Ariel Ann Williams

The little mermaid that I called you.
I love and miss you! You were the sister I never had.
I will forever cherish the talks we shared, the random check ins you would do when God placed me on your heart, & your bubbly personality.

Thank you forever everything! I love you forever

I first met Ariel two years ago when I joined the mom´s connect group at the Local Church. I had joined just weeks after my husband and I had separated and I was feeling the lowest I had felt in a very long time. I remember the day I walked into the room and was met by her and Karla´s welcoming smiles. Week after week as I continued to show up I got to know each of the ladies as they shared their stories, prayer requests, trials, and triumphs. I remember coming to the group often times after wiping the tears off my face in the car from the grief I was experiencing yet I always left feeling full of hope, love, and hunger to deepen my faith and relationship with the Lord. Ariel´s compassion, encouragement, and gentle yet eager enthusiasm to seek Christ was so inspiring and impactful. I remember looking up to her and thinking, I want THAT kind of faith. She shared so many stories about her trials, she was transparent and raw. One of the most genuine souls I´ve ever met. I still remember her bright welcoming smile and warm hugs every time she would see me come back week after week despite how hard it was to show up sometimes. Our group chat was always filled with her beautiful words of encouragement and reminders to just to "give it to God". One of my favorite memories, and the way I always remember her is thinking of her when I listen to Benjamin Williams Hastings. During her last weeks as leader of our connect group, on this particular night she played a song I had never heard. I remember her pulling out her phone and putting it on for all of us to listen. She sat there in her chair swaying to the beat and singing along. I immediately fell in love with the song. It was such a beautiful reminder that we sometimes need and often forget. I didn´t know who the artist was, or even the name of the song. But I remember leaving group and sitting in my car googling the few lyrics I was able to remember. Then I found it, and I decided to ask Siri to play more music like it. That´s when I discovered Benjamin Williams Hastings. To this day I listen to him all the time and every time I hear that song, my eyes water and I smile because I think of Ariel. The song is called "that´s the thing about praise" by Benjamin Williams Hastings. Fast forward two years later, I am still a connect group member and have developed so many friendships in the group, I was baptized on Easter and serve in the Local kids ministry. I´m so grateful for the very short time I knew Ariel because she had such an impact on me and planted a seed which developed into my seeking the Lord more than I ever had in my 34 years. She was in inspiration and true role model and I just wish I had the chance to tell her how grateful I am for those times she hugged me and smiled from ear to ear during times I needed it the most and for being the vessel the Lord used to encourage me to be on the path I am today.