Ep. 36 : MPD Highs and Lows with a Coach : Daniel Sasaki

In case you are wondering, let’s make it clear: MPD coaches do not have perfect MPD. To prove it we are featuring some of our favorite coaches this season to tell us more about what MPD is really like, the good and the bad. This week: Daniel Sasaki, MPD Coordinator for the Epic Movement.

Transcript

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Katie Johnson: 0:17

Welcome to the crew NPD podcast with Katie Johnson and Michelle Davis. We love that the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. We are driven to equip and inspire Christian workers to be Christ centered, fully funded and financially faithful, so that missionary staff can come alongside all people to help them to know Jesus. This process is more widely known as ministry partner development, or MPD for short.

Michele Davis: 0:50

We are so excited to welcome with us today, Daniels Zacky. Hey, Daniel.

Daniel Sasaki: 0:57

Hi, Michelle. Thanks, JT.

Michele Davis: 0:59

Daniel is the NPD coordinator for the epic movement. He's an excellent coach. He is an also an excellent chef. And coffee connoisseur, we also call him so Zacky most often, so we're going to probably right now switch to say and so Zacky so don't be alarmed listener. That's just our norm. But we invited Sasaki here today to to continue our series where we sit down with a coach and talk about their personal highs and lows in MPD. And in MPD coaching. So thanks for joining us for that. Sasaki. Can you tell us a bit more about your current life and role like just kind of the picture of what of what it is that you're doing right now?

Daniel Sasaki: 1:41

Yeah, so as you mentioned, Michelle, I serve as the MPD, coordinator for epic movement. And so with that, a lot of it is maybe kind of what it sounds like is coordinating MPD efforts for our ministry. And so a lot of that is organizing, coaching, just setting things up, and really just wanting to resource as well as coach our staff so that they're able to stay on the field as long as possible. And so there's various elements of that, from hosting different training conferences, to attending even some of cruise conferences and helping onboard there. I enjoy building out spreadsheets, which is just some of my my history and engineering, and just various things like that, as well as the personal one on one kind of relationship, or the group dynamic that I get to see as I do group coaching, or individual coaching. So that's kind of that element. As far as life things. I do work from home, since most of the people I interact with and work with, don't live in the same city as me. And home for me is Portland, Oregon. And so that's where I currently reside and get to work from. But there's a campus team, a local campus team up here, kind of with epic and crew mixed in with that I get to still interact with them. And that times do things with them, which is a lot of fun. So that's kind of overall broad picture of kind of what my life looks like, as well as specifically being in this role.

Michele Davis: 3:08

That's great. So exactly like how did you decide to join staff? What were some of the situations that pointed you to joining us here with krill?

Daniel Sasaki: 3:21

Yeah, so I mentioned earlier that I have an engineering background. And so I went to school and got my Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and maybe about my junior year, around the time that everyone's studying to really feel the pressure to oh, I need to get an internship this summer. So I could set myself up, well, just realize, I did not have the same drive for engineering that some of my friends had, who are also engineers, they would spend a lot of their free time in the labs working on projects, like think really just go after like, Hey, what are opportunities, what's experienced, I can have, you know, working in the field, you know, in a factory in a lab, kind of whatever it was, and just realize I did not have that drive. But I had a similar drive of that just towards ministry. And so continue to serve with the ministry, which I was part of which was epic movement. And then eventually just felt like after processing of the Lord, like I was going to have to take a fifth year because to be honest, I was not a very good student. And so had failed a few classes and so ultimately had to take a fifth year, but in that view, it wasn't going to be full time school necessarily. And was like, Well, I'd like to do something else. And so I ended up joining staff part time while I was also a student. And so one thing led to another ended up interning and then ended up joining staff.

