Too Many Miracles, a Novel

Father Hector, trained in agronomy and extension, delights in farming. When the bishop appoints him to San Miguel in the mountains of Mexico, he feels his prayers have been answered. The bishop's agenda differs. He directs Hector to convince the Indian congregants that miracles are not the frequent events that they are reporting. When Hector reaches San Miguel, he confronts a Protestant evangelical, who is encouraging villagers to plant cash crops and use new pesticides and modern technology. Instead of battling for souls, Hector must pit sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology against his rival. Hector's empathy and hard work win out over the charisma and charm of the Protestant, but his attempts to reduce the frequency of miracles at San Miguel are a different matter.