Caught drinking after church one day, two mission school students said, “Well, we figured it didn’t matter since Rinal is drinking.”

Though Rinal has completed only one year of high school, he is our head teacher. He and I work closely together as he learns to be an effective principal. When this news reached my ears, I was very disappointed. I didn’t believe the rumor, but I was still concerned for Rinal.

After finishing a long day at the clinic, I walked home with a heavy heart, choosing the trail that passes Rinal’s well-kept bamboo home. From the trail, I called out, “Menungang mapun!” (“Good afternoon!”), and Rinal’s wife, Silin, answered. As I walked up to the hut, Rinal appeared, and I asked him if we could talk. We went over to a table and bench he had built out of bamboo a short distance from the house. I told him of the students’ infractions and the rumor. He assured me he would follow the discipline protocol and address the accusation, too. I assured him I did not believe the report, and he confirmed he had not drunk any alcohol in 14 years.

Rumors abound in these mountains. Just when I begin to think the schools are running smoothly, students are happy and teachers are enthusiastic and on task, something crops up. But I’m learning that the teachers can be trusted, and they are sincere in their own spiritual growth.

It has not always been so. In the early years, teachers often needed discipline as they struggled with their weaknesses and failures. But through the mentoring process, we’ve forged a good working relationship with mutual trust. The teachers genuinely desire the salvation of their students. We tailor our discipline of students to bring them into redemptive relationships with Christ.

• Twitter