I'm going to Shanghai this week. Pray for me.

I got told on Sunday, that I have to go to a meeting in Shanghai next Tuesday. So I've been scrambling all week to figure out the visa status and arrange flights. I get on a plane on Saturday.

If you're wondering about the short notice, it's typical, especially for sales calls in the semiconductor industry, which I work in. It's a fast moving industry, characterized by competitiveness, technology, customer service, and personal/business relationships. But the stakes are high, and sometimes the cost of doing business humbling. I no longer flinch at spending $3000 for a week's trip, what would support a missionary in a third world country for a year.

In any case it's a mixed trip because the customer is actually one of the companies which I had shown some interest in spending a long time working for in the future.

In fact my initial contact with them was through Clara, a post Gloria Steinem beauty with flowing red hair and a theatrical temperment to match. Initially when I knew her she was corporate, but now deeply involved with justice and the plight of the poor, she shades her own struggles against pernury, to illuminate hope to the reality of the oppressed.

Indeed I had thought about moving to China , but I struggle with the feeling leaving CCFC is disloyal to everything I hold dear. I seem to struggle and fail tomaintain a lifestyle in both Asia, and in Boston. I suppose it's somthing we all have to decide. I can clearly see that my whole industry is going to be moving into Asia, and China is going to be lead player in this market.

While we continue to lay off people here in Boston, we still have open reqs to hire engineers in China. I have to consider moving to China if asked, or called by God. So that's the real purpose of this trip.