Christmas to buy new equipment with all the kind donations. She reported back that he had the “biggest smile ever” and that “it was such a joy being with him. OMW, I wish you could have all experienced what I did this afternoon…heart-warming,” she wrote. “First time in my life I have enjoyed Christmas shopping two days before Christmas.

“I cannot tell you all what a difference you have made in his life – he told me a lot more about his year, which was not a good one for him. He is truly humble and really did not expect anything from anyone after his robbery. Some background information – he has two children, boy 11 and girl 7 and has a partner of 12+ years. They live in a shack in Nomzamo, outside Strand.”

Lyn says “Thank you all for your contributions, your well wishes, thoughts and such kind words. You have all humbled me as well. Hope you have a happy and safe New Year xxxx.”

And here’s a Video Message from Andries himself