Missionary Life

What is it like to go on a mission trip to Austria?

October 29, 2026
by Claire Shiver

a busy street in Austria filled with people

TEAM offers short-term mission trip locations all over the world, from Spain and Portugal to East Asia, Malaysia, and Austria. And a mission trip to Austria is where Ruth, an American college student, found herself this past summer, serving alongside long-term missionaries in their ministry.

TEAMtrek is a short-term missions experience with TEAM. For 6 weeks up to 12 months, participants step into the heart of diverse cultures where they learn to see, hear, and love like Jesus.

There are TEAMtrek locations all over the world, from Spain and Portugal to East Asia, Malaysia, and Austria. And Austria is where Ruth, an American college student, found herself this past summer, serving alongside long-term missionaries in their ministry.

TEAM: What led you to join TEAM for this short-term mission trip to Austria?

Ruth: I wanted to serve for longer than a couple of weeks, and I was looking for something in Europe. TEAM was one of the only organizations I found that did both for something in Europe. After a lot of prayer and other closed doors, I felt that God was leading me to serve in Austria for the summer. The Austria trip also had all the elements I was interested in, such as language and living experience.

I served in a variety of ways. Our first month was mostly language classes and cultural orientation. I served with a few ministries as well and attended church events. Through July, I served a few days with various ministry partners, met with different people I’d met there, and helped at the church we were working with. At the end of July, we helped as leaders at a local English camp for kids. Most of this trip was learning what it means to be a missionary in Central Europe and learning to live in the city among the people there.

woman walking down the street to illustrate woman on short term mission trip to Austria

What did the Lord teach you on this trip?

God taught me to rely on His provision a lot during this trip. Whenever I was struggling, He would always provide what I needed and remind me to lean on Him.

At English camp, it was wonderful to watch how the kids in my group were uninterested at first but opened up later in the week and engaged more with the Bible lessons and memory verses. I had some younger missionary kids in my group, and I enjoyed seeing how God was re-revealed to them and how He was working to soften their hearts.

What would you say to someone who is considering going on a short-term mission trip?

Don’t go with expectations. Let God guide you in fantastic ways instead of trying to stick to your own idea of how things should be.

How will you be applying what you learned on the trip to your life back home?

I am applying it by continuing to trust God’s provision for my life as I finish up college and begin to look for what He has next for me.

TEAMtrek is an invitation to experience missions, discover your calling, and journey with Jesus. If you want to learn more about missions, work alongside long-term workers, dive deeper into your faith, and learn more about who God has called you to be, then chat with a missions coach today!