"I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me." (read more about why We Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Us here)

When I read that, and all the wonderful things that the Mocha Club is doing, I was convinced that I wanted to partner with them and start a team to help benefit one of their projects. By giving up 2 mocha lattes a month -- hence the name, Mocha Club -- I can put that $7 towards something amazing. $7 here in the US doesn't mean much. You can't see a movie for $7 anymore, can't eat out at most places for $7... So we take for granted what so little and just a tiny bit of sacrifice can do.

To the people of Africa, $7 means food for one person for a month. It means clean water for 7 people for a YEAR. 2 children can be educated for a whole school term for that much. $7 can save one person's life from Malaria.

Honestly. Can you imagine that? By just skipping two of your coffee indulgences a month, you can SAVE A PERSON'S LIFE. To me, that's big. That's something worth taking notice.

So, that said, we as a band decided to start our team, and chose to pick Orphan Care as our project. When I went through the list of projects, that one just stuck out to me. Picturing all these young children, orphaned, and without a home... living in bushes and the desert to fend for themselves, and highly susceptible to animal attacks... It broke my heart, and I wanted to be able to do something about it. Our project helps provide food, shelter, and education to these children who have lost their parents to AIDS/HIV and war. That $7 a month can help provide all these needs and more.

So, now, I'm asking you: What can you do with your $7? Do you feel a calling to help those in need in Africa?

Check out mochaclub.org to join our project, and to see all the good they're doing.

Be the change.

~Cait
(check out Cait's blog at http://caitlinshea.blogspot.com/)

http://twitpic.com/evsbq

I got to take my picture with Carl Edward's race car. :D The only thing cooler would be if Carl himself had been there. Of course, he's at Bristol today for the race. :P

I don't really get all fangirl-y over anyone, but I think if I met Carl, or Dale Jr, I would freak. hahaha

Yes, everyone, I'm a big NASCAR fan. :P

(Read more of Cait's blog post at http://caitlinshea.blogspot.com)

I haven't blogged in a few weeks...

I went with Nic and some friends to St. Louis a little over a week ago... my first time ever going there. It was crazy. XD We went for Rock The River. It was pretty cool. We only caught some of Red and Hawk Nelson, but saw Kirk Franklin, Skillet, and Flyleaf... I think I've seen Skillet 5 times now. haha I've seen Hawk Nelson and Red once before, but not the other two... Kirk Franklin was okay, just not really my style. Flyleaf though??? I loved them!! I like them even more now! They put on a great show. I really like Lacey, and felt she did a great job connecting with the audience...

(Read more of Cait's blog post at http://caitlinshea.blogspot.com)

My best friend is coming to visit!!

I haven't seen Rii in two years... we talk all the time, of course... but yeah. Wow. I'm so excited! She's flying up here in October. :] We're going to have so much fun! We've known each other for... just about 8 years now. It'll be 8 years in two weeks and two days. haha

Had an awesome day today. I went to bed at an almost normal time the past couple of nights, and got plenty of rest. Feeling pretty good! Went shopping for a few things today... got seasons 2 & 3 of Psych (one of my favorite shows!!) and the X-Men trilogy (some of my favorite movies, and shockingly didn't have them)...

(Read more of Cait's blog post at http://caitlinshea.blogspot.com)

...the sun will still shine!

I was at Holiday World recently, and I spent most of the day in the water park, Splashin' Safari. I rode every single water slide in the park at least once, and many of them multiple times. And yet, after all was said and done... my hair was still as spiky as it was when I first entered the park!...

(Read more of Nic's blog post at http://nicbritton.blogspot.com)

On January 22, 1973 -- almost 36 years ago -- abortion was legalized in the US, and since then, 1/3 of our generation has not had a chance to speak up and live life. These unborn children could've been your friend, my friend, a musician or artist we enjoyed listening to, or even our future president. Instead, they didn't get that choice.

We, the ones reading this right now, have a voice and can stand up for the Right to Life. We can make a change in this world, whether big or small, and every voice matters.

I've been a supporter of Rock For Life for a while now, but today I heard about BarlowGirl's NeverSilenceLife. This is something I feel very passionate about, and if it is something you feel passionate about as well, you should join the cause.

On January 22nd, 2009, join the cause and make your stance known. And make sure you check out these great sites:

www.NeverSilenceLife.com

www.RockForLife.org

~Cait

Hey guys, here's the lyrics to our songs from "Don't Hide"... Hope you enjoy them and will sing along! ;]

~Cait

Take Back

Those words, I don't deserve
Didn't you know that it would make me
Hurt, worse, than I deserve
Didn't you know, didn't you know

You weren't who I thought you'd be
And now I won't let you get the best of me

Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside
Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside

You go, out the door
Acting like you don't care, looking with a blank stare
So cold, I can't ignore
Thought you were a friend but look at how we ended up here

You weren't who I thought you'd be
And now I won't let you get the best of me

Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside
Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside

No one should be treated that way
And no one should be chipped away
And so help me God,
I'm still strong

Take back all the things that you said
Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside
Take back all the things that you said
Don't you know that
Scars hold on for life
And what you said cut deep inside
You can't take back
You can't take back
You can't take back
You can't take back

A Love Like No Other

I wanted a love like no other
Something I can't lose
So I trusted and gave you my heart
And you gave me yours too

