A children’s home near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, damaged by a fire, is being put back together, piece by piece, by volunteers from nearby Manas Air Base.

Everywhere in the house there are sounds of progress … floorboards ripped up, window sills sanded down, nails hammered into the new floor. A more silent, but equally important job -- painting ceilings and walls -- is Master Sgt. Brad Bush’s specialty. Sergeant Bush works as a petroleum, oil and lubricants superintendent with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron.

“P.O.L. can also stand for ‘painting, odd jobs and landscaping,’” Sergeant Bush said. “I’ve done quite a bit of (volunteer) painting in my time in the Air Force. I can say I have my nine skill-level.”

This house was a center where about 60 children received therapeutic treatments and an education. It was also home for eight children without families. Shirin Aroonova and her husband, along with their four children ranging in age from 3 months to 12 years, live in a small room in the back of the house.

Although the room would be considered small for a child in the United States, all six live there. They are grateful there are people like Sergeant Bush, based out of the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base Mo., who donate their free time into fixing their home.

“I thank you so much,” Shirin said, with the help of a translator. “It’s the first time I’ve seen people work like this. They come and work for free for such a very hard job. They are really great people. We need more people like this in Kyrgyzstan.”

Sergeant Bush is happy to help however he can.

“It makes me feel good,” Sergeant Bush said. “It’s just something we can do to help out, show them that we do care and that we’re here to help.”

Many children will soon live here again. Mrs. Aroonova is a nurse and will teach here when the house is complete.