Three months ago, the short-term and student missionaries (STMs and SMs) set a simple counter on their phones: 120 days until departure. Every week they watched the number drop while the school buzzed with year-end preparations. They pitched in everywhere; then, three weeks out, cleaned rooms, packed suitcases and chose thoughtful gifts. Bibles, gifted by a generous donor, became treasured handouts to students and parents alike.

At the final exit interview, the scores said it all—8 to 10 out of 10. Some discovered a call to career missions. Others fell in love with new cultures and the joy of “doing something meaningful for eternal good.” One teammate summed it up: she couldn’t imagine how the experience could have been better. The job fit, the personalities clicked, independence mixed with a safe circle of believers. The only mild wish? A few more visible miracles.

Did they have any other takeaways or advice they would want to give future short-term and student missionaries? Yes!

Lessons arrived daily, such as not clinging too tightly to expectations and that lasting help is better than help that impresses. They learned that culture is not a problem to fix. They discovered that God is always present, even when unseen, and that He often shows up through teammates who become family. They also realized that missionaries are the mission field too and that it is okay to feel the hard days, to smile through them and to ask for help.

As their maturity grew, their accomplishments flourished, including stronger language skills not only in Khmer but also in English instruction. They were resilient while working under pressure as a team. They became well-versed in house visits and giving Bible studies, teaching preschoolers and training local teachers, learning farming skills and mastering the art of making a local banana dessert. Friendships formed that will outlast the flight home.

Our Pnong STM and SM team urges future short-term and student missionaries to invest deeply in their experience—teach locals to read Scripture and pray on their own, keep praying with people who value it, and guard time for hobbies that refresh the soul. They also encourage them to create a “safe space,” where teammates can share their experiences, encourage each other and lift each other up—for them, it proved essential.

As the counters hit zero, these short-term and student missionaries left with fuller hearts, sharper skills and a clearer picture of a God who walks with them every single day—right into whatever comes next.

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