LA MIRADA --- Biola Women's Basketball returned from its 10-day mission trip to Japan with more than memories. The Eagles came home with a stronger bond, greater boldness in their faith and a renewed understanding of how the game they love can create opportunities to find common ground, serve others and share the love of Christ.

Their travels took the team across Japan, including stops in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The Eagles competed against Japanese teams, hosted basketball clinics, partnered with local churches, participated in community outreach and shared their testimonies.

For head coach Mike Simonson, the lasting impact of the experience can be seen within his team.

"I feel our team is more together now than any team I've coached," said Simonson. "This is a testament to each of the testimonies shared by our team. We were able to hear about each of our players' life stories and what God has done in their lives."

That closeness developed as the Eagles repeatedly stepped outside of their comfort zones and embraced the purpose of the trip. One of the first examples came in a place the Eagles knew well: the basketball court.

Biola opened the trip by competing against Japan's U18 National Team at the country's National Training Center. Before the game, the Eagles presented the Japanese players with Biola shirts and sang a song they had learned in Japanese. They were equipped for the experience through their partnership with longtime Biola Eagle and Japan missionary Paul Gizzi.

What was expected to be a brief interaction following the competition became one of the team's first opportunities to connect beyond basketball.

"The first game we played vs. the U18 National team was originally very closed, secretive and transactional," said Simonson. "We weren't going to have a moment with the team after competition, but they were so moved by our gifts and singing a Japanese song that they stayed after the game for an hour to fellowship with us, and we were able to share the Gospel with them."

Following the game, Simonson shared why Biola had traveled to Japan while Gizzi translated his message. The Japanese players joined the Eagles in prayer before the two teams spent additional time together and built relationships beyond basketball.

For Simonson, the experience showed how competition could open the door for meaningful connection.

"When you compete in sport, you earn credibility and respect from your opponent," said Simonson. "After we competed, the opposing teams were open to our stories because they respected how we played and were curious why we were different."

The Eagles found that same common ground at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, where basketball became a language of its own.

Biola hosted a pop-up clinic where local kids joined the Eagles for shooting competitions and pickup games. Despite the language barrier, the afternoon was filled with competition, laughter and encouragement as relationships developed through the game.

"When we did our pop-up clinic at Yoyogi Park, every person we encountered could not speak English," said Simonson. "The only common language we had was the game of basketball. We played five-on-five pickup, and we were competing, laughing and celebrating together. After the pickup game, many players stayed and posed for fun pictures to commemorate the experience. We exchanged Instagram usernames to communicate and share our life stories. We shared the Gospel with them too."

While basketball provided a natural point of connection, other parts of the trip required the Eagles to step outside of what was comfortable.

While partnering with Hope Alive Church in Tokorozawa, the team participated in the church's "Let's Speak English" outreach. Players ventured into the community, initiated conversations with people they had never met and invited them to an American barbecue at the church later that evening.

"It stretched our group because we initiated a difficult conversation due to the language barrier," said Simonson. "But it was a huge success as we were able to overcome our fears and got to see the fruit of our efforts as many people came to the BBQ and we got to continue ministering to the locals."

One of those conversations began when Camden Miller met a woman named Misa. The two shared their stories and discussed faith, and later that evening Misa attended the American barbecue at Hope Alive Church.

Ella Tatlock and MiaGrace Delahoz also shared their testimonies during the event. Afterward, one attendee approached both players and told them their testimonies made him want to love God more. The Eagles later learned that five people who attended that evening had never been to church or heard the Gospel before.

Those moments of connection continued through Biola's final two games against Mukogawa Women's University and Ritsumeikan University. Following both contests, the Eagles spent time with their opponents, sharing food and testimonies and exchanging contact information to stay connected beyond the trip.

What began as a trip designed to encourage and serve others ultimately encouraged the Eagles as well.

"I wanted our team to see how God loves everyone He creates, and from that experience, change our own view of Jesus in our own lives," said Simonson.

That impact became especially clear near the end of the team's time in Japan, when three players chose to be baptized. Their teammates gathered alongside a river near the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, worshiping and praying over them as they publicly declared their faith in Christ.

"At the end of the trip, three players chose to get baptized and that was a beautiful picture of how God was moving in our team throughout the week," said Simonson.

For Simonson, the challenge now is carrying what the Eagles practiced in Japan back into everyday life at Biola.

"I hope we get to continue the things we practiced in Japan: service, worship and play with the freedom Christ gives us," said Simonson. "It was so cool to see each individual come out of their shell and be their authentic selves. I hope their identity is solidified from this trip."