android espresso : how to maintain test flow

I am trying to divide my huge test into small @Test units The structure is @Rule public ActivityTestRule activityRule = new ActivityTestRule(MainActivity.class);

@Test
public void goToHomePage()
{}

@Test
public void performSearch()
{}

However for every test the MainActivity launches and the flow is not maintained from the previous screen. Can some one suggest how do i go about dividing my test into small chunks and add them to each @Test annotation.