My name is Tomoko Nakamoto Armagost. I want share with you an amazing story!

I am now a missionary, with the American Baptists - International Ministries. I am also Japanese. I was born and raised in Japan. But let me explain why this is an amazing thing.

When the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, my mother was13 years old at that time and was about a mile away from point of explosion. She was one of two survivors from her school class. She lost her father and sister instantly that day. During the weeks and months and even years following, she was very ill from radiation sickness.

After the war was over, the American Baptists came back to help the church in Hiroshima. That's the way my mother came to know Jesus. Brave missionaries came to love an enemy, that's the reason my mother became a Christian. I have always admired their faith. Not only my family but all of the church in Japan wants to express our thanksgiving to you.

Well, my mother met my father at church and they were married by an American Baptist missionary. In those days, the victims of the atomic bomb had a hard time getting married. People were afraid of them. They thought that they might not live long or might have a deformed baby. And of course lots of people did. Many families were against marriage with victims of the bombing, so I asked my father how he could marry my mother. "You did know she was a victim?" I asked. " Yes, I knew. But I didn't know she was that close." He said with a smile and a laugh.

Every summer my family would visit the Hiroshima Peace Park for the Atomic Bomb Memorial Service. As a young girl, seeing the pictures and displays was very frightening. It made me wonder if it could happen again. As a little girl, the images of war scared me. But there was a moment that gave me peace. It was when I saw my mother and American missionaries talking and smiling together. That is how I knew that God is the one who brings peace, heals wounds and restores relationships.

Anyway here I am, the amazing result of prayer.