Michele Davis: 4:51

How would you describe what that was for you? Like what was it about ministry that just got you going and made you feel so gauged,

Daniel Sasaki: 5:01

I think a lot of it was the interactions with people that I really enjoyed. Not that I hated, like logistic stuff, because actually, I do really enjoy it. But I think just as I thought about potentially even just working behind the desk, which I realize come ironic, because I do that now. But just working behind a desk on a project type thing, I was kind of like, it just sounded boring. Like, I did my homework, not because I wanted to learn, but because I was going to be graded on it, and I was paying for this education. And so I think really what the the driving ministry was this element of I'm getting to interact with people. But I think also just even as I was growing in my own faith, which college for me, it was a transformative time for my faith. But as I was growing and learning in that, I think getting to walk alongside other people, whether it was my friends, and it's like, I'm getting to experience like with them and grow with them. Or it was like freshmen and sophomores when I was upperclassmen. It's like, oh, I'm now getting to invest in them, disciple them lead their small groups, take them out, like, go evangelize, like, what does it look like for me? To share my faith, not in a way that like, Oh, I just want to go and convert people. But how do I go out? And I think listen to people's stories, see maybe where it connects with mine? Maybe it doesn't connect that much? And maybe how do I just ask questions and learn and talk with people. And in that, at the same time, like, bring, like a freshman or someone that is wanting to be involved into that space into a conversation. And so I think that kind of drove a lot of, for me this just feeling of like, oh, this is actually something I really enjoy. This is what I spend my free time doing or extra time doing. Yeah, that's kind of what it was like me.

Katie Johnson: 7:05

You mentioned that it's ironic now that you you sit behind a desk and work. And so maybe we can, I want to hear a little bit about that transition, because you didn't start as an MPD coordinator when you join. And so what did you do when you join staff? And then how did you transition to your current role?

Daniel Sasaki: 7:27

Yeah, that's a good question. So I started well, as I was part time, field staff was what we call it, and then interned and then joined full time staff, all three of those roles. And so I was on the field for four years. I think I was based in SoCal, originally, actually, at my alma mater. And so I did ministry there, then eventually moved up to Portland, and was on the field up here across both of them. I was on multiple campuses. When I was in SoCal. I was personally on two campuses. And then when I moved up to Portland, we were a metro team. And so I was on four campuses, maybe. And so I did that for a while and actually really enjoyed it. However, at some point, I didn't start to make this transition into the MP world into MPD. Coordinating. And that transition was actually first while I was still on the field. I was invited, kind of invited, I guess this word, invited to become an MPD. Coach, actually by Michelle. Person, Abby, yeah. A friend. We were out at a conference and they're like, Hey, you want to get lunch? We're also gonna recruit you and ask you if you want to do MPD

Michele Davis: 8:47

we all laughed so much about this because it was like this equal. We all wanted to eat the yummy Beijing noodles, Beijing, Rosa restaurant in Fort Collins, and it's amazing. I've never seen anything like it in my city. I'm very sad. But then also, Sasaki and his friend Zack, who we need her on podcast, if he's listening. This is his invitation to come on. But they had both been in a workshop with Abby and I and we were we were both just very impressed with their MPD their, you know, the what they put together in a conversation guide, like how they engage that week, and I think it was a bit of divine inspiration to where we're just I could really I want Sasaki, Ian Zak, to teach more staff to do what they do. And and also we were going to eat noodles anyways. So

