Louise Duncan wanted a new adventure for summer so she took off to Quito, Ecuador, for eight weeks. Actually, she was looking for more than just an adventure.

Having completed her second year at Furman University in Greenville, Louise wanted to do something different from her other summer experiences.

"During the past few summers, I have been either a lifeguard or a waitress or taken summer school classes. So I wanted to do something really different. Plus I had never been out of the country or done anything by myself," said Louise, who graduated from Conway Christian School in 2002.

To those who know the Duncan family, it would be no surprise that Louise would look to her church as a source for an adventure. Her parents, Jennings and Robin Duncan, and her siblings, Kathryn Rickert, Will and Margaret, are very active members of Grace Presbyterian, PCA. Through a missionary couple supported by the church, Louise learned about an orphanage in Quito where she could work as a volunteer.

While they were in the United States for their adopted son's eye surgery, Tom and Shirley Brinkley spoke at Grace about their ministry and about For His Children, an orphanage where the Brinkleys work one day a week as volunteers. Although she was away at Furman, Louise learned about the orphanage and the need for volunteers. It sounded like the kind of adventure she wanted.

For His Children (FHC) is an evangelical Christian residential ministry to homeless children with normal needs and special needs. The founders of FHC are Clark and Melinda Vaughn. In 1990, they and their two young children moved to Quito where they began caring for abandoned and orphaned children as foster parents. They received referrals to care for severely malnourished, premature and disabled children.Ý

The ministry grew from one child in 1990 to more than 350 children who have received care. Currently, more than 40 children are housed in three residential care homes in northeast Quito.Ý The environment provides physical and emotional support, spiritual nurturing and lots of tender loving care.Ý The children at FHC range from newborn to 8 years of age.

"I love kids a lot and so going to work in an orphanage for two months in another country sounded like such a great way to serve the Lord and get to be with kids," said Louise, who was in Ecuador from June 7 through Aug. 2.

Robin Duncan knows her daughter well.

"She has a great spirit of adventure," she said. "I just knew it was something that she was supposed to do."

Did Robin have reservations about letting her second-born take off to South America?

"I did not have any reservations. I have such a sense of the sovereignty of God that I knew His hand was in it," Robin declared. She just urged Louise on and said, "Go, girl!"

Louise had quite a variety of experiences in Quito.

"I didn't really have a specific schedule, I just did whatever needed to be done," she said.

Her activitiesÝcovered the gamut of childcare.

"There are 43 kids at the orphanage now, so in the mornings and at night, I helped feed them and change their diapers and their clothes.ÝI played with the toddlers, took them on walks," Louise explained.

Many of the children at FHC are special needs children. Louise was able to gain firsthand experience that may be helpful in determining her career.

"I helped with pool therapy for the special needs kids and played with the other kids in the pool," she said.

Louise is considering a career working with handicapped and critical needs children. She is majoring in education at Furman University and considering adding sociology as a double major. She expects to pursue a graduate degree that would help prepare her to work in the Child Life Department at a hospital. This year she will do volunteer work at a Greenville hospital so she can find out for sure if she wants to work with critical needs children.

Some of her work for the orphanage was totally on the practical side.

"I washed the cars and vans that they use; trimmed hedges; stripped, sanded and stained a dresser and rocking chair," she said.

Louise also made baby books for children who were leaving the orphanage. The new family of each adopted child receives a book with pictures and memories of the child during his or her time at FHC.

All of the children definitely touched Louise in a special way, though some more than others. She came home to Conway with the names of several children that she wants her parents to adopt. One of her favorites was Soriya, who was less than a year old. Louise took her to market with her or wherever she went.

Louise noted cultural extremes between the rich and the poor, especially when she went to the garbage dump where she saw homeless children searching for food. On the hillside above the dump were the plush condominiums of the wealthy class.

Children are often abandoned in Quito, and the orphanage receives a call for help. On one such occasion, Louise had a very special experience that amazed her.

"I went along to go pick up a new little boy, just 10-days-old, from a hospital after he was found abandoned in the Central Market. To top it off, I got to help think of a name for him," she said. She picked a last name for him -- Flores. His first name is Samuel.Ý

Spiritual growth was also an aspect of Louise's Quito experience.

"Being there gave me the opportunity to draw near to the Lord in a way that I wasn't able to at home with school and other obligations. He taught me so many things.Ý Living in a third-world country for any amount of time will change your life," she said emphatically.Ý

"One thing that I have learned in my time there was that there is no better place to be than in the will of the Lord.Ý No matter where I am or what I am doing, if I am doing what the Lord wants me to do -- I can find no greater peace and joy," Louise concluded.