Podcast Preview
In this episode of 12-Minute Convos with Jesus Believers, Engel Jones connects with Simone Puccinelli from Alabama. Simone shares her journey of being highly adaptable, following her husband through his rigorous undergraduate, medical school, and residency training while raising two children. She reflects on her childhood, where her pastor father took her family on mission trips to places like Jamaica, planting a seed that grew into a lifelong passion for international missions and a deep compassion for vulnerable children.
Listen in as Simone reveals how a childhood game of "playing orphanage" as a six-year-old blossomed into a real-life calling, leading her to start a nonprofit ministry in Uganda at just 20 years old! She shares the beauty and challenges of running a ministry dedicated to orphans and children of single mothers, highlighting the transforming power of showing these often-rejected children the love and acceptance of Christ. If you struggle with always looking to the future and building the "next big thing," Simone’s advice to practice solitude, silence, and contentment in what God is doing right now will truly anchor your soul!
Guest's Bio
Simone is the Founder and President of Simone's Kids, a nonprofit and ministry she launched in 2010 that now provides education, nutrition, and holistic support to hundreds of children in Uganda. Her leadership is shaped not only by her cross‑cultural work, but also by her personal story — walking through chronic illness since childhood, navigating the long and demanding road of medical school and residency alongside her husband, who is now a surgeon, and becoming a mother through the adoption of her two children after a long journey with infertility. Simone brings a rare blend of faith‑driven purpose, resilience, and practical leadership insight. She speaks with warmth, clarity, and honesty about building sustainable programs, empowering local leaders, and leading with dignity across cultures, all while balancing family, health, and calling.