Katey’s Corner: From Poland to South Africa — When God Redirects Your Plans

The Lord Spoke to Me

In June, the Lord spoke to me about “the gates of the earth.” — South Korea, the gate to the East; the UK, the gate to the North; and South Africa, the gate to the South. He wasn’t referring to literal gates, but spiritual ones — places of authority and influence that shape regions and nations. “Go pray at the gates,” He said.

South Korea was already part of the plan, and I’d felt a growing draw toward London. So, when I received that word, I added the UK between Poland and South Korea. But South Africa? I’d never been there, never felt called there. I remember wondering how the Lord would weave that into my plans — never imagining it would happen on this very trip.

Divine Breadcrumbs in Poland

While staffing Iris Europe Camp in Poland, confirmations began unfolding like divine breadcrumbs.

The first speaker and Krakow base leader, Siya, was from South Africa, which I knew, but had never paid much attention to. The next speaker was also from South Africa. And the next — again, from South Africa! The camp worship leader, Heidi Baker’s grandson, was a Mozambican living and leading worship in — you guessed it — South Africa.

Then, the breakout session I attended? The Polish missionaries who co-lead the Iris base in White River, South Africa.

My spiritual little sister, Zion, came up to me: “I just met the South Africa base leaders — I’m going there after camp!” I felt a sting in my spirit that caught me off guard. “Am I supposed to be paying attention to this?” I wondered.

Back in Krakow, at the Iris base after camp, I found myself staring at a poster of the camp speakers. My gaze landed on the South African flag. In that moment, I heard the Lord so clearly: “Go to South Africa.”

I looked up, confused. “Now? But I’m going to London in three days!”

I walked into the room I shared with Zion. “I think I’m supposed to go to South Africa.” “Oh my gosh! Then we’ll go together!” she exclaimed.

I texted the South Africa base leaders, and they immediately said, “Yes, come!” But just a few hours later, the base manager messaged saying the base was full — three teams were already there, and no beds were left.

I felt a surprising pang of disappointment. Why do I care so much? This wasn’t even part of the plan. I prayed, “Lord, if You have a bed for me in South Africa, move out whoever’s not supposed to be in it.”

The next morning, as I sat at breakfast, the South African base worship leader walked straight up to me. His eyes sparkled. “Do you still want to come to South Africa?”

“I mean, yes — but they told me the base was full.”

“Well, the third team — a group from South Korea — just canceled. So now there’s a bed for you.”

There’s a bed for you. His exact words were the answer to my prayer. That was a Thursday. We booked our flights on Friday and flew to South Africa on Tuesday.

At the Gate of the South — White River, South Africa

When we landed in Johannesburg, everything felt surreal. I couldn’t shake the sense that we were stepping into a divine appointment — that God had written this part of the story long before I knew it was mine.

Zion and I made our way to the Iris Global base in White River, unsure of what to expect, but certain the Lord had gone before us.

When we arrived, two mission teams were already there — one from the U.S. and one from the U.K., a church from Kent called Eastgate. I froze for a moment. Eastgate. The Lord had told me to go to the U.K. and pray at the gates — and here, in South Africa, was a team from the U.K. called Eastgate. My spirit leapt. Zion and I immediately connected with them; it felt like divine alignment in motion.

From the very first day, there was no “easing in” period — we were thrust straight into assignment. Upon arrival, we attended Pastor Surprise Sithole’s Prophetic Roundtable — a gathering of prophets and intercessors from across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.

Pastor Surprise, one of Heidi Baker’s closest leaders and overseer of over seven thousand Iris Africa churches, was someone whose story I had read years ago. The son of Mozambican witch doctors who encountered Jesus and became a mighty evangelist and apostle — his testimony had marked me deeply. I remember praying years earlier, “Lord, I want to meet this man one day.” And now here I was — sitting in his prophetic sessions, serving on his team, and being ministered to by the very one whose story helped shape my hunger for revival.

On Mission: Serving at the Gate

We served alongside the base team, ministering in local churches and Zion and I hosted a seven-hour prayer burn of intercession for the region.

We read books and played with the children who live at the base’s children’s home, joined Mama Trifina’s Street Church to pray for those battling addiction, and distributed Bibles in three local languages — purchased by the U.K. team.

We prayed for the sick in a nearby squatter camp, held babies with tear-stained cheeks, and worshiped under open skies that felt closer to heaven than earth. Aside from encounters with scorpions and cockroaches, our time there was soaked in presence and purpose.

Even our “rest day” felt sacred. We went on an African safari with a sweet family from the base, wide-eyed at the majesty of creation — elephants crossing the road before us, lions basking in the sun, giraffes stretching toward heaven, even a rare sighting of wild dogs. It was as if God was saying, “See, this too is part of My glory.”

A Gate of Glory

By the time we left, I knew with absolute certainty: South Africa was never a detour.

It was a divine gate — one of the gates of the earth the Lord had spoken about months before.

And walking through it changed everything.

As I left Gate #1 for Gate #2, boarding my plane to the U.K., I carried with me the lessons, encounters, and confirmations from South Africa, wondering how the Lord would continue to unfold His plans in London.

Throughout my travels, I have the privilege of partnering with global organizations like Iris Global and local leaders to advance the work of the Kingdom, serving wherever the Lord calls and sowing into communities around the world — including anti-trafficking initiatives, global mission work, and other ministry opportunities.

About Mighty Warrior International (MWI)

Mighty Warrior International exists to confront exploitation, expose injustice, and empower individuals around the world to take up their post in global Kingdom reform. Through investigative storytelling, education, and field partnerships, we mobilize modern-day reformers to bring light into dark places.