My life began in Joplin, Missouri as the youngest of four children. I have a twin sister, and 1 older brother & sister. My father's job and his struggle with alcohol addiction led to frequent moves early in my childhood. My parents eventually bought a small resort on a lake in Oklahoma. Though we had chores, it was like being at summer camp all the time. Best of all, for the 1st time in my life my father was home during the week and we were able to enjoy much more time together as a family. Sadly, about a 1 ½ years after moving there, my father tragically drowned in the lake. I was only 7 years old. My mother was a widow with 4 children under the age of 10. It was a very sad time in my life. Raising 4 children alone, with no life insurance or retirement, was a struggle for my mother. Unable to manage the resort alone, she sold it and we moved. She often worked 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet.

Wherever we lived, my mother took us to church. Routinely I saw my mom reading the Bible and turning to God for answers. I have believed in God for as long as I can remember. But in high school, I drifted away from church, thinking it was not cool. I went to college and like many college students, made some bad choices during those years. In my 3rd year of college, my roommate invited me to her church and Bible study. I accepted Christ there at an altar call, but I was not plugged into the church or other believers and soon stopped attending.

While in pharmacy school, I met the love of my life, my husband, Lou. After 3 years of dating we married and soon moved to Pittsburgh. Five years later we wanted to start our family. After a very disappointing miscarriage, our 2 sons, Scott and Brad, were born 18 months apart. Life was busy and good. By all standards we were living the American dream. I had a wonderful loving husband, a lovely home, healthy active sons, but I felt empty. All these blessings and I was asking, "Is that all there is?" We started experiencing some rough times in our marriage and inside I was crumbling.

A friend invited me to Orchard Hill for her daughter's baptism in 1991. As I sat there listening to the message, I was moved to tears. The pastor spoke of a God who loved me so much & wanted me to know Him. I returned each week to hear more.  Eventually I dragged my husband - well not really, but almost - to Orchard Hill. He was resistant to a church format that was so different from his traditional background. Soon thereafter, Lou accepted Christ and we committed our lives to the Lord. Since coming here we have grown in our relationship and our marriage has been strengthened through God's grace. Lou and I have enjoyed an active involvement in both the men's and women's ministries and couples' groups. We also have been pleased to serve within the church. Over the years we have developed many friendships that encouraged us in our Christian growth and shared in the celebrations, struggles and losses in our lives. Our sons, Scott & Brad attended KidsFest each year and later served as leaders. Both accepted Christ's gift of salvation and continue in their journey of growing with the Lord. 

In June 2009, I attended a Beth Moore conference and heard her speak about weathering the storms of life. I remember thinking how fortunate I was at that moment - no major storms in our life to speak of. Little did I know that God was preparing me for what lie ahead. Within a few weeks, my oldest sister came for a visit. When she got off the plane, she was experiencing severe abdominal pain and we went directly to the ER. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 endometrial cancer and underwent extensive surgery. After a prolonged and complicated hospital recovery, she came to our home to recuperate and start chemotherapy. Summer ran into fall and then the holidays with repeated trips to the ER and hospital for treatments. Not long after Christmas, my twin sister, Willa was admitted to the ICU with severe pneumonia. Within a week, her condition worsened and she was placed on a respirator. For the next several months I was caring for my oldest sister while she received chemo and visiting my twin in the hospital as much as possible. I prayed for their healing and comfort. By April, my older sister was able to return to her home. My twin sister's health continued to decline however, as she went back and forth from hospital to nursing home. Again I prayed for her recovery but slowly came to accept God's will for her. My closest friend, next to my husband, the one whom I came into this world with, passed away in July 2010. A few months later I celebrated my birthday for the first time in 55 years without my twin.

My older sister returned in December for a holiday visit and to have some minor surgery. She received the devastating news that the cancer had spread. She began another round of chemo here in Pittsburgh, this time traveling back and forth to South Carolina so she could continue to work. But by March her prognosis was grim. The chemo was not working and she decided to enjoy what time she had left. There were some trips to the hospital, but many moments together sharing stories as I drove her back and forth to Myrtle Beach. My husband and I had a wonderful vacation in Florida with her and her daughters. She was embracing each day and some days, especially when she was feeling good, she wore me out with all she wanted to do. God also blessed me with some healing of the relationship with my oldest sister during this time. You see she was the oldest and I am the youngest. More often than not, she saw black and I saw white- if you know what I mean. We did not agree very often. God blessed me with the opportunity to see my sister in a new and different way. He filled me with love and compassion for her. In August this year, my oldest sister passed away, a little over a year after my twin died. I have at times asked God why, but I am continuing to learn to trust His plan and not lean on my own understanding.

Throughout these 2 difficult years God has sustained my family and me through the loving support of our Orchard Hill family. Our small group members and the pastoral care team offered meals, sent cards, prayed WITH us and FOR us. They visited my sisters in the hospital and prayed with them. Two dear friends visited my twin sister in the nursing home and sang Amazing Grace to her, providing her with a mini church service. She appreciated that so much.

God continues to show his love and care for me through GriefShare and the group study. Now I am navigating the journey of grief and healing with others on the same road. I do not know what lies ahead but these experiences have taught me to lean on God, and in those times of momentary troubles I will fix my eyes on what is eternal - my heavenly Father. My name is Mary Heyl and this is my story.