In September of 2021, Sister Paul returned from a Senior mission serving in the Church Headquarters Salt Lake City Utah Mission.
My name is Vera Seta deGroot Paul. I was born in Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana, South America on February 5, 1945. I was blessed to have been born of goodly parents, James Van Ryck and Enid de Groot who taught my sister Jean Dutchin and me by example as well as by precepts. They were the epitome of charity, the pure love of Christ.
My mother was a school teacher. She was very talented. She had this persistent positivity that attracted people to her. She loved to read and was influential in building a library at the community center in Manchester Village. She played the organ at the church we attended, Saint Patrick Catholic Church. I enjoyed listening to her play. Sometimes we sang together. She had a sweet voice which warmed my heart. My mother had this infectious enthusiasm for helping wherever help was needed. She was very loving and kind and well liked in the community.
My father was the village overseer and a bookkeeper. He had this indefatigable energy. He never complained of being tired. He was gentle and compassionate. He never got angry whenever we did anything wrong. He simply said, “I am so disappointed in you.” My girlfriends liked sleeping over at our house. My father made breakfast for us, which consisted of Bake, a kind of bread, fried eggs or fried fish, orange juice from our orange tree and hot cocoa. It was delicious. We still talk about it when we see each other or talk on the phone.
My parents did many selfless acts of service for our family, neighbors and community. They donated money and volunteered their time. They served without expecting rewards, recognition or praise. They were humble and trustworthy. My parents were devout Catholics who treated everyone with love and respect. I am grateful for their love and teachings.
As a child growing up, I attended church with my parents. I was baptized, confirmed and taught catechism class. I struggled with some of the teachings of the church such as confession. Why was it necessary to confess our sins to the priest when we were already reprimanded by our parents or teachers?
Neville and I got married in 1968. He was a lawyer’s clerk. He worked in a prestigious law firm. I was a school teacher. Soon after, our daughter, Dianne Enid was born. We both wanted a better life for her. At this time in Guyana, there was only one university and the waiting list was very long. Our only option was to apply overseas. Neville was accepted at Minnesota University in Minneapolis Minnesota. He came over in 1968 and went to school and studied accounting.
My daughter Dianne and I came over in 1969. In 1970, our son Sean was born. Neville went to school in the day and worked part time at night. It was quite an adjustment for me – a new baby, new culture, different country, not to too many friends. I had to rely on my teachings. God is everywhere. He hears and answers prayers.
Things settled down a little. We experienced our first winter. We hoped for a smooth sailing but things changed again. Lisa was born in 1971. My hopes for going to college were put on hold. Neville graduated in 1971 and we moved to New York, where Stacy was born. Neville started to work, but his student visa expired. We had some immigration problems. We were given time and in 1975, we went home to Guyana, spent ten days visiting family and friends, got our green card and came back to the States.
The children were of school age. Neville and I decided not to raise our children there. Brooklyn, where we lived, was too busy. The people were not friendly and the school was far away. We decided to return to Minneapolis. At this time my sister and her family were living in La Crosse. They suggested we come here and give it a try. After careful consideration, we accepted their invitation.
In 1975, we moved to La Crosse and stayed with my sister and her family. Within a week, Neville found a job with an accounting firm and an apartment for us to live in. We moved into our apartment and finally started to focus on the children’s education. They attended Jefferson Elementary School on the North side. It was quite an adjustment for them. In 1977, we bought our first house on 412 Liberty Street. I really liked the location at that time. The school was about six blocks from our house. The church was about eight blocks away. Now we were settled in our home and the children were all four attending the same school. We started to attend mass on Sunday at Saint James Catholic church on the North side.
Our attendance became irregular. It was so difficult to get the family to go. We never felt welcomed. No one shared their seats with us; no one talked to us. There were lots of whisperings and staring. The children felt very uncomfortable and eventually, we stopped going to church. I really missed the familiarity and warmth I felt when I was growing up and attending church with my parents and friends. I wanted the same experience for our children. I kept going to different churches; yes, they all had some truths. They worshiped God and His Son but there was something lacking. It just did not feel right and I didn’t want to expose our children to unfriendliness in God’s House.
It was summer time, and schools were closed. The children were home. One afternoon, they were playing outside when they were approached by two Mormon Missionaries, Elder Sam Paget and Elder Carter. They spoke with the children and Sean, our son, who was about nine years old, let them into the house. My husband was home, and I was at work. Apparently it was a nice visit.
When I came home, there was a Book of Mormon on the dining table. I was greeted with such excitement. The children were all talking at the same time. I could not understand what the children were saying. I concluded that whatever happened was important because it left a peaceful impression on my husband’s face. We spoke for a little and ended the discussion by telling the children it was bedtime and promised them their favorite breakfast, orange juice, eggs with bacon and toast and Lucky Charms cereal. All four of our children were up by seven o’clock the next morning and gathered around the table.
Our discussion started with Sean, our son telling his version of what happened that evening. His dad and I listened attentively. The other children participated, but they were still sleepy. Neville was impressed with how much the children remembered. Sean asked if they could continue reading the book. We decided to let them read and share their ideas. Sean and his dad were partners, while Dianne read for the two girls, Lisa and Stacy.
The Elders kept coming every week and teaching my family about the Gospel. They, my family shared their thoughts with me. After about three lessons, Sean asked if he could go to church with the missionaries. We said yes and the following Sunday, he went.
Sean shared his experience with us. The people were so nice. They told me I was handsome and looked nice. He had bread and water. There were lots of children and they went to different classrooms. This lady told him to come back. He liked his teacher in his class and the children were nice to him. The look on his face as he was talking to his sisters softened my heart. I decided to meet with the missionaries.
The Elders came to our house. They introduced themselves and asked if I had any questions. I said yes. My first question was about polygamy. The answer was not anymore. This made me happy to know that the church did not practice polygamy. My second question was about the Trinity or Godhead. For many years I struggled with this and I finally got my answer–that God our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ were equal but separate. That they had a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s and that the Holy Ghost was a spirit. I felt so happy. As I was contemplating all the things Neville and Sean told me from reading the book, I became curious and interested. The missionaries challenged me to read the book.
At this time Neville, Dianne and Sean were ready to be baptized. I asked them to give me a few weeks then I will make my decision. I fasted and prayed and asked Heavenly Father to let me know if the book was true. As I started reading, I could not put the book down. I got my answer. It was the right decision for me and my family.
On September 30, 1978, Neville, Dianne, Sean and I were baptized by the Elders. Lisa was baptized by her father in October and Stacy was baptized when she became eight years old. Bishop Neal Taylor was our bishop.
I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that there are three distinct members of the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The Father and His Son have bodies as tangible as man and the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. I am grateful for a living prophet, who receives revelations for our Heavenly Father to guide us on the straight and narrow path, so that we can return to Him.