Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2007

t moment she persistently worked towards her ‘dream’. As the future years showed, she became a missionary, though a different kind of missionary than she had thought in the early years of her Christian life. 5 Karl Kaups, ‘Kojuhiiiitud ustavaid sulaseid’ [The faithful servants who have been called home], in Kaups, 50 aastat apostlite radadel: 1884-1834 , p. 133. 6 R. Kaups, ‘Kogudused’ [Churches] in Kaups, 50 aastat apostlite radadel: 1884-1834 , p. 50. 7 Efraim Joel Dahl, Emilie Bertelsoni elu ja Mustvee toopold [Life of Emilie Bertelson and working field in Mustvee], (Typewritten manuscript, 1982), p. 3. The original document is owned by Aita Dahl. 8 Mihkel Uusmann, Harald-Viktor Dahl, Tallinna I Baptisti koguduse ajalugu 1884-1941 [History of Tallinn I Baptist Church 1884-1941] (Tallinn: typewritten manuscript, 1941), p. 91. 9 H.V. Dahl, ‘Olemasolu lopetanud kogudusi’, p. 93. 111 Mustvee Baptistikoguduse Liikmeraamat. 1936 [Membership book of Mustvee Baptist Church], p. 1. The original document is owned by Mustvee Baptist Church. 11 Karin Hiiemaa, Siidame kutsel: Eesti misjonarid Aaftikas [On the Calling of the Heart: Estonian Missionaries in Africa] (Tallinn: Olion, 2000), pp. 58-59. 12 Toivo Pilli, Eesti baptistidja nende teoloogilise motte kajastumine ajakirjas ‘Teekdija’ kuni 1940 [Estonian Baptists and Their Theology as Reflected in ‘Teekaija’ until 1940], ThM thesis (Tartu: Tartu University, 1996), p. 82. 13 Nils Angelin, Ett ‘Ebeneser’ [A ‘Ebeneser’], in Ldnken [Link], 12 (1928), p. 6. Journal of European Baptist Studies However, firstly Emilie Bertelson’s mission field was Naissaare where she began to work as a Sunday School teacher. 14 In 1912 there were forty-five Sunday School children in her group, which she led alone without any helpers. 15 She gave all her energy to her work, and was not afraid of difficulties. She walked every Sunday between two villages, Eeskiila and Tagakiila, to hold Sunday School classes in both villages. 16 This experience was a good preparation for later work when she had to take responsibility and organise church life, often alone. Emilie Bertelson’s job in everyday life is not known. The membership book of Mustvee Church said, in the 1930s, that she was a ‘secretary’ 17 but we do not know if she was secretary only in the church, taking minutes and being responsible for correspondence, or if she ever earned her daily bread through this job. There is no doubt about her intellectual abilities and skills, but Bertelson’s primary focus was always on spiritual ministry. Selma Sarapuu, who was a close friend of Emilie Bertelson and whose home she later rented for prayer services, remembered a story told by Emilie Bertelson’s mother: when they lived in Naissaare and people asked her what her daughter was doing, she answered that Emilie was going from house to house and was talking with people. 18 Bertelson’s mother was ashamed that her daughter had no ‘prope