FORT WORTH - A Fort Worth adoption agency took a team of volunteers to Guatemala in the midst of an adoption freeze that has North Texas parents awaiting the chance to unite with their adopted children.

The Fort Worth Gladney Center for Adoption sent the team in hopes that the volunteers would be able to reach out to Guatemalan orphanages.

"These children were literally going without food," said Jennifer Lanter, with Gladney Center for Adoption. "We asked what their biggest need was and they told us food."

The freeze on Guatemalan adoptions left a sea of children stuck in orphanages that were having a hard time keeping up with no adoption fees coming in.

"She looked at them, and she pointed at me and she said, "Es mi papa," said Austin Merrill, one of the volunteers, of one of the children he met during the trip. "And I think she really thought I was going to take her home."

More than 2,000 children children were caught in the middle when Guatemala froze all new adoptions. The children were already matched with American parents, including one frustrated Colleyville couple.

"We've held her," said Jacki of her adopted child who is still in Guatemala. "We've bonded with her. She is our daughter."

Since May, Gladney Center for Adoption has been able to get some of the previously adopted babies out of Guatemala. However, Jacki, along with 14 other Gladney families, are still waiting.

In addition to the extra money Gladney has sent , the agency said they sent the volunteers to reach out to the children and help paint and make repairs at the orphanages.

E-mail chawes@wfaa.com