Once He Was Lost... Now I'm Found...: Based on a True Story of John E. Wilkerson 1773-1803

By Thelma Johnson

Throughout my lifelong experiences in church, I have been taught that there were only two final destinations: heaven and hell. Preachers teach that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun, which is absolutely true. I have further learned through my ability that it too is possible for spirits to remain earthbound. This occurs when these spirits reject themselves from walking into the light due to inability of letting go of their physical life. The two types of spirits that are earthbound are intelligent and residual. The intelligent spirits can communicate with the physical world, and residual spirits are on repeat every day. With the help of my youngest brother’s God-given abilities, I slowly learned how to embrace the gift that I have been given. I encourage anyone who senses these abilities to embrace it and pursue it, although it may be difficult to understand this gift. There are many people in the world experiencing similar situations. I gradually learned how to live with my ability, which led me to a solid four years of writing this book so that others will find the courage to express their gifts in their own special form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645843375

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Once He Was Lost... Now I'm Found...

Based on a True Story of John E. Wilkerson 1773-1803

Thelma Johnson

Copyright © 2020 Thelma Johnson

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-64584-336-8 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64584-337-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

About the Author

Thelma Johnson was born in 1969 in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was raised with three brothers, and her parents divorced when she was ten years old. At the age of seven, she heard from God that she would be living with an invisible man. Not knowing what exactly this meant, she continued living her normal life. At the age of twenty-nine, she moved to Florida where she purchased her first home and raised her three children. Vivid thoughts and a presence of a man whom she learned to call John began to occur in her dreams. Not fully understanding the extent of this man, she remembered what God had told her as a child. Later she realized that this man’s spirit was still dwelling on the same property since the 1800s. Over the years as communication increased from John, her ability became more precise when she was to stay at friends and family’s homes as other dwelling spirits would communicate in the same form John would. Therefore, she felt obligated to share her experiences in writing about John’s physical and spiritual life on earth.

Chapter 1

How I Met John E. Wilkerson

I was born on November 4, 1969, in Wheeling, West Virginia. I grew up with three brothers. My parents divorced when I was ten years old. I was raised by my mother. I moved out at age eighteen and began working at Coronet Foods on Bow Street in North Wheeling. There I met Roy. Later we had a son. The relationship ended, and I moved to Florida to be with family. Soon after I met my husband, and we had two children, a son and daughter. The marriage lasted four years. I then moved to the Panhandle where I’ve been living for over twenty years.

In 1976, I was seven years old when I remembered Mom taking my three brothers and me to church. We had a really nice Sunday school teacher, Sister Friend. We were rewarded with treats when we brought our Bible every week, cleaned our mess after doing arts and crafts, and for learning our scriptures. On holidays or special occasions, we would perform skits, anniversaries, and other fun church-related things. It was a Saturday morning right after my mom told me to get my Sunday clothes ready; I wanted to watch Bugs Bunny. The episode that was on was about a doctor fixing a little boy’s boo-boos. That inspired me to be like a doctor to have the ability to heal people. I felt this warm feeling come over me as I quietly continued watching TV, hoping my mom wouldn’t yell at me just yet. I flipped to the next show, The Invisible Man. He was a private detective who could make himself invisible then catch and arrest criminals. That then was the moment something in my mind said that one day, I will live with an invisible man. I asked myself, An invisible man? God spoke to me and then said, Kind of like an imaginary friend. I didn’t have an imaginary friend at that time. I thought it was the coolest thing being invisible, but some kids have imaginary friends growing up. I was trying to put logic behind it because I really wanted one. As I grew older and moved out of the house, I began having children. It was around 1999 as I moved on this property in Navarre, Florida, where I raised my three children as a single parent. We lived in a very nice neighborhood where there were only a handful of neighbor kids, schools nearby, and grocery stores right up the street. It was our first week in the new home with lots of unpacking to do. I noticed something different about my home. That morning as I woke up to get ready before waking the kids, I was in the bathroom applying makeup when I had this overwhelming feeling like somebody was standing and watching me from behind. I was moved by the thought I would turn around and see somebody. Knowing I didn’t have much time to get myself ready before the kids had to be at school, I quickly forced myself to put it out of my mind. The very next day, I had that same overwhelming feeling, but it was a bit stronger. I turned around and looked toward my bedroom door to acknowledge my thoughts. Still, nothing appeared. I had this feeling that something or somebody was trying to get my attention.

February 3, 2000, I will never forget the first vision shortly after moving in. It was Thursday, the day after my oldest son’s Titus’ 8th birthday. I was walking through my bed room putting laundry away in my bloomers (bra and panties) when I had a vision of a man in a military uniform standing in my shower. The man had black hair, cow-licked bangs, and very tall. I quickly walked to the bathroom as if there’s actually a stranger in my home without my knowledge. I quickly dropped my basket and headed to the bathroom, ripping open the shower curtain. He wasn’t standing there, but the vision was so strong he might as well have been there. I took a deep breath and moved on with my day. A month later, my oldest son Titus said he got up around 4:00 a.m. and saw a white cloud in the TV. I tried to assure him that it was just a dream. I couldn’t say anything to my kids; I didn’t want to worry them about what I was experiencing. At times I hinted around, and they weren’t concerned at all. I’m here to raise my children. I know God blessed me with my home, and that was that.

