BLOG UPDATES
BLOG UPDATES

Caffeine and Prayer

Thank you for praying, encouraging, giving, and cheering us on

Kim Orellana

5/27/20262 min read

The end of the school year is coming at us fast and furious! While Guido and Sofia finish their final weeks of middle school, I’m currently sitting in jury duty wondering if I’ll be selected before my “baby” officially becomes a high schooler in THREE days 😭. Time needs to calm down a little.

We won’t have much time to process it anyway because Saturday morning we’re hopping on a plane to Cuenca, Ecuador to prepare for a Vineyard Columbus team arriving June 1. We have a full week ahead: helping with summer camp at HopeSeeds School, painting and maintenance projects at The Rock Family Center, and hosting our very first Rock Family Team Retreat.

Basically… caffeine and prayer will be carrying everyone involved.

The week also includes:

  1. June 1 — A national collaboration round-table with World Without Orphans, churches, nonprofits, businesses, and government leaders working together for vulnerable children in Ecuador.

  2. June 2–4 — A 3-day Trauma-Informed Care Certification Training for professionals.

  3. June 5–7 — A retreat for our Cuenca and Guayaquil teams to rest, refocus, and reconnect.

  4. June 17–20 — Leadership retreat for Kim, Heather, and Sheree, the co-founders of The Rock Family Center and foster care initiatives in Ecuador.

You’ve also been praying for churches and families to get involved — and God answered! We are training our first 10 foster and mentor families and have already connected with 5 new churches interested in orphan care ministry.

God has also opened some unexpected doors through live interviews across Ecuador to share about The Rock Family Center and foster care programs. We recently received government approval in Guayaquil and were invited to meet with the Secretary of Child Protection Services in Quito to strengthen collaboration efforts.

July brings even more transitions. Guido and I are both stepping into new jobs. I’ll be joining Live Wellness Center as a School Program Coordinator and Adolescent & Family Life Coach, while Guido is pursuing electrical work — something he’s always wanted to do.

And in exciting news… THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER! Isabel (22) and I will be leading a Cincinnati medical team to Ecuador July 24–31. We’ll partner with the Ministry of Human Development to serve orphanages in the jungle region and Cuenca while connecting children with long-term care resources and support.

We would truly appreciate your prayers and support. The last few years have been financially stretching between ministry work, college expenses, and the rising cost of life. As we transition jobs, we’re hoping to build more stability while continuing to serve Ecuador long-term.

Right now, we are specifically raising support for team supplies including medicines, vitamins, first-aid materials, and basic necessities like socks, underwear, bras, and hygiene products for children in orphanages.

Thank you for praying, encouraging, giving, and cheering us on. We couldn’t do this without you.