No one blinked. Two hours had passed, but the moving story made the audience forget to look at their watches. The movie tells the heartwarming story of Rodrigo and Camila, two teenagers facing the harsh reality of cancer. Rodrigo, diagnosed with leukemia, bravely fights the disease alongside his best friend, Camila, who prays for a divine miracle for his cure.

"When the recording ended, my knee was all bruised so much [because] Camila kneels to pray," described Maythê Costa, who played Camila. She revealed that the movie brought her closer to God through the power of prayer, as her character is a person of great faith.

With the presence of a supporting actor, Rodrigo, a patient with childhood lymphoma who recovers thanks to a bone marrow transplant, the film sensitizes the audience to the importance and impact bone marrow donation can have on people's lives.

The movie He Comes, recorded in just 7 days, operated at an intense marathon pace to be completed. Following the musical, scenographic, and costume direction of Ester Leal, conductor and pianist for eight years with experience in Brazil and other countries, the songs offer guidance to the story. "From the songs we chose, the script for the movie was written. The choristers are excellent; they learned and interpreted the songs in an exceptional way. My heart is just joy!" exclaimed Ester.

Francis Matos, the screenwriter of the film, says the idea of the musical came at the request of Pastor Gustavo Delgado, organizer of the Pathfinder Camporee. His suggestion was to portray the themes of creation, redemption, and the return of Jesus. "That's how we turned the movie into a musical, in a more current language for teenagers and escaping the cliché of telling Bible stories in the usual way," the author commented.

Insights from the Actors

João Carlos Macena Barreto made his debut in the world of films playing Rodrigo. "A mixture of joy and tension, because the scenes played inside the hospital were intense. I am from an Adventist family, and this movie taught me that, regardless of your physical condition, we can and should preach the Gospel," said the actor.

Daniel Alexs, who gives life to John, says it was a short time to prepare for his role: "Cancer is such a delicate topic; in addition to the spiritual issue, encouraging people to donate bone marrow is also one of the most beautiful experiences I have had to date."

Unraveling Solidarity

A few days before her 18th birthday, young Thais da Silva Colares, from the Rosa de Saron club in the Rio de Janeiro region, received a diagnosis that would change her life completely. At that moment, her club made a total difference in her life.

During her cancer treatment, Thais needed eleven transfusions from the beginning of her treatment until her last chemotherapy. Her birthday, one year before the Camporee, took place inside the hospital, and on the date, her friends surprised her with her name on a banner.

As if all that wasn't enough, Thais’ Pathfinder friends shaved their heads twice: the first during chemotherapy treatment and the second on the penultimate day of the Camporee.

"This Camporee was amazing! Being with my friends was wonderful and rewarding, I am very, very, very happy because I did not expect to be here. When I received my diagnosis, I thought it would be impossible to come, both for my health and treatment, and financially," explained Thais.

The Pathfinder watched the musical in the first row and says she saw herself in several situations lived by the actor. "It was a mix of emotions; I cried, smiled, and relived some situations. But today, I can say that my club is my family. My friends are incredible. I feel embraced by all of them, always!" Thais concluded.

At the end of the musical, a Pathfinder from the southern region of Minas Gerais, Letícia Coutinho Pires, who went to the seventh Camporee at the insistence of friends just to help in the kitchen, as she was away from the club and the church, decided to be baptized. "From the kitchen, I heard Pastor Rafael Santos preaching, and I couldn't say no to God," said the Pathfinder, who borrowed a friend's uniform at the baptism and received her scarf back from Pastor Delgado.

Altruism

Throughout the day on Sabbath, July 22, the registration of bone marrow donors took place at the Camporee. Each registered person had his or her name included in the database. If one is compatible with any patient, that person will be contacted by the bank. However, the probability of being compatible is 1 in 100,000, making it increasingly necessary to have a greater number of volunteers.

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.