Just keep following the tutorial.
In step 9, you will publish the collection in the server side.
And then use this in your client side.
this.subscribe('parties', () => {
this.parties = Parties.find();
}, true);
This can make sure it always has value.
Also in a real world app, you need subscribe the data in the Service instead of Component.
Once you have enough Angular 2 feeling. You can read Subscribe data in Service using RxJS 5.