There have been many changes this year, partially due to the opportunities we have been able to grasp as Professionals to the World, and partly due to the crisis in the Honduran government.

We have had the fewest number of professionals going with us this year to teach at the universities in Central America since our beginning in 2005. This had little to do with the economy but a lot to do with our change in focus.

At this time last year, Charly and I were busy writing our book titled “Values and Principles that can Change the World,” and this has greatly changed the focus of our trips this year. We completed the book in time to get many copies printed in Honduras and then to promote it in several universities creating quite a bit of interest. This consumed most of Charly and my time during the trip in March. Barb and Jim Hermanson were with us on this trip and they taught Barb’s great material on expository writing at several universities.

Then on June 28, the national congress and the supreme court of Honduras removed president Zelaya from office and sent him out of the country. This brought the disapproval of most of the world upon them. The move was viewed by the world press as a coup vis a vis the way Central America operated before 1982. However, from the viewpoint of the Honduran government, the move was required according to their constitution.

However one views this move, it caused Honduras to take account of themselves and to stand up against the pressures of the rest of the world. The recent election and the vote of Congress to not allow Zelaya to return and finish out his term of office ending in January, 2010 brought an end to the conflict.

We have been trying to bring change to Honduras for the past four years through the teaching by many of you professionals that have come to share your knowledge and experience with university students. The crisis is not what we had in mind but many Hondurans feel proud of the way their country defended their rights as an autonomous nation and a new sense of right and wrong seems to be awakening in the country.

For our second trip to Honduras in September, Charly and I planned to visit all but one of the national universities and many private universities. However, Zelaya illegally returned while we were there, finding refuge in the Brazilian embassy and bringing turmoil to the country. As a result we were unable to visit all of the universities as planned. However, we did have a meeting with the president of the committee that runs the national university system, the rectora in charge of these universities, many vice rectoras as well as the Dean of Engineering.

The last week of our trip, Meghen Duggins and Ryan Bell joined us in San Pedro Sula. Ryan taught classes in Information Technology and software and as usual was very well received. Meghen, as you are aware from many of our newsletters, had quite an exciting experience. The result was very significant in that she was able to bring together four agencies concerned with disaster preparedness in the country. These included the head of COPECO, (the Honduran FEMA) many top Army officials, the leaders of the Red Cross and the country’s fire department.

Probably the most significant outcome of this trip both regarding the teaching of the material on values and principles as well as these leaders in disaster preparedness is our contact with very influential people in the country. These people are providing opportunities for us to accomplish many things. As a result of these contacts, our friends in Honduras, Jose Luis Ordoñez, Sergio Navarro and Arnulfo Matute have taught several workshops on the values and principles material to professors at four different universities that will now teach a required semester course to their students beginning in February, 2010. We have printed 3000 copies of the book and each student is required to buy one.

This has truly been a year of great change. We believe that for a country to change, the leadership has to change. The opportunity to bring about this change through the teaching of the right value system, will go a long way to reduce the corruption in society, releasing funding for the poor, health systems, business and much more.

Our forming documents state that the purpose of Professionals to the World is to change the climate in Honduras from despair to hope. Many have commented on the importance of the work that we are doing. We may be on the threshold of something really great.

Come join with us in making it all happen. Your next opportunity will be in September, 2010. Please let us know if you are interested in sharing your experience with students in Honduras.

If you can’t come with us, please consider a contribution for the building on the campus in Comayagua. We have had to use some of our funds, temporarily, that were designated for the building in order to print the 3000 books. This money will come back to us in February with the sale of the books. Meanwhile the director of the university is anxious to begin the next phase in January. The ground has been prepared, we have paid the architect for the plans and we are ready to lay the foundation but lack the $9000 to do so.

We also have needs for student support at $150/month or $500/month for a full time worker. All contributions are tax exempt for 2010 if your donation comes before the end of the year.

It was a great year and we are excited to see what the new year will bring. Thanks for all of your help in making dramatic changes and bringing hope to many in the small country of Honduras.

Hope you had a great Christmas and a bright new year and may God bless you all.

John