September 23, 2000, a Friday afternoon, early release from school. I decided to relax in a hot bath I heard a knock at my bedroom door. I yelled, I’m in here, and no one answered. I thought it’s the kids; they’re always running in and out. When I have music playing or I’m praying, I don’t think about every knock or noise I hear. I heard the knock again. I asked, What is it now? assuming the kids were wanting something. So I got out of the tub, got dressed, opened my bedroom door, and asked, All right, kids, what do you want? No answer. I walked to the kitchen, and I heard the kids laughing outside. I said, The kids are outside. So I looked out of the kitchen window to find Titus, Bretly and Summer were out front playing basketball with neighbor kids; there were several children playing. I thought…well, it couldn’t have been them knocking on the door, they’re outside playing. I know my children, and when they’re excited, they will come in stomping throughout the entire house and talking very loud. I said to myself, Well, okay, it’s not that important. So I got back in the tub.

November 7, 2000, I woke up around midnight to use the restroom. I usually sleep with a blindfold over my eyes to keep the morning sunrise out of my face. I pulled my blinders above my forehead, as I was about to reach for the light switch, to see my way, and I saw that military man again. He was standing right there in front of me. I thought, Oh my, there he is again! I frantically yanked my blindfold off my face, pulled the string to turn the light on, and I looked around the room. At this point I could only see him in a vision and not the naked eye! Again, I was freaked out! I didn’t ask questions. My daughter, Summer wasn’t feeling well that night, and I couldn’t worry about this man wandering around my house—I got it, he was here! I lay down and said my prayers! This is the second vision I had of him. I can see the first time being my imagination, but twice now? Or this guy is lost! I didn’t bother asking his name or who he was. I didn’t want any freaky stuff happening. At that moment, my mind was scattered! I began hearing different sounds at night, so he’s active at night too! What’s he doing in my room while were sleeping? I admit, I was scared! It took a little while to go back to sleep. I kept asking God for his protection, and I fell right to sleep.

September 9, 2003, the kids and I arrived home about eight o’clock from tae kwon do. Titus and Bretly headed to their room, Summer and I headed for mine. About five feet before touching the doorknob, I quickly had a vision. I felt like right after the vision, it was God trying to prepare me for a break-in or something happening that moment in my home. I had a vision of three men fighting. After seeing this in my head, no doubt I was afraid. I asked myself what was going on, and I truly questioned if someone broke into my house through my bedroom window. I didn’t know what I was going to walk in to. I didn’t hear any noise as I quickly barged in and turned on the light. I looked around my room; it was exactly as how I left it. I started to wonder why I was having these visions. Maybe he lived here or he once worked here.

April 7, 2006, it was the weekend, and I had the house to myself. I decided to sleep on the couch. As I was getting comfortable, I noticed Gizmo’s head perked up and his ears were standing tall. I believe he watched something walk from the kitchen to sit in the recliner. Gizmo’s eyes were definitely on him as his head was shifting downward like the object had taken a seat. I always thought animals could see things that I couldn’t; if Gizmo is seeing him too, then I know it’s not just in my head—it’s for real! It’s obvious, he was making himself comfortable. I pretended not to notice. Gizmo laid his head down and fell asleep. He certainly caught Gizmo’s attention. He usually barked at strangers… This validated that whoever or whatever he was, he had been dwelling in my home for quite some time now.

June 11, 2009, I was tired after a long day at work, so I decided to turn in early. I no sooner lay down to close my eyes when I had a vision of a man’s face really close to mine. I didn’t want to open my eyes just because I wasn’t ready to confront the situation. I didn’t want to see him standing there and scare the snot right out of me. I was breathing heavily, and my heart was pounding out of fear! I wasn’t sure if I should just take off running out of my room and chill with the kids, and not say anything, or lie here with my eyes closed rolling around in my head! So I slowly peeked out of one eye and didn’t see the man, and the coast was clear. Silly me, if I couldn’t see him before, what makes me think I will see him now, except for in my visions? I often wondered if I had something this man wanted. It wasn’t easy for me to except that he’s been dwelling here in my home since before I moved in, only because I didn’t believe! I’ve always felt his presence, warm and peaceful, but when you sneak up on someone like that, it can be a bit startling!

Often there were times when I was sitting on the living room couch with the family watching a movie. The weather was nice at this time; we had the front door opened. From my peripheral vision I could see an image of a man standing on the front porch looking in from the side of the door. After noticing, he walked in the house and straight to the