Jamie Hunt is a junior at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native has been involved with Athletes in Action since her freshman year. A soccer player her freshman year, she now plays rugby for the Raiders. Currently studying Psychology and Nonprofit Administration, she planned to travel with Athletes in Action Canada on a soccer tour to Paraguay in the summer of 2006. However, she suffered a knee injury in training camp the same day the team was slated to leave for tour which kept her from traveling to Paraguay.
1. Were you excited about the trip before you came to training camp?
I couldn’t have been more excited to go to Paraguay. However, when I was first asked to go, I thought they had the wrong person. I felt very inadequate and unworthy to be asked to play. Yet after seeking the Lord and questioning Him, I could not deny that He wanted me to participate. When I arrived, I felt a great connection with the AIA staff members and girls and was so excited for the chance to form relationships with them.
2. How did you feel when you blew out your knee?
“Ouch.” That’s the best way to describe what I felt initially more in my heart than in my knee. Having played soccer since I can remember, I’ve been on the field during countless knee injuries of my teammates. I knew right away what had happened and that it meant no Paraguay. In that same moment I heard Russ, an AIA staff member, begin to pray. I felt so cared for and comforted and remember thinking how blessed I was to be in the company of Athletes in Action during this injury. Everyone’s character shined through and the connection I felt with them was amazing since I had only known them for three days.
Though the team had to rush to get to the airport to catch the plane almost immediately after I was injured, everyone made sure I was okay and left me with a local AIA staff member in Canada who helped me get to the clinic, hospital and then the airport for my flight home. Later my situation began to sink in. Not only did it mean no Paraguay, but it meant no sports for at least six months, no summer internship and no summer vacation.
3. How did you feel when you realized you weren’t going?
I had to leave all the wonderful people that I had started to get to know and sad that I would miss all of the Bible studies and AIA biblical principles. I wanted to experience a different culture and meet new people, but mostly, I just wanted to tell someone about Jesus. But just as soon as that thought came, I realized that I wasn’t losing a ministry opportunity; I was just getting a different one. God knew much better than I did where I needed to be.
4. The goalie who replaced you came to know Christ as her Savior while she was with the team. What did you think about that?
Before our team arrived in Paraguay, the local AIA staff members there had arranged for a set of twins to play with us since we didn’t have a full team. When the team got to Paraguay one goalie short, one of the twins recommended Ana, who had played for the country’s national team in the past. I was able to keep in contact with the team throughout the tour and they told me Ana would be the new goalie. A few days later I received another email telling me that Ana had accepted Christ as her Savior. I can’t describe how I felt. I cried probably one of the most difficult, yet happiest cries ever. I had an unexplainable peace about the whole injury, even before I found out about Ana and knew there was a reason for my injury that would far outweigh my temporary setback. I think my awareness of that made me realize how blessed I was to see good that came from my injury. God’s kingdom had something to show for it (in Ana) and nothing could’ve made me happier.
5. What has God taught you as a result of this?
I’ve had the opportunity to share my story of the Lord’s faithfulness with trainers, teammates, coaches, co-workers, and anyone that noticed the huge brace on my leg. I received a card from a woman at my home church saying that my attitude was my testimony. How true it is. When people see that you can still have joy through something like this, they want what you have.
6. How is your life different as a result of your involvement with AIA?
AIA has changed my outlook on sports in general. No longer is athletics an opportunity to promote myself and my own abilities but rather to worship my God and to show love and grace to those I play for, with, and against. I have new perspective on the games I play. They are smaller to me than before because I realize that my worth is not based on how I perform. At the same time, games are bigger because they've become an opportunity to share Christ and fully rely on Him. I've been endlessly blessed by AIA and I know the Lord put this ministry in my life for a reason.
Photos:
Top: Jamie (front) hangs out with AIA staff women and student-athletes from Wright State.
Middle: In the airport with her brother Jamie before her flight to Canada for training camp with the team traveling to Paraguay.
Bottom: During training camp, the AIA team met with the Canadian Parliament for snacks and to tell about their upcoming trip.
Each month you will be introduced to a life changed through Athletes in Action. If your life (or someone you know) has been greatly touched through your involvement with AIA, please send an e-mail to communications@aia.com.
Key Measurements 
What are Key Measurements? |