Ariel was honored last month by a visit from South Korean ambassador, Ilsoo Kim. Mr. Kim said he wanted to see Judea and Samaria with his own eyes, and the City of Ariel was happy to oblige.
On November 18th, Pastor Guillermo Maldonado came to Ariel with a delegation of pastors from Florida. Pastor Maldonado is the spiritual leader of the largest Hispanic church in the US, with millions of followers internationally.
On November 9th five Congressmen ventured into otherwise uncharted “territory” by traditional diplomatic delegations to Israel. A strong affinity to Israel and genuine frustration with the repetitive and fatal failures of peace plans and processes drove these American leaders to take a fresh look and Israel’s heartland.
Longtime friends of Ariel, U.S.-based FaithWalk International, arrived in Ariel for another visit recently. David Cerjan led the group. He and his family make a point of journeying to Ariel every year.
The Los Angeles Jewish Federation made a historic trip to Israel in honor of their 100 year anniversary. When LA Federation’s Chairman, Richard Sandler, told his longtime friend Mayor Ron Nachman that he wanted one of those buses to see Ariel the Mayor happily rolled out the red carpet.
The City of Ariel was delighted to recently host members of Gateway Church of Southlake, Texas. It wasn’t their first visit, and it won’t be their last.
On Friday, August 26, our friends Jerry and Deborah Strober brought Presidential hopeful Herman Cain and his wife Gloria to the City of Ariel. It was quite the visit.
A group of 18 college students from Washington State University dropped in on Ariel on August 25 for a close-up encounter with the city, and a fresh take on current events. It was yet another of the university’s annual visits.
Mayor Ron Nachman’s friend Gary Gerson heard that a group was planning to travel from Greenwich, Connecticut to Israel on a tour. As our friends tend to do, Gary immediately suggested that they come to visit the City of Ariel. Steve and Margie Black took his advice and brought the group to Ariel on Friday, October 8th.
On May 17th Victoria Hearst returned to Ariel with her perennial delegation of pastors that she leads to Israel. As in the past the visit was a moving experience for all participants, some of whom had come to Israel for the first time.
The Ariel National Leadership Development Center recently hosted its first all-adult group from the United States. Although accustomed to training adult Israeli groups, including the IDF and the Israeli Police Force, this group consisted of adult men from Miami who sought a team building experience.
On Monday, May 9th, our friends from Maranantha Chapel in San Diego came for a special visit to the City of Ariel. Pastor Ray and Vicki Bentley, accompanied by Dr. Robert Mawire, led three busloads of Israel-loving Christians to see and experience the Land of Israel.