A group of 19 young people from Dannevirke won the top town competition at an Easter camp in Feilding, attended by 1800 youth and leaders from the lower North Island.
Living out Loud (LoL), Dannevirke's combined churches youth group, joined in the fun of an Easter camp at Manfeild Park, where a temporary tent city sprang up for four days of fun, non-stop action and remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But it has not been an easy road to the camp, with the young people and their leaders working all year to get as many as possible to the camp by selling homemade cakes, preserves and food at Dannevirke's monthly market at the showgrounds.
"The hard work paid off as LoL not only had a fantastic time at the Easter camp but they also won the top town competition," Pastor Greg Motu said. "We were one of the smallest groups there and were rapt to win and our young people were over the moon. We are very grateful to the people and parishioners of churches of Dannevirke who have supported us over the last year."
Pastor Motu said they also wanted to give a big kia ora to local iwi - Rangitane o Tamaki Nui a Rua - for allowing LoL to use their facilities on McPhee St every week.