Daniel Sasaki: 9:49

that was kind of my first introduction, because prior to that, so I did enjoy MPD which maybe comes a little bit later as far as how I ended up where I am but At that time, I was not thinking, Oh, let me do MPD coaching. I think a lot of it. One was I had no idea what it entailed. But also having gestures and stuff like that past year, I was like, people don't MPD coach the year after they've reported to whatever there's. So that was kind of, I think the first maybe kind of step into it. And at the time I was leaving, or I wasn't leaving, I was serving as an MP coach for epic movement under Jason Poon. Who was, yeah, he had the role before I stepped in. And so got to know him and just saw kind of how he did things as well as kind of maybe the back end of MPD. So rather than just the direct, oh, I'm going to coach this person, what are some of the things behind the scenes that happen? A lot of the logistics, planning organization type stuff, I think I had a glimpse of. And so yeah, was doing that was doing MPD coaching and was on the field. And at one point, I don't even really remember what it was, it must have been, at this point. I'm now 10 days, a year and 10 days into the current role of MPD coordinator. So I joined it last August. But probably in the summer of my PNC, or people and culture team sent an email saying, hey, here are opportunities that we have within our movement, that if there's anyone you can think of that you think you would want to nominate to this or you feel like, you might be a good fit, can you put their name in. And I was looking at the list. And I knew at the time that we didn't have a MPD coordinator. And so part of me was like, Oh, I wonder if anyone's in this role? And if not what it could look like to be in that role, because I still didn't understand everything, asked asked my ask some people on my PNC team about it. And they, yeah, they mentioned Oh, it still is there isn't opening there. But we have kind of an interim NPD coordinator, people kind of holding that position temporarily. Whereas the other roles were completely there wasn't really anyone in them. And so they're like, Oh, we would like those filled. This role is still open ish. And so through that ended up talking with some, some of my friends, but then also the former epic MPD coordinator, Jason Putin met with him, and basically just kind of got to pick his brain for a few hours of what was it like for you? What were some of the expectations? What elements were will say, like handed down to you from someone higher up in crew MPD? And what elements were you given freedom to create or kind of explore on your own. And as he kind of shared a lot of it. One was that there was a lot of freedom in creating and navigating how to organize and shape MPD for epic movement. But even within crew as a whole, that there was maybe 10 to 15%, that was maybe passed down from his boss, as far as these are things that you need to make sure happen, you know, these are conferences that you need to be at. But on a day to day basis, a lot of the role is going to be what you make it. And so for me, I think as I thought about it, and just kind of wrestled with the Lord, like hey, I really enjoy being on the field. I enjoy meeting with students. You know, doing discipleship, doing small groups doing meetings, like, what would it look like to step into this role, and then eventually did step into the role, I guess, apply to it within epic and was accepted to it. And so actually, for a few months, maybe like a quarter, I was on the field part time and doing empty coordinating. And ultimately, just realize I was feeling I wasn't at the stage of being burnt out yet. But I could tell that I was headed that way. And as I looked towards the future, just looking and seeing like, oh, there's no rests space, but the will call cycles of momentum. So busy seasons and unbusy seasons have been on the field and doing MPD stuff. kind of flip that with being on the field, the fall as soon as September, August. It's like, it's chaos. And it's everything. You're doing fall launch, you're tabling and you're setting out, you know, a billion things. And then you get to maybe the winter, still, there's a lot going on, and then by the time spring comes, it's like okay, there's like spring break trips, everything's kind of everywhere, but things have stuff Ready to mellow out, especially as summer potentially comes? Yeah. But with the NPD world, it's flipped in that. I'll start from the beginning, fall is probably one of as soon as August and September is done, it's kind of a lie. I would say easier. Yeah. And that all the interns and stuff are ported to campus. Hopefully it's like, oh, this is a relaxed period. Winter, it's like, oh, I should start planning. Spring is a lot of planning and really getting things together and onboarding and conferences. And then summer is the crazy time, which for campus, it's kind of like a little bit pick and choose your own adventure. And so I think as I just thought through that, I was like, I don't think I can do both of these. It just feels like it's always busy. Yeah, in one way or the other. And so I talked with my local team in Portland and talked with some of the leaders within epic movement, and eventually just made the switch to, okay, now I'm just going to be a PB coordinator for epic as far as the field on campus and Portland, I'm not going to be there. But I still get to have relationships with them. Which is fine. And so I still get to see them and things. But yeah, that's kind of been that transition of joining staff, and then how I ended up kind of being in this role that I'm in now.

Michele Davis: 16:21

That's awesome. And you were right. Because the way we we onboard staff, when things quote, things slow down. So if you're, yeah, I did that for a year or two. And I very quickly made a choice. So I completely resonate with that. Well, this is part of an episode series where we're, we're calling highs and lows. And so I want to hear from you Sasaki for your personal NPD, what has been high and what has been a low.

