Parfait Karekezi was born in Rwanda in 1966 and grew up in the town of Butare.  He hoped to pursue a career in medicine, but college brought disillusionment as Parfait experienced hostile treatment by professors whose tribal ethnicity was different from his own.  Determined to succeed, Parfait left Rwanda and came to the United States, graduating from Indiana University in 1992 with a degree in mathematics.  Continuing to live and work in the U.S. after graduation, Parfait learned of the genocide as it unfolded and after many weeks of uncertainty, he learned the fate of his family and friends.  The devastation drove Parfait to take a job as a long-distance truck driver, running from the shame, helplessness and hopelessness that enveloped him.  It was during this time, a Connecticut truck stop chaplain shared the story of Jesus’ love and Parfait gave his life to Christ.

Michelle Miller grew up in Pennsylvania and gave her life to Christ in college.  Graduating in 1994 with a degree in Dietetics, she would later pursue ministry and attended the Jerry Savelle School of World Evangelism in Texas.  The ministry call on her life would eventually lead to a job as a chaplain’s assistant at a Pennsylvania truck stop chapel.  There she and Parfait would meet, sitting across from one another during a prayer hour.  After their 2000 marriage, the Karekezi’s moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, affiliating with Victory Church, attending Victory College, and volunteering in the intercessory prayer and Evangelism Explosion ministries.  In 2008, they launched Send Me International and moved to Rwanda, the same year Parfait earned his U.S. citizenship.  Tulsa remains the Karekezi’s U.S. base and Victory is their home church.