IMMOKALEE, FLA.
Five years ago, Frank Fernandez was called to be the Scoutmaster in the Immokalee Branch, Fort Myers Florida Stake.
Scoutmaster Fernandez had little trouble keeping track of his young charges that first week. Only one young man, Junior Reyes, attended Sabbath services at the branch. It was a Young Men organization of one. Fortunately, Junior wasn't shy. He mastered the gospel's fundamental principles and began reading his scriptures and praying. Then he began inviting others to join in.
"Junior took [the gospel and Scouting] to heart and started bringing his friends," said Brother Fernandez.
Soon other young men were participating in weekly Scouting activities. Many of the new Scouts enjoyed the fellowship of the LDS-sponsored troop so much that they began attending Sabbath services together. Baptisms soon followed.
The Aaronic Priesthood quorum rolls in the Immokalee Branch today include 12 priests, seven teachers and nine deacons.
There's no secret to the branch's missionary success among the young men of the Immokalee community, said Brother Fernandez. "It resulted from the boys just inviting their friends to Scouting and Church."
Immokalee is located in south central Florida and populated largely by Mexican and Haitian immigrants and their families. Local members have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years. When the branch was organized there were about 25 members. Now there are more than 100, thanks, in part, to the efforts of the young men — most of whom are coverts themselves. In the past, the branch has conducted sacrament services in missionary apartments, worshipped together on Sunday at the local middle school and, most recently, leased a corner of a local Methodist chapel for Sabbath activities.
On Nov. 7, members rejoiced following the dedication of the Immokalee Branch meetinghouse. "It is a beautiful building," said Clark Robinson, the branch's Young Men president. Now the members have a house of worship to call their own and share with their friends and relatives.
Sabbath services reflect Immokalee's diversity. Some meetings are held in Spanish and others in Creole. Most of the young men are united by their shared love of sports. Florida is football country — and several of the boys in the branch are teammates on the gridiron at Immokalee High School.
Most of the Aaronic Priesthood holders are the only members in their family. So they take strength from one another's young but solid testimonies. The priesthood quorums "are like a family," said Esperandieu Anofils, 17, the second assistant to the branch president in the priests quorum. "We are together. We work together and try to feel the Spirit."
Brother Fernandez and Brother Robinson agree that the branch is blessed to have a corps of enthusiastic, kind-hearted young men. Most of the boys are the first in their families to participate in Scouting. But they are at troop activities every Wednesday dressed in Class A uniforms and ready to work on merit badges or service projects. The branch is expected to award its first two Eagle Scouts this year — with seven more expected to follow by next spring.
"In Scouting you are a team and you can help out in your community," said Esperandieu.
Young Men General President David L. Beck frequently challenges holders of the Aaronic Priesthood to invite others to participate in the opportunities of the gospel. The young men of the Immokalee Branch have demonstrated the power of such fellowship.
"The young men have fun and are reverent," said Brother Robinson. "They have invited others to know what they know, and to feel what they feel."