Daniel Sasaki: 16:57

Yeah, I thought about this a little bit. And I think two things One for each pretty quickly came to mind as far as what some of the highs and lows have been. I'll start with the highs, like one of the things I really enjoyed. Yeah, in regards to my own MPD. And maybe I should explain this, when I think of MPD. On my end, it's kind of split into two, we'll call them halves. It's more just like maybe two building blocks or foundations for MPd is one there is the financial element of it. I think that maybe a lot of staff think of when they hear the words MPD. But this other kind of pillar and foundation for me is this relational aspect of, oh, there is financial, and but there is also this relational end of, hey, I'm asking you, you know, that you would partner with me, you know, as I continue doing ministry, and when I'm saying that, it's like, what do I actually mean? And in that, I mean, like, Hey, I'm wanting you to not just potentially donate funds and to give funds, but also like, I would like to be you to be invested in what's going on in my life, but also at the same time, like, I would love to be able to hear what's going on in your lives as well. And what does it look like to steward that relationship. And so one of the actual highest for me is, especially when I was initially doing my initial MPDS, of being able to report to campus before I went to campus, I got to meet with a lot of people. That's what I was doing full time. And so yeah, meeting with people over coffee over dessert for breakfast, or lunch and dinner or all the above. One of the things I got to hear a lot about was as I shared my story, and just how the Lord, how I felt him call me to serve in ministry in epic, I got to ask a lot of people about their own stories. So if they were followers of Christ, I got to ask them about how that came to be and what their testimony was. And then I got to, I think, hear a lot of testimonies that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to hear. And so some of them an example I won't name the person but like, we're talking and they just shared part of their testimony was that, you know, the the Lord used their appendicitis to bring them to him. And it's just like elements like this like crazy or hearing stories of people's Yeah, I think childhoods whether they grew up in the church or not, and how eventually they found the Lord whether oftentimes, not always, but oftentimes it was through a friend whether in high school or in college, or you know, a neighbor, you know, afterwards they're like, Oh, my friend invited me and I was like, usually it seems like they're like either. I was just exploring and was just kind of curious. It's like, oh, you know, I've heard so much about this, I guess I'll give it a try. Or that they're going through something really hard. And they're like, Oh, these are people that seem to actually care for me. Something's different about them. This is what they claim is the reason for it. I'll give it a shot. And so I think just getting to hear all these testimonies and stories, I think, for me has been high. Because that's part of the reason why I joined staff was so that as I was meeting with students on campus, like something I enjoyed, not just for the enjoyment, part of it, but I did enjoy it was getting to hear people's stories of just where they were, what brought them to college, what brought them to want to study what they're doing whatever and different things going on. And so, yeah, I think to me, that's still as I still engage in MPa, that's something I really enjoy. Hearing is just where they are, what their testimony is, what their story is, what's affected them and kind of what did they feel like shaped them to be who they are now. And then, as far as maybe a low point, I would say is loss, which maybe feels kind of broad, but I think it kind of goes in that same vein of that stewarding that relationship is that as people who have partnered with me experience loss, often times I feel like they're willing to share that they may send me a text or an email and say, like, hey, this has been happening, would you be willing to pray over this? Or, you know, I get some sort of update from someone. And I think in that whenever there's an element of loss in that, I think that feels hard, is this element of you know, especially with COVID, over the last few years, like people had family members passed away. I've had one or two ministry partners passed away due to COVID. And I think just receiving that news is just, it's really, it's not fun. And I think, especially as I thought through Oh, relationships that I have with this person, I think there's this heaviness that comes with that. So I think there's elements of that, but I think you've experienced beyond that as well. So whether it's people, you know, not having a job, and you know, some people let me know, like, Hey, I'm not gonna be able to financially give to you as much as I was, you know, part of the reality is, you know, then, you know, laid off, I have to find a different job. I think, in that I feel in both of those ends, like, Oh, there's the financial element, that there's a loss, but also in this relationship with you like, that really sucks. And there's this loss in that. Yeah. And it's I think it feels inevitable that you, I will experience some of that, in that. I don't think it deters me from wanting to be engaged in my NPD. But I think it's definitely that that is something hard. Yeah, those kind of things came to mind as far as highs and lows.

