Thomas Schnackenberg, Pretoria
The synodical Youth Day of 2024 took place in Uelzen, Dundee. With the help of the Newcastle and Vryheid congregations, the weekend was planned wonderfully. The youth programme started on Friday the 28th of June at the Dundee High School Hostel. After a song rehearsal with Dr Rainer Johannes, the first party started. The fires were lit and dinner was served. The local congregation organised a bar and music for some dancing to take place. Like most youth days, it was a time to meet old friends from different areas again and catch up.
On Saturday the 29th, the programme started at 06:15 with breakfast. At 07:00 the youth left the hostel to travel to Uelzen. They continued to have another song rehearsal for the church service later on. At 08:30, the brass bands of all the FELSISA congregations played a few hymnals. The church service started at 09:00 and the music was accompanied by the youth choir. After the service, the youth split into their various youth groups and sang their individual pieces. This year there was a good variety of music from each youth group. It was also the first time that the Stellenbosch Youth joined in and participated. The youth then continued to sing folk songs and for the last time, so they say, they sang “Freunde hat man nie genug”.
Lunch was served and then the sport program started shortly after. The youth participated in the “polonaise” building team spirit. Relay (running), volleyball, “Pille”, “Ball-übern-Strick” and tug-of-war were the games that the youth participated in. It was a great afternoon of competitiveness and fun. In the end, the Stellenbosch guys won the “Pille” final. The Arcadia youth ladies won every event offered to them and the guys won volleyball and the relay. The Lüneburg youth won tug-of-war easily in the final, desperately awaiting challengers.
The day at Uelzen ended with an evening devotion which was held by Vicar Tobias Schütze. The youth then departed and arrived at the hostel again for the second party.
A big thank you to all the congregations that made this day happen. The youth enjoyed every minute and cannot wait for next year when it will be held in Pretoria.
