Why Serve?

​As a family, we have dedicated our lives intentionally to service,
​service of fellow human beings without seeking anything in return.

Deciding service as a lifestyle.

Deciding to begin any life or moment in time in service, one has to have it in a particular place deep within their heart. This is when your drawn upon an emotion experienced after a monumental revelation or event that occurs in ones life. For some, this may have been 9/11/2001. A tragic day in not only America, but for the world. Many of us remember how we felt that week if we were alive for it. Anger, confusion, sadness and heartache were some ways to describe the chaos in those weeks and months shortly after. I was working as a store detective at a retail establishment counting fine jewels at the moment of impact. The day that changed not only my small insignificant life, but the entire world view I had. At that moment thousands decided to do something about it. Many decided to serve their country in the military. Some, decided however, to serve in other ways. Wether that was paramedics, police or firefighters they all had one thing in common. Service. I knew in that moment, law enforcement would be a particular way I could serve. However, God wanted me to serve humanity abroad first. When I first met my beautiful wife Jessica in 2010, she told me she was a missionary. I knew many missionaries in the past, but none closely. As we got to know each other, I saw a photo of her holding a child in the mountains of Haiti that was severely malnourished. This was the true moment I fell in love with her. In those eyes, I saw the most content and loving look that I knew I wanted. Not only to receive but more so to give to others. That is the definition of service in its pure form. To give of yourself and to expect nothing in return. Not a paycheck, recognition or awards. This is the form of life that brings us the most joy and it was intended by God to be that way. 

 Obviously we married each other and have two beautiful children and hope be blessed with more at some point, but what this moment did for me personally was seeing the value in service. So much so, that I joined the Knights of Columbus in 2011. As a 4th degree Sir Knight, we have values that we adhere too. One of these happens to be service. It defines the KofC culture. It embodies who we are as Catholic Lay Missionaries. 
 

In late 2015 we had served the people of the Dominican Republic for 4 years together and it was growing and growing. We had taken care of children dying of malnutrition in our home, began working on a preschool for at risk children and served our own church community with the KofC. 
 
2015 I was made aware of a need that our tiny village in Michigan had. It was for volunteer police officers. I also answered that call. I believe that we as humans are called to serve no matter where we are, or the capacity. I had law enforcement experience and knew it was the right thing to do. I went back to school and graduated the academy in Wayne County and was sworn in June of 2015. I have used the experience I have gained in the Dominican Republic learning Spanish to assist my department with translation of witnesses. 
 
​The significance of the experience we obtain throughout our lives directly correlates to the impact we have on present day. I have countless examples of how my past experiences that God allowed me to live through have impacted my decisions for the better today and beyond. Our goal at Building Bridges of Hope is to not only impact the communities we serve, but allow lives to be transformed of those whom serve in our service projects. We have found that while there is an impact in the communities we serve via our volunteers, one could argue that the hearts and minds of our volunteers are the ones whom are being transformed for the better. We have past volunteers that have gone on to complete medical school and become Doctors, Nurses and Physicians Assistants. They said their decision to move in that direction was a direct result of their experiences in the Dominican Republic serving with Building Bridges of Hope.

This is our vision. This is our goal.

With Saint Teresa of Calcutta at the heart of our efforts, we seek to change the world one soul at a time. With Love, full bellies and lots of laughter you can join us in this effort to bring those in the darkness into the light of God's love. Contact us in you feel called to set up a group of 4 to 9 of others that want to serve you can find out more here on our website www.bbohdr.org or connect with us to be a mission partner!

God Bless all of you and keep those prayers coming!!
​Adam Carlile