R'jaye was born in the Philippines. In 2005, he was offered a job in Tasmania in order to continue his career in bridge building. In 2013, he was sent by his church to Bible college and met his future wife Hayley around that time.

Hayley comes from a background of tennis coaching and international travel. She and R'jaye met on a Wycliffe mission trip. They were married in 2014, and now have four children.

After they both finished college, R'jaye became a pastor and along with Hayley, served in a church in Hobart for five years.

R'jaye always dreamt of becoming a Bible translator after attending a few Bible dedications in the Philippines in the early 2000s. Hayley shares the same dream. They will be studying at SILA together until late 2023 and are praying that God will lead them to the people group they will serve with.