The first Bible student to make fine spiritual progress was Maui Piirai, Jean-Marie’s fellow employee and a Polynesian. As the truth reached Maui’s heart, he made great changes in his life. For example, he stopped smoking and heavy drinking, and he married the woman with whom he had been living for 15 years. Baptized in October 1958, Maui became the first Polynesian in the territory to dedicate his life to Jehovah. Naturally, he too shared the good news with others, which angered the clergy. One pastor even schemed to have Maui dismissed from his job. But that plot failed because Maui was a good worker with a fine record.

The Félixes and Maui Piirai also began to study with Manuari Tefaatau, a young deacon in the Protestant church of Makatéa, and with his friend Arai Terii.

Some gave in to the threat, but others made spiritual progress and left the church. Among the latter were Manuari and Arai as well as Maui Piirai’s wife, Moea,

At first, the growing group of publishers and Bible students met at the Félixes’ home, where Jean-Marie gave talks in French and Maui interpreted them into Tahitian. When the Félix family left Makatéa in 1959, the group moved to Maui’s home, Maui now being a baptized brother.