Dear friend of A Rocha,

I recently returned from a retreat in Western North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, also known as one of my favorite places on Earth. This time spent connecting with nature and myself rejuvenated my soul and led to moments of reflection. One of my favorite activities of the weekend was participating in a creek cold plunge. The act of getting out of my head, beyond my comfort zone, and taking the risk of plunging into the icy stream was exhilarating! This moment of play reminded me of my childhood, the innocent wonder of which can be easily forgotten in the hustle and bustle of everyday adult life. Ultimately, I was one of the last participants out of the water!

This experience reminded me of Hebrews 10:22 which states: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

Water is a gift that is essential for life. In this newsletter, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of A Rocha’s Marine Conservation Program, and we learn from two of our former Marine Conservation interns about the healing benefits of water, in their reflection on mental health in A Rocha International’s film 'Blue' and accompanying blog. 

Here at A Rocha, we are participating in God’s restoration of all creation through biodiversity conservation. This work is powerful and meaningful – thank you for joining us.

With appreciation,

Hannah Gillespie 
Communications Coordinator
A Rocha USA

Act Locally

A Decade of Impact: A Rocha's Marine Conservation 

By: Bob Sluka

A Rocha’s global Marine Conservation Programme celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Yet, if we look closely, A Rocha has conducted marine conservation projects since the very beginning with storm petrel research and conservation at Cruzinha in Portugal. The Programme (yes, spelled correctly!) attempts to unite, inspire, and initiate marine research and conservation to bring synergy and excitement in a way that individual projects might not.

The USA has been a part of A Rocha’s marine conservation work from the beginning, particularly by supporting other national organizations through funding and sending students and researchers to assist globally. 

Globally the ocean covers 71% of the surface area of our planet and over 99% of the habitable space. There is a long way to go, and A Rocha will be there, working towards a flourishing ocean to God’s glory.

Think Globally

Blue Mind: The Healing Power of Water

By: Alli Cutting and Michaela Stenerson

Scientists today are seeking to understand what happens cognitively and emotionally when we are near water. This new field of study is led by marine biologist turned neuroscientist, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, and the key finding is that our brains enter a mildly meditative state when exposed to water. Nichols calls this state “Blue Mind.” 

We have both personally experienced fight or flight mode, burnout, and depression and how these states can negatively affect all aspects of life; including relationships, school, work, and physical health. We know many others have experienced this, particularly with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, there seems to be space to talk openly about such struggles. Yet even still, there can be stigmas and a separation between treating physical and mental well-being. The reality is they are interconnected — our environment, body, and brain affect one another. Water and the various effects it can have on our health and well-being is one such example of this interconnectedness.

We have felt the healing effects of water in our experiences with mental health. When immersed in a sea of greens and blues, our senses engage. We notice small details, such as crabs crawling, light reflecting, and birds darting. We taste the salt, smell the mangroves, scan the horizon, and feel the direction of the wind on our wet faces. We are pulled out of our heads, out of nervousness and overthinking, and into our bodies. Our perspectives shift. We are connected to ourselves, to each other, to the world around us, and the Creator. We are put in awe and wonder of life and reminded of our lack of control, our need to surrender, and His ultimate grace.

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