A practical theological narrative research of the adaptation process of a family that moved from South Africa to New Zealand : research article

n Prakties-teologiese narratiewe navorsing van die aanpassingsproses van 'n gesin wat van Suid-Afrika na Nieu-Seeland verhuis het Deur gebruik te maak van narratiewe navorsingsmetodes, met die klem op die waarde van prakties-teologiese wysheid en die inagneming van postmodernisme en sosiale konstruksionisme as paradigmatiese konteks, is die aanpassingsproses van die Vermaakgesin (skuilnaam) nagevors. Vyf belangrike aspekte van hulle gesinslewe, waarin daar verandering plaasgevind het, is bespreek en hulle ervaring van God se teenwoordigheid in die proses is verwoord. Hierdie begrip is verryk deur 'n interdissiplinere ondersoek wat lig gewerp het op die proses en wat die belangrikheid van die motivering vir verhuising beklemtoon het. 'n Kort verwysing na fisieke, sielkundige en sosiale gevolge word opgevolg deur 'n paar opmerkings wat moontlik tot voordeel van ander kan wees. Die Vermaakgesin het daarin geslaag om balans te vind tussen behoud van hulle verlede-verhaal en deelword van die nuwe konteks. Dit maak 'n hoopvolle, geantisipeerde toekoms moontlik. Using narrative research methods with an emphasis on the value of practical theological wisdom and an awareness of postmodernism and social constructionism as paradigmatic context, the adaptation process of the Vermaak (pseudonym) family after a move from South Africa to New Zealand, was explored. Five major areas of their family life in which change occurred are discussed and their experience of God's involvement in the process is articulated. This understanding is enriched by an interdisciplinary inquiry which highlighted the process and the importance of the motivation for an overseas move as a helpful or hindering factor for meaningful adaptation. A brief mention of possible physical, psychological and social consequences is followed by a few comments that might be helpful to others. The Vermaak family managed to strike a balance between the continuation of their past story and embracing their new context. This fact provides a hopeful anticipated future.