As you well know, Dennis Cho was a significant man with a significant impact on this team. Even more so for his close friends.
Dennis and Steve had grown close over the years prior to our first trip, becoming good friends, as well as serving on the church board and co-laborers on our first trip. they were such good friends that Steve was given the honor of giving a sarcastic, yet funny and touching eulogy/remembrance at Dennis’ funeral a few months ago.
When asked for any team members to offer their thoughts about Dennis, Steve submitted this:
DENNIS
I am actually a little sick and very tired of hearing about Dennis. Yes, it is true that Dennis was a great leader amongst leaders at the first Mississippi Gulfcoast short term missions trip. But look at the guys that went with him; a chimp could have led them successfully.
And seeing him every single week at church; I knew he was suffering so profoundly. Yet he always had that goofy smile on his face and talked about being so thankful for his life, his friends, his family and his faith. He put me to shame. It’s embarrassing.
And then all the effort in writing something meaningful and appropriate about him for his memorial service. And all the time I wasted in rehearsal. And you know, he had the nerve to ask me in August, while he was still doing fine. Talk about awkward.
And then having to replace him as the Assistant Treasurer. Even though his title was “assistant”, he made most of the church’s financial decisions and was the person I could bounce ideas off of. And he kept track of our laddered certificates of deposit that are now all coming due next month; a couple million dollars. And guess who’s in charge of figuring out how to reinvest those funds. Thanks a lot.
I am participating in the LA Marathon for the umteenth time and they allow you to put a name on your running bib. It’s the sheet of material you attach to the front of your shirt that has your number. Most people put on their own, so that all the thousands of sidewalk bystanders and other spectators can cheer you on by name. I printed Dennis’ name on mine. Now, everyone will be yelling his name at me for 26 miles. Out of all of these, this is the worst thing that Dennis has done.
We look forward to people shouting at Steve at the L.A. Marathon. Partially because we like that people will be shouting out Dennis’ name, but mostly because we like people yelling at Steve.