André René, one of the first Haitians to receive Gilead training, became branch overseer, and the local brothers carried on as best they could.

Meanwhile, in 1966, the one then serving as branch overseer proved unfaithful to his Christian trust and was disfellowshipped. Prophète Painson, a mild-natured and cautious man of 29, became branch overseer and served for the next six years. He had been baptized in 1960 and had begun pioneering in 1962. The office was now situated at the corner of Ruelle Waag and Avenue Christophe in Port-au-Prince.