Nanette Steenstra - Neighborhood Homework House

Serving at Homework House was such a beautiful way for me to see Azusa from a new lens and get to know the people that call Azusa their home! My first year at APU, I decided to serve at Homework House with first and second graders, and it quickly became a highlight of my week. Volunteering allowed me to step out of the bubble of APU's campus and into our local community. I got to take a break from being surrounded by peers and help sweet 6 and 7 year-olds with their homework. Although I was technically the one 'serving' them, they poured into me with their love, joy, and generosity. I still have some of the drawings one of my students drew for me. Last year, I got to serve again at Homework House and tutor middle schoolers. It was so special to watch the middle schoolers slowly open up to me and trust me, and it was truly an honor to be able to sit with them twice a week and not only help them with their homework, but be a mentor figure who had the opportunity to speak truth into who they are and pour into their lives. When I think back to who made the most impact in my middle school years, it was the people who were willing to consistently show up, so it was really exciting to pay it forward in a sense, and be that for someone else.