Katie Johnson: 22:52

I love how you it seems like you approach NPD, very relationally. First, and you're really connected to your ministry partners, to feel the joy that they feel, but also the losses that they feel. And so I think that's a really good way, right and healthy way to go about MPD. But also, I think it says a lot about you and who you are, and how you care for people really well. And how cool for your ministry partners, I don't know I'm thinking like to feel loved and cared by, from the missionary that they support. I feel like just speaks volumes about your character, and even showing them what the gospel is like loving them. Well, like Jesus loves people, right? And so sitting here thinking like I could do a better job of loving my ministry partners. So maybe later we can talk about, do you have to do to relationally dive in. And I love that when you it seems like when you go on MPD appointments, you really get to know people and their story. And I think that's a really neat thing to do an MPD any unique, a unique opportunity, right? You can sit down with someone and literally be like, tell me about your life in your story. And I think that's really cool. So

Michele Davis: 24:16

well, I want to hear kind of similar a higher low, but apply it to your time as an MPD. Coach, like, what is it about MPD code like when you think about empathy coaching, what has been something that's been a real highlight and then what's been a struggle?

Daniel Sasaki: 24:34

Yeah, these felt a little bit harder to come up with just because my time coaching has been shorter than my time engaging in my own MPD thanks something that's been a Hi. And maybe just even on the elements of like, celebratory is when I'm at well, two things come to mind. One is when people that I'm coaching or in this case, I'm either directly coaching or the I'm supervising the coach and that coach is coaching this person is getting to clear them to report to campus essentially say, Okay, you are at the point where you would be considered fully funded to be able to go do ministry full time. And so we can give you permission essentially to go do that we're going to, you know, change your your supervisors, all stuff, but I think there's an element in that, that when I get to meet with them, or you can just send an email to who their new supervisor only. Yeah, so there's, there's something fun about it, I think it's this element of, especially as I've, if I personally had coached them, and I think built a relationship with them. As I've met with them. It's like, you know, I don't fully understand everything about you and your story and everything you're going through. But I understand it to some degree, because you've shared it with me. And so to finally be at a point where I'm like, hey, the Lord, you've seen the Lord providing this, like, you've given it a lot of effort, these are the different things you've walked through. It's kind of like this, it's not finishing the race. Because again, MPDS never hurt necessarily, like done. But I think it's this element of, if we're thinking about, you know, MPD, and ministry is maybe like this long marathon type thing. It's like, maybe you've hit this checkpoint, or significant mile marker. And it's like, oh, we get to celebrate that with you. That's taking effort. And it's taken work and practice and stepping into uncomfortable spaces to get here. But you have, and we've seen the Lord provide that. And now I get to send you off to, you know, continue doing the things that God has called you to do. And so I think there's something that even if it's small, I think there's a joy that kind of comes with it and celebrating that. I think the other portion would be, as I've been at new staff orientation, so the conference where we onboard staff every year, or I guess it happens multiple times a year, but the ones that I get to be at and really help kind of build and develop the bipoc workshop where black indigenous people of color workshop that I was kind of I mean, it wasn't I guess, Michelle, it wasn't called a bipoc. Workshop, it was just to point out,

Michele Davis: 27:29

yeah, it was the it was such a unique situation, your class because we were leading a 2.0 workshop, and it was almost entirely bipoc staff. And so in a way we and we were in a place where we were developing new content for both. And so your class literally helped us write new and gave us up and gave us invaluable feedback that has shaped our NPD training significantly.

