Cigana Samurai – 17 years old, from Hoima, Bunyoro

“Sometimes I wonder if God forgot about me.”

Cigana comes from Hoima in the Bunyoro region, but his sense of belonging has been lost along the way. His life has been marked by abandonment, grief, and survival. When his parents separated, he was left in the care of his mother, who sadly died in another marriage while he was still very young. “From then on, I’ve been on my own. I’ve lived on many different streets. No one has ever truly been there for me.”

He remembers feeling deeply loved by his mother, but that love was taken from him too soon. As for his father, Cigana has no idea where he is or whether he even thinks about him.

“I don’t know if my dad is alive. If he is, he’s never come to find me. I only felt a little bit of love from him once I was older, together with my sister. But that too disappeared.”

At just 17 years old, Cigana has already lived through what feels like a lifetime of struggle. “I’ve really, really suffered. Every time something small comes into my life like a little blessing, a little opportunity, it doesn’t last. It breaks apart.”

When asked about school, Cigana sadly shakes his head. “That chapter already passed me. I’ve never stepped into a class, never held a pen properly. But if there’s a way I could learn something practical maybe mechanics, welding or something with my hands, I would want that.”

He speaks about a younger sister; someone he hasn’t seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I don’t know if she’s alive or not. Maybe she’s working in a hotel somewhere. We grew up together, but I’ve lost touch. We had it rough.”

Cigana knows his village, but says he has no claim to it. “Even if I went back, I can’t point to a single piece of land and say, ‘This is where I belong.’ My parents didn’t leave me anything. I don’t even know if there’s a place for me there anymore.”

When asked what he hopes or prays for, his voice softens. “There are too many things weighing on me to name just one. But if I had to say… I just wish God would remember me. That I would have a place to belong, a family, a home. Someone to call my own.”

Then, almost whispering, he adds, “Now I’ve told you my problems… how will you help me? Can you help me with a pair of trousers? That’s all I want right now. Just trouser.”

In a loving and joyful event held on Thursday, AEE-U hosted 150 street children for a time of fellowship and care. Often overlooked by society, these children were given a space where they could just be kids; laugh, sing, dance, and be ministered to in love. The event included a vibrant time of praise and worship led by the missioners. God’s Word was shared, reminding the children that they are valued and seen. Each child received a warm meal and refreshments. This is a simple yet powerful act of love.

The children were overjoyed to be part of the event, expressing gratitude for being included. The Missions Manager noted this that such gatherings for street children should become a regular prayer meetings and fellowships. This would help them feel that they are not forgotten but rather, embraced by Christ and His people.