FINDING GOD AT THE CROSSROADS IN JAPAN (A Phraimlen Lajera Story)
Praimlen Lajera, originally from Tagum City, Philippines, made the life-changing decision to relocate to Japan with her husband, who has a Japanese lineage. Despite enjoying a successful career as the head of the HR office in a company back in Tagum City, she and her husband decided that Japan would provide a better environment to raise their family. Once settled in Japan, Praimlen felt the urge to contribute to her family's financial well-being. This led her to seek employment to supplement her husband’s income. Fortunately, she landed a position at a prominent company called IO Industry, offering a promising salary.
During the interview process, Praimlen was presented with a checklist outlining the company's conditions, one of which was the requirement to work on Saturdays. Despite initially hesitating, she agreed to work on Saturdays due to her family's financial needs. She also felt confident that she could find a way or an alibi to be excused from work on Saturdays when it comes.
On her first day of work, she was filled with gratitude to God for the opportunity and the attractive salary. She felt no boredom and doubt at all. She thought that her life in Japan was going to be much more secure. However, towards the end of my first week, she was told that she had to work on Saturdays to meet production deadlines. This conflicted with her religious beliefs, but she needed the job desperately. She mustered the courage to explain her situation, but her manager accused her of lying and ultimately fired her. The devastation was palpable as she returned her work uniform as instructed and informed her parents in the Philippines about losing her job. Fear and restlessness gripped her as she grappled with the uncertainty of their financial security in a foreign land. Despite the overwhelming sadness, she held onto a sliver of faith and began to seek solace in prayer, surrendering her will to a higher power. After entrusting all her concerns to God, a sense of relief washed over her, knowing that she had stood by her convictions in a country where the majority did not share her Christian faith.
On her way back home from work, she was on the train when she received a call from the agency that had helped her secure her current job. They inquired about her initial agreement to work on Saturdays and were curious about her sudden change of heart regarding this arrangement. She patiently explained her situation once again, and to her surprise, she was asked to meet with the manager. During their conversation, the manager informed her that the management had reconsidered and decided to allow her to continue working without the requirement of working on Saturdays. This unexpected turn of events left the agency representative taken aback, and they attributed it to mere coincidence. However, she said, “I couldn't shake the feeling that it was a sign of divine intervention, rather than just mere chance… God was there.” The verse "Those who honor me I will honor…" (I Sam. 2:30) “came to mind, reinforcing my belief that there was a higher power at work, guiding and providing.”