Daniel Sasaki: 28:00

Yeah. And so I think, in that it's like, oh, I'm now getting to go back to those trainings. And I think help with that. And for me, those have actually been a highlight, especially as I'm getting to meet with some of the new bipoc staff. I think, even as I get to connect with them there. And some of them, I think, even share feedback there. Are they sure, you know, as a feedback form comes out. But I think even specifically, as I'm there, as some of the mentioned, like, Oh, this is like, either, like, we're so glad that we have the space or thanks for creating this space was. And there's just something in that that. I think it feels rewarding, like, Oh, it is more effort. And it takes a lot extra work to have this additional thing here. But to hear that, they, the staff that are experiencing it are valuing it a lot. I think it's something that feels, yeah, maybe rewarding. In that insight, I'd say those, those two kinds of things that training as well as getting to see staff report to campus, I think feel like two highs, celebratory as well as rewarding. I think the part that maybe feels like a low in coaching is similar to the low in my own personal MPD journeys just I think having to walk me not having to it's not an obligation getting to, or I think just walking with the people that I'm coaching through hard things. And that could be things that I had mentioned, right, whether it's people they're meeting with that have people who have, you know, pass because of COVID or they're meeting with people who maybe lost their jobs or whatever. But even beyond that something that's come up within the Asian American context is sometimes even as for the interns that we have, so people just graduating from college or they're still in college. They're like, how do I have commerce? issues with my parents that I'm going to be doing ministry this year. You know, their parents might be followers of Christ, they might not be. But there's almost always cases where like, my parents don't want me to do this. And so how do I go about having these conversations with them? You know, and even in my own story, like my, my parents or followers, Christ, they didn't want me to join stuff. And I did. And they're okay with it now, but it was walking through really difficult conversations. And I mean, understanding, I think one of the hard things too, is like, I wish as I met with them, and walked with them in some things that I can do, like, Oh, this is a plug and play formula, that will get you through it. But the reality is that that's not the case. And so oftentimes, I don't have the answers for them. You know, they'll ask, you know, my uncle, you know, is asking me questions about, you know, how do I know for sure that this is my calling, you know, to go do this, and that He's not asking me to go do something else. I'm like, I don't have like, I don't have the one answer for you that you go back and tell your uncle, so he's now okay with it, or you know, that he'll partner with you. But it's like, okay, like, I guess let's talk like, what? Why do you feel like this is what he's caused you to? And so they're not all necessarily bad conversations, but I think they can still be like hard conversations, and just having to walk with people through that, I think sometimes feels. Yeah, like a low in that. Ideally, maybe we would never have to have really hard conversations. But the reality is that we do and so again, that that kind of feels like a low. And the other portion of it, I think, is when again, this is as we're mocking with people that I coach is when there's a strong element of disappointment. But on two ends, either, or, I guess both the first element of disappointment is their own disappointment coming from other people, generally, specifically, close family and friends of Oh, you were, you know, you had gone to college and got your engineering degree, or, you know, become a lawyer, or, you know, in Asian American context, there's often this kind of joke about it, your options are to be come a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, which isn't true, but we talked about it that way. And it's like, oh, the disappointment, and that's the word that gets used from their family of weaking. Here, we suffered to try to give you a better life. So you could do these things like, yeah, their parents may never use the word disappointment, then they might and that becomes really hurtful. But there's still an element, am I disappointing those who have raised me who have sacrificed for me. And so there's that and and, and I think that becomes really hard to walk through. But then there's also the other end of personal disappointment in themselves, that as they're potentially meeting with people, and people maybe don't want to partner with them. You know, there's a reality it's like, well, they choose not to partner with you. And that's okay. But it's really easy to put that on yourself or for the staff or intense put them on themselves of, did I do something wrong? Maybe I'm not really called to do this ministry, maybe I have something wrong or, you know, there, I think there can be a lot of self doubt lies that kind of come into play, especially during this time. And so with that, there can often be this element of self disappointment. And I think both of those can be really difficult to walk through, and I would say are, are not my favorite conversation to walk with people. And so I think those feel like lows, I think even just the reality that a lot of the staff are in terms that I coach, experience, one or both of those. I think I'm like, Oh, this is hard. And there's kind of this weight to it, even though it's part of reality still.

