Under the Bright Wings

When Peter and Miranda Harris uprooted from England with their young family to explore the possibilities of nature conservation in Portugal, they swapped a satisfying urban ministry for the uncertainties of a pioneering project. They learnt from scratch about cross-cultural evangelism, community living and conservation, as well as Portuguese bureaucracy. The "A Rocha" (Portuguese for "The Rock") Christian Field Study Centre and Bird Observatory opened in 1986 and has welcomed hundreds of visitors from around the world. Many environmental projects have been carried out, but its main aims are to encourage an understanding of conservation among Portuguese students and teachers, and to demonstrate the relevance of Christian belief to environmental issues.