America. The opening of the novel depicts a poignant evening in the pastor's home, where he is presented with the first contribution for their planned journey to America by a young girl. This heartfelt moment elicits various emotions from the pastor as he reflects on his responsibilities to his family and community. The narrative unfolds with his conflicted feelings about leaving, the hopes of new beginnings in America, and the bonds he has to detach from. His wife, feeling the weight of their decision, expresses both sorrow and resilience, setting the stage for the pastor's internal struggles as he navigates the complexities of departure and new beginnings. (This is an automatically generated summary.)