Andre's Service

 

The first day back at sea on our way to China they had a service for Andre. They opened with prayers and read pieces from the bible.  His close friends all got a chance to talk about the short time they new Andre but how amazing it was to know him. Everyone just kept saying how much of an amazing person he was and how he loved to give to others.  After all of his friends got up and spoke. Archbishop Desmond  Tutu said a prayer which when he speaks is breath taking and could make anyone cry just the way he speaks. After Father was done speaking they played a slide show of all pictures people had with Andre so reflect back on his life.  It was so sad to just hear a Union full of people crying and grieving this horrible situation. After we finished watching the slide show the captain came up and told us how the rest of the ceremony would go.  Each individual would receive a flower we would all walk to the back of the boat say a prayer and throw the flower off the boat. It was heartbreaking seeing his friends and everyone so distraught.  This was a very difficult day for the whole ship weather you knew him or not. It opened a lot of people’s eyes to know that every day is a precious day and don’t take any second for granted because no one is invisible. Losing a shipmate makes the boat have kind of an empty place but it also brought our community that much closer.

 

Andre you are missed so much

 

*Rest Easy*