My journey so far with Athletes in Action
As last week I touched on the basics and ABC's of Athletes in Action, I thought this week would be a good follow up to add some pictures. These four pictures show four different events that have made me fall more in love with AIA and the new friends it brings along the way. you will find the following collogues in order...
1. AIA weekly huddles at SMU
2. Ultimate Training Camp and the most beautiful Jesus loving athletes I've ever met
3. Ultimate Training Camp- "Water to Wine, Team 9"
4. Greater Seattle AIA Winter Retreat
1. AIA weekly huddles at SMU
Being the AIA president is not only a big responsibility during soccer and school, but it the bigger scheme brings so much joy to my life. Once a week, we try to meet as a group to do various events. These events include games and small groups, dodgeball nights, skippable events, movie nights, and even we listen to group speakers. The first picture, I want you to focus on two things. 1- how tan we look because this was taken back in September & 2- the smile on our faces. This was a very happy moment for me. We successfully ran our first "welcome to AIA and free pizza" huddle on September 14th. Check this out. WE HAD OVER 50 ATHLETES JOIN US. Athletes from every sports team on campus besides one. Us four put so much time and effort into planning, that God provided us with a huge group to have fun, laugh, and spread His name. You can also see the other athletes from the first club playing a minute to win it game that same night. The two bottom pictures on the right show us playing spike ball (good call Kalle) and the bottom picture we went to the movie theater to watch Woodlawn. GREAT MOVIE. This next week, we have Pac-12 stand out Collin Henderson, and NFL Veteran Charlie Martin coming to share "faith after football". That will be Monday Feb 8th at 8pm in the Tub.
2. Ultimate Training Camp and the most beautiful Jesus loving athletes I've ever met
Okay, so before you read about these pictures, you have to comprehend the truth behind this caption. When I write the most beautiful Jesus loving athletes I've ever met, you need to believe me. Because that is the absolute truth. I went to this camp with my teammate Kelli in hopes to bring some encouragement back to my soccer team. I wasn't expecting to be impacted by this group of random athletes from all over the country. During that week, we all just clicked. Half of us met at the airport as we drove in a little shuttle from the Denver airport to Colorado State University. We decided to follow each other through the check in process and all roomed either together or close to each other. And with those two little coincidence, the rest in history. I am not kidding when I say these people have encouraged me, pushed me to be better, and have impacted my life more then they realize it. We have talked everyday since camp. Let me say that again. This amazing group has been in communication DAILY for the past 9 months. Its the best. Updates on our games, encouraging bible verses, pictures of passages or quotes, prayer requests, and even hilarious pictures. The list goes on and on. And THANK YOU JESUS for each one of them. Also, check this out. In this group of 9 friends, 4 of us have applied for the same Internship to go BACK to UTC and Intern. I can't imagine what those two weeks would look like leading those athletes at UTC camp who's shoes we were in that previous year. So to you "Jesus True Homez" I love you all so much.
Check out the 5 minute promo video for UTC, Click the link below!
3. Ultimate Training Camp- "Water to Wine, Team 9"
How sweet of a name is that? We were team 9, and our team name was Water to Wine. Man. that just has such a good sound rolling off the tongue. OKAY SO! Obviously at UTC camp with 150 college athletes, there is going to be some kind of hue competition right? Well my idea of competition was nothing compared to the competition UTC had in mind. They had us compete in a all camp 20 CONSISTENT HOURS called the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. And let me start off by saying, team 9 got 2nd place :) I'm still a little bitter that we couldn't pull off that first place victory, but second place was an amazing accomplishment. Team nine consisted of Miami University of Ohio wide receiver Sam, Michigan State swimmer Alex, Wake Forest soccer player Katie, University of Michigan soccer player Nicky, University of Missouri tennis player Beatriz, and SMU soccer players Kelli & I. Being chosen for captain with Alex was one of the most honoring moments at camp. We sat through a 2 hour draft process and one by one individually picked our team. And with 4 soccer girls, a fish, a freak of an athletes football player, and a little spice from a foreigner, we KILLED IT. Can We focus on the bottom right picture. Because during the tug-of-war competition, Team nine won 6 consecutive matches. We were one loss away from the championship round. I don't know if you realize it, but thats huge. With 5 girls, we killed those teams with HUUUGE D1 football linebackers. This was the moment where we all got emotional, and knew God was giving us the true strength and victory. So to TEAM 9- you guys were my rock, and brought me so much joy and showed me how to truly compete with Jesus during those 20 hours. Love and miss you all.
4. Greater Seattle AIA Winter Retreat
Last but not least, AIA had a local winter retreat that was up in Bellevue. Nine of us (smh athletes, grads, and friends) all got in a van Friday morning and drove up to camp Sambica for a over night retreat with other athletes from the Seattle area. We joined athletes from UW, SPU, SU, and KIRKLAND. This retreat was an awesome answer to prayers, and had so many moments to connect with local athletes about God. The worship was off the chain, the scavenger hunt was intense, Snoqualmie falls was beautiful, and the conversations we all had were authentic and real. I was able to share a quick ten minute talk about my testimony and how AIA has drawn me closer and closer to God and my spiritual walk. So to the nine of you who never got annoyed of my begin you to come and finally agreed to join me, thank you so much for coming. Those intense moments with the pool table, spike ball, and worship allowed me to bond closer to each one of you!
I attached a little minute and a half video of that talk I shared that weekend :)
Don't forget to join us next week for Pac-12 stand out Collin Henderson, and NFL Veteran Charlie Martin coming to share "faith after football". That will be Monday Feb 8th at 8pm in the Tub.
-Abigale McFaul
Smu AIA President
Lover of Jesus
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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