When it comes to language, it’s hard to draw from the memory bank when we haven’t practiced what’s deposited there.

At first, our daughters found it difficult to practice Albanian except in the shops and marketplace. Their Albanian friends speak English and prefer to practice it than to speak Albanian. Now, however, our girls have found a unique way not only to improve their language skills but also to change lives by helping those in need. God has put the Roma (gypsy) children of Albania on their hearts, and they have responded in a big way.

Our girls tried various ways of providing help to Roma children, such as bringing food to their families and treating minor health problems like infected cuts and skin fungi, but there were challenges. Their visits began to create small mob scenes, and some villagers would grab more than their fair share of whatever they were offering. Sometimes fights would break out. Even with Sean and me accompanying them, their offerings of help were beginning to create new problems.

Our daughters backed off for a while to pray about a better way to help these desperate children. They came up with a plan to set up their work in a small building near our home where women and children could come one or two at a time for food and help. This approach was largely successful.

As time went on and our daughters spoke with more and more Roma mothers and children, it became apparent that there was a great need for basic education. For a number of reasons, almost all the Roma in our area are completely illiterate. Girls especially are prevented from attending school with boys because of cultural restrictions. Also, there is a lot of discrimination against Roma children in public schools.

Our first daughter dreamed of a center that would house a girl’s school that would teach reading, writing and math as well as manners, health, hygiene, sewing, cooking, gardening and housekeeping skills. Most importantly, it would teach girls about Jesus.

Also, she envisioned a band-aid clinic, a kitchen to serve meals and a place to have health programs for women and girls and provide showers, clothing and shoes. Most of the children have no warm coats or shoes in the winter. The center would bring hope to a forgotten people.

These were big dreams for a young girl, but when it’s God’s will, there’s always a way. Still, we cautioned our daughters about the realities of such an endeavor. “This is a huge project,” we said. “Perhaps you don’t understand the difficulties of the situation. You don’t speak much Albanian, so how can you communicate or teach people to read? What’s more, these are wild, undisciplined children who have no respect for authority or rules. How can a couple of young girls get them under control when the police can’t even keep their brothers out of the stadium?” Roma youth openly defy the police, staying just out of reach, laughing and taunting the frustrated men.

Interestingly, those same boys respect our girls because they’ve watched them ride galloping horses inside the stadium. Here, only Roma men and older boys and a few brave Albanian men ride horses. Women and girls never ride. The Roma boys called our girls “the horse girls” long before they knew their names.

Our oldest daughter began to do cultural research about the Roma.

“God made it clear that we are to reach the Tosk people,” Sean reasoned with her.

“But Dad, what if God has called me to help the Roma?” she replied tearfully.

Sean and I decided to allow a trial project, but we cautioned that we parents would only be able to be involved minimally, mostly just to insure safety and to provide transportation and advice.

Well, to make a long story short, God has blessed abundantly. One of our daughters and some friends raised funds to rent a building and open the center. The girls’ school has 26 students and an Albanian teacher who has a heart for these disadvantaged children. Although our girls are very happy to have the school, it has been a lot of hard work. They have been blessed with the help of four Albanian teens and some Peace Corps workers who volunteered to cook, clean and assist however they can. Our other daughter has become a big sister and role model to the schoolgirls.

The results so far have been nothing short of miraculous. As an unexpected bonus, some of the helpers have asked if they can come and worship with us. The students have responded well to the love and even the discipline. They love their school and their teachers, and their families have welcomed our family into their homes and hearts. The elder of the Roma village is very pleased and encourages fathers to allow their daughters to attend the school.

There has been a lesson in all of this for Sean and me, and maybe for you, too. If we know that God wants to use us to accomplish His big plans, we mustn’t let doubts discourage us. Dare to have a child’s faith and to act on it!

• Twitter