Author Alvin Witten's Incredible Journey: From South Africa to 1,328 churches in Mozambique
Image: Supplied
When Alvin Witten and his wife, Jean, set off for Mozambique in their 60s, they left behind the comfort of home in South Africa to face an unknown future.
Five years, 1,328 churches, and countless life-changing experiences later, Witten returned with a story he knew had to be told.
'My journey as an author began long before the first words were written; it started with a calling that took my wife, Jean, and me to Mozambique for five years,' Witten said.
'We were both in our 60s at the time, leaving behind the comfort of family, friends, and familiar surroundings to move into an environment where we didn't know the language or the culture, and had no clear idea of what awaited us.'
That calling became Searching for Churches, Witten's debut work and the centrepiece of his participation in the upcoming Indie Authors Rise Up Book Festival, taking place in the Helderberg region from August 16 to 24.
Alvin Witten and his wife, Jean, in one of the churches they visited.
Image: Supplied
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The book recounts a mission to visit every one of Mozambique's 1,328 churches, a journey that took the couple from remote villages to bustling towns, often in challenging conditions.
'There were long days on dirt roads in sweltering heat, nights in places with no electricity or running water, and the constant challenge of communicating in Portuguese, which we had to learn from scratch,' he said.
'Yet, despite the uncertainty and discomfort, our commitment never wavered.'
Witten chose to self-publish to preserve the authenticity of his story.
'I didn't want the heart of that story to be filtered through the lens of someone deciding whether it was commercially viable,' he explained.
'By self-publishing, I could retain full creative control and ensure the story was handled with the care and authenticity it deserved.'
At its heart, Searching for Churches explores faith, resilience, cultural exchange, and 'the beauty of shared humanity, moments where language barriers disappear, and what remains is understanding, kindness, and mutual respect.'
For Witten, the festival is more than just a chance to promote his book.
'I'm most excited about connecting with other self-published authors and exchanging ideas, stories, and lessons learned,' he said.
With a background in people development, he sees the event as a space to 'mentor and encourage new writers who may be facing the same doubts and challenges I once did.'
He also believes festivals like this are vital for the visibility of independent authors.
'Bookstores can be reluctant to stock independently published titles, and marketing is usually a personal expens, Events like this change that. They provide authors with a platform to showcase their work directly to readers,' Witten said.
For readers, he added, the benefit is equally significant.
'They get to meet the storytellers behind the books, hear the 'why' behind the words, and discover books that might otherwise go unnoticed. It's a space where stories and readers meet without gatekeepers, and that's something truly worth celebrating.'
The Indie Authors Rise Up Book Festival will feature over 34 authors, panel discussions, workshops, and special events at venues across Gordons Bay, Somerset West, and Strand.
For more details and to reserve tickets, visit [https://indieauthorsriseup.co.za](https://indieauthorsriseup.co.za).
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