We walked out to Daniel car on the car park in front of the building, it was a Volkswagen.
His wife got into the back seat with the two children, I sat with Daniel in front.
"How long is it now, since we first met, Daniel?"
"Exactly two years."
I had met Daniel only once and then it was at an international conference for church leaders, he had urged me at that time to come and talk to his congregation, I had not been able to accept his invitation until now.
We drove silently for a while, then I tried to tell him how I felt.
"I'm afraid about to night, Daniel, I feel entirely unprepared, I would like to know a little bit more about the people before I talk to them."
"If you can stay only four days, we have to start to night."  I could see that.
"Is this the first time you are in our city?" he asked.
"Yes I sorry to say that it is, I have been in other African countries before, but never in your country, I know a little about your customs, but nothing about your particular problems."
"This could also be an advantage," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Our young people are looking forward very much to your lectures and the older ones?"
"There is some resistance, they feel that talks about marriage do not belong in the church, especially sexual matter are taboo to them, I guess it's about the same all over African.
How is it in Europe and America?"
"Basically it is the same, Christians are embarrassed to talk about sex, and those who do talk about it are very often not Christian."
"Anyway, you should be careful, at least during your first lecture, not to talk too much about sex, and be as simple as possible,"
"And avoid abstract nouns and simplify terms, you will have to use short sentence, so that I can interpret them sentence by sentence."
I shall do my best, do you have a blackboard in church?" I said.
"This can be arranged."
By now we had reached the down town area, except for the people, it didn't look too much different from a European or American City pavement, neon sign, tall building of banks and insurance companies, hotels, restaurant, travel agencies, supermarket and the constant rush of thick traffic.
"How is your family?" it was Esther.
"Thank you asking, they are fine!"
"How many children do you have?"
"Five, but they are a little bit older than yours."
"Weren't they sad when you left?"
"They wanted to come along, four of them were born in Africa, they feel this is their home."
"Is your wife expended to come?"
"I hope she can join me during the weekend."
"Wonderful!"
I started to think about my wife and how much easier it would be to night were she will be alone, if only we could speak together, the more I thought of her , the more lonesome I felt.
"We wanted to invite you to stay in our home," Daniel explained. But we decided instead to put you up in a hotel, it's not very quiet in our home, for we have callers all the time, 
Also, there may be some people who want to talk to you who would not come to the parsonage."
"I would have liked to stay with you,  I answered, but I can see your point."
"Will you have supper with us to night?" Esther asked.
"Thanks, Esther, for the invitation, but  I am afraid I have no time, I have to change now, I am still wearing my winter clothes."
"Well, I just wanted to know, Daniel never tells me when he brings guests home, nor do I know when he will be home for meals."
There was a brief strained silence in the car.
We stopped in the front of a hotel, Esther stayed in the car with the children, while Daniel accomplished me inside, after I had registered, he followed me to my room.
It was a neat looking single room with bed, desk and telephone, in front of the window was a living room area with sofa , armchair, and small table.
The room had a good atmosphere, here one could have talk.
"I'm sorry I can't pick you up for the meeting," Daniel said, "but I shall send one of our members to bring you to the church."
"I wish you could stay, Daniel, to give me advice on what to say to night."
Daniel pause for a moment and closed his eyes, then he looked straight into my face.
"God will give you something, give us what he gives you." with that he left.
He is a good counsellor, I thought, I wished I could help his people as he had help me now.
I want to the window and gazed out, my room was on the fourth floor, so I could look over the roof of the neighbouring building .
I had seen them from above, and from the plane, now they were closer, very close, I am under one of them, I thought, not above, but under.
I took a shower and changed, then I removed the notes of my first lecture from my briefcase and spread them out on the desk.
I started to read them, but they did not talk.
suddenly, the telephone rang , it was the hotel switchboard operator .
Just a minute, there was is a call for you, a woman voice came on and asked for my name.
"I read in the paper that you will speak to night on marriage is that right?"
"Yes," 
" I would like to ask you a question, is it always wrong to leave your husband?"
What a question! I thought, and then asked her, "Why do you want to leave him?"
"He won't marry me."
"I thought he was your husband."
"We are living together, he says, "when you live with me, it is like I Married you."