Home Life Changes Boy’s Life

                                                                                                                                                                   Vol. V, No. 6, November 1992

Material comforts and pleasures were few for Yao.

He never had a bike, skateboard, G.I.Joe action figures, videocassette recorder, television, Nintendo – not even an allowance; but God's love was taught in his home.

That was important to Yao. In his last few hours of life, Yao called his father to his side and said he wanted to ask God to forgive his sins and come into his heart. What a testimony for a little boy of 10 years old. My heart was tremendously touched.

When Yao died, there was no elaborate funeral – his body was wrapped in a mat and tied with strips of cloth. There were not flowers – only a few wild branches and leaves were placed on top of him before he was covered with dirt.

There was no hearse. Yao was carried in the trunk of a car to the gravesite. There was not even a grave marker at the head of the grave.

Yao went to be with his heavenly Father in a simple manner, yet it was very significant.

We come into the world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. What comes in between life and death can be good or bad depending on what kind of stewards we are with what God gives us.

Yao chose to ask God into his heart, following the very good example his dad set for him in their home. Yao's father was the first Christian at our Air France church here in Bouake. Thanks to your support through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program, missionary Roger Haun was able to come to Ivory Coast where he led Yao's dad to the Lord.

[Ted and Frances York are Southern Baptist missionaries to Ivory Coast. Pastor's Update published by the Foreign Mission Board, SBC.]

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