In October 2002, as he was about to leave for Africa, Dr. Chen recorded his feelings in his diary: "I can't say I'm not afraid.
「說沒有懼怕是不可能的，心中總有一些忐忑，夾雜一絲興奮。… … 我就像一隻衛生外交的雛鷹，羽翼尚未完備，就得出發試試身手。」2002 年 10 月，陳志成前進非洲的前夕，在日記中寫下自己的心情。