Video: See how a partnership between the Church and CILSA is inspiring hope, changing lives
By Danielle Christensen
A partnership between the Church and CILSA — a nongovernmental organization in Argentina — is highlighted in a Church News video.
In this partnership, Latter-day Saint Charities makes and individualizes wheelchairs while CILSA distributes them throughout the country to those in need. Wheelchairs bring respect and increase the quality of life to those who receive them.
Prior to speaking at a devotional in front of 12,000 Latter-day Saints on Wednesday, Aug. 28, President Russell M. Nelson had the opportunity to reach out to many children who received these wheelchairs. As part of his Latin America Ministry Tour, the prophet witnessed the life-changing impact new wheelchairs had on children who otherwise would have been unable to fully participate in daily activities, such as attending school.
In a Church News article, Gustavo Mernies, president of the Buenos Aires Argentina Belgrano Stake, spoke about the influence of the partnership between the Church and CILSA.
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Juan Carlos Loza meets President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after Latter-day Saint Charities donated a wheelchair to him at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Juan Carlos Loza plays a game after Latter-day Saint Charities donated a wheelchair to him at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Wendy Gimenez enjoys her new wheelchair as Latter-day Saint Charities donated wheelchairs to recipients at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Latter-day Saint Charities donated wheelchairs to recipients and played games with them at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Juan Carlos Loza plays a game with the help of his mother Paola Loza after Latter-day Saint Charities donated a wheelchair to him at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Latter-day Saint Charities donated wheelchairs to recipients and played games with them at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Paola Loza talks about her son receiving a wheelchair from Latter-day Saint Charities in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Norma Arguello pushes her son Nahuel in his new wheelchair as Latter-day Saint Charities donated wheelchairs to recipients at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Silvia Carranza, president of Cilsa, travels down a hallway as Latter-day Saint Charities and her company donated wheelchairs to recipients in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Jorge Diaz is entertained as Latter-day Saint Charities donated wheelchairs to recipients at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson stand with wheelchair recipients after Latter-day Saint Charities donated the wheelchairs in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
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Juan Carlos Loza shoots baskets after Latter-day Saint Charities donated a wheelchair to him at the Villa Urquiza Ward in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred
“What is my definition of this partnership? It is a miracle,” he said. “It allows us to reach out to people to help when they need it, how they need it.”
Silvia Carranza, president of CILSA, noted in the Church News article how the act of giving brings out Christlike characteristics in everyone.
“Giving to others means seeing Jesus Christ in the other person,” Carranza said. “When we see Jesus Christ in the other person, it is impossible not to give.”
