It had been three weeks since Poma had come to the group Bible study. I heard hip pain was keeping her at home. Around here, that symptom usually means kidney infection. I sent Robert to tell her to drink a lot of water, but she didn’t listen to him. So this week I went to visit her.

At her house, I found Poma hobbling around as one does when they have a kidney infection. We sat and chatted, and I asked a few questions to make sure she hadn’t just picked up something too heavy and thrown out her back. All signs pointed to kidney infection, so I explained to her how the kidneys are the body’s filters, and how they need water. I pointed to a basket she has set up on a couple of logs to strain her sorghum beer and explained that is how the kidneys work.

I told Poma she needed to drink a lot of water and eat at least three cashew fruits. She liked that idea and asked if she could eat ten. I told her she could eat as many as she wanted as long as her stomach didn’t mind. Cashew fruit is very high in vitamin C and tannin, and it works very well for changing urine pH and clearing out infection.

I wasn’t sure Poma would actually follow my instructions because people here have an aversion to drinking water. But the following week she was back at the Bible study praising the wonders of drinking water and exclaiming how her back didn’t hurt anymore. I just smiled.

All these little helps are important to gain the confidence of the people of Pelima—confidence not only in health matters but also in the spiritual things I share. —Suzy Baldwin

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