In 2010, Matthew was given an opportunity to go and study Fulani culture. He spent four months living in the region of Kolda in the south of Senegal. You could always find him sitting under the shade tree drinking tea with his friends and playing his guitar. It was a great way for him to learn the local language and culture as well as the art of making Senegalese tea.

 

In Matthew’s early years in Kolda, he spent a lot of time drinking tea. He used this time to practice Pulaar and to play his guitar for the community. Matthew always loved seeing the children in the distance dancing while he played his guitar and told stories. One day, while having tea, the son of a chief from a nearby village in the region approached Matthew and said that his father had requested his presence. It was an answer to his prayer. He had been praying that God would send him to the village in which He wanted him to help; the very next morning, to the village they went. 

 

Matthew will never forget the first time he arrived in their small community. He was greeted by the entire village with singing and dancing. They all sat under the baobab tree as the elders took turns giving testimony of their greatest needs of the community. As Matthew carefully listened to their needs and considered their request, He felt the need for clean drinking water to be at the top of their list. 

 

The elders gave Matthew a tour of the village and showed him an area that had rocks protruding from the ground. Cross Kulture Community Development had a basic geological survey conducted by Hydro of Kolda and it confirmed that there was an aquifer containing  enough clean drinking water for the entire village and enough water to irrigate their fields. Hydro of Kolda came up with a design that included a bore hole through the rock into the aquifer that would pump water up into a water tower that would supply water to 4 water basins. 

 

Cross Kulture Community Development broke ground on the water irrigation  project in 2019 and we are happy to report that after twelve long years, the water irrigation project in Kangnako is now complete. We would like to thank everyone who prayed for us and gave to us financially. It is our hope that everyone who hears of our story will have a desire to be a blessing in their community where ever that may be.