But we lost sight of the light
And now we are left so confused
Too much has happened
I'm taking it back 'cause you fell through, yeah, you fell through

I wanted a love like no other
I need some way to recover now
A love that's strong and keeps holding on
A love that's for all time
I wanted a love like no other
I wanted a love like no other

I am scared to move on from
The pain that you and I have been through
But if it happens again
My heart will be broken and bruised

It feels safer to hide
Than trying to fight and pull through
Never pull through

I wanted a love like no other
I need some way to recover now
A love that's strong and keeps holding on
A love that's for all time
I wanted a love like no other
I wanted a love like no other

Heal my heart, make it new
Make it whole when I give it to You
Take my heart, make it clean
Be all I want, be everything

I wanted a love like no other
I need some way to recover now
A love that's strong and keeps holding on
A love that's for all time
I wanted a love like no other
I wanted a love like no other

The Beating Of A Heart

He sits and waits for the answer
To the question, that's killing him inside
Will he lose his reason for living
Or will it keep slipping through his hands

So many memories past
To let it slip away like that
Faith's the only hope he has

Hands reaching, hearts beating
Holding on to dear life
Hope's fading, doctors waiting
Only a miracle can save her now
The beating of a heart

He sits and waits beside her
Hoping for signs that she's healing
A glimpse of hope as her eyelids
Come back to life and meet his own

So many memories past
To let it slip away like that
Faith's the only hope he has

Hands reaching, hearts beating
Holding on to dear life
Hope's fading, doctors waiting
Only a miracle can save her now
The beating of a heart

Will he get the chance to
Hold her in his arms,
Or will this be the end
Of everything they had?
The light is growing dark
But hope will carry on
The beating of a heart
The beating of a heart

Hands reaching, hearts beating
Holding on to dear life
Hope's fading, doctors waiting
Only a miracle can save her now
Save her now
Save her now
Save her now
Save her now
The beating of a heart

Don't Hide

It's in how you live
It's not how you feel
It's in what you do
That proves it's real

Let 'em see who you really are
Don't hide

Don't hide, tonight
You've gotta hold on
Don't hide, tonight
You've gotta stay strong
One chance, one life you're leading
You gotta live what you believe in
Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide, tonight

It's what's deep inside
You can't let it hide
You gotta live it loud
You gotta let it out

Let 'em see who you really are
Don't hide

Don't hide, tonight
You've gotta hold on
Don't hide, tonight
You've gotta stay strong
One chance, one life you're leading
You gotta live what you believe in
Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide, tonight

Don't turn the other way
Don't let it slip away
You gotta keep your faith
And live what you believe in

Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide

One chance, one life you're leading
You gotta live what you believe in
One chance, one life you're leading
Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide, tonight
Don't hide, tonight

Essential

When there's no where else to go
I can see the light shining
At the end of this road
And I know that You are
Waiting for me

There's no turning back now
I give my heart to You

When I'm weak
You're essential to me
When I'm down
You lift me off the ground
I can feel Your love rain down on me
You're everything I need
Everything I need

I know You're watching me
Always taking care of me
And now I just can't believe
All the things You've done for me

There's no turning back now
I give my heart to You

When I'm weak
You're essential to me
When I'm down
You lift me off the ground
I can feel Your love rain down on me
You're everything I need
Everything I need, yeah
Everything I need

When I'm weak
You're essential to me
When I'm down
You lift me off the ground
I can feel Your love rain down on me
You're everything I needed

Silence

I cried out to You
Searching for words
I needed for You to prove
That You were still there

The ringing in my ears
The pain in my heart wouldn't stop
There was silence for so long
There must be something wrong

I cried for so long
Day and night I was rained on
I couldn't feel You here
I need to feel You here
Did you leave me?
Or was I hiding?
Waiting to find
You never left my side

The hard times I went through
The tears and pain I felt
Have gone away
You replaced it with Yourself

You were there by my side
Protecting me the whole time
Why I felt alone
Is because I wasn't open
You wanted to guide me
But I was hiding
And I don't know why
You never once left my side

The hard times make you stronger
Preparing for the future
And now I understand the reasons why
You were always by my side
You were always by my side
I will never be alone

You were there by my side
Protecting me the whole time
Why I felt alone
Is because I wasn't open
You wanted to guide me
But I was hiding
And I don't know why
You never once left my side

You never left me
You never left me
You never left my side

Who I Used To Be

The past has got me bound by chains
I'm not content to stay the same
Help, I need you to get over it
What I did, I need you to forgive

I pray to God for mercy
God, I need Your mercy

I'm not who I used to be
You don't know the real me
Anymore
This change has set me free, yeah
I know that I can do nothing but thank the Lord

You speak to me condescendingly
Say I'll never be who I'm meant to be
But how can I put the past behind
And not believe all the lies

I pray to God for mercy
God, I need Your mercy

I'm not who I used to be
You don't know the real me
Anymore
This change has set me free, yeah
I know that I can do nothing but thank the Lord

I wanna be
What You want me to be
I wanna change
What You want me to change
I wanna see what You want me to see
The real me
The real me
The chains no longer bind me

I'm not who I used to be
You don't know the real me
Anymore
This change has set me free, yeah
I know that I can do nothing but thank the Lord
I'm not who I used to be
I'm not who I used to be

All songs written by Caitlin Shea, Karen Britton and Benjamin Judah Kasica
All songs copyright 2008