For months I have been trying to find a way to prepare Mallory for our trip to Uganda. The mom in me keeps saying, she’s only 12, this is her first time out of the country. How do I prepare her for the overwhelming need she will see, for the emotions she will feel, for the way her heart will break for the country she loves so much. I have asked everyone I can think to ask for suggestions, advice, guidance. But there is only one person I should have asked, and He answered my prayers.

One day I was sitting at work, and the idea hit me. See God knows how thick headed I am, so He knows He has to speak LOUD! 🙂 I wanted a tangible way for her to understand that what she is doing is making a difference in Uganda, and in the lives of everyone she comes in contact with. I don’t want her to get overwhelmed by the need and feel like what she is doing is not enough, or is not making a difference. I wanted her to see she is part of the bigger picture…DING! That’s when the lightbulb went off.

So, I emailed Karen, the director of Project Have Hope, who is also an amazing photographer. I told her my idea and asked her if she would send me one of her pictures, one that Mallory has never seen, and she did.

I took that picture and I turned it into a puzzle. I took out one piece and I taped it inside of the journal she will take with us to Uganda.

I want her to know that God sees the bigger picture. Each person, like each piece of the puzzle is equipped with their own unique gifts and talents. But that each and EVERY piece is needed to complete the picture, if one piece is missing the picture will never be complete.

Mallory and Project Yesu, are one piece of the picture that makes up the beautiful country of Uganda. While we are there I want her to see the piece of the puzzle in her journal and know that is her, she is that piece. I want her to remember the puzzle that will be back home, all put together but missing that one piece. I want her to remember that the puzzle is NOT complete without her.

So tonight when Mallory gets home, we’ll put together the puzzle (minus the one piece of course) So there you have it, the story of the puzzle and my one amazing, beautiful, incredible piece of it named Malllory.

-Rory