It was appropriate that American schoolchildren shouted "Vive la France!" as French soldiers conducted them to safety through the rebel-held Ivory Coast city of Bouake.

No doubt Jillian Arnett, 16, whose grandmother lives in Charleston, Mo., raised her voice with the others.

The uprising put the children of American missionaries in danger when rebels holed up in the town, cutting off fresh water and food to the International Christian Academy. The school houses 200 teachers and missionaries' children ages 5 to 18.

The news story brings some points home to those of us in Southeast Missouri.

First, world news is our news. Again and again, headlines from other nations have personal meaning for our co-workers, neighbors or acquaintances.

And second, families such as the Arnetts, who carry out God's work in other nations, face dangers we can only imagine. They should be appreciated and kept in our prayers.