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Elinor Jones and her family first got to know Moyses Nader when he was an 18-year-old Brazilian exchange student who came to stay with them at their home in Michigan. Forty years later, the exchange still is in progress. He comes to the United States, and she goes to Brazil. But the most recent visits have been almost as surprising as the first.
He came for the 1968-69 school year at Bentley High School in Livonia, Mich., through the American Field Service's exchange program. Elinor and her husband, Robert, had never hosted an exchange student before. But their two daughters were out of the home and their son, Doug, still was in high school. It just struck them as an interesting thing to do.
Moyses came to their home wide-eyed and demure. When Elinor showed him his room, he laid on the floor next to the neatly made bed.
"But Moyses, that's your bed," she said.
"Oh, OK," he said.
He said his name was pronounced "Moy-ses" but they could say it
"Moses," like in the Bible. The pronunciation stuck. With the Joneses, he saw snow for the first time. He was introduced to football -- American football. He never saw the oblong ball before, but tried out for the high school team and landed a spot as a place kicker.
When their time was done, he went back to Brazil and the families kept in touch. They exchanged Christmas cards and letters and talked on the phone every now and then. Moyses stayed in contact with Doug, too.
Elinor would sign cards, "Your American mother," but then thought maybe that should be "Your United States mother." We're not the only America, after all.
They exchanged news about the family. Moyses got married and had two daughters. He became a successful thoracic surgeon in his native country.
Elinor kept him up to date on their lives. She told Moyses about Robert's early retirement in 1977 and their move to Hilton Head Island, eventually into The Seabrook community. She told him of four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She told him when Robert died after 59 years of marriage.
Elinor visited Brazil twice, and Moyses frequently came to the United States, especially to Atlanta to visit Doug. But their most recent trips are the ones that hold a special place with them.
Elinor celebrated her 90th birthday at The Seabrook in September. She came to the party to see that family, neighbors and her bridge friends all showed.
Then she saw Moyses, grinning from ear to ear. He had made the trip.
"I was just flabbergasted," she said. "I never thought he'd come all the way from Brazil."
So she repaid the visit. Elinor and Doug traveled to Brazil for Moyses' 60th birthday party in February in Vitoria, an island off the coast that reminded her of Hilton Head.
She spent time with his family. She shopped with one of Moyses' daughters. At a party she sat and talked with his mother, just the two old ladies sitting there, she remembered with a chuckle. The party ended late -- 3 a.m. or so -- but she stayed up.
She came back to Hilton Head fulfilled, happy they were able to spend two milestone birthdays together. Through the distance, the years and the changes in their life, their relationship remained strong.
"I'm sure we'll see each other again," she said.