Katie Johnson: 34:16

Yeah. I feel like as a coach, right, you're kind of deciding, in some sense to walk with people in all the seasons of their MPD journey. And I think you're right, like there can be some really hard seasons that God uses for good, but it doesn't mean it's fun to walk through, right? And then you have all the unique, unique challenges or you know, that are presented with coaching bipoc staff, that other staff might not feel or walkthrough or experience right and so you're kind of carrying these burdens and joys with them. I'm, which I'm sure it can feel really hard at different times. And so,

Michele Davis: 35:04

yeah. Yeah, I really appreciate your you're very well demonstrated empathy and care for our staff. And I am I well, I know. And I also can imagine it just by listening to these questions or your answers to these questions that your staff feel very cared for by you. So I'm really thankful that yes, said yes, at a noodle shop to try a new job that you'd never want to do in the midst of all of these things that we're talking about? What is it that helps you to stay motivated to continue, both on staff and and NPD? Coaching? Because I am picking up that your your highs and lows for both are so interconnected, I'm imagining that it's probably like kind of a similar vein, you know, for you such as a motivating to continue in the midst of these hard things that we've talked about.

Daniel Sasaki: 36:02

Yeah, I would say there are, I think, often in a similar vein, kind of, as you mentioned, I think, as far as stain on staff, two things come to mind, the first being that currently serving within epic, and in this capacity feels like the best way to do ministry that I feel like God's called me to do. With that being said, I word it that way, because someone has asked me, so if that was no longer true, would you leave epic? And I think my answer would have to be? Yes, I think it would be really, really hard. And I think I would fight the Lord and be like, I don't want to leave my friends. You know, these people I like to work with, but I think I would have to consider it at the very least. Yeah, and I think part of what makes this feel like the the best way to do them in a shoe that the Lord's call me to do is, as I think about just the different gifts and skills that the Lord's blessed me with, I think something that I'm currently just learning about myself, even just in my own devotional time is like, what does it look like? Slash what does it mean, to live a life surrendered to the Lord? Like, I think oftentimes, I think of this element of, oh, it means I'm giving these things up, you know, I maybe will never own a home, or I'm not going to have the nicest car, you know, whatever it is. And it's like, okay, that is potentially true. Like, there are things you will have to sacrifice. But also, what is it look like in surrendering to the Lord, and it's like, oh, this is something I enjoy this as a gift and talent, I think the Lord's blessed me with. And in this current role, I can build on something like this. And in a sense, I get it to overlap, where it's not like, I feel like I have to pick something that I'm good at, or have to pick serving the Lord and doing ministry, I get to do both. And that's part of the reason why I was on the campus. And why I still like to be engaged with a lot of college students is, maybe a month ago, I had them over for dinner. And Michelle, you had mentioned that enjoy cooking, and I do and it's like, oh, I got to have them over and cook a meal for them. It's like, is that technically a part of my job? It's not in the job description. But it's an element of ministry, but also an element of using these gifts and skills. And so I think as I'm still exploring that stuff, and kind of honing in, like, What do I like? These are elements that have kept me on staff of, Oh, these are things I enjoy doing gifts and talents I have, I can utilize them while I'm serving the ministry in this capacity. With that, I think it leads to me loving my job. And I'm like, if I love my job, and I feel like the Lord has led me here, why would I? Not? Yeah, and I think that that same vein is with with MPD. Like, why am I in MPD? It's like, similar things, whether it's organizational stuff, or thinking through stories, getting to talk to people hear their stories. How do you engage with people in their stories, ask good questions. How do you share about your own story in a concise yet compelling way? Like those are all elements of MPD as well. And I think just things I enjoy, and so in that same vein, it's like, oh, again, gifts and talents that I have. I get to do it for work. ultimately ends up me loving my job and what I get to do, why would I leave it? This is why the Lord's led me

Michele Davis: 39:42

so well. Yeah, that's great. I'm so glad to because I really like working with you. I love having you in the MPD community and it's been really great to talk to you today. Daniel Sasaki thanks so much for joining us on t he cru MPD podcast. Last

Daniel Sasaki: 40:00

year, thanks for having me.

Michele Davis: 40:04

Thanks for listening to the crew MPD podcast. Please help others find our show by liking, sharing and rating us on Apple iTunes and wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find us on social media by searching for the crew NPD podcast. Check out the show notes for more information including the various resources we mentioned in this episode. Till next time, we encourage you to be faithful and full of faith in all things, especially in NPD