Not only did I find him, but I've also had other refugees reach out to me and tell me that him and his wife helped them too! Their kindness has touched so many lives. One woman said "they weren't friends to me, they were family"https://twitter.com/MeAndVan/status/1161204804036771840?s=19 …
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AND someone else who worked at the camp got in touch, Sandra, she was incredible too, she helped me use a computer for the first time! I now work in tech! More so than anything I remember these small kindnesses growing up, they helped shape me.https://twitter.com/MeAndVan/status/1160992839427416065?s=19 …
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Later today, 24 years later, I get to meet him in person!
Thank you to everyone who made that possible, to every single person who RT'd and to those who sent messages. Special thanks to @Janske1@Arjen78@ds_Zwolle. I will update this thread with how it goes! WISH ME LUCK!Show this thread -
I mean, at this point a rainbow on my way to see him just feels completely ordinary. Why not. Our car is being lifted by doves btw.pic.twitter.com/s1DvlUFbqi
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This is Egbert. He's been helping refugees since the 90s. He was so happy to see me. He was proud that I'd become a strong and brave woman. He said that was his wish for me when I was small. He grows orchids. He has a beautiful family. He said it felt like I'd never left.pic.twitter.com/WlDWm2seVh
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He thought the bike was too small a gesture to make such a big fuss about but he's really glad that it was the key to bringing us together again. He says he doesn't smile in photos so we took a serious one together instead.pic.twitter.com/8UoaqLf1nI
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Thank you for joining me on this crazy 36 hour (!) journey. We are now coming to it's end. I am completely blown away by the love I have received online. The internet is what we make it. And finally...
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Small actions can have big consequences. The kindness that Egbert and his family showed me will stay with me for a lifetime, and it continues to shape me as a person. That's the magical thing about kindness, it doesn't cost anything and it changes the world one person at a time.
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A final photo, with a rare smile! Photo credit goes to
@Arjen78. One for the mantlepiece, I think.pic.twitter.com/IcZEv3JtlQ
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