Postby TriP » September 17th, 2016, 9:40 pm
People of Trinidad and Tobago ~ Onika
I remember my grandmother used to say if there is one thing for me, I have a hot mouth, so I can pray,” she says. “I used to pray for God to remove me from this situation alive, so I could share my story and make a difference—help someone who is going through something similar.”
The sudden death by accident of her grandmother in Tobago gave Onika Mars, mother of two, the courage and excuse to escape from a severely abusive relationship in Trinidad, where she lived at the time.
“I left everything and returned to Tobago with my children and two pieces of underwear each. I uprooted them, and trusted God for a new start,” she says.
Supported by loving family and friends, Onika found the strength to make a new life for herself and her two young sons. She had been working at T & TEC in Trinidad, so transferred to the Tobago branch, where she worked for a year and a half.
“One night I was going in on the ten p.m. to six a.m. shift and my younger son asked ‘Mummy, you going to work again?’ It kind of pierced me, so I thought about it and I quit.”
After all they had been through, she wanted her sons to experience the comfort of having her around. The situation had left the boys angry, hurting and withdrawn at school. To help take their minds off the situation, Onika enrolled the boys in golf, football and counseling. With the added the input of her loving parents, her sons began to transform.
Jobless, and concerned about how their life would be without a steady income, Onika turned to God and challenged Him to take care her herself and her offspring.
“God, Your word says that You will supply our every need according to Your riches and glory,” she recounts herself saying.
At that time she was doing business part time from her vehicle, driving to offices and homes selling clothing. Coming from a family where both parents and grandparents were entrepreneurs, a strong business sense was in her blood. It was from the car-based venture that her current registered business, Elonis International, was born.
“One night I asked my boys for us to come up with a name,” she says. “I include them in everything. Together we came up with Elonis” (a combination of their names—Elan, Onika, Israel). The ‘International’ part of the name relates to her shopping trips abroad (the USA, Europe and now, Thailand) and her visions of the business expanding globally.
Elonis International started off at the TLH building, Scarborough, moved to Tino’s Plaza, then to Allen’s Plaza before settling in its own building in Lowlands in December 2015.
““During our daily morning devotions my children and I always trusted God for our own building,” Onika says. “Anyone reading this will realize that with faith anything is possible.”
Painted in bright, modern colours, the Elonis International outlet is cozy and inviting. Quality items for adornment of the human body (female and male) are on festive display— clothing, shoes accessories, bags, hats, underwear, make up.
And what makes Elonis International different from other clothing stores in Tobago?
“I do not bring more than two pieces per style—mainly just one,” Onika says. “I understand most of my customers and have a personal relationship with them. While I’m shopping, I can buy stuff and say this is for this customer and I’m guaranteed that they will like it.”
She particularly enjoys shopping for full figured women. “I enjoy boosting their self esteem and telling them how beautiful they are. I encourage them to wear bright colours to boost their spirit, to help change their mood and how they see themselves.”
Once, chatting with a pastor’s wife, Onika mentioned that a lot of women were coming into the store and without knowing her, were pouring themselves out to her.
The pastor’s wife told her that God hadn’t only blessed her with a store, but also a Ministry.
Onika has shared her story openly on TV6, TIN (Tobago Inspiration Network), Channel 5 and Radio Tambrin.
“I survived . . . and there is life after abuse,” she says. “There is no need to be ashamed. In sharing my story I’ve helped a lot of women.”
Many women who were either in an abusive situation or had come out of one were encouraged by her words after visiting her store.
Onika admits that speaking out helped immensely with her healing process. “I always tell women when you share your story you help somebody—rather than keeping it in and feeling angry, ashamed, discouraged and losing confidence.”
As we neared the end of our conversation, Onika offered spontaneous words of prayer for fellow women:
“Father, we thank You for our women. You have created them for a special purpose. Help us to be confident in who we are. Help us to be confident in whose we are. Help us to understand the power of a praying woman, the power of a praying wife, the power of a praying mother. Father, in the name of Jesus we commit our women into Your hands.
We commit hurting women into Your hands. We commit victims of abuse into Your hands. Father, continue to direct our women according to Your will. Give us hearts that forgive. Help us to zip our mouths at times and ask You for directions rather than deal with stuff on our own, carnally. We thank You that our women will rise and that our women will seek You and be still and know that You are God and You are in control. Father, we thank You. As we commit our women into Your hands, we pray for continued direction on their behalf. Amen.”
By Elspeth Duncan
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