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Mistie Shaw has earned two master degrees in the past few years–Religion, from Point Loma Nazarene University, and Christian Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley–but she prefers to see the world through the lens of a camera. She realized a lifelong dream when she was a staff photojournalist for Forum Publications, a chain of community newspapers. Retired from the Air Force Reserve for more than a decade, Mistie served in the areas of medicine and public affairs. As a “weekend warrior,” her favorite but most difficult assignment was writing speeches for the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Recently divorced after being married more than half of her life, Mistie has been surprised to discover that doing what she wants to do when she wants to do it is a big change from being a soccer mom in a mini-van. Mother of three young adults and grammy of two, from rollerblading to road trips, her life is a blur of going and doing. Mistie is passionate–the one word that best describes this little dynamo–about life, her job, God, having fun. . .well, just about everything.
An avid angler credited with catching a 53-pound sea bass just outside the San Diego Bay, getting hooked is not a new experience for Mistie. In her mid-50s she became an autocross enthusiast, even winning her class a couple of times! Sh-h-h, you won't believe this, but Mistie is anti-American: she doesn't own a television! Music, writing, cooking and anything computer-related keep her so busy she says she doesn't have time to watch the faux reality on TV.
Mistie works as hard as she plays! She is currently a full time ESL teacher and part-time tutor; but she still manages to fit volunteer work in on the side. She has made two trips to the earthquake area of Sichuan to help ongoing relief efforts. Luckily, hugging and playing with kids at the local orphanage help her keep sane. Before leaving the states, she was an associate pastor at an evangelical church. For many years, she was a Sunday School teacher and small group leader yet still found time to home-school each of her children for one year.
A native Californian, Mistie has considered San Diego her home for more than 30 years even though she's lived several other places part of that time. She currently resides in Luoyang, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China.