Alekcey Murillo & Judith Dunteman

Alekcey Murillo and Judith Dunteman

Alekcey & Judith

Alekcey Murillo and Judith Dunteman first encountered the Cabécar people of Chirripó in January 2001 during a scouting trip deep in the Upper Chirripó reservation, just days after completing medical school in Costa Rica. They had been seeking the place and people to which God was calling them to serve, and this brief glimpse sparked a vision for the Cabécar people and the Chirripó area.

This first trip was followed by several short term clinics in various Cabécar communities, but the need for more long-term and sustainable solutions to the unique challenges of this region became apparent.

After their wedding in May 2002, Judith and Alekcey moved to the United States to complete a three year residency program in family medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, always maintaining the vision to return to Costa Rica to work with the Cabécar people in Chirripó. During this time, God was expanding the vision for what would become Project Emmanuel.

In March 2005, land was purchased on the edge of the Cabécar reserve in Paso Marcos, Turrialba through the fundraising efforts of another missionary family Alekcey and Judith were working with at the time, the Kennedy´s. Towards the end of 2005, Judith and Alekcey returned to Costa Rica; and, together with the Kennedy family, began the groundbreaking work in March 2006 for the base of operations that would become the Emmanuel Community Development Center. Alekcey and Judith moved out to the community of Paso Marcos in 2007, and began the foundational work of forming relationships and identifying with the people and their daily challenges.

Currently, Alekcey and Judith serve as the directors of Project Emmanuel. Alekcey also served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer and then Director for Medical Education and Research for Hospital Clinica Biblica for seven years until 2015. These positions helped to open up opportunities for networking and pooling national resources for the Chirripó area.

In 2012, Alekcey and Judith were blessed with the birth of their son, Ari, who is an integral part of their ministry.

In addition to overseeing operations and projects at the Emmanuel Center, Alekcey and Judith focus on serving the local indigenous and non-indigenous people through facilitating community-directed infrastructure projects, managing the Agribusiness Partnership Program, leading a community Bible studies, directing the infant-maternal indigenous health program (Puentes de Vida), starting a local-ownership restaurant (Aroma de Montaña), the local school board, among others.

“Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 115:1

Thank you all for your interest and care for what we do. For supporting the clinic and us financially so we can keep working. We are so blessed to have you all with us!